Part 117: Mission 47 - Heaven and Earth - Part 1
We’re back, having officially wrapped up the Linebarrel’s plot and convinced Deus Ex Machina to take a chance on CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE. Today, Kazuki, Rina and Akira are deploying as event units, and the game continues its quest to drive me insane trying to fit as many relevant folks on my team as possible. We’ve 19 slots to go with, which means I had to further rearrange things:
Joe/Setsuna
Aesap/Sakomizu
Liu Bei/Pretender
Kurou/Deceive
Sakura/Maya
Canon/Marvel (Zwarth – she can also do the combo, and gets the Holy Warrior attack bonus)
Shou/Lu Bu
Mazinkaiser/Moritsugu
Alto/Fei-Yen
Ishigami/Katou
Arnie/Saya
Cao Cao/Domyoji
Shinn/Lunamaria
Dancouga/Eida
Heroman/Miu
Mamoru/Shouko
Kouichi/Kiki
Sun Quan/Rennie
Mike/Kenji
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Also note that this mission is the cut-off point for both Setsuna and Graham’s kill count related to the 00 secrets. By the end of this, they must have, respectively, 150+ and 50+ kills.
Today’s mission is also your last chance to use the HAE Twin Dog and Senior Cross Dog combos if you’re going for the final Fafner secret (of course, if you didn’t use the Junior’s combo before Seri became the substitute core, then you’ve already lost that one…).
Off we go.
: Director Hazard, we’ve received word that the UX have returned to Earth and met up with ALVIS.
: Hmph, they’re likely going to try dealing with the Festum moving in on the island.: Of course, knowing that crew, they’re probably going to try and ‘communicate’ with the blobs, or something equally stupid.
: Calling it stupid is putting it mildly. There’s only one way for mankind to secure its future.: Right you are, madam Secretary General.: Still, now that The Advancers have taken their side, a change of course is necessary.: …: The founding of the new utopia…: Indeed, and I’ve already taken steps to secure a trump card to help with that.: A trump card…?*Door opens.*
: …: Prof. Shot…!: Hmhmhm, welcome back, Shot Weapon.: Did your friendly chat with Novel Dylan help you find the answer you’d been after?: It did, yes…: I’m glad to hear that. However, I’m going to ask that you keep your curiosity on a leash for now.: Dog, give him the file.: Yes, sir. Here.: Is this…?: Dr. Minami’s experiment data.: Unfortunately, he’s been arrested again, so I’d like you to carry on with his research.: …*Flips through pages.*
: What an insignificant research. What’s there to be gained by carrying this out now?: I’ll have you know that there’s much to be gained. : Remote control via brainwaves is merely the 1st step of the experiment. Its true purpose is…*Flips more pages.*
: Th-This is a plan for…!: Hmhmhm, you understand now, yes?: While Minami was only a self-proclaimed genius, he did have some very interesting ideas.: If we can successfully implement this plan, our new utopia will be all but a reality this time.: What do you say, Prof. Shot? Will you accompany us as we head for a new world?: …: (A new world, hm…?)
: First things first, I’d like you to take a look at this.*Beep.*
: Is that a carrier from the Army of Mankind…?
: The Bollearios, yes. Apparently, the Festum took it for themselves after kicking the Army of Mankind’s ass some.
: And the ship, now a nest for the Festum, is headed towards the island?
: Yes. Worse, the Bollearios has even deployed an optic camouflage and Welle Shield of its own. 
: Aren’t those the same defense systems Tatsumiya uses…?!
: I guess they’ve learned enough from their battles with us to grow into a bona-fide invading force.
: … : Our God has reached the limit of its patience. It’s determined to erase all the pain.
: In that case, you—…!: I know!: …
SRW UX - Separation: The light Liu Bei and his allies showed… the light of the GN Particles…: And, also, Kouichi and Shou’s spirit when facing against a God…
: Kurusu…: I know that humans are capable of changing…: But, I…*Door opens.*
: But you could you talk to your God if I’m with you, no? : …? You’re…
: Mi-Miwa…?
: …: I heard them, in that big ship. They’re all in pain, aren’t they?: You… You understand our language?*Tzeeeeeep.*
: Hm?! H-Hrk…!
: H-Hey, are you okay?!: Sh-She…
: She is our final hope…
: Th-That voice…!: Sou…shi…?
: Yeah…! I see Soushi’s aura inside him!: Sh-She’s the only one… who can communicate with the Mir… in their own language…: Soushi, stop! Your mind’s going to disappear!: I’m sorry, Kazuki… It’s all up to you.: Soushi…!: They’re going to reach… what we sealed away… A-Aaargh!: Please, stop! Why are you making yourself suffer?! Is your Mir ordering you to do this?!
: No, Misao. He’s talking to us because it’s what he chose to do.: What he chose…?: The place where everybody lives is something everybody protects. That's why we're in it.: Because we have a desire to be here. Because that's our place to come home to!: The place… to come home to…: Did you protect Soushi because the Mir told you to?!: N-No…! I just didn’t want him to disappear…!: Then, why don’t you start fighting like we did?: Stand up to your God, Kurusu!: I…I—!: Rrk… I-I can’t! The Mir is calling me…!
: Kurusu…!
: He disappeared…?
: Kurusu, you…*BOOOOM!*
: Wh-What’s going on…?!*Beep.*
(TV): Makabe, we’ve got a big problem! The…
: The Mark Nicht just came out from within the Mark Sein!: What did you say?!
: …: Mark Nicht… The Fafner Kazuki and his friends sealed away…: Did the Mir give me a human form so that I could pilot it…?
: …?!
: The pain… it’s growing…!: This is… hatred?
: Kurusu!: Ka-Kazuki…!*Kazuki grabs him!*
: S-Stay away…!: Why are you choosing this?! Why don’t you stand up to a God that’s doing nothing but add to the pain?!
: Kch… Graaah!
: Kazuki’s undergoing rapid assimilation from contact with the Mark Nicht! At the rate it’s spreading, he…!: Kazuki, stop! You’re going to disappear…!
: Stand down, Kazuki! Get away from him or you…!: Mr. Asuka…!: Take care of the island… of everyone!: Kazuki…!: N-No… the Mir…!: Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!
: Th-The Mark Nicht…!
: Absorbed the Mark Sein…?!: A-Aah… I… Kazuki...!: I never wanted any of you to disappear…!https://gfycat.com/BelatedHomelyIndusriverdolphin
: No… K-Kazuki…!: KAZUKIIIIIII!
Location: Inside the Battleship Bollearios
*Sweeesh!*
: …: I’m back, everyone…
: …: …
: I feared this is what I’d find… Nothing is being born… everyone’s still dying…
: The current state of your Mir is not the possibility I sought. : And, due to that state, no other individuals are diverging their possibilities. : That’s why the Mir captured you. You could give us a new possibility, right? : You gave one to Kazuki and his people, after all…
: I have already fulfilled my duty. Keeping me here will not create new possibilities.: …*Tzeeeeep.*
: Rgh… The pain won’t stop growing! I’d take your pain upon myself if I could, but I’m not strong enough…!: Maybe Soushi Misashiro could have, but I can’t… I’m so sorry, everyone…: Pain was Soushi Minashiro’s blessing. Life was Tsubaki Minashiro’s blessing.: But what about you? What blessing will you bestow upon the world?: Why are you even asking me that?!: You are the first of your kind to have desired to exist in the absence of a Mir.: Tell me, why are you there?: …: I just… I just wanted to see the sky…: But all I found is sadness… I can’t bear this existence anymore…!: …: If it’ll get rid of the pain everyone is feeling… Then, I…: I’ll erase Soushi Minashiro, Kazuki... and myself…
: A girl holding a baby?: Yes. They’re asking lots of things about her: why she’s hurting, why she’s now sad…
: Anyone wanna explain what’s up? Because I’ve no idea.: Miwa’s the first child born on the island after our Mir learned of life and death from Tsubaki Minashiro.: We believe that Miwa can sense Tsubaki’s presence. 
: Tsubaki’s presence…?!
: In essence, Miwa’s mind, like Kazuki’s, is in a constant state of Crossing.: Only her mind is crossed with the island’s Mir.
: She’s crossed with the Mir…?!
: Is that even possible?!: Solomon’s detecting an enormous flow of information being exchanged between her and the Mir.: It’s an extremely complex sequence of data comprised of unknown transfinite numbers.
: “Unknown transfinite numbers…”?
: To put it simply, it’s what Misao talked about : the Festum’s language.: And Miwa’s learned it intuitively, no different from how she’d learn her parents’ language.
: …: I think Miwa’s been chosen as Tsubaki’s successor. That little girl has taken up all the joy and sorrow of life… and a brand new possibility…
: A possibility for coexistence with the Festum…?: Exactly. She, alone, can communicate with the Festum. : She is our final and greatest hope. : …: And, so, you’re going to take her into battle, aren’t you…?!*
*
: Wh-What’re you doing, Yumiko…?!: Put the gun down, Yumiko…! SRW UX - Prologue: …: Miwa’s just a little girl… You can’t bring her into this!
: But she’s the only one who can save the island right now!: She’s my only daughter. I love her more than anything in the world!: Please, don’t take her from me!: Mommy…: Yumiko, I understand how you feel. I really do.: I know how much it hurts to see people you love being put in danger…: …: But remember the joy you felt the moment a new life took shape within you…: …?!
: And I’m sure Miwa wants to pass those emotions to the Festum, in her own words, in her own song…: The joy of life…: Mommy, can I talk to them?: The sky would be pretty again. That would make you happy, right?: …?!: Mi-Miwa… * sniff * : Uwaaahaaaaaaa…!: Sis…: Daddy, why is mommy crying?: Don’t worry, honey. She’s going to be okay.: Daddy’ll keep you both safe – that’s a promise.: So, how about we all head on over to our ship?: Okay!
SRW UX - Rebellion Against Fate
: So this is the Ægir Model, the Zero Fafner…
: And we’ll be using it to get through the enemy Mir’s barrier?: Right. It’s more than strong enough to neutralize the thing in short order.: While the plan’s to try and communicate with them, we’ll need to weaken the Festum’s forces a bit before we can give that a shot.
: You’re far stronger than me, Tamotsu. You never once turned your back on the Fafners.: Ma’am…: This machine took my daughter and son-in-law from this world, and I’d been avoiding it ever since…
: But you’re helping set it up now. Thank you for doing this for us, grandma. : Your parents left the Zero Fafner behind for you. I’d like to think it’ll protect you both.
: Yeah…!: Things have taken a turn for the worse at the Valkyrie’s Cave…?: Hm. It looks like the system was damaged during the Mark Nicht’s escape…
: What’s going to happen to Seri, then?!: Dr. Toumi’s attempting to restore the system, but it doesn’t look good…
: Oh, no…!: Alright, then Prof. Denton and I’ll stay here to help with that.: While this isn’t our area of expertise, we’ll do whatever we can to help Seri and the island.: …: You’re not going to have me arrested…?: Any mother would’ve done the same in your position.: I don’t know if Miwa would see it that way…: No, she knows that you were just trying to protect her.: …: She spoke to me about Kazuki. That he’s not really gone, and that he’ll come back to us.
: Yeah, that’s what we believe as well.
: You should do the same, Yumiko. Believe in your daughter…: …: Princess Romina, could I also come aboard the Elshank?
: You…?: I might not be of much use during this… but I at least want to be there to hold my daughter’s hand. It’s the least I can do as her mother.: Yumiko…: Very well. You may come with us.: Thank you so much.
: Our mobile troops will ambush the Mir’s vessel as soon as the enemy initiates its attack. 
: We’ll only have one chance to do this. Godspeed, and may you all return safely and victorious.: Now begins the second Operation Azure!
Mission 47 – Heaven and Earth
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
: L-Look at all of them…
: And we’re detecting even more Festum headed our way!
: Our current hypothesis is that they’ve bolstered their ranks with a large number of Festum that had, to this point, been non-combatants…
: They’re bringing even their civilians into this war…
: But we can’t let them push us back…! Now it’s our turn to reach out to them!: Wait just a bit, Kazuki…! We’re coming to save you!: As the previous briefing mentioned, the Zero Fafner must head towards this spot in order to neutralize the Mir’s shield.
: All other units are to provide support! Our strength will pave the way not only for them, but for our dialogue with the Festum!
There’s your first order of business: get the Zero Fafner over to the tagged area. The unit moves just fine on water, which is good because there’s a TON of it on this stage. Try to get as many guys airborne or paired up with folks like Dr. West and Mike as can be, or those squads’ll have a much harder time than necessary.
As for the Festum, treat this as you did the first Operation Azure and you’ll do fine – same strategies apply, only the terrain is a lot worse and you now have those strong Eurus Types harassing you.
Clearing out all the Festum’ll also get Rina into position, and I’d say that’s the recommended approach, as you’ll want to have everyone maxed out on morale when you do that. Get all your guys up to the North/Northwest section of the map, kill everything except one enemy and take that one out with a ship so that everyone is ready to go after the plot hits.
The Zero Fafner not only looks very different from all its sibling mechs, it also functions very differently. First off, it’s a two-seater for the twins and it can’t dodge worth a damn. On the other hand, it’s surprisingly bulky, has a MAPW that blasts everything around it up to 5 squares away and packs a good punch (looking at it solo, it’s got the highest attack power of all non-Sein Fafners and is L sized).
Its durability does take a hit from the fact that Rina isn’t really tank-specced, so you’ll likely want to get her some Guard and Prevail just to be safe. But, from what I see, the biggest demerit of the Zero Fafner is the fact that it DOESN’T have the Crossing System, meaning you don’t have any of those boosts that Rina and Akira would normally get… which, in turn, weakens the unit in relation the other Fafners.
You can still set Rina and Akira back in their original units, though. If you’re deploying a bunch of Fafners, then that’s the better choice; if you’re only deploying, like, Kazuki, then the Zero Fafner will probably come out on top (though there are likely better squaddies).
Regardless, it’s squad bonus is: Armor +100, EN +50 (Armor +150, EN +100, HP +750).
SRW UX - Azure
: This Fafner bears the wishes of all our family!
: And we’ve taken those wishes upon ourselves! The road for coexistence might’ve been destroyed before, but we will bring it back!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rPeRpLH1k0
SRW UX - Tobikage Appears!
SRW UX - Azure
Dynasty Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6hiefUDLv8
And here’s the Zero Fafner’s best weapon.
SRW UX - Obelisk
There goes the last of the first wave, and the Zero Fafner auto-moves to the spot.
: W-We made it!: Rina, get the shields’ wavelengths sync’d up!: Right back at you! Don’t screw up your end!*Power uuuup!*
: …! Get back, you two!: Wha—?!
: We’re surrounded…?!: …
*Crick, crack!*
: Ugh-Waaaaaaaaah!
: Akira…!
: The Zero Fafner’s starting to break apart!
: The Festum are trying to assimilate them!
: Zero Fafner, come in! Akira, Rina!: Hrrk…! Th-This is what… assimilation is like…?!: My mind’s fading away… Dad, mom… Rina…!
: …: This isn’t working… We can’t ease the burden on the substitute core unless we can find a way to parse the central coding.
: Isn’t there anything you can do?!: The Mark Nicht’s activation has caused their language to overwrite a portion of her system’s data. : And it’d take too long to isolate and restore the overwritten sections…: Seri…: …*Crick, crack!*
: The assimilation’s started…!: Damn it! Professor, access the SC Code!: R-Roger!: A-Aaah…! Why… Why can’t I save anyone…?!
: U-Uwaaaaaaaaah!: Gyaaaaaaaah!
: Akira…! RINA!
: A long-range blast?! Who…?!
SRW UX - Shangri-La
: …
: Is that the Mark Vier?!: But, that unit was…!
: I-I know that fighting style…!
: So do I… it’s Koyo!: I don’t believe it! There’s no one aboard, but we’re detecting control data being transmitted from the unit’s core itself!: It’s really Koyo…: He came back to protect our island. He’s turned himself into the unit’s core…!: …
: Thank you, Kasugai…: Koyo, you’re something else…!: …: L-Let’s go… Rina!: But you’re…!: Everyone’s putting their lives on the line here! Just like our parents did…!: If we don’t do this, someone else’ll have to pick up our slack! : Akira…!: Alright, we’ll do it together!: Haaaaaaaah!
: The enemy Mir’s Welle Shield is gone!
: They’ve succeeded!
: Proceed to phase 2 of the operation! Move in and seize the Mir’s vessel!: …!*Alarm!*
: Got an energy reading above the Mir ship! It’s…!
: …
: Kurusu…!: I’m here to erase everyone’s pain…
: You’re still hung up on that?! You…: Don’t worry. I’ll disappear as well… as soon as I’ve erased the pain.
: “Disappear”…?!
: You idiot… that’s the solution you found?! : What the hell did you spend all that time with us for if this is what you’re doing?!: …
: We need to deal with him before we even think of getting any dialogue rolling!: Troops, focus all your fire on the Mark Nicht!
Mark Nicht (Misao Kurusu)
Pilot Skills:
Mind Read L3
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
All Attack L3
Mech Features:
Assimilation L2
All-Canceller
Misao’s voice actor: Ryohei Kimura (other roles: Psy in Heroman, Daryl in MSG Thunderbolt, Sorey in Tales of Zestiria, and a bunch more)
Here we go again: Purple Mark Nicht, comparatively, has worse specs than Idun’s version (the 230k HP count is way higher, of course) and Misao doesn’t even come close to matching Deus Ex Machina in terms of pilot stats or in raw firepower.
On the flip side, the Nicht still has its big 1-6 MAPW which can still assimilate and Mind Read L3 is a big boost to his hit % against anyone that isn’t a Fafner or Heroman, so still be careful with folks around him. His morale gains aren’t the best, mind, so just one Daunt/Exhaust cast should be more than enough to keep him below 130 (provided you killed all the Festum before triggering the plot) while you approach.
Oh, and unlike Idun’s Mark Nicht, Misao’s strongest attack is at melee range (1-2) and is his most accurate weapon, so be mindful of that. My advice is to clear out the other Festum, since you don’t wanna risk them getting lucky and assimilating someone that Misao’s nicked, and then move in on him – pop Confuse to give yourself more leeway.
The plot kicks in once Misao’s under 70% HP.
And here’s Koyo again, back on our team. His Synergetic Code’s been replaced with Mind Read L3, his stats have all been boosted and the Vier’s been equipped with the Crossing System, so that’s something to help him catch up a bit. As for the unit, it’s still the same as it was back in Act 1 – essentially a combo-less Acht, now that Kenji’s decided to ditch his Lance – so use him as you did there if you’re looking to hit that full +30 stat up from deploying 11 Fafners with the Crossing System equipped.
Spirit command list is: Focus, Alert, Ideals, Zeal, Love.
SRW UX - Linebarrel
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
Oh, Misao, you silly kid.
SRW UX - Deus Machina
: Are you really okay with this, Kurusu?! Your ‘God’ is going to take away our sky! How can you just accept something so wrong?!: I don’t care anymore… It won’t be long before I disappear… I’ll disappear together with this sky…: I can’t believe how easily you give up…! That’s a godawful way to end things and everyone, including you, deserves better!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B8E8SfOQSQ
SRW UX - Azure: I know how you feel… You want me gone, don’t you…?: That might’ve been the case before… but not anymore!: We put our faith in the path Tsubaki, Seri and so many have built for us – the path our parents hoped to find!: What we want is to live alongside all of you!: Because you, like us, are here right now! You exist!
Rina attacking: “That Fafner is…!” > Akira: “The Mark Nicht! We can’t hold anything back, Rina!”
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies: So much pain was forced onto us and you still…: You got it all wrong! We’re no different from you in that regard! : Pain is something everyone carries within themselves. But, despite that, we all carry on living, keeping our eyes locked on the future!
Shouko attacking: “I’m making you stop with this attack, Kurusu!”
Maya attacking: “The Salvator Model…! I’m not letting you take away our peace! / Give back our blue sky! You thought it was pretty, didn’t you?!”
Dynasty Warriors 9 - Theme of Lu Bu -DW Epic Mix
: Look deep within your heart and ask yourself: what are the ideals I pursue? Do not avert your eyes from that sizzling flame!
: Muster your courage and embrace the wish rising from within you! I’m certain you hear it calling out to you!
: ‘Tis the cry of your soul, demanding that you oppose the fate imposed upon you! That cry is the radiance of life given form!: Enough… All I want is for the pain to go away. : I don’t have that light of yours inside me…: Nonsense! Festum, humans – that distinction matters not! There is a fate you desire, so you ought to go and claim it for yourself!: All that are alive, all who possess the brilliance of a will, are capable of carving out their own destiny!
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies
: Why are you so fixated with staying the same?!: If anything, that stubbornness of yours only goes to show that you ARE someone, don’t you think?!: No, I’m just one of the Mir’s fingers! That’s why I assimilated Kazuki…!: Baah, for how long is this kid going to keep sulking like that?! Shou, let’s give him a slap or two and pry his eyes open!: Not beating around the bush today, are we, Cham…? Still, that might just be our only option!
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers: We should have gone straight to Hell. It would have been better for everyone…
: Hah! Then you can relax, kid, 'cause you’re already in Hell!
: Life is wasted on those who can't even speak their own mind!: So, we’ll just give you what you want and send you spiraling into the abyss!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_fLVKwB4Yg
And here’s Misao’s best attack.
Misao vs. SKL: "Hell must be a lot of pain, right...? In that case, I'll bring you all with me to nothingness...!"