Operation Lost Angel

Operation Lost Angel was a DGCL infiltration of USC-occupied Artheniapolis in an effort to rescue a captured ranger during the USC raid on Ft. Vigil.

Using Paladin's contacts, Seraphim Squad used an FDC coast guard cutter to approach the southern Agalos shores and made landfall under cover of night. There they rendezvoused with Mary Rose, a young woman of the Agathonian resistance. With a civilian pickup truck she was able to transport the unit to Artheniapolis, with a night spent in a resistance safe-house along the way.

Upon arriving at the old capital of the Senate, they found the USC had renamed the city to Athenasiapolis - city of eternal life. The inner city that had been leveled was now the site of a giant Ziggurat - the eponymous Athenasia Ziggurat. Only partially constructed, the drone swarm from the nearby MARCS ship Salvation was actively building out floors from the frame. According to local network info, the lower floors and top sections were mostly complete, as well as the sub-basement where the divine machine would be housed. The entire complex was to make the divine machine self-sustaining and functionally immortal. Only USC members were allowed into the Ziggurat, with a large gathering of non-members outside forming slums in the ruined outer city. By announcement the ascension of Lucius Titus to immortality was scheduled for 12/16 at noon.

After arriving in the outer slums, Seraphim Squad met with another contact of Strategos Tyr Elethos through Paladin as an intermediary. After meeting the dark figure who called himself Jon Diamond and agreeing to guarantee the UFPF would not interfere with “his business” in the future, he revealed himself to be a shapeshifter. In return he agreed to lend his talents to their mission.

A general plan was agreed upon - Paladin would work on ex-filtration preparations, Mary Rose would look to recruit assets in the outer city, Jon Diamond would work on securing access for the wounded Ethos to receive medical care in the Ziggurat, and rest of Seraph Squad would work to rescue Serenity. After securing a safe house run by former FCC members of Seraph Squad sought to gain Ziggurat access by hacking the local USC membership database. After finding a suitable terminal in an outer city security checkpoint, they used a burning vehicle as a distraction and forged the required records. The unit then entered the Ziggurat and attempted to blend in with the Ascension Day festivities.

With forged membership access Seraph Squad searched the crowds of the Ascension Day follies and, after ranger Inquisitor saved a group of mischievous kids from the secret police, made contact with the black market. They prepared several distraction kits and improvised explosives. During this time Jon Diamond was able to forge system member access for them to enter the upper Ziggurat. He had also discovered that Serenity was being held in a district of the top level called the Presidium Glade, but had not found an address.

Before entering the upper levels the ranger Silvertongue found a system member in among the commoners to gain some insight into the social climate. He discovered that Serenity was holding social gatherings and was 'reformed' but not well liked among the system membership. While she operated under Lucius Titus's protection she would not be so lucky after the ascension ceremony, when his attention would be elsewhere.

Seraph Squad then entered the upper Ziggurat, and after a brief exploration settled in their quarters to watch the public ascension ceremony. Lucius arrived just before midnight. Arriving at the old city in a bullet-proof vehicle he broke protocol and walked the route instead, soaking in the adulation of the masses. He did the same at the elevator to travel up the side of the Ziggurat, greeting and shaking hands with members at the lower levels. Arriving at the roof he gave a short statement to the gathered socialites, saying only that he would work tirelessly to see his Ninth Age, the Age of Eternal Life, brought to fruition. He descended an elevator behind the stage to the sub-basement, accompanied by the Divine Maker, top-level officials, Serenity, and a man that looked like James Kaios.

The ranger Ethos attempted to follow the ascension procession using a cloak suit, but was blocked by a Centaur Titan, who could see through the optical camouflage.