"Heave-ho! Looks like they aren't coming with good intentions." Vil-V swept everything on the desk into her suitcase in one go. That small case seemed like a bottomless pit, swallowing a desk's worth of components whole. She picked up her top hat and pressed it onto her head. "Of course, that was a redundant thing to say. Unit 1!"
As if a stage symphony had struck its first chord, she let out a sharp cry. A graceful shadow leaped down from the ceiling; the cold gleam of twin gun-blades flashed, and two tall mechs were cleaved top-to-bottom, collapsing with sputtering sparks before a figure barely half their height.
"Ohhh! The modified chassis and armaments I gave you are finally proving their worth!"
Prometheus had changed into a combat suit. After dispatching the mechs, she flourished her hands, making the gun-blades vanish, and gray crosshairs manifested in her pupils, scanning the mechanical wreckage on the floor.
"...Enemy signaling system detected. Over a dozen hostiles are moving toward this location. I suggest immediate relocation." She extended a slender, pale hand, thrusting it into the mech's jagged breach. With a forceful tug, she ripped out a small box and crushed it into fragments.
Repeating the process for the other mech, Prometheus deadbolted the door and strode to the window, assessing the risks of the surrounding environment.
"In that case—"
"Wait a minute!"
Delta called out to Vil-V, who was already clinging to Prometheus, prepared to jump. Carrying her suitcase, Vil-V turned her back to her and asked teasingly, "What is it? Want to persuade me not to be impulsive?"
"No." Delta shook her head. She glanced at the closed door; the dense clicking of interlocking mechanical joints was drawing near.
When the true face of Fire Moth revealed its fangs before her, Delta admitted she had hesitated.
She had promised her sister that she would fight as a MANTIS who protects humanity—a hero carrying her sister's wish. She had taken pride in calling herself a Fire Moth soldier.
But in the next moment, she thought of the pity in Lin eyes as he sat beside her late at night, the lost and directionless Sakura by the hospital bed, and the words spoken by that "hands-off" Captain with a smile.
She had indeed accepted the guidance of these seniors. Their philosophies and emotions had deeply influenced her perspective.
Delta took a deep breath. She ripped the badge engraved with the number CM-079 from her chest, tossed it aside, and nodded solemnly to the smiling Vil-V. "I'm coming with you."
"That counts as betrayal, you know."
"...I never worshipped this identity of 'MANTIS' given upon me by others." Delta also let out a smile. She gestured toward herself with a thumb while her other hand and tail jointly gripped two greatswords. "Only children jump for joy just because a teacher rewards them with a little red flower."
"Dr. Mei, are you saying you oppose Fire Moth's upcoming policy?"
"Yes. I believe that undergoing surgical modification for all of humanity to become MANTIS soldiers is an extremely uncontrollable and dangerous matter. The cost is too high, and it is inhumane."
Mei explained her thoughts to the person on the other end of the communicator. She knew that these people—who had rarely appeared in person since the Great Purge and whose current locations were unknown—would never agree. Yet, she expressed her view and her... stance.
"After our voting process and analysis, we have determined this to be the optimal method for humanity to defeat the Honkai. As Fire Moth's chief developer and scientist, you surely understand." The synthesized voice on the other end was genderless and devoid of emotional inflection. "Furthermore... we possess methods to control MANTIS soldiers. You need not worry about them going rogue."
"..."
The voice sounded like many people speaking at once, yet also like just one. To Mei, they now bore a striking resemblance to the Stellar Color that had once attacked Earth—identical to that hive mind, except they sought to achieve the same effect through minority autocracy rather than consciousness integration.
So rational.
So disgusting.
"Of course, your intellect is indispensable. Therefore, you are not required to undergo MANTIS surgery."
"My deepest thanks, then," Mei responded coldly. "So, the execution of the KY Plan cannot be stopped?"
"So you are already aware of the KY Plan. Did someone leak it to you?"
"I investigated it myself."
"Then—"
"Then I formally announce that in response to Fire Moth's atrocities, dictatorship, and anti-human conduct, the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 13th squads, along with a large number of Fire Moth members, will take counter-measures. You can no longer represent Fire Moth. We will be taking over all Fire Moth assets, and we will subject you to trial and judgment."
Mei's eyes, more rational than a machine's, emitted a faint, cold light behind her glasses. She tapped a key on the independent server for Prometheus II, and countless streams of data surged from the host into the Headquarters' management system.
The voice on the other end continued unhurriedly: "Dr. Mei, without us, Fire Moth is not Fire Moth."
"Fire Moth is a synonym for the protection of humanity against the Honkai, not an acronym for a group of tyrannical autocrats plotting to rule the world. You may consider that I have stripped you of your 'copyright.' There's no need to sue me, as you won't even have human rights soon." Mei let out a rare, completely dangerous cold smile. "Of course, if you are referring to your power, resources, or even your image... Heh."
"A shame, Dr. Mei. We originally thought you shared our noble ideals and were prepared to welcome you among us. Now, we must perform some minor 'processing' on you. Rest assured, your wisdom will still serve humanity."
"I have no 'noble ideals.' Most of the soldiers in Fire Moth don't. But they are more qualified to speak of nobility than you."
The connection cut. Mei gave a slight nod to Kevin standing at the door. Kevin returned the gesture. Outside the door lay countless mechs frozen into ice statues, scattered in disarray.
"Su and the others are ready." Kevin drew the Shamash twin pistols from his waist, staring in a certain direction. "Those on our side are the minority. More people support the leadership's methods, or are hesitating and remaining neutral."
"I know."
It was an obvious outcome. The leadership's influence was too great, and the resistance offered little visible hope.
Mei stared at the screen where a sea of data surged, drowning the display. "The time Lin bought is enough. Next, we need—"
Boom!
The Headquarters base suddenly underwent a violent tremor. Mei hurriedly grabbed the screen and desk for support, her forehead striking the corner of the table.
"Mei..."
"I'm fine."
Mei looked up as if nothing had happened. A deep red liquid slid from her temple across her face, dripping from her chin. She said coldly to Kevin, "A large number of transport planes are approaching Headquarters. The number of MANTIS soldiers is at least in the triple digits."
She turned back, meeting the gaze of Kevin, who held his twin pistols.
Both of their gazes were remarkably calm, devoid of any clutter.
Next, Kevin had something to do.
Mei understood what he intended to do.
"...Leave it to me."