Chapter 621: Tulkun
The real-time data curve displayed on the screen was astonishingly smooth, demonstrating that its room-temperature superconducting performance was exceptionally stable. As energy flowed through the ore, virtually zero transmission loss was detected.
"A truly marvelous creation of nature," Pilar muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the near-flawless energy curve on the terminal. "Just this near-lossless energy conduction alone—if scaled up and applied to plasma reactor cores or the power distribution networks of high-tier Power Armor—would boost overall energy efficiency by at least 15%, if not more."
Just then, Lucy's voice broke the concentrated quiet of the workshop over the internal comms: "Intercepted an unencrypted RDA comms transmission mentioning the terms 'Tulkun' and 'upcoming hunting season.' Origin traces back to routine traffic from an offshore operational platform. Logged and tagged."
Ryo received the message in the command hub of the Trailblazer.
This aligned with the intelligence provided by his main body, confirming that the RDA was actively hunting Tulkun.
He glanced at the surveillance feed showing David and Lucy hard at work. The two newest additions were steadily integrating into the team, beginning to pull their own weight.
He immediately relayed fresh instructions to Maine over the encrypted channel: "Track all RDA operational movements related to the 'Tulkun.' Lucy's lead serves as our entry point."
Operations at the outpost were settling into an efficient rhythm, with everyone carrying out their assigned duties. Under the steady influx of data, the undercurrents surrounding Pandora's resources grew clearer by the hour.
Ryo (the second avatar) stood nearby, reviewing the incoming test metrics. His goal was unambiguous: not merely to secure raw ore, but to understand its generative mechanisms, and perhaps even attempt synthetic replication or cultivation back in Night City or the Warhammer universe. At the same time, he waited on Maine's next interaction with the RDA, aiming to secure concrete data regarding Amrita and the Tulkun.
Deepening Suspicions
The establishment of the outpost marked the expedition team's first official foothold on Pandora. It served simultaneously as a research platform and a forward stage for maneuvering against the RDA. Beneath the veneer of fragile cooperation ran deep, turbulent currents.
Both parties were using one another, and both kept their guards up. Meanwhile, from the shadows of the bioluminescent forest, the eyes of the Na'vi never left these new "Sky People."
A week into the outpost's operation, the surface exchanges with the RDA maintained a steady pace.
Through stumbling trial and error, RDA engineers had managed to assemble a handful of barely functional prototypes based on the simplified plasma rifle schematics. The weapons' destructive output earned swift approval from the soldiers under Colonel Quaritch. In return, the quality and quantity of mineral samples provided by the RDA increased, beginning to include higher-grade Unobtanium ore.
Yet suspicion did not dissipate; with deeper contact, it merely retreated further beneath the surface.
On this day, Maine and Dorio were invited back to the Hell's Gate base. This time it was an off-the-record invitation from Parker Selfridge, held inside his private office with not even Colonel Quaritch present.
Parker's office was decorated in classic Earth style, starkly distinct from the utilitarian industrialism across the rest of the base. He offered seats to Maine and Dorio, personally pouring two glasses of synthetic whiskey.
"Mr. Maine, Ms. Dorio," Parker wore a smooth corporate smile. "I'd say this past week of cooperation has been remarkably productive. The tech you provided has resolved quite a few... headaches for us." He gestured subtly toward the Na'vi harassment.
"A mutual exchange, Mr. Selfridge." Maine accepted the glass, though he did not drink.
"Of course, of course." Parker took a sip, leaning forward slightly as he lowered his voice. "Still, I've been turning a question over in my mind. With the technical capabilities you've put on display, are you truly satisfied with a few mineral samples and a lone outpost? Do you really have no... further ambitions on this rock?"
He was fishing. Parker did not buy Maine's survivor story for a second; he suspected this group answered to an unknown, powerful corporate rival or shadow faction whose true objectives reached far beyond mere survival.
Maine's expression remained neutral as he answered calmly: "Our immediate priorities are survival and re-establishing long-range communications. Studying this planet serves scientific interest, and aids us in understanding our immediate environment."
"Scientific interest... very good." Parker smiled, his eyes glinting. "Then I wonder if your 'scientific interest' extends to researching some of Pandora's more... unique biological assets?"
Maine's thoughts stirred, sensing they were approaching the crux of the matter. He asked evenly: "Such as?"
The True Prize
"Such as... the giants in the sea." Parker dipped a finger into his whiskey, tracing a rough, streamlined silhouette onto the tabletop. "We call them 'Tulkun.' Remarkable creatures—exceptionally intelligent, with their own culture and language."
Maine and Dorio exchanged a brief glance without interrupting.
Parker continued, "More importantly, we discovered a singular substance inside them—we call it 'Amrita'."
His voice carried a subtle trace of hunger. "An extract capable of halting human cellular aging near-flawlessly. Its commercial value is... beyond calculation."
The cards were finally on the table.
Parker understood the staggering commercial potential of Amrita, but RDA corporate headquarters held reservations regarding large-scale whaling operations—mainly out of concern over escalating public relations crises and provoking an all-out war with the Na'vi, who maintained a profound symbiotic bond with the Tulkun.
If he could leverage the capabilities of these mysterious newcomers, he might bypass corporate oversight and secure the resource far more rapidly.
"So," Parker locked eyes with Maine, "if your 'scientific research' could yield breakthroughs in this domain—say, developing a more... humane extraction technique, or helping us locate targets more efficiently—I am confident we can establish a collaboration far deeper and considerably more lucrative than trading raw ore."
Maine paused, appearing to weigh the proposal.
In reality, he was receiving real-time instructions from Ryo (the second avatar) over the encrypted channel.
Moments later, Maine looked up at Parker: "We possess a keen interest in unique lifeforms and rare biochemical compounds. We can incorporate it into our research scope. However, we require comprehensive data, including Tulkun ecological habits, migration corridors, and your current... extraction protocols."
A satisfied smile spread across Parker's face. He didn't care whether their interest was genuine or feigned, so long as they stepped aboard.
"The data is no problem. As for the extraction protocol..." He shrugged. "It's still fairly... crude at the moment. After all, those leviathans aren't particularly cooperative."