Chapter 125: Serenity - Enforced Peace "We Will Meet in Hell"

Shortly afterward.

In the observation room of the temporary base, Lyon was organizing the interrogation records and looking through the observation window at Leroya, who was still sitting in the interrogation room. He couldn't help but sigh:

"Who would have thought that the forty-six warriors we rescued had actually accomplished something as significant as saving humanity."

"Facing a well-organized human army, the chances of victory for 3,000 vampires and werewolves were actually quite low. But..." Mike changed his tone, "They still chose to fight against overwhelming odds. Just their courage alone demands respect and shouldn't be underestimated."

As he spoke, Mike slightly turned his head and looked at Ada, who was standing behind him and Lyon, and suggested:

"Director, we could request to incorporate the Honor Legion and the mixed-blood in front of us into our investigation department or the company's special operations unit. After all, they have considerable individual combat strength."

"Once their claims are verified, I'll consider submitting a request to the higher-ups." Ada wasn't in a hurry to make a decision and continued: "According to what they've said, due to numerous early 'betrayal' incidents, the current vampire and werewolf clans only recruit humans who are easy to control and threaten. This has limited their numbers to around sixty thousand.

Julian Belafila, who is about to recover, is not much of a concern, but the abnormal creatures are collecting suitable humans for him and continuously sacrificing them to the Goddess of Death, Ekati, in a delusional attempt to gain enough power to overthrow the human world."

As Ada spoke, she used the holographic control panel to bring up a satellite overhead view, locking the focus on a dense forest at the border between Europe and the Middle East, and continued: "Although we cannot be certain whether deities exist in this world, we absolutely cannot allow Julian Belafila to freely wreak havoc on our world and our fellow humans."

As soon as Ada finished speaking, Lyon suggested, "How about we commission the ODST to assist us in carrying out an orbital strike?"

Mike nodded in agreement, "If we find anything resembling a temple there, it would directly prove the authenticity of some of the information."

"We can cooperate with the ODST." Ada didn't reject their suggestion and elaborated: "I'll assemble a team of investigators to carry out the orbital strike with the ODST. Both of you will be part of it, so prepare yourselves for boarding the Serenity-class transport ship.

The anomalous being named Leroya Shivaline Vitellius and the forty-six former Honor Legion warriors will remain at the temporary base. Their fate will be decided after the strike."

"Yes, Director," Lyon and Mike responded in unison.

The next day.

May 2nd.

The morning sunlight bathed the entire Syracuse, making the emerald sea shimmer like a mirror.

The mist that had blanketed the city and forests had dissipated, and the temporary base located in the western suburbs was also basking in the warm and comfortable daylight.

With the engineering department working overtime, the temporary base seemed to be evolving toward a more "permanent" nature. The facilities were gradually becoming more complete, and even the runway and tower of an airfield had begun to take shape.

However, everything Atlas did was compliant and legal. The Italian government had also benefited from the construction and investment, making it a win-win situation.

06:12 AM.

A team of "operatives" dressed in black one-piece combat suits, equipped with simple mechanical exoskeletons, and carrying weapons and equipment boxes appeared on the vertical takeoff and landing pad.

Lyon, with his blonde hair parted in the middle, was among them.

Also present were a clean-shaven Mike and Chris Redfield, who cared less about his appearance but was growing increasingly muscular.

In fact, half of this team of investigators belonged to the "Investigation Special Operations Group" directly under Chris's command, which was essentially the special forces of the investigators.

A few years ago, Chris and six other members of the special operations group successfully disrupted a battalion-sized extremist force in the Zero One Universe (Edge of Tomorrow) and captured the number two figure of the extremist organization, obtaining crucial intelligence on the organization's leader.

In terms of close combat and visual targeting, the special operations group, with their genetically enhanced and significantly improved physical abilities, was undoubtedly one of the most elite combat forces within Atlas.

Chris and his team had returned to the primary universe a year ago and had been on standby recently. So, they responded to Ada's summons and arrived here to provide fire support for Lyon, Mike, and the others.

Soon, the group of investigators left the shadows of the trees and buildings and moved into the sunlight.

Their Luna transport craft had completed all inspections, and its doors were open, awaiting their boarding.

Once inside the craft, Lyon and the others made their way to the second floor, found their seats, and secured their mechanical exoskeletons to the chairs.

Then, Lyon, sitting by the porthole, glanced at Chris.

He couldn't help but think about how Chris, despite not being that old, seemed particularly seasoned.

Chris also noticed Lyon's gaze and nodded in acknowledgment.

The special operations group leader might have been pondering why Lyon, despite looking so frail, had survived various dangerous situations.

The group didn't exchange many words after that, maintaining silence as they checked their weapons and gear.

Boom. Boom~—!

Suddenly, as the engines roared to life, the Luna transport craft lifted off the ground and began its ascent toward low Earth orbit.

Lyon and the others were no longer surprised, excited, or pained by the rapid acceleration. They had become accustomed to it, treating it as routine.

Some members of the special operations group even leaned back and relaxed, enjoying the experience, drifting off to sleep in their seats.

Before long, the intense pressure faded, replaced by the sensation of low gravity.

The view outside the porthole shifted from the blue sky to a vantage point looking down on Earth.

As Lyon turned his gaze, he caught sight of their destination revealing itself from optical camouflage, showing its true form—

The Serenity-class Transport Ship.

At that moment, the holographic glasses Lyon was wearing provided him with detailed information about the Serenity-class Transport Ship:

"Ship Name: Serenity.

Note: The Serenity is Atlas's first self-produced space transport ship.

Length: 296 meters.

Width (at its widest): 93 meters.

Height (at its tallest): 68 meters.

Description:

The ship's armor is made of titanium-tantalum alloy, with a composite structure, and the interlayers are embedded with superconducting cooling devices.

The rear of the ship is equipped with six nuclear fusion engines and one antimatter engine, while a magnetic levitation array is installed in the belly of the ship, allowing it to navigate both inside and outside the atmosphere.

In outer space, the ship's maximum speed can reach 92% of the speed of light, provided it can sustain six months of acceleration.

Without using the antimatter engine, the ship's normal cruising speed in space is about 90 kilometers per second, three times the escape velocity of the fourth universe.

The ship's modular parts, armor, and cabins are manufactured at the Akra production base.

The assembly of the ship began on October 7, 1998, in the primary universe, and its 'launch ceremony' was held on February 1, 1999, after which the company deployed it to low Earth orbit.

——

The interior of the ship uses a honeycomb structure to enhance the hull's strength.

Each deck is embedded with superconducting magnetic devices, which regulate the strength and direction of the magnetic field to simulate Earth's gravity, preventing bone loss and other health issues during long-term space missions.

Personnel Composition:

Bridge Crew: 12

Engineering and Maintenance Crew: 40

Ground and Logistics Personnel: 132

Orbital Drop Shock Troopers (ODST): 360

Excluding essential personnel and combat units, the Serenity-class Transport Ship can accommodate up to 3,200 people.

The supplies stored in the cargo hold and the ship's recycling system are sufficient to sustain 3,200 people for four months.

The ship is equipped with living quarters, maintenance areas, engineering sections, and various functional zones.

Additionally, it has an armory, a small 3D printing factory, and an airdrop dock equipped with small and medium-sized airdrop pods.

The Serenity-class airdrop dock can deploy two reinforced company-sized orbital drop units, as well as corresponding bio-organic weapons (BOW) and combat mechs.

This gives the Serenity-class Transport Ship capabilities far beyond what the Erneo atmospheric spacecraft demonstrated.

——

In terms of armament, the Serenity-class is equipped with a plasma main cannon powered by six nuclear fusion engines.

The ship's central and side sections house five 460mm parallel plasma secondary cannons.

Depending on operational needs, the ship's perimeter is fitted with varying numbers of three-barreled 120mm Gauss close-in weapon systems, with a maximum of 24 guns.

These, combined with various types of 120mm Gauss rounds such as tracer rounds, uranium-needle rounds, and high-explosive rounds, create a dense close-in defensive fire network to defend against potential enemy aircraft or abnormal creatures.

The ship also has 40 missile launch silos capable of launching various tactical and strategic nuclear, hydrogen, plasma, and metallic hydrogen bombs, fully meeting the company's deterrence needs.

The most significant difference from the Erneo spacecraft is that the Serenity-class has an onboard aircraft hangar capable of accommodating eight 'Pied Falconet' multi-role carrier-based aircraft.

This means the Serenity-class also has a small air squadron to assist the orbital drop units in gaining air superiority within the atmosphere and carrying out various combat missions, such as low-intensity ground strikes or escort missions."

After browsing

 the data and description of the Serenity-class, Lyon couldn't help but sit up straight, feeling an undeniable sense of pride—this was the company's "naval" prototype!

Although it was currently only one official ship, it was undoubtedly an excellent start.

Moreover, all the information the company had internally disclosed mentioned that the new type of ship would be equipped with railguns with stronger armor-piercing capabilities, and its specifications would lean toward being a true "frigate."

Having participated in the company's efforts to identify and address hidden threats and investigate other universes while witnessing the rapid growth of human strength... especially after seeing the true form of the Serenity-class, Lyon felt that all the sacrifices had been worth it.

Seeing that the Luna transport craft still had some time to fly, Lyon opened the data on the "Pied Falconet":

"Pied Falconet Multi-role Carrier-based Aircraft;

This carrier-based aircraft model and the Phantom fighter are both part of the 'Atlas Multi-role Fighter Project.'

Within the atmosphere, the Pied Falconet lags far behind the Phantom fighter in terms of data, especially stealth capability and payload capacity.

However, its relatively modular structure allows the Pied Falconet to be equipped with two additional miniature nuclear fusion engines, giving it the ability to break through the first cosmic speed and enter low Earth orbit.

Additionally, the derivative two-seater model of this carrier-based aircraft can also serve as a mobile control terminal.

Depending on the co-pilot's abilities, the Pied Falconet can control 8 to 12 small drones to fight alongside, enhancing the carrier-based aircraft squadron's air superiority."

Carrier-based aircraft squadrons... Lyon could imagine the scene of the Serenity-class unleashing countless airdrop pods, carrier-based aircraft, and drones in full combat mode—it was practically a "one-ship army."

In fact, Lyon and other core employees knew that with the company's current momentum, it was only a matter of time before they would clash with mainstream nations in the primary universe.

It could even escalate into a local conflict and war, similar to what happened in the Zero One Universe (Edge of Tomorrow).

But when Lyon learned that the company's diplomatic department had reached an agreement with the Italian government and personally witnessed the space ship not far away, he immediately realized that there was actually an option for "enforced peace."

After all, Atlas's various layouts in the primary universe were pushing the world towards integration, and the common interests of human society were gradually being perfected.

Magnetic levitation trains, with speeds equivalent to jet planes, drastically shortened and saved people's travel time. Coupled with ticket prices on par with traditional trains, this indirectly encouraged more people to travel.

And travel helped with cultural exchanges. At the same time, the joint actions of Atlas's public relations department, diplomatic department, and investigation department were addressing historical issues and dealing with uncooperative officials, conglomerates, and extremist organizations.

Of course, the three departments carried out many "enforced" covert operations.

But regardless, the primary universe seemed to have reached a "narrow bridge" stage.

One wrong step could cause the primary universe to fall into total chaos.

Or, a more peaceful transition of power to Atlas could occur.

Lyon, originally caught up in the situation, was unable to see the bigger picture.

But now, he realized that his boss's initial "mutual aid" and "assistance in construction" without seeking profit had instead made Atlas an economic pillar for many countries.

Furthermore, through online marketing, first proposed by the boss, various cutting-edge technologies and weapons were continuously revealed to the public, shaping the image that "Atlas should be number one in all fields" and creating the confidence that they truly possessed the strongest military power—this had completed a "closed loop."

Money, resources, and soldiers.

The company had gradually gained control over the key aspects of society, economy, and military, naturally granting it the power to reshape the world.

Moreover, the Serenity-class Transport Ship alone was enough to disrupt the existing balance. It wasn't a product of the same era or dimension as the primary universe.

So, while the primary universe seemed to be at a "narrow bridge" stage, it was actually steadily moving toward enforced peace.

Suddenly;

"Everyone, prepare yourselves. We will dock with the Serenity's airlock in thirty seconds."

The pilot's broadcast reminder pulled Lyon out of his thoughts about politics and economics, fields he wasn't skilled in.

At this point, he also noticed through the observation window that the Luna transport craft was adjusting its angle and slowly approaching the Serenity's starboard side.

Clang.

When the sound of metal lightly colliding with metal reverberated through the cabin via vibrations, they knew the Luna had docked with the Serenity.

"Everyone, please proceed to the airlock."

Hearing the pilot's reminder again, Lyon and the others unfastened their restraints and, carrying their equipment and weapons, "drifted" toward the lower cargo hold.

Then, they passed through the already extended gangway and a rather cold retractable tunnel, eventually arriving at the Serenity's airlock.

"Attention, everyone. This is the Serenity's bridge. If you don't want to break a few teeth, please hold onto the handrails prepared for you, activate the magnetic adhesion of your mechanical exoskeleton, and place your equipment boxes on the deck. Just keep them as far away from you as possible."

As the voice from the bridge spoke, the gangway door had already begun to close.

Once the door was fully sealed, the airlock chamber's red "prepare yourself" light turned on.

Seeing this, Lyon, Chris, and the others instinctively gripped the handrails tightly, their feet magnetically attached to the deck, and stood ready.

Green light!

Clang! Clang!

The floating equipment boxes crashed onto the deck as the airlock chamber quickly restored simulated gravity.

"Whoa!" Mike exclaimed as he looked at the equipment box that almost hit his foot and said to Lyon behind him:

"I really hope the next generation of the company's frigates will have large enough hangars so the Luna transport craft can just fly in directly. And I have a feeling my luck hasn't been great lately. Once the mission is over, I need to hit Akra Bar and drink some rum to shake off the bad luck."

"Need me to join you?" Lyon asked with a smile.

"No, I'm good on my own. With you around, nothing ever seems to go right." Mike declined immediately.

Soon after.

Having successfully entered the Serenity, the group followed the directions provided by the bridge, navigating through corridors and spaces of moderate width.

Eventually, Lyon, Chris, and the others arrived at the operations briefing cabin.

Inside, over a dozen ODST officers, who would be joining the raid, were already seated in their fixed chairs, waiting for them.

Once everyone was seated, a holographic projection began displaying an overhead view of the forest at the border between Europe and the Middle East.

"Everyone!" A captain with a thick beard, a large, burly build, walked to the front, hands on his hips, and spoke loudly with a Russian accent:

"I am Captain Dmitri Volokov, commander of the 3rd Assault Company of ODST Second Battalion, and I will be leading this joint operation."

As he spoke, Volokov turned to the forest overhead view and began explaining to Lyon and the others who had just arrived:

"When we received notification from your investigation department, the Serenity immediately went to high altitude above the Valley of Death to begin filming and monitoring. However, the fog in the forest seriously affected the quality of the images.

But when we switched to thermal imaging, we found that the depths of the forest lacked signs of animal activity.

We suspect this is due to the presence of those abominable creatures, which has scared the animals away, indirectly leading us to believe that the temple of the Goddess is located there.

Since the investigators are now here, we will commence the airdrop in fifteen minutes. The mission briefing will be sent to each of your individual systems.

Now then!" Volokov turned to face everyone present:

"Does anyone have any questions? It's best to speak up now rather than whine when it's too late."

Lyon and the others shook their heads silently.

"In that case, prepare yourselves! We'll meet in hell in fifteen minutes!"

"Hoo-ha!" The ODST officers responded with a battle cry.

Today's update is temporarily 5,300 words.

I got up a bit late yesterday, hahaha, maybe I was a bit lazy because of the New Year.

But I'll slowly make up the remaining 700 words in future updates.

Finally, thanks for everyone's support! Thanks for the recommendations, monthly votes, subscriptions, and rewards.

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