7:47 PM: Metal Gear Solid

1.3 - Operation: Liquidation, Pt. II

Main Structure, MSF Base; 1:38 AM

It was less than a minute until I got to the second floor, and to a row of windows overlooking the whole base. I could see the derelict watchtower from here, across the grounds, and from this vantage point, Gray Fox trying to get closer. The sniper seemed to have Fox pinned; any time Fox leaned out from behind cover, he had to quickly jump back, lest he get shot. I could see the muzzle flash at the top of the tower, but the lack of gunfire suggested use of a suppressor. After every eight shots, Fox would manage to run a little closer while the sniper reloaded, but the marksman seemed to have nimble fingers, and as much ammunition as he needed to camp all night.

An idea crossed my mind. I went back downstairs and took the semiautomatic rifle and all its ammo off the corpse of the man holding it, and ran back up to the windows.

"Hey, Fox," I said into the codec. "Get ready to close a lot of distance in a short time."

I aimed down the iron sights and shot through the window, not expecting to hit the sniper, but to at least get his attention. There was a break in his fire, midway through his current magazine; I ducked under the window just as four shots shattered it.

"Thanks for the assist, Snake!" Fox hollered gleefully on the codec. The sniper started shooting again, targeting the ninja. "Dammit! I almost made it! Think you can get his attention one more time?"

I looked over my cover and took aim again, but on shot seven, the sniper quickly looked my way. I learned several things in that instant: one, he was a crackshot that was free-shouldering his rifle--that is to say, using a stock without the use of a tripod. Two, he was using a laser sight--unlike the movies, I couldn't see the laser itself, but in that moment when his aim was on me, my vision flared red. He was aiming right at my eye.

I ducked again, and the codec pinged.

"Solid Snake," a deep, guttural voice greeted me. It sounded like it was coming through an audio filter. "This is between me and the ninja right now. I'll get to you when it's your turn."

I stood and rifled the gun again, but the sniper took his eighth shot, and knocked my weapon out of my arms.

"Congratulations on getting the ninja to my position, though," he said to me. He didn't sound impressed.

"Who the hell is this? How'd you get this frequency?" I demanded, but the sniper shut down his codec midway through my second question. I swore, and decided to keep on with my objective.

I took off down the hallway, heading for the northwest corner of the building as Helena had instructed. There were two guards at the door; I tranquilized one, and threw the other one to the floor before dropping my knee on his temple, crushing his head between my leg and the floor. He was out cold as I stood again. The man I tranqued began snoring softly.

I holstered the Hush Puppy and double-checked the ammo in the 1911, closed my eyes, and took a deep breath. Then, looking forward, I raised my knee to my chest and kicked the door down.

There were seven men inside; Eli, two of his commanders, and four infantrymen. Eli and the commanders were huddled around a table with a map of the world sprawled over it. I appeared to have caught them in the middle of planning something. The infantry raised their weapons to aim at me and the commanders drew their sidearms, but upon seeing me, Eli just grinned.

"Well, hello, brother," he greeted me from across the room. "It's been a long time. Glad you finally came all this way to visit."

"Can the chatter, Liquid!" I commanded him. "It's over! Militaires San Frontieres is finished! The US Army will be here within just thirty minutes, backed up by the Russians and the British. The entire facility will be surrounded on three fronts. Surrender now, and--"