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Chapter 80 - Operation Mastermind
🕑 Added 2024-11-08 00:54:18 +0000 UTC"Before you go, I need to talk to you about the fortress, your experience there, and what we found," John commented.
Oliver, Katherine, and Isabela looked attentively at the Ranger. John waited for one of them to start talking or perhaps ask a question. Seeing they hadn't begun, he explained a bit more.
"I need to understand how the attack on GL-581 went, everything you found there, and how you were captured," John began the debriefing.
Katherine took the lead, explaining what the test was like and that they were heading south until they passed by the cave, which they decided to enter for shelter. She described the existence of Goblins and how they ended up in the lower part of the cave by accident.
She finally finished by explaining that there was an Ork excavation and what seemed to be a research base. When they left the underground, the attack was already happening. They wanted to use the teleportation room, but Orks had got there first and, finally, their battle with a Red Ork.
"Damn. A Red Ork. You guys were lucky to be alive." John commented as he listened to their story. "Did you at any point see what they were excavating or notice anything in the research?"
"It was impossible to know what they were digging. We even had taken some research papers but lost them when we were captured," Oliver recalled. "Couldn't you return to the lab and get more documents?"
"Unfortunately, a fire broke out during the attack, and we lost all the evidence there," John explained.
Oliver widened his eyes but chose not to speak. He remembered that he had set the room on fire to buy time to escape.
"About the research. A friend that was with us translated some words," Isabela commented. "It's been a long time, but it was something about experiments with humans, goblins, and Orks."
"Yes, yes," John acknowledged while deep in thought.
Oliver could see that John was thinking about something, assembling the puzzle pieces. Each piece of information they provided was valuable to him, yet it didn't seem to make any sense in Oliver's hands.
"What does all this mean?" Oliver asked.
"I don't know exactly yet," John said, still reflective.
The Ranger paused momentarily to assess the three; from his gaze, it was clear that he was judging whether to share more information with them.
"What I'm about to share is only speculation, but it could put you in danger," John explained. "Moreover, I'm only doing this because I trust Kath and because you stood by her during the danger, some more than once."
John rose from his chair. With a discreet hand gesture, he indicated for them to follow him.
"It's better if we talk in a more private place," the Ranger explained, his voice low but full of authority.
Katherine and Oliver stood up almost instantly, but Isabela wondered whether she should follow. She considered whether she should delve deeper into this or whether it was safer to just stay in the infirmary and not hear anything more. Ultimately, her curiosity won out, and she followed the group.
They crossed the silent corridor, entering the ornate elevator of the York family building. Leaving behind the infirmary wing, the elevator smoothly took them to one of the family's private areas. The doors revealed a corridor lit by soft lights that highlighted the classic architectural details.
Finally, after a few more corridors, they reached John's private office. The room was vast, with high ceilings and dark wood-paneled walls. Several imposing bookshelves lined the walls, crammed with physical books—a remarkable and extremely rare sight, especially after the war that decimated much of the printed knowledge.
In the center of the room, a set of leather chairs surrounded a long, polished table used for meetings with his advisors. Holograms of star maps and tactical projections floated above the table, emitting a bluish glow contrasting the room's warm lighting.
John walked to the head of the table, placing his hands on the cold surface. His eyes scanned the group again as they settled in.
"How much do you remember from your History classes at school?" John asked.
"A bit," Isabela and Katherine replied. "Absolutely nothing," Oliver commented; it was easier than explaining his past.
John was once again surprised by Oliver's response, but he knew how poor public schools were, especially on New Earth, where the NEA had control.
The trio sat down in the leather chairs as John began to adjust the holograms that were displayed.
"Right. One thing that's in almost every history book is the discovery of the Z Crystal during the first Wave. It was the crucial weapon for our resistance," John explained. "However, there's not a single piece of information about where this mineral appeared or who discovered it."
"Wait. Weren't there some scientists who presented the crystal?" Katherine could remember something like that.
"They discovered how to use it and how to extract Energy. But they weren't the ones who discovered the Crystal or even where it came from," John explained. "Even the best mineralogists can't figure out where we should dig to find Crystals or even how they are formed. So, our best option is to map using Energy signals."
For Oliver, who didn't understand much about the new technology, all of this was a step into magic. Therefore, he didn't usually think about the details; however, it was visible on Isabela and Katherine's faces that both were struggling to make sense of what was explained.
‘But how could this be something of interest to the Orks?' This was the only question that crossed Oliver's mind as he listened to the new information.
"When some scientists began to research the locations where the crystals were found, the main hypothesis obtained was that they are not a naturally formed material," John explained.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Isabela questioned.
"Someone had prepared the crystals and left them in place," John commented.
Obviously, this hypothesis raised even more questions for everyone at the table.
"That’s why I wanted to understand what the Orks were excavating. If that was a place where there could be Z Crystals, it would be intriguing to know how they discovered it," John explained. "As for the research, this is something that the Blue Division had already obtained information on in other operations."
"But what do the Orks want with human experiments?" Katherine asked.
"From what we understand of Ork biology, they don't use the Z Crystal to evolve. Although they have a much higher physical capacity than humans, they have a clear power ceiling," John commented. "Our main hypothesis is that they are testing to try to absorb or replicate the human abilities to use the Z Crystal."
As he finished explaining, some photos of the Goblins that were captured on both planets appeared.
"We've already seen that they can alter other races, like the Goblins, to adapt to various planets. Or even use the Z Crystal to create and control artificial beings like the Titans. It's a matter of time before they start testing on themselves," the Ranger finished explaining.
Upon receiving this information, Oliver felt for the first time that he was indeed inside the war, taking part in it and influencing its outcome.
"When I joined the Yellow Rangers, my intention was to seek more information about the whereabouts of our brother, Arthur. However, I only found several incomplete documents when I searched for his operation. Similar to what's said about the discovery of the Z Crystal," John commented.
"That's why you want access to the Red Rangers' data?" Oliver asked.
"Partly. I believe they may have more pieces of this puzzle. However, I'm sure it will still be incomplete," John explained. "However, by pulling some favors with older Senate members, I obtained some information that's not in any documents."
"What would that be?" Katherine asked, interested in what John had discovered after all this time.
"Arthur was part of a squad that was conducting Operation Mastermind," John commented. "What was their mission, or what did they want to obtain? To this day, I have no clue."
Katherine was discouraged to learn that they had so little information.
"However, there are rumors that they were searching for the Sovereign," John explained.
"Sovereign?" Oliver said. "Who would that be?"
"To be honest, I don't know either," John scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. "However, it doesn't seem to be a single person. Maybe a title? I've found mentions of them both in human records and, more recently, during your rescue, there were some in Ork documents."
"But why would it be so important?" Oliver once again asked without understanding the purpose.
"It's just a hypothesis. But we've had several emperors who took office promising peace. Promising the end of the war. However, over time, they all became intoxicated with one more victory, one more battle," John commented as he presented photos of some of the emperors. "Also, looking at the movements of the Orks, my impression is that there's something bigger, something influencing both Orks and Humans so that the war doesn't end."
"Which would be the Sovereign or Sovereigns?" Oliver wanted to confirm.
"I believe so," the Ranger confirmed.
