Part 21: Mission 11 - Do Justice To - Part 2
Enemy Phase!
Light gets jumped but just dodges everything – best to save these mooks. More importantly, Albero gets another shot at Hugo.
That’s a problem because cutscene damage carries on and the previous event is set to play either when you get the Medius to 40% HP or during the first enemy turn after he’s arrived.
Regardless, you’ll end up with your unit in critical HP and will very likely need to wait a turn to heal. And Albero can absolutely still attack you in his turn, even after the event (he’ll always be in your face after the plot kicks in).
So, either you’ve taken precautions or you’re all but surely eating a Game Over here when the Garmraid gets wrecked. So, I had Aqua cast Focus and sat them right next to Light – EWAC will boost Hugo’s dodge rate and, worst case scenario, he can Support Defend.
: Show me what you’re made of, Hugo Medio!
: Urk!
You can’t defend because even that will get you killed.
Oh, and I hope you didn’t leave Hugo too close to the mooks or they might decide to take that easy kill. At least the Gebais seem very focused on Light.
Player Phase!
We apply the traditional Joestar technique, having Light heal Hugo while at it. Vega’s still making a beeline for the marked spot.
Enemy Phase!
I’d kept Hugo with Alert but, of course, this Drau decides to kill that plan.
Jerk.
Albero readily attacks and I’m not comfortable letting Hugo tank that hit just yet. Light eats a crit but barely hangs on.
Fast forward another two turns of running away because while I could trigger the Argama’s arrival by killing a ton of things (which’d require me to send folks to the opposite side of the map), I’m trying to spread the exp around.
Player Phase!
Vega reaches the spot and the Nahel Argama IMMEDIATELY arrives. Light confirms to Tap that we’re in one piece but immediately picks up trouble incoming: the four Hokushin guys have decided to join the attack now that our folks arrived.
They figure we’ll be a problem sooner or later, so they might as well take the time to see how strong we are. Kouji and Akira have never seen their units before – neither MSs or MAs – but Misato raises the point that they attacked us in a demilitarized zone. Letting them be would mean this entire region being conquered, so it’s up to us to clean house.
Alright, now that’s better. First things first, I remember to get Mondo’s worthless ass out here to get some exp.
There. He’s up to speed now.
And he learns Cheer.
Albero’s up next but I’ll have Asuka clean up some room.
There we go.
: I don’t know what’s up with you but we won’t back down if you’re raring for a fight!: You misunderstand, kid. Your group’s destruction isn't what we're after. That being said, I don’t pull my punches against anyone who stands up to the Medius!: That’s my line! You’re gunning for Hugo, so I’m also bringing everything I have to the table!
: Now this is actually good. We didn’t get all the data we wanted on Mutron Energy before.
: Those enemies that showed up in Mutropolis were yours then?!: You don’t need to know that. In fact, all that’s needed is for you to be fodder to the Medius!
: NERV’s famous ‘all-purpose humanoid decisive weapon’… You, too, will help the Medius grow!
: What’s going on…?! His spirit is overwhelming…!
: However great your mech is, if the pilot’s a weakling, then it’s no more than a fancy paperweight! You’re about to get an eyeful of the horror of the battlefield!
: Stop! If you’ve any issues with the Garmraid, then go and talk with Hugo!: There wouldn’t be any point. Only with combat does the Medius inch closer and closer to perfection!
: You know Hugo, don’t you?! Why the hell are you attacking them, then?!: I’ve no problem with them in particular. But this battle is one they can’t avoid so long as they pilot the Garmraid!: Enough with the cryptic nonsense, guy! Just take a sec and think of what Hugo must be going through, damn it!
Kouji had a convo, too, but I forgot!
: Damn it… If you were hiding your identity all this time then you oughta have stuck with it!: Heh, you’re worried about Hugo, eh? What good friends he’s got.
: On the flip side, he really got shafted in the "old boss" department!
: Hmph, not bad at all. But I still have the Lazmunanium on my side…!
: Albero, AI1’s displaying a negative response.: What, is it warning about something?: No, it seems some issues managing the Lazmunanium have cropped up.: Heh, guess that means Hugo’s not the only one who still needs to grow.: …: But fine. We’ll leave here.
: Hugo! The Medius is—!
: Captain, wait!: I’ll give you one piece of advice, Hugo. Any hesitation will cost you your life in the battles to come. You’d best not hope to talk me down.
: !: Bye.*The Medius runs off.*
: Captain…!
: Hugo…Enemy Phase!
The distant Giganos are closing in but the Hokushin guys are all staying put.
Player Phase!
: Captain, we’re detecting a Bose particle reaction in the area!
: What?! 
: Bose particles…? Someone’s doing a Boson Jump?!
Now this is something that only sank in way after the W LP ended. The actual flower (as noted by Shihomi, even) – and thus the mech itself – is called Black Sarana.
I find myself rather annoyed at my past self for not knowing better but, on the other hand, this is PoD. I don’t care about PoD.
: …
: Th-The hell is that?!
: It’s a… black Mobile Armor? 
: No, it’s not…!: What is it then?!: No idea. I’m getting zilch on both the unit and its affiliation. 
: But it just did a Boson Jump, which means…
: It’s an Aestivalis or a Jovian weapon…?: Maybe it’s…: You got an idea?: It might be the Black Ghost, the bot seen in the Shirahime Incident…!
: That’s ridiculous! The terminal colony’s way out in the asteroid belt, isn’t it? You’re saying it came all the way to Kyoto from there?!: If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
: I did not expect him to show up here… Did he track us down?
: No matter. Our role was to play bait anyway… This makes things simpler.: …
: But is that another enemy or…?
: I feel something… What is this…?!
: It’s hatred; just pouring out of that machine…!
: “Hatred”?
: Does that mean the thing’s a legit ghost, then?!
: Don’t be stupid. The sensors are picking up vital signs coming from it.
: Either way, that’s some extraordinary Chi… Who the hell is this?: …
: Captain, the unknown isn’t answering our hails!
: Then everyone keep their eyes open. Be ready to fight back if it attacks us!If the Medius is still around, Elde won't have any data on the Black Sarana but tags it as quite the impressive unit for its armor, mobility and ability to Boson Jump unassisted. This makes it a prime data sample for the Medius and AI1 but Albero speaks against it: their primary target here is the Garmraid/Cerberus.
Black Sarana, High-Mobility Frame (???)
Pilot Skills:
- A-Class Jumper – Activates at 130 morale, reducing movement cost by 0 and ignoring all obstacles.
- Revenge - +20% damage done when the enemy goes first
- Resolve
- Fighting Spirit
- Distortion Field – Reduces gravity damage by 2500, beam by 1500, everything else by 1000
- Purge – reverts to the regular Black Sarana
- 10% EN Regen
- Alert (10)
- Focus (10)
- Iron Wall (25)
- Strike (20)
We actually don’t have to worry about this guy, which is good because he’s pretty beefy. Distortion Fields on their own are annoying to deal with (the Hokushin guys’ Rokurens also have them) and the Black Sarana packs a heavy punch. The pilot himself also has big stats across the board, with Revenge providing a nice boost during the enemy turn.
We’ll need to head over to the Hokushin ASAP, lest this guy kill them all and take our money and exp.
So, everyone moves onward.
Enemy Phase!
Our mystery friend blinks over and gets to work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwu2SXGtAjo
Not as cool-looking as in W but it still hurts a lot.
Most of the Giganos’ Dauzehns are still on approach but this one manages to sneak an attack run on Kaine.
Cue all four Rokurens bashing their heads against the Black Sarana, only to eat a barrier-piercing counterattack.
Player Phase!
Domon leads the charge and one of the Hokushin is already down on his last legs.
3k on a crit from Domon is unusually low. You’d best get used to this feeling.
I assumed the Dendoh’s Drill Charge would pierce barriers since, you know, drills usually do that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dSmBll8Ywk
It doesn’t but they’ve their own barrier to help.
Also: “This is your fault, Hokuto!”; “No, it’s yours!”
Judau seals the deal, taking Sword Cut L4.
Meanwhile, the Giganos are getting wrecked. Hikaru in the TFO oneshots a guy, while Elle and Mondo tag team another.
And Roux…
She keeps proving herself to be the second best ZZ pilot.
The Dragonar crew ply their teamwork, killing another pair. Domon gets his Hyper Mode going.
Enemy Phase!
While the Sarana manages to steal a kill, the last Hokushin decides to try his hand on Domon and gets only slightly less wrecked.
Player Phase!
While the last Giganos falls to Mondo, Domon weakens the guy further and we’re in the clear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM9fz3zcDFw
The thing’s not in a good spot for Shinji to snipe but we can still show his regular Positron Rifle (note, it’s not the Positron SNIPER Rifle).
Our loot is an Image Sensor (Crit rate +20), EWAC (Weak) and Cartridge.
All enemies are down and we still have no response from the unknown. Rather, Saegusa detects an increase in Bose particles and, poof, the Black Sarana Boson Jumps away.
We still have no idea who that was but, more importantly, Bright wants to leave this area as well. As we go, Maillot was watching the whole thing and he’s got mental warning for Kaine: “It’ll be impossible for you to defeat me with middling conviction. Do not forget that.”
: …: Hugo…
: I have to ask, Hugo. Was there something between you, that man… and the Devil Gundam?: …: Are we to blame for…: No… I don’t blame you for anything; to say nothing of the fact that I also know the whole story behind the Devil Gundam Incident.: … Alright. I’ll wait until you’re willing to open up. : Sorry…: But keep in mind that I’m always willing to help. If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.: OK…*Domon leaves.*
: You’re not going to explain things to me, either, are you?: …: That’s fine. I’m not about to try to pry answers out of you.: And… I’m sorry for yelling at you today. : No, don’t be.: Ah…?: That man once taught me: “carry out your mission and come back alive. Defeat your enemy and survive”…: …: I’d almost forgotten that. : But he’s…: Why did the captain steal the Medius Locus; why is he attacking us…? I still have no idea what the answer to those questions is.: But he’s my enemy now… so I can’t hesitate to fight him. I won’t… That’s also something he taught me.: Are you 100% sure about this?: Yeah. I know him better than anyone – he’s not one to change his mind once it’s made up. If I don’t fight him with everything I have, I’ll only end up dead.: …
: Besides, it dawned on me today: it’s the two of us, together, who make the Garmraid tick.
: (I-It dawned on you TODAY…?): … Well, I’m glad to hear that. The two of us are partners, after all.: And if you ever want to talk, just come and find me, alright? Like Domon, if there’s anything I can do to help, I will.: Alright. Thanks. 
The commanders are done compiling data on the Black Ghost – they’ll be sending it to Misumaru as well. We don’t really know anything about it after this encounter but Misato assumes, from the fact that it can Boson Jump, that the unit must be connected to either Nergal or the Jovians.
Furthermore, she says it’s very likely an A-Class Jumper – someone with the ability to perform a Boson Jump by visualizing the destination – was piloting it. Furthermore, Torres is blown away by the fact that such a tiny machine could execute the jump without any nearby Tulips.
Curious and curiouser.
Elsewhere, Kaine is telling Light and Tap of his suspicions that Linda is Maillot’s sister. It hasn’t been confirmed yet but, considering the guy’s way of speaking about her, Kaine is rather sure.
His suspicions would also imply that Maillot himself is the son of Prof. Plato; Puru Two hasn’t heard the story, so Light tells of the time Linda was with them and how her father was the creator of the Dragonars.
Judau remembers them saying that Linda was working at a refugee camp now? That’s what they heard but, then, Puru Two asks where the professor himself is. Linda told Kaine that the guy disappeared after defecting from the Giganos. No, Light doesn’t think he’s been assassinated as the Feds were keeping a very close eye on this VIP.
Most likely, the disappearance is a cover and he’s helping the Federation get ready to mass-produce the Dragonars. Judau figures Maillot must have gone through a tough bit after his father turned traitor but that’s probably what pushed him to give 110% of himself for the Giganos cause.
Kaine agrees after meeting with the guy: this isn’t your average “smug ace pilot”. Rather, the guy’s a whole lot more committed to his cause than we thought.
Aqua’s gotten in touch with Mitall, reporting that they’ve uncovered the identity of the Medius’ thief. Mitall appreciates the good info and tells them to keep up their hunt for the unit.
Doesn’t he have anything else to say, wonders Aqua? Albero Est is Hugo’s former SO and there is absolutely no way this is just a coincidence. Mitall shrugs and asks if she’s accusing him of being the mastermind behind this whole thing.
Aqua figures it’s not too farfetched a conclusion, especially considering the incident with Model #1-esque models the other day. Mitall argues that the Medius’ theft has been a major inconvenience to him as well: the development of Models #8 and #9 is now way off schedule, and he's still got to keep things working nicely for the Federation.
He tells Aqua that she and Hugo need to solve this as quickly as possible, and hangs up.
Aqua’s left to ponder by lonesome: “He’s not going to show his hand easily, I guess… Actually, knowing the professor, he saw this coming. Well, keep watching – I’m not about to just let you use us like that. ”