Part 39: Mission #36, The Sisters Klamsky

Oh, Deceitful Penguin, you cad...

Mission #36, Part 2: The Sisters Klamsky



As we last left our heroes, they had been promised a full explanation of the improbable events that had led them to this point!



: Excuse me. I've brought Emir Klamsky, the designer of MIDAS.
: Good. Very good, Lukav. You're all grown up, Emir. It's already been 10 years, hasn't it?
: ...



: !
: What is it, Alisa?
: I know that person...
: You know him? You mean Bal?
: Yes. Sis and I both know him...
Let the plot twists flow like water over a fall...



That's Chairman Jie, he's the head of the DHZ, so this meeting is kind of a big deal.
: Yes. We lost MIDAS, but with them, we can make MIDAS again.
Yeah, it turns out that instead of destroying MIDAS, what the DHZ would really prefer is having multiple copies of it.
: And my country will become a world power.
: The world has seen MIDAS's power. No country will want to face that kind of threat.
And Bal is helping because, well, let's face it, there's no way in hell that Belarus, in any permutation, is going to rule the world.
: We'll have the most powerful bargaining tool.
: It'll take a lot of capital to make it real.
: I'll give you all the financial assistance you need. You'll also have to start mass-producing the Imaginary Numbers.
: Let's keep up this relationship.
: I've seen that man before...
: Don't talk back!
: Wait! What do you mean about making MIDAS and mass-producing Imaginary Numbers!?
: You still don't understand? I went to Japan to bring MIDAS to the DHZ.
Liu's last bit of help to the party is explaining what's really been going on.
: So, you were...
: I helped you because I thought you'd be useful. After all, you're a JDF officer's son and a MIDAS scientist.
: ...
: After losing MIDAS in the Philippines and learning that Alisa is Emir's sister, I decided to bring Alisa to the DHZ.
: No...
: Are you serious, Liu!? Are you telling us the truth!?
: I was only following orders. Your welfare means nothing to me.
: Liu! You... You've lied to us from the very beginning!?
: ...
So, to answer the questions you guys had a few missions back, Liu helped us break Kwang out of Tianlei because it was more important to keep the party under control than it was to stop their actions. Who cares if Kwang is freed if the DHZ has the most powerful weapon in existence?
: Wait, Bal! This is not what you promised! You said you wouldn't touch Alisa if I followed your orders!
: What are you saying, Emir? You're finally with your sister. Let's live together like old times.
: Stop it! If you want to know about MIDAS, I'll stay! Let Alisa go!
: Emir, calm down. As long as you cooperate with us, your sister will be safe.
: Bal!
In fairness, by blindly following Liu to this point, we did put Emma in a very bad position.
: Don't scowl. The DHZ welcomes you. I guarantee the highest quality of life if you cooperate with us.
: Please stop... I won't cooperate with you. I don't want to make MIDAS.
Alisa doesn't quite understand how hostages work.
: Alisa...
: Think about it. Don't forget your friends are held hostage.
: No...
: Bal, you haven't changed a bit since you killed my parents for the Imaginary Number Project!
Yeah, that's some seamless exposition there!
: !?
: Bal killed Alisa and Emir's parents!?
: Emir... Is that true!?
: Yes. Our parents were murdered. They sent you to Japan to protect you. They were killed when they tried to escape with me...



And we get a reprise of the flashback Alisa had when she found out Emma was her sister.



: Jeez...
Jeez? Really? That's the sort of thing you say when you go outside and it starts raining. Then again, maybe Kazuki is just zoning out by this point.
: You only see people as pawns! I'll never forgive you for killing my parents!
: Emir, you're wrong. Your parents tried to take the samples to another country. That's why I had to kill them.
: That's not true! My parents didn't steal anything! They only wanted to escape with... No...!
: What's wrong, Emir?
: You're always very intuitive. Maybe even more so now.
: Emir?
: Alisa... They did take something from the lab...
: What? What did our parents take!?
: They took......us.
: !
So the party's spent so much time and effort protecting a damned replicant! What's the point of keeping Alisa safe? We could just grow a new one!
: They were killed because of us. We're the samples Bal is talking about!
: No... That's not true! I don't believe you! That's a lie... You're lying!
: Alisa and I are both Imaginary Numbers.
: ...
: Alisa and her sister are Imaginary Numbers?
: You were both created after Lukav. Your "parents" tried to take you to another country. And they succeeded.
: That's not true! Alisa is not a puppet!
Yeah, she's...well, I mean, she is kind of weak-willed...
: Of course not. Imaginary Numbers are the finest creations on earth. Not some imperfect human like you!
: Is it fun playing with people's lives?
: I created them. I can do whatever I want with them.
: Stop it! I don't want to hear any more of this!
: Alisa...
: Emir, Alisa. You were both destined to return to me.
And then the sound of distant gunshots fills the room.



: R-Reporting, sir!
: What happened!?
: The Imaginary Numbers are attacking the embassy!
: What!?
: What's the meaning of this, Lukav!? Order them to stop!
It probably wasn't Bal's wisest decision to loudly talk about how the Imaginary Numbers were his eternal slaves.



: Don't move.
: Lukav, are you betraying Sir Bal!?



: Of course not, Lukav. You are my best creation. You would never betray me! I don't know you were doing, but have them pull back!
: Betrayal doesn't quite accurately describe the circumstances. I don't recall ever being on your side.
: Lukav... What are you saying?
: Bal, you are just another incomplete human after all. You have no right to control us, the Imaginary Numbers. You are no longer of any value to me.



: Lukav, why you little...!
: It's over.



Tinted red...for murder!



: Lukav!
: Dammit, what's going on!? I'm even more confused now!



: Lukav, this is unforgivable! I will kill you myself!
: If you think you can do it, Real Number. Kill everyone except those two Imaginary Numbers.
: Yes, sir!
: !
: Kazuki, step away from the entrance!



Ka-Boom!



It's Ryogo and the Soulmate! It's good thing that the Ravnui embassy has hallways so gigantically large as to allow Ryogo to drive his wanzer right up to this room.

: !?
: I've come to help ya, dude!
: Ryogo!?
: It's getting hectic out there! Let's bail!
: Unexpected guests...Jared, take out the mansion and those kids!
: Yes, sir.
: You two will come with me.
: Ryogo, stop him!
Fighting a wanzer building inside with two people we're trying to protect seems a trifle unsafe.
: I think NOT!



: Real Number....
: Hurry up and go.
: Liu!?
: Kazuki... Now that Sir Bal is dead, I've no need for you. Get out of here!
: ...Thanks. Hurry! We're getting out of here!



Has anyone ever successfully given someone a slow death in any video game or movie? That's just begging for some sort of dramatic reversal.
: ...Liu, a Real Number can only do so much.
: You're in no position to say that.
: Real Numbers have their human development controlled. That is why you could never surpass a human.
Real Numbers are embryos enhanced in utero, whereas Imaginary Numbers are genetically engineered from their creation.
: Is that all you've got to say?
: You're just a pathetic organism controlled by emotions.
: !?



Liu is not having the best of days.
: A Real Number could never kill me.
: Tch...Lukav!!



: I'm with USN. I can't go with you...
We might be a bit past that, at this point...
: Sis...
: This isn't the time to be worried about that! If you die, how do you think Alisa's going to feel!? C'mon!



: We must get out of the embassy as soon as possible! : Hurry up and take that Emir woman to the exit!
: Okay!



You can't pick Liu, what with him last being seen in a death struggle with Lukav in an exploding room and all. Kazuki and Alisa are also mandatory choices. I take Miho and Pham to round things out.



Now, this is another escort mission. In this case, you have to protect Emma from the enemy. You can technically win by getting her to the entrance of the embassy, which is where the AI will direct Emma towards. The problem is that pretty much all of the enemies are in the way, so as a practical matter, there's no way of getting through this level without killing everybody anyway.



This level features a few Shunwangs, a Lenghe, and a few foot soldiers. Normally, foot soldiers don't worry me, but I need to keep Emma alive...



Sadly, that may be the most useful thing a rifle has ever done in this game.



Toppleshot will stop an enemy's counterattack and halve its AP. I'd rather have a battle skill that increases damage, honestly.



Pham's flailing attacks have worked so far in this game, but we've finally reached the point in the game where melee attacks start missing.



Lenghe 1s are just a pain to deal with. Granted, when they have fists, you should only be getting hit on their turn, but still.



The grind continues...



It's still no Melee III!



Well, I suppose knocking out the legs on a melee wanzer is at least marginally useful.



I'm not going to lie to you guys, Alisa's role in this battle is to take advantage of her low damage and accuracy to make enemy wanzers surrender without blowing them up. But she's really good at it!



Unlike Pham who almost ripped this Lenghe 1 apart. But, still, luck was on our side this time. This Lenghe will be chopped up into parts and provide components for a number of your submitted wanzers.



It takes a lot of guts to stand up to 20-foot tall walking tank with nothing more than a rifle and a load full of moxie. Regrettably, this isn't an action movie, and Miho puts this poor bastard in the ground.



Only one enemy left. This mission has an effective time limit, as Emma will rush headlong towards the exit every round, regardless of how many enemies are in the way.



Ouch. Miho once again suffers some tough luck.



Oh, fuck. Yeah, the Imaginary Numbers sometimes have battle skills. Most of the time they aren't very good. This would be the exception.



Miho lives! Miho lives! Even had Miho been killed, I'd still probably be able to win, but it's nice to get through the battle with no casualties.



Miho shows the superiority of the free-born! Take that, Gattaca!
: I cannot be weaker than them.



Tough luck. Miho gets MVP for her gritty performance.



: Sis, are you all right!?
: Yes, I'm fine...
: Sis, look out!



A noble gesture Kazuki, but you seem to have forgotten which branch this is.
: Sis, are you hurt!?
: ...I'm okay.
: !?



: You're those mercenaries!
: You could at least try to remember our name. It's Wulong. Remember that.
Well, you did just almost accidentally kill us.
: What are you doing here?
: Talk to your partner about that.
: Ryogo?
: Save the details for later. We'll handle this.
: Get out of here! You're only going to get in the way.
: You heard her.
: Thanks.
: Don't mistake this. We're in it for the reward.
Hah! All of our money is tied up in terribly designed wanzers! We have nothing you can take!

Next Time: Chairman Jie discovers the secret of gravity!

The Wanzer Vote Continues Until Tomorrow around noon!

Vote for one wanzer Alisa, and one for Pham!

A. Alisa
Choose one!

Choice #1: Bad Science
Color: White
Submitted by: IceMole

Parts
Body: Shunwang 1
L. Arm: Tieqi 4
R. Arm: Kyokei Mk 108
Legs: Genie
Backpack: BPT9MAX
Computer: COMB652

Weapons
L. Shoulder:
L. Hand: Nissai 90MF
R. Shoulder:
R. Hand: Chongta 3

Smasher sez: Christ, why do you people insist on giving characters weapons they have no experience with? And, is that a Kyokei arm with a burst weapon? And a computer designed to make it go off as often as possible? I thought I made it clear what the effect of Hit or Miss was!

Choice #2: Lanzer
Color: Whatever
Submitted by: Mehuyael

Parts
Body: Lanze (38)
L. Arm: Lanze (15)
R. Arm: Lanze (15)
Legs: Lanze (59)
Backpack: BPT9MAX (30)
Computer: COMC654

Weapons
L. Shoulder:
L. Hand: Heavy Shield (28)
R. Shoulder:
R. Hand: Mk 22 Spike (32)

Smasher Sez: Well, at least Alisa has minimal experience with melee weapons. Perhaps not the most imaginative design, but I suppose, at the least, it'll last.

Choice #3: Mjolnir
Color: Light Grey
Submitted by: jng2058

Parts
Body: Genie
L. Arm: Lanze
R. Arm: Whisk
Legs: Zenislev
Backpack: BX002 (x2 Missile Reloads)
Computer: COMG10

Weapons
L. Shoulder: None
L. Hand: MK10 Shield
R. Shoulder: Nightingale
R. Hand: MK9 Baton

Smasher Sez: I guess this is the best design from a technical perspective, but, well, I'll be honest, Senor Gad, I have a moral objection to the pimping of blogs....therefore, I cannot endorse this design.

B. Pham
Choose one!

Choice #1: Stuck Up
Color: Purple Camouflage (S.D.: Unless we're fighting in a dance club, this is kind of an oxymoron.)
Submitted by: tanasinn
Weight Power
Body: Lanze 39 206
R Arm: Wude 3 15
R Weapon: Mk12 Fist 35
L Arm: Wude 3 15
L Weapon: Mk22 Spike 32
Legs: Lanze 59
Backpack: BPT9MAX 30 90
Computer: COMC654

Total Weight: 225
Total Power: 296

Smasher Sez: The spirit of the Berzuki lives!

Choice #2: Striker
Color: Forest Camo
Submitted by: Gideon020

Body: Tieqi 4
Left Arm: Zenislev
Right Arm: Genie
Legs: Vinedrai
Computer: BTP9MAX
Backpack: COMG10
Left Arm Weapon: Huosai 2
Right Arm Weapon: Mega Buster

Smasher Sez: I'm going to go out on a limb, and suggest that Gideon meant the Big Buster and that he's just been playing a bit too much Megaman. Anyway, he originally designed this for someone else, but it suits Pham better.

Choice #3: Miserable
Color: Yellow
Submitted by: A dead man! You hear me, thetruegentleman, you're a dead man!

Parts
Body: Whisk (45)
L. Arm: Wude 3 (15)
R. Arm Kasel M2 (15)
Legs: Enyo Mk109 (18)
Backpack: BPT9MAX (30)
Computer: COMB652

Weapons
L. Shoulder: Quill (81)
L. Hand: Odin M98 (42)
R. Shoulder: Yunsheng 34 (109)
R. Hand: War Hammer (18)

C. Submission Reform!

Do I

A. Keep the first-come, first serve policy

-or-

B. Open submissions followed by a vote

-or-

C. A hybrid solution, with some number of the slots being first-come, first-served, and the rest being put to a vote

Vote!