Distant future.
Thanks to a certain mineral, humanity was able to advance to regions of space beyond the Solar System.
Its name was Orichalt.
Possessing a capability of spatiotemporal movement via a specific space,
Orichalt became the foundation of a socially important network of communication and goods distribution.
However, as it has not yet been fully understood, theories warning against its use were published.
Regardless, as it has already ended up deeply interwoven
into humanity's development, getting rid of it was already impossible.
Locking procedure complete.
Stabilization of regolith, all green.
Installing the base pipe into mesh 5687.
(Cygnus constellation, Albireo binary system)
Rotational orbit within Yarkovsky effect influence predictions.
Maintaining values suitable for excavation work.
Safety standards for excavation under microgravity fulfilled.
Well then, commence trial digging.
Maintaining current drill pipe rotation.
Magnetic solid, all green.
Surrounding environment change within standards.
Internal porosity approximately 40%.
Within expected range.
Professor.
Would be nice if we finally hit a vein now, wouldn't it?
In terms of budget, this is our last dig.
Let's put our hope in Maya's geological predictions.
If it's that way, wouldn't it have been more reasonable to pick Delta 9 as the site?
Delta 9 is enveloped in a level 4 Miguel Storm right now.
I can't put you in such danger, right?
But according to the observation data...
There is something on the sensors.
Orange alert.
Drill pipe, emergency stop.
Did we hit bedrock?
Yes.
Let's head out there in I-machines and verify the platform's condition.
Affirmative.
Maya.
Huh? Am I going as well?
Obviously.
It might be your first dig, but you're still a member of this team.
But I'm specializing in geological surveys, work on the site is a bit...
You have a second-level MT license, right?
It's just 200 hours of training and simulation.
What's your average synchronization ratio?
It's just 86.
But that's exceptional!
Buuuut...
Don't worry, Maya.
It's just an I-machine.
You'll revive even if you die.
MT system booting up.
After your thought data is backed up, you will be transferred to the I-machine.
Back-up complete.
Transferring.
Eh, uh, this...
How is the synchronisation?
Well, on numbers...
I think it's okay?
Set your sensory data to the height of 18 meters, optimal settings.
After that, just get used to it.
Let's go, Maya.
Y-yes.
Maya, hurry up.
Um, to be honest, I am really scared right now.
You alright with the scholarship being revoked?
I'm going! I'm going!
ID number confirmed.
Mikuri Maya.
Looks like we found our target.
Hey hey, are we up against amateurs like those?
It doesn't matter.
We're just doing our respective jobs.
Lifting the drill pipe up until the safety limits.
As I thought, metal deposits.
Was it an agglomeration of mineral and metal asteroids then?
Maya-kun, why couldn't you predict this?
I thought we would be digging at Delta 9,
so I didn't have time for a geophysical exploration of Omega 3.
I'm sorry.
Hmm...
There's no other way to continue drilling other than breaking apart the metal with a localized directional blasting.
Maya, back me up.
Roger.
Synchronising vision data with the sensors on the bottom hole assembly.
Maya, where's the point we can break with minimal influence?
Going off the current excavation data, it should be here.
Well done.
It aligns with my predictions too.
Let's perform directional blasting there then.
Well, did it break apart?
Drill pipe resuming excavation, confirmed.
Maya, collect the metal and perform a chemical analysis of it.
Okay.
Red alert!
Bottom hole assembly pressure rising!
Did we hit the Orichalt vein directly?
Professor!
Maya!
Mind reload.
We lost the I-machines, huh.
Well, there's nothing we could've done.
We got right into a Miguel Storm, after all.
Let's evacuate the ship out of here,
or it will get sucked into a Miguel Storm as well.
Huh?
Can we?
It looks like Maya's consciousness data is still in the I-machine.
Romanov.
According to the space law, ensuring the safety of a ship is the number one priority.
I see.
Professor, please don't leave me out here.
Of course.
You have a good head on your shoulders, after all.
Professor!
Romanov!
Where are you?
Save me please!
Somebody save me!
Right arm!
My right arm!
This is bad!
Someone, someone!
IT HURTS!
Cut off the pain sense in your right arm!
The pain data in your right arm.
Thank you very much.
No need to.
Besides, I have to apologize here.
He's so rough.
I'm sorry, but you are?
Excavators.
Oh, an excavation company then.
Hey Pops, the student's alright here.
How's it on your end?
FA-Loser just confirmed the academy sub running away.
So they abandoned their excavation site.
Which means we can do as we please with it.
Let's go get it!
All of the Orichalt over there!
Grayman, what's the storm level?
Level 3.
It's a place where the academy was digging, I've got great expectations for it!
Excuse me, what are you going to do?
Help ourselves to that Orichalt ore instead of you.
Rick, we're within range.
Gotcha.
Give us a great cut, Id!
Just breaking in like that?
This is crazy!
It's fine.
We're using the hole you made.
Ore located.
Returning with a Miguel Jump.
Alright.
Ready when you are.
Whoaaaa...
A Miguel Jump in a place like this...
Huh?
Is that all of the treasure?
Hey, hey, is the academy's eye that bad?
I'm sorry, but we were supposed to dig that piece of Orichalt ore.
Could you please return it?
The academy abandoned the site and ran away.
But if I don't bring results I'm going to be unable to get scholarship!
And if I can't go to the academy...
You know, you should really be running away.
Eh?
The Storm Burst is coming.
Mikuri Maya.
Your genetic signal data has been assigned the number B3224.
You are admitted to the Federation Academy's Cosmological Geology department.
Thank you very much.
And uh, what about support?
This course provides not just learning environment,
you will be provided with lodging and support at this academy as well.
That's very helpful.
I suppose this system is necessary for you,
having lost your parents at such a young age.
But do you even like cosmological geology?
Well, in the first place it's because of living and independence...
And the fact you get financial support.
Well, I have to live on something after all...
So as long as you're alive, you're alright with being swept along with whatever happens?
Well, how should I say it...
I mean, I ended up going to space anyway...
Well, the arrangements have been made already.
H-huh?
Oh, you're awake?
You saved me?
Thank you very much!
Don't worry about it.
People have to help each other out.
By the way, where is this?
Our headquarters, little lady.
Headquarters?
Yes.
Our company's pride - Stulti, a ship specialised for excavation work.
It might look shabby, but it's great inside.
There's even a living area for I-machines inside.
For I-machines, huh...
Wait, I'm still in an I-machine!
This is bad, I'm going past allocated time!
I apologise, but first of all I need to return to my own body!
Error?
Mind reload data sync not located?
My body?
What happened to my body?
Have you seen the research vessel?
The academy excavation and research vessel I came on!
Sure did.
It flew away somewhere.
Eh?
They probably went back to the Albireo relay station.
No waaaaay...
Did they really return with my body on board...
Put it in.
Huh?
It's a spare right arm.
Put it in.
Good thing you had a common body, eh.
You know how to switch joint modes, right?
Umm, there's a lot I have to thank you for,
but would it be possible for you to take me to the exploration vessel?
Ooh?
You don't sound very grateful for someone who got her life saved, you know.
Um, who might you be?
Captain of this Stulti here,
Grayman.
And his daughter, Claire.
Oh, my name is Mikuri Maya.
Third year in the Cosmological Geology of the Federation Academy.
Set the joint mode.
Oh, okay.
How is it? Should work like normal.
Thank you very much, this is a lifesaver.
Girlie.
Y-Yes?
Getting back to our talk.
Do you realize how much it will cost to get you alone to the station?
Forget about it.
Too bad.
Well, that's life for you.
What are you saying?
If I lose my body, I'll die!
I'll pay you back for sure!
It's not an amount a student could pay.
I could pay in installments or credit...
Our captain is an impatient guy.
No way...
However, depending on the conditions, I might up listening to your request after all.
Eh? Are you the captain from just now?
Why in an I-machine?
What's with you?
Listening to her request, you must be in a good mood.
Girlie, we're an excavation company that specializes in Orichalt.
I've heard that you're excavators, but specializing in Orihalt?
Yep, we are.
I'm sorry, what did you say?
Girlie, are you not used to I-machines?
Yes, I'm not.
Try setting the sound level to 5.
Can you hear me?
Oh, I hear you!
It's fine now.
That's a relief.
You know, we're always short on hands, so...
So you see, if you work your travel expenses off, we'll take you to the relay station or wherever.
Really?
For realsies.
Thank you very much!
I'll do my best!
Alright then, let's talk business.
Okay.
This is the target for now.
Outer edge body in the Albireo double binary system, Delta 9.
Length around 20km, estimated Orichalt deposits are A-rank.
Hey, hey, why's a place like that still untouched?
There's got to be a catch, right?
That's right.
Pretty much the entire surface of the asteroid gets randomly enveloped
in a level 4 Miguel Storm at times, so no excavation company laid hands on it yet.
Well that's quite a pickle now!
Guess we can't do it without data.
Umm...
What is it, girlie?
I know this asteroid.
Really?
It was an observation target for one of my seminars.
Originally, we were supposed to do a digging test there,
but the professor suddenly changed the excavation site...
Well that's a lovely coincidence!
Maya, since you were planning to dig there anyway,
do you happen to know of a way to reach the surface of Delta 9, by any chance?
Um, is this alright?
Sure, if you know of a way, tell us.
Alright.
From 10 years' worth of spectrum observation data I got...
Um, input access...
Permission to input movement data granted.
Thank you.
At this trajectory it should be mostly safe from a Miguel Storm.
I also found a spot where the storm does not appear.
Eh?
Using that spot, it should be relatively easy to perform excavation.
If you're telling the truth, this job should be easy money...
Her data analysis isn't bad.
Making an attempt here is worth it.
Well if Id says so, it's settled.
Wonderful, Maya!
For Id to recognize you!
If this excavation goes well, I think you'll be able to get to the station right away.
Eh?
Really?
I'll give it my all!
What is this vehicle?
Cool, isn't it?
It's custom-made by USP!
Hey, student.
It's Maya. Mikuri Maya.
You're stupid, aren't you.
Stupid?
Yeah.
What do you mean by that?
If you would have used that analysis data as a bargaining chip, you could have easily gone to wherever you wanted.
Oh...
It's in sight.
Delta 9.
Now, we just need to get on the trajectory the little lady provided us...
Wait, Rick.
Huh?
What's wrong?
Ugh, looks like there's somebody there already.
Can you see them?
From this distance?
A lady in this trade needs info, you see.
Do you mean you've got illegal modifications?
Don't you worry about it!
Looks like it's the Fujima corporation.
And what exactly is a major "safety first"-company doing in a dangerous place like this?
Wait, look at their excavation point.
It's the same as we were planning to use.
In that case it means the Fujima corporation has the same data as you, little lady.
No way!
The Delta 9 observation data was only at the professor's seminar!
Then he must've sold it.
That info.
Sold?
Who?
You don't mean the professor?
Looks like he was able to properly turn that knowledge into money, unlike you.
Don't say it like that!
Huh? What are you?
An I-machine?
An unmanned guard robot.
Guard?
Protecting Delta 9.
They've spotted us!
What, no warning?
Don't shoot!
We're civilians!
It's no use, they're shooting to take us down.
But why?
They don't want other people to know they're digging using illegally obtained info.
In this line of work this happens all the time.
This is an act of aggression, isn't it?
This is against Federation law!
So is what they're doing!
Thank you very much!
If you've got damaged parts, exchange them later.
This isn't the problem here!
There sure is a lot of them!
Captain, you're up!
Gotcha!
If we let them slow us down too much, they'll just make away with our treasure!
Captain, prepare the rig.
Aren't you rushing a bit?
To the drilling team: some strange company is approaching.
How is your progress?
No problems here, we should hit the ore soon.
Papa, the Fujima corporation is trying to reach the vein!
Say what?!
Id, you were right.
We've got to hurry!
Papa, I've locked on the target point.
In that case, shoot it!
Got it.
They're insane!
A drilling rig is coming!
Run!
What are you doing?
If it takes such an impact, the Orichalt will become unstable!
That's why we'll recover it before it does!
You'll die!
It's fine.
You've got to enjoy this moment, right now.
You can't just say something so detached!
Well that's a whole lot.
Guess there's no choice.
To think it'd be this huge...
Id, you alive?
How do I look to you?
Just short of being dead, I guess?
Good observation.
So, does this happen every time?
Id is special.
He loses himself when it comes to collecting Orichalt.
Says he doesn't know why himself.
He doesn't know?
And so, uh...
What?
Isn't what you all are doing kind of like piracy?
What a cruel thing to say!
We're a wholesome excavation company!
Is that really so?
That's...
The Planet Federation's 7th Cosmic Fleet!
We're saved!
If we just get the military to protect us...
What are you talking about? We're running away.
Eh?
Do you want to be caught doing an illegal excavation?
So, you ARE pirates then!
Recon 01.
This is HQ.
Give priority to capturing the accused Fujima corporation.
I repeat, priority to the Fujima corporation.
Recon 01 to HQ.
Order received.
Prioritising Fujima corporation's apprehension.
We're moving away from the military!
Away!
Great thing we didn't get captured, eh?
It's not great!
At this point I'll be stuck in I-machine forever!
What?
Did I return?
My head hurts...
Where am I?
Aboard Stulti.
Oh, so that body really was yours, little lady.
Good thing you were able to return to your body, isn't it, Maya?
Huh?
How did my body end up on this ship?