Protoculture.
A highly advanced alien race
that became the first spacefaring civilization in the Milky Way 500,000 years ago.
By manipulating the genes of primitive indigenous life forms,
they sowed the seeds that would eventually bloom into the various humanoid cultures of the galaxy.
Vestiges of their power can still be found throughout the Milky Way.
The enemy has deployed an entire fleet and multiple surveillance satellites.
Silent hacker
Let's own their defense network so we can get through.
This is going to be a fun ride.
Every door
is meant to be
opened.
A flashing impression
as I find your heart's hidden backdoor
Words unheard, a rhythm unknown
In a chilling light
I send you my feelings as they are
and in this warped time, I hear your voice
The sky burns and the galaxy awaits
With everyone gone, you're still not alone
I want to know the real you
Rename sadness to something else
and use your avatar to hide your wounds
I'm here to help you
The hand of sadness might reach you
Holy moly.
but its touch is just the proof you're alive
Checkmate.
Don't forget it
that I'm here with you
We've only got one shot at love,
so let's have fun inside of you
Let's share a selfish kiss
The petals of this flower fall in the wind
The stars are more than I could count
I could place all the blame on you,
swallowing back my tears,
but I can't tell anyone about how my heart races
(Reach out)
Until it all breaks apart
(Reach out)
Until you can take flight
(To the ends)
Deep in my heart
(Of time)
There is a prayer
Just feel, just believe
and speed through it all
We've only got one shot at love,
so let's have fun inside of you
Let's share a kiss faster than light, just wait for me
I'll leave my body behind
I'll leave my heart beating hard
I'll break free from these chains holding me down
Just come get me, in my purest form
Planet Voldor
62% of Voldor's landmass is covered in marshes.
A blue and green planet.
Its principal exports are lumber, fruits, and spring water.
Zero strategic value.
Makina, Reina, First Lt. Messer and I will infiltrate the capital from the south.
Mikumo and Freyja will enter from the north with Second Lt. Mirage and Sgt. Hayate.
Mew got it!
No cat puns allowed.
Apawlogies.
Oh. My. God. Rei-Rei, you're the cutest kitty ever!
Hiss.
Don't scratch me.
I'm allergic to cats, you know.
Voldorians were originally modified felines.
Get out if you're just going to complain.
Mew can't lose either, Hayate!
I know.
Yeah. I can't lose.
We don't need someone who lets inane words get to her.
Just you watch me, Mikumo!
I'll show you I can be useful!
Wait, what?
Kumo-Kumo left ages ago.
She's the queen lone wolf.
Not again...
Impawsible...
So many kinds of cat ears!
This is the best!
There's no sign of any major disturbance.
Their bio-fold waves are off the charts.
Kaname.
On it.
Excuse me!
Could you tell me where the river bus boards—
Watch your step.
Excuse me? Your big ass ran into me!
Ah, I'm so sorry!
Analysis complete.
As we thought. Seidznole detected.
That's what's causing the Var.
We can assume both the army and police are under mind control.
God dammit...
Oh, my poor boy! Are you okay?
You have a cold?
I have the most wonderful catnip!
Don't worry about him!
My goodness, can't you even hold back a sneeze?
Easier said than done!
Why are we even doing this infiltration crap?
We're pilots.
My thoughts exactly. However...
Experiences build character.
"The deeper a jellyfish has swum, the more delicious it is."
Apparently.
I'm not a jellyfish.
Neither am I!
It's okay! Just leave this to me!
I've been trained on how to operate behind enemy lines between dance classes!
What's wrong?
This scent...
Run-run, yippee!
The stealthiest of all operations.
Why does everybody have to be like this?
This brings back mewmories!
Are these Windermerean exdel apples?
You've got quite the nose!
They're from Windermere?
Domestic purroduce got restricted. Though these aren't bad.
Right, miss—
Delish!
She really ought to be a bit more careful.
Give her a break. We got some intel.
That these apples are from Windermere.
And how is that useful at all?
I can hear it.
What is it this time?
This color...
Words alone can't convey
the truths I carry in my heart
Such a sad color...
One might know them, but not erase
What are they doing?
I know that insignia.
Sadness can be
Captain Alberto Larrazábal, the ace pilot of NUNS's Voldor fleet.
Dad! Answer us, dad!
cured by smiles over time
"Dad"?
This is the Walküre song that makes people feel better, right?
Don't forget that I love you
Answer us, dad!
There's a reason
I-865. The wind is changing.
Your shift is over.
Roger.
Dad!
Daddy!
They have their best pilots doing grunt work?
This is so wrong.
It's a lie. I knew some stupid song wouldn't heal him.
But it's not...
Walküre's songs can.
Hey!
Freyja!
Cut it out!
Let go of her!
You're so useless.
I know your voice.
You've got time to spare?
Mikumo?
Where have you been all this time?
What's that? That's a weird bug.
It's a cicada-shaped micro-drone.
It has both sensors and cameras.
Sensors and cameras?
A top secret inter-government meeting?
Yes.
We ought to learn something interesting from this.
So many... When did you install them?
Looks like it's beginning.
Lord Roid?
Integration into the NUG wasn't all that bad either.
Their bases gave us jobs and technology.
Buying locals like that is how they do things.
Still, aren't your demands a bit too much?
Declaring war, no less...
We don't have much time.
The average life span of Windermereans, if I recall correctly,
is about 30 years.
Indeed.
Very well. We'll behave.
Windermereans like to blow up foes and friends indiscriminately
using dimensional weapons.
Dimensional weapons?
I can only hope you haven't already brought those here.
Oh, please.
Then what are you doing at those ruins?
Just academic research.
I forgot you were a scientist as well.
I have read your papers on the Protoculture.
"The last humanoid races the dying Protoculture gave birth to
were the ones here in the Brisingr Cluster.
Therefore we are, by all means, the rightful heirs of the Protoculture."
Or so I recall.
Do you really believe those words?
The key to that mystery may lie in those very ruins.
Ruins?
I found it.
The Paraganal ruins. Seems to have once belonged to the Protoculture.
Kaname?
The Voldorians consider it a holy place.
The Windermereans locked it down and built some kind of facility there.
There's a dimensional weapon there?
We can't dismiss the possibility.
Roger. Let's meet up.
Intruders. It seems our air defense lines have been hacked.
I see.
What's this dimensional weapon thing you were talking about?
It distorts space-time to cause destruction.
It's an extremely powerful weapon of mass destruction.
Banned according to the galactic treaties,
but they say seven years ago Windermere deployed one
during their war of independence.
Seven years ago?
Maybe that thing?
But they said Earthlings did that.
No. Windermere used it against the NUNS.
Millions of civilians fell victim to it.
But our elder said...
Is the me you see the real me?
Or...
Heinz.
Father?
A dark wind blows through your heart.
Did you see the hole?
That hole was bored into the hearts of all Windermereans.
The only way to fill it is revenge.
As you say, Father.
Good work, Kumo-Kumo.
You too.
Whoa. Those are the Protoculture ruins?
That's a lot of culture!
What is this wind?
Just you look, Mikumo!
This time for real, I'll show you—
She left again.
How's security?
All trash. Junk. Not even exciting.
They're armed to the teeth.
Doesn't look like academic research to me.
Let's begin, Makina.
Okies! Let's find out what's in the secret plant!
Hello
Hip and hop as the clock ticks and tocks
Restlessly flutter around like a butterfly
Don't stare at me so impatiently
I'm so tired, glittering with— oh give me a break!
Tingle-tingle? Something's wrong... My heart's out of control
Thimpety thump, it won't stop. No one told me about this!
Feelings rolling all around the clock
I'm so awkward when I'm around you
I feel like I'm some bugged robot
Please just ignore me, this doesn't count
I'm just tingling all over, walking the edge
Holy moly.
They're in perfect sync.
It took them a while to get there.
They didn't used to get along. They'd start fighting the moment they saw each other.
We've had shows canceled because of them.
Want? Can't! Won't. I'm me and you're mine
Water and oil, mixing not recommended.
Don't wanna see you, but maybe I do. I'm me and you're mine
Want? Can't! Won't! I still wanna see you!
Here we are!
Who knew there'd be such a huge cave under the ruins?
All sensors and cameras are sleeping like logs.
We've got 30 minutes until the next guard patrol gets here.
What's with this place? It's filled with silos.
And they're full of... water?
Maybe it's used for cooling the dimensional weapon?
No.
Found this in a container over there.
Seems to be plain drinking water.
I've seen it in army facilities before.
What a letdown.
We came all the way here for water?
But isn't it a bit too much water?
It's water used by the army.
61.4% of Var cases so far have been in the military.
Wait a moment!
Windermere is using the water from here?
Who are you, beckoning me?
Protoculture?
Results?
Sodium: 1.1%.
Potassium: 0.17%.
Voldor bicarbonate: 0.03%.
Just regular water.
Oh.
Look what I've found! Looks yummy!
Galactic apples? Must also be for the military.
It's cheap but high on nutrients. Highly convenient.
Galactic apples... Officially Windermere apples.
It's a little known fact.
Really?
So everyone was unknowingly eating Windermerean apples?
What are you doing, Makina?
Doing some taste testing.
Polyphenols and vitamin C.
It's just an apple.
Just what are you up to, Windermere?
They found us?
But you've got all security systems on lockdown, Rei-Rei!
The wind has been disrupted.
I repeat. The wind has been disrupted.
Find the intruders and capture them.
Filthy Earthlings.
Makina, Reina, secure our escape route.
Everyone else, gather as many samples as you can.
Roger.
Watch our backs, Messer.
Roger.
We're taking back regular water and apples?
No questions. Hurry!
Galactic apples... Windermere apples...
Close these shutters.
If we lock this and that,
it'll be perfect.
Impossible combination.
Dangerous to mix.
The polyphenols bound to the Voldor bicarbonate.
Detecting high concentration of seidznole.
Not half bad.
So if you mix water from here with Windermere apples,
it creates seidznole in the body that triggers the Var.
Other planets' ruins probably have water with similar composition.
Windermere artificially spreads the Var using the water and apples.
They then controls the victims with the song of the wind.
They use Windermere apples like that?
Make a left over there!
You couldn't catch up, so you always
looked up at something from here
Mikumo?
What are you doing?!
Hurry!
Fre-Fre!
Go on ahead!
We'll catch up right away!
I'm leaving those two in your hands!
Let's go.
This way. Hurry.
Let's go.
Three fell into the trap.
Two NUG dogs...
And one Windermere traitor.
The Aerial Knights!
The enemy...
Mission 07: Behind Enemy Lines
Are you ready?
I heard a rumor that the world's gonna end someday
Just kidding, it's obviously a lie
I remember looking up at the sky
and feeling like I was in the future
I felt completely in sync with your wind
You make me truly feel like a girl
so I've got no choice but to do it. I can't stop now!
You better be ready!
If my rune shines with a flash
wow woh wow woh
I fall in love
wow woh wow woh
Lalali lalala you make me
Lalala rune pika invincible
Next time: Escape Resonance