The Silent War


Prologue

The figure layed amoungst the ruins of a building, surrounded on all sides by other grey ruined buildings. The city was quiet and calm, the only sound was that of a creature looking for some junk to eat three floors down from the lone figure. No one seemed to be around for miles as the figure quietly layed in the prone position, covered by a large dark grey cloak with a hood, that covered the figures face and part of the scope. It blended well with the cement ruble surroundings. Every so often the figure checked the area through the scope of the rifle, an old bolt action M1930 Mosin Nagant. It was in fairly good shape, it had some nicks and scratches in the old wooden stock, but nothing serious was wrong with the practically ancient rifle.

All around, the landscape was dark and grey. It almost seemed like the old grey buildings surrounding the figure, were part of the dark grey clouds above. It hadn't rained in days, but it was overcast, and every so often seemed like it would rain.

Suddenly out of the corner of the figures left eye, a person bolted from one of the grey bleak buildings down the crowded street of old broken down cars and other vehicles. The figure caught the person in the scope of the Mosin, following what looked to be a man carrying an ancient SKS semi-automatic rifle in his hands, and an old Tokarov pistol on his belt. Every so often the man turned to look behind himself, firing several rounds towards the building he had come out of. The figure watched him through the scope, confused on what he was shooting at. Whatever it was, the figure couldn't spot it.

The man continued to run, and stopped suddenly behind a car. The figure looked at the man, realizing he was reloading his rifle. Suddenly another figure shot out from behind a old bus, and was running full on towards the man who was still reloading his SKS. The figure was surprised at how fast the person moved, and looked at it through the scope of the Mosin. It was as the figure had guessed, a Feral Ghoul. Nothing could run that eratic and wild like a Feral. The figure trained the scope on the man once again, and saw he had finished reloading his SKS. The Feral was almost on top of the man, when he quickly unholstered his Tokarev pistol and turned towards the beast, and fired three shots into the Feral Ghouls head. The foul creature fell the ground limp and lifeless with a trail of blood following it as the body skidded and stopped at the car. The man took a breath of relief and pulled a small bag off his back, and knelt down to see his inventory.

Even the figure hidden in the ruins of the buildings took a sigh of relief, spying on the man through his scope. The man on the ground pulled out some old books and papers, but threw them randomly, seemingly of no importance to him. He continued to look through his belongings, all while totally oblivious to the figure watching him in the ruins. The figure continued to watch the man for a few more minutes, seemingly with nothing better to do in the bleak grey city of Minsk. Everything was silent and calm, the man's mad dash for safety behind the old car was the only thing the figure had come across all day. Eventually the figure decided to call it a day and slowly got up from the prone position, and grabbed the PPSh-41 that was resting against a piece of blown in cement wall. The figure moved carefully and cautiously through the ruins of the delapidated building, making sure not to make to much sound that could attract anything from a mole rat to a unfriendly group of wastelanders.

As the figure made it down to the ground floor, another figure walked out of the shadows, clad in a dark grey-ish cloak and hood as well. The figure quickly stopped and readied the PPSh, pointing it at the cloaked figures chest. The cloaked figure smiled under the hood that concealed its face. Both stood facing one another, one with a readied gun, and the other just standing their with a hidden smile. The cloaked figure looked, then raised its head and pulled the hood back revealing a beautiful woman. The figure lowered his guard, and smiled at the woman. Her long blonde hair glisened in the light that flickered in the main hall of the building.

The figure pulled back his hood, and revealed a lightly tanned face that was rough and seemed like it had seen alot of action. He was a muscular man, not overly muscular but fit enough. He was short as well, only standing over the woman by a foot or two.

"Tania, what did I tell you about following me?" The man said walking over to her and hugged her, quickly pulling away holding her shoulders, and looking into her deep blue eyes. Both smiled and laughed a bit at the question. Tania pulled out a pack of cigarette's and handed one to the man. He took it with a thanks, and lit it with his lighter, assisting Tania with her's.

"I heard some people talking about you, and calling you: 'The Great Leonid Volsky! Hero of Minsk and lone protector of the weak and vulnerable.' They said you were out hunting, and I figured I come see how you were doing. Your not an easy person to find." Tania said taking a deep drag off her cigarette and blowing two sucessful smoke rings. Leo just stood there smiling and taking a drag of his cigarette as well. Both stood there in the main hall of the building for a moment, not saying a word, just enjoying one anothers company as they svcked their cigarette's down. Leo looked at Tania, throwing his cigarette to the ground, smashing with his boot it before he started out the door. Tania followed behind, unveiling her double-barreled shotgun to him, hoping he would say something about it. But Leo didn't say a word, and just continued traversing through the ruins, making his way towards camp not far from where they were. Tania followed close behind, keeping up with him fairly well.

Both had known each other since child birth, and had grown up together in the same settlement on the outskirts of Minsk. The settlement had long since been burned to the ground and the surviving settlers were either dying or living somewhere else. Only Leo and Tania were still the only one's who remember the settlement the way it used to be, before the band of wandering Raiders raised it from the ground. Tania and Leo continued to traverse the ruins of Minsk, while over head the dark grey clouds began to part and allow the sun to shine light through the cracks between the clouds. The day was beginning to look bright.

Not bad at all except for a few spelling errors here and there. I'll give you a few examples:


"Even the figure hidden in the ruins of the buildings took a sigh of releaf" This one's relief.

"it had some nicks and scratches in the old wooden stock, but nothing serious was wrong with the practicly ancient rifle." This would be practically.

"he quickly unholstered his Tokarov pistol and turned towards the beast" The actual name of the pistol I believe your referring to the is "Tokarev" or "TT" pistol.


There might be one or two more, but I figured I'd just point these out. All in all the errors are very minor and it's a great prologue.

Thanks for catching those. I thought I had already corrected those, but I guess I forgot? I even went through it making corrections before I posted. Eyes must be tired from work?

Anways! Glad you liked it.

I found the use of "figure" in the beginning parts extremely repetitive. I kinda understand though, sometimes other words just don't fit, but try to lower the repetition a little next time.
All in all, enjoyed it.
I'm guessing this takes place in Russia? The names, the guns...

Forgot to add, but it was clear enough which type of gun they all were, and most are fairly well known anyways, but the PPSh-41 isn't quite as well known and you gave no indication what type of gun it is. You and i know it's a machine gun, but i bet you will get many readers who will have to run to wikipedia, wasting time that could be spent reading more. Or then there's the lazy ones who will just get confused and like the writing less, just a little tip!

It was to keep the mystery, so you didn't know if it was a guy or woman. Don't worry, that's the last time "figure" will be used continuously.

And also the fact its in Minsk, and he's known as 'The Hero of Minsk'.

The repetitiveness at the beginning was annoying but it got better and I understand why it was used.

Great chapter, and you seem to love the Mosin Nagant in every story you use. I bet you play some CoD: WaW or just love the gun IRL.

I own 2 of them IRL. Both a M38 Carbine and a M1930 w/ a curved bolt so I could place a scope. They are alot of fun to shoot, and not really a surprise, but the M38 Carbine version has a much bigger kick to it than the M1930. :gun: :mohawk: And I do play alot of CoD: WaW with my friends.

I'm not sure. After Call of Duty: World At War, I think the PPSh-41 has become a fair bit more well-known.

Its already been said, so I won't continue saying it. So besides what already been said, GREAT STORY and GREAT START.

Towards that...M1 = Awesome sniper.

Your name is Dr. Strangelove

I approve of this thread.

Chapter 1: The Silent War

The small settlement was busy with commerce and trade. Everywhere you looked, there was a merchant trying to sell someone something of little to no value. People sat outside at the local bar, drinking whatever it was they had ordered, and were laughing and talking with friends. Everything was good for the small settlement, they were out of the way of any Raider party or other hostile threats, and they had enough supplies of food and other needs, to keep them going for several good years.

Little shacks where people lived, were places all along the three main roads of the settlement. They weren't much to look at style wise, but they did their job of sheltered the settlers from the irradiated winds and other weather events that were a current hassle all over Minsk, and the former Soviet Union.

People waved and held up their glasses as Leo and Tania walked down the street, both tired from their trek back to the settlement. People called out to Leo, calling him their hero and the Hero of Minsk. He waved and smiled at them, thanking them with a friendly wave, but he was in no mood to really deal with all his hype and fame. Tania held his arm up, attracting others to them. Leo quickly pulled his arm away and rested it at his side as it swung back and forth with his steps.

"They love you, Leo." Tania said waving to some children who were standing with their parents. They were to young to understand who he was, but they waved and cheered like their parents. People saluted to Leo as he and Tania walked by, Leo once again waving to them as they sat back down.

"Maybe I should just leave?" Leo said looking at Tania with a hidden smile. She didn't like his idea, and gave him a dirty look before realizing he was joking. They continued walking down the street, several guards of the settlement walked over and patted him on the back welcoming him back home. He thanked them, and continued on his way to his small little shack, that only had room for one person, himself.

"TANIA!" A womans voice said. The two looked around, and saw a woman with four others waving their hands at her. She smiled and waved back, looking up at Leo.

"I'll see you later." She said jogging over to the women. They greeted each other, then looked over at Leo as he turned down a small alley towards his shack.

It was quiet now, no one was yelling or cheering him. He could think for a minute or two while he walked to his small shack, he was tired from his long hunt. Small wires hung over his head as he walked down the alley, clothes hung on them, all of different colors and sizes. The wires were attached to one shack, and the shack across from the first. The residents shared the clothes wires, and it saved space as well. The shacks weren't all that different from Leo's but his was small. One of the laws in the settlement was that singles lived in a smaller space, to allow those who came from the wasteland or were beginning a family could have more space to raise their children or not be so crowded. Leo didn't mind this law, he liked having a smaller place. It mean't more peace and quiet to him. He didn't understand the need for people to get married when all a man needed to do was go to the local brothel, and pick the one he liked.

Leo was known through out the local brothel, all the women who worked there knew him in one way or the other. He had a reputation there, when a traveling wastelander or trader came in. Leo was there, making sure the wastelander or trader didn't cause any trouble, and if they did, he turned their face into a bloody pulp. He didn't like trouble when it came to a small quiet settlement like this one, out in the wasteland it was different. Out there there were no laws to hold a man back from doing what he needed to do. But in a settlement or town, there were rules and laws which were enforced by the local guards most of which were drunk or causing the trouble themselfs. But out in the wasteland, anything and everything could be done. And that's where Leo thought trouble should stay, out in the wasteland where no man was held by rules or laws.

As Leo lost sight of the sun behind one of the shacks, he turned a quick corner and stopped infront of a small shack with the door only hanging on the bottom hing. He smiled and took a sigh of relief as he opened the creaking door. The place was a bit messy, his cot was where he had left it. His little stove was next to his cot, and his closet of clothes and boxes of ammunition were at the head of the cot. Some boxes of previously eaten food and dirty clothes were strewn all around his floor. Leo slid the Mosin off of his shoulder, and leaned it against the wall next to the door, along with his PPSh. He took another sigh of relief, this one bigger than the one before, and took a couple more steps in.

"Home." He said grabbing some of the empty boxes next to him, and throwing them into the small trash can he had at the foot of his cot. Before he knew it, the place was cleaned up, and didn't look like a war had just come through. The dirty clothes had been placed in his hamper, he would have to get Tania to wash them for him. He looked around again, examining the small shack before he grabbed his Mosin from the wall, walked back over to his cot, slumping down on it and examined the antique rifle. Some people were outside talking, they sounded like his neighbors from down the alley. After a man yelled something, he knew by the sound of the voice, it was his neighbors.

Leo ignored them, and grabbed a small dirty rag and began wipping the old rifle down. He couldn't leave any oily finger prints on the rifle or it would begin to rust. Leo unloaded the rifle, placing the unspent rounds next to him. He checked the bolt, it slid in and out very smooth and nice, not catching at all. Leo smiled at his rifle, it was the closest thing to family he had besides Tania.

After messing with his rifle a bit, Leo placed his rifle on his cot, and got up and checked his small refrigerator for something to eat. He scratched his head as he saw nothing was there. All that was left was a half drunken bottle of Vodka. Leo grabbed it, and took a quick swig. He quickly pulled his lips from the rim, and shook his head.

"Damn that's good stuff." He said to himself placing it back into the small fridge before he closed it. His neighbors were still outside talking, Leo couldn't make out what it was, but he didn't care. It was obviously something important by the tone of their voice and how erratic they were, but he didn't bother himself with meaningless town gossip.

He looked around his small shack for a moment, everything seemed to be where it should. His PPSh leaned against the wall, untouched. He took another look of the room, then stepped over to his cot. He grabbed his Mosin before stretching out and closed his eyes, rested the rifle next to him. He squirmed around for a moment, something was poking him in his back. He quickly sat up, and realized it was the unspent rounds. Leo placed them in his pocket, then stretched out again falling into a nice semi-quiet sleep.

When he woke up, the noise of his neighbors had gone, and he was a bit disoriented when he sat up. Leo looked around, everything was where it was before except for the three men in his shack with him. One sat on a small chair, he wore glasses and had a pompus look to him. He was guarded by two others, both carrying AK-74s.

Leo rubbed his face, the three people were completely silent and didn't say a word. The pompus looking man studdied Leo's face and form for a moment before Leo stood up, holding his Mosin in his hands, and the clanking of the unspent rounds in his pocket.

"Who the hell are you?" Leo asked looked at the pompus man, still sitting the the seat. The man looked up at Leo, and smiled removing his glasses gently before looking back at Leo.

"I am Captain Palkov of the Red Army." The pompus man said standing up and holding out his hand. Leo looked at it, and then to the two guards who were still standing at attention. Captain Palkov looked at the two guards, then at Leo with a smile. "Don't mind them, they are my personal body guards when I'm out in the field. This is Private Luchenko and Private Danilov, both have served me well." Captain Palkov added motioning to one after the other.

"Ok, since you answered my first question. Answer my second: What are you doing here?" Leo said scratching his head. He looked at them for a moment, both were very masculine and seemed tough. If these people were here to kill him, they probably would have done it by now.

"Well Comrade Volsky, we are here to recruit you into the Red Army. Now the Red Army is not what it once was, but with your help and skills, we can make it like it was." Captain Palkov said raising his hands into fists of joy. He had a big pompus grin on his face for a moment as well, Leo just looked at him a bit confused.

"Well I knew the Red Army was still around." Leo said looking at the guards as proof. "But I'm hardly anything of a real soldier. I'm just a guy who got famous for a minor skirmish." Leo said stepping to his fridge and pulling out the half bottle of Vodka. He took another swig, and shook his head again at the power it had.

"Your skills as a sniper are vital for our fight." Captain Palkov said looking at Leo with all seriousness in his voice. He stepped over to Leo, and rested his hand on his shoulder. "Comrade, the Motherland only asks one thing of us, and that is to help defend her in times of need. And for you, the Motherland is calling with a little extra." He said patting Leo on the shoulder, then stepping back.

"So tell me Comrade Palkov, what is this 'fight'?" Leo asked pouring some Vodka into two small shot glasses. He handed one to Captain Palkov, but the pompus man refused it kindly. Leo shrugged at swallowed it down with one quick gulp.

"Well Comrade Volsky, the fight is with an invading force. No one outside the Red Army knows about their invasion, or would know who they are. But before the war, this invader was the shadown government, behind the US government!" Captain Palkov stopped for a moment as Leo gulped the second glass down and let him continue. "They are called, The Enclave. A highly technological military force that has come across the Bering Straight to take this land for their own personal use. Their soldiers come into battle clad in high tech Power Armor, and use Plasma weapons that can melt a man into a green liquidy substance."

Leo stood stunned at what Captain Palkov said. Over the years, Leo had heard of the American Enclave, but did not find them real. More of a fairy tale to tell children. And thats how it was presented to him as a child, but what Captain Palkov said was astonishing to him, the shadow government of the US was here in the former Soviet Union, trying to take a land that was never theirs to begin with. He had alot of pashion for the Motherland, but showed it differently than others like Captain Palkov did. If anything, his way of living and thinking, was a true Socialist.

"And you want my sniper skills to be used against the American Enclave?" Leo said still a bit overwhelmed at the news. Captain Palkov nodded with a solem face, and looked out a small window of Leo's shack.

"These people out here know nothing of the Enclave. But in the darkest shadows, you will find them. They kill without remourse or thought, their soldiers are more robotic than man. The newly formed Red Army has been fighting the Enclave, but in very rural areas of the country. We have taken alot of casualties over the past several months, and we need your help to stop them. Your skills with a sniper rifle could be a turning point in the fight against them." Captain Palkov stopped for a moment to catch his breath before continuing. "The reason I ask you join the newly formed Red Army, and help in the fight against the Enclave is because their forces are beginning to make their presence known in most major Soviet cities. Minsk included. The people in this settlement could be a target for the Enclave, any settlement in the ruins of Minsk could. So Comrade Volsky, will you help in the fight against the invading Enclave forces, and push them back to Alaska?"

Leo looked at Captain Palkov, then pressed his hand next to the window, thinking on what he should do as he looked out the window, spotting some neighbor kids playing. He was torn about it, joining the Red Army would be quite a commitment not just to them, but to the people in the settlement. But he also wanted to help drive the Enclave out of Russia before they could harm anyone or destroy a settlement.

Leo looked at Captain Palkov with a straight strong stance, and a determined face. He held his Mosin beside him, his grip tightened around the stock of the rifle. Captain Palkov didn't know whether this was good or bad, but was prepared for whatever Leo may say, but really he wasn't.

"Comrade Palkov! It seem's you have a new sniper in the Red Army." Leo said with strong proud determination as his fuel. Captain Palkov smiled and shook Leo's hand graciously.

"This is great news!" Captain Palkov said patting him on the shoulders, and celebrating a bit. The two walked out of the small shack, the two silent guards following behind. "Comrade Volsky, welcome to the new Red Army. You will fit in well I think, and can show our other snipers how to really kill an Enclave invader. Report to a small house near the center of town, near a toppled statue of a Soviet soldier riding triumphantly. Go inside, and there will be a door that leads down to some tunnels. It should be easy enough from there. Good luck Comrade Volsky, and once again: Welcome to the Red Army, and the Silent War."

Good chapter comrade! Stupid Enclave.

^ :deal: ^

Already I'm excited for more. Please make another chapter, I like this idea you've come up with.

Guess me and FuzzyDoom are the only one's who are truly Dr. Strangelove fans

No! I am his fan. I love this.

Ok, you can be a fan with me and FuzzyDoom :thumbsup:

Another groupie? We need a bigger bus.

(How about none of you are groupies, just really big fans. The ladies can be my groupies )

Chapter 2: Base Camp Victor

The next day, Leo awoke to the sound of Tania getting something from the fridge. But there was nothing in the fridge, only that half drunken bottle of Vodka he had left. A bit of sunlight shinned through the single window of the shack, Leo had to cover his eyes as they dialated from his dark slumber. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, and scratched his head a bit as he looked at Tania still at the fridge. His hamper was empty, she must have taken his dirty clothes by now.

"What are you doing?" Leo asked in a slow tired voice. Tania looked over at him with a smile, she was already cleaned up and ready for the day. She wore an old necklace that dangled from her neck. It was given to her by her mother, who gave it to her before both of Tania's parents were killed by the Raiders.

"Loading your fridge up with food and drink. Dimitri went out into the ruins, and got a good load of meat and other food." Tania said standing up right and holding a pack of meat in her hand. Leo smiled, and let her continue as he took a step to his closet, and changed his clothes. His Mosin still rested on the cot where he had let it rest when he fell asleep.

Already his things were ready for the trip to the center of town. His mind thought for a moment where to look for the small house that was a Red Army base. Look for the fallen statue of a Soviet soldier riding triumphantly, Leo remembered Captain Palkov saying. Even though Captain Palkov still fought for the good of the Motherland, Leo still thought he looked like a pompus ass. He couldn't help think it, but that's how he felt about Captain Palkov. Tania quickly took Leo out of his thoughts as he dressed.

"Wearing that tattered shirt again?" Tania said sounding like a mother talking to her child.

"What's wrong with it? It still has its usefulness." Leo said looking at her with the black tattered shirt halfway on.

"Fine, but if you get shot out there, their not going to be taking your shirt." Tania said as if she knew he was going to get killed out in the wasteland, which was a total possability, just not for Leo "The Hero of Minsk". Leo followed what she said, and grabbed another shirt, this one was brown, and Tania didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Leo quickly put on his pants and socks, both were bland dark colors that helped keep Leo out of sight when lurking in the shadows. He grabbed his dark grey cloak with the hood, and slid that on gently. He felt warm in the cloak, though it wasn't all that thick. Tania sat down with a piece of Brahmin steak, and a beer. She watched as Leo walked around the small shack, slinging his Mosin across his back, and grabbing his PPSh, holding it at his side.

He looked at Tania who still sat there, chewing on a cut piece. She really was the only family to him, if she died, Leo would be lost with dirty clothes and no food or drink. And neither Leo or Tania wanted that. They looked at each other, neither saying a word as Leo opened the door and looked back one last time before he closed the door. He raised his hood a bit over his head, not covering his face.

The sun's rays hit Leo's face, he felt so much better out in the early sun. Some others had already awoke as well, but none hailed or cheered at him. They all knew he was going out, but they didn't know why. All of them probably thought he was going out on another hunt. The only restraunt in the settlement was a bit busy, people sat eating their breakfast and enjoying a drink. They talked and talked, ignoring Leo as he walked down the street into the ruins of Minsk. Everything was calm and collected in the settlement, not like later in the day when everyone was screaming and yelling for something new to buy or sell.

Everywhere Leo looked, the building looked almost the exact same. The clouds had parted into large puffy clouds that looked like cotton balls floatinging in the giant sea of blue sky. Nothing was around for miles as the settlement was out of sight, and all there was was Leo and his trusty weapons. Nothing made a sound except Leo as he traversed the loose broken ruins. Burned out cars and busses were scattered all along the streets, including the once popular trolly cars that took people all over Minsk. Large buildings were crumbled and smaller now, some had fallen on other small buildings which made great sniping positions as Leo had found out many times when sniping this area.

As the hours continued, and Leo grabbed his canteen of nothing but his favorite drink, Vodka, the town center was starting to come into sight. He still couldn't see the fallen statue, or the complete town center, but he could see the start of it. Suddenly Leo got the strange feeling that someone was watching him, no doubt it was a sniper watching, for Leo could spot if it was just a typical person waiting to strike. He stopped where he was, and unslung his Mosin raising the PPSh in the air with it. He did a full 360 turn showing he had nothing to hide, though his cloak did cover much of what he could be hiding. Suddenly a figure came from out of the ruins, it was holding some sort of rifle with a nice scope on it. The figure ran over, and quickly patted Leo down for any other weapons. Leo just stood, still holding his weapons up the air as the figure stepped back, and took of its hood revealing a young man with a bit of a dirty face.

"Who are you?" The young man asked holding his rifle at the ready. Leo lowered his arms, both were tired from keeping his weapons raised.

"Captain Palkov came to see me. I'm a new recruit." Leo said looking at the young man, his eyes pierced right through the young mans very soul. He knew that Leo was good with a gun, and he was just a sentry.

"Captain Palkov sent for you, then you must be Leonid Volsky. It is a great honor to meet you, Comrade." The young man said lowering his rifle and saluting Leo.

Leo did not return the salute, but looked around the ruins. The young man dropped his hand, and looked around as well, but could see what Leo was looking for. All the ruins looked the same, in color and destruction. He looked back at Leo, but he wasn't there. The young man turned around, and saw Leo continuing towards the city center. He let him go, not wanting to get shot for stopping "The Hero of Minsk", that would be another knotch in Leo's kill number.

"Must be a nice place." Leo said to himself as he walked into the city center, looking at all the once great and beautiful buildings that were once the pinical of Minsk's beauty. Leo quickly found the small house, and walked over to the door. He slung his Mosin across his back, and held his PPSh at his side as he opened the door.

When he stepped inside, the place looked like a regular house. A bed rested in the far corner from the door, with nothing on it but some childrens toys. The room had a cabinet and a foolocker next to one another, both were locked with a bolt. It had a small table with some food on it, Leo walked over and had a taste of the soup. It tasted as good as it could, considering it was made from irradiated wolf. The chunks of wolf meat didn't taste all that good, and Leo placed the soup down, wipping his mouth with his hand and rubbing it on his pant leg.

He looked for a door, but didn't find one. Maybe it was a trick, and Captain Palkov wasn't who he said he was. Leo quickly jumped to that conclusion, and readied his PPSh as if someone was going to come blasting in and shoot him. Leo looked around the room, then saw next to the bed was a switch with a red light flashing dim. He walked over to it, and pressed the switch, the bed suddenly moved and folded against the wall, where the head of it was. Then two giant doors opened up from the floor, and a case of stairs led down.

Maybe Captain Palkov was who he said he was, but Leo wasn't taking any chances as he walked down the steps and opened a door that writing in Russian that read: WARNING ALL WHO PASS THIS DOOR WILL BE EXECUTED IF NOT VERFIED. Leo took a sigh of relief and opened the door.

On the other side, it was a giant tunnel, being held up by wooden planks that held the wall and roof of the tunnel. The door automadicly closed on its own, a red light flashed above it in silence. Leo looked down the tunnel, it was lit by two long wires of hanging lights that seemed to run down the tunnel for ever. He lowered his guard, and continued down the tunnel. It was damp, and a bit humid in the tunnel as Leo stopped at a fork. One lead to his left, and the other to his right. Luck for him, there were signs that directed him. The left one said said: Kitchen area, open 24/7 and the right one said: Barracks, Officers Office, and Study. Leo took the right, the Officers Office hopefully would lead him to Captain Palkov, and get a few more answers.

The tunnel seemed empty, not a single soldier of the new Red Army seemed to be around. Leo continued through the long tunnel, it was empty and the humidity was starting to get to him. Maybe this wasn't for Leo, maybe he souldn't have agreed to join. Maybe he should have thought it over more, maybe gotten Tania's opinion before thinking for a moment, and saying yes. But that was all behind him now, he could still say no, but on the other hand, Leo wanted to fight.

He stopped at the tunnel exit as he looked at a huge underground command center. Several large buildings were constructed, all were two stories high, and had a staircase outside leading to the second floor. Suddenly Leo was flooded with the sight of Soviet soldiers, talking, laughing, reading, and cleaning their guns. None of them payed any attention to Leo, he didn't understand why, but he didn't question it either. Leo looked around, reading the signs on the small longer buildings that read: Barracks Charlie, Barracks Victor, Barracks Zulu, and Barracks Alpha. Leo continued, some Soviet soldiers looked at him, but looked back at what they were doing, not wanting to make eye contact with Leo. The cavern was lit with large lamps of kerosine, that hung infront of all the barracks, and three large buildings.

"Excuse me, Comrade. Could you show me to the Officers Office?" Leo asked one of the soldiers sitting at a table playing cards with some others. The soldier looked up at Leo, he was a grizzly man, probably seen alot of bad days in his life with an eye patch over his left eye.

"Yeah, just follow the stink of command." The grizzly soldier said laughing with the others. Leo didn't find it very funny, and asked the man again. "Ok, your new so I'm going to tell you this just once. Leave me and my friends here alone. Find someone else to ask." The grizzly soldier said, again laughing out loud with his friends.

Leo was getting irritated, and patted the grizzly soldiers shoulder with his fingers. The grizzly soldier turned around, and with a snarl swung his hand around directly at Leo's face. He fell backwards, the punch had landed on his cheek. Leo held his cheek for a moment while the grizzly soldier stood up from his small stool.

"I told you to leave me alone!" The man said with a raised voice. The others in the card game just watched as the whispered to one another.

"I wasn't going to ask you again." Leo said standing up as the grizzly man stood smiling, his eye patch lifting a bit. He watched as Leo layed his Mosin and PPSh on the ground, and took off his cloak, throwing it onto his guns. "But now you've made me angry." Leo said, charging the gizzly man that was no taller than him. The grizzly man readied another punch, but missed as Leo ducked below his fist, and brought his knee up into the mans stomach. The grizzly man's face changed with that of power and over determination, with pain. He fell to the ground, holding his stomach as Leo looked at him, and kicked a bit of dirt in his face. The grizzly man just layed their holding his stomach as his friends ran over to him, seeing if he was ok.

Leo walked off, and grabbed his belonging before finding the Officers Office. It resembled the other buildings, but had something different about it, that Leo couldn't put his finger on. He walked into the building, and walked over to a woman with a typical soviet helmet on, and was busy messing with a little radio.

"This is Oscar 4, I read you." The woman said speaking into the microphone. He decided not to bother her, and walked around the rest of the main floor. Men and women alike were doing the same as what the first woman was doing. Leo decided to go up the stairs, and see if he could find someone up there that could help him. The stairs creaked and moaned as Leo walked up them. He opened the door, and saw several men and women not talking on radios, but sitting at desks, working on papers and talking.

Leo looked around at all the people, trying to see if he could find Captain Palkov. Some of the women were as rugged as the men, some even looked more manly then some of the men. But most of them were good looking, and more womanly. He took a couple more steps in, when a voice suddenly shot out at Leo.

"COMRADE VOLSKY!" Captain Palkov said standing up from his desk, with his hands raised. Leo looked at him with a cracked smile as Captain Palkov walked over and shook his hand. "I am glad you have come. Welcome to Base Camp Victor. The main operations base here in the ruins of Minsk. This place has been around since before the bombs fell, and has been main station for Red Army intel and such." Palkov said looking out at all the other officers who were looking at them.

"So what do you want me to do?" Leo asked a bit confused on what he needed to do around Base Camp Victor. Captain Palkov looked at Leo with a smile.

"Nothing as of now, but I do need you to get fitted in a uniform and be rearmed." Palkov said looking at Leo's old Mosin. Leo tightened his grip of it, not wanting to let it go.

"I can't just give this rifle up, its been in my family for years." Leo said looking at Captain Palkov sturnly.

"Don't worry, we will give you a better more capable rifle in its stead. Don't worry, we will send it back to your little friend Tania safe and secure." Captain Palkov said grabbing the Mosin from Leo's hands, and handing it to one of his body guards that seemed to come out of no where. "Take this to Tania, make sure she keeps it safe for Leonid here." Captain Palkov said looking back at Leo who was stunned.

"How do you know about Tania?" Leo asked curious and a bit worried.

"I told you we were watching what you had done, and we know who your friends are, and your friends are our friends." Captain Palkov said. On the far wall of the room was a dirty red flag with a yellow hammer and sickle in the corner, Leo and Captain Palkov walked over to it as Captain Palkov held out his hand to the flag. "This is what you and all of us here in Base Camp Victor are fighting for. A free and independant Soviet Union. We would have had it if the more conservative side of the party hadn't ruined the true idea of it." Captain Palkov said in a bit of an angered voice. "But now with your help, and all the others fighting, we can make the Soviet Union like it was supposed to be."

"Glad I can help." Leo said not really wanting to be there anymore. He looked at the officers who had returned to their work. "Where do I get fitted and armed?" Leo asked looking at Captain Palkov.

"The building right next door." Captain Palkov said motioning towards the door Leo had entered from. "Get fitted into some uniform and some field clothing, then go the second floor, and the armory gunny should help you out." Captain Palkov said walking away. "Oh, and one more thing. Tell the gunny I sent you. The come back to me." Captain Palkov said sitting back at his desk. The body guard had already left for the settlement, Leo could not see her anymore as she ran into the tunnel entrance and exit.

Leo walked out the door, and walked down the stairs back out into the large cavern and headed into the next building. Inside, the main floor had hundreds of uniforms of different sizes. A woman walked out of the back room, her hair was long and brown like Leo's. She smiled at him stopping infront of Leo.

"How can I help you?" She asked in a sweet voice.

"Captain Palkov told me you could help with me getting a uniform and some field clothes?" Leo said looking at her green hazel eyes.

"Ok, let me just measure you." The woman said pulling out a string with several knots in it. She lifted his arms, and measured their lengths, then the rest of his body. "Ok, come with me." She said walking over to a hanger full of uniforms. She sifted through them, looking for just the right one. Leo looked at the womans body, she had a very nice figure to her. He looked up when she quickly turned around holding a nice clean uniform.

"Is that it?" He asked.

"Yep." The woman replied handing it to him. Leo took it with thanks, and then was led to where the field clothes were. She sifted through them as well, looking for the right size. "This should do." The woman said handing Leo some olive drab clothing. It matched the uniform he was also carrying.

"Is this all I need?" Leo asked the woman who just nodded. "Thank you." He said looking for a changing room. The woman pointed to a small door, the changing room was just a closet. Leo walked into it though, and took of his cloak. He grabbed the field clothes, and put them on. They fit just perfect, the woman was good at sizing people up. Leo put his cloak back on, and looked like a true sniper in the new Red Army. He walked out, the woman was gone, off doing whatever she needed to do. Leo walked out, and up the stairs that led to the second floor.

The armory smelled like spent rounds and gun oils as Leo approached a man behind a desk that was had wire mesh that went from the ceiling to the desk that reached the walls. Theree were hundreds of boxes behind the man, and lots of weapons as well. Leo was amazed at how well this newly formed Red Army was armed.

"What do you need?" The man asked in a voice like he had done this millions of other times. Leo approached the desk, and looked at the man. His face as dirty and his clothes stank of gun oils and other things Leo could think of.

"Captain Palkov said you could help me get a new rifle." Leo said looking at the weapons behind the gunny, and back to the man.

"Oh, your the new sniper he's been talking about. Lineta or something like that?" The man said looking at Leo.

"No, its Leonid Volsky, but I go by Leo for short." He said looking at the gunny with a bit of aggitation. The gunny smiled, and grabbed a rifle from under the desk. He placed the rifle on the desk, and opened the slide that allowed weapons to be given and taken.

"Here you are, one nicely kept SVD Dragunov. Its got everything you could ask for: Solid Polymer frame so it won't get banged up if you drop it, and a PSO-1 Rectical sight that can be zoomed in four times, for those far away targets. It also fires 7.62x54R, like the old Mosin Nagants. So you should have no problem with ammo, and if you need any extra, I've got plenty." The gunny said sounding like a vendor from the settlement, trying to sell him something. Leo grabbed the rifle and looked at it, "It also has a magazine of ten rounds, just think of it as a more powerful and fancier version of the Mosin." The gunny added as Leo loaded up the magazine, and smacked it in.

"Thanks, is this all?" Leo asked the gunny.

"Glad you asked my young sniper. No, that is not all. I have here for you. I have five more magazines for your new rifle, and an almost spotless MP-446 Viking pistol. Here are three more clips for it. All have already been loaded with 9mm pistols rounds. Its a good pistol when you need it." The gunny slid that and a holster for it to Leo. He shut the small door, and locked it.

"Thanks for all the info. I have to be going now." Leo said slinging the Dragunov onto his back, and holstering the MP-446 pistol on his belt, covering it with his cloak. The gunny waved goodbye as Leo walked back to Captain Palkov with his new weapons, at least he got to keep his PPSh.

"So did you get what was needed?" Captain Palkov said before Leo walked up the steps to the Officers office.

"Yes." Leo said with a bit of a startle. He looked at Captain Palkov who was standing behind him with one of the body guards, the other was still gone. "I think I got everything." Leo added.

"Good, come with me. I have something to show you on the map." Captain Palkov said walking up the steps with Leo following behind him. They walked in, and over to a large map of Minsk, that was a bit tattered and worn, but still had good use.

"Something going on?" Leo asked looking at the map of all of Minsk. He couldn't believe how big the city used to be. It was amazing to him.

"Yes, some Enclave troops have just been spotted here, near one of the old gates leading to Minsk. They seem to be on their way to one of our outposts, that is hidden, and made to look like a Raider camp. Most stay away so its good. But the Enclave have caught on, and are making a move. We need you to intercept the convoy, its only a squad or two of Enclave soldier on foot. Nothing you shouldn't be able to handle. Once your done, reach the outpost and call me on the radio from there. The radio signal is at 35Mhtz."

Leo looked at Captain Palkov with a determined and ready face. He was ready to help defend his Motherland, at that moment, everything inside the Minsk was top priority for Leo to help defend.

"I understand." Leo said walking towards the door. Palkov walked over, and stopped him before he left.

"When you get back, your rank and training to become a true Soviet soldier will begin, so don't get killed." Captain Palkov said with a sarcastic smile on his face. He knew Leo would be sucessful, he had been in all his other hunts, this one would just be revealing a new enemy for Leo to shoot at.

Leo hurried out of the building, and ran towards the tunnel entrance/exit, the soldiers all looked at him. The grizzly soldier looked at Leo, and smiled showing yellow dirty teeth. Leo smiled back a bit confused, but contiued on his way. Before he knew it, he was top side again, heading towards the Enclave hit squad. His career in the new Red Army was about to start. Only time could tell if he would be sucessful in his training and become a truely great Red Army sniper like those before him.

Good chapter. Long read, but it was good.

This story is paused for a bit as I am currently stumped with idea's of how to make the next Chapter exciting with the Enclave.

No amount of nuclear explosions and invasion can erase the might of the champions of Stalingrad! Well done.

You might want to try quoteing the most memorable dialouge I ever heard in a video game. Call of Duty: Finest Hour,first level as Soviet Union.

I think I know what quote your talking about, but I haven't played the game in sometime, and could be wrong?

And thanks, glad you liked it. Oh and its Minsk, I figured Stalingrad would be to cliche

i like this series a lawt. so much so, i kinda really want FO4 to be in Minsk. :thumbsup: