What Must Be Done
...All right. No one's following me, right?
Then... it's time to go.
Go where, exactly?
?! C-Captain?! What are you doing here...?!
Just happened to be passing by.
Before us stood a massive mining site, marked with a large sign that read Astra Energy.
"Just passing by"?! I'm not buying it!
...Did you track me here?
Ever since her suspension, Roberta showed up to training like usual...
But it was obvious something was weighing on her mind.
The Roberta I knew would never leave things unfinished.
That incident... you haven't let it go, have you?
*Sigh...* Nothing gets past you, Captain.
Yeah. I kept digging into it on my own.
I was hoping it was just paranoia... but unfortunately, my instincts are usually right.
If my calculations are correct, it's either today or tomorrow.
A major disaster will hit this site. Ninety percent probability.
The projected disaster... will cause the ground to collapse and bury the entire facility.
You're sure?
I can't say one hundred percent.
But Naru a genius at this kind of math.
She backtracked through the corrupted data, reconstructed the original readings, and recalculated the risk.
She's also been developing her own disaster prediction formula independent of Polaris' system.
According to that too, the outlook is extremely bad.
...We have to evacuate the workers before anything happens.
I'm suspended, so I doubt anyone will listen to me...
But if they don't, I'll force it. That's all.
I won't involve them. I'm not dragging my team into my affairs again.
Naru probably figured it out...
...But she tends to cause trouble in her own way, so I left her out of this.
I was curious what she meant by that, but decided to save the question for later.
So you really shouldn't come with me, Captain.
This is my personal crusade. It has nothing to do with the Journey.
That's why—
Two is still better than one.
...Captain.
...You really are...
*Sigh...* Guess I've got no choice.
...Look here. The support pillar's sinking. That means the ground's losing stability.
And over there. There's a large crack in the ground.
But most of all, feel that uneven vibration in the ground?
This matches the patterns from the Ancient Ruins Collapse five years ago.
This isn't about risk percentages anymore.
This place is going to collapse. Soon.
Let's get the workers out immediately.
Right. Let's find whoever's in charge.
Roberta of the Orbital Search Team! This is an emergency. Who's the site foreman?!
...That's me. An emergency? What are you talking about?
Polaris hasn't issued any notice.
That's what makes it an emergency.
This whole site is about to collapse.
Stop all operations immediately and evacuate your crew now.
What? Evacuate?
What kind of nonsense is this?
We were clearance. They said it'd be safe for at least three years!
See this line? "Major disaster risk within 3 years: extremely low."
It's even stamped with the Observatory's official seal and all!
Still willing to say that now?
Th-those were just tremors from the machinery!
*Sigh...* Really? Then go check yourself.
F-Fine! I'll go see! Wait here!
Shouldn't we hurry?
...We still have a little time.
The real danger begins once the vibration stops.
If possible, getting the foreman on board will prevent chaos during—
...Huh?
Oh, look who it is... Perfect timing for someone who kept demanding "proof."
...Y-you again?!
Of course. If I ignored a disaster I knew is coming...
I'd have no right to call myself a member of the Orbital Search Team!
I told you last time, didn't I? This place is going to collapse soon.
No, that can't be! I-I ran the numbers myself!
You manipulated the numbers until they looked low risk, and now you start trusting your own fabrication? Or...
Maybe the project moving forward mattered to you more than the truth.
Maybe to you it's all just numbers...
But people's lives depend on that data...!
...Enough. I'm done with this conversation.
You're suspended, aren't you? I'd be more than happy to ensure you never work in this field again.
*Sigh..* If nothing happens today, do as you please.
I came prepared for that.
If you give the evacuation order and nothing happens...
I'll take responsibility for everything. Damages included.
I've memorized every rule and regulation in that bothersome manual you keep clinging to.
Article 15 of the Orbital Search Team Protocol states...
In emergency field conditions, command authority may be exercised regardless of rank or jurisdiction.
...Granted the one who acts accepts full responsibility.
Pfft... Full responsibility?
You think this is something one person can carry?
She's not alone.
C-Captain...?
...?!
...That's what I heard. Never read that clause?
What...? I-I've never heard of such a clause...
Ggh...!
Captain... why would you go that far...?
Because I'm your Captain. That's all the reason I need.
*Sigh...* You're just as reckless as I am, huh?
Must've learned it from you.
It was right then, as Roberta and I exchanged a smile...
The tremors... they stopped.
...Yeah. Now it's really dangerous.
*Sigh...* Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was doing the right thing...
But if you're backing me up, then I'll see this through.
With that, Roberta stepped toward the site's PA system.
Attention all personnel. Evacuate the entire site immediately—
Stop! You can't do that!
...Excuse me?
Eleanor rushed in front of her, blocking her path.
We're so close..! Once we secure the Heart of the Star fragments...
Astra Energy... my son... and I...!
Agh, enough already!
I tried to handle this politely, but there's a limit to how respectful I can be, you stupid old hag!
Want to see why they called me the screwball of the Search Team?!
E-eek!
Eleanor collapsed to the floor, overwhelmed by Roberta's intensity.
This is an emergency.
All workers, stop operations and evacuate immediately!
I repeat. All personnel, evacuate...
After a short while, everyone had evacuated and gathered at a safe distance from the site.
Just then, while everyone was murmuring and checking the situation...
I-it's really collapsing!
If we'd taken even a little longer... we'd have been buried alive...
H-how could this...
By the way, the clause you mentioned, does that rule actually exist?
The one about sharing responsibility and all that...
Was there...? Maybe not...?
Truth is, I'm not sure either.
Eh...? But you sounded so confident back there!
...Ugh, even I fell for it.
At least I meant it.
I was ready to stake my role as Captain on it.
...Is it because you're my Captain?
Is that really enough reason to stick your neck out for me?
What if... I'd been wrong? What then?
To you, am I...
Am I worth risking your title as Journey Captain on?
Of course.
...
For some reason, Roberta's cheeks flushed faintly.
Roberta? You okay?
H-huh? O-of course! I'm fine! Totally fine!
Ahaha, I'm good! More than good, actually! Yup!
C-Captain... You know... ever since that night we drank together, I—
I-It's gone...! GONE...! Astra Energy...! My son... my future...!
Errrgh!! Th-this is your fault! All your fault!!
I'll end you and then end myself—
...
Okay... That's it...
I am DONE with you—!!
Aaaaah!
Observation Director Eleanor, you are under arrest for...
Private exploitation of Observatory assets and data tampering.
We heard there was a collapse.
Did the incident cause her injuries, Ms. Roberta?
...Ah... Well...
Afterward, Roberta spent some time helping sort out the aftermath...
And by that evening, her team's reassignment was revoked, and her suspension lifted.