“His vitals seem stable, but we still need to get him to the surface, quick. Wait...I don’t think we’re alone...”
Thanks to Nishizumi’s help, Trapp began to reach the surface, until out of nowhere, Alice suddenly noticed the presence of other machines in the area. She could only recognize two of them as obviously Coalition MASs, but the implication was still clear: They had been trapped. After a few moments, the trio were receiving a transmission that presumably came from their captors. Alice tried in vain to pinpoint exactly where the message was being sent, remaining silent as the grave throughout it’s duration. Their message was plain and simple: Surrender and be captured, or be taken by force. In an instant, Alice knew what this meant for her, and what she had to do now. Odin was down for the count, and Maki may be able to fight, but most likely not for long. If Alice fought with her, she would undoubtedly bring harm to her teammates. And under no circumstances could she surrender and allow herself or her Eagle to be captured by Coalition forces. The UEE had prepared for a situation like this, and deep within the code of Alice’s being, a program had been triggered.
“I can do something, Ms. Nishizumi, but you’re not going to like it...I’m sorry, I don't have a choice...”
Alice’s disconnected her interface with her MAS, and without it, the Eagle went limp, letting go of Trapp’s Sentry as it sunk to the bottom of the lake in its stead. With a deep sigh, Alice let herself go as well, allowing the protocol to take over her functions. Opening up a secret comm channel on a frequency exclusively known to the UEE, she started sending a distress signal to a certain few, including Captain Alexis Marquis, Sterling McKnight, who had now assumed command of the 7th in Trapp’s absence, Dr. Santoro, and Dr. Beil. Nobody aligned with the Coalition in any way would even be aware that she was sending this message. In an automated, monotone voice, Alice spoke:
“This is an emergency transmission from ALI-009 to all personnel of the EENS Abraham Lincoln authorized to receive it."
"All criteria indicate a Polyphemus contingency: Surrounded by hostile units in Coalition territory. Hostiles demand surrender and threaten kill event. Retaliation is impossible without breaching primary functions. I repeat, a Polyphemus contingency is in progress."
"Capture event is imminent. Capture of unit ALI-009 and SOL-110-EX Eagle by Coalition compromises security of the development of ALI series droids and complementary SOL series Mobile Armor Suits."
"Initiating Odyssey Protocol: Prevent capture event by launch of alternative escape capsule. Upon launch, Eagle will activate private tracking beacon to confirm location to Command."
"Stand by for further action to assist detained friendlies. Requesting Command to prepare a recovery of this unit and friendlies from Coalition territory upon escape.”
With that, the cockpit began transforming, shifting closer to the back of the MAS as it became something of an escape pod. In an instant, it shot off and blasted up out of the lake. Before their captors could even react, the pod soared into the sky towards the west. It flew a small arch in the air, eventually falling towards the mountains and disappearing behind the summits. Alice closed her eyes and tightly clenched her fists with the knowledge that right now, her friends were being taken by the Coalition. Her pod soon crashed somewhere beyond the mountains, and almost instantly, Alice released her piloting harness and kicked off the door with enough force to propel it several feet away. As she stepped out of the pod, she sensed the beacon in her Eagle that turned on after her escape pod was launched. Wherever it went, Nishizumi and Trapp likely went with it, and wherever they were going, that's where she was headed now.