Huayu 05, our science fiction movie universe

Chapter 620 Wolf Warrior 3 (Part 2)
The joint investigation team and the peacekeeping force are also facing a dilemma regarding the current situation in Zambia:

Allowing the local area to continue developing and letting Ita continue its experiments could trigger a global genetic arms race; forcibly terminating the experiments would plunge Zambia back into famine and embroil the investigation team in a media storm.

Meanwhile, after so many days and a considerable amount of time spent in Zambia, a debate broke out within the "Wolf Fang" team following the on-site investigation.

Younger team members, such as Li Hongqi and Xiao Nai, believed that human life was paramount and that the priority should be to help the local people survive; other matters could be addressed later.

The older team members, however, believed that the matter was not so simple, and that with an alien crisis looming overhead, all their energy should be focused on dealing with the aliens. This was something that could not be delayed, and there was no room for compromise.

As for Liu Peiqiang, who led the team, he did not express any opinion for the time being. Instead, he chose to lead his team into more remote areas where the famine was more severe, in an attempt to collect more information and data about the local genetically modified people.

After all, the information ultimately submitted by the peacekeeping investigation team will affect the lives and even the lives of tens of thousands of people in a country.

Therefore, it is never too much to be rigorous and cautious.

When Liu Peiqiang led several team members to secretly infiltrate the northern desert of Zambia, where the famine was most severe, they discovered another truth hidden beneath the chaos.

In a refugee camp on the verge of abandonment, they witnessed another side of Dr. Ita's experiments:
Those Zambian children who underwent genetic modification are still struggling on the brink of death. Zhao Hailun's fears were justified; Dr. Ita's genetic engineering technology is not perfect.

These modified beings survived the famine, but suffered from the aftereffects of cellular fibrosis.

Especially in areas where famine is more severe, the more grass genetically modified children eat, the longer the part of their abnormal genes is activated, and the more severe the aftereffects become.

In refugee camps in the northern desert, some genetically modified children have become woody all over, and their entire "person" has turned into a dry "straw mat".

Seeing this scene, Liu Peiqiang and the others felt a chill run down their spines and were outraged by the truth that Dr. Ita had concealed.

When the relevant video was played at the joint investigation team's command center, the experts couldn't help but gasp, and several of them showed expressions of "I knew it."

"It seems that Dr. Ita's technology has not been able to solve the problem of the instability of genetic modification. We can't let this go now. If we allow this technology to spread, then in the future, human civilization may be destroyed by genetic defects and diseases before aliens even arrive."

"Dr. Stauffinger, the rotating vice chairman of the Biological Security Council, said in a deep voice in the command center."

“Initiate the ‘Cleanup Protocol’!” Colonel Stanton said, a hint of eagerness on his face.

However, Leng Feng raised an objection:

"Clearing the lab and capturing Dr. Ita are easy, but what about the children whose genes have been modified?"
And then there's Zambia, currently facing famine. We need a reasonable plan to resettle them. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization is still raising food and supplies; we have to wait. Otherwise, simply eliminating trouble without solving the problem will only create a humanitarian crisis on the ground!

The ideological differences between the two sides erupted completely at this moment:

One side insists that "safety is paramount" and advocates using force to end the current chaos; the other side proposes a "people-centered" approach, suggesting phased control measures, first establishing a technological blockade, and then arresting Dr. Ita after the arrival of food aid from relevant parties, eliminating the hidden dangers in genetic modification technology, and treating the children.

Ultimately, Colonel Stanton acted unilaterally without waiting for approval from the joint command.

They weren't just sitting idly by; they had already used technical means to locate Dr. Ita's research base in Zambia.

Everything went so smoothly that half of the mountain where the research base was located collapsed on the spot, and the "Lincoln" carrier strike group, which was temporarily dispatched, also arrived smoothly at the nearby coast. Fighter jets began to take off, targeting various military facilities and transportation routes in Zambia.

"I don't know what those Chinese are afraid of. Isn't this easy?"

Colonel Stanton's adjutant couldn't help but smile as he watched the scenes unfold on the monitor.

At that moment, a staff officer rushed in, holding a faxed document.

The adjutant took the document and immediately beamed with delight, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"Look, the Zambian government can't hold on any longer. They've accepted all the conditions and said they'll soon hand over all the biologists and genetic engineers in the country, as well as those cyborgs."

The adjutant handed the document to Colonel Stanton, but Colonel Stanton didn't even look at it before throwing it on the table.

"A tedious war."

Colonel Stanton said this, but his brows remained furrowed. His adjutant, seeing his expression, couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

"At least we can go back sooner, right?"

Colonel Stanton offered no further comment, instead changing the subject.

"Where are those Chinese people? What are they doing?"

The adjutant took out a tablet computer and viewed the images monitored by satellites and drones.

"They are also cooperating with the joint investigation team to provide medical and material assistance and help refugees. According to the records, they have visited many villages, towns and cities."

To be honest, Chinese people are quite good at logistics work, except they're a bit timid.

As the two were talking, an old military jeep drove up from a distance outside the base, and the guards on duty immediately pointed their guns at the newcomer.

"They're here."

The adjutant gave Colonel Stanton a word, and a few minutes later, Dr. Ita and several representatives of the Zambian government, along with others, bowed their heads and walked into the camp command room amidst the guns of the surrounding Marines.

As the leader, Dr. Ita walked at the front, still wearing his traditional ethnic clothing, like a withered tree branch draped in a large floral cloth.

“Your Excellency General, I bring you Zambia’s sincere respect. Your army possesses godlike power that terrifies us. We confess our sins.”

Dr. Ita didn't look up, but bowed slightly in the direction of Colonel Stanton, his voice filled with unspeakable weariness and sorrow.

“Doctor, I hope you really understand what you’ve all done.” Colonel Stanton stared at him, his gaze as sharp as a vulture’s.

"We understand."

Dr. Ita continued to bow deeply, speaking humbly:
"Kneeling down and confessing one's sins before the God of the civilized world is not something to be ashamed of."

But General, when people are starving, they forget all about shame.

A group of young American soldiers and staff officers looked at the old man with a hint of disdain. Even they looked down on someone who had no backbone.

"PhD."

Colonel Stanton shook his head regretfully.

"You could have stayed in the civilized world and not gone hungry. With the skills you have, you could very well have won another Nobel Prize."

And yet you went to work for a government that disregards even the most basic human ethics.

"I work for the people of Zambia."

Dr. Ita bowed again, but his tone carried a hint of hesitation.

He did catch the subtext in Colonel Stanton's words: it seemed the Americans still valued him and his technology to some extent, which could be considered a silent attempt to win him over.

"Perhaps, but your actions have brought disaster to the people of Zambia."

Colonel Stanton continued, putting pressure on Dr. Ita. "Regardless of who brought this disaster upon us, General, the people of Zambia earnestly hope it will end soon."

To express this wish for peace, we also brought a small gift for the general.

After Dr. Ita finished speaking, one of the people behind him carried a wooden cage and placed it on the ground.

Gently open the cage door, and a small, snow-white animal runs out.

All the American soldiers in the command room gasped in amazement—it was a pony!
A small horse, about the size of a cat, with a snow-white mane and surprisingly, a pair of snow-white wings.

The little guy ran nimbly and nimbly on the ground, its snow-white mane and bright, spirited eyes making it look like an elf that had run out of a fairy tale.

"Is this a product of genetic engineering?"

The adjutant couldn't help but ask in surprise, while Colonel Stanton frowned as he examined the strange creation.

Dr. Ita bowed slightly and replied, "Yes, it is made from a combination of genes from horses and pigeons."

Can it fly?

"No, its wings aren't that strong," Dr. Ita quickly explained.

Colonel Stanton nodded slightly, then said:

"This little guy is very interesting. Thank you for the gift, Doctor."

"It's my pleasure."

"But the established procedures still need to be followed."

"I understand, I understand!"

After the brief talks, the US action mainly involved deploying a large number of transport helicopters to shuttle between Zambia's inland and coastal areas to transport the genetically modified "individuals" handed over by the Zambian government.

These "individuals" are mostly Black children around ten years old, and the vast majority are male.

They were loaded onto transport ships and landing craft waiting along the coast, and each ship, once full, immediately sailed out to sea.

Where are they going to be sent?

In the jungle, Li Hongqi, who was escorting a batch of food and medical supplies, looked up at the transport helicopter flying overhead and couldn't help but ask.

"This is not a problem we should be concerned about."

Liu Peiqiang couldn't help but sigh, then urged the team to continue moving forward.

However, Li Hongqi didn't think so. "Captain, do you really think those Americans kidnapped the children to treat them?"

"if not?"

“I heard that the aircraft carrier near the sea is called the USS Lincoln. In the last century, African slaves were transported away this way,” Xiao Nai interjected.

"You're the best at stirring things up."

Liu Peiqiang scolded Xiao Nai, then pointed at Li Hongqi.

"I've noticed that you young people... how come you have such high levels of ideological awareness? You want to meddle in things that aren't your business? Who do you think you are? Interpol or something? Have you been watching too many Hong Kong movies?"

"Captain, your awareness is too low!" Xiao Nai couldn't help but continue to complain.

"Shut up, or I'll confiscate your computer!"

Liu Peiqiang pointed at Xiao Nai again, and was so angry at the two of them that he laughed.

"Have you... forgotten our discipline? Let's go!"

The convoy continued towards the next village, while at the US command post on the other side, Colonel Stanton met with Dr. Ita again.

Compared to last time, Colonel Stanton's expression was undoubtedly much more relaxed this time.

With the Zambian government having its main armed forces destroyed and showing signs of weakness, the US military has largely lowered its guard.

After all, it is just a poor, small African country. Compared to the strength of the United States, it is like an ant compared to an elephant.

Given such a huge gap in strength, there is indeed no need to worry too much.

However, the US military and Colonel Stanton were clearly celebrating too soon. This time, Dr. Ita came with an ultimatum.

“Leave Africa!” Ita said.

"What did you say?" Colonel Stanton's smile froze.

Dr. Ita ignored them and strode towards them with a powerful stride that was completely different from his previous one.

"What did he say?" Colonel Stanton turned to his adjutant beside him and asked, his face already looking rather grim.

“He told us to leave Africa, sir.”

The adjutant spoke with a hint of sarcasm on his face, but the next second, his expression froze as a sharp wooden spear pierced his chest.

"Protect the commander!"

The other American soldiers nearby immediately raised their guns and attacked Dr. Ita, who had suddenly launched an attack.

At this moment, he had completely changed his appearance. His whole body swelled up like an inflating balloon. His originally thin body became tall and burly, with a height of 2.5 meters. Coupled with hard, woody skin and two thick, long arms like vines, he looked extremely imposing.

Especially when he waved his vine-like arms, the vines danced wildly in the air like a horde of demons, reminiscent of the terrifying tree demon in the Hong Kong film "A Chinese Ghost Story".

"Fire!"

Colonel Stanton, who was retreating hastily, drew his sidearm and fired without hesitation.

Suddenly, gunfire erupted in the small command room, crackling like popping beans.

However, considering the room size and to avoid accidentally injuring their own men, the guards used only low-powered firearms.

The small-caliber pistol bullets that hit Dr. Ita caused sawdust to fly everywhere, but as the doctor's feet turned into tree roots and stuck to the ground, he quickly recovered and was not seriously injured.

Colonel Stanton and his men were forced to retreat from the command center under the attacks of the vines, which were sometimes soft and sometimes hard – exactly what Dr. Ita had hoped for.

At this moment, the communication radio in the command center was already transmitting calls for help from transport ships and even the Lincoln aircraft carrier.

(End of this chapter)