Operation story: 14-2

Operation

Story

Previous 14-1	Next TR-25
Characters
Doctor Amiya Kal'tsit Closure Horn Siege Hoederer W Ines Logos Ascalon Catherine Duke of Caster Nezzsalem Salus Manfred Young Officer (Nadine) Londinium Worker A Londinium Worker B Flag Officer "Trilby Asher"
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Before operation

Summary Things take an unexpected turn as sinister red clouds above the Shard cover the entire battlefield. Meanwhile, Manfred prepares to reclaim the Lifebone.
Thirty minutes earlier... Underground structure, Highbury Borough, Londinium
<Background 1>
Londinium Worker A	You're back. How are things up top?
Londinium Worker B	Same as ever. Maybe worse. I used to be scared of those devil mercenaries who ask you for a smoke. The worst you'll get is a slap on the face if they feel like it. But now? It's all monsters you can't even describe that'll turn you into a puddle of blood without so much as blinking. You know what? I've been sleeping better. Because I know there's nothing but death if I run into one of them.
Londinium Worker A	Are the Sarkaz still grabbing workers off the streets?
Londinium Worker B	Didn't see anything. We didn't dare go too far. Doesn't seem like the Sarkaz are interested in running the city anymore. There's no one maintaining public order. They couldn't fully occupy Londinium, could they? What use is it to them? Are they really planning to drive the Victorian capital all the way back to Kazdel?
Londinium Worker A	Who knows? Honestly, I haven't a clue what they're trying to do. Why go through so much trouble if they just want to kill everyone?
[Catherine approaches the two workers.]
Catherine	How sad. Those who betrayed their friends for a better future are soon betrayed by the better future.
Londinium Worker B	...
Londinium Worker A	No one expected things to turn out like this. You know we didn't mean to...
Catherine	Let me guess—you mean us no harm but handed us to the Defense Forces out of fear. How kind and gentle. You all deserve a medal.
Londinium Worker B	Catherine, we...
Catherine	Save it. I don't have time to dig up old grudges, not that it would help anything anyway. At least you didn't gift wrap my head and Feist's and give them to the Sarkaz. The question is, what do we do now?
Londinium Worker A	We can hide here. We know the underground passages better than the Sarkaz—
Catherine	That's your plan, Tommy? Live underground for the rest of your life like a talpibeast? Why don't you just go hide in a coffin, then? I don't blame you for what you did. Given a choice, no one wants to go to war. But war is here now, right here in our homes. There's nowhere to run. I ran into a few fellows who said they could get us some decent weapons. I reckon—
[A loud boom reverberates through the underground space.]
Londinium Worker A	Is that thunder?
Londinium Worker B	Rain would be really nice right now.
<Background shakes>
Londinium Worker A	Why is it shaking? Is Londinium on the move? But the mobility level is—
Catherine	Something's not right. Let's head up and see what's happening. Be careful.
<Background 2>
Catherine	...
Londinium Worker A	What is it, Catherine? You're blocking the window.
The massive silhouette of The Shard is just visible from here. The most familiar sight and the pride of all who call Londinium home. But the annoying yet comforting blankets of clouds above are nowhere to be seen.
Catherine	Wait... What's that on top of the Shard? Take all our supplies and contact everyone we can. We need to move deeper underground now! Hurry!
Fifteen minutes earlier... Silverrock Bluffs, Londinium Outskirts
<Background 3>
Duke of Caster	We're approaching Silverrock Bluffs... That means the attacks will start soon. When I first heard Wellington's plan a few days ago... Do you know what my initial reaction was?
Flag Officer	You thought it was too ambitious, your Grace?
Duke of Caster	Ambitious? I think you mean crazy.
Flag Officer	Yes... crazy. He wants the entire allied forces committed to the front lines — thirteen dreadnoughts, forty-five assault ships, one hundred seventy-two gunboats... Eighty-six transports, ten support ships, all our artillery, and one hundred eighty thousand infantry, including the entire reserves. It wasn't an inquiry or request. It was a notice, almost an order. The Duke of Wellington has also abandoned the traditional Gaulish formation of multiple battle lines, instead having all fleets form single files to penetrate the Nachzehrer line all at once. Gododdin and our forces are to be responsible for fire support and clearing out casters in the Sarkaz rear, while Wellington's vanguard charges at the center of the Nachzehrer formation. The Silverrock Bluffs, currently under Sarkaz control, is a key pass between the Redmane Mountains and the Duskglow River, and a highly defensible position. The enemy can easily retreat towards Londinium, even if we win the battle. I would have staunchly opposed the plan, if it was not Wellington who proposed it.
Duke of Caster	But you and the rest of the high commanders eventually consented to it.
Flag Officer	We've seen similar tactics in the military academies. They were the same tactics used in that legendary battle of the War of the Four Nations, in which Duke Wellington fought. The Victoria and Leithanien alliance split the Gaulish lines into three and quashed their resistance. That battle put Victorian on a new course for the next several decades.
Duke of Caster	Glorious as it may be, the past is no place to find refuge in.
Flag Officer	Do you also think the Iron Duke has grown old?
Duke of Caster	Wellington is a military genius. He commands battleships with the same ease and grace as a Leithanian virtuoso. I have never seen anyone quite like him. He is not one of those fools blindly chasing the glory of the past. The Sarkaz is not the end, but merely the beginning of the end of the real battle. As for here and now... It's not just Wellington who needs a decisive victory.
Flag Officer	The Sarkaz have the Shard, and they have successfully fired it before. They could attack us or anywhere in Victoria at any moment. However, our war scholars deem any losses from Sarkaz Catastrophe attacks to be within acceptable limits. Those losses will not compromise our ability to achieve our strategic objective. The Sarkaz have not refueled Londinium since it deviated from course. The city is immobile as of now. Once we take the pass at Silverrock Bluffs, the Sarkaz will no longer have a terrain advantage, and the allied fleets will have a clear path to Londinium. Indeed, if everything goes well–
Duke of Caster	We will be able to end this meaningless stalemate as quickly as possible. Yet the word "stalemate" isn't an apt description for the Sarkaz and Victoria. Telegrams from the Caster hold are increasingly impatient. One cannot fault our backers for it. War is far too expensive. A promise fulfilled too late is a promise unfulfilled.
[Loud noises rumble in the distance.]
Flag Officer	Are those the cannons of Gastrell going off? The Duke of Wellington's attack has begun? But it's not time yet. Your Grace, what's that red light coming from the distance? That light! It's coming from the top of the Shard!
Duke of Caster	Hail Wellington right now! We must—
<Background 4>
[The Doctor sits upright.]
Doctor	... / Ouch...
Amiya	Doctor! Are you okay?
Kal'tsit	The Doctor will be fine. Mon3tr absorbed the brunt of the impact.
Doctor	Where are we? / How are the others?
Kal'tsit	The good news is that we fell into a canyon. Our precise location is uncertain, but we're at least a distance from the worst of the fighting. Closure, Horn, and Siege have gone out to scout our surroundings. You should be briefed on the specifics soon. We're still assessing our personnel and equipment losses. Preliminary reports indicate that pre-impact measures were effective and losses are acceptable. Medical and engineering units are already at work.
Amiya	I'm afraid there's been some troubling development.
Doctor	The sky... It's red.
Kal'tsit	Watch your step and keep up with us, Doctor.
[The ground shakes violently]
[Sounds of cannonfire and warfare echo throughout Victoria.]
Suffering extends its reach to every corner the eye can see. From the top of the Shard, Originium spreads like a plague, devouring... assimilating. Buildings, ships, armies... Originium devours all and quickly expands. An unprecedented calamity indeed, one that puts even the most terrifying Catastrophes to shame. And yet, an army marches through the roiling Originium crystals, its tattered banner visible even from here. Suffering is but a marching order for the Sarkaz. The ever-hungry procession of Sarkaz advances to the horns of wailing... Sinking their teeth and claws into any enemy they find.
Blood-stained boulders litter the wasteland as far as the eye can see, looking decidedly out of place. The whipping winds have ceased, giving way to a rising fog. The withered grass remains unstirred, yet countless tattered bandages already dangle across. Sarkaz warriors stand in line, soundless and motionless. Waiting for the embodiment of death and decay, the master of war, their king. A withered figure emerges from the death-filled fog.
<Background 5>
On the hills, he stands. Through the swamps, he passes. Out of the fog, he glides, through wind and sand, rising from the withered grass. And upon the Arts ritual circle he descends. Tattered stripes of cloth fall to the blood-filled columns, like a bony hand caressing a tombstone. Only the most seasoned warriors recognize that the Nachzehrer's tattered ribbons, like the banners on Kazdel's walls, belong to generations of ancient Sarkaz tribes. Their form ragged, their symbols recognizable, but their scent of war unmistakable.
Nezzsalem	... Duq'arael, Regent's Crimson, Prince of Blood. We were never close. But the contribution that you and your blood made to the war is undeniable. I bear witness to your glory and shame. Slayer of the Feranmut in the Mist, Jailer of Time. Usurper of the Royal Court, Executioner of Kings. You denied the path that we now walk, as you've denied the meaning of the Black Crown— But you gave your first and final drop of blood to the Sarkaz. Your power shall not fade away, nor shall your anger, your hatred, your ambition.
He spreads his arms wide. A black fog of decay rises, swallowing every boulder. Red fades into sand and dirt, vanishing into the mist. The warriors do not speak, but the earth begins to rumble as ancient witchcraft spreads across the battlefield.
<Background fades out>
"War, we nourish you with our best." "Their blood and bones at your behest" "We are the living and the dead." "Together, we march as one." The black fog dissipates. A drop of blood forms at the tip of Nezzsalem's staff. It is the purest blood, the only blood that death and decay cannot touch.
<Background 5>
Salus	...This is the Blood of Teekaz. It evoked the call of Amnannam, but was lost in the battle's Arts Circles. The Confessarii searched seventy of them without finding it. But Nezzsalem, Your Highness, you have found it for the Regent.
The drop of red liquid drifts toward Salus and enters her wrist.
Nezzsalem	Keep it safe, Confessarius.
Salus	Of course. I vow to protect it with all the strength of my bloodline... my life. The Vampiric Arts Circles are still active... What of the Sanguinarch of Vampires? The purest bloodline, the cruelest of the sovereigns, the pride of the Sarkaz. Did he really die so easily? At the hands of the young Banshee and the rabbit?
Nezzsalem	He has not joined the myriad souls, but away has he drifted.
Salus	What a shame to waste so much blood.
Nezzsalem	Meddler of bloodlines. Do not desecrate war and death with your flippant insolence.
Salus	Um... Apologies, your Highness, I was merely lamenting the loss of the Sanguinarch.
Nezzsalem	Then keep his legacy safe. His blood will continue the fight with us.
Salus	Of that, I have no doubt, Sovereign of the Withered Court. The Blood of Teekaz will fulfill its duty. If a mere tremble of Amnannam is enough to burn the heaven red and bring upheaval to the earth... Then its final descent shall free our fate from the manipulation of Originium, as the myriad souls have so longed for.
Nezzsalem	Fate? War will crush all obstacles beneath its heel, even fate.
[The Nachzehrer King raises his hand.]
<Background flashes>
The Deadwood Throne rises, attended by innumerable war altars, casting a massive shadow on the battlefield. Silent columns of warriors step into the strange Catastrophe, continuing their advance.
Nezzsalem	We will advance before the storm. Both the living and the dead— This war belongs to all Sarkaz.
[Thunder booms loudly above]
<Background flashes>
<Background 6>
Manfred	... A new beginning.
Young Officer	Another quote from one of the sovereigns, general?
Manfred	...No. I was simply reminded of the furnace at the center of Kazdel.
Young Officer	Oh, the big one. I witnessed many feedings before I came to Londinium. It is an honor for a fallen warrior to be fed into it, becoming the fire that propels our progress. But it never seems to be sated. Small wonder. The flames of a revenant's rage only burn stronger.
Manfred	Nadine... would you call the nomadic city by the name of Kazdel your home?
Nadine	What is the meaning behind the question, sir, when the final battle has already begun? I was raised on the battlefields outside Kazdel. The black rocks and the bones of my fellow Nachzehrer are the only things buried beneath the city's walls and wheels. Where is home, if not Kazdel?
Manfred	Yes... What other answer could there be? The future is lined with uncertainties, but this much we know: this war ends where a new beginning emerges. Have you made contact with Ulšulah?
Nadine	No. They were very thorough in mopping up Brentwood. Just as you predicted, our casters have picked up the trail of the Feranmut skeleton's movement. They considered attacking Londinium... attacking The Shard directly.
Manfred	I gave them a chance... far too many chances.
Nadine	There is no question that Major Ulšulah has been negligent in her duty. She had better have a good explanation... if she lives to explain.
Manfred	Have you located the skeleton?
Nadine	We have a rough idea of its location, but it will take time to find it on this vast battlefield. Should I take a squad there personally?
Manfred	No. I will. We will retake the Feranmut's spine, or destroy it. It must not fall into the wrong hands again.
Nadine	You're going yourself?
Manfred	Those mercenaries have interfered too much. They must be eliminated. Before that, though... we will finish the ritual.
Nadine	Our Nachzehrer ritual? I didn't think you cared much for tradition.
Manfred	Cyclops, Lich, Wendigo, Banshee... more and more have left. You've never seen these Royal Courts in Kazdel, have you, young Nachzehrer?
Nadine	I suppose not. Other than the Nachzehrer, it's mostly been Vampires. Not the best neighbors, but you start to miss their smell when you spend enough time in Londinium.
Manfred	The blood of the fallen has returned to the earth. There will be no new Prince of the Crimson Court. How many sovereigns do the Sarkaz have left?
<Background 7>
"Bzzzz—" "Logistics to Command. We've encountered a Catastrophe near Sufrior Chasm." "At least, I think it's a Catastrophe... we're being drowned in a tide of Originium." "The ship has lost power. Weapon systems severely damaged... all systems inoperative!" "Defense systems offline... no response from Arts unit... I repeat, all systems inoperative..." "Enemy spotted! Taking heavy fire, mobile Arts device... *Bzzt*..." "Data... automatic record..."
[The recording cuts off.]
"Trilby Asher"	None of these messages made it out. The entire communications system is scrap. To think that so many have died to protect this little metal box... ...I salute you. Phew... that bow hurt. I shouldn't take my hat off... Our foe is unpredictable, aren't they? There's enough intel about The Shard to fill an entire building. But you and I must take the blame for our present circumstances.
The man in a hat looks down at his counterpart. The man on the ground lies motionless, buried to his chest in crystal-filled dirt. But the little box that he clutches in his left hand remains spotless. The Trilby Asher pulls the rim of his fallen comrade's hat down, covering the face that no one knew to begin with. It took a little more effort to retrieve the communicator, but war has made him a rather proficient undertaker.
"Trilby Asher"	Intel retrieved. Communications are still being jammed by severe interference. A little progress is better than nothing, I suppose.
[The Trilby Asher listens to the comms.]
"The Duke of Fife and the Sixth Infantry Battalion were ambushed. The landing attempt on the Crumley plate has failed." "Unable to reach the Duke of Gododdin's scout fleet. Chetleigh has been lost." "Large-scale unanticipated geological changes across the Silverrock Bluffs front. Active Originium concentration above threshold."
[The transmission ends.]
"Trilby Asher"	No good news.
[The communicator picks up a faint signal.]
"Trilby Asher"	Are those... troops? The ID code is— My, my... what a miracle. I am a lucky man indeed.
[A Sudaram silently approaches from behind...]
"Trilby Asher"	Hm?
[...and cuts down the Trilby Asher.]

After operation

Summary Siege receives intelligence on the Duke of Caster from Trilby Asher, which helps the Rhodes Islanders understand the battlefield and devise their battle plans. The Exemplars and Rhodes Island join forces to stop the Military Commission from bringing the complete descent of Amnannam.
Three hours later...
<Background 7>
Horn	No sign of the Sarkaz troops.
Siege	The Lifebone is a big target, and we would have left an even bigger trail behind us as we fell. I'm afraid that they'll catch up to us sooner or later. Closure, can you confirm our position?
Closure	I can only really get an approximate orientation with these maps I've got on hand...
[Closure checks her communicator.]
Closure	Dammit, still no response. Ever since the skeleton crashed, all our comms went down with it. My drones can't fly too far either, I've never seen this much interference before. Wait, I think a drone just found something... Over there!
<Background fades out and in>
[Closure runs over to the location her drone pinpointed.]
Closure	... What's this? A voice recorder? Makes sense, I guess. On a battlefield like this, this is the next best way to relay intel, short of just shouting.
Siege	That's the Duke of Caster's crest.
Closure	Lemme have a look—
[Closure turns on the recorder.]
"Bzzzz—" "I'm short on time, so I'll make it brief." "—The Stone of the Sword." "...has arrived at Silverrock Bluffs." "But the Sarkaz and their tricks are worse than we thought here at the frontline." "My advice is head to the battle from the southwest, bring the sword—" "Bzz—I have honored my vow, so the rest is up to Your Highness—" "—Bzzzz—"
<Background 4>
Hoederer	No change, no improvement.
W	Can tell your new pal that if it doesn't get back on its ass soon, I'm going to break whatever bones it's got left, one by one?
Ines	It's long dead. Not like it can feel pain. Why not pick something more meaningful to vent about?
Hoederer	The skeleton's voice was already ebbing. After the crash, it had stopped responding altogether.
Ines	The nerve bundles are withering. We've tried everything we can think of. Lubricant, supplements, even some crazy witchcraft I've never heard of before. My verdict is...
Hoederer	Right now, it's nothing more than a colossal and breakable skeleton.
W	It can't be dead dead, can it? I mean, it's already a dead Feranmut, you're telling me it can die again? Hey Ines, pass me the mine over there, the one wedged between the bones.
Ines	...Glad you asked, nearly stepped on it. And also, what kind of psychotic idea do you have this time?
W	Oh, just following your suggestion. I'm gonna go find a proper target to blow up. Isn't that old friend of yours supposed to be the skeleton whisperer or something? I'm sure she's still got an unbroken rib or two, so she should be able to talk. Maybe. Well, she will if she knows what's good for her.
Hoederer	Ulšulah. She does know plenty of the Feranmut's secrets, and it's clear she hasn't told us everything. But I have the feeling that she won't be able to help with this particular problem.
Ines	Right. The source of our troubles is what's hidden in those dark red clouds above our heads.
[Kal'tsit, Amiya, and the Doctor approach the group.]
Kal'tsit	That's exactly it.
W	Ah, the all-knowing Kal'tsit. Let me guess, you've got even more bad news for us?
Kal'tsit	Regular Catastrophes have no effect on Feranmuts, even if it happens to be one that has been dead for several centuries. The tunnels that it travels in can even drill through time, so how is it that a storm can seal them off? What's happening here is beyond the scope of a mere Catastrophe.
Amiya	As we were falling, I had a vague feeling. That the enormous, ancient sentience remaining in these bones... had gone. Gone somewhere I could not touch.
Doctor	It died its true death? / It's free now?
Hoederer	Our connection with it has been severed. It might only be temporary, but if we take too long, we might lose control over it for good.
Kal'tsit	Your deduction is correct. Upon his inspection, Logos confirmed that the Sarkaz witchcraft cast upon this skeleton is being disrupted by a massive source of energy. It seems the Vampire's ritual was completed. The Confessarius... Qui'sartuštaj is aiding Theresis, and has achieved what the Sarkaz could not for millennia. (Ancient Sarkaz language) "Amnannam". An ancient wound that refuses to heal, the Cunabula of Suffering.
W	Mind skipping to the part we can actually understand? I don't have all day.
Kal'tsit	It was the first curse, just as it was the first Originium.
W	Isn't that just a legend? You know, the made-up kind in the storybooks that Hoederer loves to read.
Kal'tsit	Legends are a shadow of reality, despite all the untruths and half-lies painted over them. To say nothing of the fact that this is a Sarkaz legend. A Teekaz legend.
W	Sounds to me like Theresis is cooking up some real serious beastshit to hang over Victoria.
Kal'tsit	I fear that this, too, is the reason he chose Londinium as his base of operations. The Shard's ability to influence Catastrophes and Originium is already sufficient for it to become Amnannam's beacon. Across all of Terra, as it is now, this is the one place that it can descend.
W	Well, out with it then, how do we wreck the thing?
Kal'tsit	At Terra's current level of technology, there is nothing we can do.
[Logos approaches them.]
Logos	The only good news is that it has not yet fully descended.
Amiya	Have you figured something out, Logos?
Logos	The drop of blood that the Vampire possesses, the one he calls the Blood of Teekaz... It is still fulfilling its duty. The reason why Amnannam is able to leap across millennia and descend once more is because of his prayer. The blood's master has fallen, but the connecting veins hold steady. If we are to prevent the reemergence of Amnannam on this land, we must break the Vampire's curse, quelling the hatred that resides in this drop of blood.
Amiya	I think... I can give it a try.
Logos	I was blighted in battle with the Vampire, and its influence on me has not yet waned. By virtue of this, I am able to sense where the Blood of Teekaz is. It is at the rear of the Nachzehrer army.
Kal'tsit	It will likely be protected in a Confessarius altar and heavily guarded. The amount of time required to break through the entire Nachzehrer defensive line would be too much.
Doctor	We could cross the Redmane Mountains, bypassing most of the warzone.
Kal'tsit	Taking that route carries a similar risk to storming the battlefield. Our observational reports indicate that the Redmane Mountains have been completely transformed by Amnannam's influence. They are now blanketed in active Originium. I need not remind you of its extreme danger. But... it might be possible. Shining has gone ahead to seek out Qui'sartuštaj, and if things go well for her, she will be able to come to our aid.
Amiya	I support the Doctor's decision. It's the plan that saves us the most time. If we keep delaying until the Amnannam Dr. Kal'tsit speaks of completes its descent, and is used by Theresis as a weapon... Then we will have lost any chance we might have had to turn the tide. Even if there are risks, we must forge ahead. I'll need your help, W.
W	You need some hands to guard this pile of bones, right, bunny?
Amiya	Right. This skeleton is crucial to our next operation. Besides, Hoederer needs it too.
Hoederer	There's no doubt that the Military Commission has been watching us ever since we crashed. The way I see it, it makes no sense to hand back something we fought so hard to steal in the first place. Give me a time frame. The time now is... 18: 00.
Kal'tsit	Three days. The surrounding terrain has been completely transformed. We will need to pass through a wasteland filled with unknown dangers. Given also the fact that battles with be inevitable in our journey, I estimate at least three days to handle the Blood of Teekaz. An immobile skeleton makes for an extremely conspicuous objective. Guarding this site will not necessarily be easier than the raid you carried out on it.
Doctor	I propose that Ascalon stay behind and help protect the Lifebone.
Ascalon	But my job is to stay by your side and keep you safe, Doctor. During the Sanguinarch's attack, it was my error that led to your injury, a dangerous mistake I do not intend on repeating.
Doctor	The Lifebone is vital, and Manfred is likely to order an assault.
Doctor	You understand him well.
Ascalon	...
Kal'tsit	I agree. The Sarkaz will be reliant on their commander personally overseeing the battle and making decisions. If you are able to stem Manfred's advance, then that might relieve pressure on the mercenaries.
Ascalon	I will respect your decision.
W	What about the gang of useless Victorians? Are they going with you?
[Siege approaches them.]
Siege	We will head to the front lines at Silverrock Bluffs.
W	Wait, are you saying you want to lead just a couple thousand men, some of whom are civilians who've barely held a weapon, straight into battle with the Nachzehrer army?
Siege	You have your legends, Sarkaz, and we have ours. We have the Sighs of Kings, the blade that can cleave Catastrophe in twain. Since the Sarkaz have controlled the storm, then it's time that this sword plays its part.
Kal'tsit	You have been contacted by the Duke of Caster.
Siege	An invitation to be precise. It is as we surmised. Since the Sarkaz started their strange... doings, the Victorians, or rather, the ducal alliance have been heavily hit. Caster, no, any Grand Duke ought to have figured out exactly the kind of circumstances Victoria has found herself in. We've all seen those altars spewing that red light, or any light for that matter. As it stands, Londinium and all the battlefields surrounding it have become a giant Arts Circle. This is how the Sarkaz fight. Not like Leithanien. Not like Ursus. Not like any other nation's tactics that we are familiar with. The Trilby Ashers will have told Caster that all the intelligence they have gathered so far is useless when it comes to Sarkaz tactics. The Sighs of Kings... No longer will this piece of steel I hold in my hand be merely a leverage to get Caster back to the negotiation table. It will turn the tide of war, bringing true change to the battlefield. None of us knows when the next Catastrophe will strike. I don't know what form Caster's "Stone of the Sword" will take, but no matter if it's a square room on wheels or an odd contraption on an officer's back, I'll find it. If we can quiet these storms, then I dare say that the battle will become somewhat more evenly matched.
Kal'tsit	From Sufrior Chasm to the front line at Silverrock Bluffs... It will take you two days, even if you follow the road that the dukes have cleared from the Westbound Forest to Gibsonham. The Duke of Caster would be more than happy to snatch away the Sighs of Kings, if afforded the opportunity. It will allow her to lead the dukes in this difficult war, and move her one step closer to the throne. And she will not be the only one attempting to do so.
Siege	I am aware. The Duke of Windermere has died in combat, and her troops have retreated from battle. If any other duke withdraws their forces, the scales of war will be tipped even more against us. The war will drag on, Londinium's restoration will be delayed, and more blood will be shed. For Sarkaz and Victorian alike, this is the battle that will determine our ultimate fate. And as for us... We are the Exemplars. Wherever a miracle is needed the most, is where we will be. Besides, if this sword really can calm storms as the legends say, I daresay it would help speed along your journey to Londinium, after all this.
Kal'tsit	Closure?
[Closure replies via transceiver.]
Closure	How'd you know I was done with my preparations? To keep things short, your ever-reliable Chief Engineer Closure and her team have come up with seven different plans to get around the comms interference. This equipment of mine has also started analyzing that super-Catastrophe's trends and impacts. Originium triggered reactions always leave a trail, no matter how intense they are... things like dust concentration, activity index, and then there's spread conditions— Well, I'm sorry to say that all these metrics are pretty high, as expected, so we can't tell what's going to happen in the most dangerous regions. But we can deduce which parts of the battlefield are safer. Relatively. That is, of course, if we can go deeper into the heart of this battle and obtain more data. Misery's agreed to be our bodyguard, but since you guys are already heading over to where there's most action going on, I figured we might as well tag along. So... could we trouble the Exemplars to look after us?
Siege	Gladly, we are duty-bound.
Closure	Making sure that things don't get any worse is Rhodes Island's mission, right, Kal'tsit?
[The transmission ends.]
Kal'tsit	Thank you, Closure. ...Doctor.
<Dialogue branch starts here>
Doctor	Let's both go with Amiya.
Amiya	Our path might be the most dangerous one of all. But I'll keep you safe, Doctor... Just like always.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	Could I go with Siege and Closure?
Siege	Thank you for trusting in us, Doctor. Your command experience will be most valuable.
<Dialogue branch>
Doctor	I'd prefer to stay here with the skeleton.
W	You're serious? You do realize that with the bunny and the crone's pet gone, I can pretty much do whatever I want, right?
<Dialogue branch ends here>
Doctor	...
Kal'tsit	I know you fear for the safety of each and every operator, which makes you hesitant to choose. But the truth is that I need you to come with me.
Doctor	So we can go behind enemy lines together? / So we can deal with the altar problem?
Kal'tsit	There is no changing what we will face during our final confrontation. Originium has shaped the history of the Sarkaz, just as it will shape the futures of us all. Perhaps you still have misgivings about why Rhodes Island must intervene in this war. I did not have the opportunity to explain in the past, and nor could I give you a precise answer. I have never doubted that the dark clouds above the Shard concealed some dreadful unknown. Yet when it has revealed itself, as it has now, I still find myself confronted by... mixed emotions. I'm not one to explore the subject of fate, especially not yours and mine. But now, fate has reared its head, and is coming our way.
Doctor	Kal'tsit... / You don't sound like your usual self.
Kal'tsit	... Originium's effects are far beyond any of our comprehension.
Doctor	Our? Even yours?
Kal'tsit	Of course. Dr. {nickname}... I hope... No, I believe... I believe that you are still the one who can change everything.
Amiya	I've never had any doubts, either. Doctor, I think should get going now.
Doctor	Alright. / Let's go.
W	Not gonna ask me for a twenty-one-gun salute?
Amiya	Take care, W.
W	Look, little bunny, I'm not like the sheep over there. I'm real hard to kill.
Siege	The Exemplars are ready.
Amiya	Glad to hear it, Siege. Remember everyone, time is of the essence. Every minute, every second on this battlefield... There will be people who are suffering because of Originium.
Doctor	Our mission is clearer than ever.
Doctor	Stop the spreading of Originium. / Stop Amnannam.
Amiya	Right. And then, we plunge into the darkest depths of the fog.
Siege	To Londinium.
W	We'll bomb that tower and grab Terra's biggest bastard out of the rubble.
Amiya	We'll stop the disaster before us, and any more yet to come.