Part 46: Mission 28 - Tragedy Beneath the Moonlight - Part 2
Player Phase!
Still killing these sons of bitches. One Rokuren and two Katonbos left but the Aestivalises will be arriving soon.
Meanwhile, we’ll start working on Albero.
: Take a look, Domon Kasshu! The Medius is evolving and it will, in due time, become something greater than that demon! 
: So that thing really is your target, huh?
: Col. Albero…: I know – I won’t let him stand in my way!: Let’s do this, then!
: Come on! The Medius will bring your fists to a screeching halt!
: Watch out, Ginga! This guy… he’s way more serious than usual!
: O-OK! Then we’ll just have to get just as serious!
: Heh, bring it on. 
: (Show us that power…)
Don’t be afraid to spam Valors. It’s faster than bringing Ryouma and Kazuya all the way over here.
Enemy Phase!
Still working on it.
And here.
Little bit more.
Player Phase!
And they’re here, so let’s wrap it up!
With Valor, a Distortion Attack tears through these guys. Kyoshiro takes it out.
Ryouma and Ryouko take this Katonbo…
And boom.
One more attack on Albero should get him under half.
There we go.
: Urk…! They’re stronger now than during our previous fights.: AI1’s issued a warning. He’s recommending we let him assume control of the unit.: I’m not about to let some AI settle my score with Hugo! Just shut up, you two!: May I remind you that our main objective here is to take their TE Engine?: I told you to shut up!
: …!MX Version:
: The Medius isn’t moving…! That’s our chance, Hugo!
: Then do it! Cut the TE limiters!: A-Alright! Cutting the TE limiters!MXP Version:
: The Medius isn’t moving…! 
: Then I’m taking it out right now! Cutting the TE Limiters!
: Didn’t I tell you we can’t do that?!: I’m not letting this chance slip through my fingers! This is happening, with or without your approval!: W-Wait! Stop!: I’ll wrap this up before we overheat! Limiters, released!: I-If anything happens, that’s all on you!Common ground:
: What?! Their energy output is still rising?!: This is where it ends, Albero Est!
: Urgh! Hrrm…!: Kch… this is dangerous, Albero. Please, pass control to AI1.: Don’t be ridiculous, Elde!: Would you simply let the Medius and AI1 be lost here…?!: Quiet! This battle isn’t over yet!: …!: (AI1… my child cannot die here. He’s still so young… And I won’t allow anyone to impede his growth. I will not allow him to die here.): (My only option is to exploit that chink in her heart…)MX Version:
: Hugo, we only have another thirty four seconds of movement! Destroy the Medius right now!: Alright! Keep our output steady just one more time!MXP Version:
: Hugo! The engine’s almost overheating!: I know! Do whatever you can to keep it running!: I-It’s not that easy, you know!: Just give me a bit more time and I’ll—Common ground:
: Stop. I won’t allow you to kill my child.
: Huh? A woman?!: That voice… Is that really you, Ms. Elde Mitte?: That’s correct, Aqua Centrum.: …!: Though I imagine you already had some suspicion that I was aboard the Medius, no?: That’s…!: Ignore her, Aqua! Our output’s falling into the yellow! (MXP: Aqua, the engine’s overheating! Work the DFC System and get it under control!): O-Oh, no…!: Hmhmhm… You’re as careless as ever, Aqua. I’ll now demonstrate to you all just how different the Medius is from the Garmraid. : !: Transferring unit’s controls to AI1.: Hrm, my controls?! Elde, what have you done?!: Lasmunanium, engaged.: Elde!: AI1… load all pooled data.
: Damn it…! We couldn’t finish it off before it regenerated!: W-Wait! I’m getting some different readings from the Lasmunanium!MX Version:
: Just focus on the battle, Aqua! We drop our guard for even a second and it'll be all over!: But I… I’ve no idea what it’s doing! I can’t make any estimates!: That’s fine – just keep our output steady!MXP Version:
: Focus! Weren’t you the one who said that giving it any opening’d be the end for us?!: But I… I’ve no idea what it’s doing! What are these readings?!: Forget that! Get our output stable!Common ground:
: Multiplication and evolution limiters, released.: What the hell are you up to?!: The image is set. Incrementum, initiated. Go, AI1… show us all that you’ve learned… Show us your true power!
: Wha—?!: How…!: The Medius…!
: That was just like…!: What is this?! What happened to the Medius?!: Hmhmhm… It shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is the might of the Lasmunanium… or, rather, of my AI1.: Nonsense! I hadn’t heard about anything like this!: That is because… you didn’t need to know.: You…!: More importantly, you should go and relieve them of their TE Engine right away. With it, the Medius will be able to reach even greater heights.: Hrm…! You better have some answers for me later!
: Hugo, Aqua! Get away from them!: C-Calculating evasive maneuvers—!
: There’s no time! I’m going!: Hmhmhm… Do you honestly think... : We can’t see right through your moves?! 
: !!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHvdaAgnp1Q
: Hugo, Aqua!!: Wh-What’s their status?!
: I-It was a direct hit on the Garmraid’s chest…!
: N-No…!
: Y-You serious?!: Talk to us, Hugo! Aqua!*…*
: H-Hey! You’re messing with us, right? This ain’t funny!
: Answer, please! Anyone!: Urk… argh…!: Aqua!: Hugo…! Are you… alright…?
: Aqua, is Hugo OK?!: Ah— Aaah…! N-No!
: What is it, Aqua?!: The— The front seat… it’s crushed!: What?!: Hugo’s seat was… It was…! (MXP: Th-The hatch… the front seat… it’s gone…!): No, this can’t be happening…! No…! Hugo! Talk to me!!*…*
: … Rest, Hugo. You don’t have to suffer any more.
: Aah…! AAAAAAAAAH!!: It was your error that led to his death, Aqua. Your unrest gave the Medius the time it needed to grow… and got him killed.: …!: Do you understand why I kept my presence aboard the Medius a secret? : Were you…!: Yes, it was so I could make you waver at a moment such as this. I had long since taken your fragile heart into account.: Ms. Mitte…!: Didn’t I tell you before? No matter the situation, you must always be capable of analyzing the situation rationally and finding the correct course of action. : I… I…!: Hmhmhm… This lesson came at a high price. But, since we’re old friends, I’ll give you another chance.: Huh…?!: Learn from this experience, become a proper TE Absorber pilot… and come challenge the new Medius and my AI1 again. That is, if you’ve the resolve for it.: You… You’re letting me go?!: Yes. Consider your life to be repayment for the Garmraid’s TE Engine.: Y-You’re installing that into the Medius?!: Hmhmhm… Until we meet again, Aqua Centrum.
: Hugo! Aqua!!: And, now, the Lasmunanium, AI1 and TE Engine are together… Let’s leave, Albero. We’ve no further business here.: …*The Medius leaves.*
: Harry, how’re those two?!: The cockpit block was ejected prior to the unit’s explosion… Aqua’s likely safe but Hugo…! (MXP, last phrase changes to: "But after what happened..."): Don’t say that kinda crap before we’re sure, dumbass!: I-I’m sorry…!
: Harry, send a rescue team to recover their cockpit immediately. And what’s the situation with the enemy?: All enemy troops are confirmed destroyed.: What about the recovery of Hugo and Aqua’s cockpit? (I’m all but sure the game expects you to kill Ritsu last, so it immediately jumps from the end of the OG scene to this – either that or the Nadesico has the fastest workers in the galaxy! 
): It’s already done…: Understood. Then bring back all troops.Items earned today were: I-Field Generator, an Image Sensor, and a Cartridge.
And here are the convos we didn’t get:
: Move aside! Don’t get between me and my target!: We’re not going anywhere, not when we know what you’re after!
: Your goals notwithstanding, we won’t sit by and just let you drag us and Hugo into your mess!: (Hmhmhm… It seems they don’t see what I am after…)--
: What’s the matter, Zeorymer? Surely this isn’t all of your might…
: Where are you, Miku?! Way this is going, I…!: Playtime is over! That power will become part of the Medius!--
: The Daimolight is certainly a fascinating energy but…: I know. Anyone who gets in our way will have to be destroyed!: Urk… They’re going after the Garmraid?!
The epilogue below is of the PS2 version of the game. Things go VERY differently in the MXP version, so check over HERE for that epilogue. 
Domon immediately goes after Harry, wanting an update on Hugo’s condition. The kid doesn’t know much, other than the fact that his seat and console were all crushed after the Medius’ attack. Seems to Ryouma that we can only pray for his safety now and Kazuya wonders if we'll need to drop him off at an ICU.
Ruri and Vega come in right then, however, saying that isn’t necessary – he’s alive and fine overall. Rain’s giving him some first-aid but that’s it. Allenby and George are quite relieved to hear that, though Chibodee is more impressed with how tough he’s shown himself. Not anyone could come out in one piece after getting crushed inside a cockpit.
Allenby figures he’s got the devil’s luck but Vega says it’s not exactly that…
She doesn’t have time to explain, though, as Harry notes a Federation Carrier requesting to meet up with us. Whose carrier? The Tsentr Project’s and Prof. Zapato himself is aboard. Now that surprises Vega and our people wonder what the Garmraid’s creator could be doing, coming here right now.
Allenby wonders if he knows that the mech was destroyed but, then, that begs the question: we haven’t even reported this to the army, so how did he get that info? Well, Ruri gives Harry the go-ahead for his carrier to contact the Nadesico; just in case, though, we’ll keep on alert.
*Door opens.*
: Um…
: Oh! Aqua…: How is he doing…?: Well enough, as you can see. I’ve done all I can regarding first-aid… and he’s no longer unconscious.: …
: I… I’ll go and grab his medicine. Stay with him for a bit, yes?*Rain leaves.*
: Hugo…
: Don’t make that face. I’m still alive, obviously.: I’m so, so sorry… I… I—: Don’t worry about it. What happened with you… was only natural. I was just as shaken up when I found out that it was the Captain aboard the Medius.: But, your body is…!: Don’t worry about that either; I just need to replace some busted parts and that’ll be the end of that. No different from an MS or a Super, really.: …!: … Sorry. I didn’t mean to lie to any of you… I just didn’t want to be the cause of any needless worry…: …: And it’s not like I feel any grief over this body… it was the only way for me to survive… and my just desserts.: Did that happen because…: Yeah. I was injured during the Cry Wolves’ battle with the Devil Gundam… and left at death’s door. When I came to, I was in the Tsentr Project’s infirmary.: I only found out later but, apparently, it was Mitall who took charge of my all-but-dead body. He wanted me to help with his experiment as the TE Absorber’s pilot, so he went and remade my body.: Why…?! Your body could simply have been healed back to normal with the current technology…!: The units prior to the Medius were brutal. Anyone meant to pilot those things needed a very resilient body… That’s why I caught Mitall’s eye and he took custody of me from the army’s hospital. : In his eyes, I’m just another component of the TE Absorber.: Then, that medicine was…?: To keep my original body from rejecting the new bits… without it, I can’t even move. And, so, Mitall made a leash out of that medicine and kept me bound to the project.: I-I’m sorry… I had no idea and said such awful things to you…: No, it’s fine. However this started, I’m now working for the Tsentr Project of my own free will – not because I’m being coerced, but in order to survive. My dead teammates won’t rest in peace if I fail at that.: That’s how I feel.: …Hugo…: Sorry, guess I rambled a bit. : The Medius is what’s important now. I had no idea the thing could do that… nothing of the sort was written in the project’s specs.: It’s… likely that Ms. Mitte made several modifications to the original model.: And who is she?: A researcher of combat-oriented artificial intelligence… that is to say, she makes AIs and OSs for drones. : She works for the military?: Yes, though she wasn’t doing anything with the Tsentr Project… I’d heard rumors that she’d joined some other confidential project.: She was my teacher and I… I idolized her. She was a gifted scientist, self-reliant, she always held onto her ideals…: I ran away from home because I couldn’t stand someone else deciding how I would live my life, so she was everything I wanted to be… I wanted to live as she did, grow into a woman like her…: But now… she stole the Medius and is my enemy…: And she tried to kill you…and me..!: Aqua…: Wh-Why… why would she do anything like this…? Why did she attack me…?! Why do I have to fight her…?!: What am I supposed to do now…?!: …: I-I don’t know… there’s so much going on… I’ve no idea what I should do… I…!: … There’s only one thing I can say… if you don’t fight, you’ll die.: !: She and Albero stole the Medius, you know that. : …: They were essentially testing us until now but, today, they were really trying to kill us.: They don’t care to play nice with us and if we don’t fight back, it’ll be the end.: B-But, I! I can’t fight my teacher… I just can’t!: ... I’ve been fighting mine.
: !: I’ve been fighting Albero Est because I want to survive. : …: I know how you feel about Elde Mitte. But we don’t know how she feels about you.: …!: And the fact is she weaponized those feelings against you. If you don’t break your ties with her, you’ll die.: Still, I… I don’t want to break those ties… : Would you rather die, then?: No. Of course I don’t… I just… I want to talk to her one more time…: And if that doesn’t work, then…: …Fine.: Hugo…: Just be prepared for the worst, when that time comes. : And, regardless, that transformed Medius is still too dangerous to be left alone… if it keeps going, it might well end up with the same powers as the Devil Gundam. We have to stop that, no matter what.: Right. If anything, the Medius needs to be destroyed.: That’s good enough for me, then.: …: Sorry, Hugo.: Forget about it. The other problem now is…
: Prof. Zapato?: Hm. Albero, Elde, the Medius… his hand has got to be behind all this. And now I’m starting to question what the actual purpose of his project is…
Mitall walks in right then, quipping at what nasty things he’s saying. When Aqua says, he says he got a report about what happened and, thus, came over with stuff for us: replacement parts for Hugo… and the Model #9 TE Absorber: the new Garmraid (#8 if you’re with the Cerberus).
As he hands over the specs about the unit, Aqua notes that the thing can actually transform… and it comes with a bird and wolf bot? Machine Animaleets, meant to support the mech. The wolf is called Rouga and the bird is Hiou and by rearranging the way those are attached, the Garmraid can switch between two modes.
Form G specializes in close-range, hand-to-hand combat and Hugo will be the pilot. Aqua asks if he’s implying that the pilot changes with the mode and, indeed, he is. She will no longer be limited to being a subpilot, taking control of the long-range Form S. What about her job of keeping the TE Engine’s output stabilized, then?
Well, the thing also has an upgraded TE Engine; while Mitall won’t call that a perfect model, it’s output and stability are far superior to the original Garmraid. The engine should be a lot less finicky now, so she’ll be able to actually fight.
As for the mech’s name, Mitall will leave that up to us.
FYI: the new Cerberus doesn’t get a bird and wolf, instead switching forms between the “Ignite Parts”.
The game now lets you choose the upgrades’ names, the default being Cerberus Ignite and Garmraid Blaze. We’ll be going with that.
Whatever name you choose is fine with Mitall and he says the mech’s already set up and good to go. After he’s finished with Hugo’s “repairs” (Aqua doesn’t like hearing that), he wants us to go and get familiarized with the unit.
Before that, though, Hugo has a question for him: Mitall’s arrival here comes with far too perfect a timing, to say nothing of the powers displayed by the Medius. What is he keeping from them? Furthermore, Aqua all but accuses him of being in league with Elde in this.
Mitall says their doubts are understandable but professes that he, too, was taken aback by what happened to the Medius: he’d set limiters on the Lasmunanium and it shouldn’t have been capable of displaying such abilities.
Hugo asks if we’re supposed to believe that, and Mitall says that we’ve no choice, this is for the sake of our future battles too. Hugo and Aqua frown but stay mum, and Mitall reiterates that our orders are to destroy the Medius. They must stop that thing post-haste.
Fine, Hugo confirms and accepts the new bot. All that’s left now is to get the repairs on his body done and Mitall promises (with that grin) that, after it’s done, he’ll even be able to move around without his meds.
Back in Tekkoryu Castle, Yura isn’t happy. Why the hell did Lurahn keep quiet when he found out that Miku wasn’t human?! The old man can only apologize but that’s not worth much after they even lost Ritsu.
Well, that does it for Yura – no more waiting around. He proclaims the immediate start of the final phase of the Hades Project, the entire planet transformed into the Underworld. Only those chosen by the Tekkoryu will survive and she’ll lead them as Hades!
She orders Saiga, Rockfell and Gisou to lay waste to Japan: that country will be the starting point of the Project. After they salute and head out, Lurahn meekly asks if this is truly what Yura desires. He doesn’t think it is.
Yura yells at him to stop that nonsense – she was brought into this world precisely for the Hades Project! Lurahn watches on as Yura momentarily reels back before shooing him away.
After he leaves, she stands ill at ease: “What happened…? The destruction of this world is what I desire… yet, when I proclaimed it, my heart ached… as though it is not truly me who desires it. Why? Oh, Taiha… Could you make sense of this…?”
Oki’s trying to come to grips with the fact that he’s talking to Masaki Kihara but what Miku wants to know is what happened to Masato. Masaki figures a puppet wouldn’t understand even if he explained but the gist is that he is Masaki, within Masato. Rather, no, Masato isn’t even here anymore.
Masaki built the Zeorymer so that he, himself, could claim the throne of Hades but he anticipated the possibility that he could lose his life along the way.
Thus, he created a clone of himself and registered that zygote as the Zeorymer’s pilot. And as that clone was made, he also left a hidden program coded into his DNA: when the clone found his way to the Zeorymer’s cockpit, his original personality would be recovered.
And as his name tag changes, he proclaims: “I am Masaki Kihara.”