Part 55: Mission 31 (Moon Route) - The Shining Blade is With Us
Mission 31 (Moon Route) – The Shining Blade is With Us
We’ve made it to the Spiral Castle’s sector and Harry quickly lays our trap: SUPER RECOVERY WEAPON! ELECTROMAGNETIC NET!
As everyone deploys, Ginga and Hokuto start scanning the area for Ragou, nowhere in sight. The Gigas aren’t impressed to see us once again try to attack this place with this few troops – we’re not taking them seriously, it seems. Still, the Castle figures this is good for them: they can destroy the Dendoh and take the last Data Weapons right now.
But, of course, they cannot let Ragou come outside lest it get injured and the emperor get mighty pissed.
The Gulfer deploy in mass but Ragou isn’t among their numbers – is it inside the castle? Vega ponders that even the Gulfer may not yet know what to do with something like it, so Rom suggests that it might be currently restrained within.
Which means we need to find a way to lure it out; once that’s done, the Dendoh will act as bait (what with it being Ragou’s primary target) and bring it inside the area with the trap. Once it’s caught in the electromagnetic net, we’ll extract its data.
Vega does warn that, once Ragou is out, to bring it straight to the area. Not only is it likely other stuff will emerge once it comes outside, our mission here still isn’t to conquer the Spiral Castle. Ginga and Hokuto confirm.
: OK, then first we’ll destroy these interceptors and cause a racket around the Spiral Castle!
: Roger that!
: Let’s do this, then! Operation “Catch that Ragou” is a go!
: Huuh? What was that?
: Come on, you gotta think of a cooler name than that!
: Um… Then, it’ll be… Operation “Get over here, Ragou!”
: Hmm… that’s still lacking some “oomph” to it.
: It sounds weird, that’s what.: Aaah, come on! Enough nitpicking! How about this, then: Operation “Go, Dendoh! Blow the Gulfer sky-high!”
: Th-that’s SO corny!
: Isn’t that the name of C-Drive’s first concert?
: C-Drive?
: A really famous pop trio. You don’t know them?
: Nope.
: Heh, not very trendy, are we?
: Oh! Does this mean you’re a C-Drive fan, Camille?: No, not exactly…
: Hey, we’re about to start out operation! This isn’t the time for chit-chat—
: …There’s no problem, I don’t think.
: Huh?: Better they be at ease than stressed. Today’s mission is already difficult enough.
: Yeah, you can always count of the team’s jokesters to lighten the mood at times like this. That’s how it worked for our old crew, you know. (Don’t talk about HER, please…): Hmm. I suppose it is better than having a dark cloud over everyone…: Then, troops, initiate Operation “Go, Dendoh. Blow the Gulfer sky-high.”
: Right on! Here! WE! GOOOOOO!
: Hang in there, Unicorn, Leo! We’ll be bringing Ragou’s data back for you!
Mission Objective: Destroy all enemies (and, eventually, get Ragou inside the target area)
Mission Failure: Dendoh, Rom or the Nadesico destroyed.
To make things simpler for you, don’t move the Dendoh too deep into the area; and, when you’re about to have but TWO enemies left alive, make sure the kids still have their move.
We can leave the basic Gulfer to our slower folks. Rom goes for the stronger RoBeasts.
By the way, I gave Rom a Haro. He now dodges better than most of our Reals (except Amuro, who also has a Haro, and the Dijeh with its S ranks).
Speaking of, Amuro and Kazuya nab some easy kills.
Camille fails to oneshot, so Hugo goes in.
Here we go.
Everyone else is moving in.
Enemy Phase!
All RoBeasts except the basic Gulfer stand back.
Ah, well.
Player Phase!
Judau learns Zeal after killing one of them baby Gulfer. For a hefty SP price, this gives your unit a second move.
Forward!
Thanks, Rom.
Amuro sets it up, Kazuya moves in.
Boom.
Quattro sets himself up to counter-slap everything in sight, while Iino and Camille finish the third Orbiton.
Might as well finish Quattro’s target.
This is a good point for you to stop moving the Dendoh forward, too.
Roux and Jet cut two Orbitons down to half.
Enemy Phase!
The Gulfer knights only seem to attack if you actually get in their range.
Holy crap, that’s 6k damage from a piddly bazooka. I’ll never stop being surprised at how strong this thing is.
Quattro also oneshots another Faitas while Jet finishes his Orbiton.
Player Phase!
Harry reports a call from GEAR, informing us that Ragou’s virus has started running full-speed again. Our time is running out and a pissed off Ginga wants the thing to show its face right NOW.
Hokuto figures we’ll have to raid the Spiral Castle proper but Camille reminds him of what Vega said. Our target is, above all, Ragou: if they lose their patience, they might well lose sight of what we’re meant to do. There’ll be no point to any of this if we don’t get the thing’s data in time.
Ginga asks if we can afford to sit here but Camille is sure it’ll come over – it’ll respond to the ongoing battle.
Kept this one alive for Leina, as she needs some levels.
Good.
The Purus take out the last Orbitons.
Now for the knights.
Couple of them are softened up thanks to Quattro – they’ll die in a couple of hits.
There goes Knight Virus.
Error goes to Kirakuni and Vega.
And that’s all but two mooks dead.
*RUUUUUUMBLE!*
: Hrk…!
: My lord, was that…?!: Ragou… it’s gone mad!
: What?!
: …
: !!
: What’s going on with you two?!
: Maybe it’s—!
: It’s coming, Hokuto, Ginga!
: !
: … : There it is!
: The guest of honor has finally arrived…!
: And now the real fight begins!: Hokuto, Ginga, lure Ragou to the capture zone.
: OK! Ginga, put the Data Weapons away!: Yeah, we can’t let that thing get the Boar and Dragon too.: Come back, Dragon!: Come back, Boar!*If the Dendoh’s equipped with a Drive, it’ll be turned off. You can’t put them back on for now.*
: Hokuto, Ginga, you remember where the capture zone is, right?: Yeah, it’s there!
: Good. Lure it over to that area – everyone else, do not engage. There’ll be no data for us to take if Ragou’s destroyed.
: Roger that!: Alright, Ragou, come and get us!
So, yeah, it’s a repeat of what Boss did with the Gilgilgan but the target area is smaller and Ragou’s got double movement; as such, this one’s a lot harder to pull off. With its six range attack, Ragou’ll only move if it has to and that’s why I told you to keep the Dendoh’s move – you can get far enough away to make him run twice.
This is the kind of thing that you kinda need to get it on your first approach or Ragou will simply start dashing around the target area, never stepping inside until you lead it faaaaar away and try again.
Move your people back along with the Dendoh because it’s quite likely you’ll need to wall off Ragou’s path. Make it take detours to compensate for his high movement range.
We’ll still kill the other knights for some goodies, mind.
After Knight Bug is down, we send the Dendoh as far back as can be.
Enemy Phase!
Absolute and Witter sees that Ragou’s going straight after the Dendoh: not good, as there’s the risk the remaining two Data Weapons will be killed by it.
The Spiral Castle sends out some Capture RoBeasts to bring the beastie back.
Not like those things will be a problem to us.
Good. The new Capture RoBeasts are immediately torn to fine shreds as they attack Quattro – only one’s left alive (the one that attacked Amuro).
Player Phase!
I needed to confirm Ragou’s range and noticed that, with Eris and Torres, no one here knew Scan. So, I used the Nadesico’s function and was surprised to see that, thanks to Ruri’s Hacking skill, we get this special scene.
As Kirakuni kills the last RoBeast, Quattro finishes Knight Lock.
Made a nice wall here. This should be good enough.
Enemy Phase!
: Ragou’s just entered the capture zone!: Activate the electromagnetic net, then. 
: Yes, ma’am!
: Alright! We got ‘im!: My Lord, Ragou’s…!: Urgh…!: Now we just need to collect its data!
: HAUD IT!
: Who—?!
: 
Whare thare is light, thare is darkness! Whare thare is justice, thare is evil! The emissary of ‘Ell, Devil Saturn 6, ‘as arrived! 
: D-Devil Saturn 6… why now?!
: And what exactly do you think you’re doing, mimicking my brother?!: Ah’m pure tired of always doing the same thing. Sae, Ah figured Ah’d shake things up ‘n’ gie that a go.
: Hey, if you’re doing that, then why not go all the way and give us one of those speeches?: Now’s not for time for any of that, Saburouta!: You… why have you come here?: Jist a moving-oot pairtie… Nae, Ah’m kidding. We’re ‘ere coz we’ve git something tae ask thae mingers.: Us?!: Aye. Whare are ye hiding that Meteor Cube?: … Do you honestly expect us to just answer that?: Ah guess nae. Then we’ll jist have tae MAKE ye answer… awright, yer up!
: Hmhmhmhm…
: You… Bug Newman?!: That’s right Rom. I see you’re ever the crusader… heh, how nostalgic. 
: …!: Oi, are you kidding me?! Didn’t Rom wreck that guy?!
: He did. How can the black sheep of the Tenkuu Chuushin Ken School be here…?
: “Tenkuu Chuushin Ken”?! Then he’s…!: He was the top disciple of Kirai Stoll, our master and father to Rom and Leina… but he turned to use the Tenkuu Chuushin Ken for evil and was ultimately beaten by Rom.: So you’ve returned from the abyss of death just like Devil Saturn and Deondra, Bug?!: Och, haud it richt thare! Ah tauld ye afore that Ah dinnae mind ever being gubbed by ye! Ah warn ye not tae lump is with Bug, ye bugger!: What? Then Bug’s…!: Hm; I really did lose to you back then. But my body and soul were restored by Sir Grujios – all so I could send you to the same Hell you sent me!: So you’ve lost not only your pride and sense of justice but your very being to the Gyandolar?! In that case, I’ll once again tender your just deserts in my father’s stead!: Weel, aren’t we excited th’day! Bit wot if Ah do this?!
: Aah!!: Ragou’s…!: !!
: It’s loose again!
: Oh, no!
: UWAAAAH!
: Hokuto! Ginga!: D-damn it…!: How is it so strong?!: !!: S-Stop! You guys can’t come out now!: !!: We’re dealing with the Ragou here! If we lose you guys, too…!: Harry, what’s the status at GEAR HQ?!: I-It looks like the corruption’s now spreading throughout all of the Unicorn and Leo!
: N-No!: DAMN IT! We can’t let it end like this! Not now!: We promised them that we’d get this data!: And we still need to do something about that Mass Driver, too!: So we’re not letting them beat us!
Location: GEAR HQ
*ALARM!*
: !!
: !!
: Leo! Unicorn!
: Th-The Virus is spreading more and more through their bodies! They’re going critical!
: What?!
: Run Pattern F from W138 onward! Hurry!
: We can’t, Eris! Our computers are already at full capacity!
: We can’t keep up…! Damn it… And all our computers are…!*Beep.*
: Huh? This code…!: What is it?!: We’re receiving an urgent transmission from NERV’s Prof. Ritsuko Akagi!: From NERV?!*Beep.*
: This is Ritsuko Akagi, head of NERV HQ’s science division. We’re sending you our MAGI’s defensive programs, as well as a viral self-termination program I developed.: P-Prof. Akagi…: This should buy you a bit of time… Prof. Inoue, you’ll need to open a decoy entry.: U-Understood!: But… are you sure about doing this?: Yes – Cmdr. Ikari’s orders. Regardless, you should now be focusing on dealing with your virus as quickly as can be.: Y-You’re right…! Inoue!
: Yes, sir! Opening circuit! Aiko, open a decoy entry – pattern R!: Roger!*Beep, beep, beep.*
: Wow…! The infected sectors went down by 13%...!
: Did it stop the Virus?!
: Yes… but it’s only for a little while…!: We have to keep at it until Ginga and Hokuto come back, Eris, Leina!: Yes, Professor!
: (Hokuto… Ginga… please…!): (Brother… everyone… come on!)
: (…! Leina…?!)
: (It’s alright. We not giving up here!)
: Vega! Only one thing we can do now: the usual!: “The usual”?
: Brute force! Not very creative, I know, but them’s the breaks! : I-I see what you mean… our only option is to attack until Ragou’s too weakn to fight back…!
: OK! All troops, focus all your attacks on the Ragou! But, remember, we still need to take its data so don’t destroy it!
: R-Roger!
: Hold on, Leo, Unicorn!: We… We promise we’ll save you!
So now we need to reduce it below 10% HP. One thing to note (that the game doesn’t make too clear) is that, once you do, the mission will end… meaning, if you want the Gyandolar cash and exp, you’ll need to save that for last.
… I didn’t realize that until it was already done, though.
Oh, and there’s this too. The Gyandolar will make a beeline for whatever’s close and that’s likely to be the Dendoh.
I didn’t expect them to show up RIGHT THERE, so they’re not packing Iron Wall. And losing it is a game over. Gotta be very careful now.
: Ah, richt… Ah’ll tell ye something guid afore we ‘ave oor rammy!: If ye want tae make some cash, then ye shuid deal with us first. (… I wasn’t looking when he said this…): We’ve no reason tae ‘elp pinheid anymair. Wance yer all in ‘Ell, we’re ‘eaded straecht back hame!These lines were the catch-all lines for whatever Saturn attacks first. Since that was the Dendoh, he carries on to his actual convo with them:
: We’ve no time to fight with you!: Watch it, laddie! Ignair a grown man ‘n’ ye’ll regrit it!: Zip it! We don’t care about you today!
Lucky sumbitch…
Hey, Bug.
: This guy’s fighting style…!: It’s the same as Rom’s!: That’s right! I am Bug Newman, the greatest Tenkuu Chuushin Ken fighter in the universe!
: “Newman”? Are you related to Light?: Or, if you’re “Bug”, does that mean you’re a RoBeast?: Insolence! I’ll make sure you never open those cheeky mouths again!: Hell, no! You know how much crap my mom would give me if I lost to some evil martial artist?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKX5SWcpD28
Only defending because I’m anticipating the other Gyandolar attacking them.
Indeed, all three Fenomenas and two Falgos also gang up on them. The Casmodons prefer to walk towards our folks.
Player Phase!
Y’all fucked up now.
: Hold on, Leo!: You, too, Unicorn! We’re taking this thing down and then we’re coming to help you!
That’s all Falgos dead and some damage on Bug and Ragou.
Speaking of:
Iron Sand (Bug Newman)
Pilot Skills:
- Prevail L4
- Support Attack L2
This guy’s pretty much Ashura, only with more Evasion and Range stats in exchange for lower everything else. His weaker attack, mind, carries the Stun debuff but, that aside, it's the same old thing.
While our folks close in on our targets, we clear out whatever’s close. Drill, Leina and Camille each take a Casmodon.
Puru Two does the same, learning Attune.
We’ll do some chip damage to Bug... though I failed to see that I needed to kill them first.
: Bug Newman! You’ve forgotten the teachings of Master Kirai and, now, I cut you down!: Hmph… From where I stand, you’re still the same exact whelp you were back then!
: So… this man’s a Tenkuu Chushin Ken fighter?!: I am! Think you can dodge my invincible fists?!: Hah! Your evil fists won’t fly against me and the Daimos!
Bug’s defenses aren’t too good, either.
Enemy Phase!
Oh, you.
: Ye really joined up with the earthlings?! Yer jist as bad as us!
: Evil bonds are ephemeral things, built solely for mutual profits…: However, the hearts of those who have justice within them are always united – even if their homeworld is different!
Easy. Rom then proceeds to weaken every Fenomena that thinks can land a hit on him (they can’t).
Bug wastes his time on a now Iron Wall’d Dendoh.
Player Phase!
Moving after Ragou now. Remember, if you’re playing this, get rid of the Gyandolar before you do this.
: This monster’s strong and agile in the extreme… Can we actually immobilize it?
: There was a man who fought even bears and water buffalos with just his karate…! So I will pin this thing down! (This is a reference to the manga Karate Master (空手バカ一代) which, in turn, was inspired by a real life karate fighter: Mas Oyama)
: Beast of death and destruction! My fists will end your evil and deliver my companion’s friends from their plight!
: Take care of the Leo and Unicorn, Leina! We’ll be coming back there with the vaccine handy!
: Don’t give up, Ginga, Hokuto! We’ll immobilize this thing and get that vaccine!
: We need to pin this monster down – whatever it takes!: Right! Let’s throw everything we have at that thing!
: !!!!!
: Wh-What the?!
: That freak’s still up for more?!: …! Watch out, you two! Run! : !?
*Power dooooooown.*
: Aah! They’re out of energy?!: Hokuto! Ginga!: U-Urgh…!: Damn it! Move, Dendoh! MOVE!!: The Unicorn and Leo are waiting for us…! Everyone’s worked so hard to help us get here…! And we still have too much we gotta do…!: So, we… we can’t let this end here!!
*ALARM!*
: The Virus has started attacking the Data Weapons’ main programs!: !!!: L-Leo!: It’s speeding up – the vaccine can’t match it! Data matrix corruption exceeding 98%!: Isn’t there a way to stop it?!: It’s wading through all our decoy entries!: !!!: Unicorn! Hang in there!
: Ah… Aaah!: Matrix corruption… 100%: We… We’re out of time…?!
: The… the Data Weapons’ main programs are… g-gone…!: N-No… this can’t be happening…! The Unicorn and Leo are…!: Hokuto…! Gingaaa…!: NOOOOOOOOOO!!
: Damn iiiit!: Rrrrrrgh! : You… HUGE IDIOOOT!!
: …Strength, anew…! : ?!
: Leo!: Unicorn!: The King is come…: Huh?!: Invoke… its name… Kiba!: “Invoke its name”…?!: “The King is come”?! : Kiba?!
: !!
: !!
: …: The Unicorn…!: And the Leo…!: They’ve fused together…?!: B-But… how is that…?!: That which has risen above the Sacred Beasts… It is, indeed… THE BEAST OVERLORD!: The Beast Overlord, Kiba…!: …: M-My lord, what in blazes in that?!: A new Data Weapon…! How can it be…?!: !!: …*Kiba moves to the Dendoh.*
: It’s headed to the Dendoh! Kirakuni, send them some new batteries!: R-Roger!
: …: Ah?!: You want us to install you?: …
: Ginga!: Yup! : Kiba Drive! INSTAAAAAAALL!!
: !!! : Come on, Ragou!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S45I_Uj723A
I insist to show off the Dendoh’s Yuusha pose, even if the game won’t.
Oh, and the kill also teaches Ginga Fury.
: Alright!: They did it, Captain! They really did it!: Yes…!
: A very good job, you two.: Heheh, all thanks to you guys!: Yeah, if none of you were here, the Unicorn and Leo might’ve…
: Not at all; it was the strength hidden within you two and the Dendoh that beckoned the Beast Overlord. We were mere helpers in this.: Naaah, that’s not true. Right, Hokuto?: Right…!: Alright, I’m hyped now! Let’s go and wreck that Mass Driver, too!
: Captain, what’s the status on Operation Moonraker?: Already underway, though the Federation’s having difficulty. We’ve been ordered to join the fight immediately. : Then we’ve no reason to be here any longer.: Right. Operation “Go, Dendoh! Blow the Gulfer sky-high” is now finished. Nadesico and all troops, withdraw from this sector at full speed.Items earned today were an Apogee Motor and Cartridge.
And here are the other battle convos we missed:
: Ah did some looking intae ye! Yer a pure ‘andsome lad, eh?: Probem is, jist the sight of prettyboys makes me go aw peelie-wallie!: Well, what a coincidence! The sight of villains like you gets me raring for a fight!--
: I’ll show you once more how worthless justice truly is, Rom!: Don’t make me laugh! The only thing you’ll do here is be sent back to where you belong, Bug Newman!--
: I’ll never let you off the hook for using the Tenkuu Chuushin Ken for evil!: Hmph… You may have grown larger but I see your brain is still that of a child!--
: Oh? Leina’s here as well? Then I should head over to say hello.: I will not allow it! You’ll get not even one of your dastardly fingers on her so long as I’m present!--
: Bug Newman! You have besmirched the Tenkuu Chuushin Ken and I’ll beat you in my father’s place!: Then answer me first: what did the “justice” preached by the Tenkuu Chuushin Ken ever give me?!
: That’s…!: I use my strength for my sake alone! And I won’t hold back against anyone who tries to stop me!
Location: Giganos Empire
Dorchenov is going ballistic, yelling that they’re losing this conflict – they must use the Mass Driver. Guiltorre still isn’t budging, ordering some of the homeland’s outer defense platoons sent to the front lines. Dorchenov doesn’t appreciate his stubbornness and pulls a gun on the guy.
Guiltorre sniffs at his pathetic display but Dorchenov proclaims he has the resolve to do what is necessary. It seems the Marshal is incapable of leading them to victory, so… he pulls the trigger.
As Guiltorre falls, Dorchenov chuckles that, now, the Giganos will—
He’s interrupted when Maillot runs in, having heard the gunshot; he spots the gun in Dorchenov’s hand and, right after, the dying Guiltorre. His last words: “The Mass Driver mustn’t be used against Earth.”
Dorchenov’s initially taken aback by Maillot’s sudden arrival but quickly sees that this is perfect: “Guards! Marshal Guiltorre has been shot! Cpt. Plato shot him!”
Generic mooks start pouring in and Dorchenov commands them to arrest Maillot for the murder.
Before that happens, though, Maillot’s groupies run in guns blazing and open a path for him to escape. Gotta be quick, before even more troops come after them.
As they run, Dorchenov orders everyone to capture the Marshal’s killer.