?ㅤ?ㅤ?ㅤ?ㅤ?—

'Where am I..? What is this place?' A woman examines her surroundings, as she was struggling to recall her previous memoir. She leaned back but…

CLANK

'What the hell are these!?' She recognized her hands were cuffed at her back and for a moment the sounds intensified.

"ORDER! ORDER IN THE COURT!"

A judge kept pondering the sound block with a gavel to ease the roar from the crowd as her lawyer appeals to the jury, defending her client. She recalls her memoir of participating in the trial as a defendant, seeing her lawyer was making unprecedented actions during the trial.

'Stop it…' Wishing to yell at her lawyer but the judge intervenes him.

"You may have a lawyer, but it implies that he already tried too many challenges. You're still under the pledge, sir." Showing that her lawyer went overboard with his recent actions.

"My apologies, your Honor." He was shuddering with discontent as the judge spoke of his acts.

"Umu… Take your seat, Mr. Aleksandr."

Aleksandr took his seat beside his client and profusely sweating in his inner shirt, knowing that he couldn't defend her client despite being an accomplished lawyer. He tried to reach for his handkerchief but her client gave hers instead and she suddenly replied:

"You gave what you can and I praise you for remaining at my side up to this now." She again saw Aleksandr crying all over his face, powerless to maintain himself together after she tried to soothe him.

"May we have our ruling, your Honor?" One jury then turned the judge a piece of paper.

"It is taken. The Court is now prepared to proceed to her sentencing."

The judge fixes all the papers that he received from the jury's side on his counter, and later he goes ahead.

"Starshy praporshchik Sabina Ilyina. Under the charges of treason reported by the Russian Military, it shows the evidence we've got was astounding. Do you ㅤwish to convey anything before your sentence was introduced?"

'It's over, I guess.' Sabina thought.

"…" No reply from the defendant's side.

"Hmm… I declare this hearing is over. The defendant is guilty as charged in this incident and will be facing execution in three days after this hearing... Dismiss!"

The judge strikes his gavel into the sound block for the last time and soon walks away from the court. Noise from the crowd gradually rises as Sabina was drawn away out of the court from the nearby guards. She was held inside of the armored truck and accompanied by several police cars as it drove to a protected military prison, waiting for her day of execution. Time has passed and they immediately took her to an unknown location for her to be executed.

"Let's move, prisoner. They are standing by."

The guard dragged her chains out of her truck and escorted her into a wide field. She looked at familiar faces, whom she bonded with during the training academy, in the firing group. She was settled into a wooden pole, 20 feet apart from the firing squad while wearing her uniform on the day of her execution. They chained her into the pole, and placed a blindfold around her eyes. The men within the group were reluctant to execute their former comrade, but it all vanished with just one remark from her.

"Следуй или будь следующим (Follow or be next)." Sabina shouted at them, remembering what they studied during the military academy. Relief, yet with stigmata in their hearts. They braced themselves as their officer called out his commands.

"Подготовь свое оружие (Prepare your weapon)." They equipped their AKM and chambered a fresh magazine.

'Someone save me...'

"Цельтесь в цель (Aim at your target)." They aimed their firearms at her.

'I don't want to disappear, yet.'

"Набор (Set)."

'Please… Someone…' She braced herself for what was coming next as their officer proceed to his next command.

"Огонь– (Fire–)!"

Before they pulled the trigger, several helicopters hover over the field to where the soldiers are at. They took a defensive stance as the men on board threw the ropes down into the ground, where US Marines rappel down with William. The Russian Officer demanded an explanation for their action and was addressed from a document delivered by William. After a small chatter with the officer, William then proceeds to where Sabina was situated.

"Sabina, are you alright?" He spoke to her, and she replied.

'I'm… fine…'

"Sabina. Are you okay?"

'!?'

"Sh*t, I'm losing her again."

William sought to look at her pulse with no luck and yet Sabina kept shouting for him, failing to reach her words to him. For a moment, she could move her arms unopposed from the chains. She then proceeds to remove her blindfold, but only sees pure darkness again. She later moved around and picked up a voice opposite from her direction.

"Sabina over here."

She heard it again and run to where it echoed.

"Sabina"

She continued to listen to the same word again and again as it slowly increases the volume. Running to where she heard the same word. She stumbled upon an orb of light and then touches the orb, illuminating her surrounding to being dazzled by the light.

"Sabina."

"Sabina."

"Please wake up."

"Sabina. C'mon, now! Don't do this." Sabina heard William's cry. Her vision was still fuzzy after the wreck, and she saw William's figure as she regained consciousness. He was relieved as quickly as he saw Sabina's eyes cleared.

"Mhmm…" She discovers herself again back in the same room, where they disabled the core. As she tries to get up, William stops her from moving.

"Hey. Hey. Hey… Easy on yourself, Sabina. You can't move as before, since you were bluntly injured from the blast. Thank God you're awake, but you need to lie down for a while."

Sabina was relieved that he was alive after they destroyed the nuclear reactor's coolant system. She didn't regret receiving wounds after all, since she wanted to repay William's kindness after being saved from her execution.

"Stay still… I'm going to remove the rubble from you."

William then removes the debris away from her body and softly grabs her up away from the wreckage.

"Ah..! Ah..!" Sabina screamed in torment as she suffered pain from the rubbles as William took her at his back, making a firefighter carry.

"Hang on, Sabina. I'm going to get us out of here. This place is going to topple at any minute."

William carried her outside of the area, slow and steady as they made their departure from the facility. Sabina continued to wail in misery while William went through each hallway for any path to the main entrance, as some path was blocked by debris during the destruction. They pushed forward through the blackness and after a few directions and dead ends; they hit the main entrance of the building.

William felt eerie about the outside as light was clouded to which it was progressing to rainfall. The weather forecast on the island should be sunny for the full week. He examines the area, shocking to find out that it was perfectly intact after a nuclear blast. All of the defensive structures and emplacement were the same after they entered the building with the only exception.

'Where are the bodies of soldiers who defend this facility!? They're dead before we entered the building and then they suddenly vanished..? This doesn't make sense.'

William reached the main gate and then suddenly a loud shriek roared outside of the entrance.

'What was that noise!? It hurts my goddamn ears.'

"Ah, f*ck it hurts… What the hell is that sound!?" Sabina struggled to turn as he restricted her movements, preventing her to fall off his shoulder.

"Don't turn, Sabina," William murmured to her as the unknown shriek was heard again. He spotted movement within the forest, causing him and Sabina to get cover from an adjacent corner. He glances from the edge and comes upon something that he has never seen before.

'What the f*ck is that?'

A four-legged mechanical object with its center equipped with a large-caliber barrel underneath, featuring a spider figure. It was enclosed in a hexagonal arrangement, featuring dark color and delineated in deep red line color. It stands its ground after a few minutes. Later, the object fled the square through the forest as it let out such a frightening sound. They ran out the corner to the square, shortly after it left.

"What the hell is that thing?"

"I don't know. It possesses the same color as the Rätsel but it's unique from what we experience over Lagoa."

Several screeches roared in the sky and they instinctively looked at the sky in response, observing the dark clouds moving in a strange formation. It flowed in a whirling pattern as thunder and lightning ensued. They were breathless to see multiple bodies dive from the clouds, possessing the same characteristics as what they observe at the square.

Much to their surprise, they glimpsed the same core from the base in the center of the storm. Few aerial objects clouded the core, showing that they were protecting it from something. As they watched anomalies occurring in the sky, a call from AN/PRC-117F Multiband/Multi-mission Radio from a nearby command post was broadcasting.

『To all available units, this is Flying officer Eckhart Baumann. Can anyone receive this broadcast?』


20 Kilometers Southeast of Agua De Pau—

『Baseplate, this is Badger. How copy, Over?』

『…』

『Baseplate, I say again. What's the situation, Over?』

『…』

'Scheiße, No one's responding.'

Eckhart was the only pilot who survived after the dire offensive on the 19th NATO Task Force Fleet, prolonging their advance as more people were being withdrawn from the island. Major general David resumed control of the remaining forces on the island and promptly ordered all remaining air groups to organize a strike on the impending hostile fleet. The offensive failed as more hostile fighters and serious anti-air defense denied any form of air supremacy, forcing him and the rest of the pilots to egress back to the island. Many pilots died during their escape, leaving Eckhart in his damaged CF-18A aircraft only in the sea.

He recalled an abrupt explosion over the east of the island as its shock wave caused great turbulence on his jet. His gyroscope and radar visual went haywire as he blacks out for a few moments before recovering his composure. The master monitor display continues to prompt warning beeps as he makes a system check on numerous panels and displays within his cockpit before stopping heeding further threats.

'So far no critical damage has occurred after that explosion… Let's check many armaments.'

He then recounts all of his available armaments in his CF-18A after the offensive, possessing about one AIM-7 Sparrow missile, one AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, and 234 rounds left in its M61 Vulcan.

DUT DUT DUT

'My radar had plucked up something… Is that a friendly aircraft over there? I guess I had to confirm myself.'

Unaware of the storm developing over the island, he then shifts his tactical frequency to a public channel to establish contact with the incoming aircraft.

"Attention this is Badger, bearing 164 from Agua De Pau at Angels 5. Be advised I got a Raygun in my display, requesting for a buddy spike, over?"

『…』

'No response… Then who–!?'

With no warning, he instinctively pulled his jet into a sharp climb as a glowing beam of light pierced through the sky. It was fired towards his jet, and he barely dodged the stream of light that could drown him in one hit. His heart was thumping rapidly after bringing the aircraft on a sharp climb.

'That was too close!? What the actual f*ck was that!?'

『Eckhart, can you read me? This is Kate.』A call from his radio ease his mind and he immediately replied.

"Kate! Is that you!? Oh god, I thought I was the only one left alive."

『Listen to me… Don't… the radio… Rätsel… tracking…』

"Kate! You're cracking up! Hello!?"

Unbeknownst to him, two unknown fighters descend behind him from the clouds. He didn't recognize the design of the fighters trailing behind him as he received a radar warning from his monitor display.

'What the hell is that thing!?'

Two of the fighters started their pursuit of a lone CF-18A as Eckhart performed evasive actions in reply to his radar warnings.

「Warning!」

「Warning!」

「Deploy Chaffs!」

「Deploy Chaffs!」

「Warning!」

「Warning!」

'Deploying Chaffs'

He exercised a barrel roll dive as he ejected multiple chaffs behind his aircraft. Two of the pursuing fighters fire consecutive rounds into his aircraft but to no avail. Puff of metallic dusk and fiberglass from the released chaffs messed the fighter's targeting system, giving precious time for Eckhart to force them in a one-to-one engagement

'Ah… Ah… It looks like the chaffs thwart their aim. I need to force at least one of them to overshoot.'

Eckhart was breathing heavily after performing evasive maneuvers against their attack and being defensive. One fighter overshoots Eckhart's aircraft while the other retreated into the clouds, allowing Eckhart to be vigorous as he commits with one aircraft.

'Sly bastard… Can't get a clear shot.'

He remained to zero the fighter as it performed erratic movements, denying a clear missile shot until…

BEEEEEEEEEEEEP

'Gotcha! Fox-3 away!'

He launched an AIM-120 AMRAAM and was cruising at Mach 4, guiding the missile from his station into the fighter's intended track. Eventually, the missile struck the fighter and was followed by an outburst of an explosion. As the smoke obscured Eckhart's visual of the fighter, he noticed his HUD resumed its tracking into the fighter. It moved out with its armor chipped from the impact while still capable of intercepting Eckhart's position.

'dieser Hurensohn! That's one tough bastard!'

As the fighter approaches him head-on, he does the same thing and switches its armament to 20mm M61 Vulcan. They exchanged a salvo of bullets and lasers as the combat rages on. Eckhart dumped about 170 rounds into the fighter's structure and launched its last AIM-7 Sparrow missile, causing considerable damage to the incoming fighter. Although one of its laser shots severely destroyed a CF-18A engine, he managed to down the fighter into the sea.

'Hah… That was a close call.'

He did another check and realized that one engine was caught on fire, urging him to shut it down while operating with one engine. He arrived at the island after five minutes and was flabbergasted to find that a storm was forming over the island. While he flew close to the center of the storm, he observed a bright pink core with many small and medium-type objects floating around the core. Shocking to uncover the core is like the ones they built over the laboratory, he naively switches his frequency to any available channel.

"To all available units, this is Flying officer Eckhart Baumann. Can anyone receive this broadcast?"

『…』

『…』

『Eckhart, this is William. You good brother?』

He was surprised by William's response and replied accordingly.

"Yeah, I went into a battle just recently and am currently flying over Agua de Pau then heading to Santa Barbara. There's a developing situation over the town."

『You're still airborne and going there amid the storm!? You're crazy brother!』

"Don't worry… I will be doing a short flyby to inspect further situations in the middle of it."

『You..? Never mind, I'm with Sabina but she's badly injured during the explosion. 』

"Wait… Do you know what just happened back there?"

『I will explain everything as soon as we meet again.』

Eckhart felt relief when there's still other members of Division 612 alive after all the havoc on the island. William then asked him.

『Eckhart… Is there anyone of us still alive besides the three of us?』

"Kate, call me, but her transmission was cut."

『Is she still at Ponta Delgada?』

"She didn't tell me her exact location but I guess she is still out there."

『Alright… We should rendezvous at Ponta Delgada. Sabina and I were heading towards Lagoa for us to get some wheels.』

"Right… We'll meet again over Ponta Delgada."

『Roger that, Eckhart. One more thing. Never underestimate those, whom you previously fought with. These things differ from the ones we've encountered over the island.』

"…"

『Godspeed, Eckhart. I'll see you on the other side.』

"What do you–?"

『…』

'What the hell is he saying!?'

Bewildered and overwhelmed by this, he overlooked his heed and passed over the outskirts of Santa Barbara. He then observes the central region of the storm where fighters-like objects are being amassed over the core.

'Well, I will be damn… It bears the same qualities as the one we made over the lab, but it's bigger and different.'

He went on to anchor around the area until his fuel gauge issued a low fuel signal, causing Eckhart to head directly for Ponta Delgada.

'I need to get out of here before they spot me. I don't have any remaining fuel and ammunition left to carry out another confrontation.'

But unbeknownst to him, he would not leave unharmed by them as several fighters-like objects suddenly descended from the core.

'Scheiße, They're on to me.'

He worked to ditch the inevitable aerial engagement, but it was too late. Shots from the objects cut through the right-wing, bringing the aircraft into a spiral ㅤmotion as it plunges to the ground.

'Sh*t, I'm hit! I'm hit..! Ejecting.'

He hastily pulled the handle between his laps, ejecting him out of the cockpit while still harnessed into his seat. His chute deployed thereafter as he looked at his burning CF-18A being trailed by multiple fighters-like objects. Later, an explosion occurs below as many fighters-like objects soared through the sky again, fleeing the area.

'Well… I suppose this happens when you don't follow any instructions.'

As he casually swooped from the sky, he took out a small cardboard box from his waist pocket. He picked and smelled an H. Upmann Cuban Cigar from the box, and took out his lighter from his chest. He then flicked the lighter as he stuck it between his mouth and released a puff of smoke after a brief inhalation of his cigar.

'Damn... They fought effectively, huh? That's f*cking unfair!'

He drew another smoke from the cigar before chuckling again as he waited for him to touch down on the ground, heading to Ponta Delgada after he landed north of Livramento


Southern Outskirts of Livramento, Highway EN1-1A—

"Hold on, Sabina."

"What for?"

William brought her down within the hedgerows, masking them from nearby heavy-type Rätsel forces. They're rummaging around a destroyed checkpoint, once posted by the 2nd Battalion under the Yorkshire Regiment of the 4th Infantry Brigade. Waiting for them to withdraw from the checkpoint, William observed that they're dissembling and wrecking several vehicles that they engaged in before Project R.A.I.N.E.D. was destroyed.

'This is weird… Same physical appearances but uncommon form… What's incredible is they're destroying their "own" unit.'

"Hah… F*ck… I just can't."

"Don't force yourself to stand. You just have a blunt trauma on both of your limbs. Besides, we'll get some transport to Ponta Delgada. Dusk will cover the island."

"Just leave me behind, William. We're very vulnerable when we're traveling at nighttime, as Rätsel forces occupy every portion of the island."

"Just don't say that… We'll be out of here."

After their small chatter, the Rätsel left the field and headed towards the direction of Lagoa. William drew her away from the hedgerows and hauled her towards the checkpoint area, seeking any available vehicle. Just like back in the facility's entrance, they could not locate any corpse within the zone as they arrived. Only equipment, wrecked vehicles, and firearms were left behind. He settled her inside the abandoned platoon command post and then ransacked the area for whatever vehicles that he could spot.

'Damn, they destroyed almost everything. Even transport and support vehicles were destroyed.'

As he wandered past several overturned vehicles, he caught a Jackal armored wheeled vehicle plummeting into a bomb crater. Still, under the influence of ㅤRätsel's command, he hid among the debris.

'Sh*t, I never thought one would be active among the wreckage.'

He snatched an L1A2 (AT 4) launcher near his position and plodded towards the hole.

'Weird… Does it not detect my presence..?'

Rätsel forces will attack anyone corresponding to the core's command. However, the vehicle appears to be passive with no manifestations of preemptive actions. This baffled William as he encountered and struggled with one of them during their breakthrough at Lagoa. He passed the pit and scrutinized the Jackal (MWMIK).

'Bullet and Shrapnel marks could be observed at the sides of the car. A flat wheel on the frontal section of the car, damaged headlights, and noticeable dents on both sides.'

He clambers into the driver's seat and spots for the driver's panel. He flips the switch for the ignition of the engine, starting the vehicle.

'Good… at least we secure some transport this time.'

He then tests the guns mounted on the vehicles. FN MAG, a 7.62mm general-purpose machine gun, with three ammunition boxes left and an L134A1 (Heckler & Koch GMG), a 40mm grenade machine gun, with two belts of 32 M430A1 grenades.

'Alright, this thing is ready to run but I need to accomplish some repairs first.'

He salvaged every wreckage vehicle for a hydraulic jack to change the broken wheel. Only to recognize that there's one that was located outside of the platoon command post. As he picked up the hydraulic jack outside, he caught another person inside of the tent. Realizing that Sabina would be in jeopardy, he again scavages the area for a firearm only to be equipped with a SA80A2 rifle with a fraction of the magazine capacity left.

'A weapon is a weapon if it's loaded. As long as I could creep behind him, there would be no doubts concerning my ammo capacity.'

He then sauntered towards the tent and delicately lifted the flaps while concentrating his rifle towards the person. He approached silently as he sniffed the scent of a burning cigar inside the tent. With no lights flashing inside of the tent, he couldn't extricate the identity of the person sitting on the stool, attending Sabina by his side. He pointed the barrel of his rifle at the back of the person's skull and hollered:

"Quit your act and show yourself."

The person complies with his instructions and is raised from his seat while Sabina was stunned by William's action.

"Stop, William! He's–"

"Stay out of it, Sabina. We don't recognize who is this guy is–"

A sudden laugh from the person interrupts his remarks as he casually turns around to face William. He then opens both of his arms sideward, revealing a cigar in his right hand.

"What's the bicker, William. It's not like I will steal your companion or something."

Eckhart faces William with a cigar stuck between his mouth. He then threw the cigar into the ground and stumped it with his foot to exhaust the flame.

"Jesus Christ, Eckhart. What the f*ck was that!?"

"Heh… At least you didn't shoot me right there by accident."

"Geez, you almost made me pull the trigger as you spun around at me."

William then lowered his rifle as Eckhart took out a small box of H. Upmann Cuban Cigar from his waist pocket.

"Want some?" Eckhart offered him a cigar to which he answered with.

"I guess I could use some light."

"That's very unusual of you, William. I never seen you smoke before," Sabina said.

"Considering how we f*ck the situation where we are right now, I could use some to ease my stress."

"Heh… Right… Here you go, William," Eckhart gave him a cigar and lighter.

COUGH (3x)

"First time?" Eckhart snickered over his actions.

"No dumb*ss. It's been a long time since I had this."

"Is that so… How about you, Sabina? Care to have some?"

"I prefer vodka than your sh*t stuff, Eckhart. Besides, I'm the patient here."

"Right… Shall we talk about what the f*ck is going on?"

William then hastily explained everything from their trek from the Zulu Forward Operating Base to the annihilation of Project R.A.I.N.E.D. Eckhart was puzzled by their efforts but knew his motive for restricting its spread of control throughout the world.

"That's was a sh*ty plan, but nevertheless it was your sole choice since Youta was injured during the accident. Right?" Eckhart said.

"That's what I'm suggesting," William responded.

"Hah… In short, they f*ck the system and got f*ck as of the result."

"Pretty much…"

"But this makes no goddamn sense… Everyone would perish after you deliberately provoke a nuclear detonation yet only the four of us survived the blast"

"Not just four, there could be more than us, I should mention." Sabina added.

"What do you mean?" Eckhart asked.

"We walked from the mountains down to this checkpoint with no signs of corpses on the ground. Maybe they were vaporized by the detonation."

"But if that's the case then shouldn't it also be burnt? Even though you survived the initial blast, then should you overdose will a sh*t ton of radiation?"

"What you say is true, but there is a slim chance for some to be alive… The blast radius didn't reach the west portion of the island, relative to the blast. But ㅤagain I'm still dumbfounded regarding our survival after the blast occurred." William said.

"So what are we going to do now?" Sabina asked.

"We'll head to Ponta Delgada and meet up with whoever is still alive."

"Then, what about Vlora and Youta? Do you know where they are?" Eckhart asked.

"I ordered Vlora for Youta to be taken to a military hospital in Ponta Delgada. There's a high possibility that they survived and regrouped with Kate."

"Although, we don't know whether they're alive? Right?"

"That's why we should head now to the Ponta Delgada and seek for them within the city. I've managed to find us some wheels, but it's in terrible shape."

"Vehicle? You mean a Rätsel type!?" Sabina exclaimed.

"It's complicated to point out but you will soon understand."

"Fine, at least there is something rather than bringing me for another three kilometers on foot."

"Yes… Anyway, Eckhart. I need your help in repairing the vehicle."

"Alright. Alright. I'm not a mechanic like Vlora, but if it's basic repair, then I will." Eckhart said.

"Right… Also, we'll be rummaging whatever equipment we could poke through the area. Dusk will soon fall and we need to be prepared for any possible ㅤambush by Rätsel lurking all over the island."

Eckhart left the tent shortly after he chatted with William.

"We'll come back after you when we're ready to move out. It would take us some time to repair the vehicle."

"Alright, William. Good luck and be vigilant."

"As expected."

William went off together with the hydraulic jack as he headed for the exit. Sabina sighed and recalled her conservation regarding Eckhart's remarks on their unusual survival. While she stared outside through the window, she thought.

'How in the world did we get into ourselves? Am I dreaming as if I died or we're still alive after all?'


Sao Roque, Highway EN1-1A—

Night has settled over the island and chilly air from the sea breeze in the seaside area. Crickets and other small instincts creaking over the far-field as it will be diminished by the vibration of an engine looming within the desolate highways. William, Eckhart, and Sabina were moving at a sluggish pace since their damaged headlights couldn't illuminate the route ahead of them as they bypassed several abandoned military vehicles.

"Damn, I guess the Brits didn't make it out of the onslaught." Eckhart murmured.

They reached a line of APC, IFV, and Tank with no hints of any disembarking out from the vehicles as if it was dumped by the soldiers before the Rätsel advanced along the highway. Some of the vehicles were converted into a Rätsel unit and while others were in the middle of a conversion, signifying that the Core's infection has spread further from battalion to battalion.

"Our little project did significant damage to our military equipment, infecting and turning against us. Luckily, we managed to destroy the core, losing grasp over our equipment and vehicles." Sabina said.

Suddenly, William step on the brakes as an overturned FV510 Warrior blocked their path.

"Well, sh*t this ain't good." Eckhart said.

"Be back in a second. I'm going to see what's in front of us."

William replied as he picked up the night vision google; disembarked the Jackal; and went ahead on foot. He goes up on top of the wrecked overturned tanks and puts his binoculars over his eyes.

'Goddamn it.'

What lies in front of his viewpoint was a destroyed overpass, accompanied by several vehicles ditched into the side of the highway. Beyond the overpass was a patrol of four-legged objects, the ones he and Sabina encountered at the facility.

'There's no way we could either sneak past them or fight them through, considering how restricted the terrain is.'

William went down from the tank and notified the crew about their current situation.

"As expected… They were once here before." Eckhart sighed over the situation.

"The key passage through the Ponta Delgada is now inaccessible considering the Rätsel probably occupied Sao Roque. Is there any shortcut for us to take?"

"There's another way."

"What's it, Sabina?" William asked

"Let's take the left exit we've passed before and enter the municipality via the coastal road. That way we could easily enter the port without being spotted."

"Despite Rätsel occupying this part of the district? We don't know that one would be patrolling along the coast." Eckhart questioned.

"Then would you like to share another option considering that there's a problem with mine? Hm?"

"…"

"Well, it sucks to say this, but we got no choice, Eckhart. Our only option was to follow Sabina's option, which is taking the coastal path to the municipality." ㅤWilliam spoke.

"Then do you have another suggestion in mind, Captain? Ja?"

"Not much, considering we're enveloped in an enemy-occupied territory."

"Right… Let's just take the shortcut. I don't mind the sea after all."

They all agreed to take the alternate path to avoid detection by the Rätsel forces and spun the vehicle away from the overpass. Unbeknownst to them, a hidden Rätsel was silently observing their movement from above.

"Damn… To think they already occupied most of the town, it seems the island would fall under their control." Eckhart cursed at the sky.

"Save your whining later. Rätsel forces are all over the area, so keep your eyes on every nook and cranny of our path ahead." Sabina said.

"Jawohl"

They took the left side exit from the previously passed highway exit and continued along the road. Sabina gave directions to William for them to navigate the seaside area of Sao Roque. Although…

"Right then left. No… I meant Right… Wait…"

"We're lost, you imbecile."

"I know what I'm doing… This is the shortcut."

"You know what you are doing. You know what you are doing… If I had a waypoint for every time you said that then I wouldn't be needing this shortcut."

As Eckhart and Sabina continue to argue with each other, William takes a glimpse of an unknown figure between the houses. With only the moonlight barely ㅤilluminating the ground, he can't help but be keen on his surroundings.

"Shut the both of you and pay attention. We don't have time–."

A faint shriek was looming not far from their position and the sound of thumping continued to occur as they moved along the street.

"Sabina. Eckhart. Things are gonna get ugly and we don't want to get smeared. " William whispered.

Both of them responded to William's command, and they cooked their weapons as they advanced at a slow pace, feeling something was near. They crept along the public parking area while checking every area for their presence as the screech was getting progressively louder. Then, a house collapses beside them, exposing a four-legged object amid the collapse of the house.

"Light him up, Eckhart!"

William screams as the object moves aside from the shattered house into their vehicles. Salvos of the M430A1 grenade were launched from the mounted machine grenade and smashed into the object's armor. The object shrieks in return and prepares its weapons towards the vehicles as they make a break out of the area. More and more objects were appearing left and right as they run away from the suburban neighborhood to the coastline.

"Damn, I can't f*cking see them. They're moving behind every building after building."

"I'll blast them with my machine gun, Eckhart."

"It's still not enough firepower to deal with only that, Sabina. They're tough as tanks."

"Just keep shooting!"

They exchange gunfire, and lasers as the hunt continued through the coastline. The objects continued to sidetrack the vehicle's movement as the route was ㅤregularly harassed with lasers fired from the four-legged objects. William barely maintains the vehicle traveling in the right direction as more and more pursuers enter the chase. As they moved closer and closer to Ponta Delgada's port, something large was impeding their path.

"Ah sh*t, we're f*cked."

"What!?" Sabina shouted.

"A goddamn tank."

Ahead of them was a Rätsel M1A1D hulled down with its main cannon aimed toward their directions, clogging the road. William couldn't believe that some active Rätsel units are creeping around the Ponta Delgada, learning that they're still under the control of the core.

"Just f*cking punch it through, William. There's no way out except for what's ahead of us." Eckhart screamed as his guns jammed after firing continuously and more objects closing upon their vehicles. Eckhart employs multiple AT4 launchers on the approaching objects to no avail.

Outnumbered, Outgunned, and Outdone. He trod on the gas pedal as heavily as he could to close the distance between them and the tank before it could launch another round. Muzzle flash came from the tank, accompanied by a loud rattle. William closed his eyes as he pushed through the avenue, waiting for his and their deaths once it settled upon their vehicle. He heard a brief whoosh, followed by a deafening-piercing blow. Eckhart grasped what he looked at their pursuers as William opened his eyes and face behind. One pursuer was utterly incapacitated by an M829A2 APFSDS-T round shot from the tank as they were being chased through the avenue.

'No way…' Sabina thought as they arrived at the tank and shifted left from the junction. The M1A1D tank continued to fire consecutive rounds to the approaching pursuers until it was knocked out by their laser strike. Two more Rätsel M1A2C joined the fray and engaged with more four-legged objects penetrating the junction as they drove out the square. They were promptly blocked by two Rätsel FV510 Warriors.

"Well sh*t. What should we do now, William?"

"I don't know, Eckhart."

"Well… I surmise you made it guys."

"?"

The three were astonished by her speech as she clambered out of the commander's hatch, revealing it to be Vlora.

"It looks like you went through sh*t just to pick us up."

"I've been better than that scene before, William."

"Hello again, comrade." Sabina joined in with an unusual aura to which Vlora was startled.

"Ugh… I didn't recognize you saying so humbly before."

"Well, let's just say that the past is the past. I was deeply changed after the incident"

"Right…" Vlora tried to evade her eyes with Sabina as she conformed to her remark.

"Heh… You didn't even want to admit that she adjusted, Vlora." Eckhart snickered.

"And so you are, Eckhart. Still maintaining the haughty and fierce character."

"Oh, shut up you little b*tch, you're the last person I want to hear from you." Eckhart was exasperated by her provocation. And later she continues.

"Says the fellow who lost against me."

"Why you–?"

"Alright, knock it off! We don't have time for your stupid games." William shouted as they were arguing.

"Ahem… anyway, Vlora, where did you take Youta?"

"I took him over to Kate."

"Why!? You didn't take him to the hospital?"

"I'll explain later once we meet Kate."

"Where is she?" Sabina asked.

"Fort of São Brás."