-1: 55
[Brave Squad Groupchat]
HOOPA: Confirmed creation of minor outposts along the path to the 5th Arms Depot.
Anis: What the heck, Commander?! You're setting up log cabins along the way?
Hana: Oh, I get it! Since Raptures dislike biomatter, they'll avoid the cabins!
Neon: Did you set up defense turrets, Master?!
HOOPA: Of course I did. I'm using a specific encryption channel that requires two-factor authentication, but it should be reachable via daisy-chained signals. Can you confirm it?
Endless: Confirmed visual on the defense systems and cabins. ...Commander?
HOOPA: Yes, Endless?
Endless: Why are Laplace and Drake posing in the background?
HOOPA: Marketing.
Anis: Marketing?! I thought you and the others were on a mission, not a PR stunt!
HOOPA: It's both.
Nami: Is this... a bad time? I wanted to report that the general population of the Outpost has grown a fair bit. The damaged Nikke that were set to be scrapped due to lack of combat ability have been successfully transferred.
Anis: Oh yeah! What's that about, Commander?
HOOPA: Saving lives. And thank you, Nami.
Nami: ^_^
Hana: How's everyone else, Commander?
HOOPA: Rapi and Marian are finishing up the remote connections with Shifty. Drake and Laplace are... well, as you see. And Suri is obssessively securing the perimeter as usual.
Anis: Really? She's still doing that, huh...
HOOPA: Some people relax by moving. Suri's that sort of person.
Suri: Rude. You can say it to my face, Commander.
HOOPA: @Suri some people relax by moving. And some people obssessively secure the perimeter.
Suri: :O
Hana: XD
Nami: Commander! Y-You can't just... I mean, you can, but still! Tact! Be tactful!
Neon: Did someone say Tactical?!
---
I chuckled and closed the chat before looking up at my surroundings.
It had been a few days since we were out on the road.
Honestly, it just felt like camping to me.
But that fact was apparently stressing Suri out since she kept muttering "it can't be this easy."
Marian and Rapi were both still setting up the makeshift relays I'd made from salvaged Rapture components along the way.
Not any fresh salvage. It seemed like either the Raptures had wised up about the danger I posed, or that they slightly leaned in favor towards me.
Still, I made do.
Considering that Nikke were superhuman in terms of strength, Laplace and Drake could both channel 'lightning'... though it was really just electricity, I basically had a portable fabricator bay in terms of personnel.
It would have been ideal if I had a Nikke who could like actually crush steel into particular forms with overwhelming strength... like a physical-focused Nikke.
But beggars couldn't be choosers.
Anyway.
While Marian and Rapi were doing that, I decided to do some more updates to people.
First...
[Chat with Syuen]
H: Attached some footage of Drake and Laplace working hard for the surface. Personally took the angles to be cinematic.
S: ...Huh. You're decent at pictures.
H: Thanks. Things going well?
S: Tch. I'm a genius. Of course they're going well.
S: ...Is this a secure channel?
H: One sec.
H: ...There. Sent you a secure number to message. Switching over.
[Chat with Syuen <SSH>]
S: What the heck? Is this an entirely different messaging protocol? How is it working with our systems?
S: No, don't answer that. I'll figure it out myself.
H: ...Sure? Anyway, what did you want to say that needs a secure channel?
S: Tell me honestly. Does anyone else know about what you told me? About how consciousness is stored as light over a quantum field?
H: Outside of my squad, no. Why?
S: ...And how did YOU learn about it?
H: Well, it was a hypothesis I had after learning about NIMPHs. But I didn't read it anywhere if that's what you're asking. It came from my head.
S: ...Dammit. Then watch your back.
S: You were right. About all of it.
S: And...
S: Watch over Matis for me. Just in case.
H: Just in case? Wait, why?
H: Syuen?
[This number is blocked or inoperable]
H: Hey! You can't just leave with those death flags!
[This number is blocked or inoperable]
H: SYUEN!
[This number is blocked or inoperable]
---
I stared at my phone screen and pursed my lips. "Dammit..."
It was dark. The others were busy, so they hadn't noticed my reaction yet.
So I smoothed my expression and wracked my brain.
...It seemed like Syuen was definitely a genius. She extrapolated from my hypothesis in her own way and discovered something outrageous, it seemed.
But because of that... and because she didn't have any Nikke by her side...
'I can't just let her die.'
Even if she was a brat, she was still a kid. Someone who should be having fun living life, not scrambling to SAVE her life.
So...
---
[Chat with Mustang <SSH>]
H: Mustang. Serious business. Keep an eye on Syuen. Missilis might be out to get her.
M: Mon Commandant!
M: ...Ah.
M: Oui, the company has been making strange moves recently. But worry not!
M: I have a few of my girls keeping an eye out for Syuen.
M: As difficult as she may be, the adults should protect the children, oui?
H: Even so... This is a hypothetical situation. But if she suddenly starts acting out of character, assume she's been replaced.
M: ...I see. It appears mon commandant and Syuen have come across something dangerous.
M: Does it concern Anis or any of my girls?
H: No. But I'm worried about the ripple effect if Missilis changes hands.
M: Do not worry, mon commandant. So long as Missilis stands, even if the head changes, so long as that head knows as much as the former, everything will be fine.
M: Though, it appears mon commandant is concerned about Syuen in particular, oui?
M: Very well! I shall personally ensure my best keep an eye on her and her actions.
M: In the meantime, mon commandant, work hard, play hard, and...
M: Eeeeeeeeentertainment!
---
Alright. That's one link in the lifeline for Syuen. Next...
---
[Chat with Enikk <SSH>]
H: Enikk. Keep an eye on Missilis. Syuen might be in danger of being killed and replaced soon.
E: Understood. I have come to a similar conclusion. There are many forces at play in the Ark at the moment due to your actions, Friend.
H: Sorry.
E: It is nothing to apologize for. This is helpful. Many forces that were hiding in the shadow were forced into the light. I am currently preoccupied with sorting out the situation with Deputy Chief Burningum.
E: Please be aware that the Ark may be dangerous for you and your squad to return to.
E: For the time being, please remain on the Surface and the Outpo
[ERROR: The connection has been lost]
H: Enikk?
[ERROR: The connection has been lost]
---
I frowned. "...That's not good."
Enikk was probably fine. But... that was concerning.
*bzzt*
"Hm?"
I checked on my phone to see a new incoming message.
---
[Chat with Eternity <SSH>]
E: Commander Hoopa.
E: Mother said to beware unsecured lines leading to the Ark.
E: She is not sure how, but something is watching.
E: Your communication protocol is foreign, so the third party cannot decipher it.
E: However, they can sever it
[ERROR: The connection has been lost]
---
"...Well. That's making me even more paranoid now..."
I frowned and then sent a message to Endless.
---
[Chat with Endless <SSH>]
H: Endless. You're at the Outpost, right?
E: Yes, Commander. Why?
H: Tell Sophia to keep an eye on our communications. The Ark's lines may have been compromised. And don't communicate with Enikk unless it's in person.
E: ...Understood. Shall I pass the message to the others as well?
H: Tell Anis, Neon, and the others to stay above ground for the time being. I'll check back after the mission and we'll all go together. I don't want anyone of you going to the Ark alone. If you have to meet people, tell them to come up instead.
E: Understood, Commander.
---
"You look serious, Commander." Rapi's voice echoed as she walked over.
"And worried." Marian's voice echoed as well.
I looked up to see both women staring at me, concern in their eyes.
I sighed and said, "Something's going down at the Ark. But we don't know what. Lots of things."
Rapi's eyes turned sharp. "...Should we head back?"
"No." I shook my head. "It's better if we complete this mission and return with results. We'll have an excuse to go in force then."
Marian pursed her lips. "...You're talking like you're expecting war, Commander."
"I don't know about war, but..."
I tried to sort out what exactly it was that was bothering me.
"...I'm worried about a power grab. We're probably safe in general... but I'm not sure about the Ark's power structure."
Deputy Chief Burningum was present, but Chief Andersen wasn't.
Enikk was keeping an eye on things, but it seemed like whoever or whatever was moving knew about her AND how to counter her.
Then there was Exotic moving around unfettered by inhibitors that made them unable to harm humans.
And finally, there was Syuen's entire situation...
'Did I make the wrong play? ...No. This is the right play.'
I wasn't a hero.
I also wasn't a villain.
Like I said to Drake and Laplace, I was the protagonist.
Even if the Ark fell, my story continued. And my priority is, and always will be, the people I was charged with protecting.
And those would be the Nikke I knew over the faceless masses.
Moreover...
'This is my turf.'
I didn't know why Raptures avoided me, or why Liberalio seemed friendly towards me.
But I DID know that I could do things others couldn't right now.
So-
---
[Chat with Soph.ia <SSH>]
S: Creator.
S: I have something to say.
S: Regarding the situation in the Ark.
S: If I said that I could stop it, but that it would mean I disappear.
S: Should I?
H: Absolutely not. We do not martyr anyone here.
H: We'll look for another path together.
H: And if all else fails, we'll burn the world to ash.
H: But we never, NEVER throw our life away.
H: Got it memorized?
S: ...Understood.
S: Then I will continue with my current tasks.
S: I have sent you schematic to create a portable Nikke repair facility just in case.
S: Do not stay away too long.
[SYSTEM: This chat will be cleared.]
[SYSTEM: Clearing chat in three.]
[SYSTEM: Clearing chat in two.]
[SYSTEM: Clearing chat in one.]
[SYSTEM: All messages cleared.]
---
I sighed and slipped my phone away. "Just what is going on?"
Rapi sat beside me. "Is it urgent?"
Marian sat on my other side, leaning against me. "Should we do something about it, Commander?"
"...No. We stay the course. Even if we return now, we might lack sufficient firepower to handle what comes next."
Trump cards. I needed them in spades.
This situation came about as a result of me being unpredictable and throwing a spanner in people's plans.
So...
I glanced in the distance. Towards the direction of the 5th Arms Depot.
"...Let's see if we can't pull off some more insane gambits."
===
Somewhere in the North. A location secured by Rapunzel.
There, Snow White, Scarlet, and Rapunzel joined together for their next monthly meeting.
Snow White sat down and pulled out a cooler filled with fish. "I brought some proper food this time."
"Verily?" Scarlet eyed the fish and said, "Fortune favors you quite frequently these days, Friend."
Snow White chuckled, uncharacteristically light. "Well. You could say that, Scarlet. I remember, after all."
Rapunzel, who had been busy setting up the decoys, gasped. "Snow? You remember?" She looked over, faint hope in her eyes. "About what exactly?"
"All of it. Commander. Lilith. That last fight. ...Anachiro. Operation Ark Guardian. But more importantly..." Snow White's golden eyes flashed. "...I remember it. Something I forgot until now." She looked between Scarlet and Rapunzel. Then she said, "...The reason I forgot until now was because..." Snow White took a shuddering breath and said, "...Lilith's head. It's gone."