I have to say, upgrading the military with better equipment shouldn't be this troublesome.
Although the Titan Corp I created produced amazing vehicles far in advance of the competition, and made from titanium instead of flimsy aluminum or rust-able steel, half of the Pentagon and 90% of Congress opposed the new procurement as unnecessary and untested.
As if my designs at over 100 Tech Use Skills could compared to the mostly outdated equipment of the US Army and Navy.
Not to mention titanium had twice the durability of steel, and half the weight.
However, after investigating a bit, I figured out the reasons for the opposition, meaning lobby, bribery, corruption and other interests. And since I had Deimos obtain evidence and leak it into the press and media, dozens of Senators and Congressmen found themselves under investigation and impeachment, and several Generals court-martialed.
Soon after, a large government contract fell in my lap, by the grace of Barbara Gordon from the Treasury. Starting with 100 Titan frigates, then 1000 Valkyrie helicopters and 10000 Patton 3 IFVs plus 1 million Nomex suits for the infantry.
This contract meant a large expansion of Appletown, hiring 30000 more people and building new apartaments and other facilities.
Meanwhile the UEF had began conducting border controls in orbit and outer space, as more and more escorts ships from the Daxam fleet came online with crews and combat personnel, including 4 more Daxamites and a thousand people from NASA, DARPA and my Madagascar colony. Turns out, being able to go into space and travel on a real spaceship was a key motivation for many wide-eyed geeks at NASA and DARPA.
*Ding.
New quest received:
-Defeat the Extremists invasion.
-Save Laura_Neilsen
Laura Nielsen was also known as the Silver Sorceress, hailing from the world of Angor. A tall woman with white hair and an orange costume, she had advanced magic comparable to my own.
I just teleported at her side while she was battling a villain called Meanstreak , and lent her a discrete hand to ensure victory.
As she turned, Laura recognized me from the bad publicity I gained by murdering millions of alien invaders. "Grey Wizard! I'm thankful for your help." she murmured a bit flustered.
I simply held out my 3 love potions, now upgraded to their best version, Heal 3.9, Fortify 4.9 and Sage 5.9 .
"Those potions will improve your body and magic. But in exchange, I want you to join my UEF and defend Earth from invaders." I proposed in a gentle voice, while I teleported the defeated Meanstreak into a prison cell on board the Earth's Hope.
*Intimidation +1
*Persuasion +1
*Affection +1, 11/100
The Silver Sorceress picked of the hovering potions, and examined them curious. "They feel safe. Healing and magic." she whispered to herself.
I just waited patiently for her to drink my love juice and become my new friend.
*Affection +11, 23/100
*Affection +11, 34/100
*Affection +11, 45/100
My new friend with benefits. And she was also from another planet. At 90/100 actual effect, Laura would do anything sexual for me, anything at all. And be very happy doing it.
"What will happen to Meanstreak. Keep her in prison?" my Silver Sorceress asked in a compassionate voice.
"I know that girl. Used to call her Lemon when we were street kids. For her blonde-lemon hair..." I invented on the spot.
I could make myself a lemon if I wanted to. When life gives you mean girls, you can also turn them into lemons and make sweet lemonade with them.
"Ha! Lemon. It fits her outlook and personality. But now, I need to reach the the mobile island of Kooey Kooey Kooey, and rescue Mitch Wacky who was kidnapped by the Extremists." Laura pleaded in a worried voice, while also measuring me for a dick sandwich.
I think she can already split her mind two-ways. Not bad.
That alien guy was already dead, but sure. I teleported us on this island and instantly realized it was a sentient Locus, not a mere island.
The local polynesian people were already mind-controlled by the villains and shooting us with arrows...which did nothing.
Laura stared at an arrow which bounced from her naked belly. Because her orange suit had a large hole over the belly, of course. "That arrow might have killed me, without your potions..." she realized a bit too late.
Then a large android called Lord_Havok appeared, along with the leader of the Extremists called Dreamslayer.
I tried to abstain for laughing at his stupid appearance, so it only came out as a snort.
"Silver Sorceress! The final hour has come. My powers have grown beyond yours now, and no one can stop me!" the insane Angorian villain began to spout, while throwing the dead body of Mitch Wacky at his feet.
I was more interested in the android, which contained thousands of interesting inventions and alien technologies, giving it a whole suit of superpowers comparable to Superman. Maybe even stronger.
Before I even realized what I was doing, my spear appeared in hand and I stabbed the android twice in a millisecond, killing the heart and mind of Lord Havok and giving me an empty android body to play with, which I stored for now.
*Lord Havok killed. +10 all attributes. +5 Tech Use.
This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.
Laura had began fighting Dreamslayer, throwing various spells and energy constructs at him, with little effect. I mean, it served to increase my own library of spells, just like Dreamslayer's arsenal of powers and magic spells did.
"Please help me, Grey Wizard!" Laura begged as the villain was starting to overpower her.
Fine! I did also want to test my Book. Holding the Book in my other hand, I focused on the Dreamslayer and began draining his powers into me.
However before I could finish my evil plot, the Book vanished from my hand.
Thus, I stabbed the weakened Angorian invader with my Spear of Destiny instead. There was some weird dimensional shadow around him, but my Spear didn't care.
*Dreamslayer killed. + 100 to all attributes.
-Fate changed. Fate point received.
-minor Molecular Reconstruction received. Chemical bonds can be re-aligned at will, range 1 meter.
-planetary-range teleportation received.
-Telepathy upgraded. You can enforce your will on weak-minded people or animals.
-Flight speed upgraded.
*Affection +5, 50/100
*Laura Nielsen is available for sex. (*she cannot betray you anymore)
I stored my spear just as the Silver Sorceress jumped into my arms, relieved at having been rescued from certain death.
"You are so strong, Grey Wizard! If you want me, I will not only join your United Earth Fleet, but also...your bed." Laura exclaimed in an increasingly shy voice.
I just hugged my new alien sexy babe from outer space, and grinned inward. While the Monitor did backstab me just before I could match Dr. Manhattan, and stole the precious Book from me, I did get the basics of this new power.
My tech and my Miracles will become much better, as chemical bonds would simply reform at my will.
I also had 20 Great Radiance and 100 Lesser Radiance vials in storage, produced by the Book of Destiny, one of them the 8.3 version that didn't restore memories. It was a bit risky using the advanced 8.9 version on Peach, as it would muck up my family life and all the programming. And even riskier to use such a dangerous potion on a pregnant woman, so Peach will have to wait.
As my hands glided down on her toned bottom, I realized Laura was far too fragile for most types of sex. Magic was great, but she almost died from one arrow. Even 3 Deflection could stop an arrow.
"Laura, my sweet alien sorceress. You will have to endure some pain, and more of my potions before you can taste my magic dick properly. As for these arrow shooting people..." I mused to myself while I examined the primitive locals.
Primitive as in lacking tech, and fancy clothes, but they were great hunters and archers. My League of Assassins could train them even more, and then use them anywhere they needed.
"I don't mind some pain, if I can get stronger. And more durable..." Laura spoke in a clear voice, and eyed the milling locals with suspicion. They weren't aggressive now, since the mind-control had vanished.
"Indeed. I can make you as durable as Superman and upgrade your magic powers as well. But there are more Extremists around, and you're not ready yet. Deimos will provide you with quarters and armor on my cruiser." I explained and leaned in to steal a sweet kiss.
+Affection +1. 51/100
Yeah. Laura was now certainly under my spell. As I let go, my genie droid teleported her on board the cruiser, to begin training and other tests. Alien biology wasn't always safe around people, even if they looked human.
"Talia, come over and screen these people for recruits." I spoke on my comm, while heading deeper into the moving island to find the other invaders.
It didn't take long for a purple-haired woman to jump me with long claws glistening with poison.
Death_Angel seemed to be her villain name. I held my palm out, and allowed her claws to scrape me, hoping for something good. Didn't do anything to me, but it would murder any human easily.
She jumped backwards and landed on a tree branch, then examined me with wary eyes.
"Where is Dreamslayer?" She yelled, feeling intimidated by my calm presence.
"That guy? I killed him. Now...about you...little black angel. Will you serve me willingly, or do I have to break you first?" I asked a bit curious, just as Talia teleported next to me.
"I...I cannot fight you. Please don't kill me!" the Extremist assassin pleaded and knelt at my feet.
"Hmmm. Toxinkinesis via those claws? We could use a toxin maker for the League, Ra's al Ghul." Talia observed with a knowing look.
"Of course we could, Black Leader. But first we have to make our recruit a bit better." I added and took my 3 vials out for my willing prisoner.
"Eh? You giving her healing, durability and magic? Already?" Talia complained as I hovered the potions in front of my toxic angel.
"Her name will be Calli, from Callicarpa. You know those purple berries, right?" I asked with faint humor. Talia knew more about toxins than anyone alive.
"This Calli will serve you loyally, Ra's Al Ghul." the new toxic assassin offered and drank the potions in quick succession.
*Affection +33, 43/100.
*Death Angel (Calli) will accept oral sex now.
Oh. She was human, not an alien. I placed a hand on her head, and began inserting my telepathic tendrils, changing little things until something clicked. It helped that she didn't resist at all.
*Affection +60. 100/100. Calli will die for you now, and do anything else you want. (enforced)
Sadly, there was an invasion going on, thus hot make-up sex could wait. "Go you two. Find some worthy recruits among the locals." I pointed with my thumb towards the beach, and strolled forward without a care. Surely, there had to be more alien sexy babes trying to invade Earth.