Chapter 669: Securing the Ship
At that moment, Ryo's gaze shifted back to the Predator spacecraft as a bolder idea formed in his mind.
"Before we worry about the implications, we need to transport our prize back," he said, walking toward the flight console. "Let me see if I can power it up."
Maine looked slightly concerned: "Sir, this is alien technology..."
"Exactly why it must be firmly under our control," Ryo replied, placing his hands lightly upon the control panel.
The alien glyphs on the panel suddenly illuminated, casting an eerie green glow.
He closed his eyes, allowing his psychic perception to thread into the ship's systems like invisible silk, simultaneously recalling the operational fragments from Celtic's memories.
A low hum resonated from deep within the ship. The indicator lights on the dashboard flared to life sequentially, and the entire hull began to vibrate slightly.
Everyone in the cavern looked over in astonishment.
"Doctor, what are you..." Asuka's eyes went wide.
Ryo did not answer. Piloting alien technology was far more difficult than he had anticipated; every command required precise psychic output while simultaneously overcoming the system's inherent rejection protocols.
The ship's thrusters sputtered and roared intermittently, like a wild stallion refusing to be broken.
"Maine, have everyone fall back to a safe distance," Ryo's voice remained steady, though Maine could detect the underlying tension.
As Ryo deepened the psychic link, the control interface began to adapt.
Through the lens of Celtic's memories, the previously incomprehensible glyphs gradually arranged themselves into a logical sequence he could decipher.
His fingers moved rapidly across the console, inputting a complex string of commands.
Suddenly, the ship's thrusters let out a sustained, powerful roar. The entire hull smoothly levitated, hovering approximately half a meter above the ground.
The sudden shift in air pressure churned up a cloud of dust within the cavern.
"You did it!" Asuka couldn't help but exclaim.
"This vessel is now under our control. Maine, inform the team: we are flying this ship directly back to base. It saves time and minimizes the risk of unexpected incidents during transport."
"But Sir, won't that attract far too much attention?" Maine asked quietly.
"On the contrary," the corner of Ryo's mouth curved up slightly. "Showing the RDA that we are capable of piloting extraterrestrial spacecraft will only deepen their perception of the Seekers' capabilities. This will benefit our subsequent operations."
Under Ryo's control, the Predator spacecraft smoothly rotated and slowly glided out of the cavern.
The streamlined hull reflected a cold, metallic luster under Pandora's sun, forming a stark contrast against the primitive ecological environment surrounding it.
Ryo turned his head to look out at the vast sky beyond the cavern, murmuring softly: "Let us prepare a fitting welcome ceremony... for our impending guests."
The Prize and the Politics
Under Ryo's precise piloting, the Predator spacecraft touched down smoothly on the designated landing pad adjacent to the Trailblazer mobile base.
The matte metallic hull reflected a cold, unforgiving gleam under the Pandoran star, contrasting sharply with the surrounding industrial architecture of the RDA. It instantly became the focal point of the entire Hell's Gate base.
Unsurprisingly, the moment the ship landed, it drew immense "attention" from RDA high command.
Administrator Parker Selfridge and Head of Security Colonel Quaritch arrived almost immediately, flanked by a swarm of eager technicians and heavily armed security personnel.
"Dr. Chen, this is... an absolutely staggering acquisition!" Parker rubbed his hands together. His face was plastered with a commercial smile, but his eyes were practically glued to the ship, entirely failing to mask his greed. "An intact extraterrestrial technological construct of this caliber—its value is immeasurable! I believe, as close partners, we should immediately form a joint research team to share all data and discoveries."
Colonel Quaritch was far more direct. Pointing at the ship, his tone was hard: "Doctor, this vessel and any weapon systems it carries pose an unknown threat to base security. It must be handed over to our RDA security and technical divisions for a thorough evaluation and analysis. This is for everyone's safety."
Ryo had long anticipated their reactions.
Before he could even speak, Maine's squad shifted into a seemingly casual, yet flawlessly precise formation, subtly securing Ryo and the spacecraft in the center.
Though they did not raise their weapons, the chilling aura of veteran killers forged in blood and fire—combined with their flawless synchronization—exerted an immediate subconscious pressure on the RDA guards, whose fingers twitched instinctively toward their trigger guards.
The two Iron Guard mechs piloted by Valerie and Jake also took a half-step forward at the perfect moment. Their heavy metallic feet thudded against the ground, and the shadows cast by their massive frames loomed over a portion of the RDA personnel.
While their shoulder-mounted weapon platforms remained deactivated, the cold, dark muzzles inherently projected an undeniable deterrence.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense, teetering on the edge of a standoff.
Ryo raised his hand and pressed it downward slightly. The aggressive posture of Maine's squad receded, though their defensive formation held firm.
His face maintained the mild-mannered expression of a researcher, and his tone remained even, yet brooked no argument: "Mr. Parker, Colonel Quaritch, I understand your eagerness. However, the systems of this vessel are incredibly complex and highly exclusionary. Permitting personnel unfamiliar with its architecture to interact with it could very likely trigger unpredictable self-destruct protocols or cause catastrophic energy leaks. For the safety of the base, the preliminary decryption and analysis must be conducted by the Seekers' specialized team."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Parker and Quaritch before continuing: "As for cooperation, we have always maintained an open stance. Once we have completed the initial risk assessment and system decryption, we will share select, non-core research data with the RDA at our discretion. For instance, fundamental material analysis of the hull, safe extraterrestrial biological samples, and... further early-warning intelligence regarding the impending arrival of the Predator clan. This aligns with our mutual interests, does it not?"
He deftly intertwined "sharing research data" with "security assurances" and "external threats."
Parker's expression soured. Forcing a smile, he replied: "Dr. Chen, such 'limited sharing' hardly reflects the sincerity of your partnership. This vessel was discovered on Pandora; the RDA should spearhead the research—"
"Mr. Parker," Ryo cut him off. His voice was steady, but his gaze sharpened considerably. "We were the ones who located it, secured it, and successfully brought it back. Without us, it would likely still be rotting in a cave, or already destroyed in some confused crossfire. I believe the universal standard is that the discoverers and possessors spearhead the initial research. Furthermore, our commitment to sharing critical data once safety is assured is already a profound demonstration of our sincerity."
Colonel Quaritch's brow was deeply furrowed. He looked at the ship radiating a dangerous aura, then at this unfathomable group of "Seekers" and their two highly oppressive Iron Guard mechs. Ultimately, he suppressed the urge to seize the ship by force.
He knew that if a conflict erupted, the consequences would be entirely unpredictable. Moreover, he truly needed the strength of these people to counter the impending alien threat.
"Very well, Doctor," Quaritch took a deep breath, choosing a temporary compromise. "I expect you to produce actionable intelligence quickly—especially concerning these 'Avengers.' Base defense cannot remain in a reactive posture indefinitely."
"Of course. That is our mutual objective," Ryo nodded slightly.
Though thoroughly dissatisfied, Parker saw that even Quaritch had backed down for now. He could only add petulantly: "Then we expect a clear timetable regarding the sharing of research findings as soon as possible."
"You shall have it," Ryo offered a vague promise.