The Spectres were quiet as they trudged back to Plymouth HQ. Aidan was seething beneath the blood-drenched facade of his helmet. He stormed into the reception area and found the receptionist cowering beneath her desk. He ignored the woman and entered the elevator off to the side. His team filed in after him and took it to the top floor.
As they stepped out, Aidan gave his orders. "Get clean and changed. Meet me in the executive conference room when you're done. I want Agano and all the Directors there as well."
"Roger," Guzman wearily answered.
The team went their separate ways, and Aidan entered his private quarters by pressing his palm on the door. The thick tumblers that secured the door to its duralloy frame would keep even the most enthusiastic enemy from entering. However, it swung open on silent hinges from the light touch of its owner.
He walked across the room and unsealed his helmet for the first time. He took a deep, calming breath of fresh air and placed his helmet in a dedicated receptacle in his ultrasonic equipment closet. Like a magician doing a magic trick, he unequipped his ABS and pulled it out of his inventory in one continuous motion. It was hung up underneath the helmet. Finally, he took his rifle out of his inventory and stashed that in the closet as well. With everything stowed, he closed the closet door and pressed a small button on the outside. The entrance sealed, and ultrasonic vibrations caused the dirt, grime, and blood to evaporate off his equipment.
While his gear was being restored, Aidan placed his skin suit in his inventory and stepped into a more traditional shower. It was just as industrial as the rest of the building—built more for function than comfort—but Aidan didn't care. He wanted to call down before speaking to the rest of Plymouth HQ. It would only hurt his own authority and leadership skills to walk in there and berate them. Especially when, if Aidan was honest with himself, it wasn't their fault in the first place.
As steaming hot water ran down his body and washed away the sweat and grime from battle, the envoy looked at the horde of system messages resulting from the PLA firefight.
As he peered through them all, he asked Astra to average the levels and reduce the number of casualty notifications while presenting the correct amount of experience gained. Otherwise, the varied levels of the PLA soldiers would result in fifty or more separate messages. He also consolidated the skill messages into one line each. Once that was done, the information became more manageable.
Stealth has increased to level 25! You have earned 125 experience.
Athletics has increased to level 29! You have earned 145 experience.
Discipline has increased to level 28! You have earned 140 experience.
Targeting has increased to level 30! You have earned 150 experience.
Medium Armor has increased to level 30! You have earned 150 experience.
Small Arms has increased to level 31! You have earned 155 experience.
Light Weapons has increased to level 25! You have earned 125 experience.
Psionics has increased to level 36! You have earned 180 experience.
Telekinesis has increased to level 32! You have earned 160 experience.
Leadership has increased to level 25! You have earned 125 experience.
AI Operations has increased to level 35! You have earned 175 experience.
Hand-to-Hand has increased to level 28! You have earned 140 experience.
(181x) Lvl 30 Human Soldiers slain. Group Experience earned: 48,644
You have earned 48,644 experience.
(9x) Lvl 35 Elite Human Soldiers slain. Group Experience earned 4,838
You have earned 4,838 experience.
(18x) Lvl 25 Human Pilots slain. Group Experience earned 3,150
You have earned 3,150 experience.
Congratulations! You have reached level 15. You have twelve free attribute points to assign.
Even with the commander's ability to take group experience for himself, he was still quite a ways off from being the same level as his team. However, he had definitely passed them as far as attributes were concerned. His stacking attribute bonuses meant he could go toe-to-toe with opponents that exceeded him by at least ten levels. That wasn't a tiny gap at all.
He wanted to inspect his character sheet, but the commander knew that the rest of HQ would already be waiting for him. With that in mind, he closed his notifications, turned off the shower, and toweled off. Before leaving the room, he retrieved his equipment and put it back on. He stowed his rifle and helmet in his inventory where they belonged and then exited the room.
Yanovna was waiting for him outside the door.
"You alright, Commander?" She checked.
Aidan was surprised to see the genuine concern on the face of the usually stoic woman. He must've been acting strange to elicit such a response from the shadow trooper. He put on a smile before answering.
"I'm fine. It's annoying to be punched in the nose in our own backyard, but we'll get our revenge. I'm more concerned about what the brass will think back on Earth."
Yanonva nodded her understanding. "They would be stupid to replace you. We only have an HQ to call home because of you. Had we been attacked in our tent city, we could've been collared by kobolds and then suffered permadeaths. Instead, everyone respawned in the underground logistics space."
Aidan only shrugged. "I hope the powers that be see it that way too."
Conversation seemingly over, they both turned and set off toward the executive conference room.
"Thanks, Nikita." Aidan quietly said.
"I've always got your back, Commander." She answered.
When Aidan entered the room, Guzman called "Attention on Deck," and the Directors all stood to attention.
"At ease," Aidan said gently before taking his seat at the head of the table. Everyone else followed suit while the Spectres took defensive positions around the room. The only exception to the military protocol was Agano, who leaned against the wall with her arms crossed. She looked bored despite the crisis that had just befallen the camp.
Aidan's first order of business to was to figure out what they had lost. He turned to the blonde-haired Ostlund and asked for a casualty report.
"Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, we had no permadeaths in the camp personnel. However, we did have about twenty scientists, and researchers get their levels cut in half."
Aidan frowned. That didn't sting as much as he had expected. It would've been a more dire situation if the combat classes had lost their levels. However, the noncombatants relied more on their skills rather than their levels. The drop in attributes would lower their productivity, but it wouldn't endanger the camp more than it already was.
He looked over at Kuhar. "I expect them to be on patrol until they recover their lost levels."
"You got it, Commander," the man replied before making a note in his datapad.
Authority increased to level 26! You have earned 130 experience.
He saw that Cooper had also made a notation. She was undoubtedly adjusting her plans for how the missing engineers would be accounted for in their areas of research.
With that problem settled, Aidan turned to Gray. "Don't worry, Gray. I'm not going to blame you for not expecting transport craft with four times our number in combatants." Aidan tried to assure the man before issuing his orders.
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"However, I want to know the purpose of their raid beyond the obvious. I also want a full report written and sent to Marsh on the other side. I will need to personally report to him, but I want him to have the facts before I arrive."
Gray nodded his head. "I'll have the report finished before you log out, Commander. As for the purpose of the mission, I don't think it was anything more than the obvious. They clearly didn't know about the changes to the camp. Nor were they aware of the gear your Spectres were equipped with. Otherwise, they would've sent more heavy hitters."
Authority increased to level 27! You have earned 135 experience.
"How did they get into Smith's prison in the first place?" Aidan wondered.
Gray shrugged. "They were able to track her somehow. My people and Diaz's people are still working out the details. They came down through the freight elevator and blew a hole in the ceiling to drop into her cell. They were in and out so quickly that they had to have known where they were going."
Aidan nodded. "I saw a squad of them that looked like super-sized kobolds. The Spectres just returned from a mission where we stumbled upon kobold hybrids, but they were half the size of our attackers."
"We have footage from our TODs that showed us the same, Commander. I already got the footage over to Pierre's people to analyze what they are and how they function."
Aidan steepled his fingers and thought about the situation for a few minutes. Finally, he looked up at their new Director of Strategic Planning. "What do you think we should do next, Cooper?"
The woman looked down at her datapad and made a few gestures before replying. "After a preliminary analysis, Commander, we should strike back. The Washington brass will likely order the same, so I think we should pre-empt their instructions."
She was relaxed and confident, and Aidan wondered where she was getting her confidence to strike back. The Chinese were on the other side of the supercontinent, almost at the very edge of the western coast. Their own faction didn't have the means to strike back at them.
Wait…the commander finally put the pieces together.
"We downed nine of their transports," Aidan guessed. "We're going to put them back into service and take the fight to them."
Authority increased to level 28! You have earned 140 experience.
"Close," Cooper admitted. "However, we don't have the resources to put all of them back together. Time is of the essence, and Smith's value drops drastically the longer she's with the Chinese." The strategist gestured to the head of their R and D. "I'll let Dr. Pierre explain further."
The scientist nodded his thanks and swiped at his datapad. A hologram was emitted from the table, revealing a floating schematic of a Y-3A transport craft.
"Based on footage from our drones, the enemy craft still uses carbon-based fuel and thermal propulsion. It's loud, inefficient, and likely doesn't have the range to return to the PRC base."
Pierre made another gesture on his datapad, and the wireframe nacelles were removed, which made the vehicle look like a Marine landing vessel. After that, he added double-barreled laser turrets on either side of the ramp and two smaller protrusions that extended from either side of the craft like stubby wings. At the center of the wings were two engines that looked significantly more advanced than the PRC versions.
"What are those?" Aidan asked while pointing at the wings.
"Gravitic engines," Pierre answered. "Instead of using normal means of propulsion, engines manipulate the field of gravity around them to move the craft from areas of low gravity to high gravity. Having two of them allows the ship to move in 3D space."
Aidan's eyebrows raised at the concept. "We can make something like that?"
"We couldn't before getting our hands on the Progenitor observation drones," Pierre answered. "Miniaturized gravity manipulators are what keep the orb floating in the air. Using similar technology on an aircraft would allow it to fly in the atmosphere or space. It's also almost silent. There's only a low hum to betray its presence in the sky."
Aidan was impressed. He sat back in his chair and studied the new design. "How long will it take to get it finished?"
"I can have it done in twenty-four hours, Commander," Pierre stated confidently. Aidan nodded and turned to Agano, who was also studying the hologram.
"Agano, I want that new equipment and weapons for the Spectres before we leave."
The engineer clicked her tongue before asking. "You want me to deliver those items five days earlier than I said I could?"
"You said you were the best," Aidan shrugged.
The engineer shared a look with Pierre. The R and D director nodded his head in her direction. Aidan assumed they had been working on the project together since the Japanese woman had said armor wasn't her forté.
"We'll have it done, Commander." The engineer promised.
Authority increased to level 29! You have earned 145 experience.
Diplomacy increased to level 8! You have earned 40 experience.
"Great," Aidan said before slapping the table.
"Final thing," the commander added, "the aircraft fits twenty people and two pilots. My Spectres and I are obviously going, but that leaves thirteen spots and two pilots to be filled. I want a group of saboteurs who can cripple the Chinese base while my team retrieves our wayward doctor. They need to be willing to die for the cause, because I'm not confident we can escape with Smith unless there's a big damn distraction."
Cooper was the first one to speak up. "Between Guzman, Ostlund, Gray, and I, I'm confident we can find a group that meets your specifications, Commander."
Authority increased to level 30! You have earned 150 experience.
"Perfect," Aidan said while rising to his feet. As he did so, the rest of the room stood up. "At ease, everyone. Agano, with me," Aidan ordered as he exited the room.
Agano and Nikita followed him outside the chamber while the others remained inside to hash out the details of the assault.
"What did you want me for, Commander?" Agano asked as soon as the door closed behind them.
Aidan reached into his inventory and fished out the psionic focus engram he had received early that day. He gave it to Agano, who studied it curiously.
"Is there anything you can do with that?" He asked. "We got it for killing a kobold chieftain who could bring dead bodies back to life."
Agano was quiet as she sifted through the information contained in the engram. "Commander, there's a lot I can do with this." She finally said with a wide grin. "This is the missing piece I needed to build those localized psi shield emitters and psionic weapons you wanted. It basically converts non psionic types of energy into psionic power. It can also boost existing psionic energy by augmenting it with other types."
The engineer was lost in the engram and mumbling things to herself. "I might even be able to create an implant that allows normal humans to utilize psionic powers in limited ways," she muttered.
Aidan's eyebrows rose. "What could we do with that?"
This time it was Nikita who answered. "I'd like to be able to convince people that I'm not there." The shadow trooper tapped a finger against her lips in thought.
"Or use it to interrogate people and then erase their memories of the event." Her black eyes met Aidan's own. "I could probably write a list of abilities that would be useful for each team member and work well together."
Aidan nodded, "Please do, and get it over to Agano."
The envoy realized that he had probably been slacking in his psionic development. He wouldn't have the same restrictions that the rest of his team had, so there was no reason he couldn't take the list Nikita provided and use it as a roadmap for his own development. These skills would be the weapon separating his Spectres from ordinary warriors.
Without another word, Agano drifted away into her world of schematics and data. Aidan turned the opposite way and headed to the comm room on the same floor. He needed to log out and report to Marsh, but he had an important matter to attend to. He entered the room and found one of Diaz's people manning the comm station.
"Commander," the man greeted before standing at attention. "At ease," Aidan said. "I need to use the comms to talk to the gnome council. Can you send them a request to talk, please?"
"At once, Commander."
The two men waited before a connection was established between Aidan and Stalakmitzl. It was Lord Telwubitack who personally answered the comm requisition.
"Greetings, Lord Telwubitack."
"Greetings, Commander Steele." The lord answered. "I heard that you suffered a defeat today."
"A minor one, I assure you," Aidan replied. "We traded two hundred and eight of their people for about seventy of our own. We also captured nine of their aircraft."
"That is a good trade," the gnome admitted.
"I wanted to reach out and ask if any of your people had been injured in the chaos?" Aidan asked.
"Fortunately, nothing serious. However, I'm concerned about the safety of my people if they choose to visit Camp Plymouth."
"I'll admit it was a well-timed attack, Lord Telwubitack. We've had explosive growth over the last week because of your help. Had the attack come sooner, we may have well been destroyed. We could've repelled it completely if it had arrived in another couple of weeks. In fact, we're planning a return strike in little more than twenty-four hours. We're going to eliminate the ability for our enemies to make a strike like this again."
"I believe in you, Commander Steele." The lord assured him. "I feel somewhat guilty that we have several of your defenders stationed in the village."
Aidan could sense the Lord's hesitation and concern. He worried that Aidan was calling to request that his troops return.
"I think the result would have been much the same if they had been here or not, Lord." Aidan consoled the man.
"I only called to make sure your people were okay and wonder when they would be returning to help us continue fortifying the camp," Aidan said. "We couldn't have made so much progress without them, and I'll need their help in light of the recent attack."
"Of course," the gnome sounded relieved. "I'll ensure they're back at your Camp tomorrow morning."
"Speaking of which," the Lord continued. "A clan has approached me to ask about permanently relocating to Camp Plymouth."
Aidan frowned before exploring the topic. "Why would they want to do that? Wouldn't that be almost ten percent of your entire population?"
"Actually, no." The gnome answered. "Since you've visited, there's been an explosion of growth in the village. We're practically the size of a town now, and it's getting crowded. With the explosion of trade with your people, a horde of smaller gnome clans has relocated to Stalakmitzil to seek out their fortunes. The city is awash with the sounds of mining equipment and refining foundries."
"I'm not sure about that," Aidan finally admitted. "I would need to talk to my council to see how we could make such a thing happen. Plus, the clan couldn't be an independent entity. They would need to join my faction, and I don't know what the ramifications would be from something like that."
"I understand," the gnome said, and Aidan knew that the other man did. He had his own council and political concerns to navigate. Moreso, gnome politics were far more complicated than human ones.
"I've got to report the attack to my own leadership." Aidan offered. "I'll bring up the topic while I'm doing that, and I'll call again once we're back from our own strike on our adversary."
"Thanks, Commander," the gnome lord said. "If you can accept the gnome clan, you will be doing me a favor."
"Which clan is it?" Aidan asked.
"One you're familiar with, the Azapazils." Lord Telwubitcak replied.
"I see," Aidan said. "Well, we can talk more about it later. Thanks for your time, Lord Telwubitack."
"Likewise," the gnome replied before the communication ended. Aidan sighed before leaving the comm room. He had delayed enough. It was time to go get his ass chewed by Marsh.