Part 23: Mission 11 - The Uninvited - Part 1
I just realized I never took a look at the intermission’s bottom screen and the unit upgrade menu, so let’s remedy that real quick. As I mentioned before, your top aces are displayed right there and kills made with them generate 20% more cash. Below them is the number of unused Skill Parts, and you can see by that 489 that I’ve a lot of consumable stat boosts (maybe I’ll make a vote later and let you pick someone to chug all those).
Finally, right below that, and currently empty, is where the game would point out units that are currently unassigned to squads.
There wouldn’t be much of a point to repeatedly point out upgrades I’m making since the dozens of millions I’ve in my bank account allow me to boost everyone forever. But here’s a quick overview of what everything gives you – from top to bottom:
HP – self-explanatory
EN – Ditto
Armor – damage mitigation for incoming attacks
Mobility – big modifier in your chances to Evade attacks
Accuracy – same, only it’s your chance to hit
Weapons – provides a power boost to all of the unit’s weapons. The size of the boost depends on the unit’s upgrade path: units that follow Pattern A will get bigger boosts more frequently than those that follow Pattern B, which will gain more than those with Pattern C.
As a general rule, you’ll want your Reals to focus primarily on Mobility while your Supers take HP and Armor. Accuracy and Weapon upgrades are desired by pretty much any offensive unit and EN is, of course, significant for those bots with costly weapons.
And with that done, we move to our teams. Arnie, Eida, Fei-Yen and Mike are deploy as event units, so we adjust accordingly. Do note that this next stage will have a not-insignificant amount of water, so you’ll want as many people airborne as possible:
Moritsugu/Guan Yu
Kouichi/Yamashita
Joe/Rennie
Liu Bei/Deceive
Setsuna/Lockon
Sun Quan/Sun Shangxiang
Saya/Zhang Fei
Mazinkaiser/Tsubasa
Off we go.
We open up with the Ptolemaios having just arrived back at JUDA – and we’ve brought Cham and Fei-Yen along as well. One thing Lasse heard is that despite Fei-Yen’s very girly appearance, she’s actually packing some decent fighting capabilities. Of course, there’s the problem that she can’t even remember her own name.
Still, Mileina figures she might just be an awesome, centuries-old weapon. Sumeragi considers that possibility, too, which is why she wants JUDA to give her a more thorough examination and see what they can find.
Setsuna, meanwhile, is sitting in a corner and Lockon asks what’s up. His Innovator powers tell him that Aila was still hiding stuff from us. Moreover, he inwardly ponders this unease Fei-Yen gives him. What could it mean?
Cut to Ishigami’s office, Tsubasa’s been informed that both her and the Death Caprice duo are being reassigned to work with JUDA. The president figures her insight will be invaluable in their analysis of Fei-Yen. Magami won’t argue that, but why transfer him and Kaido as well?
Well, with Cpt. Scarlet recovering from her injuries, there isn’t anyone in the Skull Force that can keep the two of them in line. Put it simply, Magami sees, the WSO thinks they’re a headache best passed on to someone else. That works just fine with Kaido, though, as working with this gang’s looking to be a whole of fun. Plus, it’ll give them battles where they can just cut loose.
“If all you want to do is ‘cut loose’, then you should just go back to the Machine Island, you monkey,” Magami harrumphs. Kaido gets right in his face for that and it falls on Tsubasa to stop things from coming to blows.
As for Liu Bei and crew, they’ll also carry on working with our team; they still have no idea how they’ll get back to Mirisha, so Liu Bei figures they might as well carry on fighting for justice in THIS world until that’s sorted out.
Ishigami purses his lips at that, and Zhuge Liang admits they’re aware that the myriad powers spread throughout this world lead to just as many definitions for what “justice” is. That said, they at the very least believe our group to not be unjust. That’s all Ishigami wanted to hear and welcomes them aboard.
With that settled, Tsubasa wants to know how Scarlet’s doing and Ishigami tells her to rest easy: JUDA’s medical staff is already hard at work, and he’s certain both she and Richard will be fine.
Location: JUDA – Infirmary
: My body’s immedicable…?
: I’m not a doctor, so I can only explain this from a technical point of view… but the problem lies with the Orphes. Surely you and Saya had have an idea of what I’m talking about, no?
: …
: So it really was because of its ability to warp…?: Though, if you ask me, the very thought of pushing accelerated particle engines into synchro-overdrive is extremely unreasonable to begin with. : Huh? Accelerated particle engines?: Ah, right, your Riot is also furnished with one of those.: Well, the Lepton Vectrer which powers the Lyras and Orphes could very well be called a variant of your unit’s Proton Generator. : I-Is that true?!: Yes, though the Orphes’ engine is far more extreme in terms of output, difficulty of control and just overall riskiness.: But I digress. Major, you must stop piloting the Orphes immediately and our recommendation is that you get absolute repose. : Because the next time you get in that pilot seat… you’ll die. *Maki leaves.*
: …: Hahah… One more and I’m dead? Seems I’ve really done it now…: Which is precisely why I was so against it… What will you do?: What, indeed… I guess I’ll need to leave our missions in your hands, for starters…: Carrying those out without the Orphes will rather difficult, though…: Major… Would you allow me to take up the Orphes?
: …?!
: What did you say…?: I think I’ve the necessary know-how and experience to control it and its engine, and in that case…: Ensign Berge! Do you understand what it is that you’re asking?!: Yes, but I don’t think it was pure coincidence that the Riot was equipped with an accelerated particle engine like the Orphes’…: … : It’s fate… Is that what you’re getting at?: I don’t like the idea of chalking up everything in a person’s past, present and future to a single word. Still, I…: I just feel like there’s something of an unseen hand pushing me towards the Orphes…: Ensign…: …: (An unseen hand, huh…? I guess I was right. The “events” Ishigami spoke of are…)
Some time later, by JUDA’s lobby, Damian finds Mike humming along. What’s he listening to? Eida’s newest single! Shizuna sure didn’t take him to be a closet-Eida fan, but Mike says it’s not like that. You remember how he was teamed up with her back at the Machine Island? Well, the girl liked working with him and later gave Mike a disk with a yet-unreleased song as a show of appreciation.
Joe is proud of how good with the ladies his friend is, and knows what he needs now: a crash course on how to put the moves on her. First, imagine that Joe is a girl… and Mike’s quickly irked as Joe starts strutting over to him, telling to take that stuff elsewhere.
Fei-Yen’s watching nearby and has a question: does Joe love Mike? Does it make it hard for him to breathe (More song lyrics)? Thankfully, Shangxiang is there to explain things to her. “Blah, Joe’s silliness is confusing Fei!” she and Cham fume. The girl-bot’s just woken up, so he should exercise some common sense when acting in front of her… though Damian questions if a Gundam and a Fairy should talk about common sense.
Fei slowly tells that her head’s still all jumbled up from her recent reboot but, while she can’t speak too well yet, says she’s fine. Shangxiang is glad to hear that, and knows she’ll fit right in with our crew.
As for Mike, Rennie warns that he won’t be getting anywhere with Eida: apparently the singer’s already together with her manager. We dunno if he’s aware of her UX gig, mind. “O-Oh, I see… I-I mean, I wasn’t even thinking about that, ya know!” Mike protests, and Rennie just nods along. And on the subject of Eida, does anyone know where she went?
Back to her other life, Izuna says: she’s recording a video for that new single over by Yokosuka. One day, she’s off fighting, the next she’s having a recording session… life as a merc/singer ain’t easy, Kouichi sees.
And on that subject, Johnny’s calling Eida to the location where they’ll record the next scene. He’s set quite the tough schedule for her today, but Johnny says she only has herself to blame, with all the time off she’s been taking. He’s got to make Eida’s work fit the amount of time she gives him – which, by the way, hasn’t been easy.
Eida understands, and says she’ll work extra-hard to wrap things up here quickly. That way they can go elsewhere together. Shopping, maybe? Johnny tries and fails to stay grumpy as she makes faces at him.
Inwardly, she really doesn’t like having to keep secrets from Johnny, but knows that he’d jump right back into the battlefield if he recovered his memories – as would Aoi, Kurara and Sakuya. But Eida wants them all to live in peace. She’s the only one who should be fighting.
Location: Yokosuka – Union Base
*BOOM!*
: W-Waaaah! They really did it?! (Sakuya)
: I can’t believe it…! I thought we were being pranked when they called us about a terrorist attack …! (Isabelle)
: Yaaaaahooo!
: We did it, Rouri! (Kanamoto): Hell, yeah! Apologies to Aesap and all that, but this is one for the history books!: Hey, look! The press is here!: Were you the ones who made that call?! I’m Isabelle Cronkite, a journalist!: Sakuya Kamon, her cameraman. I can believe you actually shot a bazooka at the Union base…: Get the hell off our country, Union Imperialists! Japan can handle its own defense!: Make sure you get all this, camera guy!*Sirens!*
: You! Don’t move!: Uh-oh, here come the jarheads! Get in the jeep, Kanamoto!*Vrroooom!*
: Sakuya, we’re going after them!
: … (Aesap)
: Now it’s time for extreme motorsports, where the F01 Shibuya Grand Prix has just been won by the legendary, undefeated queen of the race track: Aoi Hidaka!: Ms. Hidaka, it wasn’t long ago that you announced your return from retirement and it’s like you never even stopped. Your driving is as superb as it’s ever been!
: Well, as it turns out a life of modelling and TV ads was too boring for me. So, I figured I’d jump back into this. : But, on the other hand, there just isn’t anyone that can actually challenge me… I might just retire again, way this is going.: Hahahah… a very confident statement, but one the Queen is entitled to make. Carrying on—*Knocking on door!*
: Hm? Who is it…?
: Got a delivery here for you, Mr. Suzuki!: A delivery…? Someone hired a courier, I guess…*Opens door.*
: Aesap Suzuki? Assistant Inspector Kurara Tachibana of the Metropolitan PD, public safety division. : Th-The police…?!: You are currently a suspect of engaging in the illegal trade of Union weapons. Come with me, please.: (?! Rouri, Kanamoto… you didn’t…!)
: W-Wait just a minute! What are you accusing my son of doing?! (Toshiko): His ID was used inside the local Union base. Your son’s also under suspicion of being an accomplice to the terrorist attack that just happened. : Terrorist attack…?! My son’s been here all day, how can he be involved in an attack that happened minutes ago?!: We share this tenement with a bunch of bad sorts. I’m sure one of them took his ID and—: Urk..!*Aesap runs off!*
: Aesap?! Where are you going?!: Stop right there, Aesap Suzuki!
: Damn it… What did Rouri and Kanamoto do?!*Drive over!*
: Yo, Aesap, you saw the news?! How’d we look?!: Kanamoto, Rouri! Did you really…!: We blew up a Union base with a bazooka, yeah! The explosion was huuuuge!: And they’re coming after me because of that! Just how are you even thinking of getting away with this?!: Chill, we got a boat right at that harbor over there—*BOOM!*
: Uwaaaaah!: Wh-What the hell?!
Mission 11 – The Uninvited
SRW UX - My Fate : R-Rgh…!
: I-I’m flying...?!
: This blue sky... this light, it feels… This isn’t Byston Well?! I’m at the overworld?! (Lux): W-What the… there are wings coming out her shoes…?: Did you call me…?: Huh…?: Fine, no matter. We must find a place to land…!
: Eida, look! Robots!
: (Those aren’t MSs… What are those things…?!)
: Is that the princess…?!: Your Highness, are you well?!
: Murassa Mein, of the Aura Battlers?! What is the meaning of this?!: Some phenomenon occurred between the Aura Ships and the manifestation of the Wings of Rean, I believe! It’s brought us to the overworld!: The Aura Ship?! Then, the Kintoki is also inbound…?!: Yes, but our vessel isn’t the only one! The Rebels’ Aplogene is also traveling the Aura Road!: The Rebels as well…?!: Could you stop for a second?! Who the hell are you all?!: I am Lux Sakomizu, of Byston Well – the realm located inbetween the sky, the land and the sea…: “Byston Well”…? Sakomizu sounds like a Japanese name, though…: Correct. My father, the king of the nation of Hojo, is Shinjiro Sakomizu… a Japanese man.: Your father is a king… and he’s Japanese?!
#1: Calling all the unidentified mobile weapons! Lay down your weapons and surrender immediately!: The overworld’s army…?! #2: No, never mind that! The brass just sent word to bring them down!
: Urgh…!: What?! How can they start shooting just like that?!: Hrm…! So this is how you overworlders do things?!: Murassa, stop!
: Gwaaaaah!!
: A-Aah…!: W-Why…!: You…! Are you trying to turn this world city into a warzone?!: N-No! I…
SRW UX - A Bird’s Song: Hm…?! More overworlder troops?!: That’s… the red Dancouga?!: Dan… couga?
: What’re you thinking, starting a battle right in the middle of a city?! #1: Hmph, big words coming from a terrorist!: …?! #1: All troops, the red Dancouga is a member of the Unknown Xtrikers! She’s an international criminal! #1: Take her down along with all the unidentified forces!: W-What…!: This is the overworld… King Sakomizu spoke much about it…: However, as a warrior of Hojo, I cannot stand down!: (Hrm… Why did it have to come to this? But I still need to keep this city safe!): (Because this is the city my dear Johnny calls home!)
Kill everything, don’t lose Eida. As you might expect, sending her straight into the front is a risky proposition as you don’t want both sides ganging up on her. Moreover, the plot will soon draw her right back to her starting point, so just hang back.
The Hojo guys are our first encounter with Aura Battlers, characterized by their exclusive Aura Power skill, which raises evade % as well as the power of Aura barriers and weapons in proportion to the skill level.
These guys, however, are absolutely no threat: their weapons are weak and all mooks have pathetic amounts of HP and Armor, to the point where pretty much anyone (except the Deceive) can oneshot them rather reliably. Their small size can make them dodgy-ish, but if you use your SP and Command auras wisely, you’ll shred them.
As soon as the enemy turn starts, the plot carries on…
*Alarm!*
: Hm…? What’s this alarm for?!
: Everyone, we’ve an emergency! Some unknown mobile weapons appeared by Yokosuka and are fighting the Federation…!
: Yokosuka… isn’t that where Eida’s at?!: Yes, it is. She deployed with the R-Daigun and is under fire from both groups…!
: Wh-What?!
: Eida is…?!*Mike takes off.*
: Heey, Mike! Wait!: The hell’s that dumbass thinking running off by himself?!
: We should set out as well, Moritsugu!
: Hm, I’ll talk to Mr. Ishigami. Get ready to deploy on the double, people!And the battle carries on, but both sides are too far away to do anything. The next turn…
*Vrroooomm*
: So the red Dancouga’s one of those Hell’s Executioners terrorists?: Right. Are you getting all this?!: ‘Course I am!: Hey, you in the wagon! How about you watch where you’re driving?!: Ah, crap… An undercover cop?!: Driving while running a camera? Are you kidding… huh?: Ah…?!: (Do I know this man…?): (Huh… I’m getting some real déjà vu from her…): Sakuya, look!: …?! The surface of the water is foaming… Wait, is that—
: Ack, even more robots! How many of those are hiding underwater…?!: And where did Eida run off to with this whole mess going on?!: That’s… Kasumi’s Raiden?!
: You decadent Japanese people… behold now the might of Hojo!: Aah— Waaaaaah!!: Johnny…!*Eida flies towards him.*
: U-Urgh…!: I-It’s…!: That robot… it protected the civ?!: But why would a terrorist…?: (Th-Thank goodness, he’s safe… Rrgh!): Your end is come!
SRW UX - Love Survivor
: Eida, get back!
: What…?!: I-I made it…!: Mike… What’re you doing here?!: Heh-Heheh… I can’t just leave a teammate hanging when she’s in trouble, right?: Mike…!: Hmph, a new fighter… However—!: Kasumi, stop! We are not here to conquer the overworld!:Your Highness, what are you suggesting?! King Sakomizu has told us much of the corruption festering within the nation of Japan, hasn't he?!: We must display the might of His Majesty to the overworlders! They must learn that we are not to be trifled with! Such is the way things are…! : Kasumi…!: Tsk… Looks like they’re really set on attacking us!: What'll you do, then?: Gonna help you drive them out, of course!: My bro and Rennie might not be here right now, but I’m still gonna keep this town safe!You can send Mike up ahead, as him being underwater all but makes him invincible here. Most of the Hojo and Fed mooks will still fight each other anyway, and the GN Field proves awfully effective at keeping the GNX-IVs alive.
SRW UX - My Fate: Your rabid barbarism just now was a crime in and of itself! And you will pay for it with your lives, overworlders!
Not against the midbosses, of course.
The next turn over…