Arknights story · Operation Originium Dust

OD-7 Bunker Defense Line

Team Rainbow is determined to resolve the crisis in Long Spring, once and for all. After deploying their tactics, they split their forces in two, and Operator Ash leads her team into the mines to eliminate the source of the problem.

2 scenes, 209 lines

1. Before Operation

123 lines
Drudge

Wretched thing.

Mercenary

Boss, what are we gonna do?

I think we better fall back.

Drudge

Fall back? We haven't lost yet.

We already wiped out the guardsmen, we just need to wait for the right time to counterattack.

A couple Rhodes Island mercs are no big deal.

Where's my egghead?

Where's anybody?

Mercenary

What's that smell?

What happened to the guys we had watching him?

Levi

Looks like you're in a tough spot, my friend.

Let me guess, even with my mighty Originium creations, you still failed.

To be honest, I'm not the least bit surprised.

Drudge

I don't have time for your sarcasm.

Levi

Well, knowing what I know of you, you're here to ask me for new toys... No wonder your father doesn't like you.

Drudge

Enough bullshit, I need...

Levi

Are you talking to me, sir?

Because I think you forgot the magic word.

Drudge

What?

Levi

You're asking for my help. Was that the proper attitude?

Drudge

Are you screwing with me...?

Levi

Do I look like I'm joking?

Mercenary

Oh, this old geezer needs a beating!

Aaaahh!

What is this?! What is this?!

My head! My head's... gonna explode... it's...

Drudge

You! What have you done?!

Levi

You apes really have nothing of value beyond your brute strength.

And you, sir, do you really think you can keep science locked up in here with this bunch of mentally deficient clods?

Go, and tell our grand old sponsor to settle down.

Originiutant Infected

Gaa...

Guh...

Drudge

What the hell are those...??

Levi

You can't tell? They're your men.

Of course, they've become so much more now. Much more obedient.

And soon, you'll be just like them.

Drudge

Why can you control them? You know no Originium Arts!

Levi

Only Originium Arts can control them? You people are so blinkered.

Have you ever thought about why 'Originium Arts' can control those 'infected creatures'?

Of course, you, with your tiny brain, can never figure it out.

The mad scientist rolls up a sleeve.

A swollen Originium lump is twitching under his arm.

As if it were alive, having its own mind.

Levi

As long as you become a part of them, naturally you can communicate with them. We are having a good time together.

Drudge

You're such a hopeless lunatic...

I'm a member of the House of Tulla! I'm the successor to the Elder bloodline of the Tulla family.

It's a death sentence to murder a noble on land that belongs to the Lord Ameer of Bayalir.

Levi

Lord Ameer? Noble? Bloodline?

Haha...

Ahahahahaha...

You amuse me, Mr. Drudge.

But I'm tired of this joke.

'I do not hate the pig, I hate only the golden crown that hangs above.'

In my homeland, the cardinals were burned, kings were hanged, emperors beheaded, every vestige of the old order smashed to pieces to ensure none would ever again fear the so-called 'nobility.'

What Lord Ameer? What bloodline?

You are nothing to me.

The stinking sack of meat that is your body is even less useful than those of the Oripathy sufferers.

What do you call them again?

Oh yes, the Infected.

The Infected have contributed to my experiments. But what have you done?

Your status has no value to me. And your lack of foresight is baffling.

Useless trash.

Such a vile, stupid, evil thing still calls itself 'noble'?

Tell me, what part of you is noble?

Anyway, you have nothing to worry about. I have no interest in your rotten worldview... I am a scientist. I pursue only objective truth.

Drudge

What do you want?

Levi

Science treats all people equally. It won't change a bit because of your background.

Nobles and commoners are the same, on the operating table. The scalpel cuts skin just as well. Your contribution is identical.

Considering you specifically, once you donate your body to science, you will no doubt be slightly more noble than you are now.

You should feel honored.

Drudge

You despicable traitor!

Levi

Traitor? Traitor?

Ahahahahaha...

You raised your hand against your very own sister. You betrayed your flesh and blood. You colluded with foreign mercenaries to plunder your father's wealth. You betrayed the country that birthed and raised you.

And you still have the gall to call me traitor?

Drudge

You won't get away. You have no idea what the forces behind me are doing.

They're the ones who came up with all your research funding for the last six months. If you betray me now, you're betraying them too.

The people of Volvort Kochinski will hunt you to the ends of the world. They will kill you!

There's nowhere you can run.

Levi

That, I will handle. Don't you worry.

Goodbye, imbecile.

Frost

What's with the getup?

Tachanka

I found it in the Lord's storehouse. It looks good.

Frost

...Yeah, it sure does.

Picale

This is the craziest battle plan I've ever heard.

Rangers

Very convincing.

Picale

How do you know an Originium explosion will draw the monsters out of the ground?

Tachanka

All I can say is it's thanks to the doctor.

The monsters have been obeying the casters all this time, except that one night. I realized those wild monsters were actually chasing the scattered Originium shards.

Picale

So you decided this is the way to go?

Tachanka

It's kind of a gamble, actually.

Picale

Where did you get this Originium engine?

Tachanka

...Well... some things happened, and, I guess, we ended up with a car.

Liskarm

...it looks awfully familiar.

Franka

...isn't it the one we lost?

Rangers

Let's not worry about that now. Hah.

Picale

What about the mine?

Tachanka

That mercenary we caught basically gave out everything. The factory your brother used to produce monsters is located deep inside the mine. I even think he probably hasn't given up yet.

Picale

Ah... That makes sense.

Tachanka

If we bait the monsters out here, Cohen will have a chance to bring her people down there and blow the *profanity* thing up.

Just as simple as that.

Liskarm

Doesn't sound simple though...

Rangers

This plan seems to be full of the unexpected and far from seamless.

But I like this kind of plan, where battling is the only solution.

Liskarm

If even Rangers says so...

Tachanka

All right, friends. Take your places.

If all goes according to plan, firing up the Originium engine will get a whole bunch of monsters coming at us.

And we're in for a tough fight.

And thank you, Rhodes Islanders... for choosing to stay and help.

Franka

Don't worry about it. It's my job to clear out contaminated wildlife.

Liskarm

Is that unpaid work?

Franka

You're so annoying!

Picale

...Thank you... I don't know how to express my gratitude...

Rangers

Let's save the thanks for later.

Tachanka

Alright. If there are no further questions...

The Originium engine chugs out a steady sound, with thick smoke rising up and flames lighting up the sky.

Liskarm

Here they come...

Franka

......

Too many?

Frost

How many? Over a hundred?

Rangers

No, probably more...

Tachanka

No... there are even more coming.

We can only hope Cohen is doing okay.

2. After Operation

86 lines
Picale

Away with you!

This is endless!

Tachanka

How many of these *profanity* things did they make?!

Rangers

Liskarm! Look out behind you!

Originiutant

Gaa...

Franka

Watch out!

Liskarm

Franka!

What are you doing?!

Give me a hand, Miss Lord!

Picale

Oh, okay!

Franka

You... run!

Liskarm

Don't speak!

Franka

My leg...You... just leave me.

Liskarm

Cut the bullshit!

Piggyback, quick!

Picale

They're coming back!

Tachanka

Now! Get out of here!

Occphen

Over here!

Liskarm

Mr. Occphen! What are you doing here?

Occphen

How could I just wait around down there? I'm a Rhodes Island Operator too!

Liskarm

Damn straight! You really saved us!

Rangers

Get ready to blow the engine...

Three, two, one...

Tachanka

What's the situation?

Rangers

They've been pushed back, for now. But they'll come for us again before long.

Frost

There... seems to be less of them?

I'm all out of 'welcome mats.' Ammo's gone too.

What's the plan, Alexsandr?

Tachanka

Get to the shelter.

Frost

What?

Tachanka

Get to the shelter! Take the Rhodes Island Operators and get to shelter!

Frost

What about you?

Tachanka

I'll cover you.

Frost

Cover? And who's covering you?

Tachanka

I don't need cover.

Frost

Hey! Get it together! Alexsandr!

Tachanka

I'm all together.

I'm tired of all the hiding and running.

Running can't win you the war. History's shown.

Frost

But this isn't a war.

Tachanka

It is to me.

When they pull weapons on the Infected and try to kill my friends, it's a war.

I've been through plenty of wars in my time.

If I can kill even one more *profanity* monster here, it'll give the townsfolk a better shot at survival.

I'll make my stand here until I run out of ammo. Until the very end.

The battle's not over. How could I retreat?

Frost

You're the one who says not to play hero!

Tachanka

I don't think I'm playing hero, Tina.

I'm just doing the right thing.

No matter what happens, the show ends here, today.

Frost

Alexsandr! !

Rangers

I'm staying too.

Frost

But why...?

Rangers

It was always going to turn out like this. We all knew it, from the moment you decided to stay and fight.

I'll stay behind and help the warrior hold them back. And if things go bad, I'll cover his retreat.

Frost

Mr. Rangers...

Alexsandr, take this.

Tachanka

What's this?

Frost

An Originium bomb I tried my hand at making. There's only two left.

Tachanka

...Thanks.

Frost

Stay alive!

Tachanka

...No promises.

You didn't tell her the truth. You're not going to run.

Rangers

Hahaha... You didn't have to go blowing this old man's scheme.

You need someone to hold these monsters back.

The aged ranger takes out a blade.

Tachanka

This is...?

Rangers

The old Lord's blade. I borrowed it.

This is a fine blade. The old Lord had good taste.

Beautifully decorated steel, and a hand-lain turquoise handle that's as nice as any modern industrially-manufactured weapon.

It's a lot safer to stand in the back with a bow and arrow than fighting on the front line.

The old Savra ranger dances with his long, curved blade.

Rangers

I'm so much older and slower than I was.

Tachanka

But the blade, she's as sharp as ever.

Rangers

I still don't know your name, warrior.

Tachanka

Alexsandr Senaviev.

You can call me Alexsandr.

Rangers

I should tell you my name too.

But the sands buried my name the day we stained the valley red with blood, along with the past.

Tachanka

It's fine.

You decided to stay and fight. That's what matters.

'Rangers'.

'They told me I'd died. They were wrong. I was reborn. '

No matter how many of those monsters there are.

Let them come.