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#19
FEB 15 |
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“Rescue Mission” Part Two
Director Braddock’s Office
Brian looked down at the paperwork and then up at Sub-Director Malform. The man admittedly wasn’t the easy person to look at. His mutation had caused half of his body to look like a knotty, purple mess littered with bumps. The eye on that half was abnormally large and his mouth was gnarled like some horror movie monster. His appearance had tragically given Malform a temperament that made him perfect as a member of A.R.M.O.R.
“So Jaspers has been neutralized?” Braddock asked having looked over Malform’s report detailing Jim Jaspers’ massive alteration of reality. Brian had had his fair share of dealings with Jaspers.
“As far as we can tell. We didn’t have any direct involvement with Jaspers.”
Brian nodded. “I’ll get in touch with the Avengers through the proper channels. I appreciate you holding down the fort while I was gone, Malform.”
The mutant saluted. “It’s what we do sir.”
When Malform was gone from the office, a hologram appeared in front of Braddock. The image was of a petite, young Colombian with an ebony bob and big golden hoop earrings. She was dressed in a form fitting white blouse, ruffled down the middle, and a red miniskirt. In her hands, she held a manila folder. “Hello, Director Braddock.”
Braddock smiled at the image of his secretary. “Nice to see you too, Esperanza. How did you enjoy the honeymoon?”
The woman looked liked she was practically about to burst with joy. “It was beautiful, Director. I can’t thank you enough for letting us use your vacation home! I’ve never seen the kind of beauty Tahiti has.”
“I’m just glad you enjoyed yourself. So what’s on the docket today?” Braddock approved a few vacation requests with his signature and put a sticky note on top of them to remind himself to pass them out later today.
“That’s why I buzzed you, sir. You have a visitor courtesy of Presidential Director Battlestar. She says it’s an urgent matter.”
Running a hand through his hair, Brian sighed. “With the M.D.A. when is it ever not? Send her to my office.”
Earth-670
Serenity admitted every individual seated in the bunker with her, but she knew deep down that more would needed to see triumph at the end of the day. Still, they had chosen to rally around her so she needed to act like a worthy admiral and try to steer them to victory. It was a tall order, but she just couldn’t give up on her world. She absolutely refused to.
“Ok everyone, let’s get right into the agenda today. We need to figure out how to prevent Graviton’s airstrikes over Metro City and plan a counter strike in Prague.”
The ageless Joseph Chapman, head of Mys-Tech, spoke first. “I believe that Hell’s Angels should be sent against Graviton. They have the most history with him and understand his tactics best.”
Always the talker, Abigail Falsworth spoke next. “They just lost Elixir and Smuggler in Tanzania. I’m not sure if it would be wise to send them into combat again so soon. Yes, they are soldiers, but we are beginning to test the boundaries of their strength. Perhaps the Maker and his Force Works team would be better.”
“Don’t be a putz,” Harry Leland said as he puffed on a thick cigar. Serenity found the smell to be putrid, but everyone needed their comforts. “Force Works is exhausted. Rye Lake was an extremely difficult mission and they need to rest. Amahl’s mind still needs time to heal.”
Hawkeye shrugged. “Gotta agree with the fat bastard. We need a fresh gang of people in there.”
Abigail bit down on a finger. “Maybe it’s time we bring out the Spider-Men then. They’re about the most rested force we have.”
The twins, Fu and Zo Manchu, gave laughs teeming with condescension. But it was Fu who spoke. “You have doggedly pursued setting those monsters free, Falsworth. They are unstable and woe to the day we are desperate enough to use them.”
“Let my team go,” Cecelia Reyes said. Serenity frowned, but Reyes continued. “You know my guys can do it.”
“Well, it’s not up to just me. What does everyone else think?”
Leland puffed out a stream of smoke. “Let her group of would-be Amazons handle it. They seem savvy enough to come back in on piece.”
“Yup, gotta agree with him again,” Hawkeye said begrudgingly, as if his agreeing was some prophetic sign of doom.
“I still think we should consider the Spider-Men,” Abigail said, but everyone knew there existed bad blood between her and Reyes. A teardrop wouldn’t be spared if Graviton annihilated Reyes’ entire team. Serenity wasn’t sure as to the source of the hatred, but it probably had its origins in events before the war.
“I’ll only agree to it if Cecelia agrees to have a Mys-Tech attaché as part of her team.” Chapman had used the war and his influence to insert a Mys-Tech agent onto nearly every team. Serenity wanted to just give the man a massive punch to the face, but they needed Mys-Tech.
Zo Manchu stroked his chin thoughtfully. “The Manchu brothers believe another option should be sought out. But not the Spider-Men.”
Serenity sighed because of the tie she was now going to have to break. Her decision would either propel Cecelia’s team into action of leave them grounded. “Attacking Graviton is going to be an all bets off situation. Even with a surging amount of optimism, only about half of you will make it back.”
“Well, don’t leave us in suspense, umpire. What’s your vote?” Hawkeye asked. The way he said it sounded juvenile, but it cut to the heart of the problem. Serenity had a choice to make and it probably amazed everyone she wasn’t the first to voice her opinion as is normal. But she was tired of death and losing friends.
“Cecelia, your team can take this mission if you agree to Chapman’s condition.”
“I will.” Cecelia and Joseph exchanged a nod.
“Now we need to figure out what to do about Prague. We all know the blood hungry monster running that city.”
Abigail practically clamped her jaw shut. “You forget to include pedophile.”
“The Thin Man is all of those things, but he is also extremely cunning and organized. Prague as become very opulent under him,” Leland said.
“Opulence with a non-optional side of dictatorship. Yes, I’m sure that’s what the citizenries of the world want, Leland,” Chapman said.
“As opposed to the fungus of Mys-Tech growing in every nook and cranny.”
Serenity agreed with Leland in that regard, but Mys-Tech’s gross manipulation of the war wasn’t the subject. “Focus, people. We have to figure out how to optimally attack Prague and ruin the Thin Man.”
“The city has six points of entry. It’ll be necessary to reduce those points down to none. It would naïve to not expect this task to involve heavy causalities,” Abigail said. She paused for a moment. “The only exception to this would be considering the nuclear option.”
Chapman groaned. “Yes, let’s just zap Europe right back into the Stone Age.”
Cecelia glared at him. “Mys-Tech didn’t show any qualms when they released their pathogen into Puerto Rico.”
Serenity rubbed the bridge of her nose. She felt like pulling out every strand of raven hair she had. These meeting always devolved into accusation throwing, thinly veiled insults and lame comebacks. Old enmities always reared their ugly heads and there didn’t seem to be way to stop them. They were supposed to be the vanguards of a new hope, but instead seemed steeped in grudges best forgotten.
“Prague is our focus people. Prague. Can we stay on top of that?”
Fu Manchu thankfully agreed with her. “We should find a way to get our people into the city undetected. Maybe via one of their supply routes?”
“There is a rail system that we might be able to take advantage of,” Chapman said.
Hawkeye perked up more than usual. “It should be my people that go. Sabotage is second nature to us.”
Serenity wasn’t going to put that to a vote. “You’re right, Clint; you take your people in. We’ll give you a week to get in and a week to take out those entry points. Otherwise we use the Spider-Men.”
Abigail looked happy for a moment until realization ht her. “You just want them to get slaughtered.”
Serenity saw the intense, angry energy in Abigail’s blue eyes. “You’re right. I would be happy if all your notorious killing machines were each quietly decapitated. But that’s not the point. Your creations will never see the light of day unless it’s on a mission where a large number of them stand to be killed.”
Fu Manchu chimed in. “You took the most dangerous aspects of arachnids to create a highly resilient, efficient killer. But their aggressiveness is off the charts and they’re more likely to frenzy than follow orders. Even you have to understand that.”
Abigail pointed a finger at the elderly Fu, despair beginning to settle in. “You’ve always doubted my work. The Spider-Men can be successful.”
“My orders are my orders. Or would you prefer to have them still on the sidelines?” Serenity asked.
Abigail frowned. “Fine.”
Chapman looked to Hawkeye. “Mys-Tech would provide your people with new weapons.”
“Might be a good idea. We’ll hash out the details later.”
Abigail’s next words were blatantly sarcastic. “Well, there’s one thing you vast receptacles of knowledge haven’t considered. The Thin Man has a fleet of zeppelins over the city and the Titans only a hundred miles away. So I tremble with excitement to see how you intend to handle that.”
Serenity could see the satisfied smugness on Abigail’s face. The problem she postulated was real enough, but a solution had already been devised for it. “Jeffrey Mace will handle the zeppelins and Saint Axis will distract the Titans.”
Zo Manchu laughed. “So it seems disease has not ravaged my old friend after all.”
Even Leland smiled. “The odds may not be as dismal as I previously thought.”
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To Be Continued...
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