()||9<黑屏1>0,10黑屏1>BGM_Empty:
()||506<黑点2>GF_21summer_avg_SecretAgent:...In an abandoned outpost on the edge of the Red Zone. +XM8 is sitting on a table, idly kicking her legs.
XM8MOD(0)XM8||AVG_Door_Open_Close:Yo, you're here at last.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Thank you, XM8. You helped us discover an important clue.
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(0)M4 SOPMOD II||:Thanks to you, we've finally got a safe place to rest up!
XM8MOD(0)XM8||:Hehe, easy peasy. +Oh yeah, Leader, Miss Persica asked me to bring this along.
()||ClothingUp:XM8 hands the strange device named "Strongarm" to RO635, and at the same time she shares the offline map with everyone.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Strongarm? What's this for?
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(0)M4 SOPMOD II0.1||:Lemme see!
()||AVG_PPT_Switch:Upon seeing a device she's never encountered before, SOP-II eagerly grabs it and fiddles with it, looking for a slot on her body where it'll go.
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(3)M4 SOPMOD II||AVG_21Winter_Error:Hm? Why can't I plug it in?!
XM8MOD(0)XM8||:Maybe Miss Persica didn't prepare it for you.
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(3)M4 SOPMOD II||:Humph! Then who's it meant for?!
()||ClothingUp:RO635 takes the strange little device from SOP-II, but she can't fathom its uses either.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:XM8, did Miss Persica say anything else about this "Strongarm"?
XM8MOD(0)XM8||:Nope. She said you'd understand once you got it.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:... +Alright then, I'll hold on to it.
()||:RO635 seems to have an inkling, but right now she doesn't have the time to think about it. Instead, she picks up her communicator.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||AVG_tele_connect:This is Umbrella, hailing all squads on Task Force Aeneas.
RO635Mod(0)Mona<同时置暗>||:Nitrogen here. Are there any new mission developments?
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Yeah, let's wait till everyone's gathered first.
()||AVG_tele_connect:Squad Ferrum joins the channel.
()Architect||:What is it now?
()Gager||:Squad Ferrum is here.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||BGM_Empty:Good, we're all here. I'll contact the Commander now.
NytoIsomer(3)Dandelion<通讯框>||:Roger.
()Commander||AVG_tele_connect:RO, any news?
()||:A familiar voice speaks through the comms.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||GF_22W_BGM_2:We've approached the vicinity of the Black Zone. The radiation level there is abnormally high. +That's why I was hoping we could conduct a strategic meeting first.
RO635Mod(0)Commander<同时置暗>||:Please outline the current situation.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:We've verified Morridow's trail. She was originally accompanied by Gray and Grig on her way toward the Black Zone. +However, because our shadowing was spotted, Gray and Grig stayed behind to buy time for Morridow to flee. +According to Squad Nitrogen's most recent report, Morridow has boarded a truck and entered the "Dead Sea".
RO635Mod(0)RO635||ClothingUp:In other words, we are also about to enter the "Dead Sea".
()||:On the shared tactical sand table, RO635 plants a flag in the middle of the patch of blackness that represents the Dead Sea. +The mood in the air instantly turns somber.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Once we proceed, our comms will be severely impeded. This will be a great trial of our coordination...
XM8MOD(0)XM8||:But we haven't even played chess together. How are we going to coordinate with each other?
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:...
()Architect||:Hahahaha! You took the words right out of my mouth!
()Gager||:You can shut up now.
M4 SOPMOD IIMod(3)M4 SOPMOD II||:Hey! Pipe down, you two! The Commander and RO are giving a briefing!
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Chessmaster has brought up a problem that we'll have to tackle. We're all from different squads and were put together at short notice. +We haven't had any practice working together, so it's hard to tell if we can even coordinate well.
()Mona||:...That's true.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:However, we have no time left to build teamwork.
UMP45Mod(0)UMP45||:Yup. If we miss this opportunity, there's no telling when we'll get another one.
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:At this stage, our respective objectives remain the same. +However, conditions in the "Dead Sea" are complex, so every squad's mission parameters may change. +No matter what happens, we need to maintain contact and make timely adjustments for such changes.
()Mona||:Nitrogen copies.
UMP45Mod(0)UMP45||:Unicorn copies.
()Gager||:Okay.
XM8MOD(0)XM8||:No problem!
RO635Mod(0)RO635||:Commander, that's it for us here.
()Commander||:Good. That'll do.
()||<黑点1>:
()||BGM_Empty9<黑屏2>AVG_HeavyVehicle_Stop:Meanwhile, on the side of a road in the "Dead Sea".
()||<黑屏1>:
()||<黑屏2>485BGM_stage11:Gray and Grig have rushed here to meet up with Morridow, whom they help in dismounting the vehicle.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||ClothingUp:...This is as far as this vehicle goes. Did you lose them?
NPC-grig(1)Grig||:Yes, they're a long way off.
NPC-MrsGray(9)Gray||:Same here.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:Whew...
()||:Morridow takes a deep breath.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:Now I'm sure they did something to my body. +We could stand to learn some technical lessons from these Soviets... Just to be safe, prepare a unit to cover us.
NPC-grig(1)Grig;NPC-Morridow(11)0,100||:Activating an aircraft now might expose our position again.
NPC-grig(1);NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:We can't delay any longer, and we need to return to the tower immediately. +Also, I'm already thoroughly exposed... We basically have to assume that they'll catch up with us at this point. +Still, no need to worry. A few measly Dolls won't pose a threat to us.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:Besides, they can't catch up with us without aircrafts of their own.
NPC-MrsGray(9)Gray||:Just in case... +And I'm saying just in case, what will Father do if we end up giving away Avernus' location to the enemy?
()||:In a rare turn of events, even Gray is questioning Morridow's orders.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:...
()||ClothingUp:Morridow raises her head. She was badly injured to begin with, and the previous battle has further exacerbated her condition.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:That's not a big deal. As long as what happens in Avernus stays in Avernus, then no one will be any the wiser! +As for Father... I'm sure he won't blame us, because the news I will bring him is far more valuable than this base.
NPC-Morridow(11)Morridow0,100||:Trust me, Gray. +I need to get back...
NPC-Morridow(10)Morridow0,1000.1||AVG_XXS_kick:Let's go! Now!
NPC-MrsGray(9)Gray||:...
NPC-grig(1)Grig||:Gray...
NPC-MrsGray(9)Gray||:...Let's head to the outpost. They're changing shifts today, so there ought to be backup aircrafts there.
NPC-grig(1)Grig||:...
()||:Grig notes the multiple expressions that have crossed Gray's face. After a very long silence, she finally answers.
NPC-grig(1)Grig||:Yes, I understand.
()||<黑点1>: