Part 25: Mission 12 - The King of Hojo
We’re back and, whoops, I forgot to take pictures of the intermission. Just know that Joe and Mazinkaiser are deploying as event units. We’ll be heading out with:Kouichi/Yamashita
Arnie/Saya
Mike/Lockon
Moritsugu
Setsuna/Fei-Yen
Zhang Fei/Eida
Liu Bei/Deceive
Guan Yu/Tsubasa
Sun Quan/Rennie
Tactician: Ylbora (Zhuge Liang will have plenty of fun later in the game).
And I forgot to mention this in the last mission but Arnie taking up the Orphes has permanently retired his Riot B – you can’t even switch back to it if you wanted to. That said, any upgrades you made to it are fully refunded.
Off we go.
Our folks find themselves somewhere real strange. Last thing they remember is being engulfed by that huge light during the previous battle and traversing some passage. Cham immediately recognizes this as being in Byston Well, but somewhat different what she’s familiar with. A girl shows up, saying this is Wahlerkahrain, the land of the Ferario, that exists between the Overworld and the rest of Byston Well.
She is a Ferario herself, called Erebos. She’s got the wings to prove it but, as Eida sees, is also a whole lot bigger than Cham. Is she an E Ferario, one of their elder sisters, Cham wonders? No, Erebos is still just a Mi Ferario like her, and Joe has absolutely no idea what’s going on with all this Ferario talk.
Regardless, Erebos sees that we are overworlders and figures we came in from the Aura Road (the passage of light we traversed) that opened not long ago. More important to Sun Quan, where are Shangxiang and Lu Xun? No one sees them anywhere, and Zhou Yu fears they got separated from us while we were inside the Aura Road.
But an old Ferario speaks up, saying our comrades are currently being held captive within the castle of Hypp Kurene at the land of Herikon. Cham is shocked, certain of who this is, despite her looking nothing like the person she remembers: this is Jacoba Aon, leader of the Ferario.
Cham is very confused, as not only was Jacoba supposed to be long dead, she also looks so different. The answer, however, is simple: “I am the Jacoba of this world, but not the one you know.” Seems to Shizuna that it’s the whole “parallel universe” thing again, and Jacoba laughs at the curious things us, overworlders, say. As for Shangxiang and Lu Xun being captive, Erebos says being able to see something like that is a simple matter for the leader of the Ferario.
Indeed, and that is not all that Jacoba’s seen. She proclaims that the world is now beset by a crisis, with us caught squarely in the middle of it all. What does she mean? The Aura Road opened – twice, even – something not even the Ferario could do by themselves. The first time it was due to the Wings of Rean manifesting themselves, the other by the power of a Holy Warrior.
That is to say, Zhuge Liang surmises, this Holy Warrior person is the one who opened the passageway that brought us here? Indeed, and his name is Aesap Suzuki – an overworlder like us.
Cut to Hypp Kurene, where Aesap is waking up. Lux is there with him, and explains that this is her father’s castle, in the land of Herikon. They are in Byston Well. Big Daddy Sakomizu is also there, who introduces himself and extends his gratitude to Aesap: had Sakomizu not found him, he would have mistakenly presumed all overworlders had changed to look like Shangxiang and Lu Xun!
Speaking of, he’s got them both tied up and Shangxiang demands they be freed now or he’s in for a pummeling (only it’s this attitude that got them tied up in the first place, Lu Xun sighs)! Aesap freaks out at the living, breathing robots, and Sakomizu sees that he does not know them. Those aren’t Aura Machines, though.
“Aura Machines are those bug-like weapons, right?! Well, we are bona fine humans and nothing like those things, okay?!” Shangxiang yells.
Queen Codour does not appreciate her attitude when addressing the king, and blames all this on Lux running off with the treasured Wings of Rean shoes. Sakomizu tells her to focus not on that, but on the significance of the Aura Road being opened twice in one day. At that, he turns to Aesap: he can cause the Wings of Rean to manifest at will, can’t he?
Aesap doesn’t understand, but Sakomizu declares: what Aesap manifested is the power that’ll save the world, the power of a Holy Warrior! Lux sees that her father wants to use Aesap for his purposes and vehemently speaks against it.
Codour frowns, asking if she’s siding against the king, but Lux tells her to shut up. She calls Codour’s a moron with absolutely no grasp of politics, as seen with her building a stupidly huge warship and calling for massive troop deployments all just to put down Amalgan.
But Sakomizu silences her with a slap, earning himself a wag of Shangxiang’s finger – he had absolutely no reason to do that! Sakomizu, however, warns Lux that Codour is both his wife and her mother; she’d best respect her, or, by rights, that’d be grounds for execution! Aesap and Shangxiang are appalled that he’d speak to his own daughter like that, but Sakomizu calls in his Royal Guard and orders all of them locked up – Lux as well.
Back to us, Jacoba’s told of the chaos Sakomizu is bringing to Byston Well. He’s working together with overworlder scientist Shot Weapon to build mighty Aura Machines, one after the other, with the plan of eventually invading the Overworld. Cham can’t believe Shot is not only alive, but also building mechs even in this other Byston Well.
Sumeragi’s concerned about him and a potential invasion, but thinks our priority should be to rescue our captured friends. And we should get Aesap too, as Yamashita fears we won’t be getting back to the surface without his powers.
This all sounds annoyingly complicated to Kaido: why not just wreck the king and his castle and then we can look around for our folks? Tsubasa doesn’t like it, as that’d make us the invading force in this story, but Zhuge Liang figures he has a bit of a point. “We may as well have Kaido, as he says, ‘cut loose’ – the man needn’t worry about any overly complex plans,” he suggests.
Kaido likes that Zhuge Liang gets him so well, but there’s a catch: he’ll have to do it on foot. Huh?
Over by the Elshank, Damian’s doing some studying on Tobikage. He figures if we can figure out what conditions cause him to appear, it’ll be some useful info for our upcoming battles (Damian keeps a tight grip on our wallets).
Sounds good to Mike, but ARE there actual conditions for that? Damian doesn’t know, which is why he’s looking into it – this is about the only way he can be useful to us, seeing how he can’t pilot those machines like the other three can.
: I’ve met with the new Holy Warrior.
: With Aesap Suzuki, my lord?: Hm. And what I found the most curious about him is the fact that he has absolutely no knowledge of the Shōwa period.: Oh…?: When I first came to Byston Well, the Overworld was mired in a great war…: And during these past seventy years, Amalgan and I went on to conquer and unify this land of Herikon… : However, in the Japan he calls home, it has already been two hundred years since the war in the Pacific ended.: It’s possible that time flows at a different pace in the Overworld…: Regardless, that is a matter for another time. What I must do now is verify whether that child is a true Holy Warrior…: And if he is…?: Then he will be of good use to us when the time comes to assault the Overworld.*Crash!*
: Intrudeeeer! Seize him!: What is the meaning of this?!: Your Majesty! A suspicious man has invaded our castle and is headed this— urgh!*Dead.*
: ?! Who--…?!
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers
: Heheh… King Sakomizu, yeah? I’m here for your head!: You are mighty. A man guided solely by his thirst for battle... I have found an overworlder with all the qualities of a Garow Ran!: “Garow Ran”…? Whazzat, some Gundam pilot?: Nah, the name’s Kaido – Ken Kaido! And don’t you forget it!*Sword clash!*
: King Sakomizu..!: Fret not… Remember that your king is a Holy Warrior! : Oho... ya didn’t even need to move your body to stop my sword! Not bad!: Hmhmhm. My skill in the Jikishinkage-ryu kenjutsu was honed to its apex during the war to unify this nation… : And I will not hesitate to make use of all my strength if the one who sets himself before me is a Garow Ran-esque overworlder!
: Hah... So you’re made of stronger stuff than your average guy with a sword, eh? Sounds like fun!: Then come, Kaido! Kiaaaaiii!
Mission 12 – The King of Hojo
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers
: It’s time, Joe!
: Right. We’ll get in there and rescue Shangxiang and the others while Kaido’s got their attention.: Can you find where they are, Erebos?
: Leave it to me! Even I can sniff out Aura…!
: We’ve got a message from Joe; he’s starting the rescue!
: Copy that. Then we’ll go and keep them backed against the wall: launch all squadrons!
: K-King Sakomizu! Surfacer forces have been spotted!: What?! So you were no more than a diversion, Kaido?!: Heheh… So what if I was? What’re ya gonna do now, chief?!: Hmph, that needn’t even be said! You and any who stand against me will share the same fate…!: Launch the Aura Battlers!
: You damned overworlders!
: Now we’ll repay you for our previous defeat!
: It’s those bug machines again!
: What is your command, Your Highness?
: We shall follow our plan and head towards the point where we are to rendezvous with Joe’s group. It’s…
: Right there. Understood, Ylbora?
: Yes, Your Highness. Gameran, give me full power to the engine!
: Aye, aye!
: Our time limit is four minutes! All troops, secure a path for the Elshank! I’m assuming tactical command!
Like before, you have until the end of turn 4 to get the Elshank in position and losing either it or the Ptolemaios is a game over. Unlike the assault at Kiba’s place, though, the Hojo troops are garbage and will still drop like flies.
Set forth and slaughter them, but remember that, while Damian is still working on figuring stuff out, Tobikage is already hanging in the rafters, waiting to show up either the Elshank or any of its machines drop below 50%. With how weak the Hojo mooks are, he’ll quickly tear through them and we don’t want that.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
And on the next player phase…
: This isn’t working… I’m wearing the shoes, I’m praying as much as I can, and the wings just aren’t coming out…
: Pull yourself together and try harder! Aren’t you one of those Holy Warriors?!: You need to call out those wings or neither we nor our friends will be leaving this place!: I-I know that… but I’m just a regular kid. The most significant thing I’ve done with my life lately was study to retry my college application…
: Princess Lux, could you perhaps explain to us how these Wings of Rean shoes work?
: It takes a Holy Warrior to make full use of the shoes, and, with them, one is able to attain powers beyond the reach of human knowledge.: Powers, hm… Do you speak of those wings that opened the Aura Road?: There’s a theory that says the Wings of Rean manifest themselves when a world gripped by chaos needs to be set back on the right path… But the truth is no one knows what they truly are. : Furthermore, the Wings do not empower just anyone: only those they themselves have chosen.
: Hmm… It sounds quite like our world’s own Yùxǐ.: My father once wielded the power of these shoes and, with them, built the nation of Hojo onto this land… He was a Holy Warrior in every sense of the word. : But he is that no more. Now my father is a man bound by his own ambitions… and if he isn’t stopped, I’ll have no one. I’ll be all alone…!: Princess…: A man who’s focused on nothing but his ambitions wouldn’t have slapped his child, though. Someone like that wouldn’t even care enough about her to chide her behavior…: …!: Trust me, I know. I don’t get along with my dad either…: Aesap…: Everything’ll be alright – you’re not alone. You shouldn’t worry so much.: Heh, maybe you’re right. Thank you, Aesap…: Huh? Is it me or did the mood around here change…?: D-Don’t ask me…: Seriously, couldn’t you two save that for your alone time? : A Ferario?! Where did you…?!: I’m here to save you guys! Now stand back a bit because it’s about to get dangerous!*Door blows open!*
: Hey! Everyone okay?!: Joe!: Wh-Who…?!: You’re Aesap, yeah? We need you to come with and help us get back to the surface.: Get back to the surface…?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW48XOgbE1c
: Curses… Again you disgrace me so…!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6zd3JWBODk
Carrying on up top, over half the enemy troops got trounced in the previous turn, and whatever’s still alive gets wrecked now.
Might as well show more of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei’s tricks.
: I-I can’t go on?! Retreating!
Kill everything and the Elshank automatically gets in position.
: Sir Ylbora, we’ve reached the specified point!: Good, now recover Joe’s group!: A-About that…!: Did something happen?!: You’re heading to the castle’s underground…?: Yes. There’s a workshop down there, where we’ll find the newest model of Aura Battler.: Aesap and I will steal and escape with it!: B-But…: You have nothing to worry about. If Aesap is a genuine Holy Warrior, then we’ll be fine…!: Lux…: Fine. In that case, we’ll go on ahead and plow the road. Make sure you get out in one piece!: Joe, wait! The Rebels are attacking too, looks like!: What…?!
: Those units…! It’s Amalgan and his rebels, the group Jacoba told us about!
: Hey, look there! That overworlder ship’s right by Hypp Kurene castle!
: What is going on here?!
: I do not know, but our offensive welcomes any confusion in the castle!: Kiki, Hebi, our targets are only the Hojo troops! Don’t engage the overworlder forces!: Aye, aye! Take care of the old man, Hebi!: Of course. When have I ever let him down?: I-It’s the Rebels! And we’re being informed that the captured overworlders have escaped…!
: Damn it, what are our guardsmen doing?!: Hmph, I must commend your troops, Kaido! I’d thought they were using you as a diversion while they assaulted my castle…: Little did I expected, it was all a feint for your true objective: freeing my prisoners! I see the armies of the Overworld possess rather skilled strategists!: Heheh… and we ain’t even done blowing your mind!
: Jump in, Kaido!: Ya kept me waiting, Magami!: What?!: Come on, KAISEEEEEEER!!
: Pilder On!!
: What…?! You had such a weapon hidden away?!: Yeah! What’s it gonna be now, chief?!: I always appreciate a challenge! I’m setting off with the Oukaou!
: That’s King Sakomizu’s own Aura Battler?
: And they got that warship, too…! Oof, this might be tough!: My liege, all preparations are complete for the Fukaku’s launch!
: Overworlders! Rebels! It’s high time someone taught where you all stand, and I shall carry out that task myself!
: Y - Y a a a h…! H e l o o k s s o s c a r y… A r e w e r e a l l y g o i n g t o b e f i n e?: Sir Ylbora! Joe and Shangxiang are deploying!
: Shangxiang, you’re safe!: Of course I am! And I’m also ready to give “His Majesty” there a pummeling!
: Joe, where’s that man, Aesap? You didn’t bring him with you?!: They went after the castle’s underground workshop! Said they were gonna get out by themselves!
: Joe, listen here! I’ve figured out the conditions where Tobikage’ll show up!: Whaat? So there are actual conditions?!: Yes. He’ll show up whenever damage on the Elshank or any of the three machines passes 50%! If damage passes 70%, then he’ll combine with whichever machine is hurting the most!
: I never thought stuff like that would be what calls him over…!
: So he shows up at 50% damage, and combines at 70%... Then I guess we better get him to combine quick in case he does turn up!: Yeah! We can’t let him show us up, right?!: Thanks, Damian. You were a big help here!: And all that’s left now is to kick the King’s royal ass! Let’s get this party started!
Only need to shoot down the Oukaou to end the mission, but those kill counters ain’t gonna boost themselves. Take note of Kotto’s Fukaku battleship in that it’ll retreat at 22650 HP, meaning shooting it down on a fresh game is a real pain (best to just ignore him).
Oukaou (Shinjiro Sakomizu)
Pilot Skills:
Aura Power L5
Holy Warrior (聖戦士) - +10% damage done to the enemy. Activates at 130 morale.
Prevail L5
Support Attack L1
All Attack L1
Command L1
Mech Features:
Sword
Oukaou’s Wings – reduces all ranged damage by 2000 + Aura Power level x100
Ultra-High-Speed Evasion
20% HP and EN Regen
All-Canceller
Sakomizu’s voice actor: Rikiya Koyama (other roles: Clouseau in FMP, Wolverine in the X-Men TV series, Duke in Tales of Vesperia and a bunch more).
That’s a big bag of tricks for a very buff enemy. As is standard to main villains, Sakomizu has great stats all around and high-powered attacks, but he is not without weaknesses. For one, his Oukaou is S sized, meaning everything but our SD Gundams gets a damage boost against him, whereas he takes a damage penalty against us.
His strongest attack does ignore size difference, but its only range 1-2. His range ain’t the greatest but neither is ours, so you’ll at least be facing his second best attack at 1-3. Sniping at him isn’t advised due to his shield taking a big bite out of your damage, but it’s nothing you don’t know how to handle after Master Therion and Lu Bu.
Save your SP until it’s go-time and he’ll go down soon enough.
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Behold the might of an Aura Battler piloted by a Holy Warrior!
: I commend you for being capable of connecting a blow against me. HOWEVER!!
: Wh-What strength is this…?!
: This… This is the Aura Power of a Holy Warrior?!
*Kachunk*
: It… It moves?!: (H-He…!): So you control it like this… Wow, this Aura System is quite something.: (The nameless – nanashi, in the language of Japan – Aura Battler… No one in the castle could get it to take flight, and he made it move so effortlessly…!): Aesap, you really are…!: Aah, again with that? Is calling me a Holy Warrior a national pastime around here?: But, Aesap, you…!: You’re the Holy Warrior here, Lux. : …?!: The Wings of Rean didn’t appear back then because of me. It was because of you, the daughter of a Holy Warrior…: But that’s…!: Nuh-uh. Aesap is absolutely a Holy Warrior.: Erebos?! Why are you here…?!: Well, Lady Jacoba told me to help the Holy Warrior.: So where Aesap goes, I go. I’ll be his loving companion forever and ever and ever…: U-Um… What are...?
: Aesap, this Ferario is trouble! Don’t let your guard down around her for even a second!: H-Huh…?!*Back outside*
: What’s the matter…? Are you finished already, overworlders?!
: Kch… His spirit is overwhelming!
SRW UX - My Fate: Hm?! The new Aura Battler…?!: Father!: Lux and young Suzuki?! : You escaped for captivity only to set yourselves against me…? How deep does your contempt for your king run?!: The princess is only worried about you! So much so that she’s here with me, aboard the so-called nana—: And you’ve named it Nanajin?! After the Seven Gods of Fortune?! (This whole convo’s a big – and rather forced, if you ask me – “play” on words and I care not to think of a way to rewrite it. Sakomizu mishears 名無しに (Nanashi ni – nameless + ni particle) as 七神 (nanajin – seven gods), figuring it’s a reference to the七福神 (seven gods of fortune))
: Na-Nanajin…?!: (Oh…? That boy’s able to control my newest Aura Battler so easily...?): (His Aura Power reminds me a lot of Shou Zama. He really is one…!): Managed to get out without a hitch, eh, Aesap!: Huh? Are you that guy from…?: Yeah, and we’ll all need your powers if we’re gonna get back to the surface! Help us out, will ya?: Okay… Lux, put on the Wings of Rean shoes, please.: M-Me?! Why…?: I’m recreating the situation we had before. You wear the shoes, I’ll pray to them.: But before we do anything about that… we need to deal with this hardheaded king!
Nanajin (Aesap Suzuki)
Pilot Skills:
Aura Power L3
Holy Warrior
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L1
All Attack
Spirit Commands – Aesap:
Focus
Adaptation (順応) – turns the squadron’s units and weapons’ terrain ratings into S for a turn.
Sense
Spirit Commands – Erebos:
Scan
Tailwind
Mech Features:
Sword
Ultra-High-Speed Evasion
10% HP and EN Regen
Squad Bonus: Mobility +5, Crit rate +10 (Mobility +20, Crit rate +20, Movement +2)
Aesap’s voice actor: Jun Fukuyama
Erebos voice actress: Yui Horie (other roles: Hitomi in the DoA series, Chie in Persona 4, Sala in Cross Ange and a billion more)
What I said about previous Real Robot protagonists applies here, only Aesap hits harder thanks to stacking Aura Power and Holy Warrior, while also being extremely dodgy with the Nanajin’s raw stats and Ultra-High-Speed Evasion. It can take a hit no better than an SD Gundam can, but it should never be getting hit in the first place.
Range is a B-, with only his second weakest move reaching up to 2-5. His two best are, respectively, 1-2 and point-blank. Still, that high movement will let him quickly close the distance and the AI isn’t too keen on low HP targets. You can get a lot of mileage out of Aesap, against mooks and bosses (especially as the game goes along and he grows).
Having Erebos along, who’ll eventually learn Enable (!), as a free sub-pilot is just the cherry on top.
Secret Alert! Wings of Rean secret - 1st step: shoot down Sakomizu with Aesap.
Not a problem, since he won’t run away at any threshold – just build up enough morale that you can use the Nanajin’s best tricks. Also, as these things usually go, Aesap's kill count is also tied to this secret and you need 100 kills by mission 39.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjZZ0K91Ac
Let’s get to work.
SRW UX - Love Survivor
: This Aura Battler… Amalgan Ludle?!: I see you’ve found me, Shinjiro Sakomizu!: My comrade, we once shared many-a-battles as we fought to unify our nation… And it is precisely because I respect you so that I’ll make your death quick and painless!: Prepare to meet your end, Amalgan!
Ah, well.
Oh, and I saw an opportunity to speed thing up against Sakomizu. While he can’t be debuffed, our folks certainly can be buffed!
SRW UX - Envoy from Jupiter: This energy emanating from him… Is it the Aura Power Jacoba Aon spoke of?!: Ah, I see you have the makings of a Holy Warrior. I wish we could have had a chance to sit down and speak face-to-face, but alas…!: Shut up…! All your powers are doing is twisting both our worlds!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx9DCa594e4
Bam. Now we have +20 to all our stats (this applies to our allied forces too).
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: Why don’t you stop and consider your daughter’s feelings for a second?! And you call yourself a father?!: Indeed, and it is because I’m her father that I must discipline her! I must educate her on our cause, and what it means to serve it!
Shangxiang: “The princess is crying, you knuckle-head!”
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers: Alright, let’s continue where we left off, chief! Only this time we’ll see who’s the better pilot!: You wild man, servant to no cause but your wild urges. Were you to submit to me, I’d easily proclaim you a samurai!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: How can someone who calls himself a Holy Warrior want to invade the surface?! Is that title just a fancy way of saying “murderer”?!: If you seek to deny my justice, then you must first showcase your own!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTAW3MLKOIY
Turns out giving Magami that stat boost allowed him to dodge the counterhit, so it fell on Lockon to help me show off Sakomizu’s best attack.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: If you are king in this land then you should only take up the sword to fight in the defense of your people!: I am Japanese first, king of Hojo second! : Ignoring the reality of my motherland would be a disservice to the dead that I could never apologize for!
: You’re hailed as a heroic king who united his land, so why do you oppress your people?! Why do you seek to invade the surface?!: Japan is my motherland! I seek no more than to return it to how it is meant to be!
SRW UX - Love Survivor: And all we gottta do now is bring down the head-honcho. Buckle up, King Sakomizu!: Death awaits any who oppose me. Now fall to ashes before my grand cause!
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: Aren’t you a Holy Warrior?! Those’re supposed to fight to protect the lives of others, no?!: You understand nothing! Merely giving to those who cannot earn for themselves is the way of destruction to any nation! Accept it!
SRW UX - My Fate: Father… You were a Holy Warrior in your youth, so why won’t you act like one now?!: I don’t want to see my father be enslaved by delusions born of his old age!: My wish to cut down the evil that remains in this land, to crush America… is not a delusion!: King Sakomizu! If you consider yourself both Lux’ father and king, then please use your power for what’s right!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cySIpTRnd3o
Sakomizu drops a Teachings of Jikishinkage-ryu Kenjutsu (Melee +10, Evasion and Skill +5)
: Hrrmm…! How could I be brought to this point?!: Please, father, ask yourself why you couldn’t reach the Overworld when you had the Wings of Rean shoes!: Yet, when I used them, I could not only travel to and back, but I took a fleet along with me!: That was only due to young Suzuki’s presence!: Aesap Suzuki, I see quite clearly that you, indeed, have the makings of a Holy Warrior! Would you be the prince of Hojo?!: Wh-Wha…?!: Th-The prince…?!: Yes! I’d like to you take charge of our nation’s government as the new Holy Warrior! Inherit my crown and the nation of Hojo, you and Lux together!: F-Father… what are you?!: Are you trying to make me lower my guard with all that talk?!: Heh…: MAYBE I AM!!*Slash!*
: G-Gwaaaah!: Aesap…!?*Flash!*
: Huh?! Th-This is…!: The Aura Road is opening again…?!*Flash! Whooooosh!*
: (It’s happening again! I’m wearing the shoes, Aesap’s crying out and the Wings of Rean are manifesting…!): (Which means Aesap is…!)
Cut to JUDA, Cagalli’s being told that the UX and Celestial Being are still missing. The company’s doing everything it can to find us (especially considering we took their Machinas along), which disappoints the girl. She wanted to recruit our help again.
Ishigami asks if the Federation’s search crafts are still flying about the island of Tatsumiya and, indeed, they’ve been at it pretty much nonstop. Cagalli fears they pinged something happening there during the previous battle with the Festum. The entire island is currently hidden away behind the mirror camouflage as they try to avoid the Federation’s detection.
Ishigami can’t help but point out the irony of in order to protect mankind from the menace of the Festum, the folks there must first keep themselves hidden from said humanity. The whims of fate have given the Arcadian Project quite the crummy hand, that’s for certain.
But grumbling about it won’t help them, and Cagalli says they’ll deal with the Festum with the forces they’ve available at the moment. With a reminder for Ishigami to be careful in regards to a certain matter, she signs off.
Ogawa then brings the Federation government’s answer in regards to their inquiries on the previous battle at Yokosuka and… yeah. Ishigami’s aware of what the “official” story says, and Cagalli also smelled fish around everything that happened there. It’s pretty clear to Ishigami that a rather unsavory group is quickly rising to power within the Federation – yes, the Martian Development Bureau.
Still, the Federation is currently in a daze trying to figure out how they’ll deal with the Skrugg and the Frontier Fleet, so Ishigami figures JUDA should also work on a plan of their own.
Location: ALVIS – 1st CDC
: I see… so we shouldn’t expect any reinforcements. 
: I’m so very sorry. I’d established contact with the Unknown Xtrikers precisely for moments like this, but…: No, don’t worry about it. The Arcadian Project was always expected to make do without any outside assistance… we should consider ourselves lucky that we even have Orb’s support.: But if you’re going to field not just the Mark Elf but the other Fafners as well, then…
: …SRW UX - Separation
: Hm. It’s for that purpose that we’ve these children…*Beep, beep*
: … ! (Hazama): Cmdr. Makabe!
: This is a list of the children with the highest Synergetic Code values… (Toumi): P-Please, wait! Shouko is… her health is!: I’m sorry, but her physical condition is irrelevant to her Synergetic Code values… You know that, don’t you?: …: (We’re deciding our children’s lives with a bunch of numbers. I understand the reason why, but, as a parent, I can’t bring myself to accept it…): (I wish no one but me had to go through this…): (Shouko…)
: Hmm… this one’s from the last class tournament, right…? (Shouko): You’re so lucky that you can take all these pictures with everyone.
: Everyone, huh… Sure you don’t mean “with Kazuki”? (Maya): Ah…?! M-Maya, please!: Heheh… Still, we’ll now have plenty of chances to take lots of pictures together. : Hm, you’re right. All thanks to us being chosen as Fafner pilot cadets.: Now I have to work extra-hard! The sooner I’m ready to help Kazuki, the better!
: Woooow, this place is awesome! It’s like a secret base! (Mamoru)
: Well, it’s a base and it’s secret, so I’m pretty sure it is a secret base. (Kenji)
: (So this is where you worked, dad…) (Sakura)
: Those are the new Fafner pilot cadets, huh?
: They’re all around Kazuki’s age… a full bunch of kids who haven’t even made it through school.: All children in Tatsumiya were born to be tuned with the Fafners.: It is very difficult to find an adult with the necessary Synergetic Code values…: I know that. Still, the idea of deciding people’s lot in life from the second they’re born is…: Folly? Is that what you’re implying…?: …: I guess I am…: Shinn…: Once there was a man who studied the people’s inherent abilities by way of their genes. And he tried using that knowledge to decide everyone’s destiny…: But, in the end, humanity rejected his Plan. Do you know why? : Because destiny isn’t something that can be decided at birth…?: Right. People will keep on growing their flowers, even when they know those might get wiped out the next day…: Because that’s the kind of creature humans are…: …
: Hey, Soushi! Get in here! (Koyo): We’re taking a little celebratory picture!: A picture…?: And we even got Kazuki to join us, too!
: U-Um…: Okay, everyone gather ‘round!
: Go on now. You’ll be fighting alongside all of them, right?: … : All right…: And here we go! Everyone say “cheeese”!*Flash!*
: …
: (Everything with a beginning also has an end. Sugarcoating isn't what we need right now…): (Folly it may be, but if we yearn to fly, even knowing our wings will bleed...): (All we need is a little more time, is that so much to ask…?) (Miku hasn’t a monopoly on quoting lyrics, you see. Soushi’s lines here, while not identical, were all twists on the original lyrics of Shangri-La and Separation.)