Liberi Reader

Phew...

...Yes, some other operators will think so too. They said, at times like these, we should be boosting morale.

But I thought about it and realized we're not that kind of team. It's not about good or bad morale for us. We need to understand what it is we're doing.

The harder things get, the more we need to tell everyone the truth. We can't be making our decisions blind.

What could be more dangerous than walking around this world blindfolded...?

...It's true. I'm thinking Madame Ch'en will probably steal into the core city alone.

Lungmen, the Infected, her bloodline... Madame Ch'en is a complicated person, with a lot of contradictions tied up inside her.

But even carrying around all that, she still didn't give up, she didn't run away. She carried it all with her into Chernobog.

She's not afraid of betrayal, exile, or death.

Dr. {@nickname}, Madame Ch'en is Infected.

Yes.

Doctor, when we get to the core city, we're also going to do what we can to rescue her.

Not only because she... not only because Madame Ch'en is our friend, and not entirely because someone hired us to do it.

Madame Ch'en will not face Reunion alone. We will stand with her.

Everything she worked so hard to protect, and the painful silence she forced on herself... We will help her, because we both want the same thing.

Ah, haha. Doctor, that look on your mask... it's funny.

I've doubted Madame Ch'en before. I took her for the type who couldn't change.

But when she reached out to help the Infected, I saw it. I saw the color of her heart.

Oh, err, it's just how I'd describe it!

I don't really know how to explain what I see... and it wouldn't be right to transmit it to people directly.

But to protect the Infected in a moving city, to keep to that ideal is... heroic.

Madame Ch'en isn't a cold-blooded person.

She's stern and strict, but that's exactly why her sense of justice forces her to fight against the darkness in this world.

Even if she's never said so herself.

So, we'll go.

...Dr. {@nickname}, are you talking about...

Oh...

...Miss FrostNova...

...right.

And... Misha.

If there's something we can do to prevent a repeat of Misha's tragedy, to bring some comfort to FrostNova and her men, and...

To help even more people, to stop the birth of new sorrow in this land, we will do it.

I've sent both of you the information.

This will be the first time the three of us have taken command together.

You could always stay here. It's up to you. I can't force you.

...Dr. Kal'tsit.

I'm listening.

I hope you can set aside whatever preconceptions you have of Dr. {@nickname}.

And I hope you'll set aside whatever prejudices you may have toward Dr. Kal'tsit, Dr. {@nickname}... from the things she's said before. At least for the time being.

Dr. {@nickname} has amnesia. Rhodes Island has no reliable treatment to restore the Doctor's memory in just two short weeks.

So everything that the Doctor is now is the product of new understanding and cognition.

Dr. Kal'tsit, I hope you can look at this Dr. {@nickname} in a new light.

And Dr. {@nickname}, I don't want you doubting Dr. Kal'tsit's intentions just because of what she's said.

She's the person that...

...you can rely on the most. Whether you trust her or not, she is.

Hmph.

Please promise me, both of you.

Dr. {@nickname}.

Water under the bridge isn't an option for us. Morality won't turn us into better people.

Dr. Kal'tsit...

I'm not refusing your proposal, Amiya.

It's just, forgiveness as a form of kindness, of waiving your right to anger, will only make us weak beyond measure.

I will not waive that right.

But for now, I'll shelve my prejudices. Let's deal with the core city first.

Once and for all.

Oh, yeah...!

Um, which part of the plan are you asking about, Doctor?

Rhodes Island does have its own way of doing things.

Take a look at the report. I'll cover every part of the plan.

In four hours, we'll trigger a small sandstorm in the path of the Chernobog core city.

Number one!

Compressor number one powered!

Number two!

Ammunition stockpile number two ready.

Number three.

Wind pump number three, camouflage... camouflage in place!

Is the camouflage going to work...?

The Chernobog core city command tower has a wide line of sight. This won't work without camouflage.

They didn't even try to hide the fact that the core city was basically designed as a warship. The Empire thrives through violence and conquest.

Damn... So this is just how the Empire of Ursus designs things?

Designs put ideas into peoples' heads, and those ideas turn around and influence design. Living in an environment like this will breed a natural hostility towards outsiders, sooner or later.

...It's not fair to the ordinary Ursus civilians to paint them with such a broad brush.

Oh... um... I'll grab the backup cables.

But, how many crimes did Ursus commit against my hometown? They'll never be able to wash the blood off their hands.

Now, they seek to use the Infected to spark their next war, to justify even greater cruelty against the Infected. Does this not prove their brutality?

They put the torches to our fields and choked our wells with ashes. They razed entire villages, leaving only charred corpses behind... They slaughtered the land itself. Only rubble remains.

Those are the 'ordinary Ursus civilians' I know. Had they not supported the war, none of these things would've happened.

I believe that was not the collective will of the people of Ursus, but rather the manifestation of evil ideas. We are not fighting the people of Ursus, but against evil itself.

Firewatch, this may not be Kazimierz land we're standing on. But still, we will not see those atrocities repeated.

It doesn't matter whether the enemy is Ursus or not. Reunion may call themselves Ursus, or they may not. But we're not here to hurt people. We're here to stop people from getting hurt.

...The knights never helped us guerillas.

Our leaders waited years, but in the end, help never came. We fought to the last, alone, until we were devoured by Ursus. Not many of us are still around to tell the tale.

Who can I trust? How am I supposed to I believe in the benevolence of Ursus's 'honest folk?'

I don't blame the knights. Especially not you, Nearl. But I keep thinking back to the time I spent fighting Ursus.

I don't trust them, and I don't trust Kazimierz.

——

That was a grave mistake on the part of the Kazimierz knights. A mistake that they could not right. And, they did not manage to protect Kazimierz.

But at least, we can fight side-by-side today, Firewatch.

I didn't have a chance to help you back then, but this time, we fight. Not for our homes, but to put an end to Ursus's atrocities.

Even if we're only here as support, I'm still prepared. To fight for what I believe in, to die for you.

To die for someone else...

Not all knights are like you.

But I believe this is what a knight should be. There is meaning in dying for someone else.

Madam Firewatch, let this battle be my apology to you.

...Operator Nearl.

Anything you need me to do?

Guard the area, until the devices are fully operational.

After so many major combat actions, infiltration is essentially a required course for our operators.

Every situation is different, but using the terrain to conceal your position is always a must.

Sometimes it's snow, sometimes it's grassy plains, sometimes it's a swamp... we have different techniques every time.

Lungmen is here in the deserts and barrenlands, so use the sand to cover your tracks. That's the trick.

It's just a way to cover our tracks. Rhodes Island isn't about unilateral operations. Successful infiltration is the sum of a lot of moving parts.

The information the Azazel Clinic gave us authenticated the Chernobog blueprints I have. That means we have a solid picture of what the core city's lower levels look like.

When the time comes, we'll enter through the drainage system in the foundation. But we'll need bait.

We can't hook our prey without bait.

Heh... Yes. You're right.

But given enough time, even the worst hunter can tell the difference between prey and bait. We'll have to stay out of sight long enough to prevent that.

You don't need us to land for this op, do you, Instructor?

There isn't a good spot on the core city, and Reunion isn't exactly poorly equipped. They've got casters too. Landing would be trucky.

No need. Just make it look like we're going to land, but keep circling the city.

We didn't bring a tactical team. Not much we can do with just the two of us.

Yeah, didn't think of that.

...How would you not think of that...?!

J-Just kidding, Instructor. Put the whip down.

Hah... We got the wuss who flies the 'Bad Guy' and now this joker.

You can keep us up for a half an hour, can't you?

Not a problem!

Just keep their attention! The Reunion element in the ruins knows we have aircraft, but we can't be sure about what their people in the core city might know.

Rest assured, you're riding the 'Good Boy,' and he's a lot noisier than the 'Bad Guy!' It'll be all eyes on us for a solid half hour. Just watch me, Instructor!

Careful now. Don't get us shot down.

Just sit back and relax, Instructor. I chauffeured Blaze and Ascalon around a hundred times and we never got shot down on any of those low flights.

...Getting shot down is a one time thing...

Huh?

What's that...? Up in the sky?

They're flying?! The enemy brought a new weapon! What country is it from?! Just shoot it down already!

We don't know what it's carrying. We can't let it land!

Don't panic! If it drops low enough, we'll light it up! Just don't let it out of your sight!

What kind of safety features are on this thing?

Are you afraid of heights, Instructor?

......

A little.

Don't worry!

If something goes wrong, we won't have time to react. The crash will pulverize us. Won't even be able to identify our bodies. The great equalizer!

How could I not worry?!

Amiya, we've managed to distract the enemy. They're convinced we're preparing to land. Begin the operation!

Attention, combat operators! A smattering of enemies is approaching our position. Likely a recon team from the core city!

Our equipment is active. We won't let them ruin our plans. Madam Firewatch, cover me!

Roger!