Conquest of Paradise Chapter Nine

Many, Many thanks to my Patreons!

Bronze Barbarians: Luke B., Markus

Iron Intellectuals: WanderingDaemon, Cybercrisis, MouthyStorm

Machine Menace: Aydrik

Nuclear Noncombatant: Amanda E.

#################################################################

Conquest of Paradise

Chapter Nine

#################################################################

Gaius

The U.N. Building

“Goddamn, I love supreme technological superiority!” I murmured in satisfaction as I peered through my scope at the headquarters for the Last Man Battalion, which was even now bustling with activity. Thanks to Cortana, the entire PMC was utterly convinced that the JTF was preparing for a full-scale evacuation of the city, and had consolidated almost the entirety of their forces in preparation of making sure the JTF stayed evacuated. The only people that were still deployed were at the LMB outposts, and even those had had their personnel halved. Once we crushed the main body of the organization, those outposts would be called back in sequence and dealt with in turns.

“I know, I’m amazing.” Cortana said smugly in my ear, quite satisfied (rightfully so) with the success of her ploys on my behalf. She was so delightfully devious, she really was. I looked forward to being able to properly reward her for her efforts after we got our hands on Resurrection technology. God knew that she deserved everything I could give her and more. “So, are we going to get this party started?”

“We are indeed, we are indeed.” I responded, getting to my feet and heading towards the rappelling line where Nova and Laura were waiting for me. Honestly, the fact that we were able to get this close with the majority of the LMB ‘in house’ was pathetic, but then they were quite confident that they had their enemies beat. “Alright ladies, let’s get moving. We’re going to follow the canon plan, avoid freaking out our allies too much.”

“Boring~!” Nova groaned playfully as we touched down at street level. “We should just go in through the front gate, guns blazing, and wipe them out. No sneaking around to play nice with the local sensibilities.”

“I’d rather not take any crazy risks, thanks. Even with our enhancements, we can still die from getting shot at the moment. Someone might get lucky, and I’m not inclined to lose any of you.” I responded simply, smirking slightly at the blushes I got from the both of them. Romantic sincerity was never the wrong decision, in my opinion. “Besides, this totally plays into my fantasy of being a super commando, don’t try and spoil it for me.”

Granted, my fantasies of silently wiping out dozens of enemies without getting noticed (fulfilled quite frequently in other Tom Clancy games) were equally matched by my fantasies of doing exactly what Nova had proposed. However, Warranty Plan cost 200 points, which I was a long way from having, and even if that wasn’t the case…well, I meant what I said. I didn’t want to have to deal with losing any of my lovers, regardless of their eventually reincarnation.

Each of them gave me a quick, if passionate, kiss in approval of my words, leaving me feeling even more pleased with myself as I led the way down into the tunnels. They were empty, of course, thanks to Cortana’s work on the radio waves, so there was no one to notice when we breached the walls into the foundation of the U.N. Building. None the worse for wear, though a bit dustier for our efforts, we began to make our way through the parking garage. Unlike the General Assembly mission in the game, we had yet to contend with any opponents, likely because they were all busily preparing to take over territory that wasn’t nearly as empty as they thought it was. Of course, the instant we exited the underground area into the main thoroughfare, things would get interesting. Turrets, helipads, sniper towers…granted, the turrets weren’t actually going to be a problem, but the point remained all the same.

“I’ve infiltrated their systems, Gaius. Turrets are ours, Rhodes’ buddies are locked down with a few other people that are more on their side of things than Bliss’, and I’m tracking your capture targets and preparing to isolate them. Bliss is currently giving a speech on the Assembly Floor, a lot of the LMB are in there with him.” Cortana reported as we started up the car ramp, and I grinned a little darkly at that piece of news. If it wasn’t for the fact that I wanted the building intact, I could just have Nova drop the room on them, but under the current circumstances a different tactic would be required. “Shall I get the ball rolling?”

“Yes, go ahead. We’re destroying the LMB here.” I confirmed, looking at my two flesh-and-blood companions, who were double checking their weapons one last time. “Kill anyone that tries to fight except capture targets. We don’t have the manpower to keep and hold this volume of prisoners. Nova, as soon as you’re able, I want you to give everybody in the Assembly Floor an aneurysm. Are you willing?”

“I’ve personally leveled city blocks and target-designated city-wide destruction, lover. Killing that many enemies with a brain aneurysm doesn’t even rate on my scale.” She responded shortly, though I could see some disquiet despite her words. Somehow, though, I got the feeling that she wasn’t disturbed by what she was going to do, but the fact that I was asking her to do it. A theory quickly proven right. “Gaius, are you sure you want me to do this? You’ve tried to keep your conscience clean this whole time…”

“I’m sure. I hate the idea, but I would hate the consequences of a conventional siege and battle far more. I’m not going to throw you girls and dozens of JTF troopers into a meat-grinder just so I can say that I was ‘fair’ to the LMB.” I assured her honestly, not even wanting to picture the carnage of the JTF storming a fortified position like this in real life. I wasn’t stupid enough to think it would be anything like the game, with the LMB squads coming in one at a time to get killed in order like some sort of conga line. “Honor on the battlefield is all well and good, so long as it doesn’t become counter-productive or foolish. Ignoring your abilities like that would qualify as both.”

“…fair enough. I’m already in range, I was before we even breached the parking garage. I might have a hell of a headache afterwards, though.” My Ghost acknowledged, eyes growing a little distant as she reached out with her psionic powers. Right now, she was starting a biological chain reaction that would kill human being in that building that wasn’t a capture target. Fortunately for all of them, it would be a quickly and fairly painless death. Certainly, a better fate than most of them deserved, that was for damn sure. They could have been heroes, and instead they wanted to be conquerors. And that most assuredly was what Bliss intended, the game had been pretty clear that he had loftier goals in mind than simply restoring order to Manhattan.

“Alright, we’ll move inside and deal with the roamers, capture the targets, and then ride off to the Russian Consulate in one of the gunships. We’ll pick up the girls and Vitaly, maybe even bring his guards along for good measure, finishing saving this reality, and ride off into the sunset.” I sighed after her eyes cleared, flicking my safety off and shifting my grip to a more comfortable one as I started forward into the open air.

“Mhm, yes, if of course one defines ‘riding off into the sunset’ as ‘moving on to another dimension for filthy amounts of kinky sex and expanding a harem with whom to do it’.” Laura commented with the sort of dry wit that I found incredibly attractive, especially sold by her deadpan delivery. Nova laughed a little breathlessly, looking somewhat worn, but she flashed me a smile when she sensed my concerned thoughts.

“Not to worry, Sir. Between my Aura and Body Defense, I’m better than I ever would have been back home, and improving fast. By the time we find any of the capture targets, I’ll be back to normal. Speak of which, Cortana has them contained. I can hear their thoughts while they try to break out. Want me to give ‘em some naptime so we can just collar them and have done with it?” she told me with a cheer that was striving for, if not quite reaching, her normal self. That was reassuring, and her idea was a very good one. I might be about to sell them to The Company, but I didn’t see the need to have them awake and aware of their imminent fate if it was avoidable. I would offer that kindness, if nothing else.

Well, it was either a kindness, or I was too much of a coward to look them in the eye while I sold them to an omni-dimensional slaving organization.

It was probably the second option, if I was going to be honest with myself. I could justify it however I wanted, but the fact remained.

We moved in quickly, ignoring all the turrets and security cameras. They were irrelevant, totally under our control and incapable of threatening us in even the slightest of ways. The minor pockets of resistance we encountered, a bare handful of people that had been locked into rooms or corridors, were cut down quickly and ruthlessly. Of them all, only Maddie Benson was allowed to live. My girls and I watched as her unconscious body seemingly fell through the floor as a portal opened up beneath it, my smart device pinging in response to the sale. Likewise, ten minutes later, Raptor and Domino vanished to the same fate.

As my device chimed again, I pulled it out and activated the display. With Molly, Lucy, and those three, I had a total of sixty credits now available. Which meant it was time for a bit of an update to my build.

Congratulations, you have purchased the ‘Exit Stage Left’ and ‘Pursued By A Bear’ Perks for 15 Credits! Upon progress completion of your current world, you will be receiving the ability to create a one-way portal to a world of your choice!

You now have: 35 Credits remaining.

[spoiler=Updated Build]

Bindings

Tempest Jewelry (Additional Stock x2)

Lures

Faerie Feast

Sticky Fingers

Waifu

Nova Terra, Pyrrha Nikos, X-23, Cortana, Mercy, Mary Masters

Talents

Body, Everlasting

Defenses

Body

Perks

Exit Stage Left, Pursued By A Bear

Remaining Credits: 35

[/spoiler]

“And with that, we have our road to the next world.” I sighed in relief, thankful beyond belief that the catalogue’s prices had changed and the options expanded. I could have bought more, Universal and Temporal Calibration were especially attractive, but for now I would focus on gathering more credits and progressing the status bar. Which was now over a quarter full, likely thanks to the annihilation of the LMB. “Cortana, lock the place down and send a message to the JTF letting them know we succeeded. Laura, you’re going to take one of the choppers back to the Post Office with Rhodes’ buddies. Drop them off, pick up our girls and the local doctor. Return them here, make extra runs if needed with any equipment they require. Nova and I will take the other and pick up Jupiter’s group. Not that they should need the help, but Keener isn’t a moron. He knows about Tchernenko, and he wants him bad. With the LMB unavailable for capture thanks to our little ruse, he might be sending Rogues to deal with it instead.”

“Understood.” They said together, and I pulled out my radio.

“Jupiter, this is Black Wolf…”

######################################################################

Molly Henderson, callsign Jupiter

The route to the Russian Consulate wasn’t a hard one. The LMB were nowhere to be seen, what few rioters saw us decided discretion was the better part of valour, and thanks to the previously high LMB presence the Rikers and the Cleaners were nowhere to be seen. It helped that Cortana was constantly feeding us intel about potential obstacles, both mortal and material, as well as the status of the people inside the Consulate. Unfortunately, with the building locked down since the crisis began, she had no way into its systems. Even the hardlines had been cut, which I supposed wasn’t too surprising. The last thing a consulate would want while locked down (for whatever reason that lockdown might occur) would be for outsiders to still be able to access their systems.

The building didn’t look too bad when we finally arrived in front of it. Garbage and burnt-out cars littered the street outside, but the gates and walls around the building had clearly done their job to keep the various undesirables from doing anything. Of course, we would also have a harder time getting inside, but we had a few things that your average thug didn’t.

Like Semtex. And miniaturized acetylene torches.

“Saturn, the gate. Venus, watch the right side, I’ll watch the left.” I ordered, taking up position behind one scorched hulk as my squadmates moved to obey. I didn’t think that blasting the gate off of its hinges would attract much trouble, since that much noise and implied fire-power would make most people head the other direction as fast as possible, but the possibility still existed.

“Jupiter, this is Black Wolf. The UN building has been cleared. All hostile LMB onsite eliminated, I’m sending Laura back in one of the choppers to begin the moving process, and bringing the other one to extract all of you. What’s your status?” Gaius’ voice crackled over our radios, and all three of us paused in disbelief, before Mary shook her head with a fond smile and got back to work. Lucy and I exchanged incredulous looks before returning our eyes to our sectors.

“About to breach the front gate to the Consulate and move into the building. How did you deal with the LMB so fast, it’s been less than an hour since we left the Post Office!” I responded, wondering if he would actually give me a straight answer. I didn’t expect one, given that a conventional gunfight was definitelynot the explanation, which meant secret Hunter bullshit, but hope springs eternal.

“I’ll be happy to explain it to you once the situation is stabilized, but suffice to say it’s something unique to my team. The other Hunters have no access to it, so you don’t have to worry about them using it on us or any of our allies.” He assured her, which was more of an answer than I expected, with the promise of a full explanation in the future. Which was way more than I expected under these circumstances. Despite his good-naturedness, support for my team and other Rogues in our position, and genuine determination to save the world rather set himself up as a warlord, I was very much aware of the fact that I wasn’t yet anywhere close to his inner-circle. Even Mary, who was (or soon would be) one of his lovers wasn’t all the way in yet, so his willingness to offer me information was as surprising as it was gratifying. “At any rate, be careful. I don’t know if Keener has caught wind of our moves, but he has been reaching out to Bliss to have the Colonel storm the Consulate to get Tchernenko for him. Depending on how good his intel is, he might make an effort to put a wrench in our plans by capturing or killing the man with his own forces. I doubt he could get at Cleaners or Rikers on site fast enough, but if he sent a force after Bliss refused in order to consolidate manpower…”

“Fucking…understood, you’re right. We’ll move quickly and head for the rooftop helipad. With the LMB gone, any potential anti-air assets ought to be under your control, correct?” I growled, hearing Mary speed up her preparations behind me. By-the-book wasn’t the way to go this time around. At his confirmation, I grunted in satisfaction as Mary tapped my shoulder in warning and we moved further around the car as Lucy did the same on the other side. “Good, we’re breaching now. We will keep you updated.”

The channel cut out just in time to avoid sharing the sharp blast of the gate being destroyed with our distant savior. Swiftly rising to our feet, we stepped over the twisted and smoking metal remnants and headed towards the front door. Hopefully, we would avoid having to start trading gunfire with the remaining Consulate guards. I knew, thanks to Cortana, that the internal systems of the Consulate were still working, so hopefully we would be able to communicate with calm words rather than those screamed over automatic gunfire.

“Identify yourself immediately! You are trespassing on sovereign territory of the Russian Federation!” a voice snarled over the loudspeaker in heavily accented English the instant we were standing on the stoop, and I gestured for Lucy to key the intercom as I pulled out my hard-copy credentials and presented them to the camera.

“Agents Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn of the Strategic Homeland Division. We have orders to secure the person of Doctor Vitaly Tchernenko for his safety and his assistance in developing a vaccine for the  smallpox variola chimera, also known as ‘The Dollar Flu’ and ‘The Green Poison’.” I said formally, speaking loudly enough to be easily heard by the microphone. “Doctor Jessica Kandel sends her regards and her anticipation of working with him again.”

“Jessica is here?” a surprised voice said, a voice that just sounded like a civilian intellectual to me, and I nodded with deliberate obviousness for the sake of the observers.

“Yessir, she came in with the JTF. My CO’s hope is that between the two of you and his own scientist, and whatever assistance we can provide you, a vaccine would be achieved more quickly than if Doctor Kandel was working alone.” I confirmed, before hesitating as I considered whether or not to continue. On the one hand, I didn’t want it to look like I was trying to intimidate or brow-beat the man, but on the other… “Furthermore, we have reason to believe that some of the…factionsin the city have learned of your presence here. The Last Man Battalion and the Cleaners, at the very least. With respect to your security force, they won’t be able to hold off either group indefinitely. I urge you to come with us, sir.”

“Agent, with respect, how much faith do I have that my friend and colleague is in fact with you, of her own free will?” the brilliant Russian asked, tone growing sardonic as he continued. “I am well aware, as is my security team, of what your Agenecy stands for. We approve, it is almost Russian in its elegant pragmatism, but we are also well aware that even such patriotic people as yourself can be subverted by horrors such as the ones we are now experiencing…or have their patriotic zeal twisted to the ends of madmen.”

Yeah, I’ll just bet you’re familiar with it! I thought to myself, quite sarcastically, as I resisted the urge to roll my eyes in annoyed impatience. We didn’t have the time for this sort of crap, but neither could I push the matter, which would make the consulate’s occupants defensive and more suspicious of us than they already were. Perhaps I could arrange a conversation…or, rather, Black Wolf could.

“Black Wolf, Jupiter. We’ve breached the gate, but we’re stymied at the main entrance. Doctor Tchernenko needs some assurance about our loyalties and motives before he’s willing to order his security forces to stand down and let us inside.” I put out the call without much in the way of hesitation or shame. Pridefully trying to solve this issue alone could result in a mission failure, and I wasn’t remotely interested in humiliating my team like that in front of Gaius and his girls, not to mention the JTF.

“Understood.” Gaius’s voice responded, before falling silent for the briefest of moments. When it returned, he was quite clearly not addressing me. “Doctor Tchernenko, allow me to reunite you with Doctor Kandel and my own Doctor Ziegler. Currently awaiting transport by gunship to my base of operations inside the fortified United Nations building. Doctors, Doctor Vitaly Tchernenko of the Russian Federation.”

“Goddamnit, Vitaly, let those girls inside the building so they can stick your stubborn Slavic ass on a chopper and get you over here.” Doctor Kandel was obviously not in the mood for taking verbal prisoners, and I gave a rather unladylike snort of laughter at the silence the consumed the channel. I could just imagine the look on Tchernenko’s face, and I knew exactly what sort of irritated look that Kandel would be displaying right now.

“Well, that certainly sounds like Jessica. The attitude fits too.” Tchernenko remarked dryly after another minute of silence, and I pictured him shaking his head in wry amusement and fondness as he continued. “Only you, Jessica, only you. Very well, Agents, I’ll come with you. Come inside, I’ll direct you to the express elevator that will bring you close to my location as quickly as possible.”

There were a series of high-pitched beeps from the door, before a low and resounding metallic thunk echoed throughout the courtyard. Correctly surmising that the door had just been unlocked, I gripped the handle and pulled. The steel-cored mahogany swung open easily despite its incredible weight, and I waved my girls through before following and shutting the door behind us. Even if we were airborne and gone before anyone else could catch up, leaving this building secure might end up be useful in the future.

We moved quickly once inside, following the directions flowing to us through the direct link we now had to the consulate’s inhabitants, not particularly interested in the scorched trashcans and ash-laden fireplaces that had doubtless been used to burn government documents when things had started to fall apart. Perhaps at another time, in another life, such information would have been our objective, but here and now it was as irrelevant as whether or not Gaius liked women shaved or trimmed.

Hmm, that was an odd thought to have right now, wasn’t it? Not so long ago I would have argued that it was irrelevant all the time, but he was rather handsome, and I did love a man who could balance strength with tenderness…

I shook my head briskly, banishing the thought to the corner of my mind, where it lingered and taunted me as the majority of my focus returned to the task at hand. The building was clearly abandoned for the most part, the staff long gone. Probably made a run for the nearest JTF outpost when it became clear that extraction from their homeland wasn’t coming for them. Smart of them, as was Tchernenko’s decision to stay put. Plenty of people had probably heard in the extensive coverage on the crisis that he had been a colleague and friend to Amherst before the latter had gone insane. His safety would hardly have been assured outside these walls, even amongst those trying to hold the country together.

“Miss Agents, please come with us. Doctor Tchernenko is waiting down the hall.” A stern, brick wall of a Russian man greeted her, looking every inch the professional guardian in his black suit, dark sunglasses, and Kevlar vest. His companion, equally broad-shouldered and attired much the same, nodded in acknowledgement before stepping aside with a vaguely welcoming gesture down the aforementioned hallway. We took the invitation, of course, allowing ourselves to be ‘escorted ‘down the hall to a room that had a further three bodyguards and the Doctor himself.

He looked like a doctor. Tall and thin, a receding hairline, stubborn stubble and baggy eyes, he wouldn’t have been out of place in a video game or a movie, and for some reason that thought was far more amusing than it had any right to be. Well, in the end, who cared what he looked like. He was one of the greatest virologists on the planet with a personal insight into Amherst’s mind, which made him one of the most valuable people alive.

“Excellent, there you are Jupiter. Nova and I are less than four minutes out. Get up to the roof and get ready for pick up immediately. It seems your method of entrance through the gate has attracted some attention, and I don’t want some enterprising anarchist picking off the good doctor by misfortune.” Gaius said from a nearby computer station, and I nodded in obedience before making a gesture of invitation to Tchernenko.

“You have enough space for all of us, and my baggage? I have no doubt you possess some texts, but I cannot leave my journals and notes behind if you want me to cure this plague.” He asked as he got to his feet, indicating not just his guards but the four bulging duffle-bags on the floor by their feet.

“I’m aboard a UH-60, Doctor, more than enough room for everyone involved and all the books you could require. Even with the weapons pods attached. To the roof, all of you.” Gaius responded briskly, before the audio feed cut out. Gesturing for his guards to grab his bags, Tchernenko took a deep breath and gave me what he was likely trying to make a relaxed smile.

“Well, Agents, it seems I am in your capable hands. Let us not keep your commanding officer waiting!” he declared, before leading the way towards the ‘Emergency Exit’ against the north wall. It didn’t take more than minute before we were on the roof, watching the sleek form of a Black Hawk approaching through the darkness. It was almost invisible against the backdrop of the stars, if not for the blinking red and green running lights on its stubby ‘wings’. And, of course, the noise of its rotors.

I was actually kind of curious to see how well they would do extracting us given the less-than-spectacular spacing on the roof and the lack of landing lights. Sure, I could have popped some flares or something, but not only would that ruin the impromptu evaluation I was now set on, it would also prove a nice backdrop for any ‘enterprising anarchist’, to use Gaius’ words. Or, worse, Rogue Agents aligned with Keener.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, your ride has arrived. Please watch your step entering the air-craft and ensure that all trays are in the upright position.” Nova said cheerfully over the radio as the chopper half-settled on the building, it’s right side still hanging over the multi-story drop. Mary snickered off to my left, while the Doctor gives a sharp snort of surprised amusement and shakes his head wryly, murmuring something in Russian.

“Doctor, you and your associates first, if you please. I would rather get all of you behind some nice, aerodynamic steel before anyone unpleasant takes notice of us.” I request, resisting the urge to roll my eyes at the blonde sniper and my own teammate. Humour was an excellent way to handle the stresses of the situation, of course, but surely there had to be some limit to the irreverence that could be put on display?

“Good afternoon, Captain. Will there perhaps be an in-flight movie today? I have a fondness for Dr. Strangelove, if I could choose.” Doctor Tchernenko called, loudly enough to be heard over the roar of the rotors, as his guards helped him into the troop compartment.

“Terribly sorry, Doctor, but I’m afraid that these short domestic flights don’t offer such luxuries. I’m pretty sure there are some initials carved into the bench you’re sitting on that were left by some enterprising couple that got creative for their rendezvous, however. Sir and I had a lovely time trying to guess what their names might be. You could join in, if you like?” Nova responded with profound regret, followed by a cackle of laughter as the man nearly jumped off the bench he had settled onto and crossed to the other side of the compartment.

Evidently there wasn’t, I thought to myself with a sigh, shaking my head in mingled exasperation and, though I would never admit it, amusement. Settling into the vacated spot without care (sitting on a bench some random LMB grunts had fucked on barely ranked amongst things that could disturb me nowadays), I couldn’t help but feel glad that I had fallen in with these people. At least they knew how to have a good time.

The chopper lifted off, arcing away from the Consulate towards the UN Building, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the traitor and his cohorts were thinking about today’s events.

##################################################################

Aaron Keener, callsign Vanguard

Status: ROGUE

Crimes: Treason, Execution of Civilians, Failure to Prevent JTF Deaths, Multiple Homicide, Acts of Domestic Terrorism, Kidnapping, Blackmail, Intimidation, Torture, Conspiracy, and more.

“Nothing for it, Aaron. The LMB are gone, except for the guys inside the DZ and a few stragglers. Whoever this ‘Black Wolf’ is and whoever is teammates are, they wiped out the entire group. My drones have been recording footage for hours of them dragging bodies out of the UN Building, and we’ve confirmed that Kendal, Tchernenko, and some other lady doctor have holed up and started working on a vaccine.” Theo Parnell, callsign Dedsec, sounded tired and stressed. If his plans hadn’t just suffered a massive blow, and not the first at the hands of this strange group either, he probably would have inquired after his younger subordinate’s health. He was, after all, having the kid monitor almost the entire city (certainly all the important strongholds) almost single-handed. Theo was a genius, but he was just one man, and he made a note to have some other members of his Agents assist the kid with his work. To few eyes on the city and things would go even worse, because he couldn’t counter his enemies if he didn’t know what they were doing in the first place.

“How much of the LMB network have you co-opted?” I asked, already expecting the answer to be less than spectacular, and the look he gave me before he answered only confirmed that prediction.

“I’m talking to the surviving LMB guys from the DZ and some of the patrols that weren’t home when Black Wolf kicked the door in, and they’re willing to sign up with us for a chance at revenge, but their data network is gone. Whoever Black Wolf’s version of me is, they’re scary good. I’m pretty sure at least half of the backdoors that I’ve found were put there deliberately as bait for me, not that I’m stupid enough to let anyone into my systems like that. Seriously, way good, like they not only locked down the entire LMB network, but they have their fingers in every networked system in the city still functioning. Traffic cameras, security, the PA system, the radio, everything. The only reason that they aren’t all over us is because we’re on a close, short range network with a scrambler.”

“Which means we can’t reach out to other Agents outside of New York without Black Wolf listening on us, correct?” I double-checked, hissing out a low invective when he nodded in affirmation. I had planned on making bandit broadcasts to my former comrades, try to convince not just the surviving loyalists in the city but those outside of it to join my mission, my crusade. I knew New York was in the worst shape of all, of course, as Ground Zero, but I had no doubt that cities like Chicago and Portland and Los Angeles were nightmarish. Rich recruiting ground for downtrodden and disenfranchised Agents. Now those plans were sunk, because any such transmission would be easily monitored, and perhaps traced. “Fine then, we focus our efforts on dealing with Black Wolf and his posse first. Get in touch with Vivian and James, tell them I want to start pushing the Riker and the Cleaners at the JTF, hard. Try and split them between the UN Building and the Post Office. Wear them down to the point we draw out Black Wolf’s team and can wipe them out. The city will be ours after that.”

“You’ve got it.” The hacker agreed, withdrawing from my presence with the same balanced grace every Agent had. He might be a tech-head, but at least he hadn’t let his fieldcraft completely go to shit after joining up with me. Fortunately for him, because I had no interest in bailing him out if he got in over his head. I wouldn’t risk my cause for his sake, or anyone else’s.

Pulling up the files I had on Black Wolf, I stared at his masked visage with mingled respect and loathing. He had been fucking things up for me since the day he showed up, saving Jupiter’s cell before I could get my hands on them. But I was done reacting now. It was time for me to start making moves of my own.

“Alright, Mr. Black Wolf. Let’s see how well you play defense.” I murmured, leaning back in my seat with a small smile of pleased anticipation.

#######################################################################

I know that I promised smut this chapter, but when I hit 5.5k words and still hadn’t found a good way to do it, I opted to leave it out rather than shoehorn it in. Let’s face it, there will be plenty of smut in the future anyway.