Part 85: Mission #21: The Harm on the Farm

Mission #21: The Harm on the Farm



'Rural Village' is Chinese for 'filler mission.' On the one hand, you definitely get your money's worth with Front Mission 3. There are about 150 unique missions in this game, compared to about 50 for games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Vanguard Bandits, two roughly contemporaneous strategy-RPGs. Then again, it can create a certain sense of monotony, and there's not a lot I can do about that other than letting you guys burden me with your wanzer designs.



: Dammit, these guys must be the primary attack force! Request reinforcements from the main force!
This conversation will vary slightly depending on how you got to this point. This is the response you get if you've done so well that the DHZ army still doesn't know what's going on.
: My, my, the bad guys seem awfully hesitant.



: There aren't many enemies. Take them out!



Last dance for this group of wanzers, which means next mission will feature the latest build cycle, which, in turn, means that the next build cycle is right around the corner. It'll probably be tomorrow or Sunday. The Calmzuki, SpraynPray, Doing it with SCIENCE!, and Bazillions take their final bows.



The map begins with only two Yongsais and a Tiandong, which means that enemy reinforcements are a certainty.



The first Yongsai goes down in two turns, after two blasts from Kazuki, one from Yun, and a lucky body hit from Emma.



The second Yongsai....



Falls to exactly the same attack pattern.



: My promotion depends on this mission! I will stop you! All units: begin your attack!
Hey, it's our old friend, Commander Han! He brings a couple of Yongsais, a Tiandong and a chopper with him. Can't say I'm particularly concerned.
: ! Enemy reinforcements!?
: It's tough bein' popular...
: Don't worry! Keep it up! We'll make it!



Ryogo kills the helicopter. Good for him.



One of the Tiandong manages to make it to Emma, and takes away most of her HP in the process. Some damage is unavoidable, I suppose. Unlike most strategy-RPGs, there's not a ton you can do to shield you weaker units from attack. Most enemies have ranged weapons, and your own weapons have varying ranges, making any sort of defensive formation probably more trouble than its worth, and, keep in mind, you only have four units to position anyway. Still, I feel like there's something I should have done to prevent this...



Han gets killed.
: I haven't given up on my promotion! I'll be back!



Okay, this is going to require a bit of delicacy. I need to make one more attack on this wanzer without killing it. Ryogo, Kazuki and Yun all would blow the Tiandong apart, meaning I only have one option.



Nothing says 'handle with care' like an axe to the head! Anyway, the good news is that the attack doesn't kill this Tiandong, and that's where that set of parts came from.



A little too cool for school, I guess. Kazuki gets MVP.



: A USN ambassador is there. We'll meet him, then decide what to do.
: Hang on, Alisa. I'm coming to save you.

Next Time: Return of the Stoolie!