Operation story: 14-4

Operation

Story

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Characters
Horn Bagpipe Siege Delphine Feist Rockrock Fang Dagda Morgan Indra Misery Duke of Gododdin Sudaram Closure Caster Operator Sniper Operator Guard Operator Victorian Sergeant Flag Officer Pained Refugee
Backgrounds
1 2 3 4 5 6

Before operation

Summary The Duke of Gododdin invites Siege and the Exemplars to act on behalf of Parliament, but Siege remains distrustful. Meanwhile, Closure detects a legion of Nachzehrers.
<Background 1>
Horn	...
Bagpipe	Er, excuse me, who are ye... sir?
Duke of Gododdin	Phew... much better. Once you reach a certain age, you come to prefer bright and warm places. And... is that beans I smell?
Bagpipe	Er, aye, I was cookin' some canned beans for dinner... D'ye want some, sir?
Duke of Gododdin	Don't mind if I do. Would be better if we had some seasoning from home, perhaps some marinated meat.
Bagpipe	Aye, I was thinkin' the same! We Gododdins... Er...
Duke of Gododdin	What is it?
Bagpipe	I ken who ye are now, and ye’re a wee bit different from whit’s in the news.
Duke of Gododdin	Ah. Well, you can ask your captain. I held her when she was wee. Little Rita touched my horn and asked why her dad didn't have one.
Horn	...I apologize for my insolence at the time, Your Grace.
Duke of Gododdin	Not many have the nerve to touch my horns, Lieutenant Skamandros. You showed courage from a very young age.
Horn	...
Duke of Gododdin	Or should I say... all of you are brave warriors of Victoria. Your defense of Chetleigh was outstanding, as was your performance at Brentwood. The Exemplars, you call yourselves... I've long wanted to meet you, though it seems your leader does not welcome my presence.
Siege	...
Delphine	Pardon my frankness, Your Grace, but it is hard to treat your sudden appearance as a pure gesture of good faith.
Duke of Gododdin	Of course, Lady Windermere. I understand. Especially in times like this. I sent men to the Irnclad Galavae. They were traveling quickly, but fortunately, I made it in time to present funeral flowers for Amphelise.
Delphine	...I appreciate the gesture.
Siege	I assume the duke of Gododdin hasn't come all the way here just to give us a medal?
Duke of Gododdin	What if I say I have?
Siege	Most of us are neither nobles nor intelligentsia. It would be best if you didn't beat around the bush.
Duke of Gododdin	Your Royal Highness Alexandrina is as direct as they say. Or would you prefer that I called you "Siege", like your friends do? I fully understand why the Exemplars avoided the ducal armies along the way. You didn't want them to get involved in the machinations of the dukes. You want to fight only for Victoria and her people, like the legendary unit that you're named after. And so, I'm not here as the Duke of Gododdin. I'm here as Sean Gododdin, Member of Parliament, to extend an invitation to the Parliament authorized Tempest Platoon and the rest of the Exemplars. Leave that outdated identification code behind. I'm asking that you intervene in this war in the name of Parliament.
<Background 2>
[Misery approaches a burnt campsite.]
Misery	The miners' camp has burned to the ground. No sign of Sarkaz soldiers.
Misery feels a slight chill. The campsite’s charred debris has cooled. He moves some collapsed wooden beams aside, and finds a few unrecognizable bodies.
Misery	Miners. Remains of the Infected. It's all the same, everywhere.
[A noise comes from behind Misery.]
Misery	What's that sound?
[Several Sudaram appear.]
Misery	Nice hiding spot, Sudaram.
[Misery tries using his transceiver...]
Misery	Nachzehrer spotted to the northwest of Gibsonham—
[...but there is no signal.]
Misery	Out of comms range already?
Sudaram	Death has you.
Several rune swords pierce out of the ground beneath Misery's feet, but he is no longer there.
<Background flashes>
Misery rips through the fabric of space with his dagger and retreats out of range. The collapsed ruins turn into a cage, trapping the Nachzehrer's withered bodies.
Misery	Shush now... I have you too.
<Background 1>
Siege	...Duke Gododdin. I understand that the Victorian Parliament has not held a session for a long time. Everyone who escaped Londinium knows that the Sarkaz have been the ones giving the orders from the Palace of Westhaleg during this time.
Duke of Gododdin	Of course. I don't deny the present circumstances. Why don't we cast our gaze further, though, to the future beyond the war?
Siege	The future? Isn't it a little too early to be bargaining over that — if "bargaining" and "coercion" were synonyms?
Duke of Gododdin	You misunderstand me. Gododdin is not Caster. I would much prefer to sit by the fireside than gather at the negotiation table. I'm more about drinking and playing cards with friends. It gets cold rather quickly once summer is gone. Mind if I have my men add some wood to the fire?
Siege	You might as well have them come in.
Duke of Gododdin	Thank you.
[The duke's soldiers march in.]
Duke of Gododdin	That's much better. Where were we? Oh yes, the future. We know that the war will end, and Victoria will triumph. The war will inevitably bring... or should I say has already brought about irreversible changes, ending a twenty-year stalemate.
Siege	If anyone in the room is interested in the empty throne, it certainly isn't me.
Duke of Gododdin	Excellent, excellent! See? We already have a consensus. As a matter of fact, I held a little meeting not too long ago and saw the Iron Duke in person. Seeing him always reminds me of when I first saw the Gastrell. Like so many other children who grew up hearing tales of the Empire's Death Knell, I searched for the shadow of the ruins that belonged to Lingones, only to find not Gaul... But the glory of the strongest nation of our time, so splendid that I could not bear to turn away.
Siege	You want us to believe you care more about Victoria than Gododdin?
Duke of Gododdin	Make no mistake, I would never call myself a patriot. A duke must always put his dukedom before all else; this is not just a matter of interest, but also a duty, a responsibility. But I wonder... what is the difference between Gododdin and Wellington? Wellington would still be Wellington, with or without Victoria. But what would become of Gododdin, if the light of Victoria went out? Perhaps it would survive. But things would certainly not get better.
Siege	You don't want the Grand Dukes to really divide Victoria.
Duke of Gododdin	I'm not the only one. You know that. As strong as Victoria is, she is not without her rivals. Ursus, Leithanien, Columbia, Sargon... all the ambitious nations of Terra have their eyes on us. We need a single, unified voice to bring stability. This is why Parliament exists. All the ducal realms will select an appropriate representative... including Windermere.
Delphine	...
Duke of Gododdin	This is what the Exemplars mean to Victoria. No soldier who fights for the cause of Victoria will need to fear betrayal again.
Horn & Bagpipe	...
Duke of Gododdin	The Speaker of Parliament has always been the king, for the entirety of the role's existence. But that does not mean that he — or she — must sit on the throne. And this is what you can mean to all of us, Your Royal Highness Alexandrina. If you are willing.
Siege	...
No one speaks as the duke's words sink in. Only the crackling of the fire Gododdin lit can be heard.
Siege	I have only one question for Your Grace. If all of this could have waited until after the war— Then if I refuse now, can my friends and I leave with the Sighs of Kings?
Duke of Gododdin	... Hah.
[Horn and Bagpipe immediately step protectively beside Siege.]
Horn	Siege!
Bagpipe	Crossbowmen outside!
Delphine	We're surrounded. Maybe we already were the moment he showed up...
Siege	Well, well. First we learn what a "commitment" is to Caster, now we learn what "friendship" is to Gododdin.
Duke of Gododdin	Friends treat each other as equals, do they not? My offer remains fair. At the minimum... I gave this young friend from Gododdin the opportunity to point her piledriver spear at me.
<Background 3>
[Closure checks her terminal.]
Closure	Lost the signal from Drone 6 again... blasted place! Alright, Balin, Yvres, Viktor. We have to do this manually. Status reports, everyone?
[The Operators reply via comms.]
Caster Operator	All good here. The beacon's in there and the sensor's running. We're still getting strong interference from the wind and sand. I'm trying to filter out the noise. Waiting on you now, Viktor!
Sniper Operator	Five minutes. The ground's softer than expected.
Caster Operator	Careful, quicksand! The soil's very different from the samples we collected. I've sent the data back. You got that, captain?
Closure	I knew it was a good idea to get you onboard, Yvres. Worth a few days of angry stares from Earthspirit.
Guard Operator	I think you can do with a better working environment, Closure. Try not to get too much sand in your mouth...
[The transmission ends.]
Closure	Stop talking like Amiya, Balin! My blood is self-cleansing... *cough* *cough*...
Feist	Haha.
Closure	Hey! Don't just laugh at me, keep working! The sooner we get this signal tower set up, the sooner we can broadcast the safe zone locations, and the sooner you can go to town.
Feist	I'm trying! Rhodes Island equipment isn't like anything else I've seen. I'm already doing an "exemplary" job, get it?
Closure	Seriously, though. You and Rockrock shouldn't be here with me in the first place.
Rockrock	You have my drones. Of course I'm staying here with them.
Feist	Well, that is a solid reason.
Closure	I know you’re concerned about my safety, but I’m actually really strong! What’s that… those Vampire worms would disagree? Well, not all Vampires are built the same, you know? It's you two I'm worried about. Put your helmets on. Oripathy infection is no joke.
Feist	Alright, alright. But you lot are the ones who need to be careful, running around the battlefield like this.
Closure	"You lot"?
Feist	Rhodes Island. You lot are all over the battlefield, not caring for your own safety at all. Balin is an Infected from Victoria. Yvres is Infected, but not Victorian. Viktor isn't Infected or Victorian. How amazing...
Closure	Why? Everyone knows Rhodes Island operators come from everywhere.
Feist	I can't help but think of my Granny, Clovisia... plus Tommy and the gang. I once hoped that the Self-Salvation Corps could be as united as the Rhodes Island operators I'd seen.
Closure	Well... people aren't really born good or bad. As circumstances change, so do people. Maybe, one day...
Feist	One day, the Self-Salvation Corps will become a tightly knit, united group. Just like the Exemplars, now all fighting for the same thing. We're ready to brave the worst, ready to deal with defeat, even betrayal. But it's not necessarily race, upbringing or circumstance that will unite us... just like Rhodes Island.
Closure	Alright, alright, enough with the compliments, I know you want to keep our equipment. Should I get you a contract now?
Feist	I'm not jealous of Rhodes Island, Miss Closure. You lot give me the same kind of feeling as this strange communication equipment you're holding. A possibility. Something that proves I'm not just a naive dreamer.
Closure	Wait.
Rockrock	Maybe your monologue is starting to bother Closure, Feist...
<Background shakes>
Rockrock	What's that sound? Let me check the feed from Rock-18...
In the monitor's pixelated image, a sand storm approaches quickly.
Rockrock	Catastrophe? But I don't see the data...
Beneath the wild sands are tattered banners and the chanting of war.
Closure	Nachzehrers... what are they doing here?! Go. You two, leave, now. Everyone from the Self-Salvation Corps, head for Gibsonham, now!
<Background 4>
<Background flashes twice>
[Explosions rock the streets.]
Victorian Sergeant	What's that sound—
[Several Sudaram appear out of thin air.]
Victorian Sergeant	S-Sarkaz! They're already here! Battle stations! Open fire!
<Background 1>
Siege	Explosions?
[An officer rushes into the room.]
Flag Officer	Sir, the Sarkaz are attacking the town! We have to leave, now.
Duke of Gododdin	They found us quicker than expected. Looks like the Sarkaz remember the success they had with Amphelise. What of the attackers?
Flag Officer	Nachzehrer elites, sir.
Duke of Gododdin	Your Royal Highness, you and your people must leave with us, now. This town is not worth defending, but you and your friends are of paramount importance to the future of Victoria. Our battleships can take us back to the Silverrock Bluffs front in three hours. That is where you belong.
Siege	Me or the sword?
Flag Officer	Sir, we don't have time—
Siege	You don't have time and you don't plan to fight, even though you know how many civilians there are. But of course you wouldn't. They're not important to you or the Parliament. These poor families wouldn't produce a single member of Parliament in a hundred years. There's no place for them in your game of cards.
Duke of Gododdin	I simply have my sights on reality, Your Highness.
Siege	Reality? Reality is that the future of Victoria you dream of is to be found in grand halls filled with noble coats of arms. My Victoria is here with these people.
Flag Officer	Sir—
Duke of Gododdin	Very well, Your Royal Highness. You're like your father at times. Naive, reckless...
Siege	Is that so? Not that I care. I don't remember anything about him.
Duke of Gododdin	Hah. Very well. Good luck.
[The duke leaves.]
Siege	Horn. Order all combat-ready personnel on the plate to their stations, now.
Horn	On it.
Siege	Delphine. Have Lieutenant Shearer get the logistics and medical staff ready.
Delphine	Already done.
Siege	Follow the plan. Protect the civilians. Prepare for battle!

After operation

Summary Thanks to timely reinforcements from other Rhodes Islanders, Closure sets up signal towers, restoring communications. Meanwhile, the Exemplars and Gododdin's forces successfully defend the town of Gibsonham.
<Background 3>
Closure	...
[Several Operators report via the transceiver.]
Sniper Operator	I think something's wrong with the diffractometer's sensor.
Closure	Nothing's wrong with it.
Caster Operator	You see, Viktor? I'm getting the same results. It's not always the equipment's fault that you're not getting valid data. The data itself may exceed the scope. Originium reaction metrics are above the default limit.
Guard Operator	They're coming, guys. We have three minutes.
Caster Operator	Viktor is the youngest of us. If nothing else, we should try to get him out...
Sniper Operator	Who did you think was the reason that I signed up for the Londinium operation?
Caster Operator	Never could just do as you're told, could you?
Guard Operator	How are you doing over there, Closure?
Closure	Still alive. I've got my drones, and they're loaded with—
Guard Operator	I think I hear the sound of drones crashing. They used to be your babies.
Closure	Haha—
Caster Operator	You knew it when you ordered the Self-Salvation Corps to pull out, didn't you? That was the last chance to escape.
Closure	The Originium activity data is incomplete. I need data... from all of you.
Guard Operator	Amiya's not here, so you're my captain, Closure. We all talked to Amiya before we came to Londinium. Stop a war, and save both the Victorians and the Sarkaz? With just the few of us? That's next to impossible. But I chose to trust all of you. Trust in the dream of Rhodes Island. There isn't a single Rhodes Island operator who doesn't want to see the day when there is a cure for Oripathy, when everybody's living a better life. Doesn't that sound ridiculous to most folks? My only regret about dying here... is that I won't get to see that day.
Closure	...
Sniper Operator	Did you get my data, Yvres?
Caster Operator	Yup. Just sent the newest batch of data over, Captain. Oh, and I'm not that selfless, so don't forget to put my name in when you publish your paper.
[The signal cuts off, becoming static noise.]
Closure	...Will do.
"Communication failure detected. Signal lost imminent." "Importing energy fluctuation data. Initializing automatic analysis module." "Catastrophe scale confirmed. Developing prediction model on Originium induced environmental changes for the next 24 hours..." ... "Bzzzz—Captain, shield... damaged..." "They're... about to..." "Hang in there... Yvres... moving towards your position— Bzzzz" "Bzzzz—" "Make it happen, Closure."
[The transmission cuts off.]
Closure	... I will.
[Closure rapidly types on her keyboard.]
The engineer's eyes are glued to the screen in front of her. Faster. Faster. If they fail to compile the Originium activity data, then all the squad's efforts would be for naught. The din of war approaches. Only a few drones remain. She can feel the enemy's cold, freezing breath. "...Model successfully compiled." "Outputting safe zone locations—"
Closure	YES! All that's left is the signal tower—
[A Sudaram suddenly appears behind her, and Closure barely dodges before she gets cleaved in half.]
Sudaram	...Vampire. Traitor. This war will go on, and you will feed it.
Closure	Yikes! My drone—
The Sudaram's blade slices the hovering drone, sending it crashing to the ground. That was her last combat drone.
Closure	Get out of the way!
[Closure launches her Arts at the Sudaram.]
Sudaram	Your Arts are weak and pathetic. How could such a frail Vampire exist?
[The Sudaram slashes Closure.]
Closure	Ouch!
Searing pain erupts and Closure feels an entire side of her body go numb. The breath of decay invades her. Closure can barely hold onto the signal tower. With great effort, she plants the complex equipment into the ground to lean on. "Insufficient signal strength. Strong interference detected. Unable to broadcast safe zone location. "Please follow the equipment manual—"
Closure	I know! Shut up! What kind of Vampire are you, Closure? Close those wounds! Hang in there, just a little longer... Just get this thing up right—
[Closure's wounds take a toll on her and she passes out.]
<Background fades out>
...Sleeping in the corridors again? You'll catch a cold. Rhodes Island's basic functions are online. I think she's ready for a grand voyage. Thank you, Chief Engineer. You've delivered your promise. If you want to leave this ship and go back to Kazdel... Right, you told me before. You're not interested in that place. But at least promise me you won't call yourself a talentless Vampire anymore. You're the most talented person I've ever known, Closure. You're just different from other Vampires. So here's my offer: as long as you still want to see the vast and unexplored parts of this land, we'll always be each other's companion.
[Closure clutches her hands.]
Closure	(I can't... I won't...) (Won't let... everyone down...) (...And myself.)
Closure can feel the Sudaram's cold grip close in around her neck. War has finally claimed her.
[Someone runs towads her.]
???	Closure!
Closure	Who...? A survivor? Signal... there's a signal... A Rhodes Island signal.
???	Grab my hand, Closure!
Closure	...Dobermann?
[fades to white]
<Background 3>
Fang	It's me. Can you stand?
Closure	Fang...
Sudaram	You—
A dagger pierces the Sudaram's chest, causing a massive burst of energy.
[The Sudaram vanishes, and Misery casually reveals himself.]
Misery	Sorry I'm late.
Fang	Misery gave us the location. More are coming.
Closure	Almost got it! Cover me! Keep them away!
What is our mission? When Closure first joined Rhodes Island, then known as Babel, she asked many operators this question. She got a different answer every time. Some dreams are big. Others, less so. Some gave details. Others mumbled, scratched their heads, and gave an abashed smile. But there comes a time when they all have the same expression. And a time when they all make the same choice.
Closure	Almost there... this is the last one.
<Background fades out>
[The signal tower buzzes.]
"Core module online. Communications restored."
<Background 3>
[Gunfire echoes in the quagmire.]
Dagda	We're coming, Closure! Hang in there!
Feist	We sent your location to the Exemplars! Help is on the way!
Closure	Finally—
[Closure suddenly faints.]
Fang	Closure? Closure! Are you okay—
<Background fades out and in>
Siege	Keep your distance. Cover the artilleries and crossbowmen. The appearance of the Nachzehrers is closely linked to Catastrophes. Do not fear their witchcraft. However bizarre it is, it's still Arts! Remember how we marched through a Catastrophe— We survived a Catastrophe. We'll survive the Sarkaz!
Horn	...Bagpipe.
Bagpipe	Aye? I'm here.
Horn	The Duke of Gododdin spoke the truth. Tempest Platoon is under the direct authority of Parliament. We have an obligation to answer Parliament's call. It's a more legitimate cause for action than the duke's invitation. Not to mention that by accepting his invitation, you, Robben, and everyone who came with us because they had no choice... will have proper identities.
Bagpipe	Identity? Did you forget, captain? I'm retired anyways. Besides, in that standoff with the duke earlier, ye didn't hesitate to put yer shield in front of Siege.
Horn	...True.
Bagpipe	Word is Siege's carryin' the Sighs of Kings... have ye seen it before, Captain?
Horn	I have. Siege was right. It's just a piece of metal that happens to mean something to some people.
Dagda	Troops approaching on our flank.
Delphine	No ID code, but I recognize them. They're the Duke of Gododdin's men. They've engaged the Sarkaz... and covered one of our squads just now.
Siege	Good. If that's Gododdin's way of showing friendship, then we'll show him the same in return. Attention Exemplars! Stand with the soldiers of Gododdin! Not one step backward, until the last foe is vanquished!
<Background 5>
Flag Officer	The ship has reached cruising speed, sir. We're out of danger for now.
Duke of Gododdin	Good. The Sarkaz's witchcraft is most peculiar indeed. Better to fake a moment of vulnerability than to have them constantly harassing our rear.
Flag Officer	The leader of the Nachzehrers has not been sighted, nor any other known powerful Sarkaz.
Duke of Gododdin	I suppose they don't see Gododdin as nearly the threat that Windermere or Wellington are. I could call that a relief.
Flag Officer	The Sighs of Kings has not left Gibsonham, sir. Should we move on to the next phase?
Duke of Gododdin	What do you think of them?
Flag Officer	More of a challenge than expected. Alexandrina's forces are growing, and they are more organized and effective than we thought...
Duke of Gododdin	Oh, I don't mean as an adversary. The Exemplars... like you said, they look the part. And they've worked well enough with the troops that we left behind. Rita is with them, and looks more like the legendary White Wolf than her father did. And Windermere isn't quite as weak as the intel had her. Maybe it's not such a joke after all, that those kids could become the Exemplars.
Flag Officer	Do you intend to abandon the plan for us to escort the Realmblade, then?
Duke of Gododdin	Abandon! Such a strong word. It is the future that Gododdin values. Alexandrina, the Sighs of Kings, the Exemplars, even Rhodes Island... perhaps we'll cross paths again on our way to the future.
<Background 6>
Dagda	Our tanks are fighting the last pocket of Sarkaz on the east side of town. We've successfully defended Gibsonham. It will serve as a supply point on the way to Silverrock Bluffs. However...
Siege	The terrain has changed. The environment around Londinium is constantly changing because of Amnannam's influence. Fissures, cliffs, and rapids that should not have been there are emerging everywhere.
Dagda	Silverrock Bluffs is almost constantly under severe Catastrophe. It's hard to say where our foot will land when we put it forward.
Morgan	I wouldn't have believed this was our Londinium if I had anything less than absolute faith in Rhodes Island's data. The sun on the meadow is summery warm♪♫Filling our home with euphoria♬♪... After this war, we might have to change our national anthem's lyrics.
Indra	Is this time to be havin' a laugh?
Morgan	You wanted to say "we'll think about it after we take it back," didn't you? But even if we really went back... would our home ever return to the way it was?
Indra	...
Siege	That's why we're not just going to win the war. We're not going to let the Sarkaz destroy Londinium in the war. We'll overcome the storm ahead. And we won't abandon the home that the storm has ravaged. Feist told me his squad picked up more distress signals nearby. There may be more lives saved yet. The areas where fighting occurred with the Nachzehrers will need to be cleaned up. Rhodes Island operators will provide the usual assistance. I want the Exemplars to work with them on these post combat affairs. Establish supply lines, rescue and transfer the injured, and rally those who want to join us.
<Background fades out and in>
[Delphine approaches Siege alone.]
Delphine	The troops who returned from the front line have assembled. Counting in the Gododdin soldiers who had their IDs wiped, the Exemplars have far exceeded the scale of a regiment.
Siege	They want to join us?
Delphine	I met with their officers. They said the Duke of Gododdin left before they could board the transports. Preliminary screening indicates that all of them are Infected. Sounds familiar, eh?
Siege	The Duke of Gododdin left his Infected soldiers behind, just like the other dukes?
Delphine	Or maybe...?
Siege	Or maybe, he intentionally picked a bunch of soldiers who had unfortunately gotten Infected, and sent them over to us.
Delphine	I suspect he has ulterior motives. The performance of those Infected troops indicates that they're different from those we've seen before. I wouldn't call them stragglers. If Gododdin's intention is to keep an eye on us, then we should probably try to lose these people, or at least separate them tactically...
Siege	No. You know the dukes better than I, Delphine. There's a very good chance that you're right. But right now, there's nothing we need more than unity. If even the Exemplars chose which parts of Victoria they united... What would happen to the future that we dream of?
Delphine	Gododdin very likely knew that we couldn't reject those men. That's why he let us leave so easily.
Siege	Then we need to be ready. This is not the first challenge we've had to overcome, nor will it be the last. Sarkaz. Amnannam. Caster. The dukes. It's not just one storm that the Exemplars will have to weather.
Delphine	I'll let Lieutenant Shearer know. To be honest, everyone's happy to get some new blood.
Siege	Plus, they're all Infected. If it's really true that Gododdin has not abandoned them... that, in itself, is worth celebrating. Perhaps, the unity that once seemed impossible is actually within reach.
<Background 3>
Pained Refugee	It's a miracle to run into people like you.
Fang	We're not the miracle, ma'am. You are, all of you, for being strong until the very end.
Pained Refugee	Thank you so much, regardless. I can still move. Let me help you with the others. This way, you can get some rest... you're not much older than my own child, now that I get a better look at you.
[The refugee walks away.]
Fang	We have about ten minutes of rest before we head to the next location. ...Closure?
Closure	A little more time...
Fang	There's not much room for improvement on that Arts Unit you're holding. Even Raidian and Mechanist could hardly do better.
Closure	Conditions will only get worse from here. The better I do, the safer you guys will be.
Fang	Thanks. Rescue work around Gibsonham is complete. Next, we'll be going to... where your squad's signal was lost.
Closure	I see.
Fang	We'll find them, alive or... otherwise. Even if they're buried in the sand, or Originium... there will be traces. We'll find them and bring them home.
Closure	I know how I feel, but Fang... I want to hear your thoughts, too. Is it regrettable for a Rhodes Island operator to die in a war between the Sarkaz and the Victorians, when they have nothing to do with either side of the war?
Fang	Any sacrifice is regrettable. After Ace died, Beagle cried for many nights with his shield in her arms. Why him? Why there? Why then?
Closure	I get that feeling too. Every single time. But what I really want to know is... how did the people who sacrificed feel?
Fang	Hm... I'm sure they have their own regrets. We're none of us saints. That's why we fear death. That's why you feel pain over your decision. But I have no regrets about participating in this operation. If not for Lava, Hibiscus, or our other Sarkaz friends, then at least for the people here, even though I don't know any of them. It was a Catastrophe that brought me from Columbia to Rhodes Island. That Catastrophe taught me one thing: that suffering does not discriminate. I came here today because I know that you will come when my home needs help, when the people I care about need help.
Closure	You're right. We'll be there.
<Background fades out>
"We", Rhodes Island. You know something? I've been addicted to the web since a very young age, because that's the only place I knew without segregation. The other Vampire children and I, Vampires and other Sarkaz, Sarkaz and everyone else, Catastrophe, nations, class, disease. It was Theresa who took me from the confines of my home and showed me another possibility. A ship that sails the waves of disaster, rescues those who are suffering, and fosters companionships beyond personal interest. Sounds surreal, huh? But the road that Rhodes Island has traveled thus far is very real. I'll continue to analyze the anomalies caused by Amnannam. I also want to hear your answer to my question. Kal'tsit's and the Doctor's, too. This data belongs to Yvres, to Balin, to Viktor, to Rhodes Island... one day, it may belong to everyone.