video → 001

[hunt_jackals]

[Before the video feed clicked on, the voice of a young boy could be heard.]

I won't cry.  I'm not going to cry.  Only babies cry.  I'm not a baby, I'm a soldier.  I'm not going to cry.

[Then the video came on; the boy it showed was dirty, pale, and dressed in a military uniform that was a little too big for him.  There was blood on his face, but it

Comments

[perfektioniert]

[Franziska has been in Somarium long enough to see things of this nature happen before on many occasions. That doesn't mean she isn't surprised that the newest victim is one Liquid Snake, but only that she hides her shock better than most.

Though she hasn't been inside the underground tunnels personally, it doesn't take a genius to guess where the young boy is currently trapped.

She ignores his questions.] You are underground, correct?

[hunt_jackals]

[He looked surprised when a woman's face appeared on the screen instead of the Major's.]

[He answered almost automatically; when an authoritative voice asked him a question, he'd been raised to answer it.] I think so, ma'am.

B-but I need to speak with my commanding officer. Put him on.

[perfektioniert]

I'm not familiar with your commander, but I will be sending a man down there to pick you up immediately.

[hunt_jackals]

[She didn't know his commander? Then that meant that she wasn't with them. And if that was true, then he couldn't let himself get captured; the Major had told him that if he was captured, no one would be coming for him. He was on a black-ops mission and the government would deny involvement.]

[The video feed shook as he started hastily gathering his equipment, then started running down the tunnel. He had to leave this position so that they couldn't find him.]

[Action]

[hunt_jackals]

[The boy startled when someone said his name, dropping the Dreamberry. He quickly reached down and grabbed the rifle at his feet, training it with shaking hands on the other man.]

N-name and rank!

[Action]

[hunt_jackals]

[SWAT? What would an American civilian paramilitary force be doing on a battlefield?]

[He hesitated, unsure of what he was supposed to do. They never covered this sort of situation in any of his training.]

I...

[Stick to protocol.]

I need to speak to my commanding officer.