Part 6: Mission #6: A Shaggy Dog Story

Chapter #6: A Shaggy Dog Story

It's a short update, so I thought I'd add in some filler in form of an mini-internet update, you know, in the same way that people use bread crumbs in meat loaf to stretch it out.



The Kirishima Industries site isn't particularly interesting. You can see models of their wanzers, but we've already seen most of them. You do learn that apparently Kazuki transferred to Kirishima Industries from the JDF.



And here's the JDF site we got off the corpse of a soldier a couple of missions ago. For some odd reason, the JDF helpfully maps out the location and disposition of its forces for public consumption. Not sure that's wise.



We're still chilling at the power plant from last time...



As you might recall, we just fought here, so the JDF knows exactly where we are.



And so, in blatant violation of the laws of video games, they decide to attack us again.

: !
: The JDF!?
: Damn kids, making it hard for me. Hand over the scientist, and I guarantee your lives.
Oh, it's this guy, time for a little payback. I'll teach him to cut short one of Kazuki's rampages!



Yeah! Fuck mercy! What, are we not good enough to be murdered by you?
: Guarantee our lives!? Screw you! Just what do you plan on doing with MIDAS!?
: If you that much already... For secrecy's sake, I'll have to dispose of you now!
: Just you try!
: Hey man, not yet!?
: I don't know. All we can do is wait.
: Just explain it simply.



New enemies. They carry machine guns. A minimal threat.



Kuroi is a named enemy, and therefore is slightly more dangerous than the average soldier. He has slightly higher skill in his weapon, and he also has Zoom I. I elect to take him out first.



He survives until the enemy phase, at which point he makes the truly tragic mistake of firing at Kazuki, who promptly returns fire with his shotgun, taking him out.

: Damn, I've failed...
: This is WATER DRAGON! Arriving at the rendezvous point shortly!
: You're late! We were engaged with the enemy! Hurry up with the recovery vehicle! Once you reach the objective, give me the attack coordinates!
: WATER DRAGON, roger!
: We've got to escape!
: I have an idea. Leave it to me.



After this, the battle continues, and Kazuki gets stunned by one of the APCs. Fuck.



And Liu still can't hit shit with his rifle. Double Fuck.



Meanwhile, Alisa starts lobbing missiles at the enemies. This wanzer only has seconds to live. I wonder what its pilot is thinking as the fatal missile relentlessly makes its way to its target. Is he afraid? Angry at us? Angry at the fates that inexorably led him to this point? We will never know.



After the Zenislev was stunned, it slowly got worn done, eventually losing both arms. One of the last shots, though, forced Kazuki to eject. He could climb back into his crippled wanzer, but I have a better idea...



I had earlier knocked an enemy Jinyo down to the point of almost surrendering. I send Kazuki on foot to deliver one last attack to make it surrender, which it does, I then notice it still has one of its arms intact, so on the next turn, I send Kazuki into board it.



: Incoming!
And then the submarine here to pick us up fires some mortars onto the battlefield, you know, where we are, fortunately, he misses.
: You're off target! Try again!
: Roger!



At the same time, the enemy's missile wanzer and Alisa have started sniping at each other. It's only interesting in that they both keep missing. There's a reason I usually stick to shotguns and machine guns.



An overview of the battlefield near the end of the mission. Ryogo's legs are broken, so he can't make it to the front line. Alisa's out of missiles, and Liu's taking point. He celebrates his moment in the sun by missing his next two shots. As for Kazuki...



The last APC guns down Kazuki in his stolen Jinyo. Damn it all. This means that I don't get to keep it after the battle. That's what I get for trying to be too clever.



And then the battle abruptly ends as the sub arrives and starts raining destruction on the battlefield, despite the fact that the enemy, at this point, consists only of a stunned missile wanzer that's out of missiles.
: Hold on, there are still enemies!
: Coming! Now's our chance, run!
: Is it okay to do this?
Is it okay for a country to attack another country's army on its own soil? No, that sort of thing generally leads to a declaration of war. Oh, well.
: It's fine, don't worry!
: Hurry!

Next Time: Kazuki decides to see if he can't invent higher treason.