Story Reader / Floating Record / ER06 When Day Breaks / Story
All right, let's review Support Force mandate.
Efficiently manage on-field demands—
Ensure precise coordination, targeted support, and timely assistance—
Hold on to every spark of hope, no matter how small—
The exhausted Support Force members mechanically recite their mandate.
...Why are we getting another mission already? I'm going to be worked to death.
I heard there's big trouble at the Konstantin Mine. That's probably why they're sending so many of us.
It's just a mine, isn't it... Shouldn't Task Force be handling this?
It is no ordinary mine—it's a tantalum mine. Intel says there's been a sudden Punishing virus outbreak. Several underground Norman Mining Corp tantalum labs have suffered heavy losses.
The Punishing virus has been around for so long... Why are they only reporting it now? Who knows what's really going on there...
The job landed on us because this mission requires both rescue and scouting teams, and most of Task Force is still fighting the Corrupted on the surface.
See that newcomer there, the one with brown hair? She shouldn't even be here. She literally just got out of training.
Our captain would never have let her join if this wasn't an emergency, and if she didn't have a relative on the rescue team for the Konstantin Mine collapse...
Bridget looks around nervously in the crowd.
Bridget... Over here!
Ruolin! What are you doing here? I thought you applied to transfer to Task Force?
The application will take a while since it's an interdepartmental transfer with no special circumstances.
I heard you applied for this ground mission. I might not be as strong in combat as you are, but at least I'm familiar with Support Force's other operations...
Looks like we'll get to fight side by side again!
Yeah! And also with Instructor Trojan!
Instructor Trojan? Is she part of this mission, too?
I saw her over there earlier... There!
The blue-haired Construct is fiddling with her assigned weapons.
Instructor Trojan!
...One of these days, I'll need to get rid of this flashy hair color.
They quickly pack up and load all the supplies onto the transport aircraft.
For this mission, Support Force will split into teams to enter different areas of the Konstantin Mine.
It was no surprise that Trojan, Bridget, and Ruolin were assigned to the same team.
...So the mine never gave a reasonable explanation even after you went to Babylonia?
...Yeah. According to the rescue team's code of conduct, if anything happens to rescue workers, the responsible party must issue an accident report.
But even after I sent a formal inquiry as a Support Force Construct from Babylonia, they still refused to respond.
It's clear they're hiding a bigger secret, and revealing it would cause them more trouble than being investigated by a Construct.
Tch, heartless bastards.
I have a feeling whatever caused this "accident" this time also caused the previous collapse. The only difference is that this time, they lost control of the situation.
I will find the truth of what happened to my parents. I refuse to let them fade into the darkness without a trace.
Yeah! You're Bridget! I know you can do it!
Ruolin clenches her fists to show support while Trojan's face remains hidden in the shadows.
The Konstantin Mine was one of the early mines that Norman Mining Corp invested in.
The advancement of Construct Tech helped them see its true value and resulted in the construction of this massive underground tower.
Even the most experienced Konstantin miners wouldn't dare claim to know each of the vast underground tunnels.
With all residents evacuated from Konstantin Town, Support Force is left working in the dark, relying on the most basic methods for rescue and investigation.
Nearly all power to the mine was lost in the accidents, so the only lights are the dim glow of flashlights from Support Force members.
The team is linked together in a single file by safety ropes to prevent anyone from getting separated.
The caves grow more expansive as they go deeper. They eliminate several Corrupted and continue slowly, relying only on a map from the mine's administrators.
Bridget?
Yes.
Ruolin?
Here.
Trojan?
...
Trojan?
...Present.
Trojan's signature lazy voice finally comes through After several calls.
Underground communications are unstable, so they rely on calling each other to make sure no one falls behind.
...I smell blood. Over here.
The searchlight finds no survivors—only grotesque bloodstains that silently testify to the tragedy that had unfolded here.
These marks don't look like the work of a Corrupted...
Ruolin crouches down to examine the fresh bloodstains more closely.
These are blood spatter from impact, gunshot wounds, and... over here—drag marks.
Someone moved the bodies.
...I knew something was off about this place.
Can you tell which way they went? The fresh blood might mean there are survivors.
That way.
They all dash forward following Ruolin's direction.
Another thirty minutes pass. The squad leader slows down and starts another roll call.
Trojan...?
The Construct's voice rings through the deep, dark tunnel, trailing into an unsettling hum.
...Trojan, report in, or I'll have to cut your attendance points.
Trojan!
The Construct's voice module almost produces a shriek, but there is no answer.
She... Trojan... Trojan is gone!
...What about the safety rope? Did she fall behind?
The safety rope... the safety rope...
Frantic rustling sounds fill the air as they fumble in the dark, reeling in the safety rope. Panic begins to spread.
The safety rope... it's been cut!
Turn on the searchlights!
The searchlights that were dimmed to save energy, suddenly flare to full power, bathing the ground in light.
There are traces of vital fluid... T-Trojan, did she...!
That's impossible! Everyone, stay calm! Instructor Trojan is a seasoned fighter—no one could take her down without making any noise.
Something's not right... I would like to request permission to head back to assist Trojan!
Request denied. It's too dangerous and you're just a rookie. Split from the squad and you'll be dead before you know it.
I'll follow the fluorescent markers we left along the way and cross-check with the map.
Twenty minutes. Give me twenty minutes. If I can't find Trojan in twenty minutes, I'll regroup immediately.
This is not a game.
I-I'll go with Bridget.
...You?
I may not be a good fighter, but I can track your trail... and help Bridget catch back up with the squad...
...Don't make me regret this.
Twenty minutes. Only twenty minutes. If you can't find her, catch up with us immediately.
Yes, sir!
Meanwhile, Trojan is moving effortlessly through a dark, craggy tunnel, not even using the portable lamp issued by Support Force.
No matter how much she dreads working, duty calls. She hopes her getaway was smooth enough to avoid raising suspicion among the squad.
As for her excuse for being in the lab... She could say she was kidnapped and fought her way out... They'd probably buy that, right?
What if Bridget comes looking for her? Oh, well, she won't be able to get past the authentication system and into the lab, anyway...
...How rude. They just had to blow up my shortcut.
Trojan avoids the collapsed shaft and takes a detour. She dusts off a control panel and activates the emergency power switch.
—Authentication successful.
Well, at least these halfwits made a backup power system that actually works.
The door hidden behind the rocks slowly opens, revealing a dimly lit corridor.
Sigh. Don't say I don't care about my old colleagues...
I mean, Kurono paid good money for this.
With another sigh, she steps over several lifeless bodies and presses onward.
They already killed pretty much everyone here... What's the point of making me come back... Huh?
Faint noises come from a laboratory ahead.
Oh? Did I miss one?
W-wait, wait! Goddammit! It's me!
Tch.
Trojan clicks her tongue in irritation, but keeps her gun trained on Hyde.
Why are you still... here?
Those Kurono ******* started spraying bullets the moment they got in! Luckily, I was quick enough to dodge back there.
Quick, get me out of here! I have all the data on the copolymers with me. Come with me—I promise, whatever I get, you'll get your share... Hey!
"BANG!" Smoke wisps from Trojan's gun barrel as Hyde clutches his bloody shoulder in shock.
That's your best offer for your life? Besides... why should I trust you?
Hmm... Maybe this is an opportunity from God.
I never thought I'd get this lucky when I took this mission.
Trojan! You vile rat! If it weren't for me, you'd have ******* rotted in that pile of corpses!
Perhaps? Though I may have preferred that.
She loads another bullet and aims once more at Hyde's head.
Y-you can't kill me! Your frame... I modified your frame! If I die, you won't get away with it either!
Sigh... How can you still be so clueless?
Living or dead... makes no difference to me.
I live... only to receive pointless missions like this, to have you rip apart, modify, and experiment on my frame... Maybe death is the sensible choice.
So... die here with me.
The corners of her mouth twitch into a chilling smile.
No, no... you can't—!
Trojan! What are you doing?!
Before the gunshot sounds, heavy footsteps echo from the hallway...
...****! Those ignorant idiots! How did they blow a hole over there...
Blinding lights flood in.
This lab only had one entrance. There's only one way Bridget could have bypassed the authentication system—Kurono's soldiers must have accidentally blasted open a new path.
Lower your weapon! Trojan, who is this? Why are you pointing your gun at him?
His face pisses me off.
By the way, are you sure you want to point your gun at me? I am your instructor.
Trojan finds herself moving her gun away from Hyde, despite what she says.
She can't let Babylonia know about her real identity just yet.
A-are you the rescue team from Babylonia? Oh, thank goodness! I-I'm just a researcher from Norman here to study tantalum ore!
Hyde cries out as if he's found salvation.
Shut up.
Are you really just a researcher?
The man sitting slumped on the ground darts his eyes back and forth. Guilt is written all over his face.
O-of course! Th-these are my identification documents...
He fumbles to fish out his access card and ID badge.
Humph, you don't strike me as "just a researcher."
If you're "just a researcher", how do you explain all the bodies outside?
T-that's...
The Constructs did it! They went haywire from the Punishing Virus! I-I had nothing to do with it...
Oh, nothing to do with it? Then why were you acting so strange?
Could it be that you're the mastermind behind all this? Wouldn't surprise me one bit...
A malicious smile spreads across Trojan's face as she emphasizes the word "mastermind".
W-what are you saying? I... I understand why you might think I did it, but...
...
These two seem to be putting on some kind of show. Did they really just run into each other...?
...Regardless of who this person is or what he did, Support Force does not have the authority to execute anyone. Instructor Trojan... you're violating Support Force protocols.
Bridget carefully observes Trojan's reaction.
She can't quite grasp what's going on, nor can she determine who is lying based on their brief exchange.
The best solution is to bring them both back to Babylonia and let the experts find the truth.
Instructor Trojan, hand your weapon over to Ruolin.
...Here.
She carelessly tosses her sidearm to the ground.
Things couldn't possibly get any worse than this—mission failed, Hyde is still alive, and now Bridget has found them.
There is one solution—she could set off the bombs beneath the lab and blow everyone to bits. That would tie up all loose ends.
But... they've done nothing wrong.
Regretting her infuriating indecision, Trojan steps back with a sigh.
