As soon as Chris finished speaking, the maglev train gave off a low hum and began accelerating along the vacuum tube.
The stabilization system in the carriage activated instantly, ensuring the passengers felt almost none of the acceleration's force.
The scenery outside quickly blurred, replaced by the flowing blue energy patterns along the inner wall of the tunnel.
"Zerg?!" Mike blurted out instinctively.
His back pressed against the seat, the relaxed posture he had just a moment ago tightening all at once, a flash of unmistakable unease flickering in his eyes.
"Damn bugs—those things are what I fear most in this life."
His following comment was tinged with an involuntary disgust, not exaggerated but rooted in real memory.
In Universe 08—the Halo universe—Mike and Leon had once encountered the Flood, a type of Zerg-like parasite.
These were entities capable of absorbing, restructuring, and exploiting the consciousness of intelligent life. Their spread was rapid, almost irreversible.
Even worse, Mike and Leon had also faced the Arachnid Zerg in the Starship Troopers universe.
Thankfully, those bugs weren't as visually revolting—though their stench defied description.
Zerg species were always entities that redefined the bottom line of human fear.
Leon, sitting nearby, furrowed his brows slightly as well.
"I understand your concerns," said Chris, raising his hand and manipulating the holographic panel to pull up more data from the Intelligence Department.
Various briefings began appearing—text reports and rendered simulations, but no actual photographic footage.
"Based on the data collected from the other side of the gate, the Intelligence Department has sketched a general overview of that universe. As for the Zerg, they've only issued a single definition—
An unidentified Zerg organism, with extremely high biological adaptability, highly integrated swarm intelligence, and tactical coordination capabilities. It's suspected to possess a non-electronic neural connection system, allowing for large-scale precision command even under complete signal interference."
As Chris spoke, he pulled up an ecological simulation image.
It depicted what looked like a nest built from biological tissue, radiating outward. The central core was surrounded by dense spines and arch-like structures. Around it were hatching pools and tentacle-like appendages sprawling across the virtual terrain.
Even though it was only a simulation, the slow, pulsating movements in the animation provoked a visceral discomfort.
"This is just a model," Chris said calmly. "There's no name or source designation.
We don't even know if this is actually the 'Hive.' The Intelligence Department built this ecological guesswork based solely on long-range sensory data from the star system on the far side of the gate."
"You mean we haven't actually made contact with this supposed Zerg species? Just extrapolations by the Intelligence Department?" Mike asked, frowning at the image.
"Yes," Chris nodded. "There's been no physical contact. No record of engagement. No encounter of any kind."
"Then where did this data come from?" Mike pressed.
Chris gave a slight shrug. "It's the Intelligence Department. What do you think?"
"Fair point," Mike said, exhaling a bit in relief.
Chris continued to manipulate the interface, switching the projection to a simulation animation.
The footage began with a single egg, gradually evolving into multiple functional units—
Burrowers adept at tunneling, aerial units with high mobility, and command models possessing brain-like neural structures.
"This ecological framework was built by simulation systems. The Investigation Department cannot confirm whether these units truly exist. However, the Intelligence Department believes that if such a highly coordinated system exists, it would be enough to pose a severe threat to an entire planet—or even a star system."
He paused. The projection slowly shifted into an overhead view of a planet.
"As of now, there are no signs of Zerg activity on the planet beyond the gate."
Chris glanced at Leon and Mike. "The planet's surface appears safe. So our mission isn't to fight, but to verify."
Mike let out a breath and cracked a wry smile. "Then I guess I overreacted. Still, even the idea of Zerg is enough to keep a man up at night."
"You're not alone," Leon muttered, still staring at the hologram of the planet, echoing his friend's sentiment.
The carriage vibrated slightly again as the maglev accelerated further. The lights outside the track receded at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Chris folded away the projection and leaned back in his seat, as calm and steady as always.
"This time, we won't be diving deep. Just sending in plainclothes agents to infiltrate human settlements over there. Once we've collected enough ecological data, the higher-ups will decide whether further exploration is warranted—and whether their local government is worth engaging."
"If the Zerg the Intelligence Department predicts does exist…" Leon began.
"…then we're looking at one of the most terrifying opponents we've ever faced across all known universes," Chris finished for him. "But until then, we confirm first."
"If it turns out to be false," Mike chuckled, leaning back, "I'll buy you both two days' worth of drinks to calm our nerves."
"You might want to start chilling a bottle now," Leon replied with a grin.
As the train accelerated again, a faint light appeared at the end of the tunnel.
When the warm glow filled their field of view, it meant the maglev train had successfully passed through Warp Gate 18.
In that instant, the carriage light felt cleansed, and after a brief moment of blur, their vision gradually returned to clarity.
The view outside opened up to a world vastly different from the Imperial Palace—
A vast and rugged new frontier, the midnight sky tinged slightly violet.
On this side of the gate, towering steel structures dominated the horizon. The core facilities of the frontline base were nearly complete.
Modular buildings were laid out with chessboard-like precision, including heavily fortified defenses and labs for technical personnel.
Not far from the train windows, transport ships and scout shuttles took off and landed on several landing pads. Robotic arms and loaders were moving equipment and supply crates into designated logistics nodes.
At the center stood a towering command center, encased in radar-like arrays and solar collection panels.
To the southwest, a partially constructed repair dock could be seen—smaller in scale, but clearly designed for rapid-response modular repairs.
Barracks stretched in orderly rows, showcasing the Empire's strict military design—every door's placement, every drainage layout spoke of the Engineering Department's cold logic of "efficiency as aesthetics."
At this moment, a fully equipped and flag-bearing battalion was orderly entering the base via the eastern main road.
It was the Salamanders' Third Company.
They rode heavy tracked APCs and maglev assault vehicles, painted in dark green with deep red trim—like steel beasts cloaked in flame.
Each vehicle bore the company emblem—a roaring fire-drake breathing flame.
Soldiers clad in heavy armor marched with disciplined precision. Even in this unfamiliar universe, their aura of steel resolve and lethal focus radiated unmistakably.
Thanks to the warp gate's inherent shielding and folding effects, the forward base benefited from natural stealth and optical camouflage. Thus, the Engineering Department didn't need to construct additional optical domes or netting, saving vast amounts of time and resources.
The maglev train gradually decelerated and finally docked at the eastern terminal of the base.
With a soft hiss of released pressure, the doors opened, and Leon, Mike, and Chris stepped out onto pristine metallic flooring, surrounded by technical personnel, plainclothes agents, and special ops.
They passed through multiple corridors into the Investigation Department's forward detachment zone.
Unlike the stern and brutal air of the Salamanders' camp, this area resembled a high-efficiency command and research complex.
Translucent holographic panels hovered along the walls. Staff rushed past with data terminals or even printed documents in hand.
The air smelled of metal and coolant. The order was impeccable.
The group entered the armory, a spacious, brightly lit hall with magnetic cranes and gravity stabilizers mounted on the ceiling, ready to retrieve and transport heavy equipment as needed.
"Leon S. Kennedy, Mike Monady, Special Investigation Unit clearance verified. Loadout units G-08-A through E are your assigned gear."
The female logistics officer spoke crisply, fingers flying across the holographic interface.
With her command, a row of lockers opened automatically, revealing neatly arranged gear.
First was the newest model of optical camouflage cloak—featuring low-energy ambient light refraction tech and equipped with micro-adjusters to adapt to surroundings. It could fully enshroud the wearer.
Next, a wrist-mounted tactical info terminal, capable of launching and controlling small bio-drones, with encrypted comms modules.
Also included were nano-fiber armor, a versatile hard-light dagger, a cryo-spray, stun grenades, and three single-use shield (bubble shield) projectors.
"Feels like we're gearing up to take down a fire-breathing mecha-T-Rex," Mike muttered as he packed the cloak into his gear case.
"Then you'd better hope we only need the cloak," Leon replied calmly, strapping on the terminal and syncing data with practiced precision.
On the other side of the armory, members of the Investigation Department's special ops were prepping.
They wore dark gray nano-combat suits marked with an "α" emblem—among the most mobile and stealthy units in the Empire.
They silently checked their weapons, ammo, and helmet interfaces—quick, methodical, precise.
A few glanced at Leon and nodded in greeting.
Chris scanned the room, then addressed Leon, Mike, and the plainclothes agents:
"High Command has designated infiltration targets for all of you. We'll be boarding the Salamanders' Third Company ship, now in low orbit.
Should any emergency arise, our special ops team will be your first responders—for extraction or support."
"If we run into Zerg, be ready to pull us out of a bug's maw, Chris," Mike joked, lightening the heavy mood.
"Hah. Always, old friend," Chris replied with a smile.
Then Leon, Mike, and over fifty plainclothes agents left the armory and headed toward the nearest launch pad.
There, twenty or so small, compact assault shuttles awaited deployment.
Each shuttle could carry six agents. Their matte black finish, folded wings, and standby engines gave them a stealthy appearance—so seamlessly blended into the pad's metal that they were almost invisible unless approached.
The agents formed lines, pairing up into preassigned teams and boarding swiftly, with no wasted words.
Leon and Mike boarded Shuttle 07. The pilot had already completed the startup sequence and sealed the side doors with a firm "clack."
"Target trajectory confirmed. Northern Sector Three."
The pilot's voice came over comms. Moments later, the maglev engines hummed to life.
The shuttle hovered several meters above ground, then rapidly ascended and surged forward.
The others followed suit—rising like a volley of silent arrows, darting away from the base.
As they exited the gate's shielding zone, all shuttles activated their optical camouflage systems.
Nearly invisible energy waves rippled across their hulls, and within seconds, the entire craft blended seamlessly into the environment.
To radar and the naked eye, it was as if nothing had passed overhead. Only specialized Empire IFF frequencies could track their movement.
Inside the cabin, the lights dimmed to minimal levels to maintain night-time operational stealth.
Leon sat on the left, silently adjusting the cloak's shoulder interface, ensuring the optical system synced with his civilian uniform.
Mike leaned on the other side, trademark grin in place, staring out the window as he quipped:
"By the Emperor… This place looks like a planet half a step from death."
Beneath the black night sky, the terrain unfolded in a blend of gray-yellow and red deserts.
The rolling badlands resembled a sleeping beast in the dark—harsh and foreboding.
Occasional sandstorms swept past, carrying mineral dust and shattered crystal fragments, drawing serpentine trails through the landscape.
Along their flight path, they occasionally passed over "wild crystal fields."
These naturally occurring crystalline formations jutted from surface cracks in clusters. Under faint light, they glowed blue and white—like the planet's veins whispering secrets.
Half an hour later, the outline of a human settlement gradually appeared in Leon and Mike's field of view.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Mutter"]
[Every 50 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]