Metal Gear Solid: Fallen Liberty
Chapter 3
By TheHiddenAssassin
1990
Two men stared stood out in the knee-high snow, resolute to the freezing temperatures around them. Both wore the gray and black uniforms of the German Reich; captains.
"It is has been quiet around these parts for some time now." the first, a tall hook-nosed individual remarked, speaking in surprisingly good English. The second, shorter than his comrade with darker hair barely visible under his cap grunted in response.
"The American terrorists have moved on." the shorted one said. "This area has become too heavily fortified to attack. No one would be foolish enough."
"No, save for one." his comrade remarked sagely. The short one snorted.
"Big Boss? That man was a terror, but time has surely begun to catch up with him." he said, fiddling idly with the silver cross around his neck, an award of many hard battles.
"That man is still a terror in his own right, aging or not. He is still capable of killing scores of our German warriors at one time. Did you hear the report at from the front last month? Two camps of men found slaughtered in a single night. Does that sound like the work of an aging push-over?"
"Fine fine. But still, even he would not attack us here. We have pushed the Americans to their heartland." a long silence passed between the two men. Finally the tall one turned.
"Come, Wilhelm. We should head inside before this weather kills us. I have to get my men ready for inspection tomorrow." The shorter one turned to his friend.
"Oh? What for?"
"Apparently the Gestapo is sending a man here. To review that new, secret project the spooks are working on."
"Ah, of course. Anything shady always involves the likes of the Gestapo. SO do you have any ida what exactly they work on in that base?"
"Not a clue. But I suppose we must not dwell on it too much. Ours is not the place to ask questions."
"True. Come Fran, lets head back to the club. The schnapps are on me tonight."
Both men began the slow trudge back up the hill, toward the large German camp.
The camp, wreathed in snow and lines of German tanks, built among the ruins Washington D.C, with the White House looming silently in the backdrop.
The officer's club was deserted when the two captains entered, all other patrons having turned in for the night. A soft song drifted in the background as the two headed for the bar, reaching for the bottles over the counter.
"Some service around here." Fran muttered, popping the cap off his bottle. Wilhelm nodded and did the same.
"Most of our troops are getting ready to be sent to the front line. It is a miracle we have remained here as long as we have." he said, idly taking a sip from the drink. The two friends sat in silence for a long while, simply thinking and listening to the quiet music.
The door to the club opened suddenly, causing eyes to be drawn to the entrance. A single man stepped in, clad in a black uniform and overcoat. A Gestapo uniform. Wilhelm and Fran saluted lazily. "Sir." Fran said. The man nodded to them both and walked to the seat beside Wilhelm.
"Evening, gentlemen." he said, voice hard and crisp. Wilhelm appraised the man for a moment; he was young, at least in his twenties, with black hair, pulled back in a short rat-tail. . Not exactly short as Fran, but not tall either, and almost skinny enough to be considered lanky. Wilhelm noted that the man was sporting a scar that ran across his left cheek, touching the bottom of his eye. His eyes were what drew the captain's attention. They were a cold blue, the sort that sent shivers from the sheer calculating intelligence in them.
"Evening, sir." Fran responded. "You'll have to get your own drinks tonight I'm afraid, seems the bartender is becoming lazy."
"Perfectly fine." the man said, reaching over the counter and withdrawing a bottle of vintage wine. "I can hardly blame him. It is quite late."
"Indeed." Fran said, taking another sip of his bottle. "We do seem to be here at quite a late hour. My friend and I were just discussing the current state of the war."
Wilhelm mentally winced. If there was one thing his old friend lacked, it was subtlety. The Gestapo man locked eyes with Fran.
"Oh? Do you have any complaints with the way our grand Fuerher is conducting the state of this war?" He asked calmly. Wilhelm saw a bit of color leave Fran's face.
"Not at all. I firmly support our glorious leader's plans as always. I simply meant about the current affairs against the Americans. We are all focused on winning, mister...."
"Konstantine." The Gestapo man said. "Alexander Konstantine of the Fuerher's Gestapo." he said. Fran nodded.
"A pleasure. I am Captain Fran Sigmund, and my friend here-"
"Captain Wilhelm Ludolf." Wilhelm cut in, holding out his hand. "A pleasure to meet you." Konstantine took his hand and nodded. "Heil Hitler." he said, raising a hand in customary salute. Fran and Wilhelm returned the gesture dutifully. "Tell me," The SS man said, "You are both stationed here to guard the base, yes?" it was a rather obvious question. Wilhelm found it hard to think of any other reason they WOULD be here. But there was something...searching in the question. This WAS the Gestapo so...
"Yes. Our companies are stationed here to make sure this base remains safe." Wilhelm said, staring at Konstantine. "To make sure that the experiments that are conducted here are safe."
"And do you understand the nature of these experiments?" The Gestapo man asked. Ah, that was it then. It had been said a Gestapo agent was overseeing the production of..something at the base. Wilhelm could only guess it was this man. ANd from the question, he was judging how they answered. To make sure they were as steadfast as they claimed.
Wilhelm mentally grinned. It was a rather standard Gestapo tactic, to trap one's enemy in words. "No sir. It has all been were tight-lipped. I don't suspect many besides the scientists themselves know. "He he paused. "And you, sir."
A silence hung in the air as Wilhelm and Konstantine stared at one another. Fran sat silently, glancing from one to the other with a slightly worried expression. Finally Konstantine answered.
"Yes, that is correct." he said. "We keep it quiet to ensure the security of such projects."
"But surely officers deserve to know of such things." Fran interjected.
"Only those proven trustworthy are privy to such things. Regardless of rank." The Gestapo agent replied. Here Wilhelm spoke in,
"So you doubt our trust as loyal soldiers of the Reich?"
"Not at all." Konstantine replied smoothly. "But some secrets require a certain.... level of trust. While you are loyal to the German cause, I cannot be certain of your underlying goals. Surely you understand. The Reich is holed with political skirmishes. Generals backstabbing each other and playing for power." He said. Wilhelm sighed. It was true, in these late days of the war it seems that many thought the Germans had already won. Many Generals were quick to turn on each other, seeking higher positions of power. It was only by the word of Hitler himself that the German command structure had not eaten itself alive.
"True enough." Fran said.
Konstantine took a long sip from his bottle and set it on the table. He stood and began walking for the door. "Well, gentlemen, it has been a pleasure. I must return to my duties as I'm sure you have to as well."
As he was about to leave, Wilhelm stood. "A moment, sir."
Konstantine paused, inclining his head slightly. "yes?"
"If we are to be trusted with guarding this 'great project' should we not even know of it's name? Of what exactly we are guarding?" Wilhelm stared down at the Gestapo soldier. Konstantine held his gaze for a moment before saying softly,
"I can tell you the name only. The project, Code Name: Metallzahnrad Mk Ich" And with that, the man turned and left the two captains sitting alone in the lavish officer's club, soft music drifting hauntingly into the night.