From Idler to Tech Tycoon: Earth-Chapter 157: Praetoriani Suit of Armors

After fifteen minutes, the rigid tension that had gripped the recruits finally began to ease. The human-looking androids, with their serene smiles and effortless grace, circulated through the lounge, offering an endless supply of snacks and refreshing, chilled drinks.

More compelling were the advanced arcade simulator booths that lined the back wall. These weren’t crude games; they were immersive war simulations, placing the men in the cockpits of advanced jets or behind the wheel of futuristic armored vehicles, the virtual battlefields indistinguishable from reality. Laughter, mixed with shouts of triumph and frustration, began to fill the spacious lounge.

On a raised platform overlooking the sprawling entertainment area, Richard and Ciano monitored the recruits through a one-way translucent screen. Richard leaned back slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Well, looks like your men have eased up their tensions, Ciano."

"Yes, sir," Ciano replied, his voice a low rumble, his gaze sweeping over the now relaxed and engaged recruits. "They have. Brazilian men. They adapt fast. Especially to comfort."

"Good," Richard said, his smile widening. He gestured towards a heavy, reinforced door at the far end of the monitoring platform. "Now, I have something else to show you. Something far more... inspiring."

With a soft, almost imperceptible hiss of hydraulics, the massive door slid open, revealing a breathtaking sight. The chamber beyond was vast, bathed in a cool, ethereal light, and filled with a silent, imposing presence. Lined up in gleaming rows were formidable figures: power armors, each standing roughly ten feet tall, their thick plates gleaming with a distinctive yellow and black streaked livery.

Ciano’s eyes widened, his usual stoicism crumbling. A low sound, a mix of awe and disbelief, escaped his lips. "By... by the saints," he breathed, taking an involuntary step forward. He’d seen horrors beyond human comprehension, witnessed miracles of faith, but this... this was raw, undeniable, technological power.

Richard began his explanation, his voice filled with quiet pride. "These are the Praetoriani power armors. Designed for peak combat effectiveness and soldier survivability in any environment. We have two primary variations here."

He gestured to the first line of armors. These were bulkier, their limbs thick with layers of interlocking plates. "This variant is the Praetoriani Hoplite armor. Designed for frontline engagement, heavy defense. Each one holds a shield made from a translucent, almost iridescent material." He pointed to a Hoplite. The shield, large and rectangular, shimmered with a faint internal light. "And they are armed with a selection of melee weapons: you have the option of a spear, an axe, a two-handed sword, a great sword, or for more versatility, a combination of a saber and a plasma pistol."

Ciano walked closer, his fingers itching to touch the cold, imposing metal. "A saber and plasma pistol..." he murmured, his mind already envisioning the devastating potential. He could feel the power radiating from them, even from a distance.

Richard then gestured to the second line. These armors were noticeably sleekier, more streamlined, with fewer obvious layers of plating. "And this is the Praetoriani Stratos armor. Designed for rapid deployment, agility, and aerial superiority." He pointed to the integrated jetpacks strapped to their backs, their thrusters designed for speed. "They feature a portable gravity deflector. It’s not a physical shield like the Hoplite, but an energy field that actively deflects incoming projectiles, scattering their kinetic energy."

Ciano’s eyes tracked the subtle contours of the Stratos armor, his gaze lingering on the integrated weaponry. "And the weapons?" he asked, his voice still a little breathless.

"For the Stratos, they carry plasma rifles for sustained engagements, full-auto coilguns for rapid suppression and high-velocity projectiles, and railgun rifles for longer-range, precision engagements. Each energy cell, universal across both variants, has a capacity of 4.4 gigajoules of energy." Richard paused, letting the number sink in. "To put that in perspective, each cell can power approximately 3,500 plasma rifle shots, 5,000 coilgun rounds, or 200 devastating railgun blasts."

Ciano whistled softly, a sound of genuine astonishment. "That’s... that’s enough to take out a small army."

"Indeed," Richard confirmed. "And in terms of power storage for the suit itself, the Hoplite armor has ten energy cells, providing power for its mobility and integrated systems. They also have gravity grenades reserved under their armor slots – small, potent devices that create localized gravity wells to disorient or crush enemies."

"Gravity grenades..." Ciano muttered, shaking his head. "Insane."

"The Stratos, being more reliant on energy for its flight and deflectors, has fifty energy cells," Richard continued, "for jetpack fuels, rifle energy, and for the portable gravity deflector shield."

Ciano moved from armor to armor, running a hand over the smooth, unblemished surface of a Hoplite’s chest plate. The sheer craftsmanship, the blend of devastating power and elegant design, left him speechless. "This is... this is beyond anything I ever imagined possible," he finally managed, his voice thick with emotion. "You can give us an army. An army of gods." He looked at Richard, his eyes shining with unbridled hope and fierce loyalty. "These... these are the angels. The ones who will truly protect our people."

"Those are just for the standard issues, Ciano," Richard said, a hint of amusement in his tone as he watched Ciano’s fervent reaction. "Not everyone can pick what they want from these. There’s a process. They first have to undergo a gene-mod therapy, just like you did, though a baseline version for combat. Then, they will each be rigorously tested for their skills in both ranged and close combat scenarios, pushed to their limits in simulations. And beyond skill, beyond brute force, something else is paramount."

Richard paused, his gaze intensifying. "A highly devoted and faithful recruit, one whose belief is as strong and unwavering as Nicolau’s, will be awarded with a special mark: a lotus flower symbol, intricately tattooed onto their skin." He conjured a shimmering, ethereal image of a blooming lotus, its petals unfolding in soft light, distinct from the geometric symbols of protection. "This isn’t a protection symbol, Ciano, not in the same way the Vesica Piscis is. This is a mark of strength and perseverance. A faithful man of their religion, truly devout, will be granted this symbol, and with it, an amplification of their inherent strength and power. It signifies their unbreakable spirit, their inner light."

Ciano nodded slowly, understanding dawning. "So, their faith... it makes them stronger, even without the armor?" He touched the Vesica Piscis on his own arm, then looked at the projected lotus. "Like another kind of blessing."

"Precisely," Richard confirmed. "It channels their spiritual conviction into physical and mental fortitude. And for you, Ciano, this is just the beginning." Richard snapped his fingers. With another soft hiss, a section of the wall behind the existing armors retracted, revealing a new, elevated display. Three distinct, even more magnificent power armors stood bathed in a focused spotlight.

Ciano’s breath hitched. These weren’t just functional. They were works of art, infused with an almost living presence.

Richard began, his voice taking on a tone of profound significance. "The first one," he gestured to a commanding figure at the center, "this is the Praetoriani Siderum Commander’s Armor. It features a much more aesthetic and royal design, meticulously crafted. The armor is intricately designed with the golden-yellow theme of the Praetoriani Order, but infused with stark, blood-red streaks that symbolize sacrifice and unwavering resolve. It boasts a long, flowing crimson cape, woven with advanced fibers that shimmer with unseen energy. The helmet is a masterpiece, intricately designed for both supreme durability and agility, with a multi-layered visor that adapts to any light condition, offering enhanced combat awareness and tactical overlays. Its core feature is a miniature, highly efficient reactor core, capable of powering the armor and its integrated weapon systems for an indefinite amount of time, essentially making it self-sustaining in the field."

Ciano walked around the Commander’s Armor, his eyes wide with admiration. He saw the subtle hints of ancient artistry woven into the futuristic design, a fusion of power and legacy. "Indefinite power... and that cape," he murmured, imagining Richard, or himself, leading an army in such a suit. "It’s... it’s magnificent."

"Beyond raw power," Richard continued, "it also features multiple layers of advanced energy shielding, providing an additional protective barrier around the armor. And crucially, it incorporates sophisticated psionic nullification fields within the helmet and throughout the suit’s neural interface. This is designed to resist against even the most potent mental attacks, ensuring the wearer’s mind remains clear and unassailable. Your personal weapon, Ciano, will be custom-made to your exact specifications, perfectly integrated with the suit’s systems."

Ciano turned to Richard, his eyes blazing. "My... my personal weapon? Sir, this... this is too much. A war general’s armor."

Richard clapped him on the shoulder. "You, Ciano, are the first. You will be granted the position of a War General of the Praetoriani Siderum Order. And with that position, you will undergo another set of genetic modifications, specifically tailored to enhance your leadership capabilities, tactical intuition, and resilience. This armor, this rank, it’s yours to inspire those who will follow."

He then gestured to the second suit, equally impressive but with a slightly less elaborate design. "The second armor is for the Praetoriani Captain. It shares a stronger aesthetic design, still royal, but more functional, with a single, sweeping side cape. It also features the psionic nullification system within its helmet and integrated energy shielding. This armor is reserved only for the most devoted and faithful men, those undeterred by fear and death, who consistently exemplify the virtues of the Order. Every title and rank within the Praetoriani doesn’t solely rely on combat skills; it’s a matter of embodying the role model, to lead and inspire by example, to be a beacon of faith and courage for their squads."

Ciano nodded, understanding the distinction. "Not just the best fighter, but the best man."

"Exactly," Richard affirmed. "And finally, the last one." He pointed to a third armor, still imposing, but radiating a different kind of authority. It looked like a fusion of the Hoplite’s bulk and the Stratos’s sleekness. "This is the Praetoriani Enforcer Armor. It’s a combination of the Hoplite’s formidable defense and the Stratos’s dynamic agility. It’s designed specifically for those warriors who enforce motivation, who embody will and faith among the men, among the warriors on the battlefield. Save for the officer’s cape, which is a mark of command, you will see every Enforcer leading the vanguard, a living wall against the enemy, instilling fire and burning resolve among our men and fear among our enemies."

Ciano stared at the Enforcer Armor, picturing men like Cortez, men of unyielding faith, donning these suits and leading the charge. "They will be unstoppable," he said, a grim, hopeful conviction in his voice. "We will be unstoppable." His gaze settled on the Siderum Commander’s Armor, then back at Richard. "Sir... I am ready for the next modification. Ready for whatever you ask."

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m