Editing City Series:Volume6b Chapter5 (section)

===Part 5===

“All information regarding this excavation will now be considered top secret.”

At the Alfheim Meteorite Pit, the Geheimnis Agency site supervisor had gathered approximately 60 workers atop the large extraction platform surrounding the 50-yard dig site.

Behind them, several truck-mounted sunlamps shined on the dig site where large automatic winches were at work. Two winches were suspended on either side of the pit.

The sound of the winding winches joined with the wind blowing through the forest to reverberate through the pit. The irritatingly loud roar sounded like someone breathing through a wind instrument.

“The Alfheim Meteorite Pit is where the Messiah once descended from heaven. She walked from here to the shrine at the foot of the mountain, where she met the one-armed youth and was convinced to descend to the world below.”

The site supervisor looked to the rising wires.

“This is also where she entered her slumber upon finishing her work. The one-armed youth and her dragon guarded her bedroom until death claimed them.”

He nodded.

“Well done working in such a sacred place.”

He bowed and the workers bowed back.

The four winches completed their work at the same time.

Something was lifted from the pit.

A pallet for transporting Grösse Panzers was hoisted up by the winches.

A black tarp covered a massive shape measuring 30 yards long and 10 yards wide.

White steam was slowly but regularly blowing from the gaps in the tarp.

Almost like breaths.

[[Image:City_v06b_207.jpg|thumb]]

They all looked up to watch it.

The shape below the tarp did not even stir as it released its white breaths.

No one said a word and tension filled their faces as they watched.

The wires were fully wound and the winches stopped.

The sudden stop caused the entire winch structure to sway. The total weight made it a slow but powerful movement, but the winches were designed for lifting Grösse Panzers, so they could withstand it.

“…”

It took a few minutes for the swaying to stop. Then the winches’ sliding mechanism activated.

The two winches on either side slid along the rails suspending them, making sure to move too slowly to produce a pendulum effect. They slid toward the extraction platform the men stood on.

A worker standing on the edge of the platform shouted over to the edge of the pit.

“Send it in!”

After a short delay, an explosive roar sounded from the other edge of the pit.

It was the deep rumble of machinery.

A massive shape moved out from the edge. A Grösse Panzer transport truck slowly backed up along a simple paved road too narrow for its size.

The extraction platform was made to provide as much flat space as possible above the bowl-shaped pit, so the truck did not need to descend far. It soon reached the end of the road and drove up onto the platform.

Its reinforced tires dug into the platform’s surface, keeping it from slipping. The massive truck’s vibrations directly reverberated through the platform, but everyone feeling those vibrations through their feet heard a different rumbling.

It was a breath from the great dark shape sliding toward them from above.

A powerful sound like papers blowing in the wind escaped the black tarp.

“––––!?”

They all tensed, but the rumbling quieted and finally vanished altogether. However…

“Worry not.”

Someone on the edge of the pit called over through a megaphone.

They all turned that way to see two large figures standing in the starlight.

They were both Grösse Panzers, one blue and one red. Their silhouettes were enough to note differences from the standard models, suggesting these were custom models.

The blue one held a long gun in its right hand and the red one carried a large shield in its left hand.

“I am Bermark Nein of the Geheimnis Agency Army Division’s Independent Unit. I have been tasked with guarding you for the short distance to the #8 Flight Base. I shall accompany you.”

Most of the workers on the extraction platform saluted to express their thanks.

But some felt differently. A small number did not salute.

They instead paled, but caught themselves before anyone noticed.

They had the pale faces of people realizing a plan had gone horribly awry.

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