Accessing Global Security Satellite System
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Accessing Grimm Horde Approaching Nowhere Kansas
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Accessing Sectors:
13 – Darklands
8 – Wilds
4 – Nowhere
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Estimated Time to Arrival in Nowhere: 5 days, 24 hours, 3 minutes, 12 seconds.
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Evacuation Protocol For Sectors 8 and 4 In Effect
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Logging Off Global Security
Xxx
GrimmFall
Mayor's Office
Satellite imagery showed what was left of the army that had attempted to attack Van Kleiss and the disaster that had happened. Sebben looked over the image of the scorched landscape where the army had been when it was marching on the fortress and immediately destroyed. He immediately looked up the list of all the soldiers that had been assigned to carry out this foolhardy attack along with the commanding officers who had been in charge as well as who ordered the attack.
Without informing him.
Sebben sat down while Callie Briggs stood to the side, pressing a single button that locked the door to his office and then the windows were immediately covered which darkened the room. Sebben slammed his finger down on a button and the flat screen was closed behind the wall panel.
"Callie, shut down all taps on the line and put me through to the World Council and General Steel, Foxtail and Feral."
"Right." Callie nodded.
Sebben pressed a second button and the holographic image of the World Council, along with several more officers wearing military garb.
Foxtail.
Commander Feral.
And General Steel.
"Aah, Mayor Sebben. This is an unexpected call. I am guessing you heard about our operation into Nowhere."
"Indeed I did and I have seen the aftermath of your little operation." Sebben began, remaining calm but there was a cold steel tone in his voice. "The entire strike force wiped out in a matter of seconds just as the Hunter team I have assembled begins their infiltration of Van Kleiss fortress. I made sure you were all aware of it and yet you seemed to forget informing me of what you were all planning."
"Van Kleiss had shown himself out in the open. We believed a quick and sudden strike from our military forces along with the aid of P.O.I.N.T. and the Enforcers would catch him off guard. Obviously we were wrong."
"Obviously." Sebben fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"Van Kleiss seems to be a bigger problem than we thought."
"He is but he won't be for long because you will stay out of our way and let our original plan go forward and putting faith in our Hunters assigned to carry it out."
"You do not order us-"
"You forget, Councilor I am not just the mayor of GrimmFall, I am the headmaster of Nevernest Academy and Head of the Huntsmen Association. As such, you are duly obligated to inform me of such missions to ensure any military missions do not interfere with that of Huntsmen assigned in the area and you just blatantly interfered, endangering our team, getting over three hundred soldiers killed and made it much harder now since Van Kleiss will be on guard and making sure he is as protected from us as best as he can be, thanks to the mismanagement of this council." Sebben interrupted. "The purpose of the World Council is to ensure that military, Huntsmen and civilian day to day work does not interfere with each other. That's why it was formed to ensure our systems could work without second guessing or outright blocking the other from making the decisions we need to protect our way of life. With Van Kleiss, this is goes beyond apprehending a simply criminal and charging him with crimes against humanity."
"That is why we allowed for the strike once General Steel, Foxtail and Commander Feral assured us it could be done. The Huntsmen Association does not have the manpower of the viewpoints to infiltrate what is likely to be dictatorship growing on our soil. It needed to be taken out before it could grow any stronger." Feral stated.
"Van Kleiss is not interested in just this world nor does he care about what laws he breaks so as long as he gets what he wants. Our Huntsmen and Huntresses have more than enough experience, seeing as how they were the ones, along with several that were abducted by Van Kleiss might I had, to handle the most recent threats such as Billiam Milliam, Crom Cruach and the Ice Queen not your bloated military force."
"You think a handful of fighters with just swords, knives and karate gimmicks can handle this where our forces can't? May I remind our forces have much bigger guns than your Hunters?" Steel sneered.
"What you have are bullets, rockets, and nuclear warheads stacked away, ready to aim them at any time that would cause fallouts that our children and grandchildren would be paying for…If our enemies don't immediately attack after you've run out." Sebben retorted. "You have just been shown that simply bringing in an army will not stop Van Kleiss, much less scare him into surrendering."
"That is why we should move on to the next option." Feral stated. "A full on nuclear strike."
Callie's eyes widened before narrowing. "You can't! Nowhere town is still evacuating. A nuclear strike will endanger their lives and the lives of our hunters sent in to not only neutralize Van Kleiss but rescue any prisoners still being held in his fortress."
"It is our decision that Van Kleiss is too dangerous to be allowed to continue remaining in that fortress. It is the fact that destroying it now will save lives." The head councilor, whose face was left a blur, said.
"So in other words, screw the lives of the Hunters and the people out there you are supposed to protect." Sebben snarled. "Your entire strike force is wiped out before it can even get shot in and you still believe was the right call when Van Kleiss essentially made look as easy as swatting a fly? What does that say about your damned orders, the fact you wasted all those lives and resources while the Hunter team is still alive and still going to try in spite your idiocy almost getting them killed? Well think again, I am not allowing the moronic orders of a bunch of armchair admirals, war hawks and glory seeking idiots to risk this world and its people. Now you have a choice here, keep your noses out of this operation and out of interfering in the Huntsmen operations again and you won't be removed from your seats on the charge of treason, committing wide scale manslaughter, diverting military assets in times of war and anything else I can pin on all of you."
Sebben and Callie managed not to smirk as the entire council bristled and gaped at Sebben in shock and disgust. They were not expecting a man they thought was under their control to actually threaten them. As long as the World Council was controlling all aspects of Earth's defenses, the threat itself would be seen as treason.
General Steel was the first to react. "How dare you-"
"No, how dare you?! We have done nothing but gather information on the current threats, been openly honest and cordial with all of you and through it all people have died defending this world from these threats. The World Council is supposed to oversee all the work while making sure that military and Hunters can work together efficiently and what do you do? You side step us and let Van Kleiss know the entire world is declaring war on him, without considering what he'll do in return and what weapons he has to retaliate with. If every single plan and decision we made was forced to go through the World Council then we might as well surrender because I doubt you truly understand this is not a conventional war and those of you who are civilians have no clue what it means to fight in a real world, especially not one over borders and resources." Sebben stood up. "So you are going to step back and take your fingers off the nuclear option and let us do what we have to do to end this war sooner. You will be informed of what happens, what you need to know and that's all. You can regulate the supplies for the evacuations, the technology we recover and work on what we do about anyone who captured but do get in the way of the Hunters who are at this moment trying to save your lives and the entire world."
"We will not be spoken to this way, Sebben. Consider yourself relieved of duty until such time you are replaced, transferred or on trial." The head councilor argued.
"That will not happen, sir." Sebben growled. "You forget, I have been around for a very long time. I have served in the armed forces, I helped set up the Huntsmen Association and ensured neither military nor civilian officials can control it any way as well as the safe guards to ensure you cannot change these laws even after I am long gone. If you continue to interfere with our attempts to defeat our current enemies and prepare for future ones, you will be dealt with. All of you."
Steel and Foxtail growled at this while Feral just glared. "Are you threatening us, Sebben?"
"Don't bother attempting to inform anyone about this, all records will be erased before you can get to them and I can and do have iron clad alibies as to my whereabouts and movements if I have to bring them into court. You have been given a choice now, be sure to make the right one."
"You think we'll take this lying down?!" Steel stood up and his holographic image approached Sebben's desk. "I would like to see you try without sitting behind that desk."
"You know where to find me, Steel. If you are looking for a fight you are welcome to try if we survive the upcoming one. Hell, you all can come try and hang me for all I care. This world is under siege by enemies both from here and beyond and you have blatantly got in the way so keep to what you are supposed to do and we'll do what we do best, saving the world from monsters, dictators and the idiots who try to run it."
"P.O.I.N.T. will continue to do what is necessary; Sebben and right now the people need to be shown we're ready to do anything it takes to win." Foxtail argued.
"Even if it means winning at the expense of the people you are sworn to protect? Endangering lives when they don't need to be? Those deaths out there were unnecessary and stupid. Your disregard for your fellow soldiers, hunters and heroes are not wanted and neither is your interference. You do what you need to do to keep the people happy and safe but you will back off and leave Van Kleiss and the Fallen to us."
"Very well, Sebben. We'll leave the matter of Van Kleiss and the Grimm army to you but you better consider hanging yourself when you are done because even if you win you won't come out of it without paying dearly, that I promise you."
"You are welcome to try, councilors. You are welcome to try." Sebben said before ending the call.
Xxx
"GAH!" General Steel slammed his fist down on the holo-projector once Sebben ended his call. "WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS?!"
"He's Phil Ken Sebben."
Steel turned around and snarled at the owner of the voice. "Solomon."
From one of the chairs rose a man dressed in a black coat, a black hat over his head with strands of white hair being under it and red goggled glasses covering his eyes. "You people really that stupid, aren't you?"
"I am not in the mood for this." Steel growled.
"Oh, but I think now is the time." Solomon said as he walked around the table. "What in the hell were you all thinking?"
"We were thinking of saving this world rather than letting Sebben put our lives in the hands of a bunch vagabond Hunters and strangers." Foxtail answered, crossing her arms.
"By getting in the way like you just did now, getting good soldiers killed when you had been warned how dangerous Van Kleiss was? Seems to me, you all wanted to manage everyone and everything to your liking and ticked off the man who warned you of this threat in the first place." Solomon retorted.
"He can't-"
"Can't what? Win without some oversight or can't try to keep us all breathing through a war that might not just end with one world? Seems to me you all have no idea what Sebben and the Hunters he has trained and gathered are capable of. You read their files, haven't you?"
"I did and I'm not impressed." Steel grunted. "He's building a power base that so far has failed to take down the Fallen and the Grimm while other threats continue to rise."
"Because it's not about winning." Solomon turned away. "It's about fostering fraternity, teaching everyone to truly work together, to come together as a truly united people. It's not about leadership and the people don't need leaders."
"Of course they do!" Foxtail barked. "They need people to show them how stand on their own two feet and handle whatever comes their way!"
"That is what Sebben has done with the Huntsmen Association and the Academies. You are not thinking of teaching, you are thinking of leading, making decisions for the people instead of making decisions with the people and you fall into the same trap all leaders fall into. The trap where you think you know better than everyone else around you." Solomon turned around and glared back at the councilors. "And look what has happened."
"And Sebben hasn't?" Feral questioned rhetorically.
"So far he has not and that's because he surrounds himself with people like Callie Briggs, Sensei Splinter, Grand Master Tan Zang, Major Glory, the Dragon of Denver, all strong people in their own right who follow their own convictions and believe in what is right, even if they all have different ideals, motives or ways of doing it." Solomon answered before smiling. "And me as well. And be thankful for that because if he was like you, he could have you all dead before the end of the day."
"He wouldn't dare." The head councilor replied.
"Yes he would, if you get in the way like that again. You are acting like idiots and I suspect you haven't truly read up in his files or the files of those exceptional like him. Like he said, he was in the armed forces and the Special Forces, has fought and killed many more people than we've met in our entire lives and is singly handedly coordinating against an enemy with the power to breech the walls between dimensions." Solomon began.
"That is what we're afraid of. He's too dangerous to be allowed to remain in power." Steel argued, trying to prove his point. "There are plenty of officers as competent and intelligent as he is that can do a better job than him."
"By which you mean in your pocket, General. You and Specific only believe in building bigger guns to win against the enemy but that is never the ideal solution because it almost never works. Besides, do any of them have the knowledge and experience that Sebben and his people have, not to mention the fact the man can you have vanish before you even get close to him? That's not a weak bluff, he has plenty of friends." Solomon sighed. "This stunt will just get more people on his side and already the idiots that have already made the attempt to have him removed covertly have been sacked."
"Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot, Solomon. I know which hero the public looks up to when things go north and south so I am not going to touch him until he makes a mistake. Too bad I couldn't pin the disaster in Denver on him because it was good way to keep those justice freaks cowed." Steel smiled a bit at that.
"Yes, too bad for the lives lost because the enemy proved to be more cunning than expected. I wonder how you have handled it…then I remember how well I know you and how much worse you would have made it." Solomon said before looking at everyone else in the room. "How much worse all of you might have made it."
"He'll be put in his place soon enough because sooner or later he'll be politically unreliable." Steel said, ignoring the barb at him.
"Right, because it gives you the chance to try and put the motion to militarize the Huntsmen Association through Congress again but like he said he's made it untouchable even if he dies. The fact is, he understands better of what is going on than all of you and the people he put his faith will likely see him rewarded. I wonder what you'll do when that happens." Solomon said dryly.
"We don't have time for your flights of fancy, Solomon. We have work to do and I suggest you keep your nose out of our business." Foxtail said, having enough of this. "Sebben will get a pass but when it's done we'll be setting up things the right way, Huntsmen that actually listen to the people that run this world who will be safe by the heroes we put in charge."
"I hope you all have nice suits then, because you'll need them if you try." Solomon said, turning to the door.
"That better not be you implying we'll be put on trial for doing our duty, Solomon." Feral stated darkly.
"Heavens no, Commander." Solomon stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder. "I believe you'll need your best suits for your funeral."
Xxx
Meanwhile, through the mountain leading to the fortress was the group was walking through foliage as they were carefully sneaking around as they made their way into the mountains, closer to the tower.
"Okay guys, just to let you know. Van Kleiss might have set up traps around his fortress. So watch your step, just follow my moves, and sneak around." Scotty instructed.
"Be careful not to make a sound?" Samedi asked.
"Shh!" Connor shushed them. "I think I hear something!"
Everyone remained silent so they could hear what Connor was hearing.
"Kid, are you sure that's not just the sound of your brain sliding out of your head?" Keanu asked before they all heard a growl from the bushes, and before any one of them could've reacted, a monster jumped out of the bushes that looked like...a walking butt with legs and a large mouth full of teeth while roaring as it slashed at Keanu with its teeth.
Screeching like a bat as Keanu tried to reach for his katana, but just as the monster was about to break through Keanu's Aura shield, Artemis dashed in as she kicked the overgrown Butt away as it splintered a dead tree after being tossed against it. Before the Butt could pick itself back up, Samedi put his heal on the monsters back as he pressed the end of his cane against the monsters head and pulled the trigger to his cane, blowing the creatures black brains out. Keanu sat up as he was breathing heavily, and looked up at Artemis who held out her hand to him.
Keanu grabbed it as Artemis helped him up. "Gee, thanks, if you hadn't helped me, I would've been hamburger."
Tiburon stared at the dead creature. "Is that a…butt?"
"Looks like it." Raven affirmed.
"And I thought things were weird before."
"Gotta admit." Samedi said while walking away from the dead creature. "It honestly feels a little weird killing a monster that doesn't evaporate after I kill it."
Scotty led everyone over to a bolder and peered over it as everyone else followed and peered over the rock alongside him. Up ahead was some kind of wall that was blocking the path up to the tower.
"Okay, beyond that thirty foot six foot thick wall, is the tower itself." Extor said, pointing to a wall and Van Kleiss tower beyond that.
"So, we need to get through that wall... Doesn't seem so bad." Artemis commented.
"This is where the bad guy kinda goes crazy with the traps and dozens of guards stationed around the wall." Scotty said knowingly..
"But... It's weird, I can't see any guards." Samedi said, taking a good look around.
"Some sort of odor is in the air obscuring my enhanced sense of smell... So I can't really tell if any guards are around..." Said Tiburon.
"Just be as careful as you can guys." Scotty said as he was scanning the area for any potential traps. "Okay guys... I think I-"
"Alright then, let's go." Keanu walked forward, interrupting Scotty.
"Wait you idiot-" Scotty yelled, but it was too late as guns were fired.
Luckily Raven conjured a shield to protect Keanu along with the rest.
"Look! We got em.'" Said a voice as everyone looked around to see to Red Cap guards in armor and two Black Viper guards in black armor. "Ha ha! We got them!"
"Should we tell Van Kleiss?" Asked one of the Red Cap guards.
"Nah, I'd say we should have some 'fun' with them first." Said another one of the guards as they all nodded in agreement.
Tiburon turned to Raven. "Kid, can ya toss me up there? I'll take care of the guards and help you guys out afterwards."
Raven nodded in response as she picked up Tiburon with her powers and tossed him right at the guards.
"FLY TIBURON! FLY!" X cheered.
As Tiburon made his way to the top he pounced on the first guard that was closing in, knocking the guard down as he plunged his spiked knuckles into the man's chest as the other guards aimed their guns at Tiburon as the Huntsman picked himself back up and cracked a smirk at the guards.
"Hehehe... I know what you're thinking punks. Question is, can we get Tiburon before he cuts us to pieces like a piece of wood with his spooky chainsaw club of his?" Tiburon asked as he reached behind him and pulled out his chainsaw club and revved it, making the guards tremble as they take a few steps back. "Well kids, seeing how my chainsaw club's teeth has a type of Dust in it that allows it to cut through anything, and it can easily cut through your little toy guns like a hot knife through butter... Tell me something, do you feel lucky punks? Well? Do ya?" Tiburon asked, walking closer as the guards trembling increased immensely.
But before the guard could even fire, Tiburon came barreling in with his chainsaw club as he cut the three guards guns in half with ease as he punched one, kicked the second, and head-butted the third one, knocking them all out.
Tiburon turned around and looked back at the group. "All clear!"
"Wow, you left them alive, Tiburon. I'm surprised." Samedi said looking at his partner with a smile.
"Well, when their wetting their pants, it kinda kills the mood. Anyway, the path seems clear." Tiburon said and the group turned to the wall.
"This is your show, what's the plan?" Samedi asked the leader of Team SEKR.
"Well, there is only one entrance in and out, and it's HEAVILY guarded... It's not gonna be easy getting over the wall even after we're though the wall. The wall itself expands another mile from the tower itself, and in between the tower and the wall are usually dozens of battle vehicles like tanks, heavy aircraft... And probably other heavy duty weapons from this world I don't know about." Extor surmised.
"That's just fantastic." Rino grunted.
"We would require some sort of heavily armored transportation vehicle to even get close enough." Extor advised.
"Hey guys, look!" X pointed down the small hill they were all on, to see a tank just sitting there. "There's a tank over there!"
"Wha... Who just leaves a tank in the middle of the woods?" Miss Martian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"WHO CARES!? It advances the plot!" Keanu said as the group dashed down to the tank. "Finally! I'll be able to get off my feet and everything!" Keanu smiled as they got closer to the tank, only for Raven to pull Keanu back behind a large rock. "Hey, what's the deal,?"
"Quiet down! That tank is covered by people!" Raven whispered as Scotty peered from behind the rock.
"Nope, Butts."
"What?"
"Trust me, it's a bad idea to mess with them, especially that many." Scotty said as they all peered from behind the tree to see several dozen Butts hanging around the tank.
"Man! I hate these…things now! So what's your plan for getting past those guys?" X whispered to Scotty.
"Live bait..." Scotty answered.
"Good idea!" X whispered back but then his eyes widened, understanding what the Scotsman meant. "Hey!"
"Come on X, you need to distract them!"
"I take that as an offense! Just because I'm a goofy character, doesn't mean I'm gonna risk my life and do something as crazy as that! I mean, what do you want me to do?! Dress in drag and do the hula?" X asked.
Seconds later, there was a drum roll by the Butts as they looked over to see X standing there with no shirt or pants in a hula skirt as he started dancing and singing.
"Lu'au! If you're hungry for a hunk of fat and juicy meat!" X sang as he jumped on top of another X made by his Semblance who was in the same costume, lying on a silver platter with an apple in his mouth like a cooked pig. "Eat my buddy X here because he is a treat! Come on down and dine! On this tasty guy! All you have to do is get in line!"
The Butts started drooling, showing their razor sharp teeth and claws as they slowly moved forward.
"Aaaare you achin'"
"Yup, yup, yup" X Number 2 sang with the apple out of his mouth.
"Foooor some bacon?"
"Yup, yup, yup"
"Heeee's a big boy!"
"Yup, yup!"
"You could be a big boy too!"
"Hoy!" Both Xs sang in unison as the song ended. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
They both then screamed turned around and ran away with over twenty Butts on their tail, clearing the tank.