Days as a Spiritual Mentor in American Comics Chapter 5720 - 4743: X Royal Family: Fierce Battle (10)

The gathering resumed its familiar cadence. In a sense, this was Magneto’s chosen territory, as a significant portion of his existence had been dedicated to mastering destructive tactics. While construction wasn't his forte, orchestrating surprise assaults was a skill he possessed in abundance.

"Although I have resolved to undertake this mission myself, Lorna expressed her desire to accompany me. However, with just the two of us, and with our limited knowledge of the external defense systems, it is insufficient."

"I shall join as well," declared Apocalypse. "My immortality ensures their weapons cannot harm me. As for the outer defenses, we shall simply breach them. Why burden ourselves with excessive deliberation?"

General Chasing folded his arms, tilted his head back slightly, and affirmed, "Indeed, why dwell on such concerns? I have no doubt that our combined might is insurmountable."

"They are merely a collection of metallic constructs," another voice chimed in. "The prior reconnaissance team was annihilated due to their own negligence. This time, we are thoroughly prepared; what reason do we have to fear them?"

"I must caution you all," Magneto stated with gravity, "The previous surprise attack unit comprised Cyclops, Phoenix, and Wolverine. They were immensely powerful mutants as well, yet they too met their demise at the Red Orchid Factory."

"This situation is different," Apocalypse interjected. "The X-Men, who frequently operate on Earth, have had their operational data almost entirely assimilated by the Sentinel Robots. These machines possess countermeasures specifically effective against your abilities, making escape impossible once they engage. However, we operate under different circumstances."

"Our presence on Earth is infrequent. Even the most formidable Prime Sentinels lack the experience to contend with us effectively. While they may anticipate our arrival, a direct confrontation would prove exceedingly challenging for them."

"Negative," Magneto countered once more. "Once the Mother Module is activated, Sentinel Robots of the Nimrod designation will soon be operational. These are advanced Sentinels engineered to counter all mutants indiscriminately. I fear we may not be their equals either."

He paused briefly before continuing, "My intention in stating this is not to diminish our resolve, but to emphasize the necessity of formulating an infallible strategy. Mutants can no longer afford the luxury of failure."

"What are your thoughts on this, Doctor?" Professor X inquired within Shiller’s consciousness, confident that Shiller would possess a solution and that the present moment was opportune for its revelation.

Shiller, shaking his head, transmitted mentally to Professor X, "The most infallible strategy is to refrain from going."

A frown creased Professor X’s brow, but Shiller elaborated, "I am not offering this opinion out of a belief that I cannot influence the outcome."

"Do you deem this plan incapable of success?"

"The plan must succeed, but its success through a surprise attack is not guaranteed. They may proceed with their objective, and I shall manage the remaining aspects."

"Why adopt such an approach?" Professor X inquired gently. "Erik holds your opinion in high regard; your input is likely to be heeded."

It was evident that while Professor X wished to rescue the members of the surprise attack team, he was reluctant for Magneto to embark on the mission himself. More accurately, he harbored reservations about Magneto’s current course of action, filled with apprehension and even hoping Shiller could dissuade him.

"No, Professor. Conflict is not a game of chance; battles that result in victory are rarely won through the meticulous calculation of pros and cons by gamblers. If you choose to withdraw due to excessive risk, you will have nothing left to protect. Those qualities that compel individuals to advance despite perceived dangers are the very essence of ensuring the long-term security of your homes. How could I possibly persuade you to relinquish such principles?"

Professor X fell silent. How could he not comprehend? This was precisely why he found it difficult to dissuade Magneto. He recognized that failure in this endeavor would extinguish any hope for the mutants' future. Conversely, its success would transform the dream of uniting all mutants and establishing a truly great nation into a tangible reality. The allure of this rescue mission was undeniable.

It draws parallels to narratives like "Saving Private Ryan" and similar cinematic works. Is the extensive effort to save a single individual truly justified? From a purely resource-based perspective, the answer is likely no. Warfare demands efficiency; every projectile must serve a purpose, contributing incrementally to the ultimate victory. Regardless of a soldier's skill, investing such significant resources for their retrieval might be deemed impractical.

However, the human element cannot be quantified by mere profit. When a national hero finds themselves in peril and their country hesitates to exert maximum effort for their rescue, the detrimental psychological impact is immeasurable. Therefore, even at considerable cost, their retrieval becomes imperative. The subsequent benefits, upon a successful mission, are equally profound. A war hero who survives immense adversity transforms into a living emblem of national pride and unity.

To articulate this more clearly, the activation of this capability would result in a 30% surge in the fighting spirit of all soldiers, a 50% increase in public approval, and a 50% boost in national cohesion. These factors wield considerable influence in wartime, potentially dictating the very survival of a nation and its people.

"But isn't this just reverting to an all-or-nothing approach?" Professor X, having overheard the discussions between Shiller and Magneto, perceived Shiller's aversion to such high-stakes, life-risking endeavors.

"I advised against relying on surprise assaults and assassinations for success, yet this situation scarcely qualifies as a sneak attack; consider it more of a spectacle," Shiller countered.

"What do you propose, then?"

"I have devised an alternative strategy," Shiller revealed with a smile. "They should proceed as planned; all will unfold without a hitch."

Professor X, perplexed, continued to observe Shiller's conduct. However, Shiller departed the meeting prematurely and, upon returning to his quarters, indulged in a period of rest. Following his slumber, he commenced exploring the expanse of Krakoa.

Meanwhile, the Iron Man of the Main Universe burst from his chamber in haste, his shouts rousing every Avenger from their slumber.

Following a recent intense conflict, the team was exhausted, with most members recuperating. Emerging into the common area, they appeared groggy. Thor slammed his hammer onto the table with a resounding "bang": "You had best have a valid reason for this, Tony Stark."

Captain America, accustomed to such disruptions, ran a hand through his hair, splashed water on his face, and settled onto the sofa. The others followed suit. Spider-Man procured snacks and beverages, arranging them on the table, while Hawkeye opened a can of cold beer and Thor began mindlessly consuming chips.

"A momentous event has transpired!" Iron Man declared. "Can you guess what I unearthed within the residual data from the laboratory?"

"What is it?" Captain America inquired, his brow furrowed.

"Those mutants might not be deceased after all," Iron Man exclaimed with evident excitement. "Their physical forms are gone, but their consciousnesses persist!"

"How can you be certain?" Black Widow questioned, skepticism lacing her tone.

"I discovered several leads within the transmitted information from the Red Orchid Factory," the Main Universe Iron Man stated, unconcerned about their comprehension. He projected a holographic display onto the wall, commencing his self-directed explanation. "The most recent system logs reveal a section exhibiting distinct anomalies. The data indicates the infiltration of something into the factory's system. All this aberrant data surfaced precisely concurrently with the mutants' demise..."

Captain America paused briefly before posing a question: "Why did the lab administration overlook this glaring issue?"

"They might have noticed but chose to disregard it," the Main Universe Iron Man responded.

"But this implies a substantial development," Dr. Banner interjected, his expression grave. "How could they possibly ignore such a critical matter?"

"Not only did they overlook it, but they also purged the relevant log. I managed to reconstruct the data, which led me to discover these irregularities."

"And for what reason would they undertake such an action?"

While the others continued to voice their queries, Black Widow's expression shifted to one of dawning realization. "There must be a mole among the research staff."

"Are you suggesting a mutant is embedded within their ranks?"

"It seems highly probable. Perhaps it’s simply a case of an overworked employee denied their bonuses, unable to return home even after a hard-won victory," Black Widow mused, shaking her head. "This reeks of an act of retribution."

Some failed to grasp the implication, having not experienced similar hardships. However, Spider-Man nodded in agreement. "Indeed, if one were compelled to endure extended work hours for a major operation, anticipating a lengthy respite only to be told they must continue laboring, they might readily wish for the planet's annihilation."

"But surely more than one individual would have observed this," Captain America pointed to the holographic projection. "It’s unlikely everyone would participate in such a betrayal."

"The initial person to discover it deleted the record, and the others lacked the motivation to investigate further," the Main Universe Iron Man explained. "The majority of personnel, whether in the labs or among the scientific staff, were uninspired and uninterested in expending extra effort. They operated more like automatons following established procedures."

"They wished to distance themselves from this project," Black Widow articulated with keen insight. "No scientist willingly cooperates when forcibly conscripted by the government and military. Even a collective tacit agreement to ignore such matters wouldn't surprise me."

"What consequences could this entail?" Captain America pressed for clarification.

"Profound consequences, immensely significant!" Iron Man ascended, hovering before the wall. He gestured emphatically at the projection. "These individuals gained access to the factory's system; do you comprehend the implications? They could seize control of the entire facility through their virtual consciousness!"

"What?!" Thor exclaimed, instantly rising to his feet. "You mean these mutants possess the capability to command the Red Orchid Factory?"

"If we delay, the situation could escalate sooner or later," stated Iron Man. "While the Mother Module should possess security protocols, we must acknowledge that mutants include formidable individuals. Consider the assault team members; several possess soul-linked abilities, much like Phoenix. What if she, infused with the Phoenix's power, bypasses the security and seizes direct control of the Mother Module? How will she then deal with the Human Government responsible for their demise?!"

Captain America inhaled deeply. "But the Mother Module's purpose is the production of Sentinel Robots. Surely the Red Orchid Factory cannot launch a direct assault on Earth, can it?"

"It's not about a direct attack. However, imagine if they manipulate the Mother Module's programming after gaining control, turning the Sentinel Robots into instruments of human slaughter."

Restlessness seized Captain America. He declared, "This outcome is absolutely unacceptable. The ramifications of mutants seizing control of the factory are dire, especially considering the deceased assault team members lack rational thought. In their vengeful state, they might resort to extreme actions, imperiling Earth and all of humanity."

"How can we possibly avert this disaster?" Dr. Banner inquired, his brow furrowed. "Currently, we cannot even penetrate the outer defense installations, let alone breach the system's core."

"I refuse to believe they neglected to implement a system backdoor," the Main Universe Iron Man mused after a moment's reflection. "Regrettably, our plan to infiltrate the lab ended in failure, and those researchers were apprehended. Otherwise, we might have found a viable entry point through them."

"So, what is our course of action now?" Captain America turned his gaze towards him, posing the question.

"This is hardly the time for internal disputes," the Main Universe Iron Man replied, showing signs of distress. "We must locate this universe's Avengers and urge them to liaise with the Human Government. Under no circumstances can we permit the mutants to gain control of the Red Orchid Factory."