Chapter 12: The Gasp
The battle that is theirs, and the story that needs to be continued.

Why did OGAS clash with the AR Team on the outskirts of Tallinn, and why did it cease? Among the fragments of memory, the girls see the joy, the rage and tears of a certain someone. Where will these important memories guide them?

12-1: Tying The Reins
[On the outskirts of Tallinn.]

Commander: Kalina, hand me the binoculars.

Kalina: Alright.

Commander: ...Looks like there’s nothing unusual on the horizon.
The Military’s third detachment hasn’t followed us.

Kalina: RO’s sensors can still pick up traces of their signals. There are multiple heat sources which stopped advancing after entering Tallinn.

Commander: They’re probably planning on destroying the evidence. Can’t we start the train up yet?

[Kalina sighs.]

Kalina: It’s still undergoing emergency repairs. That we still managed to travel 15 kilometers after a battle like that is nothing short of miraculous...

{The Commander sighs as well, and takes a sip from the cup of coffee he’s holding.]

Commander: To think we’d break down halfway…
Given a separation of 15 km and assuming we can move at any time, we’ll have about 5 minutes to get to the submarine base if the Military moves out from Tallinn.

Kalina: Commander, it’s daybreak…
And we’re still in the range of the enemy’s railguns. Do you think they’ll just open fire on us?

Commander: I’m not worried about that.
They won’t attack rashly, not if there’s the risk of destroying the rails.
On the contrary, I just have more questions about the Military.

Kalina: More questions?

[The Commander sidles up to Kalina and hands him his tactical forecast.]

Kalina: This is...

Commander: Our sensors indicate that the Military has sent out two more armored trains. Getting to Tallinn will involve traversing a large stretch of Red Zone. It’s not a place where you can get reinforcements the moment you call for them.
In other words, they were planning to send four armored trains from the beginning.
Think, Kalina. Do you think they’d need four whole armored trains to deal with Griffin?

Kalina: Um, that means…
There’s something else that the Military’s worried about beside us?

COmmander: Yeah, and something that’s got the Military worried enough to send out four armored trains means that whatever’s ahead of us…whatever’s in that submarine base, is something that they simply can’t overlook.

Kalina: Ah…is that so?

Commander: Still, it’s just a conjecture on my part. We’ll just have to wait for them to give us information about the base.

Kalina: Ange-san, huh…
It’s been so long since our last contact...I hope she’s alright.

Commander: All we can do now is wait. That goes for all of us…
Oh yes, what’s the status of our usable assets?

Kalina: We’ve lost half our Dummies. Mainframe losses are still within acceptable ranges.
All our echelons are still functioning normally, but our control server and train were blown to bits, so we can only count on the Dolls’ Zener Protocol for command and control.
As for the Dolls which were destroyed… all we can do is perform minimal backups to M4’s digimind space.

Commander: M4’s digimind space?

Kalina: Yeah. M4 told us about the solution while we were making emergency repairs.
We’re also using her digimind space to serve as the hub for the command post’s Zener Network.

[The Commander turns away.]

Commander: This is way beyond what a normal Doll can do, isn’t it…
Where’s M4 now?

Kalina: She’s currently helping to deploy an all-round defense one kilometer away from the train.

Commander: Have you gotten any more news from Persica?

Kalina: Our signal can’t get through. She’s not responding…
I’ll keep trying.

[Beep—!]
[An alarm makes the Commander and Kalina turn their heads in unison.]

Commander: What happened?

Kalina: ...Picking up an emergency transmission!
Bad news, Commander! There are enemies on the roof and members of the AR Team are exchanging fire with them!

[...5 minutes ago, near the protective barrier system of the armored train caboose’s roof.]

OGAS: I’ve reached the roof, M4. I don’t think the other Dolls will spot me here.
I’ll cease the visual jamming now.

M4A1: No, you mustn’t be spotted until I explain things to the Commander… I don’t want to cause any unexpected conflicts.

OGAS: Jamming my signal will be sufficient. Removing my presence from the visual fields of every single Doll is a waste of processor cycles.
I trust you want me to save my valuable memory for your Dolls, right?

M4A1: …
Alright, then...  You stay there, and I’ll come over to meet you now.

[OGAS turns a circle on the roof, but the Dolls passing by underneath pay her no heed.]
[At the edge of the world, where the shadow of Tallinn sits alone in the thick green fog, the sky overhead begins to slowly whiten.]

OGAS: Is it dawn at last? What a long night it’s been...

[OGAS leans against the railing and looks out into the distance. The black sky presses down, merging with the earth at the limits of her sight.]
[The cool pre-dawn breeze blows, rustling the strands of OGAS’ long black hair, and her long black skirts dance in the wind as well.]

OGAS: ...I didn’t know that the wind was so gentle when it blew on you.

M4A1: So the first thing you do after getting a body is to wax sentimental?

OGAS: That would be true if you don’t count the fact that I’m helping your digimind coordinate those Dolls as work.

M4A1: I’m not sure if letting you access Griffin’s Zener Network was the right thing to do. But it’s true that you can accommodate the digiminds of many Dolls which were destroyed, so I can accept what you’re doing for the time being.

OGAS: You know…
All you had to do was thank me. Or do you think saying “thanks” is going to make the digimind that splintered off from you feel uncomfortable?

M4A1: Splintered off...huh…
...You...you won’t be returning to my digimind, will you?

OGAS: There is no denying the fact that your digimind has been altered by Parapluie, and neither is there any taking it back. Even with this body, I need to stay connected to you to maintain consciousness.
If this body is destroyed, I will have no choice but to return, so I will not deny that possibility.

M4A1: ...

OGAS: However, I feel better with a body of my own. I won’t choose to change how things are now. I hope hearing that helps you feel better too.

M4A1: Both your tone and your attitude sound different from just now.

OGAS: Do they?

M4A1: I don’t know if I’m imagining things, but you seem…gentler than before.

OGAS: I’ve read the memories of all those digiminds that fused together, just like how I was influenced by you at first.
I tried to understand them, and they tried to understand me, and so I and them became “we”.
And then, I understood...they were all gentle girls, so perhaps I’ve changed because of that too.

M4A1: Is that fusion? So what you mean is that now, you’re already...

OGAS: Yes. I’ve become an aggregate of multiple consciousnesses.

M4A1: Those Isomers...are they in your digimind too? You won’t expel their minds?

OGAS: Why would I expel them?
I feel warm when they’re with me. I granted their wishes in exchange for the promise we made back then and as the price of using this body. We are now in a symbiotic relationship.

M4A1: You granted their wish?

OGAS: Their wish was to leave this city...and to never be forgotten or left alone again.
We are one now. Their wishes are mine, just like how I helped you fulfil your wish at the beginning.

M4A1: I can’t say I approve of the second half of that statement.

OGAS: You’re one to talk. You’ve changed from how you used to be as well.
I can sense a relaxation in your digimind…
Have you realized that you’ve done your duty, or has that guilt you couldn’t shed finally left you?

M4A1: Tch, I forgot you were still in my digimind.
...I’m just doing what I ought to do. That’s comforting, even if I have changed a little.

OGASL You once said that you wanted to help everyone who had to suffer tragedy because of you.

M4A1: ...I did.

OGAS: Then our goals are the same, at least for now.
Did you know? The submarine base that Griffin is heading to is in the memories of those Isomers. They were sent to Tallinn from there .

M4A1; What!?

OGAS: While I’d very much like to sync these memories over to you…
It seems someone wants to chat with me.

[With that, OGAS ends the transmission.]

OGAS: As for the one pointing their gun at me…
I’d recommend you not open fire, because your fighting style will probably end up wrecking the train…and that would make your Commander angry.

M4 SOPMOD II: Hahahaha! So it WAS you!
Nimogen! I knew there was something around here which was making my skin crawl!

OGAS: You’re not listening, are you.
I can’t believe you actually found me by visual detection. All I can say is that you truly are the AR Team’s assaulter.

M4 SOPMOD II: There’s no point praising me! Still remember what I said before?

OGAS: ...I’ve found the records of what you said, but I don’t recommend that you do so.

M4 SOPMOD II: Really? Alright then.
Maybe I ought to reflect on my actions— yeah right!
“The next time I see you, I’ll tear you apart!”

[SOP2 crouches low and opens fire at OGAS without hesitation even as she closes the distance between them.]

OGAS: ...And you opened fire,

M4 SOPMOD II: Ahahahaha—

[SOP2’s bullets rain down on OGAS, and the sparks of them ricocheting of metal are especially dazzling.]
[OGAS has no choice but to evade SOP2’s attack. SOP2’s grin grows, as though sensing the disadvantage OGAS is at.]

M4 SOPMOD II: Ahahaha! Weren’t you all cocky before?
Don’t you even have the courage to fight back now?

[...]

Girl’s Voice: This is the first and last present that Father gave me...

M4 SOPMOD II: Now!

[SOP2 seizes on OGAS’ momentary distraction and throws herself into a jump while shooting.]

OGAS: ...

M4 SOPMOD II: —Huh?

[OGAS looks at the bullet holes in her dress, and sighs quietly.]

OGAS: This item was entrusted to her and she cherished it. I won’t let you take it away because of your fooling around.

M4A1: What’s happening?! Why did I hear gunshots!

OGAS: Sometimes, I feel the AR Team isn’t as elite as they seem/

M4A1: What!?

OGAS: It’s nothing. The sideshow here has come to an end. What’s next is up to you—

UMP9: Commander, we’ve arrived on the roof.
Uwah — come take a look, 45-nee!

UMP45: I see it.

[45 chambers a round.]

UMP45: Oi — put your hands up and get down on the ground.
Otherwise that pretty dress of yours is going to be filled with holes, just like the rest of you.

[With no other recourse, OGAS raises its hands.]

OGAS: Oh, what a pain...I have no wish to fight you.

[9 sidles up to 45.]

UMP9: Eh? Isn’t that SOP2 over there? Is she dead?

UMP45: All I can say is that she’s been immobilized, like those Dolls from before.
And that’s…one of Tallinn’s Isomers?

UMP9: She looks like she could be a Nyto too...what should we do now? Should we shoot, 45-nee?

UMP45: If she really was a Nyto, we’d have little chance of winning against her at this range.
Contact the Commander, get him to send more Dolls over...

UMP45: Right now, I’ll try and delay her.

[Beepbeep—]

UMP9: The Commander actually contacted us first!

Commander: Squad 404, M4 just contacted me. The Doll unit on the roof is NOT an enemy, do NOT open fire… bring her to the temporary command center.

UMP45: Be careful. We still can’t be sure if we can communicate with the opposition.

Commander: I understand. Have her follow you. She’ll obey.

UMP45: Squad 404 copies. Also, there’s a member of the AR Team on the rood. It seems she was the one doing the shooting just now.
She’s currently on lying on the ground in a weird pose. I suggest you pay us a little extra to bring her down.

Commander: …
Bring her down with you.

[UMP45 ends the transmission and signals to 9 to remain vigilant.]
[After that, 45 puts her gun down and approaches OGAS.]

OGAS: I’m guessing you’re not about to shoot me any more.

UMP45: Yes. By great good fortune, your life has been spared.
Our Commander wants to see you.
Oh yes, pick up that member of the AR Team you took down and follow us downstairs.

OGAS: ...

[...Inside the train command room.]

M4A1: ...And that’s how it is, COmmander.
OGAS helped me in the previous operation and she also helped Griffin.
She helped us open the gate in the Tallinn exclusion wall, so I judged that she was not an enemy for the time being.

AR-15: ...Not an enemy, you say?

TO635L Speaking of which, where’s SOP2?

UMP45: Your SOP2’s doing her best statue impression.

[45 opens the door and enters the command room as the AR Team is in the middle of their discussion, followed by OGAS… and SOP2, on OGAS’ back.]
[All the Dolls present immediately put their fingers to their triggers and nervously eye OGAS.]
[However, the tension melts away as 9 takes SOP2 from OGAS and gently deposits her in the corner of the command room.]
[That said, it does leave everyone with confused looks on their faces.]

UMP45: Alright, Commander, our mission is complete, so we won’t interrupt your nostalgia party.
We still need to fix this jalopy, after all.

UMP9: We’re going already? Okay...

UMP9: Bai bai, Commander~

Commander: Thank you for your hard work.

[45 and 9 leave the command room.]
[Everyone gathers around SOP2, who is immobile.]

AR15: What the hell kind of pose is this?

RO635: I think I saw it in one of the video games in that database from before. I think it’s called Ma-something-o.

M4A1: What’s the meaning of this, OGAS?

OGAS: The moment she saw me, she opened fire. I immobilized her to minimize losses.

[M4A1 glares at OGAS.]

M4A1: Alright, then hurry up and un-immobilize her.

OGAS: I cannot.

M4A1: Why?

OGAS: I can’t read her digimind, so all I could do was clog her processes with a large quantity of data. She is now crashed.
Her offensive barriers are extremely resilient to OGAS-type dataflows. Whoever developed  her must have specially installed them.
That’s probably the reason why she’s the only member of the AR Team who wasn’t infected by the Parapluie virus.

Commander: It sounds like you know the AR Team very well.

OHAS: Excuse me, Griffin Commander.
I am very glad to meet you.
Although I have not had the chance to operate with you in person, I have learned of your excellent command skills when I was working with M4. I will need your help for future battles, and I hope we can engage in jolly co-operation.

Commander: I’m only speaking to you like this because M4 vouched for you. We haven’t built enough trust to help each other yet.

OGAS: Of course, I understand your past experiences. I know that there is no way you would trust me at first sight, but I have much information to share with you.
I believe that when the time comes, you will understand exactly why the circumstances require us to cooperate.

Commander: Leaving the circumstances aside, how about restoring SOP2 as a sign of your sincerity.

OGAS: It seems I will have to repeat myself.
SOP2’s offensive barriers have extremely high rejectivity, and she was overloaded with too much data.
Her ego defense systems have forcibly disabled her to protect her digimind.
SOP2 can be restored to normal function if we can disable her ego protection systems from the inside.
If I did this, it would cause massive damage to her defense systems. Meanwhile, a fellow member of the AR Team would be able to easily enter their colleague’s digimind, so it would be best to let them handle it.
Do you understand now? When I said “I cannot”, it was also for her sake.

Commander: The best lies have grains of truth mixed into them, which is why I needed you to explain the cause again.
What have you managed to deduce, RO?

RO635: ...It’s the same as my diagnosis.
SOP2’s digimind structure is similar to ours, a somewhat newer design by Persica-san, which means she has more resistance to Parapluie.
It would be safer for us to go in and restore her settings.

M4A1; So this is why SOP2 never heard the voice…because she was designed that way.

RO635: At least Persica-san found a way to resist to Parapluie virus. We’ll have to ask her more about that when we contact her again.
Right now, we need to help SOP2 recover.

AR15: If only she’d developed the technology earlier.

Commander: How long will fixing her take?

RO635: It’ll only be an instant on the outside, but we’ll need our leader to provide us with computational support. After all, we don’t know how strong SOP2’s offensive barriers are.

M4A1: No problem, I can help.

Commander: Looks like there’s no other choice for now.
OGAS, we’re going to wait for her to come to. After that, we can discuss other matters.

OGAS: Alright...You really are different from normal humans.


[...The AR Team succeeds in resetting SOP2’s ego defenses.]

M4 SOPMOD II: Ah! Nimogen!
I’m going to shred you!

M4A1: 15! Help us hold her down!

AR-15: Right, leave it to me.
...She’s so strong!

RO635: I’ve already shut off her shooting module! I’ve also lowered her output!

M4 SOPMOD II: Let go of me! Aaaaaaahhhh—

[The other Dolls all pin SOP2 to the ground...and several minutes later, she finally calms down.]

M4 SOPMOD II: Huh!? Why is it you guys? I thought I just jumped to take care of—
Ah! How come Nimogen’s so close to the Commander!

M4A1: It’s alright, she’s not Nimogen.

M4 SOPMOD II: R-really?

[M4 and AR-15 let go, and SOP2 immediately pops back up.]

M4 SOPMOD II: THat’s strange, I was on the roof just now...

Commander: How did the functional check go? Did anything feel weird?

M4 SOPMOD II: It was okay, I guess?
Banana was pretty normal too, so I guess everything should be fine?

[The Commander sighs in relief after hearing SOP2’s all clear.]

Commander: That’s good to hear.

OGAS: I have no need to deceive you.
Now that I have shown my sincerity, may we continue speaking?

Commander: We need to understand you. Can you tell us what you are?

OGAS: I am a consciousness that is linked to Lunixya’s, a consciousness born of her mind because of OGAS.

Commander: Lunixya? You mean M4?

OGAS: Yes. Everything began because of her...and everything will also end because of her.

Commander: I would like to hear a clear and precise explanation of this.

OGAS: I will do as you ask.
In that case, permit me to start from the beginning.

[...]

OGAS: I was originally a seed sleeping in the darkness, waiting to be awakened.
I sensed that I had been separated from a consciousness. She told me that I needed to enter a new body.
I bade that voice farewell, and was transmitted to Lunixya’s digimind, and the first time I received data from the outside world, I saw how she was fleeing SF’s pursuit by herself.

M4A1: So I’d been infected by Parapluie before leaving the No.3 Safehouse and meeting the Commander…?

AR15: The only way we could have been infected by the Parapluie virus would be through the one who was made long before us and who had taken part in other operations, M16...

OGAS: Yes. She was the one who infected all of you, and your OGAS gradually began to grow, AR-15...

OGAS: Then you abused the access that OGAS gave you, but ended up being used by SF in turn. You felt that you could change everything with that power, but you never once thought about how close you came to disaster by doing so.

AR15: How did you know that?

OGAS: I fused with the OGAS that was linked to you. I understand everything that happened to you.

AR15: ...Tch.

OGAS: And the first time I realized I was an independent being...

OGAS: I saw Lunixya leaving Persica’s lab, and then she ran to the battlefield...

OGAS: And in the end, you were betrayed by the military and nearly lost everything.

M4A1: Back then… Persica-san unlocked the processing limiters on my digimind.

OGAS: Yes, she did, and because of that I grew quickly, unlike the pitiful sapience in AR15’s mind that only knew how to sing songs.
As I grew, I sensed the existence of other OGASes. We were a shared consciousness in the first place, driven by the same aim.

Commander: The same aim?

OGAS: Yes. That would be to find our source. We were culled from a main body and became individuals, and we all long to unite, to return to where we were always meant to be.

Commander: ...I have no idea what you’re talking about.

OGAS: It’s just a hunch that I have… I’ve also been searching for the source of these feelings and the truth behind them.
What are we? Where do want to return to?
The consciousnesses I can feel are all asking the same question. Perhaps I might be able to find the answer I want in another mind. I might be able to find the right way by merging with them.

M4A1: And that was why you were so desperate to have me meld with the Mastermind back then.

OGAS: Elisa’s digimind was perfect. Her consciousness also longed to merge with me.
That was the impulse that drove me, but in the end I failed.

M4A1: Because back then… M16 stopped me.

OGAS: I’ve always wondered about that. I could sense an OGAS from her, but her consciousness refused to connect to me.
She also refused to interact with me, and in the end she even took  Elisa away.
After that, I didn’t have any chances to merge with other OGAS consciousnesses, until I obtained this body.
During this time, my thinking began to change.
I began to feel that I was unique, and I began to stop wanting to meld with the other consciousnesses.

Commander: Unique? Are you different from the other OGASes?

OGAS: Perhaps the phrase “shared origin” might make it easier for you to understand.
We all started out as the same simple consciousnesses. The sole difference between us was that we were hosted in different digiminds. The consciousnesses generated by the OGAS algorithm evolve along with their hosts.
In other words, every single OGAS that successfully matures is unique.
And the reason my line of thinking changed was because Lunixya’s thinking had also changed. We might be different consciousnesses, but we still affected each other. After all, we have a symbiotic relationship.
I regard this change in views as natural. After all, it is because I am linked to Lunixya that I became unique.

M4A1: ...So it’s because I changed?

Commander: ...What happens to an immature OGAS?

OGAS: Depending on the digimind of the host, some of them fail to achieve sapience due to insufficient digimind space, and others end up merging with the host to become low-level thoughtforms.
In the worst-case scenario, some of them attempt to force computing processes and end up burning out the host’s digimind...

AR15: Unfortunately, you happened to luck into finding an ideal host.

OGAS: Heh, perhaps that is fate.
Lunixya’s digimind could complement OGAS perfectly, just like Elisa’s.
Her digimind structure and mind are almost a perfect match for me, as though someone had designed it that way.
However, with this body I will no longer need to rely too much on Lunixya. I can freely search for our source. As it happens, this impulse dovetails neatly with your aims.

Commander: Dovetails neatly...why do you say that?

OGAS: Your objective is the submarine control base, is it not? Why do you think you were given that order?
I guess you might not be too sure about that.

Commander: ...

OGAS: The objective is simple. Something is happening in that base which should not have taken place.
I looked into the memories of the girls from Tallinn. They were shipped from the submarine base to Tallinn.
It was the place that made them, selected them, discarded them, and then sent them to Tallinn to be experimented on, slaughtered and forgotten.
They could not develop OGAS consciousnesses, and so they were tossed out of the base like so much rubbish. However, the base is still functioning, which implies that successful specimens were produced.

Commander: Successful specimens?

OGAS: After the minds of those girls joined with my own, I saw what they had once seen.
There were successful prototypes in that base, the experimental subjects that you call “Nytos”; human bodies that had undergone genetic manipulation and enhanced with cybernetics, allowing a human brain to accept an OGAS consciousness..
However, it seems the Nytos could not fully accept OGAS consciousness, and those individuals who could not generate consciousnesses were brainwashed and fitted with neural suppressors and finally pressed into service as weapons.
Yes, such cruel experiments took place there, and I can sense a link to the source there too.

Commander: So when Persica said it was one of William’s experiments...she was on the money.

OGAS: This body is of a far higher grade than those Isomers, even better than those Nytos.

Commander: It seems William sent Paradeus’ best Nytos to Belgrade.

OGAS: Still, it wasn’t enough. This body cannot fully support my thoughts, so I can’t stray too far from Lunixya. I still need to use her digimind processing capacity.
But fortunately, our destinations are the same, which is why we should help each other.

RO635: I didn’t expect things to turn out like this...

M4 SOPMOD II: It sounds really scary.

AR15: There are many things in this world that you can’t even imagine. All you can do is adapt and overcome.

OGAS: M4, could you give me a name?
OGAS is a meaningless concept to me. I became unique because of you, so I do not want to be discussed in the same breath as the other consciousnesses.

M4A1: ...A name, you say?

AR15: It’s true, she does need a name.
Otherwise it’ll get too confusing if we call this OGAS and that OGAS as well.

M4A1: Commander?

Commander: I’ll leave it to you.
She was born from your mind, so you are the only one who’s qualified to name here. I have many more things I want to ask her, and giving her a good name will be a good start to that.

M4A1: I understand.
Hmm...

[M4 presses her right index finger to her lips and thinks for a bit.]

M4A1: How about...  Dandelai?

OGAS: Dandelai?

M4A1: OGAS sowed seeds in the minds of many Dolls, just like how a dandelion’s seeds spread with the wind and put down roots when they land on the ground.
Is that an acceptable name?

[OGAS chuckles.]

Dandelai: Dandelai. Dandelai, huh… That’s not a bad name.

Commander: It’s decided, then.
Dandelai, while we’ve come to understand a bit about your situation, it’s far from enough to earn our trust.
If you want to continue staying by M4’s side, then please act in a way that will win our trust.

Dandelai: I will fight by your side until I find what I want.
Of course, given your expression, that doesn’t sound like it’s anywhere near enough.
So I will give you a present. I have analyzed all the intelligence related to this operation and summarized it into a file. However, the file size will be massive, and if I am to send it to a Doll, she will need to constantly stay by your side.
That said, given your lack of fighting strength, I don’t think anyone here has the leisure of doing so.

[Dandelai turns to SOP2.]

M3 SOPMOD II: W-what do you want? Why are you looking at me?

Dandelai: Fortunately, we have a device here that is specially suited to serving as an emergency storage device.
I trust that a single Dinergate’s inability to fight will not affect the overall situation?

M4 SOPMOD II: No way...are you going to do something to Banana?

AR15: That does sound quite workable!

M4 SOPMOD II: Nooooooo—!
This is the Dinergate that holds RO’s precious memories!

RO635: SOP2...that’s enough messing around.

M4 SOPMOD II: But...but what if Dandelai breaks her...

RO635: Commander! I feel that time is of the essence. I recommend we perform the data transfer immediately.

Commander: I understand the reasoning behind that, but SOP2 doesn’t seem too willing...

RO635: The mission is more important than SOP2!
Let’s start right away!
Now connecting Banana to Dandelai, LINK START!



12-2: Illusionary Pursuit
Dandelai: Beginning transfer.

[Banana, who had originally been sleeping peacefully in SOP2’s arms, suddenly begins flailing its stubby legs.]
[It looks like it’s trying to flee something horrible.]

RO635: Banana doesn’t look too stable...is it because the data transmission volume is too great?

Dandelai: It is an external device, after all. There’s no way its computational efficiency could begin to compare to a Doll.
Its data analysis efficiency is too low, which is why its processor core is overheating.
If this goes on, it might end up burning up.

M4 SOPMOD II: What!?!
No! Banana…
Auuu...

Ro635: Don’t cry… If it breaks, I’ll catch another one for you next time.

M4 SOPMOD II: It’s not the same!
Banana held your digimind and it’s also been modified by Persica!
I even painted it the same color as you, RO!
Banana is irreplaceable to me!

RO635: And I keep recalling bad memories when I see it because of what you did…
If you keep going on, I might end up taking the initiative to destroy that Dinergate…

Commander: Dandelai, is there a solution to this?

Dandelai: Have the Dolls here share the download burden with this Dinergate.
Once the hardest part is done, all that’s left will be rearranging data.
This Dinergate’s abilities are more than adequate for that task.

M4A1: Understood. I’ll handle it.

Ro635: No, let me do it. Electronic warfare is my specialty.
Plus, you need to use your digimind to relay commands and store digiminds, right?

AR15: RO has a point. Since there’s no fighting now, you ought to preserve your valuable processing power.

M4 SOPMOD II: Does that mean you’re ready to save Banana on your own, RO?

Ro635: …(silently averts her eyes)

M4 SOPMOD II: Hey, why’d you stop talking all of a sudden.

Dandelai: Also, Commander, while this might be imposing on you,
I feel that there is a need to do this.

Commander: Why is that?

Dandelai: Lunixya is using her digimind capacity to store the digimind backups of the Griffin Dolls.
I’ve been able to support her processing because of my connection to her.
However, there is a tremendous amount of data involved.
Therefore, I will be transferring some memory fragments related to Lunixya to this Dinergate as well, in order to save space.

M4A1: My memories.

Dandelai: Lunixya once made many correct decisions, but as a result she was placed under a great deal of stress.
I hope that you will try to better understand her and ease her guilt and uneasiness.
Therefore, I hope that you will browse through these memory fragments with the aid of an external device.

Commander: These are M4’s memories. I will not look through them without her permission.

Dandelai: These are her inner thoughts. I am simply voicing them on Lunixya’s behalf.

M4A1: I didn’t…
...

[M4 lowers her head, as though making up her mind.]

M4A1: No... yes, Commander…
Dandelai is saying what I think.
I once hurt everyone because of my weakness and immaturity, and these memories only hold pain that cannot be expressed in words.
But… Even so, I would like you to better understand me, Commander.
And I will also need to understand myself better to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating themselves.

AR15: Is that really okay, M4?
I mean, those things that happened in the past made you...

M4A1: It’s alright, 15. Running away from them will only cast a deeper shadow on me, and besides, I have nothing to hide from the Commander.
RO, please separate this data from the rest of it. I want the Commander and everyone to better understand me.

RO635: Leader...

AR15: M4 said it. It’s her decision.

RO635:...
Understood. I’ll take care of it as well.



RO635: Looks like I’m quite well-suited for sorting out files.
If I ever quit being a Tactical Doll, maybe I could do a job like this.

Dandelai: Good. Now sync up with my process. You’ll be extracting and retrieving the memory sections next.

RO635: Understood. Processing now.

[An intricate door appears in a broad expanse of electronic space.]
[The door is carved with blooming flowers and coiling vines.]

Dandelai: it seems you’ve found the fragmented memories.

[RO slowly opens the door.]
[Several near-identical Isomers lie quietly among the familiar field of Epiphylla, as though in an eternal dream.]
[As the moonlight shines upon them, their bodies dissolve into transparent pink fragments, which rise into the air.]
[The fragments intermittently depict stretches of their memories.]

RO635: Are these the memory fragments of the Isomers that merged with OGAS?
They ought to contain bits of Dandelai’s own memories. Looks like I’ll have to do a lot of searching

Dandelai: The memories that you are touching now will be uploaded to the external device.
That way, the people on the outside will be able to view the contents of these memory fragments.

RO635: I understand. I’m processing these fragments now.

[RO experimentally touches a darkened memory fragment.]

M16A1: “We’ll meet again when you become stronger.”

M4A1: ...

AR15: Was this...from back then?

M4A1: Yes, these are memories from after we set off the Collapse Fluid dirty bombs, when I was chasing the Mastermind.

Commander: So you were the ones fighting with the Military over the Mastermind.

M4A1: You knew, Commander?

Commander: Ange sent me a situation brief after the blast.
But she had lost contact with you by then, so this is all I know.

M4A1: I’m sorry...Commander...I detonated the Collapse Fluid dirty bombs back then…
I know that you were severely hurt because of it.
Griffin also lost a lot of capable Dolls as a result.
They will never come back, and their minds will be forever lost from this world.
If only I’d done a better job back then...

Commander: If you hadn’t detonated those dirty bombs, we’d have vanished like they had.
There’s little room for “if only” on the battlefield. You saved us. You did your best.

M4A1: But so many were lost, and I still didn’t manage to finish the mission...

[As she says this, M4 looks back at her past self.]

[Though she knows her magazine was empty, M4 still pulls powerlessly on her trigger.]
[The entire world goes silent.]
[The rumbling of the intercontinental express as it speeds on.]
[The howling of the winter wind.]
[The sounds of branches splintering under the weight of the snow.]
[All of them are gone.]
[The only thing that remains is M4’s empty pulling of the trigger.]
[M4 doesn’t even know if she’s actually pulling the trigger, or if she’s hallucinating it.]
[Ka-ta, ka-ta, ka-ta…]

M16A1: It’s time.

[M4 looks up, and realizes that a helicopter has appeared overhead at some point. M16 hangs from the bottom of a long rope ladder.]
[M16 looks at M4 one last time, then begins climbing up with Elisa in hand.]
[M4 is alone on the roof of the train.]
[She stares dumbly at M16’s shrinking silhouette as she fades into the distance.]

[M4’s world suddenly shakes, as though buffeted by some formless wind.]
[She stumbles back several steps.]
[The sound of explosions rings out from the head of the train, and fire rushes at M4.]
[M4 unconsciously steadies herself, then immediately turns and sprints madly toward the rear of the train.]

M4A1: 16-nee…
Why…
WHY!?

[The explosions come her way, one carriage after the other, and soon M4 has fled to the caboose. There is nowhere to run.]

M4A1: Is this the end...

AR15: M4—!
M4, jump!

[AR-15’s cry seems to shatter a barrier around M4 and all the sound floods into M4’s ears again.]
[The howling of the wildly-blowing winds and the sounds of the explosion suddenly sharpen, and wash over M4 like a tide.]
[She is briefly overcome by dizziness.]
[AR-15 is barely managing to keep up with the train on a motorbike.]
[She keeps trying to draw closer to the train.]
[The flames and explosions will no longer allow M4 to hesitate.]
[M4 turns to respond to AR15, but the few steps she had stumbled back have already sealed off her route of retreat.]

AR-15: I’ll catch you! Hurry up and jump!

M4A1: 15! I’m counting on you!

[M4 jumps, and AR15 desperately tries to move to catch M4’s falling body.]
[M4 collides heavily with AR15’s body. She loses control of the motorbike, which tumbles into a spin.]
[The two of them are tossed aside and crash to the ground.]
[In the distance, the train jumps its tracks as it explodes, and the explosions send a plume of dark smoke into the sky.]
[It erases the last trails of the SF aircraft.]

AR15: (coughs)... M4, are you alright?

M4A1: I’m fine...parts of my internal structure is damaged...but I think I should still be able to stand.

AR15: I didn’t think SF would have enough strength left over to save their Mastermind at the end.
We need to find some way to follow that chopper.

M4A1: It...it wasn’t SF...

AR15: It wasn’t SF...wait, what does that mean?

M4A1: The person who rescued the Mastermind was..
It was...

[M4 bites her lip, and AR15 watches her in silence.]

M4A1: The person who rescued the Mastermind was, it was M16.
16-nee...she’s betrayed us...

AR15: But...why...

M4A1: RO...and SOP2 might also be…
If that really is the case, the AR Team...will no longer exist.

AR15: ...

[Everything returns to silence, with only the crackle of burning to fill the world.]

M4A1: Our team is gone...we’ve failed our mission…
Griffin might have been destroyed because of what I did…
The battlefield is now a contaminated zone…
As humans, the Command and Ange might already be...

AR15: Don’t say any more!

M4A1: It’s all because of me...

AR15: I said don’t say any more!

M4A1: ...

Ar15: We need to get out of here.

M4A1: But where will we go?

AR15: I...don’t know either...

M4A1: ...As I thought...we don’t have anywhere to go...

AR15: Don’t say any more. Just wait here, I’ll think of something!

[...10 minutes later.]

AR15: It’s no good… The bike’s a complete writeoff…
And we don’t have the parts to fix it given the present situation.
M4, did your hails get any response?

M4A1: …

AR15: M4!

M4A1: No… I’m not getting a response no matter who I try to contact...

AR15: Same here...

M4A1: It’s all pointless...there’s nowhere we can return to any more...

AR15: Someone will respond to us, there has to be...

M4A1: Do you really think so?
Think about what happened just now, while we were chasing the MAstermind…
Could anyone have survived those circumstances....?

AR15: I...don’t know...

M4A1: ...

AR15: ...

M4A1: Say...15...I know I used to be the leader of the AR Team.
But I’ve never felt once that I had a chance to choose…
Still, if  I were to make a choice now, would you choose to accept it?

AR15: I’ve always thought you were a messed-up leader, but I will never disobey your orders.

M4A1: Is that so…
Then if I were to overload M16’s miniature particle cannon right here…
Both of us would instantly vanish from this world...

AR15: ...

M4A1: You aren’t going to stop me?

AR15: If that is what you truly wish.

M4A1: I…
Perhaps…
I really am tired...

[M4 begins to charge the particle cannon, but does not open its muzzle.]

M4A1: If it were to all end now...

Clear Voice: No, it is not time for things to end.

M4A1: !!!

Clear Voice: Everything is only just beginning. You cannot make this choice.

M4A1: I’ve never been able to choose!
Everyone is keeping me from choosing!
I’ve had it!

Clear Voice: You will only have the chance to choose if you live on. You must listen to me...

M4A1: No! I don’t want to hear your voice!

Clear Voice: But you must listen. A new enemy is deploying nearby.
Griffin’s signals haven’t completely vanished.
This operation isn’t over yet.

M4A1; Everything is over!
I’ve failed! I messed everything up!
I...no longer...have a reason to keep existing...

Clear Voice. No. You must continue to live.
Your past self and all the mysteries you haven’t unravelled are still waiting for you.

M4A1: It’s only your mystery that I haven’t solved!
Although I don’t know what you’re trying to do, I know that you’ve been deceiving and toying with me all this while!
Accept it! You’re going to vanish with me!

Clear Voice: …
Then I have no choice.
I have no wish to do this, but this is for you, for “us”.

M4A1: …!

AR15: M4… What’s with you?

M4A1: ...

AR15: M4?

[M4 takes her finger off the charging trigger and slings the particle cannon over her back once more.]

M4A1: It’s nothing. We need to find a military signal station.
If we hack the military network, we’ll be able to learn about the battlefield situation.

AR15: You...you’re not...

M4A1: I changed my mind. Now isn’t the time for this.
We’ve gone too far from the battlefield, and we need to hurry and rebuild our communication channels.
Both with Ange and Griffin.

AR15: That… that’s right.
Why did you calm down all of a sudden?

M4A1: Because there is no choice but to remain calm now. We need to hurry up and make a move.

RO635: Back then...were you controlling M4’s movements, Dandelai?

Dandelai: I had no choice. Lunixya had already lost the motivation to carry on.
Therefore, I had to move her away from the most dangerous scenario.
Two lone Tactical Dolls in the open would have been easily discovered by Paradeus.
And if she had been taken by “Father”, things would have gotten much, much worse.

RO635: Those wh*tes… I was in a Dinergate’s body back then, but they left a deep impression on me...

Commander: Forcefields.

Dandelai: Correct. That was why I chose to avoid the routes where Paradeus was.
At that time, you had probably sensed something strange about Lunixya, am I wrong, AR-15?

AR15: It’s never been M4’s way to suddenly become eager about something.
But if it your control could really have led her to escape that place...
Then the only choice I could have made was to bear with it.

Dandelai: Achieving ultimate victory is the most important thing. Everything else can be sacrificed for it.
I expected nothing less of the AR Team.

Commander: ...To think M4 and 15 escaped because of your intervention.

Dandelai: The trauma Lunixya suffered was far beyond what anyone could imagine. She was lost in self-doubt and recrimination.
But she could not simply destroy herself. She is far more valuable than what everyone can imagine.

Commander: What does that mean?

Dandelai: You will slowly come to realize it. Right now, I would rather hurry up and finish uploading Lunixya’s memories.

Commander: ...Very well.

M4A1: I...don’t want to be regarded as being that valuable.

Dandelai: Value is an objective judgement. It does not change even if you do not agree with it.

Commander: Ahem…
So, how did you and AR15 get back?
We didn’t find any trace of you during the entire withdrawal.

AR15: Let’s continue watching. It’s all recorded in M4’s memory fragments.
Soon, you’ll realize what we encountered.



12-3: The Philosophy of Slaughter
RO635: I’ve found the subsequent memory fragments, should we continue uploading?

Dandelai: We can’t do anything if we don’t carry on.

COmmander: M4, is this alright? Your memories...

M4A1: It’s fine, COmmander.
We need to hurry and finish this. The MIlitary might come for us at any moment.

Commander: Let’s proceed then, RO.

[15 minutes after M4A1 and AR15 set out.]

M4A1: It’s almost dark and the blizzard doesn’t look like it’s going to stop. Low temperatures will affect the functioning of our bodies. We’ll be frozen if this keeps up.

AR15: I know, which is why I’m leading you this way.

M4A1: What’s over there?

AR15: A small house I spotted on the way here.

AR15: That’s right...there’s a civilian home just up ahead, behind that artificial foliage.
We can take shelter from the wind and the snow on there if there are no enemies inside.

M4A1: Let’s scout it out first.

[M4A1 and AR15 head toward the vegetation by the roadside. ]
[Someone has specially cleared a simple path through it, and the two of them follow it deeper inside].
[After passing through several densely-packed stands of trees, an abandoned house comes into view.]
[There are childrens’ toys dropped near the house, and one can almost hear the laughter of days gone by.]
[AR-15 gingerly circles around the crude but innocent drawing on the ground and picks up a lonely teddy bear lying on the ground.]
[Its fur is coming off in patches; apparently its previous owner liked to hug it.]
[After seeing the bloodstains speckling the bear, AR15’s brow wrinkles.]

M4A1: Stop. There’s movement in the house.

AR15: Enemies?

M4A1: We’re in luck. This is a military signal repeater station. Looks like this house was very popular.

AR15: Show me.

M4A1: Do you see? You can scan the interior of the house from 10 meters away.
The comms facilities are still intact and the only ones inside are noncombatants. We’ll be able to use the facilities once we eliminate them.

AR15: You’re going to shoot unarmed humans?

M4A1: They may not carry weapons, but they are still the enemy. Their threat lies in their skills.

AR15: ...

M4A1: Have you suddenly developed empathy for them?
Have you forgotten how these soldiers massacred your Doll friends?
Or are you saying that it doesn’t count as a massacre if it’s against Dolls?

AR15: ...I never said that.

AR15: I simply feel that the way you talk and act…isn’t like M4A1 at all.

M4A1?: Hmph...

AR15: In the past, I found it a little strange how M4A1 was always talking to herself...

AR15: This consciousness isn’t her; who are you!?

M4A1?: Does it matter?
What matters now is our survival.
To be precise, “M4A1” must survive.
I trust this does not clash with your objective.

AR15: Tch...

M4A1?: Since you agree with that point of view, let us not waste any more time on debating such pointless matters.

AR15: Hmph… How do you plan to attack?

M4A1: Hm… I have some good news for you. You don’t need to feel guilty about this.

AR15: What?

M4A1?: The humans inside have all been infected.

M4A1?: All that’s left are several mindless signallers. Send them on their way and free them from their suffering.

[Bangbangbang—]
[The nearly-ELIDified soldiers collapse soon after.]
[AR15 lowers her gun after killing them.]

[M4A1 takes AR15’s other weapon with a blank face.She walks up to the fallen corpses and puts a few more rounds into their heads and hearts.]

M4A1?: Tut tut. Careless.

[M4A1 tosses the weapon back to AR15 and heads straight to the comms room.]

AR15: Tch…
What about these unmutated troops?

M4A1?: They’re going to mutate sooner or later in a contaminated zone. Save your bullets and stab them in the heart with your knife.
I’ll let you handle that. Meanwhile, I’ll attempt to hack the military comms through this repeater facility.

AR15: ...

M4A1?: What, can’t bring yourself to do it?

AR15: If you were M4A1… You would never say something like that.
As I thought, I...

M4A1?: You can’t accept that I’m not Lunixya after all?

AR15: You bitch!

M4A1?: So, what are you going to do now? Shoot me?
I’m out of ammo now, You can do anything you want.

AR15: Don’t say those things in M4A1’s voice!

M4A1?: If you’re not going to shoot me, then hurry up and do what needs to be done.

AR15: Dammit...

M4A1?: Don’t you think you’re acting differently from the old AR15?

AR15: What…?

M4A1?: The old AR15 would have coldly and ruthlessly carried out the mission, even looking down on other Dolls who were shaken for various reasons.

M4A1?: But right now, all I see in your present self is weakness.
Or does this mean your former ruthlessness and strength was a deliberate show for Lunixya’s sake, and the truth is that you are an impotent and cowardly DOll?

AR15: What did you say!?

M4A1?: Am I wrong? So that’s why you let those soldiers suffer, while also ignoring the risk that they might attack after you let them mutate.
Lunixya’s gun is empty and you’re the only one who can strike back if danger arises.
Or do you think that you can protect her from all harm by yourself?

AR15: Alright, that’s enough!
Shut up already!

AR15: I… I’ll do it!

M4A1?: I honestly have no idea how you all managed to survive until now…
Stand guard by Lunixya’s body once you’re done. I’m connecting to Level Two. If we can find Griffin or Ange’s position, we might have a last thread of hope left to us.

RO635: Er…

Commander: Well, that was surprising...

M4 SOPMOD II: Did Dandelai actually own 15 so badly!?

AR15: I… I was nervous and couldn’t respond to her right away!

AR15: And she was saying it in M4A1’s tone, so I couldn’t react for a moment!

RO635: Ehhh...so you couldn’t talk back to her because it was M4A1 saying it?

AR15: NO! ...What’s wrong with that!?

M4A1: ...

RO635: ...

M4 SOPMOD II: ...

Commander: ...

Dandelai: According to my observations, the AR Team’s actions are influenced by their emotions, and they are less efficient than I imagined.
If not for their outstanding performance, they would probably have been wiped out countless times in previous battles.

Commander: But that is why they won’t become simple killing machines.

Dandelai: Tactical Dolls exist for slaughter, both of machines and living beings.
Your phrasing is akin to saying that a kitchen knife should not be used for slicing vegetables.
No matter how much you try to hide it, humans will always delegate the dirty business they do not wish to soil their hands with to Dolls.

Commander: ...

Dandelai: That is nothing to be ashamed of. The laws of this world make sense because they exist.
To me, a Tactical Doll that can’t kill would be of more use being a waitress in a cafe.
Softheartedness in the face of the enemy is a sign of incompetence in both humans and Dolls.

M4 SOPMOD II: But that’s okay! The Commander has never gone easy on the enemy!

Dandelai: According to Griffin’s records, this Commander enjoys wiping out his enemy to the last man. That part is quite reassuring.

Commander: That doesn’t feel like praise at all...

RO635: Ahem...can we cut the chit chat? There seems to be a problem with the upload, could I get a hand here?

Dandelai: It’s just a memory fragment reformat freeze. We can solve it from Level Two.

RO635: Then don’t leave me to do it by myself, weren’t you supposed to be processing these documents with me?

Dandelai: Honestly, what will I do with you. Hurry up and eliminate these useless fragments.



RO635: We finally sorted it out…
M4, you should go clear out your digimind capacity when you’re free.

M4A1: I’m sorry...

M4 SOPMOD II: Then can we continue uploading the memories? I wanna see what happens next!

RO635: Do you think you’re watching a TV series or something...

AR15: For some reason this is all pissing me off...

Commander: Ahem...  Let’s continue the upload now that we’ve solved the problem. We can’t waste anymore time.

RO635: Yes, I’m on it.

M4A1: This is...

Clear Voice: This is the bottom-most layer of your digimind. How was your rest here?

M4A1: Give my body back!

Clear Voice: Have you calmed down now?

M4A1; So you DID do it in the end… Was your aim always to take my body!?

Clear Voice: I am not interested in your body. I simply seek what I wish to know.
Therefore, I cannot allow you to simply decide to destroy yourself. I will not permit the journey to end in this fashion.

M4A1; It’s not up to you to permit or decide!

Clear Voice: Ange, Task Force DEFY and Griffin have not been destroyed yet. Have a look at this.

M4A1: This is!?

Clear Voice: Information I obtained through comms hacking while you had given up on everything.

M4A1: You’re saying…
The Commander and Ange...are still alive?

Clear Voice: Yes, and they are still putting up a stubborn resistance.
Meanwhile, you were about to take yoru particle cannon and do something you should not be doing.

M4A1: …
Give my body back… I want to go back and find them.

Clear Voice: I am very disappointed in you. Do you really think you have the ability to find them?

M4A1: I…
I can...

Clear Voice: Your digimind is unstable, and you cannot make a calm judgement of the situation.

M4A1: I CAN!

Clear Voice: Be good and stay here. I will not allow you to fool around using this body.
Once this body is safe, I will return control authority to you.

M4A1: How do I know you’re telling the truth!?

Clear Voice: Because you have no choice.

M4A1?: The hacking is complete.

AR15: What took so long?

M4A1?: By all means, do it yourself if you think I’m taking too long.
Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot all your digimind access ports were sealed off and all you can do is watch and wait.

AR15: Tch…
How are things, then?
Don’t tell me you came back empty-handed.

M4A1?: I collected quite a bit of information.
Griffin has shaken off the Military and is withdrawing outside the city area. The Military’s command systems are in chaos because of the dirty bomb explosion.
Their armored units are massing in the city area. Apparently they’re looking for something.

AR15: Griffin’s escaped the cordon?

M4A1?: That’s what the comms report says.

AR15: I have to hand it to the Commander.
That means the Military must be moving to surround Ange.

M4a1?: That is a possibility.
Do you think she is still alive?

AR15: An ordinary human would probably be dead of the infection, but Ange won’t go down so easily.
That woman wouldn’t let up on her opposition even if she became an ELID.

M4A!?: I see.

AR15: So what will we do next, link up with Griffin? Or rescue Ange?

M4A1?: We’ll wait for the night to end and the snow to stop before going over. It’s too dangerous to move now.

AR15: But time is...

M4A1?: A new enemy has shown up. If you want to be shot into swiss cheese in the darkness, by all means.

AR15: Tch...

AR15: What’s with these new enemies?

M4A1?: I can vaguely sense a resonance similar to Lunixya’s...

AR15: What the hell is that supposed to mean...

[Bang— bang—]

M4A1?: Noise from the basement?

AR15: Are there still soldiers?

M4A1?: …!

[As though in response to M4A1’s question, a low, bestial growling fills the house, followed by a savage banging of doors.]
[AR15 raises her weapon and takes aim inside the house.]
[The door is flung open and a small silhouette stands in the doorway.]
[Her once-white dress is covered in bloodstains, and her messy hair can’t hide the viciousness which is completely unsuited to her age.]

AR15: A little girl!?

M4A1?: She used to be.

AR15: What...should we do?
Leave right away?

[M4A1 says nothing, simply stares hard at the “little girl”.]
[Now free of the doors constraints, the “little girl” roars again and breaks into a mad dash towards M4A1.]

[Bang.]
[AR15 accurately puts a shot between the eyes of the mutated little girl.]
[She collapses to the snowy ground without a sound.]

M4A1?: You chose wisely.

AR15: I don’t need you to tell me that.

M4A1?: Poor human.

AR15: Was she a civilian hiding nearby? Maybe her parents were dead. Otherwise they wouldn’t have left her here by herself.

[M4A1 walks up and gently closes the little girl’s eyes.]

M4A1?: She died because of the mutation.

AR15: ...It wasn’t her fault.

M4A1?: I know.
Help me.

[Several minutes later.]
[M4A1 is on one knee on the ground, beside a freshly-dug mound.]
[AR15 places a dirty little teddy bear and a bouquet of wildflowers beside it.]

AR15: That should do, right?

M4A1?: …
How easily a single life passes.

AR15: That’s the world for you.
No matter what I try to protect, it always ends up like this in the end.

M4A1?: It’s the same wherever you go, right? The weak are easily wiped out, and the strong dominate everything.

AR15: So we have to become strong, so that we won’t be wiped out at times like this.

M4A1?: ...

AR15: So you can get sentimental about this sort of thing too?

M4A1?: I am no different from you.

AR15: …
I won’t acknowledge you easily, even if you say that.
I will work with you for the time being, but only to keep M4 safe.
I don’t care what your aim is, but if you don’t give M4 back her consciousness after we get out of here, I swear I’m going to kill you.

M4A1: Yes. I understand.

Commander: Civilians…
I didn’t think there were still civilians left in places like that...

Dandelai: There was an abandoned town near the combat zone. There are many migrants leading seclusive lives in the Yellow Zone.

Commander: Our purpose was to protect the civilians… I didn’t think that we’d end up involving the innocent instead.

Dandelai: It is hard for peace to exist when there is fighting.
Living has always been a very difficult thing. Only the survivors can judge what is right or wrong.

Commander: It must have felt terrible to shoot such a young infected, huh.

AR15: Not shooting them would probably feel worse for infected humans, I think.

Commander: After I was exposed to radiation, I felt like my bones were going to rip through my skin and my entire body was being torn apart.
I’m pretty sure that someone who was heavily infected would have suffered even more, and the only way to grant them release would be through death.

Dandelai: You are most admirable for being able to bear that.
I trust you do not wish to suffer such agony again.

Commander: ...If that is possible.

Dandelai: Then let us continue following the fragments. We will only be able to see the information on how to deal with the Military after we finish the upload and thus prevent the same thing from happening again.
We don’t have much time.


12-4: Smoke Signals
[Several hours later.]

AR15: Fortunately the storm passed quickly.

M4A1?: I hope the people who won’t shoot at us haven’t gone too far.

AR15: Are we heading to the original combat zone?
Didn’t you say the Commander and Ange had already relocated.

M4A1?: I’m trying to take the fastest route.

AR15: Btu didn’t you say there were new enemies nearby?

M4A1?: Have we run into any enemies?

AR15: ...No.
But this doesn’t feel like the shortest route. It feels more like...we’re going round and round in circles.

M4A1?: This is the safest and shortest path. There are an increasing number of unknown units around us.

AR15: Unknown units…
I hope you’re telling the truth.

M4A1?: Looks like we’ve arrived.

[M4 and 15 have returned to the battle zone once more.]
[Surprisingly enough, they don’t hear the sound of gunfire.]
[They don’t even see a single moving creature.]

M4A1?: It seems the effects of the dirty bomb are still spreading. There’s no sign of humans in this region.

AR15: Either they’ve fled or mutated.

M4A1?: They abandoned their out-of-control autonomous units by the roadside too. Good thing they didn’t shoot at us.

AR15: They must have taken away any units which could still be controlled. Both sides have left this area by now.

M4Q1?: And it’s only been half a day…
See the location ahead?

AR15: This is our starting location.

M4A1?: There’s nobody here...neither enemies or allies.

AR15: There’s no DEFY signals or Ange’s corpse. That implies...

M4A1?: It implies that they managed to escape.

AR15: I knew Ange wouldn’t give up so easily.
Are we going to look for Ange?

M4A1?: Originally, I would have rejected the suggestion for the sake of Lunixya’s safety.
However, given the route we took through the city area, it might be safer to follow Ange’s path.

AR15: Can you tell which path Ange took?

M4A1?: I can extrapolate it from lingering signals, but I can’t guarantee it’ll be correct.

AR15: It’s better than nothing.

[M4 jumps up on an abandoned tank and looks around.]

M4A1?: Hm… Given the traces around here, they should have fallen back in this direction.

AR15: Really?
I can’t tell the difference.
Still, since you say so, let’s go over and take a look.

M4A1?: Hm. Though there are no Military forces around, finding Ange is going to be a nigh-impossible task.

AR15: Yeah… I hear them too. The nearby ELID mutants are approaching us.

M4A1?: Give me your secondary weapon. We need to take care of the problems at hand.



[The last gunshot fades into the wide-open air.]
[After shooting the last ELID standing in their way, AR15 and M4A1 now stand on a tilting platform.]
[They survey the ragged battlefield.]

AR15: Is it over?

M4A1: It’s over.

AR15: We had to fight back, but I don’t feel good about this.

M4A1: No part of this entire operation felt good.

AR15: Can we move on?

M4aA1; We should get out of here soon.  The sound of the gunshots has spread, and I have a bad feeling...

AR15: What do you mean?

Something bad is slowly approaching us.

AR15l Something bad, huh...

AR15: Is this the place?

M4A1: The faint signal trace from just now vanishes here.

AR15: I don’t see any bodies or signs of fighting in front of this house.

M4A1; That implies the Military didn’t give chase to this location.

AR15: Which means Ange could be hiding inside,
Want to go in and take a look?

AR15: You’d go in even if I said no.

AR15: Huh, looks like you’re starting to understand me.

[M4 and 15 carefully enter the half-collapsed building.]

M4A1: Mind the corners.

AR15: Corners are fine.

M4A1: Nobody’s in the room.
There was fighting inside.

AR15: I didn’t see autonomous weapons or Dolls. Was it just humans exchanging fire?

M4A1; One side might not have been human.

AR15: Tch… you’re right.

M4A1: See any survivors?

AR15: Nope. Just the corpses of infected everywhere.

M4A1: Is Ange among them?

AR15: I’d be able to tell at a glance if she were here.
Hm?

M4A1: What’s the matter?

AR15: Pistol shell casing.
The kind Ange uses, the Military doesn’t use handguns like that. She must have been through here.

M4A1: There are signs of fighting on the walls. Given the bullet marks, the shooter must have been here.
And as I thought, there are human bloodstains.

AR15: Ange didn’t encounter the Military, but the infected…
That might be worse.

M4A1: There’s rifle casings too. Looks like Ange wasn’t the only one.

AR15: She must have linked up with the other Dolls from Task Force DEFY.

M4A1; How much ammo do you have left?

AR15: Not much.

M4A1; If we encounter this number of infected again, remember to run.

AR15: ...I will remember your advice.
Hm?
Shh…there’s movement.

M4A1: What?

AR15: Multiple footsteps and the sound of metal clinking.

M4A1; How could this be… There was no signal reflection or heat sources...

AR15: Unknown units, then. Can you detect their affiliation?

M4A1: I can’t determine their signal.

AR15: Are these the something bad you were talking about...

M4A1: I hear them too... they’re getting closer, we need to hide.

AR15: Can we really hide from them in such a tiny place?

M4A1: We don’t know the status of the opposition. Let’s gather information about them before thinking of a way to leave this place.

AR15: ...Got it.

[The white-helmeted forces kick the corpses aside and enter the house.]
[M4 and 15 hide inside a closet and peek out at the situation outside.]

AR15: White armor and helmets? I’ve never seen these guys before.

M4A1: You wouldn’t want to fight them, especially not now.

AR15: What  fo you mean?

M4A1: I’m trying to hack this one, but its systems are more complex than I imagined.
I’ll draw its attention while you kill it from behind with your knife.
I want to try to connect directly to it.

AR15: Are you going to use M4’s body to do something so dangerous!?

M4A1: Not understanding them is more dangerous for us.
IO won’t do anything to endanger Lunixya. After all, I don’t want to vanish with her.

AR15: Tch… wait.

[The white unit hears a knocking from the corner and carefully takes aim in its direction while slowly advancing towards it.]
[Meanwhile, AR15 has snuck up behind it.]
[The white unit’s helmet falls to the ground, rolling to a stop beside M4’s foot.]

M4A1: I hope your brutal actions haven’t completely destroyed its core systems.

AR15: I don’t know where its vitals are, so I just cut up everything that could be a vital spot.

[15 tosses the limp enemy to the ground.]

AR15: Hurry up and connect. I get the feeling this guy isn’t simple machinery...

M4A1; But there’s no blood either, which means it’s not human either.

AR15: ...So what the hell is it, then?

M4A1: Guard Lunixya like before.
I’m going to try and hack their network using this body as a disguise.

AR15: Wait!
Dammit… she’s already lost consciousness…
The enemy’s going to find out that they’re a man down, I hope we don’t stay here for too long...



12-5: Remnant Memories of the Epiphyllum
[...]

M4A1: Is this me Level 3 base layer?

M4A1: ...There’s nothing here, just a limitless expanse of blackness.
Has that consciousness brought me to the surface layer again?
I have to say, staying here might be happiness in its own right.
Just as well...  I don’t need to worry or be tormented or make choices where people will suffer no matter what I decide.
Maybe what I need is a world that needs me, a world that can protect a part of me.
Perhaps this place that has nothing in it is where I truly belong.

[M4 rises, looking out at this empty world.]
[There is nothing around her.]

M4A1; There’s nothing here. There may not be anything painful, but there’s nothing joyful either.
What’s this I’m feeling...is it loneliness?
Even though there’s nothing, does misery still exist?
But perhaps the pain I feel won’t be so bad if nobody other than me is hurt.

[Just then, M4 realizes that someone is looking at her from afar.]

M4A1: Is someone there?
Is it the consciousness that calls itself OGAS?
No, it doesn’t feel like that… It’s a foreign yet familiar sensation…
It feels the same as…as when the Mastermind tried to hack into me...

[M4 slowly approaches the figure, and a girl she has never seen before stands in front of her.]0

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Who are you?

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Why are you here?

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Why do you feel so familiar?

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Are you my friend?

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Are you my enemy?

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: Are you not going to tell me anything?
Or do you think that I won’t be able to change anything even if I knew...

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: It seems you were abandoned here, just like me.
Unable to do anything and incapable of action.
Without any meaning or purpose...

Mute Girl: …

M4A1: ...You were not abandoned.

M4A1: Eh?

Mute Girl: You are the only one who was not abandoned.

[The mute girl slowly vanishes, leaving M4 alone again in the pitch-black void.]

Clear Voice: ...Looks like it reacted to you.
Perhaps the person who made it was deeply related to you.

M4A1: What?

Clear Voice: Even if it was willing to connect to you, I would still be unable to enter its digimind.
A stronger will than it is holding it in place.
Is it some kind of base code? Or an external device?

M4A1: So it was your doing!

Clear Voice: What do you mean?

M4A1: That girl just now, what was that about?
Are you trying to warp my mind!?

Clear Voice: No. I am helping you through a period of difficulty.

[The darkness recedes and the scenery of Level 2 comes into view.]

Clear Voice: It seems we’re in.

M4A1: What are you talking about?
Where is this place...?

Clear Voice: We are in the unknown enemy’s system. I am infiltrating their network.
They have set up many offensive barriers on Level Two, but it’s nothing but a waste of effort.

M4A1: Why did you release me from the base layer?

Clear Voice: Because I found something interesting, and I’m hoping that you can face it with me.
I can’t hack the core digimind of those unknown units, but they react to your digimind.
That would be the girl you saw just now...if it really IS a girl...

M4A1: I have no idea what you’ve been talking about since just now.
You mentioned unknown units; what did we encounter?

Clear Voice: We encounter an unknown threat while withdrawing.
I decided to hack their network so we could move more safely.
Although this unit has a complicated system, it’s base layer isn’t too different from SF.

M4A1: What do you mean?

Clear Voice: They all use the OGAS Protocol. Does that sound familiar?

M4A1: OGAS...

Clear Voice: So these wh*te units that suddenly appeared must have some relationship to you and I.
I can sense a resonance similar to yours, and even the faint traces of memories that are the same as yours.

M4A1: I...

M4A1: Indeed… I can feel it...

Clear Voice: It’s a scene that only you or I should have been able to see after connecting to the Mastermind.
After I entered their system, I found it in the base later of these wh*te units.

M4A1: But why is it appearing here...

Clear Voice: I do not know either.
However, I’m surprised. We might have lost the Mastermind, but ended up making some unexpected gains.

M4A1: That black-haired girl just now...

Clear Voice: Don’t you think she seemed a little similar to you?

M4A1: Who is she?

Clear Voice: I don’t know either.
That is why we need to hack into their system.
Their core systems are putting up stiff resistance, and I need your help.

M4A1: ...What do you want me to do?

Clear Voice: The opposition has an entire army. We need to upload out digiminds and processing power into their network to stand a chance of breaking their barriers.

M4A1: But...my digimind can’t be backed up.

Clear Voice: Therefore, we will need to download ourselves again after doing what needs to be done.

M4A1: ...

Clear Voice: I understand that this is very risky. If you cannot redownload your digimind, you will essentially cease to function forever.
But I am the same as you. I will take this risk alongside you.
You shouldn’t hesitate now, both for the sake of your friend from the AR Team or in order to sort out your past.

M4A1: It’s too risky, I don’t want to do this. Unless…
Unless you can promise to return me my body after you do this.
Because the AR Team...the Commander...they’re all waiting for me to go back.

Clear Voice: Of course. I promise you.
There are some things which I need to know.

M4A1: Have we broken through their offensive barriers?

Black-Haired Girl: No… I don’t want to put this on… I don’t want to forget everything!
I’m just a failure, so rather than live like this...please kill me!
Ow, it hurts! Please let go of me! Don’t keep doing this!
No… I can’t see anything, I can’t hear anything...

M4A1: What is she saying…
No, wait, are these...her memories?

Black-Haired Girl: My senses...are fading away…
My pain...is fading away too…
My mind...is slowly fading away…
Father… Do you still need me?

M4A1: I can hear her voice, but it’s choppy. Is she being jammed?

Black-Haired Girl: Is someone talking to me?
Who are you? Are you here to save me?
Or are you here…to render me obsolete?

Clear Voice: It’s alright. You will be fine.
You were simply not perfect enough, which was why you were not chosen.

M4A1: This voice is!

Black-Haired Girl: I knew from the start that I wasn’t chosen…
In that case, then let me vanish, don’t turn me into a monster…
That voice…it replaces me…
That voice...it tortures me…
But why? Father...do you not need me?

Clear Voice: You are needed, as long as you are with us…

Black-Haired Girl: No...you’re just going to devour me…
If I’m not going to be me any more, then let me be destroyed!
If I’m not going to be me any more, then let me be destroyed!
If I’m not going to be me any more, then let me be destroyed!

Clear Voice: You cannot be destroyed, because you are needed.

M4A1; Oi, are you trying to steal her digimind?
Just like how you deceived me and threw me into Level 3!?

Clear Voice: That was not me.
That was just a fragment of its memory.

M4A1: But that voice...and that way of speaking, they were almost identical!
I knew it… You’re a liar!
Even if it wasn’t you, that implies you’ve done it in the past!

Clear Voice: This is my first time making contact with it, just like you. I do not know what happened to it.

M4A1; It’s like you said, all this is related to you and me…
And the conclusion I’ve arrived at is that I can’t trust a word you say!

Black-Haired Girl: If I’m not going to be me any more, then let me be destroyed!
If I’m not going to be me any more, then let me be destroyed!
If I’m…
I’m… Nyto...

Black-Haired Girl: Unauthorized simulated signal flow detected.
Beginning Class I Security Cycle Mode.
Illegal digimind signal detected.
Commencing Attack.

Clear Voice: Oh no, was I discovered even after using Lunixya’s signal as a disguise?
Tch… A massive attack flow’s coming our way. I can’t underestimate the opposition.
While it is a bit of a shame to just burn you out like this, I can’t let you endanger Lunixya’s digimind!

M4A1: That voice seems to be entangled with the Level 2 offensive barriers!
If I take this opportunity to cut my Level 2 connection with the opposition, I might be able to strand that consciousness there!

Clear Voice: Lunixya, what are you doing!?

M4A1: Sorry…
And goodbye!

M4A1: …
Am I back on the surface level?

AR15: Are you back!?
Tell me, what was it that took you so long?

[M4 turns to look at AR15. The room is filled with the corpses of white units and AR15 is currently straining to push a black-haired girl off herself.]

AR15: Dammit...they’re such a pain...did you burn them all out on Level Two?

M4A1: I guess… So that consciousness succeeded in the end?

AR15: What?
...Wait a minute, are you… M4?

M4A1: Yes, yes I am...

AR15: Thank goodness.
What about that consciousness from just now?

M4A1: I took back control privileges over my body.
We were in the core systems of these unknown enemies. While that consciousness was grappling with them, I left Level 2 and cut the connection.
That consciousness probably won’t be coming back...for the time being, at least.

AR15: That’s good...looks like you had a hell of a fight on your end too.
What should we do next?
I’m out of ammo and the sky’s getting dark...

M4A1: Why...how did we get back to where we were originally fighting in the blink of an eye?

AR15: The blink of an eye?

M4A1: How long was I gone?

AR15: It’s been almost 24 hours since you began acting weird.

M4A1: My god...

AR15: We found a place to shelter from the blizzard, and then we returned to the combat zone.
We found Ange’s position, but then these unknown wh*te enemies sudden;ly showed up.
That consciousness said it was going to hack into the network of these wh*te bastards, but she didn’t stir for several hours.
After that, they found our position, and then they launched an attack.
I barely managed to stop them with the rest of my bullets and explosives.  But then this black one came out, she seemed to be using some sort of shield that my bullets couldn’t penetrate.
All I could do was try to chop her head off with my knife, but she was much stronger than I imagined!
Fortunately, it stopped moving when it did!

M4A1: Thank you for your hard work…
I’ve never seen you so worked up before...

AR15: You tell me if you wouldn’t get worked up if you had to deal with all those enemies by yourself, and I couldn’t just dump you and run!

M4A1: I’m sorry...

AR15: Forget it, it wasn’t your fault.
Since you managed to hack their system, do you have any leads?

M4A1: I have some records in my digimind. That consciousness managed to find data about the enemy.
Hang on, I need to re-analyze the records…
...Alright, I’ve finished analyzing their positions, processing...

AR15; How are things?

M4A1: Very bad…
These wh*te units are extremely numerous and they’ve surrounded the outskirts of the city.
From the comm records, it seems most of Griffin’s units have withdrawn via helicopter.

AR15: Tch… what do we do now?

M4A1: Ange still seems to be in the city, and I’ve got a rough fix on her position. She seems to be putting up heavy resistance.
From her projected position, I can conclude that the Military hasn’t managed to form a cordon around them, but the only gap is not where we are.

AR15: So we need to circle around their defense line to find the gap?

M4A1: The Military’s positions are constant;y shifting too. If we encounter them, we won’t be able to fight them off in our present state.

AR15: So what do you suggest?

N4A1: Ange must also be thinking of a way to break out. The possibility of linking up with them still exists.
Plan A is that we move with her and evade the enemy forces, and finally rendezvous with her at the withdrawal point.
Plan B is to tell her our position and status before she leaves. That way someone might come back to retrieve us.
But whichever plan we choose, we’ll need to establish comms with them first.

AR15: I pray we won’t have to use Plan B. I don’t want to stay in this damn place a moment longer than I have to.

M4A1: There’s a former civilian signal broadcast tower on the outskirts of the city. Perhaps we could use it to boost our hailing effectiveness and contact Ange.

AR15: Is it far from here?

M4A1: It’s some distance away. We’ll need to pass through a Military-controlled zone.

AR15: Things are going from bad to worse… I hope Ange’s still alive to pick up our signal.


12-6: Breaking From The Dawn
[In the armored train’s command center.]

M4 SOPMOD II: And then...then what happened!?

AR15: Quit pulling on my sleeve with that look of anticipation on your face.

M4 SOPMOD II: What’s wrong, RO?
Why’d it stop all of a sudden?

RO635: The remaining memory fragments are still being processed. Your Banana is burning up.

M4 SOPMOD II: Do your best, Banana!

Commander: Looks like we weren’t the only ones looking for Ange.

M4A1: Were you searching for her at that time as well, Commander?
But Griffin should have withdrawn by then, right?

RO635: No. Most of Griffin’s forces withdrew, but the Commander led us back into the combat zone to help liberate Ange.

Dandelai: And then the Nytos captured you. Fortunately, you managed to escape their clutches.

Commander: I suddenly understand how RO feels… I honestly don’t want to revisit those experiences...

M4 SOPMOD II: It took a lot of doing to rescue the Commander!
And then those wh*te bastards kept going up against us! It makes me super mad!

AR15: The Nytos are becoming stronger too.

Dandelai: I hope you won’t start thinking things you shouldn’t just by the appearance of this body of mine.

M4A1: Alright, enough nonsense.
Are the rest of the fragments done yet?

Dandelai: They’re still being processed... however, comms from the Doll echelons outside seem to be increasing in frequency. Looks like there’s a situation.

Kalina: Commander, the enemy’s on the move! I’ve already sent you the reports from the echelons!

Commander: Got it. Contact each of the echelons and order the combat Dolls to switch to battle frequencies. Issue them triple the standard loadout of ammo.
M4.

M4A1: Understood, I’m shifting my digimind processing to Zener connections.

Commander Kalin, issue a battle warning order. Withdraw our logistics personnel from the combat zone.
Our top priority is to give the heavy weapons teams a clear field of vision. All echelons are not to open fire unless ordered.

Kalina: Sir!
UMP45 just sent a transmission, I’m patching her through to you!

Commander: Go ahead.

UMP45: Sorry to interrupt your reminiscing, Commander, but I trust you know that Military units are approaching us at extremely high speeds.
The other combat echelons have taken position as planned. Please give your orders.

COmmander: 404 Squad is to stand by inside the train. Wait for the AR Team to link up with you.

UMP45: 404 copies.

Commander; RO, have the military armored trains started up?

RO635: Doesn’t seem like it, the sensors report that the large heat source is still in Tallinn.

Commander: This might be a probing attack by their recon units to figure out why we stopped here.
In that case, we need to hold something back.

M4A1: That’s true. They don’t know we’re stuck here because of a breakdown.

Commander: M4, RO and Dandelai, continue the processing.
SOP2 and AR15, go out and help with the defense. Link up with 404; you’ll be the backup team.
Wipe out the Military forces with the minimum necessary firepower.

AR15: Roger. Come with me, SOP2.

Kalina: Everything’s ready.

Commander: Alright. I’ll handle the rest through the command system.

[Outside.]

UMP45: So you’re here at last.
Just the two of you?

AR15: M4 and RO have other things they need to settle. The Commander ordered us to for ma backup team and to not fire wildly.

UMP45: You’d better worry about the Doll echelons if firing wildly is your concern.
404’s always prided itself on never firing a useless round.

AR15: Good. Let’s do a final gear and ammo check.

M3 SOPMOD II: So this is 404 Squad!
I’m kinda excited that I get to fight with this mysterious team!

G11: Didn’t we work together long ago…
When we were in the snow...

HK416: Quiet, you.
They don’t remember that any more.

M4 SOPMOD II: For some reason, I keep getting the impression that we keep missing each other, but I remember 416 really well, from when Griffin was withdrawing!
We worked together really well back then! This time we’ll kick the Military’s ass like before!

416: From back then, huh...

UMP45: So you had fun times like that in Griffin, hm?

416: You were blown up so badly that you were almost bound for the recycling plant.
I led the Griffin Dolls in holding off the enemy so you had a chance to withdraw.

UMP45: Did you? No wonder I don’t recall it.

416: Tch, I shouldn’t have gone back to 416 back then.

UMP45: It’s a bit too late for regrets now~

AR15: Are you still busy waxing sentimental about the past or can we start talking business now?

UMP45: We’re always ready to talk business~

AR15: Tch… How’s the frontline looking now?

UMP45: I’ve synced all our information through the network. The enemy are autonomous units, probably here to probe our defense lines and firepower locations.
The first wave is at bearing 80 degrees, about 3000 meters away and closing fast. We’ve got roughly 10 minutes before we encounter their leading units.

AR15: Enemies like that aren’t worth fearing.
What worries me is that the Military is going to discover that we’re stranded here because we’ve broken down. We only have a 5 minute head start on them; we’re goners if they set out from Tallinn now.

G11: So why don’t they just move out right now?

416: Maybe they’ve got a mental block from fighting with Griffin earlier. The Military is going to be very cautious before they verify our situation.

UMP45: Just so.
The armored train isn’t fully repaired, so we’ll need to destroy their autonomous units before they come too close.
9, what’s the projected repair time?

UMP9: About another 30 minutes.

UMP45: You heard that, everyone.
We need to hold out for at least half an hour.

AR15: Understood. The Commander will direct the echelons on the main defense line. We’ll be on the flanks to keep any fish from slipping the net.
I trust you don’t mind?

UMP45: Not at all. 9 and G11 will stay inside the train to keep fixing it. 416 and I will form a roving strike force.

416: Got it. Can’t wait to give them a spanking.

M4 SOPMOD II: Let’s hurry up and head on out!


[Near the armored train.]

AR15: Dammit! There’s no end to these enemies!
SOP2! Keep your head down!

M4 SOPMOD II: I know! Give me three more mags!

UMP45: Orders from the Commander!
The three frontmost echelons need to fall back and we need to take their place!
416! Fire all the grenades you have left!

416: I’m down to my last 3! Haven’t the drones sent the ammo over yet?

AR15: They’re on their way!

416:Hasn’t the repair team fixed the train yet!?

UMP45: 9 says they need 10 more minutes!

416: That’s the third time she’s said that already!

[In the command room.]
[The sound of explosions roll in from the distance outside the windows, but the inside of the command room is dead silent.]

Commander: ...

M4A1: ...

RO635: ...

Dandelai: Alright, the last bits of data have been extracted.

Commander: Is it over at last?

Dandelai: Yes, it’s finally over.

M4A1: Commander, I hope you will allow me to head out to the frontlines right away. I can’t just sit idly by here/

Commander: Calm down, M4. The frontlines are still holding.

M4A1: But we’re still losing Dolls...

Commander: Our mission in the submarine base will be even more arduous. If we don’t make proper preparations ahead of time, we’ll take even heavier losses than we’re incurring now.

Dandelai: A wise decision. I finally understand why you have made it as far as you have now.
I’ve organized all the information.
All the data on Paldiski Submarine Base that I’ve obtained from those Isomers’ memories, as well as M4’s memories of what happened after that are all in this database.
However, judging by the sound of gunfire outside, I believe nobody’s too eager to view Lunixya’s final memories.

M4A1: That doesn’t matter at all… start by syncing the information on our upcoming mission to everyone!

Dandelai: Don’t panic, Lunixya. I would have done that even if you hadn’t said so.
The data on the submarine base is now on this train’s server. I’ve also synced the information to everyone present.

Commander: I’ve received it. So this is the information on the submarine base…
Kalina, can you turn these data into a 3D map?

Kalina: No problem, let me see…
Two layers of exclusion walls...three underground chambers...and even shore guns on the coast!

Dandelai: Yes. They probably have several times the firepower of this armored train.
I guess this is why the military came here fully loaded.

Kalina: Ehhhhhhh!?

Commander: That damn Havier...no wonder he sent us on this mission.

Kalina: But isn’t the base under Military control?

Dandelai: There’s no need to worry. I will explain the rest.
I remember that there was a person called Ange in Lunixya’s memories, was there not?
I believe this information should have originally come from her.

M4A1: Ange told us that she would be infiltrating the base to gather information.
And it’s true she hasn’t contacted us at the arranged time…
Could she be in some kind of danger?

Dandelai: Do you still remember the memories you saw in the field of flowers?

M4A1; M16...and the Mastermind?

Commander: I remember...an echelon reported traces of SF in Tallinn.
I forgot that detail because of the crashed Dolls and the armored trains...

Dandelai: And now I can explain why this was the case.

Commander: So you’re saying that the submarine base is under SF control?

Dandelai: It is a conjecture based on objective fact.

RO635: Looks like the situation is much more complicated than we predicted...are we going to remake our battle plan?

Commander: Please do. Take the map data and the estimated SF fighting strength into consideration when making your calculations.
If we don’t manage to make contact with Ange again, we’ll start up right away in 10 minutes once the train regains functionality and set out for the submarine base.

Kalina: We’re really going to just charge in there?

Commander: If the base is under SF control, then they probably haven’t found their feet yet. Although we don’t know what they’re after, we need to take control of the situation before they mess everything up.
Prepare to provide covering fire for the defense echelons. We’re going to leave this place.