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Colonel, sorry to keep you waiting for a half hour.

I'm the one who should apologize, Mr. Vice President. Your schedule in Trimounts is packed, and I heard from Secretary Pavard you had to cancel a meeting on account of my sudden visit.

The military's response to the District 13 incident has been quick...

It has also been intense.

You had just given such a powerful, rousing speech for the masses. This couldn't have happened at a worse time.

By the looks of things, this is more than a little 'accident' on your end as well.

I'm just saying... It's still too soon to reveal the 'Horizon Arc Project' to the public.

Which is why we would like you to cancel the rest of your itinerary and leave Trimounts. And we'll take care of these 'accidents' as soon as we can.

Colonel, I understand what you're asking...

But my schedule isn't going to change. In fact, I'm going to extend my stay in Trimounts.

In my last meeting, I decided I'm going to Rhine Lab to enjoy a fruitful dialogue with our exceptional researchers.

We're one Columbia, Colonel Blake. We're all ready to give everything for our country.

But, with all the technological pioneers gathered in this city, they form the bedrock of Columbia's technological development. It's no exaggeration to say they're shaping the future of our country.

Do you understand what I'm getting at?

Even on the assembly lines of our nation's most developed munitions plants, it takes a day and a half to produce a single shell to spec.

And that doesn't include the time it takes to send it out into the field to give the men some real practical time on the thing.

Take a step back, Colonel. The more we find ourselves facing superweapons that can change the world, like that 'Arc-01', the more composed we have to be.

This is Columbia. Not Sargon, not Bolívar.

These past few years, the Armed Forces, or more accurately, the Department of Defense, has continued to explore the nation's military capabilities.

As a whole, progress has been fairly steady. From the President's perspective, this is a good thing, and he is glad to see it happen.

However, given the shifts in international dynamics in recent years, particularly the re-emergence of Victoria's Shard, a number of things have changed.

Such a terrifying superweapon has erased the concept of 'distance.' All our ground defenses will be rendered useless, and the dust brought about by the Storm may well fall upon our pillows at any time.

The voices within the Department of Defense have grown increasingly hawkish, and a number of troubling signs have already appeared. They're hedging their bets on the research and development of similar era-defining strategic weapons.

And that's how Kristen caught the military's eye?

Correct. Kristen became the military's core technical advisor.

In a very short period of time, she submitted the proposal for the 'Horizon Arc Project,' planned the construction of the Arc-01 superweapon, and quickly began its implementation.

The military has devoted a vast amount of resources to it, and as such, Rhine Lab has enjoyed greater policy-side support for quite some time now.

This is why Rhine has been able to stand head and shoulders above many other tech companies in Trimounts.

According to the information we have on hand, the construction of Arc-01 required digging complex S.H.A.F.T.s as well as erecting a H.A.M.H.R.R. at our aircrafts' altitude limit.

A monumental project indeed, and the military has spared no expense in the effort.

I imagine the man in front of you who fell from the sky was a part of this project.

Saria's eyes shift from the factory ruins to the sky above her.

Using the sky as an intermediary transfer node?

We don't know the specific conceptual design, or how it's implemented...

Using the sky as a transfer node to focus or redirect an enormous amount of energy, so as to achieve a powerful strike over extreme distance...

In theory, that is indeed possible...

But would Kristen really help the military construct a superweapon?

Looks like you didn't get the answer you wanted.

I knew from the beginning. This just makes it more apparent.

A good politician would never rush to make his stance clear. At least for now, they don't want us taking over the project that fast.

And how do they intend to do that?

It's simple. All they need to do is delay. If we say that efficiency is the pursuit of scientific research, then, Ferdinand, 'delay' is the preferred tool of these politicians.

When the Singas administration first entered negotiations in Congress to reclaim the Woods Company's logging camp, virtually no progress was made in three years. It took the latter party losing control of the area.

They want to delay until we have our hands full, until we lose faith in that damned 'Horizon Arc Project,' until it doesn't matter anymore.

You've already been on-site, right? What are your conclusions?

It was indeed the test flight of Arc-01's H.A.M.H.R.R.

The sky appears clear, but it is far from being a safe haven. Kristen will need to test the new pressure and navigation system, a trial-and-error process that may need more than one flight.

I'm more curious about the military-controlled S.H.A.F.T. at the bottom of Arc-01. Where did Kristen launch a beast of that size?

The H.A.M.H.R.R.'s black box still hasn't been found? By tracing its routing data, we can triangulate the position of the launch site and locate Kristen.

We already conducted a full-scale search in District 13. Came up empty.

Someone managed to retrieve the black box at the very beginning.

Any possibility it might've been destroyed, given an explosion of that scope...?

(Shakes head)

Kristen has already been missing for two weeks. She may have already obtained the experimental data she wanted in the black box, but she still doesn't want us to find her.

In other words, the so-called 'Horizon Arc Project,' propped up by the military itself, is completely out of the military's hands.

The longer the delay, the more variables there will be.

I know.

It's me.

That's right. Jackson had no intention of talking things through with us.

Me? Why would I have anything to hide? Go ask the agent sent to spy on Kristen...

Understood. I won't give an inch. I'll resolve this situation post-haste.

Wait, what did you say?

That's...

Alright, I understand.

You don't look so good, Colonel.

You're right, Ferdinand. We can't let ourselves get bogged down any longer.

The fact that Kristen went AWOL while the military had eyes on her precisely shows that the project has progressed to a near-feasible state.

She might've defrauded her investors.

We have our suspicious as well, but you seem pretty sure of it, Saria.

Because I know her well enough.

Oh?

Since its establishment, Rhine Lab has been committed to breakthrough research in civilian technology, and rarely intersects with the military. Kristen herself has no interest in it.

Furthermore...

If the 'sky' were part of her research plans, it would not be a means, but rather her ultimate objective.

The Wrights?

Precisely.

'We haven't even explored everything these lands have to offer, and have only just begun measuring the heights of the skies. Why fly to such high places in vain?'

I still remember that comment in the newspaper made by the hovercraft expert, Stevenson, after the Wrights' test flight crashed.

It encapsulated his regret for the death of the genius scientists, but has been twisted out of context as 'accurate peer review.' How ironic that it's become a weapon used against the Wrights.

I'd like to hear more.

Stevenson had a very good relationship with the Wrights, and even looked after Kristen to some degree after their passing. Later, Kristen was able to get on track in academia thanks to his recommendation.

A substantial secret that even I'm not aware of.

But, the relationship between Stevenson and Kristen is not a cozy one. She inherited her parents' obsession with the skies, and does not expect others to understand.

She abhors the sky, Tin Man.

It can't be a coincidence that Transmitter appeared at the scene of the accident, but what exactly is the connection between Transmitter and the explosion?

Did the things used in this factory require Transmitters? I recall no such relationships between Triton Chemicals and Rhine Lab. Or, perhaps, the Transmitter had something to do with the ring-shaped mechanical object that smashed through the factory building...

Saria's too far away. I can't hear what she's saying...

Maybe I can try moving the drone a bit closer.

An unidentified drone has been shot down.

Oh no...

Miss, show me your security clearance.

Don't have one? District 13 is under temporary lockdown. I'm gonna have to ask you to come with me.

I'm a worker at the Triton factory. I had the day off today, but I heard the factory exploded... so I came here to see what's going on.

If you're a worker at the factory, then explain the drone. And don't say you have nothing to do with it.

I—

She's going to photograph the site.

Marianne...?!

Is it really you? Oh my g—

Marianne...

The last time I heard that name... was forty years.

You're talking about that press conference, right? It was right around the time your last movie came out, you told the world you got hurt in a Catastrophe while shooting the thing, and you retired to behind-the-scenes work...

My dad goes nuts every time he talks about you!

He's got your complete filmography collection, and we've watched every movie ten times over!

I still remember 'The Spy Catchers'! You caught saw the spy on the shore and leapt straight off that cruise ship! That was something...

You just melt into every role you play. Today's mass-produced Wrankwood stars could take a cue or two from you.

Thanks.

Unfortunately, the only role Marianne plays these days is a negotiator of employee salaries.

You're...

Director of Human Resources at Rhine Lab, Jara Booker Wilson. This is my clearance. I have a house in District 13.

This woman is indeed a Triton employee. Rhine Lab and Triton Chemicals had a number of... disagreements. Just like the corporate struggles in 'The Spy Catcher'...

I know. This is Trimounts, after all.

A subsidiary factory suddenly went up in flames. If photos from the scene hit the tabloids, that would send Triton down in scandal. This is her housewarming gift for joining Rhine.

That would indeed be a violation of military regulations. Fortunately, the drone's been shot down, so the photos won't leak.

Now then, let's move on and discuss your job-hopping.

...Sure.

But let me add something first. Isn't it a little unreasonable to suddenly ask the locals to lock themselves inside and wait for updates before they can do anything?

We're just following orders.

Miss Marianne, I... I want to trust you. So, both of you, please leave. No exceptions.

Your name's Silence, right? I remember you were helping Parvis bring me some black bean tea.

Director Jara, does this have something to do with Rhine Lab?

That's why you snuck in here?

There are... some things I need to make sure of.

This isn't exactly the best place for chit-chat.

Head over here, and wait for me.

Where are we...?

Don't worry. It's my District 13 residence.

What about you?

I have company. An old friend has some business with me.

I don't think I've ever heard you breathing. When you smoke, are you just letting it swirl around your stomach?

It's a habit. Just like what you used to do after finishing a mission. You'd record the event on a note before burning it on the spot.

That young researcher back there... You always have a soft spot for the youth.

Eh, can't exactly ignore it, can I?

An employee of my own company shows up in a military lockdown, it'll be bad for business if she gets caught.

I see you're just as attentive to detail as ever, regardless of what field you're in.

You've caught my eye a number of times over the years. From the intermediary investor for all of Trimounts to the head of Rhine HR, you've contributed pretty much your entire network to this tech company.

In other words, without you, we wouldn't have the Kristen we know today.

So, is you being here right now also the fault of that reckless girl?

Or, do you have ideas of your own?

Have you considered the possibility that I'm here because I bought a residence in District 13, and that I spend a few days here when I'm not too busy?

I'm getting old, Tin Man.

Age notwithstanding, when I came back to my senses, I realized that my health, my dreams, my friends, and my family... had all been given to my country.

In the end, nothing remained of Maylander's 'Morningstar.'

I don't even have any tapes of the movies I made when I was young by which to remember my so-called 'youth.'

I wasn't trying to point the finger at you, Jara.

But if you're hoping that I turn a blind eye to this, I'm afraid I can't help you... Maylander's only responsibility is to the country.

I just wanted to tell you I have no regrets. So even now, I won't do anything that would truly harm Columbia.

Are you still mourning the death of the Wrights?

As much as I'd like to deny it, the scene still haunts my dreams even now.

Delivery. Come sign for it.

Put it on the workstation.

Ho'olheyak scans the space in front of her, a massive, hollow underground ring-shaped structure. In other words, a 'well.'

Originium lamps fastened to the well's walls provided only a basic lighting, making it difficult to determine the overall depth. Inlaid within the grooves running along the walls are cables extending into the darkness.

The person with who she was speaking earlier is now pacing back and forth, leaving her with but a busy silhouette.

She seems to be busy testing something. Even in such a deep area, her actions do not seem to cause much of an echo. Presumably, the surface structure incorporates some high-performance sound-absorbing material.

The entire area seems to be as still and silent as lingering mist.

Are you not afraid of the dark? Do you not get bored? We're several hundred meters underground... and those boorish soldiers are patrolling just above us.

You've been here a number of months, right? Haven't gone up for a walk?

Nasti?

I'm busy, K'uk'ulkan.

I don't have much free time on my hands, either.

What I'm saying is, put the black box down, and get lost.

I'm taking a risk here to get this to you under the watchful eyes of the military and Maylander. That's a bit cold of you, wouldn't you agree?

This is a deal between you and Control. It's got nothing to do with me.

You didn't do anything with the black box after you got your hands on it, did you?

No.

Damn, ice cold.

The data calculations are... Well, not that complicated.

Nasti dives back into her own work, and the screen is once again engulfed with a large amount of data, like a tide flooding across land.

She focuses up more, leaving Ho'olheyak alone to do little else than stare at her back. That is when she notices the devices around her waist–

They appear as a lattice of dead branches, spliced together irregularly. But as Nasti intermittently works at her station, they sway back and forth in a short, regular rhythm.

As if sentient, they seem to be following Nasti's thoughts.

Looks like you managed to find nourishment for the rootless branches... Hmph.

The trajectory data has deviated slightly from the previous calculation, but is still within the expected range. It appears that Transmitter can indeed be used as an alternative navigation resource.

That being the case, we need to speed things up.

By the way, how did Kristen get you, the head of Engineering, to willingly coop yourself up underground to do the hard work for her?

Nasti doesn't answer. She enters a few commands, and as the screens in front of her go dark one by one, she turns and heads towards the door. Behind her, the underground space becomes dimmer and dimmer.

Ready to touch some grass, Nasti? Did something good happen? Surely you're not going to keep the good news from me?

(In Sarkaz) Begone.

Ho'olheyak takes a step back upon hearing that one word. Her body instinctively carries out the order, as if executing a 'command.'

Cute curse you have there, Banshee.

Did any of the staff ever tell you you've got a bad temper?

The icy-cold air caresses Nasti's neck before dissipating like an illusion. The young banshee shivers slightly.

A crack forms across the bone pen in her hand.

Oh my, they don't quite make them like they used to, do they? I know you have an entire drawer filled with spares.

But, I've always been curious... if you broke all of your bone pens, would you still be able to perform your little tricks?

Go ahead and try me.

I won't give the same command twice, K'uk'ulkan.

Fine, fine. Are all Banshees as much of a stick in the mud as you?

Don't pass up on this rare opportunity to get some fresh air. If you're afraid of the dark, I don't mind keeping you company partway.

Before the banshee can speak again, Ho'olheyak nimbly disappears behind the door.

The darkness lingering within the air trembles violently for a spell, then Nasti finally lets go of her words.

...Ugh.

I should go pick her up.

(In Sarkaz) At last, the muddled dream is about to settle.