Scaldings of Utjug

You just wrecked those breakers... Seriously, who are you?

Chill, buddy. We're allies. Crowe told us to come here!

Professor Crowe...? Did he have any instructions for me?

Are you tasked with recovering the keycard? We've been told to rendezvous with you.

The authorization keycard... Yeah. I have it with me.

Is this it...? Why is there blood on it? Where did you find this?

I got it from... Ugh. I don't think you need to know this. It no longer matters.

My only wish is to complete Professor Crowe's task for me, and ... make those breakers pay for what they've done.

...I understand.

Leave the mission to us and avoid doing anything rash. Professor Crowe needs your help.

Don't worry. I know what I'm supposed to do.

Professor Crowe still needs the signal emitter. It's kept at the Professor and the Site Director's lab. You'll reach the lab by going through this place. I believe Clavell is already trying to retrieve it.

But ... with so many breakers around, he's probably trapped somewhere.

He might have run into danger. We must hurry up.

Endfielders? Did you see Site Director Daniels on your way here?

Site Director? No. Mr. Crowe told us to come here and find you, as well as the signal emitter.

You're not here because of the site director...?

Is Professor Crowe alright? Did Dean manage to head back with the authorization keycard?

Both Crowe and Dean are alright and we have the authorization keycard. Crowe also told us that you might be in danger.

Did you find that signal emitter? Speaking of which, why did you lock yourself up in this place?

Wait. What's out there?

A Landbreaker... I came here to retrieve the signal emitter but the damn LB followed me! I had no choice but to lock the gate and trap him in the lab.

Aren't you worried about being trapped here as well? You got some nerves of steel.

I'm more worried about my incomplete mission. If I messed up the evac plan for everyone, I would...

This isn't the time to blame yourself. We'll handle the Landbreaker outside.

The signal emitter is still in the lab. Fingers crossed that stupid breaker didn't wreck it...

Alright, let's go get him! Chop chop!

...Turns out all the Landbreakers have gathered here.

Are those ... denstacks? We'd better take them down ASAP, or they'll start making the toxic haze again.

Crew, we have completed our preparations for sending out the Utjug Order.

So this is the ultimate retaliation of the UWST... What's going to happen if the order is successfully sent out?

I don't know. I tried searching for Utjug Order and got barely any hits...

It's gotta be serious reinforcements. Full regional bombardment? Or the legendary Steam Knights?

Enough talk. Keep a safe distance, crew.

Take a good look at these invaders. They came and smashed our homes, destroyed our factories, and killed our people.

Look at them! Remember their faces! Then let them know who they're messing with! The United Workers never surrender! Show them how we strike back!

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*Brzzazzz*... Crowe? Was that you? What did you screw up this time? That blip you sent was tiny as hell — I almost missed it!

Enough words. You saw that blip so stop wasting time. Unload everything you got on my coordinates!

You're mad, Crowe! What about your people?

We'll just get prepared and figure our way out.

I've always told you to keep your impulses in check! Reinforcements are already on their way!

Listen to me, Crowe. Your new mission is to protect your people. No more casualties, you hear me?

You've done well by heating up the Utjug. Your job's done. Just leave the rest to us. Understood?

You little brat, what the heck are you talking about? Do you even know what Utjug means?

It means that we have more crew brothers and sisters to save. Times have changed, Professor Crowe.

......

If you need artillery support, plant a beacon at the target coordinates. In any case, have faith in us.

Damn it... We'll settle this when we next meet.

I look forward to that.

Endmin, as you can see, the younger generation is made of softies. It'll take a while for our reinforcements to arrive.

We'll let those Landbreakers live for a little while longer. But that's beside the point.

It's the rift. The terrifying rift that hangs above our heads. That's the source of danger. Valley IV has no other option but to place its faith in the Prototype...

Judging by what I see ... we don't have much time left.

Endmin, use these beacons if you need fire support. The survival of Valley IV rests upon the shoulders of your team.

This is our final push. Let's go, Endmin.

I've never seen such a mess of algorithms perform with such order. Did Yvonne do this? No... This isn't like her. Even if it were, this would have been impossible for someone of her skill...

This isn't a run-of-the-mill emotional emulator... What exactly is it?

What are the causative factors that led to this outcome? Self-learning? ...Is this even remotely possible?

We're back, Mr. Crowe. Is there something wrong with Tata?

Oh... Nothing's wrong. Just making a few personal postulations. Anyway, Dean and the crew mates are back. Did you retrieve the signal emitter?

Sleep well, Daniels. Old friend, know that your sacrifices are not in vain...

We need a place with bigger space. Come, let's head outside.

You're back! And you have retrieved the signal emitter.

I'm helping Professor Crowe record the figures of a few parameters. Is there anything I can help you with?

We have no other option. We either send out the Utjug Order and call for support, or see that rift in the sky turn Valley IV into a blighted hellscape...

Professor Crowe may seem like a stubborn and obsessed maniac... But everyone of us knows he only makes a decision after careful deliberation.

We can barely imagine the amount of stress he's been getting. If none of us were around to share the burden... Ugh...

I found Site Director Daniels... His body, actually...

He was with a few surviving crew mates before he fell. I thought he would stay in the lab and wait for us ... but he decided to strike back.

Site Director Daniels is the person I respect the most in this entire power plant. He taught me everything...

I know times are desperate, and I shouldn't let my emotions get the better of me. But ... but I ...

Yeah... I've got some preparations to do. See you around.

The UWST actually has measures in place to handle various contingencies. All of our resource extraction sites, like Valley IV, are furnished with a set of Arts Unit for issuing special orders.

We call this the Utjug Order.

The Utjug Order is not something to trifle with. Any area that issues the Utjug would be considered "under destructive military assault". All UWST military facilities will then begin to deploy military resources to the source of the Utjug signal.

That sounds awesome! Why didn't we send it out in the beginning?

Because the strategic measure was not meant for dealing with Landbreakers... Activating it requires more than just a special signal emitter. You'll also need two authorization keycards — each held by one of the highest ranking commanders.

We've never considered using this, ever since we blew up that giant Aggelos at the Origin Lodespring. Now that we're considering using the Utjug Order ... the only high ranking commander left ... is me.

I've sent several crew mates to recover the signal emitter and the other keycard, but none of them returned. We also lost contact with them.

They might have recovered the items, but maybe they're trapped outside, or could no longer make it back. I hope you can help us find our people, no matter what happened to them.

......

Great! I knew you would agree to my request!

One more thing. The power plant steam pipes have been damaged. The leaking steam might have blocked many passages.

The transport belt for the material feed has also been blocked by steam... These monitoring screens show the potential locations of my crew.

That fuel tank might help us avoid the steam...

I may have to stay to check on the Prototype. It will need to perform a crucial function later on.

Utjug? Now that's an interesting name.

Just an extreme measure to "stop the bleeding"...

Do you have any questions?

Simple. Send out the Utjug Order and call for backup. Failing that, I'll just take as many of these blighted scum with me —

We have plenty of measures to detonate the entirety of the Power Plateau. The energy reservoir explosion also has enough yield to affect the power facilities within the Æther Test Site.

We have been dealt a severe blow, but the UWST will not let the enemy leave this place without paying the price!

If we let them do as they please, their next victims would be our children and loved ones.

The young should not suffer this fate because they have a future. I've spent half of my life at this place. This power plant is a fitting tomb for an old man like me.

And it's a good thing you're here. Once you retrieve the things, the United Workers will be ready to retaliate.

They took us by surprise. A huge band of Landbreakers rushed into the power plant under the cover of a dark haze.

The blighted bastards overran the control area of this power plant fast, but I don't think that was their real target.

When they were here, they killed anyone they saw without hesitation. That seemed like their only order...

We fought back as hard as we could and used the terrain to our advantage. Even then, we only managed to save a handful of people.

But many more went ... ugh... I just hope Daniels is still alive...

You're talking about the Prototype? Yvonne gave it quite a few major upgrades. And it seems she also added an emotional emulator module.

I personally don't find that necessary. Simulated emotions do not represent true feelings. They are just different patterns of signal lights.

But Yvonne seems to enjoy the work. It's her project now, so she's free to do whatever she likes.

I'm just glad she completed the project. It proves that I made the right choice back then.

I might need more time to study the current version of the Prototype.

I'll wait here for your news. The UWST retaliation can afford no delays.

We will figure out how to fight off these Landbreakers and hold out till reinforcements arrive. We're counting on you to deal with that rift.

Use these beacons to mark the denstacks. Our UWST crew will take care of them and save you a great deal of time. The young crew mates may still be a bit green, but in time like this, we can count on them.

You once saved this place. It's the only reason why we could start building and developing this area.

We now need your assistance again. Countless souls have devoted entire lifetimes to this land. Please help us save it.

*Cautious emote*

*Sweet emote*

Go and help Clavell. He's not good at handling dangerous situations.

I was planning to go and help him once I deliver the authorization keycard...

Hope all this mess can end soon...

Valley IV can ill afford more destruction. It will take us a really long time to completely remediate this region...

The UWST will make these lunatics pay...

"Utjug" is our solution to stop the bleeding, and the hammer of our vengeance...