Story Reader / Main Story / 22 Renaissance du Fantastique / Story
At Babylonia, in WGAA's Chairman Office
Allen sits before his table, his terminal projecting a virtual screen that shows an encrypted message. Allen stares quietly at the garbled letters and numbers—until a few knocks come from the door.
Come on in.
Good morning, sir. What are you looking at?
Hey, Leonie. I've been trying to crack this email that arrived in my inbox for the past few days.
I would just ask one of those guys from the Science Council to do that—unless, of course, you happen to know a thing or two about cryptography yourself, sir.
I'm not completely unfamiliar with it, and it's more fun when you do it yourself.
It could be a message from the future or some extraterrestrial being, or maybe it will point us toward treasures some Golden Age art master left behind...
Or it might just be a practical joke... but I guess that's just right up your alley, no?
Haha. Well, how can I help you today? Are you guys working hard or hardly working?
People can't wait to see the exhibits and performances again... I've asked our new hires to take care of those, though. I'm actually here to speak with you about Ayla today.
I have Kaleido's details here. With the Science Council's approval and M.I.N.D. compatibility taken care of, Kaleido is good to go, theoretically speaking.
The electronic file Leonie has sent Allen details the specifications and all sorts of parameters on "Kaleido".
Doing better than what I was hoping to see. This is WGAA's hope for the next few decades, and I hope it is going to shine like a newborn star.
How's everything coming along with Iris Warbler, by the way?
They're still trying to finalize their member list. CC added a few extra steps to the procedure because people are getting sent all over the place these days, but Ayla is most likely going to be the captain of the team.
It's no easy feat, but Kaleido made it in time, huh?
With all due respect, sir, but I fail to see why we're putting together a team with such a similar style when Ayla is already doing so well on the archaeological team.
Well, essentially... it's because she came to me with a request for a new frame after the battle at Hetero Space Station.
She had done everything she could, only that she was lacking on the most fundamental level.
And looking back now, I guess the idea of forming a new team had been sitting in the back of my mind as far back as when she took over Selena's place and came to the WGAA.
The archaeological team is good for her, but I wanted to give both Ayla and the WGAA a new stage on which to shine.
Task Force is a complicated place, and it's got all sorts of different thoughts and credos. The military itself is worse, and I'm sure there are people out there now who just can't wait to say a thing or two about this new team.
Still, it's only when she's put in a spot like this that she gets to cross paths with people she otherwise wouldn't have... and form something that's greater than the sum of its parts.
Now, I know she's going to struggle, but I trust that she has it in her to shine through.
I've seen promising qualities in Ayla's dear friend, and not a day has gone by that I have not regretted failing to make those great qualities count as WGAA's chairman.
Mankind is seeing a future for the first time in God only knows how long, which is why I want to make a bet...
With "Iris Warbler" as my chips.
It's not without risk, of course, and we might end up with nothing.
But it'll be a step into the future.
Having traversed a few buildings and hallways, Wells now finds himself standing by the door of a Task Force meeting room.
When he lets himself in, he sees the person waiting for him.
Seeing Wells, the young commandant inside rises immediately to salute him.
Sica from Task Force, reporting for duty at BST 09:00. How are you doing, sir?
Thank you for coming out at this hour, Commandant.
How is everything coming along with the team you've been leading?
Freezing momentarily at Wells' question, Sica gives her answer.
They've been released from the team, sir. Jessica and Randolph have been sent to "Red Scorpion" to fill the vacancies of their lost members. As for George... he joined "Pelican" and is now out on a surface mission.
And I myself... am currently on standby at Babylonia, waiting for CC to notify me of my new assignment.
Sica sounds understandably upset—because, to commandants, having their team dissolved and reassigned is not unlike having the Command Center directly criticize them for their lack of leadership.
Making headway there, I see. They have my best wishes wherever they go, of course.
...
Sir, I understand that I'm just getting my feet wet and am still a far cry from some of the best commandants we have here...
But still, I saw potential in "Apodidae", and all I needed was just a bit more time to...
It was an appropriate decision that came out of the Staff's evaluation regarding team performances.
Randolph, Jessica, and George are obviously excellent Constructs with respectable experiences under their belt, but as a whole, "Apodidae" left much to be desired as an elite battle squad.
Which is why assigning them to teams in desperate need of new members was the most logical course of action to take.
Every soldier needs to shine with their best potential, and making that possible for them is the primary principle on which we base our assignment decisions.
...Yes, sir.
I understand... that I have nothing but my own lack of leadership to blame... for failing to bring out the best of my team in the battles we've been through…
But I've learned a great deal from Vanessa ever since, and with that, I'm ready to redeem myself.
Come next battle, I'm certain that I'll be able to...
Sica.
Wells cuts her short.
You see [player name] as your goal, don't you?
Well...
I kept a close watch on your academic performance as the tactical instructor for your class.
And despite all the objections the higher-ups at F.O.S. had about your qualifications as the Chief of your class, I, for one, didn't find anything out of place about it.
Both Gray Raven's and Strike Hawk's commandants graduated as the Chiefs of their classes, and both their own squads went on to become the legends people know them as today.
Everyone has such high hopes for you and hopes to see you shine as the next legend because you're the first Chief from F.O.S. to have applied to Task Force after the two of them who graduated at the top of their class...
Some from the Parliament wanted to vouch for you—thinking that you, a rookie, would be able to do things in a way they deem "appropriate," which is something they can't ask of the wild horse that's [player name].
At the same time, they also hoped your existence would serve to encourage the younger generation at Babylonia—because not only would it mean a bigger reserve for the military, but also more votes for themselves.
Hence your immediate assignment to "Apodidae" right after graduation.
But with great expectations, of course, comes massive responsibility.
Be it Chrome or [player name], they didn't get to where they are today because they are Chiefs—except people tend to believe there is a causal relationship because of all that Chrome and [player name] have achieved.
Let me be straight here. You will not become the second Chrome, or the second [player name].
From what I see in your talent, potential, and performance, it seems highly unlikely for that to happen.
...!
This is not to say that you'll not excel as a commandant. You have a strong Mind Beacon and managed to stay uninfected when the Hetero Tower came up, which is extraordinary.
Except you split up from your team at the battle from the get-go... when you could have fought much more effectively had you stayed with them.
So there is that, and given Apodidae's performance over the past half a year, we just didn't think it made any sense for us to continue holding such a high bar over your team.
I wouldn't say you're to blame, though—because the chemistry between commandants and their team members does play a big role in a team's performance, too.
Nonetheless, the job of a commandant is to bring out the best in the team.
F.O.S. might have taught us a lot of theories, but knowledge remains nothing more than knowledge if the commandant cannot effectively formulate a strategy in accordance with the ever-changing battlefield—and vice-versa, of course.
...Is this you speaking based on the Staff's principles, sir?
I've been part of the Staff for far too long to say my logic is free of their influence.
But everything I said just now, I didn't say it as Chief of Staff... but as one of your teachers from F.O.S., if you will.
You'll not figure out what you really want going down a path walked by someone else.
...
Yes, of course, sir... I'll keep everything you said in mind.
Haha... I know I can be a little naggy sometimes, but old habits die hard, huh?
Anyhow, that's that. Let's get down to why we're here today.
We're here today to talk about your assignment to your next team.
As far as reassignment goes, you'd normally expect a notice of reassignment to be sent your way from CC, except the team you'll be assigned to is still under review, and the decisions regarding its members are only tentative.
Now, having taken everything into account, I believe you'd make a good fit for the team's commandant.
And I also believe you'd have a great deal to learn from the team's captain—given your proximity in age.
I beg your pardon...?
Well, I guess I'll let the person in charge take the floor from here.
Someone knocks on the door...
Right after which a man with a friendly smile walks in.
It sure has been quite a while, Wells.
I don't believe I've had the pleasure...?
My name is Allen, and I'm WGAA's chairman and Iris Warbler's organizer.
It's a pleasure to meet you, Sica.
Moments of darkness later, her visual module is back and running.
Sitting up in the medical pod, the Construct turns to look at the white-haired woman who is now wearing a somewhat disturbing smile.
We're done with your routine treatments, Orichalcum. Guess this is the last time I'll be seeing you here.
...And I was hoping you'd call me "Trojan" at least once.
Says the female Construct with a wry smile.
And I was hoping you'd spit out something smarter from that mouth of yours, Orichalcum, but I guess your M.I.N.D. is probably too damaged.
C'mon, I just thought we'd be on first-name terms by now.
Ignoring what Vesalius said, Trojan gets out of the medical pod.
Hah.
Your M.I.N.D. is 26.13% permanently damaged. Considering the limitations of your frame, there is no way we can bring this number down any further.
It's a miracle you're still alive at all with such severe damage, and the frame's infection from Punishing has affected its stability and damaged your memory from that period.
Unless we get you a new frame... It's not without risk, of course, but I just wanted to see if we could run a little interesting experiment on you.
Well...
Even if I can't recall what happened, they probably got backup copies at Babylonia anyway.
Although I'm sure they're all "classified" at this point...
Oh, like I care.
Noticing that Trojan is looking this way, Vesalius remarks coldly.
The only reason I helped you fix your M.I.N.D. is because I was part of the team that developed Orichalcum.
You were part of the first batch of military Constructs, but I've been able to get some very useful data off of you nonetheless.
That's a shame.
Seeing Vesalius' rejection coming even before she made her request, Trojan shrugs with another wry smile.
You're only hampering your progress as a Construct if you don't let go of your past.
Thought that's something you'd have known by now after spending all this time with Kurono.
Well... I guess I'm just not quite there yet.
Trojan says self-mockingly as she stretches.
Permanent damage of 26.13%. Let's pretend for a second that my Inver-Device and Mind Beacon granted me permanent immunity to infection...
Are you sure I am still any good to "you people"...
When I have a much lower synchronization rate and can't fight as effectively as I was able to before?
Look, if you weren't, you would have found yourself torn apart and dumped away at the recycling station now.
...Just saying, you know.
But with the super CPF we have now...
I'm sure Task Force is going to have a much easier time doing what they do, and I don't suppose the elite squad wants to take an old bag with such a negative track record... unless, of course, Kurono is trying to sell me off to my "old boss" for cheap.
You're not going to tell me you miss your days back at Norman Mining Corp now, are you?
I'd be happy to keep you around as a guinea pig, though.
But that's not my decision to make.
See, "they" are trying to... Actually, forget it. I'm not getting myself involved in this.
By the way, would you happen to be interested in "art"?
Says Vesalius, with a smile that seems even more evil now.
...?
On Earth, around an area of ruins within the zone of influence of the Inver-Hetero Tower.
A slender, silver-haired male Construct hides behind a dilapidated wall, an arrow swooshing past and driving into the ground by his foot.
A split second later, the bomb in the arrowhead explodes with an ear-splitting bang.
The Construct dodges sideways just in time to avoid the explosion—before turning backward to shoot an arrow at his pursuer.
Judging by the sound of a muffled explosion from afar, the Construct knows that his attack has been dodged, too. Knowing it's only a matter of time before his pursuer catches up again, he heads into the depths of the ruins.
...Tsk, give me a break already.
Guess Babylonia really enjoys hunting down "defectors," huh...
Did I give myself away back when I did that thing I didn't have to?
Hmph, never thought I'd get to experience such a "private" treat.
A Construct from Babylonia has been trying to hunt Teasell down for the past few months. She's not from Purifying Force, but given her persistence, Teasell can almost be sure that she'll be back for him again even if he shakes her off.
...Guess I wouldn't be dealing with this had I stuck together with the Ascendants.
But freedom is too steep a price to pay in exchange for shelter.
Oh, I'd rather you stick together. Then I could get rid of you all at once.
Teasell dodges out of the way before a metallic arrow could hit him. The arrow rams into a wall, its fletching threatening to burst from the reaction force.
The shot was deadly—so much so that, had the arrow hit Teasell, it would have gone straight through his armor and killed him if he had not been infected by Punishing.
I'd surrender now if I were you, Teasell
Says a female Construct with light purple hair as she walks out from behind a wall. With the string on her bow at full draw, she is ready to send the arrow flying straight at Teasell if he so much as dares to move a finger.
That bow you're holding there...
You're not going to blame the weapon for your own skill issue, are you?
Well... I was just wondering, you know, if I'd find women with the same kind of hairstyle and color as yours despicable.
And... do me a favor and stop calling me Teasell. That's not the name I go by anymore.
You think I came all the way here to chitchat?
Tell me where the other defectors are, and I just might spare your life for you to make an appearance at the court-martial.
Haha... so you think they're going to give me an open and fair trial for "what I have done" if they catch me, huh?
No, they aren't, because they'd die to get their hands on a Transcendant they can use as a puppet... Camu from Strike Hawk is an exception, but I, Teasell from Egret, won't be so lucky.
They're just going to lock me up in some ground headquarters and cut me up piece by piece day and night for their research. Is that what you want for me?
That's a bunch of nonsense, you pathetic de...
Pathetic? And what makes you think you're one to talk when you don't even know you're being toyed around?
Says Teasell with a smile—as he flips a switch in his hand.
What are you...
Before the Construct finishes her sentence, Teasell activates the electromagnetic trap he set up beforehand, sending a powerful shock through her body that paralyzes her.
Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you.
You seem to be in an interesting position yourself... and it'd be a shame to kill someone who has the potential to pass the "filtering."
What... are you talking about...?
There is no point in being here any longer, so... I'm going to have a talk with our "Ms. Rookie" first.
Farewell—and let's hope we get to work together next time we see each other. You never know.
Dammit...
The Construct watches Teasell leave, unable to stop him.
Three hours later, the electromagnetic trap finally becomes ineffective.
Work... together? Cut the... crap...
With her body numb, she's on the ground gasping for air.
H-help...
H-help us... Help us...
Ugh...
She rubs her head, waiting for her M.I.N.D. to fully recover from the paralysis.
He got away again...
She thought she could catch at least one defector within the period Commander Nikola had set... Now the intel from the Purifying Force is all wasted...
She is not originally a member of the Purifying Force, it is only because of her obsession for the defectors that compelled her to take this mission off the hands of the busy Purifying Force.
Her legs are still numb. She gives up on trying to stand and lies down on the ground instead.
The aquamarine Inver-Hetero Tower reflects on the horizon. The huge tower is like a mirage, silently looming over all on the ground.
No matter how many times she looks up at it, she could still not believe this "miracle" that had happened in reality.
Gray Raven...
Her personal terminal rings.
At this timing...?
She raises her hands up in the air as if surrendering. Pushing herself upright, she starts to read the message.
New squad transfer notice... Warning, if you continue to ignore this transfer arrangement, Command Center will deploy the Purifying Force to extract you back to Babylonia. Military disciplinary actions will be taken...
"Squad"... What a farce...
Whatever... The only thing she could do right now is obey.
She smiles bitterly with a tinge of helplessness as she continues to scroll through the message.
You are to be transferred to...
Iris Warbler...?
Babylonia, WGAA
That's enough for today, [player name].
Following the girl's voice, your consciousness passes through a long corridor of darkness and back into reality.
I'll analyze the "whale song" we collected today together with Leonie later. As usual, I'll send you the results afterward.
I'm the one who should be thanking you! That time with "Hamlet" was already a close call, on top of that, you've only just recovered...
After using "Capriccio" and "Hamlet" to verify the possibility of a remote connection, you would often visit the WGAA to help Ayla search for "whale song" signals on Earth.
It is not an easy process. Although you are the best choice for performing a remote connection with Selena, you were only able to do so back then thanks to the help of "Hamlet". It is not an easy feat to replicate.
Even when you are able to establish a temporary and unstable remote connection, most you can capture are enigmatic noises, there is not much that is actually useful.
Moreover, you are a commandant of the Task Force, you cannot visit the WGAA every day. At the very least, you have to spend more time on the Star of Life than the WGAA.
Rather than slow, I'd say no progress at all.
The area we can locate relying on "whale songs" is limited. Even if we use the technology of the Science Council, we still cannot increase the accuracy of it.
And, the "whale songs" are usually delayed. There's around a month's gap between the emission of the song and its capture and analysis. By the time the results are available, it is often too late to conduct surface searches. At least, I've tried over a dozen times and I've never succeeded.
If possible, I would like to send a message back to Selena from Babylonia... but it has never worked for some reason.
I sometimes wonder...
Why is she even wandering on Earth? Why couldn't she just stop for a while and let me catch up?
Has she already forgotten me? Forgotten everything we've been through?
Truthfully speaking, if we cannot improve the accuracy of the positioning system, the chances of actually finding Selena are close to zero.
My friends at the WGAA never said it out loud, but I'm pretty sure they've tried to convince me to give up.
To be honest, I'm not doing this under the impression that I'll definitely be able to find her.
The data doesn't lie. I can't just ignore that and be a hundred percent confident in what I'm doing.
But even after so long, I still don't want to give up.
No matter how she is now, no matter how different she is from the "Selena" in my memories...
No matter why she is wandering on Earth...
I just want her to know, that there is a place she can always come home to here.
All I have now is not even a wish, but merely an obsession. You won't be wrong to call me stubborn.
Also, if we do find her, I'll have to let her know all the hardship she's put us through! I won't shut up about it for three months—no, at least half a year!
The pink-haired girl smiles fondly.
By the way...
Ayla seems to have recalled something. You are still sitting in the connection pod when she moves closer, bends down, and places the back of her hand on your forehead.
Hm... No fever or anything, looks like you're right as rain.
Your vitals are shown on the screen but I just wanted to confirm myself.
That's the most worrying part!
You nod helplessly at Ayla's persistent attitude. Removing the electrodes on your chest and taking off the remote connection device, you stand up from the connection pod.
Your gaze wanders. The huge theatrical set of "Hamlet" is connected to the connection pod you were just in. It is mostly thanks to the data harvested from "Hamlet" last time that you are able to help Ayla.
Ayla and Leonie from the WGAA had performed some technical upgrades to "Hamlet", allowing it to capture "whale song" signals on the surface more easily and visualize the information.
It is a shame that only you can see its messages. Due to the remote connection restrictions and human consciousness protection mechanism of "Hamlet", you would have forgotten most of the messages by the time you return to reality.
As if you had a dream but you cannot recall anything from it, your "memories" slipping away through your fingers like sand.
Every time you recover from this state of immersion, it would leave you feeling helpless for quite some time.
Ayla continues to find and organize useful parts of the "whale song" on the terminal.
This has been her life for the past few years since Selena disappeared, and no one knows how long it will still go on for.
Grasping onto the tiny threads of "hope," she frantically searches for hints of her dear friend.
She must have experienced countless failures, countless disappointments, and countless moments of helplessness.
Even so, she has yet to despair.
Being able to smile every day while sustaining this "obsession"... Where does her motivation come from?
After spacing out and staring blankly at Ayla for a while, you gather your wandering thoughts and ask about something else you noticed.
The frame Ayla is using today is not her usual "Brilliance" frame.
Compared to "Brilliance", this frame is more refined. It also looks more like the combat frames used by the Task Force, but there are still bits of extravagance to its design. It is clear that Ayla had a hand in designing this frame.
Oh, you mean "Kaleido"? It just passed the consciousness adaptation test, I'm just testing it out and calibrating as I go.
Hehe, of course. This was made in reference to Task Force Construct data. "Kaleido" is more focused on the combat aspect. Although it's nothing compared to the specialized frames Lucia and the others have, it is the work of the most talented designer of the WGAA, so that counts for something.
Leonie even bragged about it in front of Asimov when I went to do the consciousness adaptation test at the Science Council.
It's just that I might have been able to help you with the Hetero Tower if this frame had been finished earlier.
So that I can battle, of course!
Ayla throws a few punches in the air to demonstrate.
Well, I guess I just want to be prepared just in case.
"Brilliance" is a good frame, but I feel it lacks in some departments if I'm to officially carry out missions on Earth.
Of course it means the "Task Force's" Earth missions.
Hm, I guess you can say that?
More precisely, it's a new squad founded with the help of the WGAA—on paper, it belongs to the Task Force.
Oh, you don't know, Commandant? Then let me tell you more.
In the past, the archaeological missions of the WGAA were carried out by teams with members from both the Task Force and the Archaeological Team, as the Constructs on the Archaeological Team are not made for combat, they require the protection of the Task Force.
It has always been like this... until Selena disappeared. The Chairman has been trying to remedy the situation since then.
He's been thinking if we can form a specialist squad with a commandant like the Task Force does for more dangerous missions, maybe we can lower the chance of these incidents from happening.
And recently, probably due to the successful reversal of the Hetero Tower, his idea is becoming a reality.
After all, the WGAA is also responsible for retrieving scientific technology from the Golden Age. With the increase of search area, these kinds of missions are rising in importance.
And the Chairman even agreed to a bunch of extra conditions, such as paying for all the expenses of running the team, and deepening our cooperation with the Science Council...
Anyway, they've finalized the squad and I'll, of course, be a part of it as the representative of the WGAA. Need to show some support, am I right?
To be precise, I've been wanting a new frame ever since that space station mission.
That incident made me understand that "intentions" alone are not enough to achieve something.
When in a pinch, even artists have to pick up a sword rather than a brush—they've all done it, Monet, Vereshchagin, and even Vlaminck!
Ayla pats her own chest with confidence. It looks like she has already prepared for the future.
You have to admit that there are times when you envy Ayla's optimistic personality.
Hm... Maybe you'll have heard of the commandant?
Of course there are others!
You know what, I can introduce them to you later if you want to meet them, Commandant—
All of a sudden, your personal terminal on your wrist rings, interrupting Ayla.
Commandant, it's almost time. The survey mission in Area B around the Hetero Tower starts tomorrow.
I haven't seen you around all morning, where have you been?
Liv and I can come escort you to the war room if you need.
Ending your conversation with Lucia, you stand and nod apologetically toward Ayla.
I guess they don't call you the ace of Babylonia for nothing, Commandant. You're always so busy.
Well then, we'll have to leave the introductions till next time. I'll definitely bring them over to Gray Raven's lounge.
But I would've expected you to let your team members know your plans. Hm, why didn't you?
A hint of realization taints Ayla's smile, making it look meaningful.
You did not hide your schedule on purpose, but ever since you last got discharged from the hospital, the members of Gray Raven, especially Liv, have been very strictly monitoring your health situation.
Even pulling an all-nighter would be met with a cold shoulder. If you tell Liv that you have been going to the WGAA and attempting special remote connections... You shudder at the thought.
I guess the next time we'll meet is after the mission.
Oh, wait a second, Commandant.
You are about to leave when Ayla runs over to you. She extends her arms and pulls you into a hug.
Confusion hits you together with this "ambush" of hers, but Ayla does not pay any mind to your slightly embarrassed expression. She closes her eyes and continues to hug you close.
She only let go after ten seconds or so.
...All right, that should do it.
I just want to express my gratitude to you, Commandant.
And, I guess, to encourage myself. No need to mind it, Commandant.
You're going to be late if you don't get going soon.
The ticking clock on your personal terminal urges you to hurry. You leave the WGAA before you could thoroughly think about the meaning of the hug.
You pass by a young woman in the corridor.
She looks familiar, but since you are running out of time, you have no choice but to rush past her.
Was that...?
Last time we met we were... I was quite nervous back then, I must've left a bad impression...
Why the long face?
Startled by a low voice next to her ear, Sica turns to find a female Construct with short, purple and blue hair speaking to her.
Y-you are?
Trojan, M.I.N.D. number BPO-74—If I'm not mistaken, you're my new commandant, right?
Trojan... Hello, I'm Sica. I'll be temporarily taking on the role of the Iris Warbler Commandant, pleased to make your acquaintance!
Is that so? Polite and young... a bit too young, in my opinion.
I was heading to the WGAA to find the captain. That's why you're here as well, isn't it?
Oh, yes, that's right.
Are you not going to say hi to that commandant? It seemed like you wanted to.
...No... Now's... not the time.
We should meet up with Ayla.
Let's go, Trojan. The WGAA is just up ahead.
