Opening dialogue

A group of people are assembled in a giant conference room.

They are talking amongst themselves while staring at a large monitor...

Everything you hear in this session of the Schwarzwelt Joint Project should remain, as always, secret.

The civilian populace is still unaware. Our information control program is going smoothly.

Ah, we're just in time for the broadcast... The news should be reporting exactly what we want.

One monitor is showing a news update...

...A new weapon seems to have been used in the increasingly prolonged Eastern European hostilities.

Despite our choice of viewing, the topic of discussion today is not our control of the news.

We're here to discuss the newly received data.

This... This is what it looks like inside that thing?

But that's ridiculous! How could there be a battlefield THERE!?

The news continues to drone on in the background...

A string of lootings is plaguing many areas of Central and South America suffering from shortages.

But look, this can't possibly be an accurate depiction of the interior.

This is a shopping mall, for God's sake! Someone must have gotten the signals crossed.

Police have yet to name a suspect in the recent sex murders in Tokyo.

The unmanned probes we sent don't seem to be doing the job. Though no vehicle has gotten in intact...

What is this, some sort of red- light district? Wrong data or no, I find this in very poor taste.

Devastating pollution throughout Central Asia is sparking off riots in protest.

Speaking of devastating, they're predicting unchecked growth until it swallows the entire world...

Waste material, sludge... nonsense. We still don't know what that land in the South Pole looks like...

Now for more on the giant ferro- magnetic blizzard occurring close to the South Pole.

All nations with nearby bases have been reviewing their options in light of its tremendous force...

A joint decision was reached and carried out today to temporarily withdraw from the bases.

Yes, "withdrawn"... We can't very well say the bases are simply gone, now can we?

If word of that got out, there'd be a panic. And if they knew it was growing... I shudder to think.

Horrifying to think of them going in there, isn't it?

They may be equipped with next- generation technology and weapons, but still...

Be that as it may, our decision cannot be overturned.

We have no other way but to send humans in to investigate...

Our only choice... is to go into the Schwarzwelt.

It's almost time to go into the Schwarzwelt, isn't it? Men and women of the investigation team...

We at the Schwarzwelt Joint Project will be praying for you on behalf of all of humanity.

It's in your hands now, Commander Gore. Be safe, and make sure you complete your mission.

Of course. We'll take care of it.

Then I look forward to good news from you upon your arrival. Excuse me...

......

All right, crew! Your attention, please.

We will arrive at our destination, the Schwarzwelt, in thirty minutes.

Our mission as the Schwarzwelt Investigation Team is about to get underway.

I realize you were selected on short notice and came from all over the globe to be part of this.

But it's only going to be harder from here on out, so get used to it.

Fortunately, you're all the elite of your respective nations' services. You can handle this.

If we all lend each other our support and work as a team, this mission will go smoothly.

Enough pep talk, though. It's time for our last formal briefing before entry.

First, to tell us about the land we're about to enter, the Schwarzwelt...

I'd like to introduce to you all First Lieutenant Zelenin.

Hello, everyone. If I may have your attention, please.

I am First Lieutenant Zelenin. For those of you I haven't already met, the pleasure is mine.

I will now explain what observed data we have on the Schwarzwelt's inner structure.

The Schwarzwelt is a natural phenomenon that arose in the South Pole some months ago.

But this phenomenon is one of a kind. We have nothing of its like to compare it to.

You may have heard false reports that it is a giant blizzard, but in truth...

It is an unknown spatial anomaly that destroys and absorbs its surroundings as it enlarges.

When it first appeared, it was a cylinder only one meter in diameter that stretched to the sky.

Since then, it has spread radially, swallowing surrounding observation bases and any investigators whole.

Today, it occupies a sizable footprint with a radius of several hundred kilometers.

As we speak, the Schwarzwelt continues to expand...

If we cannot engineer a reversal of the process, then it will inevitably swallow the Earth.

According to data retrieved from the unmanned probes dispatched prior to this investigation...

There is a several thousand meter wall surrounding the Schwarzwelt's outer rim.

This barrier is a plasma cloud that dismantles all approaching objects at a molecular level.

You may be surprised to learn that the interior contains parallel universes, or other dimensions.

Unfolding within the anomaly is a bizarre landscape we've had a hard time getting readings on.

This is due to some sort of property the interior has that repels foreign bodies...

Whatever this property is, it's destroyed each and every unmanned probe we sent in.

...And that's what we know in a nutshell.

It paints a bleak picture for our mission, no matter how one interprets it...

But as many of you know, we have effective ways of dealing with each of those obstacles.

The Joint Project assembled its team and equipment based on the data we've collected so far.

I am certain that if we all work as one, we can carry out our duties safely and efficiently.

This concludes my report.

Thank you for that clear and concise explanation, Lieutenant Zelenin.

Now, Arthur will confirm our mission. He'll be the one managing the assignments and duty roster.

Hello, Schwarzwelt Investigation Team. I am the Command Unit Arthur.

I will support you by coordinating our systems with those of the other ships to devise a strategy.

As you can see, Arthur is an administrative program with a pseudopersonality.

It may feel strange to take orders from him at first, but you'll quickly get used to it.

Please continue, Arthur.

This team's mission is to conduct a detailed investigation of the Schwarzwelt's inner structure.

The Schwarzwelt Joint Project is currently reviewing plans to destroy the anomaly.

However, due to a lack of data, no sound plan for its definitive elimination has been submitted.

If your investigation sheds new light on the Schwarzwelt...

The Joint Project should have little difficulty devising and executing a plan to destroy it.

Lieutenant Zelenin's briefing may have caused some pessimism.

To investigate the Schwarzwelt's interior may seem an impossible feat at first.

But with the amphibious assault ship we are all currently aboard, our mission becomes feasible.

This next-generation amphibious assault ship uses a plasma engine to penetrate the protective wall.

It can also go airborne for brief intervals.

Thus, we can fly over the plasma cloud to safely begin investigating the interior.

The investigation team is composed of four next-generation amphibious assault ships.

Our ship, which is in command of the overall mission, is Ship 1, the Red Sprite.

Ship 3, the Elve, houses many scientists who will be pivotal in our research.

Ships 2 and 4, the Blue Jet and Gigantic, will serve as combat support should emergencies arise.

I will be aboard Ship 3, the Elve.

A detailed survey of the anomaly, previously impossible with the unmanned probes: this is our duty.

I look forward to all of your support.

As mentioned in Lieutenant Zelenin and Arthur's reports, we carry with us some very serious gear.

With all the ships working in tandem, investigating that place is far from impossible.

Our mission may be to challenge the unknown...

But we can make of it a unique experience of saving mankind, and go home proud of what we've done!

Yes, Sir!

Let's see here...

We have a few visiting team members handpicked by the UN for this investigation...

I see some of you haven't finished your introductions.

Commander Gore is looking at you.

Welcome. Another American, eh?

Why don't you get up in front of the group and introduce yourself?

Please choose the name you will be called by throughout this game.

Thank you, Crewman (your name).

You will serve on this ship, the Red Sprite, under my command.

You've been assigned to be part of the strike team.

Strike team members have military experience, just like yours. You'll be the ones going out in the field.

I'll expect you and your teammates to act according to the code of conduct.

Commander Gore held out his right hand... What will you do?

• Shake his hand
• Refuse to shake

I've heard a lot about your service record. I expect much from you.

Commander Gore took (your name)'s right hand firmly and shook it.

Were you warned not to get too friendly with me, (your name)? Hahaha...

Well, as long as you're a part of our team here on the Red Sprite, you're an invaluable asset.

I'm counting on you.

Commander Gore took (your name)'s right hand and forcefully shook his hand.