A Robot's Dream

Brief

You receive a message from Fiona and learn that the fleet of logistics robots deployed by the UWST at the Power Plateau has suffered a large-scale breakdown. The causes are still unknown. To get to the bottom of this issue, you decide to go to the Originium Power Plant to gather more intel.

Unlock

Rewards

Operational EXP ×400 Operational EXP ★★★★★ Raises the Endministrator's Authority Level. Oroberyl ×100 Oroberyl ★★★★★★ An artificial material often used for recruiting operators. Intermediate Combat Record ×21 Intermediate Combat Record ★★ A material that provides decent EXP for leveling up Lv.1-60 operators. Overview › Arms INSP Kit ×16 Arms INSP Kit ★★★ A material that gives decent weapon EXP. Overview › Protoprism ×12 Protoprism ★★★ A material that upgrades operator skills. Overview › T-Creds ×6,950 T-Creds ★★★★ TC for short. This currency is recognized and used in many places.

Steps

1 Read the message from Fiona the Comms Officer›

Group chat

fiona

Endmin, we just received a help request from the UWST.

fiona

A large number of logistics robots they deployed across the Power Plateau suddenly malfunctioned, clustering in one place for no apparent reason.

fiona

Now the entire region's logistics are disrupted...

fiona

Since the UWST is tied up with reconstruction and short on hands, they're asking us to investigate the malfunctions and see what's causing the problem.

Dialogue

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Thank you so much for helping Gray-Gray!

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

I've got a secret for you, Mister Mask. I ... actually don't think Gray-Gray's broken. It was acting up because ... it couldn't find things that it likes to do!

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

But Gray-Gray has found it now! And it's ... it's, uhm... "fulfilling its dreams", just like what Miss Liru said.

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

I'll be rooting for it!

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Why did this happen...? Did I take the wrong approach...?

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Of course! I've logged all behavioral changes of these robots! Every single action!

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Once I head back and create the model, we'll be able to conduct deep analysis... My approach is 100% foolproof...

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Just you wait! My new paper will soon be published on the TGCC Science Weekly!

Radio

Perlica

Logistics robots are breaking down due to unknown causes?

Perlica

This doesn't sound like a serious issue, but if left unchecked ... the impact and consequences might be quite severe...

Perlica

We shouldn't dally, Endmin. Let's go to the Originium Power Plant to take a look.

2 Understand the situation at the Originium Power Plant› View on map

Dialogue

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Endmin and Supervisor Perlica, you came at the right time. I just finished drafting a report about this incident...

Perlica

Much appreciated. We would like to learn more about the details. For example, where are all the broken robots you just mentioned?

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Oh, they're all hiding at an abandoned platform not too far from here.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

At first, we dispatched a technician to perform check-ups and repairs. But these robots started reporting errors soon after... And this just kept going on and on forever.

Perlica

Hmm. The situation sounds a little more complicated than I thought... Time for a field investigation.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Oh, I just remembered. This is a device we use to monitor the robots' condition. I think you should carry it with you, Endmin and Supervisor Perlica.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

And the device is also furnished with our latest geo-positioning system. I hope it can help you out.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

STOP! If you're gonna run ... at least let me confirm and register your repair log!

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

...Endfielders? Why are you here?

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

Wait. Are you the ones my boss mentioned in that message earlier...? We were told we've got some pros to handle this epic-scale breakdown.

Perlica

Yes. We are here to handle that issue.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

Okay. You can just head over that way... All the broken bots are there anyhow.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

Why should I care? I'm the unlucky wooster forced to repair these metal boxes ... and see them break down again...

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

So even if you actually solve this malfunction ... they'll only assign me to repair stuff at another place. Maybe I'll get to fix something different, but that's about it.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

By the way, we've previously hired quite a few high-level tech experts to handle this problem. None of them have succeeded.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

Look ... no matter how many times you fix them, it only takes a few minutes before they revert and malfunction again. Nothing ever changes...

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

It's just like ... my entire job.

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

The repair job is meaningless ... the career is meaningless ... and my life is meaningless... So what?

U

UWST Technician (UWST Technician)

Just gotta convince yourself to let things be. That's the only way to go about it.

Perlica

Just look at all these robots... No wonder the UWST is facing significant logistics issues.

Perlica

Indeed. We must quickly identify the source of these errors and malfunctions. Perhaps we can start by going through the local data fragments on the robots.

Perlica

Alright, Endmin, you'll extract the data and I'll analyze it...

Perlica

Even though these robots may seem "completely unchanged", we might be able to locate possibilities of "change" within them.

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

If only I were as good as Uncle Leon and knew how to cure little children...

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Maybe I'll be able to help you out...

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

No. Not really ... I just wanna help Gray-Gray...

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Gray-Gray doesn't look too good... It's showing red text and looks really sad... Everyone told me to ignore it... They said it's broken...

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

But ... Gray-Gray found my little doll... The one that mama gave me... So I'm going to do what I can to help Gray-Gray...

Perlica

Don't worry. We're also here to help it.

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

REALLY?! Th-then I'm counting on you, Mister Mask!

Radio

Fiona the Comms Officer

Endmin, I've synchronized the UWST monitoring device.

Fiona the Comms Officer

You should now see the marked locations from your terminals directly!

Perlica

Endmin, I've analyzed the data on this robot. I'll sync the results with you.

3 Go to the coordinates View on map

4 Investigate the robot for clues› No map marker available

Dialogue

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

...Who are you? We're running an extremely important AI project at this site! This might be the beginning of a technological revolution! Untrained personnel should keep themselves out.

Perlica

No. But let's check on the other robots.

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

I've verified these actions to be autonomous in nature... Now for the most crucial step of operational verification... Hurhur. Once I get this verified, I'll have the greatest discovery of this era! In my hands! The old eggheads at TGCC will have no choice but to bow to us! The UWST!

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Huh? No reaction. Maybe I adopted the wrong approach. This makes no sense at all...

Perlica

The model and feedback signals seem rather similar to the robots we recently checked...

Perlica

We've received a UWST commission. Our job is to handle the large-scale robot malfunctions in this area.

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

I guess John et al. got the outsiders involved... And I specifically told them not to. How could they... Ugh. Forget. If you wanna take a look, go ahead...

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Feel free to take a look at those units over there. Just don't touch this one next to me!

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

It's still not working... Where is the problem...? Did it burn through the module?

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

What?! I thought those units over there would keep you busy for a while.

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

I've told you already you can't touch this particular unit! It's a special entity that took me a long time to identify! This isn't your ordinary logistics robot! If you break it...

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

Fine... But be careful! Also, be gentle! If anything goes wrong, I'll hold you responsible...

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

You ... you actually rebooted the robot?! How?

U

UWST Tech Expert (UWST Tech Expert)

What ... what's happening? Is this a new autonomous action? No! I must record this! Immediately!

Perlica

That is a possibility we should not rule out... Perhaps the projected image is part of the command.

Perlica

According to the data we previously acquired, any robots receiving this specific command will reset the priorities of their executables. They would then ignore all other commands received afterwards...

Perlica

Yes. But the coordinates given by the command seem to conflict with the designated destination...

Perlica

So, even when the robots reach the coordinates marked by the command, they would not be able to reach the said destination. This resulted in a string of constant malfunctions...

Perlica

That's right. The actual meaning of the command must be acquired... Otherwise, we won't be able to identify the actual cause of the robots' malfunctions...

Perlica

We tried it before. Its duration is too short for us to identify the frequency range of signal emission...

Perlica

Unfortunately, its storage and execution modules are damaged... There is hardly any data we can analyze...

Perlica

Endmin, this action does not seem to be based on data from its local storage... However, I do not believe the action is entirely autonomous in nature.

Perlica

Did you just furnish it with ... functional modules for positioning and image output?

Perlica

This might just work. Let the robot receiving the signals conduct positioning and feed us the resulting coordinates... A very effective solution.

Perlica

This looks like ... a map.

Perlica

The marked location on the map... It should be where the sender is.

Perlica

Let's go there and take a look, Endmin.

5 Go to the coordinates View on map

6 Investigate the robot for clues No map marker available

7 Go to the coordinates View on map

8 Try to reboot the robot No map marker available

9 Try to reboot the robot

10 Go to the marked location on the map View on map

11 Defeat the Aggeloi› View on map

Dialogue

?

???

(A sea of flowers...?)

Perlica

It has completely shut down... Should we bring it with us, Endmin?

?

???

(It feels familiar. Where have I seen this...?)

?

???

(Is this ... the place?)

Perlica

...Endmin? ENDMIN?!

Perlica

What happened to you, Endmin? Are you feeling any pain?

U

Unidentified Mechanical Noise (Logistics Robot)

...Suffered ... damage ... is ... shutting...

U

Unidentified Mechanical Noise (Logistics Robot)

Temperature ... is warm... Visuals of ... flowers ... many flowers...

U

Unidentified Mechanical Noise (Logistics Robot)

Come — here — please.

U

Unidentified Mechanical Noise (Logistics Robot)

Come — here — please.

U

Unidentified Mechanical Noise (Logistics Robot)

This is ... the very end... Come here, please... It's comfortable ... and beautiful...

Perlica

Decryption success! The recorded data is...

12 Inspect the damaged robot› No map marker available

Dialogue

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Endmin! Supervisor Perlica! Thank you so much for helping! All of our logistics robots are working properly again!

Perlica

...That's good to hear. You did well.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Wait... Isn't this the sea of flowers from over twenty years ago? It was planted right here...

Perlica

Over twenty years ago?

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

Yeah. Back then ... we planted a small bed of flowers we brought from Simonch. It witnessed how the United Workers raised our facilities at this very site... Eventually it became a sea of flowers.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

But then we had to expand our site several years ago. In the end, the sea of flowers was moved somewhere else ... just so we could make room for this depot...

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

It was also the time when we started manufacturing these logistics robots. The production line was right opposite this place.

U

UWST Logistics Monitor (UWST Logistics Monitor)

In fact, the oldest models were first activated near here... Huh. The first scene they saw after activation was probably that very same sea of flowers...

Perlica

It must have been a beautiful dream for them.

Perlica

Regardless, the issue of "malfunctioning" robots has been resolved. This should conclude the commission, Endmin.

13 Inspect the damaged robot No map marker available

14 Talk to the UWST Logistics Monitor› View on map

Dialogue

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Ah! It's you!

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Oh! Before I forget, I must tell you something! I don't know why, but Gray-Gray and its friends are now lively again!

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

A dream?! Oh... It must have been a beautiful dream... If I had a dream like that ... I'd totally go look for the place, and see the sea of flowers!

L

Little Girl (Little Girl)

Mister Mask, will Gray-Gray and its friends get a new dream? What will they see in it this time? I really want to see it too...