Part 50: Mission #47: The Road is Long, but the Trip is Short.

Hey, listen, the MVP selection process is mysterious, even to me. Besides, I named Ryogo's final wanzer after you, what more do you want from me?

Well, at any rate, all I can give you is this sneak-attack update.

Incidentally, I was thinking of, for the next branch, possibly including some videos of gameplay. Now, granted, as anyone who read my last LP and saw my only attempt at making a video knows, my technical abilities are...limited. Anyway, if anyone has thoughts on that, I'd be interested in hearing them.

Also, I'd have to use subtitles because my voice is...not so good. I don't even have a cool accent to cover it up. Damn you Midwestern upbringing! Wasn't making me shovel five feet of snow every winter enough?

Mission #47: The Road is Long, but the Trip is Short.



: Good.
: Things are starting to look up.
: It's our turn. Tell Wulong to move their forces.
: Yes, sir!
: I hope Kazuki is okay. The enemy is probably using the special destroyer. I'm sure Kazuki will have trouble fighting it.
The 'special destroyer?' Sounds pleasant. I guess that makes Kazuki the 'regular destroyer.'
: You mean the CWDS. They can do it.
: Are you worried?
: I'm all right.



: Commander Kanai, the enemy divisions are moving. They're spreading their forces from Fukushima.
: They're no match for us. Match their movement and don't let them get any further!
Oh, no! It's a Japanese Hitler!
: We lost contact with the recon squad headed for Abukama River! I believe they were ambushed!
: Leave them be! We can hold them with the CWDS. Request backup from the Chief of Staff Sasaki in Makuryo. We'll destroy Takemura's forces!
I think not, Fuhrer-San!



: Can you hear me, Kazuki!?
: What is it, Rudolf?
: We're advancing toward Koriyama right now. The enemy's shifting their forces to stop our advance. The rest is up to you! Do it right!
: Yeah, we'll be heading for the enemy HQ. All right, you heard it! We're moving out!



Later, at the factory we're evidently supposed to invade...



: Yes, I think they're probably using a mobile command unit.
: !
: We should be careful. The coup forces are probably using a special mobile unit.
: Special? Like how?
: Umm, have you ever heard of CWDS?
: Nope, never heard of it.
: Isn't that anti-wanzer jamming unit!?
: Wow! That's impressive, Kazuki! The enemy command unit is equipped with CWDS.
: Is it that big of a deal?
: I thought it was still in its test phase?
: That means our opposition is desperate. So we'll have to be on our toes!
: Yes, yes. Little Miho is right...
Ryogo knows that you have to put women in their place, lest they get too uppity.
: Okay, our target is the command vehicle up ahead. Ignore everything else if at all possible. We're breaking through!



The last conversation is rather misleading. It makes it sound like the point of this mission is blowing up some sort of anti-wanzer weapon. It's not, that's next mission. This battle, all we need to do is get into the building. To the left of the party, there's a road, all we need to do is follow that road to the other side of the map and we win. Not hard. I take Kazuki, Ryogo, Miho and Pham.



There are only three enemies in my way. If you don't know the winning condition of this map, though, you could be in real trouble. The enemies are all armed with rifles, cannons or missiles, and they have ideal sniping positions. Your party is apt to be picked apart trying to kill them. It's doable with the right set of wanzers, but, well, when have you guys ever given me the right set of wanzers?



Ah, these rifle tanks always make me laugh, it's like some engineers got together and said, 'Well, we've got this idea for a four-legged tank, but it needs a weapon, and we're way over budget, and rifles are pretty cheap...'



The day I fear an enemy with a rifle is the day I quit this LP.



Engineering's latest abomination is put out of its misery.



I also have occasion to wipe out a regular tank, armed with a cannon, which still aren't accurate, and still can't fire from melee range.



Looks like all that stands between me and the end of this stage is another rifle tank...



The fight did not last long.



Mission over.



Boss. Ryogo gets MVP.



: The enemy has infiltrated the area! Notify command at once! The rest will pursue the enemy!
I guess I could end the update here...but I've got a call to make first....



: Hello, this is Itsuki.
Well, probably not THE Itsuki, after all, that dude was pretty dead after his wanzer got blown up.
: I aaw it on the BBS...
Yeah, this game has BBSes, which is amazing as they were basically obsolete for several years before this game came out in 2000, evidently the internet of 100 years ago has regressed to its 1992 levels.
: ! You know the truth behind the coup!
: We're trying to stop it.
: Are you Colonel Takemura's...?
: Yes.
: I see... Well, I stole some wanzers and weapons from a JDF base. Can you use them?
: Is that okay?
: I'll send them through the net. Hold on...
No, I don't know how he can send things through the internet, which, given the state of the internet, I assume he accesses through a 14.4 kilo-baud dial-up connection. I know there isn't some sort of transporter in this game, because God knows half of our troubles came from the difficulty of lugging several giant machines around the Pacific Rim.
: Transmission complete.
: Thanks.
: My brother lost his life in this war. Please don't let his death go to waste.
: Yes, I promise.



Its time draws near...

Next Time: Double the gimmicks, double the Tylenol!