"That doesn't add up. He knew where the Patriots were?" Snake was still puzzled.
"Seems so. Though it doesn't make sense, neither do a lot of things we are dealing with right now."
Snake still lied on the bench suffering from the wounds he had acquired. He wasn't in very much pain anymore due to the painkillers Otacon had offered him. But his condition didn't matter to him, he was still trying to fit the ever so few pieces of the puzzle together.
"Snake, just calm yourself down. We can worry about this later. Right now we've got to treat your wounds. We should be arriving in the States soon and then to the nearest hospital."
"Yeah well, then what?"
"I don't know, this might be too big for us Snake."
Snake didn't respond to Otacon's comment. He just shut his eyes as he tried to get his mind off the current matter. Otacon left Snake's side and joined Hudson at the cockpit. The chattering of the two men faded away as Snake drifted to sleep...
December 1, 2011
Snake's eyelids slowly opened as they were met with a strong light. He opened them completely to see that he was hospitalized in a small white room. No one else was in sight.
"Where is everyone?" Snake said as he continued to gain awareness.
An sudden deep voice overcame Snake. He inspected around to see that the voice had no owner.
"Good evening Snake. I can see you're not most comfortable."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry, your wounds have been treated properly. You're in good hands."
"Where are you?"
"That doesn't really matter right now."
"Oh then tell me exactly what does."
"You."
"Me? I'm not important."
"Ha, you're more important than you think."
"Where's Otacon."
"He's standing right by me."
"What the hell is going on here?"
"Look Snake, you're here for a reason. We need something from you."
"And what exactly would that be?"
"We need you to cooperate."
"Or what?"
"Snake don't make this any harder. We need you for a good cause."
"Explain then, I'll be the judge if it's a good cause or not."
"Alright then Snake. We'll cut this short you already know about the 12 prototype suits being developed by members of The Revolution, correct?"
"Yeah."
"The reason for the suits are still unknown, and though we now know that Ocelot was the murderer of the Patriots we still don't know his objective."
"And what am I suppose to do?"
"Snake, Revolver Ocelot is the objective here. We've picked up intelligence that he is to have a meeting with a Revolution member by the Alias "Commander Zero" and should be arriving at his base in Russia around 10:00 PM the day after tomorrow."
"So I'm suppose to go there and try getting info on Ocelot's current situation and possibly find out any plans right?"
"Precisely."
"Alright, I accept, but can I ask you one thing?"
"Sure."
"Why exactly did we have to meet up like this?"
"Because Snake, we can't risk you seeing my face. I am one of the members of Otacon's new resistance group. We call ourselves "Les Libérateurs."
"So why can't I see your face?"
"Security Snake, though I've heard good things about you, we can never tell. You could turn on us at any moment and then you knowing who I am would be nothing but trouble for our group."
"I see." Snake grunted.
"We thank you for your time. You may leave anytime you want. Otacon will be in shortly to assist you and prepare you. You've got time to rest. So do so, this mission won't be easy."
Snake fell back onto his bed and sighed heavily. Work was catching up to him quickly.
"I'm getting to old for this..."
8:09 PM December 3, 2011 Near Noril'sk, Russia
A chopper landed on the barren snowfields of Siberia while kicking snow into the air. It landed slowly and the engine was cut-off. Otacon equipped Snake for the next operation.
"Ahhh..." Snake was irritated.
"Snake, you've got to get in there and record Ocelot's conversation with Commander Zero."
"How?"
"Here." Otacon handed Snake a directional mic fitted with recording capabilities. "This mic will record anything you're able to hear. Once you get the conversation, you get out of there. And I mean it Snake, if he sees you the mission is over."
"Alright, alright."
"You're also more equipped for this mission."
"I can tell." Snake said as he inspected around his new camo suit.
"I see that snow camo suits you well."
"Yeah I guess, nice change from the usual sneaking suit. I've also noticed I've been equipped with an M9 converted tranq pistol. Why the change?"
"The .45 needed some work to it, the M9 is much more reliable."
Snake nodded his head in agreement.
"Alright Snake, so we've dropped you off here. You've got about a 3 mile walk to the base. And I must warn you, it is heavily guarded. Ocelot's arrival is a huge occasion and must need high security. So this isn't going to be as easy as the other two were. You've got 2 hours to get to the designated point inside the base were they will supposedly meet. After that record the conversation and get out. We'll send another chopper to pick you up at about the same point as now."
"Alright then."
"Take care Snake." Otacon signaled for take off. The chopper slowly rose over Snake as Otacon waved goodbye. The chopper slowly flew off, disappearing beyond the foggy air. Snake was left alone once again, left to tend for himself. He turned around and began his 3 mile walk down the snowy path.
His large boots crushed the snow underneath them after each step imprinting a large foot print. Snake could already feel the intense chill running through his body, but he was use to it. Besides, he used to live in Alaska, his body was almost immune to the temperature. But one way or another Snake tried not to pay attention to his surroundings, he had his mind set on his mission. But he was not only thinking about his objectives, he was thinking about Ocelot. The Patriot spy. A man so willing to cooperate with them ending up being their maker.
"I'd feel better if I knew what was going on." Snake mumbled to himself as he continued his aimless walk through the snow, hoping to see some sign of the base. "Metal Gear Ray, Ocelot must still have it somewhere." Snake continued on. "This is too much." he grunted.
It seemed like hours before Snake finally was able to spot in the distance the top of the base. A relieved look overcame his face as he stopped to take a quick break. Snake pulled out his cigarette from his back pocket and lit it with his lighter. The warmth from the cigarette tip comforted Snake.
"This is great." He said puffing the smoke into the cold air. The cigarette slowly faded away as Snake contacted Otacon.
"Otacon, I have visual confirmation of the base. I'm about 100 yards away from it right now."
"Alright Snake, be careful in there. I can't stress that enough."
"I'll be alright."
"Also, no lethal force either. Basically don't be seen at all. One simple alert will screw this mission up. Got it?"
"I hear ya."
Snake flicked his cigarette to the ground and pulled out his M9. He inspected it thoroughly and gripped it accordingly.
"This thing does got a great feel to it." Snake said while targetting the pistol. He began his move toward the base, the closer he got, the better he would be able to insect the perimeter of the base.
90 yards, 80, 70, 65... He was moving closer and closer. Finally he was able to see the base as a whole. Snake dropped to his knees and pulled out his binoculars. He zoomed in and took a quick glance around the base. It was certainly larger than the other two, it had a grayish color to it and housed several floors. Two searchlights could be found around the roof of the base. There were sentries posted everywhere; 3 circulating the left portion, and another 3 circulating the right. Not to mention the snipers posted along the edges of the second floor balcony.
"Damn. This is gonna be tough." Snake quickly dropped to his belly in case of the snipers spotting him. "How am I suppose to get any closer?"
(Ring, Ring)
"Snake?"
"What is it Otacon?"
"I just took a look at the base."
"...And?"
"I can see that it's gonna be hard getting in there."
"I'd say so. What do you suggest?"
"Well Snake, I've checked the architecture of that base."
"Spit it out Otacon."
"Well, apparently there aren't any vent's leading inside. Security is so high that they've checked every sort of entrance inside the base and blocked it."
"So would do I do?"
"Improvise, Snake just think."
"Grrr..." Snake was becoming annoyed.
"Why couldn't you have checked the base before you dropped me here? Then we could have figured something out and I wouldn't be stuck here doing nothing!"
"Calm down Snake, you've got to think. Maybe there's another way in, some sort of back door, tunnel, something."
"Hmm... I'll contact you later."
Snake was angered, he no longer knew what to do. He tried inspected his immediate area to see if there was any opposite route. Snake decided to back out and walk around in the nearby wooded area at the left of the base. As he did so, slowly moving across the bare field, he soon reached the wooded area. Snake moved his way down the wooded path as he came closer and closer to the side of the base. Surprisingly there were no guards posted at the west side. An overwhelming relieved expression came across Snake's face as he knew he was no longer in the immediate danger. But that short sigh of relief was interrupted by the sight of two guards standing guard in the woods far in front of him. Their eyes fixed in front, to the side of Snake's current position.
"Damn." Snake whispered as he inspected them further. "Wait a minute, a tunnel?" He slowly peeked his head from behind a tree to get a better sight at the tunnel's position. He noticed one thing quickly, since the tunnel was to the side of the base and at the same height as the first floor, it probably wasn't going to lead inside.
"It's not leading into the base?" Snake thought to himself as he gave a quick call to Otacon.
"Yeah Snake?"
"Otacon I took your advice and I see a small tunnel entrance guarded by two sentries deep into the woods left of the base."
"Great job Snake."
"But..."
"But what?"
"Apparently it doesn't look like it leads into the base."
"What do you mean?"
"It's on the left of the base. And on the same level as the first floor, meaning that a tunnel usual leads underground, not directly into the base."
"So it's going somewhere else?
"Look's like it."
"Well that's your only lead. You might as well take it Snake."
"Alright then." Snake agreed.
"Be careful Snake."
"Will do."
Snake signed off and leaned up against a nearby tree. Both sentries kept their one position and concentrating their sites straight in front of them. It was like they were emotionless androids. Making it all the easier on taking both them out in two quick snap shots of the M9. Their bodies dropped to the floor simultaneously. Snake made his way over the two sleeping bodies and into the mysterious tunnel.
He was immediately hit by a strong smell of the murky water occupying the floor of the dark tunnel.
"Damn, where's my flashlight?" Snake said as he searched his endless pouches around his body for that specific item. "Ah." He pulled out the small, thin flashlight and flashed it into the tunnel. Further down tunnel beyond the light was nothing but a dark abyss. Snake started walking down the tunnel while positioning the flashlight and M9 in his forward direction. He continued squinted his eyes in order to spot further down , but continued to see nothing. Snake became more annoyed by the stench that surrounded him as he suddenly began hearing noises.
"Hmm?" Snake dropped to his knees and turned off his light. He was silent. Down further in the tunnel he heard a group of men talking amongst themselves, ignorant to Snake's presence.
"Ocelot here yet?"
"I think so. Apparently he just came in by jeep."
"Ah really? Has Commander Zero been informed?"
"Of course."
"What do you think the meetings about?"
"Commander said something about supplying the bodies."
"Bodies eh? Sounds serious."
"Apparently so. But as serious as this whole thing is I'm pretty pissed off having to guard this shitty tunnel. Especially without any damn light. How am I suppose to guard a dark tunnel without light?"
"Well, doing my duty for the Commander is all that matters."
"Hmm..."
The men gave each other farewells as they split their passage ways. Snake quickly called Otacon.
"What's up Snake?"
"Just heard some news on Ocelot."
"Shoot."
"Apparently his made it in by jeep."
"Alright better get a move on."
"Yeah, also I heard that their meeting had something to do with bodies."
"Bodies huh?"
"Yeah, but that's all I got."
"Alright Snake, hurry yourself in there."
Otacon and Snake disconnected as the footsteps of one of the sentries came closer and closer to Snake. But he did not worry, it was pitch black, and neither of them could see. (Splat, Splat) the footsteps seemed to be right next to Snake. At this point he rose from his position and took a risky swing from his right arm.
"Arrghh..." The hook connected to the guard's chin. Snake wrapped his other forearm around the guard's neck before he could fall. It was interrogation time.
"Arrr... Who are you?"
"I'm asking the questions here."
"Ok, ok. "
"How do I get inside the base from here? The quickest route."
The guard was a little hesitate to answer until Snake reminded him of the position he was in with a quick choke with his powerful forearm. "Arrggg... Ok. You go to the end of this tunnel, then you'll be inside the outside interior of the base. Meaning that the whole base is surrounding a courtyard."
"I thought the base's front was to the right of the tunnel?"
"It is, the base surrounds...half of the hill housing the tunnel. The base is on both the...right and left of our current position." He informed Snake willingly.
"Alright, thanks for the help."
"Can you...let me go now?"
"Of course not." Snake chuckled as he smacked the guards head with a powerful blow from his pistol. The man's body plumped to the floor. Snake slid his flashlight back into his pouch and continued down toward the light at the end of the tunnel with his M9 equipped and ready. Snake grew closer and closer toward the light until he received a interrupting call from Otacon.
"Snake?"
"Yeah?"
"You've got yourself about 40 minutes to reach the destination inside the base where the supposed meeting will be held. "
"Alright, can you tell me exactly where that is again?"
"Let me check up on your spot real quick." A faint sound of the clicking of keys were heard.
"Well?" Snake said impatiently.
"I'm checking your current situation within the base compared to where the exact meeting will be."
"Alright. What did you find?"
"Commander Zero's private office , where their meeting will be held, is located on the second floor above the tunnel you are in right now."
"Alright, 40 minutes to get to the floor above me."
"Wait Snake. You planning to walk into the room and record the conversation right in front of them."
"Huh..."
"Snake, there is a large window overlooking the courtyard above you. Just get on the opposite side of the yard and hide. Then you'll have the great chance to record the conversation through the glass window."
"Well, alright. I'm out."
Snake disconnected peered his head out of the courtyard to inspect it's current security. Snake was relieved to see a very few numbers of guards. Only two pacing around in a courtyard.
"At least something will be easy today." Snake said as he readied for his quick move toward his next position."
The guards routine walk was actually very irregular, they left huge portions of the yard unguarded at certain times making it almost a cake-walk for Snake to cross the field. He practically stood up right and walked across the field into a set of large bushes identically to one another. As Snake entered the bush he sat down and unleashed the cargo he was lifting throughout his walk. He finally felt easy enough to pull out his good friend, the cigarette. A smile was painted across his wore out face. Snake lit the cigarette and smoked it as if he was resting in his own living room. He would have an calm, easy 30 or so minutes to relax for once. Snake lied his head back and rested. Unwillingly he fell into a sleep and was snoring in minutes.
(RING, RING)
"What the....?" Snake said as he jumped up from his sit startled.
"Snake!" Otacon yelled. "Wake up! Ocelot should be there."
Snake didn't respond, he just immediatly pulled out his mic and fitted on the headset to listen into the conversation intensely. Snake then pressed the record button as he pointed the mic toward the window above where he saw the familiar trench coat and desert camo of Ocelot, who was being greeted by Commander Zero.
"Pleasant to have you here Shalashaska." Commander Zero said speaking in a strong Russian accent.
"Glad to be back."
"Please, have a seat."
"Don't mind if I do."
"May I offer you a cigar?"
"No, no. I quit smoking."
"Ah well. Shall we get down to business?"
"Of course."
"So is his body here yet?"
"Just dropped it off in the freeze container. We'll have to let it out to cool down for awhile."
"Great. Have you given everyone else the others?"
"Everyone else has them except you and Director X. But of course we are behind on him due to his lack of loyalty. Apparently all he thought about was paying back his father with his share of the Philosopher's Legacy."
"Ah yes. Well my loyalty is as strong as it has ever been. Part of the Philosopher's Legacy goes to no one besides the prototype suits themselves."
"Glad to here that."
"Besides the other Revolution members how close is he toward the completion?"
"Very close. Matter of fact he only has a few more bugs to work out and it'll be operational."
"Nice to know I have contributed to his goal."
"Yes."
"So is Ray still in your hands?"
"Of course, I consider it my transport vehicle."
"...with a large arsenal of weaponry incase of road rage."
The two men laughed.
"I think I'll also contribute Ray to the project if necessary."
"Good choice."
"So do you mind showing me the prototype suit?"
"Of course. Please follow me." The two men raised from their sits and exited out through the door. Snake turned off the recording and placed the mic in his pouch. He dropped a call to Otacon.
"Snake, good job. You could have blown it though if I didn't interrupt your beauty sleep."
"Hmmm..." Snake grumbled as he continued his conversation. "You heard them talk?"
"Every word of it."
"What do you think they were talking about?"
"No clue, but we've got some serious proof now. Nice work."
"Yeah, not too hard."
"Well you're just getting better at this."
"I guess so."
"Anyways, we've got a chopper landing at the drop point. Make your way to it. Snake, you're doing good, if you screw up now by being caught then this whole thing will be a waste. Get out of there."
Snake was ready to strap on his equipment once again and move out. But before he could do so, he found himself staring down the long barrel of a shotgun. Snake froze instantly.
"Stay right where you are." The guard spoke quietly.
Snake...was...pissed...