Operation story: DM-7

Operation

Story

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Characters
Ines Hoederer Scout Talulah Determined Reunion Caster Reunion Soldier Sarkaz Mercenary Leader
Backgrounds
1 2 3

Before operation

“

After Scout beheads the mercenary leader, W's team pursues him as agreed. Though Ines considers letting her old comrade go, Scout has already made up his mind.

”

<Background 1>
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	You... I've seen you somewhere before... comrade. We've met on the battlefield before. ...Hey, hey. You shouldn't have come to Chernobog. Everybody here has the intel on Rhodes Island. You're all going to die here. But no matter how good you are, you shouldn't have been able to get through W's defensive line. Not unless... By the looks of things, she ended up making that choice after all. In fact, we all expected it.
???	Some of you fought with us, side-by-side. / That's the only reason we're still exchanging words on the battlefield.
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	...Theresa was an exceptional leader. She changed the way many people see this patch of dirt. But it was an idealized viewpoint. You don't need to argue with me. I know better than you the cruelty that Kazdel has faced, nor do I want to deny her. But for such a tremendous effort, I just want to see some semblance of results. Only by the Regent's hand can a new future come to Kazdel. There's not enough goodwill to go around for everyone.
???	We could have tried to work together. Or at least so that we don't have to die together.
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	A naive notion. How are we supposed to set aside our years of discontent as Sarkaz? How are we to right a long history of wrongs? Ursus and the uninfected. Reunion and the Infected. Kazdel and the Sarkaz. It's all the same. I became more convinced of it during the time I spent working with Reunion. His Royal Highness, the Regent, can open a new home for us, and I've chosen to chase this opportunity. Just as in the past, you still naively cling to Theresa. ...That's enough. Since W decided to let you through, you must've also paid the price. What did you give up? An underling who died to buy you time? Or... maybe your own soul?
???	......
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	Tell me the name you go by now.
<Dialogue branch starts here>
???	–Scout.
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	It's been a while since I heard that name. Originally, I wanted to carve your name onto this knife as a show of respect.
<Dialogue branch>
???	Don't mercenaries also use codenames, Garcin?
Sarkaz Mercenary Leader	...But you're right.
<Dialogue branch ends here>
<Background 2>
[Ines, now working for Reunion, fights someone at Chernobog's streets.]
Ines	Stop resisting. ...The twelve other members of your team have been eliminated. Leafa, Mimi, and Thumbtack died after being surrounded by Reunion casters. One died on her feet. Mary, Macron, Slink, and Scorpion held a section that W broke with her own team. Milim, Tipsy, and Mudflower took one of our teams down with them. One of them fought her way out of the trap, but Hoederer's swordsmen got her head. Unexpectedly, Pter died downstairs over there not too long ago. Apparently tried to save some civilian who didn't have time to evacuate. Slanna's still breathing and we took her in, but she's probably looking for some way to kill herself. ....What, nothing to say? Stop hiding. I know you can hear me. I can see your shadow, and I can tell from your ragged breathing that you're badly wounded.
Scout	...Why do you know their names?
Ines	W told me specifically for the occasion. You guys keep some kind of dogtags on you. "At least you have to know who you killed. This isn't Kazdel anymore. It'd be bad if you killed the wrong person."
Scout	Those aren't dogtags, and the operators we lost... weren't all soldiers. I thought W would finish me herself.
Ines	Hmph. She... Would you believe me if I told you that she doesn't have the heart to do that? You killed the leader that the Regent sent. She's not the only one who wants to take over, so she has her hands full. Like the agreement you had with W. As soon as you complete your mission, we'll annihilate you with all our strength, in "hindsight."
Scout	...
Ines	...During the firefight, you even took the time to rescue someone. But, that's not any of our business. Patriot is over there, so there's no need to bother with that.
Scout	...Good. You've all... changed. W was not the kind of person to go out of her way to remember the names of the dead.
Ines	Yeah, she did change. But she's only become more of a lunatic. Your experience on the battlefield is pure, like Faust's Arts. Who's to say that this wasn't just a ruse to trip you up? What if she only wrote down their names so I could toy with you with my Arts?
Scout	...That sounds like her. She would never miss an opportunity to have some fun.
Ines	Same with you. Didn't you also agree to this crazy deal that only W could come up with?
Scout	Trading my life for an opportunity, then letting those who should take that opportunity follow through? There's nothing crazy about that. Just like those who sacrificed their lives. They died for their own ideals. Without them, I cannot succeed.
Ines	...It seems like everyone's changed with the passing of time.
Scout	You too. You never would've given your enemy time to breathe, like you're doing now. Hoederer should have warned you.
[Scout shoots at Ines...]
Ines	What?! Why are you still resisting?
[...which is a distraction so he could escape.]
Ines	...Tch... He's gone... ... But don't think you can get away so easily...
<Background fades out and in>
Ines	(This way?) (......) (No doubt, this is the way. He's fast.) (Tricky bastard. If he wasn't injured, I might not even be able to keep up...) (Wait...) (He... he's heading towards the middle of the city?) (That's where... Tch!)
<Background 3>
Ines	...Damn it! What are you after, so close to the core city? Why can't you just get out of Chernobog?!
Scout	...You really don't act like a Sarkaz at times, Ines.
Ines	I never was one.
Scout	–You should keep pretending that you are. You are a Sarkaz mercenary, and this is the battlefield.
Ines	You can't even run anymore. You've lost too much blood, your head is spinning, and your limbs are going numb. Your shadow's the only thing still burning. You shouldn't even be able to stand.
Scout	I'm well aware of my own injuries. Besides, this place is crawling with Reunion. But for the lot of you... You, Hoederer, and also W... I have a suggestion.
Ines	...For Her Majesty's sake.
Scout	Use those eyes of yours to see the truth, and don't die in vain before that. We Sarkaz... should not allow others to continue to use us.
Ines	Are you talking about my Arts? What am I supposed to be seeing– — —— —What... this... Who is this... why...?
<Background black>
Talulah?	... ...Sarkaz?
<Background 3>
Ines	—! Impossible... She saw me?!
Scout	(Now's my chance—!)
[Before Scout could act, Hoederer stabs him on the back.]
Hoederer	Long time no see.
Scout	Nngh... You? So... you're alive...
Hoederer	Mhm. I've been following you this whole time. I figured Ines alone wouldn't be enough to handle an elite like you. The price to pay for this information is your life. And though we never planned to show any mercy, I did hope that you would... But now, we can't give you any more chances. You're too close to the core city. W doesn't want anyone poking around over there.
Scout	Heh... Sounds like... she's the captain now... You... always...
Hoederer	...I'm sorry. Sleep now, old friend.
Scout	You... should not stay here...
Hoederer	...I know, old friend. I've known that all along.
Ines	Hoederer!
Hoederer	You hesitated back there. Why?
Ines	–Hurry! We need to let W know, immediately! Tch! She's coming!
<Background black>
Talulah	...

After operation

“

In order to inform W of what she learned, Ines risks her life and intercepted by Reunion. In her last moment, there is only a shadow before her eyes.

”

<Background black>
Talulah changed. The first time I met her, the feeling she gave me was just like that of Her Majesty, Theresa. But, Her Majesty has always been tragic, burdened... and she knew more about the secrets of this land. Talulah is different. She is wrathful, but just calm enough. Still, a zealous anger burns within her. Though they were different in many small ways, they had the same kind of strength. Or, maybe people like them are similar in many ways regardless of their strength. This anger gave rise to Reunion, which attracted countless followers. But soon... she changed. Our daily work has turned into incitement. Provocation. Destruction. This is no longer a revolution for the masses of Infected– –but rather the same kind of over-engineered, conspiratorial war that we have seen in Kazdel, time and time again.
<Background 2>
Hoederer	She hasn't caught up yet. ...If we really run into her head-on, there's going to be trouble. You shouldn't use your Arts on Talulah. This isn't the first time either. We must always be careful of what we see.
Ines	...Something must have happened to Talulah. We have to tell W.
Hoederer	We've got a lot of heavies suspicious of us thanks to W's little plans. Do you want to make things even worse? What exactly did you see?
Ines	The old Talulah was just a rebel. She freed the Infected and gave them an opportunity to fight back. But now? There's no effort made to curb their base desires. There is only mindless destruction and killing.
Hoederer	That doesn't prove anything. That's how the other races have always treated the Infected. They're not like Sarkaz.
Ines	...You don't understand. The behavior by itself isn't a big deal, but I'm talking about the consequences... Talulah... She's sabotaging Reunion, on purpose.
Hoederer	...Why?
Ines	Don't you think this situation feels familiar? She is an excellent leader who can rally ordinary Infected into battle, and win. But she's the only one who could dismantle the very tower she built, piece by piece, totally undetected. I could even say... Talulah herself is just a slightly fancier brick, something that can be crushed at any time.
Hoederer	Are you saying that...
Ines	It's just like three years ago. But he... he might've always been like that. He did it all without hesitation... He was just good at hiding it. Talulah isn't like that. Her change was too sudden. Her shadow... It's as if there are two shadows, but I see no traces of Arts. It's more like... A set of ruins. Ancient and imposing, still full of lingering power.
Hoederer	The nature of your Arts is very special. But your feelings are too vague this time, and I can't base my decisions on vague feelings.
Ines	But W needs to know!
Hoederer	Quiet, we've already been noticed. Anything we do can be used against someone else. You understand this, yes?
Ines	Do you think we can survive a second Babel incident?
Hoederer	I'm not sure...
Ines	...I know W can't. I'll go find her. Garcin is dead, so she should be the new leader.
Hoederer	Wait! If Talulah really has her eyes on us already, if you do this–
Ines	I can't wait any longer. Don't boss me around, we're still the same rank. ...Hmph. I say that, but this is the first time I've disobeyed your orders. You shouldn't always overthink things, Hoederer.
<Background fades out and in>
Ines	... (W should be right ahead. Once I cross this alley...) (Isn't that the base camp? What is she doing?) (Anyway, I need to hurry up...) — ...Who are you?
Reunion Soldier	...
Ines	Infected...? What do you want with me?
Reunion Soldier	Watch your tone, devil. First, a few mercenary teams defected. Then, enemies started showing up in the city. Your bunch has made too may mistakes. Did you really think our leader hasn't noticed?
Ines	Out of my way. I don't have to listen to your whining.
Reunion Soldier	You have to answer to Talulah.
Ines	...I know. After I report to W, I will then report to Talulah.
Reunion Soldier	There's no need for that. That's not the kind of "answer" we need.
Ines	What...
[The Reunion soldier attacks Ines...]
Ines	Tch... Are you serious?
[...seemingly killing her in an explosion.]
Reunion Soldier	We got attacked, and the fighting spread over here. Ines, one of the mercenary team leaders, is dead.
Determined Reunion Caster	You're not going to identify the body?
Reunion Soldier	...The fighting was pretty noisy. It's drawing a lot of attention. Blow the whole street, now.
Determined Reunion Caster	Got it.
Reunion Soldier	Wait a second. Reunion also needs people... who fight like her until the very end.
Determined Reunion Caster	...I understand. Take care of my family. They're still back in town.
Reunion Soldier	Of course. I promise.
[The Reunion soldier kills the caster.]
Reunion Soldier	...Make his corpse look a bit more... Yeah, just like that. W will notice soon... Let's go.
<Background black>
Ines	... Ah... Not letting Hoederer follow... turned out... to be the right call... ...Tch. Turns out... they decorate the streets of Chernobog... ...with birch trees... ...Haha. It looks... just like that old place... with all the shadows weaving together...