Chapter 411: UDF and Mimics
Sasha closed the tactical terminal, while Kiwi began collecting the signal data recorded during the jamming process just now.
Pilar's sensors still displayed anomalous spacetime readings, and the still-burning Mimic remains on the battlefield seemed to silently prove the anomaly of this world.
"Threat level: Low." Maine summarized, his optical lenses sweeping over the battlefield. "But target behavioral patterns are abnormal. Conventional biological stress responses were not observed."
Pilar looked at the data transmitted back by the sensors, his tone carrying confusion: "Something's not right... These creatures, their movements... seem to possess some sort of high-degree coordination, like a single entity. Moreover, my spacetime chronometer has been showing anomalous fluctuations in the background spacetime curvature since just now. The amplitude is small, but it's continuous."
"Record all data," Maine commanded. His dark-red body turned towards the inland direction, where the sounds of gunfire and artillery were growing denser. "We need intelligence. Falco, find a vantage point and establish a temporary observation post. The rest of you, stay alert and advance slowly towards the source of the sound. Report the current situation to Lord Magos."
The squad members immediately moved out, their cold metal boots stepping on the mud and wreckage, emitting dull sounds.
They had just arrived in this unknown world. An unexpected encounter had demonstrated their powerful martial prowess, but the anomalous spacetime readings reported by Pilar, as well as those bizarrely acting enemies, cast a shadow of uncertainty over this off-course exploration.
The burning Mimic remains were still emitting high heat and a pungent smell.
Maine's squad maintained a standard circular defensive formation, the sensors of each member continuously scanning the surrounding environment.
The probes deployed by Pilar had expanded the reconnaissance range, and the real-time data transmitted back flowed across everyone's tactical interfaces.
"Detected multiple mechanical units approaching," Falco's voice rang out in the squad's communication channel, steady and clear. "Bearing 2-1-5, distance eight hundred meters. Identified as... local standard armored personnel carriers and infantry units. No energy weapon signatures observed."
Almost simultaneously, Lucy's quadrupedal automaton also locked onto the targets and shared their images to the main screen.
Five wheeled armored vehicles with camouflage paint were cautiously driving along the coastal highway. The letters "UDF" were spray-painted on their hulls.
About thirty soldiers wearing khaki combat uniforms followed on both sides of the vehicles in a skirmish line. They all held kinetic projectile weapons propelled by gunpowder.
"Stay alert. Do not display hostility unless necessary," Maine issued the directive.
His massive body turned towards the direction of the incoming force, calmly evaluating this local armed force.
Dorio silently moved to Maine's flank, her gaze sweeping over the soldiers' equipment and movement postures.
Rebecca curled her lip. The barrel of her plasma bombardment cannon dipped slightly, but the energy indicator still showed a standby state.
The UDF troops stopped about one hundred and fifty meters away from Maine's squad.
The soldiers quickly established a defensive position relying on the armored vehicles and terrain. Their movements were practiced but carried obvious tension.
Their gazes invariably focused on the two "Iron Guard" prototypes standing silently, as well as the weapons and armor on the squad members that clearly did not belong to this era.
An officer, whose epaulets indicated the rank of lieutenant, stepped out from the cover of the lead vehicle. He raised his hands to indicate he had no hostile intent, but his fingers trembled slightly.
He spoke through a handheld megaphone in English, with an accent displaying clear mid-21st-century characteristics.
"Language identified: English variant. Basic templates exist in the database," Falco reported immediately. "Currently matching grammatical structures and vocabulary differences."
"Establish real-time translation protocol," Maine responded.
Pilar adjusted his equipment and began broadcasting a standard basic English greeting, while simultaneously mixing in specific frequency sound waves used to calibrate audio characteristics.
This was both to confirm the other party's language and to collect sufficient voice samples for the real-time translation program.
At the same time, Kiwi quickly hacked into the other party's open communication frequency.
"Detected unencrypted tactical communication network. Downloading public voice data packets to accelerate language model adaptation." Her fingers glided rapidly over the virtual interface, retrieving historical English data from the squad's database for cross-referencing.
The UDF troops clearly noticed the English greeting broadcasted by Pilar, and Lieutenant White's expression noticeably relaxed a bit.
He spoke again, slowing his speech rate: "Repeat, who are you people? Which unit do you belong to?"
After less than a minute of data processing and algorithm adjustment, a stable real-time translation overlay was established in the squad's communication channel.
Lieutenant White's voice, after undergoing slight noise reduction and standardization processing, reached the ears of the squad members. Although it carried a slight electronic tone, it was clear enough.
"We are an independent exploration squad," Maine's synthesized voice was transmitted through an external speaker, using calibrated modern English pronunciation. "We have no intention of conflicting with local armed forces. Just now, we encountered an attack by unknown creatures."
The officer's gaze swept over the battlefield—melted by plasma and ignited by volkite flames—and those Mimic remains still twisting and burning on the ground. The corner of his eye twitched.
"Those... 'things'... are alien invaders. We call them 'Mimics'." He took a deep breath, trying hard to keep his voice steady. "Your equipment... I've never seen anything like it. Where did you come from?"
"Place of origin is inconvenient to disclose." Maine directly dodged the question. "We arrived here due to an unexpected deviation from our course. We require intelligence on this area."
At this moment, another soldier ran to the officer's side and quickly reported a few words in a low voice, his gaze occasionally darting towards the massive plasma bombardment cannon on Rebecca's back and the heart-palpitating barrels on the shoulders of the Iron Guards.
The officer's expression grew even more grave.
Rebecca sneered in the squad channel: "Look at the toys they're holding. Can those kill anyone?"
Dorio, meanwhile, was carefully observing some Mimic remains in the distance that had been destroyed by the UDF soldiers' firepower, evaluating their damage patterns.
"Targets possess a certain degree of defensive capability against kinetic weapons," she analyzed in a low voice, "but critical structures still appear fragile."
After a brief silence, the UDF officer spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of probing: "You... just wiped out an entire swarm of Mimics, and very quickly. We observed your... combat methods." He seemed to be choosing appropriate words. "Right now, the whole world is resisting these alien creatures. Any extra strength is precious. Could we... cooperate?"
Maine's optical lenses flickered slightly, quickly exchanging data with Valerie and Jackie inside the cockpits of the Iron Guards on standby in the rear.
Ryo's directive was to gather intelligence and understand this dimension.
Conducting limited cooperation with local factions was currently the most efficient method.
(End of Chapter)