Chapter 1.4 - Virtual Reality: Cathedral Courtyard
Virtual Reality: Cathedral Courtyard
Jan: I logged in peacefully enough. Report on Lactis and the others.
Mikhail: Roger. Erich is tracing their movements. It appears they are currently engaged in battle with an enemy tank! Erich is starting up Bugs' level 3 anti-terrorist armament. Travel west from your current location to join up with them.
Jan: Got it. Resume your trace.
Mikhail: Captain!
Jan: What is it?
Mikhail: I've lost the life signs of six Archon policemen. It's possible they were deleted in the battle with the macrophage.
Jan: Understood. Can you get any specifics on that tank they're fighting?
Mikhail: Yeah. It's a 'Sleipnir' model, made by Tao Industries. This type was retired when I was a kid. It's an old model, but it seems to have been refined significantly for use in virtual space, so I'm not sure if the weapon specs we have from those days are accurate or not.
Jan: ...I see. Tell Erich to change Bugs's counter-terrorism equipment to level 6. From here on out take my position into consideration and adjust for stealth parameters. And don't forget to reconnect to me when I join up with the others.
Mikhail: Roger. Proceeding with a more direct communication link. If your security is compromised I'll halt correspondence for a while.
Jan: I'll leave the trace to you.
Mikhail: Yes sir!
Back in battle with the Sleipnir.
Melisse: !!
Lactis: Tch-!
Bugs: The enemy's weapons are more specialized for virtual space than I anticipated! If the battle continues in this manner we may be in danger -
Lactis: I'm aware of that! ...Well, what now?
Melisse: I... uh...
Their escape route is blocked, and the Sleipnir appears to have finished replenishing its energy.
Jan: To the right!
Melisse: !!
Following the voice, they make their way to Jan, narrowly avoiding an attack.
Jan: Are you alright?
Melisse: C-Captain! I'm so sorry...
Jan: I'll give you a chance to explain later. But for now, what do we do with the gatekeeper? Bugs!
Bugs: Y-yes?
Jan: Erich should have changed your weapons systems over to counter-terrorism level 6. Let's transmit the new armament to each person.
Bugs: Really? Then I'll prepare everyone now!
Jan: However much that security unit has been improved, it was still made by a human being. That we made it this far is proof that we're one step ahead. That mobile tank is no more than a well-made program. So let's take care of it!
Battle with the Sleipnir.
Melisse: ...
Jan: We have to hurry. The ambassadors are only a little bit further.
Melisse: ...
They arrive at their destination point. However, they find nothing but an empty room.
Melisse: ...Is this... it?
Lactis: It can't be. This should be point NG-PP6-42T8. Bugs! Can you detect the ambassadors' life signs?
Bugs: Yes. Surely they can't have gone far... What's this? There’s some kind of large-scale reconstruction of virtual space...
Lactis: !
Abruptly, the door they entered through closes and they hear a lock click shut.
Jan: Melisse! Secure the escape route!
Melisse: It's too late! I can't open it!
Jan: A trap? But who? And for what purpose?
Suddenly the whole room shimmers with light. When the light dies down, the appearance of the room has changed.
Bugs: W-what's going on!?
Melisse: I... I don't...
Lactis: ...Captain. What on earth...?
Jan: It would seem the security system is operational. Bugs! Can you describe our present location?
Bugs: I’m on it! ...Huh? It seems our location has not changed, but... Ah! Wait just a moment. I'm getting a communication from Erich. It seems he was somehow able to maintain the trace! Connecting the circuit!
Erich: ...ptain .....n you h.... me? Ca...tain. Captain. Can you hear me?
Jan: Affirmative. There's a little noise but I can hear you. Do you know what's going on?
Erich: I analyzed the trace log, and there seems to be some major interference coming from outside the program.
Jan: Major interference? Are we prisoners in this room?
Erich: Don't worry. I had just enough time to construct a protective field around your location. Luckily, when the room was reconstructed earlier, a break in the connection caused a passage to the ambassadors' captivity point to appear. Please approach point NG-PP6-42T8 from there...
Jan: Understood. I'm cutting communication for a while. I'll contact you again when we've reached the ambassadors. Meanwhile, find the external access point that's interfering with this program. Over.
Mikhail: W-wait a moment!
Jan: Mikhail?
Mikhail: Yes. It seems that several Archon police officers have also been caught in the reconstruction. Please try to recover them!
Jan: I will. ...This place. It's been more dangerous than I expected. When we find the officers I'll urge them to log out immediately.
Mikhail: Thank you.
As they move towards their destination, they find an Archon police officer involved in some kind of argument.
Jan: Hm?
Powell: N-No! It’s not my fault! …S-Stay away from me…
Jan: This is odd…
Melisse: !!
Powell: Stop, don’t come any closer! Please! Let go…!
Concerned, Melisse turns around and sees the figures of the officers who were deleted.
Melisse: !!
Cordell: Yo.
Melisse: What!?
Cordell: Young lady... We’re in hell now thanks to you…
Melisse: I-I'm not responsible! If you had all been more reasonable…
Cordell: Oh, we know! You're not responsible at all. And yet you went on in spite of the danger, didn’t you? This was all about your promotion, wasn’t it!?
Battle with Cordell.
Melisse: C-Captain! What was that just now?
Jan: Someone probably traced the record of our actions and hacked in. It was just an illusion.
Melisse: I… caused those people to die.
Jan: Melisse. In combat you should only be thinking of numbers and tactics. Enemies will analyze your way of thinking when they attack. Show weakness to them and you’ll be the next one to end up dead.
Melisse: Y-Yes sir.
Lactis: Captain…
Jan: I know, our movements are being watched. We should hurry.