Part 48: Mission 19 - Judgment at Dusk - Part 2
SRW UX - Linebarrel (Full Intro)
: Wh-What…? Why the hell are you here?!
: Do you even gotta ask…? It’s because I’m a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE!: …?!
: Hayase…!
: Gaah, that dumdum really kept us waiting…!
: Hahah, what an entrance, Kouichi… You’re becoming more and more Championly by the day!
: I was sure I was gonna be too late, even flying as fast as I could…: It was you, wasn’t it, Kizaki? You called the Linebarrel over!
: No, I—… Um, I mean… Yes, I guess I did!
: The Linebarrel’s capable of warping through space even with a Factor aboard…?!
: (That ability was just like the Orphes’…!)
: Looks like we made it.
: Moritsugu…!: Reiji?! What’re you doing here…?!: It’s over, Eiji.: Wh-What…?: Kiriyama Heavy Industries has already been taken over. You’re done. : …: Hah… hahahah… I get it. You were planning on betraying me from the start…! But you’re wrong…!
: ?! The Federation and even The Boom Army…?!: I just have to make it through this and everything else’ll follow…!
: That also applies to us, however!: My friends, this is all-out war! Summon forth every ounce of your might!: You got it! I’ll give him an eyeful of the power of JUSTICE!
And, yay, Reiji and Kouichi are back already! Losing either of them’s a game over, but you really shouldn’t have that happen unless you actively try to.
Kiriyama’s far from our group again, so we’ll need to close in again – downing him ends the mission, so we’ll save that for after everything else is gone. Of note, the new batch of guys are close enough to start blasting whatever’s by the bridge.
In the JP and EU route, when the next turn rolls over…
: Still going at it, eh? I confess I didn’t think you’d last this long… That being said!
: A-Aah! How could he have more troops lying in wait…?!: Didn’t see this coming, did we? Whoops!*The Riot C’s move up.*
: They’re also going after JUDA Corp…!
: W-We can’t last like this…!
: No, don’t worry... they have made it in good time!
: Wh-What?!
SRW UX - Rebellion Against FateI’d figured this was a regular BGM, but it turns out this is the local ‘big goddamn heroes’ theme, so here it is!
: That’s… the Ptolemaios!
: Here we are at last! All troops, mission start!
: They’re under fire from the Federation! Is everyone okay?!
: Looks like a real mess they’ve got on their hands, but it might be winnable with us here to help…!
: Agreed. Setsuna F. Seiei, moving to break the enemy offensive…!
: Hmph, I see several flies gathered in a swarm... However, none of them shall be a match for me!
: (Cao Cao…!)
: (He was also brought to this world, just as we feared…!)
: Shoouu, Japan’s jampacked with robots too!
: Yeah, the enemy’s got a ton of machines I’ve never even seen before! They’re not taking me down, though!
: I’ll cover your six, Shou!
: Yeesh, we just got to Japan and we already gotta fight?: Still, we’re here to join up with the UX, so we better make a good first impression!
: Aye, teach this uncouth mob of foes to fear yours and the Demonbane’s might!
: Come on, Heroman! They need our help!
: Hmm…!
: They’re all here!
: Alright, things are looking way up already! Let’s buckle up and take out the rest of the enemy!: Th-This can’t be happening…! I refuse to accept it…! I won’t!: Because… Because, then… wouldn't this mean I'm the villain here?!
: Of course you are – anyone with half a brain could tell you that! So you better get ready to pay the piper, Kiriyama! SRW UX - Shangri-La
And I kept on killing stuff, nice and easy… until I underestimated the Riot Cs. Remember when I said that the fresh arrivals were in position to immediately reach whatever was by the bridge? They did: the Elshank was there.
Overconfidence is an insidious killer and I’d come to take Romina’s barrier for granted. The mooks had already plinked away at her HP, and when I decided to try (and fail) at a double kill with the Riots… catastrophe.
SRW UX - Tobikage Appears!
Tobikage
Pilot Skills:
Double Movement
Ninja L9
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
Support Defense L3
Break Morale Limit
All Attack L3
Mech Features:
Sword
Gun
Bunshin no Jutsu
Say hello to THE best pilot in the whole goddamn game: Tobikage has massively HUGE stats everywhere, and beats everyone we’ve encountered thus far, ally or enemy, by a mile.
He will not be killed by the enemy – they won’t even get anything above single digits % to hit (and that’s before accounting for Bunshin no Jutsu) – as that maxed out Ninja skill means he has +28% to his evasion and accuracy numbers, plus an S size AND S ranks everywhere. Tobikage’s gigantic Skill stat, big modifiers in his weapons and Ninja’s +20% boost pretty much means he’ll crit everything he attacks, too.
Tobikage’s weapons are very powerful, but the enemies in this mission are bulky enough that he won’t be oneshotting them with his weaker ones, meaning he’ll have to use his Double Movement to reap an enemy duo per turn… unless he gets a bit of morale, then he will oneshot, and that’ll be two pairs he’ll take per turn.
If you mess up and Tobikage arrives, you have one option if you don’t want him to take away a ton of your money and kills: get Joe, Mike or Rennie to eat something that sends them below 30% (a MAPW might work, if enemies won’t cut it). If you can’t, then you’ll need to rush and minimize your losses, which isn’t the simplest as Tobikage moves very far, very quickly, and the enemy AI will gang up on him if nothing interesting is in sight.
SRW UX - JOEY AND HEROMANOddly enough, the US team only get their pre-battle convos in the JP route, despite the fact that they’ve just joined in the EU route as well.
: How can they say Richard, Saya and their friends are terrorists, enemies of the whole world? That’s got to be some sort of mistake!: Come on, Heroman! We have to put an end to this fight! Heromaaaaan… GO!
It begins!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvBQkhVYFus
His second weakest attack, at base morale, and he nearly oneshotted two mooks despite the chain-attack damage penalty (10%, even with All Attack L3). Of course, he does kill them both on the rebound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW091hJAX4s
The new arrivals come in with 120 morale, so I could bust out Shou and Marvel’s combined attack with only a couple of kills!
SRW UX - Love Survivor: Stop zipping all over the damn place! You say you wanna fight, you get over here and fight me mano a mano!: Here’s some advice for you, son! Being able to think on your feet and adapt is key for life in society! 
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: A villain like you dares masquerade yourself as just?! I won’t allow your evil to carry on for another minute!: So this is one of those miniature Gundams I’ve heard so much about? I’m pretty sure my company could cook up something brand new after we’ve had a chance to poke around your insides!
Liu Bei: “What justice is there in a world that isn’t what the people desire?!”
SRW UX - Linebarrel: A brat like you is a Champion of Justice…?! You’re just a snot-nosed middle-schooler!: Hah, you underestimate what a middle-schooler can do!
SRW UX - Shangri-La: That’s another kid inside that robot? Kids ought to do as the grownups say, you know!
: “Because you’re kids, and we’re grownups”…! That’s just an excuse people use – both back at the island, and outside it – to force their decisions onto us!
SRW UX - Obelisk: The sky of Earth belongs to earthlings! Hurry on out of it, alien!
: In that case, take better care of that sky and stop staining it with your foul play!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: JUDA’s my new home, and I’ll make sure it stays in one piece!: Then, please, stop fighting back! I’ll bring JUDA into my company and its Special Forces will come with!
SRW UX - Life Goes On: A last-generation mech from the Great War… do you seriously think you can down my Pretender with that?
: I’m an old hand when it comes to fighting transformable units! And I know exactly how to deal with them!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LfA6hZNH08
Here’s Kiriyama’s best trick.
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: Your cheap tactics will never make us back away! Try and pull whatever stunts you’d like, they won’t work!: Hmph, quite the holier-than-thou speech coming from a terrorist!
SRW UX - Obelisk
: So yours is a variable unit just like our Valkyries, eh? Sounds like fun! Come try your hand with me!: Please, Earth’s machines would never be outdone by those of aliens!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Eiji… if only I’d noticed your twisted sense of justice sooner rather than later…: Actually… I had noticed it, but I was afraid of losing my dear friend. So I went about pretending nothing was wrong…: No, my justice isn’t twisted at all! I am not in the wrong…!
: Your game of make-believe is over, Eiji. We’ll save you from your delusion…
: Come now, an outdated mech like yours could never beat a cutting-edge model like mine.
: Outdated, you say?! Come here and we’ll see if wired Nerve Cracks really can’t beat wireless ones!
: Hrgh… No… This can’t be…!In the JP route, he, instead, has his flip-out now:
: Th-This can’t be happening…! I refuse to accept it…! I won’t!: Because… Because, then… wouldn't this mean I'm the villain here?!Common ground:
: Take a look, dear viewers! It looks like Mr. Kiriyama’s machine has taken significant damage!: ?! Wh-What are you doing…?: Cut the transmission! I didn’t tell you to show this!*Beep.*
: We are journalists, sir. All we do is showcase the truth, whatever it might be.: Hrm… So even mere journalists like you are standing against me?!: …: Well, dang, that broad’s got some major guts, eh?: (Isabelle…!): It’s time you accepted reality, Eiji. : Neither one of us can ever amount to Champions of Justice.: Wh-What did you say…?!: …: A-Ah, I see how it is, Reiji! What you really want is to get revenge on me, huh?!: Yes… you want revenge on me for getting your sister killed!: His sister…? What’s he talking about?: You’re right in that if I did the deed myself, it’d only amount to base revenge. But that’s why I won’t be the one who’ll actually save you… SRW UX - Linebarrel (Full Intro): … It’ll be Hayase.: ?! Moritsugu…!: Wh-Why, Reiji?! He’s just a stupid teenager! Why are you looking out for him?!: How’s he any different from us?!: The difference is simple…: People look at Hayase and truly believe him to be a Champion of Justice.: …?!: Hayase…
: Do it, Kouichi!
: Get going, Hayase! Toss that guy’s plans into the trash!
: Ya gotta do something after being talked up like that, right?!: They’re right, Hayase… ya gotta wrap this up…!: G-Guys…!: I ask that you finish off Eiji Kiriyama, Hayase. Please.: Moritsugu… are you sure about this?: The only way he can be saved is if he’s beaten by a real Champion of Justice…: And if you succeed…: Then I’ll also believe you to be one.: Reiji…?!: … Alright, roger that.
: … I guess there’s no talking with you, Reiji. But maybe you’ll open your eyes with this brat out the picture…!
: And in that case…!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inq11B_kzTg
Captions are available.
: Urgh…
: I-Is it over…?: …: Reiji… there’s just one thing you got wrong.: I only wanted to be your Champion of Justice…: … I know. But I didn’t want that of you.: I would’ve been happy with you just being my friend…: I see…: Reiji… I wish we could back to how things were…
: Eiji Kiriyama… if only he’d used that dedication for something different…: ...: Moritsugu...
Back at Tokyo, Saji and Louise are watching Isabelle’s report on Kiriyama’s failed attack at JUDA. When she asks if something’s up, he says it’s nothing.
Saji remembers how the Celestial Being’s armed intervention brought significant change to the world two years ago – yet, Setsuna and the others are still out there fighting…
By Moldova, Allelujah and Soma Peries have also seen the news. Should they go and help out Ptolemy, she wonders? No, Allelujah says they’ll call for them if need be. Besides, he’d like keep her out the battlefield if possible.
Cut to JUDA, Isabelle wraps up her report, noting how JUDA and UX’s excessive might will continue to draw the eyes of society at large. As Sakuya cuts the recording, she wonders if our guys really are these “enemies of the world” the powers that be say we are.
Axel Hughes is around and praises her journalistic soul, Isabelle thanking him for keeping her network out of Kiriyama’s control and able to work unhindered. In the EU and JP routes, Axel hadn’t reached out to them yet, so Sakuya asks who he is and why he helped them. His answer is the same in both accounts: he just wants the undiluted truth to be brought to the world.
Sakuya figures doing so’ll help with whatever his job is but, while Axel gives a vague confirmation, he won’t complain about it since divulging the truth IS their actual work. And since in for a penny means in for a pound, Isabelle figures they need to get to the bottom of this JUDA/UX business.
In the US route, the convo with Axel stays the same until the “undiluted truth” bit, where Sakuya is the one to question whether JUDA and the UX really are the enemies of the world. But, as Axel notes, finding answers is precisely Sakuya and Isabelle’s craft, no? Absolutely, and Isabelle stakes her confidence as a journalist on it.
Back at Ishigami’s office, we get the bombastic news that Moritsugu is now the new president of Kiriyama Heavy Industries! Apparently the company board, led by Kiriyama’s dad himself, officially dismissed him and appointed Moritsugu as his successor.
Ogawa asks if Ishigami knew this would happen, but no: all Moritsugu told him is that he wanted to “settle accounts with Eiji Kiriyama” before taking off. He never expected the guy would wind up taking up the entire company, though.
Apparently Moritsugu and Dad Kiriyama had been working on this plan for a while. Info on all of it was left behind in his computer, so we found out the truth when Yamashita hacked in: his betrayal of JUDA was just a ruse to gain Eiji Kiriyama’s trust.
But why would Kiriyama’s father oust his own son? From what Yamashita gathered, the old man noticed how twisted Kiriyama had become – getting in bed with the Katou Organization, becoming the Pretender’s Factor – and did this in hopes that it’ll help his son turn over a new leaf.
Joe, however, isn’t sure what Kiriyama really wanted to get from all this. His overt reason was to take over JUDA and claim a bigger share of the military industry, but Kouichi thinks his actual reason was just that he wanted to help Moritsugu.
Kouichi tells them of the file Yulianne gave him, which told of how Kiriyama and Moritsugu used to be best friends back in the day. Kiriyama, however, wanted to be the sole influence in the guy’s life, so he orchestrated things so that his sister, Yuriko Moritsugu, wound up being killed.
That explains to Kenji why Moritsugu said it’d just be base revenge if he took out Kiriyama himself. But, rather, he fought to try and save his old “friend’s” life - that makes absolutely no sense to Ogawa and she figures it’s a guy thing.
When Toumi asks, Richard says Kiriyama was picked up from the battlefield by his father and taken abroad. Saya figures any legal measures wouldn’t amount to much when the culprit’s a Factor, but perhaps this’ll be for the best if Kiriyama uses this opportunity to reflect upon himself and correct his course through life.
Regardless, that’s that issue taken care of… but not the one regarding JUDA’s secret being exposed to the entire planet. We are all now officially enemies of the world…
: Yamashita, about what happened…: Why didn’t you tell me anything? If you’d just explained what was up, I…: I know I had to bring Hayase into this, but today’s battle was personal matter…: So I didn’t want to involve the rest of you. My original plan was to keep things from blowing out of proportion.: But things did get blown out of proportion anyway, didn’t they?!: Yes, they did… I made a mistake.: Then I want you to promise me that the next time anything happens, you’ll let me know… : Yeah, I promise.: Damn it… It might’ve all been an act, but I can’t stand the thought of you turning traitor… It sickens me…: Yamashita…: I am truly sorry for everything. And you did very well in protecting JUDA during my absence. : Moritsugu~…: Hey, don’t cry. We’ll be leaving soon, right?: “Leaving”…? Oh, for Hayase’s Christmas Party?: It’ll also be something of a welcome party for the Union/Europe groups. You’ll be there, right? It’d do you well to have fun once in a blue moon.
Everyone’s blown away by the huge party and banquet Moritsugu put together for us, and Kurou isn’t one to waste free food – he’ll eat enough to cover a whole week! While Al shakes her head, Kurou tries pouring more stuff into Joey’s plate, much to the kid’s embarrassment. He already has enough!
These guys sure don’t look anything like what Joe envisioned the heroes who took out the Skrugg, and Rennie thinks they’ve just found a bigger food aficionado than Joe. Hardly, as Joe’s just fussy about food— damn it, Mike, you’re not supposed to mix food that takes chili sauce with stuff that takes sesame sauce! Fussy, indeed…
Setsuna’s off in a corner and Lockon prods him to do stuff. This is a PARTY, so how about having some fun? Or is there something on his mind? Maybe, maybe not, but Setsuna tells Lockon and the others to don’t worry about him and go have fun themselves.
As he leaves, Mileina notes that he’s been getting progressively more distant nowadays. But he is the first Innovator, a new strand of mankind as Aeolia Schenberg proposed, so maybe he’s sensing stuff we don’t even know is there? Hmm…
Nearby, in the US route, Sima Yi is pleasantly surprised that he has a chance to drink with the people of the Sun Army again. Again? But weren’t they at war with each other? Not always, as Zhou Yu says: there was a time when they fought under the same banner.
That’d be the campaign against Dong Zhuo, a highlight in Romance of the Three Kingdoms only, as Domyoji points out, in our world, that happened about a century before Sima Yi started making rounds. The guy himself has read the book, and it shows the subtle differences between the history of our world and in Mirisha.
Speaking of, there’s also the somewhat different Byston Well that Lux comes from and the one Marvel and Shou know of. Seems that even different worlds are capable of having parallel versions of themselves, Eida notes, and it all sounds very complicated to Shizuna.
Still, it’s quite amazing to Maya how people from those different worlds are now fighting side-by-side. “Different worlds, hm…?” Cao Cao mulls under his breath. Sima Yi’s just as pensive: “All of Creation possesses two sides to itself… Whatever could there be in the void between the layered worlds…?”
In the JP and EU route, Shou tells of how he’s also a native Overworlder who wound up in Byston Well with many others – only it was a different Byston Well from the one we visited, of course. Indeed, Lux notes that she’s never heard speak of many of the nations he mentioned, but Erebos can attest that his and Marvel’s units are legit Aura Battlers.
Seems to Aesap that there are both common elements, like that Jacoba Aon we spoke to, and different elements (like with Jacoba being a mushroom lady, and alive). Even different worlds are capable of having parallel versions of themselves, apparently – that’s a tough concept for Shinn to wrap his head around.
Still, it’s quite amazing to Maya how people from those different worlds are now fighting side-by-side.
: That becomes even more significant from our standpoint. Here we have previously hostile rulers now standing together in battle.: Wei, Shu and Wu, once bitter enemies, now forced to ally with one another… Isn’t that something? : Indeed… fate is an amazing thing.
: ...
: ...: Hmph... Does the thought of doing battle beside me upset you so?
: I wouldn’t say “upset” is the right world. It just feels… odd, having you here with us…: If it helps, the feeling is mutual. : However, right now we are all drifters from a different world… ‘Tis better to disregard the past and tread through this together than by our lonesome, no?: …: (Cao Cao, “an unscrupulous hero in chaotic times”… Your words may ring true, but I wonder what sort of purpose lies in their shadows…?)
: …: Is something wrong?: Kizaki… No, I just got stuff on my mind…: About what happened today?: Yeah… I was sure Moritsugu was gonna try and take revenge on Kiriyama. But it didn’t turn out that way – he forgave him instead.: And I thought, “could I have done that if I was in his shoes”…? That guy’s really amazing…: He is, yes…: And I know that he asked me to do it, but I can’t help but wonder if it really was right for me to take Kiriyama out myself…: I don’t think you need to worry about that. You did the right thing.: Really…?: Really.: Well, alright… But, there’s one thing that became 100% clear.: And it’s that Moritsugu’s on a different league than me, both as a Factor and as a person… And I’d like to surpass him someday.: Hayase…: Huh? Speak of the devil, is that him over there…?: He told me that he was going to pay for the hall and then he was heading back to JUDA.: Whaa?! Crap, gimme a sec, then! I gotta go thank him for the party!*Off he goes.*
: Ah, Hayase…
: …: Moritsugu!: Hayase…? Something the matter?: No, I… I just wanted to say “thanks a bunch” for this. : Don’t worry about it. It’s the least I could do to make up for the trouble I caused. : But did you run all the way here just to say that?: Um… No, I…: Hah...: Hayase, that punch you gave me earlier… It was truly painful.: ?! Moritsugu…
Finally, back at New York, both Hester and Mitsuhiro saw Kiriyama’s assault at JUDA go down, and they’ve confirmed without a doubt that the Fafner Nothung Models are all with the UX.
Hester says they need to put that plan in action and Mitsuhiro confirms that everything’s good to go. First, they’ll recall the spy at ALVIS back to Japan and then they’ll move to secure a Nothung Model. “Humanity has very little time left. Everything depends on the Fafners…” Hester says.
FYI, the Fafner trio got another 10 kills today, bringing their total to 51 – we’re a third of the way there!
And since Joey’s FINALLY rejoined legit, I can start getting kills with him again: his total is currently 23, so there’s a lot of work to be done. Thankfully, his cutoff point is waaaay down the line.
Now, lines we didn’t get or that were in other routes:
: Ah, one of the Celestial Being’s Gundams! Your group was a an evil force upon the entire world and I won’t have you getting in the way of my justice!: Everyone has their own understanding of what’s right. That being said, I refuse to accept your definition of justice!--
: Why, it’s been ages, little boy. Have you bulked up a bit since then?: Yeah, we’ve been through our own share of close calls! Let’s get through another one, Heroman!: Hmm…!--
: Oh, dear, it’s the hunk with the Deus Machina. Do you remember me?: You’re one of those guys that attacked Arkham City! But I’m not the same guy I was back then!: Indeed, you are not. Let her behold the might you have developed!--
: Moritsugu would never get together with scum like you, Eiji Kiriyama!: Oops, looks like you don’t know anything…: No, Reiji is together with me. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles, son!--
: Fancy meeting you here, grandpa.: You again? I won’t allow any of you to take JUDA – that’s the place I’ve to defend now!: Hmm, what a spirited man you are… You do justice to the “Talisman” name, I see.--
: Justice is with me! Yes, I… I am a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE!: What a powerful soul… No, this Aura surrounding him… it’s pure hatred!--
: The Nanajin and I’ll put you right in your place!: Ah, it’s one of those Aura Battlers? But you won’t be outclassing my Pretender when it comes to mobility!--
: A serf like you dares masquerade yourself as just?! I shall personally tender your due judgment!: So this is one of those miniature Gundams I’ve heard so much about? I’m pretty sure my company could cook up something brand new after we’ve had a chance to poke around your insides!--
: A despicable man like you dares masquerade yourself as just?! Your evil must be punished, and I’ll see to it myself! I swear it by my name as Sun Quan! : So this is one of those miniature Gundams I’ve heard so much about? I’m pretty sure my company could cook up something brand new after we’ve had a chance to poke around your insides!--
: Huh, so he can transform into a flying machine? That’s just like Lu Xun and his Swift Swallow form! (Lu Xun’s Zeta Plus): Princess, please! I beg that you don’t compare such a man to me!--
: Looks like the Japan crew picked up some new faces while we were gone. We better look good for our return, then!
: Look good! Look good!: Alrighty, then! Now let’s make it like the Lockon Stratos name suggests and start sniping stuff!--
: Kurou, my master! If what stands before your eyes strikes you as unacceptable, then take in hand the blade that smites evil and wield it as you see fit!: Aye, aye! Evil will never prosper anywhere inbetween the earth and the heavens!: Here we go, Demonbane, the innocent blade!!--
: Hey there, villainess. What kinda cards you got up your sleeve today?: You’ll see, Mr. Nameless. First things first, though, I’ve a score to settle with you after Iwate!--
: Our Aura Machines’ engines are growing stronger after coming to the Overworld…!: Just make sure you don’t get taken over by negative emotions and you won’t go Hyper! All we need to do is cut down the enemy’s delusions…!: That’s right! Get them!--
: So it wasn’t just my dad’s country… even Japan’s turning into a battlefield!
: Yeah, there’s war everywhere we look up here!: And we’re fighting to change that! Come on! We’ll bring this battle to a close with all of the Nanajin’s power!--
: May victory be yours, my Lord.: Hah, observe, Sima Yi. My crimson flames shall reduce them all to ash.A question in the thread about Cham's capacity to be a subpilot for both Shou and Marvel led to the discovery that her appearance in the various attacks is an overlay on top of the base animation. That, in turn, inspired MajinZenki:
