Chapter 32
Lightning Fervor
Helltanz's Notes:
-Chapter begin-
Sokar could have been in a better mood, but the truth was Anubis's invasion of earth had ended well enough for his agenda. That one of his agents had been captured was no concern of his, as his plans were going well. There were some minor struggles amongst the goa'uld, even claims that Ra would be returning but Sokar doubted those claims. It was possible Ra was alive, but if he was so what. Ra's fleet might have been huge, but even assuming he allied with Heru'ur, and Cronus what of it. He, Sokar was already looking forward.
Azrael nodded beside him, clad in the latest of Sokar's personal armor designs. Azrael had seen the implementation of his master's counter to those abominations that Anubis called the kull warriors. It had been a fairly simple improvement heavy plasma rifles, thicker armor, and well armies of cloned unas. It was the latter which Sokar particularly favored, the goa'uld had abandoned the Unas in favor of humans because it took too long to replace lost numbers. That was no longer an issue.
It was the wake of Anubis's defeat though that opened the path. Several of the celtic system lords had been weakened during the conflict, both by internal fighting, and Anubis and his lackeys. It was a prime opportunity, even as the System Lords were poised to convene yet again.
A pale hand reached across the black vitreous enamel of the console to activate the holographic display. Now was the time. There was a weakness plaguinig the system lords. There was prey, there were fertile lands easily able to be seized. There was the opportunity to bring so much into the fire of the old gods.
The holographic map displayed the galaxy as he understood it from his latest intelligent briefings. The system lords had grown week, and decadent since the great war he had waged against Ra. That much was readily apparent. It did not surprise him, and it would be something he would be working to fix. Heru'ur chose to style himself as the Avenger, but Sokar preferred the trappings of the Scourge. A punisher straight from the bowel's of the underworld sent to torment the wretched, it was vastly more appropriate.
Sokar eyed the star chart studiously as it zoomed in, focusing on the sector. Consolidating the weakened goa'uld domains was an ideal move.
His fleets were already prepared. The warships loaded with thousands and thousands of mobile armors. It was true that majority of his ground troops were Jaffa, there were limits to cloning after all. Not that it mattered the The sixty division equivalents of Unas that he had massed for the assault on the collection of celtic system lords would take Manaan, and Camulus's weakened borders by storm. It was the slaughter he was looking forward to. "I trust the force is prepared?"
"Baal," His most trusted lieutenant began, "Is believed to be too busy consolidating his forces to contest an assault."
Sokar ground his teeth in annoyance. Baal allegedly didn't wish to risk a further open confrontation with the rest of the system lords. At least not before he could insure his mastery over Anubis's manufacturing bases. "Then we will launch the offensive on schedule," so long as the coming weeks did not bring any new developments. He did not expect them to, Heru'ur and Cronus were likely to veto Shiva's readmission to the System Lords.
-scene break-
Daniel's abrupt temporary reassignment immediately after the Illiad's launch hadn't gone well. It couldn't be helped though Thor's arrival with his attendant Asgard Battlefleet had disturbed a sizable portion of the UN. SHIELD was still busy fretting over aliens, and superheroes as it was. Of course Daniel's abrupt reassignment had very little to do with that.
In fact it ahd more to do with the fact that Daniel was Earth's foremost expert on the ancient aliens, and now the whole world knew it. Naturally it meant congress wanted him to find, for the United States, the largest known cache of available, ancient technology. It was a project that had been hastily thrown together after the invasion to try and find the lost city of Atlantis. The way congress figured it was that while it was time to start letting the US's allies into the program the US needed to control as much ancient technology as absolutely possible. It was precisely that attitude that was causing problems with a number of European allies, especially in the face of existing political realities.
Still here he was pouring over a bunch of ancient records. Jack cleared his throat, "Hows it going Danny?"
"Well the data we've salvaged from Anubis's computers, and our own data collection seem to agree that Atlantis is capable of being moved," Congress was going to love to hear that, especially with the way the Alaskan senator, and one of the Texan congressmen talking about formally adding planets to the union. There was still no idea how that would work exactly in a legal context. The fact remained that if they could move the city to an already establish US offworld site that would be an amazing development as far as Congress was concerned, "but the bad news is we think," Daniel said gesturing to his handful of assistants, the other lesser experts in the field, around the room, "its probably in another galaxy, which means an eight chevron dial code."
Jack nodded, "Well we'd know if the Asgard knew where it was, they've got nothing so we can safely say its not in their galaxy."
"Yeah we figured that," Daniel agreed, "So whats the news from the outside?" Post invasion the US had gone to an increasingly heightened state of alert, this was especially true as the information about the orbital nuclear defense grid was dissimenated to the general public. It meant that the research facility, which was being guarded by a mish mash of SGC airmen, and NID and SHIELD agents. The person in charge was an older man in a suit from the NID named Percy, but that wasn't a whole lot to go on.
Jack tilted his head and gave him a look, "Its a mess," That was the easiest truth of the situation, but it really did fail to address just how much of a mess this was. "At first there were talks of an international oversight organization," France's idea, and it had gotten annhilated out of hand when Yu had shown up to the meeting in full regalia claiming no mortal princinling would so foolishly limit his respectful duties to law and throne. Or something Jack wasn't overly fluent in Chinese. "Then Yu showed up, and everyone got an earful, so right now we're just back to the Security Council," Or the permanent members at least "whining at one another." Whining at each while the US was just starting to pick up the pieces in the wake of the near complete loss of the Nimitz carrier battlegroup, of which the Louisville had survived to rescue survivors. "Sokar is supposed to be showing up next week it seems he found out we had a run in with one of Cyttorak's inventions, and he's all interested and stuff."
-scene break-
Percy White arrived by a NID Cadmus division helicopter. He had one purpose for being here, before he got back on it to fly out. That purpose was talking about the possibility of a Cadmus office in the city. Recent events had shown that government sponsored teams of metahumans had the potential to perform just as well as the Justice League, and the Intelligence Subcommitee was very pleased.
The problem with this was Luthor's Krypton Initiative. Luthor himself had already proven far too valuable to discard especially in the wake of just how problematic the Justice League could prove to be. "Now we are sure Alva senior has a way of contacting the local super hero." the local operative was telling hi
"You mean the metahuman Static Shock." It wasn't a question, Static had proved useful in support of operations by the Cadmus created metahuman team. There was an affirmative in response, "Well we'll see if thats true." It most like was, evidence seemed to be mounting that Alva senior was increasingly expanding research projects which later were being used by the metahuman.
The rumor was Alva for whatever reason was backing Static as Dakota's version of the flash, except with more fancy gadgets. Of course there was already what was being called a proto Justice League, just with younger members being formed. The local agent flipped through the files, "We're expecting that 'Static's club' is going to comprise at least one mutant, maybe two."
"Is that going to be a problem?" The senior NID agent inquired, there was still a lot complaints being brought up primarily from various members of congress, which ran the risk of national sanction on top of the existing state level sanction for Static. It also ran the risk of pushing the metahuman further into the Justice League's influence. That wasn't acceptable, "Then tell Alva we want to meet with the local hero." Cadmus had originally wanted to send in one of the Ultimen, but NID upper management had nixed that idea believing it a better idea to put a more official government face on this whole thing, especially in the wake of Anubis's invasion.
They didn't need to wait long, Alva had pressed his early warning button the minute the government chopper had showed up. "So uh whats up guys, er I mean,"
"Its fine." Percy waved him off, "My name is Percy White," He half expected a crack from the teenager but none game, "I work for the US government."
Static nodded, "Yeah I noticed, I was kind of expecting my man Long Shadow to come by," He commented, "So whats up?" He glanced over at Gear who was flicking his hand at him, "Whats up?"
"Somebody is pinging some kind of electromagnetic system contact, sensors I mean," His friend stated, "Its probably nothing. I think it might just be Elijah,"
Percy did a good impression of not looking surpised, "Or it could be Intergang, or maybe its the League," He affected a nonchalant expression, "Thats why I'm, why we're here the whole world has so many organizations exist."
"So your here on a recruitment trip,"
The NID man smiled, "Not at all son, I'm just here to make sure your aware of all the employment options that are available. After all Clark Kent gets to take of his glasses and be Superman, why shouldn't you get the same option?"
-scene break-
Diagon alley in London was a mess, at first everyone had thought that maybe it'd been some kind of new attack by Voldemort, or maybe a screw up by the Department of Mysteries. The idea that Voldemort had been responsible had a lot of support initially because there were a number of purebloods who didn't like goblins.
Then the dementors started dying, in droves leaving massive swathes of black across the land. Dragons roared in pain and started nested trying anything. Then wizards started developing mild symptoms. "Pomfrey says its some kind of magical disturbance, we're getting reports world wide, America seems to have dodged it for the most part." Dumbledore announced, "but I think some of thus knew that." Even the headmaster was showing symptoms, more than most wizards they knew
Moody shifted a bit, "Yeah, I might have an idea on why that is." He admitted, the mana potions he'd brought from the monastery had helped a little. "Its foreign magic, probably a god or maybe a demon. I know it can't be an Aedra or Daedra, as for America I think there is an explanation for that too." He flicked his wand, it took a little more focus, and a little more magic than he wanted to admit, "its called the Heart of Kandrakhar, its an artifact."
"Do you think it could fix this?" Someone asked, another member of the order clambered up stumbling and knocking his chair over as he asked whether it was responsible for this whole calamity.
Mad eye shook his head, "I can't say one way or another," For whatever their reasons the Aedra never discussed the heart, but it was clear they disliked it. "But I know if the yank's ministry find out they might do something that puts us all in trouble." Then again their own ministry was just as likely to do something stupid like that. "I don't know much about the Heart," He admitted quietely. There was a shot and crackle from the fire, and then Snape went shooting out from the fire place.
"Severus," Dumbledore went scrambling one way as a couple of the others went the opposite as people stumbled around. "Oh dear boy what were you thinking," Then again it had to be important the floo system might have only been partially stable but thus far there had been a rash of apparation accidents where dozens, and dozens of people had gone and gotten themselves splinched. Most of the accidents hadn't been immediately serious but it'd gotten worse as the day had gone on.
Hermione walked into the living room, "I think the Justice League is also suffering from whatever the effects as well, and well," Snape grunted something, and was helped into a chair after it had been turned right side up.
"The Dark Lord wants to talk, he's spent the whole evening with Mulciber and Rosier he's in agony," Snape grunted, "whatever it is is hitting him especially hard. He wants to fix all of this" The potions master took a sip of tea from the cup offered from one of the other members before continuing."Rosier figures something woke up, Mulciber thinks its possibly the opposite."
Dumbledore turned, "Hermione try and speak with the British members of the Justice League, Alastor extend your connection," He paused his face fixed in an exasperated expression, "and someone get a hold of Sirius tell him to look at things over there. Now I think Severus you should go back and ask them what they have in mind,"
-scene break-
This was one of the few things he hadn't expected, this disaster had torn through the smattering of magical defenses. Then the warnings had started coming in, and then members had started dropping. Then the princess had come running into the command center about Hermes's visit. That certainly explained why there was a gaping whole in the magical defenses of the watchtower.
"Scan complete," The computer chimed.
He looked through his things. Nothing, absolutely nothing there hadn't even been an energy surge, which meant Hermes was gone.
"We didn't find anything?" Flash asked, "Figures, so what about that Cadmus emergency scramble?" The fastest man alive inquired, "Do we have any leads on that?" He really felt that he should have been back down in Central City, this was just the sort of event that ran the risk of potentially leaving his city undefended..
Batman crossed his arms, "As it stands with the bulk of our magical experts disabled we have no way of determining the cause, or confirming Diana's information." He announced to the other members of the league, "However it is very possible that the information brought to us is accurate, and if such is the case we may be looking at a potential invasion threat from the realm of Erebus."
"Thats the reason for opening up the armory and distributing all those Nth metal weapons then I'm assuming?" Superman questioned.
A nod, "Correct, an assault by Faust in the Annhilator armor means magic, or magic disruption may be our only shot." It was also why he'd stopped Dianna from leaving with Hawkgirl so abruptly, "As it stands we need to be ready." The in the event Themiscra fell left unsaid.
"Well thats why you gave me the Nth metal bullets of course," Vigilante remarked, loading a lever action rifle, "It won't be a problem, John is rounding up the rest of the team now."
Batman gave a grunt, "Good we'll need the strike team ready it already looks like the Amazonians are fighting a faltering defensive action."
"Do you think thats wise I mean the Amazons got pretty mad the last time."
"The whole world is in danger," Batman snapped angrily. "now whats this about contact at our English Branch reporting contact with a bunch of magic users?" He said abruptly changing subjects.
As it stood the news from England sounded like there might be a secondary problem some kind magical artifact somewhere in America. The league knew that they would definitely have to look into it, but that would mean after Zatana and Stranger were up and about, which meant after they took Faust out. "And there isn't really much more they know about this Heart of Kandrakhar, and they didn't know anything about Faust or the Amazons either."
"John whats your status?" Batman inquired ove the internal comms.
The Green Lantern sounded annoyed, "Look I'm not sure if this is a good idea bringing Kara, and Superman along, and another Green Lantern as apart of the team. Its going to run the risk of dangerously lowering our defenses in the event of a major attack."
-scene break-
Will was working on her third soda, she'd actually considered trying coffee, and still the drain hadn't gone away. It didn't make sense at all. The weeks after the invasion hadn't been that bad, Phobos had even laid off for a bit. He'd sent Cedric to try and negotiate, but that hadn't gone well at all.
There was a rumbling hiss, "I would wish you a g ood morning Little One." Sithis greeted pressing open the door. The disturbance had no effect on him, though the System Lords would know about Hermes showing up in orbit, eventually. Not that such things mattered.
The keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar threw one of the pillows that had been besider here at him. "Don't you know how to knock? What if my mom catches you in here." Sithis raised an eyebrow, it was an odd concern. "Oh right you're a God. What should you care if a mortal-"
He held a hand up to silence the increasingly irrational tirade. "Your mother isn't present in the domicile." He murmured quietely, at this she went quiet for a moment, just long enough for him to begin to address his next matter.
"What did you do to my mom?" Will demanded suspiciously leaping off the side of her bed only to start to stumble.
A hand struck out catching a shoulder, "I believe she went to go on an errand, I did nothing at all to your mother." He had no need to, such was beneath him, "your fellow guardians did call, while you were sleeping," That was funny because Will didn't remember sleeping any, she shrugged his hand off.
"What?"
He waved away the question. He didn't seem annoyed, but stepped aside as the other Guardians came rushing into her room. "Will we have come to rescue you!" Hay Lin shouted leading the charge into the room
"By all means." The Patron of the Brotherhood gestured welcoming them in with a sardonic tone. The glares meant nothing to him, "Still that does mean that you are all here, good, Phobos," He ordered roughly.
The jumped to attention and Will fumbled with the Heart as the prince appeared, he stepped towards the free chair and took it without asking. That and the fact Phobos seemed immune to the fatigue that was effecting her, and to a lesser extent the other guardians annoyed her. "I am here," He answered looking away from Sithis.
"I know that after the invasion you were finally able to speak with Kandrakhar's council at last." There was an annoyance in his voice, "But I think that is a matter for another night I think, another time. The disturbance which wracks you now while it did not while it was going on it a result of the balance." He flicked the pink glowing gem, it glowed a little brighter humming at the contact with the Daedra's fingers, "You bear the Heart of Kandrakhar. What Hades did to try and help oppose Cronus in the end only entrenched him further on this world." Hades had chosen never to leave after he'd been betrayed, and his holdings destroyed. He'd even been imprisoned here in a magical approximation of Cronus's prison on Earth. It didn't matter. "His magic is bound has been bound deeply with your world, and though he is not its heart, it still is important for the balance. From a mortal's view his magic is ancient, and it has been an important part of the balance that when its flow is suddenly altered those who interact most frequently with the natural magic of the world react adversely to that."
The guardian of Earth looked at him, "You mean those tremors that were going through the earth earlier." Cornelia remarked.
"That would be how you would perceive it," Sithis responded, "Your reaction would be stronger than others with water's reaction being weaker." It was here his real agenda came into play, the Guardians were the linchpin to insuring the weakening of Kandrakhar, "Holding the Heart of Kandrakhar so close means that such shifts would not be noticeable for you, for your body regulates and cycles those energies for the surrounding area muting the disruption for all those around you."
Taranne got it first, "But when everything snapped back to normal she had to deal with that extra surge of magic flowing right?" Phobos grunted, that was the right idea though that was effectively the situation.
"It is precisely why I have brought Phobos."
The boyish prince needed no further prompting, "With this new understanding of how magic interacts with the heart of a world, you must return my sister to me, and to Meridian. It would allow me to guarantee her well being against Nerissa's forces," That was about as far as he got before being interupted
"HE!" Cornelia yelled, there was pulse of anger driven magic through the ground, "can't have Ellyon." She snarled. "I'm not letting that tyrant take my friend. We can deal with that bitch ourselves we don't need his help"
Sithis eyed her, "Now you know how I feel when you throw a tantrum," He remarked quietly to Phobos, "It is your responsibility to defend Earth," He said addressing them, "it needs to be consider what is best for this planet, and your other charges."
"The Council said we had to make sure Ellyon was safe."
"And she will be." Phobos hissed.
-scene break-
The NID had reported the 'theft' of the magical armor fairly quickly. A lot of people at the SGC hadn't taken magic real well. The formation of the Justice League several years back hadn't really dealt with the issue of magic, not when most the threats dealt with were just alien invasions. Of course it was the precise concern that had everyone on alert after the Annhilator's theft.
"Giant magic robots," One of the men muttered disparagingly, "Bet its just some weird offshoot of Goa'uld technology." The airman continued on off to the side in a quieter tone.
The thing was that there was no evidence to that one way or another. Still the president was going on making plenty of speeches assuring the population, or trying to, that everything possible was being done for the security of the planet. Considering they'd ended up loosing an entire battlegroup, and then there had been the smattering of 'demon attacks' that the Justice League hadn't been able to prevent from reaching Europe everything possible wasn't enough. It, the loss of the Nimitz, was enough to give the Navy a massive boost in political capital, but that was another matter.
Technically the Annhilator running rampant wasn't any of the SGC's concern, not under the new rules anyway. It was solely the attention of the NID, and SHIELD it would really depend on who got to it first. It wasn't like you could hide a massive walking suit of armor just anywhere after all.
"Where are we with Fleet, and defense expansion?" Defending against gliders wasn't an issue conventional fighters could deal with that, albeit with losses. It was the new developments they might have to worry more about down the road. All reports seemed to indicate that Heru'ur's new strike fighters had more armor on them an Abrams.
There was some shuffling, and one of the new Program Officers looked up, the idea had been to expand planetary defense into a new joint service defense command. Particularly it involved training up personnel from both the Navy and the Air Force, and giving the new command unprecedented emergency command rights with regards to air units. "At present shipyard, and training cadre expansion has priority." More shuffling of papers and then the man looked back up, "There also is the test bed programs that are being considered." Originally the Navy had wanted to just build carriers in space, but had also wanted to dump some of their submarines people into the program to be rid of them, now with the loss of the carrier group they were far more interested in getting involved.
"The Fleet is currently dramatically," the naval officer added, "Under equipped for planetary defense. We've got air crews drilling on all available space based fighters as it is, and we just don't have enough." He had a point the Death Gliders, the 301, and to a lesser extent the 302 were rapidly approaching obsolete just because of rapid paradigm shift in galactic armaments. "We need either directed, or kinetic energy weapons, and heavier missiles for all of our craft."
There was a nod, "He's a point General," one of the fighter mafia men pointed out, "Our Eagles don't break twenty tons, mobile armors are over a hundred tons easy, and mount shields, and armor. Our AMRAAMs just aren't designed for knocking something like that down in atmosphere much less in space."
"So we're basically looking at having to tell congress we need more money to design our fighters air to air weapons,"
... oh yeah that would be fun, O'neill thought.
-Chapter Conclusion -
Helltanz's Notes: