Part 35: Mission #33: Miho's Eleven

My dad used to have this joke, he'd ask, "Dynamo, why does daddy drink?" And I'd say, "Because of me!"

Thread, why does Dynamo drink?

Mission #33: Miho's Eleven

Now, as you might recall, last time we were about to witness a wartime atrocity. But, before that happens, we've got more important business to take care of.


: Who is she? She thinks Alisa is her rival.
: She's quite snobby. Ryogo, what do we do?
: We don't have to do anything...
: Hey! Let's contact that Moneymaker!
: Good idea! Let's write her now! I think we have her E-mail address.
Yep, we're going to put everything on hold to rig a beauty contest!


And we have to pay her 500...yen? Dollars? I have no idea the unit of currency in this game. Probably not yen, because that would only be about five bucks. If we don't, she won't take the job.


And Liu gets an email, too.


The website doesn't have much information we don't already know, other than the fact that the DHZ government may not have the noblest intentions regarding MIDAS.



Well, let's see what the DHZ army is up to...



Not the most surprising turn of events.



Although I suppose I didn't think that they'd go so far as to have their gigantic fortress literally run over the rebel base.



: This is horrible...
: This is how the Imaginary Numbers work. They feel no remorse. They just carry out their mission.
: Even then... This is all too terrible.
: Even we don't have the battle skills they do. Their fighting methods are unusual.
When even a psychopath like Lan is amazed at the Imaginary Numbers' ability to kill people, you know it's a problem.
: Yeah, right.
: Dammit! Stop! I said stop! You've done enough! Stop! Tch! Damn, at this rate...



It's hard to see, even in motion, but this kid runs behind Lan's wanzer for protection.

: !
: Lan!?
Anyway, Lan uses her wanzer as a shield against the Imaginary Numbers.
: Agh!
: Uhhnnn.
: What are you doing? Quit interfering.
This is going to shock, but the albino turned out to be evil. They're the only group you're still allowed to paint as uniformly bad, which is only mainly true. I'm kidding of course, people are individuals and should be treated as such. Except for Texans.
: Quit it!
: If you persist, you must face the consequences.
: Forget it, You've done enough. Pull out!
: ... Mission complete. Coldblood, pull out.
: Are you okay, Kazuki?
: Thanks. ...What about Lan!?
: ...I'm fine. What about the child?
: He's still alive!
: I see. I'm glad...
: Lan!



On the plus side, chicks dig eye patches. Also, sideburns.
: Are you okay?
: Where am I...?
: Inside the fortress. Don't worry. We'll protect you.
: I'm inside the Tianlei...!? Where is everyone else?
: ...
: So I'm the only survivor.
: I'm sorry...
: Why didn't you kill me!? I'd rather die with everybody than be captured by the DHZ!
: That's not true! There isn't anyone who'd be better off dead.
Keep this mind, it'll pay off in....100 missions.
: Because I'm captured, the rebels are at even greater risk. They're all good people. They might come rescue me, despite the risk involved.
: I'll talk to the military people. Don't worry. Think about healing your wounds.
: I didn't know there were nice people in the DHZ.
: I'm not from the DHZ. I'm Japanese. My name is Alisa Takemura.
Well, no, Alisa, you actually aren't Japanese
: I'm Kwang.
: Kwang... What a cute name.
: This boy is Kwang?
: Yes, sir! He is Ming Kwang.
: I didn't expect him to be so young. Liu didn't do such a bad job after all.
And we helped! What, what exactly did we unknowingly do this time?
: Excuse me, he's injured. Will you leave us alone?
: He doesn't need treatment anymore.
: What do you mean!?
: None of your business. Leave immediately!
: Wait! He's still hurt!
: Take her away.
: Yes, sir!
: Stop! Don't touch him!



: What's wrong, Alisa?
: It's Kwang...
: Kwang? That boy Lan saved?
: He's the rebel leader and the son of Ming Huang Jiu.
: ! That's not true! He's only a child.
I think Alisa is disbelieving only of the idea that Kwang's the rebel leader, I'm reasonably sure she doesn't think that Kwang can't be someone's son because he's a kid.  Although, given what we learn later, maybe she does. 
: It's true. He'll be publicly executed as an example.
Another horrifying event made possible by Team Kazuki!
: But he's only a kid! An execution...?
: That's crazy! I can't believe they'd execute a child!
They just burned down an entire village to get to him. So, uh, I'm going to wager heavily that they would.
: It's the military's decision. I can't do anything.
: He's only a kid.
: It's the military's decision.
: A kid like that is the rebel leader?
: I can't believe they'd execute him!
: Kazuki...
: Let's help him.
: !? You can't stop the execution!
: Then let's help him escape.
: Are you betraying the DHZ!? I can't guarantee our safety if you
do that.
You know, Liu's being pretty generous seeing as we're about to fuck over his government.
: I can't let a child die!



Miho steps up to take Liu's place as our team's sole source of tactical planning.
: Are you crazy!? How would we do that?
: There is a way, if everyone cooperates.
: Sure. Count me in.
: I'll help, too.
: How about you, Alisa?
: I'm in, of course. Kazuki?
: Sure.
: And Liu?
: All right. I won't guarantee what will happen if we fail!
: Okay. I'll explain the plan.



She can, however, kill parents...by the tonload. Yeah, Lan survived.
: Get in!
: Argh!
: Stay in here!
: Ouch!
: He's injured! Stop it!
: Squad Commander Lan, you have no right to give any orders now. We won't follow your command.
: I don't care! I'm telling you to treat the hostage with dignity!
: It doesn't matter. He'll be executed soon. He only needs to stay alive until then.
: An execution!? This young child?
: He may be a child, but he is the leader of the Hua Lian Rebels.
: He's Ming Kwang? I didn't think he'd be a child...



: Alisa and I will disable the fortress security system.



: Find out who it is!
: The system is disabled. It won't take any commands from this side!
: Then repair the system, you idiot!
: Yes, sir!
Yeah, apparently Miho could've cracked this entire fortress' computer like an egg at any time she wanted...



: Stay outside of the Tianlei until then, Kazuki. There's an automated weapon inside to stop intruders. All non-Tianlei personnel will be targeted. Be careful.



I...uh...thought you meant like a few guns or something, not a squad of automated wanzers. This is most unwelcome news.

: I take it this isn't safe...
: Shut up. We'll use that elevator over there to get outside.
: Kazuki, look over there!



: So that's the automated weapon... Okay, ignore the enemy. Just head for the elevator!



No choices this time, it's just Kazuki, Ryogo, and Pham. Against them? Three Shangdi 1s and Two Wude 3s. The Shangdis are probably familiar to any of you who submitted wanzers. They're incredibly accurate. These three are equipped with fists, which means that not only are they going to hit every time, but they also have some extra power to help boost their power even more. The Wudes are less of a threat, as all they have are rifles, still, they have a ton of HP.



Kazuki starts things off on the right foot....



Wrong arm, Kazuki! Wrong arm!



Better. In general, melee wanzers should be your first targets, but that goes double in this mission.



The Shangdis can do frightening amounts of damage but can't take a hit. Meaning that I'm starting to suspect that the DHZ outsourced the designing of these wanzers to their readers.



Kazuki smash puny robots!



Melee III is a hell of a skill.



Pham gets knocked out of her wanzer and almost killed. Front Mission 3 has an absurdly high rate of force-ejects. Now, granted, this hurts the computer as much as you, but it's still kind of a pain.



Time to deal with the Wudes. They have very high HP, but have rifles, and low-accuracy arms. That is not a good mix.



I don't think these automated wanzers can surrender. That's a shame.



Two punches, two hits, no survivors.



I'm at the mercy of the thread when it comes to weapon damage, unfortunately. Kazuki gets MVP.



And off to the next phase of the plan!

Next Time: A simple plan...