Disclaimer: All characters, names, settings etc belong to their respective copyright holders, only much of the convoluted plot, Night Wolf and a few other things are of my own creation (but inspired from many things under copyright, which aren't mine).
Chapter 37
"The ASCS Flinders will be transporting yourself and your crew of Sorcerers Birmingham…are they all prepared?"
"Yes…" Birmingham nodded not all the Sorcerers who were proficient with a wand wanted or even had any inclination to go into space…it had been a task to find those who were inclined to assist. It would have been no use in ordering them to go, creating an accurate portkey…especially for the task which they wanted it to perform, it needed to be accurate and powerful.
There was a knock on the door before someone walked in, generally speaking that meant it was only one person.
"Harry."
"Birmingham, Brigadier. Thought I'd drop by, got a letter from Voldemort…things are afoot." Harry paused and frowned to himself seemingly wondering why he used that phrase. He shook himself slightly and passed the letter to the Brigadier who read it silently before passing it to Birmingham.
Lord Harry Potter,
I see you have done what I could never accomplish.
You have destroyed Dumbledore, killed him from his old and tired bones right through.
I applaud you…the wizarding world shall fall beneath my feet.
I have heard that you have taken none of the lies from the old man, hitting out with your new power. Again I applaud you for your actions…
Your actions at Kings Cross station…I should want to crucio you into insanity for that…situation, but yet again…that sign of power…and willing to use it against some of my most capable…
This fighting should not continue.
Together you and I might rule the world…meet and join me, together we might rule over the wizarding world, and crush weak enough to be below us, and Lord over those who would think they should stand above us.
I shall meet you so that you might see my army…join me Harry Potter…
Dumbledore the leader of the light has fallen there is only death ahead, join me and we shall rule eternal.
Send a reply via the Hogsmede owls to Thomas…I am sure you remember where…
Lord Voldemort.
Birmingham passed the not back to Harry.
"Your plans for the letter?" He said as Harry took a seat with them.
"To wait…for enough thinking time…and to ascertain that all elements of the plan are falling into place."
Birmingham glanced at his watch it was quickly approaching the departure time.
"I should be leaving, Brigadier, Harry." Birmingham said as he rose from his chair.
"Why?" Harry twisted in his chair in query.
"I am leading the team of Sorcerers to create the portkey we have for use in the system; to transmat to the missile on your craft, we're leaving the actual charming to the last moment to give it all the power it can."
"But why are you leaving now…I haven't even left yet…"
"Logistics Harry." Lethbridge Stewart said nodding to Birmingham who left the pair to talk, grasping Harry's shoulder in a show of encouragement before leaving the office.
"It will take 2 weeks for the ship using its hyperspace window generator engines to get to the system. It took you approximately 10 days to get there the last time. When did you plan on sending it?"
Harry frowned for a moment.
"The scientists in the Gibson Desert said it'd be around a week until it was ready, plus the 10 day travel to get there…I need to swing round and double check that the installations on Shadow Blaze are completed with no hiccups.""
"The last report I received said they were ahead of schedule." Lethbridge Stewart commented.
Harry just nodded taking it all in.
"There has been a section cut and replaced near the transmat location, it is a space to store the liquid nitrogen canisters which have been made into a pack for you Harry if you wish to see it now?"
"Yeah…sure Brigadier…" Harry said a little dazed.
"You seem…quiet Harry…" Lethbridge Stewart asked as they walked through the corridors of Night Wolf.
Harry shrugged.
"Just with Birmingham going…" Harry smiled uncontrollably to himself. "It's all actually falling properly into place, actual things occurring…" He smiled to himself as they walked in and he saw the pack. It looked heavy, he frowned.
"That looks heavy."
"According to your physical dimensions you shouldn't have…much trouble wearing it."
"I notice the 'much trouble' in that sentence Brigadier." Harry said dryly as he moved over and pulled on the straps it was…heavy, very much so.
"I think I may go with option two…"
Lethbridge Stewart smiled. "The hole that has been cut will have enough room for this and any…weapons you may wish to use…"
"I have a few…weapons I've sourced outside of UNIT." Harry said vaguely. Lethbridge Stewart considered but decided not to ask where precisely Harry had obtained the weapons from, there were enough illicit weapons dealers around that Harry in his time before he encountered UNIT would have found them, obviously he had obtained his familiarity with weapons and explosives from somewhere before being trained by the people under his command.
Harry put the pack down with a sigh.
"Now that my heavy lifting quotient has been fulfilled for the day…I think a longer hose on it for when I actually use it…now I should head on down to the Gibson Desert…"
"Harry." Lethbridge Stewart called out before Harry turned to disappear, as he always did. "Make sure you inform us when you've sent your Harry, this is a big operation." Lethbridge Stewart let it go unsaid that there could be more than a few problems should Harry neglect to keep them in the loop.
He watched as an amused sweep of humour passed through his face.
"How could I forget, Brigadier." Harry inclined his head in a nod before turning and walking toward the door, Lethbridge Stewart watched as he disappeared into a black nothingness before he reached the door way. He was sure Harry did that in part for a dramatic effect.
Lethbridge Stewart walked back to his office and then stared at the papers awaiting his perusal.
Scowling he punched up the video connection to the Gibson Desert Construction and Research facility, and requested video access to the room that was being used for the Shadow Blaze.
He wasn't spying on the work, he had an update report for that, but Harry…considering the schedule they were working under was most likely going to get to the point quicker than a report.
Harry was there was a bunch of scientists, looking at his craft which had all manner of attachments attached to the underside and top side of it, obviously (according to a brief memo, rather than report on the subject).
"What happens if I engage a hyperspace window within the atmosphere? Or is that one of those no-no's that shouldn't be done?" Lethbridge Stewart found himself nodding to Harry's question, the latter rather than the former. Supposedly there was a huge pressure change…that would probably shatter anything vaguely breakable within a 20 kilometre radius due to the shockwaves involved…
"We haven't done extensive tests…there is a lot of power when using a HWG, and inside the atmosphere while carrying a container holding the transmat energy…" The scientist trailed off, looking more worried that Harry might try it. "We wouldn't recommend it…"
"So last resource sort of thing?"
"A never resort to sort of thing Mr Potter." Lethbridge Stewart said to himself, but he stared as the scientists nodded slowly with widening eyes.
"So when will it all be finished and ready?" Harry he appeared to be stretching his neck, Lethbridge Stewart flicked through the camera feeds.
"If all tests go positive, by Friday…" One of the scientists began to say.
"Make sure it's finished by Friday…otherwise we'll all be up the spout…" Harry seemed to mutter to them before turning and departing in a similar fashion as when he'd departed Night Wolf.
"Find anything interesting Brigadier?" A second screen popped up showing the commander of the Gibson Desert Research Facility gazing at him. "Just because you're the General and head of Night Wolf doesn't mean you need to eavesdrop on my facility…that particular function is for emergencies, alien invasions, hostile take overs and whatever else, the standard UNIT fare."
"Professor Preston, I requested and was granted access…just skipping the usual report and making certain all is going to plan."
"Spying on your man?" She asked amused.
"Bypassing a tedious report with a 5 minute video…observation." Lethbridge Stewart said. "What did you think of Mr Potter's performance?" He said changing the subject.
"His time aboard the Hattah or his performance just now in dealing with my people?"
"Aboard the Hattah Professor Preston. He seemed perfectly amiable with your people just now."
"He showed initiative, a willingness to learn, creative thinking, faster than normal reaction time…and an ability to adapt to any given situation…you must send me more of these sorts of people Brigadier."
Such praise was interesting to say the least.
"And your reactions?"
"How?"
"Did I know it was from the Captain of the Hattah? We both get a report."
She stared at him meeting his eyes.
"He is eager, and willing Brigadier, I look forward to working with him further. I think he will…move around before he finds something he is happy with, currently he isn't sure what he wants…aside from this plan of his, but when that's done. I know for one that Harry Potter will not just sit back on a beach and watch the waves crash in relaxing."
"Even after what he's lived through."
"Because of what he's lived through Brigadier, he's like you and the others…he can't not do anything."
"He's that sort of person." Lethbridge Stewart agreed.
--//
A shorter chapter than usual, as I got a little behind on working on this chapter.
Next chapter will (hopefully) be much more detailed with more action and excitement.