Super Robot Wars UX Part #72 - Mission 30 - Grand Quickening

Part 72: Mission 30 - Grand Quickening - Part 1

Behold! Unlimited power! As per the vote held, Kurou, Shouko, Fei and Heroman have all been maxed out, which makes them the first of our units to break into the highest tier of Squad Bonus (as if Kurou needed an even stronger barrier – 1500!).
Following the Fafner kids all taking some time off last mission, we’ve our whole crew back today, so here’s how we’re going:

Fei-Yen/Lockon
Kouichi/Kiki
Dancouga/Canaria
Sun Quan/Eida
Kazuki/Allelujah
Mazinkaiser/Hebi
Heroman/Shouko
Liu Bei/Rennie
Shinn/Luna
Zhang Fei/Sun Shangxiang
Demonbane/Deceive
Setsuna/Luca
Shou/Marvel
Arnie/Saya
Alto/Klan
Aesap/Painkiller
Cao Cao/Moritsugu
Michel/Kenji
Mamoru/Sakura
Tactician: Romina ( bring in Romina if you’re still gunning for the other Tobikage secret )

Now off we go.

We open up aboard the G-Excellent, where Annex is being informed of that unit Grathan had been working on: a certain machine that’s been passed down generations back at Planet The Boom, and, after much effort, it’s finally been restored! Charme is confused, as said machine was supposedly lacking some core data that made restoring it impossible.
That’s correct, but they simply used data on Tobikage, provided by Ylbora, to fill in that gap. Annex enjoys the irony of the machine made to return Tobikage to the void being given life by it – thus, he decides to christen it the Zerokage. Charme praises Grathan on his accomplishment and tells him to deploy said Zerokage and bring the Elshank to heel ASAP.

… Well, there’s a bit of a problem with that. See, while the machine itself IS complete, they can’t actually activate it yet. What is the damned point of finishing a mech that can’t even move, then?!
Ylbora intervenes, saying they’re working diligently to determine the cause of Zerokage’s slumber – he’s confident they’ll figure out how to make it work in the near future. Annex’ll trust them to do that, but warns that they’d best not take too long.
What does he mean? Well, Annex had much faith in Grathan and, thus, elected to let him handle the Elshank… but that hasn’t happened, has it? If his string of failures continues, the Emperor might just finally run out of patience. Grathan gulps and stammers an assurance that they WILL succeed next time! Look forward to the good news!

As the call ends, Charme asks if Annex is sure about doing that. While the thing is still inert, Grathan did succeed in restoring that legendary machine – wouldn’t it be a bit of a waste to put him down? Maybe, but they must make haste. Romina has awakened all three Ladorian machines, and if it turns out that she’s already managed to find the ninja…
Charme understands: Annex is worried the Ladorians may find a way to bring out the humongous power told of in the Ninja Legend. And that cannot happen – at least not for the Ladorians. On the flip side, if they can tap into that power with the Zerokage, that’d be great.

On to other matters, though: has Charme managed to reestablish contact with Planet The Boom? Not yet, and it seems the warp to get here has resulted in some misalignments in their star charts, which makes it difficult to home in on the homeworld. Annex suspects it’s related to whatever caused them to spend way more of their kylhasium stocks to go through the warp than they should have.
But, in any case, Annex wants the problem solved right away, but, inwardly, he’s pensive: “What unease is this? I feel like an animal that’s fallen into a trap…”

Over by JUDA, Damian is trying, and failing, to get the Kurojishi to work for him. He’s been doing this nonstop lately – Ennea’s seen him – and despite it all, the bot hasn’t budged once. Still, Mike tells him not to give up yet, as it also took them a while to get the Ladorian machines moving flawlessly. Before he gives it another go, though, Joey and Kurou suggest Damian get some rest – doesn’t he also have his intelligence work to do? He’s going to burn himself out.
Damian appreciates their concern, but isn’t about to take it: even Karen left The Boom Army to fight alongside us, while he’s always stuck on the ship. But not anymore! He wants to also be capable of protecting what’s dear to him when push comes to shove (or, if she’s dead, to make sure the life she sacrificed herself to save isn’t wasted). Karen thanks him for that vow, and is certain that his heart’ll get through to the Kurojishi just as it did to her.
Denton detects, for a split second, a response coming from the Kurojishi – did something happen or was he imagining things?

*Door opens.*

: Hey, stoking your inner fire’s all fine and good, but you don’t wanna push yourself too hard and screw up when it actually counts, right?

: Lockon? Are you done training Maya for the day?

: We just finished, yeah. Of course, this being my first actual training session, a whole lot went waaay over my head.

: No way, girl. If you ask me, for someone who had to rush through pilot training, you’re a dang good shot.

: And I can’t believe how well you keep your cool under pressure thanks to that “altered consciousness” business…

: I have to say, little Maya here might just be able to snipe with the best.

: Really? You think I can follow in your and Lockon’s steps?

: Take care around Michel, Maya.

: Next thing you know, he’ll find you when you least expect and go: “our eyesight’s the same as our lives to us snipers, so how about we enjoy some stargazing together?” Don’t buy it.

: H-Huh…?!

: Hmhmm, so that’s the kind of man Michel is? I’ll better take care not to fall for his sweet talk, then.

: Dang it, no! Alto! You’re giving them totally the wrong idea!

: Is he, now? It doesn’t take a stellar memory to remember that, yes, that’s exactly what you usually do.

: Psh, I swear… between Michel, Hayase and others, we got way too many folks ‘round here who’ve no idea how a lady’s heart works.

: Speaking of, I haven’t seen Hayase for a while now. Did he go somewhere?

: He did, yeah. I saw him leaving with Moritsugu, Kongming and some others.

: With them…?

Location: Tokyo – Old Warehouse

: What’s Moritsugu up to, bringing us to a place like this?

: Arnie, you hear anything about it?

: Nope, none of us have. I’m just here as a stand-in for the Major since he’s busy with something else and couldn’t come.

: And what something is that?

: Don’t ask me. I just know he couldn’t come.

: …

*Door opens.*

: Sorry for the wait.

: Where’d you run off to, Moritsugu? Don’t you think it’s about time you told us why you brought us here?

: …

: Do you remember me mentioning a question that’d bothered me for a while?

: Whether or not we could trust your Machinas and Mr. Ishigami, right?

: Right. The reason I brought you all here is for us to get answers.

: There’s someone I’d like us to meet.

: And it seems they have just arrived.

*Door opens.*

#1: Oh, my, now isn’t this a big group that’s come to meet us.

#2: Hmhmm, I’ve half a mind to bow and thank you for honoring us with this.

: You’re…?!

: I hope the day finds you well, my UX friends.

: Hisataka Katou?!

: So, Maya’s just about ready to start flying a Fafner legit?

: Though I’d rather she didn’t have to. The battles are only going to get worse from here on out…

: Being a pilot means setting your life on a very difficult path. There’ll be plenty of moments that’ll put your soul to the test.

: Honestly, this isn’t something we should be asking children your age to do but…

: … I know. But I still want to do this.

: I’m tired of staying cooped up inside, safe, while Kazuki and the others are out there fighting.

: Maya…

: Hey, can I ask why do you guys fight?

: “Why”?

: I mean, fighting brings you so much anger, pain, sadness and whatnot, right?

: So why do you guys do it?

: Well… I, for one, would just feel like garbage if I could do something to help and didn’t.

: The Festum are constantly attacking us. It’s to be expected that humanity fights for its survival, no?

: Yeah, and I also really don’t feel like letting bad folks call the shots with my life or with the world.

: I might not have come into this willingly at first but… now I’ve been given all this power, and I’d like to make good use of it and put a stop to those who’ve gone in the wrong direction.

: I guess what it all comes down to is that we’re a bunch of suckers who don’t know how ignore stuff when we see it go down.

: …

: And if what if all that’s for naught…?

: Huh…?

: What if you could see the future, and knew that no matter how much you fought, you couldn’t save anyone – that there’s no hope for them…?

: If you knew that all this is pointless, what would you do?

: Could you still bring yourselves to fight?

: You…

: That’s not the question, though – not really. The question is: pointless or not, could I just throw my hands in the air and do nothing? Could I live with myself doing nothing…?

: Heh, I really don’t think I could.

: Kurou…

: Same here. Even if you say our destiny’s already set, that doesn’t mean we’re just going to take it.

: But your destiny is never set in stone. Rather, it’s something you carve out yourself.

: …

: (And there she was, asking me if I wouldn’t make a choice…)

: (You make it sound so easy…)

: When you said we were meeting someone here, that’s about the last people I figured would be coming through that door…

: Oh, don’t be a stranger, honey. What’s a little secret get-together between enemies?

: Yulianne and I established a comm channel with each other during the Kiriyama incident, so I reached out and set up this meeting. I’ve questions I’d like to ask you.

: Is that so…? Go right ahead, though, please, keep it short.

: I’ll get straight to it, then. What, exactly, are the Machinas?

: You know that, no? They are giant humanoid weapons, pure and simple.

: That doesn’t explain what happened with the Painkiller, the Machina we found at Shimane the other day…

: Any way you look at it, the circumstances around it choosing Miu Kujo as its Factor are odd to say the least.

: Meaning?

: The Painkiller deemed her life was at risk and, thus, made her into a Factor.

: Now this is purely conjecture, but…

: Do the Machinas turn people into Factors on purpose?

: Heh, yes, they do.

: What for?!

: You should already have an idea why.

: Huh…?!

: Machinas are built in a way that they prioritize human life above all else.

: As such, they are incapable of doing harm to humans by themselves. In which case…

: …

: A Factor, essentially, is the component a Machina needs to enable itself to kill humans. Is that correct?

: …?!

: Very much so.

: What does that mean?! Why would the Machinas need to kill people?!

: There are plenty of reasons, but if I had to pick one that’d be easy for you to understand, I’d tell you this…

: They do it to oppose the Linebarrel.

: “Oppose the Linebarrel”?!

: … I see. On to the next question, then.

: Wait, hold on! I wanna hear the rest—

: Kunio Ishigami… what is he truly after?

: To bring a Factor for all existing Machina, I’d say.

: Put it differently, his goal is to give all Machinas the Factor they need to kill…?

: However, doing that won’t be easy in the slightest. For you see…

: The last Machina is squarely within my grasp.

: And, of course, you have no intention of providing it with a Factor.

: You didn’t need to ask that, did you? Of course, knowing Ishigami, he likely already has a plan.

: After all, it's a certain Machina of his that’s been advising him on what to do all along…

: Ishigami’s… Machina?!

: …

: Oh? You didn’t accompany Moritsugu and the others?

: Heh, you ask, like you don’t already know everything. What an awful sonovagun we got here.

: Hey, now, I’d like to consider myself a good soul. I am respecting your wishes and keeping quiet to the team, no?

: Fair enough…

: And I guess you don’t have it easy, either. The ability to see into the future can be a nasty thing every now and then, right?

: All that said, I’d like you to come clean with them and soon. If you don’t, it might just mean trouble for the upcoming plan.

: I know. I’ll tell them everything… before the time comes to leave this world.

: …

: So Mr. Ishigami was a Factor all along…?

: I have just one more question… What is the Linebarrel?

: Ah?

: Hmhmhm, by the look on your face, I’d say asking that’s the main reason you called for this meeting.

: The Linebarrel is the Counter Machina, one meant to destroy all others of its kind.

: And, at the same time, it’s also a man and where it all began.

: …?!

: The Linebarrel’s a man…?!

*Ring, ring!*

: Urgh, what is it now…?!

*Bloop.*

: We need your group to come back and rejoin the squad immediately! The Boom Army is closing in on JUDA!

: Copy that! We’re heading over right away!

: I suppose our chat has come to an end. We’ll take our leave, then.

: Next time we meet, we’ll be back to being enemies, honey.

: Hold on, this talk’s not over yet! Tell me what you meant by all that!

: Heh, I’ll leave you with one last morsel of information, then.

: Humanity will go extinct 32 years from now.

: Wh-What?!

: Is that supposed to be funny?! Do you seriously think any of us would believe that?!

: Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you. But the end will come, I assure you.

: What if you could see the future, and knew that no matter how much you fought, you couldn’t save anyone? If you knew that all this is pointless…

: Could you still bring yourselves to fight?

: …

: It’s almost time for the attack. The Zerokage won’t be available, I see…

: Why?! The machine has been restored to perfection, so why isn’t it activating?!

: A machine that none can activate… just like the three machines kept in Planet Ladorio across the ages…

: What?! Then you mean the Zerokage also needs that “power of a ninja” garbage?!

: The power of a ninja, hm…

: Rrgh… I’d never have used Tobikage’s data if I knew this is what I’d end up with!

: But the fact is that you wouldn’t have completed the Zerokage at all without that data.

: Maybe, but…

: …

: (Why am I so much on edge?)

: (Planet The Boom and Planet Ladorio, two different worlds with legendary machines of their own…)

: (And at the center of it all is Tobikage and that “legendary ninja”… What does any of this mean?)

Mission 30 – Grand Quickening

: E-Sensor’s got a read! The enemy units are entering our airspace!

: Come and face me, UX!

: Cmdr. Ylbora, you’ll pit yourself against us once more?

: Indeed, but there won’t be another time! Today is when I’ll end your lives and take Princess Romina!

: Shut your noise-hole, Ylbora! What’s gonna happen today is that I’m bringing an end to your bull!

: All units, deploy and support—… Urgh!

: Major…?!

: I-I’m fine. Troops, scramble ASAP!

: Why am I the only one on standby, Minashiro?

: Because it’s too soon to send you into actual combat. Stay in the hangar and wait – if worst comes to worst, we’ll bring you in.

: Roger.

: He’s attacking us with that few troops…? What are you up to, Ylbora…?

: The enemy must have some sort of plan in mind! Keep a close eye on their movements, everyone!

Kill The Boom Army, don’t lose any ship or Joe. Nothing we haven’t done plenty of times before.

Secret Alert!
Tobikage Secret #1 – 5th step: set Romina as your tactician and have Joe shoot down Ylbora.

Ditto.

SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend

SRW UX - Deus Machina

Damn, son.

SRW UX - My Fate

SRW UX - Love Survivor

: Ylbora… I’ve nothing more to say to you.

: You’ve betrayed us for The Boom Army and now work to wound so many… I’ll put a stop to you myself!

: I’m simply following my beliefs, Your Highness. They command me to see something done, and, for that, I’ll…!

Gameran attacking: “Curses… It’s Joe’s fault that Sir Ylbora’s on their side…!”

SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend

: What happened to all your pride and your feelings for the Princess?! I want an answer, Ylbora!

: I’m under no obligation to tell you anything! I’ve found another course to follow – and I’ll follow it alone!

Shangxiang attacking: “Are you seriously fine with what you’re doing?!”

: I’ll spare no quarter to any foe who seeks to do us harm, even if said foe used to be an ally!

: As do I – I’ll do as I must, whoever the enemy is. Now let’s see whose resolve emerges victorious!

SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit

: There’s nothing more to be said… we both have our own reasons for doing this, our own beliefs leading us into battle!

: What a fine attitude from the old deserter…

: Then, come! Can your beliefs overpower mine, or will mine crush yours? Let’s find out!

SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness

: You’ve really fit in with the invaders, haven’t you? Is fighting with The Boom Army enough for you, Cmdr. Ylbora?!

: Hmph… a woman who questions her very being wouldn’t understand even if I said anything!

: ?! I-I’m...!

SRW UX - Linebarrel

: Ylbora, you...!

: So, the self-proclaimed Champion of Justice wants to try and convince his enemy?

: But this is no piece of fiction! Words will avail you not! If you wish to stop me, take sword in hand and come!

: Then that’s exactly what I’ll do…! I’ll fight your plans with everything I’ve got!

SRW UX - Life Goes On

: What pushed you to join the enemy, to try and hurt those who meant so much to you?! What’re you struggling with?!

: Only with you people, and nothing more!

: And if you’ll stand in my way, then I’ll cut you down!

SRW UX - Love Survivor

: You never learn, do ya? Don’t you get that you’re the reason Romina’s so sad?!

: Silence! I’m using The Boom Army as a means to seize the future!

: And that’s why I’ve to surpass you, Joe… I’ll surpass you in strength and as a man – I’ll rise above all that you are…!

: Hrgh! N-No, I’m not done yet…!

: He’s going to keep fighting even after all the hits he took?

: I-I cannot die here… My life… my very soul belongs to…

: Such tenacity… What is it that impels him so?

: S-Sir Ylbora…

: I must carry on… and for that, I… I!

: Rrm?! What just happened to him?!

SRW UX - Tobikage Appears!

: Where’d that unit come from?!

: UUUOOOOOAAAARRGH!

I’m including this scene in the video below!

: Y-Ylbora was taken into that machine?!

: Th-The hell is that thing?!

: Mwahahaha! You’ve done it, Ylbora!

: I can’t believe you’d be the one to activate the Zerokage! Color me surprised!

: Z-Zerokage?!

: That’s right! It’s The Boom Army’s ultimate weapon, made whole from Tobikage’s own data... the Zerokage!

: …

: Tobikage?!

: What’s going on?! We hadn’t met the conditions for him to show up yet!

*Tobikage flies towards Ylbora.*

: Why’re you doing this, Tobikage…?!

: Hmhmhm… Tobikage senses it, I see.

: He knows the Zerokage’s his fated nemesis…!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D9XZmDYjjA

: TOBIKAGE!!

: N-No way… that invincible ninja bot was…!

: Wonderful… is this the might of the Zerokage? I feel power coursing through my entire body!

: Not even Tobikage can give me pause anymore! I’ll put the lot of you six feet under!

: Don’t let him finish Tobikage off! Build a perimeter around him, troops!

: Hmhmhm, is that the best you can do…?

: Wha—?! The Zerokage’s vanished!

: Where exactly are you looking at?

*Everyone loses 10% HP!*

: Hrk… that unit is…!

: I-It disappeared again!

: Bwahahaha! You’ll never be able to see through the Zerokage’s camouflage attack!

: It’s using some optic camo?! Then we’re all sitting ducks here!

: We’re working on a countermeasure! Just hang in there and buy us some time!

: And we’ll also need to run defense for Tobikage while we’re at it…!

: Can we even manage something like that?!

: This isn’t a matter of “can or can’t”! We have to make it happen!

: Shou…!

: The moment you lose in your mind is when you lose for real! Have faith in yourselves!

: We need to have faith in ourselves and make it happen…!

: What he said! Let’s get to it, guys!

Tobikage’s immobile and losing him’s a game over, but his stats are still massive and, really, he’s far enough away that no enemy should be anywhere near him. Fighting Grathan’s still the same as before, but you should keep in mind that Ylbora’s still prowling about…

: We’ve lost his signal again! No sensors are picking him up!

: Oh, come on! You mean we’re gonna have to eyeball this?!

And there’s the gimmick of this stage. Every couple of twin enemy units you destroy, Ylbora’ll pop out and shave off another 10% max HP from your guys. He’ll also do this at the start of every player phase, so you can see how the damage can pile up real quick. Your Prevail’d units should be fine, but keep close watch on those without, as even the Shamans and Banks will only need one clean hit to down a weakened Real.
Spread your heals around and hang in there – the plot kicks in when you’ve brought the enemy twin units under 7 or after 4 turns have passed.