Part 26: Mission 13 - Pledge ~ Promise
Here we are again, with Aesap still deploy as an event unit. Everyone else is still free, though, so we switch folks around:
Joe/Moritsugu
Kouichi/Yamashita
Sun Quan/Rennie
Arnie/Saya
Mike/Lockon
Setsuna/Fei-Yen
Zhang Fei/Shangxiang (her Assail will really help get more usage out of his best attacks)
Liu Bei/Deceive
Guan Yu/Tsubasa
Mazinkaiser/Eida
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Off we go.
: These are the coordinates? They said the island of Tatsumiya’s here, but…
: Something moved?! Is it API-1... Tatsumiya?!
: …: A-A Festum…?!: Mayday, mayday! This is Youngster 2! I’ve spotted a Sphinx-type by point N-02!*The Festum closes in.*
: Th-The Sphinx is coming after me!
: Step on the gas and break away from it!: I-I’m trying… I-I can’t shake this thing!*Closer still.*
: Are you there…?: Aa-AAAAAH!!
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: Th-That’s…!
: Kazuki, stand down! This isn’t a rescue operation!
: I… I have to save him!
: …!*The Festum backs off.*
: Whose unit is that?! Did it actually come from API-1…?!
: The Sphinx has switched its target to the Mark Elf!
: I told him to keep his distance from the Federation jet…!
: Him saving that soldier will make for later headaches, you know. (Kariya)
: And? Could you honestly sit back and just watch as someone is killed?!: …: The Mark Elf’s engaging the enemy above Tatsumiya’s airspace!*BOOM!*
: P-Projectiles are hitting the island!: We don’t have a choice now… disable the mirror camouflage and engage the Welle Shield! It’s better than letting the whole island get destroyed…!: We’re deploying our MS as well! Impulse, coordinate with the Mark Elf and bring down that Festum!
: …?! Wh-What… That island isn’t on the map!
: Kazuki!: Mr. Asuka…! Back me up, please!: I’m on it! Haaaaah!
: Now, Kazuki!
: Haah, haah… We did it! We did it, Soushi!: Kazuki…: That’s it, I’m sure of it…! Youngster 2 to command fleet! I’ve located API-1! Repeat, I’ve located Tatsumiya!
: Secretary-General Hester, images from the coordinates sent by Youngster 2 are coming up on the monitors now. 
: Hmhmhm… At long last, I’ve found the Island of Giants…: Why did you ignore your orders and save the Federation jet?
: I take full responsibility for everything, sir…
: Saving someone’s life is a bad thing now?: Depending on the context, it may be.: …?!: Kch… Excuse me.*Kazuki stomps off.*
: Do you think I’m too soft, Ms. Kariya?: Not really…: …: Cmdr. Makabe, the Federation’s fleet trying to get in touch with us.: Understood. Put them through.
: …
: Come on, chin up. Ask anyone around here and they’ll say you did the right thing.: But Soushi and my dad…: Don’t worry about them. You saved someone’s life today – if that’s not something you can say with your head held high, what is?: …
: Ah… Kazuki! Welcome back!: Shouko, everyone… Why are you here?
: They gave us a break from training when your fight started. We all saw you guys in action.
: You and Soushi were so cool out there!
: And you, Mr. Asuka – your piloting just screams ‘ace’! You’re in a whole different league from us!: Hahah, thanks. But I could do much better if the Destiny’s repairs were finished…
: No way, dude! You were already great out there!: We need to dedicate ourselves to our training… and become fully-fledged pilots too…
: Hey, Shouko… Are you holding out okay?: Yes, I’m fine…: Are you really? You’re not looking to good.: N-No, I really… am…*Faint.*
: ?! Shouko…!: H-Hey, Hazama! Stay with us!
: …
Location: ALVIS – Infirmary
: Looks like some light anemia. She should be fine now.: Aah, thank God for that…
: I’m so sorry that you kids had to go through this…: Nah, don’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure she’s been having fun doing this, so it’s no prob…: Fun…?: Because Shouko’s health always kept her from going to school, yeah… : She really wants to do this with all of us, so I think she pushed herself too hard…: …: Ah…: Back with us?: Oh, honey, I told you not to overwork yourself…: I’m sorry…
And the Federation’s demanding ALVIS hands over a Fafner. And, much to Tamotsu’s surprise, Makabe’s actually agreed to it: they’ll be giving them the Mark Sechs. Tamotsu points out all the years they’ve spent putting the bot together, but they’ve no choice here.
The Feds’ fleet will picking the Mark Sechs up soon and Makabe asks that Tamotsu make sure the bot is good to go. Cagalli is confused about all this: the Federation won’t even be able to activate a Fafner without one of our kids, so why do they care?
Kaname and Makabe have an idea of what going on and, when Cagalli asks, he says it’s very likely we’ll find one Mitsuhiro Bartland with the Federation.
Cut to Hester’s ship, she’s already counting the minutes for when she’ll get to see a Fafner Nothung Model in person. Mitsuhiro and Hazard are also very eager, and Hester is grateful to the latter for all his help. She’s certain ALVIS wouldn’t have capitulated this easily if the Federation didn’t have the support of all the Martian Development Bureau’s forces (including the Famir Warship they’re currently in).
Ah, but Hazard is so very willing to help considering the multitude of threats – like the Skrugg and the Festum - besieging Earth at the moment. If they can stymie those threats even a little, then they won’t hesitate to assist however possible.
Mitsuhiro, meanwhile, reports that they’re ready to initiate research and mass-production of the Mark Sechs as soon as it arrives. It’s almost time for the reform of the Federation army. But their scheming is interrupted when the radar pings Festum appearing on top of them!
: Hey, mom.: What is it? : Do you think I could pilot a Fafner like Kazuki does…?: Someday, when you’re not sick anymore…: … And will I ever stop being sick?: Of course you will! Your mom’s a healthy person, no?: Yes, you are…*ALAAAAAARM!*
: …?! This alert… Solomon’s issued a warning?!: There’s going to be another battle…?: Don’t worry – you’ll be safe here! I’ve work to do at the Burg, so please stay here and rest.*Hazama leaves.*
: …: Response from Solomon! Festum determined to be Sphinx-types but there’s some ambivalence! : Commander, the Federation fleet’s sending a request for help.: Letting them get sunk would be best for us…: But we can’t simply turn the other cheek. Deploy the Mark Elf.: Yes, sir…: We’ll have the Impulse provide support, then.: Thank you, Rep. Athha.
: Haah, haah… Hrgh…: What’re you doing here, Hazama?! Aren't you still feeling sick?!: I-I’m fine. I’ve a job to do too… Help Kazuki… that’s my job…: …: Hazama… Isn’t there anything I can do for you?: Kasugai…: Shouko…!: Kazuki! You’re going out again…?: Yeah, but never mind me. Are you feeling better?: Yes, I’m already good. Just focus on making it back to the island safe, okay?: When you do, I’ll help you with all this. So please come back…: …: That’s a promise between us, alright, Kazuki…?: Yeah…: This is your island. It's the place you'll come home to. So I’ll keep it safe for you…
Mission 13 – Pledge ~ Promise
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: U-Uwaaaaaaaaaah!
: Escort ship, sunk!: We’ve come too far to give up on getting the Nothung Model!
: (Tsk… If I knew this was going to happen, I’d have brought The Boom Army along…!)
: Gch… Are reinforcements from API-1 still not here yet?!: Are you there…?: Eeek..!
: Aah…! They made it!: Th-That’s… the Fafner?!: This one is a rescue operation. Move in and support the Federation fleet!: We’re going in to save them all, right?!: …: No time for questions, Kazuki! We’re going!: Y-Yes, sir!*ALAAAAAAARM!*
: Th-This is…! Another warning from Solomon?!: What?! Where’re the Festum appearing?!
: 10km directly above Tatsumiya! (Kondo): Deploy the second Welle Shield immediately!: Targets are crash-landing into the island’s mountain range! No time to measure mass!: Brace for impact!*CRAAAAAASH!*
: H-Hrrgh…! : The targets landed at the island’s central block!: Sending out the Impulse backfired on us...!: Alex, can Lunamaria deploy?!
: We’ve a Gunner ZAKU Warrior she could take, but…: Tsk, if only the Destiny’s repairs were finished…damn it!: There’s no more time! Have her take the ZAKU and intercept the enemy!
*Booom!*
: Stop this! Please! Don’t… don’t destroy Kazuki’s island!*Run over.*
: ?! Shouko, what are you doing?!: M-Mom…: Why are you in a Synergetic Suit?! What are you up to?!: I’m going to fight them…: Don’t be stupid! There’s no reason for you to risk your life for the island—: I’m not doing it for the island! I’m doing it for Kazuki!: Shouko…: …: Shouko, your body’s too weak. This was never something you could do…!: Mom… We were always meant to fight, no? This has been our destiny from the second we were born, hasn’t it?: Then, at the very least, I’d like to be fighting because it’s what I want to do. And you can let me have that, right…?: After all… I’m not even your daughter…: ?!
SRW UX - Shangri-La: Kazuki, we’ve an emergency! New Festum have been sighted at Tatsumiya!: The enemy’s at the island?!: How many of them?!: We’re seeing several Sphinx and Grendel-types. Lunamaria is on her way to intercept them with the ZAKU Warrior, but against that many…!: Luna’s…?!: Kazuki, you need to get back to the island right now! Can you do it?!: No, it’s not happening! I’m finished the second I turn my back on these things…!: But… No, wait! I-Is this…?!: What is it, Soushi?!: A new connection’s been established with the Siegfried System… It’s the Mark Sechs… Hazama?!: Shouko…?!
: Rrgh… You’re not winning this that easy!
: I’ve brushed up my shooting skills some, you see!*The Sphinx charges after her.*
: A-Aah—!
: Seiiyaaaaa!!!
: Y-You’re…!: Haah, haah…: Hazama, we need you to hang in there until Kazuki’s group makes it back. Don’t bite off more than you can chew!: Thank you, Minashiro… but, I… I made a promise to Kazuki, so…!: Hazama…!: This island is our home… it’s Kazuki’s home! And I’ll keep it safe!
Kill everything, don’t lose any of our girls. You really don’t wanna risk sending Luna out to the frontlines, not only because her ZAKU is kinda “eh” and will likely get assimilated, but because the game, once again, tosses a Sphinx with Mind Read L4 at you (it’s the one Shouko pushed back). If that guy goes after Luna on top of the little Grendels, she might just get killed before getting zapped.
Just let Shouko handle it as she’s more than well-equipped for it, while Luna sticks to the nearby positive terrain and shoots from range (she now knows Strike, and it’s decently priced!).
Fafner Mark Sechs (Shouko Hazama)
Pilot Skills:
Synergetic Code L2
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L2
Spirit Commands:
Alert
Focus
Mech Features:
Gun
Repair Module
Norn System – Reduces all incoming damage by 1500. 5 EN per use.
Siegfried System
Squad Bonus: Money +10%, Mobility +5, A in Air (Money +20%, Mobility +20, S in Air, Spec Down Debuff Immunity)
Shouko’s voice actress: the late Miyu Matsuki (other roles: Minaki in SRW Alpha 3, Choppy in Precure All Stars and some more).
Yow, now that is a great Squad Bonus – had she a Resupply Module instead of Repair, she’d be a perfect squaddie. Regardless, Shouko is still great and that’s mostly due to the Mark Sechs because, as a pilot, she ain’t all that. The game is clearly pushing her into a support role, but all Fafners are good enough that you can play them however you want. Having an S in air does do wonders for survivability, of course.
The Mark Sechs has its ranges covered nicely (second best is 3-7) and packs a decent punch, too, which will help you with this:
Secret Alert!Fafner Secret #1 – 2nd Step: Shouko must down at least 5 enemies by the end of the third enemy phase.
Simple, but it require you to play aggressively. You’ll want to send Shouko up front and keep Luna back, so that the little Grendels will all focus on her and you can wittle down the five kills you need.
Ignore the Sphinx as it has too much HP (plus regen) for you to kill without really expending your resources. Just go for the Grendels.
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: Minashiro, please, stop her!: It’s our mission to protect the island…: Minashiro!: Plus, Shouko Hazama is the one best suited as the Mark Sechs’ pilot. : You knew this would happen, Ms. Hazama…: B-But…!: Hazama, the enemy’s closing in!: I see it. Get out… GET OUT OF KAZUKI’S ISLAND!!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1wL-1W5Tyk
That’s four kills she gets on the very first turn. With a bit of morale, a crit from her Mine Blade is just enough to oneshot the Grendels.
Might’ve gotten all five here, but one bugger got clever…
SRW UX - Life Goes On: I can’t just dump all this on one girl’s shoulders…! Time to plant my feet into the ground and hold this line!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OB_zUE6rEVE
Throwing your tomahawk after you’ve already left the screen is very rude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piVqA7oIw4w
And here’s the fifth kill. She’ll get another two as a bonus during the enemy turn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C955qCA1Ds
Seeing how this Grendel cared so much, he gets blasted by the ZAKU’s best attack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYu_fLJgc_0
And Shouko’s best move, just for kicks.
Now fast forward a turn and…
: Haah, haah…!
: Rrgh-RAAAAAAAARGH!!
: Grrr… UAAAAAAAAH!: Hazama…?!: HAAAAAAAAH!
: Haah, haah… I-I’ve got it!: What do you think you’re doing, Hazama?!: I’ll… I’ll drag it out the island!: What…?!: Th-The Mark Sechs… is capable of flight, so…!
: The Fafner’s flying away…
*Engine noise.*
: That’s good enough. Let go of the Sphinx.: …: What is it, Hazama?: I… I can’t…
: …?! It’s assimilating you…?!: Are you there…?: Gch… Hazama, eject!: …: Minashiro… I’m engaging the Fenrir…: Hazama?!
: Code accepted. Activating Fenrir.*Beep.*
: Shouko… Why’d you activate the self-destruct charge?! What the hell’s going on, Soushi?!: …: Kazuki… I said I’ll keep your island safe… and I will…: Shouko, that’s ridiculous! Stop this!
: Shouko…!*Koyo runs off.*
: Pilot cadets are all on standby! You’re not to leave your posts without permission!: Shouko…!*She goes too.*
: Hey! Stop!: Mi-Minashiro… Give her back… Give my daughter back!: SHOUKOOOO!: Mom… I’m sorry…: I should never have said I wasn’t your daughter… : I’m so sorry…
Mommy… Why is my name Shouko?
It’s because I wanted you to soar high – that’s what your name means.
”Soar”?
It means to fly through the sky.
I’ll soar right through this sky, then…!
: Kazuki…
*BOOOOM!*
Angela - Separation (Piano Version)
I kept my promise, right…?
: SHOUKOOOOOOO!!: The Mark Sechs and the Festum have… disappeared…: …: A-Aah… Aaaaaaaaaaah!!: Th-This can’t be real... Tell me this is just a bad dream, Shouko…: The enemy’s destroyed… as is our precious Mark Sechs…: …?!: N-No…!: We… we were too late…!: Rrgh… Uwaaaaaaah!: …?! We’re detecting heat signatures where the Mark Sechs disappeared! I-It’s…!: What… What is that light?!
: That’s the Celestial Being’s ship…! The UX are also there, then?!: The Unknown Xtrikers…?! But where did they come from…?!
: Th-This is…?
: That light was the Aura Road opening, I’m sure…!
: Then we’re back at the surface?!
: We should be somewhere in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but…
: Yeah, this island isn’t on any of our maps!
: This is the island of Tatsumiya..!
: I s l a n d o f T a t s u m i y a…?
: ?! What are those creatures...?!
: The Festum…!
: “Festum”?! The things that attacked Japan thirty years ago…?!: Do you hear me, Unknown Xtrikers?! This is the Representative of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha, speaking!: Orb, the neutral nation…?! What’s their Representative doing here?: We can explain the particulars later! The Festum are attacking and we’re having trouble pushing them back – we need your assistance!: Roger that! The UX will engage and eliminate them!
: Then I believe I’ll take command of this operation. Troops, make sure not one of these creatures is left intact!
Alas, poor Shouko; we hardly knew you.
Now we just need to close in and destroy the new wave of Festum without losing either of our ships. Lead with your dodgier guys until morale gets going to make sure no one gets assimilated and you’ll be good.
And remember that Kazuki’s kill count is tied to two secrets and his first one requires 100 kills by the end of mission 26. If you haven’t raised those flags in a previous game, he should be given priority on mooks.
SRW UX - Envoy from Jupiter
: (This is… I feel something within them, but what is it? What are they after…?)
SRW UX - Shangri-La: Shouko, why…?! Why’d you have to do something as stupid as that?!: Festum…! You’re gonna pay for taking her from us!
SRW UX - Life Goes On: I came along to keep others from dying, but I couldn’t stop anything…!: And now another young girl lost her life. All her hopes and dreams for her future, gone… Damn it, why is it always like this?!
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: Something echoes inside my mind…? What is the meaning of this? Just what are these foes…?
I question the safety of having Izuna Nerve Crack a Festum…!
SRW UX - My Fate
: So this is the Overworld… I’d love to take in the sights, but it’s really hard to move around with three people inside the cockpit.: And who was it that insisted she come along, huh?! I swear, this is precisely why the Ferario—: Could you two shush?! I’m fighting here!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZI3C30gGSQ
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit
: What are these things?! Are they a different kind of alien, or…?
SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness: (It’s only been a few weeks since our last battle with the Festum…): (How can they have already grown so active…?!)
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers
: Eh?! The hell’s up with these gold freakazoids?!
: Well, if anything, it’s pretty clear they’re not friendly. Hold nothing back, Kaido!
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
: Every day we’re faced with another new enemy… What in heaven’s name is happening with this world?!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: There’s no one piloting these things, right? Then I guess it’s A-OK not to pull any of my punches!
SRW UX - Love Survivor
: First a bunch of bugs, and now monsters made of light? Earth’s really gone off the deep end while we weren’t looking!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhAnenvgWGU
Aaay, I FINALLY managed to get the combo attack with the Elshank machines on tape (I think Rennie’s line cut off at the start, but I dunno if that’s a problem with Citra or a bug in the game)!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEe83A-cdsA
Also, here’s Kazuki’s strongest attack…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88YoRkZ9x3s
And Zhang Fei’s best one.
: All Festum confirmed eliminated. No signals in the surrounding areas either…: It’s over…: But this victory came at a very high price…!: …
A bit later, an angry Makabe tells Hester that, no, she won’t be getting her Nothung Model. They lost a Fafner defending the Federation’s fleet, so they’ve no units they could give them anymore. Hester tries objecting, and Makabe asks if the Federation’s thinking of using this island as sacrificial lamb. Well, he isn’t – they’ve lost too much already and he’s done talking with her.
As Makabe shuts the call, Yumiko wonders if the Federation will give up on this. Hardly, Makabe thinks they’ll only get worse. Furthermore, he turns to Cagalli and says that while they’re so grateful to her and her people’s help today, there’s now a problem.
She understands: the Federation is now aware that Orb and the Arcadian Project are working together, and that she’s got ties with the UX. It’s probably best for everyone if they distanced themselves from one another for a little while, Cagalli figures.
Makabe truly regrets it coming to this after all Orb has done for them, and says they’ll at least take care of finishing the Destiny’s repairs. That’s hardly enough to repay ALVIS’ debt, but Cagalli says the thought alone is plenty.
But ALVIS also has another urgent problem to take care of: figure out what they can do in regards to the Fafners and the kids after this.
: KAZUKI!!*Punch!*
: Grgh…!: You could’ve saved her! You were out there with your Fafner, weren’t you?!: Stop, Kasugai…! Stop it, please!: Kazuki, you could have…!: That’s enough, Koyo! It was impossible for him to help her back then!: No, there must’ve been something, anything, he could’ve done!: You guys get to survive, but not her… Does that seem right to you?!: …: How can you expect me to believe that saving her was “impossible”?!: Shouko was in pain throughout the whole thing… She died in pain!: Shouko went out fighting… I think she was content to die while doing that…: …?!: B-But…!: No one’s to blame for this. Hazama fought magnificently until the end…: Kch… And they expect us all to do the same thing?!: …: No… no, you can’t tell me dying was expected of her! She dies, and the rest of us live on…?!: Kasugai…: Shouko’s… gone… she’s gone…!: Aah… Shouko… Shouko…! Uwaaaahaaaahaah…!
: …
: Shinn…?: Born to do nothing but fight… and, then, die doing so…: As much love was poured into raising those flowers, as beautiful as they may have bloomed… they are, once again, wiped out by people…: Shinn, that’s…: I know, Luna. I won’t go down that road again…: All I’ll do is make sure I never forget how beautiful those flowers used to be…: …
: (A promise is a tie that binds people forever, both those who keep that promise and those who break it…): (We felt no joy over having survived the battle…): (No, what we felt was the realization that we’d lost someone. And coming to terms with it was all any of us could do…)