act25side

7:45 P.M., H.A.M.H.R.R. now at upper S.H.A.F.T.

Incredible.

I've always wondered how you learned to fight so well, busy with all those research projects.

And I thought I made efficient use of my time. Do you never sleep?

What are you doing here?

Ferdinand.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Saria. After forcibly entering a Trimountian military spec ops bureau, what could <i>you</i> possibly be doing?

Let me guess. You want to find something to chase after that airborne gizmo.

Maybe hijack a heavy duty army drone and tie yourself onto it, for example?

Or is that thinking a little too simple, Director Saria? I never took you for the impulsive type.

Out of the way, Ferdinand. I have no time to argue with you right now.

Would you look at that, how sad. The only three... well, fine, Scientific Investigation's doesn't count. The only two Directors Control left out of her incredible master plan just happen to have gathered here.

What do you want to do? Stop the madwoman?

Or... save her?

I have no need to tell you anything.

I assure you, I don't mean to criticize your relationship with Kristen.

I was just waiting for you.

Listen, Saria. I'm not here to get in your way.

I said, out of the way.

And I said, 'listen.'

...That's the sound of an aircraft.

Ferdinand, where is that one from?

The 'Horizon Arc Project' isn't just that superweapon Kristen's floating through the air. It's a complete strategic program.

I tapped into some connections to borrow an aircraft they use to service 'Arc-01,' and blew up the rest while I was at it.

Let me be clear. Look across all of Columbia, and you'll find very few passenger aircraft safely able to fly near barrier altitude.

They won't need much time to scramble high-altitude craft from the District, but for you, and for me, that time is more than enough.

You're proposing a collaboration.

You believe—that you're seriously qualified for this?

There's the same old Saria I know.

As though you'd have the ability to quell every single problem, even if I wasn't there to help.

But I don't have a single shred of doubt about this.

In your own words, there is no reason we should clash.

H.A.M.H.R.R. has reached the S.H.A.F.T.'s aerial space, and the S.H.A.F.T. has begun accumulating energy.

If we let this situation unfold as is, then no matter what Kristen's up to, this <i>will</i> end with the Department of Defense exposed to the winds of scrutiny.

And I'm sure we all know how Rhine Lab, as an 'accessory' to it, will end up.

And whether it be as a clandestine military proxy, or a former Director of Rhine Lab, you'll be finished, Ferdinand.

Exactly.

But I'm not about to give in.

We can still make it in time.

We can bring H.A.M.H.R.R. back down again in a safe descent before the energy excitation, and then there will be room to pull everything back.

And is it your life you're looking to redeem, or Rhine Lab?

Does it matter?

You'll have to be franker than that, Ferdinand.

You've been ready with this aircraft. You've been anticipating that Kristen could get this far.

Here I'd thought the busywork at Defense had ground away all your researcher's insight.

Still, I've been ready for less time than you think.

Do you honestly believe this adventure of yours will rescue anything?

If you didn't think so, then why would you be here?

Do you know what feeling has struck me deeper than anything else lately?

I feel like nobody cares about Rhine Lab's reputation.

Everyone else is either out to see what research funds Rhine can get them, or their only interest is in what Kristen's doing.

You may have considered how Kristen leaves the picture, but have you considered what will become of the company afterwards?

Yes, I know, you've all been captured by her charm and charisma.

With a little soul-searching, I have to wonder if I wasn't too? Of course I was.

But Rhine Lab is ours, of the blood <i>we</i> shed. I can't accept her setting fire to everything that I gave the sweat of my brow for.

No matter what reason drives it.

So I can swallow being a tuskbeast of the military, because I want to pull Rhine back from the brink. Is that so wrong?

I never thought I'd see you telling me this sort of thing.

They're very Director of Defense-like words, aren't they?

Frankly, I should be getting a cut of your salary for it.

I am no longer the Director of Defense.

Fine. Once the dust settles on all this, I'll talk with Jara about getting a raise.

You'll need to be reemployed first.

Still, you were right about one thing.

Rescuing Rhine... is far from my only aim.

I need Rhine, and Rhine needs me. That's my assessment, borne of reason and emotion.

However—

To put it bluntly, I'm curious.

This is Kristen we're talking about. We know Kristen. The army wants to think she's out to blow something up, which is stupid.

After working with her for so long, we know what kind of woman she is, and of course, you would understand her better than I ever could.

Saria, tell me straight. What's going on in that brain of hers?

How far is she going to take this?

I can conjecture.

Conjecture. Very cautious terminology.

Go on, then. Are you conjecturing or not?

Those drones currently on the attack may be unable to pierce H.A.M.H.R.R.'s armor for the time being, and cannot reach its altitude of hover.

But shooting down this maintenance aircraft of yours would be simple enough for them.

My guess is, the military and Maylander are deploying even greater firepower right now. Specialist drones capable of even higher altitudes. Even landing craft to convey troops. Their involvement in the front line is only a matter of time.

We need to get your little craft, with near to no armor and not a single weapon installed, straight through a net of drone fire.

This definitely carries a little risk.

I'll pilot.

Suit yourself.

Are you actually able to run this thing, though?

...I learned, once. In college.

7:50 P.M., H.A.M.H.R.R. altitude 3000 meters

Ungh...

It seems like... the Transmitter response... has started growing stronger.

It should be... right around here.

Still no good!

Energy readout's completely blanked!

You can't stop it?

Not that! The thing's blown past max display capacity!

There's nothing in the manuals for this!

Then to hell with the manual! I want solutions, dammit!

No, no, no, the entire facility's energy supply lines should be cut by now, all of them...

This energy... where the heck it coming from?

So you're telling me, this energy is enough to turn us to ash with just one lick, but it's just coming out of thin air?

Uh, the burden is on you to prove that hypothesis...

Shut up, and keep giving me solutions, or I'll hurl you straight in there!

Let me just give it another once-over, pipelines... switches... energy nodes...