Story Reader / Floating Record / ER09: Crescent Sun / Story
The Scarab squad transport aircraft departs from Babylonia and enters automatic cruise mode.
Valeria leaves the pilot seat and walks steadily toward the back of the cabin.
Let me go over the mission brief.
The Red Tide is gathering at an artificial island. Two squads have gone missing there.
We might have to deal with the missing squads on top of the Hetero-Creatures there.
Ground combat, the Red Tide... Why isn't this mission assigned to a proper Task Force squad... like the Gray Ravens?
The Gray Ravens are still helping Lucia with her frame replacement, but more importantly...
We've been chosen primarily because one of us is familiar with the mission location.
Valeria rarely asks questions. In other words, she's the type to pack everything she wants to say into statements.
And right now, this means...
Yata feels Valeria's gaze turn toward her.
Hydrangea Island. This is where I went to high school.
I know my way around there. I can be your guide, assuming there are still paths to follow.
...
The island was abandoned following the Punishing outbreak. I'm one of the few survivors.
As for the details, I'm sure the Commander's intel is more comprehensive than what I know.
Seeming to have noticed her own emotions, she adds these explanations before closing her eyes.
...Sure.
Well then, let's continue.
Weather satellites have captured continuous movement patterns during the night...
After this brief interlude, Valeria resumes explaining the mission details.
Discord reviews the mission's details on her terminal as she listens to Valeria talking, while Shiva reclines in her seat, resting with her eyes closed.
Yata props her cheek up, twirling her hair with her right index finger as her gaze drifts out the window.
At some point, Earth's silhouette gradually fills her entire view, followed by patches of clouds...
The approaching blue planet stirs indescribable ripples in Yata's heart.
Certain memories, intentionally locked away, now force their way into her mind...
That blue sky is as much like a spider's web as it is an endless midsummer.
No one can truly escape.
Such a deep blue sky, not a cloud in sight.
It's rare to have such nice weather on the first day of school. Why don't you take this chance to look around?
This is so annoying. I've never seen such a stuffy old school.
Haha, keep your voice down, Yata.
See, your student handbook proudly states...
Misono Academy High School is a private institution renowned for its strict discipline.
We cultivate elite individuals who possess both academic excellence and noble character.
The school motto is "explore the vast universe, strive for human perfection."
How very...
It's less about outdated aesthetics and more about deliberately projecting an air of superiority.
What kind of superiority?
Hmm... The arrogance of the elite class?
Anyhow, this is the best high school there is on the island.
Your old man had to call in favors from several friends for recommendation letters just to get you enrolled here.
...Why should I care? You never asked for my opinion before moving to the island.
Sorry, sorry, my bad again. Haha.
Back then, I followed my father to this school, on a day without a cloud in sight.
Directionless in life, I drifted aimlessly through my youth.
I gazed at the short school gate built with precious stones, and the emblem emblazoned in gold letters...
I failed to sense the elitist arrogance my father had warned me about.
Instead, I sensed a kind of fear—a fear that made everyone tread carefully.
Rotting petals littered the ground as harsh sunlight bore down mercilessly.
Soon, sweat soaked through my uniform's lining. I undid a button, but the heat remained unbearable.
Seeking shelter from the sun, I weaved through the crowd of new students and their parents.
Under a tree by the school gate stood a fair-skinned girl.
Our eyes met by chance. She stood motionless like a doll, her brows furrowed.
Thinking she might need help, I walked over to her.
Hello there. Are you waiting for someone?
Hmm... Yes? Can I help you?
Oh, I'm Yata. I'm a first-year student, too.
Yata...
May I know your name?
Nice to meet you, I'm...
The transport's roar pulls Yata back to the cramped cabin.
Hmm.
What's wrong?
Oh uh... I'm listening.
Besides investigating the Red Tide and locating the missing squads, we have another objective—capture the target alive if possible.
Who's the target?
A scientist from the Golden Age. I've sent the details to your terminals.
The transport is about to reach the designated altitude. Everyone get ready.
I have a bad feeling about this...
Even after all these years, Yata still kicks herself for what happened that day.
She regrets being so lost in memories that she failed to stop Shiva from speaking.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep—
？
Harsh red warning lights suddenly flood the cabin.
Urgent alarms and an automated voice message follow suit.
[WARNING! HIGH-SPEED HEAT SIGNATURE DETECTED!]
RWR response?
Shiva rushes to the pilot seat.
What's wrong? Is this some sort of malfunction?
It's a radar warning.
Surface-to-air missile detected three o'clock under, moving at high speed.
As Shiva rapidly works the control panel, Discord moves in for a closer look.
Can we make it? Should we try electromagnetic interference?
ECM system deployed, calculating evasive trajectory.
Wait, the attack source has an IFF signature with a no-lock indicator...
...It's friendly fire.
The incoming missiles are from... Babylonia's surface-to-air defense system.
Verify IFF protocol.
It's been terminated unilaterally!
Two seconds!
Deploy chaff and ECM!
No time! Everyone, hold on tight!
As a blinding flash erupts from the left wing, Yata forces Discord's head down.
A tremendous impact rocks the small cabin, sending violent shockwaves coursing through its walls.
In the explosion's wake, black smoke and the acrid stench of burning seep into the cabin.
Yata reaches out with a mechanical arm and catches Valeria who's been flung to the other side of the cabin.
Piercing alarms blare through the cabin. The danger is far from over...
[ENGINE THRUST CRITICAL]
[FUEL TANK BREACH]
[FUSELAGE FIRE]
[RADAR MALFUNCTION]
Shiva, give me a status report.
We lost one engine completely, and the other appears to be compromised as well.
The left wing is barely responding to controls, and the autopilot system is practically non-functional.
Worst of all, we're dealing with a fuel tank breach. We're already below the safety threshold...
Shiva, I'm authorizing an IFF protocol override. Launch two air-to-ground missiles at the source of attack.
IFF protocol disengaged. Anti-radiation missiles locked onto source of attack.
It's no use, the bomb bay is jammed.
Yata, activate emergency protocol and prepare for equipment airdrop to reduce weight.
Copy that, tracking beacon connected to the terminal.
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep—
[WARNING! HIGH-SPEED HEAT SIGNATURE DETECTED!]
You've got to be kidding—another one?
High-speed SAM, three o'clock under!
AI module malfunction, unable to calculate evasive maneuvers.
Shiva, take control of the aircraft.
You are authorized to perform high-risk evasive maneuvers.
[AUTO-CRUISE DISENGAGED]
Everyone, hold on tight—we're diving!
Shiva pushes the control stick forward to its limit, causing the aircraft's nose to pitch downward.
In that instant, Yata spots a glint of light in the distant clouds.
Shiva! More to the left!
Shiva responds by forcefully banking the transport aircraft to the left.
The sharp evasive maneuver causes something to break loose from the wing.
As trails of fire mark the path of the deployed flares, another violent explosion erupts nearby.
The cabin shudders slightly, but this time, everyone stays firmly in their seats.
Did we dodge it?
Not completely.
Something on the underside of the transport aircraft must have been hit.
At least it wasn't the bomb bay. I consider ourselves very lucky, all things considered.
How much fuel do we have left?
Can't tell. The instruments are dead.
Abort return mission. We'll make an emergency landing on Hydrangea Island.
[EXCESSIVE SPEED]
Is the map navigation system still working?
We're at optimal altitude for shoulder-mounted missiles. We need to act fast.
Hydrangea Island's outline is in view, but we can't confirm the terrain. No data in the database.
Switching to visual guidance. Initial assessment shows three potential landing zones.
For the highest chance of success, the central inland area would be our best bet.
The bay area might be contaminated by the Red Tide. We'll land in the central inland area.
Brace for impact.
Roger.
There's so much vegetation... Even the spaces between buildings are filled with tall trees.
This is annoying. Can't even see where the ground is through all this.
[PROXIMITY WARNING]
The transport aircraft's last remaining engine fires diagonally forward, attempting to slow itself down as it skims the ground.
After breaking through countless trees, the transport craft's tail makes contact with the ground.
A massive, muffled explosion follows, as flames rise from the clearing near the forest.
As smoke billows into the sky, Hydrangea Island falls silent once more.
Meanwhile, inside the now-wrecked industrial transport ship...
Shiva, deploy the drones. Yata, check if the mounted weapons are still operational.
Two recon drones are still functional. Deploying them now.
Here's your pulse gun.
Valeria takes the pulse gun from Yata and inspects its energy storage unit.
Signal lost from both drones.
Watch out! Enemies nearby!
Just as Yata reaches for the mangled cabin door...
A powerful electromagnetic pulse strikes from nowhere, forcing her to her knees before she can react.
Mmph!
Dammit, what the hell is this...
Valeria swiftly establishes a consciousness link to stabilize Yata and Discord's M.I.N.D.
Something's wrong. It's a malicious interference targeting the M.I.N.D.
Are there other commandants on the island, or perhaps...
Radar's picking up infected mechanoids at nine o'clock.
Is it one or multiple?
Should be just one... Wait...
Suspicious signals detected at three o'clock, six o'clock, and eight o'clock.
We can't stay in the transport craft any longer. We need to fight our way out.
Shiva, sync the map data from both drones to our terminals.
Only 12% of environmental data has been collected within range of the transport.
Clear enemy signatures detected behind the trees on the left flank.
That'll do.
Yata, prepare to breach.
Roger.
