Story Reader / Main Story / 32 To the Galaxies / Story
On the other end of the line, Celica has a deep furrow on her face.
A trap?
Yes... We detected life signals inside this conservation area, and we decided to proceed with the rescue operation since the threat level readings were very low.
Except when we made it deeper, our reconnaissance specialist Gisly didn't find any actual signs of human presence.
Until we made our way to the deepest part of the conservation area...
Masses of flesh-fused creatures lie embedded within these Red Tide crystals, and they are pulsing rhythmically like they were alive.
There was a bird or some small animal at the center of each mass of flesh, and they were each letting out unbearable cries.
We immediately decided to retreat when we saw this, but at that exact moment, the Punishing Virus concentration shot up.
...
On the other side of the screen, Celica takes a visibly deep breath.
Sure.
Please... stay in that area for now. We'll send someone to assist you right away.
Also, please put Nanami on the line... Yes, the Construct who guided you here.
Beep—Oh! It's Celica! Long time no see, Celica!
Sitting in Zavier's magic workshop, Nanami casually applies gel to the wounds on her frame with a relaxed expression.
It's been a while, Nanami.
Babylonia is shifting its strategic approach to preserve what's left of humanity's civilization to prevent further losses.
We plan to gather both residents and refugees from the conservation areas on Earth and withdraw all patrol officers and staff stationed there...
...Just get to the point, Celica. I don't have much time—
Since Babylonia hopes to maintain a good working relationship with the... Church of Machina, this is merely a notification about Babylonia's strategic adjustments...
Babylonia is planning to leave Earth, isn't it?
...
Such is a naked truth that lies behind the diplomatic facade.
Celica falls silent, caught off guard by Nanami's blunt question.
<color=#ff4e4eff>3648 days</color>—10 years—and Babylonia has lost over half its force of arms with barely anything to show for it.
The Red Tide surrounding the Hetero Tower has evolved into something that barely any Construct soldier can withstand...
But the Constructs from the elite squads are still...
Oh, so you do know that they're from the Elite Squads, huh?!
How many elite squads are there for us to send to Earth?! How many Construct soldiers are we going to turn into specialized Constructs?!
We already lost the Gray Raven Commandant, for god's sake!
...
...I apologize for my outburst.
It's just... we really can't afford losses anymore.
On the remote sensing display, the mutated Red Tide, laced with unidentified white substances, creeps across the earth like blood vessels and coils around the very lands humanity once called home.
...Indeed, we can't afford further losses.
In that saturation mission, we deployed 35 Construct squads. Only four made it back, with nothing but a single sample of mutated Red Tide from the closest approach to the Hetero Tower.
And this is all we have to show for it... having made the sacrifices we have...
But we did analyze the substance within the mutated Red Tide. At least now we know what kind of enemy we're facing!
Has the Science Council finished their analysis?
...Yes.
According to Asimov's findings, we cannot identify the components within the mutated Red Tide. It doesn't match any known substance found on Earth in the past, present, or projected future.
...
A deathly silence falls over the conference room.
What... what exactly are we up against...
...
The commander turns around, his graying hair and bloodshot eyes betraying his exhaustion.
...It's time to draw our conclusions, President.
...
At first, they thought this was just another disaster they could contain—
Just like when the Red Tide first began to spread, or when the twins first took human form.
Just like when the Hetero Tower rose from the ground or when the dark bolt struck Babylonia.
They have survived seemingly unsurvivable disasters and defeated seemingly undefeatable enemies...
And this time, they were sure they would succeed like they always have.
Almost everyone in Babylonia thought the same way, and they had even started preparing victory celebrations in advance—
Everyone was working at breakneck speed to get themselves ready for when you're back.
I can't wait to see her in this new coating!
Not just for Lucia, but for the commandant, too! I can't wait to see all of Gray Raven standing together in the banquet hall—
Babylonia deployed numerous squads of Constructs to the ground in an attempt to reclaim the conservation areas. Most of them, however, returned empty-handed.
To gather detailed information about the mutated Red Tide, Babylonia saturated the area around the Hetero Tower with multiple squad deployments...
They all, however, failed.
Ladies and gentlemen.
I once believed we would succeed the way we did with every other miracle our civilization had achieved thus far.
But this time... I'm sorry.
President, we still have soldiers, we can still fight—
But even if we could reclaim the conservation areas...
The CPF can no longer filter out the corrupted Punishing Virus, and the emergency serum the Science Council has developed is barely effective.
Asimov continues to work while ill, and several elderly professors from the Science Council have already collapsed from complete exhaustion.
Even our elite squads have started taking casualties.
No, that's impossible...
Praying Mantis was completely wiped out during their escort mission, and Owl Squad's captain is their sole survivor.
Strike Hawk's Kamui has gone missing during his mission to investigate the depths of the mutated Red Tide. Camu went to search for him, but neither of them have returned yet.
The area is completely submerged in mutated Red Tide. Even Wanshi, whose frame can barely withstand the corruption, has spent a long time searching the perimeter but found no way to break through.
I'm sorry, but... our current losses have pushed multiple indicators dangerously close to critical thresholds.
I cannot... let human civilization end here.
They gave everything, hoping to return to Earth.
They lit up Earth one region at a time, striving to rebuild what was once the human civilization.
Countless lives lie buried here.
And countless new lives have awakened in its place.
But this time—
Humanity's children may never return home again.
They will be forced into exile and venture into the unknown depths of space.
As emergency alarms blare, new developments emerge. The council members sit in silence for a moment before quietly dispersing.
In the empty council chamber, Hassen stands transfixed by the blue planet floating in the center.
All that we've done...
Everything we've done... Does it really amount to anything at all?
No one answers his question.
...Indeed, Babylonia is preparing to leave Earth's orbit.
...
She is not surprised by Babylonia's decision.
Leaving Earth's orbit... What do you plan to do after that?
We're going to contact as many people as we can. Babylonia is preparing to leave Earth's orbit. All surviving humans and Constructs on Earth have the right to enter Babylonia and depart with us...
The operation codename is... "Departure".
If the Church of Machina is willing...
Nanami won't be leaving with you. Nanami still has her own business to attend to.
However, Nanami would like to make a deal with you, since I don't dislike Babylonia.
...A deal?
As the conversation turns to negotiations between the two parties, Celica straightens her posture and forces herself to stay alert.
What does the Church of Machina want? And what can they offer in return?
The starship's blueprints and experimental data.
Don't you already have a starship?
The Church of Machina did not attempt to hide their activities on Earth from Babylonia. Babylonia already detected the starship's presence right when it emerged from the void.
But Babylonia currently lacks both the resources and the incentive to engage in diplomatic talks with this emerging power.
That's right. But the Church of Machina's starship isn't quite complete. For now, it can only navigate along Earth's surface.
We need more data and design specifications to verify the starship's integrity and prevent any unnecessary complications once we venture into space.
No one knows if there's another habitable planet out there in space, and even mechanoids need to be thoroughly prepared for such a lengthy journey.
In exchange, Nanami and the mechanoids of the Church of Machina can help you complete your mission.
While the mutated Red Tide poses a severe threat to humans, we mechanoids remain unharmed as long as we avoid direct contact.
The Church of Machina has a complete Gear Army at our disposal. While searching for our fellow mechanoids, we can help you locate more human survivors.
...
Please allow us a moment to deliberate.
As the communication cuts off briefly, Nanami sits at the table, her gaze wandering to where Zavier is helping maintain a Construct.
...Whoa, these parts must be ancient! How are they still being used?
Sigh. We're all out of replacement parts.
Babylonia's factories are operating around the clock, but parts are being consumed at a faster pace than they're made.
I'm actually one of the lucky ones. I was at least able to find similar parts to modify and use. Not everyone is as lucky as I am, though...
Carson lets out a sigh.
Ah, speaking of the devils.
With that much wear and tear, one more shot and the recoil might just send your elbow flying.
That's because the factory doesn't have replacement parts for my model anymore, haha!
Our captain took us all to search for parts back then. We spent forever searching but only found two pieces that barely fit, and our captain personally filed them down to make them work!
Captain...
The two Constructs fall silent.
Their captain never made it out of the mutated Red Tide.
As Nanami listens to their conversation silently, her terminal chimes with a brief video call notification.
We have concluded our deliberations.
She rises from behind the conference table and gives Nanami a respectful nod.
I, as the Acting President of Babylonia, hereby approve this arrangement.
Please transmit your flight coordinates. We will send representatives to your starship as soon as possible to sign the agreement.
No problem! Nanami will sync the coordinates to you right away.
Acting President... What happened to Hassen?
...President Hassen is currently on medical leave. His continuous work schedule has left him completely exhausted.
As per President Hassen's instructions before he fell into a coma, I am temporarily serving as Acting President. Rest assured, though, that all relevant matters will still be forwarded to President Hassen for review.
Babylonia's representatives arrive shortly after the meeting.
After signing the agreement, they, as promised, deliver the starship's blueprints and test data that the Church of Machina requested.
Transports from Babylonia begin their busy runs between the Church of Machina's starship and Babylonia.
Sigh. Thank goodness. These people got the treatment they needed in time thanks to you all.
Don't mention it! I mean, this is part of our arrangement.
Emma, gather some people to escort them to our transports.
Blue Bird No. 2 is almost at capacity... We might need to deploy a large-scale transport craft...
Oh? I've never seen this Construct before... Hello there!
Emma gives Nanami a quick nod before opening her terminal to request authorization for a large transport.
She used to be quite the lady, you know? For some reason, she was dead set on becoming a Construct. She's been stationed at the training camp these past few years.
The camp's practically empty now. All cadets were forced to graduate early, and even the instructors were sent back to the frontlines.
And those kids from F.O.S... are literally still kids.
She watches worriedly as another wounded person is carried past her.
Thank goodness we're in this together now...
I mean, who knows how many of these kids would have survived otherwise.
Any news about the others?
You mean...
What about Kowloong? Or Watanabe?
Nanami hasn't been able to reach them since the mutated Red Tide began to spread.
Celica has notified the Kowloong Chamber of Commerce, but only a small number of people in Kowloong are willing to evacuate to Babylonia.
After the transport left with the evacuees, Kowloong's leader immediately reactivated their Punishing Virus shield. We haven't been able to learn anything from in there since.
As for the Forsaken...
They lost quite a few people. Watanabe's deputy sent us their final coordinates, and I went to extract the survivors.
Hurry! Hop on the transport craft!
The mutated Red Tide will reach this camp in three hours.
Through the dust kicked up by the transport craft, dozens of exhausted humans and Constructs stand waiting.
How are there so few left... Weren't there supposed to be hundreds?
The mutated Red Tide... swept away the other two vehicles.
Watanabe went after them with his team, but we don't know if they...
...Dammit!
Get on Transport One and prepare for takeoff! I'll wait here!
It's too risky, Bridget.
We don't have time! Get going already!
At her insistence, Transport One slowly lifts off, leaving Bridget alone in Transport Two's cockpit to wait anxiously.
The concentration of the Punishing Virus in the air is gradually rising.
The mutated Red Tide will reach this camp within an hour.
Clouds of dust roll in from the horizon as a vehicle, stained with the mud of the Red Tide, lurches desperately this way.
Bridget fires up the transport's engines and throttles the massive vessel forward like a street racer.
Quick! Get in!
The vehicle door clangs open, revealing the driver to be... a teenager, no more than 15 years old.
...Where is Watanabe?
Boss is still in the Red Tide. He's the one who forced our vehicle through and got us out of there.
We have 28 people here—10 wounded and 18 children.
He seems so calm that he does not seem like someone who just escaped the Red Tide at all.
Boss was hoping Babylonia could take in these...
...These... last survivors of Oasis.
They are not the Forsaken, but residents of Oasis.
They shall not be forgotten again.
After helping Bridget evacuate all the residents from Oasis onto the transport craft, the child finally collapses from exhaustion.
As the transport craft takes off, the mutated Red Tide surges forward like a monstrous tsunami, engulfing the last camp in Oasis.
I guess there's nothing we can do but keep our fingers crossed and hope Watanabe will just come crawling out of the Red Tide... Hah.
Bridget forces out a laugh, but her eyes remain devoid of any mirth.
...
None of this is good news.
Nanami really doesn't want to hear news like this.
Well, I bet none of us does...
Bridget, the large transport craft has been cleared for deployment. It will arrive shortly.
Okay, prepare to evacuate the injured.
Thanks for your help once again, Nanami.
I've heard a lot about you from the commandant and, while I never thought we'd get to know each other under this circumstance... I guess I do enjoy working with you.
She waves casually before joining Emma to help evacuate the wounded.
And so begins the first collaboration between Babylonia and the Church of Machina, born from these dire circumstances.
