Chapter 32: Asserting Dominance
Gabriel dismissed me and gave me a day to prepare for the upcoming battle.
If I was taking on another omnium, I would need a lot more EMP grenades and assault rifle clips.
They were developed in my bunker and just needed to be sent which meant I needed to request it from Abigaile back at the bunker.
"Abigaile, what's the ETA of the care package?"
"2 hours Alpha Brat."
I pause as she used the silly code names that S3bastian came up with.
"You can just call me Shawn and S3bastian by his own name."
"Not if you want to get fired. There's a human ejection system built into the bunker that will get rid of you the moment I press a button." S3bastian interjects on the radio.
"He's lying there's no such thing installed into the bunker like that." I reassure Abigaile.
"Ok. Let's just say your attention was elsewhere when it was installed. So don't call me Supreme Overlord and see what happens Blind Badger." He warns.
When he says that, I actually believe him.
"You're out of control S3bastian. Why do you do the things you do?"
"I didn't ask to be programmed like this dad."
After the evaluation, I was definitely punishing him if we survived.
"Wait, I thought I was Spec Groundhog? Now I'm Blind Badger?" Abigaile asks.
"Yeah, you got demoted due to Alpha Brat. Sorry not sorry."
He's lucky I didn't have time to deal with his antics as I needed to come up with a sound strategy as I was the team leader for this assault.
There was five hours before I had to be on the stratoscopter, which provided plenty of time to come up with a plan.
"Abigaile, can you pull up the blueprints for the Rochester Omnium?" I ask.
"Right away Shaw... erm Alpha Brat."
A schematic of the Omnium pulls up and I can see why New York is struggling against so many Omnics.
This facility had twice as much productivity space as the one in California.
Which meant it probably could count as two facilities rather than one.
Judging from the schematics, there was probably two separate power cores operating within the building.
Time travels fast when you're plotting so five hours arrived quick as I had the structure of a plan.
I was still thinking about some last second things about my plan when I bumped into someone.
It was like crashing into a wall as the person didn't move but I fell to the floor.
Towering above me, was a tall figure in a red suit that had speakers on each shoulder.
His helmet has a horn and a red bar that resembles mustache.
He holds his hand out to reveal a speaker on his hands as well.
In a heavy Romanian accent he says, "Sorry about that little one."
I take his hand and he easily pull me to my feet as I say.
"You must be Soundquake. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
He shakes my hand, "And you are?"
"Bioshock. Team Leader for the upcoming mission." I explain.
"Oh." He says as he sizes me up.
We continue walking until we get to the hangar where a squad of twenty men are awaiting along with Gabriel.
As I approach Gabriel begins, "Here's your squad leader now. Bioshock if you will."
He motions for me to stand before the troops which I do without hesitation.
I looked at each face and saw the same signs on all the young men before me.
Reluctance, disbelief, and hesitation.
Which I didn't blame them for feeling because their lives were held in the hands of some kid they just met.
Gabriel failed to make mention that I would have to address them, but I figured I would have to, so I came prepared.
Showing no signs of fear, I began to speak to raise morale.
" Within hours, we will be joined together in battle against one of the largest facilities producing Omnics.
This will be the most impactful battle mankind will have launched since the war began.
Mankind. That would have new meaning after today.
We can't be consumed by petty differences anymore.
We will be united with our common interests.
Time and time again, humans of different cultures have fought for freedom, tyranny, oppression, or persecution.
But today, we stand against annihilation.
Today, we're fighting for our right to live, to exist.
I see before me, men who each have something to live for.
I can understand how you feel about your life being determined by a kid, but I can assure you that I value each and every face I see before me.
That being said, we have a daunting task, men.
The Omnium that plagues New York isn't just any regular omnium.
It can produce twice as many Omnics as a regular omnium.
You might be thinking this is a suicide mission, attacking massive numbers of omnics.
Normally, you would be right, but I have a plan."
S3bastian sets down a familiar device in front of the men which catches their attention.
"Before you is a device that neutralizes any Omnics caught within its blast radius.
However, it only stuns the Bastion units for around 20 seconds before they recover.
It takes a full minute for it to reach its maximum blast radius.
I have four here, to get us in and out."
A random soldier on the third row asks, "How are we supposed to get them within a useful range?"
I smile as he asked the question I was waiting for, "We aren't. He is."
I say pointing at S3bastian.
He takes off his mask, "Thats right, I was an omnic this entire time and you fools never knew."
Soundquake steps forward, "How do we know he won't go rogue and betray us for the other omnics."
S3bastian walks towards him and place a hand on his shoulder.
"Because as your Supreme Overlord it is within my duties to watch over my subjects."
Soundquake's head turns towards me, and I can see the dubious face he has through his mask.
"He'll get the job done." I assure him.
"He'd better or Ill scrap him like the rest of his kind." Soundquake says.
"Instead of threatening me we can settle this right here like men." S3bastian retorts.
Soundquake steps into S3bastians face, "Oh yeah?"
"Yep." S3bastian reaches out with insane speeds and grabs Soundquake's hand, interlocking his fingers with his own.
He extends his thumb up and starts chanting, "1,2,3,4 I declare a thumb war. 5,6,7,8 Try to keep your thumb straight."
Soundquake is stunned as he sees what S3bastian is doing, allowing S3bastian to grab his thumb with his own and press it down.
The sudden pain snaps Soundquake out of his stupor as he struggles to free his thumb, falling to his knees.
"And that's 3, you lose big guy. Maybe next time actually put up a fight."
He drops Soundquake's hand and walks away, leaving him on the floor breathing heavily.
Gabriel takes control of the situation. "If there are no more questions, we leave in an hour."
The soldiers salute and I as they depart, I can see their faces now show confidence as they begin to prepare for departure.
Of course, I stand there, still astonished at the interaction between S3bastian and Soundquake.
It seemed like S3bastians display somehow gained the soldier's respect.
I looked at S3bastian next to me, wondering how it's possible that everything just seems to end up in his favor.
He notices me looking at me and holds his head up in arrogance.
"Your feeble brain trying to work out my elegance? You'll never understand the works of your Supreme Overlord.
Come, we have work to do."
He grabs two of the EMP bombs and heads towards our stratoscopter.
Shaking my head, I grab the other two and follow him.
'You're going to be like Bob after I'm done with you.'
Weekly Power Status
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