Chapter 696: Harvest
After the final spark of resistance within the Predator mothership was extinguished, cold efficiency replaced the clamor of battle. The command center's lights spilled steadily across the metal deck, illuminating faint scratches and coagulating xenos blood. Ryo stood in the center, listening to the reports from each squad.
"All enemy units have been incapacitated and administered tranquilizer injections," Apothecary Gaius's voice transmitted steadily and clearly over the comm channel. "The vital signs of the severely wounded individuals have stabilized. The Elder, in particular, possesses incredibly resilient biological signals; he is worthy of further observation."
"Copy that," Ryo nodded. "Commence transport. Utilize the specialized restraint pods and ensure the energy-suppression fields remain active throughout the process."
"Restraint pods are in position," Techmarine Cassius's deep voice joined the channel. "Internal linings activated, external alloy structures intact. They are more than sufficient to withstand the stress of trans-dimensional transport."
Heavy footsteps and the hum of machinery echoed across the deck. The Astartes and Eldar warriors worked in tandem, loading the unconscious Predators one by one into rectangular metal pods emitting a faint blue glow. When the final captive—the gravely injured but still breathing Elder—was carefully secured into a reinforced restraint pod, Cassius personally inspected the locks and energy output.
"All restraint pods confirmed sealed. Suppression fields operating nominally," he reported.
Ryo said nothing more, merely raising his hand in a gesture to proceed.
The pre-prepared dimensional teleportation apparatus illuminated the mothership's cargo bay with an eerie blue halo. Caught in the tractor beams, the restraint pods glided sequentially into the portal, swallowed by an invisible maw and sent toward that familiar Death World base brimming with desolation and research facilities.
"They will receive the attention they deserve," Ryo murmured to himself. He could almost envision the modified research facilities at the base awaiting this batch of precious live specimens. The highly concentrated Yautja Prime potentially housed within the Elder's body would be the primary research objective for Apothecary Gaius and his assistants.
Simultaneously, the processing of the mothership itself was underway.
Farseer Irian led several Eldar technicians onto the bridge. Their fingers glided gracefully across wraithbone control panels, engaging in a silent dialogue with the ship's onboard systems.
"The architecture of this vessel's cloaking field generator is intriguing, but hardly flawless," an Eldar technician commented, the light of analysis gleaming in his eyes.
"Our psychic shielding can couple with it, forging a far more absolute visual and sensor deception," Irian stated. He turned to Ryo. "With your permission, we can temporarily 'wrap' it to facilitate its relocation."
"Execute," Ryo nodded.
Soon, a psychic force field—imperceptible to the naked eye but capable of subtly warping light and scanning beams—slowly draped over the Predator mothership's jagged hull like a translucent membrane. The colossal vessel was slowly towed from its dormant position in the frozen canyon. Like a slumbering behemoth being quietly relocated, it was finally settled deep within Valley 3, hidden inside a massive, meticulously camouflaged cavern prepared well in advance. This would serve as a temporary yet fully functional research outpost.
The focus then shifted to the knowledge concealed within the mothership itself.
Building upon their previous success in cracking the small scout ship's systems, the Tech-Priests temporarily requisitioned under Ryo's command and the Eldar technicians launched a joint assault on the mainframe.
"The biometric locks are the primary obstacle, but they are not the only pathway," a human Tech-Priest noted, staring at the cascading data streams, his bionic eye rapidly focusing. "We can attempt to bypass them by rewriting the foundational command protocols."
"That will require psychic simulation and corresponding cipher keys for spoofing," an Eldar technician added, the wraithbone probe in his hand emitting a soft hum. "Combining the two might just open a backdoor."
The collaboration proceeded in a silent, highly efficient rhythm.
Hours later, the unfamiliar Predator script on the bridge's main screen began to be progressively translated and overwritten, flashing alternately with familiar Gothic letters and Eldar heraldry.
"Breakthrough achieved," the Tech-Priest's voice carried a trace of restrained excitement. "We have acquired basic navigation and database access privileges."
A colossal torrent of data began to be extracted and decoded. The star maps gradually refined, and the parameter lists extended endlessly. The contours of the Predator homeworld grew increasingly clear: coordinates precise to the decimal, atmospheric composition ratios, gravitational constants, geomagnetic fluctuation spectrums—even roughly annotated general locations of orbital defense platforms.
"Critical data confirmed," Irian scrutinized the screen, his gaze landing on several navigation routes encrypted with unique symbols. "The navigation core contains multiple encrypted direct routes to their homeworld, along with the corresponding identification codes. These are the most efficient paths, which also means..."
"Which means we have our ticket," Ryo finished the thought, his eyes calmly sweeping over the flashing data.
The key was now entirely in his grasp.
Farseer Irian carefully reviewed the continuously deciphering data. His slender fingers traced across the holographic star map, calculating potential routes.
"The intelligence remains crude, particularly regarding the specifics of planetary surface defenses and primary settlements. To safely execute the esoteric rites, we require a precise spatial anchor point, as well as close-range mapping of the target planet's geological structure and energy ley lines." He looked at Ryo. "A reconnaissance team must be dispatched for on-site surveying. This is not merely about the relocation itself, but about assessing the stability of the star system before and after the move. Disturbing the center of mass of a planet generates gravitational ripples that must be precisely calculated and preemptively nullified, lest the entire star system's orbit collapse into unpredictable chaos. Even during the bygone eras of my people, engineering of this magnitude demanded the utmost caution."
Ryo understood the risks and the absolute necessity.
After a brief moment of thought, he issued his orders: "Approved. You will select an elite reconnaissance detachment and travel there aboard this mothership. Techmarine Cassius, you will accompany them with two Astartes to maintain contact with the rear. Your mission is to remain concealed, observe, collect data, and evaluate critical nodes. Engage in direct conflict only if absolutely necessary. Most importantly, confirm the exact coordinates for the 'relocation' and all required prerequisites."
"By your will," Cassius answered deeply, already beginning to select his companions.
"However," Ryo smoothly pivoted the conversation, "not everyone will go. Farseer Irian, I need you to leave behind two of your greatest masters of stealth and disguise. The Predators suddenly vanishing does not align with our interests. On the stage of Pandora, this role is still required to keep the pressure on."
Irian understood immediately, the corners of his mouth curving into an utterly knowing smile. "You wish for us to play the 'Predator' and continue stirring the chaos here? How amusing. And we can certainly play the part far better than the original actors."