Next was the internal briefing.
Inside the tactical planning room of the Pioneer, the entirety of Maine's squad was present. Asuka, outfitted in an exploration suit, had also tagged along curiously—she had been specifically named by Osiris to participate in this deployment under the rationale that they "required an EV pilot's dynamic vision and rapid reflex capabilities as an additional insurance policy," which made her feel quite useful.
Osiris stood before the tactical map. A three-dimensional projection of the Hallelujah Mountains hovered in the air, with one particular sector highlighted in a brilliant glow.
"The objective is an extraterrestrial flight craft. According to the processed memory fragments, it is concealed within this floating mountain sector; the precise location requires an on-site sweep." His gaze swept over the crowd. "Maine's squad will handle vanguard scouting, vigilance, and breakthrough. Sergeant Reynolds's Hellfire squad will provide fire support and flank cover. Trudy will pilot the Samson to handle mobile transport. I will command personally."
"Doctor, your safety—" Maine spoke up steadily, his gaze falling on Osiris's ordinary research attire, which was completely devoid of combat armor.
"If necessary, I will remain aboard the flight craft," Osiris interrupted him, his tone brooks no argument. "The key to this operation lies in speed and precision. We cannot afford to give any potential follow-up threat a window to react. Everyone inspect your gear; we deploy in one hour."
Without any superfluous questions, the members of Maine's squad moved out instantly.
Asuka crossed her arms, looking at Osiris. "Hey, Doc. Since I can't bring my EVA along, what exactly is my task? I can't just be tagging along to look at the scenery, can I?"
Osiris looked toward her, his expression placid. "Your task is to 'see,' Asuka. Use your eyes as an ace pilot to observe the environment and identify any unnatural details or latent threats. Your intuition and reflex speed might be far more reliable than a scanner in certain situations."
This answer made Asuka raise an eyebrow. Although she remained somewhat dissatisfied about not being able to pilot her EV, being entrusted with such a responsibility still allowed her to feel valued in a way that differed from pure combat. "Hmph, then I'll just have to show you all what this lady is capable of."
Osiris spoke no further, turning around to walk toward the equipment staging area. He had indeed not equipped a power suit, merely adding a tactical vest over his research attire that possessed basic environmental protection and communication suites, while donning a respiratory mask that covered his nose and mouth. Under psychic compression, his frame appeared no different from an ordinary human youth, yet deep within his dark eyes was a calm luster forged through countless calculations and wartime crucibles. He did not require external armor to proclaim power; he himself was the most formidable weapon of this team.
The massive rotors of the Samson gunship churned through Pandora's air, which was rich with suspended spores. Under the steady control of Trudy Chacón, the hull moved like a nimble iron bird, skimming over the boundless, magnificently glowing sea of trees below as it flew toward the distant Hallelujah Mountains, which stood majestically in defiance of the laws of gravity as if carved by a celestial axe.
Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was grave and focused.
The eight members of the Hellfire squad were fully armed, clad in heavy combat armor with plasma rifles resting across their knees, their eyes sharp beneath their visors as they silently verified their gear. Sergeant Reynolds sat near the cabin door, periodically confirming the flight path and surrounding environmental telemetry with Trudy over the comms.
On the other side, Maine's squad presented a contrasting style. Maine and Dorio wore relatively lightweight but equally durable combat fatigues; though their weapons were already in position, their postures were more reserved, resembling cheetahs coiled to strike. Rebecca and Falco occupied a small section of space, several data pads laid out before them with complex signal wave patterns and terrain modeling data streaming across the screens as the two conversed in hushed tones regarding scanning parameters. Valerie sat inside the cockpit of her Ironclad mech with her eyes closed, though her slightly twitching fingertips indicated she was not truly resting. The other Ironclad mech, piloted by Jake, stood silently at the rear of the cabin like a loyal metallic giant.
Asuka sat beside Osiris, gazing through the porthole at the surreal yet lethally charged landscape flashing past outside, her lake-blue eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and vigilance. She periodically glanced at Osiris beside her; he was looking down at his wrist terminal, comparing map data against Celtic's memory fragments. The lines of his profile visible beneath the respiratory mask were completely placid, betraying no emotional fluctuations.
"We are close," Osiris stated without looking up, his voice entering every squad member's ears clearly and steadily via the mask's communicator. "The target sector possesses exceptionally powerful magnetic anomalies; conventional scanning equipment will experience severe interference. Trudy, locate a secure drop zone; we will need to move into the core zone on foot."
"Copy that, Doc. Scanning now—hell, the magnetic readings here are a total mess," Trudy's voice came from the cockpit, laced with a trace of tension. "Found a relatively flat rock shelf; we can barely manage a landing. Hold on tight!"
The Samson began to lower its altitude, deftly navigating between the massive mountains suspended in midair. Viewing these landmasses at close range was an even more staggering experience—the rugged rock faces were draped in glowing moss and bizarrely shaped vegetation, while waterfalls cascaded down like ribbons of silver from various points of the mountains, dissolving into a pervasive mist in the void that refracted seven-colored halos of light. The roar of the gunship's engines echoed through the valley, startling some small aerial beasts with crystal-transparent wings roosting in the rocky crevices.
The gunship jolted violently once before finally settling steadily upon a wide rock shelf protruding above the clouds and mist. The cabin doors slid open, and a cold wind thick with moisture and the crisp scent of flora instantly rushed inside.
"Move out!" Maine barked in a low tone, being the first to leap from the cabin. Dorio followed immediately behind him; the two rapidly secured advantageous positions at the edge of the rock shelf, raising their weapons in high vigilance.
The members of the Hellfire squad filed out in standard tactical formation, deploying a defensive perimeter. Following them were the remaining members of Maine's squad; the two Ironclad mechs walked out with heavy strides under the control of Valerie and Jake, their metallic feet making dull thuds as they impacted the stone.
Osiris was the last to step out. Standing at the edge of the shelf, he surveyed this wonderland-like sector. The moisture condensed into minute droplets upon his respiratory mask. He closed his eyes, appearing to sense something—relying not merely on Celtic's memory fragments, but rather a subtle perception operating on a psychic tier, attempting to establish a connection with this region filled with powerful life energy and anomalous magnetic fields.
"Doctor, the scanners are practically useless," Falco reported, forcefully tapping the apparatus in his hands. "The background noise is too intense; the effective detection range is under fifty meters."
"As anticipated," Osiris opened his eyes. "Switch to passive sensory mode, focusing primarily on non-natural energy fluctuations and metallic signatures. Maine, you will command the vanguard; advance according to the preliminary route I have marked. Sergeant Reynolds, your men will handle vigilance for the flanks and rear."
"Understood."
"Copy that, Doc."