7 4 301 DialogEnable 1 Asimov The situation remains urgent. After confirming that there is no abnormality with the last section here, immediately proceed to the next area. 1
8 5 301 DialogDisable Your surroundings begin to distort immediately after departing the redundant block.
27 21 301 Aboard Babylonia's deep space colonial ship, "the last Eden of humankind."
28 22 301 After finishing their work, the crews walk around the crowded cafes and bars located in the leisure module.
29 23 301 A transport craft carrying Task Force members and support mechanoids leaves the port for the surface, while another with minerals and roughly processed industrial goods returns from the conservation area on the ground.
30 24 301 In the distance, members of the logistics team stand at attention to make way for the passing teacher and children.
31 25 301 The teacher salutes the logistics team after all the children have gone through.
32 26 301 Teacher Thank you for your service.
33 27 301 The logistics leader salutes in return.
34 28 201 1 500005
35 29 301 1 Logistics Officer Thank you everyone for your support! 1
36 30 202 1 1
37 31 301 AniZhuanchangBegin The logistics officers and children go their separate ways and proceed to their destinations.
48 42 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Worker A Did you hear the news? Is the leadership—om nom—haffing an—nom nom—emergeshy meeching today?
49 43 301 Worker B It's just another regular meeting. The President's not even there. And quit talking with your mouth full and finish your breakfast, will ya?
50 44 301 Worker A Gulp... I heard the engineering force had an urgent assembly this morning. Think everything's alright?
51 45 301 Worker B We got the Parliament and Gestalt in the sky, and the Task Force on the ground. What's there to worry about? Let's just mind our own business.
52 46 301 Worker A Guess you're right... ****, only six minutes left. Hope we can make it!
53 47 301 Worker B Don't come cryin' to me lookin' for meds if you get heartburns from eating on the road.
54 48 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Slightly flustered, the workers exit the stairwell and hurry toward Parliament.
104 98 301 Chief of Bridge Officers ...Asimov was just called into a meeting.
105 99 301 Technician In that case, I'll inform the Engineering Force, the Support Force, and the personnel on duty in the engine room first.
106 100 301 Controller Then I'll find someone to go to the conference room. Now is not the time to worry about interrupting a meeting.
107 101 301 But then, the controller notices a warning flashing on the nearby terminal, requesting immediate attention. The operator that should have been attending to it, however, is missing.
108 102 301 Controller Dammit... All hell has broken loose. Was he called to handle some other issue?
109 103 301 Controller The controller tries to operate the other terminal himself, but a more urgent situation suddenly appears on his own.
110 104 301 All he can do is operate the one in front of him and shout—
111 105 301 Controller I need a hand here—
112 106 201 1 500026
113 107 301 1 Lee Here. Give me access. 1
114 108 301 Lee quickly walks to the terminal and presses a button to activate it, expanding the interface.
115 109 301 Lee Gravity engines operating at 22.7%. Babylonia is falling. 1
116 110 301 Lee You have to deploy the Engineering and Support Forces to all energy sectors immediately. Where's Celica? 1
117 111 202 1 1
118 112 301 Controller Ms. Celica and President Hassen are in the conference room.
119 113 301 Controller ...Why are you here?
120 114 201 2 500166 600
121 115 201 3 1031001 -600
122 116 201 1 500026
123 117 301 1 The controller looks at Lee, and behind him stands Lucia, Liv, and...
124 118 301 Controller Commandant 【kuroname】, you and the Gray Ravens should be...
125 119 301 Lee We've just finished our mission and returned. 1
126 120 301 Lucia We wanted to report to Ms. Celica and President Hassen on the bridge first, but... 2
127 121 301 Military Construct Are you 【kuroname】 and the Gray Ravens?
128 122 302 Yes. 123
129 123 301 Military Construct Come with me. President Hassen wants to see you.
130 124 302 But... 125
131 125 301 Military Construct Save it for later.
132 126 302 ...You got it. 127
133 127 301 Lee Then let's go. Remember to contact the Engineering Force and the Support Force like I told you. 1
140 134 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Bridget ...****! What's wrong with the engines? Why have they all stalled?! 2
141 135 301 Bridget And... Gravity engines operating at 19.6%! We're still falling! 2
142 136 301 Karenina I was going to ask you! We've fallen almost 1,000 meters while we talk! 1
143 137 301 Bridget Forget it! We'd be fine as long as the power is restored, but the exhaust valve terminal keeps returning error messages! 2
144 138 301 Karenina Bridget! Tell your people to turn off the automatic controls of all the exhaust valves! If more than 5% of them are still blocked by the ****ing safety regulations, we're dead meat! 1
145 139 301 Bridget What do you think I'm doing! Team 4 and Team 8, are you in position?! 2
146 140 301 RImgBg1Shake Engineer Construct Boss! The secondary unit said that the R3 pipeline is also busted!
147 141 301 Bridget Dammit... If this keeps up, there's only one outcome. 2
148 142 204 1
149 143 301 Karenina What do you mean? 1
150 144 301 Bridget If we can't restore the engines, we 'll crash into the ground. 2
151 145 204 1 5
152 146 301 Karenina ...****! Babylonia will be blown to pieces long before we hit the ground! If the enemy has some goddamn railguns or anti-aircraft guns pointing at us once we're close enough— 1
153 147 301 Karenina Hurry up with the exhaust system restoration, or the core and the ejector will be gone! 1
154 148 301 Engineer Construct The staff from C1 and C2 dispersal systems have evacuated. Initiating exhaust ventilation! But...
155 149 301 Karenina But what?! 1
156 150 301 Engineer Construct The module's air conditioning system hasn't been switched to circulation mode, so the exhaust...
157 151 301 Karenina The exhaust isn't ventilating! Got it! I'll take care of it myself! 1
158 152 301 Bridget Really? But the exhaust outside is too hot! 2
159 153 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Karenina I'm a Construct! I'll be fine! Just disassemble me, hang me up, and clean my parts if things go south! 1
179 173 301 With no chair in his cabin, Hassen sat upright on his bed.
180 174 301 Having lived a modest life for so many years, Hassen remained remarkably stalwart even as the President.
181 175 301 He would wake up, shower, and go back and forth between his chamber and the bridge. With his minimalist lifestyle, no one cared if he were to leave his door open. Not even rats would visit such a plain chamber.
182 176 301 But this time, having just woken up, he had no intention to head to the bridge immediately.
183 177 201 1 500011
184 178 301 1 Hassen That nightmare again... 1
185 179 301 Hassen How many times has it been? 1
186 180 301 Hassen First, it was the "Downtown Tyrant", then the City 104, then... 1
187 181 301 Hassen Hmph... I'm gettin' old. My memory isn't quite like what it used to be. I can't remember much of anything anymore. 1
189 183 301 Hassen All of the people that I've met along the way... Are they all just faceless names now...? 1
190 184 301 Hassen quietly reached for his left eye and touched the eye patch made of cloth and metal. The doctors warned him not to open it except during routine check-ups at the infirmary.
191 185 301 Yet he still reached for it, knowing that only a hole remained.
192 186 301 And when his finger touched the cloth, he felt a sharp twinge of pain—something he wanted to feel right now.
193 187 301 Phantom pain surrounded the empty eye socket, gradually spreading down his neck to the other wounds on his body.
194 188 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Every wound the pain flowed through seemed to awaken something in his memories. Something that would otherwise fade away with age.
195 189 401 2 1516
196 190 401 1 202
197 191 301 AniZhuanchangEnd ??? President.
198 192 301 Hassen ... 1
199 193 203 1 0.25 -400
200 194 201 2 500001 400
201 195 301 1 Celica President? 2
202 196 301 Hassen ...Is it time? 1
203 197 301 Celica Everyone is waiting for you. 2
204 198 301 Hassen I'll be there momentarily. 1
205 199 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Hassen If the Gray Ravens return... Have them wait in the preparation room. 1
208 202 301 AniZhuanchangEnd The Babylonian conference room was bustling with a crowd of people.
209 203 401 1 1509
210 204 301 As the automatic doors opened, Hassen and Celica entered the conference room one after another, and the commotion of the crowd subsided in an instant.
211 205 301 Everyone had their eyes on Hassen, including Asimov and Nikola sitting off to the side. Hassen took his seat under their gazes.
212 206 201 1 500011 -400
213 207 201 2 500001 400
214 208 301 1 Hassen Celica, let's begin. 1
215 209 301 Celica Yes, President. Everyone, this is the situation we are facing now... 2
216 210 301 Celica said as she opened a series of high-definition remote sensing imagery on the holo-screen.
217 211 202 1 2 1
218 212 301 The first area to bear the brunt of the attack was the northern seaside, which has just begun to thaw. On the coastline, the destroyed ports and beyond show signs of damage, but the settlements are largely intact.
219 213 201 1 500001 4
220 214 301 1 Celica Prior to that, we experienced a wide range of data interference and jamming around New Murmansk. 1
221 215 301 Celica The jamming method was very similar to what we experienced at Venus Splash Park. We speculated that it was the work of an Ascendant, which was later confirmed by Team Ouroboros. 1
222 216 301 Celica Soon after that, the Forest Guard in New Sophiasburgh and the Forsaken stationed nearby began to mobilize towards New Murmansk. 1
223 217 201 1 500012
224 218 301 1 Nikola But subsequent surveillance records from Team Scarab and Team Caribou showed that both the Forest Guard and the Forsaken were impeded about 30 kilometers outside of New Murmansk. 1
225 219 201 1 500001 4
226 220 301 1 Celica ...Correct. They were stopped for three hours until the Ascendants retreated, letting the Forest Guard and Forsaken pass. 1
227 221 301 Celica We are still investigating the motive behind the Ascendants. 1
228 222 301 Celica As for reports on casualties... I know the data might seem ludicrous, but please believe the first-hand reports from our Support Force. 1
229 223 301 Celica The old Nefheim Institute sustained heavy damage, so almost all reports overestimated the casualty counts. But after over two weeks of search and rescue, we have found that the casualty is far below previous estimates. 1
230 224 201 1 500011 -400
231 225 201 2 500012 400
232 226 301 1 Nikola …Hmph, what was that? Were they pitying us? 2
233 227 301 Hassen What do you mean? Maybe it's just... Some people are just unreasonable. Whatever the reason... I'll take it as a sign of luck. 1
234 228 202 1 2 1
235 229 201 1 500004
236 230 301 1 Asimov President. 1
237 231 202 1 1
238 232 201 1 500011 -400 1
239 233 201 2 500012 400 1
240 234 301 1 Nikola I believe you are here just to observe and offer consultation. 2
241 235 301 Hassen That's fine, Asimov. Say what it is you have to say. 1
242 236 202 1 2 1
243 237 201 1 500004
244 238 301 1 Asimov This is more of a threat than it is luck. Based on the series of occurrences at New Murmansk— 1
245 239 301 Asimov I believe the Ascendants have shown significant strength, and the restrain to match it. 1
246 240 301 Asimov Unlike conventional artillery, they were capable of precision attacks. Otherwise, at least half of the people in New Murmansk would have died. 1
247 241 301 Asimov Whether it was a demonstration of strength or simply because there were hints of humanity within them—I couldn't care less. 1
248 242 301 Asimov What I care about the most is how will we view this threat? 1
249 243 301 Asimov Tifa, Metropolis, New Murmansk... After what happened in Metropolis, it is highly likely that they have control over Huaxu. 1
250 244 301 Asimov President, they aren't just a few dozen disorganized soldiers using rusty rifles and lies to catch us off guard. 1
251 245 301 Asimov They've already become a highly organized threat with targeted hostility towards Babylonia. 1
252 246 301 Asimov Therefore, my suggestion as a consultant is to fully disclose information on the Ascendants, and mobilize all of Babylonia—not just the Task Force—to deal with them. 1
253 247 202 1 1
254 248 201 1 500011 -400 1
255 249 201 2 500012 400 1
256 250 301 1 Nikola I agree. 2
257 251 301 Nikola I've always advocated taking the initiative with a full-scale attack. 2
258 252 301 Nikola Enlist everyone into combat roles, and push the Ascendants into our firing range through saturation attacks... 2
259 253 301 Hassen You're calling for the complete military mobilization of Babylonia. 1
260 254 301 Hassen I cannot agree to this. 1
261 255 301 Nikola Hmph, and that's one of the reasons why we haven't made any progress, isn't it? 2
262 256 301 Hassen ... 1
263 257 301 Nikola Hassen, I mean it this time. Now is the time to decide. 2
264 258 301 Nikola If there were nothing worth saving on the surface when we finally decide to launch a full-scale attack, it would be too late. 2
265 259 301 ...
266 260 301 An awkward and perilous silence hung over the conference room.
267 261 301 Celica looked at Asimov, who shrugged helplessly.
268 262 301 Everyone present could do nothing but look at Hassen and Nikola expectantly.
277 271 301 AniZhuanchangEnd Right at that moment, the unceasing buzzing of the alarm disrupted their confrontation.
278 272 201 1 500004
279 273 301 1 Asimov What's going on?! 1
280 274 201 1 500019
281 275 301 1 Logistics Construct It's an emergency! Mr. Asimov, come with me. Everyone else, please proceed to the shelter on 37C immediately! 1
282 276 201 1 500011
283 277 301 1 Hassen Hold it. What's going on? 1
284 278 201 1 500019
285 279 301 1 Logistics Construct The engine group has issued an alert throughout the entire ship. Power is decreasing, and Babylonia is entering a free fall! 1
286 280 201 1 500004
287 281 301 1 Asimov ...What?! How about the Engineering and Support Forces? 1
288 282 201 1 500019
289 283 301 1 Logistics Construct They're already at the scene, but they can't be certain that they can fix it! 1
290 284 201 1 500004
291 285 301 1 Asimov I'll be right there! Take everyone else to the shelter! 1
292 286 203 1 0.25 400
293 287 201 2 500011 -400
294 288 301 1 Hassen No, I'm coming with you. 2
295 289 301 Asimov ...I can't guarantee your safety. 1
296 290 301 Hassen You'll be in trouble if there is a button that says "highest clearance only," but no one with the clearance there to press it. 2
297 291 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Asimov Alright... If you insist. 1
302 296 301 AniZhuanchangEnd 1 Support Force The President and Chief Technician are here! 1
303 297 201 1 500167 5 400
304 298 201 2 1111001 -400
305 299 301 1 Bridget President! 1
306 300 204 2 5
307 301 301 Karenina President Hassen! What are you doing here?! 2
308 302 201 1 500011 -400
309 303 201 2 500004 400
310 304 301 1 Hassen We don't have time for that. What's the situation? 2
311 305 201 1 500167 4 400
312 306 201 2 1111001 -400
313 307 301 1 Bridget Our power has dropped to critical. 1
314 308 301 Bridget Now it's impossible to maintain orbital altitude. 1
315 309 301 Karenina Yeah, but the problem is... It's not an issue with the hardware. 2
316 310 203 1 0.25
317 311 203 2 0.25 -600
318 312 201 3 500004 600 1
319 313 301 1 Asimov ...What do you mean? 3
320 314 301 Karenina All of the gravity engines are stalling. 2
321 315 301 Karenina It seems that something is sending them a constant stream of forced shutdown commands. 2
322 316 301 Bridget What? 1
323 317 301 Asimov Even if you ignore this command, it initiates a countdown sequence, which overwrites the normal ignition command. 3
324 318 301 Karenina ...Hence the stalling. 2
325 319 301 Asimov As for the source... 3
326 320 301 Asimov ...They have to be direct commands from the head of the program, set with the highest priority to circumvent any interference from the fault-tolerant system. 3
327 321 301 Karenina ...Call me crazy, but I think there's something wrong with Gestalt. 2
328 322 301 Asimov How is that possible... 3
329 323 202 1 2 3 1
330 324 201 1 500011
331 325 301 1 Hassen We can figure that out later. Karenina, how sure are you? 1
332 326 201 1 1111001
333 327 301 1 Karenina About sixty percent. Regardless, there isn't an issue with the hardware. 1
334 328 301 At this time, Hassen's portal terminal suddenly rang. He opened the terminal before looking up at Asimov.
335 329 201 1 500011
336 330 301 1 Hassen Karenina and Asimov, come with me. And ask someone to bring the Gray Ravens to the conference room. 1
337 331 301 Hassen Looks like we'll have to put the discussion we planned with them on hold and solve the issue at hand. 1
338 332 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Hassen Bridget, take some men to try and restore the thrust. Buy us as much time as you can. 1
342 336 301 AniZhuanchangEnd After anxiously waiting, you are called to the conference room.
343 337 302 What's going on? 338
344 338 201 1 500011 -400
345 339 201 2 500004 400
346 340 301 1 Hassen ...I'm sorry. Unfortunately, we don't have time to have our discussion as originally planned. We have to concentrate on dealing with the current crisis. 1
347 341 301 Hassen Asimov. 1
348 342 301 Asimov Um let me see... Well, this is not what I was expecting, so pardon me while I try to figure out how to phrase it... 2
349 343 301 Asimov Alright, well... 2
350 344 202 1 1
351 345 203 2 0.25
352 346 301 Asimov As you can see, the ship is at 10% power, and reports show four groups of gravity engines being taken over and locked in to propel in the opposite direction at maximum capacity, causing our rapid descent. 2
353 347 301 Asimov While we speak, Babylonia is plummeting towards the ground at an increasing speed. 2
354 348 301 Asimov The cause of this crisis is unknown. I speculated that it was from an update made to Gestalt... but I have just discovered a vulnerability in the program. I'm sure you understand the seriousness of such ramifications. 2
355 349 301 Asimov I know you have many questions, but there's no time for details. So consider the following an order— 2
356 350 301 Asimov To identify and solve this problem, I need you to carry out an emergency operation. 2
357 351 301 アシモフ We will use the tactical environment simulation interface, Spear of F.O.S., from the Military Academy as assistance. 2
358 352 301 Asimov As a tactical environment simulation system, it will translate the data in front of you into comprehensible intel and provide tactical evaluations and suggestions. 2
359 353 301 Asimov If the situation allows you to connect directly with Babylonia, it can also provide additional functions... But that depends on what happens on the scene. 2
360 354 301 Asimov However, you will only need to use the graphical interface inside Gestalt for now. We'll talk about the rest later. 2
361 355 301 Asimov The way this works, Gray Raven, is that you will "infiltrate" Gestalt. 2
362 356 301 Asimov In short, I will export your M.I.N.D.s and your commandant's consciousness as virtual programs and upload them into the Gestalt, where you will uncover the issue and resolve it. 2
363 357 302 Care to explain? 359 This order seems like an act of desperation! 359 Alright, understood. 358
364 358 372 301 Asimov Of course, a veteran of your caliber can easily understand the situation at hand when I have yet to grasp what is happening. 2
365 359 301 Asimov Huh? Do I really need to explain further... Good grief. 2
366 360 301 Asimov Long story short, Babylonia lacks power and is currently falling out of orbit, as you know. 2
367 361 301 Asimov The fundamental cause is Gestalt blocking ignition commands to the engines. 2
368 362 301 Asimov Now, for some reason, Gestalt has activated strict anti-interference protocols, which are blocking access from all programs. 2
369 363 301 Asimov So I came up with an idea, using your M.I.N.D.s as access channels while using the military exercise version of Spear of F.O.S., a command assistant program, as your graphical interface. 2
370 364 301 Asimov Clear so far? I'll load the Constructs' M.I.N.D.s into the virtual space in the form of a "virtual program," then I'll install authorization on your commandant's terminal. 2
371 365 301 Asimov If you can't wrap your head around it, think of yourselves as characters in a video game, and the commandant is the one on the controller. 2
372 366 301 Asimov Then you infiltrate Gestalt, find out why it triggered the lockdown, and resolve the issue. That's it. 2
373 367 301 Asimov This is the only solution I can think of for our current debacle. We have no other choice. 2
374 369 301 Asimov I will continue to monitor your status and help you locate the vulnerability in Gestalt in real-time. But, enough talking... You'll learn more once you are in the immersion process. 2
375 370 301 Asimov I'll ask one more time. Do you remember everything I just said? 2
376 371 302 ...Yes. 372
377 372 301 AniZhuanchangBegin With that, Asimov pushes you into the immersion frame behind you.
382 377 301 AniZhuanchangEnd As the door closes, the ear-piercing alarm, the cries from the residents... All noise comes to an abrupt halt as you descend into darkness.
