Chapter 18: 10 Days

June 15.

10:06.

Southwest district of Raccoon City.

The warehouse where the original Alpha and Omicron gathered.

When the USS first assembled, it was early morning; the guard in the security office was still an Omicron, but now it is dawn, and the guard is an armed security unit transferred from Mother Nest.

Inside the warehouse.

The setup still includes a soft screen and projector; in front of the soft screen are neatly arranged eleven sets of white folding tables and chairs.

Sitting on the folding chairs are members of the original STARS-A and STARS-B teams, Chris, Ji Er, and Ba Rui.

However, the STARS are not wearing police uniforms; they are dressed in fitted civilian clothes.

These eleven people are reading the confidential agreements and contracts on the table, pen in right or left hand, pondering whether to sign their names.

Sui Bian, dressed in a black suit, stands with arms crossed on the left side of the soft screen, expressionless, watching the STARS.

From the 5th to the 15th.

During this period, Sui Bian had the White Queen give Ai Long Si a bit of "small money" to handle the STARS redeployment.

Sui Bian didn't inquire how Ai Long Si persuaded or managed it; in any case, the STARS members' morale was perfectly taken care of, placing these elite police in the warehouse.

Moreover, the remaining two USS units, under Hong Hou's arrangement, arrived in Raccoon City on the 8th.

This threw Si Bin Sai and Umbrella's top executives into complete panic.

The disappearance of four USS units funded with money isn't a major issue—money is plentiful—but what truly scares Umbrella is the "blindness".

The technical department cannot track them, the finance department found no transfer records, as if USS units scattered worldwide suddenly evaporated from the world.

If it were a hostile company or faction's sabotage, Umbrella could accept it, but a collective disappearance with no connections is what kind of ghost?

No one could have imagined that the core Red and White Queens would betray, erasing all traces, leaving every department's investigation at a dead end.

Currently, Hong Hou's core has been moved to the third level of Mother Nest, ensuring its safety while more effectively assisting Sui Bian and the researchers inside Mother Nest in analyzing and recording data.

But the White Queen's core remains in the Paris headquarters; Sui Bian and his Mother Nest forces cannot yet "rescue" her.

Finally, based on reports from Hong Hou and the White Queen, Sui Bian learned that Si Bin Sai was extremely insecure, and immediately recalled Xie Er Gai, who was still on an investigative mission, to ensure safety.

At the same time, Si Bin Sai no longer trusts the heads of research facilities and bases, even planning to send many low‑prestige confidants to replace them.

This move instantly caused an uproar throughout the company, leaving all employees anxious.

No one knows what tricks this dying old man will pull before his "departure."

June 9.

After Xie Er Gai returned to Si Bin Sai's family castle, Si Bin Sai began dispatching confidants to carry out the replacement operation, not sparing any board members.

This bold move immediately gave the already disloyal heads various excuses to shirk.

Some ruthless heads even caused the deaths of Si Bin Sai's confidants in "minor accidents."

But those with ulterior motives remain a minority; the vast majority of heads are reluctantly replaced.

Of course, the above incidents all occurred at Umbrella's military‑industrial, chemical, and biological research facilities and bases; the legitimate film, entertainment, and electronics industries on the surface were unaffected.

Thus, Umbrella once again fell into a power‑struggle turmoil.

On the 10th, the confidant and his guards dispatched by Si Bin Sai arrived at Mother Nest, only to be secretly killed by an Omicron under Sui Bian's orders.

A guy loyal to Si Bin Sai is Sui Bian's absolute enemy, so he has no reason to show mercy.

The confidant's voice was also copied by Hong Hou, then simulated by Hong Hou to contact Si Bin Sai.

The "confidant" reported to the old man that Mother Nest was already under control, William BoKen's G Virus was nearing completion, and the revived James Marcus was being handled by Albert Wesker.

Hearing the confidant's report about the G Virus, Si Bin Sai was very pleased.

In June, Si Bin Sai still didn't know that BoKen and Wesker intended to betray, especially since Si Bin Sai placed great importance on Wesker and BoKen's G Virus.

Therefore, Si Bin Sai temporarily had no doubts about the report.

12th.

Wang Zhaofeng reported good news: the first Mechanical exoskeleton and the first MA5B rifle were completed and assembled several days ahead of schedule.

Han Ke then personally tested the Mechanical exoskeleton and the MA5B.

The 7.62×51mm AP-FMJ bullet used by the MA5B has ample stock in Mother Nest, yet Sui Bian still had the White Queen arrange a large‑scale purchase.

Mainly because he, whether working or gaming, insists on being prepared; the more, the better.

Tests showed the Mechanical exoskeleton can give Han Ke far beyond normal carrying capacity, stamina, and strength.

Wang Zhaofeng also tuned the MA5B's electronic components to work with the Mechanical exoskeleton for more precise shooting assistance.

This gives Han Ke 99% accuracy within 50 m, 92% from 50–100 m, and 77% from 100–300 m.

Note that the M5AB's sighting module lacks magnification; using a dedicated sniper rifle would greatly boost the 100–300 m hit rate.

Finally, a test of continuous operation duration.

One hydrogen battery can keep the Mechanical exoskeleton running at full power for eight hours, enough to sustain a medium‑ or small‑scale conflict.

Regarding production;

Since Mother Nest only has complete equipment and tools, not a professional armaments factory, efficiency is low.

At the current scale, monthly output is 40 Mechanical exoskeletons, 70 MA5B rifles, and only 20 hydrogen batteries.

Regarding cost;

The Mechanical exoskeleton costs $40,000, the MA5B $1,700, and the most expensive is the hydrogen battery at $70,000 each.

Including various accessories, a set costs at least $140,000.

It looks pricey, but elite U. S. military gear also ranges from $100,000 to $300,000, with some black‑ops units recorded as "dead" costing even more.

A comparison shows that the Mechanical exoskeletons and MA5B rifles Sui Bian procured are definitely worth the price.

14th.

The mother nest's production line started.

The 15th.

That is, now.

Watching the STARS who were still deliberating whether to sign their names, Sui Bian did not rush them; after all, the confidentiality agreement was written in plain terms—once signed, it was equivalent to a contract of servitude.

The salary and benefits offered by the contract were also very tempting, which left most STARS members in a dilemma.

Being a police officer is for maintaining public order, pursuing what one calls justice, and also for the high pay.

And Umbrella gave far too much…

In the end, after Ai Longsi's earlier coaxing, Chris, one of the protagonists of Biohazard, was the first to flip open the pen cap and sign his name on the agreement and contract.

(End of chapter)