<p=1>Meeting Room, New Rhodes Island</>Meeting Room, New Rhodes Island
Amiya
Any clues on the Sarcophagus?
Mon3tr
The very latest activity we know of involving the Sarcophagus came after the Chernobog-Lungmen incident, when the Ursine government retrieved the entire system.
Mon3tr
As for what they actually plan to do with it, they've been keeping it under tighter wraps than ever. There's nothing more about it in Kal'tsit's records.
It's not like we can directly ask the Ursine government to borrow it...Do we have any other way of finding its location?
Mon3tr
Looking at the official register made after the Chernobog research institute was destroyed, there were no survivors other than Sergei.
Mon3tr
We did manage to find some clues when looking into what happened to him afterwards.
Mon3tr
He had established a new institute to continue researching the Sarcophagus. In the short period of time that the institute was operating, one name really stood out to us—
Mon3tr
Artyom Chaadayev.
Mon3tr
He was vice-director at Sergei's institute, but he's a complete ghost, with no verifiable academic or political background to speak of.
Mon3tr
We may be able to make a rational deduction...
That this man had a special connection to Sergei?That this man had a special connection to the institute?
Mon3tr
No matter what his connection may be, he might be the key to our breakthrough.
Amiya
So we need to find this Artyom?
Mon3tr
No, things get a little more complicated from here on out...
Mon3tr
He's proven to be very hard to track ever since Sergei's institute shut down.
Mon3tr
According to Kal'tsit's intelligence, he died of heart failure in the Grypherburg Imperial Sanatorium last winter.
He maintained a good relationship with Ursus to his last.Maybe we can look into the people who knew him.
Mon3tr
Great idea! That's what I was thinking too.
Mon3tr
There's another researcher who had a connection to Artyom.
Mon3tr
Ksenia Markovna Nelidova.
Mon3tr
We have a lot more detail on her background. Before the Sarcophagus incident, she had briefly served as Ilia's assistant at the Chernobog research institute, and had crossed paths with Kal'tsit.
Mon3tr
Recent intelligence indicates she is currently in the Ursine Far North, working at the Central Mining District Laboratory, administered by the city of Bresk.
Mon3tr
That's where Artyom's final letters were sent.
It doesn't sound like a particularly reliable clue...But it's the only clue we've got.
We should go to the research institute and find her.
Warfarin
I have to remind you, Doctor.
Warfarin
While we're all determined to bring Kal'tsit back, we must thoroughly evaluate the risks of every mission.
Warfarin
Rhodes Island cannot bear any more losses.
But...
Raidian
I'll go.
Amiya
Raidian?
Raidian
Ursus has always been a dangerous place, and we have very limited intelligence for this mission.
Raidian
And there are many important decisions the Doctor and Amiya must make while Rhodes Island is being rebuilt.
Amiya
Raidian, I can—
Raidian
I know you're a capable young woman now, Amiya, but that is exactly why you need to stay here and handle our most important tasks.
Raidian
The latest news from Laterano is also worrying, and the Doctor will need to see to it personally. Allowing Rhodes Island to steady its footing in our new home is our top priority.
Amiya
You're right...
Raidian
If it were just an infiltration mission, then Misery's team would be the best choice, but information gathering is my team's specialty.
Raidian
Besides, there's no one better to send back to Ursus than me, is there?
Closure
You make some real compelling arguments, Raidian...
Closure
But it's your decision, Doctor.
This will be a very dangerous mission.Stay safe, Raidian.
Rhodes Island cannot lose anyone else.
Raidian
We will. We'll act with caution as a mobile medical team.
Raidian
The rest of you, take care of yourselves while we're out, okay?
<p=1>Central Far North Mining District, Ursus</>Central Far North Mining District, Ursus
<p=2>Five days ago</>Five days ago
Pained Howling
Wargh—!
Pained Howling
Ahhhhhh—!
Elderly Woman
Oh my...
Young Miner
It's... okay, ba-babushka. D-Don't... be scared.
Young Miner
It's U-Uchitel Rankin... He's chased away the P-Patrol Unit chasing us.
Young Miner
We're s-safe for now.
Elderly Woman
Yes... for now.
Elderly Woman
Where else can we go? Where must we go to find shelter...?
Young Miner
B-Babushka... are-are you hungry...? I'll go ask Hawley... for another piece of bread.
Elderly Woman
I'm fine... You're such a sweet child, but I really am.
Elderly Woman
Go see Rankin.
Elderly Woman
He has done so much, his spirit must be nearly worn away.
Elderly Woman
Go see him. Do not let him be burdened any more than he already is.
Young Miner
Uchitel, he...
Youthful Miner
Phew...
Under the twilight sky, the young man's stern countenance eases.
The cold soon cools the warm blood staining his pickaxe. The enemy before him is completely routed.
Frightened Patrol Unit
Don't... Don't kill me! You're not allowed to do anything to me, I surrendered!
Youthful Miner
But we haven't accepted that surrender.
Youthful Miner
Tell me, how many of these squads are pursuing us?
Frightened Patrol Unit
Chyort! I don't—I don't know!
Frightened Patrol Unit
Every Patrol Unit's independent, we don't talk to each other!
Youthful Miner
Tell me something I don't know, or I'll have no reason to let you live.
Frightened Patrol Unit
Wait, don't! Listen to me!
Frightened Patrol Unit
The chips you have in you! The diagnostic chips!
Youthful Miner
Chips? You mean the ones used to check how infected we are?
Frightened Patrol Unit
Ha... Hahaha...
Frightened Patrol Unit
'Rankin the Noble', 'Rankin the Hero', are you really so naive?
Frightened Patrol Unit
Those chips send your coordinates to the mine's research facility and nearby guard posts. The moment you try and leave the mining district, or the chip leaves your body—
Frightened Patrol Unit
Boom!
Frightened Patrol Unit
Losing a single leg would be lucky. Losing both is definitely possible. You won't be running anywhere like that, haha!
Rankin
......
Frightened Patrol Unit
Just give up already, Rankin... You think you can leave this mine by killing a Patrol Unit?
Frightened Patrol Unit
There's nowhere to go. Ursus will chase you forever.
Frightened Patrol Unit
Surrender. It's the only way you won't die a miserable death.
Excited Miner
Don't listen to him, Rankin! If the chips really did blow up, we'd have a bunch of three-legged burdenbeasts walking around!
Excited Miner
The Patrol Units are worse than bastards! An honest one of them is like an aphid in winter! I got to know them before I became infected!
Frightened Patrol Unit
Gah—!
Excited Miner
You've done enough today, Rankin. Leave this one to me!
Rankin
......
Young Miner
N-No!
Young Miner
St-Stop—killing people!
Young Miner
We don't... need to! N-Nobody's... badly hurt...
Young Miner
Uchitel!
Rankin
......
Rankin
Let him go.
Excited Miner
Get back, Vetochki! What's the point in showing a man like him mercy?
Excited Miner
It was these bastards who killed Paulina, all because she was caring for an unregistered child... She was pregnant when they hanged her!
Excited Miner
Have you forgotten all the terrible things they've done?
Vetochki
I... I...
Frightened Patrol Unit
Urgh! *cough* *cough*
Frightened Patrol Unit
Haha, thank you, Vetochki.
Frightened Patrol Unit
I remember you... You were the meekest of all the children. You will have a happy ending, even if the rest of these scum—
Vetochki
Uchitel!
Rankin
...At least I didn't let him bleed out slowly in the snow.
Rankin
Stand up, Vetochki. Go to the back and find that doctor for me.
Rankin
Paul, go get Nikto and tell him to gather everyone who wants to leave the mining district at the south dormitory.
Rankin
Get them ready, we need these chips out of us.
Excited Miner
You believe what that guy said?
Rankin
Doesn't matter, we need the chips out of our bodies. Even if they don't explode, they definitely transmit our location.
Rankin
The Patrol Units have already found us once, and we don't know when the next squad will show up. If this keeps on, we'll be on the back foot the entire time.
Excited Miner
Alright, I'll get it done.
Vetochki
Uchitel, y-you pro-promised... me...
Rankin
Oh, you're still here.
Rankin
I didn't promise you anything, Vetochki.
Rankin
Besides, if the rest of the bastards in his units are dead, why should he be any exception? Because of his arrogance? Because of his ridicule?
Vetochki
No...
Rankin
...Never mind. You wouldn't understand. Forget what I just said.
Rankin
Right, take this.
Vetochki
What... is it?
Rankin
A stopwatch. I found it in the institute, should still work. When we get a minute, I'll teach you how to use it.
Rankin
From now on, you won't need to live your life counting meaningless numbers, worrying about a miscount leaving people dead in the mines.
Rankin
At least now... Go, Vetochki. Go help me find her.
Vetochki
Uchitel, your hand... is shaking...
Rankin
Hush. Go do what you have to do.
Vetochki
...At least... let me...
Vetochki
Pray that your... soul... can be... saved.
Rankin
Even though you've seen how those men treated us, and seen how I killed them?
Vetochki
Y-Yes.
Rankin
Do not be so quick to bless others, or to forgive them, Vetochki. Me included.
Though we have not known each other for long, I want to believe that, since your medical team was willing to come to such a remote place to treat the Infected, you are people I can trust.
Rankin
I am sorry that I now have no choice but to ask for your help.
Raidian
Please, go ahead. As long as it's something I can help with.
Rankin
I just learned that inside every miner, there is a tracking chip that could explode at any moment. We need a way to extract them so we can escape the Patrol Units.
Rankin
I am prepared to serve as a test subject myself.
Rankin
If it is successful, please perform the surgery on the others. If it does unfortunately explode, then I hope you will be able to give me first aid.
Rankin
If I die... then I ask you to tell everyone waiting for me about this.
Rankin
Now, I must ask you to leave—
Raidian
No. Let me do an examination first. May I?
Rankin
Go ahead.
Raidian
...I regret to inform you, these chips really could explode.
Raidian
They contain miniaturized, high-powered Originium bombs. If the chip does not receive electrical signals from the local district relay or the human body, it will trigger an explosion...
Raidian
If you hope to get everyone out of this district, then you must remove the chips.
Rankin
Amazing. Is this your Arts at work?
Raidian
Of course...
Raidian
I may be able to temporarily copy the signal to fool the receiver. But I must warn you, this still carries a great deal of risk.
Rankin
We can't afford to wait for a perfect solution. Your idea is good enough.
Raidian
One moment, then.
Raidian starts using her Arts, causing beams of energy to resonate at the same frequency as the chip's receiver.
Rankin nods and sits down, grasping the hilt of his dagger. It is cold, smooth, and solid as he rubs it against the calluses of his palm.
Rankin
You'd best back away from me a bit, Doctor.
Raidian
That won't be happening. This is the first time I've tried it, so I need to observe it in real-time.
Raidian
I can guide your hand using nerve impulses. Take care not to detonate the chip.
Rankin
Incredible... It's a shame we didn't meet sooner.
Rankin
I hope we will still have the chance to chat after this.
Rankin wipes his dagger with some alcohol, pointing its blade at the scar on his leg before plunging it into his flesh.
Rankin
Phew...
Rankin
...It worked, right?
The youthful miner nearly leaps up, forgetting the cut on his leg oozing blood.
Raidian
Calm down, your wound needs dressing.
Rankin
Ah, of course. Thank you, Doctor. I owe you my life.
Rankin
You are truly amazing. I have never seen a physician as skilled as you. You even remind me of an Ursine soldier.
Raidian
What do you mean by that?
Rankin
Sorry, please do not misunderstand me. This is the highest praise I can think of.
Rankin
I mean true Ursine soldiers, not those Patrol Unit brutes. The ones who drove off the invading Nightzmora and freed us from the tyrannical Hippogryphs. They were true heroes.
Rankin
Oh, yes, have you read Igor Velikiy's biography?
Raidian
We should prepare for surgery on the others. How many will we need to operate on?
Rankin
I'm afraid it's a number that will leave you and your colleagues running ragged.
Raidian
My decoy electrical signal can cover the entirety of this area, and my colleagues can coordinate the surgeries. That being the case, I reckon we will need to stay here for some time.
Rankin
Time is something we are short on.
Rankin
Have the medical team prioritize the elderly and children, then teach the others to perform the surgery. Hand out some scalpels. My people are not squeamish.
Raidian
I would appreciate it if you did not make medical decisions for me.
Rankin
Ah, no, Doctor, I did not mean to order you around.
Rankin
Since the duty of leading everyone out of this mining district is mine, I need to make decisions accordingly.
Rankin
Patrol Units who can show up at any time, extreme weather, lack of supplies... All things that will prove fatal.
Rankin
I hope we can reach an agreement on this.
Raidian
No matter what happens, we need to be wary of infection. My team will oversee the sterilization procedures.
When you were eating smoked sausages back in Grypherburg, did you never wonder how they were made? Never went to see the slaughterhouses in the satellite cities?
Nikto
Idi nahui! Rot in hell, Rankin! Suka blyat'!
Nikto
I swallowed a bunch of snow but I still can't get the smell of blood out of my nose. Next time I have the chance, I'm dumping fresh burdenbeast blood into your soup!
Hawley
Fresh burdenbeast blood is expensive. A bucket can cost more than a hundred chervontsy, we can't afford that...
Nikto
It was a metaphor, dammit... I didn't know you used to be a gourmet chef, Hawley.
Hawley
My son transported that sort of thing when he was a truck driver. The Grypherburg nobles believed the blood of young burdenbeasts would make them beautiful.
Hawley
He told me a lot of things about the city in his letters, but the last one I received was seven years ago. I hope he's still alright...
Rankin
Then I'll have to ask you to make sure Nikto doesn't mess with my dinner.
Hawley
I'll make sure. Nobody is messing with anyone's dinner.
Nikto
I hope this won't end up being our last meal, or I'll be cursing you to the grave, Rankin.
Rankin
Whatever you say. I'm in good spirits today.
Rankin
It's been so long since I've felt this sort of freedom.
Rankin
We have finally broken our shackles. We are free now. What we want to do, where we want to go, and how we want to live our lives, we can decide for ourselves now.
Nikto
You should save the poetry recital for when we're actually safe...
Nikto
So, what now?
Rankin
The plan hasn't changed.
Rankin
We head south to the border with Kazimierz, find the village founded by the Infected, the one that belongs only to the Infected. There will be space for all of us there.
Nikto
You're just blindly believing in this 'Reunion' without even knowing if they're the real deal...
Rankin
No, I have my reasons to believe.
Rankin
A few years back when I was stationed at the border, I heard a lot about them, information I could trust.
Rankin
They provide shelter for the Infected, give out medicine for free, and have fended off many Patrol Units who wanted to push around people like us. I believe we will find people who share our ideals there.
Nikto
That just makes me think it's some Infected delusion, or the army spinning up an excuse for a bigger share of taxes.
Rankin
It makes me wonder why it took until now for a banner like this to be flown.
Rankin
If... If we find out they do not exist, then it should be us who raise the flag.
Nikto
Hah... And here I thought your time on the border would have taught you better.
Nikto
Just imagine for a moment, if you had saved that count back then instead of that Infected, you could be a lieutenant right now, maybe even a captain.
Nikto
Patrol Units like the one we ran into today would be licking your boots with a wave of your finger.
Rankin
Then I should be even more grateful for the choice I made that day. Otherwise, I would not have had the chance to see this nation's true face, or learn what my life's greatest calling is.
Rankin
Our people have been duped and deceived for far too long! They believe their current lives are what they deserve, forgetting what they should really have!
Rankin
This is not only a conflict between the Infected and ordinary folk. If one day, all the Infected in Ursus died, they would use some other standard to decide who to cast into the mines.
Rankin
Why do some have everything handed to them, while others must struggle for survival? Who do the fruits of their bitter toil go to?
Nikto
But who actually gets to say what people deserve?
Nikto
Maybe the way this land is is the way things should be. Even if there were another Terra, even if civilization started over from scratch, things might not turn out any different from now.
Rankin
No... I don't believe that.
Rankin
When you opened your eyes and actually looked at everything around us, did you not feel anger? When we feel such an instinctual rage, that means everything is wrong!
Rankin
You should know that, based on what you've been through, Nikto.
Nikto
Don't bring up that crap, it's ancient history...
Nikto
Fine... Even if it is as you say, how far are we from the border? What other things will we run into on the way there?
Rankin
I have a plan. Why do you think I asked you to gather up those chips?
Rankin
They didn't blow up when we took them out of us like other chips, which means they still work as positioning devices.
Nikto
You...
Rankin
These things have brought us so much suffering. Why not use them to our advantage against the Patrol Units?
Nikto
That's not what we agreed on when we decided to escape!
Nikto
You know our condition, Rankin. How many of us can even move right now? Maybe half?
Nikto
We might be able to beat one or two Patrol Units, but we can't hold off all of Ursus! The only thing causing more bloodshed would do is to trap us here even further!
Rankin
If we want to live, taking this step is only a matter of time.
Rankin
Every Patrol Unit lackey we kill is another spare ventilator in our hands.
Rankin
Any supplies we seize can be used to leave the icefields, and allow children like Vetochki to live to see another day.
Rankin
Have you forgotten what gave us the opportunity to leave this place?
Rankin
Even if that thing can't be called human, we were the ones who killed it.
Nikto
I don't know what you're talking about.
Nikto
You've become completely unreasonable, before we've even left the mining district!
Rankin
I don't want to fight over this, Nikto—
Vetochki
Uchitel?
Vetochki
And... Nikto, you're... here too...
Rankin
What is it?
Vetochki
N-Nothing. I just came to see if... you had eaten yet...
Nikto
Oh, you don't need to ask this guy. His stomach's already full of his grand ideals.
Rankin
Haha... You're not really wrong.
Rankin
You should focus on our physician friends, it was they who did all the hard work today.
Vetochki
I just went to... see them. They're... about to... rest.
Rankin
Good. You've worked hard too.
Rankin
How's the wound, does it hurt?
Vetochki
I... I'm okay. Everyone's... okay.
Rankin
Really now? Everyone's been very brave.
Rankin
Go rest. Eat your fill, then sleep tight.
Vetochki
Eh... We... don't have much food... My portion's... not very big...
Vetochki
Take care of yourself... too... Uchitel...
Nikto
Vetochki really trusts you, Rankin, always calling you 'Uchitel', like you're her teacher.
Nikto
Everyone trusts you. They're waiting for you to get them out of here.
Rankin
I know, which is why every word I tell her is what I know to be true in my heart.
Rankin
It is the same as when I lead everyone. I take the path I believe to be right.
Nikto
Let's hope you are.
Rankin
Relax a little, Nikto. Today is the day of our first victory. It's a good omen. No need to look so anxious.
Rankin
When someone awakens to the truth and decides to set off on a journey, it is the grandest of beginnings.
Nikto
Quoting from Igor's biography again?
Rankin
No, those are my own words.
Rankin
Trust me, Nikto. We are doing great things right now.
<p=1>Bresk, Far North, Ursus</>Bresk, Far North, Ursus
<p=2>Three days ago</>Three days ago
Passing Newsboy
Bresk Times, get your copy here—
Passing Newsboy
Do you want one, devushka?
Amiya
Oh, s-sure. How much?
Passing Newsboy
Twenty para, is that okay?
Amiya
That's fine.
Amiya
But I don't have any spare change on me... Here, take this.
Passing Newsboy
Thank you, devushka! You're amazing!
Amiya carefully places an entire chervonets in the boy's palm. He quickly disappears around the street corner, as if frightened his benefactor might regret her decision and take it back.
Amiya
......
Amiya?What're you looking at?
Amiya
That boy's clothes looked... very thin.
Amiya
Bresk is colder than the Ursus I remember.
It was winter the last time we were in Ursus.Bresk is further north than Chernobog.
Amiya
I still remember...
Amiya
It was the first time I saw such intense fighting. I was so nervous I forgot to be scared.
Amiya
At the time, I thought I would never see anything so dangerous again.
We've been through a lot since then.
At least now there's no Catastrophes or people chasing us.At least now I know who I actually am.
Amiya
Yes.
Amiya
On that topic, Doctor, it's rather rare for us to have the chance to quietly watch a city like this, isn't it?
Amiya
Chernobog, Lungmen, Londinium... Wherever we go, our memories seem to be filled with chaos and the fires of war.
It's how this land should be.We should remember what this city is like now.
Let's check today's paper.Does it say why the mines have been blocked off?
Amiya
(Shakes head)
Amiya
We might only be able to learn more once Eloysius has finished negotiating with the Grand Duchess.
Amiya
She said she would help us apply for a permit to enter the mining district, but how will she actually go about doing that?
She made sure we knew how limited our info is.She wants us on the back foot.
Amiya
The Grand Duchess's office is right ahead.
Amiya
From the intelligence we gathered beforehand, her name is Elisaveta Konstantinovna Lacitsara.
Amiya
She's not the typical Ursine noble. Her policies are known for being kind, to Infected and non-Infected alike.
Amiya
Every channel of information we've checked describes her as a good person.
A woman like that deserves more than just 'kindness'.The Grand Duchess must also be a bright woman.
Her office is rather humble-looking.Almost looks like a regular home.
Amiya
The buildings in Bresk are relatively short and regular. It must be the style here in the Far North.
Amiya
But looking at the map, all the surrounding buildings seem to almost envelop it. A rather unique location, in terms of urban planning.
So, here we are again.They're not even letting us wait inside this time.
A no-nonsense young lady.A local leader with quite the reputation.
Amiya
Are you worried, Doctor?
Amiya
Honestly speaking, so am I. Even if Eloysius has made her thoughts on the matter clear, we still do not know her true goal—
(Shakes head)Doesn't this all feel rather familiar?
Amiya
Oh... You mean like in Lungmen?
Amiya
Ch'en really is no-nonsense, isn't she?
Don't you mean 'hard to work with'?
Amiya
Let's go with 'strict'.
Amiya
Ch'en treats others the same way she treats herself. That's how it was back then, that's how it is now.
Amiya
Oh, right! We got news from her before we left home. While she didn't go into detail on her movements, she sounded well.
Amiya
When she heard about what happened, she promised that if Rhodes Island needed her, she would return.
We've made a lot of friends.But a lot have left us too.
Amiya
I still remember when we were working with Ch'en, the one who actually represented Rhodes Island and negotiated with Chief Wei was Dr. Kal'tsit.
Amiya
......
Amiya
Doctor, I'm worried that I won't be able to solve problems or get people to work with us like she did.
Amiya
Also, we know practically nothing about Ursus's current circumstances, or the Grand Duchess.
Amiya
Doctor, I...
We don't need to do what only Kal'tsit could do.
Be yourself, Amiya.We'll find a way.
Far North Soldier
May I ask which of you is Dr. {@nickname} of Rhodes Island?
Far North Soldier
Her Imperial Highness the Grand Duchess invites you to meet with her.
