"Dr. Emmerich, you stand accused of attempted murder, purposeful child endangerment, and tampering with ZEKE unauthorized. How do you plead?" the judge began. Luckily, they found a defense attorney, a prosecutor, and a judge from the number of refugees. It made the trial that much easier for Snake. They did, however, lack a courtroom. So, the trial was being held in a wide-open warehouse, in Mother Base's command platform.
And everyone was in attendance. The men surrounded the area, glaring down Emmerich, with Miller looking on from the crowd. Strangelove, doing somewhat better, stood next to him with Paz nearby.
"W-what?" Emmerich stammered out, "I haven't done anything wrong! Why am I here?"
"I'll assume that you plead innocent," the judge silently muttered, turning over to the lawyers. They both went over their opening statements quickly, Emmerich nervously looking around all the while. Then the prosecutor stepped forward, beginning his case.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, what I present to you today, is the schematics for the weapon known as Metal Gear ZEKE." the Prosecutor stated, a small screen lowering from the ceiling. It lit up in an instant as the blueprints were shown. Specifically, the blueprint for the AI pod.
"For those of us without an engineering degree like me, I had Dr. Strangelove break it down for us. The main segment of importance is this large spherical area. This is where the weapon's AI is hosted."
He used a small pointer to direct the attention to the AI pod. Continuously explaining what he had been told.
"Now from Dr. Strangelove's own statement, this AI pod never had interior controls for a pilot. The blueprints even demonstrate this, as seen here, no visible control scheme is listed on ZEKE's schematics. The addition for controls was never authorized by anyone from high command."
The prosecutor collapsed the pointer then as he finished his first piece of evidence.
"However, the change was made anyway, ignoring such procedures to double-check with the higher-ranking officers. The only ones responsible or capable of making the unauthorized changes, are Dr. Soul or Dr. Emmerich. As Dr. Soul wasn't present during the debacle, and no footage has been found with Dr. Soul being anywhere near ZEKE, which leaves Dr. Emmerich as the main suspect."
His points wrapped up, and he walked back to his side of the room. The defense stepped up then, attempting to put up some kind of defense. But the attorney knew there wasn't anything they could actually use for it.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, notice that the suspect is just that. A suspect. No evidence has been provided showing the suspect in the act, only speculation and assumptions."
It wasn't the best defense, especially when the prosecutor countered with security camera footage, but it was all he had. The evidence of his actions was overwhelming and almost impossible for him to do his job. The attorney almost didn't want to, but he continued on. This was to be a fair trial. So he stepped down allowing the Prosecutor to step up and for cross-examination to begin.
They called up the first witness, Dr. Strangelove, and asked her a series of questions. She answered honestly and the security footage helped back up her statements. Then they called up the next witness, the soldier that had found Strangelove. His own testimony was also backed up. All the while Emmerich became more and more anxious watching as the trial soon came to a close.
"Has the jury come to a decision?" the judge asked.
"We have your honor," one of the jurors spoke up, "with a vote of twelve to none, we find Dr. Emmerich guilty on all charges."
"Dr. Emmerich, for the crimes listed against you, you are to be locked away for a maximum of forty-five years."
"This is a mistake! I shouldn't be here! I haven't done anything!" Emmerich shouted out.
"The evidence says otherwise, Dr. Emmerich."
"I-it lies! All of it! Taken out of context!" he stammered, attempting to come up with some sort of excuse. Something, anything.
"How do you take attempted murder out of context?" the judge replied back, beginning to get fed up with the man.
"It was for the good of all of us! You have to believe me! How could you trust a machine with a nuke!"
"I've heard enough of this. Sixty-five years, bailiff take him away."
He tried struggling, as the bailiff dragged him away. He genuinely thought he was in the right. Why couldn't anyone else see it? Everyone in the room could only look at him with disdain as he was dragged away, leaving them to murmur amongst themselves.
"We should have killed him," Paz muttered angrily.
"No, killing him wouldn't have changed anything. And besides he's serving sixty-five years now. He won't be free until he's seventy." Soul told her.
"Still the fact we're keeping him here after everything." Strangelove countered.
"That's the point. If we killed him we lose a source of knowledge we could use. If we… I don't know banish him, then there's the risk of the HPSC getting their hands on him." Nagant interjected. That alone silenced them as they thought about it. The HPSC with one of the worlds leading scientists in metal gears. It only made killing him more appealing than anything though. Then again, the judge never said what would happen to him within those sixty-five years. Maybe Ocelot could utilize some of his talents in persuasion.
Somehow Midoriya's training had evolved. It had grown from knowing how to shoot, to CQC, and now to stealth. He wasn't complaining though. If anything he had wanted this, practically begged to be taught how. And now he was given a training exercise. He had to make his way from one of the Base Development platforms to the main office. He was given a tranquilizing pistol, a taser instead of a knife, and his own sneaking suit.
It took everything he had not to geek out at it. His own suit, it was like getting his own hero costume. It didn't fit entirely, it being a bit too big, but he didn't care. It was his, and he was happy. He wasn't alone in this exercise, however, for DD was accompanying him. DD had his own sneaking suit, with a taser.
Midoriya was ready, he checked the watch he had been given. He waited right until when the minute changed, and the training began. He climbed up the stairs on Mother Base's outskirts, right to the top where he started surveying the area. They were starting off easy for him, with only four guards on the platform, and another four on the main one.
They were armed with colloquially dubbed STN assault rifles, due to them being unable to fire rounds other than rubber. They hadn't spotted Midoriya yet, so he marked them down one by one. Moving quickly he crawled along the ground sticking to the outskirts of the platform. Midoriya nearly celebrated when he got halfway across when his happiness was shattered. An unnoticed guard behind him.
"Contact!"
And the alarm sounded off. He got up and ran quickly, for there was another part of the exercise. What to do if caught. The guards swarmed around the one that had yelled out, laying suppressing fire on Midoriya. He ducked behind a wall, with DD sticking close to him. He tried to think of a plan, but all the while the guards drew closer.
"...You think this counts as child abuse?" one guard asked the other, as they slowly approached Midoriya.
"I'd assume so." the other responded. I mean they were shooting at a child, which sure the rounds weren't lethal, but they still hurt.
"I don't know I think it's a bit more complex than that. But the kid kinda asked for this so…" A third replied.
"Wouldn't that just make him a masochist? In which case, would still be child abuse?" the first one asked again unsure. It didn't really matter at that point, they were right next to Midoriya now. He panicked when he saw them, freezing for a moment before the practice ended. The guards lowered their guns as Snake soon arrived.
"So," he began, "what did you do wrong?"
It didn't take long for Midoriya to realize.
"I didn't pay attention to my surroundings. If I did I would have noticed the guard behind me," he replied.
"Good, there's a reason I had DD with you. His senses allow him to have a better awareness of the area, use it next time." Snake told him, as he took a quick puff from his cigar. From there Midoriya would try again. He would head to a different part of the platform, but still on the lower walkway. Then he would check his watch again, waiting until the minute changed.
With DD again in tow, he climbed up the stairs. Same as the last time, with four guards on both platforms. This time, however, DD gave him a quiet nudge whenever a guard came close. They stuck to the edges again, this time going unnoticed. He made it to some shipping containers that were resting on the platform. In between them was a lone guard, one who was looking in the other direction. Remembering what he had been taught, he drew his pistol and walked up behind him.
"Hands up," he ordered. The guard attempted to hold in a laugh when he heard him, but he complied nonetheless. Sticking to the training procedure, he held up his hands and dropped his rifle.
"Where are the other guards?" Midoriya demanded. The guard let out a snicker, attempting to take it seriously.
"There's heh, two on the catwalk heh. Another on the…" he couldn't finish before breaking down into a quiet fit of laughter. He couldn't take it seriously. The high-pitched voice of a child trying to interrogate him, it was too funny.
"Hey!" Midoriya called out to him annoyed.
"I'm sorry," the guard told him still laughing away.
"It's not that funny," Midoriya said, not noticing the guard moving for his taser.
"Well your voice is just too high pitched kid, I can't take it seriously." the guard replied, his hand firmly on the taser.
"Really?" Midoriya asked.
"Pretty much, try adding some gravitas to it… actually, no that might make it funnier."
"Well, what do you suggest?"
"One, wait until your older for interrogations," the guard began, "and two…"
He turned around quickly taser in hand. Midoriya having no time to react was swept off his feet. He fell, landing on the hard ground beneath. Looking back up he found the guard holding the taser right above his neck, keeping him in place.
"Don't let yourself get distracted in the field." the guard finished, before stepping back away. Slowly Midoriya got back up as the guard radioed the others, informing them of Midoriya being caught. He had lost again, but he had done better than last time. That is what he focused on, as he began the exercise again.
The Tyrant watched the security footage carefully, examining the entirety of his new factory. Originally it mass-produced hundreds of tanks in a matter of weeks. Now it worked on his latest project, the missile casings for nukes. Hundreds of workers toiled away on the screens, shaping the metal into what was demanded. All of it was funded by the HPSC. He couldn't help but love the irony, of heroes paying the villain. And Night Owl sat next to him, pointing out what flaws he found in the factory's layout.
"I still don't see the problem." the Tyrant replied.
"It's too cramped, if you want maximum output and to make as many nukes as possible, the workers need more space." Night Owl told him, showing off a small infographic.
"Then how do we keep the workers in check? Spreading them out would require more manpower to watch over them." The Tyrant asked. He had a large army, of millions of men all across Southern Africa. But it wasn't infinite. That meant every operation, even the small ones, had to be planned accordingly.
"Supplement them with security systems. More cameras, drones, landmines, and if it comes to it then yes, more guards." Night Owl answered.
"Cameras are good, but nothing beats a man's senses. You can't smell through a camera, you can't taste, you can't touch." the Tyrant countered.
"It doesn't appear to be helping your men anyways." Night Owl commented. It confused the Tyrant for a moment, as he looked over to one of the security cameras. It was an external one, showing off the surrounding savannah, and an unconscious guard on the ground. The security camera then lost connection.
"Big Boss, I presume?" the Tyrant asked, turning over to Night Owl.
"Oh most definitely," Night Owl replied, "you have any popcorn? Because this is going to be entertaining."
The Tyrant turned back to the screens, watching as his men remained unaware. He ultimately decided not to warn them. After all, if Night Owl was right, then this was going to be interesting. And as Snake shot out another security camera, he heard Nagant talk over the codec.
"Three guards ahead on the walkway," she told him, with Snake looking out to the factory's interior. It was a large complex, with machines littering its crowded floor. Tall walkways and balconies provided the guards vantage points for the entire area. Moving quickly Snake fully entered the facility, sticking to the walls of the factory. He snuck forward, passing the guards unspotted.
Looking up and he spotted the guards Nagant had warned him about. They had a complete view of the surrounding area, and they would spot him in an instant.
"You have a shot?" he asked her, looking over his shoulder for any other guards.
"Negative, a wall's blocking them now," Nagant replied. Snake looking back up, found a nearby pipe going up. It leads straight to the walkway, so acting quickly he climbed up. Once there he chose his next move carefully. The three guards were armed with FN FALs, but there was no noticeable quirk. Finding them distracted, he snuck up behind the first one.
He choked him out before the other guards could notice. The other two then started to turn, and Snake charged at them. He drew his pistol, firing three tranq rounds into the head of the second guard. He passed out instantly, leaving the third to find Snake. Having no time to react, Snake swept his legs out from under him. The man now falling, and Snake slammed him down onto the ground. Dazed for only a second, the third guard then found a gun right in his face.
"Where's your boss?" Snake demanded as he checked the surrounding area.
"Fuck you." the guard replied, glaring up angrily at him.
"You want to try that again?" Snake asked, drawing his knife. He placed it mere inches from the guard's throat. His bravado seemed to falter for a moment.
"I'm not afraid. The Tyrants threatened us with worse."
"True," Snake told him, "But would you rather die now, or later?"
The guard pondered for a bit, weighing his options carefully.
"He's in the foreman's office." he finally answered.
"Anyone with him?" Snake asked, putting his knife back in his sheath.
"No one except for some doctor he brought along." the guard replied. Satisfied, Snake tranquilized him, and began making his way over to the office. He was able to find it or the window leading to it. Inside he spotted Night Owl sitting next to the Tyrant. Looking for the closest way there, he found an industrial crane dangling over the gap. Thinking for a moment, Snake made his decision.
He ran towards the edge of the walkway, jumping over the railing. His hand reached out, narrowly grabbing the crane's hook. It swung with his weight, moving it to the window. The hook of the crane crashed into the window, with Snake let go. He rolled into the room, bringing out his FNC.
"I must say that was something." he heard Night Owl mock. Snake looked up, finding the doctor and the Tyrant behind a glass wall.
"I'd personally give it a ten, what about you?" Night Owl turned, asking the Tyrant.
"I've seen better, I'll give him an eight." the Tyrant commented. Snake shot at the glass then. The rounds cracked it, but it didn't shatter.
"Well, I think we should get things underway." Night Owl started, ignoring Snake's previous action, "Snake, meet the Congo Tyrant. Tyrant, meet Snake."
"Snake, huh, the name seems accurate." The Tyrant stated, walking around the bullet-resistant glass. He pushed an unseen button, calling for backup to the room.
"Your small, weak, cowardly, slithering about my domain. Just like a Snake. It fits you."
Guards burst into the room then, quickly surrounding Snake. Outnumbered, he slowly lowered his gun. The first guard walked up to him, grabbing it. A second restrained Snake's arms, while the Tyrant continued to talk.
"You know, the HPSC has a large bounty on your head Snake. Somewhere in a billion dollars last I checked. And I must say I was tempted to cash in on it." the Tyrant told him, as his soldiers unloaded Snakes weapons. Snake was forced to the ground, his cuffs rubbing against his hands.
"But I ultimately decided against it. For too long I have been denied a challenge." the bullet-resistant glass, lowered into the floor. The Tyrant and Night Owl then stepped out, heading for the door.
"You will be that challenge Snake, for that I bid you adieu." they both left the room, a helicopter being heard above them now. It left just as fast as it had arrived, informing Snake of the two's departure. His eye looked around the room, finding the guards looking about.
"So… were we given orders on what to do with him?" one asked.
"I'm not sure, maybe we're supposed to shoot him." another replied.
"But the boss said he wanted a challenge, wouldn't that imply he wants him alive?" the first one asked again.
"I think it's something else like the boss is expecting him to escape." a third spoke up.
"... so he put us into a situation where we're screwed." one guard realized aloud, right as a guard noticed a red dot on his head.
"... shit."
A single round was fired by Nagant's quirk. It burst through the open window, punching through a guard's head. It exited on the other side, before ricocheting on a nearby wall. Soon the bullet hit a second guard before it ricocheted again. The guards had no time to move as their heads exploded one by one. All the while Snake remained still, not moving until the last guard fell dead.
"Sorry about the delay, had to move to a new position." Nagant relayed over the codec. Snake got up then, finding his rifle. Checking it over he reloaded it swiftly before exiting the office.
"The targets escaped," Snake told her as he moved to search the room's documents. The Tyrant had to have left something of importance behind.
"That explains the helicopter," Nagant remarked. Snake continued to search, finding the documents held no real value. That was until he found a blueprint. It was unmistakable what he saw, as he quickly pocketed the blueprint. The mission changed immediately.
"Nagant, change of plans, we're going loud," Snake ordered, checking the chamber of his FNC.
"You find something big?" Nagant asked, the sound of gunfire being heard from the codec.
"The Tyrant's building nukes," he told her, kicking the office's door open. He found two guards on the other side. Both fell dead in seconds, with Snake running past them.
"What!?" Nagant exclaimed, as three more shots were fired.
"The blueprint for a nuke was found in the office. If I'm correct, this factory is producing the hulls for the bombs." Snake replied as he leaped over the edge of a railing. He landed into a roll, quickly ducking behind a large machine.
"Order's then?"
"Secure the factory. We cannot allow it to continue production."
Rounds hit the machine's exterior, denting the metal. The guards scrambled around the area. A small group of four moved in on Snake's flank. Snake spotted them, tossing a grenade over to their position. They were cut down in an instant, the shrapnel tearing them apart. More gunfire resonated around the factory, with screams being heard. The workers of the factory, ran outside, attempting to find freedom. All while Snake returned fire at a ducking soldier.
Finding he couldn't get a clear shot, he snuck to the other side of the machine. Crawling along the ground, he got close to the guard, before grabbing him in a chokehold. Snake unsheathed his knife then, slitting the throat of the soldier as gunfire echoed around him. He would duck back down, spotting the perpetrators on the walkway.
Just as Snake aimed his rifle, the guards' heads exploded. Nagant outside switched targets then, as she continued to fire at the guards outside. They hadn't found her yet but knew she was around the area. She found one ducking behind a truck. Aiming carefully, she fired at one of the factory's walls. The bullet bounced off, hitting the guard in the back.
At that moment two guards exited the factory. They fired sporadically into the savannah's tall grass, forcing Nagant to duck down. She attempted to begin firing again when Snake exited the factory. He shot the last few guards, all of them trying to return fire. But it was for naught, the last of them being killed by Nagant. The moment of peace allowed her to take a quick breath, as Snake broke out a cigar.