Part 95: Mission #30: Kazuki Meets His Other Half...

Speaking of things going horribly wrong...

Mission #30: Kazuki Meets His Other Half...



: We didn't do it for you.
: We're leaving now. See you again soon.
: Yes.
: The commander is waiting for us hurry up.



Back to Guangzhou, which, according to Wikipedia, is a city in China. I'm sure it has other features too, but it's hard to get worked up over them.



: Glad to have you back. I heard you all did quite an amazing job.
Well, everyone but Marcus, maybe.
: So you'll help us?
: Yes, as promised.
: Now we just need to find out where Lukav went...
: Wait. I'm not finished.
: There's more?
: I can ask our forces in the DHZ to collect the information you need. But we're not a charity organization.
That's what we get for siding with the capitalists, I suppose.
: So it has a string attached, huh?
: That's right. Help us until the information is collected.
: You want us to become your errand boys?
: We can always use more skilled soldiers.
: ...All right.
: Dennis!!
: I'll let you know when we get some information. You should go rest.
: Don't worry. The commander knows a lot of people in Guangzhou.



: We'll have to trust Huang.
: Is he really okay? This stinks.
: What other options are there?
: We can go out to the city.
: We can't help Alisa with the way things are going!
: Be patient, Kazuki.
: Aren't you worried!?
: Of course... But...
: But?
: She's okay.
: How do you know this!?
: Just a feeling I have.
: Are you, like, psychically connected to her?
: A very unscientific thing for you to say.
: Really?
: Yeah! It's not like you at all!
: I don't feel anything.
Yeah, well, you're talking about Alisa, here. I mean, she's basically an empty vessel.
: You're her brother. Trust her.
Anyway, at this point you're free to go to the town shop, so I head there and melt down the old wanzers, and bring forth the new designs from their ashes...which I somehow got from melting them down? This metaphor did not work out well at all.



: Wanna drink?
: Hey, we're still underage.
So, treason, arson and murder are all cool, but underage drinking? That's where Kazuki draws the line?
: That's just when you're in Japan.
: Marcus's drunk already.
: What's all the noise?
: Hey baby, come drink with us!
: Yeah, the offer comes with a one night stay at our place!
: Please stop!!
: Calm down, baby.
: Stop, or I'll scream!
: Hey a beautiful woman is being harassed. Time for the hero to jump in!
Meh, I'd rather talk with the locals first.
: The economy is so poor that we even have to serve loud drunks like them. They drink quietly when the Hua Lian Rebels are here. The Hua Lian rebels are the last hope of citizens like us. I'm sorry about the noise. I'm sure they'll go home soon.
: They're so loud! I guess they're full of stress. No peace of mind at work or at home, I guess. They're just letting off some steam. Let them be.
: The Military is trying to crush capitalism. Chairman Jie is establishing a socialist state. Who will profit from a socialist policy? Even a baby can answer that question! Only the Hua Lian Rebels can save this country now! Young people of the nation! Gather under the Hua Lian Rebel flag!
Awesome, we've teamed up with the Chinese equivalent of the Tea Party movement.
: I hate loud drunks. I heard that Hua Lian Rebels attacked the oil field researchers. I can't believe they attack an innocent party. You can see the details on the government web site. Even the Hua Lian Rebels can't be trusted. It's like the world is ending.
Okay, I guess we should stop that whole sexual harassment thing before it gets completely out of hand.



: Who the hell are you?
: You're interrupting us.
: She doesn't like it.
: You wanna take this outside!? Huh!?
: Sounds good to me!
: Jeez! He's huge!
: So? What's it gonna be?
: I-I'm not feeling well today. I'll take you on in another month. L-Let's go!
: Y-Your voice sounds weird.
: Gwa ha ha ha! Any time, buddy.
There is no problem on this earth that threats of violence cannot solve.
: What a loser.
Well, let's see what the peanut gallery thinks of our gallantry.
: Oh, our things are broken. We always end up the victim. We're in red again because of the fights. Why can't they drink quietly? Keep your hands to yourself.
: Where's the good in helping a girl like that? You're just making enemies. Well, it's none of my business. Soon you'll be surrounded by enemies, if you keep this up.
Making enemies is basically all Kazuki is good at.
: Do you seek pleasure in terrorizing others? People like you have no right to join the Hua Lian Rebels. You disappoint me.
Now we'll never get to meet the Chinese equivalent of Michelle Bachmann!
: Ha ha ha! That was great! Did you see his face? It was classic. I'll treat you. Oh, you thought I was serious? I'm not rich.
I suppose we might as well deal with the girl...



: Thank you.
: That was nothing. Why don't we talk about our future plans?
: You're just like them drunks.
Not true. I'm willing to bet that those drunks don't know anything about the chemical precursors of GHB, unlike our ol' pal Ryogo.
: Um... Are you the ones who recently joined the Hua Lian Rebels?
: Yes.
: I saw you guys once at headquarters. My name is Ling Chao Hoa.
: Are you also a Hua Lian Rebel?
: I don't look like one?
: Fighting is not for you. I want you to stay home and wait for my return.
Oh, Ryogo...
: Aren't you also fighting?
: She's a different story altogether.
: I just want to do things on my own way.
: Yeah, Emma's a stubborn one all right.
: ...
: Um, are you Kazuki?
: Yes. How do you know?
: I just heard that you care very much about your sister.
: ...
: It was just a rumor.
: I think that's normal.
: No. Overprotective is more like it.
: Shut up!
: I have a younger brother. I understand how Kazuki feels.
: Is he also with the Hua Lian Rebels?
: Yes. I'm going to head back. See you at headquarters.
: You should avoid fights. You'll destroy my property.
: You should know you're making more enemies. Watch your back on dark street corners.
: Jie is using the military to crush capitalism. I feel sorry for the people in the military.
: Isn't there any good news? I'll treat you if you tell me a good story.



: Do you know about Ling?
: Of course not.
: Go figure.
: Do you wanna be thrown out?
: I didn't expect people like Ling to be in Hua Lian.
: Anyone who wishes to fight for the cause can join our ranks.
: Is Ling also fighting on the front line?
: She's a good soldier. She's the leader of our transport squad of this mission.
: Who are you?
: My name is Luo.
: Baby! You're here to see me.
: She's my assistant, and the second-in-command.
: Nice to meet you all.
: She seems more competent than somebody else I know.
Yeah, but, then again, this game has a pretty low bar for competence in its characters.
: Hey, what are you saying?
: How come you joined the Hua Lian Rebels?
: My father is an officer with the DHZ rebel control division.
: They why join Hua Lian?
: My father is the reason.
: What do you mean?
Kazuki likes where this is headed...
: Our family lived under miserable conditions while he was away. I wanted to get back at him.
: What happened to your mother?
: She died. My father never came back to see her. He only thought of the military. He cut us off.
: I see...
: My brother and I survived by helping each other.
: ...
: Do you hate your father?
Because if she does, then Kazuki is going to stop the briefing right here and now and propose marriage.
: I don't know. He's responsible for our ordeal, but... I just want my brother to be happy. I don't want to see him suffer anymore.
: Ling...
Play it cool, Kazuki...
: Commander, It's from the transport squad.
: What does it say?
: They're under attack by the Changli Army in Yizhang.
: !! Is that true?
: Maintain communication with them!!
: We just lost them.
: The transport mission failed...
: ...
: Ling, are you okay?
: The commander of the squad under attack is Ling's brother.
: What!?
: Better send someone out there fast, before it's too late.
: We'll go!
: Are you serious!?
: I'm going with you.
: Thanks. That would be great. Luo?
: Yes, sir. Please take a look at this.



: The mission objective was to get supplies to Chongyang by rail. We got a message they were under attack at Yizhang. We took all possible precautions to insure success, but...
: Therefore, hurry to Yinzhang.



: His name is Wuo Ben.
You might remember him from the other branch when we, you know, killed him.
: He'll be okay.
: Thank you.
: Dennis, save my squad.
: You can count on us.



It's finally fight time.



: What's this...?
: There was a battle here. There might be survivors.
: Well, let's find them.



: Ling?
: You can't give up. He might still be alive...
: This was his...
: !?
: This is Wuo Ben's machine!
: Ling...
: How could this have happened? He was so full of life...
Well, it turns out that in the battle between zest for life and bullets...bullets have a 98% winning percentage.
: ...
: Hey, dude, there's a survivor over there.
: Wait! That's not Hua Lian!



: We'll take care of them, too!
: They were waiting for us.
: Ling, take cover. We'll take care of this.
: No, I will fight, too!
: I know how you feel, but you're in no condition to fight. You have to live! You have to live, for your brother's sake!
: ...All right. Please be careful...



Fight time. Kazuki is in the Shotzuki, Dennis is in the Harmsmash, Jose is in the comically mis-named Der Speigel, and Marcus is in the Stand Back. The enemy, as it presently stands, are tanks, foot snipers, and, distressingly, mobile grenade launchers.



Solid, if not spectacular.



Better, although, in the interim, Kazuki took a worrying amount of damage from a grenade launcher.



If we can just kill one more grenade launcher, we'll be in the clear.



: ! Enemy reinforcements!?
: Be careful! They're not the normal soldiers!
: Changli's men are useless. We'll finish the job.
: Yes, sir!
It's Lan! She was a playable character in the other branch, and her only memorable feature was that she was basically a psychopath who murdered people and burned down villages out of spite before joining us. It feels a shit-ton more natural to be killing her instead. Anyway, she's in a Shangdi 1 with a rifle, which is almost a threat, and she's accompanied by a Wude 3 with a missile launcher, a build so stupid that it would fight right in with the rest of the designs I get.



I didn't kill the last grenade launcher before it could destroy Kazuki's shotgun arm. He's now basically useless, meaning it's up to Dennis, Jose and Marcus, the three pilots I have the least faith in. Thrilling.



And Dennis is pretty beat up as well. Now we've taken of basically all of the tanks and snipers, but two new wanzers in perfect condition is probably asking too much, especially since they have the range advantage. It would take an improbable series of miracles to pull this out.



And Lan uses Brace II, effectively negating Dennis' Double Shot. Things are looking grim.



But what's this? An Arm Smash? But will it hit the weapon arm?



It's Good! Dennis cripples Lan in an instant! But it's not over yet!



Dennis kills a foot sniper in another miracle shot!



Oh, no, he couldn't possibly-



He does it! Dennis has destroyed the weapons of both of the reinforcement wanzers, saving the mission!



Whoops. Now imagine how much worse this would be if the enemy still had real weapons.



Jose puts the last enemy of its misery.



I dicked around for a few missions trying to steal the Wude. Oh, well, such is life. Dennis gets MVP by universal acclamation.



: Who are they?
: They were skilled. They weren't some run-of-the-mill unit.
: Special forces...
: Ling, Ling! Are you okay?
: I'm... fine. I must be strong at a time like this...
: Let's go back for now.

Next Time: Betrayal! Beatings! Monkey Brains!

Build Information

Psion: I already said I'd use your idea, that's as much as I can do for you.

Dr. Video Games 0071: Here's a general summary of how the next generation did:

Shotzuki: Solid.
Knock You Down: Never did get Topple Shot to activate, otherwise did fine.
BossEmmanent: Fine.
HarmSmash: Never quite did as well as its first mission, but still, that was a hell of a mission.
Wintermute: Probably the most terrifyingly effective wanzer of the branch, if not the thread.
Der Speigel: Okay, although it's struggles were primarily caused by Jose's lagging machine gun level.
Stand Back: Did much better than the Lancer, at least.