Representatives from around the Metro had arrived in Polis. From the Nazis of the Fourth Reich to the Communists of the Red Line, even the independent stations were included in this meeting at the hospitality of the Council. Members from such distinguished groups showed their distrust to their known enemies, but Colonel Miller stood up at the podium and caught their full attention. "People of the Metro, it is a great honor to speak in this great Council. However, an external threat from outside Moscow have threaten the last remains of humanity here in Russia."

The colonel paused for a moment, only to see the gaze of Secretary General Moskvin of the Red Line and the Fuhrer Yevgyeniy Petrovich of the Fourth Reich from their respective stands.

"It is normal to be comfortable with your neighbors, familiar with your enemies, but the situation has changed. We, the survivors of the great nuclear war, are under attack by an external threat." Everyone in Polis could hear the conference and Miller knew that. So he had to chose his words carefully. "We are here today, because it threatens the safety of everyone who has endured these harsh decades, but that is not all. I am here to inform all of you that we must stand together as one people against those who would dare destroy that last bastions of human civilization in the Metro."

Secretary General Moskvin's expression did not seem to be convinced by the colonel's words. "I do not believe it." He stated in a firm tone. "You must have been smoking those mushrooms if you believe someone was able to contact us outside of the Metro. What evidence can you prove that we're being invaded? If the case was true we would have received a massive influx of refugees or alerted by normal means of communication."

"Secretary General, you must understand that news travels slowly in the Metro. You, the Fuhrer, and I know this. Besides, we have evidence to prove this."

Moskvin crossed his arms. "Then enlighten me, colonel."

Miller did his best to keep himself from smiling as he looked over his head to see two Polis guardsmen standing near a covered projector. "Show them the photos we were able to get." Without question, the two soldiers uncapped the projector as it displayed an image of a sub-machine gun, one that used the ten millimeter caliber.

"What is that gun?"

"One of our Polis investigators had managed to take some limited photos of the equipment and prisoners that we were attacked by. What you're seeing is an SMG that apparently uses 10mm rounds. I don't know about you, but such caliber was not mainstream in Russia before the bombs."

Then the Fuhrer spoke. "I've received such reports come across my desk of such weapons. I thought it was developed by some independant forgemaster."

"Even then, we would have known by now. Forgemasters and ammo exchangers would bring it out to the public for stalkers to use. Upon closer inspection, we've discovered that these guns have serial numbers and originate from the United States."

Yet, Moskvin remained unconvinced. "This doesn't mean the Metro as a whole is under attack by this so-called external threat you seem to be so vague about. There have better be more than these trinkets to say otherwise."

"Don't worry, sir. We have prisoners that we've captured from the Northern Territory before the survivors of Exhibition escaped." He looked at the projector and saw the image of the sub-machine gun change to a man sitting in chair. In the background, a Polis guardsman was standing behind the prisoner whose appearance consisted of a red shirt and a dark-colored skirt. "Here is a picture of one of their soldiers." Then his eyes noted the two guardsmen behind the projector. "Play the recording."

One of them walked over to a tape recorder beside the projector and pressed the play button. Then he increased the volume of the tape. The room fell silent at the command of the guards to allow the tape to do its work.

A tired man's voice spoke. "Subject is a non-Russian. He was captured by the former Exhibition home guard and transferred over to Polis hands for interrogation at Riga."

There was another voice in the recording that spoke up. It was unmistakably English, the American kind. "Save your words old man, the Legion will come here and conquer your tribe. Consider it an honor that I am Caesar's messenger."

"What is your name?" The interrogator asked.

"I am Decanus Janus, Prime Legionary of my lord. You best remember it."

"What is your mission?"

"We are here to bring you to the fold of Caesar's Legion. Those who accept shall be brought to the fold, those who resist will be put into permanent servitude for our great cause."

"Where are you coming from?"

The man chuckled. "You should know better than to ask me that question. I will not answer."

"I knew this would happen." There was a small pause in the room. "Hold him down, we will make him talk. Interrogation reports will occur after subject is willing to divulge information."

The tape recording continued to play before the next section.

"Subject has revealed that his arrival to the Metro is not a normal one. He explains that they're using anomalies to arrive in force. However, it's so random to locate where they're rallying their forces. Thankfully, the subject mentions that the Legion's territory is located in the United States in the state of Arizona. This subject's claims he's from a detachment of Caesar's army that is currently stationed on the east side of the Hoover Dam. Will obtain more from subject."

After the interrogation was over, Colonel Miller returned his full attention to the leaders at the conference. "This is what we're facing, gentlemen. These are not mutants, but an entire nation willing to destroy us despite our endurance to the end of the world. As the head of the Spartan Order, I ask of you to join us in this war against the Legion."

Moskvin spoke up as his hands remained behind his back. "Why should we waste so much resources and manpower simply to fight back when could fight a defensive war against the Legion. This is our territory."

"Not necessarily. The Metro as a whole is mostly unknown and some stations are weaker than others. We cannot lose a single inch of ground on the defense if we barely know our own territory. Hell, the tunnel trash know more about the Metro than we do ourselves." Miller stated. "If we bring the fight to the Legion we may save it from destruction."

"I understand, but what about the defense of our stations?" The secretary general wondered. "We simply cannot allow our people to be at the mercy of mutants…" He then pointed at the Fuhrer. "...and I will die than trust the Nazis."

Such offence provoked the Nazi leader. "No wonder you're the leader of the subhumans. Your little brains don't realize the magnitude that the entire Metro is at risk. Perhaps the radiation has fried your brains as well."

"At least my soldiers don't walk into stations and open fire on innocent people because they're head size a few millimeters short. Maybe your compensating for your wife."

Miller could see the anger in their faces thanks to their petty insults, but this needed to stop. They cannot waste their time with such nonsense when any invasion could occur anytime. "Order!" Little did he know, he smashed his hand into the podium. "This petty bickering has to stop. We can't be doing this when both of your citizens are at risk."

"The Spartan colonel is right, but where could we begin against such an enemy?" Moskvin asked.

"One step at time, Secretary General. I request that both you and Fuhrer Yevgeniy cease all field operations on the frontlines. Would that be sufficient?"

"Yes, I can do that."

"Likewise, for the sake of the Metro." The Fuhrer acknowledged.

"Meeting adjourned, we will return after the break." The colonel stated. As the conference was put on hold, Miller stepped down from the podium and made his way towards the break room, only to be met by the Polis Quartermaster. "Kuzmich, what brings you here?"

The bald soldier eyes appeared tired, but his line of work was very stressful to say the least. "Colonel, I have some news for you. Do you know anyone by the name of Bourbon?"

"Yes. He was a stalker that fought alongside my Rangers at the tunnel towards Exhibition. Does he have something important?"

"More like someone important."

"Do tell. I'm going to get a drink." He lead the way into the room and made his way towards the water dispenser on the other side.

"Well, he encountered the Legion on a Hansa train."

"Damn, they're getting brave if they're resorting to that." Then he grabbed a small metal cup beside him. "Anything else."

"Yeah, apparently he discovered someone who was their prisoner about to be enslaved. Get this, she was one of their enemies called the New California Republic."

Colonel Miller paused before he took a sip from his cup. "I have a feeling things are about to get weird by the time you give me more."

"Khan was there as well. You and I know him?"

"Shit. What did he want? Does he have more philosophical advice to bring to us?"

Kuzmich shook his head. "No sir. He found a way to find the origins of the attacks."

All he could do was smile. "For once, he brings some good news."

"He also said he'll discuss it into detail once you meet with him? Apparently, he also discovered 'visitors' when he found it."

"When did you get this information?" Miller wondered. "Just a few moments ago. Khan, Bourbon, and their foreign friend are currently held up by Captain Krasnov."

"Okay, inform the Council to change their speaker. I have to take care of this."

"Understood, I'll inform the civilian and military council members." Then the quartermaster left the break room, leaving the colonel all by himself.

The man began thinking about the old traveler of the Metro. He always had the loyalty to defend the last bastion of human civilization, but there was always a strange vibe from the man. He couldn't put his finger on it, but Khan was just a stranger with unknown motives. Yet, his appearance and arrival was always a strange omen that something drastic is about to occur in the future. Miller accepted that he wouldn't know why, but he just can't stop thinking about the matter.

Still, the old man had his uses when needed to be. Of course, he would charm his Rangers with his mysticism and philosophy about the world. Had the world just changed so much for him that there was no point in trying to fight for the one they just left?

After finishing his cup of water, he tossed it aside and began to make his way to meet with him. They were going to have a long conversation.

Bourbon walked away from the Polis merchant with a new assault rifle after he had given his to Artyom. The 'Kalash 2012', it was supposed to replace the older models of Kalashnikovs, but it never got to see the day. Instead, it became one of the iconic weapons of the Rangers as they were one of the few organizations that held the largest stockpile compared to everyone else.

Walking out of the merchant room, he found Stella sitting in her chair while a young lad from another arriving group walked up to chat with her. "Hey miss, what are you doing all by yourself? Perhaps you could use some company."

The woman glanced up to him, but was unimpressed with his act. "Kid, you're better off if you don't piss me off."

The stalker made his way over to her as the young man took notice of his appearance. "Hey kid, unless you're a stalker, scram." Without a question, he walked away to his group and kept to himself. When he sat beside her, he pulled out a small can and handed it over to her. "Do want some?"

Stella glanced over to him. "What is it?"

"It's a can of shrimp, Venice has a good record with selling seafood from their station." He said.

"You said that you were a stalker, what did you mean by that?"

He chuckled. "I forgot that you're not from around here. Stalking is a profession in the Metro. Crazy bastards who have the guts to travel to the surface and come back with whatever they could find."

"Wouldn't that mean that you're one of those crazy bastards?" Stella wondered.

"It used to be my profession, but I've been traveling throughout the Metro just trying not to get myself killed by bandits, Hanza loan sharks, or the mutants themselves."

"So where did the old guy go?"

"Khan? Apparently he's affiliated with the Polis Rangers. If that is the case, he should be talking with the colonel."

"I've heard." Then she looked around as she saw trolleys of people arrive into the station before soldiers asked them for passports. "I've got to ask, but what is so special about this place?"

"Polis is also situated underneath the General Staff of the Armed Forces." Bourbon explained. "When the bombs fell twenty years ago, the survivors came down here along with the important civilian members to join them."

Stella appeared surprised as she turned her head towards him. "Twenty years? You must be crazy?"

"Crazy? It's common knowledge around these parts. Why is that?"

"What year is it?"

"It's 2033."

The woman began to express her distress. "No, that can't be. That can't be."

Curious, Bourbon began to ask. "Okay, what's the problem with the year that you think you're from."

"When I was captured by the Legion, the year was 2281. That is roughly two-hundred years after the bombs fell."

Now that seemed far-fetched, but seeing degenerates resembling Romans told him otherwise. He had to take everything she said with a grain of salt. "Either everyone in the Metro is drug or on mushrooms or you're on drugs, because that is impossible."

"No, it's true." Stella firmly stated. "You're the one who is in the wrong here."

The defensive stance she held managed to garner the attention of others at the platform. "Calm down, you don't want to cause a commotion."

The duo stopped their conversation when they heard soldiers acknowledging a superior whose clicking books made everyone in the platform look for the man. "Colonel on deck!"

As each step got closer, Bourbon recognized the familiar identity of Colonel Miller with Khan following him. Then he was quick to smile. "Bourbon, it's good to see that you survived your encounter." His attention looked over to the woman beside him. "You must be that American woman that Khan spoke of."

The woman crossed her arms. "What of it? I've been waiting for something interesting to happen."

"My apologies, but Polis is in a middle of a conference. We're trying to get the Nazis and the Communists to work together to fight the Legion. I'm told you're familiar with them."

"Of course I'm familiar with them, they attacked my post and enslaved me." Then she glanced over to Bourbon. "If he wasn't there, they'd probably kill me to spite those train guys."

"That is good to know, but both of you better come with me. We'll need whatever information you have on the Legion to help us."

"I understand, I'll do what I can to help."

Soon the group began to make their way off the platform as they went deeper into the station.

Author's Note: I finally got someone from the Fallout universe to have a perspective on the Metro universe while also addressing that year discrepancies between the two universes.

Mandalore the Freedom: Yes, the Sierra Madre tests the endurance of human nature and we will see if it would lead to something.