Chapter 656: Tracking
This proposal made both sides fall into a brief moment of contemplation.
Cooperation? Just moments ago, they were ready to fight to the death.
Maine spoke up at the right moment, his voice calm and persuasive: "The enemy of my enemy may not necessarily be a friend, but at least they can be a temporary ally. The goal of this unknown threat seems to be provoking a war between our two sides. Letting it succeed would be the greatest failure. A joint operation to eliminate this hidden danger benefits us both."
Colonel Quaritch glanced at Maine, then at the lingering fear and anger toward the invisible killer on his soldiers' faces, and finally made a pragmatic choice: "Alright. A temporary truce. But only for dealing with this sneaky bastard."
He looked at Eytukan. "You Na'vi know the terrain and are good at tracking. We provide firepower and technical support. Find it, kill it."
Eytukan quickly exchanged glances with several elders and warrior leaders beside him, and finally nodded heavily: "Acceptable. The Omaticaya clan agrees to a temporary alliance."
A fragile and brief pact was thus formed under the mediation of the expedition team, united against a common enemy.
Next came the specific operational plan.
Colonel Quaritch proposed directly calling in heavy firepower to carpet-bomb the suspected area, but this was simultaneously rejected by Eytukan and Maine.
"That would destroy a large swath of the forest, and it would likely alert the enemy, allowing it to escape again," Eytukan objected.
Maine analyzed from a tactical perspective: "The target possesses high mobility and cloaking capabilities. Carpet bombing is highly inefficient and cannot confirm the kill. We need a lean joint squad for tracking and targeted elimination."
This plan gained the approval of all parties. Colonel Quaritch was the first to state his position. Looking at Eytukan, his tone was crisp: "My men will handle the firepower. Sergeant Reynolds will lead a full squad, eight men, equipped with the best plasma rifles and armor. A gunship will also follow the operation; they know how to fight in the jungle."
Eytukan exchanged a look with Tsu'tey and responded calmly: "The hunters of the Omaticaya know every breath of this land. Tsu'tey will lead our five best trackers. My daughter Neytiri will provide support from the air."
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Jake. "The Dreamwalker Jake will also go; he can communicate between both sides."
At this point, Colonel Quaritch turned his attention to the consistently silent Maine: "Maine, what about your people? That kind of cloaking technology... I'm afraid only you have the means to counter it."
Maine did not answer immediately.
He raised his hand and lightly touched behind his ear, asking for instructions in a low voice over the encrypted comms: "Sir, they are inviting us to join the joint operation."
Inside the main control room of the "Trailblazer," Ryo looked at the live feed being transmitted back and weighed the options.
The appearance of a third-party faction indeed required attention, and this joint operation was also a prime opportunity to observe the combat capabilities of both sides at close range and collect data on this unknown creature.
"You may participate," Ryo's voice came through the encrypted channel. "But maintain your distance, focusing primarily on technical support. Prioritize gathering data on that invisible creature."
Having received clear orders, Maine stepped forward, meeting the gazes of the Colonel and Eytukan: "Four of us will participate. Dorio and I will handle close-quarters support, Falco will provide electronic reconnaissance and anti-cloaking equipment, and Rebecca will be responsible for covering fire."
This arrangement visibly relieved Colonel Quaritch.
He had witnessed the combat power of Maine's squad and highly valued their ability to deal with unconventional threats.
And while Eytukan still held reservations about the Sky People's technology, he also understood that facing this kind of unknown enemy, they truly needed the help of these distinct Sky People.
With a consensus quickly reached among the three parties, a subtle shift occurred in the atmosphere of the river valley.
The Na'vi hunters began checking their bows and bone spears, exchanging tracking tips in low voices in Na'vi; the Hellfire Squad soldiers made final checks on their plasma rifles' energy cells and the seals on their armor, their tactical vests emitting faint clinking sounds.
The members of Maine's squad gathered together. Falco was tuning the modified scanner, while Rebecca silently wiped down her highly intimidating heavy weapon.
Three teams of different cultures and technological levels had temporarily formed an alliance under these special circumstances. Although they still maintained a vigilant distance from each other, the previously explosive atmosphere had at least eased.
Just as the team was completing their preparations and about to set out, Colonel Quaritch pushed through the busy crowd and found Maine, who was giving some low-voiced instructions to Dorio.
He lowered his voice slightly, his tone carrying an imperceptible plea that contrasted with his usual hardline image: "Maine, this operation... I hope you can give it everything you've got. The tech on that thing... is very tricky."
His gaze swept over the equipment in Falco's hands, the implication self-evident.
He vaguely felt that perhaps only these mysterious Seekers had the adequate means to deal with that kind of cloaking technology that completely defied convention.
Maine looked in the direction of the "Trailblazer," seemingly receiving instructions, then nodded: "We will, Colonel. Eliminating external threats aligns with our current interests."
This was both a declaration of their stance and a hint at their motives for participating.
Inside the "Trailblazer," Ryo calmly watched all of this unfold through the cameras and sensors on his team members.
The appearance of the third-party faction was an accident, but using it as an opportunity to foster limited cooperation between the two sides, while taking the chance to observe and collect data on this unknown creature up close, was still a good move.
His authorization for Maine's active participation was based precisely on these considerations.
Without taking much time to rest, and after brief equipment checks and tactical communication, the joint tracking team—led by the Na'vi hunters—followed the faint traces left by the invisible attacker's retreat and swiftly disappeared into the complex and dangerous terrain upstream of the river valley.
A counter-hunt targeting the unknown predator had begun.
As the joint tracking team advanced upstream through the river valley, the surrounding terrain gradually became rugged and complex.
Towering bioluminescent fungi acted like giant canopies, and twisted vines wrapped around the jagged cliffs, forming natural barriers.
Dappled light fell through the gaps in the glowing canopy, casting unpredictable shadows on the moss-covered ground.
Such an environment posed immense difficulties for tracking, but also provided the perfect hiding place for the invisible hunter.
At the very front of the formation, the Na'vi hunters displayed their breathtaking tracking skills.
Tsu'tey crouched on the ground, his slender fingers lightly brushing over an almost imperceptible depression on a patch of moss. Then, he tilted his head back and took a deep breath.
"It just passed through here," he lowered his voice, speaking to his companions behind him. "Its footsteps are light, but it carries significant weight. And... I smell metal and energy."
His senses, tempered by the forest, could actually catch the faint traces left by the invisible entity's armor and weapons.
Above them, Neytiri guided her Ikran in a slow hover just beneath the canopy layer, her sharp eyes scanning the intricate terrain below.
Jake followed closely behind. Every sense in his Avatar body was pushed to the limit, entirely focused on catching any abnormal sounds or movements in the forest.