บท 5: Operation Edenwood (deployment)
"Good day, Nexuville! Good day, Fuzhao! Good day, world!" Mr. Watson boomed, his voice echoing through the studio. "Today, we have the honor of hosting a very special guest, a man who needs no introduction, but deserves a warm welcome nonetheless. Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for the illustrious Dr. Sting Serrano!"
Mr Watson welcomed his guest to his talk show, "No Hard Feelings." "Welcome to another episode of No Hard Feelings," he continued.
As the audience erupted into applause, Dr. Sting smiled graciously. "Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here once again."
"Now, straight to business. First off, congratulations on the successful launch of the Neckso...Nekhsu..."
"The Nexus Euphoria chip or you can just call it Nec-15," Dr. Sting said, grinning whilst assisting the struggling host. "Yes, that!" Mr. Watson replied, eliciting laughter and cheers from the audience.
Meanwhile, aboard the spacecraft, Ike growled, "Can someone please turn that shit off?" The loud radio broadcast was grating on his nerves, and Dr. Sting's voice was the last thing he wanted to hear.
The journey to Edenwood from Harmonia Heights was just beginning, and they had taken off only minutes ago. Inside the armored spacecraft were Captain Emily, the eight recruits, and two other Harmony Vanguard pilots, all suited up in the prestigious Harmony Vanguard armour bodysuits. Each suit was equipped with a fully automated AI laser weapon at the sleeves rear end, a jet pack mounted on the back, and a laser energy shield that could generate a protective bubble at the suit's command. Artificial diamonds adorned the edges of the suit, glowing softly in the dark, with the Harmony Vanguard emblem proudly displayed on the top left side.
The armour's advanced AI system hummed softly. As the team prepared for their mission, the suits' artificial diamonds pulsed with a soft, blue light, casting an otherworldly glow across the craft's interior.
Damilare and Leia sat riveted, listening intently to Dr. Sting's interview on the radio, while the others engaged in hushed conversations, attempting to shake off the growing unease. Captain Emily had briefed them just before they embarked on the journey. The Federal Police Intelligence (FPI), under congressional command, had sealed off Edenwood completely, allowing only select individuals such as state press and the Harmony Vanguard in. Private media, emergency services- everyone else, barred from entry.
Emily's plan upon arrival was straightforward. She suspected their adversaries would anticipate her return, exploiting the Harmony Vanguard suits' integrated trackers. Each suit transmitted a unique signal, which their enemies likely expected they had monitored. The compromised suits' final known location served as the starting point for Emily's team. Emily, Leia, Matt, and Baygon formed the frontline squad, tasked with retracing the suits' path and uncovering crucial intel. Simultaneously, Damilare, Ike, Swift, Raid, and Jones would oversee the NEC-15 launch's subsequent stages, they would remain on high alert, prepared to respond to any call for backup in case Captain Emily and her team encountered another ambush. Emily had explicitly instructed them not to involve federal authorities due to suspicions surrounding the previous attack; trust was in short supply.
Currently, Emily was with the pilots in the spacecraft's cockpit, strategizing for their impending touchdown. Meanwhile, the rest of the team gathered in the craft's lobby, nervously awaiting developments. Dr. Sting's voice continued to fade into the background, barely audible over the radio:
"...that's not the case at all. Edenwood, unfortunately, bears the nation's highest crime rate. But we're changing that. Starting here, we'll ensure every citizen is equipped with the NEC-15. This revolutionary chip will eradicate crime, making Fuzhao a beacon of safety." He paused, his tone taking on a personal note. "I've implanted the NEC-15 in myself, prioritizing my own safety and, by extension, the safety of those around me. Imagine a world where crime is a relic of the past – 0% crime rate, a utopia within our grasp." The radio audience erupted into applause and cheers, but Damilare and his teammates remained somber, their minds focused on the mission ahead.
Dr. Sting's voice persisted, his words dripping with an unsettling enthusiasm. "...The NEC-15, an artificial virus integrated into the brain, anticipates and prevents criminal behavior. Before a crime is committed, the virus could be triggered by the push of a button to temporarily paralyze the host's entire body, rendering harm impossible. Unnecessary accidents and deaths will cease to exist. No one will evade justice, as every individual will be monitored, always accountable." For a moment, he fell silent, allowing the weight of his message to resonate. "The Button Age," Dr. Sting declared. "A future where order is absolute, and chaos is obsolete."
A shiver coursed through the recruits as they listened, transfixed by the radio broadcast. The implications sent a chill down their spines. This was the dawn of a new era, where human autonomy hung in the balance. The notion of being "paused" and "played" at will, like puppets on strings, was unnerving.
Fuzhao, long renowned for its innovation and technological prowess, had consistently held the highest Human Development Index for decades. Yet, this development pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in the pursuit of a perfect society. The recruits exchanged uneasy glances, sensing the weight of a society where free will was compromised.
As the spacecraft neared Edenwood, Emily remained focused in the pilot's cockpit, intentionally avoiding the radio playing her father's voice. His enthusiastic tone grated on her nerves. The awkwardness of hearing her dad's sales pitch for the NEC-15, mixed with the tension of their mission, was more than she could bear.
Leaving the cockpit, Emily gathered the recruits in the craft's lobby, her expression resolute. "Listen up," she began, her gaze swept across the team, ensuring she had their undivided attention. "You all know the drill. The plan remains unchanged. Stay alert and maintain safe distance from anyone in that city until we have a clearer picture of what we're dealing with."
Just as Emily finished her briefing, a booming voice crackled over the comms system, echoing from the ground below.
"This is the Federal Police Intelligence unit. Land now or we will engage. Repeat, land immediately or face hostile action."
The spacecraft's instruments beeped in response, warning of incoming missile locks. Emily's eyes locked onto the pilot's console, her mind racing with tactical options. "Prepare for landing," she ordered, her voice calm, yet authoritative. The recruits' expressions reflected their growing unease, the gravity of their situation sinking in. Outside, Edenwood sprawled before them, its streets ominously quiet under the watchful gaze of law enforcement. Emily squared her shoulders, ready to face whatever awaited them on the surface.
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