He opened the equipment case.
Inside were a Mechanical Exoskeleton, a Hydrogen Battery, an MA5B, and various attachments and accessories for the MA5B.
There was an M-26-modified underbarrel shotgun, as well as an M203-style underbarrel grenade launcher, giving the MA5B several options for increasing its firepower.
"What is this...?"
"Why do these weapons look like they're straight out of a sci-fi movie?"
"Do these things actually work?"
"But I have to admit, they look really cool."
The moment they saw the Mechanical Exoskeleton and the MA5B in the equipment case, several of the younger STARS members began discussing them in hushed voices.
The two Alphas ignored the STARS members' comments and skillfully began assembling the Mechanical Exoskeleton in front of everyone.
The Mechanical Exoskeleton was assembled in less than a minute.
Sui Bian clasped his hands behind his back and introduced it to the STARS members with a smile. "Everyone, this is our company's latest personal exoskeleton, the NEST-Exoskeleton-1, or NE-1 for short.
"It gives the wearer superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and shooting accuracy."
As he spoke, Sui Bian walked over to another equipment case, bent down, and took out an MA5B with his right hand. He straightened up, gripped the MA5B with both hands, and continued:
"Paired with our company's next-generation MA5B assault rifle, the wearer can become a superhero like the ones in comics and movies, hitting 'every shot,' instead of becoming a master of outlining people with bullet holes."
With that, he turned to Chris, who was sitting in front of him, and said, "Captain Redfield, why don't you try out the Mechanical Exoskeleton and prove that I'm not exaggerating? What do you say?"
"No problem," Chris readily agreed.
Chris then stood and stepped forward. With the help of the two Alphas, he put on the Mechanical Exoskeleton.
Chris moved his limbs a little, getting used to the feel of wearing the Mechanical Exoskeleton. "Mm, nothing feels uncomfortable," he assessed.
"Then... try jumping straight up with all your strength," Sui Bian said.
"Okay, I'll give it a try."
Chris bent his knees, then leaped upward with all his might.
!!!
The jump stunned every STARS member, Chris included. He had jumped nearly five meters high.
Even though the STARS members didn't know that the world record for a standing high jump was 1.9 meters, set by a Swede, they knew that a human being couldn't possibly jump five meters from a standing position.
"Thud! Thud!" Chris landed safely.
His feet hadn't even felt a noticeable jolt, which showed that the Mechanical Exoskeleton's shock absorption was also exceptionally effective.
"How was that?" Sui Bian asked with a faint smile.
"Im... Impressive." Chris looked a little dazed.
"Heh." Sui Bian chuckled again, then addressed the STARS members, who were just as stunned.
"You have Umbrella behind you. In the future, weapons and equipment even more advanced than this will continue to emerge. That means... you'll have the means to fight those so-called anomalies."
"If that's really the case... I have no objections," Marini said first.
"Neither do I," Jill added.
"With sci-fi weapons like these, I feel confident too!"
"Who cares if it's Satan? Let's take it down!"
After seeing Sui Bian demonstrate the Mechanical Exoskeleton and the MA5B, everyone's confidence soared.
"Good." Sui Bian looked pleased. "You are the first Mobile Task Force formed by Umbrella. Your codename is Charon (Χρων), meaning the ferryman of the dead. But you'll be ferrying those anomalies."
Next.
Sui Bian led Chris, Marini, Jill, and the rest of the Charon members out of the warehouse. They drove through a concealed passage in the southern outskirts of Raccoon City and made their way to the Hive.
At first, Chris and the others were shocked to learn that such a vast underground facility lay beneath Raccoon City, but they soon accepted it.
After all, there were already two sizable underground facilities in the Arklay Mountains. It only made sense that there would be a Hive beneath Raccoon City as well. Besides, Raccoon City itself had only undergone such a dramatic transformation because of Umbrella.
Under the terms of their contract, after joining Umbrella's Mobile Task Force, Chris and the others would need to live in the Hive long-term. At first, they would also need to undergo professional training under Hunk and the other Alphas.
Although Chris and the others had been elite police officers, and Chris and Jill had both served in the military, there was still a considerable gap between them and the Alphas, all of whom had elite unit backgrounds and had been trained to fight B.O.W.s.
Even after completing their training, the Mobile Task Force would still need to remain on standby in the Hive long-term. However, the contract clearly stated that every four months, each member would take a short leave in rotation to spend time with their family and children.
The 16th.
All current members of the Charon Task Force officially moved into the Hive. They began training under Hunk and the Alphas, learning how to use the Mechanical Exoskeleton and the MA5B more effectively.
From the 16th to the 30th.
During the latter half of June, after being put through their paces by Hunk and the Alphas, the Charon members—including Chris, Marini, and Jill—made tremendous improvements in their teamwork and tactical ability.
Marini, the most experienced and respected among them, became Charon's captain, while Chris, who had scored the highest on the overall assessment, became vice-captain.
Sui Bian also kept busy during this time. He had the Red Queen secretly hire a number of second-rate mercenaries, then sent them to harass Umbrella facilities in Africa and the Middle East to divert Spencer and the other executives' attention.
At the same time, with the assistance of the Red and White Queens, Sui Bian began cramming as much information about Umbrella as he could and learning how to manage the company's affairs.
The two artificial intelligences had given him the title of director, but he couldn't just hold the position without knowing anything. He had to learn.
At the end of the month.
Perhaps having escaped the pressure Spencer had been putting on him left Birkin in a calmer state of mind. As a result, the development of the G-Virus was progressing a little faster than it had in the game.
According to Birkin's report to Sui Bian, development of the G-Virus was expected to be completed in mid-to-late August. After that, they could begin extracting the serum from Sui Bian's body.
August 14th.
After sixty days, the Hive had acquired 84 Mechanical Exoskeletons, 177 MA5Bs, and 41 Hydrogen Batteries.
That was enough to equip two USS combat squads. It also meant that it was time to take complete control of Umbrella.
August 15th.
00:30.
Using a route provided by the Red Queen, Sui Bian and two USS squads—Alpha and Omicron—secretly set out for Europe.
After seventeen hours, Sui Bian, Alpha, Omicron, and a total of 41 people rendezvoused forty kilometers west of Dublin, Ireland.
The rendezvous point was in the mountains outside Dublin, about seven kilometers in a straight line from Spencer Castle.
(Times below are in Ireland's local time.)
11:00.
Under Sui Bian's orders, the Red and White Queens forged a command from Spencer instructing all board members to gather at the Spencer Family's castle for an internal meeting to resolve the company's current crisis.
12:14.
Since the board members were all European nobles, they had all arrived at Spencer's castle by 12:14.
But Spencer, who stood at the center of the storm, claimed he had never issued any summons.
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