Part 121: Mission #53: The War of All Against All

Mission #53: The War of All Against All

But, before we get to see what our party is doing, it's time to catch up with some...sigh...comic relief...Linny's family, take us away!


Three!



: They retreated to Wuhan.
: I hope they're safe...
: What do we do now!? We can't help Emma if we stay here!
: Calm down, Kazuki. We need to track down Lukav first.
: How do we find him? The Hua Lian Rebels are gone, and we're all wanted.
: This is hopeless...
: No, I know a place where we can go. In Buxi, there's an automobile shop where Guan Lei used to live...
You know, before he was killed by the DHZ government. So, probably not the best hideout to avoid that very same government.
: Guan Lei? That USN spy?
: We can contact the FAI from there...
: I can't guarantee that it's still there.
: Let's go. We'll be found if we stay here. We gotta give it a try. Right, Kazuki?
: I'm going. Don't try to stop me. I have to rescue Emma and Alisa!
: We're not stopping you.
I think the party's just kind of tired at this point, and is willing to just go with the flow.
: You wouldn't listen if we tried.
: That's what I like about you!



To Buxi, which is pronounced....somehow.



: The military's been here already.
: There's still electricity. Can you use the net?
: Sure thing.
: Collect any information that might lead us to Lukav!
: I'll get started.
: Maybe Ryogo and Jose should be on the lookout, just for safety.
: Alrighty.
: Roger that.
: Yun! Have you found something!?
: Hey, you're breaking my concentration!
: Kazuki, calm down!
: I know, but...
: BINGO!
: Did you find something!?
: Take a look!
: What's this?
: It's the enemy's movement. It shows a squad heading for Yancheng.
: What's in Yancheng?
: There's an old nuclear missile silo. It's not used anymore.
: That's strange...
: The police also reported a truck carrying wanzers headed for Yancheng.
: That's it! The truck must be Bal's wanzer squad.
: Lukav is in Yancheng. Let's go!
: Go ahead. I'm going to contact the USN first.
: Make it quick! Let's go, Yun!
: Hey, Kazuki! Settle down!
: We can't escape DHZ by ourselves... I'll have to ask the USN Navy for help.
And so he does, but...
: A change in plan? What now!? ! What are they thinking!?
: Hey, Dennis!
: !
: Hurry up!
: I'll be right there.



And off we go. But before we get to that, it's time to spend even more time with Lukav.



: Not good! What are you going to do with us!?
: ...
Oh, Alisa, you're so comically inert.
: Don't worry. We won't harm you for now.
: If you need to know how to make MIDAS, I'll tell you! But let go of Alisa!
: Being swayed by emotion... I know you're flawed. But you are still a part of the chosen race. Join me. With our power and MIDAS, the world will be ours.
: You're crazy.
: We'll never join you.
: I'll give you time to think about it.
I mean, you know, you might come around to ruling the world as part of a cadre of transhumans. You could be the Duke of St. Louis!
: Sir Lukav, a dispatch from Mr. Sasaki of Japan.
Would this be a good time for some cross-thread hijinks? No. It would not. There is never a good time for that.
: Put him through.
: Lukav! I'm sorry about the delay. We're busy dealing with the situation back here...
: Just tell us what you want.
: Excuse me. The JDF accepted your plan. We need your help.
: Good answer, Mr. Sasaki. We shall cooperate for our common goal.
: We'd like you to send the scientists to Japan as soon as possible.
: We're in preparation. We'll be there soon enough.
: We're counting on you.
: The scientists... You mean us!? Lukav, what are you doing with the JDF!?
: You'll see when we arrive in Japan.
Uh...can't I opt out of the Japan portion of this game? I mean, I've already played through it once and it kind of felt like padding...we're definitely doing it again, then? Damn it.
: Sir Lukav, Bal and the Real Numbers are approaching.
: That idiot. Sit back and watch the end of a flawed, foolish being.
: Lukav...
: ...



I'm not sure why villains always hide out in abandoned missile silos. I mean, I guess they're relatively bomb-proof, but it's not like the government doesn't know where they are, and once your surrounded, there's really no way out.
: Isn't that Bal!?
: What're you doing?



Ah, a Shunwang. At least the game is taking us seriously for a change.
: My, my, aren't we persistent?



And Liu and Bal are here too.
: You Imaginary Numbers can never leave me!
: As I've said before, you've outlasted your usefulness.
: How dare you try to bite the hand that feeds you!
: You are not my master!
: You know nothing! I've no need for a broken puppet like you! Liu, deal with them!
: Yes, sir!
: Heh, a broken puppet, eh? You're obviously unaware of your predicament.
: ! What do you mean!?
: Can you hear me, Bal?
: Chairman Jie!?
: You are no longer of any use to the Da Han Zhong.
: Jie, you're taking sides with Lukav!? You, too, are betraying me!?
: Such harsh words... It's just business. I simply picked the better, more valuable product.
Much like when I pick the MVP for these missions, it's a sliding scale, so that's not to say either product is actually any good.
: Why you...
: Now if you'll excuse me.



Bal gets fired....
: Master Bal!
: ...
: That's heinous, dude...
: ...That's how they treat their own...
: How is it, Kazuki? Are you enjoying the show?
Dude, it's Bal. Who cares?
: Shut up and tell me where you've hidden Emma and Alisa!
: What you seek is deep within here. ...Come and get it if you can. May you put up a good fight.
: Lukav, I promise you that you're going to get what you deserve! You can bet on it!



Ryogo, Yun, Linny and Marcus will be the pilots. The enemy is a couple of Shunwangs, a couple of Lenghe 1s and few tanks. The Lenghe 1s are the only one's I'm really afraid of, since if they get close to Ryogo, it's basically a death sentence.



I give Linny a crack at being useful. He fails, so he'll be taking care of the tanks for the rest of the mission.



Meanwhile, Marcus cripples a Shunwang with a 2-hit ocmbo.



Ah, the Lenghe 1, probably the strongest enemy grunt unit in the game. It hits hard and can absorb a ton of punishment. I can't say I'm exactly thrilled to be fighting them again.



Then again, with a shield and ranged weapon, you can out maneuver them and, in the course of time, wear the enemy down.



If you learn only one lesson from this LP, it's that you should never try fight enemy melee wanzers with your melee wanzers. Even if you end up winning, you're wanzer has still taken a ton more damage than he really should have.



Damn force-ejects. I've played other Front Missions and I don't know why it's such a problem in this one game.



Linny continues to clean up tanks, which is good, because I'm not sure I trust him to do much else.



Ryogo doesn't do a whole ton this mission because he doesn't have a shield, and so I'm desperate to keep him away from the Lenghes who will rip him apart if he gets too close, especially since he's not going anywhere fast thanks to his hover jets.



Yun keeps breaking down enemy wanzers.



As does Marcus.



And I get me a free Shunwang. We're done here.



Glorious. Marcus gets MVP.



: Kazuki, wait! It's got to be a trap. You are aware of the danger?
: Of course. I don't have time to think about it. I'm going!
: What's wrong, Dennis? You scared?
: ...I've got this bad feeling that we may be too late.
Christ. This is game is depressing, but I don't think it's quite that bad.
: Quit it! You squelching any all hope.
: ...You're right. Sorry. Well, let's get a move on it!

Next Time: Death of a Real Number