Part 45: Mission 18 - Blood is Spilled, Tears are Shed - Part 1
We’re back in the Europe Route and, in case you don’t remember, the last three missions of all routes are mostly the same, barring a few different bits. Since I need to keep this path to get the last route-exclusive secret, we’ll be staying here and I’ll make not of any important differences.
Of note, the US and EU routes all join up with the Japan crew at this point, though the JP guys themselves would still be running solo for another mission.
In regards to tacticians, we now have Romina replacing Ylbora (her first bonus is the same as Sumeragi’s) and I also forgot to point out Ozma and Jeffrey’s bonus when they joined. They give, respectively, Post-movement transformation and Ranged weapons’ attack power +10%.
Now, Moritsugu, Kouichi and Sun Quan are deploying as solo event units, with Kazuki as a team event.
Arnie/Ozma
Tsubasa/Canaria
Shinn/Klan
Liu Bei/Deceive
Guan Yu/Eida
Mazinkaiser/Soubi
Michel/Kenji
Alto/Fei-Yen
Mamoru/Sakura
Kazuki/Zhang Fei
Yamashita/Mike
Joe/Saya
Shangxiang/Luna
Rennie/Luca
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Off we go.
: Okay, the replacement Armas are all good to go…*Alarm!*
: ! What is it?!
: C-Captain! We’ve an emergency!: We’re detecting three heat signatures moving in on us! We can’t ID them, and they’re not reading as Machinas!: Not Machinas? Then it’s not JUDA’s team?!: I-I don’t know! But why would they be here…?!: We can make sense of this later! Deploy everyone we can! I’ll be heading out in my Kagutsuchi!
: …
: Who on earth are you…?!*One of the bots rushes down the mooks!*
: Th-They’re fast…!
: Gwaaaaargh!
: Hrm…!*Dmitri moves in.*
: I am Dmitri Magarov, captain of the Katou Organization’s 3rd unit! : The commander personally placed this area under my care! You won’t have your way with it!: …*All bots surround him, ready to have their way.*
: What?!
: Gwaaaaaaaargh!: …: Th-This can’t… be…! Commander… Katou…!
Over by Kiriyama Heavy Industries, the boss man is entreating his guests to the video of his company’s newest weapon overwhelming and liberating a region under control of a “certain armed group”.
Yamashita and Ishigami both recognize the Katous’ Armas, of course, and Kiriyama presents his brand-new anti-Machina weapon: the HFX-19 Jinrai! Richard sees that the grandiose unveiling of those bots is the reason why Ishigami hurried us back to Japan.
The official story that Saya heard is that the things were made with data offered by JUDA. Ishigami says the Martian Development Bureau and the Federation pressed him into disclosing some info… but, as Richard knows, that was nowhere near enough data for them to build something like the Jinrai. Only logical conclusion, thinks Saya, is that someone leaked more to Kiriyama, and Yamashita can’t believe there’s a spy in JUDA (Moritsugu stares blankly).
Kiriyama then steps over to meet with Ishigami, who thanks him for inviting us to the festivities. Not at all, Kiriyama’s the one who’s grateful that the JUDA CEO took the time to come all the way here – and he’s glad to see Moritsugu, too, who greets him with a level “It’s been a while, Eiji”.
Yamashita’s shocked to see that Moritsugu knows the president of Kiriyama Heavy Industries and the boss man confirms: they’ve been acquaintances for a very long time. Far more so than any of us, really. Yamashita’s already being rubbed the wrong way by Kiriyama.
Kiriyama then turns to Richard and Saya, who Ishigami introduces as his special consultants… and classical actors. Sounds strange to Kiriyama, but JUDA has always been a very unique company – Ishigami takes that as a compliment. Yamashita revises his statement, and think’s Kiriyama’s just weirding him out.
Either way, the guy asks us all to enjoy the occasion as it was only because of our “cooperation” that they managed to finish the Jinrai’s way ahead of schedule. And he hopes both companies will continue to work together… heheheheh.
: Dmitri got killed?! How?!
: It’s all in the report. He was long dead by the time Reznor and I got there… (Sanada)
: …
: From what we’ve been able to figure out it was three unknown units that attacked our base – and they, apparently, weren’t Machina.: Damn it all…! I’m getting out there and I ain’t stopping ‘til I’ve gotten some payback for him…!: Hold it right there, Sawatari!: You’re trying to stop me…? He died because your and Sanada’s old asses couldn’t get there quick enough…!: So get your hands off me, ya goddamned priest!: Excuse you. I am just a priest, not a “goddamned priest”.: … Psh…!: We’ll continue to look into the attackers but our focus right now should be…
: The Linebarrel, yes.
: We’ve analyzed the data collected from our previous fights with it, and it shows that, one, it has an abnormally fast regeneration, two, it’s capable of changing its color and executing continuous teleportation with the Factor aboard, and, three…: That it has two Factors: Kouichi Hayase and Emi Kizaki…: …: All in all, the evidence shows it has myriad traits that differ from the general concepts seen in Machinas.
: Then it is that which the commander had been seeking… the “Machina that shouldn’t exist”? (Jack): Correct. We’d verified many possibilities thus far, including the Deus Machina in America, but...: The Linebarrel is the one. It does not figure among the existing eleven Machina… rather, it is the twelfth Machina.: …: As of right now, there are still two Machinas left undiscovered…
: So we just need to find those two and wreck ‘em, right?: We’ll try that, yes. But, we’ll also be carrying on with another plan.: Allow me to handle it, then. We need to see if they are necessary for that particular plan, no?: As you will. And take that with you.: ?! The imitation…?: I ask precisely because it’s an imitation, yes. If they can’t get through that, then it’s ample proof that they’re not worth our while, don’t you think?: … Roger that, sir.: I’m going with him. I gotta hurt something or I’m gonna be climbing up these walls!: I wish to accompany them as well. A blade that isn’t used will quickly lose its edge.: (Hmhmhm… what will you do now, Ishigami? I’m sure you’ve long-since realized that the Linebarrel is the “Counter Machina”…)
Back to JUDA, in the US/EU route, Scarlet/Sumeragi surmise that Ishigami called us here because of Kiriyama – the guy hasn’t done anything YET, but Ishigami figures he’s up to something. He also appreciates the SMS’s help, but, of course, the Frontier brass ordered them to do so, so no thanks are needed.
After that, it’s time to get the other routes up to speed on what happened in the JP route: Ylbora’s defection to The Boom Army, Romina stepping up to fill in as the Elshank’s tactical commander and, on happier subjects, Soubi joining up with us. Tsubasa and Zhang Fei heard that story about him being a ninja – does that mean the Elshank’s quest is done?
Joe and Soubi stop Kaido waving them “buh-bye”, and explain what’s what. Still, Luca’s very surprised to hear that stories about Earth’s ninjas made it all the way across space… but, then, is that really so weird with Three Kingdom Gundams and parallel universe travelers like the Frontier? Fair enough.
Seems to Magami that we’re being pulled into a battle on a transdimensional level, which gets Kazuki to ponder their growing number of enemies to fight – just what are the ALVIS team doing here? In the US route, as Toumi introduces the newly arrived Fafner trio, Kazuki quietly sulks over new pilots being brought in despite the fact that Koyo only just left us.
Domyoji sees his sullen face and wonders if he might be housing an evil spirit. A what? Kouichi introduces him, saying Domyoji was scouted into JUDA due to his extensive knowledge on the occult and ancient texts. As it turns out, he comes from a long lineage of priests – exorcists, so to speak. Sounds to Al like he’s the Japanese equivalent of a sorcerer, though Kurou thinks that’s not quite right.
The rest of this convo also shows up in the JP version of the scene below, so you can see it in full there.
In the Japan route, the convo is much shorter for obvious reasons: Ishigami tells Shinn that he’s calling back the America team now that the Skrugg invasion has been sorted out. Is the situation in Japan going to be so dangerous as to warrant that, Arnie wonders? Richard says Kiriyama’s new weapons are the problem – they got a real bad feeling about those things.
“Is that really the only reason?” Domyoji asks. Does he suspect something more? “No, it’s just… when I look at you, Mr. Ishigami, I just kinda get the feel like there’s more to it.” Perish the thought. Shizuna tells him that, priest/exorcist or not, he’s gotta keep his nose out of where it don’t belong. Cue the story about his lineage, which explains to Kizaki why he could read those old books and knew so much about demons and whatnot.
Kazuki doesn’t really care, asking Mamoru and co. if they’re really fine with being a part of this – more and more enemies are turning up and they might even have to fight other people. Sakura says they’re not fine with that, but…
: If you’re not certain of this, then just leave the Fafner. 
: …?!
: Moritsugu…: An indecisive ally is a bigger threat to a team than any enemy. : We have no need here for those who can’t fight.: …
: Heey! You don’t really need to say it like that, do you? They—: Then Moritsugu… are you fine with killing other people? : I simply do as I must. : …!: I guess you gotta be cold as ice to get to be top dog around here, huh?: Can someone like you even feel other people’s pain, I wonder?: “Other people’s pain”…?: Heh… Maybe I cannot.*Door opens.*
: He left…: What kind of answer was that…?
: Listen, I know he doesn’t look like it, but I think he is looking out for Kazuki in his own way…: You really sure about that…?
: I personally agree with him. If you’re hesitant to fight, Kazuki, then you should take some time off. : If you fight like that and get yourself shot down, that’ll be another precious Fafner lost to us.: Soushi, you…!: …
: (Yeesh, these guys are all so bad with people…)
US/EU route:
: …
: So this is where you were…: You’re… Sun Quan, yes? And Mr. Asuka… did something happen?
: No, we were just worried about you. What Moritsugu and Soushi said is weighing heavy on your mind, right?: It kind of got me thinking…: We lost Shouko not long ago, and now Koyo… but, still, no one’s scared to go out and fight… and I can’t figure out why.US route only:
: On the contrary, we are hardly fearless. : As I heard, there is one Cao Cao with the team that’s returned from the Union, yes?: I confess that I shivered with fear when that man first attacked my home.: Oh, right… You were fighting a war against him…: In truth, I wished to do no such thing – rather, fleeing was my first thought.EU route only:
: On the contrary, we are hardly fearless. Speaking for myself, I used to dread fighting with every ounce of my being... : You did?: Honestly, I still do. I would always rather not fight if another way exists. Common ground:
: But there are times when one must take a stand and fight in order to defend those that are dear to him…: That might be true, but…*Alarm!*
: Wh-What?!: That siren is…!: Someone’s attacking JUDA HQ! All mobile forces are to shift to combat status immediately!: Okay, we’re on it!Cut back to the start, the JP route:
: …: So this is where you were…: Sun Quan, Hayase… did something happen?: No, we were just worried about you. Domyoji said you were “housing an evil spirit”…: A-A spirit…?!: Yeah, he said those are the personification of pain and sorrow that dwell in the hearts of men, and how negative emotions sometimes gives birth to bad stuff.: Negative emotions…?: I don’t know anything about spirits… but if there’s one thing that’s clear is that I’m just not strong like the rest of you…: I can’t handle something like fighting other people…: On the contrary, we are hardly that strong. Speaking for myself, I used to dread fighting with every ounce of my being... : You did?: Honestly, I still do. I would always rather not fight if another way exists. : But, on the other hand, I know I must fight if I’m to defend those that are dear to me…: That might be true, but…*Alarm!*
: Wh-What?!: That siren is…!: Someone’s attacking JUDA HQ! All mobile forces are to shift to combat status immediately!: Okay, we’re on it!And the rest of the scene is there on all three routes…
: What’re you going to do, Kazuki? If you’d rather not fight, then you should stay in your room…: No, I’ll do it… But, before I go, there’s something I need to ask you, Soushi.: Which are more important to you… us or the Fafners?: …: The Fafners.: You’ve changed…: You're the one who refuses to change. : What I need… is someone who can stand in for my left eye. Nothing more.: ! Soushi…
: All hands, first defense formation! Release the Humanoids to intercept the attacker!
: Gigigi…!*Boom!*
: The Humanoids are being destroyed… but I don’t see anyone there!: Our assailant’s using some electromagnetic camouflage, I think.
: An invisibility spell enabled by science…?
: Look, he’s showing up!
: I’m shocked at how easily you allowed someone to trespass into your headquarters…*Twoooop!*
SRW L - Iczer Robo
: You ought to be more cautious than that, JUDA!: Gigigi…!*Boom!*
: This isn’t working! Your guard robots are doing nothing to him!
: He’s taking out the Humanoids on foot… that guy’s really strong, alright!
: Is he even human?!: I am Jack Smith, captain of the Katou Organization’s 6th Unit! I have business with JUDA!: I am Reiji Moritsugu, Head of JUDA’s Special Forces. What are you here for?: Ah, you’re him… Yes, I see that you’re a worthy opponent… We duel!
: Moritsugu!: Stand down, Yamashita.: Factor or not, I must commend you for stopping my attack with just your arm…: However, from the sounds it makes… I’d wager your muscles have been greatly injured after that!: Maybe, but I have bad news… I was born without a sense of pain.: And that allows me to push my body to its limits!
: Hrgh!: (He’s no sense of pain?! Then he really can’t feel…): Hrm, this man is…!: Hmph, fighting you face-to-face would be more trouble than it’s worth…
: So I’ll just cut to the chase and end you. 
Mission 18 – Blood is Spilled, Tears are Shed
: Come on, Mister Samurai. I’ll show you what real swordsmanship is like.: You summoned your Machina, hm? Then I shall face you with my full might!
: Wh-What the… How’s that guy fighting a Machina on foot?!
: I see how it is… so that’s the secret behind your inhuman abilities.: You, yourself, are an Arma…
: A-A human-sized Arma…?! Really?!: Hmph… but I am not the only foe you must contend with!
: Aah! I-It’s…!: I’m in a really bad mood today, ya hear?! Anyone who wants to get gutted can step right up!
: As I feared, the lone attacker was merely a feint…!
: Then we should deploy our own troops!
: Come, Linebarrel!
: I won’t tell you to cast your unease aside, Kazuki. But don’t forget that you’ve been blessed with strength that enables you to defend others…
: Okay…US route only:
: Ms. Kaname, Mr. Koudate and Mr. Kondo, are you ready to go?
: We’re fully fledged pilots too, right? Just give the order and we’ll get it done!
: Aye, aye! Goubine, standing by!
: Aaiieee…! No, this is too scary! Mommyyyy!
: That’s a lot of guys they brought along… but, when the chips are down, an Arma’s just an Arma. With all the firepower we got right now, they…: Hate to break it to ya, Horns, but we ain’t got just Armas today.
: What?!: Masaki Sugawara, captain of the Katou Organization’s 1st Unit…: And today… you’ll have to face me and my Machina, the Glain-Neidr. 
: Did he say “Machina”?!
: A Machina of the Katou Organization…!
: (Machinas and Deus Machina… Is that similarity pure happenstance or…?)
: Yeah, I like it! Now that’s some prey worth huntin’!: Is everyone ready? Then set forward and engage the enemy, but be wary of that gigantic flying Machina!
Kill everything, don’t lose your ship, Moritsugu, Kouichi or Sun Quan. The Armas aren’t any stronger than our last battle, but they come with pretty hefty numbers – still no problem, so long as you move as a group and don’t let people get piled on.
Your main issues at hand, as you might expect, are the bosses – especially Masaki.
Jack Smith
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L3
Support Attack L2
Predict
All Attack L1
Infight L2
Mech Features:
Sword
10% HP and EN Regen
EM Camouflage – activates over 130 morale, giving a maximum of 35% chance to outright dodge an incoming attack (mitigated by the difference in Skill between target and self).
Jack’s Voice Actor: Biichi Satou originally, here it’s Kenji Nomura (ジャック・スミス？それも私だ。)
Welcome back, Iczer-4.
As in L, Jack is meant to do precisely one thing: get in your face, dodge stuff, and start swinging his sword with that stellar Melee stat of his. But, as is true to all Iczers, he absolutely cannot take a hit if you get past his evasiveness.
He’s very crit happy and has way better range than in L now that he’s recalled the secret technique of “watch me straight-up punch a robot!” which is actually range 1-5!
If you let him get above 130 morale, you’ll have a way harder time touching him, so don’t do it. Your guys may be at base morale but pop a couple of Strikes and have your Super Robots get rid of Jack ASAP – the size difference will really boost damage against him.
Glain-Neidr (Masaki Sugawara)
Pilot Skills:
Factor
Prevail L3
Support Attack L2
All Attack L1
Mech Features:
10% HP Regen
Beam Immunity
Masaki’s voice actor: Susumu Chiba (other roles: Kyo in Steel God Jeeg, Baron in Aquarion, Welkin Gunther in Valkyiria Chronicles and many more)
And now for something on the complete opposite end of the spectrum: Masaki is big and tanky, with his bread-and-butter being sniping away at your folks with his cannons. His stats are pretty high (though not as high as they were in L – he’s on Jack’s level) and he no longer has a MAPW, instead picking up a new melee attack to surprise you. It’s actually his strongest move so watch it.
Without the MAPW looming over your head, however, it’s a lot simpler to approach him and pile on the damage – just make sure you don’t use Beam weapons.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: Your garments are reminiscent of a Shogun in the Sengoku Era…: Pit your swordsmanship with mine – we shall see whose is superior!
: Fine, but I’d never fall to you! Behold the might of the Ryuteiken!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: I’d never heard anything about there being human-sized Armas!: Step into the field of battle with such paltry imagination and death will soon find you!
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: What kind of enemy is this… he’s just a man! And you want me to use the Fafner against him?!
: Don’t be fooled by appearances, Kazuki. He’s a human-sized Arma – be on your guard!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mURN2O4mZ9k
SRW UX - Love Survivor: Hmph. Do you think such a machine could possibly match my speed?!
: Joe… you don’t suppose he could be the legendary ninja, do you?!
: Sorry, princess, but you’re gonna have to let that go for now!
Joe: “If this guy really was a ninja, that’d make things a lot easier…”
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Why, this must be fate… you have also lost an eye! Then I can deduce how you approach battle!: Fighting a target that small really is as complicated as I figured… I better take him seriously!
: Rrrrgh... Flesh wounds will not stop me!
: I have to hand it to your spirit, Mister Samurai.: Hmph…!
: I-Incredible…! I can hardly believe my eyes…!
: Hm?! What are you doing…?!: Captain, we’ll immobilize him! Wait for an opening and put him down!
: Ah—! Moritsugu…!: Hmph, you believe you can stop the Vardant with this few troops…?*Flash! Repels all enemies!*
: What…?!
: Uurgh…!: C-Captain… Gaaaaaah!: You think too highly of yourself, Mister Samurai…
: I-Impossible…!: Hah…: No way…! He cut down all those guys in the blink of an eye…!
: And this powerful aura around him… it’s like I’m staring at a demon!: Is that what it’s like when he fights for real…?!: …: Reiji Moritsugu, you called yourself…? I’ll avenge my subordinates someday!