Part 42: Mission 25 - Those Guided By the Light
Eris has figured out what it was that drew so many of the Data Weapons to Hoshimi over these past seventeen years. The only other special thing this town had, other than the Dendoh: Meteor. The energy of its power sources, the Meteor Cubes, is the creatures’ absolute favorite kind.
So, with that in mind, we want to use one of the things. Shibuya is a bit queasy over the thought of losing one of these since each Cube is incredibly precious; still, Vega argues we’ll lose EVERYTHING if we're beaten in the battle against the Gulfer. And now that the Giganos and Haudragon are attacking Japan, we haven’t the time to hesitate.
The plan is to snag every one of the remaining Data Weapons right here and now as a way to at least give us some control over this chaotic battle with the Gulfer. Plus, Ginga says, the Leo and Unicorn would be very lonely if we don’t get their friends all back together.
Alright, Shibuya allows us to do it and opens the Meteor Cube compartment.
The thing is pretty much the size of someone’s hand, far smaller than what Ginga and Hokuto expected – they figured I’d be even bigger then the Hyper Dendoh Batteries. Inoue cautions against judging by appearances.
It’s a mass of pure energy, as well as a conduit for energy drawn from somewhere. Truth is, there’s still loads GEAR doesn’t know about it but the point is the Data Weapons love the thing. Meteor itself also calculated a 94% chance of that being a correct assessment.
Hokuto asks if Meteor’ll stop working if we take the Cube away but Shibuya tells him not to worry: GEAR has a second one in stock. In truth, with only one of them, Meteor could function pretty much eternally.
We are in a hurry, though, so Vega calls everyone to leave quickly.
Mission 25 – Those Guided By the Light
Everyone’s in position and Vega warns everyone that the Ogre is all but certainly going to come here. We can’t let it take any more Data Weapons, so everyone’s to provide cover to the Dendoh.
Sounds good and Ryouko tells the boys to let us handle the Gulfer when they show up. Hokuto thanks her and Eris tells him and Ginga that we need to time this off perfectly – we won’t have another chance. At the signal, Ginga’s to toss the capsule with the Meteor Cube far away and, once at that, it’ll overload.
Sai asks if she means the thing’ll explode but, no, Eris says it’ll just be a strong burst of light which should lure the Data Weapons. Harry will coordinate with Omoikane and get the tracking program transmitted to target computers over the world and ready to go – once the creatures are out of their hiding spots, we’ll draw them over. By Ruri’s estimates, our window will be in another two minutes.
The alarm starts blaring right then and Harry pings the Gulfer inbound – that’s sooner than we expected.
: The Ogre… Altair!
: Hmhmhm… we’ve less nuisances than usual today, I see.
: Altair…!
: You…?! Why do you call out my…! U-Uurrk!: My name is Vega… though that name doesn’t have any meaning now. Just as yours doesn’t!: Hrrmm…!: There isn’t anything that can make up for what happened to you. But the least I can do… is kill you!: Who in blazes are you…?! Why do you make me—?!: It’s too late to be asking that!: !
: My only choice is to kill you… for your own sake, too!
: The likes of you killing me?! Absurd!
: Omoikane, Harry, keep a close eye on the tracking program’s transmission.
: Yes, ma’am!
: The Data Weapons will emerge in three minutes, everyone… We need to keep the enemy at bay until then! If even one of our units is destroyed, we’ll be finished!
You heard the lady – don’t lose anyone at least until the Data Weapons are brought over. No problem, really, because only Altair and his knights are a reasonable threat and they won’t move.
Both sides are pretty far away from each other, too.
Enemy Phase!
Just the little RoBeasts start approaching.
Player Phase!
Start angling your whole team east-ish as you attack whatever closes in. It’ll make your life simpler.
These Faitas RoBeasts have a rather short range.
Argo moves in and finishes the job.
Next one.
Ginga takes care of this.
The last Faitas falls to Domon and Rain, while Vega and Allenby get an Orbiton.
Enemy Phase!
A weakened Orbiton crashes and burns against Allenby, while the last healthy one goes for George.
It barely hangs on.
Altair and co are still standing by.
Player Phase!
*Alarm!
: Captain! We’ve detected the Data Weapons!: Next is the decisive blow, then.
: Ginga, Hokuto! Throw the capsule now!
: Got it!: Hm…? What are they up to?
: Here gooooooooes!
: Urgh! What?!
: All the remaining Data Weapons…! What is the meaning of this?!
: Yeah! It worked!: Hurry, you two! Save all three of them!: Right on! We just gotta get closer to them!: I will not allow it, Dendoh!: Stop the Ogre, everyone!
: OK! We’re on it!: W-Wait! I’m detecting something approaching from above!
: What?!
: Ahahaha, I am in luck! No sooner do I arrive on this planet and I find exactly what I’m looking for!: You’re Ashura… why are you here?!: Relax, Altair. I don’t care one bit for those Data Weapons.: What I’m after is one thing and one thing only… it is what Lord Gades has been looking for: more Hyribead. Hyribead just like that mass of energy just now!: What…?!: They’re after the Meteor Cube?!: “Meteor Cube”? Its name makes no difference – what matters is figuring out where I can find it! Do as you will with those Data Weapons, Altair.: Hmph, I intend to!*Altair makes a beeline for the Bull Horn*
: Oh, no!
: …: Come, Bull Horn… To me!: File Save: Bull Horn!
*Saved.*
: Damn it! He got the Bull Horn!: I’m not letting this opportunity elude me! Now to save the other two!: Hokuto, Ginga, quickly! If he steals both the Dragon Flare and Gatling Boar, there’ll be no recovering from this!: O-OK!: Hey, hold your horses. You’re not going anywhere until you tell me where to find that Meteor Cube! So how about we play together for a bit?: Quiet, you! Get out of our way!: Not happening. If I can get my hands on that Meteor Cube, Lord Gades’ wish will be all but granted… Which'll also make my position as the number one commander 100% secured! GWAHAHAHAHA!
: Hmhmhm…hahahahaha!!: ?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEGbG5KBbGI
Captions forever.
: Oh, maggot that wallows in bloodstained riches and status… look upon yourself! : The light that shows what is righteous... that is what people call a mirror! : B-Bastard! Who are you?!
“You do not deserve to know my name!”
: Where there is darkness, there is light… Where there is evil, there is justice.
: The emissary of the heavens, Kenryuu, has arrived!: Hrrrm… you smug insect!!: Now I know what you’re truly after... And I will not allow this planet’s Hyribead to belong to Gades!: Don’t make me laugh! You’ll soon be dead, that’s what!
: Did… Did that guy come bail us out again?!: I’ll keep the Gyandolar away! Go and claim the Sacred Electronic Beasts!: Y-Yeah!: Everyone forward! Don’t let the Ogre reach the Dragon Flare or Gatling Boar!
: Hm! We’ll hold him at bay!
Mission Objectives: The Dendoh reaches both of the Data Weapons, all enemies destroyed
Mission Failure: Any of the Data Weapons destroyed or is reached by Altair, or if any friendly unit is destroyed.
If you haven’t been inching your way to where the Data Weapons’ spawn, you might just be screwed here: Altair can move very far and reach both of the Weapons in two moves. In truth, if you haven’t equipped the Dendoh with movement+ parts, you simply can’t outrun Altair.
Meaning you either get those parts equipped and ready a bunch of people to surround or block his path. If left to his own devices, he might well reach something – especially the Boar.
I knew this was coming, though, so the Dendoh can already reach the Dragon Flare.
: Alright, we made it!
: …: Go for it, Hokuto!: Right! : FILE SAVE! Dragon Flare!
: Dragon Drive! INSTAAAAALL!!
: Now all that’s left is the Gatling Boar, Ginga!: Yep! Leave that one to me!
The Dragon Flare is the long range attacker of the set, carrying a respectable 1-5 post-movement attack with a massive 3-9 Final Attack. Most of its weapons, except the FA, are on the weaker side compared to the Unicorn and Leo; still, if you’re far from stuff, it may mean the difference between the Dendoh getting to attack something.
Ashura
Pilot Skills:
- Prevail L4
- Support Attack L1
Same as Devil Saturn, only stronger: bulky, accurate-ish, good range and hits well. Nothing new, really.
I’ll see if I can’t draw a few Gyandolar closer to our guys. If left alone, Rom can easily kill them all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT6q2GRivcs
Even the Kenryuu’s weakest attack nearly oneshots the guys.
Enemy Phase!
George kills the last RoBeast and learns Valor.
Ashura isn’t waiting around.
Ashura taking little damage from Rom: “Is this all Kirai’s son has to offer?”
Bolstered by his morale gains, Rom takes out two Kasmodons and a Zarios but leaves the rest alive.
Altair is already in position to snag the Gatling Boar next turn!
Player Phase!
And therein lies a problem because the Dendoh is a single tile away from the Boar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di0lJbkVQYI
And here’s the Dragon Flare’s bread and butter attack. Simple but you can’t argue with dirt cheap 6k damage.
So… it’s a good thing our guys were already coming this way because we’re gonna have to deploy some good old boxstrats on Altair.
: I care not for who you are… but if you’ll bear your weapon against me, then you are an enemy to destroy!: I say the same thing! Prepare yourself, Altair!
Vega leads the way.
Chibodee and Sai take the north and east corners, destroying to RoBeast along the way.
Ruri takes west, oneshotting another.
Thank you.
We’re safe now, so let’s get back to killing whatever.
No kill, so Argo takes it and gets his Super Mode running.
Allenby and Saburouta each take a Kasmodon. Off goes George.
Not the best MAPW setup but screw it.
That’s three kills and a boost for Prevail and Sword Cut. He also learns Fury.
Rom transforms into Vikungfu. His Thunder Smash can double attack, so that’s a dead Zarios and Kasmodon. Sai pops Super Mode.
Enemy Phase!
With nowhere to run, Altair attacks.
: Let’s do this, Ogre!
: We’ll bring all the Data Weapons together right here, right now!: Hmph. Moxie is still your sole merit, I see. Still, it is you who’ll be destroyed here! Behold your end, Dendoh!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4rmjXoIDeY
This thing is more of a baby dragon than anything else!
Also, if you do too much damage to the Ogre:
: Urk…! No, I cannot fall with the Data Weapons before my very eyes! HAAAAAAH!!*Full Heal*
: Wha…!
: Damn, this guy’s real stubborn…!: Just keep stalling him! Hokuto, Ginga, go and save the Data Weapon right now! : OK!So, yeah, he’ll just keep on healing. If you care to set up some big support attacks or start using valor, you can farm Altair for exp and cash.
The knights Lock and Bug trade blows with Ryouko and Ruri.
Ashura does chip damage against an Iron Wall’d Rom but the mooks aren’t so lucky.
They just get countered and wrecked. Two Zarios, however, are in Rom’s blind spot.
Player Phase!
And here we go.
: …: Sorry for the wait, Gatling Boar!: Ginga, quick!: Yeah, I know! Here goes!
: FILE SAVE! Gatling Boar!
: Boar Drive! INSTAAALL!!
: Alright! That’s what I’m talking about!: The Dendoh’s successfully saved both Data Weapons!
: Very well done, Hokuto, Ginga!
: That’s quite the haul we got today…!: Curses…! Then I’ll just have to destroy the Dendoh and take those Data Weapons!: Shut it! We’ve got the Boar and Dragon on our side now, so let’s put an end to this today!: As you wish…! And in that case!: Bull Drive! INSTALL!!
: To arms, Dendoh! : Come on, Ogre!
The Bull Horn’s tied with the Dragon Flare for the strongest FA of the bunch but, as far as attacks go, it’s one of the weakest ones. The thing is this one is built more as a debuff unit, with its Auto Pressure attack reducing both the target’s movement range and mobility. Its range is average.
Hmhmhm…Ahahahahahaha! HAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Behold, the deliverer of cheese!
The Gatling Boar is an odd one, focusing primarily on pre-movement attacks. Its File Load is surprisingly powerful, though its FA is on the weaker side.
None of that matters, though, because you only using the Boar for one thing: Clock Manager. This is a 1-5 range, EN-based, post-movement stun. Hit any enemy with it and they’ll be helpless for the entire turn.
But you may argue: all important bosses of this game have debuff immunity – Altair and Ashura do, for instance. That’s true… until Ginga takes a few more levels and learns Fury as his final spirit command. Then he can bypass that immunity. Yeah.
I’m not going to be abusing this since regular MX is simple enough as is. But, if you’re on MXP, feel more than welcome to immobilize enemies as you chip away at their inflated HP pools.
Kirakuni tops off the Dendoh for some easy exp.
Let’s take out the Gulfer knights as a couple of them have some goodies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scjnxpZIFVI
I am Error, indeed.
Following George’s support, Sai moves to finish Bug off.
Three left.
These give out midboss exp, boosting Sai’s Sword Cut and Counter.
Took you long enough, eh?
Saburouta leaves Error on its last legs and Argo takes it down.
On the kung-fu side of town, Domon’s oneshotted a Zarios and set up a team attack on Ashura.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUZcbR_2YC8
ACHAAAAAAA!
Also, ow.
That wasn’t a nice thing to do!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCU3zPmhrV8
STORM KICK!
If you haven’t noticed, Rom has a ton of different names for his initial kick. Wanna bet how many?
Ashura can’t believe the top ranked commander would be beaten. Away he goes.
Enemy Phase!
I got real lucky here. Took a sideway glance and thought Altair was using File Load and decided to counter with mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRfWK9Xwyoo
Nope! He decided to bust out his FA right then and there. It’s a good thing Dendoh dodged an 84% hit because I’ve the sinking feeling a max-EN FA from Altair would’ve been a kill.
The knights are prioritizing the Nadesico but Ruri can handle that sort of attention.
Both are quite weak now, easy kills for Ryouko and Saburouta.
The rest of our team makes a beeline for Altair.
: What lies behind that mask, Altair?: What’s that supposed to mean, Domon Kasshu?: Now that we’ve crossed fists, I’ve come to realize… Your present self is a lie, bound by someone...!: Idiocy! I am Altair, Captain of the Gulfer Imperial Guard!: Then my fists will shatter your mask of deceit!
: You’re pretty dang good, fella! I’m surprised to see that aliens got fighters like you!: My thoughts exactly! You are worthy of falling to my hand!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edi4eOdJBVA
: Hrm…! This thing… it’s as strong as the Bolt Gundam?!: Impressive…! It’s not everyone who can withstand the Ogre’s power!
: You are quite skilled! Earth is to be respected for being home to this many warriors!
: If you understand that, then you ought to pull out your men and head back to your planet!
: Hah… I’ve the advantage over this guy when it comes to speed! : Is that a fact? Your proud feet may as well be standing still face the Ogre’s turbines!
: Get us closer, Kirakuni! We might understand more about the Data Weapons if we can collect some data from the Ogre!
: This is crazy, Eris! All that guy needs is one clean hit to wreck the Cell Fighter!
: I’ve fought many Gundams since coming to this planet but… to think there’d be one which looks like this…!
: The fact that you can’t appreciate the Nobel’s good looks shows that you’re way too uptight!
Let’s finish this off with style.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YNDWiTATqA
When it looks like Altair’s got his back against the wall, he suddenly starts writhing in pain. The Ogre surges with energy, recovering itself again, as a voice speaks in Altair’s head: “The moment your sealed memories return will be the moment you perish. Altair… I cannot allow you to die just yet.”
The Ogre vanishes into thin air, and we’re left wondering what the hell just happened. Vega is very sad over this turn of events.
Notable goodies today were a Super Alloy Z and a High Spec Radar.
That’s this operation ending with relative success, though Vega is worried about our other teams. We need to meet up with them ASAP. As for Rom, Domon asks if he wouldn’t like to come with us.
He might, eventually, but Rom says he has something he needs to confirm first. Vega asks him what is that Hyribead he was talking about but Rom doesn’t answer, quickly running off.
