“Great, thanks,” Felix said, moving quickly towards the command center in the ANet.
Most of the emergency and command functions had been transferred over once the ANet had been formed. The previous site operated independently as a backup now.
Just in the case the worst happened in the ANet.
Contingencies. Always contingencies.
Stepping through a door guarded by several Adrianas, Felix was in the command room. It was a hardened room, both physically and network wise. Andreas and Adrianas were throughout the room, working.
Both of the Elex Primes had taken their ANet job seriously and devoured any and every skill book Felix allowed them to have.
At this point, they were as qualified as anyone else in Legion to do any job.
As one, the Elex sisters looked up at him, then went back to their tasks.
Both of the Primes, designated now by a bright silver clasp on their right ears, were situated behind his command chair.
“Felix, I’ve got several general confirmations so far,” Andrea Prime said from her work station. “Our hack into the Tilen Heroes guild shows that they’re seeing the same thing we are. Army and the government also see it, but not as many confirmations.”
“Alright. Recall status?” Felix asked. He needed to get his people and their families into cover. Everyone should be able to make it back to an HQ within thirty minutes. Those who were further than that had Telemedics assigned to them.
Taking a seat at the center of the room, he started to pull up his display screens. He’d have to get them where he wanted them.
“Eighty percent accounted for, another fifteen in flight. The remainder haven’t reported in, but their transponders show they’re en route to TM pickup locations,” a different Andrea responded.
“Let’s assume this is th—” Felix stopped as Lily and Kit arrived at the same time. They immediately went to their own positions and started to settle in.
“Let’s assume this is the real deal, and Skipper is on her way in to take Tilen. Based on the mockups we ran, this is already abnormal. Last time her people were already in place before she launched. What changed?” Felix asked.
“Unsure at this time. Dimitry was the first to spot it because a Skipper-super showed up and prevented them from leaving. The Fixer on site read everything from there and relayed it up. I’m sure we’ll get more later,” Kit said.
“Felix,” came Felicia’s shout from the War-net bridge. It had been piped in through the command center and was working as the central communication hub. “Portals are open and functioning. We’re ready.”
“Great. Who’s on duty at SC:HQ?” he asked.
“Sir, uh, that is,” said a voice on the War-net bridge.
“Neutralizer?” Felix asked, recognizing the voice.
“Yes, sir!”
“Good. Keep the building on lock-down, bring everyone in past the first defensive line. Sacrifice the lobby and all adjacent buildings if need be. Anyone show up on your power?” Felix asked.
“Ah, a few. I didn’t rub them out though. I didn’t want them to know we knew. Should I ha—”
“No. That’s perfect. Stick with it, and keep an eye on them.
“Legion world?” Felix asked next, moving down his check-in list.
“Michael here,” came the rough voice of his site-commander. “Entry point is locked down and ready to receive.”
“Perfect. Last, anyone from Wal?”
“Ioana here. Operation is progressing smoothly. We haven’t made contact with anyone yet, so we’re safe. Miu checked in and is laying low while on an objective.”
That was good news at least. Ioana and Miu had been sent to the nation of Wal to begin setting up for their branch out. It was good luck and chance that they’d not made contact yet. Had they, there was no telling if Skipper would make a move on them.
Who am I kidding. We’re not even sure if she’ll give a crap about Legion when she takes Tilen. After all, Legion exists in Skippercity and she leaves us alone.
For the most part, at least.
“Felix, last time Skipper ambushed everyone. There wasn’t a lot of resistance at the beginning because of that,” Lily said, leaning out of her seat towards him. “This time, there’s going to be warning. A lot. That means there’s going to be a pretty big ugly fight up there, right?”
“That’d be my guess,” Felix said, agreeing with the assessment.
“Do we want to open the emergency bunkers? We built them for a situation like this, didn’t we?”
Frowning, Felix thought on that.
The emergency bunkers had been built for public safety. They hadn’t planned on revealing that information until tonight or tomorrow morning, just before people went to the voting polls.
It’d be that final confirmation of a promise he’d made when campaigning.
Defense and safety.
But does it even matter now? If Skipper takes the city, you won’t be governor, Felix. And they’re not part of Legion.
Eva would ask me why I didn’t, and to think she wouldn’t find out is stupid.
“Open them up, send up some Wardens and security forces. The moment everything becomes obvious, start directing people in. Engage if engaged, otherwise safe and escort rules of engagement,” Felix said. “We’ll turn them loose once it calms down a bit and bid them well. Maybe we’ll do some recruiting for those who want to apply as well.”
“I’ll get that set up with your site commander for SC, Ioana,” Lily said, starting to type immediately.
“Thank you,” came the warrior’s voice over the com.
“How far out are their lead elements?” Felix asked.
“A minute or less. It’s a large group of powereds, helicopters and… I think drones,” said Adriana Prime. “We’re honestly in the dark. They’re in between the cities right now. We only know as much as we do because we started to tap into every camera in Skippercity. A few were able to be pointed skyward but… not enough.”
“Call coming in for you,” Andrea Prime said, a second before his screen flickered.
The Fox Beastkin Jessica came into focus on his screen.
He’d forgotten about their meeting entirely.
“Sorry, Jessica. I’m afraid I’m going to have to cancel our meeting. We’re doing a recall. I know you’re not technically—”
“Felix. We need your help. A group of people broke into the station and they’re rounding everyone up and killing them! They’re burning them alive. Down to ash and then take the ashes!” Jessica hissed into her terminal.
Killing them? That doesn’t make a damn bit of sense. Unless Skipper knows there’s some Legionnaires there… at which point she’d just clear out the whole building and fill it with news reporters loyal to her.
Not only that, but if they’re going that far to destroy the body, I’m not sure I’d even be able to bring them back. That’d be on a whole different level.
How did she even know about that, too?
“Show me the room you’re in, we’ll get a Telemedic to you immediately,” Felix said. “Just lift up the terminal and show it the room.”
Jessica lifted her hand and showed them all the room they were in. Erica was just on the side of the frame, as was a few other Beasktin he didn’t know.
A small message popped up in the corner of his screen.
“We won’t be able to get to them. All of the Telemedics are on missions, and won’t be checking in. They are literally zipping in and out as fast as possible without a break -Lily”
Felix fought the grimace that threatened to take over his countenance.
So on top of not being able to send someone their way, I overspent my points today in a severe way. And trying to add Teleport to anyone here would just take too many points.
Looking to the side, Felix thought furiously as Jessica continued to broadcast the layout of the room to them.
“I keep trying to open a portal,” Kit said. “I can’t get it any b
igger than a foot across though. Something is blocking it.”
Damn. Did Skipper already find a countermeasure? Why did I have Kit show off the portal ability right in front of her. That was stupid, Felix. Stupid!
He wasn’t willing to lose Jessica and Erica. He’d made a significant investment in both of them, and they were his people after all.
“A foot?” Felicia asked.
“About. The size of a dinner plate, really,” Kit confirmed
“Is that why I did that?” Felicia said almost to herself.
“Felicia, you got an idea?” Felix asked.
“I do at that. Or I think, my future self did. The Fist. It has a Portal function attached to a disk. ‘Bout the size of a table coaster. Fucking thing didn’t make any sense to me. Does now though if we lost those two in a situation like this. If you want to save those little Beastkins of yours, pilot the Fist,” said the Dwarf. “And I already checked. It’s fit only for you, and only responds to you. I’m not sure why I did that, but I did.”
Felix thought for a second, then sighed.
He wasn’t meant for combat. He didn’t like fighting. Having to resort to things of this nature felt like a loss.
“Tell Victoria to meet me in the lab,” Felix said, making his choice. “Let’s go, Kit. Adriana, I’ll need some security forces I imagine. Time to show off, so suit up for a fight with Powereds.”
Kit opened a portal in front of them as big as she said earlier.
Felix flipped the small disc through and then turned, clambering up into the Fist.
“I don’t like you going in,” Victoria said. Her voice was a touch distorted. She was sporting a new suit of light powered armor that Felicia had built her. It was almost an extremely lightweight version of a Warden.
“We don’t either,” a group of ten Adrianas said in unison.
“And yet, we’re all still going. Seal the lab. The Fist will lead the way. Legion first,” Felix said, closing the hatch of the Fist.
“Legion first,” everyone said back at the same time.
The displays that popped up as the Fist locked him into place were very similar to his armor. Everything tightened up around him, preventing him from moving. Pressing down onto him.
Then the mech shuddered and stood up.
A single red light in the middle of his view turned green, and he could move again.
It felt natural. Fluid. There was no delay between his actions and the mech responding.
Thinking about the disc, a screen popped up in the corner.
Activate Portal?
Felix mentally hit the confirm button, and a portal slammed open instantly. It was huge, swirling, and loud.
Jessica, Erica, and a host of others flooded into the lab.
“Everyone remain calm,” Felix said through his microphone. “Everyone will be escorted to a holding area and processed. No exceptions.”
Adrianas began tagging and guiding people as they ran into the lab. They needed to make sure they didn’t bring anyone inside that would be a problem later. He’d not be inviting in a worm or a mole now. Not when everything was on the line.
As if they’d been waiting for this moment, a group of men and women in various suits of armor, costumes, and clothes charged the portal.
There was no mistaking them as anything other than enemies.
Because they weren’t Legion.
He could probably close the portal here and now, but he’d lose the disc that had created the entry point. Realistically, Felicia might be able to replace it, but there was no guarantee of that.
Not to mention he didn’t want to hand over technology to the enemy.
“Engage,” Felix said, making his choice.
Victoria flashed out, her sword blazing with light as the plasma edge carved through the air. Four Wardens with their standard issue Railguns opened up.
Enemy fire began rattling in as they lowered weapons and fired into the mass of Legion troops. A few Adrianas went down in the fire, and a number of rounds pinged off of the Fist.
Felix’s mind blanked for a second, and then he thought only of utilizing his weapons.
His screen flashed and Felix had the strangest sensation of the Fist actually giving him instructions. At first it suggested the missile pods that were apparently what was mounted to the left shoulder. Which Felix quickly dismissed. That’d cause more problems right now.
The Fist instead helped Felix with what it called a FX-PC01.
Moving down on one knee the Fist settled itself into position quickly as rounds continued to bounce off it. The cannon mounted on the right shoulder unfolded itself and positioned itself like a bazooka there.
Reaching up with one hand, Felix steadied the cannon and an aiming reticule popped up on his view.
Targeting a huge muscled man in kevlar armor, Felix discharged the weapon. A blast of pure light and heat leapt from the cannon and vaporized the man’s chest. His arms and legs fell to the ground, the head rolling away in an opposite direction.
Bright yellow and flashing, an indicator light came to life on a panel.
Tracking another target, Felix fired off another load of whatever it was. The second target tried to dodge, and instead of losing their chest, lost the entire left side of their body. She went down in a screaming, bleeding heap.
The yellow light went to an orange color and began to flash more rapidly.
It only has about three shots before it’s empty or has to… something… One shot left I’m betting. Let’s save it.
Pushing the command to holster the cannon, Felix stood upright and hefted the rifle that the Fist had hooked into a hip pod.
Pulling the trigger as soon as it settled onto his shoulder, Felix felt and heard the heavy impact of the heavy railgun discharging. The rifle had an attached ammo belt that could feed into several ammo pods throughout the Fist. It was limited in ammunition, but it at least carried a significant amount with it.
Victoria and the Adrianas hadn’t been idle this whole time either. They were systematically working to eliminate all enemy combatants as they came in.
Victoria, moving at full speed and taking hits that would have killed an unarmored human, was shaking off her inexperience with her armor rapidly.
It was her first time using it, and she was now getting the hang of it.
Soon it was clear that Legion would take the victory
As if there had been any doubt.
“Deploy a boundary, no escapees,” Felix called out.
Several Adrianas darted forward and hurled what looked as if they were glowing baseballs. They soared over the fight and landed against the far wall. Each Andrea looked to their wrist terminal and entered in a few commands. Giant blue walls of light erupted from those balls, blocking the door off behind solid magical energy constructs.
Realizing there was no escape, a number of their attackers began to surrender. Another number began to beat and attack furiously at the walls preventing their retreat.
“Waste ’em,” Felix called through the War-net.
Without hesitation, the Adrianas began systematically moving into the surrendering numbers and giving them each a few rounds to the temple.
What’d been a battle, was now a bloodbath.
The forces Skipper had sent here weren’t up to the task of actually engaging with Legion. They were a cleanup crew that could deal with security forces and a number of Powereds.
Victoria took the head off a woman who had her hands up, pleading for mercy.
And the room was silent.
“Leave the corpses, take the weapons and gear. Felicia likes that stuff for scrap and testing. Once we’re out, toss in a firebomb,” Felix commanded.
The surviving Adrianas, after consuming their fallen Others, went about their business.
Operation complete. Now the question is… what happens next, and does Skipper plan on attacking Legion. If she leaves us be, then we leave her be.
But I’m not so sure Tilen will go as easi
ly as Skippercity did. Either her confidence got the best of her this time, or she was forced to move early.
And if she moved early, why?
Chapter 25 - Self Eval -
At first, it seemed as if Skipper’s forces would steamroll right over the local police, government, and armed forces.
Then the government sent in the army and the air force. The guild dispatched numerous heroes. Vigilantes began pouring into the city of Tilen from the surrounding areas.
Doubling down on their attack, a second government army was sent to retake Skippercity, even going so far as to employ hundreds and hundreds of mercenary Powereds.
The ANet was keeping tabs on the situation by deploying a number of drone assets that Felicia had developed. Many of them would have to return and refuel, but those were exceptions with specialized functions.
An overwhelming majority of them had power supplies that could resupply themselves through other means. Solar, wind, and even a few that could tap into the grid directly. Those could remain in the field indefinitely.
Legion forces had been tasked to sweep, clear, and evacuate the upper floors of the HQ buildings for both locations.
After that, Felix had activated the security protocol, and his powers, that would seal up both locations from the outside world.
It’d appear as if there was never anything below the ground floor.
Legion was effectively safe behind a thick cement barrier and deep underground. Anyone who came to call on them would find only an empty building, and not a trace of them.
The only thing that anyone could find, and this wasn’t something they could change since it was the point to be found, were the emergency civilian bunkers.
They’d filled to capacity immediately, and immediately gone over it. Now they were locked down and closed shut. That didn’t mean the bunkers were invisible though.
Several times Legion Security had been forced to scare off, or eliminate, threats that came to the front entrance. It was an unfortunate reality, but Legion was already taking care of more than their expected responsibility.
Felix was now sitting in his actual office below ground.
It’d only been about eight hours since the attack started. Already the infrastructure of both cities had broken down. It was being carved into two different sectors: the actual government, and Skipper’s. The middle ground was a contested area where both sides clashed.
Super Sales on Super Heroes: Book 2 Page 27