Part 32: Mission 16 (America Route) - Alive - Part 1
We’re back in the America route. Last time we were here, the Nanajin started going crazy right as Shou appeared in our world – we’ll see where that takes us next. Heroman, Cao Cao and Aesap are deploying as event units, though they can all still be set with partners.
Here’s how we’re going:
Arnie/Saya
Kurou
Shinn/Luna
Heroman/Setsuna
Kazuki/Eida
Lockon/Koyo
Cao Cao/Aesap
Tactician: Sima Yi.
Off we go.
: Burn Bunnings!*Burn charges after Shou.*
: What have you ever gained from wallowing in all that hate?!
: Power and cunning! And with those, victory will be mine…!: I will not kill another man! Rather, what I’ll kill is that hate…!
: Urgh…!
: Hrk…! Ci-Ciela Lapana…!: PURIFY US!!
: (I’m sure I’d died taking out Burn back then…): (And that woman’s voice I heard right as we were surrounded by light…): (That wasn’t Ciela’s… Who was it…?)
: Shou!: Marvel?! You… You’re alive!*Marvel closes in.*
: That’s what it looks like, yeah. I could’ve sworn I’d been killed by the Spriggan, but…: I saw it too… but here you are. Did Ciela’s purification do this…? : I don’t know what just happened, but you’re alive and that’s all that matters to me. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier right now…!: Heheh, I never thought I’d see the day where I’d hear Shou Zama talking like that.: Hey, don’t laugh. We both apparently cheated death, so excuse me if I feel like speaking my mind.: Thanks, Shou... : Now, Marvel, do you have any idea where we are?: Signs and whatnot are written in English, so this should be the US… but I don’t recognize any of the towns around here…: It’s like… this is a different US from the one I knew.: A different one…? And I don’t see Cham, either… Just what is going on?*Beep, beep!*
: ?! Hold on, Shou! I’m picking up something on my radar…!: What…?!
: Huh…?! I’ve never seen jets like those before!
: Contact! Are those the alien mechs intel reported?! 
*Peeeew!*
: Aaack!: A barrier?! Clever girl…!: You there, stop! We’re not looking for a fight!: You think I’m falling for that, alien?! The Union’s our home and your days of attacking it are over!: “Union”?! What’re you on about?!
: Aesap, over there! Isn’t that an Aura Battler?!
: A new Hojo model…? And it’s attacking the Union forces!: Did the Nanajin get so agitated because that unit turned up…?!: Guess so! We need to help the Overworld troops!: I’ve never seen an Aura Battler like that before… What country does it belong to?!: Shou, it’s engaging you!: Rrgh, damn it!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cv6pooAIgHs
Aesap: “That a new Hojo model? But you won’t be running roughshod if I got anything to say about it!”
Shou: “Back off! I’m not with any ‘Hojo’!”
: (H-He’s strong…! That pilot… it’s like his machine itself is part of him!): (I don’t feel any evil in his Aura Power…? Who is this guy?)
Cut to the White House, the president’s aide reports that the unknown units flew elsewhere immediately after engaging their forces. Moreover, they also found one of those mysterious mobile weapons that appeared at the Yokosuka base. Minami reports that his people have confirmed that said robot is working together with the UX.
And what is he getting at? That these questionable sorts are wandering across their nation absolutely unhindered! This will have a very negative impact in regards to how the people look at the Union Army! The president says she’s got more pressing matters to worry about than the army’s prestige, but Minami says NO!
The Union must always be the renowned as the NUMBER ONE nation in the entire world! And while the lady’s the president of the Federation, she is first and foremost the Union’s president! She asks if Minami thinks he’s able to recover this glorious “number one” status for their nation and, indeed, he does.
See, they’ve a bit of a situation right now in that the Skrugg at Center City have deployed a bunch of Balls which are projected to be headed straight towards the White House. Minami has a plan, though, certain none but his mighty intellect can stop this attack. At length, the president lets him handle this issue and Minami gleefully leaves to make preparations.
The aide asks if it is wise to trust that guy, but the president’s already asked Agent Hughes to look into who’s backing him. But what they must focus now is not the scientist, but on stopping the Balls – and she’s willing to use any option to make that happen, including less-than-legal ones.
Is she talking about contacting the UX again? Minami notwithstanding, the fact remains that they are mercenaries. Can they entrust their nation’s security to such people, her aide wonders? It’s better than having their
Over by the Hadou manor, we hear what the White House is planning, and that is nuking the Skrugg and their Balls. But what’ll happen to Center and Arkham cities if they do that?! Sounds to Kurou that they’re washing their hands on his and Joey’s hometowns, and he doesn’t like it one bit. But, as Saya points out, it’s our job to make sure it doesn’t come to that: if we can stop the Balls’ attack, there’ll be no nukes. Eida figures the Union president doesn’t want to use them either.
Well, do we have a way of stopping the things? Arnie remembers how we managed to destroy ONE before, and now there’re a whole lot of them. In regards to that, Denton says he and Rachel have detected rather unique EM waves being transmitted from the Skrugg mothership to the Balls they deployed. It’s pretty clear that’s how they’re controlling the things, so if we can get in there and stop the transmission, the things will follow suit.
As Psy praises Denton’s good work, Lina speaks up and asks to come with us for this mission. Joey immediately argues that we’re going after the Skrugg HQ – who knows how dangerous it’ll be! Still, that’s where her brother is and she wants to find a way to free him.
Joey’s still uncertain but Shinn is up for it. “She’s his sister, so maybe her voice is just what we need to help him get back to normal,” he says. “I know full well how much it hurts to lose your family, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to have to go through that… if there’s even a tiny chance it could work, I think we should try it.”
Joey thinks for a bit but eventually relents. In exchange, however, he wants Lina to promise not to try any crazy stunts out there – and she promises. Seems to Al that our showdown with the aliens is nigh, but, of course, we should expect the Skrugg mothership to be crawling with the buggers. How are we gonna get in there? The guitar strat again?
Indeed, Denton thinks it won’t be that easy: even if we are to use our sonic weapon, we’d still need to first break through the Skrugg’s significant defensive perimeter. There’s a plan, though…
: A diversionary attack…?
: Indeed. The one tasked with being the distraction will draw the enemy’s attention, and our main unit will use that opening to charge through their perimeter. : It is hardly ground-breaking strategy, aye, but it is a tried-and-true method when attacking a fortress.
: I see what you mean, but isn’t that also a very risky proposition? The one drawing the enemy’s attention will be completely exposed to all their concentrated firepower…
: You needn’t concern yourself with that. I shall be the one seeing to that task.
: Whoa, are you serious? There’re tens of thousands of Skrugg around the place – you’re gonna take them all on?!
: Hah… Tens of thousands of roaches are nothing compared to the one million soldiers in Yuan Shao’s army. : O-One million?! And you fought all those by yourself?! That’s nuts…: Moreover, I believe doing this to be necessary to dispel the suspicion your forces feel in regards to me. : Lord Cao Cao…: …: (My lord was only able to rout the Jizhou forces because he had the power of the Celestial Armor…): (He now lacks the Yùxǐ, yet still marches towards nigh certain death. Indeed, his true reason for doing so must be…) *Beep, beep.*
: Sumeragi, we’ve a situation! A mobile weapon has been sighted in the vicinity of Center City and is engaging the enemy!: A mobile weapon?! Is it the Union or the Federation armies?!: No, it’s… the Aura Battler Aesap fought, I think!
: It’s him…?!
: That’s got to be Shou and his Bilbine!
: Shou Zama… the Holy Warrior from your world, Cham?: Right! I bet he attacked the Skrugg to try and protect the Overworld!: Please, we need to help him! He can’t beat all of them!
: B-But we can’t just…: …: Madam Sumeragi, this could well be a golden opportunity to execute our strategy.: We can take advantage of the chaos already sown through the enemy’s ranks and strike at their headquarters in one fell swoop…!: … Alright, we’ll go with your plan!: One minute, please! Can you let me take part in the diversion too?!: Aesap?! What are you even suggesting?!: I've been thinking about something for a while now... How I more or less fell into piloting the Nanajin and fighting in general...: I’ve been on the fence pretty much every step of the way. Could I really help you at all with that kind of attitude?: Aesap…: But that man, Shou… I felt such a rock-solid will behind his Aura Power!: So maybe if I get in touch with him again, it’ll help me do away with that doubt…: B-But…!
: Then let’s go, Aesap!: Erebos…?!: I know what’s going on! The Aura Powers of the two Holy Warriors are calling out to each other!: So we need to believe in Aesap, and in the miracle of the Wings of Rean…!: …: You may be right… And I do believe in you, Aesap!: Thank you, Lux!: I guess that’s that. Let’s get to it, then! Set a course for Center City and the Skrugg HQ!
Mission 16 (America Route) – Alive
: Marvel, is it true that the American army won’t fire their nukes if we take these guys out?!: Right! The transmission I intercepted from their planes said their Ball weapons are headed for the White House! If they’re not stopped, and soon, though…!: Hrm… Why are the armies up top always so trigger-happy with their nukes…?!
: Curse these obnoxious flies…! Destroy them!
: These are definitely not human enemies… Are they really alien invaders?!: Urrgh…!: You alright, Marvel?!: The converter’s still going, yeah! But the problem is that we’re too badly outnumbered…!
: DAI GURENZAN!
: Gyaaaaaargh!
: Th-That was…!
SRW UX - The Legend of Mirisha: You must be Shou Zama, the Holy Warrior!: Who…?!*Picture Aesap spawning right now… if only I hadn’t set him already in Cao Cao’s team!
*: W-Wait just minute, please!: It’s that Aura Battler from before…!: Are you trying to start something with me again?!: No, please hear us out!*Aesap flies closer to Shou.*
: Shoooou! I’ve finally found you!: Cham?! You’re OK?!: You’re the Holy Warrior, right? My name’s Aesap and I’m not here to fight!: Cham, did he…?: Hmhmm, Aesap’s done a lot for me!: Earth’s under attack by these aliens! We and our friends are fighting back, but we could really use your help!: It’s true! Those roach-like guys are aliens called Skrugg!: I don’t see any reason to think he’s lying to us. Shou…!: Yeah, I know! Come on, Aesap – join your Aura Power with mine!
: (This feeling… the Nanajin’s scared?! No… it’s trembling with excitement...! This is…?!): Get your Aura Power in sync with his, Aesap!: O-Okay, I’ll try! Uooooooh!: Haaaaaaah!
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies
: Their Aura Powers are resonating and magnifying each other…!: Yaay! Our Holy Warriors are all together now!: You’ve seen the light, haven’t you, Aesap? And in that case… HAAAAAH!
: DAI GOKUENZAN!
: Look! He cracked the Ball!: Do it, Holy Warriors!: Let’s go, Aesap!: Alright!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YbqL2ySYDQ
: W-We did it…!: Impossible…! Curse these Earthlings!
: Whaat?!: We’ve made it through their perimeter! The Skrugg mothership is in sight!
: You’re up, Psy! Play them the melody of our counterattack!
: You got it!
: Guwaaaaaaaargh!
: Now! Deploy all forces!
: Those Balls are as hardy as ever but, as we’ve seen, they’re not indestructible. Let ‘em have everything you’ve got, troops!
: Right… The two of us couldn’t beat them before, but we’ve come a long way since then. Here we go, Heroman!
: Hmm…!: Your objectives are to wipe out the opposing forces and conquer the enemy’s vessel! : CHAAAAAARGE!
Kill everything, don’t lose the Ptolemaios or Heroman. Aesap and Shou have maxed out morale and Cao Cao’s already at 130, so even a side glance from them will make the weakened Skrugg explode.
There are a handful of Balls spread around the area, and while they’re still rather bulky, our people can deal with them without any major issues. Go forward and try to let your secret-relevant folks have fun – of note, Shou and Marvel are in that group, too. They need a total of 100 kills between them by the end of mission 30.
Bilbine (Shou Zama)
Pilot Skills:
Aura Power L5
Holy Warrior
Support Attack L1
All Attack L1
Spirit Commands – Shou:
Accelerate
Focus
Sense
Spirit Commands – Cham:
Cheer
Trust
Adaptation
Mech Features:
Sword
Gun
Transform
Aura Barrier
Off-Shoot
Squad Bonus: Melee weapons +100, Mobility +5 (Melee weapons +200, Mobility +20, S in Air)
Shou’s voice actor: Shigeru Nakahara (other roles: Masato in Dancouga, Android #17 in Dragon Ball stuff, Trowa in Gundam Wing, and many more).
Cham’s voice actress: Maria Kawamura (other roles: Higgins in Brain Powered, Jung in Gunbuster, Quess in CCA and many more)
Dunbine (Marvel Frozen)
Pilot Skills:
Aura Power L2
Holy Warrior
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L2
All Attack L1
Spirit Commands – Shou:
Gain
Focus
Alert
Mech Features:
Sword
Gun
Aura Barrier
Off-Shoot
Squad Bonus: Accuracy +5, EXP +10% (Accuracy +20, EXP +20%, Mobility +10)
Marvel’s voice actress: Mika Doi (other roles: Misa in the original Macross, Houquet in Mospeada, Alice in Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, and many more)
Shou’s everything Aesap was, only even better because he’s a fully-grown Holy Warrior. Dodgy as no one’s business, nice stats where he needs them and packing huge power in all his attacks thanks to that superlative Aura Power, he’s a very easy fit on any team. That’s especially true since Cham’s a fine supporter as well (though she can be assigned to the Dunbine, too).
As for Marvel, she’s good enough that you could lead with her, but not so good that she can keep up with all the protagonists. Those damage boosting skills do make her hit harder than most sub-leaders, too (though her Squad Bonus isn’t too hot and the Dunbine’s range is about half of what the Bilbine has).
Mind you, Shou and Marvel have a combined attack, though she needs one more level in Aura Power before it’s usable.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend : Every universe has its share of fools who harbor ambition far beyond their stature…: However! Such ambition shall not be tolerated by the heavens!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mySOJnxuovE
Jesus, Cao Cao, calm down!
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies: I’ve no idea if this is the US I know…: But even if it isn’t, I’m not about to let it burn under an alien invasion and nuclear blasts!
SRW UX - Dunbine Flies: The enemy’s over there, Shou! Attack! Attack! Attack!: Back with the usual, huh, Cham? Still, I’m really glad nothing happened to you.: Now let’s get to work! We’ll fight tooth-and-nail against anyone who tries taking a stab at the Overworld!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgzyf5yLI9Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH1WvWIyo88
Aesap’s morale is about 20 points higher than Cao Cao’s, but the big man still outdamages him. Bow before your overlord!
When you get to turn 3…