Without direct evidence, Carlos found it difficult to take action against Torres. However, Carlos never anticipated that Ryan's wit and ingenuity would exceed his expectations. Ryan mimicked Iron Bear's voice, deliberately provoking the modified Bluebird pilot, forcing the surviving space pirate to reveal Torres' secrets in desperation.
A smug smile appeared on Carlos' face as he turned to Torres, the aura of the H9 security team leader erupting like a volcano:
"Deputy Leader Torres, it's time for you to explain yourself to the company headquarters."
"No!" Torres retreated in panic, his voice trembling with desperation as he struggled to defend himself:
"He's framing me on purpose! Can't you see that?!"
"Your trusted subordinate Iron Bear refused to upload data, the space pirates deliberately avoided attacking Iron Bear and Karim's ships—are these all misunderstandings? Do you think I, Carlos, am so easily fooled?!" Carlos' voice grew harsher as he advanced on Torres, each step like a hammer blow to Torres' heart.
"Today, no matter what you say, I will detain you on suspicion of colluding with space pirates and hand you over to headquarters."
"Carlos! Don't push me too far!" Torres roared in fury, his face contorted with anger and resentment:
"I know you've long wanted to eliminate dissent and turn the base into your personal fiefdom! Don't think you can smear me!"
"Whether it's smearing or not, headquarters will decide!" Carlos responded coldly, his eyes devoid of warmth as he cornered Torres.
Torres wanted to resist, a glint of malice in his eyes, but at that moment, several black gun barrels emerged from the walls of the control center, all aimed at him.
The base commander had acted, clearly siding with Carlos. Torres felt utterly hopeless, not daring to move. His vision blurred as his joints were dislocated, and he collapsed to the ground in agony, bound and immobilized.
After subduing Torres, Carlos returned to the control screen, his eyes reflecting a complex mix of emotions.
…
Having obtained the information he needed, Ryan didn't hesitate, immediately opening fire and tearing the second modified Bluebird to pieces. These space pirates were as ruthless to their own kind as they were to beasts and Zerbeasts. Ryan's policy was always to kill them on sight.
The modified Bluebird's maneuverability was impressive, and the pilot's combat skills were formidable, but they were no match for Ryan.
"Master," Astra's voice sounded in Ryan's ear, "Detected pilot Karim of Unit 16 attempting to target our cockpit. Strongly recommend neutralizing the threat."
Ryan noticed this too. On a split screen, the hatch of Bluebird 16 was open, and Karim was leaning in the doorway, his sniper rifle aimed steadily at the sky. But he didn't know that Astra had been monitoring his every move from the start.
Ryan quickly captured Karim's image and uploaded it to the control center. Carlos' voice came through: "Torres is under control. As for Karim… handle him as you see fit. His actions alone warrant his death."
Carlos' cold words sealed Karim's fate. Torres, drenched in sweat, struggled desperately, but it was all in vain.
Ryan had no sympathy for those who colluded with space pirates. He deliberately lowered the Bluebird's altitude and opened the hatch.
Bang!! Karim, with a look of ruthless determination, pulled the trigger. But Astra had already calculated the timing and trajectory of his shot.
As Karim fired, Ryan quickly ducked back into the cockpit, avoiding the lethal shot. The Bluebird's hatch bore a scorching bullet hole, but Ryan was unharmed.
Ryan then reappeared, half-exposed, and his assault rifle spat out a precise line of fire, striking Karim between the eyes. It was over in an instant.
Iron Bear's obstruction, Karim's assassination attempt, and the intricate connections between Torres' two trusted subordinates and the space pirates—no matter how powerful their backers, they couldn't save Torres now.
The aftermath of the battle lingered in the air as Ryan, without pausing, piloted Bluebird 15 skyward.
Whoosh…
Maughan led the security team to C25, quickly organizing the recovery of the modified Bluebird wreckage and initiating rescue operations.
Ryan hurried to David's side, crouching down to ask with concern, "How are you holding up?"
David tried to move his injured leg, wincing in pain but managing a smile: "Looks like I'll need some time to recover. But with Torres' threat gone, I can finally rest easy." David's tone was light, almost joking.
With Torres' downfall, the security team's position became more secure. Ryan immediately arranged for Jane to escort David back to the base for the best medical care.
Ryan and Maughan stood by Karim's body, his eyes wide open, seemingly questioning how he could lose to a rookie. Maughan, examining the body, tore a small biochip from Karim's neck, his voice tinged with satisfaction: "This must contain evidence of his collusion with Torres. Torres has reaped what he sowed, and we must fully expose his crimes."
They then turned to Iron Bear, who was firmly restrained by Gabriel, Kazemi, and others. Despite his struggles, he couldn't break free. They were extracting data from him, hoping to find more clues.
After hours of intense work, the rescue mission was complete. Leaving a few team members to guard C25, the rest returned to the base to report.
The briefing took place in the command center, where all key personnel were gathered. James Anderson, the supervisor, rarely seen but present today, looked grim, clearly displeased with the incident.
Carlos stood at the briefing podium, his expression serious, detailing the space pirate attack and the base's losses: "Two space pirates used modified Bluebirds with stealth coatings to launch a surprise attack, catching us off guard. The base lost two Bluebirds, twenty-seven mining drones, sixteen personnel killed, ten disabled, seven injured… among them, one security team member killed, two injured, and both space pirates were eliminated."
James Anderson's face darkened further, his voice accusatory: "This is a major lapse at the start of the month… Hmph! This is the first time our base has been infiltrated by space pirates! Your security team… Carlos, how do you plan to handle this?" His tone suggested a desire to shift blame, but considering Carlos had just resolved the crisis, he held back further reproach.
Carlos responded solemnly: "Supervisor Anderson, we have regained control and are collecting all relevant evidence. I recommend an immediate emergency meeting to review security breaches and develop new defense measures to prevent similar incidents."
Anderson was silent for a moment, then reluctantly nodded: "Alright, Carlos, you handle this. We need to ensure the base's safety and conduct a thorough investigation."
Carlos stood at the podium, facing James Anderson without a trace of fear. As the highest-ranking official, Anderson was a company executive who had never truly seen combat, rising to G2 level through money and connections. His authority seemed vast but lacked practical experience, often ignoring daily base operations, merely a puppet awaiting promotion.
To Carlos, the real backbone of the base were leaders like him, the security team leaders, the true core and soul of the operation.
"Supervisor Anderson," Carlos' voice was calm and firm, "We have extracted crucial evidence from Iron Bear, Karim, and the two space pirates' biochips. The recorded footage and emails were sent under Torres' orders. The modified Bluebirds infiltrated our base with Torres' coordination and cover. All evidence points to one fact: Torres, Iron Bear, and Karim are space pirate spies, their actions indistinguishable from the pirates."
Carlos paused, then continued: "I have uploaded all evidence to headquarters. They have decided to form a special investigation team arriving in three days. The truth will be revealed."
Anderson listened to Carlos' report, his expression complex. He knew his position at the base was precarious, and Carlos' confident and authoritative demeanor only heightened his unease. He tried to remain composed but couldn't hide a hint of anxiety in his voice: "Carlos, this matter is serious. We must handle it carefully."
Carlos nodded, his gaze sharp as a blade: "Of course, Supervisor Anderson. We will ensure the investigation's fairness and transparency. But in the meantime, I recommend immediately strengthening the base's defenses to prevent any further incursions."
Anderson was silent, knowing Carlos was right. He took a deep breath and then slowly said: "Alright, Carlos, you take charge. We need to secure the base and prepare for the upcoming investigation."