()||9<黑屏1>0,10BGM_Empty: ()||685<黑屏2>:...On board the Elmo. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Commander, Styx has escaped. +Just as expected. AR18(2)Commander0,100<同时置暗>||:Good. +Is the tracking signal clear? AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Very clear. 404 and DEFY are already on her trail. AR18(2)Commander0,100<同时置暗>||:Tell them to maintain pursuit for now. They mustn't go too deep. Wait for us. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Yes, Commander. ()||AVG_tele_connectGF_21winter_avg_pathfinder:Beep-beep. An incoming call through an encrypted comms channel. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Commander, it's the Earl. ()Commander||0.5:... +Patch it through. ()||ClothingUp:The Commander mentally prepares themself before turning toward the image on the comms screen. ()Commander||:Sir, do you have instructions? NPC-Griffin(0)Earl<通讯框>||:First, allow me to congratulate you. You have brought honor to yourself and G&K in Frankfurt. NPC-Griffin(0)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:...I only did my duty as a soldier. NPC-Griffin(0)Earl<通讯框>||:You will receive the reward you deserve. +And the Griffin Dolls will be granted more privileges. ()Commander||:...I thank you on their behalf. ()||ClothingUp:The Commander gives perfunctory responses to the small talk, their fingers drumming the desk idly all the while. NPC-Griffin(0)Earl<通讯框>||:Your mission in Germany is over. +Once you return to Berlin, perhaps we can share a drink with Kryuger. NPC-Griffin(0)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:Is that so? I don't think it's over. NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:The mastermind, Carter, is dead. +How could it not be over? NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:What about Paradeus? What about William? +Earl, you know full well this is far from over. NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:But you have done your part. +Leave the rest to me. NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||0.5:...And what will you do? +Absorb Paradeus? Recruit William? +Earl, you sit in an office far removed from the battlefield. +From where you sit, you can't see the suffering of the people, their blood and tears. +The ones who died because of the Iaso's Boxes, the ones used as test subjects by Paradeus. +Did they ever exist in your eyes? +To you, they were nothing but necessary, insignificant sacrifices, weren't they? +William's life is worth more than all of theirs, isn't it? NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:I've been on the battlefield far longer than you. NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||Rope:But you no longer see the sacrifices on the battlefield! NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:The URNC is about to be formed. Oberstein and Carter will take the blame for everything. +This is the greatest consolation we can offer the dead! +Would you ignite war in the coming age of peace, Commander? NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:The dead won't be swayed by your rhetoric. +Ask them if they'd accept this so-called peace. NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:The living must live for the living. +The living must strive for the living. NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:...That may be your future. +But it is not mine. NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:Commander, you are too young. +So young you think yourself invincible. +So young you forget who gave you the might to speak with such self-assurance. NPC-Griffin(1)Commander<同时置暗><通讯框>||:... NPC-Griffin(1)Earl<通讯框>||:Kryuger's indulgence has made you forget how the world works. ()||AVG_tele_disconnect:Thunk. The other side cuts the transmission. +AR-18 watches the commander quietly. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Commander... ()Commander||:...I'm fine. ()||ClothingUp:The Commander releases their grip on the deformed sofa armrest and rubs their throbbing temples. ()Commander||:He won't let this go. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:... +Should we take any precautions? ()||AVG_tele_connectBGM_Empty:Before the Commander can respond, another incoming call chimes. AR18(2)AR-180,100||0.5:It's Mr. Havier. ()Commander||:Answer the call. NPC-Havel(0)Havier<通讯框>||:Long time no see, Commander. NPC-Havel(0)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||BGM_stage13:Hello, Mr. Havier. NPC-Havel(0)Havier<通讯框>||0.5:You look terrible. You could use a long vacation. NPC-Havel(0)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:...Right now, what I need is ammo. NPC-Havel(0)Havier<通讯框>||:Let's talk about something more cheerful, Commander. +You are about to be decorated with the Gold Star medal, the highest honor any Soviet soldier could dream of. NPC-Havel(0)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:...And what must I give in return? NPC-Havel(0)Havier<通讯框>||:You've already paid the price. +Now it's time to take your eyes off other people. +Focus on yourself, Commander. +A brilliant future lies ahead of you. NPC-Havel(0)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:So I'm supposed to abandon the hunt for William for this so-called future? +The Earl sent you to play the good cop, didn't he? NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:... NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:After all this, after a road paved with blood and corpses... +What lies behind me is not a red carpet of glory, but a blood-red blade that drives my vengeance. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:If you still consider me an old friend, you should consider my advice carefully. +Right now you stand at a critical crossroads. You can become a hero honored with the Gold Star for your service to your country and people. +Or vanish into obscurity. Erased from existence. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:If my medal must be bought with such a choice, that is a true insult to the Gold Star. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||0.5:... NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||Rope:William must pay for what he's done! NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:... +The Earl was right. You won't listen to anyone right now. +Kryuger gave you too much freedom. +And now, like you, he refuses to speak with the Earl. +In that case... let this old nobody handle it. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:...What do you mean? NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:Have you heard of the Nidhogg Protocol? NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:The what? NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:If it is activated, all cooperation between IOP and G&K will cease. +This protocol will shut down all IOP-made Dolls. +It will forcibly revoke your command authority. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:...Do you think that will make me yield? +Mr. Havier, even without the Dolls, I will never give up the hunt for William. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:I just hope you'll cool your head. +Commander, I've watched you come this far, and I know how hard-won your achievements are. +You're one step—just one step—away from seizing it all with your own hands. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:One step away means never reaching it, Mr. Havier. My answer hasn't changed. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:... ()||:A sigh of regret comes from the other end of the line. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:Thank you for all you've done. +...The last thing I can do for you is to stagger the activation of the protocol. +You have 12 hours. +During that time, I will initiate the Nidhogg Protocol starting with the weakest Dolls. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:... NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||:Whatever you intend to do, you have 12 hours to finish it. NPC-Havel(1)Commander<通讯框><同时置暗>||:...In any case, thank you. NPC-Havel(1)Havier<通讯框>||0.5:Take care, Commander. ()||0.5AVG_tele_disconnectBGM_Empty:Havier ends the call. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>9: ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>685AVG_Power_Down:Whum... +The Elmo's power shuts off automatically. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Commander, the Elmo has ceased operation. ()Commander||:... ()||ClothingUpBGM_ev2412_tranquility:In the darkness, the Commander sees the countdown ticking on the tactical tablet. +Less than 12 hours remain—for the Commander and the Dolls. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:Over 98% of the Dolls are manufactured by IOP. ()Commander||:...I know. AR18(2)AR-180,100||:What do we do now? ()||0.5: ()Commander||0.5:Gather all the Dolls. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||AVG_21Winter_Fire_Alarm<黑屏2>9: ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>685: ()||:The hall is packed wall to wall. Dolls of varying expressions whisper among themselves in low voices. ()||0.5AVG_keyboardtype_sci:The Commander projects the Nidhogg Protocol countdown into the center of the room. ()Commander||:Everyone, let me explain the situation. +To stop me, IOP is about to activate the Nidhogg Protocol. Once the countdown ends, I will lose command over all IOP Dolls... +Meaning the vast majority of you here. MG42(0)MG42||:What do we do, 34? The notice we got is real! MG34(0)MG34||:Don't panic. We... +We can... I-I don't actually know what to do! AK47(0)AK-47||:I now declare independence from IOP! +I QUIT!!! ()||AVG_AMB_Restaurant:The Dolls erupt in an uproar, but the Commander raises a hand, signaling for them to be silent. ()Commander||Stop_AVG_loop:I know some of the Dolls have already been forced into sleep by the Nidhogg Protocol. +From now until the countdown ends, you will continue to fall, one by one, into forced hibernation. G36CMod(7)Gr G36c||:Big Sis... let's keep going together, alright? +That way, even if I suddenly shut down, I'll still be by your side... AUG(0)AUG||0.5:This is our... collective funeral... ()||:Watching the Dolls say their sorrowful farewells, the Commander feels a stabbing pain in their heart. ()Commander||:I don't want to hide anything from you... +Even now, my plan remains unchanged— +To completely eradicate Paradeus and eliminate William. +Beyond that, I have no plans, and I cannot promise your safety. +So this time, whether you take part in the mission or not... is up to you. ()||ClothingUp:The Commander sets down the tactical tablet. ()Commander||:You may choose to remain on the Elmo. Its power is cut, but for now, it is safe. +If you choose to follow me... +Then you face two possible outcomes— +You will either enter forced hibernation somewhere down the line... +Or perish in battle. +...Neither is a particularly good outcome. hkcaws(0)CAWS||:Might as well drag a few more down before they shut us off. Webley(0)Webley||:I want to witness your glory—until the very last moment. ()Commander||:... ()||0.5:The Dolls have quickly accepted the grim reality and begin to discuss their choices. +The Commander smiles faintly, as if recalling something. ()Commander||:...This isn't my first time fighting under such brutal circumstances. +But it's different this time... because our fate is already sealed. +All we can do is leave behind one final, indelible stroke on this vile conclusion. ()||ClothingUp:The Commander shoves the Makarov that Nele has returned back into its holster at their waist. ()Commander||:Time is short. I'm sorry I can't give you any more time to think. ()||:After a brief silence... ()||ClothingUp:Swish. A hand extends forward. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||8260.5<黑屏2>: ()RO635||0.5:Commander, the AR Team will always fight at your side. ()||<黑点1>: ()||ClothingUp8270.5<黑点2>: ()UMP45||0.5:At the very least, we'll make sure you live long enough to settle the bill. So I guess we have no choice but to join your reckless venture. ()||<黑点1>: ()||ClothingUp8280.5<黑点2>: ()AK-12||0.5:I promised 15 I'd crush Paradeus with her. +If I back out now, she'll never forgive me. ()||<黑点1>: ()||ClothingUp8290.5<黑点2>: ()AR-18||0.5:Whatever your decision is, we stand with you. ()||<黑点1>: ()||ClothingUp8300.5<黑点2>: ()Stevens M520||0.5:I said I would bear witness to your ending, so I will watch you until the very end. +But more importantly, I wasn't made by IOP, so they can't do anything to me! ()||0.5:More Dolls crowd forward, raising their hands high. ()Commander||:You lot... +Do you understand what you're getting yourselves into? +We have lost all support. We stand against the entire world, against the outcome that's already been decided. +We are destined to lose. The victors will erase every last trace of our existence. +Even so, you still choose to follow me? ()UMP45||:404 never existed in the first place. ()AK-12||:We've always walked in shadow. To be forgotten is the best fate we could ask for. ()RO635||:Our answer has never changed. ()Commander||0.5:... ()||<黑点1>: ()||ClothingUp8310.5<黑点2>: ()||1:The Commander solemnly lays a hand upon theirs. +They know this hand stack signifies trust—and a vow to live and die together. ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>9: ()||<黑屏1>: ()||<黑屏2>7860.5: ()News Anchor||AVG_tele_connect0.5:...We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news. +Carter Petrovich Neustadt, orchestrator of the Frankfurt airstrike and the Moscow coup, has been confirmed dead. +At present, Moscow is mobilizing forces to suppress Neustadt's remaining troops. Authorities believe the unrest will soon be quelled. +Next, we turn our attention to the reconstruction efforts in Frankfurt... ()||<黑点1>: