Part 72: Mission 40 - Bye-bye Jupiter - Part 1
Happy New Year! I hope you guys have some Tylenol handy because we’re about to go full metaphysical +
today!
Location: Kalung Mutiara Island
Helena reports that the RMU System and T-J Busters are all ready and waiting for TERRA’s operation to begin. Said RMU System is apparently something of a fake Star of La Mu but Bähbem figures it’ll be good enough to expose the truth. Helena is still disappointed that they couldn’t find the actual Star, though.
It’s no problem to Bähbem, who figures it and its shrine maiden will show up before them when the time is right. And he’s got that a little something ready to fill up the time gap before that happens. Helena knows about “the devil” and wonders how certain Bähbem is that it’ll act according to his expectations; he says the thing is a necessary evil, set to remove certain uncouth members of the audience.
As for Isshiki, Bähbem likens what he’s doing to be no more than a child playing with fire – fakes can never measure up to the actual thing. Moreover, now is her time…
He means Quon and requests that she show him her mark. As Quon does, she mentions that she met with “her”. Was she well, Bähbem asks. She’s grown, Quon says, and has left behind both her and the capacity as an Instrumentalist; “she” couldn’t become an Ollin, same as Quon’s brother.
Quon herself has just turned seventeen, though, which makes her perfectly qualified for the job. What would Bähbem have her do, then? Play him beautiful music.
“Of my own will, brother of Naacal?” she asks. “Of your own will, beautiful Ollin,” Bähbem answers while Helena watches on.
Isshiki’s put in a call to Misumaru and co, requesting the Magnate Ten’s participation in TERRA’s upcoming Operation Downfall. Jun says it’s a bit of a one-sided request considering how Operation Bagration is already being set up but Isshiki figures the MU are as much of an enemy of the Space Corps’ as anything else. It’s only natural they’d support TERRA in this endeavor, no?
Jun still doesn’t like him trying to have us adapt to what’s more convenient to him but Isshiki reminds that he made this call to put in a personal request to Misumaru – this is none of Jun’s business. Before Jun loses his patience, Genpachirou intervenes and asks him to calm down. Would he like some watermelon? TERRA’s director gave him some when he came over.
As Isshiki silently frowns over Watari’s visit, Genpachirou warns that Jun’ll regret it if he doesn’t take some now. Watermelon goes bad easy, Misumaru adds. Isshiki speaks up again, asking him to quit dancing around his request. He would like an answer.
Misumaru has already been briefed by Watari on what Operation Downfall will entail, so he agrees to have the Magnate Ten take part in it under Isshiki’s command. There is one condition, though: Isshiki’s dealings with us will be limited solely to what’s relevant to the operation. Everything else is off limits.
Watari’s already agreed to it and Isshiki fumes that he was beaten to the punch again. Misumaru cautions him not to do anything untoward to our people – all of us are indispensable, talented individuals. Isshiki agrees and signs off.
Prospector laments the drop in quality from Kunugi to this guy. Isshiki’s pretty gung-ho but, from what Prospector’s heard, there are several folks in both the Federal government and army that view Operation Downfall as too risky. There are voices speaking against it, no?
Genpachirou praises his keen hearing but Prospector simply assumed that’s what brought Watari over here. We’ll see how this’ll play out soon and Prospector simply hopes Isshiki doesn’t take things too far, as one Chief Miwa once did. There’s a chance he might, Genpachirou sighs.
Jun still isn’t sold on having us help with Downfall but Genpachirou argues that these are difficult times for everyone – mutual cooperation is never a bad thing. Jun still takes Bagration to be more important, but Misumaru cuts in right then.
He asks how the “C” is coming and Prospector says it’ll take just a bit longer – it’ll be ready on time, mind. The question is how to deliver it as the enemy will soon figure out its existence. Genpachirou says the moon’s been rather calm thanks to Screw Nail’s success, meaning their smokescreen’s lessened.
Misumaru fears assassins may be sent after the “C” or even directly after Ruri herself but Genpachirou assures him he’s taken steps to prevent that. And there’s still the matter of crewing the “C” before it can go anywhere.
When Misumaru asks, Jun says neither the Giganos or Successors have made any major moves at the present – they’re simply locked in a stalemate with Federation forces. As for the Giganos’ fortress, it’s currently hiding within the Shoal Zone and Space Corps’ troops are searching the area. It’s the calm before the storm, Prospector and Misumaru figure… one that’ll envelop the entire world.
Location: Nirai-Kanai
Megumi and Ayato are back in Rikudou’s home, though they hardly have time to take things easy. They’ve brought guests, though: Judau and Hikaru are rather impressed with the antique-looking place. If anything, George points out that it’s likely very valuable.
Puru is more interested in checking out the bath, though, as she’s never been in a traditional-style one before. Hokuto wonders what she’s expecting to find within: a big pot with crackling wood beneath. Hugo and George introduces a confused Ginga to the concept of goemonburo, named after a famous thief who was condemned to death by being boiled in one.
Regardless, Hikaru tells that such baths aren’t too common nowadays and, indeed, Megumi says theirs is just a regular old bath. Still good to Puru. Touji’s amused that Hugo knows about stuff like that and he chalks it up to seeing a few back when he trained in Kyoto.
Ayato explains to Rikudou that his friends really wanted to check out the house, so he had to bring them along. They’ll only be staying until a meeting we’ll have at TERRA later on and Rikudou’s got no problem with it. Plus, he also got some watermelons in the fridge and everyone’s welcome to help themselves.
Bath plus watermelons makes for the legit Japanese summertime experience and Hikaru’s very happy. She, and the suddenly appearing Izumi, will also be joining Puru in the bath; Hikaru always gets ideas for her manga when soaking. And since she knows how these things go, she warns Touji specifically not to peek OR ELSE.
Why only him?! He kinda seems the more likely person to try it, Judau quips. As Touji flips out, Rikudou enjoys the sight of such lively kids. Before he goes, he does have a favor to ask of Ayato.
And it’s to bring some watermelon over to Kunugi’s place. He’s been spending most of his time indoors, what with his house arrest. Still, the guy’s got a pet bird called Michiru – named after his daughter.
Regardless, Kunugi tells Ayato that were it not for Haruka’s intervention, he would be in jail right now. Or, even, he might have simply been executed for his theft of the RahXephon. Ayato is aware and, in that case, Kunugi is satisfied.
Ayato has something to ask him, a rumor he heard before: is it true that the cherry trees in Kunugi’s garden bloom blue? Kunugi is very startled at the question and asks who told him that. Itsuki.
After a moment, he begins laughing at that ridiculous story. He tells Ayato that he's been had but, if anything, Ayato is glad to see Kunugi smile for once. Kunugi asks Ayato if next time, he'd be willing to share a meal with him...
Back at TERRA HQ, Kaine isn’t happy that we gotta listen to
Why the name? It’s another WW2 rip-off, taking the codename of the US’s planned (and cancelled, obviously) invasion of the Japanese mainland. Either way, it’s time for the briefing to start.
Isshiki explains that this will be both his first and last operation as commander of TERRA; this is because this plan will completely destroy the MU’s barrier! Souichi explains that Tokyo Jupiter is assumed to be on a separate dimensional continuum. In essence, it’s a different dimension which evolved via a different Feynman Diagram than our own dimension.
The TDD System installed in the Vermillion wraps the subject in a stochastic resonance field and is able to barely transpose the dimensional discontinuity by being assimilated into Tokyo Jupiter. The same theory could also be used to simply destroy the barrier but the problem was the energy required – that’s where the RMU System developed by Mutropolis comes in.
Mari asks if they mean this was made by Hibiki, Higashiyama and co and Itsuki confirms: the RMU System is a high-output generator based on the Raideen’s power source. TERRA had previously commissioned its development. Akira asks if the thing runs on Mutron Energy, then, and Itsuki confirms once more: it is, to put it simply, a pseudo-Star of La Mu.
Granted its output is not even close to the original’s but it’ll work. Akira’s inwardly dumbfounded that his father would go and make something like that. The six T-J Busters needed for the operation are already complete, and arrayed in a 97km diameter ring around Tokyo Jupiter at Ohshima, Fujiyoshida, Honjou, Kasama, Inugosaki and aboard the vessel JBB-1.
Together, they will emit a linear field and form a stochastic resonance field, which’ll cause the barrier to disappear. Once it’s out, our people will lead the charge into Tokyo Jupiter to dispatch the MU forces in one fell stroke.
Isshiki makes special note to Misato that Misumaru’s given him command of our crew for this operation, so she better not try anything clever like the other day. She slowly confirms.
Kim tells Megumi that Isshiki was the one who recommended our squad for this dangerous assignment, and Kaine grimly tells everyone to get cracking lest the White Snake start hissing at us. Kim then asks Megumi to deliver Haruka’s diary, which she apparently forgot in the command center. She’d do it herself but she has to head over to the Lydia Litvyak.
Meg sighs at her sister for forgetting stuff at a place like that but agrees to it.
Problem is, Megumi can’t find Haruka. Taking sideway glances, she warns herself that not even sisters should peek at each other’s diaries... Nah, she’s doing it anyway.
There’s a picture tucked away inside of Haruka as a teenager – and just who could this boy right next to her be? …Oh, it’s Ayato. As Meg realizes her sister’s history with him runs longer than her entire life, she moans that it’s not fair. She stands no chance at all to win this.
Elsewhere, Rikudou’s relating to Watari how Ayato and Megumi brought some of their teammates to visit. He believes we’ve reached a point where mutual understanding IS possible, as shown by Ayato and his friends. Isn’t that good enough?
Watari isn’t so sure, remembering how it was him that gave both the Sleeping Beauty and Neriya’s Black Egg to Bähbem. Rikudou says everyone has their own path in life to follow – the same applies to Maya. She realized when she turned seventeen that she was a Sleeping Beauty who had awakened before her fated prince arrived.
Watari moans in anguish that he thought he had no other choice back then – he had to do anything he could to make SEELE’s Instrumentality Project progress even slightly slower. Rikudou tells him not to blame himself but Watari says time is running out: for someone to become an Instrumentalist, they must be seventeen years old.
Rikudou says what’s running out is Ayato’s time as a human, which is why he wanted him to at least spend some of that experiencing a normal family life. After all, in Rikudou’s eyes, Ayato is his grandson. Maybe this is his way of atoning for all he couldn’t do for his daughter?
Either way, time will start moving again very soon. Rikudou wonders which of the competing projects will bear fruit… or will both reach the same conclusion? All he and Watari can do is observe.
: … How long are you going to stay out there?*Door opens.*
: You noticed me…?: Ever since you walked over.: …: …Sorry.: Huh?
: I’ve been avoiding you since coming back, haven’t I…?
: Yes… you have.: So... I apologize for that.
: …It’s fine…: Hey, Haruka…
: Hm?
: I’d like you to be the first person to see this painting, once it’s done. Would you do that for me?: …
: … Okay.
Mission 40 – Bye-bye Jupiter
: Captain, we’re T-minus sixty minutes to the start of the operation.
: Alright. Have all hands maintain level one alert status and stay on standby.: Yes, sir.
: …: Is something wrong, Megumi? You have to make that broadcast…
: Ah…! S-Sorry.
: You’re looking a bit out of sorts today… are you alright?
: Y-Yes, I am… Don’t worry about me.
: Really? If you say so…
: What’s the situation on TERRA’s side, Bright?: Everything seems to be going well so far. But we’ve no idea when the enemy might show up, so you should be ready to deploy at the drop of a hat.: Roger that.
: … It’s almost time for Pandora’s Box to be opened.: Hm…: (Will hope truly remain within when it happens…?)
: …
: What is it, Camille?: …I’ve a bad feeling about this. : What?
: Something feels… wrong. It's got me on pins and needles.
: H-Hey, stop that. You’re gonna get me get all worried too!
: No, I know what he’s talking about… I’m feeling ill at ease.: You too? That’s really not good, right?: …
: Commander, did the report from the science division say anything? 
: No. There are no problems.: Is that so?: (… I seriously doubt that, though.)
: Commander, we’ve just received a AAA-class order.: AAA…? Alright, relay it to me.: Yes, sir.: (…! This is…?!): Is something the matter?
: (Hmhmhmhm… I see. This is what the brass has been up to…): Commander?: (Ridiculous…! I‘ll be damned if I’m going to simply back down like this…!)
: Um…: Major Yakumo, move Operation Downfall’s timetable up one hour.
: (Huh…?! Is he telling us to begin right away…?!): May I ask what is your reason for such an order, sir?: I’ve no need to explain myself to you…!: …: Operation Downfall will begin in five minutes, at 1705 hours. Relay that to all groups.: …Y-Yes, sir.
: …*Beep.*
: …A-Are you kidding me?! Just like that?! B-but…!
: What is it, Harry?: We’ve just been contacted by the Lydia Litvyak. They said the start of the operation has been changed to five minutes from now…!: !
: “Five minutes”?! That’s crazy! What are they thinking?!
: I-I don’t know. But it seems all T-J Buster teams have begun readying themselves to activate.: … It’s rather likely something happened involving the upper echelons.
: Do you mean Director Watari?: I’m thinking people ranked even higher than him.
: (The Federation government…?): But we’ll comply with the orders for the time being – their suspiciousness notwithstanding.
: Hm… We would have to face this enemy sooner or later anyway.
: All T-J Busters have finished their preparations.: And the RMU Systems?: They’re already idling… no problems reported.: What about the prop-satellite formation? : Currently stationary within their assigned sectors.
: All systems are green. The Magnate Ten are also ready…: All that remains is for you to give the go-ahead, sir.: Right. Initiate Operation Downfall!: Roger. Initiating Operation Downfall!: Countdown: 10…9…8…7…6…: (At last… Tokyo Jupiter’s barrier will disappear before our very eyes… and then the Mulians will be next…!): 5…4…3…: …: 2…1…0!!: Deploy the stochastic resonance field! 
: W-Whoa! Look!
: Yow…!
: Tokyo Jupiter’s barrier… it’s falling apart…!!
: Hrk…! Urgh…!!
: What’s wrong, Ayato?!: N-No…! Stop this…!: ?!: Kch…rrrgh! Gaaah!!: Status report!: Energy readings at the center exceeding 215 Ge V!
: It’s working… It’s working…!!: …!!: Comm signals suffering an explosive increase! Time differential effect at max!: The barrier’s disappearing!
: !!
: Huh?! What is…?!
: …: Y-You’re…!!
: …: Reika…! Where are we?: This is the passageway the so-called MU used to send in those they chose as Xephon Instrumentalists.: Instrumentalists…?: Ollins. The original Ollins passed through here…: …!
: !!
: … (his face is obscured, even though it’s perfectly clear in the show.): La-la?: …: Ollin…! What happened? Were you summoned by someone?: By you… and by the egg, yes. I’ve been summoned because I must return there…: You are not Ollin, are you…?: Yes… I am Ixtli. I am proof that Ollin will attain Yolteotl… I am Rah’s song, unleashed from the Xephon… (Also in the show, Ayato starts speaking with Reika’s voice here.): And my guise is that of the person you desire the most, deep in your heart of hearts…: La-la?: You have found your song…: You’re…?: I am the proper musical scale… Come. You are needed…Ollin.: …!: Let us be united…: I… I want to be with you too…
: Who… who are you? Are you not Reika Mishima?: “Reika Mishima” is a false name to a real face… I am Ixtli. Your guidepost, the face that is yours but cannot yet be properly seen. (Ixtli = face, in nahuatl): …
: This is the world you see… the world where I exist… It is the world the two of us will create… You will attain Yolteotl, and become the heart of the world.: Let us go together… Oh, one who’s to rule this world and give of himself to it…!: …No.
: !: The girl in this painting is not you…! You’re not person I wanted to see…! And you’re not the reason I painted this...!: …: I won’t be going with you…!: But it will happen eventually, whether or not you wish it to.: !: There is one more chosen one besides the two Ollins… Will the three of you turn the wheels of time and guide the two worlds, and its peoples, into a new one…? Will you, and the voice of La Mu, bring eternal light to this world? : Or will you not carry out the Tuning, leaving it all to turn into a sea of mud?: …: The beginning of the end of this world is nigh… the hour of death and rebirth approaches. Remember, Ollin… you have precious little time left.: I won’t go with you… I won’t. All I want to do… is protect everyone, and this world…!
: …: I…I…!: …I’ll be going ahead…
: The barrier has vanished completely!: I’ve done it… At long last, I’ve done it…! I’ve succeeded where no other man or woman had…!: Heheheh…Hahahahah! I, Makoto Isshiki, have destroyed Tokyo Jupiter’s barrier! AHAHAHAHAHA!*Alarm!*
: C-Commander!
: What?!: One of the MU’s flying cities has just appeared above New York!
: Wh…What did you say?!: Wait, it’s not just New York! Moscow, Beijing, Istanbul… their flying cities are appearing all over the world!: The MU are multiplying…?!: (The worlds have started to overlap…!): It…can’t be…!!: …How will we deal with this, Commander?: Itsuki! What the hell just happened?!*Alarm!*
: What is it now?!: D1s have emerged from Tokyo!: !!
: Hmhmhm…: Th-That man…?!: Kuki Masayoshi, an old Colonel of the Far Eastern forces…! He’d been listed as MIA following the first war against the Mu, hadn’t he…?!: No, he’s always been within Tokyo Jupiter’s barrier… acting as the MU government’s defense commander…!: We have been freed from our temporal prison… I must thank you for your assistance.: Wh-Whaaat?!: And, having done so, I now command you: lay down your weapons immediately and surrender the EVA-01 and the Star of La Mu.
: !!: The #01 and the Star of La Mu?!: Why those and not the RahXephon…?!: (Their demand for the #01 is almost certainly in order to put a stop to the Human Instrumentality Project… but what about the Star of La Mu? What do they want it for…?): I will grant you twenty four hours to think this through… However, should you not comply with our demands, a great calamity shall be visited upon you all…!
: A great calamity…?!
: Are the MU threatening an all-out attack on us…?: Rrrgh, attack! ATTACK! Destroy that traitor!!: Are you sure about that? If we make the wrong move here, we run the risk of making every MU flying city start attacking, no? : I am your commander right now! Do as I say!: I don’t think you can possibly take responsibility for all the lives you’d risk.: Silence! Just shut up and follow my commands!!: … I’m afraid that is not possible. : What?!: A transmission just came in from the Federation government. Makoto Isshiki, you have been stripped of your position as a Federal Supervisor and as TERRA’s acting commander – effective immediately.: !!: …I trust you know why?: Wha…!: You’ve suppressed the science division’s report warning about the risks of today’s operation, disregarded the government’s suspension order and even sped up the operation’s execution… all culminating in this outcome.: Th-They’re having me take the fall…?!
: Oh, no… you walked off that cliff yourself. : Hah…hahahah…: Come on, former commander. This way.: I… I won’t let it end like this… I won’t…!*Push buttons!*
: Wh-What are you—?!
: Stop him! He’s firing the SAMs!: GAHAHAHAA! Too late!!
: !!: Wh-What happened?!: M-Missiles were fired from the Lydia Litvyak!!
: Wh… What kind of idiot—?!: HAHAHAHA! See that?! It’s what you get for screwing me over! This is your just deserts! Your punishment!: Y-You’re insane…!: …So that is your response? Then I’ll eliminate you all here and now.
: The D1s and D2s are moving to attack!: Then we’ve no choice! Launch all units and engage!