Rally and Unite

I recommend the Origocrust. It's the most common material for producing all kinds of machinery and equipment. The very nature of Originium makes it the quintessential material for industry and engineering.

Wow. If it's that useful, I'm guessing we've got a whole warehouse full of it — right?

Ah, yeah... We ... uhm ... just happened to have ... used up the local stash. Nobody expected that Ankhorfall to hit right in the middle of our Base. There was so much damage that we needed to fix.

That being said, we ... have to start from square one and do some manual mining. I'll prep various AIC facilities while you head out there and gather some Originium Ore.

Judging by how bad that gate looks, the facilities inside are probably damaged too. We must prepare some materials for carrying out emergency repairs.

Good! We have enough Originium Ore, Endmin! Now let's get started making Origocrusts.

I've readied the facilities! We should deploy them near the PAC to start our work.

Endmin, you're an incredible learner! So, these are the basics of using the AIC. Keep them in mind, and they'll come in handy.

Oh, hmm... Perhaps "incredible learner" would be the wrong way to put it. After all, it was you who... Uh... Forget it.

Anyway, you can start moving again once you're ready. Now that we have these materials, we can still salvage the Originium machinery ... as long as it's not completely destroyed. We better hurry...

Umm... Big Owl, besides those batteries, is there *something else* you're worried about in the processing center?

Ah! Haha... Yeah, Chen... You got really sharp senses... Please direct them somewhere else next time...

I ... actually left a set of parts and some key documents for the Prototype's upgrades. If I lose them, I won't be able to wrap up my work on the Prototype.

Important documents? Mr. Andre, you could have told us earlier. Director Qin would've... Oh.

Ooooh, you started the project without Director Qin's approval, didn't you?

No! It's not like that! It's... Ugh... Fine.

But I can't just delay the progress of the Prototype project! It will be such a waste! Endmin! Supervisor Perlica! Please! You must understand!

The evaluation process can be a real bummer. So, I spent my own money and got someone to custom build a set of "special equipment"... These are actually modification parts for a large-area Arts unit. Oh dear, if Qin learns of this, she's going to have a really long talk with me...

We understand. Let's move out as soon as we can, Endmin.

Thank you so much! By the way, some operators just set up a few ziplines in this area. Use them. They'll help you get around faster.

Look. The Landbreakers really turned this place upside down. They seem to be looking for something...

Wait. Don't tell me that the LBs are really after the parts. What would they use them for?

I hope they have evacuated to safety... Perhaps we should do another sweep, just to be sure.

Give the area a scan, Endmin. The scanner might be able to locate some useful information.

Don't be afraid. We're the Endfield Crisis Team. You're now safe.

Yeah. We totally defeated those Landbreakers. They'll trouble you no more!

Oh... Thank you all! We're finally safe!

Our security cameras found the Landbreaker mobs heading this way. We stopped our work immediately, then took this set of equipment and the accompanying technical documents with us.

We got no idea what it's for, but the packaging label says it's top priority. It's covered in Endfield logos. You came for this, right? Guess we really did save something important.

...This is it. This is the set of prototype parts that Mr. Andre mentioned.

Thank you. The two of you acted in a decisive and timely manner to save a key asset of Endfield Industries. Now that it's been recovered, I shall relay your actions to the site director.

Great! Oh, we also found a few other things... These combat records might be useful to you. Please take them.

Since the Landbreakers are gone, we should start the emergency repairs. They should last until the Base sends more people and materials for a proper makeover...

You know, we really appreciate all the help you gave us, my Endfielder friends. Things look good for now.

Hoo... They just won't give up. What is it, Perlica? Thinking about something?

Those Landbreakers... You heard what they said. Their leader is looking for the parts and the documents.

But why would the LBs want the documents? I mean, can they even understand this stack of technobabble?

We'll get to the bottom of this afterwards. The good news is that we successfully secured the processing center and recovered the parts and the documents. We should head back to Mr. Andre.

Mr. Andre should know more than us. Endfield has worked together with the UWST for quite a while. We often carry out joint engineering projects together.

The UWST has spent years researching the Æther Rift of Valley IV. They have constructed an Æther Test Site at the Power Plateau for this purpose.

Though it does make little sense, I have a feeling that these Landbreakers are indeed looking for our technology and products.

What's even more suspicious is... Mr. Andre mentioned that he ordered and paid for the Originium modification parts himself. How would the Landbreakers acquire such information...?

Mr. Andre, we found the things you need. We also met a few fortunate UWST crew mates who survived. They're now carrying out repairs in accordance with their contingency plans.

Wonderful, Endmin and Supervisor Perlica! I'll give Director Qin an update regarding the situation at the processing center.

Oh, by the way, you probably saw plenty of damaged facilities in the Hub area. Most of them can be fixed with Origocrusts.

And that will mean we need to gather a lot more Originium Ore. Now I don't want to dent Master Chen's legendary Hongshan blades, so I prepped a few auto-mining rigs while you carried out your mission...

This, Endmin, is the Endfield Portable Originium Rig! Just deploy it on a mining spot and it will mine the ore automatically for you! Go ahead and try it out on a nearby mining spot!

Fabulous! I now have everything I need to start repairing the prototype! Endmin, make sure you're here to witness its "awakening"! Don't miss it! Promise you'll be here to see it!

Landbreakers? Why would they want these things?

T11 Originium prisms are highly fragile. Same goes for the high-precision nucleic crystal sinters. If handled by untrained personnel, they can be easily damaged.

The Prototype is an experimental tech we developed for the Ætherside. To the Landbreakers, it's probably just a hunk of scrap.

Yeah... Quite odd, indeed. Maybe some Landbreakers thought "hey, that looks expensive," and figured they could flip it on the black market.

Anyway, since we've retrieved the crucial items, let's focus on the matter at hand. We should also update each other if we find anything new.

Originium Powder? I am sure Big Owl knows how to make it, right?

Of course I do! It's time to reveal the Shredding Unit! Mineral ores, metals, plants, it doesn't matter! You name it, it *sshhrreeds* it! This is your penultimate shredding solution, proudly designed by Endfield Industries!

Head to the PAC and use it to construct a Shredding Unit. The PAC is meeting all our expectations so far ... we just don't have a lot of numbers from field operations. We're counting on you to generate the data, Endmin.

You're here! Our high payload situation hasn't changed at all!

Hohoho. Endmin, this barrel of Originium bombs is ready for use. Blasting, demolishing, and rubble-clearing work has never been easier!

She ... really likes explosives.

Oh, and our AIC Factory has been deployed, right? Endmin, you can totally use the Factory to make *even more* explosives! Heehee!

I've prepped the explosives and marked the detonation site. Don't worry, there's no risk of sympathetic detonation. I just hope you have the Originium Powder to make the bombs!

Hey, you alright—?

......

......

Breathing is stable, no external injuries detected. He's likely unconscious from the blast.

Work ID says Semyon... His vitals look stable. Let's wake him up. Wait, Chen — go easy on him, alright?

There was this very loud explosion and the entire place shook like jelly. Something then probably hit my head...

Thank you, Endministrator and Supervisor Perlica. You saved my life. I must return to my post... Hngghh...

Fortunately ... this arsenal still seems intact. Take a piece or two. It's my duty to make sure you're wielding the best weapons we have.

Wh... WHAT?! An Ankhorfall struck our Base...? Wait... Yeah. It's all coming back to me.

...Good. It puts my mind at ease knowing I could help.

I still have some gear in stock. Come find me if you need anything.

Hoo! Activation success...! Can you hear me? Helloooo? Are you there, my little buddy? TA-TA?

*Happy emote*

Absolutely wonderful! This proves my repair work was a success!

This here is Operator Chen. This is Supervisor Perlica. And this ... is our Endministrator!

This little buddy's smart module is what Yvonne slapped together in her spare time. Though it might offer a bit of fun, the module's functions are rather limited.

*Confused emote*

*Embarrassed whimpering*

Endmin! Supervisor Perlica! YOU MUST BE MY WITNESSES! I did nothing wrong! I did my best!

Oh, thank you so much, Endmin!

*Gasp* That's cruel...

Hooo... In any case, I have plenty of legitimate reasons to reactivate the Prototype.

Ok, listen. I found abnormal energy fluctuations coming from the Valley Fort. They appeared shortly before the Ankhorfall. The intervals between these fluctuations are nearly identical to the intervals between the Ankhors' arrival.

They are just too similar so I have to conclude there's a link between them. I don't know about the details or principles of how it happened, but this feels like a valuable finding we should look into.

Even in maintenance mode, the Prototype can still monitor and log ambient data of its surroundings. Thanks to the parts you retrieved, these datalogs have now been successfully decrypted.

Is that why you told us to come over? Alright, stop hoarding the info to yourself. Tell us what you discovered.

Then we should try to contact the Valley Fort quickly... Let's head to the Control Tower. We can probably use the comms node there.

The Control Tower received plenty of great news from around the Base! Stellar work out there, Endministrator!

Basic amenities of the Hub area are working again. There's only one core issue that we still need to fix right now.

It's a top-secret component and the backup part has been lost during the attack. Endmin, I know I've already asked a lot from you, but...

Legends speak of your miraculous work with Originium equipment. We desperately need some of those miracles right now...

Endmin, there was a time when you could directly sense the operations of Originium machinery.

But the Endmin has just been awakened recently ... and wielding powerful forms of Originium Arts will affect anyone's health. Let me try something else. We can always find another way...

*Sigh*... Fine... But if you feel any discomfort, stop immediately.

We're all counting on you, Endministrator!

Our main comms node is currently inoperable. I've taken parts from other machines and got most of the node fixed, but the core component has suffered devastating damage.

You could even fine-tune Originium circuits on the fly — modify gear, repair machines... You used this special form of Arts often.

Originium has a wide range of applications. We used both the Originium Arts and industrial technology for power production and the processing of various materials.

Talos-II has plenty of Originium cultivation sites and mines. In fact, we can call ourselves a civilization that stands atop the shoulders of Originium.

At one point in our history, Originium mining led to a series of environmental and social issues. However, we had no choice but to press forward... Originium is a resource essential for our survival.

...The Valley Fort seems to have fallen.

That Landbreaker... Was he trying to taunt us?

An LB mob raided Andre's basement labs. Another group attacked the Originium Byproduct Processing Center. And then there's this group...

It seems like while our comms were down, the Landbreakers launched simultaneous attacks at multiple key locations throughout Valley IV... I'll have our comms team keep constant tabs on the situation.

...Simultaneous attacks across an entire region... This doesn't make sense. The Landbreakers lack the organizational capacity to pull this off.

Agreed. We need to act and respond in kind.

Hell yeah! I say it's time for the Endfield counterattack!

Before we made our landing, I had Dijiang contact all combat operators in the surrounding regions to reinforce our position.

One of them is a Landbreaker specialist... His last reported position is just nearby. We shall rendezvous with him on our way to the Valley Fort.

Wait, Endmin! Before you set off, I actually have something for you.

The Security Division and the crew mates managed to find some pieces of gear from our stockpile. Though they're not top notch, equipping them is at least better than nothing.

When the Ankhor came crashing down on us, I did my best to keep my cool and soldier on. But truth be told, my mind turned into a total mess.

Your intervention helped us through the worst of this crisis. You also sped up our recovery and post-disaster relief work...

It is my genuine wish, on behalf of the Hub Base and all site personnel, to express our everlasting gratitude for your help.

Oh and by the way, I actually planned a nice little reception for you. Once things get back on track at the Base, I'll try to organize another party for you.

Endmin, Supervisor Perlica, and Operator Chen...

Never bite more than you can chew, and do not press a desperate foe. It's always better to be safe than sorry. You already did a lot for us and people at the Hub Base only wish to see you return safely.

I understand, Director Qin. We all do.

Heheh. You can count on me!

Alright, then. Good luck out there.