AN: The reason this story is set to MGS/crossover is to see how long it takes until someone guesses what the crossover is with.
There wasn't an ambush waiting for them, but Snake hadn't really expected there to be.
Still, better safe than sorry, when there were lives on the line.
There also wasn't much sign of the temple the archaeologists were looking for, but if it was obvious they wouldn't have needed the map.
Even if Snake did have to wonder about why someone sould hide a temple, especially if they were going to draw a map to it.
Well, that wasn't his job right now.
No, his responsibility was keeping the group safe.
And as such, he found a route up the cliffs, not one he would recommend anyone else use, and gound a good spot to watch over the approaching convoy, D-horse left safely below.
He also spotted a good LZ for the Pequod, so he could get to and from Mother Base without too much trouble.
Not that he was going to unless an emergency came up of course.
Or he got bored and needed a vacation from his break, in which case he'd assign one of the former 'freedom fighters' he'd recruited to watch over them in his place.
He… probably should look into how Miller and Ocelot managed to make such loyal soldiers out of the random guys he kept extracting after knocking them out, even if it was his message, that didn't mean they should demonstrate such fanaticism about his leadership.
Well, probably best wait until they were sufficiently entrenched that the XOF couldn't try anything first.
He swept his binoculars across the region, making sure that it was just the archaeology convoy in sight, following their approach until he was confident they were out of danger, before heading back to were he'd climbed up.
Climbing down was always more awkward, and he wanted to be there to greet the doctor.
]
Rather than stop to set up in front of the cliff, the doctor surprised Snake by leading the convoy round, into something of an enclosed space, surrounded, barring an entrance, by the walls of the plateau. There was even an overhang above, letting it escape his initial survey, and blocking most ambient light, leaving only headlights to provide illumination for the moment.
"I'd have expected you to scout out the area a bit more," doctor Nielson joked as he stepped out of the jeep.
"I was more concerned about people watching for our approach, or pursuing us from the road," Snake informed him. "If I had more men with me, I'd have taken the opportunity to scout the area properly, while they kept watch."
He was really starting to feel the need for a buddy he could take on these missions.
"How did you know this area was here anyway?"
"It was shown on the map," the doctor proudly declared. "A perfect place to set up camp, if I do say so myself, safe from watching eyes and sandstorms alike. Well, duststorms technically I suppose."
"How old did you say this map was?"
"From shortly after the temple was built, far as I can tell. Why?"
Because a geological structure like this wouldn't stay intact for the hundreds of years since the temple was built, even if it had been natural.
It didn't make sense, and when things didn't make sense it often meant, in Snakes experience, that someone was involved he'd have rather avoided.
Like that kid with a gasmask, or the burning man in Cyprus. Or any of Boss's unit.
"I'll take a look around," Snake informed them.
There wasn't that much space for someone to be hiding, but his paranoia was starting to act up.
"Suit yourself, we'll sort out the camp while you wander."
Snake didn't dignify that with a response.
He stalked away, ignoring the workers unloading the trucks and starting to erect the tents, examining the walls and floor instead.
It mostly looked like a natural space, even some small scrubs growing near the entrance, browning from the inconsistent light.
But some of the walls and floor were unnaturally smooth, almost certainly carved.
Even steps downward.
It didn't give Snake much confidence in the stability of the ceiling.
He approached the doctor again, as he had his map spread out on the back of the Jeep, examining it with clear pride in his own abilities to read it.
"This space was carved out," Snake stated.
"Hmm? Oh, they temples out of rock faces quite often," doctor Nielson responded, clearly not paying much attention. "Some are quite famous you know."
"Did they normally leave such an open space with an overhang?"
"Not really, but this temple is unique in a lot of ways. It's part of why I didn't want any of the relics to go missing."
"Are you sure this place isn't going to collapse?"
"It's stood this long, hasn't it? It'll be fine."
Not the sort of response Snake liked from someone he was supposed to be keeping alive.
"I'm heading out. There might be others who know about this place, and I'd feel better with some backup."
"Hmm? Oh, feel free. To be honest, I'd expected this place to be a bit more open, we probably won't need you here until it's time to head back."
"Unless these other archaeologists you borrowed the map from show up."
Nielson just laughed in response.
"They may be thieves, but primarily they're still academicals. I doubt they'd cause us much trouble if they find us here. Well, until we try to leave of course, they could block us in quite easily, ransom us for the relics they want. But if it makes you feel better."
Snake shook his head, and turned towards the entrance.
That sort of lackadaisical attitude rubbed him the wrong way, too many good soldiers victims of similar assumptions.
"Um," a slightly familiar voice started near him, and Snake glanced over to see Mitchell.
"Something to say?"
Snake winced as Mitchell flinched at his gruffness.
He wasn't cross with the kid.
Or, not too cross with him anyway.
Wasn't his fault he reminded Snake about events with the Boss.
"Sorry about thr doctor," Mitchell said hesitantly. "He's just… a bit excited about being so close to the discovery. He always gets like that when the expedition starts properly. I mean, get to the site and all…"
"How long have you been working with him," Snake found himself asking, curious despite himself about how the student had learned what to expect from his teacher.
"A few years, since I graduated. Um, sorry."
"About what?"
"Bringing up whatever made you quit the army. I mean, as a student of history I'm probably in one of the better places to know governments can't always be trusted with the loyalty of their soldiers."
"You couldn't have known," Snake allowed. "America hardly advertises some of it's more… controversial strategies. It's just the sort of thing you have to go through yourself."
"I guess… Why not let more people know? 'Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it', after all, so if you give people a chance…"
Snake shook his head.
"You don't know what happened, telling people would do more harm than good."
"O-oh. You'd know better than me. Um, you… aren't planning to just leave, right?"
"We have a contract. Even if I no longer felt I could stick around, you'd get others in my place."
His piece said, Snake continued towards the entrance to the space, taking a moment to adjust to the sunlight.
Fortunately there weren't any armed men waiting for someone to poke their head out of the gap in the rock, just D-horse grazing placidly as he waited for Snake.
Snake moved away, before pulling out a cardboard box to conceal himself and activating his iDroid, making sure he wouldn't be surprised while distracted by the device.
"Pequod, forwarding coordinates for a possible LZ. Please confirm."
His radio crackled in response.
"Pequod here. Checking site."
Snake checked over Mother Bases status as he waited for the helicopter to approach.
It wasn't long before he heard the sound of Pequods rotors.
"Pequod on site. LZ confirmed. Need a lift?"
"Not right now, Pequod. Is there an operative with knowledge of geology or architecture you could drop off? I'm not convinced about how safe the campsite our employee picked out is."
"Can do, Big Boss, but it'll take some time to get back."
"That's fine, I'll be on watch out here for now."
"Understood. Pequod out."
Satisfied that he'd be getting the closest thing Mother Base had to an expert here soon, Snake turned his attention back to directing their research.
It was his current objective, as far as the research went, to get a suppressed non-lethal assault rifle.
They hadn't had too much trouble with a suppressed tranquilliser pistol, and his tranquilliser sniper rifle didn't have the same urgency, as he wasn't intending to use it close enough to be heard.
But while a suppressed assault rifle wasn't too hard to obtain, nor one that fired rubber bullets, a rifle that combined both seemed beyond their capability for now.
Not that he was likely to need the suppressor if he using the rifle, but it was best to be prepared.
Assigning the RD platform to their new task, he shut the holographic screen down, and checked the view outside the box.
The coast remained clear, so Snake packed the box away again, bringing out his binoculars to check the approach.
There was nobody approaching, and Snake made his way back up the cliff to his prior vantage point, already making plans to make it easier, and returned to surveillance.
No longer focused on the area around the convoy, he spotted an outpost by the road.
It was very tempting for Snake, the possibility of clearing it out and gaining a few new recruits, but he resisted.
At least until the other Mother Base operative arrived and got set up.
Until Pequod got back, though, he was simply set to watch for any approaching hostiles.
AN: Slightly more rushed than intended, due to my niece's christening taking up much of the day. Should start the action next chapter