Part 24: Mission #23, Luke Skywalker, We Ain't

Mission #23, Part 1: Luke Skywalker, We Ain't



Last time, our four-part invasion of Taal Base concluded, despite not actually having gotten MIDAS back.



So we're heading back to Batangas to meet up with the rebels and the DHZ fleet. Wait...I feel like I'm forgetting something...



Oh, right, the commander of Taal Base had loaded MIDAS onto a plane and ordered it dropped on the DHZ/rebel forces in Batangas Harbor. Looks like it's up to us to stop-


Video Version
_{Thanks to whoever it was that uploaded this}



Well, this could be bad. Still, maybe the DHZ fleet can protect itself?



Come on, anti-aircraft gun, make our terrible errors in judgment moot by blowing up MIDAS!



Fuck.



Double-fuck.



I suppose that will be the end of the rebellion, then.



On the plus side, MIDAS doesn't release any radiation, so the survivors won't have to worry about long-term health effects. Also, it's ability to vaporize even the toughest matter means that the people of Batangas will save a lot of man-hours by not having to worry about any sort of rescue or recovery efforts. At times like these, you have to think of the positives.



So...uh...looks like the MIDAS problem has resolved itself. Game over?



: !?
: Hey, Kazuki!
: What the heck...? That explosion was definitely MIDAS!
: It came from Batangas!
: Liu, hurry!
: All right!



I suppose, although the impact of that statement is somewhat diminished by the fact that Alisa helped research the damned thing.
: It erased an entire city. So this is MIDAS's power.
Well, I mean, mankind has had weapons that could that for...let's see, the game takes place in 2112, so...167 years, but sure.
: It's a terrifying weapon.
: But it no longer exists.
: Who said that!? You're...
: We meet again.
: USN! You still want to fight!?
There's nothing that Kazuki can't turn into a battle to the death given half a chance!
: We lost MIDAS. There's no reason to fight you.
: Then why are you here!?
: MIDAS is ours. We must collect any data pertaining to it.
: Look around you. Are you happy about the data?
: Yes. It's more powerful than we expected.
: Why? Why did you make such a horrible thing? Many innocent people died in the explosion. Are you saying this is okay!?
: No, that's not it. Alisa, please listen to me!
: Stop, Emir. They won't understand.
: Emir!?
: Alisa... You don't remember me?
: It's useless talking to them.
: What's wrong, Alisa?
: ...Emir?
: My name is Emir Klamsky. You've really forgotten? Please remember, Alisa. No...Aliciana!
: ! ...Emma!?
Even Kazuki's belligerence cannot save us from a flashback this time!



Back to the field of flowers.



And the dining room of times past.



But this time we also actually get to find out what the hell is going on. First, there's picture of an airport display board in Russian.



And Alisa relives a conversation that she had with Emma so many years ago...or maybe not so many years ago. I don't know, long enough so that Alisa apparently forgot where she came from.
: Get on the plane, Aliciana.
: Do I have to?
: We've been through this already. I think you understand. A very kind man is waiting for you in Japan. I know you'll like it there.
: But... I...
: Don't worry, Aliciana. I'll see you soon.
: You promise, Emma?
: Yes I promise, Aliciana.



My God, that's....underwhelming. So apparently a side-character we vaguely know is related to a rather boring character in our party. Huh.
: Alisa, you do remember.
: Of course I do! The songs we sang, the garland you made me!But why the USN? Why are you involved with the bomb!?
: Emir designed MIDAS. She is the project chief.
: ...
: Emir designed MIDAS. She's in charge of its retrieval.
: I can't believe you were the one who made the bomb... I won't believe it! Tell me it's not true!
: ...
: Why...? You were such a wonderful sister. I can't believe this...
: It's true; I designed MIDAS.
: No...
: Listen, Alisa. I didn't set out to make a bomb. I just wanted to continue our parents' research.
The bomb just kind of happened...you know? Emma was all, 'man I wonder what would happened if all of this shit blew up,' and next thing she knew, the city of Batangas had been incinerated. Same thing happened to Oppenheimer.
: I don't want to hear it! I can't believe you killed people for you research!
But that's not even close to what happened...and Alisa was there, damn it, I mean, she knew that the USN was trying to retrieve the bomb, not blow it up.
: That's not true! I came to stop the bomb, too. But I couldn't stop it...
We probably didn't help matters by repeatedly interfering with her plans and trying to kill as many of her teammates as possible.
: Innocent people died because of you! You're not my sister! Go away!
But, at the end of the day, none of that really matters. Because, you see, Alisa's central argument is that Emma is responsible for the deaths of thousands because she helped develop the bomb...the very same bomb that Alisa had been working on at the beginning of the game.



Emma is so sad that not even her jaunty scarf can make her feel better.
: Don't come near me.
: Stop it, Emir. They won't understand. We're leaving now.
: Wait! Liu! You're just going to let them go!?
: Now is not the time to fight them. The DHZ fleet is gone. We must leave the Philippines. We don't have the time to fight the USN.
This game is actually a bit mean-spirited at some points. For example, we just spent the last dozen missions helping the rebels slowly but surely retake their country so we could stop MIDAS. Now they're all dead, we lost MIDAS, and our only hope is getting the hell out of this country as soon as we can.
: Alisa...
: ...
: What the heck is going on!?
: Let's go someplace where we can hide.



: We lost everything because of MIDAS. We'll be cut off, too, if we don't get moving.
: Will we get caught? What happens if we get caught?
: The death sentence, for sure.
: Are you serious? Oh man...
: Why don't you come with me to the DHZ?
You know, I think I'm starting to believe the 'Liu as DM' theory that someone talked about. I mean, there's really no good reason for them to go to the DHZ, but, well, it'll move the plot along, so why not?
: But... we can't keep running like this forever.
: I know someone who can help us. He'll help us with the MIDAS problem, too.
: Is he a DHZ official?
: No, he's an ambassador from Ravnui. But he loves the DHZ and works hard for us. He's an important figure in the DHZ.
Remember, Ravnui is future-Belarus, also, quite how an ambassador from a marginal country is an important political figure in future-China is never really adequately explained.
: There's no guarantee he'd help Japan.
And Kazuki's motivations take a sudden pivot, because the party needs to have some reason to go the DHZ. So now Kazuki is trying to save Japan from...well, the important thing is that he's trying.
: Instability in Japan will cause harm to the entire Asian block. Japan's stability is a necessity. He'll help us, I guarantee.
: Okay. I don't want Alisa in danger anymore. Let's go to Da Han Zhong.
: Good. Now we need to figure out how to escape this country.
: Alisa, are you okay?
: ...
: Alisa...
: We need a means of transportation to escape this country.
: Whatever, man. Let's escape before they catch us.
: There's quite a distance between here and the DHZ. I wonder how long it'd take to get there on a wanzer?
: I will protect my lady.



Pham's looking awfully chipper for someone who's just had her rebel army atomized.
: My lady can sit there and keep quiet.
: Watch the attitude! I'm offering to help!
: What can you possibly do to help?
: Peasants like you don't understand! Pierre, arrange a transport.
: Yes, my lady!
: Can you do that!?
: Who do you think I am? I'm a Luis! Arranging a transport plane is no big deal.
: Hey, good job!
: But I do have one condition.
: Yes, my lady. I will prepare on right away.
: A condition?
: I'm going to go with you.
I'll take my chances with the death penalty.
: My lady!? You cannot!
: Be quiet! The rebel forces are gone. I have no place to go.
: Then please return to the mansion!
: No! No way! I don't want to be a bird in a cage! I need a challenge. I have to grow out of my family's shadow.
I guess becoming a war criminal could allow you to do that. Not sure it's the best way, though.
: My lady... Then I'm going with you!
: Pierre, please. I need to go by myself! This is the last time I'll ask for my father's help. Pierre, please.
: No, my lady. I do not understand!
: Hey, will you call the transport?
: I know! Just wait a second. Pierre!
: Okay, but I'm going with you!
: Ugh! Why do you have to be so damn stubborn!?



And there are a few other people in the bar.

: Did you see what happened? The entire city is gone! I'm giving out food to people in need. Civilians are the ones who always loses in the end.
Yeah, except, you know, all of the soldiers that just got vaporized.
: I hear the military is hunting down the remnants of the rebel forces. The military is out to destroy the rebels.
: What happened!? There was a light, and then the city was gone! Everything got destroyed... Like it disappeared. So this is war... And this is good for our country!?
: The city is in complete confusion since the explosion. Good judgment is important at a time like this. Look at the DCN web site to get reliable information. Good luck. Stay cool and you'll make the right decisions.
Dude, we have Kazuki and Pham in our party. The best we can hope for is that only 90% of our important decisions are made as the result of uncontrollable rage.



Meanwhile, outside, an unusually gigantic wanzer waits...
: Is this city where the information was?
: Yes, sir!
: Hmph... Just shut up and watch. I'll smoke 'em out.

Could this new combatant spell the end for Kazuki and pals? Will they ever escape from the Philippines? Will Pham ever just shut the hell up? Find out next time in Mission #23, Part 2!