Gunmetal Crusade 8: Moving On (Patreon)

Gunmetal Crusade
Chapter 8: Moving On

-VB-

In the areas conquered by the Purification Arsenal, things went … back to normal.

As crazy as that seemed, it was the truth. Once villains and their influences were removed, all authority was returned to the civilians. The PA didn’t patrol the streets or demand that all matters regarding parahumans be their right. They just went away. 

Of course, this wasn’t to say that the PA didn’t keep an eye out. 

South of Boston in the town of Norwell, Massachusetts, a villain by the name of Gangrimace rose up from within the town. For a while, all they did was try to assert that the town was now his, and all of the tax was to be given to him.

And then he murdered a man in cold blood who refused.

Less than half a day later, PA was on him. In half an hour of battle, Gangrimace died and was hung in the town square like a common criminal in a manner more fitting with medieval Europe. It did, however, have a positive impact on PA.

Those who had been liberated by the Purification Arsenal need not fear villains no longer. 

That wasn’t to say that there weren’t people upset with them…

-VB-

“Who the fuck do they think they are?!” a black man shouted from on top of a stage with a mike in his hand. “This is our nation! The United States of America! We do not bow down to terrorists, internal or external!”

“YES!” the crowd cheered from within the auditorium that they had gathered. 

“And what is our government doing right now?!”

“NOTHING!”

“Exactly!” the speaker exclaimed. “I too have seen the talk between the PRT and the movers-and-shakers of Brockton Bay. The Parahuman Response Team ignores what is good and true about our great nation in favor of listening and being cowed by terrorists! 

“Yes, America was founded by a minority, but it was only put together by the founding states, one of which is our good state of Massachusetts! What has happened in history may be a precedent, but it is history over two hundred years old! Our nation has changed since the days of the American Revolution, and have evolved into a true democracy like our forefathers desired. 

“‘You set a precedent’? They latched onto an important but brief moment in our history, but they forget what happened in the Civil War! If our history set a precedent of minority rising up, then don’t forget that when violence is turned against us like the South has turned against the Union, we bulldozed over them in one of the bloodiest conflicts to date!

“‘You set a precedent’? Don’t make me laugh! The Purification Arsenal is nothing more than a hateful and violent organization that needed a reason to lash out! We rose up against Britain because our inalienable rights have been trampled on, our citizens killed in our streets, and we who were their equals were treated as second class citizens!

“We fought for equality, justice, and ideals while the Purification Arsenal is a people-killing war machine with nothing to give! Unlike what their ‘Marshall’ implied in comparing his little terrorist organization with our country, we are nothing alike! Remove the Pure! Remove the Pure!”

“REMOVE THE PURE! REMOVE THE PURE!” the people chanted.

Despite the death of an Endbringer, these outraged people would continue to clamour for the not unwarranted destruction and removal of the Purification Arsenal.

-VB-

While Purification Arsenal spread like wildfire throughout the urban centers, they weren’t so numerous as to be able to cover all spots. Indeed, villains who survived the onslaught found themselves fleeing into the rural countryside or even the few spots of wilderness. 

Many hid in the Appalachians because of its rugged landscapes providing many hideaway spots and even full-on underground tunnel systems. 

Of course, this wasn’t to say that the PA wouldn’t chase them down.

The Marshall stood atop a small mountain peak while the clone soldiers exchanged speeding bullets with the villains and their minions who had been taking underground tunnel networks at the behest of many villainous organizations. The purpose of the network was to act as hiding spots.

Unfortunately, their activities weren’t too hard to spot with aerial drones employed by the Purification Arsenal that flew high above in the sky, much higher than most humans could see.

Within days, a small mobilization of three dozen third-generation clone soldiers charged into the mountain with much better tinkertech armor and weapons. Initial artillery strike destroyed the equipments outside of the mountains while the assault cut down the guards and parahumans.

It wasn’t long before the tunnel was found.

“How big are they?” Marshall asked through the radio.

“Two meters tall at the highest. They didn’t want us to charge in there.”

“Hmm. What is the airflow like?”

“... Stagnant.”

“Noise?”

“Present. Enemies within the tunnels. Numbers unknown.”

“Then assume that the tunnels in front of you have no exits except the ones you are in front of. Seal it and burn the oxygen inside.”

“Executing order.”

Marshall watched with a pair of binoculars. He watched the clone soldiers toss in specially made oxygen burners deep into the tunnel before switching out their bolters’ ammo from regular bullets into explosives. They aimed at the ceilings and walls and fired.

In seconds, the tunnels caved in.

“We’re moving onto Site B.”

“Roger. Tinkertech and other equipment?”

“Destroy them and move on.”

“Roger.”