Part 36: Mission #34: The Robotic Revolution Will Not Be Televised

Well, most of Europe is united into something called the European Community or EC. They play a bigger role in Front Mission 4, but, at the moment, they're basically just fringe players. The only notable people we've met from the EC are the Wulong.

Then again, I'm not sure if Iceland is part of the EC, since it isn't part of the EU. Frankly, everything I know about Iceland was from The Mighty Ducks 2, and I'm pretty sure it's a fictional country that was made up so that the movie could have some evil foreigners but still make money overseas. I mean, glaciers and volcanoes? On the same island? It doesn't even sound real.

Mission #34: The Robotic Revolution Will Not Be Televised



Anyway, as we last left our heroes, they were ensuring that the figurehead leader of the rebels, Kwang, escaped his death sentence.



: While Kazuki's group is working, we'll help repair the security system to deceive the commander. Liu will approach the commander about it.



: I guess there are things even the Rapid Reaction Force can't handle.
: Liu. I have no time for you right now. Leave immediately.
: Listen to me. I'm willing to help you with your problem.
: Are you saying you can repair the system?
: Not me. Them.
: Looks like you have your hands full. We can help. Right, Alisa?
: Yes... I think we can fix the system...
You know what's amazing? This entire game's plot, in both branches, hinges on the idea that Alisa is some sort of super-genius. Now, we're over thirty missions into the game, and I'm just not seeing it.
: Liu, are you saying these girls are better at this than us?
: Yes. I was surprised, too.
Not quite surprised enough to ask where Miho could have possibly learned those skills, but surprised nonetheless.
: Interesting. Try it, then.
: Okay.



: Kazuki, while I distract the commander, you...place the bombs in the areas I specify.
Yeah, there's no reason to alarmed that our clumsy policewoman friend is suddenly James fucking Bond.



: Are you serious about this?
: We've come this far! Of course! Hurry it up! We're short on time!



: How's it going?
A lot of you asked why Liu was going along with this. There's actually a very good answer to that question. For now, though, all that's important is remembering that he works for the Chairman, not the military.
: The enemy is quite skilled. It might take some more time.
: (Kazuki is done.)
: (It's time.) Alisa, let's finish up.
: Yes. I'm ready.
: Here we go!
: ! The system is up!
: ...I apologize for my earlier remarks. Thanks.
: Don't worry about it.
: Anytime you need help, just let us know. Liu, Alisa, let's go!



: You're awake. Are you all right?
: Where am I!?
: In the fortress's brig.
: Are you member of the military, too?
: I'm just a prisoner. Someone who ignores orders and fails missions...
Yeah, apparently Lan got imprisoned for not murdering Kwang.
: Are you the one in the wanzer who saved me? Is this all because you saved me...?
: It wasn't you, It was because I was not a good soldier.
: Then why did you help me? Is it because I'm Ming's son? Were you planning to use me, too?
: If that's true, I wouldn't be here. I couldn't let a child like you die. But maybe this was more cruel.
: I'm going to be executed as an example.
: I'm sorry... I don't think I can do anything more for you.
: Why did you become a soldier?
Who wants to hear Lan's tragic backstory? No one? Too bad!
: I used to live a normal life. I had a child about your age. We went to town to celebrate his birthday. That day, the rebels assassinated an influential figure. We were at the wrong place at the wrong time... Next thing I knew, I lost both my child and my husband.
: ...
: I hated the rebels and how powerless I felt. I became a special forces soldier and began fighting the rebels.
: I'm sorry... I'm sorry about your child. I know that there are victims of our operations. But if we don't fight, there will be even more victims!
: It doesn't matter who does the killing... What I'm doing is for revenge. Just revenge... But I'm getting tired.
In most games, I guess that'd be the most tragic backstory in the game, but, well, Front Mission 3 can top that one...you'll see.
: ...



: I'm back!
: Finally! How's everything shaping up?
: Everything is ready!
: The bombs outside are set, but how are they going to help Kwang?
: Maybe it'll put a hole in the wall.
: You idiot. They won't even scratch this fortress.
: Miho, what do we do now?
: The bombs are only to give our plan some realism.
: What's going to happen now?
: Alisa and I corrupted the computer with a virus just now.
: Really, Alisa?
I'm pretty sure that Alisa's role in the plan was 'stand next to Miho and make it look like you're doing something.'
: Yes. I wonder if it'll work.
: It'll be fine!



: Explain what's wrong with it!
: Yes, sir! Several unpiloted wanzers have been destroyed.
: What happened to them?
: Um... Someone destroyed them, sir.
: Has the enemy infiltrated the fortress?
: An enemy battalion is heading our way!
: Is it the Hua Lian Rebels?
: I didn't think the rebels had a battalion! We've been surrounded.
: What!? This can't be!



It's a good thing that there are apparently no guards on the fortress, or someone might have wondered why Kazuki and Ryogo were dragging a bomb through the corridors.
: What is it!?
: It's an enemy attack!
: Are they attacking with all their forces?
: The system is down again! We can't check the situation.
: Deploy the Rapid Reaction Force!
: Yes, sir!



: What's starting? Are the rebels attacking?
What? Are you even paying attention, Kazuki?
: There are no rebels. What they're seeing are ghosts.
: The ghosts of the rebels? You're gonna scare Kazuki.
Man, if the ghosts of all of the people Kazuki's killed came back, we'd be so fucking boned.
: That's not it. Alisa and I programmed the computer to show false information.
: I see! Then when our bombs explode...
: It looks like a full-scale enemy attack.
: That's pretty good, Miho! You're actually kinda smart.
: Oh, it's nothing like that.
: Miho, I think he just called you stupid...
: The Rapid Reaction Force is gone, and the fortress computer is disabled.
: Now is the time to save Kwang!
: Let's finish up with some extra help



: What's going on?
: Probably an enemy attack. Maybe the rebels are here to rescue you.
: Kwang!
: Alisa?
: Are you okay?
: What do you think you're doing?
: We're letting Kwang escape.
: Do you realize what you're doing!? They won't settle with insubordination when they find out!
: But we can't let him die.
: Yeah, as long as they don't know it's us, we'll be fine.
: Commander Jiu won't be tricked easily.
: That's why we need your help.
: What are you saying, Real Number?
: You betray the military, contact the rebels and escape with Kwang.
Boy, when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so good.
: !?
: Then we won't be under suspicion.
: Liu!? What are you saying?
: I'm a soldier. Do you think I'd betray the military?
: I don't think you mean that.
Come on, Lan, all the cool kids are committing treason!
: ...
: You're all putting yourselves at risk for me...
: It's up to you. You can keep living as a useless soldier, or find
a new way by escaping with Kwang.
: Liu...
: You've made it quite clear. Let's go Kwang. You're too young to die.
: I will go with Liu to the command room to buy some time. Please get a wanzer in the meantime and escape.
: Okay, let's go!



We're finally making some progress!



: Real Number... Yes, you're right. We can't do anything.
: Miho, looks like you have work to do.
: You can count on me.
: Thanks.



: You all right, Kwang? It's a bit tight, but hang in there.
: Yes, I'm fine.
: Do you read? I'm okay over here.
: All right! I'll cover you while you go for the elevator!
: Acknowledged!



More damned robots! I don't know why Miho was able to shut down everything on this except for the robots, but it does seem a bit unfortunate that the one system still working is a squad of deadly, deadly, automatons.



Mandatory squad choice once again. Kazuki, Ryogo, Pham and...deep breathes, you can do this, Alisa. The enemy? A few more Shangdis with fists and Wudes with rifles. Shouldn't be harder than last time except...



It's an escort mission. Now, here's the problem with escort missions in Front Mission 3, and believe me, there's a much worse one about a dozen missions from now. The issue that is that there's no really good way to protect Lan from the enemy. There's literally nothing you can do to shield from the rifle wanzers, the map is too small, and the enemy can fire through squares you occupy, so if they turn their attention to Lan, that's that. As for the fist wanzers, well, you can try and surround her, but she'll still move toward the enemy, and since her weapon is a flamethrower, she'll have to get close. The only real way to deal with the mission is to go fast and hope for the best.



Kazuki leads things off with a torso fist hit, and Pham cleans up with her flamethrower. A good start.



And then Lan recklessly charges into melee range against a wanzer. Great. If I had clipped this guy's fist arm, we'd be in real trouble here/



This happens a lot. It's very helpful.



As you can see, it's all I can do to keep Lan from being totally surrounded. If you're really unlucky, you'll lose this fight no matter what you do.



Amazingly, this isn't even the worst escort mission involving Lan. I purposefully have been leaving this Shangdi alone so Lan has someone to attack that can't really hit her back.



Kazuki gets a Double Punch and manages to hit the two least important parts of an enemy wanzer in a row. Great.



I am obligated to point out that Alisa was also in this mission.



Ryogo kills a wanzer. He spent most of this mission in the unglamorous role of wearing enemies down with his machine gun. Boring, but necessary.



Kazuki takes down another Shangdi. Want to know why fist are so scary? Look at Kazuki's HP. That red part? That's how much damage he took from a single fist blow to the body. And the Grapple body unit isn't exactly super-fragile, either.



Almost done. As always, melee first, rifles later.



Crunch.



And that is the end of the level.



Neat. Kazuki gets MVP.



: Acknowledged. Everyone, get on the elevator!

Next Time: It's a shame he won't live! But then again, who does?