Excalibur #7 - Here We Come To Save The Day - Death in Greece, Part 3


"Agent Walker?" said the SHIELD agent as USAgent opened the door of his apartment, and he flashed him his ID badge.
 
"Yeah?" replied the former Avenger, wondering what SHIELD wanted with him now.

"Excalibur." USAgent stiffened. He'd almost forgotten the Project.

"Where we going?" 

"Greece, the rest of the team is on route."

"What's happened there?" asked Walker, thinking that Greece was Hellios' snad pit and he should be man enough to handle himself.

"You've not seen the news?" asked the agent, surprise entering his tone.

"Not had time," said Walker, thinking back to Candice, whom he'd met at the bar during the Stilt Man attack. He'd also been keeping an eye out for that joker as well, because he owed him one.

"Super human terrorists have taken control of a small island and are threatening to take the mainland. Hellios and a SHIELD strikeforce have been captured."

"So they're calling in the big guns?" said Walker, with a smile. "Cool. Give me a minute or two to grab my stuff."

"Yes sir," said the Agent. A few moments passed and then Walker emerged from his office.

"So how do we get there?" asked Agent. "Even the jets you guys have aren't going to be fast enough."

"As a SHIELD strikeforce is involved, Director Fury has classified this as a SHIELD operation and so we have access to the full resources of SHIELD, including the prototype Hermes."

"Hermes?" said Walker. "What's Her..." There was a shining light about them and then they were somewhere else "...mes?" His vision cleared and he could see he was aboard the Helicarrier.

"Transmat system," said Bridge, who was waiting with the other members of the team. "Not due to go operational until UN approval, but Fury decided not to wait and invoked emergency powers. We were going to use conventional means until this came up."

"Guess the old goat's still got some fight left in him," said Walker, as he looked about. "Hey, hey, the gang's all here."  He could see the rest of the team about - Sabra, Tsunami, Union Jack, Darkstar, Hauptmann and Savitar.

"And you're late," sniped Leyu.

"Bite me," said Walker. "So what's the brief, Bridge?"

"I'll let Fury explain, as this is his mission not mine. He'll be the commander for this mission." Fury entered the room.

"Siddown and shuddup while I tell you what's goin' on, children," he said. "The gist is this - a group of super terrorists called the Death's Head Commando's have resurfaced. Originally part of a peaceful and curious race that established an observation post on Earth, the Gnobians had the unbelievably bad luck to do so in the midst of fascist Germany during World War II. Coming into contact with Baron Von Strucker, the Gnobian Mother merged with him, becoming so tainted by the experience that her subsequent offspring were born with an intense hatred of yours truly, and a determination to set up the 4th Reich despite their intense revulsion for the principles behind fascism. Taking their title from Baron Von Strucker's slain personal SS troops, the Death's Head Guard targeted the planet's governments for take over, but were side-tracked by their involuntary and compulsive hatred of me, and it brought them in to conflict with SHIELD."

"So it's an alien invasion?" said Sabra.

"We don't know," said Fury. "We sent in X-Force, and they were taken, as was Hellios. From what our field office has told us, they went here." He pressed a button and another image appeared. "This is Mount Flaska, in the Kalymnos mountain range. Nothing very spectacular about it, other than the cave of the bottom of it, called by the locals the Cavern of the Nymphs. That's where the Commando's are based and that's where they took Kalymnos."

"We can't take on a whole country," said Savitar. "It's too large."

"Collective intelligence," said Union Jack. "Take out the head man and the rest of them will follow."

"Exactly," said Bridge. "Which is what we do. They sent their message out via the television networks a few hours ago, and so far they haven't mobilised too much on to mainland Greece. We get one shot at rescuing X-Force, Hellios and saving the country."

"Silly question time," said Walker. "What happens if we fail?"

"The Commando's get a country and a place to expand in to Europe," said Fury. "My guess is that they then go to all out war, and they've the power and technology to do so."

"Okay," said Walker. "So we'd better not mess this up."

"You've ten minutes before you move out," said Fury. "Get ready." He then turned to Bridge. "GW, a word." He nodded to the door and they went outside.

"Wonder what that's about," said Neal.

"No idea," said Rock. "But I bet we'll find out soon enough."


"What's up?" asked Bridge as the door closed behind them.

"They all came back to the Helicarrier, without any complaint," said Fury. "Well expect Yashida, but that's to be expected. I'm just sayin' be careful - we still don't know who the traitor is, and my money says they set up X-Force, because they're on his trail."

"How possible is that?" asked Bridge. 

"Not very, but just in case - watch your back. The traitor could have a network of people an' you need to be careful who you trust."

"Gotcha," said Bridge. "Eyes wide open."

"Good man," said Fury. "Armory Command's waitin' for ya to take control."


Marcus Raven had kept his eyes closed, listening to the others and to what was going on. It wasn't what he wanted, and his first instinct was to take out as many of the people as he could and get out of there with his friends in tow, but he knew how futile that would be. X-Force was to all intents and purposes powerless, and the odds were heavily against them. However he knew there was a time coming when he had no choice but to fight back. However they'd had him on the ropes the last time, but if he marshalled his strength, maybe he could focus himself. These creatures had the telepathy of the race, but that could mean they didn't have the access to the astral plane like he did as a strong psionic presence and his lessons in the use of his powers were paying off.

"Our people are in place," he heard a voice saying, a voice that he recognised as the man who had beaten him back earlier. "How are the tests coming?"

"The DNA extraction from the non-psion mutants has proven most useful. The psion himself has limited use as his powers mirror our own and that is not the gifts we seek. I will soon unlock the genetic potential we have been granted."

"Excellent work," said the first voice. "Soon out people will live once more, and this planet will pay for what it has done, not only to us but to the very planet they live on. These humans are not fit to govern and this war will eradicate them from the face of the Earth."

"I will continue my tests," said the second. The other one seemed to go silent and Raven assumed he'd vanished somewhere. There were some interesting points that he'd raised and he came to a few conclusions. The first was that they were stretching themselves. That meant if they came across someone they needed to put all their force behind, then it would leave them defenceless in terms of other fights, which would be an advantage. He'd heard the television broadcast, so he knew what was going on.

The second was that the tests were designed to make them stronger, which meant they had weaknesses and vulnerabilities. The team had been taken by superior numbers who'd removed their powers, he'd been beaten by someone with far greater power - though he'd like a rematch - and if he was right the other hero had been ambushed. 

He'd learnt a great deal and it was almost time to do something about it.


"So we using Hermes?" asked Union Jack as Armory stirred to life, the lights in the suits eyes coming on letting them know that Bridge was actually in there and this was not some kind of test.

"Yeah," said Armory. "We'll be transporting down there, but don't get used to this kind of thing - this is emergency stuff only." The team muttered their agreement. "Fury, this is Bridge. We're a go."

"Ignition sequence is firing," said Fury. "Teleport in five, four, three, two, one..." The light swamped Project Excalibur and they were suddenly out of the Helicarrier and in the middle of Kalymnos' capital Portia. The streets were empty of people but there were a squadron of Commando's about.

"Take 'em out," said Armory and the team went to work. Savitar and Tsunami unleashed an elemental burst towards a couple of them.

"Hey," said Leyu, "find your own target."

"Just trying something," said Neal, using a move that Jim Hammond had shown him and the water and fire combined in attack, creating an intense and searing blast of hot water, scalding the targets.

Armory, Union Jack and USAgent used their guns and started firing, taking out as many of them as they could. Sabra used her won gauntlet blasters to do what she could as well, because they were less vulnerable because of the distance and surprise of their arrival. Getting in close was not what they wanted to do just yet.

Darkstar had a more important job, and that was to seal the city of from the rest of the world. This was a major port and strategically important, as well as the best way of getting to the mountain base of the commandos. It took all of her power and concentration to create such a massive darkforce bubble around the city and Bridge used the Armory scanners to check on her.

"Laynia," he called, "how are you doing?"

"Fine, for now," she said. "However I do not know how long I can hold this."

"Do what you can," he said as they only needed to drain the Commando's from the city and that would be a massive blow to them. Yes, they could teleport, but their base of operations was here and they suspected they needed that for their plans to succeed.

Soon the squadron had been disposed of and they hadn't given them a chance to fight back.

"Good work," said Bridge. "That's one down, several more to go."

"Heads up," said USAgent. "Here they come..." If he was going to say anymore he wasn't given chance as an energy burst was deflected from his energy shield, which he only just managed to get up and in moments they were in the thick of hand to hand combat.

"Keep them off Laynia," ordered Bridge, but the team didn't need to be told that. Hauptmann smiled as he went to work because this was more his element than the previous firing of energy weapons and bullets. This was a brawl, though the enemy seemed to be blocking all his moves, as they were with the others.

"They know what we're doing before we do," he said, realising it was their empathic abilities that gave them the edge.

"Guess that brings it down to me," said Bridge, who was back at the Helicarrier and knew they couldn't sense anything from the circuits and armour that was the battlesuit. "Gimme a sec."

"Better hurry, Bridge," said Walker, "they're kicking our tails."

"Scanning," muttered Bridge as he reviewed the datafeeds that were showing him what frequencies were being used at the moment, and then he saw it. "Gotcha." He fired up a blast of white noise, and the Commando's reeled under the sound. "Now hit them!"

The Commando's fought well, but the sheer power of the members of the Excalibur project was too much for them and they were overwhelmed quite quickly.

"And we're supposed to be worried by these losers?" asked Leyu, as she summoned a tidal wave to wash them down the street and in to the sea.

"They were taking us," said Sabra. "Their mental powers are highly defined and gave them a great advantage."

"White noise pitched to the frequency of the empathic powers," said Union Jack. "Clever."

"After the battle with the Empress, we went to work to try and make sure that mind control wasn't going to slow us down in the future," said Bridge. "First proper field test though. I'll keep broadcasting on the frequency as well, so they can't function properly and teleporting in like they did just then."

"But if they get a counter measure then we have a problem," said Union Jack. "The tech levels they're supposed to have will be difficult to counter."

"I've faith in you," said Armory.

"What now, fearless leader?" asked USAgent. "We can't keep hunting them down. Those on the outside are already causing trouble."

"SHIELD's doing what it can to stop them," said Bridge, "but we're here to take out the main man and their base."

"And rescue our comrades," said Hauptmann.

"If possible," said Bridge. "I have no illusions about this - there's a good chance we're not all going to get out of this one in tact."

"At least you're safe," said Leyu, with disdain.

"Don't believe that," said Union Jack. "If I've read the specs right and Armory is destroyed, then the feedback on the link to the Helicarrier will fry Bridge's brain in an instant."

"I never send anyone in to a situation where I'm not prepared to go myself. My life's as much on the line as yours. So to answer Mr Walker's question - we take out Mount Flaska and bury the Cave of the Nymphs."

"Then let's go," said Savitar. "The longer we wait..."

"Hold it," said Sabra. "What about Darkstar? She's using her powers to ensure that they've not got a link to the outside, but she's defenceless."

"Well volunteered," said Bridge. "You stay and keep her safe. If she fails, we're going to be in even worse trouble."

"Fine," said the Mossad agent. "Good luck."

"To us all," said Bridge and the team headed out, Armory carrying USAgent and Hauptmann, Savitar carrying Union Jack with Tsunami riding a wave that propelled her as fast as the two flyers. They'd get to the target in no time.


"ARGH!" cried the enemy doctor and Raven almost sat up, which would have blown his cover. "Damnation."

Marcus wondered what the hell had just happened, but the man seemed to be in pain, as if there was something eating at him. He decided to risk it and opened his mind a fraction and he could feel the pain of the alien race. Something was hurting their minds, keeping them off guard. There was something going on.

"Guess it's time," he said and grabbed the doctor in a telekinetic hold and slammed him in to the floor. Then he swung himself off the medical table and went to see his friends.

"Wake up, David," he said, shaking Maverick. He'd gone through a lot with the experiments, he could feel the pain and torment he'd gone through - not just with the experiments, but with the memories it had triggered of his time at Weapon X. "C'mon," he said, projecting the thought in to his mind.

"I'm up," he said, groggily. "I'm guessing we're in trouble?"

"Yup," said Raven who was waking up Siryn, who was under heavy sedation . It was a little too much for her to simply wake up from, but hopefully the nanos that Sinister had implanted in her to heal her throat would pull her through.

"Great," said North, giving Kitty a shake. "Wake up, Pryde, we need you."

"I ache all over," she said, looking at him. She was in the same kind of state he was.

"I know," replied her leader, "but get over it. I need you to do your techy thing and get us our powers back. One psion isn't going to be that helpful."

"Ah think backup's on it's way," said Raven. "Something or someone's giving the Commando's one hell of a headache."

"Good," said North. "We could do with a break. Who's that? Don't know the costume."

"No idea," said Raven. "He's been through worse than us though - looks like they've siphoned a lot of blood from him."

"They stuck us with needles and stuff," said North, "and that was bad enough. Nobody should have that done to them."

"Agreed," said Kitty as she sat down at a console and started to type, but broke off. "Anyone know Greek?"

"Nope," said Maverick. "Damn. Marcus, you think you can wake him?" he looked at the fallen hero, if that was what he was.

"Soon know," he said and gave him a psionic push. "Nope, but I got a vague sampling of the language."

"It'll do," said Kitty and lowered her psychic defences and Marcus gave her what he had gathered. The she started to type again and see what she could find, while the others looked at Siryn.

"That's some sleeping draft," said Maverick, looking at her. "I wonder..."

"What?"

"Maybe they kept her under because she kept coming around thanks to the nanobots in her body repairing her and keeping her going."

"Makes sense," said Raven.

"Guys, I've a problem," said Kitty. "I can't give us back our powers within the mountain complex. It's the lighting in here. The flash was a radiation burst which under the lights in here neutralise our powers. Marcus has his powers because he wasn't exposed like we were."

"Solution?"

"Turn out the lights," said Kitty. "We'll be fixed up when we get back to the Helicarrier, but while we're here..."

"We're screwed," said Maverick. "What else can go wrong?" Then the they were surrounded by flashing red wall lights as the alarms sounded.

"The cavalry just arrived," said Raven, sensing the presence of the Excalibur people.

"Then let's go give them a hand," he said, figuring that even without their powers himself and Kitty were still very good hand to hand combatants. "Leave Terry, she'll wake up on her own."


Deep within the complex, the Supreme Commando looked at the monitors of all the heroes in and around the mountain and rubbed his chin. Then he laughed.

"And so the pieces all start to fall in to place. Let the line be drawn here!"