The Mission Continues

Director Qin, the construction vehicle has been deployed. We also cleared away the surrounding debris. Our crew is ready to go once we're done with fine-tuning the vehicle.

Good job. Now we'll wait for the Endmin to... Ah, looks like they've arrived.

Endministrator! Supervisor Perlica! Thank you so much for saving my life out there!

While you launched the attack on the Valley Fort, we found many lost crew mates. We also freed some imprisoned survivors.

It's all thanks to Endfield that we managed to escape!

Don't worry. Everyone in Valley IV knows how important the Power Plant is.

At least the defeat of that Rhodagn forced the other breakers to slow down... We can actually start hoping for the situation to get better.

Yeah, but now we should focus on the work at hand. Endmin, we're almost done clearing away the landslide. The next step of our operation may begin.

Unfortunately, we cannot get in touch with the UWST site directors of the Power Plateau. We lost every drone we dispatched to that area. Severe radio interference is denying our efforts to call them.

The Bonekrushers clearly possess some radio interference equipment. But why would they do all this? What are they after...?

The Power Plateau has an Originium Power Plant. It's the primary source of power in Valley IV and has been closely monitored by the UWST.

The UWST also has an Æther Test Site at the plateau. I don't know what the Landbreakers are looking for, but losing the place would deal a grievous blow to our side.

That's right. There is a quasi-permanent Æther rift in Valley IV. The Test Site has been monitoring this phenomenon for quite a while.

There are plenty of such Æther rifts throughout Talos-II. Most are undetectable to the unaided eye, and they often bring about Blight disasters or affect the vicinity in various ways.

Suffice to say, the UWST has deployed sizable defenses to the Power Plateau. They should be able to hold out for a while.

I just hope they can defend the Originium Power Plant properly. Nefarith has been making her underlings sabotage the power systems.

Holy?! Isn't that the direction of...

An Æther rift has opened? How did this happen?

Come in, Endmini ... you copy?

Endministrator!! Supervisor Perlica!!

Hooo... The Power Plateau! Something terrible's happened there! Blight reactions everywhere! All readings are going beyond the threshold!

Director Qin, we need an evacuation plan.

The Hub area is safe for now, but with such violent Æther activities going on, the spreading Blight might soon reach this place.

If the Blight destroys more of our roads and transport routes, the results would be disastrous...

Hold! HOLD ON! I got a solution! Do you remember the TA-TA Prototype we were working on?

The Prototype can stabilize Æther energy fluctuations. If we can get it close enough to the rupture rift, we might contain its spread!

Director Qin, we've cleared the road to the Originium Science Park. The situation at that place isn't looking too good either.

Time is critical. Have your crew move the Prototype there, now.

When the Ætherside comes in contact with realspace, it creates a rift and triggers a Blight reaction.

What we're seeing right now is similar to an eruption of a dormant volcano! Except this one spits the Blight, and it's way more dangerous than lava!

Nefarith may have energized the previously stable Æther rift at the Power Plateau... She has planned this deliberate act of sabotage.

I can even adjust its large area Arts Unit. This will let the Prototype get rid of localized Blight... Oh yes, this is totally doable!

Really?! That chunky bot can do that?

Endministrator! Supervisor Perlica! We'll meet up with you at Vannikov's site.

How are you doing? Is the crew affected by the Æther rupture that just took place?

Everyone's fine. We followed the rules and evacuated for a bit. Thankfully, nothing too serious happened around here.

But there's major blightery on the other end of this road. A few crew mates are already off to deliver the most essential supplies to the place. But there's just too much Blight. We can't afford to risk our lives.

Being cautious is the right move. You need professional tools to handle professional work.

We managed to make the Prototype work on time. All thanks to the AIC and our Hub Base engineers!

*Happy emote*

Once you're in a severely Blighted area, activate the Prototype's active interference function. This should expose the Blight Core. Then you'll have to manually inflict some physical interference to the exposed core.

Of course. But don't forget about the Prototype's true function. Do whatever you can to escort it safely to the Power Plateau. We must use it to stop the expansion of the Æther rift. Your mission will determine the survival of everything in Valley IV.

Don't worry, we'll keep the Prototype safe. It is our chance to avert this crisis.

Let's not dally, team. Time to go!

You mean some chopping and slashing? Yeah, I can do that. This is way easier than a class on theoretical blightery.