Chapter 119: Upgrades
Crimson Hydra elevated fifty-six local Blue Light and special forces operators to level 117, Ascender 1, and cleared out every hive in the local Philly area.
They reconvened at just past one in the morning at the central airfield. Righteous Obelisks glimmered as they slowly revolved in the stadium lighting, and the choppers and Wings used up the entirety of the field.
James sat on the edge of a storage container some fifteen feet above the large crowd that formed below him. Jelly hovered over his shoulder. The rest of Crimson Hydra and the newly ranked operators all gazed up at him, along with scores of military officers and soldiers.
All right, said James. Weve done good here. Youre all as ready as can be for whats coming tomorrow. Nobody knows what the Pits will bring, but it wont be anything good. Youve all got about twelve hours to prepare, but what I want you to do is this: keep leveling folks up. And not just in Philly. Crimson Hydras moving on to DC after this, which means you lot are responsible for this whole area.
James surveyed the faces below. They were grim, determined. I want the fifty-six of you to split up and get to work. Each of you can now lead a new group. A quarter of you should stay local and get the rest of Phillys defenses up to snuff. The rest of you need to spread out and help others get ready. Some of you should head south to Wilmington, to Atlantic City. A good chunk should hit up Pittsburgh. See if you cant get a handful up to Buffalo.
The officers nodded, a couple turning already to confer.
James stood up. He didnt feel tired or achy in the least. His body brimmed with energy, his mind was crystal clear, and even his spirit felt bold and ready for more. But the scale of what they were up against was daunting.
Good luck.
He hopped down and led his crew to the Wings. Local operators tagged along, expressing their thanks to the Hydra members whod led them, swearing to do their best, to carry the torch.
James nodded to anyone who spoke to him, but when a colonel and several captains approached, he raised his hand, forestalling them.
Im sorry, gentlemen. We aint got time for nothing more. Were heading south. Youll have to figure it out on your own.
The colonel grimaced but then nodded reluctantly.
Everybody mounted up on their Wings.
The locals backed away.
James raised his sat phone. Star Boy, were heading to DC. They ready for us?
Its a shitshow down there, man. Star Boy sounded hyper-caffeinated. We just got word. President Cox was killed by a Nem5 just hours ago. Theyre scrambling to get the new Vice President sworn in, but
Star Boy. James spoke slowly, methodically. Are there fifty-six operators ready for us?
Uh, yes. Yes. Theyre gathered out front before the White House. Just like you asked.
Thats what matters. Heading there now. James clipped his sat phone to his belt and looked at this crew. Ready?
Ready, boss, said Yadriel. Lets go spread the love.
The others nodded. James burned an Aeviternum and summoned his Teleportation Circle.
White fire blazed.
The world fell away. A moment later they appeared in a grassy expanse, the Ellipse that was set before the White House proper. The Mall spread to the south, the Washington Monument rising strikingly into the night sky, and everywhere around them was movement, bright lights, men and women bustling and shouting and trying to maintain a semblance of order.
Constitution Avenue was crammed with security vehicles. Soldiers were everywhere. Cordons had been set up, and helicopters circled the sky, their spotlights scrawling patterns across the ground.
Crimson Hydras arrival set off a ripple of shock through the ranks; soldiers shouted and raised rifles, spotlights were trained on them, and generalized panic swept through the massed forces like a wind rippling over a field of wheat.
What a shitshow, said Serenity, crossing her arms.
Several different men were shouting at them, telling them to get down, to lace their fingers behind their heads.
James frowned and sought someone to address.
They clearly hadnt gotten ready for them.
Aureate Bucklers up, called Olaf quietly.
Hold up, I got this, said Yadriel. He raised his arms and stood on his Wing. The ring of soldiers tensed, and more commands were yelled at them.
Yo, everyone, shouted Yadriel. Its time you all LISTENED AND OBEYED. WERE HERE TO HELP YOUR SORRY ASSES. LOWER YOUR GUNS AND TAKE US TO YOUR LEADER.
Yadriels voice magnified and boomed over the Ellipse, so powerful it might have been a roll of thunder. But more than that was the spiritual resonance. James felt the might behind Yadriels command, a thousand times more powerful than Kimmies Inspire.
The soldiers never had a chance.
They lowered their guns immediately, faces blanching, and their ranks parted as an older man strode forth, his whole being trembling as he wrestled with the power of Yadriels miracle.
Damn, said Serenity.
James made a face. Echoes of Bjrn washed over him, but they didnt have time for scruples. It had worked.
General, said James, moving off his Wing to greet the officer. Thank you for your time. Did you receive word of our arrival? Were Crimson Hydra from Blue Light, New York group.
Take ten, said James. All of you, and let me know how theyre doing. Im heading downstairs.
Jason hesitated. Shouldnt we do an after-action report with Hackworth?
Go ahead, said James with a smile. Saves me from having to. Well reconvene at 11. Clear?
You betcha, said Yadriel. Im going to go get laid. Last chance, suckers, before the Pits open up!
Who would agree to sleep with you? scoffed Serenity.
Man! Yadriel scowled at her. Im fucking Crimson Hydra. Bitches be lining up around the block.
Bitches? asked Serenity, voice low.
Nasty ass Yadriel caught on and raised both palms. Quality ladies, yeah? OK, heading out.
James shook his head as he had Jelly pair the other six Wings to his own, and then led them around the back of the hotel to the parking ramp.
Where he stopped.
Shit had changed.
Damn, Jessica, James whispered, eyes going wide.
The parking ramp entrance had expanded, huge pipes of steel shot through with Divine Diamond having peeled open the entrance to triple its width. The ramp itself was now corrugated with a variety of materials, most of which were conveyor belts like tank treads. Drones were flying in from every direction with payloads in large iron chests that they dropped on the belts, then flew to the far side to collect new chests, lock their dangling arms around them and then fly off.
James flew down the ramp, navigating the aerial traffic and into the belly of the beast.
The parking levels had been gutted, floors one through five opened up into a huge stadium-sized space shot through with support pillars and alive with activity.
James didnt even know what he was looking at, but his gaze was drawn to the very center where a huge column ten yards wide was alive with activity, its metallic height glimmering with blue and gold light as countless processes took place within it. Alcoves opened up its height from which new drones flew forth while others on tank treads rumbled out at ground level.
The iron chests were handled by great articulated arms which picked them up and dumped their contents into crucibles the size of cement trucks. These funneled down to huge pipes that led to the central spire and were tended to by skate-board sized ivory and rose ants that crawled all over it.
Fabricators were everywhere, working furiously in partitioned areas. Everywhere James looked he saw unintelligible activity. Teams examining new technology, others forming ritual circles and infusing Aeviternum into objects, some working on exploded Wings that hung mid-air, their mechanicus tools blazing with light.
The space was filled with the sizzle of sparks flying, with alien lights pulsing, with the acrid tang of superheated metal, the clank of metal, the whirring of wings.
James just sat there, eyes wide, overwhelmed.
A platinum sphere covered in a latticework of glowing blue lines flew up to him. James Kelly. Jessica asked that you be taken to her when you arrived. Will you follow me?
Hello, said Jelly, sliding between the two of them. Im Kames Jelly. Did you know Im Gloria-enhanced?
Hello Kames Jelly. Im Jessicas OmniVoluntas.
We can come up with a better name than that. How about Messica Jiles?
The Omni-thing dipped around Jelly to fix James with its attention. If you will follow me?
Uh, sure. What about these other Wings?
Theyre not a problem. Ill send them to recycling.
James felt the six Wings uncouple from his control and as one fly deeper into the huge space.
Whoa, how did you do that? asked Jelly.
This way, James. The Omni flew down into the belly of the huge room to a platform surrounded by monitors and esoteric energy signals in whose center stood Jessica. The platform was easily twenty yards above the ground floor and connected to balconies that ringed the huge space by a metallic staircase.
Only now did James realized that all manner of new rooms and hallways had been burrowed into the walls.
James! Jessica smiled up at him and a glass visor and twin metal gauntlets floated off her to hover to one side. Youre back!
Holy shit, Jessica. James dropped off the Wing to land beside her on the platform. What the fuck happened here?
Its been an intense past twelve hours. Jessica put her spectacles back on and turned to survey the huge space that shed excavated from the bowels of the earth. I know we dont have much time, but there are somethings I want you to see. Ready?
Ready, yeah.
She stepped to the side of the platform, several hovering monitors disappearing as she passed through them, and her Omni sphere dipped down and flattened out into a circular platform onto which she stepped. Here, join me.
And she extended her hand to him.
James took it, marveling, and stepped onto the Omni. It didnt even dip under his weight.
All right, she breathed, and the platform began to float forth and descend. Time to show you what Ive done.