Part 46: Mission 18 - Blood is Spilled, Tears are Shed - Part 2
And with that done, the rest of our folks start crossing the pond to deal with the rest of the Katou Organization. On the next enemy turn…
*Beep*
: It has been a long while, Mr. Ishigami. 
: Is that you, Masaki? I suppose Katou’s finally gotten serious if he’s even sending you out into the field.: You could say that, yes.: Word around the grapevine is that you took over my old spot.: I did. I now lead the 1st Unit.
: Heh…: Mr. Ishigami, I am here to evaluate the forces you’ve gathered…! 
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: I’ll protect the place and people that are dear to me! That’s something I can do! (Same line he gets in the JP route, only if you’re in the US and EU routes)
Take a quick stab at Masaki to get the plot going…
SRW UX - Obelisk
: Look at how big that thing is… but I can pull through if I just work the Valkyrie’s mobility and get him confused….!: You’ll find that any speed you have is worthless against the Glain-Neidr’s firepower.
: What…?!
: Our attacks just bounced off it?!: (That was…): The Glain-Neidr is furnished with an absolute defense field. None of your attacks will connect.
: “Absolute defense”…?!: Maki, start analyzing that field of his. And make it snappy!*Beep.*
: Y-Yes, sir!: (If my guess is right, that must be…!): Do not lower your guard for even a second. Do not hesitate for even a second. Do not miss any opportunity…: Bring out every ounce of your strength. If you don’t…
: Then you’ll die. SRW UX - Linebarrel
: Heya, Blues! I know Jack’s really into fighting you, but how about you save some for me?!
: Hmph… do you honestly think you can beat me with a mere faux-Machina…?
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: Yulianne told us about you, JUDA’s newest Machina!: I see you’re quite the combative sort… but you won’t be making it through me. I swear it on the Talisman’s name…!
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers
: Get down here, fatass! My sword’s gonna fillet you!
: What kind of idiot would descend after hearing that? Let me handle this – I’ll blast him off the sky!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Ah, it’s that mallet-lookin’ Machina! Time to pay you back for before!
: In that case you oughta go after Hayase and not us, ya dumdum!
: That’s not any better, sis…
Sawatari attacking Machinas: “You ain’t gonna be able to regen from the thrashing I’m gonna give you!”
SRW UX - Linebarrel: I’m raring to go today, Horns! Gonna take my time with you!
: And I’m supposed to care about what you want?! Can’t you tell that I got bigger things to worry about than you?!
: Tsk… It ain’t gonna end like this next time!: I’ll find you and whoever killed Dmitri and I’ll cover this city in your blood!
We can’t damage Masaki for now, so we’ll just clear out the rest of the enemies in the meantime.
SRW UX - Love Survivor
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
Triple Dog count: 3; for that matter, the trio got 15 kills today, bringing their secret tally to 41.
Here you can see me try to be clever and debuff Masaki’s accuracy with Fei.
SRW UX - LOVE 14 ver. HD
: W o w, he’s huge! If only we were in the C.I.S…: … Ah? Did I… j u s t remember something?: A robot with a human personality? As unlikely as it might sound, she...
I figured big flying hearts would be fair game, completely overlooking the fact that the thing is called Heart Beam…
: You’re wasting your time. It is impossible for you to so much as scratch my Glain-Neidr. 
: H-How are we gonna deal with this guy…?!
: What about that analysis, Maki?: Still ongoing! Hold on for just a bit longer!: (How far can you push my absolute defense field? Show me what you’ve got.)
Then try this on for size, jerk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYhYl_8lJEk
HAH!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCHh7W9AUKo
After everything’s gone, it’s all about enduring Masaki’s attacks and waiting. Next turn…
: So? Is that all the strength you have?: (Damn it… this is how having a real fight with another Machina is like?!): (I-I can’t stop shaking!): We’ve no use for weaklings. I’ll wipe out both you and everything you wanted to protect.: Fire…
: Aaaaah!
: Your Highness…!
: Rrgh, and we can’t even touch that guy…?!*Beep!*
: Sorry for the delay! We’ve the results of our analysis!: Apparently that defensive field of his isn’t something that Machina had originally!
: You mean it was a later addition?!: Right. And the field generator proper has been affixed atop of the unit itself. : So if you destroy it…
: Then we can take him out!
: Having to weave through his barrage of attacks and close in won’t be easy at all, though!: … I’ll do it!: …?! Hayase…!: I can’t stand him looking down everyone else… so I’ll get in his face and drag him off his high horse!
*Kouichi blasts towards Masaki.
: Hmph… Yes, it’s very clear: you’re afraid.: Wh-What…?!: Did you think I wouldn’t notice it? You are very afraid of fighting others… or, better put, of hurting people in general.: …!
: He’s afraid…?!: That’s why you ramble on about trivialities like “justice” – to try and calm yourself.: But that word isn’t enough to do away with your fear. : Sh-Shut up!
: (Hayase… So you’ve been struggling with the spirit of fear all along…?): Hrm… You don’t know me, so quit acting like you do!
: Waaaaaah!: Hayase…!: That’s quite the fool you chose as your Factor, Linebarrel…: But this is the end of the road for you…!
*Blast!*
*Piiing*
SRW UX - The Legend of Mirisha
: Azure Wall...!
: ?! Young lord…!: And what is the issue with fearing combat…?: What folly is there in encouraging oneself in order to rise above that fear?!
: Sun Quan…!: Hmph… do you speak from experience? Is that how you’ve been averting your eyes from the fear your feel while fighting?: Nay, I have not averted my eyes from anything!: Rather, I have faced that fear and withstood its blow… so that I could defend my dear family! : ! Sun Quan…!: You face that fear and withstand it…!
: (Hah… that quivering tiger cub has grown into a man…): Then come. Show me that spirit with which you rose above that fear.
: Kch… Hrrrgh!
: Brother…!: Damn it…! I promised… I promised Kizaki that I’d protect her…! I can’t let this be the end!: (Hayase…!): Help me, Linebarrel! Give me some more power! Enough that I can protect Kizaki… and all my friends!
: (Please, Linebarrel! Protect Hayase…!)
SRW UX - Linebarrel (Full Intro): …: Now, Hayase! Chaaaarge!: Haaaaaah!
: No, you don’t…!
We’ll see this attack in a jiffy.
: …! I can’t be…!: Oh… Ms. Kizaki, what was that?
: I-I don’t know either…!: From the readings we picked up, it looked like he unleashed a super-compressed warp field from the palm of his hand.: A compressed warp field…? Then the Linebarrel used it to warp the field generator and tear it off the Machina?!
: How’s that even possible…?: It is… for Hayase and the Linebarrel.
: (Sun Ce, my dear brother… I understand now why you never faltered as a defender, even as you risked your life!): I hope you’re ready, fatso! We’re about to turn the tables on you! : The field was merely an imitation, but I still can’t believe he got through it…: Fine… I’m forced to acknowledge the strength you all have.
: Take out that guy and the enemy’ll have to back off! All units, focus your attacks on the giant Machina! SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: He’s massive! They say it’s a Machina, but that’s more akin to a proper battleship!: What a tiny being… I take it you’re another person from the General Lu Bu’s world.: But when I look at you, I see nothing but another machine…
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: This huge mobile weapon’s a Machina…?! Just what are these robots supposed to be?!: As ignorant as you are, you carry on fighting and looking for greater strength… Your thoughtlessness is a danger for the entire world.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ECk9MtxzaQ
Here we go – got Masaki’s best attack on tape.
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Reiji Moritsugu, Head of JUDA’s Special Forces…: Our squadrons have you marked as a target to exercise extreme caution against…: You’re still selling me short. All the caution in the world won’t increase your odds of beating me.
SRW UX - Love Survivor: You think size is all it takes to make you strong, fatass?!: Are you implying the Glain-Neidr’s size is its only merit? I suppose you’ll know better once you’re bested.
: I may have lost my absolute defense field, but beam attacks are still useless against the Glain-Neidr…!: Beams, huh? But regular weapons should damage it just fine.: Troops, engage the giant Machina using either melee attacks or physical ammo. SRW UX - Life Goes On: This unit fought in the last Great War. Was it luck that let it survive through it? If not, then I’d best be vigilant…
: A giant mobile weapon…! The general concept looks the same as a Destroy, so it must be packing some serious offensive and defensive capabilities!
This is the ONLY non-Beam weapon the Impulse has!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtW9RiGlCBk
And boom, here’s Kouichi’s new trick plus DK.
: Did we get him?!: Hm, I’m impressed you pushed my Glain-Neidr as far as you did…: Our mission here seems to be done. Retreating…
: Wait—!: Tsk, he’s gone… I’ll put you down next time you turn up, ya hear!
: All enemy units confirmed destroyed or withdrawn. No further hostiles detected on radar.
: Looks like it’s over…: (That defensive field Masaki used… it really was…)
Back at JUDA, Kouichi’s grumbles over Ishigami keeping them in the dark about so much stuff – not just about the Katou Organization having Machina, but about Moritsugu being born without a sense of pain. Seems like he meant it quite literally, too, which makes Kouichi feel like a jerk for what he said before. Maybe apologize, then? Eergh, he’s not too keen on that idea...
All this talk about Moritsugu does make Mike wonder where the guy ran off to. Yamashita figures he’s got more work to do – he’s been terribly busy with this whole Kiriyama business. Ishigami walks in right then, but he asks the annoyed Kouichi to save whatever he wants to say for later.
See, he’s got a new companion he’d like to introduce us to…
It’s
Ishigami steps in, saying Eida’s here to record JUDA’s newest ad. Kurara buys the story, and Eida’s relieved to see that her memories haven’t returned. But she knows Kurara still works as a cop, so there’s only one reason she’d be here: her public safety division had her infiltrate JUDA. Why? And, for that matter, Ishigami and Richard would surely know what’s up with her, so why are they apparently playing along with it?
Back at Kiriyama’s place, things are looking good for the plan to be put into action – the Jinrai’s mass-production’ll be over very soon. And about those, Moritsugu asks if he was really able to finish them just with the JUDA data he provided. That seems unlikely to him. Kiriyama praises his smarts and figures he might as well tell everything (he was planning on it anyway).
And the answer struts out the door as he calls in Yulianne, who’s been working as his right-hand woman and advisor in the Jinrai’s development. Kiriyama’s well aware that she’s one of the Katou Organization’s leaders here and, as it turns out, the Jinrai is something of a hybrid machine: it was based on both JUDA’s Machinas and the Katous’ Armas.
Moritsugu’s a bit silent, and Kiriyama asks what he thinks; with the three of them working together, they can put together the society they always dreamed of. Moritsugu confirms, and asks what his next task will be.
Well, Kiriyama just waiting for certain news to make the rounds and expose what’s going on inside JUDA. Once that happens, he’s all but sure the Japanese government’ll decide to bring JUDA to heel, granting Kiriyama’s company full authority over them.
Moritsugu doubts Ishigami’ll take that sitting down and Kiriyama agrees – this’ll likely have to be a very hostile takeover. Is Kiriyama going to attack JUDA in person? “That’s right. Which is why I’d like you to get rid of any potential obstacles. That way things’ll proceed without any hiccups,” he tells Moritsugu.
And, indeed, Moritsugu knows of one major potential obstacle…
Each route has a few lone additions made to this scene, so I’ll be putting everything together.
: Guys, we’ve got trouble! Turn on the TV!
: The TV…?*Bloop.*
: Th-This is…!
: What you’re see, dear viewers, are images from the Tohoku region of Japan…: Here are JUDA Corporation’s robots – what should be a Japanese defense organization – attacking the forces from the Martian Development Bureau! : That’s from the battle around my village…!
: The hell’s going on…?!: But JUDA’s units weren’t the only ones taking part in the attack!: We also see the battleship of the Ladorians – those would-be conquerors of Earth –fighting on their side! : Wh-What nonsense is this?! It’s like…
: Like we’re the bad guys here…!: And they, of course, edited the footage to cut out anything that didn’t fit their narrative… I wager we’ll find Hazard’s fingerprints all over this.
: How much does that fat son of a bitch need to mess with us before he’s happy?!: What is JUDA scheming that they’d ally themselves with alien invaders?: Our show now welcomes Mr. Eiji Kiriyama, president of Kiriyama Heavy Industries, who will shed light on this matter.
: Kiriyama…?!
: People of Japan, I come to you today because the truth about JUDA must now be exposed.: They have allied themselves not just with the Ladorians, but with a platoon of forces from the immigrant Frontier Fleet, the weapons from a parallel world that attacked the Union’s Yokosuka base, and even mysterious mechanical life forms as well…: All of these elements sow chaos across our world, and we now have confirmation that all of them are massed under JUDA.
: What is he implying?!: Worse, JUDA Corporation’s schemes aren’t limited to just these! : Do you remember that despicable mob of terrorists, the Unknown Xtrikers, a.k.a. the Hell’s Executioners? They call JUDA’s building their headquarters!
: H-How can he say that…?!
: It’s awful… insane!: We’ve only been fighting to protect people’s lives...!: Arnie…: The Japanese government has acknowledged the gravity of this situation and decided that it requires a full intervention…: And they have seen fit to allow our company to oversee the subjugation of JUDA!: But why would the government entrust this matter to a civilian company like yours…?: We volunteered to take this upon ourselves because we are a civilian company. We will stand as representatives of the Japanese people, showcasing our iron will – a will that shall never submit to wanton violence. : By sheer coincidence, tomorrow will be Christmas.: And I vow to deliver a peaceful Japan as a present to everyone!*Bloop.*
: … And there it goes.: What’ll we do? I really don’t think we can launch an attack of our own after that. : True… I suppose we should first make sure that all of our folks are doing well.: There’s still the matter of the leaked confidential data. We should take this chance to look into everyone with access to it, yes?
: …
: You’ve my deepest apologies, Ms. Tachi… it’s just awful that this happened so soon after you came aboard.: N-No, I don’t blame you…: (What’s going on...? I haven’t heard anything about this from government HQ…): (And the way these people are reacting is…)
: Brrr, it’s cold… Actually, now that I think about it, it’s almost Christmas, huh…?: Been a while since I saw Risako, but I guess she must be putting together one of her parties…
: … Here you are, Hayase.: Huh, Moritsugu…? What’s up? What’re you doing out here…?
: Sorry, but….
: You’re going to have to fight with me, Hayase…
: M-Moritsugu, why’d you call the Vardant for…? Why would we have to fight?!
: Amazing… You still don’t realize what’s staring you right in the face?: Y-You don’t mean…?!: It was you? You were the spy at JUDA…?: …: You’re serious…: You’re our leader, aren’t you?! Everyone here trusted you… How can you stab them in the back like that?!: Even I’d come to at least respect you a little as we fought together…: …: I was right… You really can’t even feel other people’s pain! You’re scum!: What about you, then? Can you feel this one kind of pain I, who cannot feel physical pain, could experience?: Shut your mouth, traitor!: Fine… You always got on my nerves anyway!
: Come! Linebarrel…!Here are the other route’s battle convos and ones we didn’t get:
: The Celestial Being’s Gundam… Would those GN Particles work on the Glain-Neidr…?
: His size is no obstacle. I just need to look for an opening and attack there!--
: I’m real cranky today, kid. You better not hold back ‘cause I absolutely ain’t gonna!: How can you fight like that?! What about all the people you might kill…?!--
: He’s big, alright… but this isn’t our first time fighting giant enemies! Let’s go, Heroman!--
: Keep your wits about you, Kurou! Machina and Deus Machina… I doubt that is a coincidence!
: Yeah, I know! Doesn’t look like he’s using magic, but that power of his still is…!--
: So this is an Aura Battler… Let’s see what it can do.
: If you think you’re beating me by being big, you’re in for a surprise!
: You can’t lose to a guy like him, Shou!--
: This is one of them famous Aura Battlers? Looks like a giant bug to me, and where I’m from, bugs get squished!
: I’ll make you work for it, though…! Come and see just how strong the Nanajin is!--
: Your garments are reminiscent of a Shogun in the Sengoku Era…: Pit your swordsmanship with mine – we shall see whose is superior!
: You would challenge me to a swordfight…? You intrigue me! Show me what the samurai of this world are capable of!And TheMajinZenki got some vibes off Kouichi's new attack:
