The electromagnetic vortex was a natural phenomenon on this planet. In places where it occurred, achieving broad communications coverage was all but impossible.
Strong electromagnetic interference would disable many precision-guided weapons and affect how instruments operated. Ultron wasn't too concerned about the instruments, but the communications disruptions would make some otherwise simple tasks much more complicated.
In the interference zone, the maximum communication range was only five hundred meters. Transmitting complex signals was out of the question.
Ultron, accustomed to transmitting over vast distances, found it frustrating. Once he had learned more about the planet, he planned to launch several communications satellites into orbit.
Because of the communications limitations, the four teams sent out to scout risked being left without support.
Even if they found useful intelligence, it would be difficult to relay it back to the Helicarrier right away. And if they found a civilization on the planet that happened to have an air force, they could come under attack.
The four Quinjets weren't equipped with stealth technology, so their flights were bound to attract some of the planet's native life...
"Birds?"
Aboard the Quinjet flying south, the five Special Operations Force soldiers stared at the flying creatures outside the cockpit windows, their eyes full of curiosity.
Calling those things birds was a stretch. They looked more like banshees!
Sean and his four teammates leaned toward the cockpit. Outside its windows, they saw a long line of blue-green, two-winged creatures.
Their wings resembled a dragonfly's, and they flew fast and turned with remarkable agility. Judging by the skills they'd developed in games for gauging an object's size, the banshees had wingspans of roughly six or seven meters, and their bodies were nearly as long. They had sleek bodies and heads like guillotine blades.
Looking at creatures that defied everything