The year is 2287, and the Vespera crew finds themselves in the midst of a desolate, war-torn landscape, the ruins of a once-thriving city stretching out before them. The air is thick with the acrid smell of smoke and ash, and the only sound is the distant rumble of thunder, a storm brewing on the horizon. The mood is tense, the crew's senses on high alert as they navigate the treacherous terrain.
A tank-beetle bursts from the rubble, its armored shell glinting in the faint light, as the crew springs into action. Rika's eyes lock onto the creature, her gaze fierce and unyielding, while Aika's hands move with precision, her instincts guiding her every move. The two women work in perfect sync, their hybrid bodies a blur of motion as they lift a surviving child from the wreckage. The sound of crunching metal and screams fills the air, the chaos of the moment hanging like a palpable thing.
“Get the child to safety, now!”
“I've got her, Rika, go take down that beetle!”
“On it, Aika, cover our six!”
“Akari, can you get a lock on that thing's weak point?”
“Do it, Aika, we need to end this fast!”
As the crew manages to subdue the tank-beetle and secure the child, the tension in the air begins to dissipate, replaced by a sense of relief and hope. The child's survival is a beacon of light in the dark, war-torn world, and the crew's actions have given them a chance at a new life, a chance to rebuild and start anew.