After months of meticulous preparation, Jason's floating space island was finally ready for its official launch.
On this momentous day, all of humanity gazed skyward in collective astonishment at the colossal structure now suspended above their heads.
Jason addressed the world through a global broadcast, his voice carrying both pride and purpose: "This represents one small step for the Avengers, but one giant leap for mankind."
He paused deliberately before continuing, "With the exception of the United States, which has severed its cooperative relationship with the Avengers, we extend a sincere invitation to citizens from all nations to settle on our floating island and participate in groundbreaking scientific research."
His expression brightened as he delivered the next part of his announcement. "Additionally, thanks to the generous assistance of our Asgardian allies, we have acquired numerous scientific and technological breakthroughs that surpass Earth's current capabilities by hundreds of years."
Jason's eyes hardened slightly. "Except for the United States, which chose to terminate its partnership with the Avengers, we remain committed to sharing these revolutionary technologies with all other countries worldwide."
He gestured expansively as holographic displays materialized beside him. "These advancements encompass medical technology, spacecraft propulsion systems, biotechnology, and super-metallurgical forging techniques. I firmly believe that through global collaboration, we can transform our shared future for the better..."
In the White House Oval Office, the yellow-haired, one-eared President watched the broadcast with mounting fury. As Jason concluded his speech, the President violently swept everything from his desk with a bellowing roar.
"This bastard is deliberately targeting America! This is completely unacceptable!" he shouted, face flushing crimson. "Is he even American anymore? TRAITOR! He's nothing but a goddamn traitor to this country!"
"Um..." A nervous staff member raised his hand tentatively from the edge of the room. "According to our investigation, sir, Jason appears to have never actually obtained American citizenship. Our records suggest he may have entered the United States illegally through Mexico."
"LIES!" The President exploded with even greater intensity. "Damn Mexico! I knew my border wall plan was absolutely correct! I want additional funding immediately! One wall clearly isn't enough to stop these criminals. I want THREE walls to protect American sovereignty from these parasites who are hollowing out our great nation!"
The assembled officials and staff exchanged uncomfortable glances, maintaining strategic silence.
After an awkward pause, Ivanka, the President's daughter, attempted to redirect the conversation. "What about this floating island situation? The Avengers are teaching Asgard's advanced technology to every nation except us. This is clearly calculated revenge against our administration."
The President snorted dismissively. "Does he honestly believe this will prevent America from acquiring those technologies? We have countless allies! If the Avengers won't cooperate with us directly, our allies certainly will!"
"Mr. President..." Another subordinate stepped forward with a grimace. "We anticipated this strategy and have already contacted Britain and France, but..."
"But what?" the President snapped.
"They've informed us they've signed binding agreements with the Avengers stipulating that all shared technology must remain confidential. They claim they can't assist us without violating these terms."
"Those ungrateful bastards!" The President slammed his fist onto his desk. "I'm withdrawing from all partnerships with these cowards! For decades, America has been the only thing standing between them and Soviet—now Russian—domination, and this is how they repay our generosity?"
He paced energetically across the Oval Office. "I'm pulling all American troops out of Europe! NATO drains billions from our treasury annually—I'm done financing their security! Let's see if they can hold back the Russian bear without us! They'll come crawling back, begging for our protection!"
The President's threat to abandon NATO sent immediate ripples of alarm through his advisors.
"Sir, NATO represents a cornerstone of American global influence. Abandoning Europe would dramatically reshape the international order—" one began desperately.
Ivanka swiftly interrupted, recognizing her father's growing agitation. "Perhaps we should table the NATO discussion for another time. Our immediate concern should be addressing the challenges presented by the Avengers' island."
The President waved dismissively. "My great America doesn't rely solely on these treacherous European 'allies.' Don't we have loyal partners in Asia? That ancient oriental country would never dare defy the United States! Have them learn these technologies and then share everything with us!"
After a brief pause, he added, "Also, get Stark over here immediately. The government has poured billions into his company—now that we're being publicly humiliated by these Avengers upstarts, he needs to step up. If Jason can construct a floating island in space, then America will build a mechanical island that outshines it! Tell Stark to make it happen!"
Meanwhile, Jason had just completed establishing the comprehensive spatial barrier surrounding his entire floating island.
The massive structure stretched more than ten kilometers in length and several kilometers in width. From almost anywhere on Earth, observers could glimpse the majestic silhouette of the space station at the right time and position.
The oval-shaped island featured Jason's personal villa perched atop a central mountain, with residential complexes cascading down the slopes in elegant terraces. A pristine lake gleamed at the mountain's base, encircled by an expansive ring of cutting-edge research facilities. The Avengers' new training center occupied a prominent position within this scientific district.
The remainder of the floating island had been meticulously developed into a lush forest park encompassing the mountain and lake, creating a perfect balance between natural beauty and technological innovation.
Spacious landing platforms extended from either side of the island, accommodating various aircraft for docking and transportation. Under normal operations, the island could comfortably house tens of thousands of residents.
And this was all before connecting it to the First God Domain. Once that dimensional portal was established, the floating island would effectively offer "infinite" expansion capabilities!
But every ambitious project required methodical execution. Jason was still implementing crucial systems throughout the island, including plans to integrate the space-traveling capabilities harvested from the dark elf battleships into the island's infrastructure.
The space-time engines remained under development, their construction accelerated through knowledge gained from captured dark elf engineers and the technological exchange with Odin. Without these resources, replicating such advanced systems from examination of the captured warships alone would have taken decades, perhaps centuries.
In Jason's vision, this floating island would evolve far beyond a simple space station orbiting Earth. Eventually, it would become humanity's first interstellar battleship—capable of traversing the universe itself.
As the world embraced this new era of space exploration fever, Jason's floating island welcomed two particularly noteworthy visitors.
The moment they approached, Jason's enhanced perception immediately identified their true natures. One radiated the unmistakable essence of Heaven—an angel of the highest order. The other, despite careful concealment, emanated the subtle darkness of Hell.
Frankly, Jason was surprised they had taken this long to locate him. Perhaps both realms had truly suffered devastating losses in their recent conflict.
Standing in the mountaintop plaza, bathed in gentle sunlight, Jason awaited their approach. When designing the spatial barrier, he had implemented specialized filters on the sun-facing portions, transforming harsh direct solar radiation into diffuse, Earth-like illumination.
The heavenly representative was an incarnation of the Archangel Gabriel, while Hell had sent an aspect of Lucifer himself—formerly the most powerful lord of the infernal realm.
They had assumed human forms for this encounter: Gabriel appeared as a woman of austere beauty and solemn dignity, while Lucifer manifested as a coldly handsome man with penetrating eyes.
Both scrutinized Jason with calculating intensity as they approached.
"Are you Jason?" Gabriel inquired, her melodious voice carrying an undercurrent of steel.
Jason smiled slightly. "Indeed I am. What brings such distinguished visitors to my humble island today?"
Lucifer's incarnation fixed Jason with an icy stare. "Don't pretend ignorance. You know precisely why we've been searching for you."
Jason regarded him coolly for a moment, then casually snapped his fingers.
Instantly, Lucifer's incarnation went flying backward as though struck by an invisible freight train, his body carving a furrow through the pristine plaza.
Gabriel's eyes widened in shock and outrage. "What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, celestial power flaring around her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Support me at p@treon.com/goldengaruda and check out more chapter of this or more early access chapter of my other fanfic translation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~