Echocalypse: Scarlet Covenant story · Main story, Act 9: Desert of Sand
44. Enter Town
Maybe I've been teaching some bad habits. Let's keep this type of thing to a minimum for future missions.
7 scenes, 77 lines
1. Enter Town
11 lines
You heard her. The passes are totally legit.
They are...
But there's a catch, am I right?
Huh?
The passes all look much the same, but they are issued by different people, am I right?
If I'm not mistaken, the problem with your passes is the person who has issued them.
Is that so?
Argh, dammit.
It's true. The person who authorized these passes is the one they call Lord Wadjet.
Lord Wadjet is not popular among the common folk. No one dares disobey her, though a little bit of larceny is okay.
I see.
2. Stage 44-1, before the battle
13 lines
We've got the passes, but I still think we should try to sneak in without being noticed...
We don't have a choice. The gates on this side are closed. If we want to get in today, we will have to sneak inside.
Trap?
Thinking about it, the lockdown did seem to go very smoothly, as if the Nebu army were expecting it.
But if they were planning a lockdown all along, what could be the purpose of it?
...Maybe we're overthinking it?
The objective is agents, or in other words, people sneaking into Nebu with nefarious intent.
The other powers are all very curious about this Gift of Water event. Nebu knows that too, and this is their solution!
The lockdown will force malicious actors out into the open, like putting a big signpost on their heads...
But what could serve as the signpost...? Hold on...
If I'm not mistaken, these problematic passes would do exactly that.
3. Stage 44-1, after the battle
16 linesSo we can't use them?
I'm just speculating. I don't know for sure.
It's easy enough to find out. Just ask if the other gates were closed at the same time.
If they were, that will prove Nebu was planning to shut them all along.
But it just shows they had a plan. It doesn't explain why they did it... and it doesn't mean our cover is blown.
But we still need to be careful and not use these passes if we can help it.
Agreed.
But they could still come in handy. That guy gave us loads of passes.
We can use different passes at different checkpoints and use different names. We can move around using different identities.
And avoid detection by the Nebu army?
No, but it might take them longer to catch us than the other people using passes.
That will do.
(On the other side)
I want to report a possible ''Target''.
They were using special Teslovik techniques. Four-person squad. Disciplined and on the same mission.
Gotcha. I will call it in at once.
4. Stage 44-3, before the battle
11 linesLord Wadjet, I have news.
Yes? From whom?
An ex-smuggler from the Gray Marsh Tribe... at the border crossing.
Regarding?
She thinks she encountered the ''Target''.
Are they certain?
She fought them. According to the report, they used Teslovik techniques.
It was a four-person squad. They resembled the target in all respects.
Okay.
5. Stage 44-3, after the battle
8 lines6. Stage 44-10, before the battle
12 linesArrrrgh... I was just about to go and lie down!
It's not a problem with the passes. We haven't even used them yet. We were double-crossed!
That thug worked for Rasparta!
Snezhana was right; every second person you meet in Nebu IS a member of Rasparta...
Actually, I was just spitballing... Rasparta doesn't have that much control over Nebu.
The Gift of Waters revival is a special occasion. All trustworthy Nebu troops will be deployed to keep the peace.
In other words, Nebu is very vulnerable right now and Rasparta could easily take advantage.
Sorry to interrupt your pleasant discussion. Obviously I have not impressed my authority upon you.
You and whose...
I'm sorry. I have not introduced you to these cute little troopers yet.
If you fail to capture the Target, you will all be sent to serve as Lord Wadjet's slaves.
I'm sure you know what that means.