Blue Archive story · Final Volume, Chapter 3, Episode 8
Vol. F Ch. 3 Ep. 8: Operational Briefing
1 scenes, 145 lines
1. Part 1
145 lines
Our plans for the upcoming operation are complete.
Thank you to everyone for assisting in preparing for this operation.
The operation name is the Ark of Atrahasis Conquest.
If this is successful, this will be our last operation together.
O-Our last...
Well, yeah. If we win, everyone gets to go home. If we lose, that's the end of Kivotos.
Whatever the result, this is our last battle.
W-We'll succeed! Don't make everyone anxious, Kayoko!
It'll work. Top experts from various fields have all worked together to come up with this plan.
It's the closest thing we'll ever get to a perfect operation.
...Allow me to debrief you on the plans.
Our main objective is to destroy the Ark of Atrahasis in the sky above Kivotos.
Only by destroying it can we prevent the False Sanctums from corrupting Kivotos.
However, the Ark is protected by a quantum superposition state barrier that makes physical access from the outside impossible.
As long as this barrier is in place, physically reaching the Ark is impossible.
Therefore, we plan to pass through the barrier by putting the Utnapishtim's Ship in the same quantum superposition state.
In other words, we're getting on their level and sliding on in.
I'll be doing the calculations of the multidimensional analysis utilizing the immense computing power of this ship.
Out of curiosity, what happens if your calculations are messed up?
It's a reasonable question. If you enter a space in the quantum superposition state under the premise of a failed calculation...
If we're unlucky, we'll shatter into atoms. If we're lucky, we'll be thrown off the ship and fall from a height of 75,000 meters.
A-At that height...a halo could be destroyed.
We'll be dead way before we hit the ground.
At that height, it's colder than sixty degrees below zero. One breath and your lungs will freeze.
Your bodily fluids would boil and vaporize before you could blink. If exposed to such an extreme environment, your halo would last two minutes, max.
Thank you for your very optimistic prognosis, Kayoko. I feel very encouraged.
We're not going to fail. We cannot.
After passing through the barrier, we'll be able to physically impact the Ark and enter.
We must break into the Ark, hack its operating system, and thoroughly destroy it so it can never function again.
Naturally, we don't expect the enemies inside the Ark to take it lying down.
It'll be a slow, careful crawl. We will defend against attacks and occupy each area of the Ark piece by piece until we're close enough to take over its controls.
If we seize control of the Ark like that, we can make it self-destruct or crash to the ground.
In other words, our victory conditions are to hack and steal the Ark.
Oh. I'm a humble support-type AMAS.
President Rio?!
...That didn't take long.
We've been wondering where you disappeared to! What are you doing here?!
Th-That...
Seriously... Aris and the Game Development Department are here. What are you thinking?
Rio is assisting me.
You'll grow wrinkles on your forehead, Yuuka. I'm keeping a close eye on her. If she tries anything, I'll take great pleasure in destroying her.
*sigh*
I don't know what you're up to, but don't even think about going near the Game Development Department! I'm watching you!
But we will talk later, President. I have a lot to discuss with you, starting with the embezzlement!
...Understood.
Just in case, I'll find a way for us to return to the ground...with your permission, of course.
Granted, please do. If Utnapishtim breaks down, we'll be stuck in the Ark.
I'll get to it right away.
Ayumu, how much time do we have left?
Until the reappearance of the False Sanctums...we have about twelve hours.
Ugh... We have to drive this battleship up into the sky and capture the Ark within that time, right?
Is this operation even remotely feasible?
Three percent...
Hm... We're gonna need a miracle to be successful...
"Three percent is better than zero."
...Yes. You're right, Sensei.
This is an unprecedented situation in Kivotos... We've gotten all the way here by forging a path through utterly incomprehensible phenomena.
Ever since the first sign, Yurizono Seia's prophecy, we've been in uncharted territory...
When the six masses of energy were detected in Kivotos, they were invisible and incomprehensible phenomena.
The False Sanctums that appeared afterward attacked with all the mysteries that have occurred in Kivotos so far.
The uncontrollable AI Decagrammaton, the Mimesis that reproduces memories, ancient technology like the Nameless Gods...
...And the Chroma that distorts the identity of Kivotos students...
Through a large-scale allied operation, we successfully banded together, defeated the guardians and destroyed all the sanctums...
Now the sanctums are about to be restored.
All of these situations have been terrifying and beyond my comprehension... I'm sure each and every one of you understands.
The prophecy, Decagrammaton, Mimesis, the Chroma, the Nameless Gods, Divi:Sion, the False Sanctums, the guardians, the Guide of Chroma, and Phrenapates...
The probability of success may only be three percent, but...it doesn't matter. We have to work through the odds, just like we've always done.
"As Rin says. Just one more time, let's give our all to save Kivotos."
I'm with Sensei. We can't turn back without at least trying.
One last battle.
We're bringing Shiroko back, one way or another.
*sigh* I guess I don't have a choice.
We've come all the way here, so we can only move forward.
Then please prepare Utnapishtim's Ship. We must be ready to proceed in eight hours.
What?! E-Eight hours?
We have the manual, don't we? We'll just have to memorize it.
You expect someone to stuff all that information in their brain in a few hours?
It doesn't matter if it's possible or not. We just have to do it. We'll master the manual and operate Utnapishtim's Ship.
*sigh* ...The operator... I think we need at least ten of them... Maybe one hundred...
"Leave the operations to me."
Sensei's gonna do it?
"The Shittim Chest can make it work somehow."
I can't talk that big and then just sit back. I'll support you, Sensei.
R-Rin?
We're all in here. There's no room for playing it safe or hesitations. I won't leave Sensei to deal with the most dangerous task on their own.
"Rinny... You're my rock!"
If it's just memorizing a manual, I-I think I can do it...
Even Ayumu?!
Well, if Sensei says so, I, the treasurer of Seminar, can't sit on the sidelines. I'll join too.
I'll do it too. I'm pretty good at memorizing!
I didn't come here to do something like this. *sigh* But I guess I have no choice.
Wow... Everyone is so enthusiastic.
Just so you know, this is way too much for me.
Momoka... You came all the way here and you're not going to help?
Didn't you say...you would follow Rin to the ends of the universe...with me?
Wh-Whoa! Don't make that face!
Ugh! I got it, I got it!
Sure, why not! I guess I can do it too.
Huh? Uniforms...?
Well, we're the intergalactic battleship crew. Isn't a dedicated uniform part of the bill?
W-Wait... A dedicated uniform?
I can handle that. Yeah. I can do it.
What?! Hibiki, you have time for that?
Uniforms for an intergalactic battleship crew.
That'll be a challenge...
One that I refuse to turn down.
We can't let down the dreams of the Engineering Department! We can't wear school uniforms while shouting lines like, "Take off!" or, "Raise the altitude!"
Okay, great! I'll find some references from animes and mangas!
Yeah, and I'll get to the production now. First, I need everyone's sizes.
Wow... I'm excited. Let me discuss with you in detail about the design!
Sounds great. Then I'll add some features and modify it into something more like a pilot suit rather than just a uniform.
Do you have any opinions, Sensei?
"Yes, I do! I have an opinion!"
I have a bad feeling about this...
"An intergalactic battleship operator must wear a garrison hat!!"
"It's like being a flight attendant, so a scarf is standard!!"
"I don't know much else, but most importantly, a captain must wear a long coat!!"
That's quite specific...
Hmm, okay. We'll consider your opinion.
(What the heck is going on...?)
*sigh* Then let's get this underway.
We'll start departure preparations now and fly to the Ark above the sky in eight hours.
We need to bring in operators, air traffic controllers, hackers...and people to manage meals and medical treatment...
Yes. We'll need to recruit more students as well.
Rin...
You, Sensei, and the rest of the students have been working all this time without rest...
Don't you think everyone needs a break? Especially you, Rin.
...Yes.
We won't be able to perform at our best if we're sleep deprived. We should all take some time to rest.
Everyone, we leave eight hours from now. As soon as the sun rises.
Until then, please rest while you can.
I will see you all tomorrow morning, above the sky!