Destroy enemy anti-air emplacement
Blue Goblet displayed the enemy force density forecast to Little Lady.
The simple map turns red. Seems like we're supposed to move Tomas around the red zone.
Too much detour—won’t make it in time.
After gaining a sufficient distance, forced breakthrough is recommended.
Enemy pursuit is expected, but you should be able to buy time for阵地 destruction.
Hmph....What now after the breach. Can't return to the unit while captured by the enemy.
An underground bunker, used in past combat, lies near the anti-air emplacement deployment point. It will provide cover.
Hey hey hey, you okay? Sniffing through clenched teeth, clinging to Tomas.
The Blue Goblet is a navigation AI, but it does not always make perfect decisions. That was something understood from past story missions.
There's no alternative now. Only execution remains.
Tomos will be discarded. A pity.
This unit has delivered adequate results. More than its cost, one could say.
"Depreciation complete. How amusing for an AI to say such things."
Continuing to run across the wasteland. A structure resembling a city appeared in the distance. And something shifting, writhing in the shadows.
Enemy presence always hovered nearby. One misstep and they’d be surrounded, flattened in an instant.
Walking a tightrope. But the thrill of crisis excites Sergeant Io.
A transmission arrives from Little Lady.
Sergeant Io, this is Moimisuka 02. We’re exiting the power plant.
Wait outside anti-air range. But there’s a chance of detection.
Hurry up.
"Speedy, huh. Bold of you."
……Orlando, out.
The communication from Moimisuka ends without reply to Io’s sarcasm.
The message held no meaning beyond simple contact.
Enemy presence detected.
Southwest, seven o'clock
Can you establish enemy force positioning?
Six units of the infantry walker Cyphs upgrade model.
Utility pouch contains a magnification device. Confirm it.
Something was pursuing Tomas from behind. Io withdrew a monocular from the pouch attached to the armor.
Close-up reveals the inverted joint and the lizard-like face spanning it.
Cyphs have lizards riding them.
The Cyphs upgrade model has reduced firepower from its mounted weapons, but armor and speed have both improved.
Evasion is difficult.
Cyphs underwent significant structural modifications. A mounted platform was integrated into the back.
Weedran is boarding the Cyphs and operating it directly—interesting turn of events.
Stealth purge. Commencing forced breach.
Time to target point!
Two minutes remaining.
Too close! That cavalry pretender gets crushed here!
A place dotted with large boulders in the wilderness. Io guides Tomas toward them, then leaps down without hesitation.
Goblet, leave Tomas to you! Destroy the position!
Combat support initiated. Agent Io, results expected.
Tomas speeds forward with a drive sound. Io licks his lips.
Dusty.
Hiding behind a boulder, checks Raven’s status. Confirms no faults. Reaches into the chest pouch.
Information displayed in the view: smoke grenade.
Deploy smoke screen to blind the enemy, use Snake Eye for our own sight.
Standard tactic for Io throughout previous engagements.
Terrain is open. Be mindful of wind. Smoke may not function effectively.
Even if not perfect, creating favorable conditions is enough.
Distance between us and enemy approximately seven hundred. Io drops smoke and takes a deep breath.
Hold breath for five seconds. Pale brown smoke fills the surroundings. Enemy Cyphs’ drive sounds grow steadily louder.
Coming straight in, ignoring the smoke.
Looks like an easy job.
‘Enemy splitting into two groups. Three ahead, three on the right.’
‘Activate Snake Eye.’
‘Understood. Snake Eye activated.
No obstructing equipment in vicinity. Maximum effect achievable.’
A slightly more precise shot is needed. Io leans forward from behind the rock, assumes a knee-ring stance, and rests the left elbow on the knee.
Targeting the heat source floating in the field of view.
The world warps, time slows. Sound itself seems to retreat to some distant place.
Straight ahead—single shot. Shatters the skull of the lead Weedran in one blow.
‘Beautiful’
‘One more.’
Deep breath. Time slows again.
When he finishes off the two ahead at the same pace, Io’s body jerks violently.
Snake Eye disengages. He tries to rise, but his knees tremble—unstable.
‘Condition degrading. Auxiliary brain under extreme load.
Initiating nanomachine protective protocols.’
Now? This timing is too poor for theatrics.
Yet he’s been warned by Goblet all along.
Every reckless engagement grants Io a Basté—call it that, it’s not inaccurate—and without proper treatment, recovery won’t occur.
Like the 3552 avatar, this one is at critical threshold. Movement feels slightly sluggish.
But the innate body. Soldier Io-200 is exceptionally resilient under these conditions.
Still enemies remain. Hold on a little longer.
Reactivating functions. Continue combat.
Snake Eye status?
Unable to activate. Respond with current configuration.
Cyphs drive sound. Close proximity.
Rushing through scattered rocks nearby.
Wind dispersing the smoke screen. Io sharpens neural focus.
Come on, you damn lizard.
Leaps from cover. Fires at the faint shadow beyond the smoke.
Bullet deflected by armor. Enemy executes a sharp spin with Cyphs, returning fire.
A massive hole appears in the rock beside him. Cyphs said firepower has decreased, but a direct hit is still fatal.
Io reacquires target. Enemy is stationary. This time, no miss.
Enemy down!
Enemy flank approaching.
Shoot. Two remaining. Io dives into another rock shadow. Bullets shred the surroundings.
Deploy flashbang. No hesitation.
One of the two is thrown from Cyphs. Appears to have taken a direct hit.
Io shoots it immediately. Legs trembling. Shooting accuracy degrading. Failed to fully suppress Raven's recoil.
One left.
The final one charges Io, using Cyphs as a shield. Smoke screen no longer functional.
Gah—aww!
Is that how lizards scream?
Machinegun fire erupts wildly from Cyphs. Passes near Io’s ear, shatters ground beneath feet.
Inner ear burning. Hearing loss. One misstep and the body would’ve torn apart.
Agent Io takes cover behind rock once more. Enemy Cyphs dives in, executing a sharp turn mid-flight.
Eyes meet with Weedran. Golden, feral pupils split vertically.
Yet, as expected, Io’s shot is faster.
Before Cyphs’ turret completes its rotation, Io has already eliminated Weedran.
“All clear.”
“Excellent result. However, Agent Io, an issue has occurred.”
A mission already riddled with problems. What now?
“First anti-air position neutralized. However, Tomas deployed two units. Currently engaging captured Tomas.”
A deep, rumbling cannon blast vibrates through the abdomen, distant but visceral.
“Can we win?”
“Cannot overcome the disparity. Severe damage sustained.”
Explosion. Io narrows her brow.
“…Status?”
Enemy combat drones Tomas two units destroyed. However, the captured Tomas is severely damaged.
"Worst case. The operation has collapsed."
If any enemy Tomas remained, we might have seized control again. But now that they’re destroyed, it’s impossible.
Even assaulting the enemy lines on foot would take too long. Moimisuka will be detected.
"Operation modification proposal available."
"Details?"
"The control unit of the enemy Tomas we just engaged remains intact. It’s equipped with the latest Weedran data pack. Utilizing it might allow us to spoof enemy friend-or-foe identification."
"...Huh. How exactly would you implement that?"
A display overlays the view: Condor footage, Tomas footage, and positional data relative to the hostile anti-air emplacement.
"Connect the Condor under Sergeant Kouranjé with the Tomas control unit."
Approaching the hostile anti-air emplacement under false identification. This will be done at low altitude.
Risking the VIP's safety?
If we can't escape, it's the same outcome. The Blue Goblet has calculated the plan with the highest success rate.
Io shrugged and smiled.
Fine. I'll take it.
——
Requesting Camille’s Condor via comms. Recovering the control unit from the Tomas wreckage and connecting it to the Condor.
Camille shouts over the rotor noise, voice tight with anxiety.
Where did you get that tech?!
You don’t need to know!
Damn annoying bastard!
...If you really want to know, the military police love that one.
Condor arcs sharply while maintaining low altitude.
Io operates Little Lady, supported by Goblet.
Got it. I’ll stop. I appreciate the concern, Sergeant.
Anti-air positions were visible from above. The absence of enemy attacks since arriving meant Goblet's strategy was working.
Unbelievable—actually reached it.
Eyeball can't be fooled—attack begins immediately!
Interesting! I'll show you what a real pilot looks like, Sergeant—no pretense, no recklessness!
The enemy air defense perimeter closes in with alarming speed.
Activate long-range sensors. Fortunately, the enemy shows no movement. Not yet.
Lowering altitude extends the time before detection.
Goblet, a sly smile at the edge of vision. Io shouted.
Sergeant! Lower the altitude! Get low—crawl along the ground!
Danger level exceeds parameters.
Not some idle whim or reckless stunt, Sergeant Kouranjé!
Remember this later.
If you're still alive—!
Condor descended further, accelerating additionally.
Closer still. Just shy of effective range for Condor's mounted weapons.
『Enemy has detected us.』
“Sergeant, we’re spotted!”
Camille fixed her gaze on Condor’s instruments, barking orders to Io.
“…Corporal, prepare for descent! Keep going!
If Condor can’t destroy the anti-air emplacement, you do it!”
Condor tilted sharply, veering off course—still advancing despite erratic trajectory.
Red alert blared. Laser targeting. White smoke from missiles launched from the anti-air position.
“Missile!”
『Infantry-portable weapons. We can endure.』
“Look at them, you scum—just try to hit me!”
Camille roared. She swung Condor violently in every direction, evading all six guided missiles.
“This is exactly the kind of mission I wanted.”
She yanked the controls hard. The Gatling gun mounted on Condor locked onto the enemy position.
Unrestrained fire. Enemy vehicles detonated in flames. The trench dug by Weedlan’s men was torn apart.
‘Anti-aircraft cannon, activated.’
Goblet’s warning. Camille had already noticed.
‘Damn it, descend, Sergeant! GO! GO! GO!’
Io clung to the rope and launched herself from Condor.
A thunderclap overhead. Condor took a hit. The craft listed sharply. Io flailed in the turbulence.
Thrown clear, Io landed in a roll and regained footing instantly.
‘Sergeant! Evacuate!’
‘Sergeant, destroy the anti-aircraft cannon! Only one left!’
‘Sergeant?! Sergeant!’
‘Aaah! Faaarrrgghh!’
Condor crashed into what looked like Weedlan’s makeshift shelter, flattening it.
Io wanted to curse, but had no intention of wasting the opening Camille had created.
He mowed down Weedlan scattered around, indiscriminate and efficient.
No meaningful resistance. Few in number. Even unarmored units among them.
—Hard mission, you bastard—
Dodging through gaps in the fleeing Weedlan, Io closed in on the anti-aircraft cannon.
He dragged the Weedlan from the gun emplacement and drove a knife into its chest.
The lizard-faced creature struggled, clutching Io’s hand—Io shoved it aside and landed on the emplacement.
—Goblet! What do I do?!
—Open the maintenance hatch beneath you—
Io tore the hatch open before the transmission finished.
The latch twisted and scattered into fragments.
—Destroy it—
He aimed Raven. Fired every round in the magazine.
—Anti-aircraft fire silenced. Threat eliminated—
……Hah……Hah……
Sweat burst from his skin. A violent wave of exhaustion.
In a game? Adjust the sensory feedback level a bit more carefully next time.
Io dismounted from the gun turret and turned. His eyes met those of a single Weedlan.
—Run if you want to live, lizards—
Raven’s rounds still had reserve.
—
After that, the Weedlan offered no resistance. The air defense garrison, lacking combat will, fled the moment they saw Io.
Io carefully pulled Camille from the crushed Condor that had collapsed onto the Weedlan’s sleeping quarters.
The damaged Condor had balanced precariously atop the building—just one wrong shift and it would have tumbled down, not at all unlikely.
Camille lay limp in Io’s grip, calmly puffing on a cigarette.
—Survived, then. Curious thing.
Luck was on my side. For me too.
Camille rummages through the jacket pocket with bloodstained hands. Searching for a lighter.
Serious condition, Corporal.
You're not exactly clean yourself, Sergeant.
Camille ignites the flame. Smiling with satisfaction.
You wouldn't believe me even if I brought you up over drinks.
Capture Tomas in a single day, obliterate an enemy unit, and knock out two anti-air positions as a bonus?
Even a fairy tale hero should be a little less reckless.
—The corporal’s piloting was no joke. Without you, this operation wouldn’t have succeeded.
Rotors hum in scattered bursts.
Moymisuka 02 transport, Fatman confirmed.
Threats in the vicinity have been neutralized. Transmitting descent coordinates.
Within moments of Goblet’s report, the Moymisuka troop transport descended onto the former air defense site.
Moymisuka personnel dismounted quickly, initiating perimeter sweep. Io guided Camille toward the helicopter, supporting her shoulder.
Orland approached at a brisk pace.
— Both of you did well. Unbelievable results. Get medical treatment immediately.
— I’m fine. Time is short. Reinforcements will arrive any moment.
Io pushed Camille forward.
Camille gripped Io’s armor.
— It’s pointless to stop, isn’t it.
— …The commander’s waiting.
Camille’s collapsed salute.
— That was fun. Fighting with you.
— You may think I’m shameless. But look after the children.
— Go. We’ll talk again later.
See you next time. Stay alive. I’ll remember your words.
Camille leans against the transport craft’s door, dragged by a Moimisuka Team member.
Good luck, friend.
The Moimisuka Team vanishes instantly.
Another hard mission, but completed.
Goblet, mission success. Enemy status?
— Peripheral data flow increasing. Encircled.
Io exhales, watching the troop transport depart.
The sun has already begun to set. Night is coming. Perfect conditions for hiding.
Back to the original plan. Hide in the underground bunker.
Deceive the enemy. Link up with 3552. That’s acceptable.
— Optimal, Agent Io.
Blue Goblet praises you. Achieved the best possible outcome under current conditions.
Saving the world isn’t easy.
— We can do it.
Kekkek. Ioh wears a peculiar grin.
A blessing kiss, goddess.
Goblet responded to Iō's request as usual.
Did whatever I wanted—action taken.
Satisfied.