novel-bin Chapter 460 Search, two groups of troops
Chapter 460 Search, two groups of troops
There was a unique warm and peaceful atmosphere inside the Jedi Temple, but outside it was a completely different scene, with lightning and thunder, as if telling some ominous omen. The rain had been falling for several hours, just like the heavy mood of the people at the moment. A group of people gathered on the landing platform of the Republic spacecraft.
Quinlan Vos and Delta Squad walked out of the transport, carrying the coffin of the deceased Jedi on their shoulders. It was a sad scene, as they had lost so many companions since the outbreak of the Clone Wars. However, this gathering had a heavier meaning, as Vos was given a difficult task assigned by Barel Orville.
Obi-Wan, Plo-Kun, Cecily Ting, Eddie Gallia and others had different expressions on their faces, and their hearts were filled with mixed emotions as the coffin was carried into the temple for the funeral ceremony. At the same time, Daredevil, Captain America, Falcon and Black Widow also stood here, standing shoulder to shoulder with the Jedi Knights.
Orville walked forward, his face full of confusion and pain. He pressed his hands tightly on the coffin, as if he wanted to find some strength from it. Finally, he took a deep breath and walked away from the coffin.
Kenobi's eyes were filled with sympathy, and after witnessing all this grief, he turned to his old friend Voss.
"What's the result?" he asked softly.
Jedi Knight Kifar shook his head slightly, his tone revealing endless sadness.
"There are no survivors." His voice was low and desperate. "All we found were the remains of the dead." He paused and continued, "The leader (the leader of Delta Team) solemnly told us that only a few relics of Halsey and his Padawan were left."
"What's left?"
"They are just some relics." Jiao Hen's voice was unusually cold.
"It was a brutal massacre," said Old Seven sadly. "At every outpost we passed, our troops were wiped out or massacred, or both. There were no survivors in any of the bases that were destroyed or occupied."
"Was it Ultron who did it?" Captain America asked.
"No." The leader shook his head, "We are still looking for clues."
The atmosphere at this moment was depressing and heavy, and everyone was immersed in grief and anger.
"Ultron has been stealing kyber crystals," Plo Koon revealed.
"We initially suspected it was him, but the facts were different." Voss corrected in a firm tone, "We found not only the Umbarans at the scene, but also other separatists."
Black Widow speculated: "The next to show up are the Separatists."
Quinlan nodded his approval at her.
"We were able to find security footage and data from abandoned robots on these battlefields," he continued, "which shared common traits with the people they killed. It seems we are facing a new threat."
"Lavages, punctures, multiple contusions and fractures," Daredevil said as he looked away and passed the other casket over. He used his senses, moving his head in a circular motion to get a closer look.
Obi-Wan stared at a corpse and whispered his judgment: "Whoever the source of this threat is, it is obviously the work of a reckless and impulsive creature."
"This operation is surprisingly efficient." Falcon muttered, "What are we dealing with?"
"That's exactly the mystery we're about to uncover," Quinlan responded. "Let's get started."
Behind a curtain of rain, they stepped into the war room where Voss was extracting data from the site he was visiting.
"Well, we've found the man behind this," Voss announced.
As the footage played, they saw a unique-looking Zabrak man with yellow skin and black tattoos, wearing thick body armor, and quickly dispatching his opponent.
At this moment, Kenobi responded to the image with an unusual reaction.
"Darth Maul, is he still alive?" Obi-Wan almost exclaimed, which attracted the attention of everyone present.
"Obi-Wan, are you okay?" Falcon asked.
Obi-Wan blinked, as if clearing his mind of chaotic thoughts. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mention that," Kenobi apologized. "The last time I saw a Zabrak master using the dark side was on Naboo. It's just... a distant memory."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Captain America asked with concern.
Daredevil noted, "Your heart rate is elevated."
Amid this series of questions and confusion, they are trying to find clues to the truth and unravel the secrets behind this new threat.
"I'm sorry, guys. I've caused you all this worry without intending to." Kenobi shook his head apologetically, looking back at the video. Maul, the man who had taken his master's life before his eyes, had left him with deep scars. However, not long after, he avenged his master himself.
He could still recall every detail of the battle, every movement, every subtle expression, Maul triumphantly hacking at the Padawan Jedi, only to be hacked in half himself.
"So... who is he?" Black Widow asked, trying to draw Obi-Wan's attention back from the shadow of the past.
"I have no idea," Kenobi replied, his voice revealing helplessness.
"Brothers? Cousins or something like that?" Falcon made a tentative guess.
"No one can say for sure, but one thing we do know." Voss sped up the footage, revealing a man with close ties to the Jedi Order. "He's working with Sora Bulke."
"It looks like Dooku has found a new chess piece," Plo speculated, with a hint of caution in his tone.
"This is dangerous." Cecily Ting frowned and said, "The Force... is changing. The dark side is working in secret."
"When the dark side takes hold, death and chaos follow," Orville pointed out grimly.
"Thanks for Orwell's reminder. We don't have to get entangled in meaningless disputes anymore." Falcon smiled bitterly.
"Can we... predict his next move? I don't want to see another base or facility destroyed by this guy." Falcon asked everyone anxiously.
"If there's a pattern, we might be able to predict his next target." Voss shook his head, "But the locations he moves in are too random, just like Dooku casually taking something out of his helmet."
"Maybe it's a random action, but there must be a deeper meaning behind it." Orville fell into deep thought, frowning.
"Orville, do you have any ideas?" Captain America asked.
The Jedi scholar nodded slowly, seeming to have some clues.
"Based on what I know about these outposts and bases...they are all places we were forced to evacuate after Ultron joined the war." He slowly stated his inference, "There must be a bigger conspiracy behind this."
These bases were not affected by any military operations of Ultron. Although they are small in number, they are of great significance.
The leader of the Delta team's thoughts raced like lightning, and the team members fell into silence. "They are vulnerable and need our protection." The leader's words revealed his determination.
"Delta Team," Quinlan said, breaking the silence. "Return immediately and deliver a message to those bases that were not damaged but are short of resources due to mission recalls. Tell them to prepare for the upcoming challenge and use the code name 'Eagle Bat'."
"As you command, sir," the Delta Team leader responded, and the four clone commandos quickly left the room, leaving only the Avengers and the Jedi Knights.
"So, we already know what this crazy enemy looks like," Falcon analyzed calmly, "but how do we find him?"
“Tracing his path of destruction may be a starting point,” Ceci Ting offered his opinion, “but it may also lead us astray.”
"We need to split up our operations," Black Widow suggested. "Each of us will do our own work and search for clues."
"Perhaps we could use some more advanced equipment, like a Force sight or something like that." Eddie Gallia offered a suggestion, which drew mixed reactions from the Jedi. "Like the kind of technology used in the Cad Bane kidnapping."
At this point, there was a hint of approval in Pro's voice: "This method will work."
"Then when do we take action?" someone asked anxiously.
"Now!" Obi-Wan replied decisively, "The beast is still rampant. We must find him as soon as possible."
Black Widow nodded in agreement with their action plan. "Although some people already know the next target of this monster, we also need to figure out where he came from."
"Does it matter?" someone asked.
"Any details could be key." Another member explained, "We need to figure out how Dooku found these people. This guy doesn't look like an ordinary soldier. The training he received is similar to that of a Jedi Knight."
"Ms. Romanoff makes sense." Orwell nodded in agreement. "I have only one guess as to where this monster might have come from: Ildonia or Dathomir."
"Dathomir? Is that the witch's planet?" Kenobi asked in surprise.
"That's right." Someone answered, "Dathomir, a witch planet full of mystery."
"Okay, that sounds interesting. Are we going to solve a puzzle now?" someone joked.
"Yes, we are searching for clues to solve this mystery," Obi-Wan said firmly.
"My instinct tells me that Maul is from Ildonia," Obi-Wan commented with a hint of certainty.
"This judgment is a bit careless. Ildonia is actually the main residence of male Zabrak. However, in Dathomir, they are better known as Nightbrothers because they grew up there and their essence is closer to the image of a warrior." Orvel further explained.
He continued: The witches of Dathomir are the dominant force on the planet.
Hearing this, Black Widow thought with a hint of sarcasm, "So this is actually a matriarchal society. Sounds like a place worth visiting."
Daredevil interrupted her jokingly, "Natasha, don't expect too much."
At this point, Kenobi decisively announced: We'd better start taking action immediately. Some people are ready to track the monster's next move, while others will go to Dathomir for an in-depth investigation.
Captain America assigned the task and said: Matt, you and Obi-Wan will work together.
"Why only him?"
"He's not the only one," Black Widow added, "Pietro will be traveling with you as well. Speed is our advantage, and with Matt, we'll be able to uncover any lies those witches may spin on us."
Just like that, the Avengers and the Jedi Knights dispersed, unaware that their new targets were quietly waiting for their exploration and challenge.