Apocalyptic Rebirth: With a repairman system space, she rises again.-Chapter 664: Ability nullification.

Sunshine looked at the drone images one last time. The sheer number of Prime-Core-enhanced soldiers was a terrifying reminder of what they were up against. Not even Emily’s army had been this ’beefed’ up.

"Alright," Sunshine said, her voice turning sharp and authoritative. "We run the simulations again. I want every possible assumption on the table. What if the sensors pick up the stealth frequency? What if the Walden’s know that we went with intentions of taking over the territory?

What if there is a spy in our midst? What if there is poison in the wine or food they offer us? We don’t leave this room until we have a plan for every single heartbeat we spend in that territory. We are not leaving anything to chance. Lay it all on the table, no matter how ridiculous it sounds."

The team settled back in, the room filling with the sound of rapid typing and low-voiced debates. Whatever was said, comms officers and secretaries recorded like courtroom stenographers.

"We should go with our own oxygen in case the air is poisoned."

"We should take a lot of acid grenades."

"Since they have big dragonoids, we should use dragonoid pistols the lab is rumored to have created. They will be easier to carry."

"If we can’t bring back the prime core, we should blow up the mining area and bury it deep underground. Hell, we can pour concrete over the area and build a tower over it."

Suggestions poured like rain. Sunshine looked out the window toward the horizon, where the Walden peaks loomed in the distance. By morning, all of Babel will be theirs somehow and those peaks would be hers.

After five hours, they decided on the best strategy to use but there was one thing that had not been focused on.

Major Elio squinted at the holographic zoom of the Walden mercenaries; his brow furrowed in deep concentration. "Yes, we have upgraded exo suits, but I still don’t like the sizes of the stones around their necks. They are relying on too much power; they could be stronger than us. We don’t even know what this stone is capable of." he muttered, pointing a calloused finger at the glowing shards.

Hades stepped up beside him, his expression darkening as he studied the feed. "I agree, their senses and physical abilities are likely heightened to an extreme degree," he added, his voice dropping to a grim rumble. "With shards that size, what if they can see invisible superhumans? If they can spot Hadrian’s team through the stealth field, the whole mission becomes a disaster before it even starts."

"We should consider the fact that Greg told them about our special invisible team." Carson added. "A direct fight will take long; we need to be quick and efficient."

Sunshine nodded. "We cannot give them a chance to turn things around." she said, her voice sharp with resolve.

She turned her focus inward. System, is there a way we can weaken the abilities of these superhumans in one go? We need to level the playing field. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

[It can be achieved through magnetic field disruption, Host,] the System replied. [However, there is a significant disadvantage. The field is indiscriminate. You and your team would be affected as well; your own abilities would be weakened just as severely as those of the enemy.]

Sunshine relayed the news to her team. The room fell silent as the weight of the trade-off sank in.

"So, we’d be effectively human? Would the invisibility abilities work?" Hadrian asked, looking around the table.

"No, but the blinding buttons will." Sunshine said.

They deliberated on the issue for several tense minutes. In the end, the conclusion was unanimous: they would rather face the Walden’s as equals than let the mercenaries keep their supernatural edge. If the Walden guards couldn’t use their Prime Cores, the Quinns’ superior tactical training and exo suits would carry the day.

"After you have given the Walden superhumans suppressants.... then we remove the magnetic field." Sunshine concluded.

"System make the purchase." Sunshine said silently.

[As you wish, the devices will be sent to your office in a minute.] the System chimed.

"Owen," Sunshine called out, "bring the sealed boxes from my office immediately."

The assistant hurried off, knowing how important this was. He took a team of soldiers that would ensure a safe retrieval and delivery.

While they waited, the team took a moment for refreshments. There was a strange, nervous energy in the air_ the kind that comes before a storm. They sipped their drinks in silence.

When the boxes were finally brought in and opened, everyone leaned in to stare. The devices inside looked deceptively normal; they were silver rings, only slightly bigger than standard wedding bands. Sunshine picked one up, feeling its cool weight. "Halo rings," she said. "These will produce the invisible field we need to disrupt every superhuman ability within range."

Using stealth drones, they spent the next hour carefully dropping the rings at strategic points around the Walden territory, embedding them into places where they wouldn’t be easily spotted.

With the trap set, the meeting concluded. Sunshine stood, her eyes scanning her people. "Take every precaution. Follow the protocols for going beyond the wall to the letter. No mistakes."

At around 3:00 PM, the heavy armored vehicles rolled out of the Fortress gates, the engines growling as they hit the open wasteland.

On the way there, Hades couldn’t seem to keep his eyes off his wife. "You know," he said, a rare, soft smile touching his lips, "you look absolutely beautiful today, Suni."

Sunshine smoothed the fabric of her formal attire, feeling a rare flush of heat in her cheeks. "Thank you. And I have to say, you cleaned up pretty nice yourself. It’s a good look on you."

For a couple heading into what could be a battle, they seemed awfully romantic, drawing closer and giggling. Hades even wrapped an arm around Sunshine’s waist and kissed her.

"They are insane." Major Elio muttered.

Phillip decided to tell jokes. This time, he did not choose a priest as his main character. He went for a nun!

As they approached the Walden territory, they were met by a massive perimeter wall. Parts of it were jagged and damaged_ scars from mutant attacks or the harsh reality of the outside world. They had done better in this aspect than Vicente in Fairy Island.

The heavy gates groaned open, and as the convoy rolled inside, Sunshine’s heart tightened in her chest.

It wasn’t what she expected at all.

Instead of a cold, militaristic labor camp, she saw a community. Women were tending to green farming patches, children were running and playing in the dirt, men were fetching water from a central well, talking amongst themselves.

It was rather peaceful!

"This isn’t what I thought," Sunshine whispered, her eyes glued to the window. "Mark Walden didn’t look like a man who would give his people this much peace. Perhaps we misunderstood him."

She reached for the radio, her voice reaching out to every squad in the convoy. "Listen up. These civilians are not the enemy. Do not harm them. Our target is the leadership and the mercenaries only."

"Ma’am, with a due respect, we soldiers have seen scenarios were ordinary people like this were used as pawns or insurgents in disguise." Elio replied. "We should not let our guard down around them."

Hades nodded.

Sunshine said into the radio. "I know that and I do expect you to fight back if they attack. But, if they are not a threat, try not to harm them."

"Ditto," Carson replied.