Metal Gear Solid radio conversations

This article is a list of optional Codec conversations in Metal Gear Solid as well as its remake Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes, which can be either humorous, or contain additional information that is not revealed during normal gameplay.

Infrared sensors
Meryl: Be careful, Snake. That air lock is set with infrared sensors.

Snake: What is it?

Meryl: You probably can't see theem with your naked eyes, but there are infrared beams coming out of that wall. Touch any one of them, and the doors will seal off and the place will be flooded with poison gas. Somehow you've got to get through without setting off those sensors.

NBC warfare troops
Meryl: Dr. Emmerich should be in the laboratory area in the 2nd-floor basement. Heavy-arms fire in that area is strictly prohibited. An explosion could cause nuclear material to leak from one of more of the warheads, and that would be a very serious problem. Please be careful.

Snake: It looks like they're equipped with gas masks.

Meryl: That's because they are not supposed to use heavy arms.

Snake: Ah. You mean they use chemical weapons, instead.

Why the lab was gassed
Meryl: Dr. Emmerich is probably being held in his lab in the northeast part of that floor. They've flooded the area with gas to prevent him from escaping. But there should be a gas mask on that floor too. If you use it, you'll be able to make it through easily.

Holes in the walls
Snake: Meryl, what are these holes in the walls for?

Meryl: That's an air cleaner for blowing tiny particles of dust off people's bodies before they enter the lab.

Cardboard Box
Meryl: A cardboard box? I heard stories from my uncle, but I always though he was pulling my leg...I...I've got no comment.

More information on the stealth nuke
To get this conversation, contact Otacon after he reveals what REX is fully capable of

Snake: How about it? Did you find the override system file?

Otacon: Not yet. I need a little more time. Well, I found lots of information about that new nuclear weapon... There are 4 stages involved in launching a ballistic missile. The first one is the Boost Stage. It starts at the point the missile is launched and ends after all the rocket fuel is burned and the missile is propelled into the exosphere. The next stage is the Post-Boost Stage. It starts after all the fuel is burned and ends after the re-entry vehicle is ejected. Next is the Intermediate Course Stage. It takes place after the re-entry vehicle is ejected and lasts until the missile enters the exosphere. Then comes the Final Stage. It starts when the re-entry vehicle enters the exosphere and it lasts until it reaches its ultimate target on the ground. Missile defense systems use military satellites to detect rocket emissions during the initial Boost Stage of a missile. But this new nuclear weapon employs the rail gun's ability to fire projectiles at ultra-high velocities, instead of using a rocket. That's why it can't be detected by today's missile defense systems! And on top of that, the re-entry vehicle also uses Stealth technology... It's so accurate that its fifty percent zone comes close to 50 meters. That's as good as the best ICBM.

Snake: A highly accurate, undetectable, uninterceptable nuclear weapon. We wouldn't even be able to tell where it came from...

Otacon: And that's not all. A standard ballistic missile uses a 2-stage or a 3-stage solid fuel rocket for its propulsion system. Besides costing lots of money, safely maintaining the solid rocket fuel and readying the missile for launch requires a lot of work. But a railgun-launched nuclear warhead avoids all of those problems. And it's cheap too.

Snake: It's the perfect nuke. A general's dream...

Otacon: And the world's nightmare.

REX's joint development
To get this conversation, contact Otacon after Otacon reports on ArmsTech's reason for undergoing the REX project.

Snake: Did you find the file for the override system?

Otacon: Just wait a little longer. I found out a lot about the arms industry though... After the Cold War ended, the United States slashed its defense budget by more than 15%. Naturally, the arms industry was severely affected. It resulted in an orgy of mergers and acquisitions. Some of the big arms conglomerates today are made up of what 10 years ago would have been 20 or more smaller arms companies. ArmsTech is one of those. But we lost our bid to produce the US Air Force's next line of fighter jets. Then we took a stab at civilian applications, but that was a failure too. The company was about to go belly up. Ironically, the Defense Department was in pretty much the same situation. Thanks to big budget cuts, they were forced to turn to the private sector to help fund their weapons development. On top of that, the government began to actively export their advanced weapons technology to the private sector in order to maintain a high standard of quality in the country's defense armaments. Eventually they decided on a joint development project for new weapon systems between the DOD and the private sector. And since both sides were in such bad financial shape, that's where all the backscratching came in. So there was another reason for the joint development of Metal Gear, huh. It wasn't just President Baker trying to keep ArmsTech afloat...

Psycho Mantis' stealth camouflage
Otacon: Someone else must be controlling Meryl. Do something, Snake! Save her!

Snake: What am I supposed to do? I don't even know where he is.

Otacon: Probably somewhere close by. He's just invisible.

Snake: How?

Otacon: Stealth camouflage. A technology I developed... Stealth camouflage works by bending the light around the user in such a way that they're rendered nearly invisible. But if you had thermal goggles, you'd be able to see him. Anyway, you can't see him with your naked eyes, but there must be some way to make him show up.

Cargo elevator 1
Otacon: That elevator is for transporting vehicles and building materials to the underground maintenance base. So that's why it's so big. The elevator you're on right now is the No. 1 elevator. That elevator won't take you down all the way, so you'll have to switch to the No. 2 elevator at the relay point.

Cargo elevator relay point
Otacon: Snake, that's the relay point between elevator No. 1 and elevator No. 2.

Snake: Why was it set up this way?

Otacon: Well, for a long time it had been set up so that you could take one elevator all the way to the bottom, but I heard that they changed it because of something to do with the structural integrity of the rock. The No. 2 elevator is next to you, right? Transfer to that one.

Crows
Snake: What the hell are all these crows doing around here?

Otacon: Crows... You got me. There were crows around from before. But for some reason they started to increase in number around the same time that FOXHOUND came to the base. It's really weird. I wonder what it could mean...

Reason why the warehouse had a lot of containers
Otacon: That room is still under construction because their main priority was to finish Metal Gear's underground base. But the good thing is, with all those containers, it should be easy to hide, right?

Metal Gear Solid
Otacon: Snake, Rex's armor is impregnable. You can't do any damage with the weapons you've got. Rex uses the latest advances in compound armor. The only way you can pierce it is with a high-performance HEAT (high-explosive, antitank) round.

Snake: So what do I do?

Otacon: Rex's pilot seat operates exactly like a VR system. It's got multiple sensors connected to a high-tech interface used for the controls. It's completely self-enclosed and shut off from the outside environment.

Snake: He's not using his naked eyes?

Otacon: That's right. So if you could somehow destroy the sensors... Do you see that round plate on Rex's left arm?

Snake: Yeah, that thing that looks like a shield?

Otacon: That's a radome. If you can destroy that thing, it won't be able to use its electronic equipment.

Snake: So he'll be blinded?

Otacon: Yeah. Try to hit that radome with a Stinger missile.

Snake: So will that stop it?

Otacon: No, Rex was designed so it can be controlled manually too.

Snake: Oh, great.

Otacon: The part that looks like a beak is where the pilot seat is. In an emergency it will open up. Rex's armor is perfect. You can't destroy it.

Snake: You told me that already.

Otacon: But the interior is a different story.

Snake: I get it... First I destroy the radome. That will force him to open up the pilot's seat.

Otacon: Right. If you can shoot a missile into the cockpit, you'll destroy the computer control system.

Snake: You intentionally designed it with a weak point?

Otacon: It's not a weak point--I like to think of it as more of a character flaw. People and weapons just aren't complete with a character flaw, don't you think?

Snake: I guess so. I owe you one, Otacon.

The Twin Snakes
Otacon: Snake, Rex's armor is impregnable. You can't do any damage with the weapons you've got. Rex uses the latest advances in compound armor. The only way you can pierce it is with a high-performance HEAT (high-explosive, antitank) round.

Snake: So what do I do?

Otacon: Rex's pilot seat operates exactly like a VR system. It's got multiple sensors connected to a high-tech interface used for the controls. It's completely self-enclosed and shut off from the outside environment.

Snake: He's not using his naked eyes?

Otacon: That's right. So if you could somehow destroy the sensors... Do you see that round plate on Rex's left arm?

Snake: Yeah, that thing that looks like a shield?

Otacon: That's a radome. If you can destroy that thing, it won't be able to use its electronic equipment.

Snake: So he'll be blinded?

Otacon: Yeah. Try to hit that radome with a Stinger missile.

Snake: So will that stop it?

Otacon: No, Rex was designed so it can be controlled manually too.

Snake: Oh, great.

Otacon: The part that looks like a beak is where the pilot seat is. In an emergency it will open up. Rex's armor is perfect. You can't destroy it.

Snake: You told me that already.

Otacon: But the interior is a different story.

Snake: I get it... First I destroy the radome. That will force him to open up the pilot's seat.

Otacon: Right. If you can shoot a missile into the cockpit, you'll destroy the computer control system.

Snake: You intentionally designed it with a weak point?

Otacon: It's not a weak point--more like a weakness. People and weapons just aren't very appealing without a weakness of some kind, don't you think?

Snake: I guess so. I owe you one, Otacon.

REX's free electron laser
Otacon: I saw it in President Baker's top secret files. Rex has a free electron laser mounted on its belly. It's a laser weapon that discharges a laser beam into an electron beam that's been accelerated using giant magnets. It can generate an incredible amount of energy...pretty close to 100 megawatts. That's ten times greater than any other laser out there.

REX's stomp
Otacon: If Rex steps on you, it'll be all over. Be very careful when he gets close.

REX's missiles
Otacon: Rex is equipped with antitank missiles on both of his knees. They're a laser semi-active homing type that doesn't use wires. The shooter uses a laser illuminator to bounce a laser beam off the target. After that, the missile uses the light reflected off the target to home in on it. Fortunately, the missiles are tipped with HEAT rounds and not antipersonnel warheads. But if they hit you directly, you'll be sorry. Be careful.

REX's rail gun
Otacon: The rail gun uses magnetism to fire projectiles. By perfecting the process of shell acceleration, the rail gun is able to fire a projectile with a muzzle velocity of over 100 kilometers per second. It was originally going to be used, as part of SDI, to shoot down enemy ICBMs outside the atmosphere. It's ironic that now it's gonna be used to deliver a nuclear warhead...

Prototype development
Otacon: Rex is the first actual prototype model, but they've been doing virtual prototyping for a while now. They pop it into a VR simulation while it's still in the design phase. That way they can make improvements to the design while testing it under all sorts of simulated conditions. So even though it's a prototype, it's extremely well designed. Be careful!

Ventilation
To initiate this conversation, call Campbell when near a ventilation shaft at the heliport.

Campbell: That base must have some kind of ventilation system to recirculate the air. There should be air ducts around there somewhere. They need a lot of power to run the base. There's probably a diesel generator somewhere. And since generating electricity requires oxygen, there must be exhaust openings for that too. You're not going to believe this, but they shot down the F-16s we were using as a diversion...with a Hind D! Then we got a message from Liquid. He said if we try something like that again, he'll launch the nuke! Snake, hurry up and get in there! That Hind will be coming back soon.

Dropping down
Campbell: Press the Action Button to drop down.

Elevator
Campbell: Use the elevator to change floors. There should be a cargo elevator that you can take down somewhere around here. Try to find it.

Moving the elevator
Campbell: Snake, use the elevator to move from floor to floor. To call the elevator, press the button on the nearby control panel by pressing the Action Button. The elevator should show up in no time.

Climbing a ladder
Roy Campbell: Snake, if you want to go up or down a ladder, just press the Action Button by the ladder. Approach the ladder and press the Action Button to climb it.

Enemies off screen
To initiate this conversation, call Campbell after being attacked on the communications towers' connecting bridge.

Naomi: Snake, you're under attack from off screen.

Snake: What should I do?

Campbell: First find out where the enemy is. Use your binoculars, then use your sniper rifle or something with a longer range than an ordinary weapon.

Last option
Roy Campbell: Destroy Metal Gear! We're out of time! If you can't do it, I'll have to resort to my last option.

Snake: Last option?

Roy Campbell: We have a submarine prepared to deliver a full nuclear strike on the base.

Snake: What the hell!?

Hurry to the second floor basement
Naomi: Snake, Psycho Mantis has the power to read people's minds. He got the DARPA chief's detonation code. Hurry up or he'll get Baker's code too...

Roy Campbell: That's right. If the terrorists get Baker's code, they'll be able to launch that nuke anytime they want.

Snake: Yeah, they'll use Metal Gear to do it... Colonel, did you know they were conducting a military excercise here using Metal Gear?

Roy Campbell: ...I didn't know.

Snake: Really?

Roy Campbell: Snake, you've got to understand. I'm just the middleman in this operation. Anyway, hurry up and get to the 2nd-floor basement! You've got to save the ArmsTech president before the terrorists find out his code.

Ocelot
Roy Campbell: If you've got a question about FOXHOUND, ask Dr. Naomi.

Naomi Hunter: Revolver Ocelot is a former member of Spetsnaz. Afrer the fall of the Soviet Union, he apparently served in the Russian Tax Police's elite SWAT team. After that, he joined the SVR, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Agency, which was formerly a part of the KGB. But according to my sources, he was dissatisfied with the rigid system of the KGB and wanted to get out. That's when he was recruited by FOXHOUND. He's a gun fanatic totally obsessed with cowboy movies and spaghetti westerns. And he has a well-known taste for torture--when he was with Spetsnaz, he served as a special torture advisor in the concentration camps.

Roy Campbell: Yeah, he had plenty of practice. The Lubianka Prison is located right there inside KGB headquarters. In a gunfight, reloading is usually the most dangerous time. But he loves it. Use that to your advantage. You'll have to take him out when he's reloading. Can you see where his number of remaining bullets is displayed on the screen? Wait for the right moment and then take him out!

Gray Fox/Cyborg Ninja
''To get this call, contact Roy Campbell while fighting the Cyborg Ninja/Gray Fox. Also, Naomi's remark nearing the end of the call foreshadows her hatred of Snake and the reasons why.''

Roy Campbell: If you have a question about members of FOXHOUND, you should ask Naomi.

Naomi Hunter: I'm sorry, but there's no one in FOXHOUND like that. There are currently only six members of FOXHOUND. Psycho Mantis, Sniper Wolf, Vulcan Raven, Decoy Octopus, Revolver Ocelot... And finally, Liquid Snake. The Genome Soldiers under his command are Next-Generation Special Forces. FOXHOUND is intended to be a small number of highly elite, handpicked soldiers.

Snake: You're talking about the current FOXHOUND, right?

Naomi Hunter: Yes...

Roy Campbell: Snake, who or what is that thing? Is he an enemy or not?

Snake: That's what I'd like to know, Naomi, you really don't have any idea?

Naomi Hunter: ...Maybe I should ask you the same thing.

Snake: What?

Naomi Hunter: Nothing...forget about it.

Psycho Mantis
Naomi Hunter: That's Psycho Mantis...former KGB psychic. He has powerful psychokinetic and telepathic abilities. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, he came to America looking for a job. He worked with the FBI on several cases as a psychic profiler. But five years ago he was working on the case of a multiple serial murderer...and he got too far into the killer's mind. As a result, he became just like the killer.

Roy Campbell: So he was sort of infected by this serial murderer's thoughts?...

Naomi Hunter: In any case, after that he became sort of a psychic spy working for the highest bidder. He traveled all over the world. That's when he was recruited by FOXHOUND. He can read people's minds. He knows every move that you're going to make.

Snake: What should I do? I've got no chance of beating him.

Roy Campbell: There must be some way.

Naomi Hunter: He's a master at controlling people. Snake! Don't let him manipulate you!

Pentazemin
Naomi Hunter: The tranquilizer Wolf uses. It's called pentazemin.

Snake: Pentazemin?

Naomi Hunter: It's a benzodiazepam-based antianxiety drug. It has a strong effect on the central nervous system, and it's often used as a psychotropic drug.

Snake: So how does it stop your hands from trembling?

Naomi Hunter: Antianxiety drugs are also effective as muscle relaxants. They're widely used to treat psychosomatic disorders such as autonomic ataxia or as preanesthetics to relax patients before an operation.

Snake: I see.

Naomi Hunter: But be careful. Pentazemin taken in large doses over a long period of time becomes both physically and psychologically addictive, just like alcohol. An adult should take .25 to 5 milligram dose no more than one to four times a day.

Snake: Jeez, you sound like a doctor.

Naomi Hunter: I am a scientist.

Cigarettes
Naomi Hunter: Are you smoking?

Snake: Yeah, so what?

Naomi Hunter: Didn't you know that cigarettes contain benzopyrene, a chemical that leads to lung cancer? We now know that when benzopyrene enters the body, it changes to benzopyrene diolepoxide (BPDE) and attaches to the receptors on the P53 gene, the gene that causes lung cancer. The BPDE attaches to the P53 gene in three specific locations and causes precancerous changes to the lung tissue.

Snake: You know a lot about science, but you don't know how good a cigarette tastes in the morning.

Blast furnace
Roy Campbell: Snake, that's a blast furnace.

Solid Snake: A blast furnace? What do they use that for?

Campbell: There's no airport on the base, so it's hard to bring in supplies. They must have built a blast furnace so they could make building materials and such.

Snake: That makes sense. Whew, I'm starting to sweat. It's getting kind of warm. <

Alaska's weather
Master Miller: The weather in Alaska is very hard to predict. It can change on a dime. A lot of people say it's the worst weather in the world.

Wait after a meal
Master Miller: It's never a good idea to fight on too full a stumach. It'll make you groggy...maybe even sleepy. You should wait thirty minutes after eating before you play.

Target
Master Miller: Where I come from, a soldier who loses his head in combat is called a "target."

Reaction speed
Master Miller: People's reaction speed is slowest around three o'clock in the morning, and so is their judgment. If you're feeling drowsy, you should get some sleep.

Bodily functions
Master Miller: It's also important to be able to control your bodily functions. You never know when a long demo is about to begin, so make sure you're prepared to sit in front of the monitor for a long time if necessary.

Rations
Master Miller: Military rations place an emphasis on calories. That's why it's best to use them along with some other type of nutritional supplement such as vitamins or minerals.

Sleep
Master Miller: Soldiers who have learned their trade in the heat of real combat know how to sleep whenever and wherever they can. There's a big difference between them and the kids who have only been exposed to VR-simulation training. After playing for a long time, you should get some rest too.

The mind
Master Miller: Snake, you've got to think. Your mind is your most dangerous wapon. If things are getting too complicated, try to simplify your thoughts. You can also try calling Campbell for advice.

Gun velocity
Master Miller: The muzzle velocity of a bullet fired from a revolver is slower than one fired from an automatic. That's bad for you. The slower a gun's muzzle velocity, the more damage it does. That's 'cause the bullet will tend to lodge in the body instead of going right through. Those kinds of wounds take a long time to heal. Sometimes they never do. I think that's part of the reason he likes that gun. He's a real sick puppy, that Ocelot... The biggest drawback to a revolver is the reload time. That's your chance!

Cardboard Box
Master Miller: A cardboard box, huh. Just like Zanzibar Land.

Snake: It saved my skin more than a few times in Outer Heaven, too.

Master Miller: Getting the maximum use of ordinary on-hand objects is the first principle of survival. It's especially important for covert operations.

Snake: I haven't forgotten what you taught me.

Suspicious deaths
Master Miller: First the DARPA chief and then President Baker die of a heart attack?

Snake: Yeah. Smells pretty rotten to me. Master, do you know anything?

Master Miller: No... But there's definitely something going on. Keep your eyes open out there.

Sixth Sense
Master Miller: People who have been through war and survived develop a kind of sixth sense to warn them of danger. Trust your instincts as a soldier... As a gamer...

Split-second
Master Miller: In war, a split second can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Don't ever hesitate. The slower you react, the greater the chance that you'll be beaten.

Inner voice
Master Miller: That inner voice that warns you when danger is nearby... You can't learn that in training. You've got to have survived a few firefights...seen a few friends blown away...before you learn that trick.

Hiding
Master Miller: When you're trying to hide, avoid places that look like the enemy might search. Think about how your enemy is going to move and then sneak in there. It doesn't matter how smart you are, just use your head out there.

Divide and conquer
Master Miller: Snake, divide and conquer. Try to take your enemies on one at a time.

Throwing away weapons
Master Miller: He's just playing with you. Why don't you try throwing away your weapons?

Big Four
Master Miller: Normally, when a soldier is taken prisoner, he should only give up the "big four." That's name, rank, serial number, and date of birth. But you're not any old soldier, Snake. I don't want you to tell them anything. Fortunately, you're strong enough to resist.

Don't anger the torturer
Master Miller: Don't say anything to tease or anger the person torturing you. If you make him mad, it'll be that much worse for you. You'll need to save your strength.

Meals in prison
Master Miller: If you get a chance to eat, don't pass it up. A prisoner can't be choosy. You need to get your strength back so you can escape when the opportunity presents itself.

Take the chance
Master Miller: Snake, you'll get a chance to escape. Make sure you take it.

Enemy positions
Master Miller: Plan your strategy based on the enemies' positions. Try to think like the enemy commander will think. If you can put yourself in the map designer's mind, a lot of doors will open for you.

Milliseconds
Master Miller: You need to make snap decisions. In war, the difference between living and dying is counted in milliseconds.

CQB
Master Miller: The basic law of CQB (close quarters battle) is to take your enemy out as quickly and efficiently as possible while maintaining your own escape route.

Hope
Master Miller: Once you give up hope, it's all over. That's when you can't do anything right. Despair leads to death, you know.

Believe
Master Miller: You've got to believe. If you believe with your whole heart, you will succeed.

Seeing things
Master Miller: Sometimes in combat or when you're near the end of your rope, You can see things that normally aren't there or shouldn't be there. Relax. It's not a bug. It's just the mysteries of the human mind.

Terrible memories
Master Miller: Think about something terrible that happened in your life. Everyone has had something bad happen to them. It'll help take your mind off the misery of the battlefield.

Coping with change
Master Miller: A real master of warfare alters his strategy to cope with changes in the battlefield conditions. If you always follow the book, you'll be transparent to your enemy.

Gun use
Master Miller: Don't use your gun unless you need to. If you can get out of a jam using just your hands and feet, then do it. If you can't, then go for the gun.

Planning
Master Miller: Soldiers who lose their heads on the battlefield usually lose their heads on the battlefield. Get my meaning? Always have your next action planned.

Hiding
Master Miller: Think carefully about your hiding spots. You might find a place where you can hide perfectly, but if you can't get your mission done, it's meaningless.

Appropriate weapons
Master Miller: Always use the most appropriate weapon for the situation. If you use a weapon that's not really doing the job, not only are you wasting ammo, but you're also putting your life in danger.

Magazine usage
Master Miller: One way of letting yourself know when to change a magazine is to make the last few rounds of the mag tracers. You're probably already doing that, huh?

Cruelty of man
Master Miller: War brings out the cruelty of man. No matter how the soldier was brought up, they all turn into animals when they're thrust into the heat of combat.

Small chances
Master Miller: Sometimes, even though you know it's a losing battle, you just have to fight or be damned. A narrow chance is still a chance.

Foresight
Master Miller: Foresight is important in war. In times of extreme danger, people's latent sixth sense often awakens. When that happens, throw logic to the wind and trust your instincts.

Conquering fear
Master Miller: The only way to conquer fear is to stare it straight in the face and laugh at it. Never let fear control you.

No guilt
Master Miller: Don't feel guilty about the soldiers that died from your bullets. They knew the risks they were taking, just like you.

Naomi
Snake: I want to ask you about Naomi.

Master Miller: I'm looking into the details now, but it doesn't look good. Weren't you ever suspicious of her, Snake?

Snake: .........

Master Miller: ...Snake, keep your guard up.

Ravens diet
Master Miller: Ravens will eat vegetables, meat, garbage...pretty much anything. It seems dirty to us, but that's what allows them to live even in a climate like this.

Crow/Raven lifespan
Master Miller: Legends say that crows have three times the lifespan of a man, and that ravens have three times the lifespan of a crow. That's just an old wives' tale, but it's true that crows live longer than many types of birds. Northern Ravens can live pretty close to seventy years.

Control room
Master Miller: Snake, isn't the detonation code input system in the Control Room? Hurry up and get it in there!

Cold Sound
Master Miller: Sound travels better in cold environments. If you're going to use a handgun, you should equip a suppressor.

Ice Fogs
Master Miller: When the temperature falls down to minus 30 or minus 40 degrees Celsius, you start to get ice fogs. That's when the moisture in the air freezes. It may look pretty at first, but it'll severely limit your visibility. Be careful.

Kipling
Master Miller: Kipling, an English poet who also won the Nobel Prize, said that once you go beyond 65 north, you're byond the reach of divine protection and human law. To survive in such surroundings, you have to be strong enough to not rely on God or anyone else.

Hats
Master Miller: In cold like this, over 70% of your body warmth is lost through your head. Put on some kind of hat.

Snake: I hate hats. Is a bandanna okay?

Master Miller: Well, I guess it's better than nothing...

Changing Underwear
Master Miller: In an arctic environment, it's important to change your underwear if you're sweating a lot. Dawdle around too much and you'll not only waste your strength, but you could even catch pneumonia. Gaming after a bath should be avoided.

Dehydration
Master Miller: It's easy to dehydrate in subzero climates, so make sure to replenish your fluids. But don't ever try to do it by eating snow. You'll freeze your stomach, and your body temperature will drop. Always melt the snow and then boil it before you drink it.

Cold meals
Master Miller: No cold foods or cold liquids for you. That stuff causes a temperature imbalance that actually drains your body of energy. A golden rule in arctic environments.

Introduction
Nastasha Romanenko: This is Nastasha Romanenko. A pleasure to work with you, Solid Snake.

Solid Snake: You're the nuclear specialist that the colonel mentioned?

Nastasha Romanenko: That's me. You can ask me anything about nukes that you want. I am also a military analyst, so I have an extensive knowledge of weapons systems as well. They asked me to participate in this operation as a supervisor from the Nuclear Emergency Search Team. I was happy to accept. We must not allow terrorists to get their hands on nuclear weapons on any kind. I hope I can help you to stop them.

Solid Snake: You're a tough lady.

Nastasha Romanenko: Those terrorists are serious about launching a nuclear weapon. The world cannot stand by idly and allow that to happen. And neither can I... Unfortunately, all I can do from here is provide you with information...

Solid Snake: Hopefully that'll be enought. Another soldier here wouldn't make a difference anyway. It's good to work with you, Nastasha.

Nastasha Romanenko: Same here, Snake.

Nuclear storage estimate
To get this conversation, contact Nastasha Romanenko a few times while in the Tank Hangar.

Nastasha Romanenko: Over 200 tons of plutonium and over 1,000 tons of high-grade uranium have been removed from nuclear weapons so far. And on top of that, nuclear reactors all over the world continue to produce and leak spent nuclear fuel. According to one estimate, as of the year 2005, America alone was storing over 50,000 tons of nuclear material. There is no room left in our nuclear material storage sites. That is why we need nuclear weapons disposal facilities.

Shadow Moses Island facility history
Nastasha Romanenko: The nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island was built at the beginning of this century. It was made only to temporarily store the nuclear warheads.

Snake: Why? If they wanted to dispose of them, why wouldn't they just dismantle them right away? Nastasha Romanenko: They cannot do that. You see, when you dismantle a warhead, you still have nuclear materials that must be stored. At this point, all of the nuclear material storage facilities are way past capacity. But they could not stop dismantling weapons while at the same time pushing START-2...

Snake: So, you're telling me that this base was built so they could temporarily avoid being in conflict with START-2?

Nastasha Romanenko: Most people think that we live in a safer world now. But with all the dismantled nuclear weapons and waste around, the threat of nuclear terrorism has increased tremendously.

Snake: Ironic, isn't it?

Warhead dismantling
Nastasha Romanenko: The warheads are supposed to be dismantled at Pantex or some other dismantling facility, but there are limits to how many warheads they can process. We just don't have the capabilities to dismantle all the warheads that are out there.

START-2
Nastasha Romanenko: After the START-2 Accord was signed on January 3, 1993, Russia and the U.S. reduced their strategic nuclear warheads to between 3,000 and 3,500 warheads each. They completely dismantled all of the ICBMs which contained MIRVs (multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles). As a result of that, there are over 15,000 dismantled nuclear warheads waiting to be disposed of.

Nuclear Deterrence
Nastasha Romanenko: As long as the strategy of nuclear deterrence continues, nuclear weapons may be reduced, but they will never be eliminated. If you think about it, nuclear reduction does not mean much without elimination as the ultimate goal. I used to work in the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency), I figured the only way to achieve nuclear elimination was to work from the inside to convince them of the ineffectiveness of the deterrence theory.

Snake: Seems like you're pretty focused on that issue.

Nastasha Romenenko: ...Victims of nuclear radiation are a sad thing to see...and I have seen a lot of it. ...I have seen more than enough of it...

Snake: ?

Nastasha Romanenko: I was born and raised in Prypiat, Ukraine. I was ten years old on that day...April 26, 1986.

Snake: You don't mean...

Nastasha Romanenko: Yes. Chernobyl. That is the day that changed my life and thousands of other lives. I lived just three kilometers north of there.

Snake: .........

Nastasha Romanenko: 600,000 to 700,000 people were evacuated. Over 650,000 children suffered the effects of radiation poisoning. Between 1986 abd 1993, 12,000 children died... My parents, and many others like them who helped in the cleanup, died a few years later from radiation sickness. We must rid this world of all nuclear weapons...before they cause more misery. Before they destroy the delicate environment that keeps us alive. I will not allow this pain and anxiety to pass on to yet another generation.

Metal Gear and PAL system
To initiate this conversation, contact Nastasha Romanenko after the "DARPA Chief's" death and aiding the female soldier.

Nastasha Romanenko: They were conducting exercisess with this new Metal Gear prototype. Is that what the DARPA chief said?

Snake: Yeah.

Nastasha Romanenko: What the hell!?

Snake: So you know about Metal Gear?

Nastasha Romanenko: Just rumors. I heard it is some kind of walking tank that can deliver an accurate nuclear strike from any terrain... Mountains, deserts, swamps...wherever. But you are the real expert on Metal Gear, aren't you, Snake?

Snake: Yeah, I guess I am. But what about the PAL system that the DARPA chief mentioned?

Nastasha Romanenko: It is a device attached to a nuclear-weapon system to prevent the missile from being armed or launched. Usually a secret detonation code or combination is necessary to launch the missile. According to the chief, there are two codes, and the terrorists already know one of them. The other code... if the terrorists find out about that one too...

Snake: Yeah... I've got to hurry and rescue President Baker...

PAL definition
Nastasha Romanenko: PAL stands for "permissive action link." It's a safety system attached to nuclear-missile systems. The missile cannot be fired without the insertion of a special electronic code. But if the terrorists have found out the detonation codes, they can launch the missile anytime they want.

PAL destruction
Snake: Is it possible to destroy the PAL system so that the missile can be fired even without inserting the detonation code?

Nastasha Romanenko: I do not believe so. It is set up so that the warhead will become automatically inactive if any attempt is made to remove, deactivate, or destroy the PAL.

Snake: So unless the terrorists either learn the detonation codes or get their hands on the detonation-code override keys, there's no way they can launch...

Nastasha Romanenko: Don't be too sure. Any system can contain bugs or malfunctions. We cannot relax yet.

Metal Gear history
Nastasha Romanenko: I do not know much about Metal Gear. Just the little I have heard. I know it appeared in Outer Heaven in 1995 and then again in Zanzibar Land in 1999... Both were Third World countries led by military regimes. They secrety developed Metal Gear to increase their military and political power throughout the world. But both were stopped by a lone hero... You, Solid Snake.

Snake: ......... That was a long time ago...

Metal Gear capabilities
Nastasha Romanenko: All the ICBM silos are closely monitored by military satellites. SLBM-equipped submarines can move secretly, but naturally they are limited to launching from the water. Finally, there are ALBMs which can be launched from aircraft. They allow for excellent mobility, but they are somewhat unreliable... Metal Gear was developed to solve all those problems. It can move freely over any terrain and independently launch a nuclear missile at any target in the world. It completely changes the nature of the strategic-arms race and destroys the delicate nuclear balance... It is a weapon to be feared, believe me.

Metal Gear development
Nastasha Romanenko: The development of Metal Gear is a cynical attempt to consolidate and increase our military dominance while at the same time maintaining the pretense of disarming ourselves. Now that the SLCM zero option, allowing for the sneak inspections of submarines in international waters, has been concluded, the value of submarines as strategic weapons has greatly diminished. With Metal Gear, governments of the world will be able to avoid this type of inspection and, at the same time, stay in compliance with international nuclear treaties.

Three nuclear elements
Nastasha Romanenko: It is just like Baker said. We are facing increasing danger from stored nuclear materials. You see, there are three elements necessary in the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Nuclear materials, nuclear engineers, and manufacturing technology. All three of them can easily be acquired by either legal or illegal means. If you have enough money, that is.

Nuclear engineers
Nastasha Romanenko: They say that there are 500,000 nuclear engineers in the world. But after the end of the Cold War, the demand for nuclear engineers dropped precipitously. In the Eastern Block countries, in particular, there is a tremendous brain drain. They cannot keep their scientists in the country, and each year more and more nuclear engineers go to work for the highest bidder.

MUF
Nastasha Romanenko: Just like Baker said, each year there are more and more cases of MUF coming from the nuclear material storage facilities. That stands for "Material Unaccounted For." It means that someone is stealing nuclear materials and probably selling them on the black market.

Bomb-sized nukes
Nastasha Romanenko: After the fall of the Soviet Union, the nuclear management program fell to pieces. In the late 1990s, there were rumors that nearly a hundred Suitcase-sized nuclear bombs mysteriously disappeared from the Soviet arsenal. We still do not know whether it is true or not, but it is possible that they fell into the hands of terrorists...

A "Strong America"
Nastasha Romanenko: Both the DARPA chief and President Baker still embrace the ideal of a "Strong America." They are enthusiastic advocates of the nuclear-deterrence policy. The idea behind a nuclear standoff is that both countries would be too afraid to use a nuclear weapon for fear of a nuclear reprisal. In other words, the only thing preventing a country from totally devastating another country with nuclear weapons is the fear of a nuclear counterstrike. Those two probably feel that Metal Gear will further promote that security...

The need for a counterstrike threat
Nastasha Romanenko: The conservatives believe that as long as other countries have nuclear capability, they must maintain a credible deterrent. They are therefore opposed to the elimination of nuclear weapons. And with each new country that acquires nuclear capabilities, the need for maintaining that counterstrike threat increases. As long as the nuclear-deterrent policy continues, we'll never be rid of nuclear weapons...

Nuclear Deterrence
Nastasha Romanenko: The theory of nuclear deterrence was born during the Cold War, at a time of great suspicion between the U.S. and the USSR. The great gulf between the ideologies of East and West caused a dramatic escalation in the arms race. And this escalation of the arms race in turn fueled mutual distrust and fear between the world's two great superpowers. The last half of the twentieth century was shaped by the policy of nuclear deterrence. But the world has changed. The Cold War has ended, and we are now living in a world where small, regional conflicts are breaking out all over. Things are not so simple anymore, and the policy of nuclear deterrence is obsolete. Most of these regional conflicts are the result of age-old enmities between different ethnic groups and religions. In those cases, the hatred often runs so deep that rationality is thrown out the window. For people such as them, the fear of a counterstrike often means little, and that is why the nuclear-deterrence policy has lost much of its efficacy. A nuclear standoff is not a sufficient deterrent in the current world climate.

Grenades
To receive this conversation, contact Nastasha Romanenko while holding the grenades

Nastasha Romanenko: I see you found the grenades. Antipersonnel hand grenades. They produce a burst of shrapnel on detonation. Explosive power is provided by Composition B, consisting of a mixture of 40% TNT and 60% RDX. Needless to say, you do not want to stand too close when one detonates.

Chaff Grenades
Nastasha Romanenko: That is a chaff grenade. It is a special grenade that dispenses thin, narrow metallic strips of various lengths and frequency responses. It can also confuse electronic equipment. It will be useful against machines, which depend upon electronic sensors. Naturally, for it to be effective, you must use it before you are attacked. If you are expecting an attack, spread the chaff beforehand.

C4
Nastasha Romanenko: That is C4 explosive. A plastic explosive with a texture similar to clay, so you can shape it in almost any way you want. Although it has 1.4 times the destructive power of dynamite, it is highly stable and will not explode without a detonating device, even if it is shot, burned, or beaten. You are using a wireless detonator. The detonator is equipped with a scrambler so you don't have to worry about interference from any other radio source. Make sure you are sufficiently far enough away when it goes off. Also, as you know, the sound of the explosive will alert your enemies, so be careful.

SOCOM
Nastasha Romanenko: Good! You found a SOCOM. That's a Special Operations Command pistol. It's a .45 caliber pistol with plenty of stopping power. It's also equipped with a LAM (Laser Aiming Module) for nighttime combat. If you find a SOCOM suppressor, you can equip that, too. That pistol was designed specifically for use by special forces, so I think it will be useful. Some people find it a little heavy and hard to use, but it shouldn't be a problem for you.

Cigarettes
Nastasha Romanenko: Nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, hazardous waste... We're constantly being exposed to plutonium and other radioactive materials. Compared to that, smoking seems not so bad, huh?

Single Action Army
Nastasha Romanenko: He's using a Single Action Army? The first model of that gun was made in 1873...over 130 years ago. Today they're still being made in small numbers, but that's just for collectors and such. Nobody uses them in combat anymore... Biggest drawback to revolver style handguns is the reload time. That's your chance.

Cardboard Box
Nastasha Romanenko: A cardboard box. A cardboard box usually consists of a thin pasteboard with a corrugated paper center. They are usually made of recycled paper. It was first invented in Europe over one hundred years ago. It was originally used to absorb one's sweat when wearing hats. With the same amount of wood to make one wooden box, you can make six or seven cardboard boxes. And since it's recyclable, it's highly economical. In addition, it is strong and easy to store. That is why it is widely used for packing.

SOCOM suppressor
Nastasha Romanenko: Good. You found a suppressor for the SOCOM pistol. If you equip that, you won't have to worry about being noticed by the enemy when you fire. It will greatly reduce the sound and flash from your muzzle. It uses a multilayered chamber to lower the velocity of the gas emissions and thus reduce the sund and flash when you fire your weapon. The suppressor is narrow enough so you can still use the gun's original sight even when it is equipped. It shouldn't change the feel when you fire it.

Mine Detector
Nastasha Romanenko: That is a mine detector. It works by searching for metal objects. It will even find Claymores that are hidden with optic stealth technology. It is set so that the position of the land mines will show up on your radar. All you have to do is equip the mine detector and keep an eye on your radar. Use it carefully.

Nikita Missiles
Nastasha Romanenko: Those are remote-controlled miniature reconnaissance missiles, sometimes called Nikita missiles. They've got CCD cameras in their nose cones. After you fire them, they'll transmit their visual data to your monitor. You can control their flight freely in all directions. But the missiles have a limited amount of fuel. Watch the gauge carefully.

Gas Mask
Nastasha Romanenko: You got a Gas Mask. Good. That is a double-eyepiece type. Be careful, unlike the transparent-shield type, it will restrict your field of vision. It is equipped with a voice emitter, so do not worry about not being heard. The outside is made of reinforced plastic, and the inside is made from an acetate weave. Also, the eyepieces are specially treated so they won't fog up. You will be able to stay in a gas-filled area for a long time with that mask. Use it wisely.

Exoskeleton
Nastasha Romanenko: Look at him move! He must have some kind of powered exoskeleton.

Snake: Powered exoskeleton? You mean like prosthetic arms and legs?

Nastasha Romanenko: No; there is a fundamental difference. Prosthetics are intended to compensate for lost body limbs. The exoskeleton replaces human flesh with machinery to produce a weapon more powerful than a mere human.

Snake: A war machine, huh?

Nastasha Romanenko: I heard rumors about the experiments, but I had no idea that such a creature really existed...

Nuclear virtual testing
Snake: Otacon said that now it's possible to design and test new types of nuclear weapons in a virtual simulation without ever exploding a nuclear device. Is that true?

Nastasha Romanenko: Yes, it's true. Since the establishment of DARHT, the Dual Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test Facility, and NIF, the National Ignition Facility, early in the twenty-first century, there's been a wealth of data concerning nuclea fission and fusion. There is also much data accumulated from the nuclear tests conducted over the last four decades. With the processing speed of today's supercomputers, they can design a new nuclear weapon through virtual reality computer simulations.

Subcritical tests
Nastasha Romanenko: In order to collect data for the simulation experiments, they're doing subcritical tests underground. Those are experiments in which they detonate high explosives in proximity to plutonium without setting off a critical chain reaction. They then measure the effect that the shockwave has on the plutonium. By measuring the particles which fly off the surface of the plutonium, they can learn the mass, speed, and distribution of the plutonium particles. The politicians insist that whether it is aboveground or belowground, a nuclear test which does not cause a nuclear explosion is not a nuclear test and therefore does not violate the CNTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty). A lot of people do not agree with that interpretation.

Subcritical test history
Nastasha Romanenko: The first subcritical test was performed on July 2, 1997, at the Nevada Nuclear Testing Facility. After that, subcritical testing became extremely common, not only in America, but in Russia and other countries too. They say that the reason for the tests is to ensure the safety and reliability of the existing nuclear stockpile, but that's nothing more than a flimsy cover story. In reality, the danger of a nuclear weapon exploding accidentally decreases over time. It is clear that the real reason for these tests is to aid in the development of new types of nuclear weapons. Even the government admits that the data collected from those tests is used in virtual reality simulation tests.

Manhattan Project
Nastasha Romanenko: That is amazing. Dr. Emmerich's father participated in the Manhattan Project? That was the secret World War II project responsible for the creation of the first atomic bomb. It had a huge budget, something like two billion dollars. They brought in 120,000 of the best and brightest scientists and engineers to work on it. And we all know how that story ended. In July of 1945, they exploded the first nuclear device at Trinity, followed shortly thereafter by Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Trinity... The world was changed forever that day. Scientists and researchers could no longer pretend that their hands were clean of blood. Afterwards, the leader of the Manhattan Project, J. Robert Oppenheimer, said: "The physicists have known sin, and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose."

Theater Missile Defense
Nastasha Romanenko: When Dr. Emmerich designed the new Metal Gear prototype, he thought he was creating a mobile TMD system. He is a very naive man. TMD stands for "Theater Missile Defense." They represent a shift in defense priorities from dealing with the threat of ICBMs from the former Soviet Union, to dealing with small-scale regional conflicts in the Third World. Current TMD systems work by a combination of THAADs, theater high altitude air defense, which intercept missiles outside of the atmosphere, and Patriot-type missiles which intercept missiles within the atmosphere. Dr. Emmerich was planning on them using Metal Gear as a low atmosphere mobile missile interceptor unit.

Debate over TMD
Nastasha Romanenko: There are many in Russia as well as America who are opposed to TMD systems because they say it undermines the spirit of the ABM, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. And there are also those who say that the ABM Treaty is a dinosaur left over from the Cold War. They argue that the strategy of MAD (mutually assured destruction) should be maintained by limiting missile defense systems. There was a big debate over it, but ultimately, under pressure from the defense industry who was looking to expand into new markets, TMD systems were accepted as an integral part of a modern military arsenal.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
To initiate this conversation, contact Nastasha after Meryl when Meryl begins to undergo the effects of Psycho Mantis' control.

Snake: Meryl is acting kind of strange...

Nastasha Romanenko: It could be stress. Caused by exposure to the battleground and extreme situations. An acquaintance of mine was a victim of Chechnya Syndrome. For six months after his return from Chechnya he suffered from constant delusions and insomnia. He was forced to fight a war, the reasons for which he did not understand. Against a people who spoke his own language, who were citizens of his own country...

Snake: It sounds like PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. A lot of veterans returning from Vietnam suffered from that...

Nastasha Romanenko: Yes, it is also similar to the Afghan Syndrome. In Meryl's case, it is probably a much more short-term condition... She is a rookie. Please take care of her.

Weapons funding
Nastasha Romanenko: The enormous costs for the development of military weapons are obviously paid for by the public. Our lives keep on suffering financially because of weapons that we know will not be used.

Cold War aftermath
Nastasha Romenenko: At the end of the Cold War, the old conflict patterns collapsed and tension and controls were relieved, leading to an overflow of weapons, their technology, and their parts. No longer is economic power the equivalent of military power. Now even economically weak countries can acquire military strength.

NATO Doctrine
Nastasha Romanenko: According to the military doctrine which is the basis for NATO expansion, a preemptive nuclear strike may be undertaken if there is a sufficient threat of a regional conflict spreading to a large-scale war. In the face of all this NATO expansion, Russia might feel the need to flex their nuclear muscles... if only to show NATO that, even with their aging arsenal and diminished army, they are still a major power.

Shift of power
Nastasha Romanenko: Russia could no longer pay enough money to its leading scientists, so they sold their weapons and weapons technology to the highest bidders. The result was that, starting with nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, Russian-made weaponry flowed to developing countries and terrorist organizations. The world's military balance was thrown into disarray. The world has never seen the balance of power shift so quickly and dramatically.

Terrorists deadline
Nastasha Romanenko: So the terrorists intentionally set their deadline to coincide with the signing of the START-3 accord... According to the terms of START-3, both Russia and the U.S. are to reduce the number of their nuclear warheads in deployment to between 2,000 and 2,500 missiles. The current president has not yet had any major foreign policy successes. His term will be up soon, and the word at the White House is that he desperately wants this one for the history books.

Snake: Typical politician...

Nastasha Romanenko: It's a big concern for him and his supporters.

START-3
Nastasha Romanenko: The signing of the START-3 was dependent on ratification of the START-2. But MIRVs were the most important weapon in Russian arsenal. Naturally, the conservatives in the Russian Parliament were greatly opposed to disarming them. The expansion of NATO, along with tension caused by disagreements over the application of the ABM Treaty with regards to TMD systems, made ratification in the 1990s difficult. It took a tremendous amount of pressure and secret negotiations to get the Russians to sign the START-3 tomorrow. But the political situation in Russia is tenuous at best, and one small incident could bring the signing to a crashing halt. If the Russians learn that America has secretly developed a new type of nuclear weapon, there is no telling how they might react. World opinion will be strongly against us too. That Liquid Snake is a smart one... He knows the political climate. His actions were obviously very well calculated...

Actual amount remaining from START-3 onward
Nastasha Romanenko: It's true that the signing of START-3 would mean a reduction in nuclear missiles, but it would still leave between 4,000 and 5,000 missiles between the U.S. and Russia alone. That is more than enough to destroy every living thing on this planet several times over. There is a big difference between nuclear reduction and nuclear elimination.

START-3 History
Nastasha Romanenko: Negotiations for START-3 began in the late 1990s. The Russian president had actually been pushing for a much more ambitious arms reduction pact, but it was rejected by the Americans. America was the sole rremaining superpower on the earth, and they were not too eager to give up the title. The fact is, in the history of the world, no dominant power has ever willingly given up the reigns of that power... In the case of the U.S., that means nuclear superiority.

The true nature of reduction of nukes
Nastasha Romanenko: There has been a lot of effort to reduce the number of nuclear weapons, but even today, there is no treaty limiting tactical nuclear weapons. It may look from the outside that the world is disarming, but in fact nuclear weapons are not going anywhere soon.

Nuclear Age
Nastasha Romanenko: The Nuclear Age is not over yet. As long as one country in the world has nuclear weapons, they will never go away.

Dark places
Nastasha Romanenko: When you're in a dark place, you should use night-vision or thermal goggles.

Rope
Nastasha Romanenko: Rope? If it is at least 12 millimeters thick, lightweight, and hard to cut, you should be able to rappel with it as well. It is not a hemp rope, is it?

Snake: No. It looks like it's made of nylon fibers.

Nastasha Romanenko: Good. When hemp rope gets wet, it loses its flexibility. It would not be good for rappelling. But that rope sounds like it will not be a problem.

Cold Medicine
Nastasha Romanenko: Cold medicine? I don't know. It looks like regular old cold medicine to me.

Pentazemin
Nastasha Romanenko: A tranquilizer? Yes. I heard that Sniper Wolf uses them to prevent her hands from quivering. Maybe you should try the same thing. If you want more information, why don't you ask Dr. Naomi?

Body Armor
Nastasha Romanenko: You found the body armor. The armor is constructed of a special fiber five times stronger than steel. Wearing that will considerably reduce damage from enemy fire. It is designed to prevent bullets from penetrating, but you will still feel the impact of the bullets. Don't rely on it too much.

Stinger vs Hind
Nastasha Romanenko: You have Stinger missiles. Now you have at least got a chance against the Hind...

Snake: Only a chance?

Nastasha Romanenko: Well you are not exactly even armed. That Hind is a monster. You only have a small chance to win, but at least it's better than no chance...

Snake: Analysts are a coldhearted bunch, huh?

Nastasha Romanenko: To shoot down that Hind, you will have to get to a place with good visibility. Do not try to fight in that walkway. Get up on that roof where you will have a clean shot at him.

Hind defeated
Nastasha Romanenko: My God, you actually shot down that Hind...

Snake: You're the one who said I could do it with a Stinger... You didn't really think I had a chance, did you?

Nastasha Romanenko: It's not that... Well after all, that Hind shot down two F-16s. It is hard to believe that after doing that it got taken out by just one man...

Stinger
Nastasha Romanenko: You found Stinger missiles. Stingers are portable SAMs (surface-to-air missiles). They are equipped with a thermal himing device, so once they've locked on they will automatically pursue the targer. To lock on, all you have to do is line up the crosshairs. In Afghanistan, the Mujahideen terrorized Soviet pilots with their U.S.-supplied Stingers. They were used to such effect that the Soviet Alliance was forced to overhaul its tactics. One of my favorite horror books is called Stinger, and my favorite cocktail is a Stinger. I guess you could say I've got a thing for Stingers.

Core-deterrent force talks
Nastasha Romanenko: If we do not drastically reduce he number of stockpiled nuclear weapons, it's going to become easier and easier for terrorists to get their hands on them... That means more terrorist attacks like this one. There was some talk about both sides reducing their nuclear stockpiles to a "core-deterrent force" of less than 500 missiles each, and declaring that there would be no nuclear counterstrike in the event of the use of conventional or chemical weapons. But talks fell through. It seems that America is unwilling to relinquish its position as the most powerful country in the world.

Local use of nuclear weapons
Nastasha Romanenko: There is no doubt about it. After the Cold War ended, the chance of a full-scale, worldwide nuclear conflageration was diminished. But on the other hand, the chances of local, tactical use of nuclear weapons greatly increased. Civil wars, revolutions, regional disputes... It seems like there is a new war popping up somewhere every day, and many of them are the result of centuries-old hatred between different ethnic or religious groups. These people do not think rationally or logically. In such conflicts, there is no concern for the high civilian casualty rate, and international criticism means little. A nuclear deterrent is meaningless because emotions run so hot. Furthermore, unlike strategic nuclear missiles, the decision to use tactical nuclear missiles is in some cases left up to the battlefield commanders. It is pretty scary. As long as nuclear weapons continue to proliferate, the chances that someone is going to use them will also continue to grow...

Legal manipulation of Nuclear weapons
Nastasha Romanenko: Ironically, the policy of nuclear deterrence has prevented the elimination of nuclear weapons. The entire basis for determining them to be illegal has been undermined by this military policy. In other words, nuclear weapons cannot be declared illegal because we have an entrenched policy which makes them legal, ipso facto.

Other countries with nuclear weapons
Nastasha Romanenko: America and Russia aren't the only countries with nuclear weapons. During the Cold War, the UK, France, and China publicly declared the existence of their own nuclear arsenals. Since we entered the twenty-first century, we have confirmed the existence of nuclear weapons programs in countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Asia. Nukes are steadily proliferating. The twenty-first century is paying for the twentieth century's failure to plug the holes in the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and for IAEA's failure to tighten nuclear control measures.

IAEA
Nastasha Romanenko: The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) was established in 1957 to oversee peaceful as well as military applications of atomic power. But the IAEA can only investigate those countries which request an investigation. Furthermore, the timing of the inspection must be approved by the country in question. They are not allowed to do sneak inspections. The country that is being investigated can even dictate the nationality of the inspectors that they will allow in. In the late 1970s, Iraq would only allow inspectors from Bulgaria and Russia to enter the country. The IAEA does not even have the authority to level fines against countries who have committed infractions. After the Gulf War, they discovered that Iraq had been developing nuclear weapons in secret, right under the investigator's noses! Unfortunately, as an organization, the IAEA just did not have the eeth to effectively stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.

NPT
Nastasha Romanenko: In 1970, all five nuclear powers--America, the Soviet Union, France, England, and China--signed the NPT. The treaty provided that the non-nuclear-equipped countries could receive assistance for peaceful applications of nuclear power. But military applications of nuclear power were strictly prohibited, and the IAEA was given the responsibility of investigating countries who were suspected of being in noncompliance with the NPT. But the IAEA could not stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons either. Not only could the IAEA not levy any penalties against violating nations, but it became impossible to distinguish between technologies which would lead to military development and technologies which were for civilian applications.

Sniper position
Nastasha Romanenko: You have a good view, though your movement is limited... It might be a good place to take out your enemy with your sniper rifle.

Drainage ditch contents
Nastasha Romanenko: That stuff that is flowing in those ditches on the 1st floor must be radioactive nuclear wastewater. You had better stay away from it. You are already exposed enough just by being in that area. Any further exposure could be fatal. That place does not have a nuclear processing facility. It must be some other kind of nuclear material that is leaking besides the dismantled nuclear warheads... Probably spent fuel or something.

Spent fuel
Nastasha Romanenko: Anytime fuel is burned in a nuclear reactor, it will always produce, as a waste product, some spent fuel mixed with highly toxic, radioactive compounds. Spent nuclear fuel stays radioactive for 300 years. In other words, this material will remain lethal for the next three centuries.

Burying nuclear waste
Nastasha Romanenko: There was a time when we thought it was safe to seal the nuclear waste in special containers and bury it in a layer of rock salt without much exposure to underground water. Even though we now know there are big problems with that, we still don't have an effective disposal solution. Most of the nuclear waste we produce is just shoved underground with no intention of ever processing it. It's like an ostich with its head in the sand.

MOX
Nastasha Romanenko: There is a process which involves mixing the nuclear waste with low-grade uranium to convert it into a mixed oxid (MOX) fuel for burining in light water reactors, usually in the form of glass logs. But MOX contaminates a nuclear reactor more quickly than low-grade uranium. It is also highly toxic. It is economically unfeasible unless the price of uranium is more than four times what it currently is. Not only that, but you cannot ignore the danger inherent in transporting the MOX from the processing factories to the nuclear reactors. An accident could lead to radioactive contamination, or the materials could be hijacked by terrorists... No, I do not think MOX could be called a viable solution to the problem of plutonium disposal.

Nuclear waste in military applications
Nastasha Romanenko: There is only one effective use for nuclear waste. Military applications. You see, after chemical reprocessing, they can separate plutonium from the nuclear waste. Nuclear weapons normally use military-grade plutonium 239 with a purity of 93-94%. It is made in special nuclear reactors designed for military applications. On the other hand, the plutonium in spent nuclear fuel only has a purity of about 60%. But that does not mean that spent nuclear fuel cannot be used for military applications. America has been successful in tests using eapons made from nuclear-reactor-grade plutonium. That means that eventually everyone will be able to make nuclear weapons from plutonium separated from spent nuclear fuel.

Uranium rounds
Nastasha Romanenko: Spent nuclear fuel can also be used to make depleted uranium (DU) bullets or shells. They are armor-piercing antitank rounds. With a very high density and armor-piercing capability, DU explodes after penetrating the target's armor. DU ammunition demonstrates a 10% increase in efficiency over munitions made of heavy metal alloy such as tungsten. Unfortunately, when a DU round explodes, it spreads a fine dust which, when absorbed into a body, supposedly causes terrible health problems such as renal disease. During the Gulf War, Americans as well as Iraqi soldiers were exposed to DU dust and suffered from radiation poisoning and other illnesses. The American government and public organizations undertook medical studies, but no clear casual link was established between exposure to DU and the occurrence of cancer or genetic damage. Some people think that this type of radioactive contamination is what is behind the "Gulf War Syndrome," but the government will not admit it...

Mass transmission
Nastasha Romanenko: Researchers are now attempting to use high-speed neutron foundries and particle accelerators to transform highly toxic metals with long half-lives, such as neptunium and americium, into short half-life nuclides. It's called mass transmission, but it's not being used much due to all the technical and economic problems with it. A serious program for nuclear waste treatment has yet to be established.

The difference between conventional weapons and WMDs
Nastasha Romanenko: There is a big difference between conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction. Conventional weapons are intended for use against military targets, but nuclear weapons are used against noncombatants. Nukes are designed to kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians in a flash. That is why nuclear weapons are so evil.

Don't forget the past
Nastasha Romanenko: Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. That is why the world must never forget Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Destructive power of a nuke
Nastasha Romanenko: Nuclear weapons possess lethal destructive powers that extend through time as well as space. They have the power to not just annihilate humans, but every living thing on the planet.

Nukes cannot be discounted from being used
Nastasha Romanenko: Build a weapon, and some day it shall be used. And when the weapons are nuclear, it means the end of this world. Consider Hiroshima: we cannot say that they will not be used. While they continue to exist, we cannot eliminate the possibility of their use.

Stun grenades
Nastasha Romanenko: Those are stun grenades. They are often used in sensitive operations such as feeeing hostages and that sort of thing. Sometimes they are called "flashbangs" or "sound and flash grenades." They make a big flash and lots of noise, which will temporarily disorient and disable your opponents. They will not cause fatal injury, but they can make enemy soldiers unconscious. Use them wisely.

Infrared sensor room
Nastasha Romanenko: Snake, that room is set with infrared sensors. You should be able to see them if you had some smoke--cigarette smoke or something.

Solid Snake: Sorry, but these are smokeless cigarettes.

Nastasha Romanenko: You mean those cigarettes that are designed to cut down on secondhand smoke? Oh well, don't worry... If you blow the smoke in the direction of the infrared sensors, you should be able to see them. That was a good idea bringing the cigarettes. But don't smoke too much. Cigarettes make you weak, in mind and body. They're bad for you.

DARPA Chief's location
Mei Ling: Look at the radar! It's picking up the DARPA chief. He's the green dot. Hurry and rescue him.