Chapter 687: Limited Support
Inside the core briefing room of the Trailblazer mobile base.
Ryo looked at the cooperation request transmitted from Sutai through Rei Ayanami. His face betrayed no surprise, as if everything was unfolding exactly within his expectations.
He closed the communication interface and turned to Maine, Margaret Nearl, Techmarine Cassius, and Elandir, who were gathered in the room.
"The Na'vi have finally lowered their proud heads," Ryo's tone was entirely placid, revealing neither joy nor anger. "They are requesting cooperation to fight the Predators."
Maine crossed his arms and asked with steady composure, "How do we respond?"
"Respond? Of course we respond." Ryo's fingertips traced lightly across the holographic projection of the Pandoran map. "This is an absolutely perfect opportunity. The Predators—they are not merely enemies; they are an incredibly precious resource. The Yautja Prime contained within their bodies is the key to longevity. Every living Predator is a mobile treasure trove."
His gaze swept across everyone present, finally settling on Maine. "Maine, it is time for your squad to enter the fray. But your mission objective is not annihilation; it is... live capture. Primary targets: Predator Young Bloods, followed by isolated mature warriors. I need as many live specimens in good condition as possible."
Margaret furrowed her brow slightly. "Live capture is far more difficult than killing. This will massively increase the risks the squad faces."
"The risks are controllable," Ryo explained. "Although the Predators are exceptionally well-equipped, Maine's squad is equally experienced, and we possess technological advantages they do not understand. Lady Elandir's psychic perception can negate their cloaking advantage to a certain extent. Sergeant Cassius, equip Maine's squad with non-lethal capture gear—high-tensile electromagnetic net guns, potent tranquilizer launchers, and energy-suppression cuffs. Valerie and Jake's Iron Guard mechs will provide heavy fire support and suppression, but note: avoid using lethal firing modes unless absolutely necessary."
Techmarine Cassius nodded. "I can modify a few servo-skulls to carry sonic disruption or flash-bang modules to assist in the capture operations."
Elandir offered an elegant nod. "I can provide the squad with short-duration psychic markers, leaving the cloaked units with nowhere to hide from their sensors. However, the range is limited, and it cannot be sustained indefinitely."
"That is sufficient." Ryo looked back at Maine. "Remember, your operation is to 'assist' the Na'vi in their defense, not to solve the problem for them. The pressure the Predators exert on the RDA and the Na'vi must be maintained. We need both of those factions to be drained and pinned down. Therefore, your actions must be precise and selective. Display our value, but do not reveal the entirety of our strength. Let the threat of the Predators remain constantly present, like a sharp sword hanging over their heads."
Maine immediately understood Ryo's deeper intentions and replied in a low voice: "Understood. We will act as a precise scalpel, excising the 'tissue' we need, but we will not remove the entire 'tumor'."
"Very good," Ryo nodded in satisfaction. "Begin preparations immediately. Contact Sutai and clarify the terms of our 'limited' support. For the initial operation, the target is designated as a known Predator patrol squad consisting of two Young Bloods and one mature warrior. The location is the spore forest sector southeast of the Land of Chants. Have the Na'vi hunters coordinate with you, but they will primarily be responsible for guidance and perimeter watch. The core capture operation will be executed by you."
"Yes, sir!" Maine accepted the order and turned to leave without delay, beginning to assemble his team and make pre-combat preparations.
Ryo watched his retreating back, a calculating glint flashing in his eyes. The raw materials for the longevity serum were waving at them, and this game of chess on Pandora was moving step by step toward the exact board state he desired.
The Spore Forest
Southeast of the Land of Chants lay the spore forest.
Countless giant mushrooms reaching tens of meters high and fungi emitting eerie blue and pale purple glows flourished here. The air was thick with drifting spores, resulting in heavily reduced visibility. The environment was complex and dead silent.
The squad led by Maine infiltrated this sector silently.
The active members included Dorio, Rebecca, Pilar, and the Iron Guard mech piloted by Valerie.
According to the plan, a detachment of elite Omaticaya hunters personally led by Sutai provided support from the perimeter, responsible for cordoning off the area and acting as an early warning system.
Pilar operated an Auspex scanner that had been temporarily "enchanted" and enhanced by Elandir. On the screen, a blurry blip was moving slowly.
"Targets spotted. Three signal sources. Two lower energy readings, one medium. Matches the signatures of Predator Young Bloods and a mature warrior. Distance is 1.5 kilometers, moving along their projected hunting route."
"Maintain distance. Wait for them to enter the ambush point," Maine issued orders over the encrypted comms channel.
The kill zone was chosen in a relatively open clearing surrounded by giant bioluminescent mushrooms. This allowed the Iron Guard mech the necessary space to maximize its suppressive fire while simultaneously restricting the Predators' mobility.
Utilizing the spore mist and the massive fungal stalks for cover, the squad members silently took up highly advantageous positions.
Valerie's Iron Guard mech crouched on one knee behind one of the largest mushrooms. Its massive chassis blended almost perfectly with the environment; only its sensors emitted a faint, nearly imperceptible scanning hum.
After waiting for nearly half an hour, the targets finally appeared.
The silhouettes of three Predators flickered in and out of the spore mist. They appeared to be tracking the footprints of some large beast.
The two Young Bloods walked in the front, appearing relatively relaxed, while the mature warrior trailed slightly behind, vigilantly observing the surroundings.
When all three Predators had fully stepped into the center of the kill zone, Maine decisively gave the order: "Execute!"
Pilar was the first to strike.
He activated a powerful electronic disruption wave, instantly scrambling the energy fields and communication signals in the immediate area.
The Predators' cloaking fields emitted an unstable flicker. Although the active camouflage was not completely shattered, their outlines became blurry yet entirely visible.
Almost simultaneously, Valerie's Iron Guard mech abruptly stood up. The modified multi-tube launcher on its shoulder spewed out several specially crafted, high-tensile alloy capture nets. Accompanied by a sharp whistle tearing through the air, they descended directly over the two Predator Young Bloods!
The sudden ambush caught the two Young Bloods completely off guard.
One of them reacted slightly faster, popping his wristblades in an attempt to slice the net's ropes. However, the alloy net was incredibly resilient. It merely sparked under the blades, remaining firmly entangled around him and bringing him crashing to the ground.
The other was directly netted, struggling violently but utterly unable to break free.
The mature warrior's reaction was lightning-fast. The instant the disruption took effect and the Iron Guard revealed itself, he had already raised his shoulder caster, firing a searing plasma beam directly at the mech's cockpit!
But Valerie was fully prepared. The Iron Guard's heavy armor shield was brought up just in time to block. The beam exploded against the shield in a blinding ball of plasma fire, entirely failing to penetrate the plating.
"Suppress the mature one! Capture the Young Bloods!" Maine roared.
He and Dorio opened fire simultaneously. A dense barrage of smart bullets formed a curtain of lead, blanketing the area where the mature warrior stood. This forced the veteran to constantly move and evade, making it impossible for him to effectively support the netted Young Bloods.
Rebecca charged out like a cheetah. Aiming the specialized tranquilizer rifle in her hands at the Young Blood attempting to cut the net, she fired several potent tranquilizer darts in rapid succession.
The darts accurately struck the joints in the Young Blood's neck armor, rapidly injecting a highly concentrated chemical agent.
The Young Blood's movements became visibly sluggish and stiff. A few seconds later, he ceased struggling entirely and collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.
The second netted Young Blood was similarly dropped by Dorio's precise tranquilizer darts.