Somali waters.
The head of the giant steel robot and its shield crashed into the sea together. All its computing power was focused on the communications device-
To complete its mission, it had to survive.
As it happened, there really was another machine in the sea.
The moment the Atlas squad launched its assault, they attacked one of the machines. The explosion knocked it off balance, and it fell over the ship's side into the water.
Underwater, signal transmission was obstructed.
But as the robot's head continued to sink,
it found the signal receiver.
A steel soldier had lost control. So why was there another machine here?
The Data Knife had used the steel soldiers as a springboard to hack their Combat Network, but the steel soldier that had crashed into the water hadn't been affected.
In the dim ocean, a steel soldier sinking deeper suddenly lit up. All its unnecessary components fell away, its engine started, and it charged straight toward the shield!
Whoosh!
The robot rapidly disassembled on the seabed, until all that remained was an arm capable of providing propulsion and grabbing the shield. Like a torpedo, it raced toward shore!
[Fuel level: 80%] [Fuel level: 60%] [Fuel level dropping.]
Whoosh!
Just as its fuel was about to run out, it shot into the air and crashed straight onto the shore!
Bang!
And near the spot where it landed, a speedboat was coming ashore too!
Soaking wet, Erik stared in astonishment at the robot that had crashed to the ground.
"What the hell?" He hurried over. Seeing the robot clutching a Union Jack shield, he immediately guessed what was in the cargo hold.
Recognizing the shield, Erik was delighted: Vibranium!
"Battlefield commander detected: Erik Stevenson. Covering retreat order complete."
The robot spoke in an electronic