Eagle stood poised in this battle suit alongside five of his comrades, each of them running final diagnostics on the suits making sure they were fit for battle. None of them pretended to understand the intricacies of the technology but they spent all of last night and this morning learning the user interface and how to operate it. The mercenary was impressed at how accessible the weapon was, designed to work for even the simplest of men. And the base instructions they had been given to understand the root commands didn't hurt either. They may not be completely attuned to all systems but they learn enough to carry out their mission. He turned to the others waiting beside him, each of them nodding back to his before activating their helmets. He did the same, the visor folding around his bald head locking him inside.
"Confirm status" he said over the private network, the earpiece comfortably relaying his voice to the others over the radio. One by one all ten of the Samaritan units responded, all ready to engage. Then he got the confirmation from the remaining backup soldiers who hadn't been arrested last night, all prepared and waiting. Finally the last voice pinged, indicating he was waiting on them. "Engage" he said bluntly, his HUD lighting up as he activated the thrusters on his boots carrying the man into the air.
The six of them flew out from their staging area and rocketed over the coast towards the island prison waiting for their arrival.
Lena examined the schematics of the Samaritan CPU for the tenth time that morning, cross-referencing the code from her brother's template and placing it beside the new code that overwrote her control. She ran another simulation but the results were the same; the computer spike altered the programing completely locking out the system. She'd been trying to understand the complex computer virus for hours, looking for a way to reverse the process. She tried using her own virus to change the code back, but she couldn't seem to develop anything to combat it. Whoever wrote this code was a computer genius.
She groaned in frustration as the latest simulation failed, leaving her with another failure. She pushed herself out of her chair kicking it in anger, hearing her brother's voice belittling her for being unable to get this right. She heard her mother standing over her wondering how she could let this happen, let these men get away with their property. She took a deep breath silencing them. She will set things right, one way or another. But first she needed coffee.
She walked over to the coffee machine and made a cup, taking a moment to lean against the table looking out of the glass walls of the lab. Her office was still being refurbished and she couldn't bring herself to return to L-Corp until this Samaritan mess was solved. At least at the DEO she could help her friends, her gaze falling onto the more promising project slowly charging in its port nearby. She used the break to return to the tablet she left by the coffee machine, the endless list of names TITAN Industries hired to join Maxwell's engineering team. Somewhere in this list was the man who made the Reckoning, who built the baseline for the Samaritan Maxwell used. It occurred to her this man may have also been responsible for the computer virus locking her out too, though she doubted if he'd be willing to share how to counter the process.
Her thoughts and multitasking were interrupted when lights started flashing outside her lab and an alarm blared grabbing everyone's attention. She dropped her tablet and walked to the glass, looking out to see the DEO agents and analysts running into the war room where the large screens flashed Proximity Alert! She put down her coffee and stepped outside, walking onto the balcony seeing Brainiac Five sprinting back from one of the hallways to demand a status report. "Two unregistered helicopters are on approach into city airspace" a young woman reported, bringing up the satellite map as two blips drifted towards their location. "They're heading right for us."
"Tap into the transmissions" he ordered, taking his position in the centre of the room. With the director gone he was in command so it was up to him to determine their course of action. Once they hacked into the pilot's radio he spoke into his headset, "this is the acting director of the Department of Extra-terrestrial Operations. You have violated a restricted airspace. Please state your intentions and reverse your course, or we will be forced to remove you. over." He waited for a replied, casting a glance up at the balcony where Lena was watching. When no reply came, they both shared an uneasy feeling.
"They're pulling away director" the analyst reported, showing the blips had changed their velocity and begun to slow their approach.
Brainy examined the change with an air of suspicion. "No response to our hails. And though they have slowed they have not ceased their approach. Monitor the surrounding airspace constantly" he advised everyone. "They maybe be setting up for a…"
"sir, five bogeys heading towards up from the north east!" another analyst cried, their blips materialising on the map moving five times as fast. Everyone looked up in surprise as they made a trajectory for the headquarters, passing the helicopters now hovering just out of ranger.
Brainy spun around and stared out the window at the top of the stairs. Lena did the same. From her elevated position she was the first to see the red and blue metal objects rocketing towards them. her eyes widened in horror as she screamed down to them "incoming!" before sprinting for cover in the lab.
"We are under attack!" Brainy bellowed, deducing the nature of the incoming objects ordering everyone to dive for cover. Seconds later the windows shattered as five Samaritans barged into the building on their thrusts. They landed unsteadily on the marble floor, their feet cracking the steps under their weight, their visors scanning the interior as alarms blared loudly around them. Brainy took cover behind the war table, but not before inputting the command sequence in the nearby console initiating the lockdown protocol.
The building rumbled as the emergency doors slammed shut, gates sliding down all the exits and sealing the surrounding labs. Lena's was vacuum sealed electronically, the lights going out replaced by red emergency LEDs. She hunkered under one of the tables as a precaution. The glass was tempered to withstand bullets and projectiles, but she doubted the energy cannons or rockets these suits were equipped with would struggle in breaking the windows. Below her more doors were locked up as agents escaped into the surrounding corridors, leaving the armed personnel and Brainy to fend off the battle suits. He initiated the distress signal, alerting the DOD and white house to the situation, firing a text alert to Alex, Kara and Nia sending an SOS. Now it was his responsibility to either neutralise the hostiles or keep them contained until help arrived.
Off the coast on Stryker's Island, Alex's mobile buzzed from the barrage of alerts in the box at reception, the oblivious security guard monitoring the security feed of the entrance and surrounding ports. His eyes blinked as they caught a glimpse of six objects rocketing towards them faster than a boat could travel. He pulled out his radio flipping the switch. "Warden, we have incoming from the west coast. I don't know what I'm looking at but they're moving very fast."
Before the Warden could coordinate with the perimeter there was a thunderous boom that shook the prison, the siren blaring to life as lights began to flash. His men at the security hub called it in; there was a breach at the west wall. Guards began racing to their posts as prisoners were ordered back to their cells. Alex had just put the phone down and was on her way to regroup with J'onn when the alarms sounded and she got swept up by the frantic activity. She put her professional face on and found the head of security. "What's going on?"
"We're going into lockdown" he told her plainly, pushing her against the wall so a group of padded security men could rush by towards general population. "I need to ask you be escorted to the Warden's office where it's safe."
"I can't yet" she dismissed. "The man I came with is in the metahumans wing. I need to find him."
"ma'am, that's not possible" he told her, grabbing her elbow pulling her back. "Facility is in lockdown. All the security gates are shut and they are not going to open. If your friend is in one of those cells then he won't be able to get out until the lockdown is over."
"I need to check on him!" she demanded, pulling her arm free. "Listen to me, I am Director Alex Danvers of the DEO. Now either you lead me to that wing and help me find my partner, or you can explain to your superiors how you stood in my way!"
The man glared at her with irritation. "ma'am, even if I wanted to help you, I don't have the clearance to lift the lockdown. Only the Warden can, and he'll be in his office by now."
Their argument was interrupted by another shake of the prison, as if something was breaking down the walls. The violent boom rocked everyone on their feet, which aggravated an already tense situation with the prisoners. Somewhere in the chaos there was a cry of pain and suddenly it was pandemonium. Prisoners began lashing out at the guards who attempted to restrain them. Before Alex's eyes she witnessed the whole prison turn into a riot that surrounded her. Suddenly there was no way she or the head of security was going anywhere.
"Radio for backup" she ordered, pulling them both down the narrow walkway attempting to circle the prisoners. But a gang of tattooed men stormed into their path roaring at them, savage intent in their eyes. She glanced behind her and found more rioting prisoners swarming another security guard, snapping back to the tattoo goons sprinting towards them. She succeeded in intimidating the group with her brazen advance, especially when she jumped forward kicking the leader with the heel of her boot sending him careening over the walkway. He landed on a table painfully, leaving the others to decide whether to fight her or flee. Fortunately they chose to back off, giving Alex and her security escort room to duck into a maintenance corridor.
"This is Charlie in the Main Wing. I've got one of the visitors with me. Requesting an update!" the man shouted into his radio as he led Alex down the cramp hallway.
"This is Warden Sharpe" the voice crackled over the radio. "We've got rioting prisoners in cell blocks C through to F. what is your position?"
"Cell block D sir" he reported. "We're in the maintenance stairwell heading to the south exit."
"Negative Charlie, we have a situation down there that has sealed all exits from those cell blocks. Lockdown procedure remember."
Alex snatched the radio shouting "Warden, this is director Danvers. What is going on out there?"
There was a brief pause before the Warden reluctantly reported back "Director, the prison has been breached. Six hostile combatants are attempting to break through the shielded barriers of the metahumans wing. They have heavy ordinance and, frankly, technology we are not prepared for."
Alex's skin went white. "Warden, my friend is in that wing visiting one of your prisoners" she cried. She heard the radio click off, hoping it was them confirming her information and not losing contact. "Warden?"
"The whole facility is locked down. But my security chief tells me the cells are still sealed. If your friend is trapped down there then he's perfectly safe."
"With all due respect Warden, J'onn and I came here to see Hank Henshaw, cyborg Superman. If J'onn is trapped in the same room as that monster, I don't care what faith you have in your security but he's not safe. Especially if…" her thoughts trailed off as she considered the abrupt timing of the breach, her concerned look crossing her face. "These hostiles? What do they look like?" she asked.
"We're pulling up the camera feeds now" he replied. After a moment he told her "they appear to be six…men? Machines? They're blue and red and heavily armoured. Director, what are these things?" he asked.
But Alex's heart was racing as she frantically pulled out her signal watch. "Those men are here to break Hank Henshaw out of the prison" she told him, the heist from L-Corp making sense now. She pressed the button and gave the radio back to Charlie. "Get back up here as fast as you can" she advised him, racing back the way they came.
"Where are you going?" he asked her as she picked up a heavy spanner from a shelf.
"J'onn is in there with Hank right now" she explained hurriedly. "I need to get to him before something happens."
"The prison is in lockdown! You'll never reach him! What about the prisoners rioting?"
"I can handle a few crazy thugs" she muttered as she ripped the door open and stepped back into Cell Block D.
Kara was already rushing to the balcony of Cacto when Alex's signal pinged in her ears. She barely heard it under the assault of noises coming from the distant DEO headquarters. She heard the alarm first, rising from her desk and walking to the balcony drawing the attention of Nia Nal and Jimmy Olsen. They joined her at the window and saw the smoke rising from the DEO building. That's when their mobiles buzzed receiving Brainiac's text. "The Samaritans are attacking the DEO" Nia reported in a panic. "Lena and Brainy are trapped inside."
"They're attacking the prison too" Kara added, focusing her hearing to listen for Stryker's Island listening to the cries of guards battling against the overwhelming firepower. "Alex and J'onn are there. I think a riot has broken out in the prison."
"Why would they attack both the DEO and the prison?" Nia asked.
"They must be looking to break Henshaw out of the prison" Olsen guessed. "Maybe the DEO assault is meant to divert our attention."
"I can't be in two places at once" Kara said, clutching the balcony unsure what to do. After a moment of agonising she decided "I have to make sure Hank doesn't break free."
"Okay, I'll go to the DEO and help" Nia also decided. They each had a loved one they didn't want to abandon.
"Just remember these battle suits have programing to counter both your abilities" Olsen reminded them before they could race off. Neither of them hesitated and continued jogging out of the office. "Just be careful!" he called out to them before returning to his office. He closed the door and pressed a button on his phone. "Sharon, I'm going to step out for a moment" he told her, picking up his jacket and leaving his office. He stopped by a storage room and grabbed a case on his way to the stairwell leading to the roof, dialling a number on his mobile. "George! I need a favour. Are you still working at that helicopter tour place?"
While Olsen was making his own exit Kara and Nia were racing up another flight of stairs, both hurriedly changing into their costumes. Clothes fell around them as they sprinted to the roof, both women standing on the helipad looking over the city. Kara paused before she leapt into the air, turning to look at Nia. "Do you want me to drop you off at the DEO first?" she asked.
Nia nodded. "If you don't mind."
Kara jogged back to her and pulled the girl into her arms. "Hold onto your stomach" she advised. I'll fly in, drop you off and fly out again. If you get into trouble…"
"I'll shout your name" she promised, clinging to the superhero as she jumped into the air and carried her to her destination as fast as she could.
In the DEO, Brainy was fighting valiantly with the men and women at his command, their weapons firing on the five mechanical suits storming their base unleashing energy and railguns everywhere. Lights exploded into sparks as bullets tore through furniture, plasma explosion throwing agents into the air screaming in pain. Brainy was calculating the odds of surviving this encounter when a blur flew past the open window where the mechs entered. It was gone as fast as it arrived, but in its place and young woman in blue and silver landed in a three-point landing whipping her brown hair out of her face. Brainy felt his odds improve now that Dreamer had entered the fight.
She counted the Samaritans moving throughout the base and immediately sprinted down the stairs. "LEROY JENKINS!" she bellowed, leaping to the ground floor summoning all the astral energy she could muster before projecting it in five disc-like projectiles to arc through the base and impact each of the battle suits temporarily disabling them. She landed on her knees sliding through the showers of blue sparks around her before twisting her body into a spin jumping back into a skid stopping by the war table. She bared her fists watching the Samaritans stumble to their knees in surprise giving everyone a chance to get their second wind.
Brainy came out of his cover to catch Nia's eye, a curious eyebrow raised. "It was the first thing that came into my head" she told him, disappointed in herself. He said nothing, but filed the moment away to tease with at a later date.
The Samaritan's recovered rather quickly, their helmets all turning to the new combatant who came out of nowhere. Their computer systems immediately scanned her, simultaneously reporting "Target Identified. Subject 2, code named Dreamer, vigilante. Countermeasure protocol, avail…"
Their reports were interrupted when their systems were suddenly assaulted by an unknown attack at disorientated the soldiers inside. Dreamer looked at Brainy who looked back just as perplexed. "I've hit then with an experimental commuter virus back hacking into their wireless network" Lena's voice explained over the intercom to her lab. "But it won't shut them down. Whatever they've been reprogramed with will eradicate the virus in a few minutes. But it's a small window where their protocols will be unavailable."
"Then we'd better use the window wisely" Brainy nodded, signalling to their agents shouting "Target the designated weak points you've been brief on. Focused shots, and watch your targets" he warned and Dreamer ran back at the nearest Samaritan, looking to use her power and wreck unholy revenge before they are able to reengage the protocol that will lay her as immobile as last time.