Story Reader / Floating Record / ER06 When Day Breaks / Story
All right, one last time. Recite Support Force mandate—
Efficiently manage on-field demands, ensure precise coordination, targeted support, and timely assistance, and hold on to every spark of hope, no matter how small!
Excellent! Now go—victory will always be ours!
Yeah!
Squad members disperse in all directions, each heading to their assigned missions.
Hey! [player name]! Lucia!
Lee and Liv are not coming?
Liv's frame is due for scheduled maintenance, and Lee is on another mission.
Hmm, you Gray Raven folks sure know how to keep yourselves busy.
By the way, this is our first official collaboration, right?
Excluding all the times we helped each other out.
Don't worry, I remember everything as clear as day!
[player name], Lucia, here's to our first official mission together!
I'm certain we'll work well together!
This mission involves Norman Mining Corp... How are their preparations coming along?
They're already here... Look, over there.
Norman Mining Corp delivers their promised supplies right on schedule. A female staff with glasses gives orders as they sort and load the supplies into the transport aircraft.
As usual, Trojan stands by the transport aircraft with her arms crossed, lost in thought.
The female staff turns and notices the group standing nearby. She fixes her glasses and walks over.
Hello, I'm An Jie, the coordinator for this operation and head of the Norman-Tantalum Research Division.
That's Trojan, our security consultant responsible for the safety of Norman Mining Corp's researchers.
Oh... Hello! I'm...
No need for that. I've heard all about you. Let's get to work.
She turns around and checks her terminal.
I need to go back to sorting resources. Please follow the agreed plan and meet us at the designated time.
...
...Well.
It's rare to see someone from Support Force being this serious... Ahem.
So, are your backup supplies ready?
Commandant's and my backup supplies are all set.
It's almost time... Let's head out!
Since Babylonia has pinpointed the location of Konstantin Town, finding the still-intact Konstantin Mine proved to be no challenge.
Howling winds sweep through the abandoned town, now nothing but a hollow void.
I used to make a living here driving public transport... Wonder if my old heavy-duty vehicle is still around.
Whoa! Boss! Is this where you used to live?
Haha! Yeah! I lived here before the Punishing outbreak! But I was so small back then, so I can't remember much.
At that time, Norman Mining Corp quickly built a Central Purification Filter here to protect their tantalum mines. That's why the Virus concentration in this area was always within safe levels.
By the time I was old enough to remember things, my parents were already working as rescue workers in the surrounding areas.
Your mom must be a real beauty!
...Shut it. So, does this mean the Central Purification Filter can be reactivated once it's been fixed?
In theory, yes.
That should make things much easier...
Bridget continues her explanation as the small town gradually comes into view.
Strange rocks dot the surrounding wasteland while whirling sand and dust spiral in the air. The sturdy city gates stand guard as its humble residents work tirelessly to rescue survivors from the surrounding disaster zones...
The only regret is that there's hardly any food here. Nowhere near enough to sustain us.
Thankfully, I have my trusty heavy-duty vehicle. That one's a beast—I reinforced the front bumper so your average Corrupted wouldn't stand a chance against it—
We're almost there.
An Jie, who has been quiet this whole time, suddenly speaks up.
Crumbling buildings that are still standing gradually thin out. Further ahead, a cluster of single-story buildings comes into view.
...This is it. We're here.
The main building of the mine is surprisingly modest in size, not nearly as towering as you've imagined.
Most of the complicated structures are underground... but the original mine entrance has collapsed. It'd take stationed personnel at least three days to clear it out.
According to the corporation's original blueprints, there should be... another mine entrance over here that hasn't collapsed.
Always good to have a backup plan.
As Bridget sneers at the idea of having multiple entrances all over the place, An Jie cuts her off with a cold retort.
This is efficient resource management.
An Jie's authorization chip activates the dirt-covered hidden control panel. Stale dust billows from the mine shaft, bringing with it the musty scent of decay.
Support Force will split into two teams. I'll lead one with Trojan and we'll be entering this way, while [player name] and Lucia will lead the other team and coordinate with An Jie to investigate from the other way.
Let's stay in touch so we can all ask for help immediately if anything comes up.
And when we're done, we'll rendezvous here... in the main hall inside the mine.
All right, let's get the show on the road!
Bridget takes one last focused look at the mine entrance.
It's been years since she last set foot in this abyss.
