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Episode 09
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- This article is about the episode's article. For the episode's release event, see Episode 9: Stormwatch.
The ninth episode of Arknights' Main Theme and the start of the Act II: Shadow of a Dying Sun story arc is titled Stormwatch.
Synopsis[edit]
Reminder
This synopsis is contributed by the community. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, some details may be omitted. For a full understanding of the plot, readers are encouraged to consult the original source.
Storm Over the Knolls[edit]
Eleven months and twenty-seven days after the Chernobog–Lungmen crisis, Horn, her subordinate Bagpipe, and the 2nd Tempest Platoon are dispatched to County Hillock, a small county in southern Victoria. Their mission is to investigate the movement of stolen Originium weapons from a Victorian military convoy while investigate the spectre force, a mysterious group reportedly attacking other counties in the region. However, their efforts are repeatedly obstructed by Victorian army soldiers from the local barracks, who are officially responsible for the county’s security.[1]
The 2nd Tempest Platoon attempts to cooperate with Colonel Hamilton, the officer in charge, and his second, Adjutant Hill. However, they flatly reject their requests despite their shared loyalty to Victoria. They quickly realizes that Hamilton harbors a deep-seated resentment toward the local Taran population. His hostility is so severe that he executes several Taran suspects implicated in the Originium smuggling case without presenting any evidence. It is revealed that Hamilton’s hatred stems from recent acts of Taran retaliation against ongoing mistreatment—retaliation that has escalated into violence. A small insurgent group has been ambushing convoys, attacking soldiers, and planting explosives to sabotage local barracks, resulting in the deaths of many under Hamilton’s command.[2][3]
While Horn believes these attacks are the work of the elusive spectre force, Hamilton remains convinced the local Tarans are complicit, using this belief to justify his harsh reprisals. Bagpipe, meanwhile, grows increasingly uneasy after witnessing a confrontation between Victorian soldiers and a group of outraged Tarans, who accuse them of carrying out extrajudicial killings.[3]
Meanwhile, Outcast, a Rhodes Island Elite Op, arrives at the local R.I. office to complete routine paperwork. There, she meets and befriends Jane Willow, a ceremonial guard who has volunteered to assist Rhodes Island during Outcast’s stay. Jane is well-known in County Hillock for her compassion toward both the Infected and the Tarans, earning her respect from both communities.[4] Later, Jane reconnects with her friend Saoirse, who is distraught over the recent execution of her cousin by Victorian troops. During their meeting, Saoirse reveals her involvement in the Taran insurgency and secretly provides Jane with the address of an upcoming gathering. Jane discreetly relays this information to Horn and Bagpipe later.[5]
"Come Out, ye Victorians..."[edit]
Bagpipe and Horn infiltrate the Tarans' nighttime rally at the address Jane provided, hoping to gather intelligence. To their surprise, the attendees are primarily Taran aristocrats. Their surveillance is cut short when Hamilton and his men—having secretly followed them—storm the meeting and arrest everyone present, despite lacking evidence of any criminal activity.
Before the arrests can be completed, a bomb is hurled into the building, and the resulting explosion forces Hamilton’s forces to retreat. In the chaos, a group of unidentified soldiers launches an assault on County Hillock, and a cloaked woman revealed to be the leader of Dublinn's present forces engulfs an entire street in flame. These attackers are soon revealed to be members of Dublinn, a militant faction representing the Taran nationalist movement. With support from the Taran population, the enemy rapidly infiltrates the city and plunges it into disorder.[6]
"...and Fight us like Men!"[edit]
Meanwhile, when the Leader discovers that Saoirse betrayed the insurgents by tipping off the Victorians, she is pressured by those present to carry out Saoirse’s execution despite her unwillingness.[7] Jane is devastated upon hearing the news and blames herself for her friend’s death, going to the site of her execution to try and retrieve her ashes. Outcast finds her, and brings her back to the Rhodes Island office.[8]
Horn orders Bagpipe to locate the local Messenger office and escort a Messenger out of the city to bring news to Londinium. They part ways, and Horn is contacted by Triangle, a trusted subordinate leading a group of Tempest Platoon soldiers. They have located the stolen Originium weapons—in the hands of County Hillock's artillery battalion. Triangle's team has discovered the Originium weaponry to be modified, the active Originium removed for an unknown purpose. Horn implores them to fall back as they are attacked by unknown hostiles using strikingly familiar tactics and weaponry. An explosion rings out over the radio, and Horn loses contact with Triangle.[8]
Horn confronts Adjutant Hill and is taken prisoner. Bagpipe and a Messenger move to flee the city, but the Messenger is killed when the artillery battalion begins a full-scale bombardment of County Hillock. The shells, constructed with the stolen Originium, are faulty—resulting in incomplete combustion and the proliferation of Originium clusters.[9] Bagpipe is able to recover the intel from the Messenger's body, and tries to regroup with Horn.[10]
Hamilton’s bombardment of Hillock results in heavy civilian casualties, but Dublinn's forces are still active. The Rhodes Island branch office, joined by Jane, mobilize to save as many lives as possible in the disaster, regardless of affiliation. Outcast discovers the grievously wounded Leader, abandoned in the street and suffering an acute infection, and saves her life. Elsewhere, six elite commanders of Dublinn—the Bandit, the Elocutionist, the Toxicologist, the Immolator, the Accountant, and the Convict—search for the missing Draco Leader. Their conversation reveals that she is not the true head of Dublinn, but rather an individual chosen to represent the movement by the true Leader.[11] Jane stands up to Dublinn soldiers to protect wounded Tarans.[12]
Outcast escapes Dublinn's search parties, chancing upon Bagpipe and hitting it off. Outcast hands the Draco over to her, and stays behind to face off against Dublinn's elite. Bagpipe catches a brief glimpse of purple flames and a mysterious woman, before rendezvousing with Jane and the R.I. Operators, who are treating the wounded civilians in a safe location. Suddenly, a massive pillar of light rips into the sky, illuminating the entire city.[13] Outcast had fired the sixth bullet of her revolver, breaking her covenant with Kal'tsit and killing herself alongside Dublinn's six commanders in a blaze of light.[14]
Horn, Bagpipe, Cello, and Oboe, the surviving members of Tempest Platoon, advance on the communication center to get word out, but are intercepted by Dublinn forces. Cello and Oboe are killed, and Mandragora, one of Dublinn's strongest casters and most fanatical supporters, attacks Horn and Bagpipe. Harmonie uses the communication center to broadcast a message to all neighboring cities, declaring Dublinn's intent to purify Victoria. Eventually, Horn and Bagpipe lose, and Horn forces her subordinate to flee using her Piledriver spear. Horn faces Mandragora once more, despite being wounded, exhausted, and out of ammo. Jane and the Rhodes Island Operators lead civilians away from County Hillock to safety as the sun rises.[14]
Months after the atrocity, the Rhodes Island landship faces its first attack since the days of Babel, launched by the remnants of Reunion under Nine’s leadership. This new branch of Reunion seeks to break Talulah out of Rhodes Island and exact punishment for her betrayal and the bloodshed she caused. With most Elite Ops absent, Kal'tsit’s delayed response, and the betrayal of one of Closure’s allies, Reunion succeeds in escaping with Talulah—who chooses to leave rather than remain imprisoned aboard Rhodes Island. Now free from Kashchey’s control, Talulah sets out across Ursus in search of the vile Ageless.
Operations[edit]
- Unlike other Main Theme episodes which are available in sequence, Episode 09 is accessible once the Hour of an Awakening story arc (Prologue to Episode 03) is cleared. However, it is highly recommended to clear the Shatter of a Vision story arc (Episodes 04 to 08) first to maintain consistency with the plot.
- Harder operations are in orange-red; sub operations are in light gray.
| Main | Part 1 Recap • 9-1 • 9-2 • 9-3 • 9-4 • 9-5 • 9-6 • TR-19 • 9-7 • 9-8 • 9-9 • 9-10 • 9-11 • 9-12 • 9-13 • S9-1 • 9-14 • 9-15 • 9-16 • 9-17 • 9-18 • 9-19 • 9-20 • 9-21 |
|---|---|
| Sub | S9-2 • S9-3 • S9-4 |
| Extreme Mode | H9-1 • H9-2 • H9-3 • H9-4 • H9-5 • H9-6 |
Addendum:
- All operations, with the exception of Part 1 Recap, total 46
. - S9-2 was added alongside Episode 11 and are accessible once S9-1 is cleared.
- S9-3 and S9-4 were added alongside Ending a Grand Overture and are accessible once S9-2 is cleared.
Additions[edit]
New devices:
New enemies:
| Normal |             |
|---|---|
| Elite |             |
| Boss |  |
Trivia[edit]
- Episode 09 is the first Main Theme episode with more than four Extreme Mode operations, numbering six, and is the only episode with two different nomenclatures for its Extreme Mode operations, both of which are taken from Greek mythology and reflecting the title, "Stormwatch":
- Episode 09's plot is highly reminiscent of the Troubles.
- The Victorian Royal Army barracks are possibly analogous to the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
- The Tarans are analogous to Northern Irish Catholic nationalists.
- The release of Episode 09 in the Global server coincides with Saint Patrick's Day, an important religious and cultural holiday celebrated by the Irish.
- If the player has completed the Hour of An Awakening story arc but not Episode 08 (and by extension, the entire Shatter of a Vision story arc) before watching Part 1 Recap, the story progress displayed on their profile will show their progress in Episode 09, disregarding their story progress in the Shatter of a Vision story arc. This is because the prerequisite to unlocking Episode 09 is completing the Hour of An Awakening story arc as opposed to the Shatter of a Vision story arc.