Part 30: Mission #28: Little Trouble in Big China

Mission #28: Little Trouble in Big China



We finally make it to the DHZ.



: I need your help.
: I heard you need to get to Shanghai. The chairman ordered me to cooperate with you. That's fine, but the routes to Shanghai are limited.
: What do you mean?
: The Hua Lian Rebels are active now. Though they're normally based in Guangzhou, many rebels are now gathering in Fuzhou. Certain factions of the military are cooperating with them, too. Many of Hua Nan's harbors and airports are under their control.
Damnable rebels and their foolish notions of democracy!



Liu is sad, also, I just wanted to make it clear that, yes, he does have a pony tail.
: We need to be careful, or they'll get us.
: Why do the Hua Lian Rebels pose such a big threat?
: They're just a small faction of guerillas, but they're trying to take over the DHZ to make money. They'd do anything for a profit.
Capitalist pigs!
: That's pretty dangerous.
: They're no match for us.
: They formed an alliance with the USN recently. They're reckless and dangerous.
: What now, Liu?
: It's strange. The rebels are too active, even with the USN backing them up. I wonder what triggered it?
: You know Ming Huang Jiu.
: Ming?
: He was a vice-chairman who advocated democracy. He and his family died in a plane crash several years ago.
Does it still count as a plane crash if you shoot down the plane?
: Ming's son is still alive.
: ! Is that true?
: It's not confirmed yet. But if Ming's son is still alive and commanding the Hua Lian Rebels, it'd be a great recruitment ad for the rebels.
: That's why the Hua Lian Rebels became so active.
: There are factions within the government and the military that still support Ming. The rebels will use Ming's son to their advantage.
: How is this Ming guy related to the rebels?
: The rebels are claiming that the current chairman assassinated Ming. They gain civilian support by claiming to follow Ming's legacy.
: Those greedy bastards.
Yeah, how dare they promise democratic reforms!
: The rebels won't let us to Shanghai so easily.
: How about joining Tianlei?
My Chinese is a bit rusty, but I believe that translates to, "Mobile Oppression Palace."
: ...
: What's Tianlei?
: It's a mobile fortress. The DHZ military's pride.
: Cool! We can just stroll into Shanghai on it.
: You should be able to join them in the Changsha area. It's a roundabout route but it's definitely safer.
: We have no alternative. Let's do it.



The course of Kazuki never did run true.



: Look, soldiers are attacking that train!



: It's the Rapid Reaction Force.
: The RRF?
: The DHZ elite. They're up against a Hua Lian convoy...



: Check the situation and search inside the car.



: We're not the enemy. We're with Intelligence.
: Intelligence...? What're you doing here?
One thing that's pretty realistic, if never adequately explained is that everyone in the DHZ is leery of Liu, because he works for intelligence and is probably delivering reports of these people to headquarters.
: We're headed for Changsha to meet up with the Tianlei.
: Who are you?
: It's none of your business.
Anyway, this is Lan, she's...complicated.
: What's with the attitude!?
: Lan, we still can't find it!
: ...I see that you haven't encountered the Hua Lian yet. Okay, we're pulling out!
: Hey, wait!
: Forget it, Kazuki. Hey I take it you're from the Tianlei.
: So?
: Can you take us with you?
: No. We're on a mission. We're not going back to Tianlei. All units, withdraw!



: Is she really a woman?
Hey, it's not like you're a million miles from androgyny yourself, dude.
: They're the military's special forces.



More rebels? You know, I am starting to have grave doubts about the ability of the DHZ military to contain the rebel situation.

: Wuo Ben, that's it!
: ...We didn't make it in time.
It's another named rebel character!  And when we play the other branch, it'll retroactively make this next set of missions all the more depressing! 
: Hey, they're the mercs from the USN report.
: You mean the ones with the new weapon?
: The USN wants them killed on site. Well, the commander plans on taking advantage of that info.
: Either way, we can't just let them go. I understand. All units, attack!



: What is it!?
: Damn, enemy reinforcements!
: What do you mean? It was the RRF who attacked that train! Why are we being attacked?
: Tell that to the enemy. Here they come!



It's end of the road for this group of wanzers. I send in Kazuki, Alisa, Liu and Miho to do them proud. I just realized that I used Alisa in all four missions, and I think I did that because I really wanted to show off Double Punch I...but it never fired. But don't worry, you will all see it soon enough.



The enemies are some Grapples with batons, which are mildly scary, some Reksons with rifles, which aren't, and a new type of helicopter that's easy to hit and only has a machine gun. The map is shaped like an 'L' and isn't particular notable except for a patch of terrain behind the train where the rifle wanzers sometimes hide and is a pain to get to. Anyway, I get to work on the Grapples first.



Not an auspicious start for the Yamato Nadeshiko.



And, equally troubling, Miho just missed on a melee attack.



The Yamato Nadeshiko is killing me.



Kazuki tries to turn things around with a chain of two RoF Is. It helps a bit.



Well, that's one Grapple taken care. Melee wanzers are probably the hardest type of enemy wanzers to deal with. They have a ton of HP, have the strongest attacks in the game, and are mobile enough to reach your wanzers in no more than a couple of turns. They're just bad news all around.



So close...so very close...if only she had one more level in melee, he'd be dead...



And Kazuki is down to one arm. Not great.



Fast attack is an okay battle skill. It lets you attack without being counterattacked. The problem is that you're never guaranteed to have a battle skill go off, and, honestly, I'm prejudiced towards skills that increase your damage rather than help your defense.



Better, if a rather dramatic case of overkill. Now all that's left is the Reksons, and if I get taken down by rifles, I might as well quit this game right now.



I didn't know 'Yamato Nadeshiko' was Japanese for 'Lady of Paramount Failure.'



Closing time. Wuo Ben, as a named NPC, I am obligated to record your final words.
: ...L-Ling, I'm sorry...



Miho takes another arm for her trophy wall.



And Liu finds a new way to make me hate rifles as he blows away an enemy who was about to surrender. Apparently he can only hit things when it costs me money.



Let's just move on. Kazuki wins MVP.




: Elite units, my...! They're running home!
: Wouldn't it be a bit risky to go to Changsha like this?
: Yeah, the Hua Lian may attack us again. It's going to be tough. There's a supply base nearby. We'll go there.

Next Time: New Blood! Also, we commit some war crimes! No, really, I'm not kidding.