Archcore: Echoes of Ion

[16] - [Neverending Cycle]

"ODIN?" Nina asked.

"Yes. Currently, most of it is complete, but I need someone with your skill to help complete it. This is what we call a Sentinel Type Dreadnought."

Proxima put her hands on Nina's shoulders, "This must be completed first. You are the only person with the intelligence and the one I can trust with this, Nina. The ODIN will never be complete without you."

Nina quickly adjusted her glasses, "This... ODIN, what is it going to be for exactly?"

"Let's just call it a deterrent."

Turning away, Proxima walked down the hallway until Nina couldn't see her anymore. Turning back to the tablet, Nina looked over more on the ODIN, a new type of Dreadnought. The overall image of it was something Nina couldn't really understand, the form of one she had never once seen before. Having four legs and a large abdomen like an insect, while the waist up appeared more in a traditional Dreadnought.

"Most of it is complete, so why would Lady Proxima need me for this?"

It was a conversation Nina played over and over in her mind as she and a team comprised of scientists and mechanics worked on the ODIN. Placed in a hangar made specifically for the large machine, it stood well over fifty meters. Interestingly enough, for something so large, it lacked a cockpit.

"Nina, come look at this." One of the mechanics called to her. 

Beckoning her to another room, she found several other members surrounding a large television screen, "What's going on?" Nina asked but she got no response as everyone was absorbed with the news.

"In light of the attack at Vanaheim three weeks ago, it has been confirmed to be the terrorist group Seventh Star that initiated the attack. Cyclase Ritter, president of the Earth's Rune Federation has called for any civilian with relevant information regarding the Seventh Star to come forward."

For a moment, the woman on screen stopped talking as she put a hand over her ear.

"Breaking right now, we have received information that the Seventh Star hideout has been discovered. However, the place seems to have been attacked the previous night."

"Now the area looks more like a warzone as fallen Dreadnoughts are scattered across the area as well as the multiple bodies of men, women, and children."

As the woman continued to talk more about the event, Nina left the room and returned to the hangar. Stopping after a few steps, she looked up to the ODIN, "The Raven was sent out a few days ago and hasn't returned yet... Lady Proxima, did you have something to do with this?"

Meanwhile, Proxima had watched the news as well, satisfied with what the woman explained.

"That's one loose end dealt with, so now what?" Weiss asked.

"Now, we just wait. For the moment, the other factions believe us to still be in mourning. However, an excuse like that can only go for so long. At some point, we'll have to go public again."

Rosario then spoke up, "What about the other two? Daryl and Deira? They were members of the SS."

"It's simple, we'll pass on a lie to them. It was the Rune Federation who did it. Rubian's last words for him and Deira were for them to stay with APEX." Proxima then stood up from her seat, "If nothing else, I should go. I need to start making contact with the presidents and there is no better time than now." 

-[Vanadis]-

For Azuma, he slowly returned to his normal life on Vanadis. However, without the Raven, there wasn't much else he could do beyond wasting his days away. However, in that time he had now, Azuma had bought various items from the colony's  shopping district.