II
The Southern Phoenix
As it slept it dreamed of its birth.
The Atlantien scientist smiled proudly through the curved tank glass.
"This strain is different from the Alpha and Beta strains." He boasted. "The Omega strain can think at nearly our level, he'll be larger, stronger, smarter, and more powerful than any other Gyaos we've created so far." The executive nodded.
"Does it have a name?" The scientist paused.
"Uh… yes, yes it does…its name is Infernos" The executive smiled.
"The flame bringer huh, a nice touch Maltak. Keep up the good work." The scientist accompanied the executive out.
'Infernos' The creature within the tank turned the word over and over again in its head. It had a name. A name is power. 'Infernos' it said again.
Maltak sat before a young Infernos as he was finishing another in a series of tests.
"Okay, You are a fisherman. On your way home from a day of fishing you run into a starving man on the street. He asked you to help him. What do you do?" Maltak asked. He smiled this was one of the questions that were asked of young Atlantians. The bird cocked its head to the side and thought. Finally its answer was fed from its brain into the computer. A mechanical voice spoke its answer.
"There is no need to help the man." It spoke. "If you help him by giving him a fish you will have less to feed your family, and if you were to teach him to fish you would waste valuable time that could be used to acquire fish for your brood." Maltak frowned.
"That is a very selfish answer." He said in a berating tone.
"But it is the logical one. You must feed your brood. If your brood are not fed they will not be strong and will die."
"It's not that simple." Maltak implored.
"But it is." Maltak gave up and left the room.
Infernos flew over the dark ocean below. Behind him were twenty other Gyaos all at his command. A small device on his head relayed orders from the Alantian flagship Inner Light.
"Target ahead. Mu science post four leagues." The radio spoke into his ear. Infernos squawked and relayed the orders through the psychic link he had with the other Gyaos. The science post was nothing more than a few squat buildings in a wooded area that would become the west coast of the United States. Infernos watched as three small objects shot into the air. Fighters. The fighters attacked with beam cannons. Infernos easily dodged the burning bolts. One Gyaos screamed as a beam tore through his wing. Infernos ordered two other Gyaos to kill the wounded one. They did. He then opened his maw and fired a sonic bolt. The bolt sliced through two of the ships destroying them. The last one attempted to escape, but Infernos sent two Gyaos after it. He then turned his attention to the science post. He would burn it to the ground. That was his purpose. He was the flame bringer.
Infernos stood perched atop the mighty Tower of Babel as the city of Lemuria burned around him. It had taken many days and many of his brothers to break the city and its defenses. Now it burned, like Mu, like Okinawa it burned. Above and all around were his brothers. The swarm was a hundred thousand strong, and growing larger by the day. He looked off into the distance. Shapes on the horizon caught his attention. He reached out with his mind to one of the approaching ships.
'Hello father.' Maltak staggered back as the voice rang in his head. He looked to the commander and nodded.
"He is there. Strike now." The Atalantians were tired of playing nice. Beam cannons and plasma bombs could only kill so many. Now it was time for the big guns. Multi warhead nuclear missiles lanced from the Atalntian ships. Infernos immediately recognized the weapons and took off heading away from the missiles. The Gyaos swarm broke up trying to escape the coming holocaust. Some succeeded most, however did not. When the blast died down the remaining Gyaos moved away following the call of their master. Maltak looked on forlornly at the shattered city. As the commander sent out a message to all remaining Lemurians to come meet the medical ships setting down at the edge of the devastation.
Infernos passed over the dark landscape destroyed by the rampaging swarm. With all the mighty cities gone and the earth nearly picked clean the Gyaos swarm turned on itself. Infernos headed towards the top of the world where he would sleep for many years until the world was green and lush. Then the flame bringer would burn a new world. Several Gyaos followed him hoping to catch him off guard and kill him. Infernos was not going to let that happen. He turned and mid air firing sonic beams killing his would be assassins.
He awoke from his endless dreaming to hear the raspy calls and scratching beaks as his new swarm dug him from his icy abode. He had called them, even in sleep and now they were ready for war. He sensed something. Gamera. The pawn of Atlantis had risen from the grave to stop him. He shook himself and spread his massive wings. Infernos was far larger than his Gyaos brethren. He stood three hundred feet in height with a six hundred foot wing span. His body was jet black with stripes of red coursing along wings and head. He threw back his anvil shaped head and uttered a war cry that was taken up by his fellow Gyaos. He called to them and told them to follow. The swarm took flight.
Miki twisted and turned in her sleep. She had resigned from G-force after the death of the first Godzilla, in ninety five on the clam that she was loosing her powers. The truth was that she just couldn't stand it anymore. The constant fighting and tension that went with her job. She had instead devoted her time to help people understand the monsters like Godzilla, and the new comer Gamera. She had little success. No one wanted to hear that the monsters had feelings and that they were just misunderstood. One individual though had listened. A man that gave Miki hope. Professor Hayashida. He along with Steven Martin had begun championing in the UN for a place for the monsters to call home. She had thrown her full support behind the project, but the recent attacks by the Gyaos have put every other matter on hold. She sat up drenched in sweat and breathing hard.
"It's beginning." She whispered and dashed to get dressed. She had to get to Kyoto. The world depended on it.
General Kan Voloth looked wary eyed at the other commanders around the table. The united earth militaries were being mobilized to destroy the Gyaos. Kan had been sent against his will to represent the Newly Reformed Russian Republic under president Takaph. He had been given full control of his nation's military which sad to say was sub par compared to what the US and Japan were packing these days. Kan felt like a unwanted addition to the joint battle planning going on between the Japanese and the US, but he was not the only one. The military reps of China, North Korea, Australia, and India were also at the table looking as distraught and annoyed as he was.
"We can give you thirteen squadrons of fighters and some armored divisions from the border in Korea, if their rep here can promise they'll be no hanky panky while we're gone." The US rep George Hammond said eyeing the Korean rep who glared back at him.
"I can assure you that until the Gyaos problem is solved we will remain within our borders except during this operation." Min said with venom in his voice. Hammond nodded and turned the Chinese rep.
"I can divert the two carriers off the coast of Taiwan it you can make the same promise." The Chinese rep said nothing but nodded. Hammond returned the nod and looked at Kan. "What do you bring to the table General Voloth?" He asked. Kan leaned forward.
"My country will send three carriers and six battle ships. I will also allow the use of the Storm Sworders." Kan smiled.
"Storm Sworders?" General Takagi Asso asked curious.
"Yes they are the newest addition to the Russian military. A fast attack jet meant to neutralize other fighters. The first two have been tested and are ready for use." Kan replied.
"So the Russians are tipping their hand." Hammond mused. "I suppose I'll have to ante up if I want to stay in the game." He looked over at the Japanese rep. "I also will give you the use of the Ajax mobile turret system."
"And what pray tell is that?" Kan asked with a slight sneer.
"Eight massive tanks carrying six, four hundred millimeter avenger cannons each." Hammond huffed.
Kan whistled. "Very interesting. Typical American you think if you can throw enough bullets into the air that at least one of them will hit the target. We are not so wasteful." This time Kan sneered fully. Hammond turned bright red and stood up.
"Why you…" He was interrupted by the Australian rep placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Now, now lets not have a tizzy. We can solve our differences after we save the world." He smiled trying to disarm the gloom and anger in the room. Hammond sat down. General Asso turned to the still standing Australian rep.
"Thank you. What does your country have to help us?"
"We have some new missiles. Typhoon Devastators they're called. Nasty things, will blow a big hole in what ever you aim them at." He laughed.
"We have many armored divisions we could spare, and our prototype Maser battery could be loaned to our Japanese brothers." The Indian rep spoke. The tedious plans and talks went on for another thirty minutes before the orders were sent and the planes began to be prepped.
Far from the storm brewing over Asia another awoke from its slumber. Its neural net informed it that the Gyaos had reached their peak and were now beginning the attack cycle. For the last six months the mechanical behemoth had dodged satellites and space shuttles while it waited for the perfect time to strike. During this time it had learned much from the radio waves of the current population. Now it was ready to join the fight. Megalon was ready to stop the Gyaos, what ever the cost. He powered up his thrusters and plunged into the atmosphere. His golden optics scanned the bole of earth looking for the swarm. He found it moving in mass from the northern pole towards the country of Japan. The swam was large enough to be seen from space. A great black cloud of death twisting through the air. Megalon dove for the cloud as he finished reentry. His blade like wings beat the air at immeasurable speeds. He brought his massive drill tipped arms forward. The drills began to spin generating a high pitched whine. His massive cranial horn began to glow a deep purple as it charged with energy.
Pain! He felt the agony of his brothers. Infernos felt the attack before he saw the purple beams of electrostatic energy cut through the Gyaos in front of him. He searched for the enemy that would dare strike his swarm. A flash of grey and yellow granted him a clue. He quickly issued orders to the swarm. They broke up and moved on towards Japan. Megalon turned and faced the remaining Gyaos. Infernos did not fear Megalon. He and his kind had slain many in the days of Atlantis. This one was from that time a remnant like Gamera that must be destroyed. He dove at the great automaton, screeching his hate at the metal beast that would destroy his swarm. Megalon narrowly dodged the living missile he turned and fired a energy bolt form his star shaped cranial horn. The bolt sails through the air where Infernos was. The sonic boom from the acceleration knocks Megalon back. He quickly rights himself and searches for his foe. A golden beam of sonic energy slices through Megalon's right arm. The wound bleeds a black substance akin to oil. As Megalon turns, Infernos shoots past him. Before the beast can escape Megalon lashes out with his drill tipped arms, striking Infernos' leg. The gash from the drill seeps dark red liquid. Infernos screams in agony and accelerates again, the sonic boom damaging several of Megalon's systems. He begins to loose altitude. Instead of fighting to stay in the air he lets gravity pull him to the ocean below. As he drops his arms come forward and combine around his head forming a giant drill. His wings snap shut as he hits the water causing title waves. As he sinks to the ocean floor he begins repairing the damaged systems and arm. All the while playing the combat data in his head, learning so he would be ready next time.