Buckingham Palace was stupidly big--massive to the point that Anthony thought the rulers of this nation were perhaps overcompensating for something.
They had been transported to the palace via their security cars. Their trip had taken them through the main gate to a parade of fanfare. It seemed their visitation had been made public and people had been lining up on the streets to get a look at them, though they would be disappointed. These windows were only one way.
The car stopped after parking near the entrance, and the security detail under Trinity’s command exited their vehicles and joined the palace guard.
Britannia’s royal guard had not changed since the days of old. They were bright red coats, black pants, and a big black hat.
Lilith had once told Anthony that the fluffy black hats worn by the guards were once considered intimidating. Anthony couldn’t understand how anyone would consider those silly things scary. More important, the hat’s chinstraps were fastened under the nose instead of the chin because cavalry would aim for the head. They were designed to come off if hit without breaking the guard’s neck.
Pleasant.
Trinity stepped outside before Anthony, and then he came outside followed by his harem, whom he walked arm in arm with as though escorting them to a ball.
He was aware that they were under the watchful eyes of the media. He took care to appear as unperturbed as possible.
While they walked on a literal red carpet with guards standing protectively on either side, a man stood at the end of the carpet with his hands clasped in front of him and a polite smile on his face. He was an older gentleman with graying sideburns and a distinguished appearance. He looked decidedly Briannian to Anthony.
“Anthony Amasius, it’s been a long time since we’ve met,” the man said as Anthony finally stopped before him. He held out a hand that Anthony grabbed in a firm grip.
“It has indeed--almost four years, if I’m not mistaken. You’ve gotten older,” Anthony said with a smile.
While several of the guards tensed like they were about to attack him, the man laughed. “I’m afraid time catches up to most of us. We cannot all have the longevity of the supernatural.”
Asthelstan de Britannia was the King of Britannia and one of the few remaining human monarchs in the world. After the supernatural rose to power, there was an intense shift in the power balance across the globe. Many nations soon came under the reign of varying supernal forces like the Beast King of Russia or the Three Vampire Progenators.
Of course, the supernatural had always ruled from the shadows, but after the big reveal, they stopped their shadowy act to become legitimate figures of prominence. Only the Americas, Britannia, and a few other nations did not follow the trend, instead relying on their increasing levels of technology to compete.
The flashing of cameras made Anthony’s eyes water, but he did his best to put up with the photographs of him clasping hands with Britannia’s King. They were both smiling for the camera.
“The last time we met, you were just a kid under Lilith’s wing,” Asthelstan de Britannia said wistfully. “Now look at you. You’re the king of your own country.”
Anthony shook his head. “I’m just a board director president.”
“That might as well be a king on Academy Island,” the president said. “You are the one setting policies and making decisions. The people under you listen to your ruling and do as you commend. If that is not a king, then I must not be a king either.”
Anthony didn’t argue with this man.
They were soon done posing for the camera and were escorted inside. Secilia was glancing everywhere as she studied the palace interior, but Brianna and Marianne both kept their composure.
“Marianne,” Asthelstan de Britannia said in greeting as they walked. “I haven’t seen you since you were a young girl. I’d heard you had become part of Anthony’s harem. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Marianne said with a bow and a smile.
Marianne was the… well, Anthony didn’t want to call her a coward, but she was the most nervous of their group. However, when it came to politics, she was the best. The woman could put on her political mask any time she was in the public eye. It was genuinely impressive how easily she was able to hide her true self.
“Do you two know each other well?” asked Anthony.
“Quite well,” Asthelstan de Britannia said with a chuckle. “After all, her father was one of my golfing buddies.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Golf was one of the most popular sports among the ruling class, and Marianne’s mother did rule a neighboring nation, so he supposed it made sense. It wasn’t any of his business either and had no bearing on his reason for coming here.
They made it to a sitting room lavishly decorated with golden upholstery. Anthony glanced at the pair of yellow couches next to the ornate fireplace. Asthelstan de Britannia sat on one and gestured for them all to sit on the other. He followed suit, sinking into the soft leather as the girls crowded in around him. It was just large enough to fit himself, Marianne, Brianna, and Secilia. Trinity took up position behind them.
Almost as soon as they all sat down, Asthelstan de Britannia guards quickly went about scouring the room. Anthony watched quietly as they went over the entire room with a scanner. A moment passed before they nodded.
“The room is clear,” he said to the king.
Asthelstan de Britannia eased his shoulders, not quite sinking into the couch.
“I suppose that means we should get onto the real reason you are here,” the king said, glancing between Anthony and Trinity. “I am glad you have come to deal with Lucious Alfoy. That man has become a thorn in our side, and we would like him removed.”
***
On a bluff overlooking the ocean sat a fortress that was so massive and imposing it seemed impregnable. The high walls were thick, with parapats positioned at even intervals and massive turrets sitting on each one. Instead of firing projectiles, those turrets fired high-intensity beams that could melt through a vehicle’s armor in an instant. A human would be vaporized if that even touched them.
Noelle and Captain Denisson stood very far away alongside the rest of their squadrons. Noelle had a pair of very expensive binoculars to her eyes. They did more than just enhance her vision. All sorts of information scrolled past her.
“These are really something,” she said in appreciation. “It has all the information I need. I can even tell how many guards are located in each section and what kind of equipment they are carrying.”
“I heard Secilia made these,” Captain Denisson said. He had his own binoculars, though he was not using them at the moment.
“That woman is an amazing creator,” Noelle said with a whistle. She swiftly changed topics. “Those turrets are going to be a problem.”
“Hmmm. Can we not infiltrate the base by climbing the bluff?” asked Captain Denisson.
Noelle shook her head. “The bluff has several bunkers built into it and numerous guards at each one. There are even sensors to detect movement from people attempting to scale it. We would be caught in seconds and they would send their helicopters to kill us.”
“So we need to somehow sneak in while avoiding detection from the turrets.” Captain Denisson paused. “How do they work? Are they automated?”
“They are automated, but they can also be switched to manual should the need arise. However, they have several methods of tracking targets. The first is through heat. They can detect heat waves and their ai is programmed to shoot anything that is human shaped and not inside of the fortress.”
“So we’ll need to hide our heat signatures. I assume that is not their only method of detection,” Captain Denisson prodded.
“Of course not. There are far too many ways to hide a heat signature. The turrets have an overhead satellite that provides detailed information. These satellites not only track through heat but also movement, electromagnetic signatures, and various biometrics. Really, the only thing they can’t track is sound,” Noelle explained.
“So, basically, unless we have a means of masking every type of human signature that we possess except sound, there is no way to breach their security,” Captain Denisson mused.
“Correct,” Noelle said. Then she paused. “I think our best option is to find a means of hacking their satellite security and altering the messages the satellite sends. The problem with that is the satellite security is very tight and there’s a good chance Lucius will be made aware that there is a breach.”
“Secilia could hack the security without being noticed,” Captain Denisson said.
“She could,” Noelle allowed. “I’ve heard amazing things about her, and seen her skills first hand… however, she would need to find somewhere with relay with enough power to send a signal to the satellite--and there’s always a chance it will get intercepted.”
Captain Denisson thought for a moment. “Can we infiltrate by traveling underground?”
Noelle grimaced. “No… at least, not if we want to be stealthy. Custodes Daemonium is aware of the flaws in their satellite security and took precautions to shore up defenses in those areas. Underneath this base is a network of tunnels filled to the brim with high-tech security features that are just as if not more dangerous than the satellite and turrets.”
Captain Denisson pursed his lips. “Let’s contact the President and let him know of our findings.”
“I don’t see any other choice. Dammit. I knew dealing with Lucius was going to be hard, but this is beyond the pale.”
***
“That man has become a thorn in our side, and we would like him removed.”
It was a blatant statement that would have caused many problems if anyone outside of their group heard it, but Anthony merely nodded.
“That is why we’re here. Noelle Fortis of Custodes Daemonium and Captain Denisson of the Academy Island Private Security Forces are already at Lucius’s base of operations. They plan to infiltrate the base, shut it down, and remove Lucius before he can become an even bigger threat to your or me.”
“Excellent. Very good. That will be a huge weight off my chest,” Asthelstan de Britannia said, then glanced at Trinity. “Ever since he broke off from your group, he has caused me nothing but headaches. He began indiscriminately killing the nonhuman citizens under the excuse that they are a threat to humanity, and when we fought back, he holed himself up in that fortress. We cannot breach its defenses. The entire place is locked down tighter than my vaults. We’ve tried every method at our disposal to remove this pestilence, but nothing has worked.”
Anthony nodded. While Britannia had a strong military, there was a limit to what they could do. They had already tried bombing the headquarters, but Lucius had powerful anti-air defense turrets so every strafing run had been shot down. They had tried infiltrating through numerous means, but each one had been rebuffed. The only thing they hadn’t tried was a frontal assault, and while that might succeed eventually, the cost would have made doing so not worth it.
“I wonder if there’s a way to shut down their automated defenses from a distance,” Secilia mused.
“You are Secilia, correct?” asked Asthelstan de Britannia.
“That’s me,” she said with a cheeky grin.
“Most of the automated defenses are managed from terminals inside of the base and everything safe the satellite feed is wired. The only way to interfere with the defenses would be to hack into the satellite and have it send a signal to shut down all the automated structures,” Trinity said. She grimaced then. “But even that is only a temporary solution. They’ll be able to get everything up and running again within thirty seconds.”
“What if we shut down the satellite?” asked Anthony.
“Of course, you could do that,” Trinity allowed. “But that’s not easy. Even Secilia would have trouble doing something like that.”
Secilia narrowed her eyes. “Now that sounds like a challenge… and I never run from a challenge.”
“Let’s leave that aside for now,” Anthony said after a moment. “Noelle and Denisson are on sight. They will tell us what they want.”
“In that case, I have someone I’d like you to meet,” Asthelstan de Britannia said. “Or rather, I have someone who wants to meet you.”
He gave Brianna a pointed look, and she appeared startled.
“Me? Someone wants to meet me?” she asked.
He nodded. “This person met you during the attack on the peace conference. They are currently in another waiting room. Hold on one moment while I send someone to get them.”
He tapped into his comm unit and said something briefly. There was a reply that was barely heard.
As they waited, Anthony and Trinity engaged Asthelstan de Britannia in conversation. The man had a sharp wit, though he spoke with far too much formality for Anthony’s taste. He had never really enjoyed the man’s formal mannerisms.
Moments later, someone knocked on the door and, after receiving permission to enter, the door opened and a man stepped inside.
Anthony immediately noticed the similarities this man shared with Brianna. He had the same hair color (though his was streaked with gray), eyes, and skintone. Were that all, he might have played the similarities off as a coincidence, but there was something about his appearance that bore too strong a striking resemblance.
The man took one look at Brianna and smiled with unshed tears.
“My daughter, I have so longed to see you,” he said, shocking Brianna to her core.