Chapter 67: Making a Decision
G.I. Joe Headquarters, Egypt
"We've received last-minute orders from the Pentagon. We need to deploy immediately to Ganch Air Force Base to secure nano-warheads manufactured by MARS Industries. This is a priority mission. All active team members, report to the command center immediately!"
Hearing the notification on his comm device, Mason's eyes lit up. He wiped the sweat from his brow, changed out of his training gear, and headed straight for the command center. By the time he arrived, all the team members were already assembled.
Standing at the head of the briefing table was Heavy Duty.
"General Hawk is off-base. Until we have formal mission command, I'll be running this op." Heavy Duty held his tactical datapad and began analyzing the route and strategy for the operation.
The briefing played out like clockwork, but toward the end, after assigning all the tasks, Heavy Duty didn't mention Mason at all.
Mason frowned. "Why am I not on this operation?"
"You haven't been with the team long enough. You still need to integrate with the other operators. Plus, your personal equipment isn't ready yet, so you'll remain at base." Heavy Duty's response was professional, but Mason caught a flicker of contempt in his eyes.
"If we need to work together as a team, I should participate in this operation. Even if I'm just observing from the command vehicle, it'll improve our coordination," Mason argued, keeping his anger in check.
"Mason's right. Since he's already one of us, we should bring him along," Scarlett said, speaking up for Mason while checking her weapons.
Heavy Duty's expression hardened.
"I'm the acting mission commander. When I say no, it means no!" His tone was sharp, clearly flexing his authority.
Mason could no longer contain his frustration. "You got a problem with me? Don't want me involved? What is this, still pissed about the combat assessment results?"
"I'm ready to go another round with you anytime, but be warned—I won't hold back this time!" This operation was crucial to Mason's position within the team. If he couldn't participate, all his previous groundwork would be worthless.
Recently, Heavy Duty had watched Mason spar with Snake Eyes. In hand-to-hand combat, even Snake Eyes struggled against Mason. If they fought a hundred times, Heavy Duty would lose every single one.
Mason had struck a nerve, and Heavy Duty dropped all pretense. "You're damn right I'm dissatisfied with you. If it weren't for General Hawk's direct orders, I never would've let a liability like you join this team."
"If you know what's good for you, I suggest you resign now. Otherwise, as long as I'm here, you'll never advance in this unit!" As the most senior member of G.I. Joe, Heavy Duty's words carried weight.
Beyond providing heavy weapons support, Heavy Duty possessed strong tactical awareness. As the team's operations captain, his opinion mattered.
Scarlett and Breaker clearly wanted to defend Mason, but Heavy Duty's expression turned ice-cold. "What are you all standing around for? Get back to gear prep. The transport's on the tarmac, ready to deploy on my order!"
During operations, as captain and acting commander, Heavy Duty had significant authority. The others hesitated, gave Mason sympathetic looks, and quickly departed.
After everyone left, only Mason and Heavy Duty remained in the room. Heavy Duty stepped forward and looked down at Mason. "Kid, you can't fool me. General Hawk's death is connected to you somehow. Sooner or later, I'll uncover your dirty secrets!"
Mason lowered his head, his expression cold and silent. In that moment, he made a decision—Heavy Duty had to die.
Watching the transport take off, Mason quickly returned to the equipment bay. A researcher in a lab coat approached him.
"Mason, your gear is ready. Want to test it out?"
"Show me."
Led by the researcher, Mason entered a spacious workshop filled with various specialized equipment.
The researcher pointed to a tactical belt on the workbench. "We modified this weapon according to your specifications. It mounts on a standard tactical belt, maximizing concealment and portability."
The researcher fastened the palm-width belt around Mason's waist.
"This system is biometrically locked to you. Just press down on both buckles simultaneously, and the stored metal components will deploy."
Mason followed the instructions, pressing lightly. With a sharp click, metal bands wrapped around his wrists, followed by several more crisp sounds.
When Mason raised his hands, the belt had vanished from his waist, replaced by a pair of gleaming silver metal gauntlets fitted seamlessly to his forearms.
"We're also developing nanotechnology, though we're still years behind MARS Industries. However, this tech combined with advanced alloys significantly improves tensile strength and impact resistance. The metal plating on your hands can withstand close-range rifle fire!"
Mason extended his hands, palms facing each other, then pressed them together. When he separated them, razor-sharp three-centimeter spikes extended from his fingertips. With minimal pressure, he easily scored deep grooves into the metal workbench.
"To be honest, we've manufactured plenty of firearms before. This is our first time creating a melee weapon system like this. But your concept has given us tremendous insight. Next iteration, we'll upgrade these gauntlets even further!" The researcher looked at the gauntlets like an artist admiring his masterpiece.
Mason nodded. "Thank you. I'm extremely satisfied with these."
Thanks to his accelerated learning ability, Mason's expertise in close-quarters combat was his greatest strength. As soon as he joined G.I. Joe, he'd proposed designing a pair of combat gauntlets.
In an ordinary soldier's hands, these might be less effective than a sidearm, but combined with Mason's superior physical capabilities, they could unleash devastating power!
With these, he was confident he could kill Snake Eyes in a direct confrontation.
He placed his hands on his waist, and with a series of soft metallic sounds, the gauntlets retracted back into an ordinary-looking belt. Mason pulled down his shirt, easily concealing the lethal weapon.
After returning to the common area, he waited patiently for the team's return. Sure enough, before long, he heard commotion outside. Scarlett and the others entered, escorting two American soldiers.
Mason's eyes flashed with interest, and he silently followed.
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