At this moment, everyone's eyes were fixed on Chirrut Îmwe.
"."
But Chirrut did not respond immediately; instead, he fell into deep contemplation. Although his helmet concealed his facial expression, everyone present could sense his profound and focused aura. Clearly, this Force-sensitive individual was straining to perceive the fluctuations within the Death Star, especially to detect whether any dark side Force energy was spreading through the space.
As the elevator gradually approached the target floor, the atmosphere within the team grew increasingly solemn, almost as if the air in that narrow space had frozen. With his eyes shut tightly in concentration, Chirrut appeared to be extending his perception to explore every possible threat within the Death Star.
Finally, after what seemed like an endless silence, Chirrut gently shook his head and spoke slowly:
"I cannot be certain that there are absolutely no Sith warriors inside the Death Star."
His voice was low and calm, carrying a steady certainty, "But I can confirm that there is currently no dark side energy on our target floor."
These words immediately eased the tension in the air.
Chirrut then turned his gaze to the elevator's security gate, as if no external pressure could sway his judgment, and said, "So, Agent Kennedy, we can proceed with the mission."
"Very well."
At these words, Agent Kennedy's mood lightened slightly. Although Chirrut's response did not offer absolute certainty, it indicated that their target floor was relatively safe, at least for now, with no strong dark side fluctuations. This provided a foundation for the upcoming assault plan and allowed everyone to set aside a small measure of worry.
As the elevator gradually came to a stop and its gate slowly opened, Agent Kennedy and the other team members quickly stepped out into a spacious, somewhat desolate corridor. Compared to the bustling area they had left behind, this place appeared unusually empty.
There were few staff along the way, and the gaps between the walls on either side were equally deserted, as if in an abandoned zone. Occasionally, a few engineers in uniform hurried by, but even they did not spare Agent Kennedy and his team a glance.
In reality, the staff on the main control room floor were typically not very sensitive to these external "members," especially since nearly every member of the assault teams looked identical, with little noticeable difference in their armor and equipment.
Before long, they encountered a patrol of Death Troopers. Clad in similar gear, these troopers automatically verified the team's identity; however, due to the perfect match in both identification information and behavior, the Death Troopers detected nothing amiss.
Following Lucy's guidance, Agent Kennedy and the others continued to stride toward the main control room of Sector 7, their objective growing ever clearer. As they made their way through the corridor, the mood became increasingly serious—each member silently understanding that the actions to follow would directly determine the success or failure of the mission.
Soon, the team arrived at a corridor ending in a heavy security gate. Without the aid of their screens, Agent Kennedy could immediately tell from the design of this reinforced safety door that it had been specially strengthened to prevent any unauthorized intrusion.
Standing at the corner, Agent Kennedy quickly scanned the area, his eyes finally settling on four Death Troopers on guard. Clad in sleek black elite armor, these troopers watched the surroundings with unwavering vigilance. As elite units of the Galactic Empire responsible for the most critical security tasks, their presence undoubtedly added a significant challenge to the impending operation. Moreover, according to the intelligence provided by Lucy, there were even more Death Troopers in the vicinity of the main control room.
At that moment, K-2SO was the first to round the corner, moving stealthily through the shadows at the end of the corridor. His mechanical structure allowed him to calculate the optimal attack strategy far faster than a human could, and his extremely precise sensors enabled him to instantly discern the Death Troopers' positions.
However, K-2SO did not rush into action; instead, he first contacted Agent Kennedy through his internal communications system:
"Agent Kennedy, it appears we must force our way in directly. I can support this assault, but only if you can provide me with a firearm."
Agent Kennedy responded without hesitation:
"You handle support."
"Understood, Agent Kennedy."
K-2SO's tone was steady, laced with a hint of dry humor. Though Agent Kennedy had grown to trust K-2SO greatly over time, he still declined to equip him with a firearm. K-2SO's mechanical body, though remarkably sturdy compared to a human's, could not offer sufficient protection. Should he become involved in direct combat, he would struggle to withstand the heavy firepower—especially from Death Troopers whose shooting accuracy far exceeded that of ordinary assault teams. K-2SO would likely not last long and might be destroyed outright. Agent Kennedy naturally did not wish to lose such a uniquely reliable and even humorous partner. In addition, in certain critical moments, K-2SO's data processing capabilities could assist Lucy in ways that might unexpectedly contribute to the mission's success. Moreover, the self-aware K-2SO could help the Research Department with analyses to further advance the Empire's mechanical technology. Of course, the researchers would never do anything like dismantle or dissect K-2SO to cause harm.
Next, Agent Kennedy slightly turned his head and glanced at the miniature radar displayed inside his helmet. The radar image was exceptionally clear, marking the three squads of Special Forces that had already arrived on the target floor.
Seeing this, Agent Kennedy decisively issued an order:
"Lucy, notify the Special Forces members to immediately converge on our location and prepare to launch a direct assault on the target."
Without pausing, Agent Kennedy continued as he walked past the corner alongside K-2SO toward the security gate:
"Everyone, remain calm. In a moment, we will also need to divert the attention of those guards."
"Yes, sir."
Lucy's voice came through the comms—brief and clear. Meanwhile, David, who was following just behind the corner, echoed the same response.
Baze Malbus, arriving last, quipped teasingly to Chirrut, "Old buddy, don't chicken out later."
Chirrut merely returned a light smile as usual, as if fearless in the face of any potential danger and conveying an unspoken trust and rapport within the team.
As Agent Kennedy led the way toward the security gate, the rest of the team closely followed. Their steps, synchronized in the dim corridor, exuded the determination and storm that was about to break.
?
Just as Agent Kennedy and his team neared the security gate, the attention of the four Death Troopers snapped to them. These troopers, with their impassive exteriors, possessed extraordinarily keen alertness and combat instincts. Sensing something was off with the group's arrival, one of the troopers advanced; his steps were precise like well-oiled gears—steady and intimidating.
"Hey!"
"Newest update: The latest release from '6-9 Book' has just been announced!"
The trooper's deep voice accompanied his measured steps, shattering the corridor's silence. He raised his hand in a stopping gesture, his finger slicing through the air as he quickly aimed his attention toward Agent Kennedy's group.
Then, the trooper activated the external speaker on his helmet and, in a cold and unyielding tone, demanded, "What are you doing here?"
Without a trace of panic, Agent Kennedy stepped forward not far from the trooper and fixed his gaze steadily behind his helmet. Activating his own external speaker, he replied in a low tone:
"We are the 273rd Patrol Group. We received orders from higher command stating that enemy spies are suspected of infiltrating this floor. We are here to verify whether that report is accurate."
Before Agent Kennedy could finish speaking, the trooper hesitated noticeably, clearly harboring doubts about this explanation. After all, these Death Troopers held far greater authority than ordinary patrol units, receiving their orders directly from higher echelons and possessing far more accurate information. Yet here, the patrol members claimed that enemy spies had infiltrated, despite receiving no such notification. This sudden "order" was obviously problematic.
"Enemy spies?"
The trooper's voice rose slightly, laced with distrust and caution. It was clear he did not believe Agent Kennedy's response. At that moment, the Death Troopers needed to ensure that no detail was overlooked—any potential threat could not be ignored lightly.
The trooper then switched to the encrypted internal channel and alerted his teammates, "Be advised, these people are suspicious. Wait for my signal and proceed with the arrest." He continued by reporting this anomaly to his superior commander, seeking approval for a capture operation.
However, before any response could be received from higher up—
Boom. Rumble.
A violent explosion, or something akin to one, caused the entire area to tremble noticeably. The ground and walls quivered as if on the verge of collapse, making it nearly impossible for everyone to maintain their balance.
Buzzz—buzzzz—!!
Next, a shrill alarm pierced the space, its siren cutting through the air as sound waves echoed in every corner, heralding the imminent clash.
"Attack!"
Agent Kennedy's voice suddenly rang out, as if he had set the rhythm for the coming storm.
Thwack—!
Before his words had even faded, a tremendous noise sounded outside the security gate, like the clash of metal shattering the silence.
Agent Kennedy was the first to act. He charged forward, wielding the butt of an energy weapon with all his might, forcefully striking the nearest Death Trooper's helmet with lightning speed. Under the intense impact, the trooper's helmet was knocked askew, and his body promptly toppled backward with a heavy thud, losing consciousness immediately.
Even though the Death Troopers' bodies were reinforced, in such close-quarters and high-intensity combat there was no chance for them to react. Moreover, Agent Kennedy, who had undergone genetic modifications himself, moved with precise and rapid motions, like a falcon diving upon its prey without a hint of hesitation.
Simultaneously, as Agent Kennedy initiated the attack, the rest of the team sprang into action.
David, Lucy, Chirrut, and Baze Malbus were already primed. In the ensuing chaos, their reactions were immediate.
Whoosh—whoosh—!
The four of them raised their energy weapons without hesitation and began a close-range suppressing fire against the remaining three Death Troopers in the narrow space.
"Ugh"
"Ah!"
The troopers barely had time to emit pained groans before they fell one after the other, unable to recover. The entire process was as swift and overwhelming as a sudden storm, leaving virtually no time for any opponent to react.
Agent Kennedy and his ad hoc team operated with remarkable coordination and efficiency, demonstrating superb tactical execution. In just a few moments, aside from the four Death Troopers rendered combat ineffective, the area outside the security gate was temporarily secured by Agent Kennedy's group. They knew, however, that this calm would be short-lived, as more Death Troopers might mount a frenzied counterattack.
Fortunately, a Special Forces team of eight arrived just in time. Their support eased the situation somewhat. Clad in nano-combat suits and armed with Gauss rifles, the Special Forces quickly established a perimeter, sealing off nearby blind spots and passageways to ensure that Agent Kennedy's team could complete the mission within a brief window.
Meanwhile, Lucy abandoned the direct fighting and swiftly headed toward the right-hand terminal of the security gate. As she moved, she removed her helmet to reveal her short silver hair, its tips faintly glinting in the dim light, and her face took on an even more focused expression. She then began to remove the armor on her left arm and the left sleeve of her power suit, exposing the metallic structure of her prosthetic limb.
At that moment, her left arm prosthetic functioned like a precise tool, extending fluidly as she connected it to the terminal's interface on the gate. Her electronic eyes flickered with a soft blue light as she immersed herself in the task, rapidly scanning every line of data on the terminal and working with all her might to crack the system and help the team open the security gate as quickly as possible.
At the same time, David stood behind Lucy on guard, ensuring the team's safety while raising his voice to update Agent Kennedy:
"Sir! The main force of the Blood Raven Company, led by the original entity, has arrived at Scariff. However, the Galactic Empire has also dispatched additional reinforcements outside, and now a full-scale melee has broken out."
"Understood! Inform the veterans lying in wait outside the docking bay to create a big diversion to support the original entity and the Glory Guard!"
"Yes, sir!"
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