Story Reader / Main Story / 14 Imprisoned Sight / Story
You arrive at the transport craft twenty minutes in advance. In addition to Lucia, who was already waiting, you see Lee and Liv also standing there.
Commandant...!
Because Lee and I have been worried sick about you...
...
Even though we aren't going on the mission together, we at least wanted to see you and make sure you're alright.
She looks you over worriedly.
You look pale.
...Commandant.
...
After talking with everyone for a short time, Chrome arrives with Strike Hawk.
He gives a simple greeting, then sends the intel he had prepared to your terminal.
With regard to the extra mission President Hassen assigned us, I've already prepared the intel and holo-map for the twenty-one target personnel we need to rescue.
In order to expedite their return to Babylonia, I've asked the liaison officer to meet with us at a pre-determined location and time on the Forgotten Streets of City 075.
If there are no further questions, let's get going.
...
I'm just glad you're okay.
Wanshi remains quiet as he considers their current predicament.
Boarding the transport craft, you feel as if you are being monitored.
Turning quietly, you see several personnel occasionally looking up from their work in your direction.
...
Chrome turns to look behind you, sensing their watchful eyes.
Among the crowd, a man wearing a white lab coat grabs his attention.
The man is slouched over like a lonely and weak middle-aged man.
Only those dark golden eyes vaguely remind Chrome of someone he had just met.
Mr. Kurono, please hurry up. You're going to be late for the meeting.
...Kugawa Kurono.
When I was still a member of Kurono, I accidentally came across his data file. I thought he was on the board of directors, but turns out his name is just a coincidence.
He's just a doctor who's now working for the Star of Life. But this time, his name "coincidentally" appeared on your inspection reports.
But enough of that. You should get going. There's no time to waste.
Ignoring the unsettling scene behind them, the group turns and boards the transport craft.
Riding on the cold afternoon wind, the two transport crafts land in the abandoned ruins of City 075.
Having established contact beforehand, a large group of stranded personnel is waiting at the landing zone. While the other team members go to speak with the stranded Constructs, Camu makes a break for the underground waterway.
Are there any personnel in critical condition?
Yes, I've placed everyone on the first floor for the time being. Right this way.
Wanshi nods, then follows her.
The other team has arrived.
Chrome looks at the notification on his terminal and relays it to the team.
Well, according to the plan, Cerberus will also be participating in cleaning up the Red Tide, but they're acting independent of us.
Cerberus...
I thought you were going to come looking for us once you were finished...
I thought so too, but the captain said that saving people was our top priority.
Counting the wounded over there, how many people are gathered here?
Nineteen. Two are still MIA.
...
The two missing Constructs... are from my team.
Do you know which way they ended up going?
They went to an area that was suddenly reported as a high concentration zone.
But they were heading there even before we received the warning.
We tried to notify them, but we had already lost contact.
Return to Babylonia once everyone receives emergency treatment. We'll look for your missing comrades.
Let me go with you. They're my comrades, after all.
It's too dangerous. You should head back.
They're my comrades. I can't leave my team behind!
Our commandant is gone... I can't lose them, too! I'm begging you!
Commandant, the area is dangerous even for us. We're better off ensuring the safety of one more person if we can.
We can't risk losing another person.
I agree with the commandant.
The area is dangerous even for us. We're better off ensuring the safety of one more person if we can.
You must be Chrome... I've heard about you.
I appreciate your concerns for my safety, but as the captain of your team, I'm sure you understand.
If your team members are in danger, would you abandon them for the sake of your own safety?
The Construct captain's plea awakens some distant memories in Chrome's heart.
If this is the last time I see them, I'll regret it for the rest of my life!
...Regret?
I may be a soldier, but I'm not the property of Babylonia.
At least... Give me the right to decide how I die!
...
Chrome hesitates for a moment.
I understand your feelings, but as a soldier, you can't disobey mission orders.
If your only mission here is to cooperate with the rescue and return to Babylonia...
By allowing you to accompany us, I'll be aiding in your violation of military orders.
Thinking about the sense of surveillance along the way, Chrome casts a sideways glance at the transport craft behind him, hinting to the Construct.
Mission...? Oh, right! There's still one objective!
The Construct quickly opens his terminal. On the mission log, one objective is still active.
Our last objective is to search for the commandant... But we still haven't found him.
My team and I split up to search for him.
But judging from the location of his disappearance and given the time... He probably...
Then continue with your mission.
Roger! Thank you, everyone!
My name's Percy. Our two MIA comrades are Ersi and Reyna.
Looking at the personnel data gathered by Chrome, you find detailed descriptions of the captain and his comrades.
Captain Name: Percy. Service Time: 4 years. After transferring teams three times, he has served his most recent team the longest.
Member Name: Ersi. Service Time: 2 years, 7 months. Ever since joining the Task Force, he has served the current commandant.
Member Name: Reyna. Service Time: Less than 1 year. No additional data on this new recruit.
Wait here, Commandant. I'll help the wounded board the transport craft.
We've got a difficult mission ahead of us. Considering how long you were monitored, take this time to catch up on some rest.
Lucia takes out a bottle of nutri-aid and a compressed biscuit.
When I asked about your condition while you were being monitored, everyone said you were kept well-fed, but I was still worried... So I brought some from our supplies.
...
With a bitter smile, Lucia wants to say something, but she is worried about the watchful eyes. Instead, she quietly places the nutri-aid and compressed biscuit into your hands.
Alright, let's go help. I bet Wanshi's almost done with emergency treatment.
Okay, let's go.
While everyone else is busy helping the crowd onto the plane, you have a rest until all eighteen Constructs depart as scheduled
Time to go, Commandant.
Right at that moment, Cerberus jumps into the underground waterway through the blast hole.
That damn transport plane is crawling with micro recorders! They're like maggots!
Why don't we blow that **** up?
And then what? Ride you back to Babylonia?
Bahaha! I was just kidding. Let's blow it up when we get back.
Looks like some people are leaving no stone unturned, considering they've bugged our transport craft, too.
They've bugged Noctis' frame, too.
Huh?!
Noctis grits his teeth and clenches his fists.
When I get back, I'm gonna blow up those pieces of ****!
Use all that C4 you call a brain and think for a second. Few people would go to the lengths of bugging our support equipment. I bet it was you-know-who's henchmen.
Pfff... So we can't just get rid of them?
No need. We're not their target.
Vera turns her head, leans over to the camera on Noctis' frame and smiles cheerfully.
Isn't that right?
Then let's get this godforsaken mission over with.
We have three objectives.
First, we need to use these stupid disks to clear the Red Tide, then locate our target.
Let's split up and get this over and done with.
What about our objective to follow the Gray Raven Commandant as much as possible?
The key word is "as much as possible." We'll do just that.
