| This article is about a non-canonical topic in the Metal Gear series. |
Sophie N'dram was Augustine Eguabon's second-in-command in the Gindra Liberation Front, as well as his one-time lover. An excellent helicopter pilot, she was a dedicated to Eguabon's proclaimed ideals, largely unaware of his ultimate plan or true purpose.
Background[]
Born to a French father and a Gindran mother, Sophie N'dram was abandoned by her father, a representative of a large French firm, after his term in Gindra was up. When she grew up, N'dram visited France so she could meet her father, but he sent her away with an offering of money and a statement telling her not to seek him out again. This experience made N'dram realize that neither she nor her country should expect anything better from the rest of the First World.
N'dram used her father's money to get an education at Cambridge University in Britain, hoping to take the knowledge and the skills back to Gindra and help her people. However, she dropped out sometime after William Weah's coup d'état in Gindra; the new regime quickly enacted a genocidal policy towards the country's ethnic minority groups, which resulted in the death of N'dram's mother (likely a Boia). N'dram returned to Gindra and joined the GLF some time prior to Augustine Eguabon becoming the movement's leader.
Eguabon's appearance changed everything. The struggling separatist movement grew in military strength rapidly, becoming a force to be reckoned with. Almost miraculously, Eguabon provided the GLF with plentiful funds, new weapons and - most importantly - inspiring ideals. N'dram was fascinated by Eguabon, and the two maintained a romantic relationship for a short while, which Eguabon eventually broke off.
As time passed, N'dram started to harbor doubts whether Eguabon had lost sight of his proclaimed ideals and beliefs. Nevertheless, as his trusted second-in-command, N'dram chose to remain at his side, partially because she was still in love with him.
Galuade Incident[]
Eguabon and N'dram in a video feed addressed to the US President.
During the Galuade Incident, N'dram was present at Eguabon's side when he made his threats to the US President.
Later on, she fought Solid Snake while piloting a Mil Mi-28 "Havoc" attack helicopter, but was shot down by him. Snake, who had initially mistaken her for Sgt. Christine Jenner, approached the crash site, and was surprised to find N'dram among the wreckage. Snake attempted to warn her that Black Chamber were using the GLF for their own purposes (seeking revenge against FOXHOUND and the United States), but N'dram retorted that it was the other way around, and that both her and Eguabon shared the anti-American sentiment of Black Chamber, believing that the United States - and, by extension, the entirety of the First World - were exploiting smaller, developing countries like Gindra for their own gain, with no regard for the well-being of the people they "bled dry". N'dram then attempted to shoot Snake with her handgun, but was swiftly disarmed.
Snake spares N'dram's life.
Now finding herself on the other end of the gun barrel, N'dram proclaimed she was not afraid to die for her ideals. She used the opportunity to reveal her personal history to Snake, providing an explanation for her devotion to Eguabon and the GLF. Sympathetic to her plight, Snake decided to let her live. In return, softened by Snake's display of compassion, N'dram told him that Sgt. Jenner was captured by Black Arts Viper, and could still be saved.
Solid Snake and Sgt. Jenner say goodbye to N'dram.
Some time later, following Snake's battle against Eguabon, N'dram overheard her commander's dying speech to Snake. She deduced that while Eguabon's ideals may have been fake all along, they weren't empty, and decided to continue GLF's struggle as the movement's new leader.
Behind the scenes[]
In an optional Codec conversation, Brian McBride will refer to Sophie as "Joan of Arc", a teenage French Christian freedom fighter who, despite being instrumental to driving off invaders, was arrested and sentenced to be burned at the stake in 1431 at the age of 19.
While the exact ethnicity of Sophie's mother is not stated in the game, it is known that she belonged to an ethnic minority in Gindra; this, coupled with the fact that Sophie joined the GLF - a movement that at least ostensibly fought for the rights and sovereignty of the Boia minority group, suggest that her mother was, indeed, an ethnic Boia.
Gallery[]
.jpg "Sophie N'dram (Ikuya Nakamura).jpg (10 KB)")
Notes[]
- ^ Although it appears silver in cutscenes, her character sprite depicts her with blonde hair.