Stage 02 (FM4)/Transcript

The following is a transcript of Scene 02, the third mission of Front Mission 4, in addition to the dialogue before and after Scene 02.

Pre-Mission Dialogue
[Durandal Transport]
 * Elsa: There was nothing in the boxes they left behind. They did a good job of covering their tracks.


 * Zead: Roger. Hermes, anything on your side?


 * Hermes: Hrm... I wonder...


 * Elsa: Did you find something?


 * Hermes: Come look at this.


 * Zead: What is it?


 * Hermes: It's a code from a microchip that barely made it in one piece. It's from one of their wanzers. It looks like a file from a leg parts stabilizer program.


 * Zead: Is it enough to be used as evidence?


 * Hermes: Every wanzer manufacturer has its own bipedal locomotion stabilizer program, and they're top-secret. You can usually identify a wanzer's maker by looking at the program's quirks...


 * Elsa: Can you tell which company this one is from? Is it from the E.C.? The O.C.U.?


 * Hermes: I need to run some more tests to be sure, but I'd say it looks a lot like Demitri Corp's program...


 * Zead: Demitri! The Zaftran corporation?


 * Hermes: Yeah. But this doesn't tell us if these wanzers were actually made in the Republic of Zaftra...


 * Elsa: But Zaftra doesn't export wanzers.


 * Zead: And I can see no reason for Zaftra to attack Germany.


 * Hermes: Yeah, I know. There isn't one country in the world that's at odds with Germany these days.


 * Zead: Well, at least we've managed to find some kind of lead. But we need to have it analyzed further by the proper authorities. Let's go back to the German base.


 * Hermes: Why are we going back there? Can't we go straight to the investigation headquarters?


 * Zead: We didn't tell Wagner we'd be coming here. At the very least, we have to tell him where we've been.

[Talking to Zead]


 * Zead: It doesn't look like there are any more hostiles nearby... still, we'd better make sure our wanzers are properly equipped.

[Talking to Hermes]


 * Hermes: Man, I didn't think we'd get into a firefight... From now on, we'd better make sure our wanzers are ready. If we set the armor on our wanzers to a certain type, it should lessen the damage we take from weapons of the corresponding type. For example, if we set our armor type to fire-resistant, it should absorb a third of the damage from missiles and grenades. There are two other armor types. Piercing-resistant armor lessens the damage taken from machine guns and rifle rounds. Impact-resistant armor lessens the damage taken from shotgun rounds and melee weapons like knuckles and rods. It'd pay to remember that. It might save your life.

Before Combat Starts

 * Wagner: Where have you been?


 * Zead: We've been carrying out our own investigation. Out of your way, as you requested. And we've succeeded in obtaining some evidence.


 * Wagner: Evidence...?


 * Elsa: Yes. They should lead us to the identity of the attackers...

Several explosions occur.


 * Zead: Bloody hell!


 * Elsa: What is going on?


 * Hermes: The enemy! They're here! They must have followed us!


 * Elsa: That's impossible! Their transports had already left Denmark!


 * Zead: I don't understand it either, but now's not the time for discussion! Get the wanzers out, now!


 * Hermes: I'll go, too!


 * Elsa: You?


 * Hermes: You didn't think piloting transports was all I was good for, did you?

Turn 8

 * Elsa: It is getting dark... The enemy will be harder to hit...


 * Zead: Missiles are not hampered by darkness, but if you want to hit your mark with firearms, you must get closer!

Transport Destroyed (Mission Failure)

 * Elsa: The transport... They destroyed the evidence...

Mission Completed

 * Zead: I see you're still in one piece.


 * Wagner: Yes.


 * Zead: We'll be returning to headquarters to analyze the evidence we found. What about you?


 * Wagner: I must stay here and clean up this mess...


 * Zead: But of course.


 * Hermes: Ready to go when you are.


 * Elsa: ...


 * Zead: Did you see, on the monitor...?


 * Elsa: Yes. Wagner's irises... they were red.


 * Zead: And those tactics he used--I've never seen them before... The Blauer Nebel's secrets run deep.


 * Elsa: Yes...

Berlin
[Glaser's Office]


 * Zead: ... and that is all we have to report, sir. Here is the microchip in question.


 * Glaeser: I see. Thank you.


 * Elsa: You... you are not surprised?


 * Glaeser: Does it seem that way to you? It is probably because I am still in a state of shock.


 * Elsa: ...


 * Glaeser: Truly, I am. German soldiers were butchered by unknown assailants for no apparent reason. But I must be calm, as leader of this investigation and as an officer of the Army.


 * Zead: ...


 * Glaeser: I train my men--harshly at times--so that they are always ready to repel any enemy that would threaten our country. Not many officers in the German Army think this way anymore. Most of them are concerned with furthering their careers than training their men. If it were not for them, this tragedy would never have happened.


 * Zead: Will our findings be announced immediately?


 * Glaeser: We will most likely announce... that certain evidence has been located. But that is for the E.C. Assembly to decide, not me. I would advice you to return to the U.K. and wait for the official announcement.


 * Elsa: But we cannot! We must investigate further! We neither know the reason for the attacks, nor if Zaftra is truly behind this!


 * Glaeser: That is work for the politicians and diplomats. Your job here is done. As leader of this investigation, I order you to return to your headquarters immediately. Dismissed!


 * Elsa: ...


 * Zead: Yes, sir. We will be on our way. Come, Elsa.


 * Elsa: ... All right.


 * Glaeser: You. Wait.


 * Zead: Yes, sir?


 * Glaeser: Your subordinates seem to make it a habit of questioning their superiors... I remember another time, long ago, where your subordinates ignored my direct orders. I would advise you to train them better.


 * Zead: ... Good day, sir.


 * Elsa: ...

[Outside Glaeser's office]


 * Zead: I admire your tenacity, Elsa.


 * Elsa: Oh...?


 * Zead: What you said in there was right. As long as we are part of this investigation, it is our duty to see it to its end. It is our duty--and our right--to do so.


 * Elsa: Zead...


 * Zead: Let's go home, Elsa. To Durandal Headquarters.


 * Elsa:' Let us go.


 * Frederick: Excuse me! Hey, you! Wait!


 * Elsa: ?


 * Frederick: You're a member of the team that's investigating the attacks on the German bases, right? Mind if I ask you a few questions...?


 * Zead: And who exactly are you?


 * Fredrick: What do I look like? I'm a journalist. Oh, hey, but don't worry, I don't belong to any of the papers. I'm a freelance writer. I specialize in nonfiction.


 * Zead: You know as well as I do that we can't answer any questions. And this area is off-limits to the media. I won't call security, but you should leave before they find you.


 * Frederick: Hey, give a guy a break, mister. It's not easy making a living freelance, you know? Hey, you his secretary? Come on, help me out here.


 * Elsa: Secretary!?


 * Zead: You are very entertaining, sir, but if you do not desist, I will call security.


 * Frederick: All right, all right, I'm leaving. For today, at least. See you around, li'l miss secretary!


 * Elsa: Wait! I'm not a--


 * Zead: Come on, li'l miss secretary, we're leaving.


 * Elsa: Zead!!!