Глава 15

Do we need to inform the rest of our colleagues via PRTS?

No. That's not necessary.

If everything goes well, I was worrying over nothing.;If anything goes wrong, resolve the issue as quickly as possible and then return to defend the ship.

PRTS Operation Record: [Confidential] Escort Logistics and Engineering Department members to Kazdel

Executor: [Confidential] Touch, Pith, Mantra

Contact: Hoederer, Ines

How many waves of mercenaries have attacked us already today?

This is the seventh wave now.

They may not be too threatening, but it's really strange how many of them have been attacking us every day this past week.

We've only just crossed Kazdel's border.

These guys do not fear death. They remind me of the mercenaries we met in Sargon.

Faithless.

Misery, what's taking you so long? We planned for you to be back by now.

You should know that this place is still quite some distance from the Scar Market.

Even if I knew every shortcut around here, it would still take me some time.

What has the investigation revealed so far?

For the past two weeks, someone's been routing the majority of Scar Market's orders here, through a network of outsourcers.

There's no way to trace the client—they've covered their tracks well.

In other words, it was just 'bad luck' that we ran into these mercs?

They're not actively coming to attack us?

I'm afraid so.

It seems that not all of the worries Doctor had before we departed were unfounded.

Everyone, there's news from the sentries.

Another group of mercenaries is shifting toward our position. There's a high chance we'll be engaging them again soon.

(Sighs)

Misery, something's not right here.

These unending waves of mercenaries don't seem to be trying to harm us. Instead... it's like they're...

Trying to delay us.

We can stay here and continue escorting the team. You all can return to the ship now.

Don't worry, Fang.

Some folks are going to find it harder than they thought to put their schemes into motion.

The air is fluctuating.

Is that wind?

No, is that... the Lifebone?!

High above the sky, a massive skeleton has emerged, stirring the dust of history and casting a vast shadow below.

For many at Rhodes Island, it is their first time seeing the massive skeleton that once appeared during the chaos in Victoria.

What a sight...

While investigating the Scar Market, I took a trip to Kazdel to meet a few old friends.

Let's leave the rest to them.

We should go home.

I've already silenced all communications in visible range. Engaging now.

(Blows bone whistle)

Hmph. Their weapons counter my gear, but they offer little resistance against your bone whistle and incantations.

Far from it. They just don't quite understand the rules of my speech yet.

I'm curious about the thought process the Ægirs followed in developing such precise weaponry.

Then I'll grab a few pieces to take back and dismantle—I'll help you study them.

Come on you two! We are carrying out a mission here!

There are at least three squads waiting in ambush up ahead. We can't take them all on.

I'm afraid we can't handle this cleanly and quietly anymore—we'll need to tell our people to brace for the assault.

Hey! Hey! Hey! The reinforcements the Doctor called for are here!

Raidian, Mechanist, mark the location for us. The <i>Bad Guy</i> will be there soon!

Blaze?!

Check your communication devices. I synchronized our location with you.

Acknowledged.

Wait a moment, Rosmontis, didn't we agree I'd rush in first and draw their fire away from you?

I'll control the Arts.

Finished?

I checked the signals in the surrounding area. They've all been cleared out.

Uhh... who can tell me what this thing really is?

When it tried to self-destruct, I had to use all of my strength just to stop it.

The people interfacing with us are also Ægirs. Why are they attacking our people and equipment?

Let Dr. Kal'tsit and the Doctor determine that.

Ensure that we return to the ship as soon as our personnel and equipment are safely transferred to Clementia.

We need to deal with these issues as soon as possible.

There are still other unknown leakers out there. This is just the beginning, I'm afraid.

That's strange, why is PRTS responding even slower now? Or is it just my imagination?

This isn't right, no. Let me check it again.

PRTS, output all back-end logs from the past two weeks.

Uhuh. No problems here....and no problems here either...

No problems anywhere?

Doctor, Mantra and the others have already returned to the ship.

Your guess was correct. Someone is targeting our mission.

This instrument is from Ægir?

Dr. Kal'tsit, can we discover anything from its remaining parts?

No. The Ægir Academy of Technology put a great deal of care into this delicate piece of equipment—Given their pride, I'll bet they made sure no one could ever crack their Little Handy.

But the appearance of the Little Handy itself is enough to explain many problems.

Doctor, do you remember the Joint Marine Corps?

Of course.;The reason you met with the Ægir consul was to facilitate cooperation.

Both the Iberian and Rim Billitonian authorities have responded to our call. The problem is that once cooperation begins, subsequent developments could spiral beyond what we've anticipated.

In recent weeks, the Ægir fleet has not only constructed ports in Iberia, but also established landing sites along the southern coast of Rim Billiton.

The Ægirs from the deep sea made no immediate move to land. Instead, they quickly carried out a number of operations, including hydrographic surveying, under the banner of 'technical cooperation'.

They also quickly assembled a 'Land Patrol' through a mix of hired personnel and official partnerships, relying on more neutral intermediaries to facilitate cooperation with land-based forces.

So you're saying the attackers are the 'Land Patrol.'

We're still only speculating—but right now, the Land Patrol is the only one that fits all the evidence we've collected.

Dr. Kal'tsit, some consuls don't back Clementia, yes, but that doesn't prove that Ægir is behind all of this.

No, I am more inclined to believe that someone took advantage of the internal conflicts within Ægir.

The Land Patrol near the Iberian border, the mining ship being handed off in Rim Billiton, the mercenaries on the Kazdelian frontier...

The breadth of their deployments and the depth of their knowledge about Rhodes Island's classified missions—that's more than enough to prove that Ægir isn't behind this.

However, there is no possibility of a rebellion within Rhodes Island.

I don't believe that will happen either.

Doctor, do you think there's anyone else in Rhodes Island who could do that, besides us?

......;No.

That's right. No one else could do that.

Dr. Kal'tsit, the threats that Rhodes Island faces now are unpredictable.

Dr. Warfarin also warned us several times—the special patients she is caring for—their conditions are deteriorating faster than she can control.

Whether to save our patients or to respond to potential crises, we need more aggressive responses.

I've reviewed the records Theresa left in the Black Crown—she also made major breakthroughs through her work on Civilight Eterna.

I can visit Civilight Eterna to look for potential help, just like Theresa did.

We must carefully assess the risks involved, Amiya.

Amiya, are you sure you're ready?;Are there any other more effective means at the moment, Kal'tsit?