Part 44: Mission #41: The Important Thing is That We Tried

Except her last name is 'Edward', so unless there's something about Mayer I don't particularly care to know....

Mission #41: The Important Thing is That We Tried

Mo' Emails


Well, Koike, I'll always remember the time you left Kazuki and Ryogo to die in Yokosuka...


: I guess she isn't nervous about the coup.
: You get a lot of mail from her. Who is she?
: One of my teachers.
: I see...



And another email for Pham from everyone's favorite Welsh butler...




I wasn't aware that Singapore had a royal family.

: Ugh...
: What's wrong?
: I feel sick...



: It's from Kwang. Take a look, Alisa.
: Good... He needs more time to think about himself.


Anyway, on to the mission!



: Did Kaita Base attack them?
Remember this dude? He's Major Kuroi, we fought him a few times at the beginning of the game.
: I didn't see any movement from the base.
: What's going on? Did another squad join Kaita Base?
: What is it, Major Kuroi?
And this is Chief of Staff Sasaki, who we also met briefly about 35 missions ago.
: There's something strange going on at Kaita Base.
: Commander Kitajima of Kaita Base would never rebel against me.
: It looks like some other force is in our way.
: Don't waste your time speculating. Just take over the base.
And here's Lukav! Fresh off betraying the DHZ, Ravnui and the USN in the space of three missions, he's now working with the Sasaki faction of the JDF.
: Lukav...
: If you want to realize your goal, destroy all the bad seeds.
: Lukav is right. Major Kuroi, send an attack force to Kaita Base.
: ...
: What's wrong, Major Kuroi? Aren't you going to follow my order?
: We'll begin attack on Kaita Base.
: Kuroi, you may also use my forces. I'll wait for your update.
: ...



To Kaita Base!



: But we don't have enough troops to take the coup forces.
: We must stop the coup somehow! I agree that we should avoid any battles. Please contact Chief of Staff Sasaki, and...
: He'd never listen to me. There is nothing I can do.
: Commander...
: Excuse me, sir. Colonel Takemura's son is here.
: Thank you. So you're Kazuki. You do look a bit like your father. Thank you for saving Warrant Officer Itsuki.
: You must be the commander of the base.
: And you are?
: I'm Mayer Edward of the CIU.
: The CIU? So the OCU intelligence is moving, too.
A brief note on the organization of the OCU: Now, I'm sure a lot of you think the OCU works like the U.S., with a federal system of government. You're wrong. It's more like a slightly more integrated version of the EU, with the its constituent members still retaining a great deal of autonomy. In this metaphor, Japan and Australia function much like France and Germany in the EU; heavyweights who effectively control the course of the Union. Hence why Mayer, who's from Australia, is trying to defuse the MIDAS crisis, they want to keep their power over the other OCU nations.
: I'm sorry, Kazuki. Your father is in trouble.
: Thank you for saving my life.
: Tell us about the coup force's situation.
: They took the capital and are demanding our cooperation. Uncooperative bases get destroyed.
: Then why aren't you fighting them!?
I imagine the 'uncooperative bases get destroyed' might have something to do with it.
: I can't decide whether to become their ally or enemy.
: So you'll ignore the coup altogether!?
: That's quite convenient of you.
: ...
: You're job is to protect the country! Why are you so selfish!?
: Kazuki!
: Stop it, Kazuki!
: Kazuki, I understand what you're saying. But we can't act without considering everything.
: Lieutenant Mori said it. I can't make a decision so easily.
: We must stop the coup forces.
: Why not get moving now? Your job is to protect the country!
: That's why we can't make any false move. We can't avoid civilian casualties if we move against the coup force. We cannot create a situation where civilian casualties are imminent.
: ...
Kazuki not understand meaning of collateral damage! Kazuki smash puny civilians who tie the hand of military commanders!
: You haven't changed.
: Miho!? Is it really you? Where have you been? I've been looking for you!
: Um... Yes, you look well.
In case you were wondering which faction of the JDF Miho was working for...not the good guys.
: I'm so glad you're alive.
: Lieutenant Mori, the next shift is here.
: I'm coming. Miho, there are things I need to ask you. Come see me.
: Sure.
: Warrant Officer Itsuki! You ignored our orders.
: I'm ready to take any penalty.
: I'm sympathetic, but I must punish insubordination. Follow me. You will patrol the base day and night.
: Yes, sir!
: You know him?
: Um, yes...
: Your ex-boyfriend, eh?



: What's the situation?
: Nothing yet, sir.
: Itsuki was attacked by special forces. They're on to us. Maintain high security.
: Yes, sir!



: What's the point of this mission?
: That base poses a potential problem. Eliminate all resistance by daylight!!
: Acknowledged. Begin the attack!
: Wait! Stick on the mission plan! Damn those mercenaries! Damn it! All units, attack!



: Lieutenant! We've got wanzers.
: What division are they from?
: Some scouting unit, I think. There are some unknowns, too.
: Unknowns? They must be the mercs from Da Han Zhong...



: Put him through.
: Please give us permission to attack the coup force's wanzer squad!
: So they're finally here...
: They'll cause civilian casualties! We must stop them before they enter the residential area! Commander, please!
: ...
: Commander!
: I won't give you permission to attack.
: Are you going to let them die!?
: ...
: Are you listening? We'll all die!
: I can't make a decision!
You know you're indecisive when you can't even choose between life and death.



: Damn. At this rate the city will be... All units, rush them! Stop their advance! Ahh!
: Lieutenant!? Dammit, I'm going to stop you if it's the last thing I do!
: Wait, Sergeant Itsuki!
: How futile.



So, last mission, we rescued a JDF pilot from certain doom...only to get killed the very next mission by the Imaginary Numbers.
: Itsuki!! Damn... It's over...
: Lieutenant Mori! Pull out! We've got this covered!
Kazuki? Forget about me! Don't let them into the city!
: All right! Just don't die!



Kazuki, Pham, Liu and Lan get the call. There are also a bunch of allied PROV PAW2 NPCs. You probably recognize that wanzer as having Double Shot I and hover legs. Well, the wanzers are only armed with one weapon each, and hover legs are shit, so the most they can do is act as human shields. That said, you don't lose the mission if they all die, so there's that.



Still, you shouldn't expect them to last very long...



Kazuki uses his shotgun, infuriating the spirit of the Berzuki, who cares not for ranged combat!



Pham uses Eject Punch. I'll give The Tank this, it's dependable.



Oh, there are attack boats on this level. They aren't very good, so I generally leave them until the end. Still, it does create the potential for naval wanzer combat, and that's always cool.



The spirit of the Berzuki can no longer be contained! With a mighty roar, the Best Served Cold's shotgun arm explodes into a million pieces...now, the Berzuki is free to wreak havoc once more. But seriously, the Best Served Cold's shotgun arm is so weak that it basically disintegrates in every single battle.



I think the Imaginary Numbers need a better machine gun wanzer than the Shunwang, it's just not threatening at this point.



Lan begins her purge of the Shunwangs. There can be only one spider-legged wanzer on this earth...



And down goes Mori. It's a good thing it makes no difference.



He who believeth in the Berzuki can never die!



Unless, of course, the Berzuki decides to destroyeth him.



I don't know, I guess quiet competence is a good quality to have, but it's hard to say anything interesting about.



There can be only one!



The Quickening has begun!



Meanwhile, Liu has been cleaning up the far side of the map.



Lan will have The Prize!



Lan and Liu steal the show in this stage. I kind of wish I had a chance to use them more, but the plot stood in the way.



Prevent Loss is a skill that lets a wanzer prevent the destruction of its parts, leaving them with 1 hp. Not a terrible skill, but one that only comes into play in desperate situations.



That trick's not going to work twice (well, it might, but it's not likely to...)



Lan has the power! She feels everything! She knows everything!
: Sir Lukav, we failed our mission. The rest is up to you.
: Fine, we'll handle it.
: Good hunting.



Psh. Lan gets MVP.



: Yes, I'm fine.
: Lieutenant, you're pretty crazy. But I'm impressed.
: I didn't want my men to die. And I disobeyed orders. I'm a failure as a soldier.



: Heat?
: It's a missile, and it's closing in.



Come on, the game wouldn't so cruel as to-



We can't do anything right.



: Why... How can the do this to their own people!?
: Kazuki, this isn't the JDF's doing.
: It's him. Only Lukav can do such a thing!
: We've got no time to lose. Let's head for Kure.

Next Time: Well, it's not like we can do much worse...

It is almost time for the wanzer build...prepare yourselves.