October 26, 2062
Alpha Base Hospital
2140
Hyena wakes up to the sound of his patient monitor. He awakes groggily and looks around the room. The room is dark, but a slight sliver of moonlight pierces the window allowing the patient table to be illuminated.
He hears the telltale sound of boots coming closer to the room. The heavy boots are accompanied by another set of lighter boots. They approach at a steady pace not too fast nor too slow, and it seems the lighter boots are just a step behind the heavier boots. They both stop in front of the door. The sound of a key entering a lock is heard, and Hyena braces himself for what comes next.
The door opens gently, and one figure enters the room. The figure turns the light switches, which activate only one of the two lights leaving half the room in darkness.
The figure is a man wearing a cold-weather issued bdu. His heavy boots are covered with a slight layer of sleet. His face is pale and bears a black beard. His black wavy hair is left exposed to the elements. He wears a serious expression as his eyes scan Hyena in the slight darkness.
"Hyena, I take it?" The figure asks.
"Depends on who's asking," Hyena responds.
"The commander of the base you're currently residing at is whose asking AKA the person who saved your life."
Hyena shifts uncomfortably in his hospital bed. "I see. Then yes, I'm Hyena."
The figure pulls out a cigarette and puts it in his mouth. "A strange name to go by to be sure." The figure lights his cigarette and takes a long drag from it. "You have a real name?"
"I go by the name The Boss gave me. We abandon our given names when joining MSF."
The figure moves to the seat next to the hospital bed and sits down in it. It lets out a relieved sigh as it gets comfortable in the steel folding chair.
"An interesting way of treating your soldiers to be sure." The Commander says doubtfully. He takes another long drag of the cigarette. "So who is this "Boss" of yours? Is he human?" The Commander looks at Hyena with an eyebrow raised.
"Yes, he's a human," Hyena says incredulously. "In fact, he's the best of the best when it comes to tactical espionage and spying."
"Does he smoke?"
"Yes," Hyena responds, confused.
"He's definitely human then. Unfortunately, there aren't any records of his existence. At least in the G&K information network. Which mind you is quite vast."
"He does exist. At least he did. Maybe. I don't know anymore." Hyena argues more to himself than to the Commander.
"Well, let me hit you with the facts, soldier." The Commander puts out his cigarette on the metal part of the hospital bed. "The year is 2062. Sangvis Ferri has rebelled against humanity. This base is undermanned, undersupplied, and under constant attack from the enemy. We got lucky yesterday, but our luck is running out." The Commander takes out another cigarette and lights it. "And quite frankly, I doubt this base will last the rest of the year."
The Commander leans back in the folding chair and thinks for a moment. He leans back forward and looks at Hyena with a slight smile on his grizzled face. "I have an idea that can benefit both of us."
"And what is that idea?" Hyena asks quizzically.
"How about you join us? I mean, you have nowhere to go, right?" The Commander says in a somewhat crazed tone. "I could use another human on base." He ponders the thought for a second then takes a quick drag of his cigarette. "Yes, that might work. So how about it. I'll even take those off for you." The Commander points to the handcuffs binding Hyena to the bed.
"And if I refuse?" Hyena asks in a serious tone.
"I'll have no choice but to have you shot on suspicions of being Sangvis Ferris." The Commander says in a low voice.
"I don't have much choice then. I'll join. Until I find The Boss."
The Commander gets up from his folding chair and extends out his hand. "Works for me. Until you find your boss, if he even exists."
"Until I find The Boss," Hyena says, shaking the Commander's hand. As he does this, a cold chill goes down his neck. "Is this room not heated?"
"Yes, it's just that the heater for the whole base probably just died." The Commander says with feigned glee. "We should probably get you kitted for this weather." The Commander unlocks the handcuffs.
Hyena rubs his handcuffed hand and gets out of the bed and stands right in front of the Commander. The Commander stands at a tall 6'1 compared to the relatively small Hyena at 5'4.
"How's the shoulder?"
"Still a bit stiff," Hyena says, stretching it.
The door to the room opens again. A tall, white-haired woman enters the room. Her whole ensemble is pure white except for the weapon she carries. A weapons that even Hyena recognizes. The dp28 a soviet era machine gun that he had fired on multiple occasions. Its an oldie but in his experience it's reliable. The figure walks over to the Commander and whispers in his ear softly.
"I see." The Commander scratches his beard. "Hyena, are you ready for a mission?"
"I don't see why I wouldn't be."
The Commander lets out a weak smile then beckons Hyena to follow him. Both men and the white-haired woman exit the hospital and walk into the hallway.
"According to dp28's report, we just ran out of rations." The Commander says
"Things are that bad, huh," Hyena responds with disbelief.
"Yes, things have gotten to that point. It's becoming near impossible to keep this base functioning. The artic weather doesn't help our situation either." The Commander explains.
"I see. Is there any way to rectify the situation?"
"Yes, we just got intel that there is a nearby Sangvis Ferri FOB that hasn't been fully constructed as of yet. If we raid it now before they get set up, we can obtain the necessary resources to help rebuild our base."
"A supply raid? I like it." Hyena says, smiling under his balaclava.
"Good, I'm sending you in with PPsh-41."
"PPsh-41?" Hyena asks. "You have a strange way of naming your soldiers, too, ya know."
"Sure." The Commander responds, confused. "How good are you with a sniper rifle?"
"It's my 2nd weapon of choice," Hyena says proudly.
"Good, you're going to provide overwatch for PPsh-41 while she raids the base." The Commander says hastily.
The trio arrives at a door with the label "AUXILLIARY BARRACKS" over the door. The trio enters into a small room with unpainted walls and a bare floor. The only semblance of furniture is the two lockers that rest in the far end of the room. The Commander and Hyena walk toward the locker while the dp28 woman remains by the door.
"This is going to be your barracks from now on." The Commander says. "I can't have you in the same barracks as the others due to your "special" nature."
"Understandable."
"You'll find your kit in the locker. It's currently 2310. I'll give you until 2315 to get your kit equipped and ready. You'll find your echelon leader by the helipad." The commander orders. "Good luck, I'm putting a lot of faith in you."
Hyena gives a quick salute. "Understood. Boss."
The Commander returns the salute then heads towards the door where he leaves with the dp28 woman.
Inside the locker is a cold-weather BDU, an analog radio, as well as an M200 rifle. Hyena takes off his dirty MSF fatigues and places them neatly into the locker and withdraws the BDU from within. The BDU has a G&K patch on its right shoulder. Hyena feels the foreign patch with his bare hands and lets out a sigh.
"What have I gotten myself into." He asks himself as he puts the BDU on.
He looks in the mirror of the locker to view himself. The pure white outfit contrasts with his previous jungle-based fatigues. The BDU fits well. Almost too well. He withdraws the M200 and holds it by its carry handle.
He leaves the barracks and enters the hallway. He looks around for some direction in the dimly lit corridors and finds a worn-down sign with the words "HELIPAD" written on them. The arrow accompanying the sign also shows signs of wear as the bright red has turned to a dark red color. He heads in the direction of the arrow.
October 26, 2062
Alpha Base
2315
Hyena walks down the long, dimly lit hallways for what seems an eternity. Each twist and turn feeling like it leads further away from his destination. However, it gives him a nostalgic feel of his time on Mother Base, so it doesn't bother him too much.
His nostalgia ends as he encounters double doors. The cold breeze that seeps from underneath the doors tells him that it leads to the outside. He pushes the double doors and is greeted by a gust of arctic wind. In front of him, he can see a helicopter with its rotors spinning.
"Fuck that's cold," Hyena says, the moisture in his breath becoming fog.
"You get used to it, comrade." A voice says from behind him.
Hyena turns around to see a young girl wearing a tan ushanka with a bright red star on it. She carries a PPsh-41 in her hands. She wears a tan shawl over a blue and white dress.
"You must be my squad leader," Hyena asks.
"Da, comrade. PPsh-41, pleased to meet you." She says with a smile. "Have you been briefed on the mission?" She asks, starting to walk toward the nearby helicopter.
"Yes, I have," Hyena says, matching her pace.
"Good, then we shouldn't have any problems. It's a simple mission an in and out type of thing." She assures.
"I see. Let's get on with it then." Hyena says with an upbeat attitude.
They both reach the helicopter and enter into it. The seats are old and scrappy with some of the cushions bearing bullet holes and stuffing seeps out. The helicopter itself bears scratches and scars of its previous missions with many bullet dents, but suspiciously no holes. In place of the pilot's seat is a black mass with buttons and lights coming off of it. The lights seem to follow the two as they enter into the cabin.
PPsh-41 sits across from Hyena and places her weapon gently against the vacant seat next to her. Hyena does the same but rests his long gun across his lap.
"Have you ever flown before comrade Hyena?" 41 asks.
"Yeah, many times before. Though never pilotless." He points to the black mass where the pilot should be.
"Da, most of the transports on this base are manned by outdated AI's." She turns around and looks at the black mass. "They may be outdated, but they get the job done."
As she finishes talking, the helicopter takes off the helipad. It jostles back and forth as it struggles to lift its massive body into the air, fighting against the arctic wind.
Hyena shifts uncomfortably as the metal behemoth struggles to maintain its altitude. 41 notices and shoots him a comforting smile. He smiles awkwardly under his balaclava as he gets used to the jostling. Hyena looks outside the window to ease his discomfort.
Outside is a pitch-black winter wasteland. Not a building in sight, just the hills of snow piled upon each other. Any evidence that there was a base out here is gone.
"Hyena." A crackly voice calls from Hyena's belt worn radio. Hyena unlatches the radio from his belt and raises it to his mouth.
"Repeat?" Hyena asks over the radio.
"Oh good, the radio's working." A familiar voice crackles through the speaker.
"Commander?"
"Yes, it's me. We just got communications back online. It's ancient, but it still works." The Commander assures. "How far are you from the LZ?"
PPsh-41 takes the radio from Hyena.
"We are close, Commander." 41 transmits. "Should be less than an hour."
"Good, then we're still on schedule. I want you guys back here before daybreak." The Commander warns. "I don't want SF giving any more attention towards us. Hyena."
Hyena takes back the radio. "Yes, Commander."
"There's a gift for you in the cabin of the helicopter. Something that we found when we recovered you. It should be under the seats."
Hyena looks at the radio with a confused expression. He shuffles under the seat with one hand until he hits something. He brings up the package and looks at it. The words "FULTON DEVICE" are emblazoned on the packaging.
"A Fulton device? Is this how we're going to acquire the supplies?" Hyena asks.
"Affirmative. With our meager supplies, we upgraded them to carry more weight. PPsh-41 will attach them to the supplies and send them into the air. We've refitted one of our older helicopters to pick up the supplies." The Commander explains.
"Hey, comrade. We are getting close to the LZ." 41 whispers to Hyena.
"We're approaching the LZ commander. Going radio silent."
"Understood, good luck, the both of you. We're counting on you."
The radio goes silent. Hyena reattaches the radio to his belt and readies his weapon. 41 picks up her gun as well and gets up from her seat.
The helicopter begins its descent and hovers over the snowy ground. Behind the hill, it uses as cover, lies a small town with an ample space cleared out in the middle.
The duo exit the helicopter. As they touch the hard-packed ground, the helicopter begins its ascent. It disappears into the night sky in a matter of seconds.
"Are you ready, comrade?" PPsh-41 asks confidently
"Let's do this," Hyena responds with the same energy. "Mission Start."