act6d5

You've dispatched Rhodes Island's operators to assist the L.G.D. in securing the urban districts, and that is the greatest of help to us.

Is Chief Wei here——? Ahem!

I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...! You, you're....

The leader of our partner organization, Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. I believe we can put it that way for now. 'Doctor' is the appropriate form of address.

S-s-s-s-so sorry, Doctor! And Chief Wei, what's going on outside?

All information on the 'Terracottas' has been disseminated to all members of the L.G.D. through the terminal.

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot there was such a thing...

It- it still isn't finding that heat source? This is very strange....

Uh oh.... Temperatures rising throughout Lungmen. We can't use thermal imaging. None of our instruments can detect the heat source itself——

We can't confirm that the 'Terracottas' are directly connected to the heat source. And it is likely that the defensive line will collapse if we reallocate manpower.

Um....

Wouldn't it be better to look at it the other way around?

What?

Like, what if we took all the Originium-powered equipment in the city and turned it to max, then look for wherever we *don't* detect an Originium reaction...?

S- sorry, I was out of line. This isn't really my wheelhouse....

No... That's just crazy enough to work! Hey, how much equipment does the L.G.D. have the authority to deploy directly?

It's a lot more if you include civilian ones.

But if we have to overload everything, all of Lungmen will be paralyzed by the time we find the heat source...

Paralyzed...? What kind of damages are we talking about?

I don't know. Tens of millions?

Maybe we'd b-b-b-better not do it...

No. Just do it.

Nian sightings have become less and less common since the development of nomadic city technology. We have not had the opportunity to study the 'Nian'.

The L.G.D. will do whatever it takes to uncover the secret of the 'Nian,' even if it's just the tip of the iceberg.

I trust Snowsant's judgment.

Thanks, but, but shouldn't we make careful projections before....

——! Sector 4's line has been breached! I can't raise the team leader!

Other lines have engaged! There are too many enemies!

All teams, keep the airwaves clear at all times. Repeat, all teams, keep the waves clear!

Dynamic codes will be sent to team leaders every ten minutes! Use these to identify yourselves!

Damn it, if it's not one thing it's another.

Stop complaining! The rest of you, form up! Get the wounded back. Don't let them break through that barricade!

Ugh, that really brings back some bad memories.

They're getting tougher. But they're no Reunion. And we beat Reunion.

Regroup!

No... You- You...

You're..... you're supposed to be dead....

That's a fake, you moron! It's not that Infected. Come on!

C- Captain!

Don't be *Lungmen profanity* stupid. They're all fakes! All of them!

I know, I know, I know! But to see them again, all of a sudden like this, I——

You again?! I just killed you a second ago!

Uh...?

None of you have any issues to work out with your colleagues? This is a great opportunity! Dig in your heels and give 'em hell!

This is as far back as we go. Are you going to let them into L.G.D. HQ?!

Yes!

Lungmen Guard Department

Chief Wei! We've found an anomalous area on thermal imaging.

We've got a lock on the heat source! It worked!

But we're out of time... Some of the targets have breached our defensive lines!

Re- report! We're getting distress signals from multiple teams!

Where's Officer Ch'en?

Officer Ch'en met up with Rhodes Island operator Amiya and are currently engaging the enemy approaching the L.G.D.!

You sure you don't need any help?;Why don't you let me give you a hand?

...Chief Wei?

Lungmen trusts the Doctor's abilities, and since Rhodes Island operators have joined the fight, the Doctor should enjoy command authority equal to that of Officer Ch'en.

We'll leave it to the Doctor.

The enemy moving outside the containment zones will harm the civilian population, we have to——

Wait, we've picked up a strong Originium reaction.... a sandstorm? This, this is——

Special transmission incoming! It- it's Inspector Lin!

Hasn't Old Lin been retired for seven or eight years?! What's he saying?

He- he said he tossed all the enemies who slipped out of containment into a dumpster...

And, he still has a message for Chief Wei....

...Officer Lin is a hero of the L.G.D. and we should respect his opinion.

Yes!

Big Wei, how are the greenhorns? Is this how they're doing things? Why not make a special dispensation, throw me and Little Wei into the ring and I promise we'll have this done in under ten minutes..

........Chief Wei?

........Heh, I miss those days, when we were all young.

But the L.G.D. hasn't fallen so far that we need to rely on those two. Contact Officer Ch'en, and let us trouble the Doctor to command the Rhodes Island operators.

Time to fight back.

I told you the New Year's couplets you wrote were inauspicious. Just now I saw several faces who should not be alive.

That's my fault now? And how many times have I told you not to use those old pet names in front of the men?

Who is it who wears the pants around here?

Right. That's why *she's* Big Wei.

Whatever. So what do we do now?

Well, I never thought I'd live to see another Nian.

Reminiscing about our days on the force?

No. And my daughter isn't even home. There's no point in heading back there.

Let's see what they've got in store this time around. No matter who we've become, our duty to protect the people hasn't changed.

...Nng... I can't feel my arms... Shit...

These things, why do I feel like they're getting stronger....?

What?

What's going on? Why are these people charging us without so much as a word?

I think you've got it a bit twisted, Waai Fu. I'm afraid these aren't quite 'people,' you know?

They're more like ghosts, or something?

G- ghosts or whatever wouldn't go down this easy, would they?

Legend has it that as the New Year approaches, all kinds of monsters will come out to plague the people. Could be something like that.

Monsters can be seen and touched! Ghosts can't!

You say that, but he vanished right as you kicked him...

Huh? Where are you pulling us all of a sudden? And you're looking kind of stiff, Waai Fu.

Take heart.

You civilians should be in your designated evacuation zone. It isn't safe here!

You're hurt, Ah Sir. Your right arm is broken and you've lost a lot of blood. It's at least an hour and a half walk from here to the L.G.D. Can you handle it?

Ugh.... I'm fine....

Aak, you better not...

If I might speak freely, I come from a long line of doctors. And since childhood I have taken it upon myself to save lives and care for the wounded. Whenever I encounter some excitement on the street, I always rush to see if I can be of aid——

W- what are you doing?

——Stopping your bleeding, dressing the wound, applying anaesthetic, giving you a whole new lease on life.

That last one sounds a bit overboard.

It's under control. Come now, Ah Sir, how often do you get a shot at free health care?