OD Project: Infra-Station III

I tried using the signal receiver to search for the equipment of our three missing crew mates... I made plenty of attempts, and entered all the identifying codes I could think of.

But I found nothing...

Thank you, Endmin. You don't need to comfort me.

Endmin, look at this! I see a signal!

Wait... Why did it disappear?

I saw it too. It was a flash signal... And its location should be somewhere around the Mountain Path.

Endmin, you're here...

Endmin, I ... I've submitted my resignation. I'm no longer the monitor of this site.

Huh? Why? That's so sudden! Why did you...?

All the things I've been through made me realize I'm not cut out for this job. And I almost ... screwed up everything, more than once. If no one had been around to help me...

Un ... until the Committee names a new site monitor, we'll be relying on Mr. Da Pan to manage this place in the interim.

Noffman, my boy! You ... ugh.

It's my decision alone. Anyway, Endmin, there was something important you wanted to say?

What?!

This can't be... I thought ... we lost the signals back there...

And they seem to be hiding near the Landbreaker lair. The raiders haven't found them because they are not obvious targets.

......

I know I lack confidence ... as well as actual skills. And it is true that I ... probably botched up a few jobs.

But severing their signals ... so they wouldn't slow us down?

Rameld, Olga, and Pavel... How could they do that? Who gave them permission to make such a sacrifice?

I'm not okay with this! Their actions are irresponsible and go against their personal well-being! In any case, I ... I must take full blame for this. The fault is totally mine, but those three... Our three fine crew mates...

Those three blightbrained fools really got us all worked up! Once they come back, I'll monitor them all to hell! I'll get them to copy the UWST Valley IV Emergency Manual a thousand times!

Yeah! That's right!

...Uh...

These three damn fools got us all worried for ages! We gotta drag them back and teach them a real lesson! Give them toilet duty for a month!

That's right! Let's drag those little brats back home!

Give the orders, Noffman! The crew will find 'em!

B-But ... it's been such a long time. If they were still alive in Valley IV ... why couldn't we find any traces of them?

Endmin, please ... I need your help. I must find them!

Noffman!

The signal we found was very weak, but we can amplify and max out the signal receiver on the watch tower. We can take characteristic encoding from our previous records, and pinpoint their location.

We must activate the four amplifiers on our site, and force connect them to the signal receiver. That will let us initiate the search.

We'll divide the crew into four teams and work with you. Once we're done with the changes, the signal receiver will be unlocked. You'll be able to use it then.

Amplifying with four amplifiers at the same time for a signal search... It's something we've never done before. But it is our only way to trace and pinpoint the source of the signal.

Yeah. Time to bring our friends back.

The signal is getting stronger, but we don't have a lock-on yet! Can we still increase the power?

We did it! We found the signal coordinates! It's the final section of the Mountain Path leading to the Origin Lodespring!

Nothing so far. No relevant signals have been picked up on the control panel.

No need to jump to conclusions. Power of the signal trace is still growing! We're already getting a signal response!

Unlock all power limits for all devices. Give me a fully powered signal trace...!

We're zeroing in on the location.

Power output is already approaching the threshold...

Argh, guess we can't fuss over that right now... Set power to max! THREE!

TWO!

Verifying switch. Initiating signal trace.

Someone's coming!

Wait ... Noffman?! Is that truly you!

HOW...?! How could you risk your lives like that?! The UW never leaves anyone behind! Do you know how many crew mates felt betrayed by your actions?!

Slow down, Noffman! And take it easy, would ya? Olga's injuries haven't fully...

We could barely walk, and we'd end up slowing everyone down. You saw all the Blight gushing out of nowhere. If you'd taken us with you ... no one would've made it out.

Well, if we hadn't cut our signals when the Blight flood was upon us ... what would you have done?

I...

We have faith in you, Noffman. You probably would try to take us along no matter the cost. But if the crew had to carry us ... everyone would've been overtaken and swallowed by the Blight!

It would be ... too cruel and devastating for you. It's a choice that none of us wants you to make.

I know you joined the Emergency Committee during a disaster. It was also your first real trial.

You're too kind. The mission from your superiors, and those ordering your superiors ... and even the Emergency Committee... It was never about "saving everyone".

It's about "saving as many lives as possible".

By the way, how fares the main crew?

No ... you're just bending the facts. Stop treating me like a kid.

Look, Pavel! I found you! So I did end up saving everyone — no one has to be sacrificed!

...Haha. Of course you did. You found us...

Thank you ... Noffman. I mean it ... you're incredible.

Thanks, Captain.

Thank you.

Alright, crew. It's time to go home.

Mr. Da Pan, can you cook something nice for them? Some hot food will help them recover.

Once we head back, I'll be exercising my monitor rights. You'll each be copying the Emergency Manual a thousand times — by hand!

Noffman my boy! We found them!

Rameld ... Olga ... Pavel... Everyone's here ... and alive.

When we finally decided to stop, we cut our signals and prepared to meet our fate. The Blight flood surged towards us... And then it stopped by the cliff! We eventually recovered enough strength to move again, and found this trail that led us here. I guess fate wants us to live.

But how could you just cut the signal like that?

The refuge point is complete! Young Noffman got everyone settled in, and he even managed to get in touch with Endfield!

Seems like we made the right choice.

Endmin! It's been a while! We just opened a café in the outpost! How about a cup of coffee?

The Infra-Station has fulfilled its function as a refuge point. It is now serving its original purpose as a residential outpost.

Well... People are still calling it the Infra-Station Refuge Point.

The tower also fulfilled its purpose. The original plan was to take it down, but everyone wanted to keep it as a memorial, for all the troubles we'd been through.

Well, that's a little awkward... I'm now the Security Monitor of this site. My job right now is to keep this place in proper order.

Yeah, Endmin... Really appreciate your help back then. I would never have achieved all this alone.

Mr. Da Pan has ... left this place. He was just resting his legs for a while back then.

We were planning to give him a farewell party. The Committee even wants to give him a Medal of Friendship.

But he quietly left the night before. We only found a package and a letter.

The package is filled with desserts he made. He also left us a reminder to set aside a portion for you.