Tanker Chapter, Sneaking III

Before entering the holds, Snake received a Codec call from Otacon.

"Snake, are you in yet? Have you made it to the holds?"

"It's taking longer than I expected. We've already passed the Verrazano Bridge."

"Alright. We'll use another recovery point."

"They may be planning to change course."

"What?"

"The exits to the deck are all sealed."

"What are they planning?"

"If they get Metal Gear, we're going right off the fringe."

Snake continued talking to Otacon as he entered the holds and found himself on a high balcony overlooking the large area. More than fifty fully armed uniformed Marines were down on the lower level, all standing at attention, watching the large image of Commander Scott Dolph projected onto a screen via a projector behind the Marines.

"The men down here are definitely Marines," Snake stated.

"If the deck is sealed off, they have no way of knowing that the ship's been taken over."

"I'm not interested in fighting these guys. My weapons won't do me much good here."

"Can you see Metal Gear?"

"No. I'll have to go around to the bow. They have some serious defenses here. I doubt the recent arrivals want to blast their way through either."

"I wonder where they're headed."

"I don't know… Not the beach, that's for sure."

"OK, Snake. Let's just go over this one last time. Use the camera to get photographic evidence of the Metal Gear prototype. Now, do your thing and take pictures that speak louder than the government's plausible denials. We need four shots: Metal Gear from the front, front-right, front-left, and a close-up of the Marine Corp marking.

"Marking?"

"There should be a 'Marines' insignia on the body of Metal Gear. Just let someone try explaining away a clear shot of that. As soon as you have the images, use the Codec to transmit them in an encrypted burst. If they make the grade, we'll go from there."

"Alright."

"There's just one little thing—"

"Just spit it out. I'm used to things going wrong."

"It looks like someone's been monitoring our transmission."

"Who?"

"I don't have a clue. All they're doing is watching – it would creep me out less if they tried to interfere with our communications."

"Could it have something to do with that Cypher we saw?"

"Maybe. I've switched the encryption protocol for our burst transmission for now. What I want to do now is to use a different method for sending those photos. Just in case."

"Instead of using the Codec?"

"Exactly. There's a workstation in the southeast corner of the block where Metal Gear is housed. I've made certain arrangements so that you can send the pictures from the machine."

"Arrangements?"

"I hitched a ride on Link-16 into the U.S. military's proprietary network. I managed to get into that workstation and overwrote a part of the system software so I could remote-install a little application I wrote --"

"Why bother with something so complicated?"

"No, it's pretty simple, really. Look, all you have to do is stand in front of the machine and hit the Enter key. The app will automatically launch and download the image data from the camera, split the files, and encrypt them individually. The data then masquerades as –"

"Okay, okay. So all I have to do is push the Enter key on the keyboard once I have the pictures, right?"

"Well sure, if you put it that way…And one more thing: The Commandant is about to begin his speech, but you need to get the pictures before he's done talking. Otherwise, they'll spot you. Okay?"

"How much time do I have?"

"I hacked into his personal files and had a look at the text of that speech. I'd say you have ten more minutes – longer if he throws in a joke or two."

"A ten-minute time limit, huh?"

"Remember, Snake, just the photos, okay?"

"With these kinds of odds, I won't be making any sudden moves. But that doesn't mean we can just let Metal Gear be hijacked."

"Okay, okay, but first, the photos."

"Alright. We'll deal with the rest when we get there."
"Stay low."

Snake moved to the ladder in front of him and climbed down, and eventually came to the lowest level, where the Marines stood. When Snake came to the ground, he was already behind the Marines. He looked over to the left and saw a hatch on the ground. To get there, he'd have to get past the projector first, which was located against the back wall. Snake proceeded over to the projector, and got down onto his stomach. He crawled under the beams of light coming out of the projector, and moved on. Snake arrived at the hatch and opened it silently. There was a small ladder leading down to a crawlspace below the floor. The crawlspace led to the bow of the ship, directly where Snake needed to go. So, he got onto the ladder, moved down a few rungs, and looked at the screen where the Marine Commandant cleared his throat and began his speech. Snake closed the hatch behind him and started to crawl toward the forward hold. As Snake moved through the crawl space, the Commandant's words reverberated through the holds.

"At the moment, every industrialized nation on the globe knows the specifications for Metal Gear. Worse yet, so do a number of rogue states. They are all working on deploying their own Metal Gear force to compete with the United States' nuclear strike capability. The world is about to see a swarm of these Metal Gear derivatives. We initiated development on Metal Gear RAY as a countermeasure to these pirated weapons forces. The only thing that can stand up to a Metal Gear is of course - another Metal Gear. With RAY, the hundreds if not thousands of Metal Gears that exist all over the world are no longer a threat. The blind rush to nuclear proliferation, and it will be the Marine Corps, and our RAY, that will accomplish this. This weapon will render all other Metal Gears obsolete. Nations building up their own Metal Gear force

will think twice about their nuclear strategy in light of the nuclear dominance spelled out by RAY.

"The shift in the balance of power will mean a new world order. And we, the Marine Corps, will play a central role in its military affairs. Ours is not the only military project devoted to Metal Gear development, but it cannot be more different in nature than the Navy's. Theirs is a program that will add fuel to the uncontrolled fire of nuclear proliferation. It is a fact that players in favor of such a policy are attempting to derail our own RAY project. But I promise you they will not succeed. Some say that the strategic importance of aircraft carriers will be reduced by the completion of RAY. The opposition from the Navy is an undeniable fact. There is a lot of pressure from Navy brass, especially those with submarine and air background. Not to mention interference from a major player...

"This project is vital to the Marine Corps. The enemy is sometimes closer to home than you think, gentlemen. Always bear that in mind. I have a daughter. It is my greatest wish never to have her, or her children, experience the horror of nuclear war. As a father, I want to leave a better world for the future generation. As a soldier, I know that is my duty. Metal Gear RAY is amphibious, unlike the Army's REX. It can cruise deep underwater, move in undetected and make its landing on any shoreline. Its onboard Joint Tactical Information Distribution System identifies targets with unerring accuracy and takes them out with massive firepower. It is the ultimate weapon and it is yours to guard. I'd like you all to think about what that means.

"The National Missile Defense program was initiated in the end of the 20th century, projected to completion in 2005. However, the NMD trial conducted in the year 2000 was a complete failure and the success of the 1999 trials is now considered a chance happening. There was no technological solution in sight and the program was already attracting strong criticism from Russia and China for its potential violation of the Anti-Ballistic Missile agreement. The fact that any development in missile defense would trigger accelerated weapons development has been pointed out from the very beginning. President Sears forced the NMD proposal through and succeeded in deploying the program. Some say that it was a military interest - with plans for the hundred billion dollar program budget that actually arranged the legislative approval.

"Former President Sears did also act towards reducing the nuclear stockpile while nurturing the NMD concept. It was he who lowered START3's ceiling for tactical nuclear weapons in order to bring Russia around to approving a revision to the ABM treaty. Everyone believed the world was headed for the end of the arms race when Shadow Moses happened. Even though the development of Metal Gear REX is still outside the bounds of official truth, everyone in the international military community knows the facts. Its specs spread across the globe like wildfire, and the nuclear race was on again. The only thing that can reverse its course is this Metal Gear RAY.

Snake made it to hold number 3, where Metal Gear was being held. Snake found a ladder going up, away from the shafts, and climbed it. Snake found himself on yet another balcony overlooking more Marines, Commandant Scott Dolph, and Metal Gear RAY. Scott Dolph was a fairly tall black man dressed in combat boots, and camouflage BDUs with its sleeves rolled up past his elbows.. RAY was behind Dolph's raised speaking position, and it was hunched over, barely fitting in the humungous room. Many large cables and wires emanating from the ceiling seemingly held up RAY. RAY appeared to be very streamlined – no rough or jagged edges anywhere. Its overall shape was quite dinosaur in appearance. Snake came out of the trance he was in from seeing the new Metal Gear and noticed the large Marines logo on the side of RAY's leg – just as Otacon had said. Snake took out his digital camera and zoomed in on the logo. Snake took the photo, then put the camera away and returned to the matter at hand: getting down from the balcony he was on. There wasn't a ladder in sight, but there was a firepole-esque bar to Snake's right. He jumped and caught the bar, sliding down to the ground floor. Snake looked at how he was going to get around in front of RAY. Dolph was pacing back and forth on his platform as he spoke. Snake timed moving from behind one crate to another in accordance to Dolph's direction of movement. As Snake snagged each of the three other photos Philanthropy needed to show the world the U.S. military's secret project, he noticed two television cameras filming Dolph's speech and transmitting it live to the other holds' projectors. Snake moved over to the computer Otacon spoke about and hit the Enter key. A screen appeared, noting the progress of the download, encryption, and sending of the files. The percentage was increasing slowly. Snake listened in on the Commandant's speech to pass the time.

"The Metal Gear REX development on Shadow Moses was supposedly the first preparatory measure taken against the future possibility of reduced nuclear defense capability. An NMD technology leak to other nations would make that contingency likely. But if this theory is correct, it means that there was a calculated intent to cash in on this opportunity by specific interests within the military-industrial complex. We are here today to flush out and rid our country of corrupt sources. That is our mission and you will bear that in mind. George Sears surrendered his presidency in the aftermath of Shadow Moses. The official reason given did not, of course, include the development of Metal Gear REX and next-generation nuclear warheads. But even you will have heard rumors that he was forced to resign after a failed cover up cost him

his influence in the political community. This Metal Gear RAY is a prototype designed to be operated by an onboard pilot. In its final form, RAY will be unmanned, driven by tele-existence and an autonomous control system. The importance of next-generation technology such as C4ISR and RMA in battle situation has been discussed time and again, but RAY is the first to deploy it so fully. With RAY's completion, the Marine Corps will lead the way for a new age of military tactics.

"We will proceed out of New York Harbor and conduct top-secret field-testing of RAY. Shadow Moses has turned the public opinion against weapons development and this training needs to stay convert. We cannot risk jeopardizing the program on the eve of its completion. The disguised oil tanker is a part of our cover. RAY is well worth all these precautions. Trust me. It is an undeniable fact that there is a force at work in our government and within the military, seeking to control national affairs to suit its own interests. Metal Gear RAY bears the burden of confronting this party, thwarting their plans and guiding this nation back to its original path. This exercise is but a first step towards that goal - the future of the country rests with you tonight.

"The brain drain of nuclear specialists and the black market trade in weapons-grade plutonium has been fueling a cottage industry in nuclear weapons since late last century. Add Metal Gear to the mix and the result is the new proliferation you see the world over. We once lived in the shadow of the doomsday machine. This Metal Gear RAY can bring other Metal Gears under control and ensure that we never know that fear again. And we, the Marines, will be the guardians of this peace. This new model of Metal Gear is codenamed RAY, after the great Manta Ray. Our RAY has a sting that nature never gave the Manta. With this latest Metal Gear, we can rule the sea and land as we never have before.

Snake watched the progress on the files reach one hundred percent. When it did, Snake's Codec ringed. It was Otacon.

"Snake, the speech is about to wind up. The photos are done. Now, get out of there!"

Snake decided to listen to the rest of the speech before leaving.

"The proliferation and development of Metal Gear technology are about to render agreements like the NPT and START obsolete. There are also forces at work trying to exploit this disturbing trend their own power and influence. The human race is about to slide back into the endless arms race of that last century and we cannot afford to play that Russian Roulette again. The Metal Gear RAY you see is here to prevent that possibility.

"We, the Marines, will lead the charge into a new world order with Metal Gear

RAY. That is all. Dismissed."

Upon the command, the Marines came to attention and saluted the higher ranked officer. Dolph returned the salute and held it. The distinct sound of clapping radiated from behind RAY. Uneasy, Dolph shifted his eyes to the left and to the right, trying to find where the sound was coming from; the Marines on the floor did the same. The sound of footsteps mixed with clinking metal of spurs joined the soft applause, and a gruff voice called out.

"Excellent speech, my friend."

"Who the--?" Dolph turned around to see the applauding man step out from behind RAY's right leg and into shadows.

"Gift of the silver tongue," the stranger stated, "They say it's the mark of a good officier….And of a liar." The man started approaching Dolph, but was still rather far away from him. "Americans are too in love with the sound of their own voice to speak the truth!" The man pointed with his left hand as he said this.

"Identify yourself!" The Marine Commandant exclaimed as the twelve Marines in the room joined him on the platform, with their firearms aimed at the intruder.

"I am Shalashaska!" He stepped into the light, and his face could be seen. "Also called Revolver…"

"Ocelot!" Snake and Shalashaska said in unison. Snake thought back to Shadow Moses and his duel with the aged marksman. The old man was dressed in camouflage lighter than those of Dolph's. Ocelot also wore bandoliers on the shoulder and waist, holding two Colts and their ammunition. He wore his long white hair in a ponytail, which draped over his right shoulder and came down below his shoulder bandolier. And to cover it all up, he wore a long brown trenchcoat. The Marines began to advance on Ocelot, but Dolph raised his right arm to stop them.

"What do you want?" Asked the Marine commander.

"This machine will be quite useful," Ocelot said as he took a few more steps toward the Marines.

"What are you planning to do – Steal this thing?"

"Steal? No, no, I'm taking it back."

Snake moved around the crate he was standing behind to get a better view of the proceedings. When he got to a position where he could see, he saw Gurlukovich sneak up behind Dolph with a pistol in his hand. Since the Marines were in front of their commander, they never saw him coming. The old Russian reached out with his left hand and took Dolph by the neck, and put his pistol to the side of his head. The Marines heard the gasp from Dolph when he was grabbed, and turned around, now aiming their weapons at the new man. Gurlukovich took a few steps to the left into a corner with Dolph to get a better angle on the Marines.

"Nobody move! Understood?" Ocelot demanded, and raised his left arm. The two cameras at the back of the hold were still transmitting the image back to the other holds. The Marines in them exchanged bewildered looks and began speaking to each other. Ocelot moved around to where Gurlukovich and Scott Dolph were standing, and walked in front of them.

Ocelot produced a small switch with his left hand and brought it clear above his head, and spoke.

"This ship now carries enough Semtex on its key structural points to blow it out of the water – at the touch of this button." The Marines, who were still aiming at Ocelot, backed away a few steps before Ocelot continued, "That's right. No one has to die needlessly." As soon as Ocelot completed his statement, a number of Gurlukovich soldiers roped down from the rafters far above. As soon as they landed – some on upper catwalks, some on the ground floor – they immediately drew their AKs and aimed them at the Marines in the room. "We're almost at the target. Get a move on!" Ocelot barked. With the command, four Gurlukovich soldiers ran to Metal Gear RAY and began to attach small explosives to the cables affixed to RAY.

"What do you intend to do with RAY – Sell it on the streets?" Dolph asked Gurlukovich.

"I was raised in Snezhinsk, formerly known as Chelyabinsk-70, the nuclear research outpost."

"What are you talking about?"

"After the Cold War ended, my home was bought out by the Americans."

"Is there a point to this sad story?" Dolph rebutted.

"Not that you would understand," Gurlukovich pushed the barrel of his pistol against Dolph's head, "Land, friends, dignity – All sold out to the highest bidder: The United States of America. Even the technology that gave birth to these weapons is Russian," Gurlukovich motioned to RAY. "Developed by us!"

"What do you intend to do?"

"Russia will rise again – and RAY is the key!"

"I regret to inform you that I have no intention of selling Metal Gear," Ocelot interrupted, "As I said, I came to take it back." Ocelot began to walk away from Gurlukovich. He passed a Gurlukovich soldier. He looked up at Ocelot as he walked away from him. "Yes – Returned. To the 'Patirots'!"

"The 'La-li-lu-le-lo'!" Dolph exclaimed. "How's that possible?" Dolph took a step forward before Gurlukovich stopped him.

"Ocelot, you..! Have you sold us out?"

"I was never in your employ, Gurlukovich…" Ocelot stood with his back to Gurlukovich.

"Are you still in league with Solidus?"

"No hard feelings, Colonel. Mother Russia can rot, for all I care."

"Since when, Ocelot! When did you turn?"

"I'm glad you noticed, comrade. I abandoned 'her' during the Cold War." Ocelot turned to face RAY.

"Aargh!"

"Metal Gear only has room for one!" Ocelot turned his back to Gurlukovich again. "Gurlukovich, you and your daughter will die here."

"Damn you!" Gurlukovich shouted as he pushed Dolph forward, toward Ocelot. Dolph barely managed to keep his balance as he stumbled forward. Ocelot grabbed his trenchcoat and threw it toward Gurlukovich. It hung in the air for several moments, blocking their view of each other. "Die, you dog!" Gurlukovich said as he brought his pistol up and aimed. Ocelot was quicker on the draw, however, and grabbed one of his Single Action Army revolvers in an instant, bringing the weapon up and firing three shots consecutively through Dolph, the trenchcoat, and finally Gurlukovich. Dolph fell to the ground first, and Gurlukovich dropped to his knees.

"Sergei!" Ocelot said, as he dropped the gun to the floor, "Looks like you were long overdue for retirement."

"Traitorous dog…" was all Gurlukovich was able to mutter as he fell backwards. Still somewhat dazed by their leader's defeat, the Gurlukovich soldiers aimed their AKs at Ocelot. Before they could fire, however, Ocelot grabbed his other revolver and brought it to his hip. The old man began to spin, shooting the four Gurlukovich soldiers that were close to him. Ocelot spun the handgun, let go of it in midair, caught the grip again, and holstered it.

Ocelot faced the twelve Marines and the two Gurlukovich soldiers who were above and behind the Marines, covering them. Ocelot then produced the Semtex trigger in his left hand and made sure the fourteen people could see it clearly.

"Show's over! If you wish to live, I suggest you run now! This ship is still in the Lower New York Harbor. You may yet make it to shore if you swim for your life!" Ocelot finished his speech and pushed the switch. Explosions rang out all over the ship, including the hold Ocelot and Snake were in. The Marines in the other two holds fell over and tried to stumble to safety and the ship lurched to the left and to the right. Explosions in the holds sent Marines flying. Another knocked over a camera, cracking the lens. Water began to pour into all three of the holds. Ocelot managed to get onto the raised catwalk that led to the cockpit of RAY, and he was walking toward it. The Marines, in waist-deep water opened fire on Ocelot. None of their shots connected. Snake came out of hiding and rushed through the water to emerge on the raised platform directly in front of RAY. He came to a kneel and drew his USP, aiming it at Ocelot on the catwalk.

"Ocelot!" Snake cried out. Ocelot stood within arm's length away from the cockpit of RAY. His right arm began to twitch. Ocelot looked down at the arm and raised it. The twitching developed into spasms, and he grabbed it with his left hand. He struggled to keep it under control, bending over at the waist.

"Aarrrgh!" Ocelot's voice seemed to be changing. The arm flexed its muscles and ripped the sleeve of the BDUs right off. Veins on the arm started to rise, and Ocelot seemed to bring it under control. His ponytail fell out, and his hair fell free to move about. Ocelot still held the bulging arm in front of him.

"It's been awhile, brother!" Ocelot's voice changed. It was no longer the raspy old voice, but rather a familiar young British-accented voice. His arm reached out to Snake.

"Who are you?" Snake queried. The arm clenched its fist, and brought it to Ocelot's face.

"You know who I am."

"Liquid?" Snake recognized the voice as his genetic twin 'brother' from Shadow Moses, two years prior.

"Not so young anymore, eh, Snake?" Liquid asked, now in seemingly in control of Ocelot's body. Liquid reached his right arm out again, closed his fist, and brought it down to his side to rest it on his waist. "You're drowning in time. I know what it's like, brother." Liquid asserted. "No wonder Naomi passed you over for the FOXDIE program." Liquid's arm bolted out, and the fingers moved quickly.

"Aarrrr!" Ocelot's voice returned for a moment, "Out! Get out of my mind, Liquid!" Ocelot bit down on the arm, and Liquid dominated Ocelot's body and mind again.

"The price of physical prodigy…A few more years, and you'll be another clone of the old man," Liquid said to Solid Snake. "Our raw materials are vintage, brother. Big Boss was in his late fifties when they created his copies," Liquid said, referring to Big Boss, the proclaimed 'Greatest soldier to have ever lived', and both Solid Snake and Liquid Snake's 'father'. Liquid raised his right arm clear above his head. "But I – I live on through this arm!" Liquid brought the arm down again.

"Liquid's arm?" Snake said to himself. An explosion rocked the platform Snake was standing on. Snake was thrown over the edge of the platform and into the water.

Gurlukovich was floating face-up in the water, still alive. "Olga…" were his last words.

Ocelot opened the hatch to RAY and leaped inside its cockpit. Various instruments lit up, and the main screen turned on, allowing Liquid to see the hold. Liquid pressed sever buttons, and RAY activated as the hatch closed. Snake climbed out of the water and back onto the platform, and took several deep breaths. He stood up and gazed in awe of the now-active Metal Gear RAY.

"You don't have what it takes after all," Liquid said over RAY's loudspeaker. RAY raised its back, and quickly met the roof of the hold. The roof bent upwards, debris falling to the floor. "You're going down, Snake -- With this tanker!" Liquid raised RAY's left leg and thrust it toward Snake. Snake managed to dodge it, but the shockwave of the blow threw Snake against a wall and knocked him out. RAY stood up, with its arms cramped inside the closed-off space. Two Marines stood one one of the higher catwalks, firing their M4 rifles at RAY. The bullets had no effect on the towering mech. More Marines joined them, one with an M203 grenade launcher attached to his M4. He loaded it and fired. Still no effect. Another Marine with an M203 joined the first, and continually fired on RAY. This got Liquid's attention, however, and the large head of RAY slowly turned to look at the Marines. RAY lifted its right leg and crushed one of the Marines. Another fell over the side of the catwalk from the force of the attack. The other two ran in opposite directions away from RAY. Liquid set RAY's leg down on the ground again, which created a large splash of water.

Snake came to and stood up. He raised Otacon over his Codec.

"Otacon, we have a problem…"

RAY submerged its head in the deep water and sucked in water through its open vents. RAY raised its head above the water again, and opened its gigantic maw. The water it had sucked in was concentrated and pressurized to an astronomical level. The result was not unlike what a laser is to light. The water shot out of an opening in RAY's mouth and began to cut through the steel walls of the ship, letting water flow in. A flood of water hit Snake, and he was carried out of the hold into the sea.

RAY swam out of the hold, and shot out of the ocean vertically. RAY climbed to almost a hundred feet and hung there for several moments before it came crashing down. The tanker had split in two, and RAY landed with each of its feet on the two parts of the ship. Snake surfaced in the water and stared up at the Metal Gear. RAY seemed to do the same. Ocelot inside the cockpit zoomed in on Snake floating in the water, not moving

"No problems…proceeding as planned, sir," Ocelot said, back in his normal voice. RAY's legs bent at the knees, then sprang back, causing RAY to leap from the top of the ship into the water with the utmost grace. RAY's dive caused a huge swell of water that Snake was pushed under by.

"Yes, at the location we discussed," Ocelot spoke to someone over a transmission as RAY continued to swim well under the surface of the water. Ocelot paused as someone on the other end of the line spoke before he continued. "Yes, I have photographic evidence of Snake on the scene. The Cypher was most useful. I look forward to tomorrow morning's newsflash. I would say the Marine Corps' plans are on indefinite hold." Ocelot paused again as the other person spoke, then replied. "Yes, of course, Mr. President."