Part 54: Mission 30 (Earth Route) - The Shine of the Red Dragon
Location: Hundred Demons’ Island Fortress
Brai’s getting a visitor from the Vegans and he’s seeking an alliance; Hidler sniffs at the guy’s call at proposing that considering they’re invading Earth right now. The Vegan envoy tells Hidler to watch it, for he is Zuril: chief scientist of the Vegan Army and the man in charge of conducting these negotiations. That is to say, his words are the words of King Vega.
Hidler is about to get in Zuril’s face when Brai stops him, and starts by complimenting the Vegan ambassador on actually finding this hidden base. Zuril thanks him but says it wasn’t difficult for Vegan science… which, Brai figures, means they could also attack them place if they so desired.
Zuril praises his intelligence but Gura doesn’t appreciate his threats; Zuril handwaves their concerns away, adding that he doubts the Vegans would escape unharmed were they to actually fight the mighty Hundred Demons. Plus, as he just said, they wish to form an alliance since both their groups have the same obstacles to remove.
Brai appreciates Zuril’s gumption in coming here by his lonesome and does see his point – they DO have common enemies in the humans and, specially, the Magnate Ten. Much as Brai is loath to do it, he concedes that we’re a mighty force even among the weak human race. With that in mind, he agrees to the alliance.
However, it is not in Brai’s nature to take people’s words on blind faith but Zuril didn’t expect him to – the Vegans can give him a display of their might.
Good because Brai’s just got intel that the Getter has returned to the Saotome Lab… and the Magnate Ten’s elsewhere. That sounds perfect to Zuril, as he's got this energy neutralization field device to give them as a gift.
The thing requires a good amount of energy to work and needs to be installed in a large aircraft but, if the demons can provide, he believes it can be put to excellent use. What does he mean? “OPERATION KAMIKAZE BOMBER!”
Sounds good to Brai, who figures they can take the Getter Ray Amplifier from the lab’s smoldering ruins; moreover, he’d love to see the despair on the Getter pilots’ faces as the place falls before their very eyes.
Zuril is off to install the field generator and Brai has Gura help him out. Vegan professes to have heard much about Gura’s intellect, so he’s grateful for a chance to work with him; the sentiment is mutual, as Gura is curious about Vegan science.
As they leave, Hidler still objects to this alliance but Brai tells him to relax – he doesn’t trust the aliens once bit. Still, he figures the Vegans need this alliance more than they’re letting on: their base in on the moon, so they’re likely seeking the demons’ help as a precaution against the Gulfer and Giganos.
Still, the situation hasn’t changed for Brai’s group: though the Tekkoryu are no more, the Gyandolar have now gone a lot more active. Plus, there are the MU with their constant hounding that the unit that emerged from Tokyo Jupiter, along with other independent groups. All of these will have to be dealt with eventually.
The Earth Sphere is in a state of flux and it’s among that chaos that smart players can win it all. That’s the Hundred Demons and, so, Brai will readily use whoever and whatever he can to make it happen.
So if the Vegans think they can use them as pawns against other enemies, Brai will use them instead – Hidler’s to go with Zuril and keep a close eye on him. HAIL BRAAAAAAAAI!
Over at the lab, Saotome apologizes for calling the Getter Team over in such a hurry, but it was no problem as our squad’s currently standing by at GEAR HQ. Hugo and Aqua have been sent along as escorts and she promises they won’t be bothers.
As for why Saotome called them over, he wants to do some improvements on the Getter Ray control system on the bot. The Get Machines are already being worked on by the lab’s facilities and, if everything goes according to plan, it’ll give the Getter a nice boost in power.
Benkei’s psyched and Saotome muses that Getter Ray research is advancing day-by-day; while it’s unfortunate that that they must use it for combat, Saotome likes to see it as being used for peace if they can defeat the forces of evil with it.
And they’ll have a chance to do that right now, as the alarm sounds the approach of Hundred Demon units. Saotome says the Get Machines’ overall adjustments have already been made, so they should be ready to deploy.
Off they go, then, Hugo and Aqua also tagging in to defend the lab.
Mission 30 (Earth Route) – The Shine of the Red Dragon
As the enemy troops pour in, Hidler tells Zuril that they've tried so often to topple this lab, without success due to Getter and co. always getting in the way. Well, those friends aren't here right now, so they just need to stomp the Getter and wreck the place.
Our units deploy and Hidler is quick to wave his fist and proclaims that this spot will mark our graves today. Ryouma’s surprised to see the demons and Vegans working together, though Hayato figures we ought to be grateful: we get to beat two birds with one stone.
Benkei worries if our three units can hold against all these guys but Aqua’s already gotten in touch with the Nahel Argama – they’re already on the way. So, we just need to keep the attackers from reaching the lab.
Zuril and Hidler pull back to watch the incoming fireworks and our people quickly smell fish. Still, trap or not, we don’t really have a choice but to go for it – Hayato points to the big ship as the target to beat.
As the Saotome Lab closes itself up, Ryouma leads the charge: we can’t let even a single enemy close in on the building.
As they said, don’t let an enemy unit get in the target area of you lose. From what I’ve seen, the only AI that’s hard-wired to go after the lab is the Mecha Fortress Demon itself and, with only three units, you can’t really keep it pinned down (and it’s got high movement). Losing anyone is also a game over, so unless you really buffed Michiru, you have two units.
Prior knowledge of events can spare you from having to outright restart this mission, so keep this in mind: have anyone attack the ship by turn TWO. Any later than that and you’ll have, at least, a headache in your hands.
Both our units cast Accel and boost ahead. Note the dense forests around here, so you’ll want to set the Garmraid/Cerberus down and use the Getter Liger to benefit from the terrain.
I reckon I’ll alternate between the new songs.
Gang on those Minifoos to get Open Get and TE Sphere running ASAP.
Attacking aerial units obviously isn’t the Liger’s bread and butter but Chain Attack still hits nicely.
Enemy Phase!
The Vegan Saucerbeasts stay put but the Demons move on the offensive.
As do the Minifoos.
Easy. That’s all but one of them dead at the hands of Hayato and Hugo.
Player Phase!
I actually let Hugo do a support attack, only to figure out what Zuril meant with that fancy-named gadget. Yup, it’s another one of THOSE.
The ship didn’t take any damage from our attacks – it’s obviously something different from the demons’ usual bots. Hugo wonders if it might be self-regenerating but, no, Aqua and Saotome have already figured it out: the thing’s got an energy field around it, like the Space Monster Tetsuya fought the other day.
Worse, Saotome’s scanned the thing and it’s apparently loaded to the brim with explosives. Yes, they’re going to fling it into the lab.
Ryouma’s not having it and, when he tries to attack the thing, gets the Getter blasted away; Hayato’s taken the brunt of the hit, though, and the attack’s busted his leg. Hugo tells them to back off and let him handle this but the Getter Team calls it crazy: how could he, alone, stand against an enemy that’s immune to our weapons?
Still, as a pilot of a multi-person mech, Hugo knows that one pilot being impaired will screw up the entire unit’s movements. Aqua agrees, saying they can’t fight like that. Ryouma says they can’t pull back, though: the lab’s pretty much home to the three of them, so they won’t just watch it go up in smoke.
Hayato agrees and says not to worry about him, and Hugo knows he’s not going to change their minds. We’ll just have to make do until the Argama gets here.
OK, so here’s the deal: it’ll be another four turns before we can really deal with the ship and, all that time, it’ll continue on a beeline to the lab. If you get the timer running on turn two, then you’ll just make it; later than this, and you’ll have to try and slow it down by setting up small walls with your three units. Risky since, as I said, Michiru is very frail.
The wiki I checked didn’t say anything about the plot kicking in if you killed all other enemy units, so I decided not to risk it. Attack it now just to be safe.
And Hugo busies himself shaving off half this Shield Demon’s HP.
Enemy Phase!
Ryouma gets ganged up a bit but he soon gets enough morale to start Open Getting.
Well, hello there.
Bonk! Got my barrier running!
Player Phase!
Just to be safe, Hayato tags in and Michiru heals them up.
I’m moving Hugo back along with them just in case I miscounted the ship’s movement range and need to make a quick wall.
Enemy Phase!
This Horned Demon finally got in range.
He slaps us for a bit but not much.
Hayato actually gets mobbed as well but handles it nicely.
Also, look at this. Either the Vegans got some new stealth tech on these two Gubigubi saucerbeasts or there’s a bug with their model.
They still die easily enough to the Garmraid’s superior firepower.
Next few turns is just me backing away from the enemy to keep an eye on the ship, so let’s skip that.
Player Phase!
: Hoho… You’re still at it, eh, Getter Robo?
: The Mother Burn…! It’s back?!
: Psh, they wanna watch the show from courtside? Come on, now…!
: Heheheh… do fight for as long as you can, Getter Robo. And, then, despair as you fail to defend your dear lab.
: Ryou, this isn’t looking good!
: If we don’t find a way to destroy that Demon Robo’s energy field before it reaches the lab…!: Isn’t there anything we can do, Aqua?!
: It’s simple, in theory. Its field works by dispersing incoming force across the created boundary… so we just need to hit it with more energy than it can disperse.: In other words, we just need to hit it real hard?
: Yeah, but the problem is creating enough energy to pull it off!
: Then get to work and start charging Terminus Energy right now – the Garmraid Blaze’ll bust hi shield!: It doesn’t work like that! We can’t charge that much energy at the drop of a hat, you know!: Our TE Engine may be a newer model but its stability is far from perfect!: Then our only option is to ram that thing and pin it down…!: Right, if we use what we’ve already charged to power the TE Sphere, we can buy some time!
: Stop! If you do something like that, you’ll—!: Ease up – we’re not about to die here!: Yeah! And, regardless, we need to do whatever we can to hold the line until the Nahel Argama gets here…
: (We’ve no choice now… We’ll have to try that…!): Can you hear me, Getter Team? The only way you’ll defeat that giant Demon Robot is with the Getter’s new weapon!
: N-New…?!
: What new weapon?! Since when do we have something like that?!
: Was that what those improvements were for…?!: Correct – the new weapon’s already installed and usable. It hasn’t been tested in live combat yet but it should be able to pierce the enemy’s field.: What is that weapon, professor?!: I’ve dubbed it the Shine Spark! Upon the Getter Shine signal, the three of you must press your energy convergence pedals in unison, sending it into the Dragon’s core. : However, if your timing is off by even a tenth of a second, the energy will not converge. And considering the amount needed, you’ll only have a single chance to do this!
: We only got one shot…
: But if we pull it off…!: Wait, what about Hayato? You need to press those pedals in unison and his leg is injured!
: Don’t worry about me, Michiru. It’s just a flesh wound. : B-But!: Hayato…!: There’s no time for doubts, Ryou! Get your head in gear!: But if we fail, that’ll be it!
: Hah, I can’t well put on a poor show right in front of Musashi’s grave… Come on. Let’s pull this off and send that Demon Robo to kingdom come!: Alright… Let’s bring our hearts together as one, Hayato, Benkei!
: You got it!*Getter Dragon moves after the Mecha Fortress Demon.*
: It’s all in your hands… you must succeed!
: Hm? What are they up to?!: You guys ready? We’ve only got one shot!: Leave it to me!: I’ll do my part… even if I need to snap this leg in half!: Then let’s do it! Press those pedals at the exact same time!: 3!: 2!: 1!
: NOW!: Yeah!: Uurk…rrgh!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Qs6ibxWF8
And, boom, success! Hidler, Aqua and Hugo are very much amazed at the strength of the Getter’s energy, blowing the Demon Robo with a single hit. Hayato’s still good and, better yet, he won’t be getting crap from Musashi in the afterlife.
Hidler is very miffed but yells that this changes nothing – we’re still outnumbered! … Hayato tells him to look over there and see if he can say that again.
Aaay, it’s the cavalry! Kaine strikes a cool pose, yelling that Kaine Wakaba and friends are here to the rescue. Asuka is in no way putting up with him setting himself as the top dog and Kaine tells her to just play along here. Unfortunately, play along with his stupidity isn’t part of her contract.
Misato prods them to cut the chit-chat and deploy, turning the tables in our favor. The Getter’s got an empty tank after that attack, though it’s easily with some energy that Saotome beams from the lab. As Hidler froths at the mouth, Zuril sees that he’ll need to adjust plans.
Duke spots the demons and Vegans working together and yells that, even together, we still will never bend to their evil! And, rather, Domon figures we can teach something to them: what it truly means to unite forces!
Zuril isn’t impressed and sends out a bevy of new units. These are all enlarged space creatures and cyborg Vegan beasts, boasting power several times greater than saucerbeasts. Hidler realizes the guy was holding out of them but, on Bright’s command, we’ll turn these to mush.
Still got a few stragglers from the original batch but they’re easily dispatched.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6MH6papEpE
And here’s Aqua’s strongest attack.
Domon and Chibodee wreck the last Jinjin, giving the cowboy Invincible plus levels in Prevail and Shield Defense.
These are the new Midifoos.
They’re still made of spit and papier maché.
The Vegans now have mass-produced Bongs. Hikaru wrecks one when Tetsuya supports her with a combined attack.
The man himself moves forward to slap a Midifoo.
Get to it, Light.
Set that EWAC front and center.
Sai joins Hayato to tear through a Horned Demon.
The Midifoos continue to provide easy morale.
Like so.
And you get the idea.
Enemy Phase!
Zuril doesn’t prioritize anyone, only going for whatever’s closest.
: So, the demons and evil aliens are buddying up, eh? Guess birds of a feather do flock together!: Silence! Don’t you dare bunch us together with those Vegans!
: And what exactly do you mean by that, Marshal Hidler?: Erm… That’s…: Aw, you’re breaking up already? Then lemme put the final nail in both your coffins!
That’s an easy 5000 damage. These Mother Burns are quickly falling victim to our power creep.
Show the Vegans what we think of their upgrades, Shinji.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgrkANEY64M
This thing’s very twitchy. Also, Shinji takes out a pair of Midifoos.
Domon is suitably impressed.
Player Phase!
Mother Burn (Chief Scientist Zuril
Pilot Skills:
- Prevail L4
- Support Attack L2
Balendos 2.0, the Mother Burn melts under any concentrated fire (more so than other enemies). Yawn.
And here we go: Shinji’s got enough morale to bust out his hanzo steel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS2SfovWfuM
Folded one kabillion times, it chops, slices and dices through the toughest monsters of the week!
And if you're curious about the weapon's name and missed it in the thread, look up Magoroku Kanemoto. He was a renowned swordsmith in the late muromachi period.
Sai softens the other Zumezume for Masato.
That’s very dead.
The pair of Grangens fall to Tetsuya and Ayato.
Oh, and this is the Vega Beast King Gori.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hskbAV2MHwo
They really DID mechanize random alien creatures to throw at us.
Kouji finishes the job, triggering the Xephon to get serious.
Only Zuril left, so let’s get to it.
: Just a little bit more and the lab would’ve been a smoldering crater...! Blast you, Getter Robo!: Get used to that feeling! You demons won’t be pulling anything with the lab or Earth while we’re here!: And you demons ever hear the words “robbing Peter to pay Paul”? Everyone saw what cowards you are now!: Shut your mouth! This was also one of our many plans to crush you!: Oh, really? Then get out of the Vegans’ shadow and take us on yourselves!
: Huh…? He’s looking at the EVA…?: Hmm… I’d heard stories but to actually find a unit like this… Earth’s weapons truly are very interesting.
: It’s always one worthless plan after the next with you guys, huh?: Mine is the greatest intellect in the Vegan army! You dare berate my plan?!
: That’s right! While I don’t know how smart you actually are, it can’t be much if you’re using it for evil!
: My fists will tear your evil bonds apart!: Hmph… you'll challenge me with melee tactics? Savage!
: Show me what the Grendizer’s capable of, Duke Fleed!
: You’re not Balendos… who are you?!: My name is Zuril… Planet Vega’s chief scientist.
: You came here all the way from your homeworld?: Indeed, Duke Fleed. And I’ll return with your head and this planet as offerings to King Vega!
: The Vegans and the Hundred Demons… what a surprise to see you baddies buddying up!: Ah, has fear taken you? You’ve no chance of victory now!: Say what now? All we need to do now is kick both your asses and we’ll be saving even some time!
: Oh? That is quite the curious energy reading. I must claim this machine.
: I won’t let anyone else get their hands on the Zeorymer – least of all evil people like you!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fh-MyFMN3uY
Have we ever seen the Zeorymer triggering its Double Image?
I’ll have Kaine end this to grab some levels.
Zuril sees their attack has failed and moves to retreat. Hidler commands that they must fight to the bitter end but Zuril sees no point in prolonging this – besides, today was simply the opening round.
That’s all enemies down and Saotome thanks Bright for the assist – all in a day’s work. Duke is silent and Maria knows he’s worried about the seeming alliance between the Vegans and the Demons.
This might help them now but Tetsuya figures their alliance won’t last: unlike us, both sides only care for their own interests. Duke hopes it’ll be as he says.
Notable loot today: a Screw Module, a Cartridge, and a Megabooster.
Back at the Demon’s base, Hidler wants to know what the hell happened back there – Zuril says he simply didn’t expect the Getter to have been furnished with a new weapon. That’s not what Hidler is asking, though: why did he withhold some of his forces?
Zuril says blithely that he figured he could win with that few forces, and it's an “honor” that Hidler would be counting on the Vegan forces that much. Brai forestalls any further argument, though he cautions that a failure is still a failure - he wants Zuril to go all out from the get-go next time.
Zuril accepts, though he has a request for Brai: Super Alloy nu-Z, the rare metal Great Mazinger's body is made out of. He’s been quite interested in it for a while now, you see. The problem, Gura says, is that all metal available is kept under lock and key at the Science Fortress Lab.
Hmhmm… but Zuril figures the demons have ways of making it happen. Indeed, Brai decides to humor him and offers to have some of their infiltrated agents in the upper echelons of the Federation government to force the lab to offer some of its stock.
As Zuril praises the mighty emperor, Hidler huffs at the cheeky guy – clearly untrustworthy. Either way, Brai asks him to coordinate with Zuril and start planning their next attack. They can’t afford to leave the Getter at large now that it’s grown even stronger.
Zuril quietly sneers at these simpletons – getting his hands on the metal will mean the completion of one of his missions. Now all he'll need to do is send it to the moon.
Oh, and since we've just seen all of the Garmraid's important attacks, here's how they look in glorious future graphix (fair warning, there are some spoilers for 2nd OG and OGMD)!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykSNFAaK22k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_d9vdpoGJU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0WSayaOJ6w