Point Zero: Of Gods Old And New: 5 (Patreon)

Point Zero: Of Gods Old And New: 5

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Commissioned by Ichypa

Wordcount: 2500

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So, though it should really come to no surprise, Earth’s under threat.

Again.

“Never thought we’d have to worry about fallen gods and their followers.” The so-called Demon had been very informative. When Earth got hit by various apocalypses at the same time, old organizations that used faith and followers to keep dark things at bay shattered and broke. Before they could put themselves back together, things went ahead and took a tumble, and they returned to a right, bloody mess. Things happened, they couldn’t remake their old systems, and so they made a new one. Joan, the Artificial God. While Joan grew in strength, they were to hold on for dear life against all the things that were lost. They weren’t doing so well. “Hey, Gwen, does this fall under our contract?”

“Yes, but it comes with a fifty percent pay increase and increased support.” Gwen was typing away on her communicator and drafting a report based on what came of our interrogation. The Demon had been downright effusive in the information it conveyed thanks to the ‘amicable’ terms we gave it. Gwen was hard at work typing up everything into a cohesive, initial report. The actual report, of course, was going to be done by a dedicated AI after we fed it all the raw data. Can’t waste firepower like Gwen’s writing reports, after all. “I do believe that we’ll gain enough funding for a mechanized walker bay. That amount of firepower will be necessary for the estimated power class of our foes.”

Well, that brightened my day up something fierce.

“Ooh, I’ve always wanted a giant robot.” Gwen nodded in understanding, being a cultured and sophisticated individual. She proceeded to forward me some links to my communicator, and I began to peruse them. I had to go through a few firewalls with my security, which was a pain, but it was like waiting for Gwen to undress. All the layers being taken off slowly just made it hotter. Soon enough, I beheld an array of mechanized firepower… and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull. “Top of the line!? Not surplus!?”

“Top of the line and with armor that is magically resistant, as well as armed with an experimental magic field nullification device.” Be still my beating heart. I never knew that words could be so exciting, yet I was hearing such amazing words right after one another. Was the English language always this beautiful? Not just a top-of-the-line mechanized assault walker, but one covered in experimental armor and with experiment weaponry? I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. “I’m fine with any choice, as long as you keep in mind that mobility is a key factor. I want whatever you choose to be liftable by transport to any location in Point Zero.”

“Yes, ma’am! On it!”

I grinned.

Weight restrictions for giant mechs were just part of the fun, really.

Another thing did occur to me, though.

“Any exact time limit you want for it, ma’am?”

Gwen paused before giving a nod of approval. Timely procurement is usually something most people forget when it comes to ordering weapons of mass destruction.

“Five weeks at most, but two weeks minimum.”

Alright, something that can be airlifted speedily and can arrive here within five weeks.

Time for a shopping spree.

The walkers I could get the quickest were those being deployed by the Europeans and the Russians.

The European bots were a made with cooperation and logistics of scale in mind. Every country had a piece of the pie and they were told to make as much of their piece as possible. Germans made the engines, the French made the thrusters, and good, ole UK made the armor. Weapons systems and various other such things got sent off to other nations and countries for them to focus on. It was partially to make sure Credits were distributed, but also to make sure everyone fought for everyone else, and couldn’t leave someone out to dry without losing access to heavy armor and artillery.

Anyway, European walkers fought in the Middle East and Africa for the most part, so they were built on the heavier side since they didn’t need to be shipped across the world to get to where they needed to fight. On the slow side, but with big guns and strong armor, they’re meant to last, to keep their pilots alive, and to be recovered from battle and fixed up. They’re meant to be able to fight alone and with little support, spare parts are easy to get, and it came with a hangar that can do most of the repairs by itself.

A good and sturdy pick.

However, the Russians and their little amalgamation of satellites focused on mass production and getting the job done. Half the size of the European mechs, but nearly twice as fast and with just enough armor to survive a battle or two, they’re for charging in, dishing in a lot of damage, and getting out under the cover of smoke. Rather than bipedal designs, they had four legs and instead of thrusters for quick jumps they had added treads that let them speed along roads and flat plains. Lots of the eastern part of Russia were under constant attack by larger Bioweapon forms and swarms of their mechanized walkers incredibly effective against them. They used recoilless rifles and cannons once reserved only for naval artillery to get the work done, and when destroyed… they’ll send a new one as a replacement instead of have you repair it.

Fast, hits hard, and if it gets blown up we can get another.

Then, there were the Japanese and American options that erred on the five-week period.

The Japanese were the bastion in the Pacific, so their mechs specialized in taking out the horrors made by what was once called China, who churned out amalgams of cyborgs and bioweapons on the regular. Their smallest walker was barely transport capable, since they usually built giant machines with whole nuclear reactors in their chests that spat out lightning at enemies from beyond visual range. Nearly twice the height of the European offering, their first foray into having something they’re willing to sell overseas and transport was more a barely mobile, massive gun with legs.

It was transport capable because it was the only way it could get anywhere at a decent pace.

Heavily armored and with a massive electro-cannon at the center, as well as multiple secondary laser cannons and guns, wherever it went it’ll be able to dominate the battlefield like a two-legged, mobile building with a gun that can fit small cars into its barrel. If there was something Gwen couldn’t blow up on her own, the Japanese offering would definitely be able to, which put it into the running.

Then, finally, there was the American option.

Their top-of-the-line offering to the UN was a flight-capable, stealth walker that can be dropped from orbit. Typically transported in atmosphere in a carrier, their walkers flew into battle and decided most fights at the start with massive amounts of firepower from the air with rolling barrages of precision strikes from missile banks. Then, when needed, they landed and cleared the area with laser weapons, while ready to take off in a moment. The most fragile of the four offerings, and the most costly to maintain and repair, it was something better fit for an actual country even with our obscene budget… but it would be able to support us within seconds of us asking for help once we’ve got a ZPM in it.

All the other Mechs will take time to reach us, but the American offering will just loiter and come in guns blazing the moment we ask.

As expensive as it was, and even with my bloodlines telling me to get the European offering, I caved.

More than anything, I wanted air support, if we were going to be dealing with horrific demons and the fallen gods that they served.

…

Joan looked a lot better when we found her again, though she was a bit apprehensive upon learning of the Demon’s fate.

Surprisingly, not because we tore off its head and interred it, but because we kept it alive.

“I hope that you’re right, Elliot, and that prison can hold that creature. It is powerful and malign.”

“If the prison can’t hold it, the staff will evacuate, and the prison will fall and crash and kill everything within.” Gwen didn’t mince words. Joan looked appreciative of that fact. Then again, the Demon had put her people through the wringer. Hearing that it was locked up and under constant state of near-death, which will become certain death if it tried anything, seemed to calm her down. I’d probably feel the same, in all honesty. Nothing like your fears being frozen for centuries and held in a prison designed to self-destruct to keep you from being afraid. “The area will then be bombarded from orbit. I believe that it’s more than capable of holding a Demon, but I will forward any advice you offer.”

Joan perked up.

“W-well, then wherever its being held needs to be reinforced with iron and with circles of salt. A barrier of sanctified liquid, holy water for example, would also be a good barrier.” Gwen typed away at her desk at the statements being given by the artificial god. I took notes, too. I had a feeling we’ll need to make some changes to our mechanized walker. “Wait, give me a moment, I can make something comprehensive.”

Joan moved and our eyes followed, but whatever she was doing conveyed information to us wordlessly.

The Demon we captured was apparently a middling one with its capabilities mostly focused on Destruction. Though we neutralized it by taking its head, and obliterating its body, it was still possible for it to gain a new one by taking another. The fact that it was housed in a prison where most of the prisoners didn’t have bodies was good, but we had to be wary of its ability to tempt the guards, even with them being at the top of the prison and it being at the bottom, since the guards slept on site and it could access dreams.

In order to properly contain the Demon, the guards needed to start wearing something sanctified by Joan whenever they slept on-location. In fact, it may be better to have them wear it whenever they sleep, since being contacted by one Demon all but marks one to attract others.

The information download stopped at that.

“Are we in danger of being accosted by supernatural entities?”

Joan paused and looked both my way and at Gwen’s.

“That… doesn’t seem to be the case. In fact, the marks upon the two of you seem to be warnings against being approached.” Joan peered at us both. Some semblance of surprise flitted across the short-haired blonde’s features. Now that I thought about it, wasn’t she looking more human now? If I recalled correctly, I used to see ball joints between her hands and arms before. Her gaining faith seemed to make her less and less artificial. How long until she managed to become a full-blown god? “They call for others to stay away, unless they wish to die.”

Normally, if you’re told that Demons should flee from you, you’d be in high spirits.

Gwen frowned.

“How visible is this marking? If it impedes me doing my job, I must have it removed.” Right, if Demons can see through walls or see the marking, they’d run away instead of get caught. If we were targets, that’d be fine. They can come our way, we’d arrest them, and do our jobs properly. This was the equivalent of calling ahead on our perpetrators and telling them we’re coming their way. Not ideal. “In fact, it may be best to remove it. I don’t want myself or my subordinates passively marked by anything for whatever means.”

I mean… I would… kinda…not want Demons all over me?

Gwen looked my way and nodded.

“A means to shield my subordinates would be for the best. I would greatly appreciate any effort or aid in that regard.” I wiped the sweat off my brow at that. Gwen? I could count on her to walk into just about any fight and walk out with a bag of heads in one hand and the other filling out an incident report. Meanwhile, I couldn’t do the same. I happen to have a far more limited skill set. Give me the things that stop Demons from invading my dreams. Very much appreciated. “Can you provide what you want to give to guards to my Agents?”

“Done. It’s the least that I can do, and I can use the practice.” Joan stated with a nod. At least, she seemed in her element when it came to making things and preparing. I could commiserate. It’s easy to have a plan, to make things for that plan, and then freeze up when things go bloody insane when in an actual fight. She seemed to be more a builder to me. Maybe, I should give her some advice later? “And, if it’s not any trouble, we’d like to get in contact for some additional aid. My followers and I need a place to establish ourselves, and I’m simply not strong enough to attract enough faithful where their donations can support us.”

“I’ll send a request up. However, you need to be prepared to write a report on your activities.”

I honestly thought that Joan would shirk in fear at that, but it turned out that was my own fear of paperwork speaking.

“Of course, that’s the least that I can do in exchange for support and aid. In fact, within reason, I’ll be more than happy to exchange my labor for their support.” Joan and Gwen seemed to be kindred spirits. Immense power and might, which they were willing to write about and use for the sake of funds and support from the UN. Logically, it made sense. Goods and services exchanged for funding. The goods in this case, though, were powerful artifacts created by an artificial god. The services, meanwhile, was the beheading and hunting done of anyone committing a crime in Point Zero. That made things make less sense. They were operating on the same rules as everyone else, despite being on another scale in terms of power. “In fact, we should schedule a meeting to establish what I can do and offer, as well as what I need, and vice versa!”

My heart dropped into my stomach.

No.

The one thing worse than paperwork that I’ve done my best to avoid… and Gwen was nodding in approval.

“A benchmark meeting would be very appropriate. I shall set it up.”

Dammit, it’s like bureaucracy follows me wherever I go!