Chapter 189: Return Voyage! Ideal City Completed! Confidential Agreement!
"Boss, here is the levitating stone ring you requested. The company's artisans have crafted it for you."
At this moment, an Astartes warrior approached with reverence and presented a finely crafted ring to Li Ang.
The ring, made from the levitating stone of Pandora, was a personal memento Li Ang decided to keep from this colonial journey. Taking the ring, Li Ang chuckled faintly.
On Pandora, the most valuable resource might just be this room-temperature superconducting levitating stone. Beyond enabling magnetic levitation, it dramatically reduces energy loss during power transmission, making it an exceptional material for improving electrical efficiency. Such naturally occurring superconducting materials are rare in the universe. Even LA Company's polymer materials required complex chemical synthesis to achieve similar properties.
Of course, the primary use of the levitating stone was to maintain Ideal City. For room-temperature superconducting applications, LA Company already had cost-effective polymer alternatives, rendering the stone unnecessary for that purpose.
"Since we're here, why not take a break and relax on this planet for a while?"
Looking at Pandora's rainforest, awash in a mesmerizing blend of blue and purple hues, Li Ang decided to take a short vacation. With Ideal City still six or seven years from completion, he saw this as a perfect window to let the Infinite Fleet drill around the Pandora system—blowing up asteroids, gathering planetary resources, or rehearsing starship battle formations. Meanwhile, company engineers and researchers could delve into the alien technology in the "Eywa" database and study Pandora's diverse biosphere.
With these thoughts, Li Ang cleared his mind and immersed himself in the alien wonder before him. After a full day of battle, he deserved a few years of peace.
---
Seven Years Later
At noon, on Pandora's sunny side, 60 kilometers north-northeast of Sector 1268's rainforest, V turned to look at this beautiful yet perilous alien world after completing his final mission.
Pandora's enchanting scenery left a lasting impression, but it was unsuitable for long-term human habitation—better suited as an occasional retreat.
"V, don't tell me you've fallen for that Na'vi girl Neytini? Come on… you know you're biologically incompatible!"
Jack Wells teased V with a playful grin.
Over the years, after LA Company announced their departure, relations between the Na'vi and humans surprisingly normalized. Despite the initial violent confrontations, the Na'vi eventually chose diplomacy over defiance, preferring to coexist under the shadow of human firepower rather than face annihilation.
Interestingly, some Na'vi even formed friendships with humans, such as V and Neytini. V's charismatic personality seemed to win over the alien girl, who welcomed him as an honest human warrior. Neytini had guided V through Pandora's magnificent landscapes, expanding the horizons of this once-sheltered wanderer.
"Jack, if Neytini hears that joke, she might shoot an arrow at your backside," V said with a laugh. While he had no romantic intentions, he was reluctant to leave Pandora's breathtaking environment. Having grown up as a wanderer, V preferred natural worlds over Ideal City's cold, mechanical aesthetic.
"Haha! I know you'll miss Pandora. But don't worry, there are countless alien worlds waiting for us to conquer. Maybe someday, we'll each own a planet," Jack chuckled like an overexcited landlord's son.
Jack's grand visions weren't far-fetched, given LA Company's galactic dominance. As a veteran employee, V might someday manage an entire planetary system.
But for now, V remained focused on serving the company and upholding the legion's honor, leaving retirement dreams for the distant future.
"Let's go. It's time to head home."
V smiled as he boarded the Thunderhawk shuttle. On Pandora's surface, countless Na'vi wept with joy, waving goodbye to the departing humans—not out of affection, but relief. Their oppressors were finally leaving.
"See? That's the kind of influence our company has," Jack remarked, watching the Na'vi bid farewell from the ground.
V shook his head, saying nothing. To him, war was merely a means to achieve political goals. With those objectives met, peace was inevitable. Whether the Na'vi resented humanity was irrelevant—survival dictated submission.
As the Thunderhawk shuttle ascended, V and his team returned to the Infinite flagship. Once docked, the fleet entered formation above Pandora's orbit. With all ground forces aboard, humanity's departure was complete.
---
In the flagship's command room, V, flanked by Lucy, Song Zhaomei, Alt, and Morgan, approached the central console.
"Song, has everyone returned?" Li Ang asked.
"They've all arrived. The fleet is ready for space warp back to Ideal City," Song Zhaomei reported.
Over the years, LA Company's decision to leave Pandora sparked dissent among some executives, especially in Arasaka's division. But stalwart supporters like Lucy and Morgan stood firmly by Li Ang. Ultimately, the decision was his alone.
A leader's vision often invited skepticism, but Li Ang knew when to ignore dissent and trust his judgment. As a strategist, decisiveness was paramount.
"Good. Begin the return voyage," Li Ang commanded.
A month prior, he received a message from the Transcendent AI Europa that Ideal City's construction was complete. Its facilities were ready for operation, signaling a new chapter for humanity's future. Returning now meant Li Ang could finally settle into his new home.
---
With Li Ang's order, the fleet's 200 Infinite starships activated their Macedon Drives. A warp portal opened, and in an instant, humanity's presence vanished from the Pandora system, leaving no trace behind.
---
Three Months Later.
Cosmopolis, Ideal City!
"Beep, beep...!"
A sharp, grating alarm pierced through the quiet bedroom, waking up David Martinez from a deep slumber.
Groggily rubbing his eyes, he pulled open the curtains, allowing warm, comforting sunlight to spill onto his body.
This might have been the last long sleep he would ever enjoy as an ordinary human warrior.
Because later that day, David would head to the company's massive medical center to undergo the sixth phase of Astartes warrior modification surgery—the implantation of the neural ganglia organ.
The so-called neural ganglia surgery involved transplanting a micro-organ into a warrior's brain, altering their sleep cycle. This organ allowed different regions of the brain to rest alternately during periods of drowsiness.
As a result, an Astartes warrior could remain perpetually energized, no longer relying on extended periods of sleep to recharge.
Once the modification was complete, David would officially become an unstoppable combat machine.
"Ugh, saying goodbye to sleep for good—just thinking about it feels a little strange," David muttered, glancing at the scattered clothes on his wooden floor and the many items stamped with the familiar "LA" logo. For a moment, he stood dazed.
He knew the day's priority was heading to the medical center for the surgery, but there was no rush just yet.
"Whew…" David exhaled deeply, gazing out the window at the hovering vehicles flying along their designated aerial tracks. He couldn't help but feel a surge of pride for his impending promotion.
In the Astartes legions, not everyone was eligible for or worthy of undergoing advanced organ modification surgeries. Regular Astartes warriors were limited to the first three phases of modification—essentially making them larger and stronger than ordinary soldiers but still fundamentally unimpressive.
These regular modifications didn't include the game-changing functional organs that marked the true difference among Astartes warriors. To grow stronger and earn access to additional surgeries, warriors had to accrue significant contributions and battle merits for LA Corporation.
Now, with his promotion to team leader of the Astartes vanguard unit, David Martinez had earned the opportunity to receive the neural ganglia modification. Once completed, this surgery would open up countless opportunities for David to take on crucial company missions and advance his career.
"Love you, Mom. I'll work hard," David murmured, picking up a photo frame from his bedside table. Inside was a picture of him and his mother, Gloria, smiling warmly together. The sight filled him with genuine happiness. As a standout member of a corporate elite legion, David was confident his mother would be proud of him.
After tidying up, David left his bedroom and stepped into his living room, a space with floor-to-ceiling windows and an open balcony. He opened the windows to let in fresh air and basked in the neon glow of the sprawling city outside.
From the high vantage point of his apartment in a skyscraper, David could admire the meticulously planned metropolis.
He then turned on the holographic TV, tuning into a news program called Universal Daily.
"Good morning, Ideal City! I'm your host, Stanley, here to bring you the latest headlines!" Stanley announced cheerfully from the studio as the camera zoomed in.
The screen briefly dimmed before transitioning to footage of a massive structure in near-Earth orbit—a scientific hub.
"The great megacorporation will shield the honor of the scientific world, and the Iron Wings of the Infinity Fleet will safeguard every law-abiding citizen."
"With the special approval of Supreme Executive Marshal Starfield, construction has begun on the Ideal City defensive perimeter."
"Legions will soon depart from the capital, Night City, to garrison scientific hubs in near-Earth orbit, ensuring uninterrupted corporate production and research!"
…
As the report continued, the screen switched to an interview with Alt Cunningham, the LA Corporation's network director, conducted against a backdrop prominently displaying the company logo.
By now, David had changed into his standard dark suit uniform, fastening gleaming "LA" metal buttons to his collar and cuffs. After strapping on his holographic smartwatch, detailed personal information appeared before him.
Name: David Martinez
Gender: Male
Age: 23
Position: Vanguard Member, Iron Hands Astartes Legion
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang, interrupting David's thoughts. When he opened the door, he found a group of fully armed Astartes warriors standing there.
"David Martinez, by order of the legion headquarters, we are here to escort you to the company's medical center for your modification surgery. Please follow us," their leader stated flatly, turning to head toward the elevator without waiting for a response.
Quickly gathering his things, David followed the soldiers to a Thunderhawk shuttle waiting outside the building.
"Hah! The legion really pulled out all the stops, sending an escort to take me to surgery. Talk about special treatment," David remarked, attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere in the cabin.
His effort was met with stony silence.
Realizing his comrades were not in a chatty mood, David turned his attention to the dazzling urban landscape below. Ideal City, completed to perfection, was a paradise for those with obsessive tendencies.
Neatly organized streets and districts formed a grid-like pattern, with each area clearly designated for specific functions. Towering skyscrapers filled the skyline, dominated by the LA Corporation's headquarters—a cyberpunk-style hive that exuded grandeur and order.
Soon, the Thunderhawk landed at a massive medical center in Chinatown. Guided by a welcoming N9 model bioroid nurse, David underwent preliminary scans to confirm his suitability for surgery.
"Welcome, David Martinez," the nurse said warmly. "Once your modifications are complete, your identity within the Iron Hands legion will be updated, and you can review your new status and salary."
As David waited for the procedure, a unique device brought forth the holographic image of AI Europa. The AI outlined a confidentiality agreement and informed him of additional modifications he hadn't anticipated, including a pre-placed stomach, genetic reconnaissance nerves, and a third lung.
Surprised but exhilarated by the opportunity to join the elite Astartes Ace Vanguard, David eagerly signed the agreement, ready to embrace his new destiny as part of the interdimensional expeditionary forces.
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