3 3 301 DialogEnable The research laboratory is as deserted as ever, save for the cold, uncaring glow of a small display, where digits skip and change in the corner of the room.
4 4 301 In front of the display is Asimov, his head in his arms on the table. Next to him is a cup of cold coffee and a sandwich untouched for way too long.
5 5 301 "New Year" is approaching, according to the traditional lunar calendar.
6 6 301 The room would have been fittingly lonely if not for Asimov's slow, heavy breaths.
7 7 201 1 1031001
8 8 301 1 Liv Asimov? 1
9 9 301 Liv Asimov, sir... Please wake up. 1
10 10 201 1 500004
11 11 301 PanelActor1Shake 1 Asimov What did I... Huh, I fell asleep. 1
12 12 201 1 1031001
13 13 301 1 Liv Sorry to disturb your rest. I'm here to deliver Gray Raven's data on our session in the battle simulation. 1
14 14 202 1 1
15 15 301 The four of you stare as Asimov gulps down his cold coffee with furrowed brows, and he does not look at you until he has settled himself.
16 16 201 1 500004
17 17 301 1 Asimov ...How many times have you run the sim? Have you gotten the hang of the "Combat Unit Booster", or are you still... 1
18 18 201 1 500026
19 19 301 1 Lee 47 times. We've more or less grasped how to make use of this mechanoid. 1
20 20 301 Lee Overall speaking, there doesn't seem to be any issues, functionality-wise. But given the differences between our frames, you should probably focus on the battle data of Lucia and me. 1
21 21 301 Lee Although... "Combat Unit Booster" is quite a mouthful, isn't it? 1
22 22 201 1 500004
23 23 301 1 Asimov Just call it a CUB. 1
24 24 201 1 1031001
25 25 301 1 Liv ...CUB? That does seem pretty fitting, and it sounds... it sounds cute... 1
26 26 201 1 500004
27 27 301 1 Asimov I've been asleep for... 1
28 28 301 Asimov takes a look at the digits on the display.
29 29 301 Asimov 75 minutes. Based on your past data and my projections, you should have been able to complete 4 to 5 runs during this timespan. 1
30 30 301 Asimov I hope you didn't slow down just to give me a more diverse set of data. You know how deeply I care about your test results. 1
31 31 201 1 500166
32 32 301 1 Lucia Don't worry, Asimov. Commandant has also participated in the simulation... 1
33 33 201 1 500004
34 34 301 1 Asimov I didn't realize you're here as well, 【kuroname】... and I don't remember asking for your involvement if I'm being honest. 1
35 35 301 Asimov turns his chair toward you, his fingers crossed under his chin.
36 36 302 My team's mission is my mission. 37 Whoa, the bags under your eyes have gotten worse! 38
37 37 39 301 Asimov Save it. 1
38 38 301 Asimov Mind your own business! 1
39 39 301 Asimov Forget it. Now that you're here, I'll save myself the legwork and explain the project to you altogether. 1
40 40 301 He sighs, trying to figure out how to phrase his explanation in layman's terms.
41 41 301 Asimov First, just to clarify, I wasn't stealing your team behind your back... It's just that the drones we're developing this time are not your conventional mechanoids. 1
42 42 301 Asimov They can connect to the M.I.N.D. and behave according to a Construct's thoughts. 1
43 43 301 Asimov But they're not controlled by the Constructs. They function with their own AI systems—they're designed to be combat "partners" of a Construct squad. 1
44 44 203 1 0.25 400
45 45 201 2 500166 -400
46 46 301 1 Lucia ..."Partners"? Aren't they just armed drones? 2
47 47 301 Asimov Compared to their combat capability, we wanted to focus more on CUBs' abilities to stabilize the M.I.N.D., which is why we designed them in the form of animal companions. 1
48 48 201 1 500026 400
49 49 201 2 1031001 -400
50 50 301 1 Lee Would that actually work...? 1
51 51 301 Liv Theoretically, it would. Pets are human companions, after all! With them by our side, we would naturally feel calmer... 2
52 52 301 Lee Are they "pets," though? They look more like the monsters in the ancient texts found in Kowloong. 1
53 53 202 1 2 1
54 54 201 1 500004
55 55 301 1 Asimov We commissioned Leonie from the WGAA to design their appearances, so their looks are heavily influenced by her artistic sensibilities. If you have complaints, she's the one you're looking for. 1
56 56 203 1 0.25 400
57 57 201 2 500026 -400
58 58 301 1 Lee It's fine. I'm not that obsessed with appearances... 2
59 59 301 Asimov Anyway, these CUBs are created to help Constructs maintain their human cognitions—a sense of security, belonging, protective instincts... These can all stabilize your M.I.N.D. 1
60 60 302 Sounds like the role of a commandant. 61
61 61 301 Asimov True, but not every squad comes with a commandant as reliable as you are, do they? Given how much it takes to develop a commandant and the rate we're losing them... We have to find a suitable alternative. 1
62 62 301 Asimov And that is why the data with a commandant's involvement would be inaccurate. 1
63 63 302 That's why you didn't ask me to participate in the simulations. 64
64 64 301 Lee If you're hoping to test a team-support model, you'd need to make sure it's compatible with different types of Constructs. You can't do that only with simulations on Babylonia. 2
65 65 301 Asimov Therefore, I've also requested other... "tests." Speaking of which, it should be time— 1
66 66 202 1 2 1
67 67 301 An animated firework pops up on Asimov's comms interface with the word "Happy New Year!", seemingly anticipating his responses. But Asimov simply ignores it and enters the comms channel straight away.
82 82 301 1 Celica Of course—I'm sorry we have to ask Gray Raven to crunch again. And Asimov, I know you meant it, but I'm still hoping that you'll pay attention to your work-life balance. 1
86 86 301 1 Hassen Is it my turn, Celica? Hello, Gray Raven, thank you for your work. 2
87 87 301 Hassen Based on what we discussed with Asimov earlier and his applications, 【kuroname】, we have to ask you to leave on your own. 2
88 88 302 On my own... 90 What did I do? 89
89 89 301 Hassen Nothing! We literally need you to leave for a one-person journey. 2
90 90 301 Hassen Simply put—Asimov, maybe you should do the briefing instead. It's your request, after all. You'll probably explain the mission details better. 2
95 95 301 1 Asimov To support the development of CUBs, I require as many sets of data as possible. Among them is a group that requires my extra attention, but whose data is fairly inaccessible—the older models of Constructs. 1
96 96 201 1 500026
97 97 301 1 Lee Older models? From what I know, they've all been decommissioned... 1
111 111 301 Hassen Very wise of you. As long as you know where you stand. 1
112 112 301 Hassen I understand, I do. As one of the decision-makers in Babylonia, I wouldn't have sent my best soldier to work with a third party unless it's absolutely necessary— 1
113 113 301 Hassen "Unless." Asimov should probably be the one to elaborate. 1
116 116 301 Asimov It's simple—let the Forsaken participate in the trial and send their data back. I need as many sets as possible, including but not limited to the two teams we sent earlier and... the others on the surface. 1
119 119 301 1 Hassen As to how you actually get the data... 1
120 120 301 Hassen The good news is that the Forsaken has agreed to work with us. We're providing them with supplies and a recycling arrangement, both of which they find very agreeable during the winter—or so it seems. 1
121 121 301 Hassen The bad news is that we can only send one person to the surface. On your own, literally, and no Constructs allowed. 1
122 122 302 So you already have an arrangement. 123 So it can only be me. 123
123 123 301 Hassen That's right. We can only send in one person for the transfer with the Forsaken and handle the data retrieval, and our best candidate is none other than you, 【kuroname】. 1
124 124 301 Hassen It's nearing the end of the year, so the Forsaken campsite is going to look a little strange. But, they have guaranteed to protect you at all costs. 1
128 128 301 1 Lucia ...Hold on, are you saying that Commandant has to carry out this mission alone? 1
129 129 301 Asimov The three of you still have to stay and carry out more tests. As to Hassen, you should know the way he does things better than I do. 2
133 133 301 1 Hassen We've arranged for you a specific vehicle and real-time tracking. According to the plan, you'll be transferring the supplies at the outposts along the way. 1
134 134 301 Hassen The correspondence team and the extraction team have already landed. You will be assigned to the supply convoy in the corresponding areas so we can coordinate more easily. 1
135 135 301 Hassen Well, that's all for the small talk. 1
136 136 301 Hassen 【kuroname】, you have two hours to prepare. See you on the bridge. 1
