()||<BIN>9</BIN><黑屏1>0,10</黑屏1><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<narrator><BIN>9</BIN><黑屏2>:Dead Sea, Avernus.
()||<黑屏1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑屏2><SE1>AVG_20Winter_Burnfire_Loop</SE1><BIN>645</BIN><BGM>BGM_23S_Expedition_Story</BGM>:Explosions continue to dully rumble on while sharp, intermittent blasts interrupt every so often. +The looming twin towers are engulfed in flames, with charred remains and burning flesh scattered all over. The sight is so gruesome and horrific it practically deserves to be called the Gates of Hell.
()||<黑屏1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>Stop_AVG_loop</SE1><CGDelay>0.2</CGDelay><黑屏2><BIN>683</BIN>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Doorbell</SE1><CGDelay>0.8</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>"Attention, all personnel of the Elmo—initiating vehicle-wide self-diagnostic. The procedure will be completed at 0425."</color>
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:AR-18 enters the ops room on board the Elmo just as the broadcast announcement is finished.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I have come to give you a battlefield report. +Operation Muromets, whose objective is to destroy Avernus, has concluded. +The Western Tower is completely razed, and the Eastern Tower has a damage area of over 65%. +Its propulsion system is confirmed to be inoperative, and the entire structure will be destroyed in a crash in an hour. +All dispatched units have been recalled, and a vehicle-wide self-diagnostic has been initiated on the Elmo.
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><Position>0,70</Position>||:What's our withdrawal progress?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Taraxacum returned to the Elmo five minutes ago and is currently undergoing full-body sterilization and having her wounds treated. +Fe56, Daybreak, and Umbrella have all entered the safe zone and will arrive at the Elmo in approximately 15 minutes. +The sensitive site exploitation system is receiving data which includes all of Avernus' lab records and research reports...
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><Position>0,70</Position>||:Good. Once we've got everyone, immediately allocate all available resources on the Elmo to repair our Dolls. +Take care to preserve the data of the recovered neural clouds.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Understood. +Meanwhile, Operation Aeneas, whose objective is to rescue Agent Angelia, has failed. +However, "Strongarm" has been recovered successfully.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...Got it.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Operation Kriemhild overseen by Statesec is also nearing its final stage. They are still circling around in the airspace.
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position><同时置暗>||:We'll leave the subsequent clean-up to them.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Special target codenamed "William" has been captured and is being held in Room 1021.
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><Position>0,70</Position>||:Okay.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:That concludes my report on the "Expedition". 
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><Position>0,70</Position>||:Right. We'll start making our way back after we finish tallying our casualties and gathering the data.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Roger that.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Erma, check the communication logs and keep an eye on the data transfer status. Prepare to reconnect to Griffin's network.
Erma(14)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:Okay. I'm sure everyone will be quite happy to find themselves back on board the Elmo when they open their eyes again.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Taraxacum's sterilization and repairs should be finished by now, so please follow up on that.
Erma(14)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:No problem.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:Erma steps lightly out of the ops room, leaving the noisy clattering of keyboard keys and pinging on the comms behind.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Sorry, Commander, I'd like to double-check this with you—is the Elmo's autopilot destination still the same as before? Should I keep it as these coordinates on the edge of the "Dead Sea"?
AR18(5)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><Position>0,70</Position>||:Yes.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Understood. Once the self-diagnostic is completed in 20 minutes, I will activate the autopilot if everything appears to be in order...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:Beep-beep-beep—the comms system suddenly chirps.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Commander, a comms request from the Earl.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_va_addingredient</SE1>:The Commander is just about to finally relax, but they have no choice but to straighten up again and drain their new cup of coffee in one gulp.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Put him on.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>0.5</CGDelay><SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>First of all, I must offer my congratulations.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>Your unsanctioned action has been retroactively given an official seal of approval, and you have certainly done a wonderful job.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>The "Dead Sea" is no longer off-limits, and you've even managed to secure the key target.</color>
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:...But we've lost more than we've gained.
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>I did tell you to stop, remember?</color>
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:No, you had already decided to sacrifice Ange before that.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Death is never the destination. Besides, our lives are not entirely our own.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>In our long journey, some are bound to leave us behind, while others join us halfway through.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>Be sensible, both for your sake and the sake of Kryuger and those at the base.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:I'm guessing you want me to hand "him" over to you?
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>The Stasi's people are waiting on the border just beyond the "Dead Sea".</color> +<color=#00CCFF>It doesn't matter to whom he is handed over. It is simply not up to you to decide his fate.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>I thought Kryuger would have made this clear to you.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>You have done your part, now leave the rest to those who can bring an end to this farce.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:What are you planning to do with "him"?
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>...This is not a request, Commander.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:Yes, I am aware.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>...You are not without weaknesses.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:I'm also aware of that.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>I see you refuse to give up your obstinate ways.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:...All I want is an explanation. +Something to justify the blood spilled at my hands.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Not everything has closure or answers.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>When you live to my age, you will understand that there is only so much we can do.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>You should not blame yourself for things beyond your capability.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:But if I hand him over to you... +That would make me personally responsible. +Especially if eradicating Paradeus for good isn't actually on your agenda.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Avernus crashed and burned right before your eyes, yet you still doubt Paradeus' demise.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:You know full well what I mean!
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>Don't let emotions get the better of you, my young friend.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:There was a time I looked up to you, the same way I look up to Mr. Kryuger.
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>...</color> +<color=#00CCFF>I see.</color>
NPC-Griffin(1)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗><通讯框>||:Looks like you've already made your decision.
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>I will see you again soon, Commander.</color>
NPC-Griffin(0)<Speaker>Earl</Speaker><通讯框>||:<color=#00CCFF>You... as well as William.</color>
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_disconnect</SE1>:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:The comms channel falls silent. +Nobody wants to speak, but someone has to interrupt.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Commander, we have Statesec on line 2.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:... +Keep them busy. I need a minute to calm down.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...I'm afraid that isn't something I can do. +Please stay strong.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||<BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM><震屏3><SE1>AVG_Door_Hit</SE1>:<size=50>To hell with being strong!</size> +<size=50>I told you I needed a moment!</size>
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:For the first time in a very long while, the person on the verge of a breakdown finally loses their composure.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Give me five minutes. No, I'll take just one minute! +Just let me cool my head alone!
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:I beg you...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>Rope</SE1>:The Commander sinks dejectedly into their chair.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:At that, AR-18 relents and leaves the ops room in silence.
()||<黑屏1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<BGM>GF_21winter_avg_mahaline</BGM><BIN>22</BIN><黑屏2>:...Repair workshop on board the Elmo.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Huh? Aren't you supposed to be in the ops room? What are you doing here?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Doorbell</SE1><CGDelay>0.8</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>"Self-diagnostic is at 25%, estimated completion time in 15 minutes."</color> +The vehicle broadcast answers Erma's questions.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:As you can see, the self-diagnostic is running smoothly, so I've come to check on how the repairs are progressing.
AR18(3)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Well... We've performed basic repairs on Taraxacum and Fe56. +We still don't have a suitable Doll frame replacement for UMP9, but her core is undamaged and ready for reinstallation. +Daybreak and Unicorn are still in the queue, and RO says she'll go last.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(13)||:What about Aliana?
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(15)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:She suffered a neural meltdown. We couldn't retrieve any data...
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I see.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 spots UMP45 sitting quietly in a corner, staring at UMP9's neural core absentmindedly. She approaches tentatively, trying to discern the Doll's mental state.
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:...I'm fine. My neural cloud is stable.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;UMP45Mod(0)||:Are you conversing with 9?
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:Yes, she says she's feeling bored.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:AR-18 picks up the cable connecting UMP45 and UMP9's neural core.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:You need an external data-link to converse with each other?
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:Well, I'm not the only one she's talking to.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Who else?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_keyboardtype_sci</SE1>:UMP45 gives a sly chuckle. Instead of answering the question, she just invites AR-18 into the chat room. 
()||<黑点1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<BIN>72</BIN><黑点2><CGDelay>1</CGDelay>:
UMP9Mod(4)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Huh? What are you doing here, AR-18?!
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:She's worried about you, apparently. You two go on and have a nice chat.
UMP9Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Really?! I'm touched...
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:AR-18 pays no heed to the role she ought to be playing. Her keen gaze locks onto a girl with a casual smile who's sitting off to the side.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:You are?
UMP40(3)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:Hello, I am UMP40.
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:She's a personality construct based on my former partner; you can call her 40. The real 40 is long gone, obviously.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...Hello.
UMP9Mod(3)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Hey, don't just stand there. Come join us~
UMP40(4)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:Yeah, where were we?
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:You were discussing how to protect your Doll frames from the elements when carrying out seaside missions. +Right, I'll leave you to it. I'm hopping off for a sec.
UMP9Mod(4)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Hey, don't go, 45!
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_disconnect</SE1>:UMP45's figure disappears in a flash from the chat room that she had set up.
UMP9Mod(6)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Humph, 45 is devious as always. She keeps dragging people in here to keep me busy just so she won't have to talk to me.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...So you're sisters as well.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 suddenly understands UMP45's sudden eagerness.
UMP40(4)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:Haha, it's not true that 45 doesn't want to talk to you. +She simply doesn't know how to face you right now.
UMP40(4);UMP9Mod(4)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Why?
UMP40(2)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>;UMP9Mod(4)||:Because it was a call she made that led to your destruction.
UMP9Mod(6)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:It's pretty common for T-Dolls to get destroyed. Besides, my neural cloud is perfectly fine... +She doesn't have to blame herself at all. Don't you agree, AR-18?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...Yes.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 starts searching for the exit of the chat room.
UMP40(2)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:It took 45 a really long time to pull herself together after you went down.
UMP9Mod(4)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Really...? What did she do when it happened?
UMP40(2)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:First, she went berserk and wiped out the remaining enemies. +Then she just stared at your remains for a good few minutes.
UMP9Mod(6)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:45...
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...
UMP40(2)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:When she finally snapped out of it, she extracted your neural core and took measures to keep it safe.
UMP9Mod(4)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:Did she say anything when she had my neural core in her hands?
UMP40(4)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:Yep, she said—
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:Gossiping about me behind my back?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:UMP45 reappears seemingly out of nowhere. She seems to be embracing UMP40 from behind, but she actually has her in a chokehold.
UMP40(4)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:No way.
UMP9Mod(3)<Speaker>UMP9</Speaker>||:45, you're back!
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:Mhmm, and I've even brought two new guests for your little tea party.
HK416Mod(0)<Speaker>HK416</Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:So this is where you guys have been loafing around.
G11Mod(0)<Speaker>G11</Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:Ugh... Get me a bed, 45...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 seizes this timely opportunity to make her escape.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I am not the best conversationalist... Please excuse me.
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:Alright, alright. Sorry for bothering you.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_magic_circle_start</SE1>:UMP45 opens the door for AR-18 to leave. +UMP40 extricates herself from the boisterous dogpile and comes up to see her off.
UMP40(4)<Speaker>UMP40</Speaker>||:Goodbye, AR-18. I hope we'll meet again.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Sure. +...Goodbye.
()||<黑屏1><SE1>AVG_keyboardtype_sci</SE1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑屏2><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM><BIN>22</BIN><CGDelay>1</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 lets out a sigh of relief and makes to leave Squad 404's space.
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:40 doesn't get to meet Dolls from the outside very often.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:That does seem to be the case.
UMP45Mod(0)<Speaker>UMP45</Speaker>||:You'll keep this a secret for me, I hope?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Of course.
()||<黑点1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑点2><BIN>18</BIN><SE1>AVG_BaseDoor_Open</SE1><BGM>GF_22W_BGM_2</BGM>:The moment AR-18 pulls open the door of the repair room, she is confronted with an impertinent face in the corridor.
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Something seems off about you.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:...Not at all.
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Something's totally off. You look positively glum.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:Nonsense.
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:...Okay, you're actually pretty expressionless, but I can still see you're not happy. +Wasn't Operation Muromets a success? We've knocked Avernus out of the sky, so what's the problem?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:...I'm afraid the real war is yet to come.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Huh?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:Gazing at Erma's bemused expression, AR-18 realizes that even though they are sisters, it still feels a bit inappropriate to discuss such matters with Erma.
AR18(3)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Nothing. I blurted that out without thinking.
AR18(3)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(15)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:...I have a feeling... +That people are not happy because we failed to rescue a certain somebody?
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(15)||:Hm?
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Haven't you noticed? The Dolls coming out of the repair bay are all putting on a brave face.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(13)||:...I thought you were utterly clueless. +Turns out I'm the clueless one.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:What?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...The Commander has lived through so much strife and witnessed so much death and suffering. +I thought their heart would have long since rusted and grown cold.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:But I was wrong. +It would seem that I'm the only one who is cold and indifferent.
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:...Probably because you're the "Instructor".
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:...
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(20)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:You're more used to being the "Instructor" than "AR-18". +You feel the need to remain calm and collected in the face of everything.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(20)||:You think so? +...Maggie is the only one who retained her memory of what transpired on the Future. +I find it hard to believe everything she told me... +But I'm starting to agree with her on one point.
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:What point?
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:It's nothing. So how did you discern my emotional state? +Sometimes even I don't know how I feel.
Erma(18)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Well... +Ahem, I watched the CCTV feed in the ops room.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:C'mon, I'm the leader of the signal support team! It's totally normal for me to check it, no?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(19)||:I retract my previous statement.
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;Erma(23)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Which one?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:The statement about agreeing with Maggie.
()||<黑点1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Door_Open</SE1><BIN>683</BIN><黑点2><CGDelay>0.5</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:The ops room door is quietly opened just a crack, revealing a hand holding a slice of cake. 
()<Speaker>???</Speaker>||:Having something sweet might cheer you up!
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...Erma, come in.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:Erma pokes her head through the door.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Are you still angry, Commander?
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:No, I'm not angry with anybody. +If you see AR-18, please give her my apologies. +And please tell her she is free to return to the ops room.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Oh... You just have to give the Instructor a call and she'll come back right away!
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:...I know. +But I still haven't figured out how to apologize to her, so I'll have to trouble you to give me a hand.
Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:Erma nods, but she continues to linger by the door.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:Can I help you with anything else?
Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:I have a question. I know that when a human dies, they are given a funeral.
Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:So should we... organize a funeral for Ange?
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:...
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||:No, this isn't the right place to put her gravestone.
Erma(15)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:I see.
Erma(15)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Also, from what I know of her, she'd roll her eyes so hard she'd see her brain if we weep before her grave.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:I gather Ange wasn't someone who needed a funeral then.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:You're right.
Erma(18)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Then... I have another question!
Erma(18)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Shoot...
Erma(15)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Before I set off, I read a story about a man who went on an arduous journey to pick a magical herb in order to bring his dead mother back to life... +If such a panacea really did exist, would you use it to revive Ange?
Erma(15)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:No.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Huh? I thought you'd say yes.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Death is the only gift she bequeathed to me. +To snatch life away from Death is for mankind to pay the ultimate price. +I won't allow anyone to disturb her eternal rest. I've already paid enough.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Can death be considered... a gift?
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:Yes, a heavy and painful gift. +One to which we must hold on tightly, lest we forget...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>Rope</SE1>:The Commander clenches their fist, squeezing Strongarm tightly in their fingers. This is the first time Erma has seen such anguish on a human's face. +But the moment lasts only briefly.
()<Speaker>Commander</Speaker>||<BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:I'm ready, Erma. Fetch Dandelion for me, please. +I'm going to meet "him" in person.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Meet who?
Erma(17)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><同时置暗>||:The man brought in from Avernus, the one currently being held in room 1021.
Erma(13)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Understood.
()||<黑屏1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑屏2><BIN>22</BIN><SE1>AVG_20Winter_Doorbell</SE1><CGDelay>1</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:<color=#00CCFF>"Self-diagnostic is at 50%. Estimated completion time in 10 minutes. Signal malfunction caused by exposure to radiation detected in communications system."</color>
()||<黑点1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑点2><BGM>GF_EV9_Story</BGM><SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1><BIN>22</BIN>:...Repair workshop on board the Elmo.
AR15Mod(0)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||:Here for RO?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I've come to see how the repairs are going for all the squads.
AR15Mod(4)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||:We're in the middle of fixing up SOP-II. Over 90% of her frame has sustained damage, so the repairs aren't cost effective at all. +However, since there are no suitable spare frames for her at the moment, we can only prioritize restoring her basic functions.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:What about RO?
AR15Mod(4)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||:She took quite a beating herself, but she's giving most of the resources to SOP-II.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I see. I'll go check on RO.
AR15Mod(0)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||:Alright.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_footsteps_woodfloor</SE1>:AR-18 walks up to the repair tank, where a dormant SOP-II is currently undergoing repairs.
RO635Mod(3)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||<SE1>Stop_AVG_loop</SE1>:What is it? Are we getting another gig?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;RO635Mod(3)||:Not at the moment. I've just come to see how you're doing.
AR18(2)<Position>0,70</Position>;RO635Mod(0)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:I'm okay. I'm ready for battle as long as there's enough ammo.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>;RO635Mod(0)||:But the injury on your back...
AR18(5)<Position>0,70</Position>;RO635Mod(5)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:... +Oh, it's not a big deal. It won't affect my performance.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I'll defer to your judgment.
RO635Mod(3)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:How's the Commander? Are they resting?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:The door to the repair workshop is suddenly pushed open, and Erma comes walking in.
RO635Mod(3)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:Has something happened?
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:The Commander wants to interrogate William and has sent me to fetch Dandelion.
RO635Mod(3)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:...Now? Is it safe? The Commander hasn't slept a wink for days. Can't this wait...?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:I will run another security sweep on our system.
RO635Mod(0)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:Right... +Just to be safe, we must station additional personnel during the interrogation. I can—
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<震屏3><SE1>AVG_XXS_kick</SE1>:Bam! +Dandelion walks smack into the repair tank as if she's in a trance and crashes to the floor.
RO635Mod(4)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:SOP-II!
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>RunStep</SE1>:RO635 rushes past Dandelion to examine the repair tank. +After ensuring that SOP-II's repairs are unhindered, she pulls Dandelion off the floor.
Erma(23)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:What is she doing?
RO635Mod(2)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:She's been like this every now and then ever since we withdrew from Avernus. She'd walk right into things as if her visual module were malfunctioning.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Is something wrong with her?
RO635Mod(2)<Speaker>RO635</Speaker>||:I just ran a diagnostic on her, but not only did the Elmo's system not pick up any issues, it even froze for a few seconds...
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Dandelion! The Commander is asking for you!
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<BIN>9</BIN><SE1>AVG_21Winter_Open_Light</SE1><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:Snap!
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<BGM>GF_2022_Summer_AVG_2</BGM>:Dandelion's voice is exceptionally clear in the dark.
NytoIsomer(3)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:Did you hear it?
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Hear what?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:Dandelion walks right up to Erma.
NytoIsomer(3)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:At the Lake of Cognition. You heard it too, didn't you?
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:No... I didn't hear anything.
NytoIsomer(3)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:...Is that so? +Well, you'll hear it very soon.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Dandelion, snap out of it, will you?! +The Commander is asking for you!
NytoIsomer(3)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:I know. I'll head over to them now. +As for you... You'll soon reach the depths of the lake.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:What are you talking about...?
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:Dandelion simply smiles.
NytoIsomer(4)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:I'll be waiting for you. +I'll be waiting for you to hand it over to me, Erma. +But right now, I have a mission to attend to.
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:...
NytoIsomer(4)<Speaker>Dandelion</Speaker>||:I must inform the Commander in person.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:Dandelion leaves the room.
()||<黑屏1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑屏2><BIN>22</BIN><SE1>AVG_keyboardtype_sci</SE1>:AR-18 restores the lights inside the room.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Her neural cloud doesn't seem very stable. Is she really okay?
AR15Mod(4)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||:This isn't exactly unusual for her.
AR15Mod(4)<Speaker>ST AR-15</Speaker>||<BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM>:Just let her go. She can take her cuckoo rambling somewhere else.
()||<黑点1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<黑点2><BIN>683</BIN>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:Ops room on board the Elmo.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Doorbell</SE1><CGDelay>0.8</CGDelay>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<BGM>GF_21summer_avg_Reunion</BGM>:<color=#00CCFF>"Self-diagnostic is at 95%. Estimated completion time in one minute. The communications system has been fully repaired."</color> +After checking in on the statuses of Daybreak and the Sangvis Ferri units, AR-18 heads back to the ops room.
AR18(5)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||<SE1>AVG_tele_connect</SE1>:Commander, is everything going well? Should I come over?
AR18(5)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position><同时置暗>||:<color=#00CCFF>Everything is fine. You don't have to come; I've got Dandelion here.</color> +<color=#00CCFF>Have you finished checking up on all the Dolls?</color>
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Yes. The self-diagnostic is also completed. The Elmo's damage level is less than 5%. Should I activate the autopilot?
AR18(2)<Speaker>Commander</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position><同时置暗>||:<color=#00CCFF>Go ahead.</color>
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Copy that.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_Card_Reader</SE1>:AR-18 turns on the Elmo's vehicle-wide broadcast channel.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Attention, all personnel. Operation Muromets has officially concluded. Please fasten your seatbelt as the Elmo will start cruising on autopilot shortly.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_door_elecport</SE1>:Click. +The door opens, and someone slips in quietly.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||:AR-18 is aware that the person who just entered the room has placed an energy rod on the desk, even though she doesn't look up.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...Stop moving around. It's not going to be a smooth ride driving through the Black Zone on autopilot.
Erma(17)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:How did you know it was me?
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Looks like my stealth mode still isn't much good...
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...Just sit here. You may fall over if you keep wandering about.
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Okay.
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>1</CGDelay><SE1>ClothingUp</SE1>:
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:I've looked through the comms logs and checked the data transfer.
Erma(19)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Book</SE1>:The name list is here.
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Right, got it.
Erma(23)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Anything else I can do?
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:No.
Erma(14)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Then I'll pour you a coffee!
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:No, thank you.
Erma(14)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:Do you want milk or sugar? I like my hazelnut latte with triple syrup!
AR18(2)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_20Winter_Drink_Tea</SE1>:Erma picks up the coffee pot and pours the brown liquid into a coffee mug.
Erma(14)<Speaker>Erma</Speaker>||:By the way, this coffee is—
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<震屏3><BGM>BGM_Empty</BGM><SE1>AVG_XXS_kick</SE1>:Thunk! +Erma suddenly collapses to the floor. Fortunately, the coffee pot remains on the desk.
AR18(4)<Speaker>AR-18</Speaker><Position>0,70</Position>||:Oh no...
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>0.5</CGDelay><BIN>9</BIN><SE1>AVG_whitenoise</SE1>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>0.1</CGDelay><BIN>683</BIN>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>0.1</CGDelay><BIN>9</BIN>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<CGDelay>0.7</CGDelay><BIN>683</BIN>:
()<Speaker></Speaker>||<SE1>AVG_XXS_kick</SE1><BIN>9</BIN>:AR-18 rushes over to determine the situation, but before she can even form a question, her consciousness is detached from her body akin to feeling an electric shock. +What follows is endless darkness. +A deathly silence engulfs the Elmo in an instant like a thick fog rolling in, drowning out all other noise. +And so in the early hours of October 23rd 2064, the Elmo carries its unconscious passengers as it travels slowly along its plotted course.
()||<黑屏1>: