Chapter 56: Another Feature
Marcus stared at the panel for a moment longer, reading each line carefully.
So it wasn’t just pilots.
It was full crews.
That changed everything.
He glanced toward the two Black Hawks sitting on the open ground. Machines like that weren’t meant for one man. They needed coordination. Pilot, co-pilot, crew chief, door gunners.
If he wanted them operational, he couldn’t cut corners.
"...Alright," he muttered. "Do it properly."
He tapped the first option.
"Black Hawk crews. Two units."
[Purchase: Black Hawk Crew x2 – 400,000 MC]
The system confirmed it instantly.
This time, the reaction on the ground was different.
Two magic circles formed beneath each helicopter. They spread outward in precise patterns, lines and symbols etching themselves into the soil like glowing blue ink. The light pulsed once, then again, steady and controlled.
Marcus watched without moving.
Then the circles flared.
Figures appeared.
Not one.
Not two.
A full crew per helicopter.
Four men each.
Eight in total.
Flight suits, helmets, tactical vests. One stepped forward from each group, likely the pilot, while the others moved naturally around the aircraft, one already checking the rotor assembly, another inspecting the side doors.
They weren’t confused.
They didn’t look lost.
They moved like they had been here before.
The two lead men approached Marcus and stopped a few steps away.
"Black Hawk crews ready, sir."
Marcus studied them for a second, then gave a short nod.
"At ease."
They broke formation and returned to their helicopters without hesitation.
One crew climbed up, already beginning pre-flight checks.
The other mirrored them.
Marcus exhaled slowly.
"...That’s efficient."
He turned back to the system.
Next—
Apache.
He wasn’t going to leave that unmanned.
"One crew."
[Purchase: Apache Crew x1 – 250,000 MC]
Another magic circle appeared, this time beneath the attack helicopter.
Smaller than before, but sharper.
More defined.
The light intensified, then collapsed inward.
Two men appeared.
Pilot and gunner.
Both in heavier flight gear, helmets fitted with integrated targeting systems. They didn’t waste time. One moved straight toward the cockpit while the other circled the aircraft, running checks along the weapon mounts.
Then both stopped and faced Marcus.
"Apache crew ready for assignment, sir."
Marcus nodded once.
"Good."
Then finally.
The A-10.
Marcus looked at it again before selecting.
That wasn’t something you trusted to just anyone.
He tapped the option.
"One crew."
[Purchase: A-10 Crew x1 – 200,000 MC]
The largest magic circle formed near the aircraft.
Wider.
More complex.
It hummed faintly, almost like the air itself reacted to it.
Then—
Two figures appeared.
Pilot and ground crew chief.
The pilot stepped forward, helmet tucked under his arm, posture steady. The other immediately moved toward the aircraft, already checking panels, landing gear, and intake.
They moved like a team.
Like they had done this a thousand times.
The pilot stopped in front of Marcus.
"A-10 crew ready, sir."
Marcus held his gaze for a second.
"...You’ll be busy."
The pilot gave a slight nod.
"Yes, sir."
Marcus turned slightly, watching as all three aircraft now had personnel around them.
Black Hawk crews running checks.
Apache crew inspecting weapons and systems.
The A-10 crew is already halfway through maintenance procedures.
Now, he checked his balance.
Starting from, 31,027,040 MC, after the initial five million for the base.
AN/PRC-152 x80 = 384,000 MC
AN/PRC-117G x10 = 180,000 MC
Diesel Generator x3 = 225,000 MC
Fuel Tank x6 = 120,000 MC
UH-60 Black Hawk x1 = 6,000,000 MC
AH-64 Apache x1 = 8,500,000 MC
A-10 Warthog x1 = 12,000,000 MC
Black Hawk Crews x2 = 400,000 MC
Apache Crew x1 = 250,000 MC
A-10 Crew x1 = 200,000 MC
[Current Balance: 2,768,040 MC]
Marcus stared at the number for a second.
"Yeah. That’s a real dent."
It was no longer the kind of balance where he could casually buy anything he wanted. The Black Hawk alone had cost six million. The Apache was eight and a half. The A-10 had taken twelve million by itself. And then there were the crews needed to actually operate them.
Still, he didn’t regret it.
Not even a little.
Because what stood before him now was no longer just an empty lot with a few buildings.
It was a real base.
A modern one.
But of course, a business is not without its huge upfront investment. He knew he could earn it back the moment he started taking contracts.
Marcus let out a slow breath as he looked across the base again, this time not as someone building it, but as someone who had already committed.
"...Good," he muttered quietly.
Because that meant he would take this seriously.
His eyes moved from one section to another.
The Black Hawks were no longer idle machines. One of the crews had already spun the rotor slightly, testing resistance, while another checked internal systems. The movements were clean and practiced, no wasted motion.
The Apache crew worked differently. Slower. More deliberate. Every part of that aircraft looked like it could kill, and the way they handled it showed respect for that fact.
Then the A-10.
Even on the ground, it dominated the field. The crew chief had already opened a panel near the engine intake, inspecting it like he was running through a checklist ingrained in memory. The pilot stood nearby, watching, waiting, patient.
Marcus crossed his arms.
"...Yeah."
This wasn’t something he could half-manage.
He needed structure.
Command.
Discipline.
He turned slightly, looking toward the empty barracks.
"They’ll be here soon."
The recruits.
E-rank.
D-rank.
Men who had never seen anything like this.
He could already imagine their faces the moment they stepped inside the gate.
Confusion.
Shock.
Then realization.
Marcus’s lips curved slightly.
"That’s where it starts."
Because fear and awe could be turned into something useful.
Respect.
Obedience.
Drive.
He took one last look at everything he had built, letting the scale of it settle in.
Then he turned toward the road leading back to Berm.
"...Time to bring them in."