Глава 15

I will be your eyes.

<p=2>Fifty-seven minutes from the start of the incident</>

Can you do it, Raidian?

Yes, but some compartments are still not responding. They may have taken too much damage.

I've captured the bioelectrical signals of other colleagues. Comparing with environmental data—

Generating ship-wide scan...

Get ready to synchronize all signals, Mantra!

You hear Mantra's calm, collected voice in your head.

All active operators on Rhodes Island have been located. Ready to synchronize data from Raidian at any time.

Scan is complete, Mantra!

'Synchronization complete.'

'Attention all hands, this is Mantra speaking.'

'You are currently seeing in your mind real-time scan data of Rhodes Island's current state.'

'Perhaps you are under attack from unknown sources, or isolated and lost.'

'But we are now taking back the initiative, under the direction of Dr. Kal'tsit.'

'The scale of the current emergency exceeds the scope of individual discretion. You are hereby directed to act in accordance with my instructions.'

'Rendezvous with nearby operators as soon as reasonably possible under your individual circumstances.'

'Regularly monitor the status of your protective equipment and avoid high-threat areas if at all possible.'

'Elite Operators Touch and Pith are conducting cleanup operations outside of the core area. They will be in touch with you to direct regroup efforts.'

'The scale of the task before you must not be underestimated.'

'The Doctor has designated a Conflict Zone, Quarantine Zone, and Buffer Zone, in reverse order of their proximity to the Abyss.'

'While making every effort to ensure your own safety, you are to work on maintaining the Buffer Zone and delaying the expansion of the anomaly.'

'There is reason to believe that this crisis is impacting far more than just Rhodes Island—'

<p=2>Fifty-eight minutes from the start of the incident</>

Cleanup of the two adjacent zones is complete.

The scattered personnel have regrouped under the direction of Operator Raidian.

Are you hurt?

It's not that bad. Closure's protective equipment was more effective than I expected.

But it's not enough to deal with the dangers of extended exposure to high-Originium environments.

Your squad cannot participate in this next operation. Get some rest in the safe areas of the Buffer Zone once you have received treatment.

With the witchcraft defenses designed by Logos and Mechanist, you should face much less pressure there.

But—

This is an order. Don't worry, I won't allow anything to happen to any operator under my charge.

Once the ship has stopped, you'll need to direct the other squads to evacuate and establish a larger Buffer Zone around the ship.

Rest and get ready. Leave this to us.

I hope things go as well on Sharp and Stormeye's side...

'The status of the engines is unclear. There is a risk of collision with objects on the ship's course.'

'We are taking all possible measures to reduce the possibility of this occurring. We will issue the warning to brace for impact, if necessary.'

'The ship will be brought to a stop once we regain control of the engines.'

'Once we do, Rhodes Island will proceed to establish a new Buffer Zone around the ship to prevent further spread of the anomaly.'

<p=2>Sixty-one minutes from the start of the incident</>

From this vantage point, it seems the ship is still accelerating.

Not as much as it had been. What Logos is doing is working.

Let's trust our comrades. We've got plenty on our plate as it is—evacuating people and eliminating potential threats on the ship's path.

Brace yourself. We're accelerating.

I have visual on the mobile mining platform. It's possible that the ship will run into it.

Stay on the current course, Stormeye. I'm dropping into the target location in twenty seconds to evacuate the crew of the platform.

Approaching target.

See you in a moment.

'The Conflict Zone surrounding the Abyss is the key area that we must break through.'

'The elite operators have conferred and unanimously voted to break into the Abyss together.'

'We are the knife that cuts through the darkness, and we are Rhodes Island's last line of defense.'

'Do not let fear avert your eyes, comrades.'

'Trust in my voice. Trust in Dr. Kal'tsit.'

'Trust in Rhodes Island.'

<p=2>Rhodes Island Landship, Mobility Layer</>

Seems like you've eliminated the threat.

I saw lots of familiar faces before you came.

The floor is littered with broken Originium crystals, a sign of the ferocious battle that just occurred here.

The boiler worker sighs and picks up a broken epaulet made of Originium.

These Originium things just won't die. I recognize the faces they wear...

Some of them I strangled with my own hands, others went away to a far away place. But I don't suppose there are many left of those who left.

You're not surprised about the things that are happening?

There are many secrets on this ship.

But all I care about is my boilers. That's the one thing I asked Her Highness to let me do.

I need your help, Aefanyl—

I can't get the boilers to cool down, and there wouldn't be anyone here to watch them if I left.

The facilities of the mobility layer are spread out across a large area. Even you can't deal with everything.

The control system is completely shot. I don't have the tools to manually calibrate the engines.

Trying to brute force it would be even more dangerous. The Originium particle density in the air is way past the warning line.

'Separate.'

There is room in the trappings of machinery for words to pass through. I will slow down the supply of fuel to the engine.

He waves his bone pen, and incantations emerge from its tip, passing through the steel walls and expanding outwards.

'Stay.'

I shall embrace Rhodes Island with words.

I will pull it back.

The ship is slowing down.

None of us is giving up, Chloe.

Our efforts are not futile. We will not allow them to be futile.

I guarantee that they will receive your gift...

(Struggles)

You'll be free soon. The latest data have been uploaded to Kal'tsit. Once it's validated—

The Originium entity shatters silently, every last fragment removed from the lab through the ventilation system.

This strange thing will trouble Warfarin no more.

...Success.

But she finds little joy in it.

The ship is slowing down. Logos has been successful.

About the course that Logos brought up... Dr. Kal'tsit has charted three possible courses.

There is one thing in common among all three predictions.

They all end in the Targangils Prime Vein. I believe that is the course that PRTS has set.

This ship is being guided towards the vein?

However, the predicted course that best matches the current course will take us through a major canyon.

It's unlikely that we'll be able to traverse it.

Don't you find it strange?

Definitely strange. All the threats that we're dealing with right now don't seem bent on completely destroying Rhodes Island.

Losing PRTS, the appearance of the Originium entities, the shifts in the ship's internals, the change of course... none of these things would truly destroy us.

I have a breakthrough regarding the Originium monsters, Dr. {@nickname}.

After uploading the experiment data to Kal'tsit, she has modified the bottom-level logic of Originium Arc and distributed the upgrade package to all operators.

It will allow them to more effectively deal with these Originium entities.

Upgrade?;Where did your data come from?