Part 60: Mission #57: The Long and Winding Road

In case anyone wonders what happens in the case of low voter turnout for the MVP award, if I feel there aren't enough votes to represent the will of the thread, Berzuki wins, not only because I'm proud of the portmanteau I created, but also because Capskye's wanzers won the most MVPs by a fair margin.

Mission 57: The Long and Winding Road



To the control room!



I think Ryogo's brain is broken.
: Quit dawdling! Ryogo, activate the separation sequence!
Seems like you'd need some sort of specialized training to do that, but apparently not.
: Miho, could you help me!?
: I'll be riiight theerrre.
Now, you may be wondering why a lot of characters seem to be behaving even more oddly than usual. You see, this branch has a philosophical subtext. These characters have all been existing in a reality with its own set of rules, even if those rules often seem far removed from the way our own universe works. As they approach the end of the game, the end of their universe, all of these rules break down, internal logic can no longer function as their existence hurtles towards extinction. These bizarre happenings are not funny but a terrifying look at the mortality of an entire cosmos.

Well, not really. I'm always kind of impressed whenever someone tries to do a serious LP of a game, or fanfic narration or any of that stuff. I mean, yeah, 90% of the time it doesn't work out, but it does take a certain amount of vision to even attempt it.
: Once we're done here, we can go beat down Lukav.
: Yeah, but remember, we're dealing with Lukav. It'll be tough.
: Before all that. How do we get out of here, man? If we separate this block, we won't be able to go back to Okinawa.
: Once we deal with Lukav, we can call for help.
As mildly suicidal as Kazuki's plan seems, it'll manage to look even worse in a couple of missions.
: What if we can't deal with Lukav?
: Then we'll all be dead. We wouldn't have to worry about escaping.
: Cool... Then we'll just have to kick Lukav's butt.
: Alisa, how is it going?
: I'm pushing it a little, but I think it should be okay. Miho, how is it on your side?
: It's aaall good! I'm ready on this side!
Miho may have suffered a little drain blammage over the course of the story.
: I'll commence the countdown.



Don't worry, that 'warning' is just the Okinawa computer system mildly concerned that our 'crack Ocean City like an egg' plan may be ill-conceived.

5

4



: 2....1... Break off!



And Ocean City starts self-destructing, as per our orders...



And the sections start to separate...



And the city starts to crumble. Wherever our party treads, destruction must surely follow!



Boom!



Separation achieved! Wait? Why were doing this again?



On the plus side, massive destruction does tend to provide a short-term boost to the economy.



: ...So they did separate the block. It sounds like something they would do. They're such fools, aren't they, Emir? They believe that I'm infatuated with the original MIDAS. That is the most they could possibly fathom at their level.
: Sir Lukav, the USN Fleet's beginning to move. They're moving to invade Ocean City.
: You finally figured it out. But you're a little too late. You may begin.
: Yes, sir.
: They don't know that I really don't care about MIDAS here. Wouldn't you agree, Emir? I've got all the information I need out of you. I was a bit rough, but I didn't have much of a choice. If only you were more cooperative... It's unfortunate.
: Sir Lukav, preparations are complete.
: The Imaginary Numbers can create another MIDAS. Once Aliciana is eliminated, no one can stop me. Emir, you've served your purpose. You will die with your loving sister. Rosavia, you will stay and deal with them. Don't give them time to escape.
Yep, once again, we've managed to fall into Lukav's trap. The only reason he came her was to eliminate the original MIDAS and get rid of Alisa.
: Yes, sir.
: Kazuki, you will get your MIDAS. It's my gift to you. Enjoy...



You know, other than the giant chunks of concrete that are likely to collide with Okinawa.

: What about the path to the bottom floor?
: Don't worry, the underground passage is still intact.
: Can you hear me? Please respond!
: Father!
: The USN Fleet is making its move toward you.
So, in addition to MIDAS being about to go off, the USN is about to arrive to kick the shit out of us. Two ticking clocks for the price of one!
: ...The USN finally figured out they were being tricked by Lukav.
: We'll try to buy you time, but don't rely on it.
: All right. You heard him; we have to get to Lukav before the USN arrives. Let's go!



Into the chamber of danger and pistons!



And more Imaginary Numbers!



: But it also means the dude's pretty freaked, too.
: We should be able to get to the bottom floor if we get through.
: Let's get it together, people! We're gonna hit' em hard!



Another gimmick map. There are these pistons dotted throughout the room that move up or down each turn, serving only to impede your progress. Great. Ryogo in the Mortal tanasinn, Miho in the Danger Girl in Blue, Pham in the Tankenstein and Mayer in the Longbow IIC.



Now, Body Smash will always be the best skill in the game but a chain of Aim-Body...



...can be similarly devastating.



Avoid 80 can neutralize any burst weapon enemy in the game. In your face, Imaginary Numbers, there's nothing you can do to stop me now!



Fuck.



The enemy has grenade launchers on its side, which is a problem, as the map is composed of about ten bottlenecks in a row. My squad gets hit with two barrages in a row, nearly killing both Ryogo and Miho.



Ryogo will not stand for such an affront! He chains together exactly as many RoF IIs as it takes to kill the offending wanzer.



Like all of Pham's wanzers, the Tankenstein isn't flashy, but it is a juggernaut.



Here's the thing, most late-game enemies use machine guns, and you can dodge fists and missiles with a shield. So, you make a melee wanzer with a shield, set its Def-C to 'Anti-P' and the enemy basically cannot deal with it effectively, especially with its medium and long range wanzers.



The AI in Front Mission 3 is generally pretty good, but there are some situations it just doesn't know how to handle. The Lenghe is blocked off from our party. All it would need to do to extricate itself from this situation is either move out of the range of our wanzers, or blow up the surrendered wanzer in our way. Instead...it's just going to stand there and let me kill it. This isn't a fight, it's an execution!



And I do mean that literally. Firing Squad allows a character making a ranged attack to receive back-up from any other characters with ranged weapons who can hit the enemy wanzers. Bunching my wanzers together caused me problems earlier this mission, but now...



For the crime of getting in my way in the 2nd degree, I hereby sentence this Lenghe 1...



...to be riddled with bullets until dead....



By order of Kazuki Takemura, 16th Senor of Goodtimes, this, the 16th day of May, in the year of our Lord 2112.



Yeah, that's right, over 1300 damage. Ultimately, as cool as having two weapons may be, the Shield Attack III is just as powerful, if not more so.



The last enemy manages to lose both of its arms, and its trapped in a pit. He can't surrender quickly enough.



I blame the map.



: What's wrong, Alisa?
: My sister's going to be in there, too...isn't she?
Depends what you mean by 'there.'
: Yes, we'll defeat Lukav and rescue Emma!
: Okay!

Next Time: ThunderDome!