After a long wait, father and daughter reconvene.
Moldir: Father, Ptolemy and the unit have arrived.
Admiral Igor: Huh. So here they are. The "army of justice" ready to eradicate the Manus and the deserters in one fell swoop.
He picks up a gift he received from the Foundation.
Admiral Igor: During the last "Storm," the Foundation created this thing.
Admiral Igor: And with the help of Laplace and the Apeiron arcanists, they stole the fire of the gods, just like Prometheus.
Admiral Igor: Which side would you choose?
Moldir: I wouldn't. I would follow.
Moldir: Follow you wherever you lead.
Her loyalty is like a shield to protect herself from her inner doubt.
Admiral Igor: Send someone to bring Stefen's belongings here.
Admiral Igor: That traitor found something important at Tuesday's Motel.
Admiral Igor: Ptolemy will find it useful.
Admiral Igor: That's all for now.
Moldir: Understood.
Ptolemy: Moldir! Long time no see!
The one-eyed officer steps forward to embrace his older sister, kissing her on both cheeks.
The conversation gets straight to the point.
Ptolemy: What do you say? Do we give those humans a chance to surrender?
Moldir: sigh Manus Vindictae don't accept humans.
Moldir: But I doubt Father would blame you if your men allowed them to escape the base.
A hint.
Ptolemy: Escape the base? Haha, Moldir, are you having second thoughts?
He sneers at his sister's "kindness."
Ptolemy: Either follow this path to the very end, or show mercy and get Father and the two of us executed.
He shouts a few orders to his officers, instructing them to return to their respective units and await the admiral's command.
Moldir: So what, then? You want to have a mass execution like Lopera did? On what charges? For refusing to join the rebellion? Disobeying orders?
Ptolemy: Oh, no, there'll be no trials.
He leans in close and whispers a few words in his sister's ear.
Moldir's eyes widen.
Ptolemy: All my men know about this plan. We're just waiting for Father's orders.
Moldir: They all know?
Ptolemy: Well, those who're still alive.
Only blood and dirt can bury secrets.
Ptolemy: The Manus have provided us with a miracle that allows us to survive the "Storm." How could anyone refuse such a sacred gift?
Ptolemy: Even after the total destruction caused by the vacuum bomb, we still detected life signs.
Ptolemy: No one in history has ever been able to do that. Lady Arcana is invincible.
Moldir: I don't care about Arcana. What worries me is that the soldiers who are unwilling to follow us won't just surrender.
Ptolemy: Then we shoot them.
His delivery is disturbingly casual.
There are only two options: follow or die.
Moldir: I don't think that's—
The admiral strides toward them.
Ptolemy: Oh, Father!
Admiral Igor: Where are the others?
Ptolemy: They went to rally the soldiers. We've been waiting for this day for ages!
He seems to have known about the admiral's plan for quite some time.
Moldir: For ages? How long have you known about this?
She looks at Ptolemy, confusion and astonishment in her eyes.
Admiral Igor: I told your siblings some time ago.
Moldir: Then Lopera ...
Admiral Igor: She's not part of the plan. Her only responsibility is to bring back Dores.
Ptolemy: Dores? Who's that?
Admiral Igor: None of your concern.
Admiral Igor: You have other things to worry about. Go issue your orders to your soldiers.
Admiral Igor: Moldir, prepare the aircraft. We're going to Tierra del Fuego.
All the way to the southernmost tip of the continent. To a place where he can gaze upon that snow-capped land to the south and feel the icy breeze on his face once again.
Admiral Igor: How many of our soldiers do you think will remain loyal?
Ptolemy: I'd say about eighty percent. The arcanists will follow us, there's no doubt about that, but we still have a lot of human soldiers. Don't worry. I'll be sure to deal with them.
A necessary sacrifice.
Ptolemy: The spilling of blood will only unite us further.
A betrayal of their brotherhood. But there will be no escape once blood is spilled, for those who shed blood and for those who draw it.
Admiral Igor: Take this and go to São Paulo tomorrow.
He gestures to the wind-up toy that once belonged to the traitorous officer who stayed at Tuesday's Motel. It's placed beside a G33 syringe and a Flying Arrow M1903 pistol.
Ptolemy: Oh, me too? So, if Moldir fails, you want me to use this little toy to get Lopera back?
Admiral Igor: No. You will bring Kimberly back from the Veterans' Residence.
Admiral Igor: This is Kimberly's seal. As long as it's in your possession, she cannot disobey you.
A succubus cannot resist the will of whoever holds her contract item.
Admiral Igor: Bring her back peacefully, if possible.
Ptolemy: Of course, Father.
Ptolemy: I will do as you wish.
Instructions given, the admiral leaves.
Ptolemy: Right then, Moldir. Let's get started.
He whistles, signaling the guards to begin their massacre.
The sound of gunshots echos through the holding cell.
Lilya: What's going on out there?
No one answers.
The guard has already left. Lilya frowns.
Lilya: Is the base under attack?
Lilya: By whom? The Manus has no reason to launch a frontal assault.
Lilya: The Apostles Brotherhood? No, that's even less likely.
She immediately dismisses the idea.
Prison Guard: Get out! Quick, comrade!
Lilya: Are we under attack?
Prison Guard: Just take your stuff and go!
The guard hands Lilya her weapons just as the rebels catch up.
Zeno Rebel: More enemies over here!
COMBAT
Lilya: Comrade!
Amidst the chaos, the guard has been shot in the leg. Lilya goes to help, but the rebels are closing in fast.
There's no time.
Lilya: Damn!
Another damnable choice, but this time there's no time to hesitate.
Prison Guard: Lieutenant Moldir asked me to help you. Take care—
Prison Guard: Aaah!
With a running start, Lilya leaps onto her Red 38 and takes off into the air, bursting through the rebels and leaving them choking on her exhaust.
First, the bright light of the outdoors hits her; second, the stench of gunpowder and death.
Traitors and loyalists.
Under the sun, their blood glimmers just the same.
It's plain to see now that their blood paints the courtyard.
Ptolemy: Kill them all!
Admiral Igor: No. Recall your troops and assemble.
The remaining loyalists are fleeing. There's no need to pursue them any further.
Ptolemy reluctantly passes on the order.
Ptolemy: All hands, assemble!
Admiral Igor: The bloodshed stops here.
An unceremonious end to the battle. The rebels have formed a new kind of blood brotherhood now.
Admiral Igor: Moldir, time to head to São Paulo.
Moldir: Forgive me for asking, Father, but what if Lopera refuses to come back?
Admiral Igor: ...
Ptolemy: Oh, Moldir, if it's too much for you to bear, I'd be happy to go and see our dear little sister for you.
Moldir: No need. This is my mission. I will get her to come back.
The two of them are still linked via the tracker button.
Admiral Igor: There will be no alteration of the mission. Ptolemy, retrieve Kimberly.
The order is non-negotiable. Ptolemy and Moldir board their boats and head to their respective destinations.