This chapter takes place the day after the dive in MOMO's Encephalon, on Second Miltia. However the first scene takes place in Ormus' Headquarters.
Chapter 16 - Regeneration [Though I'd personally go for “Rebirth” instead]
Margulis: Master, I trust you are well, and…
? ? ?: Enough superficial pleasantries. Apart from entrusting it to the U-TIC Organization, I do not expect to obtain or learn anything from you, only convenience. [A bit unsure about this part, sorry]
Margulis: I shall strive to exceed your expectations, Master Patriarch.
Patriarch Sergius: …hmph. There were more details in Sellers' report. Have you had a chance to look it over as well?
Margulis: The great outbreak of Gnosis that has been threatening the entire Galatic Federation for 70 years, the dispersed influence of the Original Zohar's wave motion, is that…?
Patriarch Sergius: That is correct, and in the space of 14 years, the path has opened. It is unfortunate that this is in the hands of those people of such low birth. In any event, in order to reclaim the Original Zohar that should rightfully be controlled by us, those of the Immigrant Fleet, we have no choice but to turn towards Old Miltia. However, while our influence now extends to more than 20 solar systems, our communications with them have been cut off.
Margulis: However, compared to the situation faced by the Galactic Federation as a whole, the suffering of our parishes is rather insignificant…or so one could be tempted to say.
Patriarch Sergius: The problem is that it cuts into the total military strength of our Patriarchal Army, requiring us to devote some of it to maintaining public order. Still, we have to turn towards Old Miltia. It is inevitable that we will fall behind the Galatic Federation army.
Margulis: Ah…so that is the purpose of the U-TIC Organization. …with the prestige of being a science organization left behind by Joachim Mizrahi, they took in the Old Miltia government army's refugees after the Miltian Conflict, and the debt of gratitude owed them for that has not been forgotten.
Patriarch Sergius: Admirable. However, the value of a sword is determined solely by its sharpness. Is that not the case?
Margulis: It is as you say, Master. The organization of the fleet is moving forward as we speak. After 100 years, our opportunity to depart for Old Miltia has come. We might be able to use that URTV as a pawn.
Patriarch Sergius: …very well. Then, remember this well. High Inquisitor. I do not care much for that URTV. I remember that churl. Keep that fact in mind.
Margulis: …sire.
Regeneration
Uzuki's house
Shion: Mm… …nice morning.
Jin: Yes, good weather for setting out on a journey, isn't it?
Shion: Big brother…
Jin: It's a shame that you can't meet KOS-MOS when you were the one to give her life. If there is such a thing as fate, you should bring her to this house.
Shion: You're telling me to bring her here, but KOS-MOS is the most secret…no, that's it. Maybe it's all right. I'll try doing that, if I get the chance.
Jin: Hmm, you look like you're better at letting go of those burdens these days. (Probably thanks to her friends…chaos and Jr.)
Shion: When I've been at the experiments with the reactivated KOS-MOS at HQ today, I'll probably go for some sightseeing. Well, I guess I'll get going then. (It'd probably be a good idea to go visit the family graves the next time I come to Second Miltia…)
Jin: Yes, good bye. Take care…
-
Shion: I have some time until I have to show my face at HQ, so I might as well take in the atmosphere of Second Miltia for a bit.
Shion: Jr., everyone! You're late, what happened?
Jr.: Lots of things happened, and MOMO's not walking around here yet. Even though we came all this way…that's how I feel about it, anyway.
Shion: While we're on the subject, I…I promised I'd give her a tour of the city. MOMO, let's go for a walk together if you don't mind.
MOMO: Really! I'd love that.
chaos: It looked like you were on your way to work, so is that okay with you?
Shion: It's fine, it's fine…you wouldn't believe how early I'm forced to get up when I'm with my big brother. So I've still got some time.
Jr.: All right! Since that's out of the way, let's go grab something good to eat too.
Shion: Ah, in that case, there's a surprise curry shop that's…
Jr.: We've already been!
-
Jr.: That's…that's from the Durandal's bridge. There's a special class S emergency channel here too!? What, how…I, the Durandal, how…?
Mary: You're not giving me any choice! After all that effort to buy it, you sent us the wrong book! The one we ordered was “Classics of Comedy”! Why did you send us “A Compilation of Ten Thousand Comedic Stories”? This one just makes fun of those stuck-up cultural people on the Federation captial world!
Jr.: M, Mary…where are you sending from? And why're you using the emergency transmission channel to…
Mary: Huh? Are you still rambling on…little master? Why're you manning the desk for UMN mail order complaints? Aren't they paying you enough for sitting on the Foundation's board of directors or something?
Jr.: Uh, who's the one working on the side here? You're the one ordering stuff from the bridge!
Mary: Huh? I'm not mixing up work with private business in that way at all! Why, I'm in my own room at home.
Jr.: Okay, you don't have to show me! I just need to finish up…
Ziggy: Jr., I'm sorry to barge in while you're talking, but…
Jr.: I wasn't really talking to anyone!
Ziggy: There's something that's been bothering me from before. Maybe it's some kind of omen?
Shion: An…omen?
MOMO: There isn't anything inside my detection range…
Marry: Aah, l, little master!
Jr.: What do you want, Mary!
Mary: The space distortion is…! This is…
Jr.: Mary!
MOMO: ! Mr. Jr.! I can see the space distortion too!
Ziggy: Where is it, MOMO!
MOMO: Above us, gating out of planetary orbit! It's the Gnosis!
Jr.: Durandal, this is Jr.! Send an AGWS squad down here!
Shion: Allen, can you hear me? How is KOS-MOS, were you able to activate her!?
Jr.: Damn, what's going on! The transmission's not gettin' through!
Shion: Same thing here…the UMN is blocking both the emergency channel and the normal channels.
MOMO: The UMN adresses are being forcibly rewritten across all of Second Miltia…I have a bad feeling about this…
Jr.: Don't do anthing stupid, MOMO!
chaos: The Autonomous Government Army is going to come running any moment now. But, before they get here…
Jr.: Yeah, we have to do what we can, right?
Shion: Yes, we should. ES transfer! Wh, whyy…
MOMO: The UMN isn't functioning properly! We can't call our ES units when it's like this.
Ziggy: Then the only thing we can rely on to fight is our own bodies. There's no way around it.
Unknown place. Maybe Fifth Jerusalem. Or maybe in the “Salvators” headquarters (but I don't know where it is).
-
Ruryk: Master Dimitri, the outfitting of the fleet will be complete in four more days. It has become a Gnosis suppression fleet, and judging both from the preparations and from the number of war ships, I think you will find it satisfactory.
Yuriev: …it's taking too long. At this rate, the Immigrant Fleet might get the better of us.
Ruryk: Y, yes, in that case I will direct them to speed the plans along.
Yuriev: That's not good enough either, so…Ruryk, I want you to go with the fleet.
Ruryk: M, me…? But how would a bureaucrat like me be usef…
Citrine: No one said anything about expecting you to be useful. Councilor.
Ruryk: D, damn you…
Citrine: Even though we're cutting down on preparation time until the fleet departs, we can't have any lowering of its safety factor. If you go personally, we can ensure the preparations will proceed flawlessly…that is the judgement involved here in my view.
Yuriev: Citrine is correct. If you want to survive on the battlefield, you have to carry out the duties you're given. By doing that, the fleet will be victorious, and you won't come to any harm.
Ruryk: Sir, understood…well then, I'll take my leave.
Citrine: (Cowards…)
Yuriev: Ah…aaaah…
Citrine: Master Dimitri! …Nigredo! Surely you didn't pass out again…?
Gaignun: Consciousness…what is it, really? For that, I…what should I…this is…
Citrine: There's no…need to worry.
Gaignun: Who…are you…
Citirine: 14 years ago, you comitted the crime of patricide. However, that kind of crime was something our father's predictions took into account. Which means that the punishment was prepared in advance of the crime. No…this isn't a crime, it's glorious.
Gaignun: I…
Citrine: Forget about the likes of Rubedo and Albedo, who couldn't carry out the duties they were given. You serve our father, as do I. I offer our bodies, our minds…
Gaignun: Who…am I…
Citrine: You are Dimitri Yuriev, my father…beloved…
Second Miltia
(Battle vs Lizardman Y, Gremlin Y, Troll Y)
Ziggy: It's taking too long at this pace, even if we clean up all the Gnosis in the city.
Jr.: Damn, if we had ES…
Shion: MOMO, can you find out how exactly the UMN is being obstructed?
MOMO: No, there's not enough data to say. But guessing from the extent of the phenomenon…I think whatever's causing it is either on the surface of Second Miltia or in low orbit.
chaos: Well, the most probable cause would be…
Shion: The Gnosis, right?
Jr.: If we find those Gnosis and hit them hard, we can get rid of the rest of'em later with the ES.
Shion: It's worth trying, so let's hurry…! (KOS-MOS, if you were here, at a time like this…)
Jr.: Watch out, get a move on!
(Battle vs Faerie βx2, Troll Y)
Shion: You're not safe here. Please find shelter somewhere else.
@: Yes. Thank you very much.
Ziggy: …what the!
(Battle vs Oudogok x2, Gremlin Y)
Ziggy: You're in danger here. Get away to somewhere else.
@: Okay, got it. Thanks, old man, all of you.
Ziggy: … ———————————- chaos: I can't get through…hurry. [I think, but hard to say due to lacking context]
(Battle vs Ratatosk x2, Lizardman Y)
chaos: Are you okay? Any injuries, or…
@: No, I'm fine. Thank you very much for helping me out of a tight spot.
chaos: It's dangerous here, so please go somewhere else for your own safety.
@: Yes, I see.
Shion: KOS-MOS…
Vector Headquarters
Allen: But I'm telling you, it's an emergency!
@: Even so, we need permission from the head office to activate KOS-MOS.
Allen: But with that…the UMN's blocked, so how are we going to…
? ? ?: …Shion.
@: ? Did you say something?
Allen: No, I didn't…
? ? ?: Shion is calling you.
@: That's…how!
Allen: KOS-MOS! This is like how it was back on the Woglinde!
@: What! That doesn't mean this one has protection applied! There isn't even supposed to be an activation program, so…how!
Allen: It's okay, KOS-MOS! The chief's in big trouble! Please bring me to her!
KOS-MOS: …Shion!
Allen: U, uh…the chief asked me…KOS-MOS…not meee…[A little unsure about that last bit]
-
Shion: …I don't want it to end like this. I still have…
KOS-MOS: Shion, I will support you from here on.
Shion: KOS-MOS! …KOS-MOS, it really is you!
KOS-MOS: Applying wide area Hilbert field, commencing attack.
Shion: W, wait a minute! Everyone, watch you!
MOMO: Huh?
Jr.: Whaat!
KOS-MOS: Launching…micro missiles. Missile impact as well as remaining Gnosis confirmed. Commencing close combat.
(Battle vs Zigaas β)
KOS-MOS: Extermination of all hostiles confirmed. There are no forces remaining.
Shion: KOS-MOS…
Jr.: That's KOS-MOS!?
Ziggy: She looks very different.
KOS-MOS: Yes, the change from a simulated combat body to a true combat body has been completed. As a result, my combat strength has improved by 74%.
chaos: But your true self, the one on the inside, doesn't seem like it's changed at all.
KOS-MOS: Yes. While my hardware configuration has changed, my AI is the same as previously.
chaos: (So it's definitely…your heart too, isn't it…)
MOMO: Miss Shion! Some kind of entity is accessing the UMN, monopolizing every communication channel…! It looks like it's a huge Gnosis!
Shion: Definitely! MOMO, show us what to do.
MOMO: Got it!
MOMO: This way…
Jr.: RIght, let's go.
-
Jr.: I wonder if these are the guys who messed up and sent Mary “A Compilation of Ten Thousand Comedic Stories”, so I ended up being accused of working on the side.
(Battle vs Minotauros β)
Helmer: Oh, is the UMN back up?
Jr.: Yeah, we we just used Vector's…or rather, Shion and KOS-MOS' power again.
Helmer: I can't thank you enough, Uzuki. We managed to save Second Miltia thanks to your help.
Shion: Don't mention it, this is…my home, after all.
Helmer: We have AGWS units at our disposal now. Leave the stragglers to us.
Jr.: That's well and good, but we can also use the ES now, so we'll lend a hand.
Helmer: I appreciate the offer, but if you don't mind, we have something else we'd like to ask you to do for us.
Shion: Something…else?
Helmer: We confirmed the huge Gnosis. Apparently it's holding open the gate the other Gnosis are coming through. It's position is…somewhere in low orbit. It's orbiting at a ground speed of 12,000km every second.
chaos: A ground speed of 12,000km in low orbit…only the ES would be able to get close to it.
Helmer: Precisely. I'm sorry we're always burdening you with these things.
Jr.: Don't say stuff like that. But anyway…I haven't seen Gaignun for a while, so I kinda wonder where he is.
Helmer: To be honest, I'm concerned too. I know he went to the Galactic Federation capital planet, but there hasn't been any word from him after that…so you haven't heard anything either, Jr., right?
Jr.: Yep, and he's not responding to telepathic communcations either. But we have to focus on the Gnosis for now.
Helmer: …I'll help.
Jr.: ES transfer!
MOMO: ES transfer!
Jr.: Shion, KOS-MOS. We don't mind if you sit this one out.
MOMO: We'll be back when we've defeated the Gnosis.
Shion: …I don't have an ES, so I'd just get in your way. Good luck, Jr., MOMO.
Jr.: All right, target orbital position confirmed. …let's go!
MOMO: …okay!
Shion: …
KOS-MOS: Shion, you require strength at this time, correct?
Shion: Huh? Yes…everyone, they're…I want to be able to help my friends.
KOS-MOS: …understood. Activating System DINA.
Shion: System DINA? KOS-MOS, what're you…is that…an ES!?
-
chaos: Current altitude, 25,000km, ground speed, 10,000km per second. …confirming an object in motion behind us!
Jr.: It's here, it's our target! MOMO, let's slow it down and flank it!
MOMO: Understood!
Jr.: Now!
Ziggy: Gah, what kind of speed is this.
Jr.: Ugh, I can't slow it dooown…
MOMO: At this rate, the machines and our bodies will…
Jr.: Damn, are we really gonna have to retreat…?
Shion: …hang in there, MOMO! Everyone!
chaos: (That's…it has to be…Dinah!)
KOS-MOS: Shion, we successfully hit the enemy.
Shion: (Incredible…even though it's my first time riding this machine, it feels so familiar to the touch…this machine, it's making me so nostalgic…why…?)
Jr.: Shion and KOS-MOS! How did you get an ES to…
Shion: We'll explain later! With the power of our three machines, we should be able to slow it down!
MOMO: Okay!
Jr.: Got it!
(Gwooooooooh.)
chaos: Yes, the speed and altitude began falling!
Shion: If we keep this up, we should be able to force it down in an uninhabited area!
KOS-MOS: Altitude 8000m, engaging anti-impact field.
Jr.: It's crashing!
-
Ziggy: What kind of creature is this, anyway, if it could survive a fall and landing like that…?
MOMO: But it looks like we weakened it quite a bit.
Jr.: We can destroy it with the ES units, let's go!
(ES battle vs Rianon Shee)
Jr.: Awesome, with three ES units…we can win against any kind of enemy!
chaos: (…)
Jr.: What's wrong, chaos? Don't you think it's cool?
chaos: Hmm? Oh, sorry. It's definitely…cool.
Jr.: You bet!
chaos: (We [or I/he/they, hard to tell] can't just be swept along by his will much longer now…)
Shion: …I remember now. Kevin was working on developing this machine two years ago.
KOS-MOS: Yes, it is the DS fine-tuned by Vector R&D Division 1…Dinah.
Shion: Yes, that's right… (So, am I feeling nostalgic because this was Kevin's…? No, I feel like I know it from much further back than that…)