001 Shot Fired [text; action for Rocket Base]

[shest]

I'm going to list a series of words.

If they are at all familiar to you please respond otherwise dismiss this.

Cold War
Spetsnaz
Lyndon B. Johnson
Nikita Khrushchev
Tselinoyarsk

[About an hour later on the Rocket frequency:]

My name is Adamska. Code name Ocelot. Call me either. I'm a GRU Major if that means anything to any of you.

I would like to speak with whomever is in charge here.

Comments

[shest]

[Then it's current for him, thank god.]

Not yet, no. But there are a lot of people on both sides hoping to heat things up.

It's the ultimate game of waiting to see who blinks first.

[zero_charisma]

[1972, to be exact.]

It's a hell of a staring contest then. Keeps things interesting, at least. I'm surprised the Americans haven't jumped the gun yet, they've always got to be the hero.

[shest]

[Not too far off, then. Ocelot'd be nearly grateful if he knew.]

In a nuclear arms race, you have to be careful.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was proof of that. The world nearly ended before I turned 19.

Had things heated up, my country would be a pile of smouldering, radiated rubble and America wouldn't be much better off.

[zero_charisma]

[So would Sniper, to tell the truth. Old boys gotta stick together. Or at at least people from similar time periods, Ocelot's around 10 years his junior.]

That'd be a bloody terrible end to a stand-off. I don't much trust these nukes; give me a rifle and a bullet, and I'll stop anyone in their tracks, clean and simple. These bloody bombs though, they've completely turned the fight into a down right mess. It's like a beast gone feral, that's what it is, and the soldiers on both sides, they're the bloody sheep. Both sides are gonna get it. Damn clumsy way of fighting, if you ask me.

[shest]

[Sniper is after Ocelot's soldier's heart with this.

Especially given that he's technically a soldier for both sides, though he's going to be keeping that to himself.]

It's always the soldiers and never the ones giving the orders.

That's just how it goes. Some of the soldiers know it. The ones who have been around for a while, and the ones who haven't learn soon enough.

[zero_charisma]

They better learn fast, or they're dead men. War's no place for wide-eyed boys all wrapped up with promises of glory, and who ain't ever pulled a trigger or dug a bullet out a shoulder.

You sound like you've got a better head on your shoulders at least.

[shest]

I was born into this war. I didn't have much choice in the matter so I learned fast. Probably faster than most.

People underestimate me because of my age but that ends up working to my advantage.

[zero_charisma]

War's a matter of survival. Not the best place for ankle-bitters, but you grow up tough I suppose. Better than growing up soft and weak, like half this lot here.

You in the army then?

[shest]

I am.

Though perhaps not the army you're thinking of.

[zero_charisma]

Makes no difference to me if you're with the Russians or the Americans. I keep myself out of this.

[shest]

You're better off. It's an ugly war on the inside looking out.

[zero_charisma]

It's got to be a damn good reason then, that's keeping you stuck in it.

[shest]

You could say that.

[zero_charisma]

[Well, it isn't any of Sniper's business. A man's reasons are his own.]

So what's your name then.

[shest]

Call me Adamska.

[zero_charisma]

[Sounds Russian to him.]

Sniper. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[shest]

The same to you.

[zero_charisma]

You got who you were looking for then?