Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Farewell to the Past Year / Story
The supply transfer has been arranged after the routine security check at the outpost to conceal the actual objective of this operation.
The desert in winter is still remarkably arid. The sea of yellow sand in front of you has not changed apart from the cooling weather.
Your vehicle raises a fog of dust as it glides through the desert, and the sand dispersed in the air like a fleeting cloud.
Today is New Year's Eve. Despite having no notion of festivities, you still feel odd traveling alone on this day.
Incoming transmission—
Hello? Don't tell me you've fallen asleep, [player name]? Our tracking suggested that you've entered the safe area, but you should keep an eye out nonetheless.
I know we're working with the Forsaken for now, but you can never tell what sort of accidents could happen down there. Just be careful.
Good to hear that. After all, the Gray Ravens aren't by your side this time, and they're all worried sick...
I will. Make sure to keep your comms open and keep tabs on the cruise control. You're about two kilometers from the meeting point. Safe travels!
As Celica's message ends, you are immediately connected with the Forsaken.
It follows so swiftly that you cannot help but wonder if they have been trying to call you when Celica was occupying the line.
You're in Forsaken territory now, [player name]. Maintain your speed. Our envoy will be meeting you at your nine o'clock.
Keep to yourself. We don't need no attention.
You see a layer of white mist fogging up the window of the cockpit. The setting sun lingers on the golden horizon, and everything seems within reach.
The visible heatwave rises from the sand, distorting and refracting light, and you can see the dunes transforming into a pot of molten gold.
Your transport slowly enters the designated area. You can see the paved path ahead of you as your vehicle gradually stops bumping.
The Forsaken soldiers stop your ride under Watanabe's lead.
You have yet to enter the campsite proper, unlike what you were expecting. You can tell it is still quite a distance away just from the view on your ride.
Uncertain about the current situation, you recall what Celica mentioned and prepare for any unforeseen arrangement.
You're 47 minutes and 6 seconds late.
Consider this part of my "goodwill." I did promise to guarantee your safety.
Not surprising. It's a rough neighborhood.
Sorry for not informing you beforehand, but we'll need you to stop here.
For the sake of both of our sides, I can't allow a Babylonia vessel to enter our camp directly. It's an inconvenient time—you'll understand once you arrive.
But you don't have to worry. No harm will come to you. The Forsaken does not forget the people who fought by our side.
Watanabe nods and gestures to the soldiers around him, and a senior-looking guard walks up with a detection device.
Pardon me. Please raise your arms—
Your pistol, as well as your emergency fire starter kit, are both confiscated.
My apologies. No fire-starting items are allowed in the camp, and... what is this?
Would you mind taking a sip in front of us now? If it's alcohol...
Enough, no need to be so thorough. Babylonia's not gonna allow a commandant to drink on the job, and this one doesn't seem like the rule-breaking kind.
Have you notified the folks in the camp?
We did. Although we do recognize the Gray Raven Commandant, there have been many newcomers in the camp...
Watanabe does not answer you. He turns and signals everyone to follow him to the Forsaken base.
Unlike the calm and quiet campsite you remembered, the one you are seeing is bustling—
The military tents by the road have turned into various stalls, where the Forsaken members trade and exchange rare items and supplies.
More surprisingly, you notice a large group of children running by the Forsaken headquarter, giggling.
Hey, kids! Stop running around in here! You're going to bring down the tent!
The children turn to make a funny face at the guard leader before disappearing into the crowd with a louder wave of laughter.
Children of the Forsaken.
Don't be so surprised. This isn't our only camp, and we... are not the only ones forsaken.
We built a small shelter to the east of here after what happened with the ARU. The kids and the newcomers are staying there.
They should be the actual hope for the future... We couldn't abandon them.
Watanabe stops, giving a soldier that is sorting supplies some kind of order.
Mr. Watanabe! I'm sorry, the sorting is still ongoing. You might want to take this...
...Supplier. A supplier for now.
I see! You might want to take this... "supplier" elsewhere first?
And don't forget to answer your comms, Mr. Watanabe. You're about to be late for the call with the blue gentleman.
You don't have to remind me. I'll reply after this—and we aren't the ones who are late, to begin with.
The children who entered the campsite earlier are still hanging around. They shoot a glance at your side every once in a while, and Watanabe waves back with a warm, friendly smile, unlike his usual solemn self.
But when he turns back at you, he looks exactly as he was.
Cough... [player name], let's talk business.
I've only received a very vague report about this test. But before that... there's something else that I'm more curious about.
At Watanabe's cue, the Forsaken soldiers open the marked cache.
The CUB for this testing immediately activates and hovers by Watanabe's side.
Right now, it is just a polygon with red stripes on one side, looking quite ordinary.
This thing can... help in a fight? It looks so...
Watanabe activates its second stage with uncertainty.
Its form expands and changes as it transforms to prepare for engagements. The animalistic features and coatings of the machine immediately catch the people's attention... and catch them off guard.
Watanabe's doubtful gaze and the unexpected reveal have everyone on the scene turn silent.
I understand it's supposed to be a support unit, but isn't this design a little bit... excessive?
I assume there were specific... thoughts put into it?
If you say so... I suppose there's no harm in it.
If we're just talking about combat capabilities, it's indeed... quite...
Watanabe frowns, excruciating, desperately trying to convince himself with his own argument.
Incoming transmission—
Is this a good time? Mind if I cut in?
The silence is broken up by a call from Babylonia. As the comms connect, Watanabe reverts to his typical expression.
I know the commandant isn't exactly on time, but our tracking shows that [player name] has arrived. And it seems that Mr. Watanabe here has a lot to say about our CUB?
But we can table that for later—it's one of our proudest creations, after all. Asimov, it's your turn to do the talking.
...I don't have much to say, to be honest.
The Chief Technician is apparently unfamiliar with an occasion like this, or maybe he simply does not care. He pays no attention to how restless he looks.
Please check the instructions we sent you to see how to use and connect with the "Combat Unit Booster". It's just a prototype, so the user experience may not be perfect, but it won't be lethal.
It might just get a little uncomfortable during the connection. But that's what you get from connecting to the M.I.N.D., so just prepare yourselves.
Regarding its appearance, we have commissioned experts from the WGAA to design it, so I swear it's more than competent. Don't worry.
In that case, I'll count on the old models—I mean, the role models of the Forsaken to carry out this test.
This is just standard fare. It's nothing to us.
I can tell how battle-tested you all must be from the way you've been maintaining yourselves. I simply require data from older frames.
...It seems that Babylonia hasn't forgotten where this frame comes from.
That... is not for me to say. Do you want me to fetch Hassen for you?
That won't be necessary.
No offense, but it's probably best that we keep this kind of collaboration a one-time event. Good luck.
And the call ends there.
Sir, is our... "supplier" clear?
Don't worry. They would have sent someone else if it was a trap.
Facing his hesitant crew, Watanabe casually gives him a pat on the shoulder.
For my part, I trust [player name]. We have to have more friends who've fought with us than enemies against us, right?
But you, dear supplier, I do have a job for you before my men are done calibrating the machine.
