The Special Envoy's Risk Prescan, an Overreach in Crisis Response
On the flagship Bridge of the Nibelung, the air was so quiet that the low hum of the air circulation system could be heard.
The five core members of the Vanguard gathered here. Hela, dressed in the black uniform of the Stability Maintenance Office, stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the porthole, indifferently watching the distorted Negative Zone scene outside. Wanda stood to the side of the Control Console, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold metal surface, Scarlet glint flashing in her eyes.
Gwen Stacy and Natasha stood on either side, like two silent shadows, observing the volatile Force Field.
Lynn stood in front of the command post in the center of the Bridge, preparing to issue the final departure order.
"Etc."
A cool, clear voice broke the silence.
Jean Grey rose from her seat in the Supervisory Group and walked slowly to Lynn. She was wearing a well- Pruning, silver-grey Special Envoy's uniform, and her face wore a calm, businesslike expression.
"Director, everyone." She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over Wanda and Hela. "According to Article 3, Section 7 of the Multiverse Crisis Response Regulations, as the Crisis Response Special Envoy for this operation, I am responsible for conducting the highest level of risk pre-scan of the target coordinates before the Vanguard enters the unknown area, to eliminate all potential threats and ensure the absolute safety of the operation."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word rang clearly in everyone's ears.
Hela let out a barely audible snort and remained silent. In her view, this was nothing but a charade.
Wanda's brow furrowed slightly. She keenly sensed that Jyn's words were less about "operational safety" and more about being the first to reach that unknown coordinate that was so closely connected to Lynn.
This is a blatant declaration of power.
"I will begin immediately." Jean gave no one a chance to object; her tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable decisiveness.
She was overstepping her authority. Lynn's heart sank. The Special Envoy's duty was to assess risks, not to engage in energy interactions with the target without the commander's permission. But the regulations she cited sounded high-sounding; a direct refusal would only make her seem guilty.
Especially now that Hela and Wanda both have doubts about those "crime scenes".
"Special Envoy Qin," Lynn began, his voice steady, "Your dedication is commendable. However, the exploration program has established procedures, and any unauthorized energy detection could trigger unpredictable reactions from the target."
"It's precisely because it's unpredictable that I need to do the preliminary checks." Jean looked directly at Lynn, a hint of obsessive concern flashing in her eyes. "I must ensure you don't fall into any traps. That's my primary responsibility."
The use of the formal "you" in her address instantly chilled the atmosphere on the Bridge.
Lynn didn't argue with her anymore. He turned his head and looked at the Technology Minister on the other side.
"Minister Wanda."
Wanda looked up.
"Has the Department of Technology formulated corresponding safety procedures for cross-dimensional mental detection of Class A and above? In particular, do we have mature defense Contingency Plan against reverse mental contamination at unknown coordinates?" Lynn's tone was businesslike, as if discussing a purely technical issue. "I need to ensure that during the detection process, the Management Committee's Core Server, and even the flagship's navigation system, will not be subject to any form of contamination."
He didn't stop Qin, but instead addressed the issue with rules and procedures.
This was a calculated move. He cleverly transformed Qin's personal overreach into a departmental issue that required the Department of Technology to assess and intervene from a technological security perspective.
Wanda immediately understood Lynn's intention. She looked at Jean, a cold glint in her eyes.
"Of course," Wanda's voice rang out, carrying the professionalism and arrogance of the Technology Minister. "Article S-09 of the ' High-Risk Entity Energy Interaction Safety Protocol ' clearly stipulates that any cross-dimensional Mind Link without physical relay isolation must be subject to one-way data filtering via the ' Chaos Firewall ' under the supervision of the Department of Technology. This is to prevent high-risk Meme or Psychic Virus from invading our central system through the link."
She paused, then added, "This is a mandatory regulation, jointly issued by the Director's Office and the Department of Technology, and has the highest priority for implementation."
A crack finally appeared on Qin's professional calm.
She never expected that Lynn would use the rules he set for himself to restrict her movements.
"I didn't intend to hack into the system, I was just trying to sense external information," Qin explained.
"There is no 'external' aspect to the interaction of Psychic Power," Wanda retorted bluntly. "Once the link is established, the data pathway is formed. The Department of Technology must be responsible for the data security of the entire Management Committee."
Just as a procedural tug-of-war was about to unfold, Qin made a move that surprised everyone.
She didn't want to wait any longer.
Any rules are merely formalities in the face of absolute power. She wants to get what she wants in the most direct way.
"Time is of the essence, and I will assume all risks myself."
The moment she finished speaking, an invisible, immense force erupted from her center.
It was not energy, not magic, but pure, spiritual pressure that transcended the concept of physics.
The lights inside the Bridge began to flash wildly, and alarms from various instruments went off one after another, but were instantly suppressed by an even stronger force, falling into dead silence.
Hela's expression changed slightly; she felt her Death Force falter slightly in the face of this spiritual aura.
Wanda's Scarlet magic surged spontaneously, forming an unstable shield in front of her.
Jean Grey closed her eyes.
Her dazzling red hair moved without wind, and her whole body radiated a faint golden halo. Her consciousness had transformed into an invisible sword, piercing through the Veil of reality, traversing endless void, and speeding towards the mysterious coordinates marked by Ultron.
Lynn stood still, motionless.
He could feel that Psychic Power bypassing him, like a surging tide rushing towards the distant unknown.
That place marked the Ending one of his simulations. There, unique traces of the system remained, traces that could not be erased by any known means.
Once touched and analyzed by Qin's Psychic Power, his greatest secret will be exposed to everyone in an instant.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely.
Lynn's gaze calmly fell on Wanda's face.
Wanda received his look. It was an order, and the only option.
Just a second before Jean's Phoenix Force was about to touch the truth, she had to use another force to forcibly sever it.
That torrent of spirit that transcended Dimension could already "see" a shattered, ominous starfield ruin.
It was just a hair's breadth away from its goal.
Qin's lips curled into an uncontrollable smile, a smile that seemed to indicate her wish was about to be fulfilled.
Mind Link is about to be forcibly established.