Chapter 80 The Awe-Inspiring Retribution Space Carrier

“The Retribution space carrier?”

Ethan examined the side-mission reward in surprise.

He had never expected to receive a genuine space carrier. Had the reward been influenced by the fact that the side mission took place at Group 935’s lunar base?

The Retribution originated from the world of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare. It was the last surviving space carrier in that world’s Earth fleet.

This vessel was entirely different from the helicarriers constructed by S.H.I.E.L.D., which relied on antigravity engines and contemporary technology and could only operate within Earth’s atmosphere.

The Retribution was a true interstellar warship capable of traveling between the planets of the solar system.

Although the civilization in Infinite Warfare had only recently entered the interstellar age, the Retribution had been one of its fleet’s flagships. Neither its displacement nor its combat power could be underestimated.

On present-day Earth, its capabilities would be unrivaled.

The Retribution was not the most powerful warship in the Infinite Warfare universe, but its performance still placed it among the best vessels in that world.

It measured 637 meters in length, 75 meters in height, and 212 meters in width.

Its maximum conventional propulsion speed reached 220,000 kilometers per hour. It also possessed a faster-than-light engine, enabling it to maneuver rapidly throughout the solar system.

As a carrier, the Retribution could accommodate twenty Jackal space fighters and four Raven transport craft.

Its onboard weaponry included eighty missile-launch cells, six large space-torpedo pods, and eight close-in point-defense systems.

The Jackal was a standard spaceplane.

Judged by modern fighter classifications, it could be considered a 6.5-generation fighter. Each Jackal was armed with two 30-millimeter autocannons, two 50-millimeter cannons, and eight AGM missiles capable of engaging various targets.

Outside the atmosphere, the Jackal’s performance surpassed that of Yukikaze and the Light Cavalry, neither of which had undergone space-combat modifications.

Inside an atmosphere, however, the Jackal would be thoroughly outmaneuvered by Yukikaze and the Light Cavalry.

After all, the Jackal was designed primarily for space combat, while Yukikaze and the Light Cavalry possessed terrifying atmospheric maneuverability. Their only limitation was that they could not operate in outer space without extensive modifications.

Even so, the twenty Jackals aboard the Retribution could effortlessly seize air superiority over any region on Earth.

More importantly, the warship was now the key to getting Ethan’s force off the Moon.

In theory, they could fight their way back underground and use the teleporter to return to Earth.

Doing so, however, would be far too dangerous.

According to Group 935’s logs, the teleporter beneath the lunar base had suffered extensive damage. It could only transport a limited number of people at a time and was highly unstable.

If they fought their way through the endless horde and tried to evacuate through that machine, the team would inevitably suffer unnecessary casualties.

Natasha and Skye had clearly reached the same conclusion.

Not long after Ethan claimed his reward, Black Widow entered the archives with a deeply worried expression.

“Mr. Ethan, we’ve finished reviewing the files. The underground teleporter is currently the only way to travel between Earth and the Moon.”

“The risk is far too great.”

Natasha appeared to make a firm decision.

“The Foundation only became trapped here because you came to investigate our disappearance. Earth cannot afford to lose your leadership.”

“If necessary, Skye and I are willing to remain behind and hold off the horde while the rest of you return to Earth first.”

Ethan looked at Natasha and Skye.

Both women wore solemn expressions, as though they were ready to sacrifice themselves at any moment.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“There’s no need to be so dramatic, Agent Natasha, Agent Skye. The situation hasn’t reached that point.”

“We have transportation.”

Natasha and Skye stared at him with wide eyes.

“Sir, I don’t mean to question you,” Skye said incredulously, “but we’re inside a facility on the Moon.”

“You can’t possibly have something here capable of taking all of us back to Earth… can you?”

“To be honest, I hadn’t planned to reveal another of the Foundation’s trump cards.”

Ethan shrugged.

“But since we’re stranded on the Moon, I suppose I don’t have much choice.”

He adjusted his military cap and clapped his hands.

“All right, beautiful ladies. Prepare to board our transportation and enjoy a special flight from the Moon to Earth.”

Faced with Ethan’s mysterious smile, Natasha and Skye could only follow him out.

The moment they left the archives, Gwen and Elivise hurried over.

Gwen leaned closer to Natasha.

“Ms. Natasha, Ms. Skye, did Commander Ethan say how we’re getting home?”

“Mr. Ethan said there’s a flight from the Moon to Earth waiting to take us back.”

“A flight from the Moon to Earth?!”

Gwen and Elivise exclaimed simultaneously.

Excitement immediately appeared on Gwen’s face.

As a high school student, the idea of traveling between Earth and the Moon was irresistible.

Would they be taking a rocket?

Or perhaps some kind of spaceship?

2B approached Ethan and reported.

“Commander, the space carrier you dispatched has reached lunar orbit and is approaching the base.”

“Have them dock at the base’s shuttle port,” Ethan instructed. “Although that docking interface is far too small for the entire ship…”

“Leave part of the MTF garrison here and replenish their supplies. The rest of us will return to Earth aboard the carrier.”

“We’ll need this base in the future. Tell the engineering teams to prepare plans for its renovation and expansion.”

“Understood, Commander.”

2B glanced at the data displayed before her.

“The carrier has arrived and is adjusting its orbit in preparation for docking.”

Ethan stopped walking.

Everyone else abandoned what they were doing and stared in astonishment at the colossal vessel appearing outside the base.

At more than six hundred meters long, the Retribution dwarfed every conventional aircraft carrier on Earth.

The immense steel behemoth slowly maneuvered into position before the lunar base’s docking port.

Natasha, Skye, Elivise, and Gwen stared at it in stunned silence.

Compared to their astonishment, Ethan and 2B remained remarkably calm.

2B had witnessed far grander sights. In her world, the androids had constructed an enormous lunar base, and she was accustomed to seeing colossal mechanical structures.

Although this was Ethan’s first time seeing the Retribution in reality, he was intimately familiar with it from the game.

He knew the ship’s internal structure so well that he could navigate it with his eyes closed. Consequently, its appearance did not excite him nearly as much.

The Retribution might be an enormous vessel more than six hundred meters long, but in Ethan’s eyes, it was still merely a small ship.

Compared to the truly powerful warships constructed by advanced spacefaring civilizations, the Retribution could only be regarded as something comparable to a light frigate or patrol vessel.

“All right, ladies.”

Ethan calmly gestured toward the carrier.

“Welcome aboard our special Earth–Moon flight—the Retribution.”

He introduced the carrier as casually as if it were an ordinary passenger plane, then took the lead and entered the vessel through the docking passage with the familiarity of someone returning home.

The moment Ethan stepped aboard, his communication device vibrated several times as it received a series of messages.

“Commander, welcome aboard the Retribution.”

“I am Rear Admiral John Alder, captain of this vessel.”

“All eight hundred crew members and Marines aboard the Retribution are honored to serve you.”

Natasha, Skye, Elivise, Gwen, and the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents stared at everything around them as if they were trapped in a dream.

The Foundation was already powerful enough to possess its own space carrier.

Looking at the advanced equipment throughout the vessel, the stunned S.H.I.E.L.D. agents behaved like country bumpkins visiting a city for the first time. They quietly followed every instruction given by the Foundation personnel.

They did not have much of a choice.

If they refused to board the Foundation’s ship, there would be no ticket home.