Time was tight for this operation. The orbital transport ship hadn't been built with radiation-absorbing materials, and its design hadn't accounted for reduced reflectivity, making it highly visible to American air defense radar. Because of this vulnerability, the mission had been divided into two parts. One contingent would strike the nearest U.S. airbase to buy time for the main force targeting the Skrull settlement.
That task had been assigned to the Sisterhood—the same warriors who once assaulted Langley Airport. Before the bulk of the forces deployed, they had already descended into the atmosphere aboard assault transports. They would fly over the U.S. base, delivering precise missile and bomb strikes to destroy hangars and runways, and then delay American reinforcements. But they wouldn't stay. With the Skrull base still needing to be destroyed, they would leave behind a small nuclear device and a field of landmines.
A fake nuclear bomb, and a mix of real and dummy landmines.
That would be enough to slow down U.S. infantry and armored units, giving the front-line soldiers enough time to complete their task.
Stephanie, excited, had donned her power armor and stepped through a portal to the Skrull settlement ahead of schedule.
It was a vast plain, densely populated with temperate rainforest tree species. The thick canopy greedily blocked all sunlight from the forest floor, depriving other plant life of light. Her armored boots sank deep into centuries of decomposing organic matter. A brown-and-black patterned snake, startled, lunged at her ankle.
Although Stephanie was technically a civilian administrator, Eternal City's definition of a "civilian" was a little different. At minimum, one needed proficiency in firearms, a passing mark in shooting, and the ability to wield at least one melee weapon—be it chainsword, pneumatic hammer, longsword, shortsword, or even a staff. After encountering Solomon, the Malick family had come to understand the importance of strength. Gideon Malick often urged his daughter to train.
But Stephanie didn't need her father's urging—Solomon's guidance had taught her the same truth. That's why she was able to draw her sidearm in a flash, shoot the snake under her boot, and nail its head with deadly precision.
"I really shouldn't have done that," she growled, until Solomon reached out and wiped the splattered filth from her face. Using a .50 rocket-propelled round to shoot a snake was absurd—especially when the bullet was designed to kill heavily armored enemies, with both armor-piercing and high-explosive functions. Her action was akin to setting off a small grenade underground. But considering her limited combat experience, it was understandable. As for the mess on her armor and its decorative fur trim, there wasn't much even Solomon could do—summoning air elementals or invisible servitors would still take ages to clean it all off.
In contrast to the fully armed secretary and Interior Department head, Solomon looked like a Romantic poet.
A double-breasted black metal coat, high boots, and an ascot scarf. His belt held his signature longsword, and the baroque black-silver engravings on the scabbard made him look more like a literary socialite attending a salon than a hunter stalking prey in a dark forest. But he could guarantee to anyone—he was a seasoned hunter, whether in forests or city streets.
He scooped up the heavy Stephanie and leapt to the treetops.
"Intel says the Skrulls are prepared," Solomon said, peering upward through the thick canopy. Soon, the transport ship carrying soldiers and armored vehicles would descend from the skies, escorted by a sky carrier, a sky battleship, and dozens of assault transports. "Let's see what the Skrulls have prepared for us," he said. "I'm curious what they still have left to throw at us."
"The observers said no Skrulls have left the area. Can we trust them?" Stephanie wobbled to her feet on a thick branch, worried about whether it could hold her power-armored weight. Solomon seemed to sense her fear—Stephanie was used to having her thoughts read by him. She trusted him completely. With just a word to stay still, she did so.
"No. Let's assume they've already been replaced," Solomon replied without turning, his silver-buckled boots stepping lightly over protruding roots. "New agents will replace them shortly, in accordance with protocol. No favors—only rules. Any resistance to detention is to be met with immediate execution."
"Can I join the mission?" Stephanie asked eagerly. The twin-bladed claws mounted on her gauntlets snapped open like springs, crackling with arcs of blue energy that whistled through the air. She loved this weapon—dangerous and brutal. Though technically just a prototype Solomon had made during downtime, it was powerfully enchanted. Crimson runes faintly etched into the blade revealed its magical nature. According to the scroll in the weapons locker, these claws could drain life from enemies to heal the wearer—true black magic. Without her status as Solomon's assistant, she never could've accessed such a weapon.
"No," Solomon replied coldly. "I won't risk losing a vital asset."
"Then what can I do?"
"Hunt with me."
Stephanie leapt from the branch, her armor's steel wings and thrusters cushioning her descent and guiding her forward with the speed of a highway car. The predictive AI helped her navigate through the forest's dense canopy, barely managing to keep pace with Solomon.
The jungle blurred and warped in her periphery.
She lost sight of him for barely five seconds before finding a mangled Skrull corpse at his feet—midway through shedding its human disguise. The stomach had been split open, reeking so foul she instinctively pinched her nose. Its weapon, unlike any human design, had been sliced clean in half—its parts scattered and sparking. Solomon held a handheld scanning device, scowling.
It was a product of Eternal City.
He had been right not to believe any Skrull had escaped. Now it was clear—some of the observers had already been replaced. One-way communications with the observers had been tedious, but wise. The Skrulls knew an attack was coming—but not when, or how many would come.
"There might already be Skrull infiltrators inside Eternal City," he said, crushing the scanner's shell in his bare hand and pulling out the circuit chip. By checking the chip's serial number, they could confirm whether the device was assigned to a watcher or stolen from the production line—a key step in gauging the infiltration's scale.
"Order the Black-Armored Inquisitors and the Praetorians to secure the city. Activate all defense systems. Shut down the server rooms. Implement clauses one, five, and thirteen of the Anti-Infiltration Statutes. Everyone must remain at their residence or workplace and await genetic, iris, and psychic scans. Violators are to be executed on the spot. Stephanie, take this device and return to Eternal City for enhanced inspections. Focus especially on anyone recruited from S.H.I.E.L.D.—including Nick Fury. Also, order the Investigation Division to enter the Intelligence Department…"
Though the situation was delicate, Solomon didn't seem the least bit flustered.
"Tell Victoria this is my command. She'll know what to do."
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.