Part 79: Mission #16: I Have a Bad Feeling About This...

Okay, I'll close the submissions in about an hour, so this is the last call...

Mission #16: I Have a Bad Feeling About This...



: Dispatch the wanzer forces! Stop them!
: I bought former lieutenant Jose.
Er...not exactly the best work the translators have every done.
: What do you want from a prisoner like me?
: You've been guilty of insubordination in the past. But we keep you, because you're an exceptional soldier.
You know, when he's not being insubordinate, which would seem to make using Jose a rather risky proposition.
: I'm not going back to the battlefield.
: I regret the loss of your wife. It was an accident. Neither the military nor you are at fault.
: An accident, you say? The military attacked, knowing there were civilians in the area. Do you still insist that the military wasn't at fault?
: We didn't know your wife would be there.
: I followed orders and destroyed the enemies, along with my wife. Now that she's gone, I have no reason to fight. I'm no longer a soldier.
: So you'll live the rest of your life as a prisoner?
: I deserve no better.
: I'm thinking about letting you go after this mission.
: ...
: You'll be acquitted and given an honorable discharge. How about it?
: I can't fight...
: I think you'd rather be a free man.
: Can I trust your offer?
: Of course.
: Fine. This is the last time.
Ah, Jose, so tormented by his accidental murder of his wife that he's only occasionally willing to work for the man who effectively ordered her death.
: That's right.
: What's the mission?
: The enemies are slowing the transport of the new weapon. Destroy them. I'm counting on you.



: So this is where Alisa and MIDAS are...
: A container...!? Kazuki, take this container!
: Okay!
: Enemies! Hurry!
: !?



: Please surrender. I don't want to have a fight.
I don't get Jose, more specifically, I don't understand how his depression at killing his wife on the orders of the OCU translates to him being willing to help them out later.
: What!?
: Stop. I don't want to fight another meaningless battle.
: Then why don't you get out of the way!?
: ...<sigh>... If you wish to fight, I will give no mercy.



Kazuki, Emma, Ryogo and Yun are in for this battle. I couldn't remember if you could kill Jose in this battle and still recruit him, so I saved him for last. It turns out that you do have to kill him here, not that it made any huge difference in how this mission went.



This map has the same ceiling-mounted rifles last seen in a Taal Base map from the other branch. They're still more irritating than actually dangerous, though.



: What is that!?
: An OCU prototype. Be careful.
: That commander... That's not necessary...
After a couple of turns, another unit will enter onto the field. Let's see what it's got...



Well, that could be problem. Now, the pilot doesn't have many levels in beam weaponry, but it still has range, power, and accuracy on its side. On the other hand, it still costs 15 AP to fire, so it can't fire it every turn...



Elsewhere, Ryogo starts whittling down the Kasel.



And Yun blasts the weapon arm off of the same wanzer. We're making good progress.



And Ryogo finishes it off with a devastating three-hit combo.



And the deadly, deadly laser beam....misses. I don't intend to give it another chance.

: What kind of a weapon is that!?
: A beam weapon! It's just like Star Wars, man!
Seeing as the nameless enemies can't hit anyone with their lasers, yeah, it's pretty damn close.
: We can't handle that kind of firepower!



Kazuki cripples the enemy with a pair of Double Shots...



And then Yun drops the curtain. In two turns of operation, the beam weapon fired once and missed. Truly disappointing.



Kazuki decides to stake a claim to the MVP of this mission the only way he knows how.



Assuming he survives the mission, it's his to lose.



And Yun once more proves to be a pale imitation of Kazuki.



Emma, who had had a quiet mission up until this point, kills Jose and ends the battle.
: This is it...
If only, Jose, if only...



Better. Kazuki wins MVP.



: Are you okay?
: ...
: You know where they took MIDAS, right? Please, tell us!
: ...Kill me.
Fuck knows I tried! I mean, I blew his wanzer, there was nothing else I could do.



: We just want MIDAS back.
: Please...just kill me... I serve no purpose by living...
That is going to become painfully obvious in a few missions.
: I won't kill an unarmed man.
: Then leave me be... Forget about me...
: ...
: Let him go, Kazuki. He's gone insane...



: The DHZ fleet has begun its invasion of Batangas. Hurry.
How exactly this doesn't immediately lead to war is never really explained. I mean, the OCU knows that the DHZ fleet is about to invade one of its member-states, and yet, no one seems terribly concerned.
: MIDAS was moved out. They're probably transporting it elsewhere.
: What about the scientist?
: They're probably further in here.
: We'll leave MIDAS to Purple Haze. We have to rescue the scientists first.
: Dennis, Ryogo, wait here.
: Okay, we'll look after MIDAS. Cindy, Gastor, let's go!
: All right, all right.
: My, aren't we bossy today...

Next Time: Voting! And then: Lemmings!