Chapter 55: Operation Fallen Angel Part 1
During the chaos of the White Chlorination Syndrome pandemic, as well as dealing with the rise of the Legion and the rest of the upheavals of the era, many nations had constructed various sites to act as Doomsday Bunkers, great vaults where humanity would be able to recover its lost heritage in the event of catastrophic annihilation.
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was one such initiative, preserving samples of all known plants, as well as botanical and agricultural data, in Norway.
The Grand Zoo of China was similar, although it focused on cryogenic storage of samples of animals instead. An estimated 90% of all known animals had DNA samples, along with egg cells and sperm, sealed within the Grand Zoo's vault, which was located in Beijing.
The United States of America carried out several Doomsday Bunker projects, including the Fort Knox Gold Depository which was meant to reestablish banks and an economy in a post-apocalyptic world, and the Congressional Literature Initiative, which sealed copies of as many books as possible, physical and digital, in airtight vaults beneath the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
Perhaps one of the most important, though sadly less well funded and famously known, was the Hollywood Cultural Preservation Site. It was created by a group of famous Hollywood actors and bigwigs, and included as much entertainment media as possible to be preserved for the future. It didn't just include copies of movies and TV shows from across the globe, but also the film reels, costumes from various sets, tons of memorabilia and pop cultural references, comic books, toys and playthings from all over the world and throughout history. The oldest known chess set was put into storage within this museum-bunker, along with plenty of dinosaur bones, playing cards from the 1800's, and more.
Located beneath the Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee, it remained safe and secure following the collapse of humanity and the failure of the Gestalt Project, partly due to information about it being lost. It was only rediscovered during the 11th Machine War, and many android lives had been spent to secure it.
To this day, the Resistance had been proud to declare that not a single Machine had ever managed to damage the Cultural Preservation Site, and it was marked as one of the most important sites for the revival of humanity.
And now, Purple Athena's forces marched upon Los Angeles to destroy all remnants of human culture, including the vault.
YoRHa and the Terran Army would not allow that to happen.
And to aid in the defenses of this vital cultural installation, A2 and 9S had been dispatched, alongside several other YoRHa B, E, and S models. It was also where several reinstated G-types were being fielded.
"Status report," A2 demanded as she stepped out of a combat transport. At her side, 9S looked around curiously at the surroundings, taking in the sights of the fortifications surrounding Hollywood Hill. It had been a long flight to LA, but they had arrived in time to prepare the defenses against the Neo-Machines.
"We've established a cordon around the entirely of Hollywood, phased out into three lines of defense center on the hill and the entrance to the bunker," a Terran Army officer stated, walking over to A2, who offered her a salute.
"Surrounding the vault, the main center of defense is everything south and west from the Los Angeles River, east of Hollywood Hills, and north of Hollywood Dell," the officer helpfully continued to explain. "Second line of defense extends from Highway 2 down to Interstate 10, and stretches east to Pasadena and west to I-405. The HQ for that region is in the Art Museum. Meanwhile, we have everything from Santa Clarita to Anaheim as well as the State and National parks and forests as part of the first line of defense."
"Where will the Neo-Machines come from?" A2 asked. "And where have they already struck?"
"They launched a surprise attack at Long Beach, which we managed to repel, albeit just barely. Although the largest number of Neo-Machines came from out of the desert to the east. It appears that Purple Athena's conquest of Night City, formerly Las Vegas, has given her access to that region's manufacturing complexes."
"Damn," A2 growled in annoyance. "We can expect Flickers alongside the regular Machine units, then."
"Unfortunately so. We've already encountered a few, in the initial assault, but we exterminated them with extreme prejudice," the officer assured her.
"What's the status of the evacuation of the relics from the Cultural Preservation Site?" 9S inquired, and the officer shrugged.
"Don't know, you'll have to take that up with the team in charge of getting the vault's contents out of here and into space. I believe they are operating out of Griffith Observatory."
"Got it. I'm going to oversee the progress on that end. Let me know if you need anything, A2," 9S said, before briskly walking off to get the precious cargo away from the battlefield.
A2 nodded idly at that, already going over the layout of the defenses for the region in her head, while also accessing all the sensor-data the Terran Army had collected so far.
"I don't like how thin the defenses are to the north," she said to the officer, a captain if the rank insignias were the same as they were back in the old Resistance forces.
"We're having some difficulty shoring up our positions there," the captain admitted.
"Well, tell someone to switch the artillery batteries in grid-space B-3 to B-2. That will let them cover both the north and west much easier. And get more AA support over in Sector G. Can't afford any enemy aerial units getting in that way. And are the State Parks secured, yet?"
"We're rigging them with tripwires, pitfalls, and a variety of mines and other traps," the captain reported.
"Good," A2 said, nodding at the decision. The parks and forests were too open with a lot of overgrown nature taking up the area. Unfeasible to defend properly.
The only upside was that the Neo-Machines would have a hard time getting through the area in normal situations, and laying traps down helped secure the parks even further.
A2 continued to direct the androids in fortifying the area for the next attack. And there would be one, without a doubt. Purple Athena was
An hour later, alarms suddenly began to blare out, and A2 glared off to the east, where the scouts had reported a large column of Neo-Machines approaching.
"Status of the enemy forces," she demanded, walking over to an android with binoculars who was peering off towards the enemy army.
"Damn, that's a lot of tanks," one of the spotters muttered, before clearing his throat. "Uh, that is to say… I can see a dozen battle tanks, six hundred standard Neo-Machines, a hundred flyers, and a hundred of those weird centaur Neo-Machines."
"Any Flickers?" A2 asked, and the spotter shook his head slowly.
"Not that I can see," he informed her.
"It's a small force. We can pulverize it with our artillery before it even reaches the first line of defense," the captain noted.
"And that's obviously what they want us to do, to waste our ammo on the small groups," A2 retorted. "There's also going to be scouts and infiltrators accompanying this vanguard. Find them and destroy them!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" the captain saluted. "But, what do you want us to do about the Neo-Machines currently on their way here?"
"I will take a force and deal with it myself," she replied, a hand brushing over the hilt of her weapon. She then turned away, sending out an update to the various forces in the camp as she requisitioned a group of infantry androids to join her, along with a few specialists.
By the time she reached the spot she'd ordered her team to assemble at, they were all waiting for her. Fifteen regular androids, and a trio of YoRHa stood at attention in front of her.
"4G, reporting for duty," a male model YoRHa android announced, saluting her as A2 approached. He was willowy and had wavy blond hair. He had a massive anti-material rifle strapped to his back, while a Type-C Missile POD hovered behind him.
"12G, reporting in!" This YoRHa unit was also male, but far more feminine in appearance with his silver hair in a ponytail. He too had a giant anti-tank rifle with him. A rare Type-B Laser POD bobbed up and down next to his head.
"6F, here!" a gruff voice called out. This android was burly and had a cigar sticking out of his mouth, which he chewed on. His weapons were a pair of modified Type-3 Fists with grenade launcher modifications. He also had a POD, but it was a regular Type-A Gatling POD. It was sitting on his head, like an odd hat.
"I am A2. White has assigned me as the YoRHa liaison to this region. And right now, you lot are going to accompany me to the front lines. A Machine vanguard force is approach. We are going to destroy it to prevent the artillery from wasting its ammo on them," A2 informed the androids as she looked over them. "Any questions?"
"How?" 6F asked.
"Mines. Lots of mines," she replied. The F-type YoRHa unit grinned widely.
"I think we will get along nicely!" he declared happily.
"Come along, now. We don't have a lot of time to prepare for the vanguard's arrival," she said, and strode out of the compound. Her team followed behind her a second later, making their way towards the front lines.
Heading down Highway Route 10, between San Bernadino National Forest to the north and Mount San Jacinto State Park to the south, they found a spot between crumbling buildings to lay their trap.
As A2 had warned, they only had a few minutes, and the androids scrambled to plant all the mines down the road the Neo-Machine forces were approaching. Soon, the rumble of tank treads grinding up asphalt could be heard, and A2 gestured at her squad.
"Scatter, and take your places!" A2 ordered. The soldiers disappeared into nearby buildings, while the G-types retreated further away. Meanwhile, 6F hunkered down behind a big pile of rubble while A2 remained standing right out in the open, patiently waiting for the enemy to arrive.
After a moment, the Neo-Machines were visible, unknowingly marching towards the minefield. After a moment, they slowed down as they came closer, confused by the audaciousness of a single gynoid standing in front of them, barring their way.
"You will not take another step further," she declared, drawing her blade. Faith glinted in the headlights of the Neo-Machines, flashing a deadly silver.
The enemy did not stop their advance, and A2 just smirked. "Now!" she uttered, and up ahead, the road disappeared amidst rolling explosions as multiple mine fields were remotely detonated.
Machine parts went flying, along with plenty of rubble from the ruined street, and without waiting another second, A2 darted forward, 6F hot on her heels.
They slammed into the Neo-Machines without mercy. Faith flashed, carving apart foes, while 6F crushed and smashed and shattered with every punch, while also sending grenades flying.
From the builders along the road, the Terran Army soldiers she had brought with her opened fire with a volley of rockets to take out the tanks that had been damaged by the mines, putting them down. Then, they switched to firing their rifles, shooting down the fliers that'd been untouched by the ground-based explosions.
On a roof half a mile away, 4G and 12G took turns sniping, blowing apart any Neo-Machines that tried to push ahead past the whirlwind of death that was A2, as well as preventing any fliers from escaping.
"12G, what's the status of the enemy?" A2 demanded over the comms in a clipped tone a few minutes later.
12G couldn't help but be in awe of how effortlessly she tore through the Neo-Machines. Even while in the midst of raging combat she was able to speak calmly. If anything, she sounded disappointed in how weak the opponents were.
"Um, this is 12G, here," the Gunner-type android eventually managed to utter. "The vanguard is starting to retreat after you destroyed the last battle tank."
"Hmph! They're faster than the old models, but not nearly enough to be a threat," A2 declared.
"That's…" 12G didn't know what to say, so he trailed off. "What next, Ma'am?"
"Track down any Neo-Machines that escaped," A2 ordered. "A few Flickers got past, and they'll be able to wreak havoc behind our lines if we don't find them."
"Understood," 12G nodded.
"What?" 12G demanded, looking at 4G.
"Nothing," his friend replied, though a smarmy smirk on his face told 12G that it was not, in fact, nothing.
"I just admire her combat skills, okay?!" 12G protested. "Nothing else!"
"Yeah, you certainly admired her backside," 4G snorted.
"Warning: This unit recommends partner 12G to delete his infatuation files with unit A2," 12G's POD spoke up, causing 4G to cackle.
"This unit also recommends unit 12G cease romantic protocols against unit A2," 4G's POD chimed in.
"HA! Even the PODs can see it!" 4G laughed.
"This suggestion is due to the fact that unit A2 is currently married to King 42 The Elected, overseer of the Node," 12G's POD added, causing both androids to look at it in bewilderment.
"Pardon?" 4G asked, laughter gone.
"She's married?" 12G uttered, depressed.
"Correct," 4G's POD confirmed.
"Whoever this 42 guy is, he's one lucky android," 4G muttered, before picking up his sniper rifle. "Alright, let's move out. We've got other Machines to destroy before the day is over."
12G nodded, still morose, and they leapt off the rooftops. However, as they did, they noticed a strange shimmering flash of light down in a nearby alleyway.
"Miss A2?" 4G muttered into his comms. "We found a Flicker. Sending coordinates."
"Don't let it escape," A2 ordered. "I'll be there momentarily."
4G and 12G shared a look, and nodded firmly as they quickly got out their rifles. They didn't bother trying to use their scopes on the enemy. That would be foolish. Flickers were all but invisible to the naked eye and they could scramble electronics until their holo-projectors were damaged.
The Gunners crouched down, keeping a close eye on the enemy as it slunk through the alleyways, hidden from view as it did so.
Maso was bullshit, as more than one person has claimed. And it was. A strange exotic particle that could do seemingly anything, including break physics over its knee.
In the days before the extinction of humanity, Las Vegas remained a popular resort, and in the waning days, one of the last refuges. It served as a command headquarters for the American branch of the Hamelin Organization and later the Gestalt Project.
One of its more popular attractions led it to be known as Night City in the distant future. And that, was the invention of holograms. These lightshows dazzled all who visited the city, and even when the last of mankind fell, the androids – and later replicants – continued to be amazed by them.
And then some mad genius (though 'genius' was debatable) decided to see what would happen when you combined maso with holographic projectors.
Maso plus holograms resulted in the creation of Hardlight, which was still being researched by YoRHa to this day. Solid projections of light, strong enough for an android to sit on comfortably, weightless due to being made of hardened particles of energy, and quite versatile. It was an incredible discovery and invention.
Of course, it wasn't just the androids who figured out how to use Hardlight, either. The Machines had done so as well, giving birth to the insidious Flickers of Night City, Machine Lifeforms upgraded with hologram projectors in place of energy weapons, creating Hardlight constructs and illusions able to fool the sensors of an android or POD.
Insidious infiltrators and ambush units, Flickers were the reason Night City was regarded as the worst assignment in all of the Nightlands.
A2 soon appeared, charging towards the barely noticeable shimmer in the air, sword lashing out.
Faith cut through the air, and space around the blade parted, fading and crackling like static as a holographic barrier was revealed and subsequently destroyed.
"Hmph," A2 sneered as the illusion fell away, revealing a completely black Neo-Machine. In addition to its variant color scheme, it had curious, bulky shoulder pauldrons covered in camera lenses. These flashed, and soon a new hologram was created, surrounding the Flicker unit.
Hardlight blades appeared in the air around the Neo-Machine, eerily similar to the maso-formed blades a POD program created, and lashed out. They were incredibly sharp, cutting through concrete and steel with contemptuous ease.
However, they were also immensely fragile, the Hardlight blades shattering after each hit they made.
"Come now, this isn't very fun," A2 sneered as she effortlessly dodged the attacks. "If you want to harm me, you'll have to do better!"
This seemed to anger the Flicker, as its eyes flashed red, and it summoned more Hardlight weapons. However, they emerged from the ground, piercing upwards like spikes.
Of course, this trick was nothing for A2, as she leapt up over them. And as A2 leapt up, she did a flip in mid-air, flying over the Flicker before landing on its shoulders. She then clenched her thighs together and twisted, ripping the Neo-Machine's head clean off its shoulders with nothing but her legs.
"It put up a better fight then I thought," A2 said, the highest praise she'd ever give a Machine, and tossed its head into the air before slicing it in half with Faith, completely destroying it and making sure Purple Athena didn't receive any more combat data.
"…Damn. I'll say it again! That 42 fellow is really, really lucky," 4G muttered, eyes wide. 12G nodded, his jaw on the floor.
Meanwhile, the PODs beeped, and saved a clip of the fight, before sending it off to a very special site.
And far off in the Node, 42, resplendent upon his plastic throne, received the video clip the PODs had recorded. And he had only one thing to say.
"Thicc."
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Author's Note:
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