Maughan led Ryan to the security team's dedicated hangar, home to their patrol craft, the Bluebird. From this day forth, Bluebird 37 would be assigned to Ryan.
In security operations, in addition to the essential citizen chips and precise shooting skills, the ability to patrol and protect the headquarters was equally indispensable.
Compared to shooting skills, the role of the patrol craft was even more prominent.
Drawing on his past security experience, Ryan was well aware that among the many skills of security personnel, the operation of the patrol craft was crucial.
Especially during their shifts, security personnel needed to act according to the instructions from the monitoring center and respond swiftly to emergencies to ensure the safety of the headquarters and protect the lives and property of miners and the company.
Maughan earnestly explained to Ryan the importance of the patrol craft, the combined firepower of the aircraft cannon and the six-barreled Gatling gun, and the strategies for dealing with incidents of different levels:
"The use of aircraft cannon and Gatling guns requires prior application and cannot be fired at will. If you accidentally injure others, you will be fully responsible... Even if there are no casualties, the cost of ammunition must be borne by you."
"Usually, unless absolutely necessary, we will not easily use firepower."
"By the way, the aircraft cannon shell is not cheap, each is five hundred dollars, and our standard equipment for Bluebird is only forty. The machine gun has a capacity of 20,000 rounds, with a rate of fire of 240 rounds per second, which is enough for low-level beasts and zergs. As for the aircraft cannon, it is prepared for the unexpected."
"What situations are considered unexpected?" Ryan asked at the right time.
When it comes to playing dumb, he never holds back.
Maughan was very satisfied with Ryan's question at the critical moment, and such a conversation made him feel very smooth:
"For example, abnormal mutations of beasts and zergs, attacks by high-level zergs... Or when we face those audacious interstellar pirates, we need to use all firepower to deal with it."
Ryan naturally knew what was going on.
But he still chose to continue playing his role well:
"I have heard about the mutated beasts and zergs, and their existence does indeed have a certain degree of probability. But Maughan, I heard that those high-level zergs should have been completely eliminated by the Space Force in the first year of the new calendar, right... Has our security team ever encountered them?"
"Unfortunately, we have encountered them once." Maughan's face became very serious, he magically took out a cigarette, lit it, took a deep breath, slowly exhaled the smoke, and said in a heavy tone: "Before, my thoughts were the same as yours, thinking that those high-level zergs have become history, and only some low-level zergs with strong adaptability are still lurking in the hidden corners of various star systems. Until..."
He paused, looked at Ryan:
"There was a time when we were escorting a transport ship back to the Pegasus Galaxy headquarters, and we were suddenly attacked by a group of Thermocorrosive insects It was a disaster, the transport ship was blown up on the spot, all the goods were lost, our security team lost one-third of the members, and the rest of us had to escape in their own flying vehicles..."
Thermocorrosive insects are formidable bio-engineered organisms known for their lethal capabilities and advanced adaptations. These massive insects, about the size of a small car, have dark brown, chitinous exoskeletons that provide protection and camouflage. Their segmented bodies house glands that produce a highly corrosive liquid, their primary weapon. The mandibles are serrated and sharp, designed to penetrate and disintegrate various materials. These zergs can almost seamlessly merge with the deep space environment when stationary, thanks to their extraordinary camouflage ability. Their wings, although thin and resilient, enable flight speeds surpassing conventional aerial vehicles. However, they only produce a faint, ominous hum when flying within an atmosphere. They construct nests by corroding meteorites, creating hollowed-out bases for ambushes. During attacks, they eject high-temperature corrosive liquids with precision, capable of melting through metal almost instantly. Upon death, they self-detonate, dispersing corrosive liquid in all directions, causing severe damage to nearby objects, including heavily armored warships and ordinary flying vehicles. The threat of these zergs extends beyond their physical capabilities; their strategic use of concealment and surprise tactics makes them one of the most feared adversaries.
Maughan said this, his eyes became very serious, and he repeatedly instructed Ryan:
"The reproductive capacity of zergs is extremely strong, since our transport ship encountered a disaster, although the Space Force responded quickly, our goods and the sacrificed crew members, including all the supplies on the ship... All disappeared, even that group of Thermocorrosive Zergs also disappeared without a trace. We estimate that their group will continue to grow and pose a continuous threat to our TerraNova company's route, so we must always be vigilant."
Ryan nodded silently, indicating that he fully understood.
Maughan patted him on the shoulder gently, and his tone was a little more relaxed: "Of course, you don't have to be too nervous. Although zergs are cunning, they also know that the Space Force is not easy to provoke, and they usually won't attack the same place repeatedly, they may have already avoided us far away... However, since that painful lesson, TerraNova company decided that each new security personnel will receive a certain quota of training ammunition, for half a year, to improve our practical skills."
"Every month, you can get twenty aircraft cannon shell and twenty thousand bullets."
Maughan said with a smile:
"So, you can rest assured to train, the company will reimburse the cost of these ammunition, don't use it for nothing."
After that, the two boarded Bluebird together.
Compared with the mining flying vehicle, Bluebird looks more cool and tough, with a momentum, its concealed aircraft cannon and six-barreled Gatling gun all show its powerful strength and edge.
As an H5 series of flying vehicles, Bluebird is better in flight speed and shell strength, and its power system and chip's computing power are also better.
Ryan had been in close contact with this kind of machinery for more than a year in his previous life, and he skillfully checked the energy consumption and ammunition inventory, and then completed the link connection with Maughan.
A new window immediately split on the screen, and Maughan showed a satisfied smile:
"Adapt very well. Now you follow my actions as a wingman, I am the leader, you are my team member. On the way, I will slowly explain to you the matters needing attention in the patrol process."
"Understood."
Ryan completed the formation according to the instructions.
Maughan started the engine.
The two Bluebirds started at the same time, sliding out of the slowly opening passage, and then ejected blue flames, rushing to the blue sky.
The interior space of Bluebird is spacious, the speed is twice that of the mining flying vehicle, and the chip's computing power reaches ten units per second, which is twice that of Astra.
However, Ryan still let Astra take over the control of the flying vehicle.
No other reason.
Just used to it!
But he knows that in the future, he needs to improve the performance level of Astra as soon as possible.
The H3 level chip can barely control Bluebird, but if you want to control a higher-level flying vehicle, the existing performance is not enough.
Maughan said seriously to Ryan:
"The monitoring of other environments on the planet is the responsibility of the tower and the monitoring center. Our main task in patrolling is to inspect those high-risk areas marked in red, these places usually have beasts and zergs... Our task is to eliminate all visible threats as much as possible, and you should know the reason."
"The reproductive capacity of beasts and zergs is very strong, if left alone, they will pose a threat to the headquarters and affect the safety of all miners."
Ryan's answer is very standard.
"That's right!"
Maughan nodded in approval:
"These beasts are very cunning and alert, every time our patrol craft sounds, they will hide in advance. The surface of the planet is full of countless pits, the terrain is extremely complex, and if you are not careful, you will lose the target... Grenades are not enough to penetrate the rock layer of the pit, and it can cause unnecessary damage, so sometimes we need to leave the patrol craft and take ground action. Of course, our current task is to let you get familiar with the fire control system of the cannon and machine gun, I will take you to conduct live-fire training."
Maughan's words just fell, and he demonstrated an impressive maneuver in the air, as if it were the Cobra maneuver in the fighter, both thrilling and smooth. His Bluebird suddenly pulled in the air, the fuselage was almost perpendicular to the ground, and then quickly rushed forward, pouncing on the distant target.