Part 92: Mission 38 - The Sakimori - Part 1
Here we are again, having lost Michio and Soushi last mission. Now it’s Aesap and Mamoru to deploy as event units. Here’s how we’re going:
Joe/Athrun
Heroman/Domyoji
Kouichi/Kiki
Maya/Shangxiang
Kazuki/Allelujah
Liu Bei/Rennie
Canon/Shouko
Kira/Graham
Burn/Marvel
Shou/Tsubasa
Cao Cao/Moritsugu
Mazinkaiser/Soubi
Dancouga/Canaria
Kurou/Deceive
Shinn/Lunamaria
Sun Quan/Eida
Alto/Yajima
Fei-Yen/Lockon
Arnie/Saya
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
And keep in mind that this mission is the cutoff point for getting Aesap 100+ kills if you’re going for the Wings of Rean secret.
Off we go.
: …
: This woman’s Kazuki’s mother…?
: No, she’s a Festum.
: What?!
: She certainly looks like Akane, but the real one is no longer with us…: She was Assimilated by the Festum years ago…
: …: I am here as the one who’s inherited the will of Akane Makabe.: My mom’s will…?
: What’re you after?: There is a core being held captive by the Mir situated in the arctic ocean. That core is under threat of annihilation, so I would like your help rescuing it.
: It’s being held “captive”? Is some sort of infighting happening with the Festum?
: Considering the way the Festum speak, I would presume that individuals do not exist in their midst….: If there is some infighting occurring, then would that mean something has changed in your kind?: In extremely rare cases, some of us develop personalities after Assimilating a human.: Those are usually homogenized with the whole, but the entity called Akane Makabe was different.
: What do you mean…?: Akane Makabe managed to form its own core, one that’s continuously resonating with others.
: An individual will had been born within your collective hivemind… that’s the reason for the split between your kind.: Correct.: But how many millions of people have been victimized by you Festum…? Why did this only happen with her? : That is because Akane Makabe willingly sought Assimilation. : I dare you to say that again…!: Naturally, Akane Makabe did not initially expect herself to be Assimilated.: However, the moment she came into contact with our collective, she embraced and blessed us.
: Blessed? Then that lady, Akane, came to understand you?: …?!
: Akane did always strive to understand the Festum… That’s why it happened.: …: We were originally meant to be one entity. In other words, we are not supposed to be anywhere.: However, Akane Makabe understood us despite that. She blessed us.: And, as a result, I became an individual entity, in opposition to the Mir.
: A single person’s will changed the entire Festum collective?
: We’re the same in that regard. Humans and Festum both change when we come into contact with others…
: Then, would it be possible for us to communicate with the Festum like Setsuna wanted to do?: It may be possible to arrive at that solution as possibilities continue to diverge.: However, if nothing is done, the Mir in the arctic ocean will turn Akane Makabe’s resonant core to nothingness.
: Effectively shutting our sole avenue towards peace…: I would like you to make contact with my core before humanity and the Mir bring about their mutual destruction.: The core that is central to me is the key towards the solution of not only the conundrum of Akane Makabe’s resonant core but of all else. 
: All else…?*Door opens.*
: Meaning it’s also a key for us…
: A key for us to win our future. 
: Heeey, you guys are alright!
: And Tsubaki’s with them.
: I wanted you all to see that there’s another way forward.: …: Teach them what you know. I’m sure they’ll understand. : Very well. 
*Beep, boop.*
: M-Massive amounts of data are pouring into the main server!
: This is… a way to defend against the Festum’s mind reading abilities and Assimilation?!
: There’s a bunch of data for other stuff too. That Festum’s doing all this…?: There’s so much detailed data… with this, we might even…: This is all I am capable of giving you at the moment. Any other answers are still locked within the Mir.: It should be more than enough to convince everyone, Fumihiko.: …: If we manage to save your core, will that also save the children of the island?: The resonant core of Akane Makabe has been able to produce many answers that go even beyond that.
: In other words, that’s a possibility?: And when you make contact with my core, if all goes well, you will be capable of retrieving that which was taken from you.
: What was taken from us…?: What you call the Siegfried System.: What?!: The Mir attempted to make your strength our own, but we are incapable of operating it.: Thus, the Mir is preserving the one human who can do so.
: Then…!: Yes, it’s the human you know as Soushi Minashiro. : …: Soushi’s still alive…
: Cmdr. Makabe, we have finished analyzing the data provided by… the Festum.: Anything that can help us with the Assimilation?
: We believe we could concoct a new kind of medicine based on the analyzed data, which we’ve hypothesized would be capable of substantially mitigating the effects of Assimilation.
: Really…?!
: You weren’t even close to anything like that before… she gave you that much data?: Actually, the data she provided goes beyond the scope of just humans and Festum. It’s a massive compilation of varied information.: If pressed, I might say her information pertains to the essence of life itself.
: Life itself…?
: Then, that data could be used to heal Zhou Yu, Sheryl and Setsuna as well?
: …!
: You can heal my master?!: Mind you, this is all purely theoretical at the moment. That said, we are already looking into ways to treat them with this new information.
: My V-Type Infection might be treatable…?
: That’s great news, Sheryl!: …
: Shouldn’t you be happier, Feldt? You were worried about Setsuna for so long.: No… I’ll only be truly happy when he’s back with us.: Heheh, that sounds like you.*Door opens.*
: Oh, looks like we didn’t have to worry about Setsuna after all.
: I guess us coming here all the way from Jupiter was a bit of wasted time, eh?
: Huh? Who’re you two?
: Papa, mama! : Hey, Mileina. You’re doing good, I hope?
: These are Mileina’s parents…?
: Right. They’re Ian and Linda, two brilliant scientists working for Celestial Being. : It’s a pleasure to meet you all. And thank you so much for looking after Mileina.
: She’s surprisingly young for someone that has a daughter around Mileina’s age…
: I’ll say. A woman that young married to this old dude… Is that even legal?: Hey, we’ve just met! Why’re you looking at me like I’m a criminal?!
: Give it up, Ian. That’s about what everyone thinks when they meet you.: Alright, alright, enough with the jokes. Can I presume that you’ve finished that since you came here?: We did, yes. A new power for Setsuna, made by him and for him…: The GNT-0000, a.k.a., the 00 Qan[T].
: …
: Are you leaving, Sakomizu…?: My will has not changed, even after observing this world with my own eyes…: Indeed, I must return Japan to how it ought to be.: I do not think the current Japan longs for the ideals you offer, though…: Now is a very different era from when you were sent to Byston Well.: However, I would like to believe that you are capable of comprehending what I feel.: I remember how valiantly you fought in the Pacific War as part of the Imperial Navy, Rear Admiral Hisataka Katou. I believe you comprehend, Sir…: …: You do realize that I participated in that war knowing that I would be defeated, yes?: Maybe, but I think that was simply because you took Japan’s defeat as a necessary event. : A necessary event…?: A destruction needed for rebirth to occur – one that would pave the way for a better future. If anything, that conflict succeeded in unifying the Yamato race under a single banner.: However, the people’s resolve has slowly waned in the marshlands of indolence called “peace”…: And, so, you have taken up arms. To once again open the eyes of Japan… no, to open the eyes of the entire world…! : Hah… And do you mean to relieve me of that role and take it upon yourself?: …: “If one should ask you concerning the heart of a true Japanese, point to the wild cherry blossom glowing in the sun…” (Quote from Norinaga Motoori, a Japanese poet of the XVIII century.): …! Sakomizu, you…: We shall meet again in the treetops of spring… Us, and the blossoms fallen afore… (The first part are lyrics for “Douki no Sakura”, a traditional song of Japanese kamikaze pilots.)*Sakomizu leaves.*
: …: Shinjiro Sakomizu… A Sakimori’s soul never fades, hm...?(Traditionally, Sakimori were warriors garrisoned in various places – most famously, Kyushu – to defend it against bandits, raiders, pirates, etc., or warriors who would defend a given palace during times of war. I could have translated this as “defender”, but considering Sakomizu’s SAMURAI WARRIOR shtick, I figured I’d throw him a bone.
Location: Tatsumiya – Kondo Residence
: I was looking for you…
: Mamoru…: The enemy might try attacking again, so I think you should take shelter at ALVIS for the time being.: …: My mom hasn’t come back yet. I have to take care of the house until she does…: …: Kenji… your mom is gone…: …: Oh! Kenji, Sakura’s Assimilation has taken a bit of a turn for the better.: R-Really?!: Yeah… It’ll be a while before she’s fully healed, though…: So, you stay here on the island and go wait by her side.: Huh…?: I’m sure Sakura would also like that…: …: Ha-hahah… I guess you’re right. Even if you did bring a coward like me along, I’d just get in your way during battle.: Kenji…: Dammit… If I just had an Altered Consciousness that made me strong like yours does…: …: Kenji, I… I won’t be relying on Goubine anymore.: Wh-What…?!: Starting today, it’ll just be Mamoru Koudate piloting the Fafner… I’ll be fighting as myself, and no one else.: So, I want you, as Kenji Kondo, to look over and protect Sakura. : Mamoru, you…!: Everything’ll be alright. We’ll keep the island safe.: I promise you, Kenji…*Mamoru leaves.*
: M-Mamoru…!: ….: Mamoru, I…
: They’re probably going to send us to the North Pole, huh?: … I want to go there.
: Well, yeah, we have to get Soushi back.: That’s not the end of it, though. My parents showed us a way for humans and Festum to coexist. And I want to make that way real. 
: You’ve changed…: I have?
: Yeah, it’s like night and day. When we first met you were just fighting because people told you to. : Now you’re here of your own choosing.: That’s…
: And I believe you have your memories to thank for that.: My memories…?: Without memories, we’d never know where our home is, where we belong…: And without them to hold on to, all we have left are the horrors of battle. 
: I think I understand…: Our memories help us keep track of who we are, of where our place is…: I think that’s why my mom and the others tried to make this island a paradise for us.
: Because they wanted you to remember those peaceful days…
: I’m here precisely because of the memories I had of our time together…: I say the same. I could only find where I truly belonged after meeting Shouko and Youko.: And I will never forget this island or any of you…: So let’s make sure we’ll come back here – all of us…!: Yeah…*Boom!*
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
: Hrm…! Another attack?!
: No, I think that was…!: A battle’s broken out off the island’s coast!: The Army of Mankind is engaging the Hojo Army!
: The Hojo Army…?!: Incoming message from the Army of Mankind!: Put it through!*Beep.*
(on TV): This is Col. Alex Glem speaking! We request immediate assistance from the UX!
: D-Dad…?!: Aesap…! What’re you doing there…?!: That’s my line! Why are you with the Army of Mankind?!
(on TV): Gaah, enough! To hell with your family chit-chat!: What in blazes are you buffoons waiting for?! Hurry up and come save us!
: Hazard?! You’re there too?!
: Look at this guy, wanting us to bail him out after all the times he messed with us! You cheeky lil’ sumbitch!
(on TV): This is not the time for debate! There are live nuclear weapons aboard our ship!
: Wh-What…?!
: We’re being sent to save the Army of Mankind? What gives?!: If their ship is brought down, it’s possible the nukes they’re carrying’ll also explode! We can’t just take that risk!
: N-Nukes…?! But I thought we trashed all nukes in the world back then!
: Those were only the nuclear missiles proper! There are still plenty of warheads in storage across the globe!: Oh, no…!: (Dad… It really was your ship that fired that last nuke from Japan, wasn’t it…?!)*Door opens.*
: Guys…!
: Mamoru! Did you check on Kenji?!: I-I did, but… he’s still…
: Hm… I suppose that is understandable…
: U-Um… Should we get ready to deploy too…?
: …: I’ve never been in a battle outside the simulator before…
: Same here…
: No, it’s too soon to send you out into an actual fight. You’ll stay here and wait for our return.: B-But… you’ve been losing people left and right…: Don’t worry about us. We’ll find a way to beat the enemy!: Mamoru…: Oh, I know. Take this!
: Huh…?! But this helmet is…: It’ll keep you safe – I guarantee it.: Now, let’s go, guys! Our island needs our help!
Mission 39 – The Sakimori
: Carry on the offensive and sink their vessel! Rid the world of these hateful weapons!
: The king’s finally decided to shift into high gear, huh?
: Then how about we take him up on his offer and go kick ass?! We’ll bring the entire system crashing down!
: A-All escort fighters have been destroyed!
: Damage to our ship’s exceeding 60%! Nuclear engine and weapon control systems are down! We’re sitting ducks!: Goddamn it, I can’t die like this! I’ve just made my comeback!
: It’s them…!: Tsk… The flagship is all that’s left of the Army of Mankind’s forces?!: Our vessel’s immobile from the attack of these unknown forces! We humbly request your assistance!: And don’t screw this up! That is, unless you want your dear island to turn into an irradiated wasteland!
: That prick’s really pushing it!
: Save it for later! We have to keep that ship safe, no matter what!: (Aesap… I never thought you’d also find your way to the battlefield…): Once more you set yourselves before me, Ultimate Cross?
: I don’t see the Katou Organization anywhere. Do you think they’re using Sakomizu as bait for us?: No, I have already chosen a separate path to follow.: What did you say…?!: I hereby declare the start of my campaign towards the reclamation of Japan!: And whosoever tries to oppose me shall find nothing but a watery grave!: (My father’s mind really is wholly fixated on his motherland…)
: Th-That’s the Aura of a Holy Warrior…?
: Are you alright, Mamoru?: Y-Yeah… I’m ready to go!: (My hands won’t stop shaking… How did I not notice how terrifying battles are…?): (But I’m sure Sakura and Kenji also felt this way, and they still fought on! I won’t face away from it!): Weapons of mass destruction… We cannot risk even one of them detonating!: My friends, set a defensive perimeter around the Army of Mankind’s vessel and rout the Hojo Army!
Shoot down the Fugaku (will retreat under 30%), don’t lose any battleship, including Hazard’s, Aesap or Mamoru.
This escort isn’t difficult, provided you don’t give the enemy an opportunity to try anything. Pop Accelerate and Tailwind casts, rush your guys up top and start carving up the frail Hojo guys (try and get rid of either Rouri or Kanamoto quick, to prevent them from using their combo).
Hazard’s Famir is severely damaged, but the guy has the tenacity of a cockroach – barring a massive screw-up, the enemy shouldn’t even get close to downing him. He can’t move on account of having no EN, but he can still attack, so don’t give him a chance to steal your kills. When the mooks are downed, start moving up top and slap the Fugaku into submission.
SRW UX - Shangri-La.
SRW UX - Believe ver. HD
With Kongming’s power boost, the Aura Battlers drop like mad.
: Urgh… What the hell. And here I was, thinking I’d finally get to go to town!: But, fine. I already know what I have to do to this society…
SRW UX - Shangri-La.
: We’re not changing anything fighting small battles like this…!: What we need is to think bigger… We gotta go for a total game-changer!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: (I expected us to finally begin our conquest of the Overworld, but what I see is nothing but a personal quest…): (Holy Warrior or not, he is still an Overworlder. And what Byston Well requires is…)
Whoops, I accidentally twoshotted Murassa with Kaido and Soubi.
: (The Katou Organization was meant to function as the foothold of our conquest, yet we’ve parted ways with them and now engage in unimportant battles by ourselves…): (What in blazes is the king thinking?!)
SRW UX - LEGEND OF KAISER
SRW UX - Envoy from Jupiter
Kotto attacking Lockon: “Snipe down that green Gundam!”
