Valerie's gaze swept across the pulsing red mass, her pupils slightly constricting. Even through the filters of a projection screen, the raw data representing that level of destructive energy was enough to make any experienced operative tense up.
"Faster than we anticipated. This means 'Raynor's Raiders' are highly likely about to be, or already are, caught right in the middle of it."
"Correct. Consequently, your contact strategy must pivot. The original plan of low-profile infiltration and passive observation is no longer viable," Osiris's optical lenses flickered.
"You require a cover identity that can rapidly secure trust, justify a rational intervention in the impending conflict, and allow you to remain embedded within the core circle of Raynor's operations over the long term.
Your designation is now Senior Commercial Representative for the 'Telesto United Resource Development Corporation,' arriving from the Core Worlds.
The corporation is, on paper, a heavily capitalized conglomerate interested in emerging markets and rare mineral prospecting across the Koprulu Sector. Your overt purpose here is to conduct a forward market assessment and a survey of potential local security contractors."
Valerie grasped the elegance of this new identity almost immediately.
An external representative from the "Core Worlds"—heavily bankrolled, lacking local experience, yet deeply interested—suddenly appearing right before a crisis hit, perfectly explained why she would seek local armed protection (underestimating the rim-world risks but having the credits to throw around).
It also laid a logically sound corporate foundation for subsequent resource deployments or specialized requests, such as showing sudden interest in certain "archaeological discoveries." More importantly, the identity granted her a certain degree of detachment and operational freedom amid the mounting chaos.
"An excellent cover," Valerie nodded. "What are my specific mission directives?"
"First, warn Raynor of the impending Zerg onslaught. The intelligence vector can be left ambiguous—attribute it to the corporation's 'advanced long-range scanning arrays' or a 'risk intelligence network spanning other sectors.'
Handle the micro-details dynamically on the ground. The critical imperative is to make him believe the authenticity and immediacy of the threat," Osiris instructed.
"Second, utilizing that leverage, present a security contracting proposal. Retain Raynor's Raiders under the pretext of 'providing security guarantees for senior corporate representatives and prospective exploration teams.'
The contract valuation can be exceptionally lucrative. The non-negotiable term is that you, as the corporate representative, will embed directly with his core leadership team to 'conduct real-time evaluations of contractor combat capacity and sector risk parameters.'
Your true operational objective is to ensure you are positioned to secure immediate intelligence on the Xel'Naga artifact."
"Xel'Naga artifact?" Valerie repeated the unfamiliar term with precise emphasis.
"A specific ancient relic Raynor is either actively hunting or about to uncover. You do not need to understand its mechanics; you only need to know it possesses a distinct structural layout, an anomalous energy signature, and holds extraordinary strategic importance to Raynor and his crew," Osiris's synthesized voice left no room for debate.
"The moment such an object is excavated or referenced, your highest-priority objective is to extract its exact coordinates, visual schematics, and energy readouts, and transmit them immediately. Until the artifact surfaces, your primary utility is to observe, build trust, and set the stage for our subsequent data-harvesting initiatives amidst the chaos of the Zerg strikes."
"Understood. Embed with the target team under the shroud of a commercial contract, leverage the crisis warning to trade for trust and access clearance, with the core goal of monitoring and reporting a specific relic," Valerie summarized rapidly, before addressing the immediate logistics. "I will require a security detail befitting the corporate status. It cannot look so sparse as to draw suspicion, nor can it be so overwhelming as to trigger defensive paranoia. What about gear and transport?"
"Your escort will consist of ten 'Corporate Security Advisors,'" Osiris pulled up a secondary file, projecting images of ten warriors clad in deep-gray heavy power armor.
The armor configuration was streamlined compared to standard Imperial patterns; it had been stripped of its prominent heraldry and icons, giving it a cold, practical appearance, though its bulk and reinforced joint articulation remained distinctly formidable.
"They are drawn from the most adaptable and temperamentally stable individuals among the experimental subjects.
Though they originate from candidates who fell short of the Imperial Fists' standard recruitment thresholds, their subsequent targeted augmentations and neural overhauls place their core physiological metrics, combat reflexes, and tactical execution on par with any fresh blood of the Adeptus Astartes.
Their armor livery has been altered to display corporate insignias. They will obey your commands unconditionally."
Valerie closely examined the silent warriors on the projection. They stood like ten statues of cold iron, their visors betraying zero emotion, radiating nothing but a quiet, coiled pressure.
Using them to impersonate elite security assets employed by a tier-one mega-corporation was more than sufficient; in fact, their inhumanly professional demeanor was far more convincing than standard gang enforcers or ordinary mercenaries.
"Your transport is a Thunderhawk gunship with its exterior paint scheme modified to corporate specifications. While its silhouette may appear slightly exotic within the Koprulu Sector, it is not beyond comprehension.
Frame it as a high-performance corporate shuttle owned by the company," Osiris added. "All materiel and personnel are primed, standing by in the hangar decks. You must immediately familiarize yourself with the corporate background data, the narrative speaking points for the company structure, and the draft contract parameters. Deploy in one hour."
Valerie raised no objections. Shifting operational directives and executing cover identities was second nature to her.
The parameters Osiris provided were comprehensive, viable, and fully accounted for unexpected variables. She merely verified one final detail: "Regarding the Zerg warning—what if Raynor presses for details or demands a share of our 'raw scanning data'?"
"You may provide a subset of obfuscated, non-critical biomass distribution trend maps, sufficient to corroborate your claims. Emphasize that the telemetry is proprietary corporate asset data and details remain classified. If he exhibits excessive skepticism—" Osiris paused momentarily.
"You may imply that the corporation is profoundly interested in his 'local network' and 'operational capabilities' within Mar Sara and the surrounding sub-sectors, and frame the warning as a 'token of good faith.' Balance the friction as you see fit."
"Understood," Valerie nodded. A classic carrot-and-stick approach: apply pressure via an existential crisis while offering an economic lifeline, all while retaining an absolute information advantage. She turned to exit, ready to digest the mountain of background telemetry.
"Valerie," Osiris's voice halted her before she reached the threshold. "The operational variables within this theater have increased. The Swarm is a force of pure eradication, entirely divorced from the cognitive structures of humanity or the Eldar.
Maintain maximum vigilance. Your survival is the primary directive; ensure your continuation to secure the intelligence pipeline. The location and acquisition of the artifact can await an ideal window. If required, the 'Security Advisors' are entirely expendable to guarantee your extraction."
"Understood," Valerie's response remained perfectly flat, yet as she parsed the directive—one that differed slightly from the rigid operational logic of past deployments—she felt a micro-flicker of recognition, nearly imperceptible.
Leaving the briefing room, she walked directly toward the staging vaults and data arrays, beginning the process of shedding her status as a member of Squad Maine to become a senior business representative for Telesto United. One hour later, carrying a concealed blade of hidden power, she would step onto the storm-swept world of Mar Sara.