A few seconds later, four large metal towers rose up from the depths of the lake. The gray structures, shedding water as they grew, were large cylinders with domed tops. They reached approximately twenty meters above the surface and stopped, then four square wings hanging inside the space between the towers swung up until they formed a giant platform.
“First three transports, prepare to airdrop,” Enzo instructed. “Second grouping lands once we secure the area.”
Have your people secure the area. You do not need to be the first to land.
“Very well.”
It was a common wisdom Zoras often needed to instill in him. Even after all these years, Enzo had to fight the urge to be the first in every battle. It wasn’t a surprise that Protesilaus ranked as one of his favorite childhood heroes. Now that he commanded the fate of the world, his wise guardian had to be heeded. Still, he felt his toes and hands itch as he saw the units from the three transports rappel down onto the platform. Within seconds, they had secured it and waited for the other three transports to land.
He tapped his foot impatiently as his transport moved into place, deciding to leap as it hovered two meters above the ground. He landed with a loud clank against the metal floor and was instantly surrounded by the units already there, taking defensive positions around him.
What are the odds of Vinnick lowering this platform while we are here?
“I was assured by our contact on the inside that it won’t happen.”
There was a grinding sound from the northeast tower, followed by a hiss of air pressure releasing. The door opened, and three men walked out. His men moved in to disarm and disable them.
Enzo raised a hand. “Hold.”
Obviously, they hadn’t come up here to fight. He recognized two of the men. One was Sergii, Vinnick’s heir, and the other was Gates, his handpicked commander for this haven. Interesting choices. The third seemed just a bodyguard, a foolish and wasted security measure.
Sergii is a highly-trained Sambo practitioner and trained in savate in France. Gates is the cousin of a Dutch politician, and earned his Holy One while they were playing golf and the politician suffered a stroke. The third is an unknown.
“The commander and his future. This is his surrender.”
Be wary. We saw this before at the Church of the Disposition of the Robe.
Enzo watched as the sea of his black-garbed units parted, and the three approached. The Adonis appeared relaxed, but Enzo could detect tension around his eyes, the slightly forced casualness of his movements. By all accounts, he was very well-trained, even though Enzo didn’t consider him a real Hatchery brother. Vinnick would have accepted nothing less. At one point, the two of them were competitors, spoken of equally highly as potential vessels and discussed in the same breath. Maybe it was time to test that.
Gates, on the other hand, looked like he was about to soil himself. He was a vessel barely worth mentioning. Highly valued vessels did not become commanders of backwater bases whose only purpose was to keep insecure believers alive during the greatest elevation of the species.
He bowed a little lower than Sergii did when they reached Enzo. “Father. This is an unexpected honor. We did not anticipate your arrival.”
“He means he does not know why the platform was brought up.”
Indeed.
Gates wasn’t used to conflict and the power struggle within the council. Enzo could see desperation in his eyes as he looked at the group of armed men. Enzo didn’t blame him; the two most powerful Genjix Council members were quarreling in his front yard. He’d be forced to choose sides shortly. Before he could say another word, Enzo walked past him toward the entrance. Akelatis fell in line to his right. Azumi to his left. She signaled for the rest of their people to follow.
“Father, a moment,” Gates called, running up beside him. “Due to the sensitive nature of the facility, I’m afraid the inner sanctum of the catalyst facility needs to be locked down.”
Enzo ignored him and continued to the door leading down to the haven. He was well aware of Sergii trailing to his left, as well as the guard keeping pace to his right. He knew that Azumi had her eyes on the Adonis Vessel. He was the real danger here.
Gates continued to plead with Enzo until they reached the door. The fool actually had the audacity to jump in front to block his path. “Father, please. I serve the Holy Ones, but this is an untenable situation and a risk to this very important Genjix operation. There are issues that must be resolved by both sides, I understand. However, I must insist that this conflict be resolved elsewhere. The Council Power Struggle has no place in a loyalty haven.”
Enzo gave him a flat stare and watched Gates shrink before him. Then, without looking, he pulled out his sidearm and shot Gates’s guard in the neck.
“You have an objection?”
Gates’s face turned a shade of purple, and the sounds coming out of his mouth became half-stutters and squeaks. Akelatis walked up and clubbed the man on the side of the head with the butt of his rifle. Enzo continued walking down the stairs of the metal tower into the base. Once on the main level, he was met by quite a few black rifle muzzles.
Sixteen Epsilons, forty standard security. No vessels among them.
Gates staggered up from behind. His eyes were still unfocused, but he seemed to have learned his place.
“Zoras, what do you know about his Holy One?”
Jara is a scientist and has focused on technological evolutions since the early Mesopotamian period. He is credited with the invention of the chariot and later notable inventions such as bleeding, the axle wheel, and condoms. He is best known for several high-profile failed inventions.
“Like what?”
He once tried to create a courier system using trebuchets.
“Not a bad idea, actually.”
I thought so, too, until the system started accidently killing people.
“So he is a scientist and not a warrior.”
You will have to treat him delicately, since his reactions can be unpredictable.
Sergii appeared next to Enzo and bowed deeply. “Father, Councilman Vinnick also has a large stockpile of the catalyst reaction rods. As you know, they are invaluable to Quasiform operations, and this underwater base is extraordinarily delicate. Please see the wisdom in parlaying first to insure that holy relics are not put at risk.”
Interesting. He just called you stupid and threatened you with the catalysts’ destruction. If Vinnick has brought the stolen stockpile here, then Sergii is right. It is far too valuable to risk destroying.
Enzo looked at the sixteen Epsilons behind the barricade and considered his options. Violence in this space would be messy. Any invading force would have to fight through modular rooms. The defenders would have several bottlenecks to keep them contained. He glanced up at the ceilings. Any rupture of these facilities would probably doom them all as well, which ruled out explosives.
As always, your habit of embracing risk will be your downfall. Seek another option.
“It hasn’t yet, my Guardian. Recommendation?”
Parlay first. Turn the tide in your favor before striking. The current odds are against you. The base defenders alongside the Epsilons vastly outnumber your forces. They also hold the tactically superior position. This is a test. Prove you are able.
“Your will, Zoras. However, I cannot tolerate the way that worm continues to bargain with me.”