[13th January 2011]
[Secured Room, Government Offices, Kildare Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland]
"This is an insane plan; I can't believe we're even discussing something as crazy as this"
"So...what are we to do?"
"Hah...send it unto the Brits, they want options and our resident magic experts are all agreeing with it, so..."
--
[13th January 2011]
[RNAD Coulport, Long Loch, Argyll, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland]
"I'm...not sure what to make of this, beyond its obvious insanity"
"It's an option, and we know the security breach could be absolute. People break under torture, and we have to assume Constantine was broken by a demon. MI6 supports the motion"
"As does the Chief of Staff, it sounds like madness, but the world appears filled with madness. If the Americans are agreeable, or at least do not object, then the Prime Minister believes we've little option but to implement or face SHIELD and all our efforts to date rendered moot"
"Understood...ahh...I'll schedule a scry and detection proof secure room for briefing the Americans then..."
--
[13th January 2011]
[Bunker, Beneath Temple of the Shrouded Lord, Tropico]
Jade Nguyen hit hard, and since she'd been given the opportunity, was clearly enjoying the chance to spar with first me, and then her mother. I should know, because she'd certainly hit me hard enough in our spar as I watched the fairly energetic back and forth between the two women; the fading pain distracting from the attractive visage so to speak. One couldn't complain too much about that I found, letting out a tired breath and besting back into the bench I was sitting on, and it was certainly more pleasant than the no-magic, no-tech, spar I'd just had.
'Still, loss or not, I think that adequately proves that I'm physically recovered from the whole ordeal and am not talking out my ass' I thought watching as Paula tried an overhead kick, only for Jade to slam upwards, grabbing her leg and shoving up and backwards. If it had been me, I'd have hit the ground and being forced to roll out of the situation but my bodyguard was much more skilled than I in this sort of unarmed melee; instead twisting with it, hands hitting the ground, allowing her to flip backwards out of the follow up punches and a sweeping kick. Even as Paula gain a little distance it was narrowed, largely as ninja-kitty dashed forward, and returned to an energetic flurry of kicks and punches between mother and daughter.
Cassie, sitting...well bouncing up and down and shouting encouragement of sorts to the two, was certainly enjoying the whole affair more than my more defensive bout. Of course the girl was more concerned about the whole thing being over and her own 'lessons' with Paula perhaps than the fact she might be a junior battle maniac at heart. Gemma hadn't joined us sadly, indulging in the chance to actually study in the small library we had assembled here so far now she'd been given a few days off school due to the attacks; and her parents were sleeping away in the facility and not around to 'annoy' her teenage self.
Till things...were better understood in relation to Constantine's missing day security on all of us had been stepped up; especially with discussion on implementing Operation Stormcrow in the works at levels of clearance higher than my own. So that meant I could only shift back and forth between 'secure' sites such as here, my sanctum, headquarters, and of course my home where I'd visited immediately after getting out of hospital. Pretending everything was fine of course, and that I totally, totally, wasn't planning a brutal campaign of vengeance upon those that had dared attack my apprentice and friends, while also putting our 'den mother' for Mount Justice into the hospital as well.
'Well, that can't be allowed. No it cannot' I silently said to myself as Jade took a kick to the stomach, flinging her backwards into the mats and finally getting a yield hand sign out of her. She was cooperating at least, though most of the information provided was largely defunct in the wake of recent events; ones she wasn't entirely aware of though, so it was proven true and useful for sweeping up stragglers at least. That and she was bored due to imprisonment, as her over-eagerness for these bouts showed alongside her current attempt to saunter over towards me. Not a very good attempt as she'd taken a few bad bruises and seemed to have a momentary limp on her left leg.
"Enjoying the fight eh? You know the pay big money to see that in some places right?" she stated as I threw a towel to her, and to Paula wandering along beside her, to deal with their sweat soaked bodies. I shrugged, hormones were hormones, and this was a nice sight, but I could deal with Team Nguyen. That and the collar, tech and magic sigil, around her neck served to remind very clearly that Jade was very much a prisoner here in this facility.
"Eh, I can't complain about the view, but all the punches tend to take the enjoyment out of it"
"Oh, don't be a big baby of a supervillain, I'm sure Sis beats you up all the time, and there's plenty pay good money for that too"
I folded my arms across my chest and gave her a look "I'm not one of them thankfully"
Paula gave a snort of amusement, picking up an energy drink and throwing it over for Jade to catch "Yes, sadly affection through punching is a proud Nguyen-Crock tradition along with assassin training and uncomfortable family reunions. Now, considering the nature of the proposed mission ahead, assuming it's authorised, I think signing Jade up as a secondary guard for you and have it put against her sentence. Of course I've held back operational details"
Honestly...we'd discussed this already, and Jade was an ideal addition assuming she didn't freak the fuck out considering the destination. It was going to be hard to find volunteers for 'Operation Go to Hell, Shoot Demons' after all. I glanced from one Nguyen to the other "Well that explains that talking during your spar and what is your opinion on this?"
A smirk "Oh, sign me up Oh Dark One, but oh but what if I end up escaping"
I laughed, darkly and with amusement "Heh, hehehehehe...ehhhh...that'd be a mistake if you get approved on this particular suicide mission..."
--
[14th January 2011]
[Secured Room, Beneath The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia, United States of America]
"I like this plan, it's measured, reasonable, and reminds these bastards not to fuck with us..." Amanda Waller looked up "...I suppose we need to get the President's signature. Considering his political situation I wonder if finding those tiny little balls of his, and nuking Hell might save him from being impeached. Oh, and bring over that report on Lawton and Harkness, seems we need assets worth being lost if need be..."
--
[14th January 2011]
[S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters, underneath Custume Barracks, Athlone, Republic of Ireland]
"Well, seems we've got a go order on this spot of madness ladies and gentlemen..." Commandant O'Reilly said rubbing at the bridge of his nose "...resources are being allocated and we're a go in forty-eight hours on the main operation. Preparatory tasks begin in twenty-four. Doctor Fate? Mr. Finn?"
"Mr. Constantine remains secure in the London facility, and will remain unaware of this operation..." the gold and blue clad woman replied in that weird melodic voice "...till its completion. So far he indicates no sign of being compromised, but it will require further time to be sure. Regardless breaching the dimensional walls and an anchor established will not be a problem, and having communed with Fortune's patron that breach is prepared to our confidence"
Brendan Finn sitting beside her nodded "Aye, and me and John's mate the Lord of the Dance will lend his strength as well. Ah, also warned Swamp Thing since ya know...his daughter have some of that Constantine blood in'er, but nought about everything else. I'll have the ritual work for the summoning ready...and the weapons?"
O'Reilly nodded, feeling so damned old right now "Are released for use, and testing in the preparatory operation..."
--
[15th January 2011]
[Abandoned Island, Off the West Coast Ireland]
Brendan Finn finished the chant, the sigils glowing red in the dark night air as all around him men and women with guns and other weapons waited warily. The energy of the summon circle pulsed, dark and hot and hateful as the cold Atlantic wind blew around the deserted island...
"Mortal you have summoned me to this..."
...he raised the rifle and took aim as the seals beneath the summon circle ignited and trapped the spectral form forming with the circle...
Crack. Crack. Crack.
...the scream that momentarily filled was hate and rage filled...but died away within seconds. Brendan glanced at the red haired man standing nearby.
"Well?"
Jason Blood approached the circle as the blackness within broke apart, melting like a snowman on a hot sunny day, and knelt. After a few minutes the other man nodded "Yes, Fuckpig is slain and none of his energies returned to the infernal depths of hell. It shall be some time before any of his fellows realise his disappearance...truly that is a fearsome weapon"
Brendan glanced at it, and then at the young man standing nearby with a pistol in hand of much newer make, his skull mask creepy as ever "Aye...now, shall we summon a Praexis and test out the other tools?"
--
[16th January 2011]
[Abandoned Island, Off the West Coast Ireland]
Brendan was mildly relieved this was his part of the plan as the 'Go' order came over the laptop and its secure satellite line. Sure it had been cold and miserable spending the night here, nor had the company been all that fantastic, but now it was demon murdering time and more importantly...
'Thank Christ I'm not going nowhere near a portal to Hell, and the First beyond that' he told himself with relief as he readied the Ace, turning to Blood and soldiers, Special Forces, from three nations "Right-e-o lads and lassies, time to get a killin' bad guys. Targets are members of Nergal's personal household; Agilieth and Druoth, we put'em down it'll cripple the two better watchers he has"
--
[16th January 2011]
[The Watchtower, Low Earth Orbit]
John Stewart found himself staring at the screen as the representative from this SHIELD group, or perhaps more accurately the group of three nations headed by the US government apparently. Waller's group State-side it appeared from the man on the screen before him from the US State Department "I'm sorry...what?"
There was so much going on, even with expanding the League's ranks immediately after the Starro crisis, and everyone was exhausted. Canary was just out of hospital and restricted to Mount Justice, Batman desperately needed someone to stop...being himself...for a few hours rest...and now this. The man on the screen tapped a button on the computer before him and transmitted some information to the Watchtower's computers and to Stewarts Ring "As detailed here, an operation is currently underway in response to agents of SHIELD, we are making the Justice League aware of these activities in case of blow-back from them"
"Your...invading Hell, isn't something we usually get told. You...can't, please wait so that we can..."
"The Operation was initiated five minutes ago, I'm afraid there can be no delays Green Lantern"
--
[16th January 2011]
[Estate of Rosacarnis, Lands of Nergal, Hell]
Our escort were thoroughly freaked out, but I ignored that for the moment along with ignore the wrongness, but power, permeating the very air. Power that was useful right now as the Portal held open by Nabu pulsed and glowed behind us as I strode forward as a Warpriest of the Shrouded Lord; armour now, blood red and engraved with every protection possible as I raised my hands into the air and began to chant alongside that of the former God of the lands we'd just left. Power pulsed, grew, joined by the hammering beat of Order that Nabu, Lord of Order, was flooding into this tiny portion of the infernal realms. An utterly terrifying place honestly, but alchemy and magic had put me in the right frame of mind for this.
Power flowed through...my tattoos burned on my skin as it surged through and around me. Golden coloured scroll case hovered out of my robes and up into the air above. Magic was abundant here, and unlike the Abyss or the Outer Realms most it's Lords hadn't bothered with restricting teleportation and portals. The reverse in fact, the Material Plane had hard barriers against easy access, and there was little fear of incursions into Hell since the Abrahamic faiths had achieved such wide-scale dominance upon this dimension's Earth. Scroll cases burst into golden speckles, scrolls extending in golden circles and lines that connected into great sigils of power and arcane might. The power of two Gods fuelled it now, the bridge forming...and then solidifying as the world exploded in golden hue.
I smiled a vengeful smile beneath my armour's mask, arms extended upwards, golden energy surrounding my gloved hands, and from the skies the thunder of marching feet and beating wings. The trumpet sang, the sweetest notes, as the ground screamed beneath us as the doors to the Divine Realms swung open and a Raiding Legion began to emerge. Sure this wasn't the Infernal Realms of the Abyss, but these were Archons of power and fiery light...Demons, Devils, there were all the same to their eyes; vile creatures that needed to be purged by those flaming swords. It was less a great demand on power for this summoning, than offering the favour of easy prey for those seeking to wreck some poor demons day...
...beyond it seemed the locals were stirring as the iron winged creatures surged through the Gate. Good, they were only realising the attack now. I drew my blade, igniting it in Holy Flame and ensuring my Holy Magnum of Divine Vengeance was secure in its holster. Time to loot and burn and put the fear of Gods into this vile creatures who had dared to try harm me and mine; this was drawing a line in the sand here and now. Creatures, monsters nearby, startled at us, damned souls and those tormenting them...my hand rose and I called upon the divine power of my patron as he 'borrowed' from this magic rich environment. Flamestrike.
...fire descended from the Heavens, purging the filth before us as I motioned with my blade, challenging old memories that hardly felt real without effort. I grinned, it was Good to be back.
"DRIVE THEM BEFORE YOU! SLAY THEIR GUARDS AND SOLDIERS! TAKE THEIR TREASURES AND BURN OUT THEIR HOVELS! FORWARD! LET THEM FEEL THE FIERY BLADES OF JUSTICE! MUHAHAHAHAHA"
--