[...]
[......]
???: What has yet to come will always come in time...IWS 2000.
Was it not you who said to always be prepared for it?
[...Bzzt... Bzzt...]
IWS 2000: ...What’s your current status?
Answer me, AUG!
AUG: “It’s raining on the plain...”
Tonight, the rain falls as well...
When raindrops splash upon a face, they turn into tears.
IWS 2000: It’ll be fine... Everything will be fine soon, AUG...
[...Bzzt...]
AUG: Signal re-authentication in process...
Are you... my enemy?
IWS 2000: It shouldn’t have turned out this way...
AUG, I promised I wouldn’t...
AUG: ...I don’t believe you.
IWS 2000: Please, I beg you...
AUG: We are out of options, it seems. This was your first mistake.
IWS 2000: And it won’t...be our last.
[...]
[......]
System Prompt: Neural cloud backup download has been completed. Repair sequence has concluded. We wish you the best of health.
IWS 2000: ...
...Was that...a dream...?
AUG: Finally awake?
It looks like someone here struggles to get out of bed.
IWS 2000: AUG...have you been waiting here the whole time? Where’s the others?
AUG: Both G17 and SSG lack the habit of lazing around in the repair bay. They’re both outside.
IWS 2000: Repair bay... Were we completely annihilated? Did we fail our mission?
AUG: I don’t like utilizing the word “run”, but that was the last thing you ordered me to do.
IWS 2000: Then did we...successfully intercept the Sangvis cargo?
AUG: We’ve acquired a lot of intel.
IWS 2000: So we did fail...
AUG: What’s there to be upset about? Your team didn’t get completely wiped out. Your worst fear has not come to life.
IWS 2000: Still... I can’t seem to get over it at all...
AUG: Keep lying in there for all you want.
As the humans are so fond of telling each other, “Sleep. In your dreams, anything is possible.”
IWS 2000: Dream...
AUG... I actually...just had a dream.
AUG: Allow me to remind you that T-Dolls cannot dream.
I believe the proper term for it was “computational tests that the Neural Cloud undergoes during reconfiguration”.
IWS 2000: I know it wasn’t real! Cut me some slack, okay?!
AUG: Mhmm? So what did you dream about?
A sea of flowers in full bloom or World War IV?
IWS 2000: It wasn’t anything that grand...
My dream was probably about...another possible outcome of our most recent mission...
AUG: So your neural cloud was actively trying to figure out what could be worse than being helpless as Sangvis Ferri plans to massacre people by the millions?
IWS 2000: Have you experienced something like this before?
AUG: I never need to.
Sentences that start with an “if” serve no purpose other than grate on the ears.
IWS 2000: (Sighs) I even promised the Commander I wouldn’t return empty-handed before we set off...
I just can’t let it all go so easily like you...
AUG: I have nothing to say if the victories in your dreams bring you satisfaction.
IWS 2000: Dreamland is a place where you can have it all without losing anything. A true marvel to behold...
But a wholly unrealistic one.
AUG: It’s good that you’re back from there.
Now with your feet firmly grounded in reality, it’s time that I give you some bad news to strike at your heart, dear leader.
IWS 2000: Ugh... I don’t want to hear any of it...
We’ve never had a mission turn out so disastrously before. I don’t want to know what the others are saying about us...
Especially that...nasty anonymous dissing forum or something...
AUG: What is it that you want?
IWS 2000: Everyone has collected so much intel about this crisis, but we can’t even find the cargo...
AUG: So do you want to find this legendary weapon of mass destruction, or do you think it’s better if we never find it?
IWS 2000: What I want...is to do whatever possible to prevent Sangvis Ferri from wreaking havoc with such a devastating weapon.
For the sake of those who we’ve sworn to protect...and ourselves.
AUG: Spoken like the leader of a team which was nearly wiped out.
See to it that you can uphold such an oath before speaking of such things.
Oh, by the way, here’s a perfunctory reminder that we have just received our next mission.
IWS 2000: Huh...? Wait. I literally just woke up in the repair bay...
AUG: Did I also mention that while we were having this conversation, the Commander was having an emergency meeting with all the team leaders?
IWS 2000: Why didn’t you tell me something this important?!
AUG: You couldn’t have made it anyway.
The discussion we had about dreams was also very interesting.
IWS 2000: Even if I couldn’t have made it, we can’t just not go entirely! I thought the vice-leader could attend in my place?
AUG: I left early.
As a member on the team that screwed up their mission, my only purpose is to convey the Commander’s commendation.
IWS 2000: Commendation...? For what?
...Are you making fun of me?
AUG: I just told you, didn’t I? We acquired a lot of intel.
IWS 2000: ...
...What have we... No, AUG...
What did YOU bring back from the mission?
AUG: My team leader’s greatest regret.
Glock 17: Yellowcake?!
So the intel brought back by the other teams is true?
IWS 2000: Ja... AUG’s video recording of the sealed container inside of the cargo hold...
Taking the radioactive remains of the convoy into consideration, that is the logical conclusion to come to.
I suppose...we did achieve something during our last mission.
SSG 69: Huh? Don’t tell me...what we were seeking was a batch of nuclear missiles?
IWS 2000: They weren’t fully assembled. It was most likely the raw materials, but we don’t know for sure what exactly was inside that container.
However, taking the recent stalemate that we’ve had the S.F. into consideration, the Commander cannot rule out the possibility that they are attempting to produce such destructive weapons...
SSG 69: Well, obviously... Biological weapons that would cause epidemics and poison gas are ineffective on us, after all...
Glock 17: No need to be so frightened, SSG.
Who knows, maybe they’re facing some hard times and can only make a living by selling ores.
IWS 2000: ...Enough with this irrelevant discussion.
The Commander has just made this information confidential to prevent Dolls like you from panicking.
SSG 69: That takes the fun out of everything... Now I can’t complain about it to the others...
I even just saw a thread discussing this on the “Griffin Anonymous Dissing Forum”...
AUG: MDR made the best out of the timing.
But now all that’s left on the page is posts hard-selling the advantages of bullpup rifles.
Glock 17: You yourself are a bullpup rifle, Fräulein AUG...
AUG: Fishing for appreciation is something I have no interest in. Whether I’m liked or not by others doesn’t concern me.
IWS 2000: ...
AUG: IWS, is there something on my face?
IWS 2000: No... It’s nothing.
We’ll form up after sorting our gear. Our teams have been assigned to engage with all suspicious Sangvis outposts.
We’ll be working with Squad Welrod, and will be heading out to sortie any minute now.
Our mission must be completed without fail this time...
That’s right, this time...
[...]
[...Six hours later.]
Glock 17: The Sangvis defense ahead is stronger than what our scouts have reported. They don’t seem to have noticed us yet.
IWS 2000: Roger that. How are things on your end, SSG?
SSG 69: The view is clear. Squad Welrod is waiting for our signal.
IWS 2000: Their security is tighter than what’s been reported... I should’ve anticipated this...
AUG: Are you sure you’re getting a reading from your radiation detector?
IWS 2000: I did think of that. I even...
Huh? Where did I put it...?
AUG: It’s with me. You left it on the table after checking it.
IWS 2000: Ah... Um... Danke...and sorry about it...
AUG: Don’t mention it.
The location of this Sangvis outpost, though...
IWS 2000: ...What about it?
AUG: Nothing. Judging from the wind, it’s going to rain soon.
Let’s get started whenever you’re ready, and tie up some loose ends.