Osiris slowly opened his eyes, drawing back his hand from the metal panel.
His face betrayed no emotional fluctuations, but standing near his flank, Asuka keenly caught a minute twitch of the doctor's brow. Immediately following that, across those deep, dark eyes, an exceptionally difficult-to-detect flicker passed by—was it excitement?
"Sir?" Maine noticed he had concluded his contemplation and spoke up to inquire.
Osiris turned his frame around, his gaze sweeping across the few individuals inside the cabin. His voice was placid, yet it carried a weight that could not be ignored: "The situation is marginally more complex than anticipated. The signal Celtic transmitted upon his demise primarily encompasses two components."
He paused momentarily before continuing, "First, as I surmised, it initialized the emergency opening sequence for the starship's hatch. This is a traditional custom of their species—considered a twisted form of validation for the one who bested him."
"Second," Osiris's tone grew a fraction more solemn, "he activated a vengeance signal directed at his clan. The payload of the transmission explicitly informs his people that he perished here after suffering a 'dishonorable ambush,' defiling the clan's honor, and requests the initialization of a 'Vengeance Hunt.'"
"A Vengeance Hunt?" Dorio repeated the term, which was heavily saturated with a primitive, bloody scent.
"It implies that in the near future, more Predators will highly likely arrive upon Pandora," Osiris's voice echoed within the cold starship. "The objective of their arrival will not merely be to investigate the death of their kinsman, but rather to use hunting as a means to cleanse this world in blood, maintaining their so-called 'clan honor.'"
This intelligence caused the atmosphere inside the cabin to instantly plummet to the freezing point. A single Predator had already forced them to pay a non-trivial price; if a whole pack arrived—
Asuka could not help but speak up, "Then... then what about the RDA and the Na'vi? They—"
"They cannot withstand it," Osiris cut straight to the conclusion, his tone devoid of any fluctuations, as if merely stating an objective fact. "The Predator technology tier and individual combat metrics far exceed the RDA's security forces. As for the Na'vi, even with Eywa's assistance, their primitive valor, bows, and spears yield an abysmal probability of success when facing these starfaring warriors who are masters of cloaking, possess advanced energy weaponry, and take pleasure in the hunt."
He walked to the threshold of the hatch, gazing out at the light indistinctly piercing into the cave, as well as the two massive Ironclad mechs standing guard at the mouth. He spoke slowly, "For the RDA and the Na'vi, this will be catastrophic news that could invite total annihilation."
Yet beneath his placid exterior, a completely contrasting tide of emotion was surging. A nuisance? It was indeed a nuisance. But the inherent value the Predators represented—their elongated lifespans, the Yautja Prime biology nesting within them, their advanced individual wargear, and even their starship technology—rendered this "nuisance" incomparably enticing. The RDA and the Na'vi could not cope, but he, Osiris, could.
A brief silence enveloped the interior of the cave, with only the low hum of the starship's systems and the faint howling of the wind outside serving as reminders of the passage of time. Osiris's proclamation regarding the "Vengeance Hunt" hung over everyone's hearts like a massive boulder.
Standing a fraction further away, two Hellfire squad soldiers exchanged a tense glance. One of them lowered his voice to rapidly report via the squad's encrypted channel: "Sergeant, the situation is bad. That Doctor Osiris says killing this alien will draw more of its kind. They're called 'Predators,' and they'll be coming for revenge soon."
Outside the passage, Sergeant Reynolds's expression shifted upon hearing this. "Confirm the credibility of the intel?"
"Doctor Osiris appears highly certain; he seems to have extracted some concrete evidence from this alien ship."
Sergeant Reynolds immediately relayed this intelligence to Colonel Quaritch back at Hell's Gate.
A few moments later, Osiris's private communicator rang, bringing through the slightly hurried voice of Colonel Quaritch: "Doctor Osiris, I hear you've made a new discovery? Regarding potential alien retaliation?"
Osiris threw a subtle look toward Maine, walking over to a relatively private corner before responding placidly, "Yes, Colonel. According to the data we harvested from this starship, the extraterrestrial individual we previously terminated transmitted a vengeance signal upon his demise. Logically, his kinsmen will arrive upon Pandora at some point."
The other end of the line fell silent for a beat before Quaritch's solemn voice came through: "Can you confirm the timeline? What about the scale?"
"The precise timeline and scale remain ambiguous for now, but judging by their technology tier, it will not be too long," Osiris's voice remained stable. "This alien species, designated as Predators, takes pride in the hunt. Their individual combat metrics are formidable, and they excel at stealth and ambush tactics."
Quaritch's respiration grew noticeably heavy. "Hell... we're dealing with those blue monkeys on one hand, and now we have to guard against an alien threat on the other? Doctor Osiris, I need your team's help. Your gear and tactics are effective against these alien organisms; I need your martial support."
Osiris pondered marginally before answering, "Colonel, since we maintain a cooperative relationship, we will naturally provide whatever assistance lies within our capacity. The Seekers can grant full support regarding intelligence and technical fields, and if necessary, we can offer limited tactical assistance. However, I must remind you that these Predators are not conventional adversaries; rash actions could result in unnecessary casualties."
"Limited assistance?" Quaritch's voice carried dissatisfaction. "Doctor Osiris, if these alien bastards actually show up, we're all done for!"
"I comprehend your concerns, Colonel," Osiris's tone remained calm. "We will assist in reinforcing the base's defensive network and developing targeted detection gear. But until the situation clarifies, I do not recommend taking overly aggressive measures."
Concluding the transmission, Osiris gestured for Maine to follow him to the opposite end of the starship, moving far out of earshot from the others. Once safety from eavesdropping was verified, Osiris lowered his voice to speak to Maine: "Quaritch is aware of the situation; he has requested our martial support."
Maine's brow knitted slightly. "Do you intend to expose our true capabilities?"
"Of course not," a minute arc crossed the corner of Osiris's mouth. "In the public sphere, we are merely a scientific research organization possessing advanced technology. But in the shadows—" His gaze turned razor-sharp. "It is time to begin preparations."
He continued in a volume that only the two of them could discern clearly: "The arrival of the Predators is a disaster for the RDA, but it is an opportunity for us. An opportunity to harvest more intact specimens, study their societal architecture, and even secure their complete technology tree."
Maine grasped Osiris's intent instantly, responding in a low tone, "You are referring to mobilizing the Skitarii?"
Osiris nodded marginally. "The RDA soldiers will collapse under an elusive, cloaked hunt. The Na'vi warriors will be harvested in droves by precise plasma fire. But the Skitarii are different—they have endured countless battlefields far more brutal than this."
Under the dim lighting, Osiris's eyes gleamed with the light of calculation. "The Predators place value on honor and are accustomed to elite hunting. The Skitarii, conversely, believe in saturation strikes and iron tides. When these alien hunters enthusiastically prepare to execute their glorious 'Vengeance Hunt,' what awaits them will be the iron fist of the Adeptus Mechanicus."
Maine nodded steadily. "I understand. On the public tier, we provide limited support to the RDA. Privately, we prepare to welcome the true engagement."