act8mini

My words don't matter much. Only when you live free, in every moment, are you truly alive.

Go and experience the world for yourself. It will take many months to form your own ideas.

Kal'tsit, I hope you will...

5:39 P.M. \ Clear

Outdoors, Rhodes Island Deck

You've been quite busy lately, right? There are many things you have to do.

Proper rest is also necessary. There have been some small fluctuations in your psychological indicators as of late, and I will continue to monitor them.

Right, Blaze will be here to give you a report tonight. She was the one who led the raid yesterday.

1:23 A.M. \ Rainy

Babel Temporary Operational Command Center

Scout's outside, he was in charge of last night's operation.

This is the record of one of his rare mission failures since enlisting in Babel.

Come in.

Commander, Dame, you're both here. Let me briefly explain what happened last night.

When my squad was sweeping the battlefield, they found traces of enemy troops that could be tracked. I made the decision that this was an opportunity to sniff out the enemy's position, insisted on giving chase, and ended up being ambushed.

The responsibility is mine alone, and I am willing to accept the army's punishment.

This is not a decision an old Sarkaz mercenary would make.

Regrettably, all my experience failed to let me know anything was wrong.

Something has to actually happen for your experience to be worth anything. You lost no team members after the crisis occurred, indicating that your command was calm as you retreated, and thus proper.

You deserve recognition, not punishment.

I don't understand how you reached this conclusion.

Army discipline loses all meaning if it fails to recognize when to reward and when to punish. You know that, Scout.

Why do you care so much about her reputation? I need a reason.

Dame Kal'tsit, how's Reyka?

She's out of danger.

Scout opens his mouth to say something, but words fail him.

Your heart is in turmoil. Rarely have I seen you struggle like this, even on the battlefield. If you can tell us what you're thinking, maybe we can...

I insist that Reyka not be punished in any way.

Because she's an orphan? Military discipline isn't a bleeding heart operation.

Reyka's father was a Sarkaz mercenary who died in the civil war.

She's in good company in Kazdel.

Her mother suffered from severe Oripathy and was unable to raise her. Upon learning about this, Her Majesty Theresa has been providing financial support to their family.

Nothing special about that either. If you don't have any better reason...

Reyka only enlisted in the army to repay Her Majesty's kindness.

She once told me that fighting for Her Majesty is her only wish and the entire purpose of her life...

Go on, Scout. I'm listening.

In Kazdel, it is rare for children to have any wishes, or anything to protect.

They get sucked into the maelstrom of war, and then they die.

So you hope to preserve Reyka's reputation, to keep her wish to protect Her Majesty alive.

Scout cannot answer, the battle-tested veteran falls back into silence.

The Doctor rises slowly, reaching out to pat Scout on the shoulder. Kal'tsit does not expect this.

Sorry if that offended you. I knew you must've had a good reason.

No one will be punished. But that will have an impact on discipline, which isn't going to be popular.

Scout, I hope that in the future, you and your team will respond to doubt with action.

I swear to do this. Commander, Dame, I'll be taking my leave.

Promise me one thing before you go. Value your own life and reputation the same as you do your teammates.

I will.

Additionally... Closure may approach you to discuss the Londinium issue. She's very concerned about my position on this matter.

You can share some more of the decision-making process with her. After all, she is also a potential combat operator.

Of course, you can also discuss... other things.

11:27 A.M. \ Clear

Rhodes Island Chief Engineer's Office

What is it this time?

I'm wondering if you've settled on the going-to-Londinium thing?

I'm still discussing it, as the action itself is rather risky. Why are you suddenly so concerned about this?

I'm worried you're not in the right headspace. I know you want to go, deep down, but you gotta think about the kind of danger we're up against.

You waste a lot of energy getting all torn up.

I'm not torn up. Rhodes Island's safety is always my first priority.

It'd be great if one day, you could just do whatever you want.

You can't put it past me. I know how close you are to Theresa. There's no way you can stay out of the Londinium thingy.

This has nothing to do with Her Majesty. I only care about the pros and cons that the action itself has on Rhodes Island.

Yeah yeah, I know, always responsibility and duty. Take a day to treat yourself every once in a while.

Leave all the boring stuff to the Doctor, and let's knock some back, just the two of us. Doesn't that sound nice?

The Doctor is already working very hard.

I guess that's true. You'd think the amnesia would give us an all new Doctor, but the workaholic part is still the same.

But honestly, the old Doctor was such a hardass, I like the new version better.

Because this one's easier to bully?

I heard about the treadmill you gave the Doctor, how it would start floating for no reason, and you had to watch ads to get it back down.

That was a special promotion! I was trying to save the Doctor money.

I need you to be more considerate. The last thing I need is an overwhelmed Doctor getting scared to death by levitating exercise equipment.

Yeah, sure. Why so serious all of a sudden?

Maybe it's something about how I knew the old Doctor, but I keep getting this uncontrollable urge to pull the most hilarious pranks.

Especially before, when the Doctor was acting weirder and weirder...

Enough, Closure. No more on this subject. I forbid you from mentioning a word of this to the Doctor.

Don't worry, I'm not that clueless. By the way, Kal'tsit, before we go to Londinium, I'm going to carry out a renovation of the 'under-development area.' Gotta thicken that hull, at least.

It'll be pricey, but I, a reliable engineer that I am, think that level of investment is still absolutely necessary.

So, on behalf of the Engineering Department, I've decided to fight for three days and nights to give the 'under-development area' a brand new look!

No need. The 'under-development area' is the sturdiest place on the ship.

Hehe, I thought you'd say that. Right below the 'under-development area' is a drone hangar, and that hangar doesn't have any support pillars.

Once we knock out the upper part, the top of the hangar will deform, and then...

Kal'tsit, why are you glaring at me like that? I'm scared!

You just want to do your own thing.

Alright, cards on the table. I'm the chief engineer, of course I'm gonna be curious about some place I can't get into.

I have my reasons.

All those secrets in your gullet are gonna suffocate you.

When are you going to open up to me already? You can't carry this all by yourself.

Maybe... that day will come.

Looking forward to it.

Wait, huh? Did you just say something not super uptight?!

The patient placement work for Connor County will be completed today. In the coming days, you'll once again need to reassess the defensive strength of the settlement site.

The Medical Department will forward the relevant data to you later.

In the future, similar tasks will gradually be transferred over to elite operators so that your energy will not be diverted from more important issues.

Sorry to barge in, but look alive, everyone. Dr. Kal'tsit is about to start her daily rounds.

She's earlier than usual today, huh... Eh? There's a bunch of logistics department folks as well.

You should go see Dr. Kal'tsit about that forgetfulness of yours.

That lass from the Medical Department came over to our ward for a week or so to touch bases, and said that she was going to transfer all of us to a temporary medical settlement in Connor County. What's the point of other people talking if you're not gonna remember a word of it?

Haha, don't worry, sir. After all, the arrangement was made rather hastily.

I'll be reminding everyone again, the Rhodes Island landship will be conducting a series of mock exercises around Victoria in the near future.

We've decided to temporarily transfer you to a medical settlement in Connor County out of consideration for your safety.

Please rest assured that the medical facilities there are comprehensive, and you will be accompanied by most of the medical staff.