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nShi Lang and Gamma came out of the room and the lady said, “Captain Lang, you will head with me directly to the spaceport and we will depart right away. Do you have any problem?”

nThe boy asked, “Ma’am, is it possible for us to grab clothes and supplies before we depart?”

nGamma smiled, “Rookie, the supplies like toiletries are all available in the spaceship as for clothes, Do not worry, you can find them inside the ship as well. Our secret divisions all have some perks that others do not.” she seemed to be very proud about it.

nThe boy did not say anything either and they walked outside. Gamma asked, “Do you know how to drive?”

nThe boy replied in a clear voice, “Yes, Ma’am.”

nGamma took out a key card from her pocket and handed it over to Shi Lang. She said, “You are the rookie so you will be the driving, the rest of the team has been informed and they will be gathering up at the spaceport. Let us go.”

nShi Lang had no opinion and walked behind her. She was using her authority as the senior officer and he was fine with it. The two of them came to the parking and found that Stephan, whom Yang Dao had met earlier was already standing beside the vehicle.

nHe saluted Gamma and then extended his hand to Shi Lang, “Major Stephan Dmitri. Glad to have you onboard.”

nStephan was a burly man, however, his vibes were very calm. Shi Lang exchanged the handshake with him and guessed that this person was at least a six-star Terran. Gamma said, “You can play friend-friend later, get moving.”

nThe boy moved around the vehicle and after pressing the key-card to the door surface he unlocked the vehicle and jumped in the driver’s seat. Stephan sat in co-pilot with him while Gamma took the back.

nThe operation of the vehicle was simple. Shi Lang pressed a button on the dashboard and a slight vibration around his feet made him realize that the vehicle engine was on. He pressed on the pedal and the vehicle moved.

nThe thing looked like an SUV but moved like a supercar. Thanks to the maglev technology. Shi Lang drove the vehicle and they swiftly left the town. Gamma said, “Stephan, Captain Lang will be my first assistant, commander’s order. You will keep those guys in line, I have a lot on my plate as it is.”

nStephan nodded and said, “Very well boss. Lang has the skills and I can be the witness to that, I will teach those guys, you do not worry.”

nGamma nodded and leaned back in the seat. Shi Lang acted as if he heard nothing. After a few minutes, he said, “Permission to ask a question, Ma’am.”

nGamma nodded and said, “Go ahead, Captain.”

n“The data regarding the planet might lead us astray.” said the boy.

nGamma raised her eyebrows and said, “Continue.”

nShe was meaning to ask him what was the logic behind this statement of his. The boy said, “Ma’am, the federal army had been investigating this place only for a couple of months, I do not think it is in our favor to bet on unverified data. This thing could be a trap.

nThe parasites could originate from anywhere. What if this is a way the inhabitants are trying to keep the forces at bay. The previous investigation team made a mistake by not following the medical guidelines. I suggest we start to compile the facts on our own after getting there and cross-examine the results of Brigadier Jun’s exploration.”

nStephan said, “It will take too much time.”

nGamma said, “Indeed, we do not have much time on our hands. Plus we have to restore the peaceful status of the place as well. From what I can see, since the elders of the inhabitants had killed a few of our high-ranking members, the stationed forces will be eager to seek bloodshed. We cannot let this happen.” her tone was solemn.

nThere were too many things that were taking place at the same time making the situation too complex. They wanted to solve the problem and these complexities made the situation delicate like a glass too. One mistake and they will be on the verge of war.

nShi Lang said, “The first objective is to appease the stationed troops.’

nGamma nodded, “Correct. That is the most important thing to do right now. How long before we arrive at the port?”

nShi Lang said, “Ten minutes.”

nGamma said, “Inside the dash cabinet, there are a few sample masks, choose one and cover your face. Secret Division does not show their face. Remove the name badge on your coat. Your code name will be self-assigned. So choose a good one.”

nShi Lang nodded and said, “Yes, Ma’am”

nThe vehicle turned silent after that.

n…

nTen minutes later the vehicle entered the spaceport’s military mobilization terminal, MMT for short. Stephan got down first and Shi Lang followed later. Gamma came out at the end. She was wearing skin-fit black attire which looked seamless and her head was covered with a hoodie and her face was covered with a mask, even her eyes were covered with a colored lens.

nShi Lang had a mask on his face, that looked too plain, however, the rest of his clothes were the same as earlier. Stephan had also put on his hoodie and mask, his burly figure was the only differentiating point from Gamma.

nThe trio arrived in front of a black spaceship. This one was smaller in size. Stephan said, “Do not make a mistake, this one is a fighter spaceship. Exclusive to secret divisions like us. They are faster and the attack capacity is enough to take down a dreadnaught. Plus they can sneak in easily as well.”

nShi Lang nodded and just then his gaze landed upon a group of four people standing and talking to each other near the ship. Their attire was enough for him to know their identities. They were his teammates. The boy did not have any high hopes of gaining their cooperation. However, since he has been thrown into this situation, he shall prevail.

nGamma came and stopped in front and the four people immediately became alert. They saluted the lady, who nodded back to them, and pointing at Shi Lang she said, “This is Captain Shi Lang, he will be my first assistant in this task.”

nThe people cast their gazes at Shi Lang, even though they had a mask covering their gazes the boy could sense the intensity. Stephan said, “Do not try to intimidate him, he has the skills and also the order came for Commander Arkham. Do you have complains and opinions now?”

nThe people shook their heads and Gamma nodded to them. Then she took them all over the ship. The crew of seven people had three males and four females, including Shi Lang. The crew was not in a hurry to make introductions. Gamma said, “Carole, Lullaby, get us up and running.”

nTwo ladies replied, “Yes, Boss.” and they rushed to the cockpit. The spaceship can be operated by two people, aided by an artificial intelligence system.

nThe availability and development of AI were very constricted as the Terrans were even more paranoid than humans. They did not like giving off control to machines completely. The solution to making an AI too powerful, they divided them into categories, like household management systems, and finance monitoring systems. This way the AI will not be able to become an all-knowing existence and they will be safer. This ideology faced a lot of criticism but the government did not budge.

nA soft voice sounded, “Allure welcomes you onboard, Lieutenant Colonel Gamma. Where might we be flying to today?”

nGamma said, “Sector ZXI09, Planet designation, Carta-Shyn.” her voice was unfeeling.

nThe AI responded, “Location coordinates have been confirmed, please put on your seat belts, we are up.”

nThe people put on the belts and the next moment the ship took off. The vertical climb was slow then suddenly the ship accelerated. A voice sounded in the speaker again, “Leaving earth’s atmosphere in five seconds.”

nThe AI was providing every minute detail about the journey. After two minutes, the AI said, “Leaving gravitational pull zone.”

nThe speed of the spaceship was very fast. After an hour, the AI voice sounded again, “Initiating space jump.”

nThe next moment, Shi Lang sensed his body being squeezed and the sensation was not pleasant for him. This time the sensation lasted for a few moments longer than the last few journeys. After the ship came out of the space jump, the AI voice sounded again, “Engine cooling down, will reinitiate the space jump sequence in twenty minutes.”

nStephan said, “Seems like, we are deployed a bit too far.”

nGamma nodded and said, “Sector ZXI09 is a war front where the military is discovering new planets with life. So, it is the edge of the federation umbrella.”

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