Part 44: Disaster at Sheridan

Last time I broke continuity a bit to get some sidequests out of the way. Thus it was unimportant. Last, last time, we concluded the peace conference between Malkuth and Kimlasca.



: “Regarding the matter of the miasma, I've sent a Yulia City engineer to Belkend. As for you, I want you to first stop the core's vibration.”

In that case, it's off to Sheridan.

Skit: Guy's Revenge

: “I'm sorry about that little display... I just had to clear that up. For my sake, for the sake of Mother and Mary... for all the people of Hod.”

: “War really is terrible... it's so unfair!”

: “Yes, even for the sake of one's homeland... it's unacceptable.”

: “Such is the nature of war.”

: “So Master Van suffered from the war, too...”

: “But what he's doing goes beyond revenge...”

: “Yeah, I used to think he was planning revenge for the war, like me, but it looks like I was wrong.”

: “Even if the Hod War was his original impetus, it's just an excuse for him now.”

: “Yeah.”

: “As someone who's suffered the same pain, I want to do everything I can to stop Van.”

: “We've got just a little farther to go.”

: “Yeah, let's get going to Sheridan!”

I already said that!



Okay.

The Tartarus Complete



: “Really? Fantastic!”

: “Heh heh heh. Never underestimate the elderly. We've moored the Tartarus in Port Sheridan.”

: “All that's left is to cross the Auldrant Sea to where Akzeriuth collapsed and dive into the core.”

: “The Tartarus' fonic barrier will protect you from the miasma and the planet's pressure. But it exerts severe stress on the system. It'll only last about 130 hours.”

: “That isn't exactly a lot of time.”

: “The burden is just too great. The fon machinery should hold long enough to sail to Akzeriuth and reach the core.”

: “Also, generating a high-energy fonic barrier requires support machinery. We'll send up a flare from here once you decide to start the core breach operation. Then Aston, who's waiting at the port, will activate the fonic barrier.”



: “It's five days from here to Akzeriuth in the Tartarus. We'll have to breach the core and get out in less than 10 hours...”

: “The slightest delay or mistake will be fatal.”

: “You'll escape in the Albiore. We'll have to attach a pressure neutralizing fon machine to it. Once you begin the operation, we'll send the Albiore to the harbor.”

: “Once the fon machine is attached, Aston will store the Albiore in the Tartarus' hold.”

: “So we can't use the Albiore once the operation begins.”

: “Right. You won't be able to go to other cities to buy supplies. Make sure to take care of anything you need before you begin.”

: “Okay, you've heard the plan, now go get yourselves ready. Once you're all set to begin, come talk to me.”

Yeah yeah, let's get on with it.



: “After you activate the Tartarus' vibration device in the core, move to the deck in the Albiore.”

: “There's a fonic glyph inscribed on the deck that generates a current of rising air. Use that to get yourselves out of there.”

: “The Albiore's pressure neutralizer won't last more than three hours.”

: “If you don't hurry, you'll be flat as pancakes.”

: “So many great ways to die...”



: “Looks like they're ready at the port. We'll see you off.”

: “Let's go Luke. Every second counts now.”

: “Right.”


The Massacre at Sheridan






: “The rumors of Belkend's researchers running to Sheridan were true.”

: “Out of the way.”

: “Letting you pass is not an option. We can't have you silencing the core. The Oracle Knights have secured the port. Cease your meaningless resistance! Throw down your weapons!”









: “Now! Run to the harbor!”

: “But...”

: “If they sink the Tartarus, all our work will be wasted!”

: “There's no time! Go!”





Hard to see, but she caught one of Natalia's arrows on her gun.

: “Stand your ground! Not even the Necromancer would use fonic artes in this crowd!”

: “Jade!”





Also hard to translate, but we had a reversal: Natalia caught one of Legretta's bullets.







: “Iemon!”



: “Now... go!”

: “Let's go. Hurry!”

: “Luke!”









: “Master Luke! Princess Natalia! The north exit is poorly guarded! Hurry-”



: “Augh!”

: “D-damn it!”



We better get going: this blockade isn't going to last long.









D-did the game just show us an execution?!







: “Ah! Thank goodness you're here!”

: “The Oracle Knights are attacking the people of the city!”

: “Please save them!”

: “Yes, Your Highness!”











: “Hurry! Join the troops at the harbor! We'll catch them from both sides!”







So uh... yeah.

Shit.

This scene was meant to be a striking parallel to the uprising in Baticul when you escape with Natalia. There the soldiers were reluctant, and the citizens for the most part got out with only a few scrapes. Here, the town was completely massacred, up to and including the execution of innocent bystanders.

Fucking Oracle Knights.

Skit: Tragedy at Sheridan

: “Iemon... everybody!”

: “Major... attacking civilians... how could you...?”

: “But they left us alone at the peace talks...!”

: “You mean the peace treaty didn't even matter to them?”

: “That's what it looks like...”

: “Damnit! Where's Asch when you need him?!”

: “We don't have time for him!”

: “Yes... we need to hurry to the Tartarus... for their sakes! We cannot afford to fail!”

: “I know!”

Clash at the Port





: “Wh-what is it?!”

: “It's fontech sleeping gas.”

: “Ugh... can we neutralize it?”

: “I”ll blow it away with a fonic arte.”



: “Whew... we can breath again.”

: “But I'm sleepy...”

: *Yawn* “...Me too...”



: “It works faster on young children.”

: “Oh! Then this was your work?”

: “Those Oracle ruffians tried to steal the Tartarus.”

: “It looks like they went into the city, too. How are Tamara and Iemon...?”



: “You can't mean...!”

: “Should you really be standing around chatting?”





: “M-Master Van!”



: “I-I...”



: “That was a poor performance, Legretta.”







Jade.



: “Why?!”

: “Right now our priority is stopping the core. We're going to the Tartarus.”

: “Damn it!”









: “We're not going anywhere. This happened because Spinoza betrayed Class I.”

: “We may be old, but we can at least serve as obstacles. You go on to the Tartarus.”

: “...Move.”

: “You fools! Move!”

: “Our comrade caused this. We'll atone for it.”

: “Go!”



: “If my brother catches us, the mission fails! Do you want to waste Iemon and Tamara's sacrifice?!”

: “I know that! Hencken, Cathy, Aston... I'm sorry!”









: “Commandant, Sync made it in time.”

: “So the operation itself was a failure, but at least it distracted them. Very well. Withdraw.”

: “Yes, sir!”







Mourning



: “I failed to protect my people...”

: “I wasn't strong enough. Damn it!”

: “There's no time for wallowing in depression. We still have to stop the core.”



: “Grieving here won't accomplish anything. The Colonel is busy preparing for this operation all by himself. Don't forget that.”



I .gif'd this because it's a really subtle animation that's hard to get across. Tear goes to remove Luke's grip, but her hands are visible shaking. She also has some great body language that shows she's not nearly as composed as she's trying to show. The modelers knocked it out of the park on this one.



: “What?”

: “The one who killed them was Tear's own brother. I wonder which of us really wants to cry the most.”



: “...Akzeriuth is where we drop to the core, right? ...I'm going to the bridge to help Jade.”

I'll cut it here. Sorry for the short update, but a lot of things are happening very quickly, and I don't want to overload people.

Still, this update. Damn.

Next time:

Synopsis:

At Sheridan, all the preparations were complete. We'll be taking the
Tartarus in to the core, then using it to neutralize the core's vibrations by
vibrating at the same frequency. Then we'll escape in the Albiore, leaving
the Tartarus in the core. Because of technical limitations, we'll only have
just enough time to get in and out... It'll be dangerous, but we'll have to
accept that. The operation will start when we talk to Iemon, so let's make
sure to prepare ourselves well so we have no regrets.

The operation's started. But just as we were getting started for the
Tartarus, located in Port Sheridan, Legretta attacked us. Damn, it looks like
they're going to try and stop us after all.

We don't have time to fight our way through her and her soldiers. ...So
Iemon and Tamara helped us escape. If we flee to the port, we'll be
abandoning them and the people of Sheridan...but if we don't go, we won't be
able to silence the core's vibration. We had no choice but to leave them.

We were able to escape from Sheridan, thanks to the sacrifices made by the
townspeople. We need to head for the port, so that their deaths don't go for
nothing.
Iemon...everyone...I'm sorry.

When we reached the port, Master Van himself showed up, led by Spinoza.
The bastard, selling out his own friends! Iemon and everybody died because of
him!

Master Van tried to stop us.
But Hencken and Cathy threw themselves in his way to protect us. I really
wanted to save them...but then, again, we'd fail in silencing the core. We
can't afford that failure. Once again, we had to watch people who had helped
us die.