"The Intelligence Department has already responded based on the information gathered by the reconnaissance team and provided us with their analysis," Ada said calmly, her fingers lightly tapping as she uploaded the latest intelligence to Leon's personal device.
At the same time, the AR function of the holographic glasses linked to the device automatically activated, projecting a series of related documents "in the air."
These documents included names such as "Kyber Crystals," "Jedha," "Rebels," "Jedi," "The Light and Dark Sides of the Force," and "The Galactic Empire."
"..."
With just a glance, Leon immediately understood that the situation in Universe 17 was undoubtedly complex and chaotic.
In comparison, the corruption of the Federation and the threat of the Arachnids in Universe 14 (Starship Troopers) seemed like child's play.
After all, the fact that the Thousand Sons' Librarians had detected a dimension suspected to resemble the Warp in that universe was already quite troublesome.
Ada continued, "The Intelligence Department has indicated that in Universe 17, there exists a hegemonic organization called the 'Galactic Empire,' whose core and primary species are humans.
This empire shares some similarities with our human Empire, such as being ruled by an 'Emperor' or 'Imperator.' However, the Galactic Empire's Emperor, Sheev Palpatine, is a dictator solely focused on his own rule. He is also a master of the dark side of the Force, known as Darth Sidious."
Her tone grew slightly more serious as she spoke.
Then, Ada tapped a few times on the virtual screen, switching to a few more images, and said:
"As for the planet where the spatial gate is located, it is likely a planet called 'Jedha.' This planet is rich in mineral resources, particularly Kyber Crystal veins, which hold significant strategic value.
According to the Intelligence Department, Kyber Crystals can serve as both energy sources and weapon cores."
Hearing this, Leon briefly scanned the various documents and responded in a similarly grave tone:
"The situation in this universe is far more complicated than we imagined. The Galactic Empire isn't our primary concern—I have absolute confidence in our Legion's strength. However, the dimension suspected to resemble the Warp... well, it's fortunate that the Thousand Sons are coordinating with us on this investigation.
If we encounter attacks similar to psionic energy, or the so-called corruption of the dark side, I believe the Thousand Sons will be able to provide effective countermeasures and containment."
Ada nodded lightly and said, "I've uploaded all the preliminary information about that universe to your device. Take some time to review it carefully.
The Intelligence Department has stated that to obtain more critical information, our Survey Department will need to conduct an in-depth investigation in Universe 17."
"Understood..."
As Leon responded, he noticed that the rail train was about to arrive at its destination. He prepared to cut off the communication, saying:
"If there's nothing else, I'll proceed to cross the spatial gate and investigate the city not far from it."
"Nothing else... Oh, and be careful."
Ada's slightly lowered voice seemed to carry a hint of concern.
Before Leon could respond, she cut off the communication first, causing the virtual image to disappear instantly, as if it had never existed.
"Sigh... women."
Seeing this, Leon shook his head slightly, feeling somewhat helpless.
Sometimes he felt like he was being "led by the nose" by Ada. Before he could even react, he would fall into a "trap" she had set, unable to figure out her thoughts.
But it was precisely this trait of Ada's that made her an indispensable part of Leon's life.
Next, he took a deep breath and adjusted his mood.
After all, the mission was far more important than these trivial emotional matters.
At the same time, Leon simplified the AR function. The densely packed images, videos, and related data streams disappeared, replaced by markers indicating the assembly area's platform and various auxiliary instructions.
Soon.
The rail train slowly pulled into the assembly area, finally stopping about a kilometer away from the spatial gate.
The train's doors slid open automatically, and Leon, along with other soldiers, agents, and relevant personnel who had also received their missions, stepped out of the car and onto the platform.
He looked around, noticing that the air seemed to be filled with the "smell of steel," surrounded by massive facilities and complex structures.
Through the guidance of his holographic glasses, Leon's gaze fell on the nearby rendezvous point marker, which was labeled as landing pad number "07."
After leaving the platform, he walked through a mechanically styled aerial corridor.
Looking into the distance, he could see a large number of Black Falcon assault craft parked on temporary landing pads, their hulls shimmering with a cold, black luster under the faint glow of the spatial gate and the morning sunlight.
Moreover, he also saw a group of Survey Department agents arriving one after another.
Among them, the majority were juniors whom Leon had personally trained, their familiar faces jumping out at him.
However, two particularly noticeable figures, David Martinez and Lucy, had initially been discovered and mentored by Chris Redfield.
Originally, the highly cyberized David and Lucy, along with Rebecca, who had joined the Survey Department's Special Operations Group, were part of an "experimental unit." They were equipped with various cybernetic implants to provide the Biological Department with more accurate data.
However, after various cybernetic technologies matured, David, Lucy, Rebecca, and others were given considerable autonomy to decide their own paths.
David, who deeply respected and even idolized Chris, chose to join the Survey Department as a spy-like agent.
Lucy, following David's choice, also became an agent in the Survey Department.
As for Rebecca, she "hadn't given up" and wanted to continue following David and Lucy, but she joined the Survey Department Special Operations Group, which suited her expertise in fire support.
Of course, Leon also saw Mike Monaldi, who had just had a small gathering with him yesterday, as well as his old friend Maggie Shaw (Queen Maeve), who had carried out multiple missions with him and Mike, also on this landing pad.
Seeing his friends, Leon's eyes showed unconcealed warmth. He walked up to them and said with a smile:
"Mike, looks like we're working together again, huh."
Mike's face also showed a relaxed smile, but then he pretended to be dejected and half-jokingly complained:
"Ah... I don't have as good a mindset as you. Compared to going on missions with you, I'd rather stay at home with my wife and kids, or go out and explore."
Clearly, like Leon, Mike had also received an emergency notice, cutting short his pleasant vacation.
However, seeing Leon's relaxed demeanor and the "relief" hidden deep in his eyes, Mike seemed to sense something was off. He felt that Leon was...
a bit unusual?
Then, after scanning the area, Mike suddenly raised his left arm and placed it on Leon's shoulder, asking in a low voice:
"Hey, did you do something fun yesterday, huh?"
His tone carried a bit of teasing but was also filled with concern.
"Uh..."
Hearing this question, Leon was momentarily stunned, his tone faltering. He clearly wasn't planning to discuss last night's "madness."
Then, Leon forced a smile and quickly changed the subject:
"Don't joke around. Also, Mike, have you read the relevant intel about Universe 17?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he felt Mike's gaze sharpen even more. It seemed his friend had completely figured out what he was trying to hide.
"I have," Mike said, seeing that Leon didn't want to talk about what happened last night, so he didn't press further and smoothly responded:
"It feels like the difficulty of this mission is much higher than the infiltration and espionage work we did in Universe 14 (Starship Troopers)."
As he spoke, Mike's tone grew more serious, and he continued, "The situation over there is complicated, even chaotic—rebels, the Empire, and special psionic-like fluctuations...
In any case, we'll follow the plan and investigate first, get a general idea of the situation, and then make a decision."
"Right."
Leon nodded in agreement.
Next, Leon and Mike stood side by side in front of the Black Falcon assault craft, patiently waiting for the other Survey Department members to arrive.
At the same time, the two of them browsed through the data provided by the Intelligence Department, carefully analyzing the current state of Universe 17, trying to find some key clues to speculate on the complexity of the upcoming mission.
Before their eyes, densely packed data and images appeared, each image and video potentially hiding crucial information.
Not long after, as the final group of members arrived, the landing pad was filled with over six hundred Survey Department agents and Special Operations Group members.
Moreover, Leon and Mike's holographic glasses emitted a notification sound, indicating that all members had arrived.
Leon looked up and saw a group of ready faces, including both juniors he had personally trained and old friends he had fought alongside.
Then, Leon opened the communication channel and addressed everyone:
"Everyone, I am Leon S. Kennedy, the overall commander of this Survey Department operation.
According to orders from above, we need to begin infiltration and reconnaissance work immediately while the Engineering Department constructs the forward base near the spatial gate.
Our goal is to clarify the situation in Universe 17 and understand the interactions between the different races, aliens, and humans there."
He paused, scanning the agents in front of him, then raised his voice and continued:
"Our mission may seem simple, but the dangers are equally not to be underestimated. No matter how complex the situation ahead may be, we must gather all necessary intel for the Thousand Sons and the Empire's main forces. Only by understanding the enemy can we find a breakthrough.
Alright, everyone, board the craft!"
With that, Leon was the first to enter the Black Falcon assault craft behind him.
"Yes, sir!"
The agents, including David, Lucy, and the recently arrived Rebecca, responded loudly through the communication channel.
Without hesitation, they quickly moved into the prepared Black Falcon assault craft.
Everyone who had obtained the relevant data from the Intelligence Department knew that this mission was filled with uncertainty. But as members of the Survey Department, they were accustomed to facing various challenges. Their honed combat instincts and teamwork gave them the confidence to confront any danger.
As all members entered the Black Falcon assault craft, the pilots skillfully operated the craft, lifting off one by one in groups of three, advancing neatly toward the spatial gate, which resembled a mercury-like mirror.
Inside the cabin:
Leon sat in the seat near the right-side door, gazing out the window.
As the pilots expertly operated the craft, the Black Falcon assault craft gradually approached the edge of the spatial gate. In the distance, the white light began to slowly expand.
When the assault craft crossed the spatial gate, an intense light instantly filled the entire window, the warm and bright white light rapidly filling Leon's vision.
That familiar, almost cleansing light made him close his eyes momentarily, feeling a strange sense of peace.
But after just a moment, Leon's vision gradually returned.
Below him was an endless desert, with golden sand dunes undulating under the breeze, seemingly stretching as far as the eye could see.
However, the area near the spatial gate was a different sight.
What greeted Leon's eyes was a bustling construction site.
The Engineering Department was showcasing its "infrastructure mania" to all units, vigorously constructing the forward base.
Aerial transport craft shuttled in the desert sky, carrying various building materials and equipment, rapidly delivering them to designated locations.
On the ground, magnetic-levitation heavy trucks moved smoothly between the sand dunes, their compartments filled with construction modules and other necessary resources.
The figures of Hextech robots and construction-type Hunters were particularly conspicuous. Under the guidance and "supervision" of the Engineering Department personnel, they began to collaborate, precisely and efficiently carrying out various construction tasks.
At this stage, the Empire hardly needed human labor for transportation and construction tasks. Workers had become more like "foremen," ensuring that the various mechanical units didn't malfunction or make errors.
Moreover, with the Engineering Department operating at full capacity, the prototype of the forward base was already taking shape before Leon's eyes.
Most importantly, the Engineering Department no longer needed to allocate manpower and resources to build cumbersome optical camouflage covers to prevent hostile forces in other universes from detecting the spatial gate and forward base with the naked eye.
Of course, covering a 4km x 4km spatial gate wasn't a difficult task for the Engineering Department, but it would have been somewhat "superfluous" and unnecessary.
This was because the Emperor's growing power had also strengthened the spatial gate's shielding field.
Within a radius of forty kilometers centered on the spatial gate, no matter what technological means were used, the spatial gate's existence could not be detected.
Even if someone entered the range of the shielding field, unless they were Empire personnel, they would be unable to perceive the spatial gate and forward base through visual observation.
The psychic energy released by the Emperor would confuse the vision and subconscious of living beings, while the spatial gate's inherent shielding field could interfere with all device-based reconnaissance.
Thus, there was no need to worry about the spatial gate's massive size being detected by hostile forces in other universes.
Next.
The pilots operated the Black Falcon assault craft, carrying Leon and the others to the edge of the shielding range, where they prepared at a temporary outpost.
After that, they would proceed to the city located approximately a thousand kilometers away from the spatial gate...
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