Chapter 193 – Solaver (5)
When Team 3 alone found the alien research wing in a classified area, the other teams were navigating different situations.
First, the first team heading towards the submerged section had to return to the starting point.
[The flooded section is much wider than expected.]
As a result of the robot detecting beyond the sealed hatch with a vibration detector, the door could not be opened without permission.
This is because it was unclear how far the flooding would extend if the sealed door was hastily opened. If you’re not careful, water could even invade the alien research building.
Team 2 is returning to avoid the heavily polluted warehouse area.
“It was a good thing I didn’t mess with it.”
A human head clinging to a wall and groaning in pain. I was worried about giving him a merciful death, wondering if he had any reason left.
If we had carried out this, we might have lost both teams.
This is because Team 2, who was returning from hiding, discovered very dangerous variants in a nearby warehouse.
They were staring blankly at the ceiling. The fingernails and fingers are integrated and grow very long and sharp.
The warehouse they were in was littered with the torn bodies of soldiers.
All the corpses were heavily armed, and some had no unit markings and were wearing a lot of expensive-looking equipment. Even at a glance, it looks like a special forces unit.
Thud! Coo!
Another team engaged in combat in a remote area, and the sound of the gunfire echoed here.
[Kyaooooo-!]
The noise stimulated them. Suddenly he raised his head and started running around the entire warehouse like a mad dog.
But the speed is beyond imagination. Even with my enhanced body vision, I could barely follow the movement.
“Those guys…”
[It is similar to the special objects seen in the Metacraft Lab. Individuals who underwent accelerated neural remodeling and then mutated.]
They only stopped moving after going crazy for a long time.
[Marines.]
Their appearance was enlarged on the screen. Individuals with their upper bodies exposed have ‘Semper FI’ tattooed on their arms or chest.
Cruelly, infection took away only the ‘eternal’ from ‘eternal loyalty.’
The marines who have become monsters are now loyal to the enemies of humanity.
[Neurotechnology related to acceleration has only just begun to be commercialized, so there are many side effects. According to the paper, the more veteran soldiers are, the less willing they are to receive it.]
“Know. “Because experienced soldiers tend to be conservative.”
[I feel more trustworthy now that you say it.]
Every time a gunshot rang out in the distance, the marines trembled as if in a fit.
Even at that, the speed was so fast that the can that slightly touched the body flew dozens of meters.
[Perhaps there were volunteers among the young soldiers. Still, these people are probably elite among marines. Unlike Korea’s biological experiments, this is a procedure on their own soldiers, so they will provide care at a huge cost.]
“I wouldn’t ask just any soldier to do that.”
There were more than 10 of these monsters visible to the eye. There may be more in places you can’t see.
Team 2 robots left the area very secretly.
Team 4 decided to withdraw after securing various design drawings and confidential data from the hangar.
Further progress was difficult due to severe ammunition consumption and damage due to the intense battle. It would have been better to go back along the safe path.
The Hercules robot shown on the screen was being lifted by stalker robots.
“It was hard.”
Befitting its large size and strength, it consumes a lot of energy, but because it performed so well in battle, it was eventually discharged.
However, the process of each team returning to the military was not so smooth.
[Keeeeek-!]
The moment the closed door was opened, the walker who had been sniffing in front of the destroyed corpses of the infected body turned around like lightning.
Ta-ta-tang!
The neck and head were shattered, and a new body was added.
We obviously killed all the infections we encountered upon entering, and even though we were going back the same route, attacks were occurring.
“Have all those who were hibernating awakened?”
[Because there was a lot of chaos fighting all over the place.]
“Even people with sane minds tend to get lost, so how do these guys know to come and find me?”
[There are 5,000 crew members, right? This is a small village level. The chances of getting caught while wandering around aren’t low either. Or maybe there is a network of infected entities only.]
Suddenly, the heads hanging on the six walls of a heavily polluted warehouse area came to mind.
“No way…”
[Don’t they say you can catch people?]
Bang!
Another guy was killed as he passed the corner. The Lamprey Mother, who had completely disappeared from his forehead, collapsed.
One of the many advantages of robot soldiers is that they always calmly implement the combat doctrine they have been taught.
I never forgot that it would be annoying if I accidentally shot somewhere else and the larvae inside came out.
Lamprey Mother’s head exploded, and her stomach was bulging like a pregnant woman.
As the larvae inside realized that the mother was dead and tried to escape, their abdomen twitched disgustingly. It was as if his internal organs had turned into dozens of snakes.
Some tried to escape through the protruding vagina like a snake. Something round and curved passed along the limp tentacle, like a snake swallowing a field mouse.
Right!
Of course, this is not a robot that will just watch. I stepped on it and crushed it in one go.
Three other robots stepped on Lampremother’s stomach as if they were doing a tap dance.
Kwasik! Kwasik! Kwasik! Kwasik! Kwasik!
At first glance, the scene was a murderous robot doing terrible things to a pregnant woman.
But for those who know the situation, there are few things more refreshing than that.
Although these events occurred occasionally, each team’s movement went smoothly.
[I will call the waiting helicopters.]
Artemis said.
If necessary, the purpose is to bomb the fuselage of the aircraft carrier and open a tunnel. It is an ignorant method, but it is the last resort to immediately escape from an emergency situation.
“So, is it okay if I just take that guy and leave?”
An alien in a liquid container with his eyes closed in a calm position.
Code name: Senior.
It was given this name because it had a facial structure reminiscent of a reclusive wise man and even had a beard.
Of all the recovered alien samples, he is the only survivor who tested negative for infection.
He didn’t move at all.
“I think he’s still unconscious.”
[Huh. If you look at the records, it’s heartbreaking how hard the scientists tried to share even just one word.]
Artemis floated a research journal.
『It is expected that a large amount of strain is placed on the body and a state of intentional suspended animation is maintained until it subsides.
– Chief researcher Steve Silverman.』
“I guess that’s what you mean by strain on the body?”
He pointed with his finger at the mechanical devices that replaced most of Senior’s body.
[I guess so.]
Meanwhile, the robots scanned and transmitted various research materials obtained from the research building.
Artemis selected meaningful data from among them and displayed them on the screen.
From the senior’s physical information and body cell composition to hourly observation records and countless brain scan attempts.
[Most attempts at brain scanning failed. It’s natural. Because it is a technology in the development stage that was originally created for humans.]
The brain scan images Artemis printed out were nothing more than a chaotic combination of colors.
If packaged very well, it could be called modern art.
[Looking at the records, there was a conflict between scientists.]
“Confrontation?”
[Huh. Those who want to increase the clarity of the scan by drilling a hole in the alien’s skull and inserting a device directly into the brain, and those who want to wait until the alien regains consciousness.]
“I guess the moderate side won?”
Inside the glass tube, Senior’s head was clean. There were no marks like Frankenstein.
[The president directly ordered its preservation. You should not harm a potential ally who may be your only one.]
“Isn’t it obvious logic? I think that’s what I ordered too.”
[In defense of the former scientists who became radicals, they also had no intention of killing aliens. Drilling a hole in the skull may sound scary, but it is not a life-threatening procedure.]
Artemis sent me a confidential document.
This is a letter officially delivered by the U.S. Congress. It was a statement to take all necessary measures immediately to obtain even the slightest information.
The statement was jointly signed by the Republican and Democratic floor leaders and virtually represented the will of the entire U.S. Congress.
Nevertheless, the fact that there were only 83 lawmakers who participated made me feel a lot.
[In a situation where the infection war was reaching its worst, no matter how long we waited, there was no sign of the customer waking up, so they must have thought they had to do something.]
“Then did the president protect his head by ignoring Congress on his own?”
[No, the president persuaded Congress.]
“How?”
[Not only the brain scan, but also the machines that replaced the alien’s body were subject to analysis. The research team managed to read something.]
What appeared on the screen was a toshi strapped to the alien’s wrist.
Alien characters were constantly changing in areas similar to the LEDs on the surface of the toshi, and it appears that the values were interpreted.
[This is a timer.]
Along with Artemis’ words, the alien language was converted into Arabic numerals and displayed like subtitles.
203 hours 12 minutes 31 seconds.
203 hours 12 minutes 30 seconds.
203 hours 12 minutes 29 seconds.
The numbers are decreasing tick by tick.
“What happens when this becomes 0?”
[The most reasonable answer would be that he wakes up. Scientists also had the same opinion.]
“…”
We looked at the glass tube beyond the screen in silence.
Meanwhile, Toshi’s number continued to decrease, second by second.
[Then shall we begin? I have to complete the final goal I came here for.]
A new screen popped up.
It was the outside of the aircraft carrier, with two attack helicopters waiting on the side of the aircraft carrier on a straight path.
“Are you really trying to break through and take it out?”
[There is no choice. Those were installed inside the aircraft carrier before the infection spread on the aircraft carrier. Now, everywhere is blocked by infection and flooding. It is impossible to remove it through the normal route.]
The glass tube and life support system containing the senior alien were larger than expected.
[Jinsu, hurry up and give orders.]
Artemis urged, as if worrying more would be a waste of time.
“Run it.”
As soon as I nodded, the attack helicopter’s rocket launcher burst into flames.
* * *
A helicopter takes off from the flight deck outside the aircraft carrier.
[Team 4 withdrawal complete.]
Team 4 leader stalker robot reported.
“Send them straight to Yeosu. There is no need for everyone to go together.”
[As you wish.]
Artemis said.
Team 4 helicopters carrying only half of the departure crew crossed the sea and headed to Korea.
Team 1, which failed to break through the flooded area, has also been ordered to withdraw, so it will exit to the flight deck in a few minutes.
The only ones who were able to join the 3 teams in the alien research building were the 2 teams that returned from the warehouse area.
“Now, move it carefully.”
[Roger.]
Even the Hercules robot had a thick voice.
Kuung.
As the two Hercules in the wrestler’s pose applied force from both sides, a dull sound rang out.
The bulging calf muscles looked like black melons were hanging around, with a bit of exaggeration.
The large glass tube and the life support equipment attached to it were lifted in their entirety.
The thick wires extending from the devices are connected to an emergency battery located a short distance away.
The two stalker robots holding it followed, maintaining a sharp distance between them.
The combination of those beautiful hands and feet was admirable in a different way than in battle.
“It would have been nice to have guys like this as subordinates during my military service.”
As a commander, you can’t help but fall in love with him because he performs quickly and quickly no matter what you ask him to do, whether it’s a battle or a task.
[There is nothing to regret. The future is more important than the past, right? You will continue to lead this great army forever.]
Artemis said.
It was a tone that gave me a somewhat ticklish feeling.
Ta-ta-tang!
Meanwhile, intermittent fighting was taking place on the screen.
The robot convoy passed through the tunneled aircraft carrier with the VIP in the center.
It feels like watching medieval knights escorting a noble carriage from bandits.
[We’re almost there now.]
The dark screen instantly became brighter.
Shoot aaaaa.
A blue sea and a lighter-colored sky appeared along with the sound of waves.
A large transport helicopter was hovering outside the aircraft carrier’s hull, which was bent and torn like taffy.
The rear door opened and the two Hercules robots riding inside built a makeshift bridge using long plywood.
[Keeeeek-!]
Ta-ta-tang!
Infected organisms kept flocking in due to the explosion sound and the roar of the helicopter as the tunnel was being drilled.
40 seconds.
It was the time it took to transport the senior alien and all the robots.
[Operation ended. Good job.]
“You are.”
A helicopter comes to mind.
The Enterprise, which felt huge, became smaller and smaller.
I sat down in the chair and waited. I did not leave my seat until only the blue sea remained on the central control room screen.
“…”
Was I too nervous at the last minute? When I opened my hand, it was covered in sweat.
But instead of sweat, I saw something else.
The final puzzle piece to overcome the war against infectious agents is within reach.
In one corner of the screen, a glass tube loaded in a helicopter appears.
The senior’s face is still calm.
202 hours 21 minutes 41 seconds.
202 hours 21 minutes 40 seconds.
202 hours 21 minutes 39 seconds.
The time for him to wake up decreases without stopping even for a moment.
