Part 11: Mission 6 - Iron, Boy, Champion of Justice - Part 2
The SD Gundams have only been around for a few scenes and I already love them. Now, this mission’s pretty simple as it’s all but a replay of our fight at Arkham City: destroy all Katou units, don’t lose the Elshank, Vardant or Linebarrel. The latter is VERY difficult to kill because Kouichi’s D-S.O.I.L. is absurdly powerful right out of the box and he’ll regen a ton, so it’s more a matter of making sure he doesn’t steal too many kills (the Katou AI seems hardwired to go after him).
With that in mind, Yulianne is still the only thing even remotely threatening, and that’s just because she can debuff your armor.
Sun Shangxiang Gerbera
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L1
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L1
Spirit Commands:
Focus
Assail
Mech Features:
Sword
Repair Module
10% HP and EN Regen
Squad Bonus: Money +10%, Mobility +5 (Money +20%, Mobility +20, 25% chance to dodge an incoming attack)
Shangxiang’s voice actress: Akemi Kanda (other roles: Chitose in SRW V, Estelle in Trails in the Sky, Nanako in Persona 4, and many more)
Shangxiang is, right outside the box, a very reliable squaddie not only because she’s very dodgy (especially with an SS size – all SD Gundams are human-sized) and can handle herself both at range and in melee (though her best attacks are pre-movement), but because her Squad Bonus boosts the cash you earned.
Early game doesn’t have a lot of Luck and Bless casts, so she can quickly boost your cash inflow if you pair her with someone who gets a lot of kills. Repair Module can also make her a good fit for someone that takes more hits than not, like Richard.
This is probably a good moment for me to make a quick tangent into Weapon Upgrade Patterns. In essence, a Weapon Upgrade Pattern refers to the cost and bonus power you get for each extra pip you set in a given upgrade.
It goes from pattern A (the best), to C (the worst), and what you’ll often find is that the lower tier bots follow pattern A as a way to help even the playing field against the big, powerhouse mechs (often pattern C). Pattern A bots, like the Lyras and Shangxiang, get more power for each pip, and are cheaper to upgrade – as such, little Gerbera here will actually grow stronger at a faster and cheaper rate than Sun Quan.
So keep that in mind if you really like a lower tier unit: you’re not gimping yourself THAT hard by upgrading and leading with them if you want to. The Upgrade Pattern isn’t enough to fully compensate the power gap, of course, but it lessens the impact.
Sun Quan Gundam (Fierce Tiger Frame)
Pilot Skills:
Soul of the Three Sovereigns (三侯の魂) – activates at 130 morale, granting damage dealt+10% and damage taken-10%.
Prevail L1
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L2
Guard
All Attack L1
Command L1
Spirit Commands:
Focus
Sense
Mech Features:
Sword
Azure Wall – negates any damage below 3000. Costs 10 EN per use.
10% HP and EN Regen
Squad Bonus: Armor +100, Melee weapons’ power +100 (Armor +150, Melee weapons’ +200, EN +75)
Sun Quan’s voice actor: Nobunaga Shimazaki (other roles: Touya in SRW OGs, Akira in Aquarion Logos, Iok in Gundam IBO and several more)
Sun Quan’s one of the main SD Gundam bots, so of course he’s good. Dodgy, strong, you know the deal; SS size does put him in that same risky position as Heroman, as a 3000 barrier isn’t impossible to pop when everything gets a damage boost against you, but his evasiveness is such that he should be fine (provided you keep an eye on evasion decay).
It should be noted that while his weapons all have decent power, his strongest (for now) is pre-movement, so that might hamper you some if you’re the rush-down type. Also, none of them have the Ignore Size Difference property, so the SD Gundams should be a high priority when you get one of those Skill Parts.
Those nitpicks aside, Sun Quan’s good, an easy fit in any group, and he’ll get a LOT stronger by the time we’re done. Also, Sun Quan’s kill count influences a secret (the greatest one), so that’s another reason to use him.
Our folks are rather far away, so we’ll hitch a ride on the Elshank and hurry on over before Kouichi gets too far.
The Suns are close enough to get to work, though.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: There are humans aboard these massive contraptions? What is going on with this world?!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eraObur6g58
“Away! There is no justice in what you are doing!”
Frickin’ kill-stealer!
SRW UX - Love Survivor
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: Come and face a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE, villains! I’ll chop you all into sashimi!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDAhGNkbSWg
Saya takes the kill and as things progress…
: (Haah, haah… I’ve managed to make it all the way here. Now I just need to find and grab the Riot!)
: Oh? We bump into each other again.: Y-You’re…!: It took me a while, but I finally got it all patched up again. Do try to take things easier next time, if you would. : Y-You’re not calling the guards on me…?: I’d wager if I tried stopping you, you’d simply knock me out and go anyway, no?: And if two events are set to end the same way, I’d much rather take the less painful option.: …: And, in any case, I’ve a feeling you’ll come back again. : …? What do you mean?: What do I mean? You know the answer to that question better than anyone. : I do…?Back outside…
*Beep, boop.*
: Richard, he’s escaped as planned. Now if events unfold just right…
: Understood. We’ll take care of things over here – one way or another.: Let’s see what you’ll do now, Ensign Berge…
: …https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7eoD2tAh10
Carrying on!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
Keep killing things and…
: Major, Ensign Berge’s Riot has just left JUDA.: Did he now? I’d rather not have to shoot down the same machine twice, but…*By the corner of the map.*
: (I just need to keep heading this way and I’ll be out this airspace… but…)
: Aah?! Enemy reinforcements…!
: “Easy-peasy”… yeah, right! This is some deadly work, damn it!: (I can make it back if I just carry on… Maj. Graham and Jin are waiting for me!): (I can make it back… but!)*An Arma steps forward.*
: ?! U-Uwaaaaaaah!!
: Crap, Yajima—!
: What…?!
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: …: It’s…!: (Hah, he really did come back…): Ensign Berge…!: If you’re going to gun me down, go right ahead…! But, I…!: I know. You don’t have to say anything. Back us up, Ensign!: …Aaay, here’s our boy again – as if this battle wasn’t already stacked enough in our favor.
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: (There’s no way I can go back after doing this…): (But, even so, I…!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o883F_-xLwM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GThBKYpgvhI
And here are Rennie and Mike’s best non-combined attack.
SRW UX - Linebarrel
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: My, what a naughty boy you are. You’re really making life difficult here.
: Insolence! I am a proud man of the Sun family… And I do not tolerate injustice when I find it!
: Aw, what a cute little Gundam girl. But you understand that I cannot go easy even then, right?: Hmph, that’s my line! I won’t show you any mercy!
SRW UX - Love Survivor: You better not expect me to go easy on you ‘cause you’re a woman!: Hmm, spirited boys aren’t my favorite, but I like them well enough.: Come here, kiddo. I’ve got plenty to teach you.
SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness: Now that’s a very sexy voice. Shame we had to find each other on the battlefield!: It is, isn’t it? Still, I’m afraid you won’t find me where you’re going!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: Are you also after that Machina?: We are. But, unlike JUDA, trashing it's also A-OK!
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: Oh? Now this is strange. What is a prototype of the Federation doing with JUDA?: I’ll never turn a blind eye to those trying to take the lives of innocents!: Even if it means losing the home I once knew…!
And if Kouichi took a swing at her:
: This power, the Linebarrel, is mine!: That toy is too good for you, honey. Hand it over! She gives us Ishigami's Deluxe Sushi (Evasion and Skill +10, Accuracy +5).
: Tsk... Guess the odds really were stacked against me. : I suppose this'll have to be it for today. I look forward to seeing you again, Kouichi Hayase.
: (The Katou Organization… Who the hell are they…?)
: All hostile forces confirmed destroyed!: And with that done…: Kouichi Hayase, please respond.: Hm?! Wh-Who are you?!: I’ll get straight to the point. You, a Factor, and the Machina you pilot, belong to our company. We are here to repossess both. : Machina? Factor? What’re those?: Only a person with certain unique characteristics is capable of controlling a Machina… that’s what we call a Factor.: Heightened physical abilities, a sudden spike in aggressiveness…. Does any of that sound familiar? And, above all, the fact that you are piloting a Machina is ample proof that you're now a Factor.: …: You became that Machina’s Factor by accident, after that event three years ago. : I don’t really get everything you’re saying…: But, still, I’m not about to let you take this mech. And you’re not changing my mind...
: …!
: I’ve been waiting to have power like this for way too long, see!
: He attacked him…!: Stand down! This is my job as Head of our forces!: B-But…!: Let me ask you one thing, Kouichi Hayase. What will you use this new power of yours for?: For justice.: Justice…?: You heard me. I’ll be a Champion of Justice.
: Huuh?! What are you babbling about?!: A Champion of Justice isn’t someone who flaunts his power like that, you know!: She's right. What you’re doing can only be described as brutality, pure and simple. : That so? Fine, then I'll work that brutality and pound you straight into the dirt!: Kouichi, you…!: A middle-schooler can only act like a middle-schooler, I suppose. And in that case…
: It falls on me to teach you what true brutality is like.: Huh…?!
: U-Uwaaaaaah!
x5
: H-Hey, isn’t that a bit…: Gaahaaaaaaa!: S-STOP! You’ll kill him!
: …x5
: (Aarrgh… I-I’m gonna die…?!): Oi, that’s enough. Any more than that and he’ll actually…
: Huh…?! Wh-Whaat?!
: The robot’s regenerating all the damage it took?!: (That’s the Machina’s self-regeneration… but I’ve never seen one work as fast as this…)*Beep.*
: Mr. Moritsugu, please halt the operation immediately.: Why? Weren’t our orders to capture the target?: Yes, but this is a direct order from the President: return at once.: The President… Copy that. Retreating.
: Are you sure about this, sir? Just a bit longer and they would have managed to recover the Linebarrel…: I’ve thought about it and figured letting that boy play around some is more likely to get us new information.: Besides… it’s more interesting this way.: Very well. I’ll strengthen our surveillance on him.: Furthermore, both UX’s escapee and the two mini-Gundams are also being brought in.: “Mini-Gundams”…? Ah, those.: They aren’t exactly Gundams as we know them.: …?
: (Hmhmhm, first the ninja robot and, then, them…): (The events needed for the project are happening without a hitch it seems…)
: Kch.. Urgh...: Ko-Kouichi! You OK?!: A-Aaah, and I was so close.: Still, considering how suddenly it all went down, I reckon I did pretty good for my first battle, huh?: …: Hmm, and I could eat an ox right about now… I better get back home. *Off he goes.*
: Kouichi…: …: (Hrm… damn it…): (GOD DAMN IT!!)
: First you let me escape, and then you toss me back in the brig? Fickle, aren't we?: That was a test – and I apologize for it, FYI. But we wanted to know what kind of person you truly are.: What kind of person...?: Hm. Twice you manage to get out… and twice you came back. Why is that?: That’s…: Because you couldn’t ignore injustice happening right in front of you. Or maybe you felt that you needed to help others. Am I right?: …: Way I see it, you’re someone who values human life above all else – even when you know doing so will get you court martialed.: What are you getting at?: To be honest, I don’t think being a soldier suits you.: …?!: But you’re still a very good pilot… Do you see what I’m getting at now?: … Are you telling me to sign up as a merc? To take life in exchange for paycheck?: That’s for you to decide. As you’re well aware, we’re scumbags in the eyes of society.: Still, even scumbags have beliefs of their own.: So I want you to take your time with this. Compare that idea and your own beliefs to one another, and ask yourself: “Do I think that is truly the right thing to do?” : My beliefs…?: I’m leaving the door open, alright…?*Richard leaves.*
: …: (My beliefs… What I think is truly the right thing to do … That’s…)
: …
: Kouichi!: Ah?! Oh, it’s you, Risako…: Hey, now, don’t “Oh, it’s you” me. Did you speak with Yajima yesterday, after school ended?: …: I… I was just wondering what Yajima talked to you about…: Not a whole lot; nothing for you to get all giddy over, at least. : Huh? N-No, I... I was just…: Come on, we gotta get to our seats. Class is about to start.: Hrmm. You’re always avoiding me like the plague…: Oh, and did you hear? There’s a new student transferring over today.: A transfer student…?: Yep… Ah, here she comes.*Door opens.*
: …: …?!: ? What is it, Kouichi…?: (I… I know that girl!): Hello, everyone. I’m Emi Kizaki and I’m transferring to this school today.: (I’ve met her before… somewhere!): …