Chapter 67: The Glass Canon

The Light Breaker was Australia's secret weapon. The satellite that was launched into space was approved by the World Governing Powers as it was declared to be a network jamming device.

Australia was granted permission for launching this technological marvel due to its unique positioning in South Asia. During the Continental Wars, all of the surrounding nations were Australia's enemies. North of the Pangean Nations was the group of nations that caused so much devastation to Australia that a deep hatred continued to this day. The South Pacific United was the most aggressive country during the Continental War. And they lead a united front with Pangea, New Zealand, and New India against Australia.

Due to the history of this nation, they appealed to the World Governing Powers to launch several satellites which gave them a network shield. This had the capability of preventing network, wireless and even radio hacking. The xenophobic nation of Australia however, hid a secret in their launch. The satellites were capable of more than just providing a jamming signal for network attacks.

The rest of the world caught word that Australia has officially activated a Comm Blackout. No communications of all sorts could get into Australia. This could only mean that Australia is at war.

The South Pacific United immediately marshaled its forces for a potential attack. President Victor Colestart of Phil-Pangea immediately approved SPU's entry. But immediately, a political war suddenly emerged.

Various members of the Pangean Senate across all of its nations agreed with General Harker's opinion in not granting entry to Pangean soil. President Hyron of Indo-Pangea voted against Colestart's decision and immediately pleaded for martial law to be in place in all three Pangean nations and put General Harker as the temporary President of the country.

The political movements were swiftly decided. The majority voted in favor of Hyron's suggestion as the masses were in fear of being attacked. Pangea had already lost one of its National Managers and thus, the foreign phobia that laid deep within the roots of this nation sprang out.

As Harker finally grasped complete and total control over all of Pangean military, he threatened that if the SPU were to march into Pangean territory, he would treat it as an act of war and immediately attack the SPU without mercy.

The media caught the attention of their interactions as both countries communicated via live-video feeds.

"President Harker! We are only acting in the best interest of both our countries! Australia has always been our enemy after the war and we were always allies!"

"I will not be deceived!" Declared Harker with intense emotions.

"Who's to say that this is all but a plot! Did you not manipulated every nation in this region to wage war against Australia during the Continental wars! Whose to say a Nation as deceptive as yourself isn't planning to do the same tactics?"

"And should your paranoia turn out to be wrong? What then Harker? Will you allow Australia to come knocking at your doorstep? Are you ready to face the consequences?" The angry president growled at Harker.

"I trust my men! Leave it to the Heroes Armies to defend this land!" Harker immediately disconnected the call.

When two nations that are at odds with each other need to settle political issues, live video-feeds were the first option in order to ensure no assassinations to take place. But in all of the video-feeds between nation, no country would be so bold as to disconnect the call prematurely. Even the World Governing Powers considered this act as grounds for waging war due to the many elements and implications that that action represented.

Harker had a furious look on his face. His entire body was visibly shaking from the intense argument that he just had. He immediately walked down the prepared platform as the media reporters celebrated in Harker's actions.

Almost all citizens deemed Harker's actions as commendable. His arguments made sense. Never was there a time since its conception that the Pangean Nations were so united in spirit and actions.

The Gate Three of New Birth Fort was in a total mess. The Ever Bright continued to blaze out while soldiers prepared for battle.

The Evening soldiers were now on full alert as they immediately created a perimeter in case other attacks would be made.

Meanwhile, just near the mounds of the ruble by the Wall, Arthur was lying down on the ground. No soldier noticed him as he was fairly hidden from view.

Arthur twisted the two bluish tubes together. Slowly, the blueish color started growing.

"Are you up for using that one?" A voice in the Comm Device inquired.

"After everything that you've seen you still doubt us?" Arthur humored Lowengren with the return question.

"It's because of the device you're using. One of those cost more than a Pangean battleship."

"Of course it should. Pangean technology isn't cheap. This thing could power up a city and I'm going to use as a bazooka."

"Still… that's too fragile. She practically asked me to deliver the core weapon system without the main armors."

"As I've said… the armor is too heavy for any of us to carry. Relax. I know that a single bullet hole could break this masterpiece. I just need to make sure that I won't get hit or place this weapon in a compromising position and I'm good." Arthur slowly stood up and mounted the bluish tubes inside the glass cannon.

"Looks like there are no cracks made from the drop. The Solarium Eradicator cannon seems to be working fine."

Arthur finally attached a small square box which fitted perfectly in the back of the cannon. Arthur carried the canon over his shoulders.

Arthur took a peak out of the rubble and saw that the soldiers were still on a tight perimeter guarding the entrance while others were waiting for the Ever-Bright to fade. Several Exoskeletons took to the sky and watched for incoming rocket attacks.

Suddenly the entire fortress lit up as sparks of electricity could be seen blasting out in an arc.

"There it is. Australia's perfect defense. Enigmatic Magnetic Field."

Arcs of lightning started zooming out in the immediate outskirts of the building. Shards of metals and other pieces where immediately bolted as the lightning rained down on the nearby buildings. Any metal which was deemed foreign were viciously attacked.

"And with that, the soldiers rejoice," Arthur smirked.

The Evening and Morning soldiers were all cheering at the sight. It had been decades since the full potential of the Fort was utilized. And tonight, the Fort reached its true glory.

Yet in this, Seeker came prepared.

"Glass cannons huh? He's really confident.."

Arthur took another look at the area. His vision needed no technological aid. At the dying down of the first Ever Bright, just near it was a round plastic ball that was nearly buried on the ground. It was as if someone planted the ball deep in the ground to avoid being seen.

Arthur pressed a button and another explosion occurred.

The Whiplash bomb produced a thunderous shockwave and people around it stumbled down. The soldiers reacted to the sound and some were thrown by the shockwave.

Arthur ran out of the open and started dashing for the exit. Once he neared it, Arthur pointed his glass bazooka towards the area which held the most soldiers.

A blue laser beam shot out of the canon. Arthur led the rays to and it slashed through the perimeter of soldiers. The beam swiped by quickly and the soldiers who were hit were immediately halved.

The Exoskeletons that were hit were knocked back and screams could be heard. Their suit was burning with intense heat from the passing laser blast.

Arthur then aimed for another Exoskeleton and fired once more.

The beam blasted at the armor and the Eradicating factors came to work and slowly cooked through the armor and then penetrated through it.

Arthur then sprinted out of the gate unleashing a small burst of laser attacks every now and then to the soldiers nearby.

"Not bad. Two seconds to penetrate through Exoskeleton armor. I need to try it on an Armor." Arthur smiled as he ran.

Suddenly a rain of bullets fell behind him as several Exoskeletons started to shoot from the sky. But Arthur had already long anticipated their attacks. His speed suddenly increased as a burst through surprising the flying Exoskeletons.

Arthur them jumped forwards and turned his body in midair. He faced the skies and shot a quick blast towards an Exoskeleton. Arthur continued to spin and landed back on his feet to which he continued his sprint.

The Exoskeletons zoomed to chase Arthur but Arthur kept adjusting the speed of his sprint. Every now and then, Arthur would jump and manage to hit yet another Exoskeleton.

The zooming Exoskeleton's started descending to get a close shot of Arthur.

"RETREAT" Immediately an order sprang out. The rushing Exoskeletons halted in confusion but followed nonetheless.

Garland stared at the screens with his face carrying an extremely angry expression. The state of the Fort would surely bring down his career.

"They even have an anti-EMF plan." Lander frowned. He had long returned back to headquarters at Garland's orders.

"Indeed. Our Intel's been compromised." Garland frowned.

"But how?"

"No time worrying about that. I've already secured all access points within the building to make sure no one enters restricted areas. I called you here to discuss some issues that I feared would be compromised."

"What are my orders?" Lander asked seriously.

"We need to find their headquarters. Having organized attacks means they somehow managed to bypass our network blocking system and established a network of their own.."

"Impossible."

"No. Just unlikely. They must have established a Comm Relay within the city. Find them and that will lead you to their headquarters."

"I believe my duties lie in protecting this city, Sir. Are you really going to take your best soldier and send him in a reconnaissance mission right in the middle of this war?"

"Our enemy has yet to reveal the cards up their sleeves. We utilized the best of our Enigmatic Magnetic technology and still, they have cards up their sleeves. I already deployed something that I'm sure they do not have knowledge about." Garland sat down and gave a strange look at a monitor which displayed several soldiers walking towards the exits.

"Your mission is just as important, however. These are the areas which seem to be broadcasting a unique signal. Use this signal to trace it back to the source."

"Yes, sir!" Lander responded and sprinted out immediately.

"Now to find the rat in this building." Garland then frowned and accessed his computer.

On the ground level facilities, Meryl was limping alongside three peculiar individuals who were dressed as a scientist.

"So, um… who are you guys?" Meryl asked innocently.

The tallest of the three was a woman with very thick glasses. She had red flaming hair and a very strict posture while she walked.

"I'm Sonia, this is my sister, Saunia." The shorter woman then waved. She had the same fiery red hair as her taller sister but wore no glasses. Unlike her sister, she didn't have the same strict movements.

"And this is one of my batch mate, Eric."

"Charmed." The male scientist fiddled with his phone giving no interest to greet Meryl. He was tall, wore glasses with a slim frame and had a darker shade of skin color.

"Batch mates since college? Nice!"

"No. She meant we were captured and turned into Programmed Slaves together." Eric gave a casual response.

Meryl sighed and continued to follow the 'cheerful' bunch.

The group soon passed by several restricted gates and finally entered a heavily confined room.

"Boss!" a scientist worriedly ran towards Sonia.

"The wars progressing for the worst! We've received orders to check our database to see who has accessed the latest technology. General Garland believes there's a spy among the scientist!"

"I already know who the traitor is." Sonia gave a bland reply.

"It was us. Meryl, please kill everyone here." Sonia gave a sweet smile.

"Eh?" Meryl was surprised at the calm request.