Bob anxiously read the reports from Gaeae over and over again. Light skirmishes flare up daily in the peripheries, but never in Gaeae. Gaeae was Sonceto’s closed industrial center to the east, flanked by rare woodlands on one side and the sea on the other. Its vital economic status ensured a strong Sonceto military presence, and local authorities were infamous for nipping any whiff of dissent in the bud. Something was amiss.

Bob consulted with President Aldaman in private, who shared similar concerns after learning that Sonceto’s most decorated general and his team of commandos failed to restore order in Gaeae. Bob and Aldaman agreed that an investigation must be carried out, yet the Federation was young and Agurts unity was fragile. Sonceto would not take kindly to outsiders prying into their secretive industrial center, lest it triggers an even bigger political crisis. This was going to be one hell of a covert mission – they were up against both mysterious rebel forces and the cunning Sonceto elite. To make matters worse, they must return within three days for Aldaman’s first official visit to the NAUS.

Two hours later, five Bucks members suited up in woodlands combat gear as an arriving helicopter whipped up a small dust storm before the Bucks Facility landing pad. The grinning quartermaster was curious where the top brass was headed – just days before the big presidential trip, too! Bob put down his glass and smiled.

“Just a walk in the park. We’ll finish the bottle when we come back”.

鮑勃眉頭緊鎖地反覆查看著那份來自格埃的報告。雖說周邊地區幾乎每天都會發生小規模衝突，但格埃向來比較太平。格埃一側是稀有林地，另一側緊靠海岸，是位於新薛圖東面相對封閉的工業中心，其重要的經濟地位是確保新薛圖強大軍事力量的仰仗之一，而地方當局也向來善於將不安因素扼殺在萌芽中。這一切結合來看，事有蹊蹺。

鮑勃找到艾爾達曼總統進行秘談，在得知新薛圖高級將領派出麾下精英突擊隊都未能平定事態後，艾爾達曼也有了與鮑勃相同的擔憂。兩人一致認為必須徹查此事，然而新生的聯邦，相互之間的關系還很脆弱。新薛圖方面不會允許任何人窺探他們隱藏在工業中心的秘密，若這樣做會引發更大的政治危機。這將會是地獄級難度的絕密行動——不僅要對抗那股神秘勢力，還要應付狡猾的新薛圖精英部隊。最糟的是，必須要在三天內完成任務返回，為了艾爾達曼對NAUS的首次正式訪問。

兩個小時後，直升機在公鹿小隊基地停機坪掀起風沙，五名公鹿小隊成員已換上叢林迷彩作戰服整裝待發。在總統出訪前夕有如此細微的動靜，滿臉笑容的軍需官也不由地好奇起隊員的去向。鮑勃放下酒杯，笑道:

“去公園走走，回來接著把酒喝完。”