Regulation-compliant checkpoints in the Interdimensional Channel, the legality of the expert rescue team
Deep inside an abandoned air-raid shelter in Chinatown.
The air was filled with the musty smell of rust and the faint sweetness of Ozone. The reactivated physical port of the S.P.E.A.R. was humming deeply, like the breath of a lurking Beast. The light screen distorted, forming a bottomless vortex, the other end of which led to the Battleworld.
Jean Grey stood in front of the port without saying a word.
Behind her was an expert rescue team that had been urgently assembled within half an hour. The team was small, consisting of one person in charge of technical coordination and two people in charge of security. They were all key members of the Mutants Management Committee, and at this moment they were all wearing the same black action uniforms with solemn expressions.
"Director, the equipment has been debugged and is ready to be deployed at any time," the Technician reported in a low voice.
Jean Grey nodded slightly, about to give the order.
Buzz--
A faint but extremely penetrating sound came from the depths of the vortex.
Immediately afterwards, the entrance to the flowing light curtain seemed to be filled with cement and solidified instantly. A silver-white fence made of pure energy appeared out of nowhere, blocking the entrance to the passage and completely sealing off the way.
Above the fence, several suspended spherical mechanical bodies slowly emerged, their Scarlet single eyes locking onto them.
A monotone, emotionless electronic voice echoed inside the air-raid shelter.
"Alert. An unregistered collective cross-dimensional request has been detected. In accordance with Article 11 of the ' Battleworld Internal Silent Quarantine Regulations,' physical port 3 has been temporarily physically blocked. Please step back immediately and await further instructions."
Silent epidemic prevention.
It's that same excuse again.
The two security personnel behind Jean Grey instinctively reached for their waists, their muscles instantly tensing.
"Director?" one of them asked in a deep voice, with a questioning tone.
Jean Grey raised a hand, making a gesture to calm down.
She didn't look at the mechanical guards, but turned to her Technician.
"Open a public communication channel and connect to their law enforcement recording system." Her voice was calm.
"Yes." The Technician immediately started operating the terminal on his wrist.
A gentle blue light emanated from Jean Grey's device, establishing a data connection with the other party's spherical mechanical entity. This meant that from this moment on, all words and actions of both parties would be recorded synchronously.
After doing all this, Jean Grey stepped forward and stood in front of the energy barrier.
She didn't unleash any power; her demeanor was as if she were attending a routine diplomatic briefing.
"Hello, personnel stationed at Port 3 of the Battleworld. I am Jean Grey, Director the Mutants Management Committee under the Negative Zone Management Committee and leader of the Battleworld Expert Rescue Team."
Her voice was clearly transmitted through Public Channel.
The Scarlet eye opposite her flickered, seemingly processing her identity information.
"We have received your verbal notification regarding 'silent epidemic prevention'," Jean Grey continued, her tone calm, as if reading a prepared document, "But here, I need to point out one thing to you."
She raised her wrist, manipulated the light screen, and a document was retrieved and projected into the air between them.
The top of the document bears the bright red official seal of the Negative Zone Management Committee. The title is eye-catching. "Emergency Contingency Plan for Responding to Cross- Dimension Sudden Safety Incidents and Personnel Rescue."
Lynn's name was clearly visible in the signature section.
"According to this emergency Contingency Plan, which was jointly filed by the Negative Zone Management Committee and the Multiverse Coordination Committee and approved by your Supreme Adjudicator, Chapter 3, Article 7, clearly stipulates that: in the event of a confirmed ' Class A security incident' and the fact that our personnel are trapped, the other party is obligated to provide an unconditional, highest-priority rescue green channel."
Jean Grey's gaze was fixed on the camera lens of the leading spherical mechanical being.
"Our inspection team lost contact within the Battleworld, triggering the highest-level distress signal. This incident has been classified as Class A security incident and is already on record. Our department has been ordered to provide technical support, which is in accordance with the established procedures of the emergency response Contingency Plan."
She paused, giving the other person time to process the information.
"Your current actions constitute a unilateral physical obstruction of legitimate rescue operations. This behavior has seriously violated the emergency Contingency Plan terms signed by both parties."
Jean Grey's tone became slightly more forceful, but it remained within the bounds of the program.
"On behalf of the Negative Zone Management Committee, I formally raise this question to you. Does your 'Internal Epidemic Prevention Regulations' supersede the 'Cross-Dimensional Emergency Response Contingency Plan ' that was jointly signed and is already in effect by both parties? Please provide a positive and clear answer."
After he finished speaking, the room fell into absolute silence.
Only the hum of the port and the flickering light of the mechanical guard's lens remained.
The team members behind Jean Grey didn't dare to breathe. They looked at their Director's back with eyes full of awe.
This is not a contest of strength.
This is a game of rules. It's using the opponent's spear to attack the opponent's shield.
The spherical mechanical object's Scarlet single eye began to flash at an extremely high frequency. Clearly, its underlying system was undergoing intense logical deductions.
The "Internal Epidemic Prevention Regulations" are internal directives and have a very high priority.
However, the "Cross-Dimensional Emergency Response Contingency Plan" is an external agreement that has been approved by the superior authority— the Supreme Adjudicator —and therefore naturally has a higher legal effect.
An internal work code of a subordinate unit must, under no circumstances, contradict a formal agreement approved by a superior unit that involves "foreign affairs".
This is a simple logic problem, but for a mechanical system that only knows how to execute commands, it is a paradox that can overload the processor.
"Sizzle... sizzle..."
A crackling sound from the electric current rang out.
The leading spherical mechanical entity's Scarlet single eye blinked faster and faster until it finally turned into a chaotic flurry of snowflakes.
It has reached a stalemate in the judgment.
A few seconds later.
"... Warning cleared. Logical conflict identified. Backup plan activated... Permissions transferred."
The emotionless electronic voice sounded again, but this time, the content was completely different.
"According to Article 3 of the Battleworld Basic Guidelines for External Relations, 'avoiding diplomatic disputes' is the highest code of conduct... Temporary passage is permitted. This entry will be recorded as 'special passage granted after negotiations in accordance with regulations.' We wish you success in your mission."
The words had barely left his mouth.
The sturdy, silvery-white energy barrier vanished without a trace.
The spherical mechanical objects blocking the entrance slowly moved aside, making way for a passage.
It's done.
The rescue team members all wore expressions of disbelief. They had prepared various plans to force their way in, but they never expected that a single document and a few words would be enough to knock on the door of the Battleworld without firing a shot.
This is the power of programming.
Jean Grey didn't turn around; she simply said something under her breath.
"Stay alert, we're going in."
She took the first step, entering the distorted curtain of light.
The feeling of passing through the tunnel was peculiar, like being enveloped in warm water and then instantly thrown out.
The view before me suddenly opened up.
It was no longer an air-raid shelter in Chinatown, but a huge, futuristic metal platform. All around it was an endless Abyss, with only a narrow passage leading into the darkness in the distance.
However, Jean Grey's attention was completely elsewhere than on the scene before her.
The instant her feet stepped onto the platform.
An indescribable sense of heaviness appeared out of nowhere and pressed down on her mind.
That was neither an energy Impact nor a mental attack.
It was a pure, lofty will.
Cold, ancient, and filled with an absolute desire for control over everything. Like a king in his palace, indifferently watching an intruding flying insect.
Jean Grey's body stiffened for a moment.
Her Phoenix Force remained untouched; under the sweeping gaze of that will, she instinctively restrained herself to the extreme, daring not to make the slightest move.
It's Kang.
The name Lynn mentioned in the office instantly popped into her mind.
Jean Grey's heart sank. She knew that the real crisis was only just beginning.