PMC's, War Economies, and Fillies? I didn't sign up for this!

by Bronycommander


Chapter 3 A helping Snake

Chapter 3: A helping Snake

I was restrained but I still tried to calm Noi down by saying comforting words to her.

She didn’t stop crying, she feared for her life. I can’t blame her; I was scared too to be honest.

“They need backup. Move out! On the double!”

“Roger!”

“Hey, they need reinforcements up top. You ready to roll?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

"Great. Let’s go. Right behind you!” Militiamen leaved to fight.

The rumbling didn’t stop.

“T-they won’t hurt us, right?” Noi sobbed.

“They won’t hurt you…” I was cut off as a militia instructor walked to us.

“You. PMC soldier. You will pay for your crimes.”

“Please! Mercy, I beg you!” Noi cried, close to breakdown.

Before the instructor could do anything, someone tapped his shoulder.

A colorless exclamation mark appeared over his head as he turned around. “Oh! You again.” He said to the old man that attacked me earlier.

“Kept you waiting, huh? What you’re gonna do with him?”

“Execute him like the other PMCs. About her, we aren’t sure yet.”

“You can’t do that, I’m afraid. He’s part of UN peacekeepers, monitoring the PMCs effects and impacts. He uses the PMC uniform so he can get a closer look. She is… the daughter of a UN ambassador and he has order to protect her.”

“Oh…in that case, I let them go and inform the others. What about you?” the militiaman asked confused.

“I’m their escort.”

“Uhh...okay.”

He left as the man used a knife to cut the rope. “Thanks, I owe you one.” I took Noi on my arm and stroked her mane while she cried in my chest.

“You owe me nothing. Stay with me if you want to get out of here alive.” Apart from the AK, he had two pistols, one a tranquilizer gun, a modified Ruger MK. 2 with built-in suppressor I believe.

“By the way, what's your name?” Noi asked him, finally calmed down.

"Call me Snake.”

“Okay, Snake.”

We followed him through the safe house; every rebel greeted him and apologized to us.

We came to a room where wounded members were treated.

“It hurts…” a wounded man was hurt pretty badly.

“You’re gonna be OK. It’s not that bad. Just hang in here.” A medic tried to calm him down.

“Oh man. It hurts bad.”

“We’ll getcha patched up. Just hold on a little longer.”

Snake gave him a Ration. “Thanks.”

In the next room, an instructor was talking with another rebel at a table where a damaged wing from a Slider UCAV was on.

“Intel indicates the enemy’s deployed…some sort of special unit, outfitted with unknown gear.”

“You mean those four ugly so… uh, things?” the rebel corrected himself as he saw Noi. She examined the wing curiously, as children were.

“Yes sir.” The instructor replied. As it wasn’t so dark here, I noticed that snake was wearing some sort of electronic eye patch over his left eye.
“Their appearance may be strange, but they demonstrated incredible combat abilities. We’re already lost several units to them.”

“I hear one of ‘em even flies.”

“One of them does indeed seem capable of flight, sir. At the same time, it also maintains control over several UCAVs, increasing its air attack capability.” The instructor explained.

“One of my men recovered what he claims to be one of those UCAVs.”

“Now, they appear capable of working together or acting independently. My guess is they’re building an aerial surveillance network, sir.”

“I see, the more Intel they have on the area, the more effective their ground units are in battle.”

I think they’re talking about the Beauty and the Beast Unit. A unit with special suits as far as I know. Never saw them, only heard of them. Deadly, so deadly that even some PMC soldier were afraid of them.

Snake got some White Phosphorus, smoke and stun grenades from two more dead PMCs. Also ID locked; didn't know the ID works on grenades.

At the stairs to the upper floor were some lockers. I took an AK-102 with some ammo out of one.

I saw a militia member with a HK21E. He was extremely careless with it as he waved it around near his friend.

“Check this out!”

“Hey, isn’t that an enemy gun?”

“The very latest model. Much better than those popguns they give us!”

“What, it was just…lying around? Someone musta left it behind. In any case, it’s gotta be locked. You can’t use it.”

“You think so, wouldn’t ya? But not this one! This one I can fire.”

“How’d you manage that? I thought all their weapons were locked out.”

“Normally, yeah…I wonder if that gun merchant’s still hanging around that building up the road. He can take these guns and unlock ‘em for you. You just have to bring him a bunch of spares.”

“How did he do it? Get the locks off, I mean.”

“ Heck if I know.”

Interesting.

Upstairs, Snake used his other pistol, a Springfield Operator, a modified M1911A1. I spare you with the details.

After scanning the room, I made the all-clear sign to Noi.

The room was actually a garage, a Stryker with the slogan, “Eye Have You”, painted on the side.

On the ground were several weapons and… a hairless monkey? He was grey and had black eyes.

Snake noticed a M4 lying next to the monkey. He was about to pick it up, as someone asked, “Pretty sweet, huh?” We both looked around. “Whoa, hold it! Watch where you’re pointing that thing.”

An African man with glasses and blond hair walked up to us, hands up, a white handkerchief in his right hand to show he surrendered or meant no harm.

I lowered my weapon, Snake didn’t. “Who are you?”

“Neither enemy, nor friend.” The man materialized a grenade from the handkerchief. “Voila!”

While Noi smiled, impressed by it, Snake said, ”You’re not with the militia, and you’re not PMC…”

“I’m a weapons wholesaler – all shapes, all sizes. But there’s no need to worry, ‘cause all my thing’s been laundered.”

“Laundered?” Snake asked confused and the man made a magical trick, the grenade was now an apple. Sleight of hand, an old trick.

“You see, I take ID guns like the PMCs use and make some mods. Then you can use ‘em without having to match IDs. In other words, I’m a gun launderer.”

That must be the guy the two rebels were talking about.

“You can call me Drebin.”

“Drebin?” Snake was still confused.

“Yeah, they use that for all of us.”

“There are more of you?”

“All over the world. Not that I ever met any of ‘em personally. Me, I’m Drebin number 893.” He picked the M4 up, the grip facing Snake.
“Unlike your buddy, you ain’t a registered PMC employee, are ya? You need a guy like me. Consider it a welcome gift.” Drebin handled the M4 over to Snake.

“Take it.”

Snake hesitated before taking and inspecting it.

“The M4. The official carbine model used by the US army…Developed from the M16 service rifle. This one’s a top-of-the-line model. High precision. Free-floating, of course. Relax, that barrel’s clean.” Drebin explained to him
.
It reminded me of my first days in the PMC where I also used a M4. Customable for every situation.

A ringing sound snapped me out of it and snake knelled down, putting his hand on his left ear. I couldn’t hear who was on the other end, but Snake asked if Drebin could be trusted.

“And you? A PMC who has a foal a companion? Sounds like it’s out of a Fanfiction story.” He gave Noi the Apple.

“Thanks, Mr. Drebin.” She took a bite, smiling and played with the monkey.

“Drebin is just fine.” Strange that he wasn’t surprised that she could talk.

“You seemed interesting after getting disconnected from the system, so I decided to check you out. Here, a welcome gift.” He used his magical trick to materializing a Makarov from the handkerchief.

“A Makarov PMM, made in the late 1980, so you don’t need an ID to use it. Official sidearm of the Soviet army, 12 round magazine.”

“Thanks.” I took it and holstered it.

“Now tell me, who is she?”

I took a deep breath and told Drebin what happened.

He seemed to believe me.

He smiled at Noi. “Hey little one, wanna see another trick?”

“Yes, please!” she exclaimed. Drebin held a coin in his right hand.

“Watch.” The coin vanished, showing both hands, they were empty.

“Amazing!” Noi was impressed.

Drebin grabbed something behind her right ear. “Voila!” He revealed the coin behind her right ear.

Noi applauded with a big smile. “Thank you, thank you.” Drebin did a bow.

Snake was ready, as he got up.

“So…we ready to make a deal, or what?” Drebin asked Snake got up.

“OK, then. Let’s talk business. This is a war zone. There’s product coming in here by the truckload. And you’ll both be picking up a lot of guns out in the field, I’m sure.

Whatever guns you don’t need, I’ll take and buy ‘em off ya. That’ll earn you points you can cash it for services. I’ll launder your ID guns – no more locks. And I can also sell you the guns I’ve got in stock.” He pointed to his Stryker.

Inside were guns, pictures and a vending machine.

“To ensure you can use non-ID guns, I’m gonna have to suppress the Nanomachines you both got in ya. Otherwise, they’ll interfere with the system.”

Drebin gave me a syringe. “It’s full of suppressor Nanomachines.”

I injected myself so I could use any weapon I would find. It hurt a little bit and grunted in pain but was used to it.

Snake blocked it but gave in after a few seconds.

“Now you both can use non-ID guns, no problem. Oh, before I forget.”

Drebin handled me an Mk.17 with Flashlight, Laser Sight, Red Dot Sight and a fore grip. “It’s on the house.” We gave both weapons a test run and they worked.

Then he said if we should find any locked weapon, we should let him know. He also told us that he was specialized in seedy service before getting into his APC.

“Eye. Have. You.” He gave Noi a friendly smile and wave that she returned before driving away.

“I know this part of the town pretty well. I can lead you through.”

“Alright, Edward, lead the way.”

Outside, we were standing in front of a collapsed building.

“Yesterday, it was still intact. Anyway, the only way to downtown is straight through.” I explained a little bit scared and unsure.

“You’re sure, Edward?” Noi was also unsure.

“It’s the only way.” I took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

I helped Noi through the building, many dead militiamen were in the damaged building.

I took any AK ammo from the bodies and took some rations, Noi tried to cover her ears from the explosions.

The building rumbled. “Careful, the walls could come down any second.”

Just as I said this, a part of the roof collapsed, almost hitting Noi but I grabbed her and pulled her away. “Thank you!” She was grateful as I patted the dusk off her.

At the other end, two rebels looked out of a window.

“Look, it’s the enemy.”

“Yeah. I can see ‘em!”

“Perfect. We can pick ‘em off from here.” They got spotted.

“Damn it! Return fire!” They fired but got killed.

At the exit to downtown, I waited inside, while Snake checked the outside.

“Noi, tell me, how can you understand me?”

“The magic passively allows me to understand almost any human language and you mine.” She explained.

I heard strange noises outside, like some took care of his “Business” if you get what I mean.

After I heard someone yelled, “Get back here!” I took a look outside.

Snake was examining a barrel. Then something came into my mind. Why does the militia trust him? He isn’t a member of then or us either.
"Snake, uh, you don’t look like a UN peacekeeper at all. And how gained you the militia’s trust?”

He looked at me, showing no emotion. “An APC blocked the entry to the safe house, so I had to destroy it and gained the rebel’s trust. And I’m no peacekeeper at all. My mission is to kill Liquid.”

“Okay, that’s fine for me. Never liked him anyway.”

“K-kill? W-why?” Noi asked scared.

“Let’s just say, he caused some problems in the past. Let’s go, the true peacekeepers are at the Advent Palace.”

“Okay, let’s move.”

A squads of rebels crossed our way. They asked snake if he would cover them, while they said to us that they will protect Noi with their lives. Guess news spread fast.

“Sniper! High ground!” A instructor warned us. I recognized the sound.

A M14 EBR, our standard designated sniper rifle. I fired it once, was very exciting.

Snake gave a sign for us to stay back while he took the snipers out with his tranquilizer gun, then we followed after.

Reinforcements arrived, but the militia pinned them down behind cover, so they couldn’t spot us.

Still I noticed that my comrades didn’t notice Snake, even if he was standing right next to militiamen they were shooting.

Noi was scared and so was I but I stayed close to her and moved from cover to cover.

Suddenly, something hit Noi’s head hard. “Ow! What the?” she looked at the object that had hit her. It was a pin.

“Aw, you id-“ Someone complained before a building next to us exploded.

"’You're supposed to throw the grenade, not the pin.’" I said remembering what my drill instructor said to me and the other recruits at our training.” Noi didn’t hear it as her ears were ringing.

The battle got more brutal as airstrikes and artillery started to cause craters.

Snake reached a door and waved at us to get in.

I picked Noi up and made a sprint to it, diving into the building.

Then he helped me up as I took a deep breath. “Never felt so much adrenaline before.” I took Noi on my arm to pat her. She breathed heavily.

“This is the place where the UN peacekeepers are. They can help you.”

He was right, they can help her and me to get out of here. She had already seen too much of this war zone. I doubt it can get worse.