April 16th
The Empire and all its followers were dead men walking.
Sitting at the table in the war room was not something I had expected so soon in my career, but all I could think about was how I was going to end those parasites. This wasn't hyperbole it was simple fact. By targeting Dinah, Coil had made himself a target for a bunch of Protectorate heroes and some affiliated independents. There was a rule: you don't go after capes in their civilian identities, or their families. Even the most unscrupulous gangs and villains tended to respect that rule, not out of a misplaced sense of kinship or morals, but because the price for breaking it wasn't worth paying.
That rule was enforced with violence. The villain and their crew would be turned into an example a deterrent for any upstart who wanted to make a splash, and for any wannabe copycat. Now, with the ABB, or rather Bakuda, since she was the only one left, attacking my apartment and some other heroes' homes, they would be made an example just like Coil. This would be a show of force, and it could easily be directed at the Empire.
I couldn't imagine Piggot and Armsmaster having nearly forty heroes under their command and not using that force to take the Empire down. If I leaked the Empire capes' names, that would practically cement the decision. Who knew, maybe I'd even get to take a bite out off Keiser personally. Hell even if it is just to see if it might net me a ticket.
The only question was when.
A meeting was happening in the war room to decide that. At the head of the table sat Director Piggot; to her right was Armsmaster, and I was seated to his right. The rest of the table was filled with representatives of the thirty-four heroes who'd arrived in Brockton Bay after word spread that someone had broken the unspoken rules, alongside Lady Photon, who represented New Wave.
Ten people were present in the room. So far we'd gone over basic topics ,who was present, what they could do,what assets we had, and so on. Under normal circumstances, this would have been handled through the PRT's internal communications network, but with Coil having his claws sunk deep into the PRT and the need for secrecy, that wasn't an option.
During the ABB's attack on the PRT headquarters, Mouse Protector had already revealed herself in the city. The official cover story was that she'd moved to the Bay to visit an old colleague, Miss Militia; as a nomadic hero, the story passed with the public. According to WATCHDOG, Coil didn't buy it.
"According to WATCHDOG member Sibyl, the odds that Coil expects a coordinate in the next three days are blue, whereas the odds in the day that follows the three-day mark increase to purple," Director Piggot told the silent room. "And according to Fargo, the bombings committed by Bakuda form a net that indicates she and Coil are cooperating to some extent,at least sharing information and resources."
I looked around at the masked faces of the industry veterans. All of them, bar Mouse Protector, wore serious expressions. It didn't take a genius to understand the danger a bomb tinker posed when paired with a thinker of Coil's caliber, let alone someone as callous and megalomaniacal as Bakuda. And yet they seemed determined to face the two of them.
"Based on this intel, we will strike on April 19th," Director Piggot continued in a voice as solid as steel. "Armsmaster will lead a team composed of Animo, Cyther, Gaster and some of our Wards to track down and neutralize Bakuda. We have confirmed that Coil has multiple local villains on his payroll. As such, multiple smaller strike forces will be sent out to intercept and prevent them from interfering with the assault on Coil's headquarters."
At that moment it became obvious what the director was planning. She already knew about Coil's ability to simulate alternate timelines and choose between them; she planned to force him to discard the timeline in which the PRT directly attacked his base. Once Coil discarded that option, he could be arrested in his civilian identity. Or at least, that was what I inferred from her briefing, though it was likely she had more information via WATCHDOG that could change the plan.
Standing up, Armsmaster took that as his cue to take over. The war room fell silent but for the faint hum of electronics. From his halberd, a small flash of light burst outward before a holographic projection shimmered into view above the table, four angled screens, each facing a different side so no one missed a detail. The faint blue glow painted the faces of those seated, washing the steel walls in ghostly light.
On the screens appeared two figures: one wearing the iconic armor of Master Chief from Halo , the other dressed like the Doomguy from the old Doom games.
"Due to time constraints, I'll be keeping this brief," Armsmaster began, his voice precise and commanding, carrying the clipped edge of a man who didn't waste a syllable. "Uber and Leet are a duo of video game themed villains confirmed to be working under Coil. The pair consists of a Thinker who can perfectly master a single skill at a time, and a Tinker without any particular specialization. A detailed report will be sent to Strike Team Grazer, who will be tasked with their apprehension."
The projection flickered, shifting to show a lineup, Dauntless, Aegis, a blond man in a blue costume I didn't recognize, and Mouse Protector. The latter hissed out a triumphant "Yes!" under her breath, her grin audible even through her mask. Armsmaster ignored her entirely, expression unreadable behind his helmet.
"Strike Team Grazer, consisting of Dauntless, Gamma Jack, Mouse Protector, and Aegis, with Dauntless as team leader, will strike at exactly 12:36."
The hologram changed again, now displaying an overhead satellite view of an old warehouse.
"This is St. Arc Street," Armsmaster continued, his tone as steady as the soft mechanical whir of his halberd's projector. "It has been confirmed as the current hideout of Uber and Leet. You are to engage once sufficient distance between the villains and their base has been achieved. Further operational details will be distributed to your team shortly."
The image flickered again, this time revealing a massive, hulking figure surrounded by vapor.
"The Case-53 known as Trainwreck operates out of the train yard," Armsmaster said, pausing briefly as the projection rotated, showcasing the villain's hulking, steam-belching form. "Trainwreck is a Tinker specializing in exoskeleton construction for personal use, and a minor Shaker capable of producing steam to power his creations. Assault, Battery, Frozone, and Shielder will form Strike Team Trumpet, with Frozone taking command. Engagement time is 12:40."
I frowned slightly, my gaze flicking between the names and faces on display. It struck me as odd for a cape who wasn't from the Bay to be leading the op. Wouldn't it make more sense to put someone familiar with both the villain and the city's layout in charge? Still, I didn't know much about Frozone's leadership capabilities. I knew he was a cryokinetic, but maybe he was more skilled at coordinating ambushes than Battery. Or maybe Armsmaster simply didn't trust Assault and Battery to lead.
The air in the room felt heavier. Each click of the projector and each pause between briefings pressed against the silence like a weight.
My musings were cut short when the projection shifted once again. Now, five figures appeared on the screen , a broad-shouldered man in motorcycle leathers with a skull motif on his helmet, a blonde in a black and purple bodysuit with a domino mask, a boy wearing a crown and a theater mask, a long-haired girl with a spiderlike mask, and another girl with a collar and a dog mask.
The Undersiders consisting of its core members; Grue, Tattletale, Regent, Skitter, and Bitch.
"The Undersiders are a recently formed group of small-time villains. Our intel confirms that Coil was directly responsible for their creation," Armsmaster stated, voice cool and clinical. "Consisting of two Masters, two Shakers, and a Thinker, they've proven to be not only highly mobile but extremely versatile."
He stepped slightly aside, his armor creaking softly, and let the projection shift again.
"As such, Strike Team Raptor has been composed of individuals who are equally agile and adaptable."
The hologram flickered, and new faces appeared.
First, the unmasked face of Lady Photon, serene and confident, her golden hair reflecting the light of the projection. It made sense. She was both highly mobile and balanced in offense and defense; her energy beams and shields made her a perfect counter to Bitch and her dogs. I could see it clearly how she could hold the line alone if she had to though I still wasn't sure how she'd fare against Skitter's endless swarms.
Next came the green-and-white silhouette of Vista. The youngest Ward, but arguably one of the most tactically dangerous. Her ability to warp space could make escape virtually impossible and could completely nullify Grue's darkness fields. But even she had weaknesses ,Skitter's swarm could throw off her power due to its menton limit.
Then the final member appeared ,and my breath caught for a moment.
It wasn't a costumed figure this time. My own Changer form filled the screen: the white-and-pink-scaled draconic shape that I had started calling my Drake form. The sight of it projected for all to see made something twist in my stomach.
For a heartbeat, I felt a pulse of irrational anger. Were they planning on excluding me from the main assault on Coil's headquarters? They wouldn't dare… would they? I was the one who had exposed Coil in the first place. My mind bristled with a dozen indignant, angry thoughts selfish, unfiltered.
Then I forced myself to stop. No ,that was my ego talking again. This wasn't about me. It was about the mission. I'd told Armsmaster before that the Undersiders could be turned against Coil ,maybe that's exactly what this was.
I looked back at the screen and noticed something else: only three members. Three powerful, flexible capes , but still too few considering how many people we had at our disposal. Unless…
Unless Piggot and Armsmaster were planning something unorthodox. Something that wasn't meant to be in the official after-action reports. Something deniable.
"Strike Team Raptor will act at their own discretion, given the flexible nature of their target," Armsmaster declared, his voice steady as steel. "The team will be led by Falkor."
[Feat Achieved! – Get a temporary Codename!]
[Reward: +1 Golden Ability Gacha Ticket!]
The sound of my name snapped through the room like a spark. I felt every gaze turn toward me, heat prickling the back of my neck beneath the collar of my shirt . Before I could react, a gloved, metal hand settled heavily on my shoulder. Armsmaster didn't say a word ,the gesture said enough.
My eyes flicked across the table. Lady Photon was studying Armsmaster with a faint, quizzical frown but said nothing. The silence that followed was thick, humming with unspoken thoughts and the low thrum of tension that came when people realized the next step would change everything.
"The main force, Strike Team Snake Eater, will consist of the remaining heroes. Coil himself may be a Thinker, but under his command are highly trained ex-military men and women." The image shifted as Armsmaster spoke, this time showing men in gas masks and military fatigues, equipped with fully automatic rifles and an array of hand grenades. "Each of them is equipped with MP5s, most notably with a Toybox-made underbarrel attachment capable of producing a laser equivalent to a .50 caliber BMG. Fragmentation grenades and Bakuda's bombs are also expected to be commonplace in their equipment."
Armsmaster continued, his voice steady and authoritative. "It is our highest priority to ensure minimal casualties. As such, a detailed plan has been developed with the help of WATCHDOG to ensure this. The core principle of our strategy consists of dividing Strike Team Snake Eater into modular sub-teams. Each of these teams will have a balanced composition of offensive, defensive, and area-denial capabilities, with each team capable of replacing members when deemed necessary."
The war room listened intently to each of Armsmaster's words. Everyone had their own motivations for coming to Brockton Bay. Some came out of principle ,to send a message not to mess with the family of heroes. Others came because they owed favors to the heroes of Brockton Bay. And yet others came simply in the hope of gaining some positive media attention once this was all over. Still, they all listened closely to one of the most accomplished heroes in the United States as he described, in intricate detail, what they and their colleagues would be doing in three days.
They listened for over two hours before leaving, set to return in two days. In the end, the room was empty except for three people: the Director of the local PRT branch, Emily Piggot; the leader of the Protectorate ENE, Armsmaster; and lastly, a Ward who had yet to even receive a costume.
[Feat Achieved! – Partake as a Ward in the Planning of a Large scale Vilain Raid !]
[Reward: +2 Silver Trait Gacha Ticket!]
Looking at the visor of Armsmaster's helmet, I spoke up. "So, I'm guessing there's a reason why I was given command of Strike Team Raptor?" My words echoed slightly in the nearly empty room.
"You would be right, Falkor," Director Piggot spoke up instead of the bearded hero. "Your stationing as leader serves three purposes. Firstly, it is part of our efforts to help you gain more tickets. I am assuming this has been a fruitful attempt already?"
I nodded. "I have received three in total during the meeting ,two silver and a golden one," I said, holding up three fingers. "I haven't used them yet. I've been saving them ever since the attack at the PRT headquarters." I paused for a moment before adding, preemptively, "I currently have fourteen in total, varying in rarity and type."
The director nodded before speaking again. "That is good to hear, especially for the people at the power testing department. Now, let me return to why you were given the position we assigned you. The second reason is due to your mentioning that the Undersiders could potentially be recruited, or at the very least turned against Coil. And as you are in possession of private information regarding some of the members of the Undersiders, we are hoping that you would be willing to attend to this. Which brings me to the third reason, you already had, let's just say, an explosive debut as a Ward. And it is common practice, after a hero gains positive momentum in the media, to continue it as much as possible. If your mission is successful, you will not only be the Ward to take down a major villain but also save other parahumans he forced into villainy. The odds are that you could make it to the international stage before…" she trailed off.
"Before what exactly?"
"The Chief Director wants to have you taken under the guidance of one of the Triumvirate ,that is, if you are willing, of course."
I took in a sharp breath. I had already suspected this would happen. After all, it made sense, not only to give your silver bullet to be special treatment but also the best training. And having a member of Cauldron nearby most of the time didn't hurt either. Not that I had any objections. After all, if they wanted to, either Contessa or Eidolon could just make me listen to them. It was in my best interest to cooperate not only to keep my freedom but also to get the opportunities I needed for better tickets.
But that didn't mean I couldn't leverage this to my advantage.
"It would be an honor to be apprenticed to one of the Triumvirate," I said, not even bothering to hide the implication in my tone, "but I can't imagine leaving this city with the Empire still around."
I didn't need to, after all. Armsmaster had a lie detector in his helmet, and the Director was more than familiar with politics like this. The Director let out a sigh. "Falkor, do you perhaps have information regarding the civilian identities of the Empire's capes?"
I gave a short but enthusiastic nod, not bothering to hide my shit-eating grin.
The Director massaged the bridge of her nose before saying, somewhat shaken, "We… we will have this conversation at a later date. But before I take my leave, I should inform you that the head of Image, Mr. Chambers, will meet you tomorrow at 8 p.m., and that the power testing team is hoping to meet with you in room 373-C."
I simply nodded as the Director took her leave, then turned to Armsmaster. "Any use out of the metal I gave you, sir?"
The bearded hero turned toward me and nodded. "It has proven itself to be quite a versatile material. Currently, I am contemplating whether to design a new armor using the Aerolite or to use it to create a compact mobility device and incorporate the rest into my halberd. I do believe that it would be ideal for a high-speed flight system, but at the same time, its durability alongside its minimal weight makes it ideal for a new armor."
I nodded along as the older hero spoke. Then an idea struck me. "While I can't offer a solution to your conundrum, I do have an idea. How about you accompany me to power testing, sir? The odds are that I could get something along the lines of the Aerolite bars. If that's the case, wouldn't it be better for you to be there instead of making a decision now?" I asked.
The hero gave a nod of agreement. So together, we headed toward room 373-C.
The inside of room 373-C was sparsely decorated, utilitarian in a way that spoke of function over comfort. On the far left wall hung a clock and a simple calendar ,the only touches of personality in an otherwise sterile environment. The rest of the space was bare, a handful of desks and chairs pushed aside to clear an open area in the center.
Armsmaster and I were greeted by two people dressed in semi-formal attire: a blonde man with glasses and a pale-skinned woman whose black, wavy hair framed a sharp, attentive face.
"Hello, sir. You must be Falkor." The woman extended her hand, and I took it, her grip firm and businesslike. The exchange of pleasantries was brief; none of us seemed the type to waste time on them if we didn't have to.
The blonde man ,Noah Kuttler, as he'd introduced himself, clapped his hands lightly. "Alright then, let's get straight to business. Falkor, you've claimed that your power functions as a sort of raffle, correct? One that uses tickets of varying categories and values?"
"Pretty much," I replied. "Though I'd say it's closer to a slot machine than a raffle."
Kuttler nodded, as did his colleague, Lavendel. "Are you aware of how many tickets of each type you currently possess?" she asked, her tone calm but curious.
I exhaled slowly, then began listing them. "At the moment, I have two of each of the following: Platinum Random Gacha Tickets, Silver Familiar Gacha Tickets, Silver Random Gacha Tickets, and Silver Trait Gacha Tickets. And one of each of these: a Bronze Random Gacha Ticket, a Silver Ability Gacha Ticket, a Golden Trait Gacha Ticket, an Advantage Silver Random Gacha Ticket, a Silver Skill Gacha Ticket, and a Golden Ability Gacha Ticket."
The pair exchanged a brief glance, the subtle flicker of mutual understanding passing between them before they turned back to me.
"We should probably start with the Familiar tickets," Kuttler said, his voice steady, professional,but tinged with the faint anticipation of someone about to witness something truly out of the ordinary.
Simply nodding I gave the mental command to use all Familar tickets.
Silver Familiar Gacha TicketSilver Familiar Gacha Ticket
"Nice, I got a Wyvern and a massive swarm of rabbit shikigami." I said. " what should we role next?"
"How about the Trait tickets?
Golden Trait Gacha TicketSilver Trait Gacha TicketSilver Trait Gacha Ticket
I stopped dead. Then I reread the descriptions once again. "Fuck. " came the whisper out of my mouth.
"What is it" asked Kuttler" did something go wrong?"
I shook my head. "No. No it's quite the opposite actually, I just got the ability to give out my tickets." I said with a grin. This was great news in my eyes as it meant that I had the option to enhance my allies instead of needing to get into ever escalating situations to gain a ticket after I used one I could give away some so I could stay at the right level to farm higher grade tickets with relatively low risks.
And if I went by the looks that were being exchanged I wasn't the only one thinking this.
"I will tell the director." Said Armsmaster with a tone that I could not quite place.