The mining vessel landed in the spaceport, and the hostage led everyone out. During the interrogation, the hostage has told them about the ways people moved around on the ground. Shi Lang and the team had changed into the spacesuits of the natives they had killed.
Byte was left inside the mining vessel, hiding till the situation was under control or his help was needed. Even as a secret division troop, Byte was a newbie, he has yet to see actual combat, so Shi Lang did not plan to use his life as a stake here.
The terrans did not take off the helmets and just walked behind the person with their heads down. A few groups of natives spotted them but did not approach. Their communication was monitored by the higher-ups.
They had put up a lot of security measures in this place. They all stood at the exit of the spaceport. The native checked his card and then the others followed. Shi Lang and the rest cleared the first obstacle with ease.
Then they boarded the bus outside the port, to head to the accommodations. It took them fifty minutes to get to the location. Every team had a dormitory, they will stay together. After reaching the dormitory, the native wanted to say something when Shi Lang waved his hand to make the man stop.
He waved his hand and using his ability, he found a few bugs in the room. He waved his hand and the team got to work. He was not going to destroy the bugs, just use some means to make sure that no one suspects them.
After the team was done, and they gave Shi Lang a thumbs up, using the sign language, Shi Lang said, “I will now put you to sleep. Do not worry, this is for your own safety.”
The native nodded, and Shi Lang had Ajax inject the guy with a sedative that will keep him in deep sleep till they were done, either with the mission or with their lives. After the native was solved. They all changed into their gear again. The suits they had were all nanotechnology pieces, while their weapons were smuggled inside with containers looking like the samples they collected at the mining place.
They were told aware that everything even the times they open the door was monitored. The only thing was that the Arcadians did not value the vents and sewers as much as they should have. They thought the wall cannot be breached, so what can even happen in the house.
Shi Lang and the rest were going to invade the main tower through the sewers, The sewer network was connected through the whole planet. The accommodations were all on the ground floor. So it was easier for them to get inside the sewer system.
Tick said, “Captain, there is a manhole ten meters away. But the place is monitored from three angles.”
Shi Lang said, “Jill lift the manhole, Shade get inside there first. Then you will lift the manhole when you are requested to.”
Shade nodded and Jill followed. Nexalia asked, “These cameras all seem to be very high-end, they seemed to be moving as well.”
Tick was surprised, she ran her gaze around the sight out of the window again for a longer time and said, “She is right captain, these camera movements leave us a five-millisecond window.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “You should thank her highness.”
Tick nodded and thanked the lady. Nexa was overwhelmed all of a sudden. Shi Lang said, “The plan stays the same, just be mindful of when to lift the manhole. Move, the order can be decided by you all, but do not roam ahead until we are together in there.”
The people nodded and Jill came to stand near the window, the windowpane was equipped with motion sensors but Tick had already stuck a jammer there. The girl focused her gaze at the manhole and said, “Shade, on my count.”
Shade was also looking at the manhole with his cold gaze and Jill started counting, “Three, two, one, now.”
Shade flickered and his figure vanished from sight, outside the room, the manhole was lifted up, allowing Shade to sneak inside. Jill sighed and the manhole cover fell back in its place.
Shi Lang used the comms, “Shade, status?”
“Clear.” replied the young man.
Shi Lang nodded to the others and they began to follow the plan. The window of the milliseconds was something that came after ten minutes. Only when they had enough patience will they be able to execute the plan.
Shi Lang contacted Byte to check on him and found that everything was fine, once the mining vessel was docked it will not be checked until the resource tanks were full.
The Terran team got inside the manhole. They were all holding on to the walls of the narrow tube descending below. Nexa was the second last person to arrive and she almost fell on others if not for Shade holding on to her hand. At this moment, she was holding on to the walls like the rest of them. Shi Lang said, “Night vision on, descend.”
The people began to slowly descend in the tube. Shade has dropped a mini light blob to check the depth and found this place to be a kilometer below the surface. Jill asked while descending, “Any particular reason why the sewer is dug so deep?”
Nexa replied, “They have a higher sense of smell. It is irritating to them.”
“I see.”, said Tick.
The team descended the tube and found themselves standing in ankle-deep sewage water. Ajax asked, “Your Highness, do you not feel nausea?”
Nexa was holding a phaser rifle while the others were using echolocation and drones to map the sewer. Cara’s plan did not have the details of this map, but they will be using this map in correspondence to get to the target building.
Nexa shook her head and said, “I used to sneak out of the palace when I was in the royal academy. I used sewers even then, but compared to now, I will have to change clothes and take shower three times.”
Ajax chuckled and wanted to talk more when the rest of the team came back, and Shi Lang said, “We will move in that direction, I will take point. Callous, the rear. Ajax and Shade are the flank guards, Tick you are my wing, and Jill support Callous. Nexa in the center.”
Nexa said, “I can use a weapon and can protect myself.” she was not satisfied inside the cage.
Shi Lang said, “You have the Neomonian specialty to use a defense shield in the time of crisis. Your task is to protect, not only yourself but all of us. Next time you try to rebel, I will drop you out.”
That said, he took up his rifle and moved ahead. he did not care how she felt at the moment. Nexa was made aware by Amelia when the former had a brief chat with her, that Shi Lang will not be as soft and understanding when he was out there.
However, she has never been talked to like this. This made her upset. However, the team could only sympathize with her internally. Archie had given them a warning, not to go against Shi Lang and execute their tasks properly or he will be the first to put them under the soil forever.
They assumed a formation and began to move. The steps were in sync, to think that seven steps create only one noise. Nexa asked, “How are we in sync?”
Jill said, “Ummm, your highness, we are keeping up to your pace. Our bodysuits have a special feature, they record the data of your movements, and when the team is in close formation, the nanobots will combine that data and follow the neural commands, they will manipulate the limb movement to some extent.”
Nexa gasped and said, “No wonder the Terran military is so ferocious.”
Shi Lang said, “The drones show this place is clear, there is no movement. Let us pick up the pace.”
“Yes, Sir.” the team replied and they moved together, soon the walk broke out in a jog, yet the sync did not break.
Shi Lang suddenly raised his hand and they came to a halt. He said, “Look up.”
The people raised their heads and found a narrow tube leading to the surface. Tick said, “Captain, what now?”
They were not given any details of the plan. Shi Lang raised his left hand and after manipulating the communicator he said, “Activating Byte.”
…
Inside the mining vessel, Byte received a message from Shi Lang. He stood up, climbed out of the vessel, and found a sweeping bot close to the vessel. Byte stood up on the bot and said, “Activate.”
Byte had a special ability, that allowed him to control all the electronic appliances. If he touched a communicator, then as long as that communicator has a smart program, he will be able to gain access to not just that communicator but all of the communicators in the area. The simpler the machine the higher his range of influence.