Part 41: Mission #38: Rumble in the House of Monkeys

Mission #38: Rumble in the House of Monkeys



: Is it true that Chairman Jie is dead!?
: Yeah. He's dead. It was an honorable death.
Rudolf salutes each and every one of the cockroaches he steps on.
: My gosh...! And you came running back!?
: We're doing what you paid us for. Why don't you try and settle this confusion?
: I know!
: Why did you bring us here?
: Calm down. We can talk here. I'll introduce you to our members. You already know Rebecca, Emilio and me.
: ...
That woman does not like us.
: Heh heh... Let's be friends.
: And this guy here is Hatari, and this big guy is Greg.
: Hello.
: Ugh, kids and chicks.
: Great. You're all nuts.
: Don't talk to me.
Why do you hate us so? If I hadn't burned myself out on challenges in my last Let's Play, the reasons for Rebecca's animus would have made for some interesting submissions.
: Nice to meet you, ladies.
: I got no interest in babysitting.
: You guys are still alive, huh?
: We have no money to pay you. Besides, you didn't come all the way to the embassy to help us, right?
: Of course not. Rebecca said Lukav is dangerous, so we tried to get to the embassy as the chairman's escorts.
: Always trust a woman's intuition.
: I ran into them when I was retrieving the wanzers. So I asked them for help.
: And you promised to pay them? Are you stupid?
: It's alright. I'm still alive.
: I guess if Liu were here, he would've paid for us...
: ...
: Liu...
: Kazuki, are you still thinking about that traitor?
: There are things I want to ask him.
: You still haven't had enough? I told you people aren't reliable. The only thing you can trust is money.
: I still believe in Liu.
I mean, did he even really betray us? He was never on our side, so how could he be a traitor?
: You stubborn bastard.
: You'll pay us one way or another. I'll give you time. Make some money.
Well, I mean, we were only nominally mercenaries, and to the extent we were employed by anyone, it was the DHZ, and our contact in the DHZ ended involved in a series of betrayals that led to the death of the DHZ's highest leader. So, uh...we may need to talk to our HR rep.
: I don't have anything to say to you.
Why won't you be our friend?
: Don't be scared. I won't bite.
: Can this kids fight in the battlefield!?
: Good thing you're one of us. I only love killing enemies.
: We saved you. You'll pay us back, right? We can't do anything right now. Why don't you get some rest? Rebecca, show them to their room.
: Why me!?
: You think Greg or Emilio would!? They'll just create confusion.
: ...Fine. Follow me!
Friendship....denied.



: It's small and dirty indeed.
: You can leave if you have a problem.
: I was only making an observation! Fine, I'll bear with this room.
: Don't keep us from doing our job.
: Can we trust the Wulong guys? They're all crazy.
: You're the one who brought them to us!
: ... Yeah, they're okay. Don't worry!
: I think you're the crazy one.
: I'm sorry. I don't want to talk right now.
: This is snowballing into big trouble.
: What's going on!? Can someone explain it to me?
: Emir.
: You can call me Emma.
: Tell us what's going on, Emma. Lukav, Ravnui, Imaginary and Real Numbers... I don't understand anything!
Your understanding is not required. Merely your obedience.
: I came here to save Alisa. Bal guaranteed Alisa's safety if I cooperated.
: And you believed him!?
: Of course not. Why would I trust a murderer?
: Then why?
: Because Liu captured Alisa. I had no choice but to save Alisa myself.
Well, 'capture' is a strong word...
: Even if you died in the process?
: I made MIDAS, and I got Alisa involved in this mess. I don't care about my own life, as long as I can save Alisa.
: Emma...
: Liu had us tricked this whole time? Well, I knew he was kinda suspicious.
: ...
: Liu and Emma's purpose is clear, but what about Lukav?
: I can't believe you guys. You didn't realize Liu was deceiving you?
: You didn't either.
: I-I didn't spend as much time with him as you did.
: Why did Lukav betray Bal?
: He never intended to follow Bal. He wants the Imaginary Numbers to rule the world. He killed Bal as a symbol of his intent.
: A world ruled by the Imaginary Numbers? Is he trying to start a war against the entire world!?
: A rebellion against humanity, huh?
Damn it! Why can't the genetically engineered super-humans serve us without trying to commit genocide?
: Yes. And that's why he needed Alisa and me. He knew we were Imaginary Numbers. That's why he tried to enlist us. Now that he knows we won't join him, he'll kill us for sure.
: Why didn't you stop him? If you knew all this, why didn't you stop him!?
: Alisa...
: I could have stopped him. But you would have been...
: That's just an excuse! You wanted MIDAS!
Alisa will not rest until she is sacrificed for the greater good! If it takes her a hundred more missions, she will see herself dead!
: That's enough, Alisa!
: No, Alisa is right. It's all my fault I made MIDAS. But I never wanted to have MIDAS used as a weapon. MIDAS was our parents' project. That's why I wanted to finish it.
: Then why did you make it into a bomb!?
: Alisa, stop,
: But...
: ...
: Why don't we cool off? Let's go out and get some fresh air!
: I agree!
: Yeah. It's all because we're locked in here. Let's go out and have some fun! Let's go!
: ...
: We should go out and get some fresh air!
: I hate feeling depressed. Let's go out to the city.
: Alisa...



: I like Schneck's wanzers best. DHZ wanzers aren't as reliable. Why don't you look at Schneck's web site?
It's a new shop! I skipped it, though, because I wanted to give the current cycle of wanzers a bit more run. Still, at this point, all of the special parts the Wulong use are available. They're have pretty good power/weight ratios, but not much in the way of battle skills. To the bar!

: There was a little battle near the Ravnui embassy. I heard it was the rebels who attacked. The Hua Lian Rebels tried to assassinate Chairman Jie.
: Do you guys know this? Chairman Jie has been missing since the battle at the embassy. The military is looking for him. I'm sure that bastard is still alive.
Well, I mean, I guess it would be kind of hard to identify the body...
: The rebels are on the move again. I wonder if it has to do with the chairman missing? The rebels are starting another war.
Yep, the rebels are still around...and much more powerful than before thanks to us crippling the army's main base, freeing the rebel leader and getting the head of the DHZ killed. Wow, coupled with the fact that we accidentally led the Philippine rebels directly into a trap that got them all killed, it occurs to me that we may be doing more harm than good.
: Another war is starting. I love wanzer battles! You should check out this web site if you like wanzers. It's got all the latest information. I love wanzers.
You know what, son, I know a lot of people like you. People who think they've got this whole 'wanzer' thing all figured out, and then expect me to make miracles with their...toys. Let me tell you something, boy, this ain't no game...



: What do we do now, Kazuki? Are you going to let Lukav be?
: I can't. Lukav is after Alisa and Emma.
: He still has other cards to play. He's not giving up on MIDAS.
: ...
: If only Liu was here with us...
: Yeah. Things felt easier with him around.
: Liu...
Uh...you guys do realize that Liu played a huge role in creating the mess we're now struggling to get out of, right?
: But he's not with us anymore! We have to fight Lukav. Let's come up with a plan tomorrow! Okay?
: Yes!
: Oh no, she's taking over.
: Did you say something!?
: Oh, nothing.



: Emma?
: ! Alisa!?
: What are you doing?
: Nothing. Just doing some work.
: Emma...?
: It's nothing. I'm going to take a short walk.
: She's hiding something... I have to check up on her.
I will not get distracted by the Bulls game. I will not get distracted by the Bulls game.



Oh, good, Alisa is going off by herself to sort this situation off. I can't see how this could possibly go wrong.
: ...This was the site of the Shanghai Zoo. What business do we have here...?
In the Front Mission Universe, zoos were abolished after the Bear-pocalypse.



Oh, God, it's all going wrong! How does Atlanta have a 10-point lead in the first quarter? I mean, this is a very interesting scene in this game.



: You read the message. I won't force you. It's up to you.
: Yeah, right. You already know my answer...
: I'm fortunate you're very understanding.



Lukav blows up the helicopter that Emma flew in on because in the future, all clandestine meetings must end with an explosion. It's the law.



: ...
: Sis, wait! Where are you going!?
: Alisa!?
: Aliciana... Emir has become one of us.
: No... Is that true!?
: ...I'm sorry. I had no other choice.
: Sis? What're you talking about!?
: Are you worried about Emir? Then come with me, Aliciana.
: Forget it! I will never join you!
: I see... That is unfortunate. Farewell, then.
: Sis, wait!
: Alisa...
: What is it, Emir? Do you wish to stay behind?
: ...No, let's go.
: Sis!
: Griffith, take care of the rest.
: Sis... Why? Why would you join Lukav...?
: You should be more worried about yourself right now.
Probably, but as has been pointed out before, Alisa has no sense of self-preservation. That's why she decided to intrude on Lukav's meeting despite there being a whole mess of enemy wanzers around.
: !
: You know too much about MIDAS. You must be eliminated.
: ...



And, as usual, someone has to save Alisa from certain death. I'm pretty sure this game is a fierce reaction against feminism.



: What's with you Hatari!? I thought you said to avoid combat?
: A Wulong wanzer?
: I was just trying to say you fight too much. She's a merc brought by Rudolf. Hmm, call Rudolf. I smell money.



: What...? It's midnight.
: Your allies are under attack by the Imaginary Numbers!
: Our allies? We're all here...
: ! Alisa and Emma are missing!
: What? Why are they missing!?
: I don't know! But they're under attack!
: Get going before it's too late.
: I know. Everyone, let's go!



: What is with Rudolf? There's no money in this.
Having the world blown up by evil transhumans is probably not good for business.
: You know him. He's probably up to no good.
: I don't care, as long as I get to fight!
: Well make sure she doesn't get wrapped up in your frenzy!
: Yeah, I know!
: Young lady, friends are on the way. Please hold on.
: ...I understand!



And here they come.



You only get three slots for pilot selection this mission. Why? Well, because Alisa is force-selected for you. Fan-fucking-tastic. I don't know what it's going to take for some of you to get it into your heads that rifles don't work, but you're probably lost causes at this point. I take Kazuki, Miho and Pham because I need to make up for Alisa. We also get Hatari and Greg as NPCs. They're less than useful.



I'm not afraid of Shunwangs at this point. They're just filler.



Save us, Miho!



As I said, Hatari and Greg aren't going to be much help.



These tanks, on the other hand, are cause for concern. They have grenade launchers, and know how to use them.



Behold the power of a well-constructed wanzer!



The only interesting thing about this map is an enclosure in the middle, it probably once housed lions, or some similar animals. Now, it's just an obstacle.



Eh, I'm not overly impressed with the Wulong.



Pham sends an Imaginary Number to his Imaginary God.



Skill +3 is a nice enough battle skill, I guess, but...



Alisa is still Alisa. Rifles are solely crushing my spirit.



Down goes Kazuki, a victim of the AI's odd quirk of targeting the first pilot selected a disproportionate number of times.



Much like my beloved Chicago Bulls, I have lost faith in the rifle.



And Griffith surrenders. A major disappointment. I mean, what's the point of dressing like maniac in a gas mask if you're just going to quit? I ought to destroy you out of principle, but, I could use the wanzer.



And we're about done here.



Last shot for the enemy...miss. Hatari kills it shortly thereafter.



Grumble. Miho gets MVP. Although, I'll admit, it may be more that Miho actually has weapon levels in her equipped weapons than the Peacekeeper being well-designed.



: You okay, Alisa!?
: Kazuki! Sis... Sis just...
: What happened to Emma!?
: Sis and Lukav just...
: Emma? What do you mean!?
: Now, now, we'll talk when we get back to base.
: Don't worry, we'll protect you until we get back to base!

Next Time: Lasers! Horrible, horrible lasers! So, until then, good night, and fuck Atlanta.