"Accessing S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Zephyr One engine test data, armor test data, maneuverability test data... Accessing Fortress-type Automated Combat Robot anti-air explosive projectile test data..." The blue electronic eye of Mars Sage Radium-223 flickered continuously. Constantine could even hear the electrical noise and feel the heat emitted by her external thought-enhancement module. Although he and The Sage were inside the rear command vehicle, their close proximity did nothing to prevent Mars Sage from communicating through data rather than sound. Over the Communication Channel, Radium-223 sent him several data packets, seemingly trying to prove her theory and decision-making through this method.
"Disturbance factor 16. Initiating contingency plan Alpha-34. Interception probability: 76%. Authorization to shoot down granted. Final confirmation authority: Praetorian Commander. Voiceprint verification in progress..."
"Denied." Constantine spoke decisively. Before Radium-233 could produce a mountain of data to refute him, he gave a perfectly reasonable explanation and issued orders to Mechanical Soldier leader Alpha-Bronze-2 and the captain of the First Secret Regiment's Second Detachment. "Remain concealed and wait for Zephyr One to land. Await the assault order. We need a stealth aircraft capable of evacuation." He closed the channel and looked at the Mars Sage beside him.
This command vehicle had also been converted from a heavy truck. However, to ensure information security remained uncompromised, every piece of data-processing equipment inside had been fitted with a self-destruct mechanism. Once the mission was complete, all it took was the press of a button for white phosphorus incendiaries to destroy every chip, irreversibly burning anything that might contain data.
"The original plan had an approximately 95.2% probability of successful evacuation. We do not need such a weak aircraft as Zephyr One." Epsilon-Rodney-Radium-223's voice carried an anxious human emotion, a weakness of flesh she had yet to fully overcome. Her emotional processing core was imperfect. "If