Chapter 29: Crimson Retaliation
The moment the God Warden’s announcement about Data Vault Alpha echoed through the merged CommNet, Genesis Outpost #7’s private channel absolutely exploded with cheers.
It was like their favorite sports team had just scored the winning goal in the championship game against their most hated rivals.
Bigtony77: YEAH! Ryan Stone! You are the man! Blue Falcons! Take that, Crimson Crows!
Princessfluffybutt: Oh, wonderful! Mr. Stone is so brave and clever! Maybe he can find a Data Vault full of lost kittens next! Go Blue Falcons!
Confusedcarl: My elbows are doing a victory dance! One vault down! Ryan Stone is our hero! This is almost as exciting as when I found that perfectly round pebble!
Emma_Sage_Thorne [Private #7]: Excellent work, Ryan! That puts serious pressure on Outpost #12. We’re tracking another potential Vault signature in the western sector. Jennifer and I are en route.
Even Scarlett "Red" Viper sent a brief, approving message in the private channel:
Scarlett_Red_Viper [Private #7]: Well done, Stone. Speed and initiative are key. Maintain the momentum.
Ryan, basking in the virtual cheers [and Scarlett’s rare praise], switched over to the merged CommNet channel. He was very curious to see how the Crimson Banner, and especially their arrogant leader Tom "Shadow" Kane, were reacting to this early setback.
For a few moments, the Crimson Banner side of the CommNet was conspicuously silent. It was the kind of silence that usually comes after someone has said something incredibly foolish and is now realizing it, or after a loudmouth has just been spectacularly proven wrong.
Ryan imagined a lot of surprised sputtering and dropped datachips over in Outpost #12’s virtual headquarters.