Part 67: Mission 27 (Surface Route) - Fading Pain
Welcome to the Surface Route, where Kouichi, Soubi, Eida, Arnie and Saya are deploying as event units and I forgot to get a screen of the unit arrangement. Blah. Heres how were going:Dancouga/Deceive
Yamashita/Canaria
Shinn/Klan
Fei/Mike
Moritsugu/Joe
Michel/Ozma
Alto/Luca
Heroman/Rennie
Tactician: Moritsugu
Spread Accelerate/Flight around, as our starting area has some cliffs and forests to prod through in order to get to the enemies. And do keep in mind that this is the last mission you have to push Joe, Rennie and Mikes total kill count over 150 if you havent unlocked that secret before.
Here we go.
Chieko Higuchi - Love 14
: Hello, everyone! Thank you so much for coming to Shimanes Idol Jamboree!
: Weve a ton of singers coming up on stage today, so we hope youll have a very fun time!
: And with that said, listen to my song!
* *
: Wooow! Feis the best!
: I cant believe I get to see the giant robot-idols debut show! Thats already made the trip totally worth it!
: Hoo, Im up next. Im getting a bit nervous here.
: Youll do great, Ranka. After all, the Galactic Fairy herself is here to cheer us on!
: Hahah, right you are. I dont do this often, you know, so I want you to put your back into this!
*Door opens.*
: Hey there, girls! Go and bring down the house, ya hear?!
: H-Holly!
: Whats Joeys sister doing back here?
: Yo, whyre you so confused for, eh?
: Were all UX buddies, so of course Im gonna hang by and root for ya!
: Huh UX?!
: What, ya didnt know, kid? Were 100% certified
: H-Holly, shush !
: Sis, please! Youre bothering them!
: Bother-schmother! Were all besties here after that time at Innsmouth!
: Aint that right, Galactic Fairy?
: Heheh Thats right, Holly.
: I I cant believe youd speak like that to an intergalactic star!
: Psh, chill, little bro. And, hey, whos this quiet girl here? Youre not part of this crew, I dont think.
:
: Shes Miu Kujo, a member of the Smash Dolls idol group.
: Miu Kujo? Hmm, whered I hear that name before ?
: S-Sis We met her back at Innsmouth, by that cliff
: Ooh, right, right! The one Hayase saved!
: Eerr, well Listen, girl, you cant let stuff get to ya! Theres a ton to enjoy about life!
: N-No, I Im fine now, I promise!
: Ive found who helps my heart stay strong so dont worry about me!
: I know exactly what you mean. Having someone like that is what lets us do so much!
: Yeah, yeah! Thats what I was getting at! Wahaha!
: Sis, for crying out loud
: (Hayase )
: (I know hell be here to see me. He promised )
Cut to Yomotsu Hirasaka, Kouichis amazed at the wide open underground ruins a Machina wouldnt look out of place here, Arnie thinks. Saya warns him to watch his step, though, as this is the gateway to the Underworld. He might not find a Machina here, but an envoy of Enma himself!
Is that why shes dressed as someone straight out of an Edo-period play? To fit in? Precisely: Ill lay restless souls to rest, and extinguish the lives of those who cannot be allowed to live ! (Hissatsu Shigotonin quote.)
Well, the Hissatsu-style attitude certainly suits the old Hells Executioner, Kouichi laughs but Kizaki isnt laughing with him. Is she mad about something? And what reason, exactly, would I have to be mad, hm? she sniffs, but then whats gotten her so crusty? Domyoji pokes him and tells that Kizaki heard of his secret meeting with Miu back at Innsmouth.
Ah, crap. B-But its not like that! Shes got this all wrong! Saya, do you mind answering him for me? Emi asks and Sayas right on point: Would you like to see what death is like?
No, hes already done it once and really doesnt care for repeats!
But, as Damian points out, we arrived on the scene while they had that whole comedy routine going. Our experts had already been at work excavating the area and, when Soubi asks, Denton points out a boulder further ahead: theres a robot buried in it! Arnie sees what looks like two heads in there, and Rachel says that, from what analysis tells, there are actually two bots in here.
What, so folks uncovered not one Machina, but two? Actually, no there are no Machinas in that boulder at all. That being said, the two bots are equipped with armor and engines with tech very much similar to the things. So what does that mean? Theyre still looking into it.
Domyoji asks if they know how old this stratum is, and Denton estimates its over 2000 years. Thats a very long time for robots to be buried very mysterious, indeed. Who would have thought wed excavate two giant robots from the so-called Gates of Hell ruins, Dentons excited, but now Arnies worried that were really uncovering envoys from Hell here.
Domyojis deep in thought, and so is Kouichi only hes thinking that Mius show should be starting soon. And hes stuck here while the eggheads are doing their investigation
: Ahaa, I get it! Hayase got you to swear that you wouldnt try something like that again, eh?
: I never had anyone there for me. Its been very difficult. But he showed me that Im not actually alone, that someone cares about me
: So, I thought maybe I should try pulling myself together
: You look so happy when you talk about him.
: Hah, I reckon lil Hayases Miumius knight in shining armor!
: P-Please, hes an actual Champion of Justice, I would never
: I just thought that maybe I could bring myself to change for the better if I made an effort to show him a more enthusiastic side of me.
: Hey, now, thats a great smile you got there, Miumiu!
: Tell ya what, when you get out there, I want you to flash that smile right at Hayase! Pour all your heart into them lyrics, alright?
: O-Okay !
: (Hrmmm I really need to get back. Kujos shows just about to start )
: Then, Domyoji, you believe these ruins really are linked to Hell?
: Not actual Hell, more like Yomi.
: Yomi ?
: The Realm of the Dead, is what Im getting at.
: Legend has it that Izanagi, the god that founded Japan, once traversed Yomotsu Hirasaka and into Yomi in a bid to be reunited with his late wife, Izanami.
: Which meant breaking the promise he made not to go after her
: But death had rotted Izanami away, leaving her horrid and deformed. Once Izanagi saw her that way, he fled in terror.
: Izanami didnt want her husband to see what shed become
: But it goes to show that across history, men are always completely clueless to how women feel.
: (Brrr that glare shes giving me could freeze Hell over )
: Anyway, once Izanagi made it back to the surface, he blocked the entrance to Yomotsu Hirasaka with a boulder.
: So that his dead wife could never step outside
: The Greeks have a similar legend to that, of how the musician Orpheus traveled to Hell and back to rescue his wife.
: Right, the Orphes took its name after him.
: Therere legends like that across the entire world, really. And theyre not pure fabrication all of them have a kernel of truth to them.
: Very much so. The sealed-away Talisman is what gave birth to the tale of Akoros demon.
: And what youre getting at is that this rock with the robots is the source of the legend about Izanami and whatnot?
: Not quite. This place is Yomotsu Hirasaka its just the entrance to Yomi.
: Meaning, behind this rock, well find the actual source
*Beep, boop.*
: Macross Quarter calling the excavation team!
: Oh, gimme a break! We were just getting to the good stuff!
: Katou Organization forces have been sighted at Shimane! Theyre headed right towards you!
: The Katou Organization?!
: Tsk, what an inconvenient bunch.
: The Orphes, Lyras, Linebarrel and Talisman have been ordered to deploy. The rest of the team will be with you shortly!
: They just had to do this right now, hm?
: Dont worry about us, folks. Well manage things here, so get going!
: Roger that. Cmon, guys!
: O-Okay!
: (Im sorry, Kujo. Doesnt look like Im gonna make it )
* *
: Thank you! Thank you so much, everyone!
: Now, Ive a brand new song for you! Its called Interstellar Flight!
SRW UX - Interstellar Flight (LIVE in Alcatraz)
: Uoooooh, RANKAAAAaaaaaaa! Our Superdimensional Cinderellaaaaaaaa!
: Wow, thosere some crazy fans shes got. Rankas grown pretty popular, huh?
: Sorry, Alto, but thats all the music were gonna get. Emergency deployment orders just came in.
: What?!
: Youre up next, right, Miumiu? Everyone else already went up on stage.
: Ah Y-Yes.
: (Hayase, where are you ?)
*Bing!*
: ( ! He sent me a message!)
: ( ?!)
: (N-No No!)
*Miu runs off!*
: Hey, Miumiu! The stages not that way!
: Miumiu?
: She didnt look well You dont think shed do something dangerous again, do you?
: Im going after her!
*Eida leaves.*
: Wait! We just got an emergency call from the Quarter !
: Shes already gone.
: An emergency What do we do, then?
: Well just have to let Eida handle Ms. Kujo. Lets head back to the ship.
: But were gonna have to cancel the rest of the show if we all leave.
: No way, girl. You guys go on and Ill fill in for ya.
: Sis, youre still
: No, no, she might just be the perfect person for the job.
: I mean, its not every day weve someone whos been the cover of Mens Rock n Roll Monthly, and whos topped New Yorks Indies Chart!
: Holly Jones, the Super Guitarist I say we can trust her with this!
: M-My sister is ?!
: Heheheh, did your homework, eh? You aint the powerhouse manager for nothing, I guess!
: Yeah, just leave this to me! Ill have this whole party on fire by the time yall get back!
: Miu!
: Are you here?! Talk to me, please!
: Hayase, where are you? I-I help ! Please, help me!
: Hayase Hayase, Hayase!
Mission 27 (Surface Route) Fading Pain
: The target Machinas inside the ruins by the mountain area. All troops, attack !
: That Machina !
: Its the Glain-Neidr!
: Remember that the enemy Machinas equipped with anti-beam defenses. Make sure to engage it with regular attacks.
: Were fighting in an urban area, so we need to put them down fast to keep damage to a bare minimum.
Just the usual bevy of Katous with a boss weve had way worse before. Standard tactics apply, but, to make things easier on you, get down to the city level, and draw the Glain-Neidr in while you angle your troops due west/northwest.
The plot will kick in once you get Masaki below 30%, so if you care about the extra cash, set up a good support attack.
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit
I didnt point it out before, but Arnies known for shifting his attitude as the plot goes along. Thus, he got some new lines when we entered phase two, like this: Do you want a fight that badly? Then Ill give you one!
SRW UX - Lion
SRW UX - Linebarrel
SRW UX - Lion
: Put yourself in your opponents mindset
: I just have to do that, and not even a Machinall be too much to handle !
: Are you trying to anticipate my actions? Youll learn what a silly idea that is.
SRW UX - Love Survivor
: Didnt bring a whole lot of guys with you today, eh? Did you already forget the beating we gave you before?
: You have a very simplistic way of seeing things. A lone victory isnt enough to decide the outcome of a war.
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: Too bad your whole sat cannon strat didnt do anything! But you better get used to that feeling, cause none of this is gonna go your way!
: How proud you get over stopping a single operation
: You truly are a waste of oxygen, Kouichi Hayase.
: Psh, I really cant stand you.
: Come on, guy, how many times did we fight before? We already know just how to deal with you!
: Thats the conclusion you reached from just a few encounters, hm? Thats telling of how limited your imagination is.
: However, reality doesnt conform to your limitations !
: What?! Another mech !
: It came from inside Glain-Neidr?!
: And now our battle can really begin.
: Stay frosty, everyone! Focus all our firepower on that new Machina!
: Alright, that should be good. We can get through the boulder!
: Lets go and see what awaits us beyond. Maybe an emissary from Yomi, or
: Ah, I see
: Hm? Theres someone on the other side ?
: Hmhmm Thats your name, then?
: Painkiller
: M-Ms. Kujo?! Whatre you doing here ?!
: Miu?! Y-Youre !
: Eida, what is going on here?!
: I-I dont know! I was chasing after her and wound up here !
: Thats ridiculous! How did either of you find this place?!
: Heeheehee Oh, I have to go and find Hayase.
: Im just like him now!
: (Did that Machina Did Izanami call her here?!)
*Alarm!*
: Were picking up a new Machina signal around the ruins! I-Its !
:
: Oh? So thats the newly-discovered Machina.
: Thats the one from the ruins? So it really wasnt either of those buried mechs?!
: But whos piloting it?!
: Hayase Ive finally found you
: Kujo? Why are you inside that Machina ?!
: Miu found the unit inside the ruins and became its Factor!
: Wh-What?!
: Look, Hayase Im one too Im a Factor just like you!
: Heehee, heeheehee
: K-Kujo
: Aaiiee!
: Theres the new Machina. And its already picked up a Factor, eh?
: Dang it, its that jerk again!
: Kujo, get away from here!
: Dont worry, I wont lose to them! Look at what the Painkiller can do!
: These people are the enemy ! Theyre Hayases enemies and mine!
: I admit that your pink toys hardy but youre still just a rookie!
: Gaaah!
: Miu!
:
: What, over already?
: Well, if you wanna blame anything for this, blame yourself for becoming a Factor!
SRW UX - Linebarrel (Full Intro)
: W-Whaat?!
: Theres another Machina inside that one too !
: That Machina it was using its outer armor to conceal its true form.
: Heeheehee, thats right. This is the Painkillers true form
: My true form !
: Kch, you getting cute with me, brat?!
: Kujo What happened to you ?
: Heehee I told you, no? Im just like you now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDLLkLT4tjU
: Im a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE!
: ?!
: This isnt good Shes just become a Factor, so I fear her minds very unstable.
: Cover her, people! We cant let the Katous trash that Machina!
Still need to destroy everything, only we cant lose Miu either.
Painkiller (Miu Kujo)
Pilot Skills:
Factor D-S.O.I.L. baseline is 50
Prevail L3
Support Attack L2
Counter
All Attack L1
Spirit Commands:
Strike
Alert
Accelerate
Mech Features:
Sword
10% HP Regen
Squad Bonus: Money +10%, EN +50 (Money +20%, EN +100, Melee weapons +150)
Mius voice actress: Aya Hirano (other roles: Nene and Mina in Macross Frontier, Suzumiya Haruhi, Lucy Heartfilia in Fairy Tail and many more).
And now for something completely different to the sweet, tanky long-range girl we had in L. Psycho Mius all about dodging and fighting at mid/short range, though the Painkiller still has a decent amount of HP. The lack of Focus makes sending her up front a dangerous proposition unless you pair her with someone that gives S rank, mind.
The Painkillers got good attack power (of our Machinas, only the Linebarrel and Vardant have more), plus Accelerate, melee damage, EN and money make her a nice squaddie for a lot of people, so its not difficult to find a spot for her. Finally, she doesnt have any tricks outside her whip YET, but thatll be fixed soon.
Now, Miu and Eidall need some help up top, the Sawataris crew is still a turn or two out, so have them land atop the nearby cliff for the terrain bonus, get rid of Masaki, and send our guys over. Despite it being the penultimate Linebarrel boss in the anime, the Nakeds actually a rather fragile (albeit with decent firepower) Machina that relies solely on its evasiveness and strong regen.
SRW UX - A Birds Song
: The festival had to cancel one of its acts because of your attack How about some sympathy to the folks who have to manage refund claims?
: Dont worry, theyre gonna pay a heavy price for messing Eida and the girls show! Come on, guys!
: Dancouga Ive a score to settle with you after that last battle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdo-5rVrVXo
Case in point, it lost 40% of its HP from a single attack.
SRW UX - LOVE 14 ver. HD
: This day was supposed to be all about fun for my first gig!
: I mightve sung plenty, but I still have a lot of energy left in me think you can handle it?
: She draws energy and power from the emotions of those around her, I see but this is where it ends.
SRW UX - JOEY AND HEROMAN
: How many people are in this city right now? We need to finish this battle, and fast !
: You should be more concerned about yourself. The people youre fighting to protect are wholly incapable of protecting you.
SRW UX - Life Goes On
: Do you want to make people to imagine their deaths, or do you want to destroy the Machinas?! What the hell are you after?!
: Ive no reason to explain what youre supposed to imagine for yourself.
SRW UX - Roaring Deathblow
: You must really want to destroy Machinas if youre willing to look for and use them yourselves!
: Do you have the leeway to be hypothesizing right now? Either you underestimate me or you overestimate yourself.
Arnie: This is !
Saya: Our resolve!
And we get another of Linas pom-poms for our troubles.
: I believe this is good enough. Weve collected plenty of intel on that Machina.
: Hrm He ran off again!
:siren: SRW UX - Love 14 ver. HD (Vocal)
: Ooh, Im gonna make you pay for pushing Miumiu around! Theres only one thing people like you deserve!
: You dont get it, do ya? That girls the craziest one around here Im a frickin choir boy next to her!
:siren: SRW UX - Lion
: Youve caused enough trouble for a day! Im not letting you trash the girls show!
: You better quit crowing and start paying attention, lil bird! Your lifes way more important than their show!
:siren: SRW UX - Life Goes On
: Its because of groups like yours that the world gets more and more messed up! How do you not see that?!
: Hah, and Im supposed to care what you think?
: Remember what Hisatakas always saying: yall gotta start imagining, and thats why were here!
:siren: SRW UX - Linebarrel
: My mission aint about you today, Horns! Piss off!
: Mission?! Youre here to kill Kujo, arent you?!
: I thought I told you to piss off! You got two seconds to do that before I run you through!
:siren: SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit
: Do you ever stop to think of how many people youre hurting with stunts like this and that satellite weapon?!
: Maths never been my strong point, guy.
: But theyll see the light when its all said and done, and then theyre gonna thank us for saving em!
: Saving?! Just what are you people after?!
:siren: SRW UX - Linebarrel
:
: Whats up, greenie? Too busy pissing yourself to fight?
: Hmhmhm, no, I was just imagining
: Imagining what I need to do to destroy you
And Sawatari drops a Sheryls Disk (Accuracy and Ranged +10, Evasion +5).
: Im not done yet!
: And heres your payback, greenie!
: Aaargh!
: Kujo !
: A-Aaah, no Please! Stop! Dont dont kill me! Someone help!
: Psh, and now youre pleading? Come on, save that crap for the afterlife!
: Miu, watch out!
: Heehee Come, Pard, Roc!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E10jwj9AvRk
: Gwaaaargh!
: Wh-What just happened?! The Painkillers controlling
: Are those the two machines buried in that boulder ?!
*Beep.*
: Correct! They freed themselves and flew straight out of here, apparently reacting to the Machinas call!
: By the looks of things, theyre meant as personal drones for the Painkiller.
: Drones ?!
: Thats that Machinas the Painkillers unique ability?!
: Y-You so all that begging, that crying was just a hoax ?
: Heehee you make it sound so bad, calling it that.
: You underestimated me and got caught off guard
: What I did was just a little something called acting.
: (Acting? She )
: Hah, guess I took things a bit too easy
: Fine, then. You might be a chick, but the gloves are coming off right now!
*Beep.*
: Oho, having a tough time dealing with a rookie, are you?
: Bite me! Im just about to rip her apart!
: Im afraid not. Youve been given the order to withdraw the situations grown too uncertain.
: And you think I care?! I aint letting her get away after that
: This is a direct order from the commander !
: ! Goddamn it retreating!
: Weve confirmation that all Katou Organization units have retreated.
: Hey, Kouichi! Did you see that?
: I beat him! This was my first fight and I think I did very
: What were you thinking, Kujo ?
: Huh?
: You cant fight the way you did. Look at this
: Youve turned a chunk of the city into rubble.
: ?!
: Ah Aah
Back at JUDA, things have already wrapped up at the festival and Eidas heard how Holly and her guitar closed the event on a major high note; Please, Eida, tell me something I dont know! Wahahahaha! Rennie confesses that shed read Holly wrong she thought she was just an oddball sister, but didnt expect her to be such a great musician.
But Holly isnt surprised, as she prides herself as being an Indie artist. She topped a chart or two, but thats it. Nearby, Psy is pushing Joey to go and get his sister under control before she picks up too much steam. Thats not happening No one can stop her once she gets like that Joey sighs. Ya know, I heard that the Japanese crowds were a quiet bunch, but they got fired up real good. Course, when you got me playing, its like dumping a gallon of gasoline on everyone! Wahahahaa!
Alto interrupts Hollys glee and asks about Ranka and Sheryl, but both have already headed back to the Frontier (they asked her to give him their best). Alto hopes Sherylll get better from whatever shes got soon.
: Thats our report for the battle at Shimane.
: Miu Kujo, the Painkillers Factor, is currently getting examined at the infirmary.
: Hmm thats quite the dangerous Factor we picked up, huh?
: Youve told us that people tend to get aggressive after becoming Factors, no? Kouichi Hayase wasnt much different
: Aggressive doesnt quite sum up the way she fights, though.
: True. As she herself said, it kind of feels like a piece of acting.
: Like shes trying to draw everyones eyes to her. The whole thing looks like shes going Look at me, look at how amazing I am!
: She did acquire a lot of power in the blink of an eye. Its not impossible that shes deluded herself into thinking shes a chosen one, a superior being.
: Whatever the case, shes a very unstable girl.
: Hmhmm, when we first met her at Innsmouth, shed tried to kill herself.
: And you say she was out of her mind when you found her at Yomotsu Hirasaka?
: Considering how abruptly she left the stage area, Id say so. And then she found her way to the underground ruins
: Where the Painkiller caught and infused her with its nanomachines.
: But why did the Painkiller choose Miu Kujo as its Factor? This was no accidental death or anything
: Theres a lot of risk to this one and not like Hayase used to be. Her personality, the circumstances behind her becoming a Factor everythings a different ballgame.
: Ill say
: Either way, Ill need you folks to keep a close eye on things.
: On Miu Kujo?
: No, on Hayase.
: S-So Are you feeling alright, Kujo?
: Yes. Actually, Ive never felt better. Plus, Im also so happy right now!
: Happy ?
: Because well be fighting together now! Just the thought of it fills me with joy!
:
: But, Miumiu, why did you rush out the festival like that?
: Well, I I just wanted to see Hayase in the show. I wanted it so, so much
: By the time I realized what I was doing, I was in that cave. And, then, the Painkiller saved me
: (Saved you? What does that mean ?)
Elsewhere, Grathan is busy trying to phone home; he eventually manages to get in touch with Charme Veker aboard her G-Excellent. Shes very surprised to hear from him, as hed been presumed dead following his disappearance while chasing the Elshank through a wormhole. Grathan apologizes, but notes that their comm systems have been malfunctioning since coming to Earth.
Whatever the case, Charme is glad that he and his men are safe. She asks him to report, so Grathan gives the rundown on being by the third planet of the Solar System, how theyre working on capturing the Elshank, and how the former Ladorian commander Ylbora Saro has defected to their side.
Still, Charme can see that hes been having a hard time here, but tells him not to worry: the G-Excellent will be arriving on Earth soon. Once theyre there, theyll reorganize and bolster The Boom Armys forces.
Grathans does a double take at the mothership of their army being on its way does that mean that Emperor Annex personal fleet will be here too? Of course, as Charm tells, the Emperor has decided to personally see to Rominas capture. Oh, boy
Later, over by the G-Excellents bridge, Charme relates to Annex that Grathan, the C-Terahertz and their troops are safe. It wont be long before they make it to Earth, where the Elshanks hiding out, BUT theres a perplexing bit of information Charme would like to investigate before they initiate operations.
Perplexing how? Theyve lost all communications with the homeworld after going through the warp hole, and havent been able to reestablish them since. Moreover, theres the added problem that much of their Kylhasium was lost during the warp. Investigations are underway and solutions are being devised.
Thats fine for Annex, who then asks Charme what she thinks of Earth. Honestly, she couldnt help but be enamored with that beautiful planet from just the few images shes seen of it. Charme can tell that Annex isnt satisfied with having just Planet Ladorio under his control. I cannot be at ease until all that is beautiful belongs to me. You know that, Im sure, Annex gloats. Mwahahahahahaha!
Finally, here are the convos we missed today:
: You worried about me, ya white blow-up doll? Come on, just try to hit me! Im over here!
: Treating battles as a game is bad enough, but hurting everyone else because of that is unforgivable! Go, Heroman!
: !
--
: I aint letting your gang off the hook for what youve done, but I guess we gotta be grateful to you a bit?
: I mean, it was only because of your sat cannon stunt that we managed to clear our names!
: Thats great to hear. Now you can die without regrets!
--
: You said this is the Painkiller? A shame youll leave this world so soon after finding it.
: No. Im going to be a Champion of Justice like Hayase
: If justice is what youre after, then youd best join the Katou Organization.
: Heehee, I dont think so
: You are all villains its your destiny to die at the hands of Champions of Justice
--
: You sure have been busy nowadays, eh? Then I trust youll keep that momentum going and show me a good time!
: Did you hear that, Aoi? This guys craving for a battle that gets his blood pumping.
: Well, who am I to turn him down? One electrifying battle, coming right up!
: We dont guarantee youll live through it, mind!