Part 18: It Hits the Fan

Well, keeping in step with the plot-action-plot-action cycle I've been keeping lately, today's update is just PACKED with action. Also, it contains one of the biggest plot moments in the game. Let's get this started!

Chapter 17: It Hits the Fan

Last time, Cheeto and friends were given a mission to infiltrate the Dark Alliance base and defeat the final General. With the end of the war in sight, they leave Falldust to attack.


: The Dark Alliance Base lies to the east, hidden in the snow-capped mountains.
: Okay! Let's do it!


We travel through the frozen tundra, meeting many new enemies along the way.


None of them are a match for the awesome power that is the Gundam.


: All right! Let's move out!


It's not long before we reach the giant mountain base.


I hope Mr. I'm-Gonna-Propose and Mr. Say-Hi-To-My-Family are okay...


: and ready to go any time.
: Good. We'll distract the enemy's main force. Commence operations!
: Yes, sir! Commencing infiltration mission!
: We're counting on you! Cheeto. It isn't too late to turn back.
: No. I've made up my mind. I'm going with you!


: Please, don't be. The Dark Alliance is as much our enemy as yours!
: You humble me, Cheeto...
: I'll be fine! We're going to make it through this!
: All right. Let the operation begin! Major Rezner! You take extra care of Cheeto!
: Of course, sir! I'll defend him with my life.
: I'll see you all when it's over. Godspeed.


If by "inside" you mean "into a ravine quite a ways from our actual destination" then yes, we managed the hell out of it.
: Aeon, any enemy readings?
: I'm sorry, but my radar's acting up! Maybe it's because of the snow.
: It's better this way. If our radar isn't working, neither is the enemy's.
Okay, while Quattro Hal has a good point, it really raises one big question: Why did the Dark Alliance build their main base, their HQ, in a place where they can't use radar? That's just ASKING for an invasion.


: Exactly! But we can't let our guard down. We have to penetrate as deeply as possible before we're spotted.



It may just be me, but it feels like the encounter rate was hiked way up for this area.


Not that I'm complaining.


And here we have our first sub-boss of the area. The first of many.


SUB-BOSS BATTLE: MIRROR CANNON X2 AND BARRIER GELGOOG
Mirror suits are immune to beams and barrier suits are immune to melee. Obviously the best course of action is to shoot the crap out of the Gelgoog...


And then beat the crap out of the Cannons.


Moving on, we find a crashed Gaw. Maybe from the battle down below?


And here we have another sub-boss blocking our path upwards.


SUB-BOSS BATTLE 2: GYAN X2 AND GYAN LANCER
This battle isn't unlike fighting a pack of regular Gyans. You just gotta keep hitting them with ranged attacks and keep your health up for their melee.


Yawn.


: Just a few scratches, here and there...
: There are more of them than I anticipated!
Almost as if someone had warned them! Could it... naw...
: Could they have detected us?
: Cheeto, are we going to make it through this?
: Don't worry, Aeon. I won't let anything happen to you!
: Thank you...!


: Cheeto! Let's get a move on!


And so we reach this cavern


Oh you've got to be KIDDING me.


SUB-BOSS BATTLE 3: DEFENDER X4 AND FULL ARMOR DOM
For the record, I HATE suits with crazy-high armor.


Sure, there are attacks that ignore a suit's armor level, but they generally require quite a bit of EN. And every now and then they use their Double Shield boost attack that negates any and all damage. CHRIST!


PLUS, these bastards in particular have weapons with a short circuit attribute.


Escaping that cavern hell, we come to another snowy mountain path.


This was a yellow battle, but for some reason the sub-boss music plays, so...
SUB-BOSS BATTLE 4: GELGOOG X2 AND GELGOOG CANNON
After the nightmarelike battle of attrition that was the Defender squad, this is fairly uneventful fight.


Sure, the Gelgoog Cannon can hit pretty hard...


But Gavenger totally has it covered. He really is one of the best PCs in RPG history.


Uh oh... a save point...


and two very good items _{Repair Unit restores 500HP to the whole party, Regeneration Kit DX revives a fallen suit with 500HP}


OH COME ON!


SUB-BOSS BATTLE 5: GYAN LANCER X2 AND KAMPFER
This battle... what can I say about this battle... How about for starters that it's retardedly hard?


And even despite my best efforts to stay alive they still kick my ass.


Damnit...


So I tried again. Completely in vain, I might add.


So I gave it another try. I figure, I'll put priority on wiping out the Kampfer as quickly as possible. After all, I figured it was the biggest threat. Oh how wrong I was.


GODDAMNIT I HATE YOU GUYS SO DAMN MUCH


This time, I went straight for the Gyans


And I just barely made it.


I then hang around this save point for a little while and grind the last few thousand EXP I need to get everyone to level 20.


That out of the way, I do believe it's time for us to move on.


: I suspect we'll find our Dark Alliance General there. Be careful, everyone. Who knows what they have in store for us.
: Gotcha!


: Huh? What are you talking about?
: I'm just a little worried, is all. You tend to go overboard sometimes, y'know?
Hell yeah he does, and it's bailed our asses our more times than I can count.
: Hmm.
: I don't want to lose anyone. I don't have an unlimited supply of friends! Just promise you'll play it safe!
: Okay. I promise.
: Thanks. Let's make it through this together. All of us!


: What did you see, Tremmie!? What in the world...


OH GOD, LOOK OUT EVERYONE! IT'S A MOUNTAIN! WHATEVER SHALL WE DO!?


Oh shit I think he saw us!


We're totally fucked guys.


: You'll pay for this. As the last General of the Dark Alliance, I'll make you pay!


: You've gotta be kidding! Have you any idea how many people your "friends" have killed!?
: Sacrifices are inevitable if you want to save the world!
: Who do you think you are!?
: Enough talk! Whoever wins this fight is right!


BOSS BATTLE: BIG ZAM
: It's protected by a Beam-proof field!
It's called an I-Field
: You mean Beam shots won't damage it?
: Exactly! You can only damage it with projectiles of melee attacks!
: All right! We'll find a way!
Now, here's the thing about the Big Zam. In all the Gundam action games I've played, it's a total pushover and a real bitch to pilot. Despite the fact that it has about ten million guns and is immune to beam shots, it's actually a bit defenseless. All you really have to do is hang out around its feet or directly over its head and there's nothing it can do. Unfortunately, this isn't an action game. It's a turn based RPG.


So we gotta do a lot of this.


And this.


Because this sucker can hit, and he can hit HARD.


Luckily, just about all of his strong attacks can be blocked with Beam Field.


The exception being Earthquake, but it doesn't hit that hard, so we're okay.


: I'm switching to maximum firepower! HAAAAAAAAAAAA!
Same old drill, he charges to 15 EN


Oh, here's an embarrassing moment for me. I anticipated he would use Earthquake, so I figured I would be fine without Beam Field.


He didn't use Earthquake. If I hadn't defended, that would have been it right there.


Finally, after a long and tough fight, the last of the Dark Alliance Generals topples over like a stack of cans. First try, too!


: This is for destroying the orphanage!
: What? I don't know anything about an orphanage...!
: Don't lie to us! You're Vladi Zarth! You know exactly what I mean!
: Lord Zarth...? Me!? You've got it all wrong! I'm not Lord Zarth! My name's Bazuli!
Uh oh.
: Bazuli? What are you talking about!?
: You've got it all wrong!
: But that's impossible! You have to be Vladi!


: You...! What are you doing with them!?
: I have no more need for the Dark Alliance!
Oh... Oh no...
: Hal...? What are you talking about?
: You can't be serious! What do you mean you have no more "need" for it!?
: Oh no... You mean Hal... Is actually Vladi Zarth?


: Sorry, Cheeto.
: You can't be!
: Oh, but I can!
: No! I don't believe it!


Well, this could have gone a lot better...


Heh... look at that. We totally kicked Big Zam's ass.



THAT'S what he looks like? Jesus, color me disillusioned.


: Vladi... Is it really you?
: What? He's your BROTHER? What the heck is going on here!?
: I'm sorry. But if he's Vladi Zarth... He's my long-lost brother! Why did you leave us, Vladi? I... I thought I lost you...
Well, things just seem to keep getting worse and worse, don't they?


: I'm going to restore the glorious legacy of the Zarth family. I'm going to make the world our grandfather envisioned a reality!
: Stop it! That doesn't sound anything like the Vladi I know and love!
: This is the path I have chosen. I'm afraid I can't turn back now.
: Hal! No... Vladi! Vladi Zarth! You've been lying to us all along!
: That is true. And you have been a great help. You saved me the trouble of crushing the Dark Alliance myself.


: Okay, Vladi Zarth! You won't get away with this! I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Miss Natalie!
: I regret that I can't let you do that.
: Don't be so sure! I'm on to you now!
: Determined as ever, I see. But your resolve won't be enough to change your luck this time.


Please. Your Gelgoog may be red, but that doesn't mean crap against the Gundam!


Uh oh.





: They are infinitely more powerful than the Dark Alliance. You won't even be able to touch them, let alone destroy them.
: I should've known he'd have backup...!
: Don't give up, Cheeto! This isn't over yet!


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
: Now get out of here... And live!
: I can't let you do that!
: General Sosei has always had suspicions about Vizardt. That's why my true mission all along was to protect you at any cost!
: Any cost...? But you can't sacrifice yourself!
: My life means nothing! You're the one I can't afford to lose!
: Come on, Cheeto! If we stay any longer we'll all die!
: No! I can't leave her behind!
: Only one of us needs to stay! Gavenger! Get them out of here!
: Don't worry! I'll make sure Cheeto gets out in one piece!


: And whatever you do, don't look back!
MATILDA REZNER, NO!


: If you turn back now, her sacrifice will be for nothing.
: But... she's our friend...
: We have no choice. We have to go. There's no way out of here unless someone stays behind.


You know, her death aside, Rezner is pretty awesome. I mean, taking on a Commander-Type Gelgoog, a Shenlong Gundam, a Deathscythe, a Master Gundam, and a Psycho Gundam all by herself in a Gyan? And somehow managing to hold her own long enough for us to get a safe distance away? She's like, the most skilled pilot in the history of forever!


Aw crap...


Okay, so the Psycho Gundam got away from her. Still impressive as hell though.


There's a small clip where it shows us running into the cave. It's so fast I missed it.
: Cheeto! Tremmie! Wait! Gavenger isn't with us!
: What!? Where is he!?
: Oh no... He stayed behind to buy us time!
Him against the Psycho Gundam? Oh whew. Don't worry guys, he'll be back in a minute... right...?


: Right! Come on! Let's go back and help him!
: You're right! We have to help him!


: Open the door!
: Gavenger! Please, come with us!
: Open this door! Now!
: Leave me! I won't let the enemy through! Now get out of here!
: There isn't time for being a hero! You promised me you'd play it safe!


: I'll delay them as much as I can! Go now, while you can!
: No! I don't want to lose you!
: I'm sorry for breaking my promise. Now, go! There's no time to argue!
: No. We won't leave you, Gavenger.
: You must live, all of you! You are the only ones left who can stop Vladi Zarth!
: But we need you too, Gavenger! I won't let you do this!
: Cheeto! Go to North America! Find the Unicorn Headquarters! My friends there will help you! Now go! You're running out of time! Look for the Underground Tunnel to the east!


: I'm so sorry... Gavenger!
: Why are you apologizing? This isn't your fault.
: My friends are all dying! All because of my brother!
Like I said, it isn't your fault.
: But why!? Why did things turn out this way? After all this time, I finally find my brother... Now look what's happened!
: Don't be sad, Tremmie. I'm doing this for a good reason. I'm sacrificing myself so we'll have a tomorrow. So we still have hope! Be strong, Tremmie. I'm counting on you to watch over Cheeto and Aeon!


: There's no more time. I'm turning off my comm system. It has been an honor to walk with you.




So... he'll be back in a minute... right...?


End of Act I


BONUS CONTENT!
Big Zam - I love the creaking sound it makes when turning around.


MSopedia
Huge entry today...


YMS-14A Gelgoog Commander Type
Mobile Suit Gundam - Principality of Zeon
The Gelgoog Commander Type was developed before the Gelgoog line started mass-production. There were 29 that were given to Zeon's elite pilots for field testing. The 30th was assigned to Char Aznable.


RGM-79D GM Cold Climate Type
Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket - E.F.S.F.
The GM Cold Climate Type was developed to adapt to the Federation's changing needs late in the war. To counter the Zeon's Dom, they created this as a higher-performance GM.


MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom
08th MS Team - Principality of Zeon
The Gouf Custom was specifically designed to counter the original Gouf's poor ranged abilities. By equipping it with a 3-barrel machine gun and a shield with a built-in gatling cannon, the Zeon managed to eliminate this weakness. The Gouf Custom is most well known for Colonel Norris Packard's slaughter of three Guntanks to cover a Zeon escape into space.


MS-14C Gelgoog Cannon
Mobile Suit Variations - Principality of Zeon
The Gelgoog Cannon was designed as an anti-fleet weapon. Unfortunately for the Zeon, production didn't begin until it was far too late to change the tide of the One Year War.


MA-08 Big Zam
Mobile Suit Gundam - Principality of Zeon
This was the biggest and most powerful Mobile Armor produced during the One Year War. It was also the first Mobile Weapon to be equipped with an I-Field generator, making it impervious to ranged beam weaponry.


XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz - Preventers Forces
The Altron was secretly built by Colony scientists being held prisoner in the Lunar Base after the XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam was destroyed by OZ Forces. During an attack on the base, Wufei escaped with the Altron Gundam to rejoin the war.


XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz - Preventers Forces
Much like the Shenlong, the original Deathscythe was destroyed by OZ. The scientists built Deathscythe Hell in secret. Eventually, during the attack on the Lunar Base Duo Maxwell escaped with the Deathscythe Hell to rejoin the war.


MRX-009 Psycho Gundam
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam - Titans Forces
The Titans did a lot of research with artificially engineered Newtypes, called "cyber Newtypes", during the Gryps Conflict. The Psycho Gundam was equipped with a psycommu system that allowed the its weapons to be controlled by pilot Four Murasame's mere thoughts. It was destroyed by Kamille Bidan and the Zeta Gundam.


Character Stats at the end of Act I


Cheeto


Tremmie


Aeon



So, that's it for Act I of MS Saga.

Next time: Life goes on without Gavenger.