System Supervillain, Chapter 113

Chapter 113 – Infiltration

I was rechecking my gear, making sure everything was in place when the sound of dial-up internet alerted me to Web Mistress’s return. Looking over to her, I grinned. “So?”

“I dropped Stolen Victory and Titania off at a GPS satellite over the area. Closest I could get to the ships without getting them right in there. They’re on the attack. Pyra, FX, and Bloodmoon are in Houston, getting ready to welcome the invaders, and Serafina and Foxtrot both went to Warsaw, to help with things there.”

“Good,” I nodded. And it was. Potential impact of the Seal of the Immortal King getting broken aside, this was going to do wonders for my girls, and their morale. Most of them were originally heroines, after all, and, whether they admitted it or not, they missed going out and saving the day. Being allowed to go and do what they did best, for a cause they believed in? That showed them that I actually cared about them, which meant they’d be all the more effective in the future.

Besides, I couldn’t let some aliens take over Earth and enslave everyone. Earth was where I kept my stuff, and no one got to enslave my pets but me. Anyone suggesting otherwise was going to be made into an object lesson, starting with this System Administrator from off-world and the leader of the armada.

“And my targets?”

“Both on the carrier, as expected. I cloned an access key for the network from one of the transports. Someone getting sloppy. Allowed me to get a ‘legit’ administrator’s credentials, so I can run through their network with ease, so long as I don’t start drawing attention to myself. They do have IT people, and they probably know the systems better. But they are busy defending against an impressive array of hacking attempts already. Not just government, but pretty much every hacker on Earth is taking a swing at them.”

“And you found our Administrator friend?”

“Yep! Internal communication between him and the command deck, confirming that no System operations are being used to attack the ships. Adminstrator Steks is in the Computing Control Nest, since he’s also one of the IT guys. And it is located just next to environmental control.”

“Perfect,” I smiled. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“Yes, according to the ‘Combat Preparedness Protocols’, all Worker Caste Gel-Nak have access to survival suits that will allow them to survive explosive decompression, and other such things. However, they do not wear the things, most of the time, because they are cumbersome, imposing a -2 penalty to their OCV and DCV while they’re worn. So, they only put the things on when the ship goes to battle stations, or there is a decompression warning. Same with the standard issue blasters they have. No one trusts workers with live weapons most of the time, but they are part of the survival kit, for emergencies. Most probably don’t even have more than basic proficiency with them, though.”

“Worker Caste, huh? I’m guessing that means there’s a Warrior Caste, and probably a Leader Caste, as well?”

“Ship captains, and their seconds, are usually Leader Caste. Sometimes warrior, if they’ve proven especially skilled. Our Supreme Commander is Leader Caste, but the majority of the fighters on board are Warrior Caste.”

I filed that tidbit away for later, and focused on the main point. “So, everyone is out of space suits unless there is an emergency? This mean we can arrange an ‘accident’ on the ship?”

“Sadly, no,” Web Mistress shook her head. “The warriors and leaders have better suits, that double as armor, and don’t block their claw or bite attacks, while still giving them protection from the elements, including environmental cold or hard vacuum. However, the batteries need to be hot-swapped every six hours, or they lose power.”

“Well, that’s a vulnerability that we could use, if we draw things out. Especially if the backup batteries go missing, or are sabotaged. Something to think about, at least. But venting the ship should eliminate most of the workers, right?”

“Right. Except for any damage control crews suited up just in case, or anyone who happens to be close enough to a survival locker, or is lucky enough to be in an airtight room. There’s even a nice, automated way to do it. Venting sections of the ship is apparently a common way for the Gel-nak to put down rebellions amongst their lower castes.”

“All right then. That sounds like a plan.” I took a breath, and activated my Frost Armor, letting the icy plates form over my costume, giving me extra protection, and clearly announcing that I was no ‘normal’ human. Once I recovered the END I spent, I nodded to Web Mistress. “Drop me next to our administrator. It is time to welcome the Gel-nak to Earth.”

There was a scream of dial-up internet, and then a couple quick transfers through virtual worlds as Web Mistress took us on our way. Finally, we paused in a space that was at once swamp-like and sterile. I looked over at Web Mistress, but she just grinned. “They’re crocodiles, so their virtual world reflects their preferred environment. But they also have all the artistic flair of a morgue, and a sense of humor to match.”

She paused, and opened a portal. Well, that was just what it looked like in this digital space. There wouldn’t be anything actually ‘there’ in the real world until I went through. “Administrator Steks will be the one right next to you. Use the energy damage version of your sword, it should be slightly more effective. Once you take out everyone in the control room, I’ll trigger the Uprising Controls.”

“And what, exactly, will that do?”

“Lock down the ship, all compartment doors and systems will need override codes to take. The system is designed so that the lockdown cannot be overridden from inside the lockdown area, unless one reaches the Computing Control Nest and puts in a Leader-level code that is equal or higher ranking than the one used to initiate the alert. And the only Leaders on board are on the bridge, awaiting either Earth’s surrender, or footage of their ‘glorious victory’ in the examples being made of cities.”

“Can you set the entire ship as an Uprising Alert?”

“Normally, no. But Fleet Commanders can lock down rebelling ships remotely, to make them easy to recapture, or destroy. And both the Grand Supreme Commander and the Emperor have higher ranking codes. And I cracked them.”

“Already?”

Web Mistress sighed. “The IT staff on board are pretty good at their jobs. However, the codes I’m talking about are hardwired into the system, with high-level warnings going out if anyone cracks them open. But they’re connected to the network, and are only protected by ‘highest ranking idiot’ type passwords. The Emperor’s password translates to ‘mywillbedone’.”

“Really? That seems… easily exploited.”

“Well, only if you’re me. Anyone who wasn’t a technopath would find themselves struggling to get in, since this programming language isn’t like anything on Earth. Even uses a Base 6 system, which makes sense, since the Gel-nak have three clawed fingers on each hand, but any Earth hacker is going to be at a huge disadvantage, there. And if they didn’t auto-translate everything automatically, like I do, then they would have to spend time translating as they were trying to get in, just to know what they were looking at. Actually finding anything? Fat chance.”

“But surely the Gel-nak have hackers, or they have enemies that know their tricks?”

“Well, the IT guys are some of the more respected Worker Caste, for that reason, so they are less likely to cause an uprising in the first place. The enemies of the Gel-nak would also have to either be a technopath with my level of power, or hack in normally, and without the advantage of being me, the IT guys will be fighting them. Even with that, the codes are buried deep in the environmental controls. And most people would start looking at things like weapons, shields, or engines, rather than the air conditioning when trying to hack a ship.”

“Fair enough,” I grinned, and stepped through the portal, sword at the ready.

Turn Order

Segment

Turns

1

2

Iceblade

3

4

Iceblade, Steks, Gel-nak Spacers

5

6

Iceblade

7

8

Iceblade, Steks, Gel-nak Spacers

9

10

Iceblade

11

12

Iceblade, Steks, Gel-nak Spacers

Segment 2:

Iceblade: +2 CSL to OCV (OCV 12)

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

Iceblade’s Attack Roll (Steks), OCV 12: 3d6 = 16 (Hits DCV 7) (Hits)

Winter’s Wrath: 5d6-1 = 17 BODY (0 rED)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 4 (68 STUN) (x2 Vulnerability to Ice/Cold) (0 rED after AP)

Iceblade: 47/50 END

Steks: 3/20 BODY

Steks: -106/30 STUN (Knocked Out)

The next instant, I was in an alien control room, face to face with six of the Gel-nak. As I thought, they looked like overgrown crocodiles on two legs. Elongated snout with sharp teeth, and claws on their fingers. All six of these were roughly the same size, and they were all wearing what looked like basic uniforms. I didn’t even see a weapon in their midst. Too easy.

My blade came down, taking the one that I assumed was Steks, the System Administrator, at the crease of his neck. Though his hide had some scales to it, they did not stand up against my blade. The System probably classified them as just a base increase to his physical and energy defense, rather than armor. Either way, Steks dropped, hard. Not dead, but definitely not getting up anytime soon.

Segment 4:

Iceblade: +2 CSL to OCV (OCV 12)

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

Iceblade’s Attack Roll (Spacer 3), OCV 12: 3d6 = 15 (Hits DCV 8) (Hits)

Winter’s Wrath: 5d6-1 = 18 BODY (0 rED)

Stun Multiplier: 1d6-1 = 4 (72 STUN) (x2 Vulnerability to Ice/Cold) (0 rED after AP)

Iceblade: 44/50 END

Spacer 3: 2/20 BODY

Spacer 3: -114/30 STUN (Knocked Out)

Spacer 1’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 7: 3d6 = 5 (Hits DCV 13) (Hits)

Stun Blaster: 11d6 = 42 STUN (50 ED)

Spacer 1: 38/40 END

Spacer 2’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 7: 3d6 = 14 (Hits DCV 4) (Miss)

Spacer 2: 38/40 END

Spacer 4’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 7: 3d6 = 11 (Hits DCV 7) (Miss)

Spacer 4: 38/40 END

Spacer 5’s Attack Roll (Iceblade), OCV 7: 3d6 = 11 (Hits DCV 7) (Miss)

Spacer 5: 38/40 END

Steks: 3/20 BODY

Steks: -106/30 STUN (Knocked Out)

Spacer 3: 2/20 BODY

Spacer 3: -114/30 STUN (Knocked Out)

One target down, five more to go. I moved around the central console that Steks had been at, and to target one of the spacers that was nearest the door. Couldn’t let anyone go running and calling for help before I had finished my ‘fun’, after all. Another swipe of the blade, and another lizard fell to the floor. Looked like they took extra STUN damage from the cold. Good for me, sucked to be them.

I heard the hum of beam weapons and felt an impact hit me in the back, while another beam flew past my face. No damage from the hit, thanks to the frost armor, and probably also because they were using ‘ship safe’ weapons. Can’t go firing armor piercing rounds around all the sensitive equipment, after all. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that the two spacers on the other side of the room had produced pistol-sized energy weapons from somewhere. Possibly a holster under the console? This was a critical area, so having some weapons here made sense, I guess.

I didn’t have time to think too much about that, however, as another Gel-nak came in, swiping their claws at my face. I easily dodged the attacks. No clue how well they would have fared against my armor, but there was no sense in letting them hit me if I didn’t have to.

I jerked my arm up and away, as the last of the Gel-nak spacers decided to try and bite down on it! The damn things really were like crocodiles! Definitely not signing up to be a chew toy!

Still, it was obvious how this fight was going. I could hit them, even with hasty strikes, and pretty much any hit with my blade was going to put them out of the fight. Meanwhile, I was agile enough that I could avoid most of their strikes, especially if I shifted my combat skill levels from OCV to DCV. Twelve seconds after it began, all six Gel-nak were on the ground. Another twelve seconds, and they were all dead, or dying.

Keying my comm, I said, “Computer control clear. Hit it.”

“With pleasure!” Web Mistress replied.