Chapter 650: Big Business
"I see." Ryo nodded, pressing the matter no further, as if it had merely been a casual remark.
He turned his attention back to the data on the screen. "Dr. Grace, regarding the energy interaction between Hometree's root system and this suspended rock formation, as well as its potential resonance nodes with the surrounding ecology—specifically the 'Eywa' consciousness field—based on your experience, what are the primary areas we should focus on?"
He swiftly shifted back into the role of a rigorous scientist, humbly consulting Grace on specialized ecological matters.
This pure pursuit of knowledge and respectful attitude toward scientific research greatly eased Grace's vigilance, making her feel as though she had found a common language.
Temporarily suppressing her curiosity about the origins of Ryo's team, she began to earnestly share her insights regarding Pandora's unique ecology.
The atmosphere inside the laboratory temporarily settled into that of a standard scientific collaboration.
However, Ryo's mind was far less tranquil than his outward appearance suggested.
The emergence of the name "Weyland-Yutani" was like a depth charge dropped into a placid lake.
It meant that the complexity and potential threats of this universe might far exceed his initial assessments.
While Ryo and Grace engaged in profound scientific discourse within the laboratory, it was an entirely different scene inside the officers' club at Hell's Gate.
In a rare departure from his combat fatigues, Colonel Quaritch wore a slightly tight-fitting dress uniform. Holding a glass of synthetic whiskey, he sat alongside Maine, Valerie, and several officers from Hellfire Squad.
As a member of Maine's squad and the pilot of the exceptionally high-performing "Iron Guard" heavy mech, Valerie's very presence naturally drew Quaritch's gaze.
The atmosphere seemed quite lively; the recent joint combat operations and the awe-inspiring Hometree incident had brought Quaritch's attitude toward Maine's team significantly closer.
"Maine, I have to say it again—the gear and training you provided yielded outstanding results!" Quaritch forcefully patted Maine's sturdy shoulder, his voice booming. Yet, his eyes unconsciously darted toward the composed Valerie nearby, and to the rugged silhouette of the Iron Guard mech faintly visible outside the window behind her.
"Those blue monkeys used to rely on their thick hides to bounce around a few times under our firepower. Now? Hmph, one plasma beam and everything is swept clean! That is the kind of efficiency war should have!"
Maine raised his glass, which contained only pure water, and replied with a steady expression: "As long as it is effective, Colonel. Only through the combination of tactics and equipment can maximum lethality be achieved." He naturally yielded the floor to his teammate, who was far more adept at these matters.
Valerie picked up the conversation at the perfect moment. Wearing a professional smile, her tone was neither distant nor overly eager: "We are glad you are satisfied, Colonel. Precise and highly efficient firepower truly minimizes many unnecessary complications."
"Exactly right!" Quaritch threw his head back and downed a gulp of whiskey. His gaze grew even more fervent, this time looking directly at Valerie and driving straight to his core objective. "So, I was thinking our cooperation could be taken a step further. Do you have any heavier models of those plasma rifles? Squad-level, perhaps, or vehicle-mounted variants? What about energy shields?"
Unable to hold back, he finally pointed out the window. "And that Iron Guard mech you pilot, Miss Valerie... from what I have seen, it outperforms our AMP suits by a massive margin, whether it is mobility, armor plating, or weapon loadouts! As long as you can increase the survival rate and kill potential of my boys, name your price!"
Valerie maintained her smile, though her eyes took on the shrewd and cautious gleam of a seasoned merchant.
She gently swirled her glass, which held some sort of non-alcoholic synthetic beverage. "Colonel, we are deeply honored by your recognition of our technology. However, regarding further weapons sales..."
She shook her head, offering a slightly apologetic expression. "I am afraid we must disappoint you. At our core, the 'Seekers' are an expeditionary scientific team, not arms dealers. The weapons and technical support provided previously were a gesture of goodwill to establish preliminary ties; it was a non-profit technological exchange."
She paused, and upon seeing the undisguised disappointment on Quaritch's face, continued at an unhurried pace: "The entity we belong to does indeed possess defensive technological reserves that far exceed conventional standards. But our operational model does not typically cater to single-item acquisitions or small-scale orders."
Quaritch pressed eagerly: "Then what scale of projects do you usually handle? Orbital defense platforms? Fleet escort systems?"
Valerie kept her polite smile and gently shook her head. "Colonel, please think on a grander scale. When we provide a 'comprehensive solution' for a client, we are factoring in the long-term security architecture of an entire star system, or the holistic defensive ecosystem of a cross-sector megacorporation."
Her phrasing was meticulous and loaded with implication. "Specific project details involve core commercial secrets, so forgive me for not elaborating. But suffice it to say, we have never concerned ourselves with piecemeal weapon trades."
"The defensive architecture of an entire star system..." Colonel Quaritch's eyes lit up instantly, his breathing quickening.
The RDA he worked for was, at the end of the day, merely a mining corporation. While their armed forces were formidable, when had they ever engaged with concepts on such an interstellar strategic tier?
Various possibilities instantly flooded his mind: orbital weapons arrays, planetary-grade shield systems, deep-space monitoring networks...
"Could it be that you..." Quaritch's voice unconsciously dropped lower as he leaned forward, "service clients of that caliber?"
Valerie simply maintained that professional smile, deftly evading specific details: "Colonel, this touches upon core commercial secrets and client confidentiality, so please forgive me for not disclosing anything further."
She gently steered the topic away, yet just as Quaritch was itching with unbearable curiosity, her gaze swept across the Iron Guard mech outside the window, and she added a sentence with non-negotiable firmness:
"As for the Iron Guard I pilot... it is not for sale. It is a highly customized prototype whose technology involves core intellectual property. There is absolutely no possibility of it being sold at present. On this matter, there is no room to even petition my superiors."
Her words were crisp and decisive, completely severing Quaritch's fantasies about acquiring the powerful mech.
A flash of regret crossed Quaritch's face, but the prospect of the massive orders Valerie had previously outlined was simply too enticing.
He had no choice but to suppress his curiosity and desire, placing even greater importance upon Maine's team and the Seekers backing them, while simultaneously growing far more wary of them.
The technological prowess they displayed and the commercial scale they claimed evidently far exceeded his imagination.
In stark contrast to Quaritch's fervency was the suspicion and unease of the Base Administrator, Parker Selfridge.