POV Rio
MIMIC HQ has seen massive improvements over the months we have been using it. For one, numerous wards had been made to prevent teleportation in and out of the facility unless you had authorization. We also dug a few more secret exits and entrances while destroying the original back entrance. The main entrance was also changed to be a lot more complicated than simply moving a shelf. Now you had to pass a scanner that led to the basement, which, if you failed, would activate an illusion spell that made the elevator vanish, and a physical barrier would cover the wall. Then, after that, you had to deal with a id card scanner and an eye scanner. If you failed that second step, the room would fill with anesthetic gas, and several stun turrets would reveal themselves and fire at the intruder. The last level of defence was a voice authenticator that an agent would listen to for a password, and then you had to explain why you were using the main entrance.
Seeing it done in front of me was interesting, as my disguise immediately triggered the scanners. I was actually quite impressed with myself for fooling the scanners into thinking I was someone else. Of course, if the defense measure were triggered, there was a bypass to get it resolved. In this case, it was to talk to the agent monitoring the basement. At first, they were suspicious, but as soon as an agent arrived at the basement, they confirmed I was who I said I was and that Uritca wasn't being controlled.
"Sorry for the delay, Your Highness," Cutup the Changeling in charge of the elevator said.
"No problem, in fact, I want to praise your commitment to security. In times like this, that kind of caution can save hundreds of lives," I praised.
Cutup made an excited chirp, and his wings buzzed from my praise, and he went right back to his duties while I was taken to the command center.
"The others should be here momentarily," Uritca says.
Right after they say that, the relay sounds are heard, and several people are teleported to the HQ. I take a seat on the couch and get ready for a little prank. I had even changed my disguise.
The first to burst into the command center is Cait, who looks annoyed at being called here.
"What was so urgent that you had to call us all here?" Cait complains.
"Can't you see I'm busy doing the Fishtick? It's a very delicate state of mind," I complain to Cait.
"Wha? What's up with the old geezer?" Cait rudely asks.
I stood up, and it was at that time that the others reached the room.
"The name is Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness, at your service," I say with the perfect voice.
The others look me over, but only a few start to grow pale and look scared. Those were Cait, Loona, Moxxie, Millie, and Quiet. Most were because they had some magical knowledge, and the others were because I had told them about my trip to Oblivion. Guto and the Changelings, on the other hand, saw right through my disguise. Before they could do or say anything, I spread my hands and screamed.
"CHEESE FOR EVERYONE!" I scream.
As I scream, entire wheels of cheese of various kinds appear and rain from the ceiling. Everyone looks confused, and some panic from the strangers that is happening. Cait looks ready to pee herself in terror, and the Hellspawn all had their tails clamped between their legs.
"Hahaha, you mortals always have the most amusing reactions. But I'm afraid it's really time I must go. That's right. I'm done. Holiday... complete. Time to return to the humdrum day-to-day. Ta-ta!" I yell, and in a flash of light that causes everyone to look away, 'Sheogorath' vanishes, and I take his place.
When the light fades, it takes a moment for everyone to realise I was standing there. The magic attuned were suspicious if I was just a prank or the real deal, but the others were shocked to see me and started to crowd me. I had a massive smile on my face and accepted the massive group hug. But as it ended, Cait approached and kicked me in the balls, or at least she tried, but I had a metal plate there.
"Ah, F@ck! Damn it, Rio!" Cait yells while holding her foot.
But as I laughed at her predicament, Loona had come over and smacked me in the head.
"Ouch, Charlie!" I complain jokingly, but that gets me another smack and a kick to my leg from Cait.
Both of them glare at me.
"Okay, okay, sorry, sorry," I apologize.
Everyone else laughs at my predicament. I was tempted to pretend I was offended, but I joined in instead. Once we were done laughing, they had the obvious questions of how I was here, so I started to explain what I had been doing these past several months.
"Yer a dam idiot for messin' with powers like that," Cait said with a I'm not angry, just disappointed look.
"Don't get me wrong, I won't mess with something like that again, but to be fair, I didn't think I would have such a massive backlash. Most of the time, I just feel exhausted when I stop using a form that puts strain on me. Or the form doesn't last as long. And I think that ultimately it might have been worth it. Of course, that depends on how badly the Alliance suffered from it," I explain.
"We've tracked some places down, but we weren't even thinking they could be hiding so far out to sea. It would have taken us months or even longer to find them," Guto said with worry.
"The real issue is where that Submarine is," I warn.
"I... Might be able to give some extra info on that," Deacon speaks up.
We all look towards him, waiting for him to explain.
"Ehem, well, you see, I was in the middle of infiltrating the Children of Atom when they caught me. I had already worked my way into their ranks with no issues, thanks to being immune to radiation. Though I will admit, swimming in radioactive goo naked was an experience I don't want to replicate," Deacon says.
"The nukes," I steer Deacon back.
"Ah, right. Sorry about that. Well, the Sub had 2 missiles on board. Both are of the 500 kt variety. One was incapable of launching and was leaking radiation, which was being used as an object of worship. The other was fully operational but required a launch key. But they likely got their hands on that as they had cleared out the entire area when I came back to the Nucleus," Deacon explains.
"How did they catch you?" Cait asks.
"I... Went into the facility to try and prevent them from getting DiMa's memories. I knew they couldn't be allowed to use the knowledge contained, but I ended up trapped down there with no way out instead. Rather than risk being captured, I tried to make it seem like I killed myself, but it seems they took my unconscious body instead," Deacon says with a slightly embarrassed tone.
"They knew you could survive lethal damage, so that never would have worked, but it might have worked with others," I comfort.
"Thanks," Deacon replies.
"Back to their arsenal. We can expect they have 3-4 nukes at their disposal. Repairing that broken missile shouldn't be hard, but I can't say for certain how many they have beyond that. I got conflicting info when I read their minds. They definitely have at least one nuke, but there is a slight chance they have another. I know the location of one of those nukes, though. It's at their research facility where they have been working on enhancing their super soldiers. Preston has met both of their older agents already," I comment.
"Me?" Preston says with surprise.
"Yep, one was responsible for capturing you at Nuka World. Agent York, the speedster. I'm not fully sure how fast they can go, but it's definitely higher than when we first fought him. The other was the one you crashed the Vertibird into. Agent Horrigan. I have literally no idea how much stronger they are. The info related to him was practically non-existent. Most only know him as a rumor. They will be the hardest to deal with," I reply.
"How do we find the sub?" Curie asks.
"A great question. One that I don't have a perfect answer for. The best we can do for now is send several probe droids to constantly scan for the submarine. We might be able to pick them up with our Radiation scanners, but there's no guarantee. And while they exist, we can't act against the Alliance, and we can't reveal that I have escaped," I explain.
"What do we do once we find the sub?" MacCready asks.
"We'll strike them on multiple fronts. We strike at the research facility. We bombard their main base from Orbit using the Venator. We destroy the sub. And finally, we strike at New Kowloon. We can't do much against the underwater Vault, but that can be left for last. Luckily, the nuke at the research facility should be a bomb, not a missile. The only remaining issue would be the possible remaining nuke, but even if it exists, I believe we can intercept it before it hits us," I explain.
"What should we do while the Probe droids look for the Sub?" Guto asks.
"Prepare to strike at New Kowloon, you don't need to keep it that secret. Officially, the Alliance doesn't have any presence there, and the Minutemen are sworn enemies of the Gunners that live there. But otherwise, keep doing what you have been doing. We need to appear as if nothing has changed. The preparations towards New Kowloon can be explained as a show of power or force. Or because the few towns to the South have been under constant threat from the Raiders and Gunners of New Kowloon," I explain.
"Will you be staying here the whole time?" Hancock asks.
"No, I'll move into my lab and be working on the mirror project. I am sure I am getting close to a resolution of some kind," I reply.
We discuss a few more things before all the assignments are assigned, and we part our ways for the time being. I teleported to my lab, and from there I would stay completely without leaving until it was time to strike back. My friends were allowed to visit but only occasionally, as we didn't want to draw any attention. I even chose to do most of my work on Equus to further avoid chances of being noticed.