Miller

"By fire and sword, we'll take back our world!"

- Miller

Sviatoslav Konstantinovich Mel'nikov (Russian: Святослав Константинович Мельников) also known as Miller (Russian: Мельник - Mel'nik, literally "miller"), is a major character of both the Metro novels and the Metro video game series. Miller is a veteran Stalker, a former GRU Special Forces Colonel before the war and commander of the post-apocalyptic Spartan Order.

History
Before the apocalypse, Miller married an unnamed woman and had Anna some time later. Due to the stress of being a soldier, he had a strained relationship with his wife leading to them both becoming alcoholics. After his wife committed suicide with a bottle of poison, he quit drinking and took care of Anna more than when her mother was alive.

Metro 2033
As Miller is the implied head of the Rangers of the Order, it is he that Artyom must seek out in Polis, and it is him that Artyom asks for assistance from in dealing with the new threat. After explaining the situation at his home station, Miller reassures that even though the council in Polis will not help him regarding the Dark Ones, he will help Artyom get to the old library where he can find the location to D6. Along with other Rangers, Miller guides and instructs Artyom along the way to D6, offering his own expert insight in the situation - and what uncovering D6 means for the rest of the metro. While ascending the Ostankino Tower, Miller is wounded by a demon and leaves Artyom to finish the mission on his own. In D6, Miller states that the bunker has "Soviet soul", but that Artyom would not know anything about that. In the book, Miller says he is a Colonel but not of military forces, and in Metro Exodus he confirms this, stating he was with the GRU.

Metro: Last Light
In Metro: Last Light, Miller retained his role as the leader of the Rangers. Like in Metro 2033, he is shown to hold a great deal of hatred towards the Dark Ones, and, unlike Khan, constantly reminds Artyom about how they should be destroyed. Early in the game, he sent his daughter Anna on a mission along with Artyom to eliminate a Dark One that was found by Khan in the gardens. Near the end of the game, Miller attended the peace conference along with the leaders of Hansa, the Red Line, and Fourth Reich - uncovering it to be a mask for the Reds to secretly assault D6. Miller, Artyom and Khan rushed back to D6 in order to defend it from the Reds. In the C'est La Vie ending of Metro: Last Light, he died along with Artyom in D6, when Artyom detonated D6 to prevent the Reds getting their hands on the technology there. In the Redemption ending of Metro: Last Light, however, he survived, albeit his feet were cut off by the Reds' armored train in the ending and became the leader of the guards in Polis.

Metro Exodus
Miller returns once again in Metro Exodus as the head of the Spartan Order, and is shown to have suffered greatly after the assault on D6. Having lost his legs, Miller was briefly wheelchair bound before having prosthetics installed by Andrew, revealed in a journal entry written by Artyom under Miller. Artyom mentions in the Metro: Last Light prologue that he became the head of the Polis guard, but it can be assumed that Miller left that post to once again lead the Rangers from the field. Miller resents Artyom for leaving the Rangers after the battle, and taking Anna with him back to VDNKh, but after accompanying a detachment of rangers to meet with an injured Artyom, he offers them both a place within the Order once again, to train new recruits from the comfort of Polis.

Miller and the same detachment are tasked with securing a Hanza weather station on the outskirts of Moscow, only to discover the assailants are Anna and Artyom, and the weather station is actually a signal jammer and houses the Hanza supply train. Faced with his current predicament, Miller hijacks the Train and escapes Moscow, Hanza and their invisible overlords. It's revealed that after the battle for D6, an organisation called the invisible watchers made themselves known to Miller, with a simple "you talk, you die" policy. Miller is lied to about the state of the country, the ongoing war, as well as the Russian government and is ordered to train Hanza troops in defending Moscow and keeping anybody in, as well as out.

Miller along with Anna, Artyom, and a small squad of Rangers make their way across the country in search of the Ark project, in the Yamantau Mountains, where they are told the remnants of the Government are. When it is revealed this is not the case, Miller hatches a plan to obtain satellite image maps of radiation hot spots to find a clean place to live. After it is revealed that Anna is dying due to an exposure of toxic gas in Volga, Miller and Artyom go in search of a potential cure located in Novosibirsk. They come across a boy, Kirill, suspected to be the last survivor in the city, who reveals there are recent satellite images in a nearby facility his father ventured to.

Miller and Artyom split up, with Artyom going to the institute to find the serum and Miller going to the facility to get the maps. Miller is successful in his task and manages to find a gravely injured Artyom at the institute. He uses a dose of anti-radiation serum meant for himself on Artyom and drives himself, Artyom and Kirill out of the city. However Miller succumbs to the radiation in the middle of the road and dies leaving an injured Artyom to drive the van to the Aurora.

In the good ending of Metro Exodus, Artyom has a vision of Miller standing on the shores of Lake Baikal, who apologizes for letting Anna down and for obsessing over the occupying forces and the state of the war. He explains that he is glad that Anna has Artyom and he finally accepts him as his son. In his parting words, he passes the command of the Order to Artyom and says that he wishes to be buried on the shores of Lake Baikal.

In the bad ending of Metro Exodus, Artyom has a much darker vision of Miller, commanding the Aurora in the afterlife, on an eternal journey battling the occupying forces. Miller is shown to be much bitter, still full of hatred, and not giving up on his obsession with the war. Miller is shown to be buried on the shores of Lake Baikal along with Artyom.

Metro 2033
In Metro 2033, Miller, known as Melnik, is the leader of a number of Stalkers, who is sharp and an expert on survival in post-apocalyptic Moscow. He fills much of the same role as he does in the video game, while only minor details different in their actions between the two of them. Contrary to his video game, or even his Last Light personas, he his quite cold and impersonal with Artyom, often expressing his frustration in whom he considers incapable or green. That said, Melnik is hardly a cruel or bad person - on the contrary, he is quite heroic, and he seems to genuinely take care of Artyom and his soldiers. Melnik used a light machine gun when he first met Artyom, and had an ammunition belt across his chest. That machine gun is identified by Artyom in Metro 2035 as being the PKP "Pecheneg" Machine gun, a gun used extensively by pre-war Spetsnaz units.

Metro 2034
Melnik was injured while searching for Hunter and the battle for the bunker with the Reds. He lost his right arm and has to use a wheelchair. He does not believe Homer as he comes to him saying that Hunter is alive. After he sees the ex-ranger, Melnik is visibly glad. But still, he reluctantly gives his right-hand permission and a "token" necessary to carry on his mission.

Metro 2035
Melnik (Miller) is contacted by Artyom during the events of Metro 2035 about the incident that occurs between the Reich and the Reds at Teatral'naya (Theatre Station). This is the first time that he and Artyom have spoken since he left Polis with Anya (Anna) for Exhibition (VDNKh), at this point it is not officially known why the lack of contact occurred, Artyom believes it could be because he had married his daughter which he might not have approved of. After a brief discussion Melnik tells Artyom to meet him at "Lenin Library" station. He arrives a little late and is wearing a jacket to cover up his injuries, in the words of Artyom "his right arm was amputated at the shoulder that is what the jacket was for, 2 years had gone by but he still covered it up, He didn't want to get used to it as if his arm might grow back if he was patient for a while". Melnik addresses the troops and Artyom brings him up to speed. They then make a plan to deal with the situation Melnik expresses great concern when told about the invasion by Artyom, as revolution square is next down the line from Arbat, which is just one stretch of line from their current location "The library". Melnik surveyed his soldiers, then after a brief pause orders his adjutant to leave half of the 50 men there and take the remainder of The Orders men and proceed to Revolution square.

Artyom asks the Colonel if he can have a minute to speak to him alone. He tells him to follow (though it does seem with a bit of reluctance) as he heads to Arbat where his quarters are located. Once he arrives he leaves Artyom in the lobby and goes to his office for a time. It is revealed during this time that Miller has been busy during the past year recruiting new men for The Order after their losses at the bunker (D-6). Letyaga reveals that the colonel struggles with his injuries but is very stubborn and will not let anyone help him even with things, such as getting up or going to the washroom.

Melnik then calls for Artyom to join him in his office. Before speaking with him he tells Letyaga to get three volunteers ready to bring a message to the Fuhrer, he tells Artyom to shut the door and then his tone and appearance become more firm as he asks him why he has returned and why he was at Teatral'naya. He rolls a cigarette as he listens to Artyom explain his journey and about life outside of Moscow(Polar Dawns), he dismisses this due to his concerns with the current situation at hand. Melnik explains his views on the Metro and what he must do as leader of The Order to maintain its security. The Order must face the vast numbers of troops of the Red Army and Iron Legion with it's small force of 108 men, they must also defend Polis and the population of the surrounding stations. At this point Artyom offers to rejoin, Melnik at first turns him down because of Artyom's decisions(his constant venturing to the surface in sight of something that Miller believes to be a fairy tale) after an outburst by Artyom the conversation intensifies and leads into talking about Anya(Anna) and the children she wants but he does not as Artyom is uncomfortable with the thought of raising children in the Metro.

Melnik listens to Artyom speech about the outside world for a little longer before he gets serious and tells Artyom not to disgrace himself or Melnik. He finally starts to admit his true feelings about the situation and the love for his daughter, he expresses concern in her choice when it came to Artyom because he(Miller) believes that Artyom was effected mentally by the Dark ones and dismisses him dreaming about another place to live as well as the reports of people from outside of Moscow arriving in the Metro as just another conspiracy and delusion. The conversation quickly turns towards the dark ones Melnik seems to show disdain for Artyom's feeling towards them, Artyom then stands behind his claims about the dark ones and about how he was the first to contact them. He expresses his true feelings about his actions in destroying the dark ones believing it to be a mistake and how it affected the Metro's future, this doesn't faze Melnik as he comments on Artyom's sanity's. He orders Artyom to leave telling him he "has a war to fight" but before he can leave the room he asks if he left Anya in Exhibition, when Artyom confirms this he seems to show genuine interest in how she is doing. Melnik openly displays that he wishes Anya would leave him as he believes she deserves better than someone he is convinced to be a "crackpot". He then tells Artyom that he should leave her, he will forgive her and she can return, Artyom agrees to this on one condition that he could join The Order on their mission to the Reich.

Melnik is not seen for some time, however, during Artyom's journey to the Reich, it's revealed by Letyaga that most of the Order's reinforcements are from the Hanseatic League (Hanza). This comes as great surprise to Artyom as Letyaga explains that Colonel Melnik had made a deal with Hanza to train their special forces, in return for bringing the Order back to strength. Artyom questions whether or not Melnik would have truly agreed to this as The Order did not trust Hanza after they failed to provide any support at the battle for the bunker. But Letyaga writes this off as proper choice by the colonel saying "where else was he supposed to find trained men, much better than scouring the distant stations."

Later on in the novel Artyom accompanied by comrade's Saveliy and Lyokha discover the wind farms and a station that is set up by Hanza and the Red Line to jam incoming radio signals around Moscow, on the arrival they siege the complex and cause major damage to the power lines which temporarily shuts down the system in that area. Artyom takes this time to broadcast a message to other surviving cities in Russia and abroad. Forces are sent to dislodge Artyom and company from the outpost, these forces would turn out to be men from the Order led by Letyaga. Upon gaining their trust he enters the complex and tells Artyom that Miller is trying to contact him on the radio, upon turning on the receiver in the station Millers voice can be heard asking "Artyom are you there! Come in Artyom!" The two have a discussion about the pylons and jammers Miller explains that it is for the safety of Moscow that these have been erected, and that all major powers in the Metro have contributed to this effort. He admits that he didn't believe that Artyom was schizophrenic as he knew about the radio signals. Miller states that he wants Artyom back with the order. Letyaga himself confirms that the only reason he was able to secure their lives(from Hanza) was because Miller stated that he was one of the Orders members.

Personality
"Another push! Can't die twice anyway!"

- Miller Miller seems to have quite a stubborn personality, and does not take no for an answer. Although, when considering the circumstances, Miller also seems to be rather confident that success is within reach. He appears to be a serious man, disliking Ulman's liberal use of profanity and his constant jokes, or Khan's mysticism. He is a capable soldier who is confident in his own abilities, as well as those of his Rangers.

Appearances
Metro 2033: Metro Last Light:
 * Prologue
 * Polis
 * Alley
 * Library
 * Driving to Sparta
 * Dark Star
 * Dungeon
 * Caves
 * D6
 * Biomass
 * Separation
 * Tower
 * Top
 * Sparta
 * The Garden
 * Polis
 * D6
 * Endings

Trivia

 * Melnik stands for windmill worker in Russian, making his English dub surname, Miller, a machine translation. It's generally agreed upon that names, surnames, and patronymics are transliterated, not translated. However, as of Metro Exodus, he has mentioned his actual, full name from the novels in dialogue; this suggests that "Miller" is merely a callsign or alias.
 * In the Polish version of the game, Melnik's name is Młynarz - which is also a direct translation rather than a transliteration. This could be a reference to the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games in which most characters had nicknames, not family names.

Metro 2033

 * Miller is the only NPC to use the Volt Driver and Kalash 2012.
 * Miller is the only person to mention the Soviet Union in the game. He says he served in the army before the nuclear war, therefore he is at least forty or older.
 * Miller is the only known character to use military grade rounds.
 * Despite disliking Ulman's constant joking, he did chuckle at a joke made by Danilla in the library.
 * Miller constantly loses and gains his night vision goggles throughout the game. This creates some continuity conflicts, as he has them with him in Sparta, doesn't have them in D6, yet has them again on his way to the Surface.
 * Miller's weaponry also changes quite often: during "Prologue", "Dark Star", "Dungeon", and "Library", he is seen wielding a Kalash with a laser sight and bayonet. However, at D6 and the base of Ostankino he has a Volt Driver, while at the top of the tower he has a Kalash 2012.
 * Miller, along with Khan, Bourbon, Pavel, and Ulman, is considered one of the main companions of Metro 2033.
 * Miller's appearance and voice remains largely unchanged in Metro 2033 Redux, unlike most other characters including Artyom himself, who are set to the Last Light version.
 * While in D6's missile control centre, Miller says to Vladimir "I told you the military was a worthwhile institution" which could mean that Vladimir and Miller knew each other before the nuclear war or that Miller convinced him to join the military.
 * Another theory is Miller convinced Vladimir to join the rangers or this could be Miller telling Vladimir about his love for the military.

Metro: Last Light

 * In Metro: Last Light, Miller's appearance changed significantly, he bears a slight resemblance to King Leonidas from 300. This is fitting, given the large amount of references Miller makes to Sparta.
 * Miller's role in Metro: Last Light is much smaller, as he only appears in the beginning and near the end of the game.
 * His fate in the Redemption ending is similar to his condition in Metro 2034. Metro: Last Light Redux confirms that the Redemption ending is canon.
 * Millers uniform switches quite a bit through out the game. When Artyom first meets him in the control room he is wearing the short sleeved version, then when he is at the peace conference he has the long sleeve version with extra armour and helmet with face guard, but switches back to the short sleeve uniform with face guard helmet with night vision goggles at the battle for D6.
 * His codename during the Battle of D6 is Windmill, a fitting and none too obvious name.

Metro 2035

 * In Metro 2035, Miller's full name is revealed to be Святослав Константинович Мельников (Sviatoslav Konstantinovich Melnikov; Melnikov = Miller).
 * Miller may be the only character to have appeared in all three Metro books written by Glukhovsky and in all of the games thus far.

Gallery
Miller Miller Młynarz Мельник Мельник