Vol. F Ch. 4 Ep. 2: Resistance 1

A-Aru. Look at the sky.

It looks like things are gonna get dicey here again.

...What about it? C'mon, you two!

A-Aru?

Sensei and Kayoko are up there right now, pushing with all their might!

If you're going to turn tail and cry over a little bump in the road like this, don't even think about facing them ever again!

Wow! Aru!

Heehee.

We're going to do everything we can from here!

Yes, yes! I'll follow you until the end, Aru!

...Aru is so cool in critical moments.

...What was that light?

I don't see any response in the data...

...I should investigate just in case.

What's the situation?

I think the sanctums are manifesting again.

*sigh*

D-Do you think...Sensei's o-okay?

We don't have time to worry about that. Right now, we need to prepare for an attack.

Sniper, go to the next location and wait. I need the RABBIT Squad leader to take the lead. Since Aris isn't here, I'll deal with the concentrated fire.

We'll do what we can.

Yes. Understood!

Repeat. All passengers are requested to evacuate quickly. Initiating self-destruct sequence in 17 seconds...

H-Himari... Can we stop this?

G-Give me a moment...!

Please evacuate quickly. Initiating self-destruct sequence in 9 seconds...

I-I can't... I've been defeated...

Don't give up!!!

R-Rio?!

Is that the way a genius hacker talks? Himari?

Initiating self-destruct sequence in 9 seconds... Initiating self-destruct sequence in 9 seconds... Initiating self-destruct sequence in 9 seconds...

D-Did it stop...?

I forcibly stopped Utnapishtim using the multidimensional analysis suppression function.

But this is only a temporary measure.

I see. After all, the Ark will speed away after the multidimensional analysis suppression is over...

It did buy some time though.

In the meantime, we have to figure this out. Even if it has a control system with impeccable performance, no program is perfect. There has to be a strategy to beat it.

I can't do it on my own. I'll need help.

I never thought I'd hear those words come out of your mouth, Big Sister.

Right... Even a control system that powerful should have a communication terminal that relays commands.

If we find and destroy that terminal, the forced connection will be broken.

We can't stop the hack, so we cut the wires instead? That could work, but...

Yes, it's only a temporary measure. There will be a spare terminal, so again, it's only buying time.

But...if we successfully recover Utnapishtim from the hack and secure control of the Ark's computational device...

We can restart the Ark of Atrahasis' self-destruct sequence.

And the escape sequence I prepared will also become usable.

...

...

Chi! Can you find the location of the Ark's communication terminal?

Already looking. I'm analyzing the Ark's traffic volume...to find where the concentration is...

We can follow the calls, but finding the actual physical hardware is way beyond our abilities!

We would need a blueprint and structural diagram.

...We'd need the Engineering Department's help.

...Yes, I heard. I'm looking now.

I'm doing my best... I have to interpret the Ark's blueprint... Analyzing the 3D spatial scan of the structural diagram is no walk in the park.

Yes, we're going in order, starting from the area with the highest traffic volume... P-Please give us a moment! We're going as fast as we can!

Leader...

I know. I feel the same way. But...

Yes. Let's place our faith in them and wait.

...

*sigh*

Heehee... Don't quiver now.

Wh-Who says I'm quivering?!

*pant* ... *pant*

We're not giving up. Not now. Not ever.

...

Got it! All of the hacking signals are passing through this area!

I'm sending you the location now, Chihiro! It's a place called the Shar-Kali-Sharri Corridor!

It's the sector at the very bottom of the Ark!!

Great work. I've got it. I'm converting it to navigational data and sending now.

If we destroy that, the forced connection between Utnapishtim and the ark will be removed!

Yes. It's done. The Ark's lowest sector, the Shar-Kali-Sharri Corridor. We have to go down twelve hundred meters from here.

But disabling that sector's security system is quite complicated! I'll explain how...

Leave it to me!

...Confirmed!

Already?!

I'll summarize. To reach the communication terminal in the Shar-Kali-Sharri Corridor at the lowest floor of the Ark, we must first open a huge barrier blocking the way.

Utnapishtim has been hacked, so it's impossible to open the barrier from here.

The only way is to simultaneously destroy the two fail-safes located in the eastern and western sectors of the Ark.

Then the barrier will open for about five seconds, and we can destroy the communication terminal within that time!

F-Five seconds...?

It doesn't matter! We just have to do it! Divide into three teams: one go east, another west, and the last to the lowest floor!

Getting to the east and west sides won't be a problem, but the bottom floor... How are we supposed to travel twelve hundred meters within that time frame?

...Heeheeheehee.

Fuuka. It's finally time.

What do you mean by time? You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking.

Of course I am. Fuuka, this moment was created to allow you to showcase your talent to the entire world.

You've been cultivating this talent for so long.

You've trained every day to improve, despite repeated failure... I know how hard you work...

Yes! It's time to unleash that talent! That effort! That skill! This is destiny!

It's driving! ★

Right! That's what the School Lunch Club president is best at!

Yeah, you're the number one expert for this situation, Fuuka.

Haruna... Do you live to make my life miserable? Is that what this is?

You're focusing on the wrong details! Fuuka, you're on this ship for this very moment!

Not for your stupid space food?!

Anyway! Destruction is our specialty! We got this!

We'll blow things up! The rest of you go open the barrier!

Got it. We're on it.

We'll take care of the emergency fail-safe in the east part!

We're the closest ones to it right now!

Let's deal with this quickly, and then go help Sensei and Shiroko!

I'll get you guys there!

Then we will take the west side!

The Game Development Department?!

Y-Yes! We can get there the fastest.

I trust in you. Let me show you the way.

Okay, let's go!

D-Don't leave without me!

Aris, are you doing okay?

Yes! No problems at all!

Oh, and the Sword of Light: Atrahasis Super Nova has not been destroyed as of yet.

...So that's the name we decided on?

Yes. Himari, can you please check on it just in case?

That's probably for the best. I'll check, but take care of yourself, Aris.

Thank you!

Are you ready, Fuuka?

*sigh* How in the world did I get roped into this too?

We're on board!

I'm so excited. We're gonna destroy everything!

If everyone is here, let's go! We don't have time!

*sigh* Going down twelve hundred meters...? Well, let's think of this as just another delivery...

Let's go, Fuuka. When everything is successful, give us a thumbs up!

Don't even try to make me do that. Or I'll actually get mad this time.

Then, let's GOOO!

AHHHHHH!