[The Oregon-Seychelles]
[1100]

"Well, I must say that Mr Snake is as good at decorating as he is at rescuing," Rarity said.

Sunset just sighed. The two of them were currently cruising on the Oregon towards Rarity's mine. Rarity had hammered out a contract for them to act as security, so they also had a squad of Diamond Dogs from the combat unit on board, and all of them had accommodations that would make a 5 star hotel take notes, and of course Rarity had been entranced from the word go.

"I'm glad you're having fun Rarity, but I have to get going."

"Apologies darling, go on ahead, I heard that they have a pool."

Sunset just chuckled as they went their separate ways, Rarity to take full advantage of the Oregon's amenities, and Sunset to begin her on the job training as part of Diamond Dog's support team. Nestled within the armored hull of the Oregon was a mobile command center similar to the one back at Mother Base, that was mainly used for operations that weren't as high a priority. Right now it was staffed with new recruits as setting up Rarity's new guards, the perfect assignment for it.

As Sunset entered the MCC, there were a few other trainees familiarizing themselves with their stations. Sunset took a breath before approaching the duty officer, "Excuse me, I was told to report here?"

"Hmm, oh yes, you must be Sunset," he said before extending his hand, "I'm Sunburst, pleasure to be working with you."

"The pleasure's all mine," Sunset said as she shook it, "I just hope I can do this."

"Nonsense, the Boss picked you out personally, and he's never wrong about these things. Now, let's get you trained up, we'll start with how to use one of these consoles."

As Sunset was learning the basics of her new position, Snake was in his cabin with Shipwreck, the captain of the Oregon.

"So captain, how's she doing?"

"She's a bonnie lass alright, I don't know where you fished 'er from, but she's the finest vessel I've e're had the honor to capin'."

"She's a heavily modified container vessel, let's just hope the crew and her get used to each other before we need to use her for combat."

Shipwreck sighed, "Aye, she be a real scrapper, but no sense takin' her to a dance until she's ready, we're more than happy to continue our supply runs until she's settled. That said, she's eager to prove herself, I kin feel it."

"She'll have her chance, and the crew as well, once they're ready. You'll be hunting Somalian pirates before you know it, but let's focus on the mission at hand first, alright?"

Shipwreck nodded, "Aye Boss, we'll do ya proud, I'll be on the bridge if you need me."

After Shipwreck left, Snake opened the drawer of his desk and withdrew the file he was reading. "The Oregon isn't the only lass that'll prove her mettle, isn't she Sunset?" In the section marked 'Aptitude', one point was circled.

Support: S++

[1 Week Later]
[Coast of Southern Africa]

Sunset was in the control room overseeing the team getting settled in. Once they were in place they would switch to their own command post located in the mine itself, but for now the Mobile Command was doing the job just fine. Sunset herself had taken to it like a fish to water, mastering the various aspects quickly, cementing herself as the leader among the rookies.

"This is Gem-Leader, we're at the mine, beginning our preliminary survey."

"Roger Gem-Leader," Sunset replied as she examined a topographical map of the area, "there's a bit of a hill to the south-east, might make a good lookout point."

"Understood Command, sending Gem-4 through 6 to establish an observation post. Recommend we build an observation tower on it."

"Roger Gem-Leader, I'll inform Construction Division of your recommendation."

As Gem Team began to examine the area of the mine, Sunburst walked up to her station with a cup of coffee in each hand. "Looks like you've got things well in hand," he said as he handed her a cup.

"Not like it's that hard a job," Sunset said before taking a sip, "just preliminary work to set up a guard unit."

Before Sunburst could reply, the radio crackled to life. "Command, this is Gem-4, we have incoming choppers."

"This is Gem-Leader, I see them too."

"Can you make out any markings?" Sunset asked as she glanced at the radar.

"Not yet, they're still... DOWN DOWN!"

Sunset's eye's widened as she heard and explosion over the radio, "Gem-4, respond."

"This is Gem-5, goddamn chopper just shot missiles at us. Gem-4 is down, as are several others."

"Can you shoot it down?"

"Negative command, they took out Gem-11, and she had our only rocket launcher, GODDAMN IT MOVE!"

"Gem-5 respond, what's your status?."

"Fucking FUBAR, one of those choppers is a goddamn Apache or something, it's spewing rockets and gattling fire like it's the Fourth of fucking July. We have 3 more choppers dropping an entire strike team, and I think I see a tank coming in. There are only half a dozen of us left, and we're pinned down, we need backup right FUCKING NOW!"

"Understood, standby."

"A full combat squad has been dispatched from Mother Base," said Coco Pommel, another recruit, "but they won't be there for at least 2 days, they won't be able to last that long."

Sunset's heart felt heavy as the rest of Command panicked, Sunburst included. Those were probably rebels hoping to seize Rarity's currently unprotected diamond mine to fund their operations. And to make matters worse, the other times they had done this, they only considered a mine captured when the only ones in it were rebels, or dead, and Rarity was there to help facilitate the Dogs' integration.

However, before she could start to cry, a voice cut through the tumult, not particularly loudly, but effective none the less.

"PIPE DOWN!"

Everyone gathered turned to the entrance to see Mythic Snake, "Report."

Sunset snapped to attention, "Gem Unit has suffered severe casualties, there are at least 3 squads of rebels moving in to take the mine with air and armor support."

Snake just chuckled as he pulled a cigar out of his pocket, "Is that all?" As he lit the cigar and took a puff, they all silently questioned his sanity. However, before they could voice their opinion, he started barking orders. "Tell the remnants of Gem Unit to hole up and keep the soldiers from entering the mine as long as they can. Have the armory prep my B kit, and have the chopper spun up, I'm going in."

As he turned and left, the activity in the command center returned to its previous level, although instead of panic, it was one of purpose. Sunset grinned as she cracked her knuckles and brought up every map of the area she could get her hands on. 'If he's going to go in there, she thought to herself, 'I'm gonna give him the best Celestia-damn Support he's ever gotten. Time to prove that he chose me for the right reason.'

Author's Note

As some of you correctly guessed, the Oregon is from the Oregon Files series by Clive Cussler (which I highly recommend) and will play a semi-major role in the story.

The second reference is when Sunset commented that Snake rehearsed the speech, which is from Ocean's 11.

In case you're wondering about the aptitude part, in MSG V, The Phantom Pain, each person you recruit has a rank for how well they do when they're assigned to a section. The ranks are, from lowest to highest: D, C, B, A, A+, A++, S, S+, S++.

FUBAR is an acronym that stands for "Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition", and it's an actual military term, look it up.

Before you ask, I do NOT ship Sunburst and Sunset, and I will not be doing so in this story.

Okay, time for another round of Spot-the-Reference(tm). Only 1 this time around, prize is the unclaimed one from last chapter.