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M.E.R.C.S.M.E.R.C.S. is a story about a private military company based on Stratis. My character, Raif Salih, is a Sudanese refuge fleeing his own worn torn country where he had fought in order to find a better life in Europe. Unfortunately, Raif's escape to Europe has been orchestrated through a human trafficker that has sold Raif to servitude on Stratis, where he is expected to serve his private military "owners" until he has earned his freedom.
Nikos is the blood sucking human trafficker...we arrive on Altis by speedboat, not knowing what awaits us...
They give me the option - join them, or die on the beach. The others Nikos has just brought for their money. They have no military experience, so they are useless to the men on the island. They meet their fate at the end of a .50 caliber machine gun...
The bodies fall all around Nickos..he seems unfazed by it all..
Drazen ushers me to my new home - Camp Maxwell...
He shows me to my freight container that doubles as my quarters. I have a bed to rest in, an inventory box, and a laptop computer that is tied into the company store which allows me to buy and sell items. It also features mission selections from which I can earn money...
Conversations are done with an excellent dialog box that allows for many different questions and directions to take. I learn a little bit about the island and other specifics from speaking with Drazen...
I take a walk around the camp, trying to snoop about. None of the vehicles are drivable, nor are the ammo boxes able to be looted. There are all the areas you'd expect to find at a military camp: planning, medical, armory, shooting range, helipad, motor-pool, etc... I steal a quick look at one of the maps on the table at base ops...
In my room, I find a .45 caliber pistol and a couple medkits in my inventory box..this is all I have to start with..
I browse through the online store. Money will buy all manner of things from clothes, to guns, ammo, binoculars, NVGs, and even partners!
I go to the missions menu and sign up for the only mission available. For this we are required to travel to Altis to confront some pirates about the fate of a girl that went missing. Her wealthy father is contracting us to get the information, and presumably, get her home...
A helo takes us for the insertion...
I can't believe I have to suffer the indignity of fighting in flip-flops and tourist clothing...
As we head for the known location of some pirates, we pass through a military checkpoint that gives us no bother. Interesting to know there is lots of heavy weaponry on Altis...
We approach the hideout on foot...
Drazen does the talking. The pirates are none too happy about our presence. As one lifts their weapon, Drazen gives me the order to shoot...
Drazen prompts me to go into the house and check it for documents related to the missing girl. When I walk in the door, a body is lying dead on the the floor, backpacks are stacked in a corner. I can identify with being kidnapped...
Outside, Drazen encourages me to hustle up my search as he sees visitors coming toward the house. He engages other pirates as I rummage around the room searching for clues..
A phone rings and I track it down to a table. I answer it and select different answers to the interaction with the man on the other end. He briefly thinks I'm one of the pirates and gives me confirmation that they have the girl. Finally, he realizes he is not talking to one of his men and he hangs up. Shortly thereafter, a pickup truck with a couple of fighters shows up. Drazen and I engage the fighters, killing them in a short firefight. From them I'm able to loot some fatigues and a couple light items. I can't carry anything since I don't have a backpack...
Drazen has me call for the extraction now that we know the pirates definitely have the girl...
Back at base, I receive €1000 for the mission, plus I'm able to sell a few of the items I looted. I go to the company store and immediately use that money to pay for a backpack. Since loot = €, I need to be able to carry items...
To be continued....