System Supervillain, Chapter 126

Chapter 126 – All Together Now

We only had to wait half an hour before things started. Web Mistress was the first to notice, obviously. “The lizards have noticed the British forces forming up around the shield perimeter. The push hasn’t started, yet, but they know it is coming.”

From what we could see on the video feeds, the attitude in the command center was tense. Not surprising, given that the Emperor was personally overseeing their defense. Don’t want to look bad in front of the boss, especially when the boss can order your immediate execution for cowardice if you don’t act right.

“How easily can you interfere with the transmissions without drawing attention? Can you, say, double the number of troops they’re reporting?”

Web Mistress shook her head. “Not possible, without getting caught. The Hydra over there is looking for anomalous data alterations. It would get noticed, and flagged, almost immediately. If I had the lead time to set myself up as an administrator in this system? It would be child’s play. The majority of hacking, even for me, is prep work and patience. It is only because I have unique abilities that this is working at all.”

I just nodded. There wasn’t anything to say to that, really. We were officially off the map, as far as any of our experiences on Earth were concerned. We had a decent plan, but much of it involved playing things by ear. We didn’t know enough about the situation, and didn’t have enough time to do proper reconnaissance. It annoyed the professional villain in me to do things this way, but sometimes you had to react to things as they came, rather than setting things up so that they fell into place at your command. So, we waited.

“There!” whispered Serafina, pointing at one of the feeds. The first true reports of the push were coming in. Two of the Leader caste in the room started arguing about how to respond to the threat. Two different ideas of how to respond. Two different egos and sets of ambition attempting to raise their standing.

The argument started to get heated, but the Emperor ended it with a single bellowed roar. All eyes turned to him, and he gave a few quick orders, before pointing at the two Leaders who had been squabbling, jockeying for position. The two leaders looked as though they had been struck, but bowed, and turned to leave the command center. Along the way, they snapped at several of the Warrior caste, and six of them ended up following the ‘exiled’ Leaders out of the command center, heading to the portal.

“Marking targets in your HUDs, for those of you that have them,” Web Mistress whispered.

1-7 – Lizard Leader Caste

8-13 – Lizard Warrior Caste

L – Lizard Worker Caste

E – Lizard Emperor

A simple key appeared in my digital field of view, along with a schematic of the command center. I smirked at the disrespectful tone in the key, calling the aliens lizards. It was a nice momentary distraction from what we had ahead of us. This wasn’t going to be an easy fight, by any means. The only good thing about such a ‘target rich environment’ was that the Gel-nak were going to have to be careful with their attacks, since they’d risk hitting each other.

“Master,” FX whispered, “it looks like the Worker caste are unarmed, and not wearing their survival suits. Probably didn’t think they needed them in the middle of this defended area, on a planet.”

She was right. The Workers were all in their normal uniforms, unarmed and unarmored. Easy pickings, in other words.

“Those containers in that open section have suits and weapons for them,” Web Mistress cautioned. “Any workers that get to it will be able to arm themselves, at least.”

I considered it for a moment, and then made a decision. “Web Mistres, you and FX drop in by the containers. That will give you a bit of cover, and you can start shooting after that. Foxtrot, you drop in with them, there, to give them cover from those two Warriors nearby. The rest of us will drop in the middle ring, and cause too much trouble for them to focus on you. Questions?”

There were none. I nodded. Even if most of my girls weren’t used to being villains, they were still experienced fighters, for the most part. I took a breath, and said, “Well, this is our first fight as a full team. Let’s kick ass. Web Mistress, drop us in.”

Turn Order

Segment

Turns

1

Web Mistress (Mental)

2

Web Mistress (Mental), Emperor, Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders

3

Warriors, FX, Web Mistress

4

Web Mistress (Mental), Emperor, Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders, Workers

5

Web Mistress (Mental), Warriors

6

Emperor, Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders, FX, Web Mistress

7

Web Mistress (Mental), Emperor

8

Web Mistress (Mental), Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders, Warriors, Workers

9

Emperor, FX, Web Mistress

10

Web Mistress (Mental), Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders, Warriors

11

Web Mistress (Mental), Emperor

12

Emperor, Iceblade, Bloodmoon, Foxtrot, Stolen Victory, Serafina, Titania, Pyra, Leaders, FX, Web Mistress, Warriors, Workers

Segment 2:

Iceblade: +2 CSL to OCV (OCV 12)

Foxtrot: +2 CSL to DCV (DCV 12), +2 CSL to OCV (OCV 12)

Stolen Victory: +2 CSL to DCV (DCV 15)

Pyra: +2 CSL to OCV with Ranged (OCV 15)

Titania: +2 CSL to DCV (DCV 12)

Emperor: +2 CSL to ECV (ECV 12)

Emperor’s Mental Attack roll (Iceblade), ECV 12: 3d6 = 11 (Hits ECV 12) (Hit)

Mindblast: 9d6 = 33 STUN (Mental Defense 30)

Iceblade: 48/51 STUN

Emperor: 90/100 END

Iceblade uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC Attack) (DCV 12)

Iceblade’s Attack Roll (Emperor), OCV 12: 3d6 = 9 (Hits DCV 14) (Hits)

Creeping Frost: 9d6 = 36 STUN (x2 Vulnerability) (ED 40)

Creeping Frost: 12 BODY (ED 40)

Emperor: 53/85 STUN

Iceblade: 33/40 END

Bloodmoon uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC Attack) (DCV 12)

Bloodmoon’s Attack Roll (Leader 5), OCV 10: 3d6 = 7 (Hits DCV 14) (Hits)

Bloodmoon Blade: 27 BODY (rPD 10 after AP)

Bloodmoon Blade: 54 STUN (rPD 10 after AP)

Bloodmoon: 50/60 END

Leader 5: 23/40 BODY

Leader 5: 26/70 STUN (Stunned)

Leader 5 Enrage resistance (11-): 3d6 = 8 (not enraged)

Foxtrot’s Attack Roll (Warrior 12), Autofire 2, OCV 12: 3d6 = 8 (Hits DCV 15) (Hits)

Yokai Claws 1: 29 BODY (rPD 15)

Yokai Claws 1: 58 STUN (rPD 15)

Yokai Claws 2: 24 BODY (rPD 15)

Yokai Claws 2: 48 STUN (rPD 15)

Foxtrot: 64/70 END

Warrior 12: 7/30 BODY

Warrior 12: -21/55 STUN (Unconscious)

Stolen Victory uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC Attack) (DCV 19)

Stolen Victory’s Attack roll (Leader 6), OCV 13: 11 (Hits DCV 13) (Hits)

Sword of Victory: 5d6-1 = 20 BODY (rPD 10 after AP)

Sword of Victory: 40 STUN (rPD 10 after AP)

Stolen Victory: 54/60 END

Leader 6: 30/40 BODY

Leader 6: 40/70 STUN

Serafina’s Attack Roll (Warrior 9), OCV 10: 3d6 = 10 (Hits DCV 11) (Hits)

Holy Wrath: 16d6 = 61 STUN (ED 30)

Holy Wrath: 18 BODY (ED 30)

Warrior 9 = 24/55 STUN (Stunned)

Serafina: 66/70 STUN

Titania uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC on Attack) (DCV 14)

Titania’s Attack roll (Leader 7), OCV 10: 3d6 = 7 (Hits DCV 14) (Hits)

Mechasaber: 7d6 = 20 BODY (rPD 10 after AP)

Mechasaber: 40 STUN (rPD 10 after AP)

Titania: 75/80 END

Leader 7: 30/40 BODY

Leader 7: 40/70 STUN

Pyra uses Quick Shot (+1 OCV, +2 DC to Attack)

Pyra’s Attack Roll (Leader 4), OCV 16: 3d6 = 6 (Hits DCV 21) (Hits)

Pyroblast: 18d6 = 63 STUN (ED 40)

Pyroblast: 17 BODY (ED 40)

Knockback: 12m

Knockback Damage: 41 STUN (PD 40)

Knockback Damage: 11 BODY (PD 40)

Leader 4: 46/70 STUN

Leader 1’s Attack Roll (Serafina), OCV 13: 3d6 = 13 (Hits DCV 11) (Hits)

Disintegration Beam: 3d6+1 = 18 BODY (rED 18 after AP)

Disintegration Beam: 18 STUN (rED 18 after AP)

Leader 1: 73/80 END

Leader 2’s Attack Roll (Stolen Victory), OCV 13: 3d6 = 6 (Hits DCV 18) (Miss)

Leader 2: 73/80 END

Leader 3’s Attack Roll (Stolen Victory), OCV 13: 3d6 = 14 (Hits DCV 10) (Miss)

Leader 3: 73/80 END

Leader 4’s Attack Roll (Pyra), OCV 13: 3d6 = 12 (Hits DCV 12) (Miss)

Leader 4: 73/80 END

Leader 5 recovers from being Stunned.

Leader 6 uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC to attack) (DCV 15)

Leader 6’s Attack Roll (Stolen Victory), OCV 13: 3d6 = 7 (Hits DCV 17) (Miss)

Leader 6: 77/80 END

Leader 7 uses Martial Strike (+2 DCV, +2 DC to attack) (DCV 15)

Leader 7’s Attack Roll (Titania), OCV 13: 3d6 = 7 (Hits DCV 17) (Hits)

Leader Blade: 5d6-1 = 15 BODY (rED 20)

Leader Blade: 30 STUN (rED 20)

Leader 7: 77/80 END

Titania: 60/70 STUN

Emperor: 90/100 END

Emperor: 53/85 STUN

Iceblade: 33/40 END

Iceblade: 48/51 STUN

Bloodmoon: 50/60 END

Leader 5: 23/40 BODY

Leader 5: 26/70 STUN

Foxtrot: 64/70 END

Stolen Victory: 54/60 END

Leader 6: 30/40 BODY

Leader 6: 40/70 STUN

Leader 6: 77/80 END

Warrior 9 = 24/55 STUN (Stunned)

Serafina: 66/70 STUN

Titania: 75/80 END

Titania: 60/70 STUN

Leader 7: 30/40 BODY

Leader 7: 40/70 STUN

Leader 7: 77/80 END

Leader 4: 46/70 STUN

Leader 4: 73/80 END

Leader 1: 73/80 END

Leader 2: 73/80 END

Leader 3: 73/80 END

“YOU DARE!?” Shit. The Emperor was faster than I was! The giant bastard roared in anger as we intruded on his command center. He waved a hand at me, and the world tasted like blueberries for a moment as the psychic shields in my cowl kicked in, hard. Bit of a headache, but I was fine.

“Greetings from Earth, you walking suitcase!” I taunted as I darted in, and smacked the big lizard on the side, activating the Creeping Frost power as I did so. It hit, but I could tell he was tougher than the other Gel-nak I’d faced. Still, I could see the frost starting to spread over his suit. So long as I wasn’t knocked out or forced to break concentration on that attack, this fight was already in the bag. Just had to survive until then.

“The Bloody Moon will punish you! Bloodmoon Blade!” Off to the side, I heard Bloodmoon call out the incantation for one of her magic attacks. The cry from one of the Leader caste told me her blade hit true, but I couldn’t take the time to watch her too closely.

The scream of a fox on the hunt rang out through the command center, followed by a scream of pain that was cut off suddenly. Foxtrot was on the job, taking out the enemies closest to Web Mistress and FX, it seemed. Good. While I knew that, with Serafina here, so long as she was standing, we were golden, that didn’t mean I wanted to invoke the demon lord Murphy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stolen Victory slash at the Leader closest to her, striking deep with her sword. Victory’s attacks were not the strongest in the group. However, she and Serafina were the two that I could count to pretty much tank any hits that actually managed to reach them. Plus, you couldn’t really ignore a woman trying to cut you in half with a sword, which meant fewer attacks coming at the squishier members of the group.

“Sinners in the eyes of God, suffer His Holy Wrath!” Serafina intoned the incantation of one of her attack spells. An answering cry of pain informed me that her attack had landed well. Any damage she did was bonus points, in my mind. Her main role in this fight was to keep everyone patched up.

“Hey, ugly! Look here!” Titania called out behind me. I heard the distinctive sound of a blade cutting flesh. She got a good hit in on whoever she’d targeted. But didn’t sound like a finishing blow.

A blast of fire told me that Pyra was getting into the swing of things. The thud of someone hitting a wall said that she definitely hit her target, and sent them flying back. Probably not hard enough to take them out of the fight, but I had faith in her to protect herself.

And then I heard several blasts from the pistols that the Leaders had. Serafina laughed, and said something about how the Lord protected her, so whatever hit her hadn’t done too much damage. Several bolts went wild, but I also heard Titania curse as metal scratched her metal skin. One of their blades, then? Guess it made sense to focus on hand-to-hand if you were in a melee. But I didn’t hear any cries signifying that anyone in our group was down, so I called that a win, so far.

Now, we just needed to keep it going.