Part 97: Mission #32: Jose and Counter-Jose

Mission 32: Jose and Counter-Jose

Email! Marcus gets the first one from his estranged wife...


It turns out that in addition to being a shitty commander, Marcus is a shitty father as well.
: Dang...
: What's wrong?
: Um... It's nothing.


And it's just going to get worse from here...



Guangzhou? Guangzhou!



: ...
: The information was wrong.
: That spender's information wasn't reliable?
: What happened to the spender girl?
: Who knows...
That's right, Yun ran away...maybe forever.
: Did something happen?
: It's nothing.
: Okay.
: I'm going to my room.
: Don't think too much.
There are many people to whom that would be good advice, Kazuki is decidedly not one of them.



Yun? Seriously? Do you not understand how running away works? It traditionally doesn't involve continuing to hang out at the party's base.
: What are you doing here!?
: None of your business!
: Why did you do such a thing?
: You're still holding a grudge!?
Yeah, I mean, it's been like two hours since Yun almost got the party killed. Let it go, Kazuki.
: I'm serious!
: I wanted the money!
: Why!? Why is money so important to you!?
: You can buy anything with money!
: You can't buy people's lives!
: Yes, you can!
: Yun!!
: You can!
: How can you say that!?
: You'll never understand!!
: Wait, Yun!
Yun, you'd better at least put some fucking effort in running away this time, or I swear, I'll bench you.
: Kazuki...
: Ryogo. What's up?
: I didn't mean to eavesdrop.
: Did I say something wrong?
: Probably not.
: Probably?
: People can't judge what's right or wrong. All we can do is do what we believe.
Ryogo is evidently the ubermensch that has transcended traditional morality.
: Yun believes in what she did?
: I don't know. You figure it out.
: ...I don't know, either.



: Ryogo...
Running five blocks to the nearest restaurant? That's a pretty piss-poor job of running away! Yun, I'm giving you a one-mission suspension for this whole stupid sequence!
: Don't look so depressed.
: I'm not...
: Smile!
: I...
: Huh?
: I lived with my aunt after my parents died. She was good to me, but her kids didn't like me. I ran away and started living with the master. He taught me how to be a spender.
Knowing Yun, the master probably lived in the next apartment over.
: What happened to the master?
: He died... He always said, "money is the only thing you can trust in this world." He worked once for free, for a friend. It killed him. Since then, I only thought about making money...
: What's wrong with that?
: What?
: Why change? You're fine!
: Ryogo...
: (Oh, I'm so sensitive!)
You know, Ryogo, I'm not sure your exciting new view of morality makes you immune from a statutory rape prosecution.
: Ryogo... Do you have food poisoning?
: Hey! I was being nice!
: It's not like you!
: Fine! I was worried for nothing.
: (Thanks, Ryogo.)



: I was too harsh.
Wait a minute...didn't Yun almost get us killed in an incredibly poorly-thought out effort to make money? And we're giving her a pass? Really?
: Kazuki apologized.
: Yun, don't ever do that again.
: I know. I'm sorry, everyone.



: That's right.
: What? Are you starting something?
: I gotta get back to my place.
: To Fuzhou?
: Yeah. I've been gone far long.
: Yeah, go home!
: I can't babysit you guys anymore, but don't get all sad.
: Hey, go home and babysit your men.
Big talk from a deadbeat dad.
: Chang, thank you for everything.
: Not at all, Luo.
: I might summon you again soon.
: Anytime, Commander.
: Have you resolved your personal differences?
Apparently.
: I'll take care of you all from now on.
: I approve of you guys joining us. Check out the Hua Lian Rebels' web site and punch in SMAP!
I'll always remember you as the guy who...who was Chang again? Anyway, at this point, you can go to downtown Guangzhou and hear the locals tell you about...not much of anything really. Basically that it's a bummer that the DHZ government blew that train to bits a couple of missions ago. Let's just move on.



: Who is it?
: You got the stuff I ordered?
This is Zhuwen, he's yet another rebel character we killed in the other branch.
: Yup. It's here.
: What is this? This isn't what I ordered.
: Some guy's complaining to the shopkeeper.
: Some people are just a pain in the ass.
: Ryogo, you're being too loud.
: Hey, you!
: M-Me?
: Can you help me?
: Help you?
: I need you to carry this equipment.
: Why do I have to do that?
: Who's the pain in the ass now?
: Yes, sir, at your service.
Oh, Ryogo, so easily cowed...
: I told you.



: Commander, I'm here.
: Commander?
: Zhuwen. You're late.
: It took longer than I thought.
: You were also a Hua Lian Rebel?
Uh..., shouldn't Ryogo have asked that question before he escorted this guy into the rebel headquarters.
: Didn't I tell you?
: No!
: This is Zhuwen. He's the squad leader of underground operations.
: Nice to meet you all.
: What's he doin' here?
: Work, of course.
: I need Zhuwen to go to Chengdu.
: Chengdu is west of here.
: Yeah, I need to take care of the supply shipment.
I guess 'underground operations' is a fancy way of saying truck driver.
: Oh yeah?
: We need you to do something.
: What?
: We have a branch in Guilin. There's been some activities in the area.
: Will you escort Zhuwen to Guilin?
: That's fine.
: Thanks!
: We're babysitting this guy now?



Road trip!



: Something smells bad.
: Old Yue! Are you here?
: Welcome! I'm the branch leader, Yue.
This is Yue. In the other branch, we didn't kill him, but he was killed as the direct result of the party's actions.
: This grandpa's the branch leader?
: He's all wrinkled up...
: Ha ha ha... You feeling your age, grandpa?
: You don't call me grandpa!
: This old man's still got some spunk in him, be careful what you say.
: Never mind what he just said. Feel free to say what you think.
: We're here to learn more about the hunting down of rebels in Guilin.
: The military is attacking all villages suspected of hiding the rebels.
: That's terrible...
: We've been fighting back, but there've been some changes recently.
: What do you mean?
: They threw in a very strong battle squad.
: Are you talking about the Rapid Reaction Force?
: No. It isn't them.
: Do you know any details about the enemy forces?
: We only know that they are a small unit. I don't think the pilots are DHZ native.
: Meaning?
: They're foreigners. But I don't think they're mercenaries.
That does not sound promising.
: That doesn't tell us anything.
: Just hang around town until we find more information.
: He's laid back. I like him.
: Leave the investigation to us and get some rest.
: Thanks for the escort. There isn't much to do here, but you can get rested.
Let's the see the sights!



A cave with generic NPCs...not exactly thrilling.
: The government's showing 'em who's the boss.
: I feel peaceful when I come here. I hope the war ends soon.
Boring. Let's go back to the base.



: We just got a dispatch from Longsheng! A nearby village is under attack.
: Is it them?
: I think so.
: Longsheng is about 40 klicks from Guilin.
Klicks? Damn it. I guess the imperial system isn't making a comeback in the future of Front Mission 3.
: Maybe we'll find some information there.
: Yue, we're going to Longsheng.
: That would be great! We're undermanned. Our wanzers are busy protecting Guilin.
: I understand. We'll be fine.
: Use the trailer truck downstairs.
: Thanks.
: No problem.



Ah, it's almost time to actually do something!



Of course we are. The party can't do anything right, can they?
: No, they're still fighting.
: Wait, Dennis. Look at the two wanzers.



But I do. Hopefully I can snag a few of these wanzers...
: Is the other from the Rapid Reaction Force!?
: Are they fighting with each other?
: No, look closer!



: You can't be allowed to live.
: Tch... At this rate the village is going to be destroyed... This village has nothing to do with us! If you want me, pick another location!
Meet Li. If we didn't have Jose, he'd slot in as our resident Senor Goodtimes, but we do, so he's rather superfluous.
: I can't. The villagers may already know our secret. No one must be allowed to live.
: You're all scum!
: Bark while you still can!
: Agh!



: He's in danger!
: Wait, Jose! It's too dangerous by yourself.
: Cover Jose!! We're siding with the RRF!
: Kazuki!?
: He sacrificed himself to save the village! I'll help him!
: That's the only reason you're going to save him!?
: That's enough reason for me!



Kazuki, Dennis, Jose and Kazuki get the start, the very same lineup as a couple of missions back. I'm hoping for a better result. Against them, a number of wanzer painted in Imaginary Number Blue. With them, Li, who doesn't need to survive to win the mission, although it's not particularly difficult keeping him alive. I think this is the third mission in a row for Kazuki, but Yun and Ryogo have even more broken wanzers, so I'm not too worried about it.



Dennis picks up right where he left off...



And effectively neutralizes a Lenghe right off the bat.



Marcus is doing more damage, albeit to the legs of an enemy. Oh, well, at least he seems a bit more durable than before.



Jose, you just keep thinking of new ways to fuck up, don't you?



Marcus rips the missile launcher arm right off an enemy. Then again, I might as well call this 'Great Moments in Shit AI History.' The enemy wanzer has a shield, and, by all rights, should have blocked Marcus's attack, but, since the AI could attack with its bare fist, it was hard-wired to do so, with calamitous results.



Meanwhile, Li isn't doing so well.



The rest of the party is, though, having broken most of the enemy wanzers.



And speaking of breaking things...



Vidit, venit, vicit. And remember, in classical Latin, the 'v' is pronounced like a 'w.'
: Ach! How could this be? Retreat...for now.
And, for whatever reason, your pilots will taunt the enemy after they kill one of them.
: I don't think so!



Jose kills a guy...then again, seeing as the enemy only had about 4 HP left, it's not much of an accomplishment.
: Forgive me.
Jose, neither the man you killed nor I have any intention of doing that.



This isn't me posting the same image twice, Marcus clipped the missile launcher arm of the other enemy missile wanzer in exactly the same way.



That, on the other hand, is a slightly more impressive kill for Jose.



Marcus winds up...



And kills another enemy. Granted, this wanzer was out of weapons, but, then again, there aren't any viable enemies left on the map.
: There ya go!



And that'll be that.
: It's just business.


And, in the sake of completeness, here are the quotes for teammates who weren't here today.

: I'll keep my promise...
: This is the end.
: DE-nied!
: Am I awesome or what?
: So, wait, I'm not in this branch at all?



Perfection. Marcus gets MVP.



: Those guys were good, man. You were gonna take 'em on by yourself? You got guts.
: Who are you!? Why did you save me?
: We're with the Hua Lian. We came here seeking information about the enemy.
: ...Hua Lian, eh? Well, thanks. Especially, to you.
: Don't mention it. I just didn't want to see another tragedy.
: I am Xiang Mei Li.
You can tell he's cool, because his name's got an 'X' in it.
: I wanted to ask you about those enemies.
: ...Follow me.

Next Time: Plot Threads and Big, Big Wanzers. But, before that, tomorrow's wanzer build!