Part 134: Mission #66: Pistons!

Mission #66: Pistons!



: Each section of Ocean City has a similar engine room. The engines control the electrical and climate systems.
: Where's MIDAS?
: MIDAS is there.



Yep, just like last time, MIDAS is hooked right into the heart of Ocean City, for no real good reason, other than to make sure that the climax of the story is suitably apocalyptic.
: ... The power unit?
: Yes. It's part of the heart of this city. MIDAS is inside it.
: MIDAS is in here...? How do we take it apart?
: ...It's no use. I can't take it apart!
: That can't be!
: It's been merged with the power unit. If we took MIDAS apart now, it could be dangerous.
: Cool, dude, Lukav can't touch it either.
: I think not. He'd take MIDAS even if it sank this city.
: Yes, I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate.
: Then what do we do? Should we take MIDAS then?
: Maybe if we separate this section, we can get it without endangering the city.
: You can do that?
: This city is constructed of many small sections. They merged these various sections to create the city. This block is one of those sections.
: So if we reversed the process, we can separate this section.
: Are you sure that's safe? It might affect the balance...
: If we do it in the right sequence, there should be minimal damage.
: I guess that's the only option we have.
: Then it's settled. We'll prepare for separation and evacuate the people.
: Okay, I'll help evacuate the residents. Kazuki, go with Alisa to initiate the separation sequence.
: Ryogo hates using his head, so he'll do the muscle work!
: Hey, shut up!
: All right, help the residents evacuate. But make sure you don't slack off!
That's some amazing tonal dissonance right there.
: Hey, it's me, dude. No worries! So who's coming with me?



I have to split the teams one last time. Here's hoping Linny manages to be useful for once.
: Okay, let's take off!
: The rest of us will head straight for the control room!



: I'm sure Lukav has anticipated our move to the control room. Be careful.
: I know. Make sure you stay there. ! An ambush...
: You're going to the control room to separate the block.
Wait, this guy? Again? But I already killed him like ten times!
: !
: All your plans seem so obvious to us. Go in. The entrance us right there. But I can't guarantee you'll go through alive.
Jared has to say that for liability purposes, otherwise, he could subject to a nasty wrongful death suit.
: What!? What's going on!?
: ...It's started.
: What have you done!?
: Don't tell me it's already separating!? You're going to destroy this block if you're that aggressive.
: It doesn't matter to us as long as we get MIDAS.
: I'm not going to let you do that!
: So futile...



Ah, the ol' piston room. The gimmick of this map, as you might recall from last branch, is that the pistons move up and down, periodically inhibiting the movement of every wanzer, enemy and ally alike. The practical effect is that it just slows down the map/ Kazuki, Emma, Dennis and Marcus will be fighthing today.



Well, that will speed things up a bit.



Ah, the Tiandong, a fine wanzer, but simply not good enough to pose a threat this late in the game.



Even the reliable Yongsai 3 is outclassed by this point.



66 Missions into the game, I finally, finally, finally manage to kill a pilot with Pilot Damage I. In fairness, the skill usually works a bit better than it did for me.



This is a good map for missile wanzers, whose targeting isn't affected by the moving pistons. Of course, you aren't apt to have more than one or two missile wanzers on your team, but it's a consideration when deciding how to split up your team prior to this mission.



Unnecessary Body Smash! This is certainly the high point for the HlfMnutHero, who combination of Body Smash and long-range works well for him in this mission. While we're here, I might as well talk about something that's become apparent in this LP: I don't include many shots of the map. Why? Well, Front Mission 3 features the weakest tactical gameplay in any sRPG I've ever seen. There's no facing, and positioning only matter in so far as whether an enemy's in range. For that reason, except in very exceptional circumstances, tactics don't really make a ton of difference in this game, it's all about who has the better wanzers.



Our final showdown with Jared is canceled....



...due to a sudden case of the deadsies.
: Resist if you wish, but there's no hope. You can't fight Lukav.



Damn pistons. Dennis improbably wins MVP again.



: Hurry, Kazuki, we haven't much time!

Next Time: Ryogo totally slacks off.