Sonetto: Manus Vindictae is an extremist pure-blood arcanist organization. They used to act covertly to disrupt the world order in hopes of reviving arcanum.
Sonetto: However, in the last year, they've become much more active, even encouraging ordinary people to wear their masks and endure their trial. It's suspected that they went high-profile in order to quickly attract more believers.
Sonetto: According to our intel, they'll hold an important ritual in Antarctica soon.
Vertin: And we're searching for someone who may play a vital role in this ritual.
Nautika: Arcanists, masks ... Are the Snow Monsters what you call Manus Vindictae?
Nautika's words are marked with a strange excitement.
Nautika: W-What exactly is this ritual they're holding?
Sonetto: Sadly, we don't have much information in that regard. We're hoping to figure it out on this mission.
Nautika: Ritual ... Arcane ritual ...
Nautika: Wait, wasn't that one of my research topics?
Nautika: Draw the formation, place the offerings, and summon or invoke Her spirit through a series of actions to communicate with the Mother Spirit!
She looks up with pure eagerness.
Nautika: D-Do you know of Her? Do you know the Mother Spirit?
Sonetto: ...?
Sonetto: Um, sorry, no.
Nautika: N-No?
Sonetto: Please excuse us, miss. We have to leave now.
Vertin: Oh, and given that the communication equipment at this station isn't working ...
The suitcase opens again, this time revealing a radio decorated with a flower.
Ms. Radio: Ah-Atishoo!
Ms. Radio shakes in Nautika's palm, struggling with the harsh shifts in the Antarctic temperature.
Vertin: May I introduce you to Ms. Radio? She'll receive the signal from the rescue team for you.
Sonetto: In the meantime, you may await their arrival here. The incantation keeping you warm will remain effective until then.
Sonetto: And thank you for your advice. We will proceed with caution.
The station's creaking door reopens.
...
Ms. Radio: Hello, little explorer. You can call me Ms. Radio, as the Timekeeper said.
Nautika: The heart of Antarctica, an arcane ritual, a vital role ...
Ear Worm Máhtu: "The guide appears, then fades from human sight; If the devoted journey, let their songs unite."
Nautika: Damn it, Nautika.
Nautika: Little Máhtu is reciting a message from the Mother Spirit Herself. Focus!
Ear Worm Máhtu: "The guide appears, then fades from human sight; If the devoted journey, let their songs unite."
Ms. Radio: Um, hello? Can you hear me?
Nautika: Your topic ... Your research ...
Vertin: "I assume you're here in pursuit of something, just like the rest of your family."
Nautika: Their dream ... Your dream.
Máhtu's voice is snapped off as Nautika bolts to her feet.
Nautika: This is the chance of a lifetime.
The visitors' boots are already cleaving a deep path through the snow outside the station.
The door closes heavily and slowly behind them.
Nautika: Wait!
The door swings open again as Nautika rushes out holding Ms. Radio.
Sonetto: ...
Vertin: ...
Her hands tremble with excitement as she pulls a map from her pocket and struggles to unfold it in the wind.
A crumpled sheet of waterproof synthetic paper, bearing deep grooves with red ballpoint ink.
Nautika: I-I drew this map myself. It's a draft, yes, but, well, in this situation, it is the authoritative guide on Antarctic mythological archaeology.
Nautika: I recorded everything I saw in Antarctica on it, see? Here's the route from the station to the hinterland. A-And here, the landmarks along the way. And this—I charted the topography around the ruins at the heart of Antarctica. Right here.
Sonetto: Ruins? You mean there's an undiscovered site in the heart of Antarctica?
Nautika: Yes, exactly. It's never been recorded in any reports. It's a brand new discovery of our team.
The two exchange glances.
Vertin: And Manus Vindictae's hiding place.
Sonetto nods.
Vertin: It's highly possible that the ritual will be held there.
Nautika: But, hmm, we've never entered the ruins. The closest we came was in its periphery, but the weather was too severe. We had to turn back.
Nautika: But-But if Máhtu is right, we'll make it this time.
Sonetto: And by "we," you mean ...?
Nautika: Well, if it's possible, would you mind taking me with you?
Nautika takes a timid step, shuffling forward like a penguin.
Nautika: You-You see, I could be in danger waiting here by myself. Why not just follow you and ...
She gulps a sharp breath of dry, cold air, and her voice quivers again.
Nautika: And, wait a minute. Is there really a rescue team on the way?
Meanwhile ...
A small schooner enters icy waters.
Ulrich's ferrofluid moves erratically. He grips a communicator in one hand while impatiently tapping the porthole with the other.
Ulrich: Yes, we've tested the stability of the "Regulus" record in the "Storm" the hard way. But there are still some experiments to be completed, and that is a problem.
Ulrich: Our study is like a baby who's just started to crawl. It's making moves, yes, but isn't exactly going to win a marathon anytime soon.
Ulrich: That's why we need you to stay in the lab. You have the greatest knowledge of the "Artificial Storm." You're more than capable of continuing the work on your own.
Ulrich: Yes, yes, I know how much you wanna see the Timekeeper and embark on your "cross-century rock expedition."
Ulrich: But the experiment in Antarctica isn't one of your concerts. It's a gamble, and we're betting every hypothesis on it.
Ulrich: If "Regulus," that is, your record, is in fact the key to artificially controlling the "Storm" and its Syndrome as we suspect ...
Ulrich: I hope it can at least serve as the Timekeeper's backup plan in this Antarctic operation should the worst happen.
Ulrich: You know the agreement we made with her. I take the "Regulus" record for experimentation and support, and you stay in Laplace to work on the "Artificial Storm."
He adjusts the record to fit snugly and securely under his arm.
Even after surviving multiple "Storms" with its former owner, the record remains good as new.
Guard: Boss, we've entered the continental shelf. If Manus Vindictae picks up our long-distance comm signal, this operation will be declared a failure.
A guard chewing chocolate-flavored rations mutters out a warning.
A deafening horn blast echoes in the distance.
Hearing this, the guard exits her casual slouch and moves onto the deck, scanning the horizon.
Guard: Oh, we've finally met the Foundation's fleet.
Ulrich: What?
A dark shadow cloaks the heaving waters.
Ulrich looks up from his communicator.
Ulrich: What on earth ...
The propellers spin fast against the swelling sea. The distinct aroma of burning diesel hits the air.
Ulrich: Is that ...?
At the front of the schooner, a sailor turns his face.
Sailor: Ha! "Triglav" the battleship, and "Dida" the destroyer.
Sailor: Are they deployed from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, ha! Traveled halfway across the world to get here. Looks like they're finally on the last stretch to Antarctica.
Guard: From the north? Surely not.
Sailor: That's right. Seems that Commander Creius and Admiral Somme have struck a deal.
A torpedo explodes a hundred meters away. A strange, animal-like scream is heard as waves splash over it.
Guard: Hold on! Adjusting the sail angle. Damn it, no one told me we'd be fighting on the front bloody line.
Sailor: It's one of them armed Magnus beasts that the Manus modified. Didn't expect their first line of defense to be an actual monster.
Sailor: Zeno's elite expeditionary force versus the army Manus Vindictae has gathered across multiple "Storms" ...
Sailor: This is gonna be a right hell of a fight.
Guard: What is he so excited about? Come on, help me at the helm.
After one last loud boom, the shrieking Magnus submarine quickly dives underwater.
Soon, the icy ocean turns blood red.
A line cuts through the crimson water, moving fast toward the fleet.
Captain I: 135T, prepare to engage. Bridge ready.
Warships maneuver over the icy sea. Relays of orders and replies come staccato and clear over the radio.
The guns inch into position, aiming to hit the water at six o'clock.
Captain I: Let's see if their liquid metal reactor can resist Type 65-76 torpedoes and our aerial firepower.
Captain I: Attack!
COMBAT