act25side

The voices within the Department of Defense have grown increasingly hawkish, and a number of troubling signs have already appeared. They're hedging their bets on the research and development of similar era-defining strategic weapons.

And that's how Kristen caught the military's eye?

Correct. Kristen became the military's core technical advisor.

In a very short period of time, she submitted the proposal for the 'Horizon Arc Project,' planned the construction of the Arc-01 superweapon, and quickly began its implementation.

The military has devoted a vast amount of resources to it, and as such, Rhine Lab has enjoyed greater policy-side support for quite some time now.

This is why Rhine has been able to stand head and shoulders above many other tech companies in Trimounts.

According to the information we have on hand, the construction of Arc-01 required digging complex S.H.A.F.T.s as well as erecting a H.A.M.H.R.R. at our aircrafts' altitude limit.

A monumental project indeed, and the military has spared no expense in the effort.

I imagine the man in front of you who fell from the sky was a part of this project.

Saria's eyes shift from the factory ruins to the sky above her.

Using the sky as an intermediary transfer node?

We don't know the specific conceptual design, or how it's implemented...

Using the sky as a transfer node to focus or redirect an enormous amount of energy, so as to achieve a powerful strike over extreme distance...

In theory, that is indeed possible...

But would Kristen really help the military construct a superweapon?

Looks like you didn't get the answer you wanted.

I knew from the beginning. This just makes it more apparent.

A good politician would never rush to make his stance clear. At least for now, they don't want us taking over the project that fast.

And how do they intend to do that?

It's simple. All they need to do is delay. If we say that efficiency is the pursuit of scientific research, then, Ferdinand, 'delay' is the preferred tool of these politicians.

When the Singas administration first entered negotiations in Congress to reclaim the Woods Company's logging camp, virtually no progress was made in three years. It took the latter party losing control of the area.

They want to delay until we have our hands full, until we lose faith in that damned 'Horizon Arc Project,' until it doesn't matter anymore.

You've already been on-site, right? What are your conclusions?

It was indeed the test flight of Arc-01's H.A.M.H.R.R.

The sky appears clear, but it is far from being a safe haven. Kristen will need to test the new pressure and navigation system, a trial-and-error process that may need more than one flight.

I'm more curious about the military-controlled S.H.A.F.T. at the bottom of Arc-01. Where did Kristen launch a beast of that size?

The H.A.M.H.R.R.'s black box still hasn't been found? By tracing its routing data, we can triangulate the position of the launch site and locate Kristen.

We already conducted a full-scale search in District 13. Came up empty.

Someone managed to retrieve the black box at the very beginning.

Any possibility it might've been destroyed, given an explosion of that scope...?

(Shakes head)

Kristen has already been missing for two weeks. She may have already obtained the experimental data she wanted in the black box, but she still doesn't want us to find her.

In other words, the so-called 'Horizon Arc Project,' propped up by the military itself, is completely out of the military's hands.

The longer the delay, the more variables there will be.

I know.

It's me.

That's right. Jackson had no intention of talking things through with us.

Me? Why would I have anything to hide? Go ask the agent sent to spy on Kristen...

Understood. I won't give an inch. I'll resolve this situation post-haste.

Wait, what did you say?

That's...

Alright, I understand.

You don't look so good, Colonel.

You're right, Ferdinand. We can't let ourselves get bogged down any longer.

The fact that Kristen went AWOL while the military had eyes on her precisely shows that the project has progressed to a near-feasible state.

She might've defrauded her investors.

We have our suspicious as well, but you seem pretty sure of it, Saria.

Because I know her well enough.

Oh?

Since its establishment, Rhine Lab has been committed to breakthrough research in civilian technology, and rarely intersects with the military. Kristen herself has no interest in it.

Furthermore...

If the 'sky' were part of her research plans, it would not be a means, but rather her ultimate objective.

The Wrights?

Precisely.

'We haven't even explored everything these lands have to offer, and have only just begun measuring the heights of the skies. Why fly to such high places in vain?'

I still remember that comment in the newspaper made by the hovercraft expert, Stevenson, after the Wrights' test flight crashed.

It encapsulated his regret for the death of the genius scientists, but has been twisted out of context as 'accurate peer review.' How ironic that it's become a weapon used against the Wrights.

I'd like to hear more.

Stevenson had a very good relationship with the Wrights, and even looked after Kristen to some degree after their passing. Later, Kristen was able to get on track in academia thanks to his recommendation.

A substantial secret that even I'm not aware of.

But, the relationship between Stevenson and Kristen is not a cozy one. She inherited her parents' obsession with the skies, and does not expect others to understand.

She abhors the sky, Tin Man.

It can't be a coincidence that Transmitter appeared at the scene of the accident, but what exactly is the connection between Transmitter and the explosion?

Did the things used in this factory require Transmitters? I recall no such relationships between Triton Chemicals and Rhine Lab. Or, perhaps, the Transmitter had something to do with the ring-shaped mechanical object that smashed through the factory building...

Saria's too far away. I can't hear what she's saying...

Maybe I can try moving the drone a bit closer.

An unidentified drone has been shot down.

Oh no...

Miss, show me your security clearance.

Don't have one? District 13 is under temporary lockdown. I'm gonna have to ask you to come with me.

I'm a worker at the Triton factory. I had the day off today, but I heard the factory exploded... so I came here to see what's going on.

If you're a worker at the factory, then explain the drone. And don't say you have nothing to do with it.

I—

She's going to photograph the site.

Marianne...?!

Is it really you? Oh my g—

Marianne...

The last time I heard that name... was forty years.

You're talking about that press conference, right? It was right around the time your last movie came out, you told the world you got hurt in a Catastrophe while shooting the thing, and you retired to behind-the-scenes work...

My dad goes nuts every time he talks about you!

He's got your complete filmography collection, and we've watched every movie ten times over!

I still remember 'The Spy Catchers'! You caught saw the spy on the shore and leapt straight off that cruise ship! That was something...

You just melt into every role you play. Today's mass-produced Wrankwood stars could take a cue or two from you.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, the only role Marianne plays these days is a negotiator of employee salaries.

You're...

Director of Human Resources at Rhine Lab, Jara Booker Wilson. This is my clearance. I have a house in District 13.

This woman is indeed a Triton employee. Rhine Lab and Triton Chemicals had a number of... disagreements. Just like the corporate struggles in 'The Spy Catcher'...

I know. This is Trimounts, after all.

A subsidiary factory suddenly went up in flames. If photos from the scene hit the tabloids, that would send Triton down in scandal. This is her housewarming gift for joining Rhine.

That would indeed be a violation of military regulations. Fortunately, the drone's been shot down, so the photos won't leak.

Now then, let's move on and discuss your job-hopping.

...Sure.

But let me add something first. Isn't it a little unreasonable to suddenly ask the locals to lock themselves inside and wait for updates before they can do anything?

We're just following orders.

Miss Marianne, I... I want to trust you. So, both of you, please leave. No exceptions.

Your name's Silence, right? I remember you were helping Parvis bring me some black bean tea.

Director Jara, does this have something to do with Rhine Lab?

That's why you snuck in here?

There are... some things I need to make sure of.