Part 58: Mission 32 (Earth Route) - An Invitation to the Abyss
Location: Kalung Mutiara Island
Helena is reporting to Bähbem that TERRA’s tests with the supplied Vermillion went quite nicely; now if they can get some live combat data, it’ll be very possible to start mass-production. Bähbem tells her to send it to our people - it should get them plenty of data in a short amount of time.
Speaking of our people, he asks Helena if she’s managed to locate the Star of La Mu and, indeed, she has. The issue now is how to actually open the door leading to it.
Bähbem is sure that "she" is the key, but given that she managed to hide that fact even from him for so long, they might have no choice but to simply wait until the Star reemerges. Bähbem asks Helena to lead “them” to a certain place, so that they might clarify this matter.
Location: Mutropolis
Later, Helena’s meeting with Prof. Hibiki and he’s inwardly wary about being visited by someone so directly tied to the Bähbem Foundation. And what is the purpose of her visit? She’d like to examine Raideen’s crag – especially the Mutron ruins beneath it.
Hibiki reminds her that he’s refused those requests countless times before but she assures him her interests are purely scientific.
That’ll have to wait, though: the alarms start blaring and Higashiyama reports several heat signatures nearby. And they’re headed right this way.
Mission 32 (Earth Route) – An Invitation to the Abyss
The signatures are coming also coming from underwater and the Death Army soon arrives. Higashiyama figures they’re here to once again try to seize the Star of La Mu; Hibiki sighs that the thing isn’t even here right now, though Helena’s silent stare seems to indicate more.
She eventually speaks, saying she’s got a means of intercepting these attackers but figures, just in case, maybe we should call the Magnate Ten over? Higashiyama’s already on it but what does she have to hold the line until we arrive?
Should be any second now…
Elvy quickly enters the area and Helena asks her if there everything’s running smoothly for her first live combat with the Vermillion (abrupt though it might be). Elvy’s initially taken by surprise to see Helena here but soon reports that everything’s green.
Helena is glad to hear that and trusts Elvy will produce fine data for them to use. When Higashiyama asks, Helena confirms that that is, indeed, what she was talking about : the Vermillion, a humanoid weapon developed by the Bähbem Foundation.
Its overall shape strikes Higashiyama as curious but Helena cuts him off and says it’s not a mass-produced RahXephon; rather, it’s made purely as an Anti-MU weapon and is expected to become the core of TERRA’s new fighting force.
Hibiki can see that it’s certainly not a copy of the RahXephon but, still, he can’t help but get a bad feeling from it. Elvy herself is focused on the problem at hand: this new Vermillion will greatly boost what she can do in battle. If she can put it to good use, she’ll be able to take on the MU without having to rely on Ayato and the RahXephon!
Vermillion – Elvy Model
The Vermillion joins the Dragoons as MP units that are actually fine; it just needs a wee bit of upgrades to get there since that L size means it won’t dodge very well. Elvy does have a good Prevail, though, so it’ll make up for it a bit.
Only two weapons but they’re decently strong and have good range, too.
There are some Death Birdies near us but we’re better off headed this way.
Enemy Phase!
Stuff moves onward.
Player Phase!
The enemies’ movements strike Hibiki and Higashiyama as a bit odd – seems that their target might actually be Raideen’s crag instead of Mutropolis. Are they after the Mutron Ruins beneath it?
Helena is silent for a bit once more but, at length, tells Elvy to do everything in her power to keep them from reaching the place. It is the cradle of the divine birdman and must be protected. Elvy doesn’t appreciate being told to manage both the aerial and terrestrial enemies by her lonesome. Still, if she can’t pull through something like this, she’ll stand no chance when it’s go-time against the MU.
It’ll be a while before the birds are anywhere near the crag, so we’ll set our sights on the regular foot soldiers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoMn_pH_CPM
Don’t ask the gun’s name; I don’t know, the folks at 2ch don’t know. Seems like it’s Indonesian, just like Elvy and her callsign, but that’s it.
Enemy Phase!
One more. Might as well show off the Vermillion’s strongest attack!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfOVNeMjtSk
Shit, this looks cooler than so many of our protagonists’ attacks!
Elvy kills all but one of the Death Army soldiers and that’s only because I wanted it to live.
Player Phase!
A bevy of other Death Army units appear, led by Michelo – he’s a bit early for the party, it seems. The new units are real damn close to the crag and Hibiki knows things have gone south now. Higashiyama tells Elvy to retreat – she can’t win this by herself.
Elvy is set on keeping at it, though Michelo has no time to waste on her. He spawns a few more Death Birdies to surround and bring her down; seems like it’s the end for her when the sound of a khakkhara echoes through the area. No, it’s not Hokushin or his posse.
As the new Death Birdies are blown away, a voice beckons the attention of these undead who shower the world in turmoil – the demons of Hell are eagerly awaiting their return. It is the Grim Reaper’s duty to consign the deceased to the Underworld and, thus, Kyral Mekirel now stands before them!
Michelo sniffs at the old man, asking if he doesn’t see the troops at his command. Or has he come here looking for a place to die? Nay! There is no light in Kyral’s blind eyes; all that he sees are the undead he hunts, burning in hellfire! And, now, his skills as an assassin will sever Michelo’s ties to this world, relaying him to the afterlife!
Michelo throws that line right back at Kyral, as the guy gets in touch with a confused Elvy and tells that Domon and his group will be here soon. They need to hold the line until then.
Mandala Gundam (Kyral Mekirel)
Pilot Skills:
- Sword Cut L6
- Counter L5
- Support Attack L2
- Concentration (SP costs reduced by 20%)
- Focus (8)
- Strike (12)
- Invincible (8)
- Spirit (32)
- Valor (32)
- Fury (24)
We don’t have a Nepal flag smilie…
Still, surprise! We get one last Gundam Fighter, odd choice notwithstanding (seriously, why is it not Master Asia or Schwarz?!).
Kyral is one of those units that’s competent and can stay alive, but lacks stopping power against bosses. His lack of a super mode or combined attacks makes him the weakest G Gundam unit by far, though the Mandala Gundam is hardly weak. In fact, it’s stronger than the Nu Gundam!
… I don’t know whether that says more good things about him or bad things about the Nu’s representation in this game. Still, Kyral dodges well, is accurate and has good range. If you want, you can absolutely field him.
This little building here will give him a nice terrain boost.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-K2D64TQug
Sword-staff!
Elvy also moves on over and oneshots another nearby mook.
Enemy Phase!
That’s another two down.
Player Phase!
The Death Birdies are getting close now, so Kyral parks himself atop Raideen’s crag and starts slicing. With only one tile for us to guard, he’ll be playing bouncer for a while.
Once you kill five enemies…
We’ve arrived and Elvy tells a worried Haruka that’s she’s fine. More importantly, Asuka asks Elvy about that other unit. Is it TERRA’s?! Misato impressed, she didn’t think they’d be developing mechs like that… Actually, no, Haruka says it’s not theirs. Allenby is the first to call out to Kyral and he’s glad to see both her and Domon.
Domon is surprised to see him but it IS his job to kill those enthralled by the Devil Gundam; having heard of our battles, he set out to join up. Kaine and Kouji are gobsmacked to find out that that springy mech’s a Gundam.
: Hold on, dad, chief! We’re coming to help you right now!
: Don’t worry about us! Rather, the enemy is after the Mutron Ruins – you cannot let them have it!: They’re going after the ruins?!
: Then it’s just like last time…!
: They still haven’t given up on the Star of La Mu?: Correct…!: But the Star’s not here, right, dad?!: I believe they’re trying to obtain clues regarding its location from the ruins… But, regardless, you cannot allow them anywhere near the crag!: O-OK, dad!
: Huh?! What is it, Raideen?!
: Did something happen?!
: The energy reading coming from the Raideen has suddenly spiked! Cause unknown!
: HAH, his little nest is under attack! OF COURSE he’d get like that!: (No, there’s more to it than that. The Raideen’s on guard, watching out for something…): (Is it because the RahXephon came here?)
: To Captain Shitou, aboard the Nahel Argama. This is Helena Bähbem speaking.
: (Miss Helena… Looks like the Foundation really set out to study the ruins directly, just like Itsuki said.): Captain, I was going to suggest we use this opportunity to collect some join combat data of the RahXephon and Vermillion… : But it seems the Instrumentalist— rather, the pilot, Ayato Kamina, hasn’t been allowed to deploy?
: Huh…?
: Ayato, why haven’t you deployed?!
: I-It’s the RahXephon! It’s not moving!: What?! Megumi!: The heart-rate signal’s declining despite the pilot being inside the unit…! Quantum Condensation readings are also below normal values!: With Ayato aboard? How?!: Is the RahXephon itself refusing to deploy?!: I-I don’t know… but I can’t get it to do anything!
: Then we’ll have to make do without – the RahXephon will remain on standby inside the ship! All other units, engage and destroy the enemy!: (The RahXephon isn’t deploying… is it because the Instrumentalist is nearing his new awakening? …No.): (The RahXephon is wary of the divine birdman recovering the Star’s light…)
Losing a powerful, flying Super in this mission is annoying but we’ll survive.
The newly arrived Birdies are a bit sturdier than the initial batch. Still, Kaine finishes the job.
Domon’s softened this one up.
Attaboy.
Enemy Phase!
Michelo’s not waiting around anymore.
Little bit of damage but it’s free.
Other enemies are still drawing closer; by the crag, the Birdies prefer to take a few more steps instead of blasting Kyral.
Player Phase!
Elvy lands onto that positive terrain, to boost her survivability.
Behold!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eONxIP6tkt0
MANDALA ENJIIIIIIIIINNNN!
One more kill and that triggers more plot.
Michelo’s decently impressed BUT he’s not about to retreat that easily today – IT is almost ready to roam the Earth once again and, as such, needs plenty of food. Our people have questions but, of course, Michelo’s not going to answer. Rather, he’ll now extend to us all an invitation to the same dark abyss his group was once sent to!
A metric crapton of Death Army units spawn and Kouji sees that the DG Cells seem to be working at an increased rate than during our previous fights, recovering full functionality. Asuka isn’t impressed with their mob but Aqua warns that it wasn’t just Soldier-type units that were spawned: there are some Gundams in the newly arrived group!
Indeed, Kyral sees that Michelo wasn’t the only one to return from the darkness.
George spots the Grand Gundam up ahead and Chibodee sighs that the “Champ” has been brought back to life: Gentle Chapman, former Gundam Fighter of Neo England. He’s yet another man who afflicted by the DG Cells, becoming one of the Devil Gundam’s Four Heavenly Kings.
Michelo says Chapman also hasn’t forgotten the hatred he feels for the Shuffle Alliance; furthermore, it’s also time for Allenby to return to her rightful place as one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
She promptly tells him to piss off, not even willing to entertain that idea, and Michelo sighs that she’s making her old Gundam very, very sad. Yes, they’ve revived the Walter Gundam and Michelo now commands her to offer her body and soul to it once again. Then she’ll have everything she wants.
: Allenby…!
: Don’t worry, Domon. I don’t want or need that thing anymore. Let it come back from the dead and try to claim my soul as many times as it wants… I won’t make the same mistakes again…!
: Allenby…: Heheh… It was you, Domon and everyone else who gave me the chance to figure that out, and the strength to see it through. So I won’t let this thing get the better of me!
: (Hm… You seem to have grown much since those days, Allenby.)
: Take a look, Domon, Rain! I’ll crush this awful past of mine with my own two fists!
Grand Gundam (Gentle Chapman)
Pilot Skills:
- Support Attack L2
Gentle Chapman might truly be the most British name I’ve ever heard in any media; merely typing it out has made my hair assume the form of a bearskin… and I’ve a buzzcut. Regardless, the truth is that this guy is actually a corpse controlled by DG Cells and it shows with his lack of skills. His stats are good and the Grand Gundam (true to the series) has significant accuracy modifiers in its two weapons – a lot of range, too.
It’s also appropriately bulky, as you’d expect with something that big. Still, the lack of Prevail makes the Grand Gundam stand only one step above the level of a big enemy battleship.
The Walter Gundam, lacking a hulked out Allenby, IS on that level. Its Zombie pilot can’t fly worth a damn, so it can only tank hits. And it can’t tank well.
The guy can’t even make proper use of the unit, since it’s flying despite having an S in water.
I’ll be keeping most of my team up top. Chapman has a large group of new mooks, too, but I took a look at that and said “fuck it – I’m sending Zeorymer over”.
Domon weakened this one for Kaine.
One for Allenby, courtesy of Light.
You can’t really oneshot these beefed up mooks except with your big, expensive attacks.
This is for Ryouma.
To Asuka, from Duke.
Insert a couple more Birdies getting cut down to size.
Enemy Phase!
Michelo decides to go after Sai. A problem, since I greatly underestimated just how bad he is in water.
: That’s enough of your crap! Yakitori, fried chicken, Peking duck… my repertoire is as run-out as my patience!
: Wh-Why YOU! Treating ME like some chicken’s only PISSING ME OFF!
Figured it was safer to have Light eat a big hit than have Sai be potentially oneshotted.
The Walter goes straight for Allenby – good thing I saw fit to equip her with a Screw Module.
: Walter Gundam… I’ll beat you with my own hands! : I remember the weak a person I was when the DG Cells took hold of me. And I’ll also fight to keep those memories!
It’ll be over soon.
On land, everyone wastes their turn chipping off the Zeorymer’s paintjob.
Player Phase!
This was the moment I realized that George didn’t need his Super Mode running to MAPW.
Three weakened for the price of one. Asuka, Tetsuya and Duke take them
Go, go, go.
Didn’t even need Kaine’s help.
Excellent.
Gotta move Argo and Chibodee outta the way.
Kill one of the clever Zombies.
With a quick Rouse from Fuunsaiki, we are ready. Deploy it!
And then everything died.
Gimme more fireworks!
Two kills for Domon.
Let’s make quick work of the Walter before shifting our sights to the bigger threats.
All the other Shuffles get their Super Modes running from this.
I’d mistakenly cast Valor with Benkei, so we might as well use it now.
Good hit.
Enemy Phase!
The crag area is finally clear!
Erm, I didn’t think he’d go after Domon with so many other targets nearby!
: What’s the truth behind the Devil Gundam’s revival, Michelo?! Who’s the mastermind?!: Do you honestly expect me to just go “OK!” and answer that?!: No, I do not. And in that case—!: You’ll “make me talk, with your fists”, right? Talk about a one-trick pony!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AooS0xbsV4k
Ow.
Player Phase!
Everything else is weak, so we kill, kill, kill.
Now for Michelo.
: Come here, you smug Frenchie! I’ll show you what Italian class is all about!
: A man consumed by power and greed speaking of class? Absurd!
: Face me with that God Bird you’re so proud of! You’ll learn who truly deserves to soar through these skies!
: Come on, then! The Raideen would never lose to someone like you!
: I’m gonna make you spit out everything you know about the Devil Gundam’s revival today!: If you want answers, then come with us. Let’s have fun together again!: I already told you – I’m not who I was back then! And I’d never join your side again!
: Uuurgh…! Blast YOOOUU! : B-But… So long as the Devil Gundam exists, I’ll be back! AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN! Remember that!!*Boom.*
And now for Chapman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EXE2oYs31U
: Chapman! This is not where you belong… return to the Underworld!
!!
That’s all enemies dealt with and while Mutropolis and Raideen’s crag took a little bit of damage, Higashiya says it’s all within tolerable levels. As for the RahXephon, Haruka reports that it’s still inactive. Inwardly, she is sure something about this place has to be related to the problem.
Some convos we missed:
: You’re not even a Gundam Fighter, woman! The likes of you could never do anything to me!: Silence! I’ll never tolerate anyone who’s decided to support the Devil Gundam! --
: Come on, Macaroni! I’ll blast some holes right through ya!: You Americans’ sense of humor is the WORST! --
: Guess fate’s tied us to you… that’s so much bullcrap.: Shut YOUR trap! I’m ENDING that today!!--
: I remember you! Didn’t EXPECT Kyral, the Grim Reaper, to be PLAYING HERO!!: You’d sneer at me as a pretender…? Still, I have now dedicated my impure life to fight in the world’s name! 
: Begone to the afterlife! I’ll strike down the lot of you, even if I must perish to do so!--
: Oho… that’s the Bähbem Foundation’s new prototype?
: How the hell do you know that?!: “One devil knows another”, see? But we’ve met in battle, so there’s NO WAY AROUND THIS!
: Bite me! I’ve nothing to fear from anyone with my Vermillion!--
Duke vs Walter Gundam:
: I see you, Saucerbeast!
: No, no, brother! They look alike, sure, but that’s a Gundam!Goodies today: High Performance Scope, a Super Repair Kit, and a Long Range Radar.
Elvy’s already been reassigned to the Magnate Ten, formally presenting herself before Bright. His answer: "hm-hmm." Haruka didn’t expect this but Elvy says it’s to test the Vermillion. Helena explains that the thing is slated for mass-production once these are done – TERRA’s secret weapon against the MU; Bright doesn’t seem to know what to make of that.
Kyral also enters to speak with Bright, the two men not having seen each other since the Devil Gundam Incident. He’s also officially joining our fight, which is great news to our divided group.
Before we go anywhere else, though, Helena requests that we head back to Nirai-Kanai right now: she wants to check the RahXephon. Haruka argues that the bot’s gone back to normal ever since we left the Mutropolis area but, still, Helena figures it’s better run some exams on it just to be safe.
Alright, Bright agrees to do that.