Part 99: Mission 41 - Reunion ~ Misao - Part 1
And we’re back, having scratched the Hojo Army off our “needs killing” pile and stopped Tokyo from getting nuked. Act 3 is upon us now, and there’s much to be done. Arnie and Saya are deploying as event units, and it should be noted that you only have 9 deployment slots (if you saved Shouko and/or Michio – if not, add their slots in). Here’s how we’re going:
Aesap/Lux
Heroman/Domyoji
Liu Bei/Rennie
Shou/Tsubasa
Mazinkaiser/Soubi
Fei-Yen/Lockon
Kurou/Deceive
Shinn/Lunamaria
Setsuna/Yulianne
Tactician: Zhuge Liang
Also, do note that this mission is the cutoff point for Liu Bei, Sun Quan and Cao Cao's total kill tally to be over 300 if you're going for the SD Gundam secret.
Off we go.
SRW UX - Where All Possibilities GatherThe Hojo Army has been driven from the surface, and the Festum nesting at the North Pole have been turned to ash by the Army of Mankind’s nuclear strike.
However, that did not mean that it was all over.
Despite the myriad sacrifices that had already been made, the tides of fate beckon further tragedies to visit humanity.
Three months have passed.
The large flock of ELS discovered by the Jupiter Sphere has departed the planet, setting a course for Earth, and signaling that the countdown towards the extinction of mankind has finally begun.
Warriors take a stand once more to both carry out the foretold ‘future dialogue’ and avert the looming destruction.
What will they earn for themselves at the tail-end of life’s awakening? Will it simply be death, or, perhaps, days filled with love…?
This very last line is from Hissatsu Shigotonin.
Act 3 – Someday, Life Together
: Kazuki…
: …! Soushi… is that you?
: Our hope has been crushed…: They were seared by those flames, and are now filled with suffering and hatred.: …: The Festum are going to attack again…?: Forgive me, Kazuki. I’m being forced to take a gamble.: There’s only one final ray of hope, and I swear I’ll convey it to you. When the time comes, head to Gate #11. : Gate #11…: I’ll find my way back to you. No matter what…: I know, Soushi. And I’ll be waiting for you… always…The Fafner characters have all switched to their HAE - Heaven and Earth - portraits (where applicable). Because I’m a magnanimous soul, I will be pointing out their names again just so everyone knows who’s who.
: … Kazuki. Hey, Kazuki! What’re you mumbling over there? (Mizoguchi): Huh… Did I say anything?: Yeah, I saw you chatting with the curry and got worried you’d finally snapped.
: Maybe you should go and get some rest, Kazuki.: Thanks, but I’m okay. I can still see a bit in well-lit places like this.
: It really wouldn’t do for you to injure yourself working, though. If there’s anything, you better tell us right away. (Maya): A flower in each hand, eh, Kazuki? Attaboy. (If Shouko's dead, he says: “Aw, what a nice assistant she is. Oh, or are you two dating yet?”): Cut me some slack with the teasing, Mr. Mizoguchi…*Door opens.
: Excuse me, Ms. Toumi! (Rina): Welcome... Oh, God, the student council again? Why can’t you do that at school?
: Council activities are to take place here. That’s what we agreed on. (Canon)
: Ahaha… We’re sorry to always be imposing on you. (Seri)
: … (Akira): And where’s the all-important president? Is he skipping out on this one?
: No, Kenji should be… (Hiroto)
: And here we are. There’s a step there, so be careful, Sakura.
: Hm… Thanks, Kenji. : Oh, we’ve got another couple in the house?: And look at you, pushing her wheelchair around. That’s a good man, Kenji.: It’s not easy work, I’ll tell you that. Sakura’s been putting on a bit of weight and—*Punch*
: Hyark!: I can walk the rest of the way, thanks.: I-I was just kidding! That’s all!: Heheh. Good to see you’re doing better, Sakura.: Just enough that I can walk around some, but yeah.: And Zhou Yu’s out of his coma, so here’s hoping your eyes’ll get better soon, Kazuki.: Same here, but there’s no rush.: …: (Our seniors’ recovery has really come a long way… maybe Akira’s muteness will also get fixed someday?): How about we make our orders now that everyone’s here?: Oh, then, I’ll take a lemon tea and a Kazuki Pudding!: I’ll have a Kazuki Curry Box, with coarse tea!: A melon soda with a Kazuki Cake, please.: Heey, easy! Don’t say it all at once!: And what about you, Akira? Can you point out what you’ll have?: …: Coffee, black? Ooh, how grown-up of you.: …: “Coffee”… Psh, you’re just trying to look cool because Ms. Toumi’s here.: Mr. Mizoguchi, could we please stop naming dishes after me?: What, you’re the big savior of the island! That makes you the highlight of our shop!: Oh, brother… Am I really?: Yo, check out the news. Hazard’s shown his ugly mug again.: Hazard?!
: Good day, everyone. This is Isabelle Cronkite, coming to you live.: Our interview today is about the recently revealed alien lifeforms commonly known as the ELS…: I am here with Prof. Billy Katagiri, foremost expert on ELS research, and…: With Commandant Hazard Pasha, the hero responsible for saving humanity at Operation Heaven’s Door. ( 
)
: It’s a pleasure to be here.
: I say the same. I’ll answer all your questions to the best of my ability. Wahahaha!: Urgh, and now the prick’s the Commandant of the Army of Mankind. This really is the end times.: We’ll begin straight away, then. Prof. Katagiri, regarding the announcement that a large flock of ELS from Jupiter have started to move towards the center of the Solar System…: The Federation Government has said that the probability of them heading for Earth is zero – is that true?: It’s too soon to tell, I’m afraid. That said, even if the ELS are coming our way, judging by the speed with which they’re moving, we have ample time to prepare ourselves for their arrival.: Then, is our military already seeing to such preparations?: But of course. Both the Army of Mankind and the Federation Army are working around the clock to create the perfect anti-ELS weapons. We’re even making use of technology provided by the Frontier Fleet, I should note.: So, whether or not the ELS do come here, there is absolutely nothing to worry about! Waahahahaha!: I see. Everything is going swimmingly, then.: You’ve heard it yourselves, dear viewers. Do not let yourselves be fooled by speculation and misinformation. Carry on your daily lives as you would…: The only thing going swimmingly is that crook’s career! If we leave this up to him, all we’ll get is a dead planet!: Don’t worry. I’m sure the UX aren’t sitting on their hands.: The UX… It’s only been three months since we last saw them, but it feels like an eternity.: And you kids sure have grown a lot in that time.: You juniors better get to work and start catching up to them quick-like, you hear?: Hmhmm. And we’ll even be starting live combat training today, but…: We’re not too sure if we’re good enough for this… : Hey, don’t sweat it. We’ll get you all in top fighting shape!: Well, look at what a badass we have here. Quite the contrast to the crybaby from a few months ago.: Sa-Sakura… we really don’t need to dredge up the past!: Heheh, well, keep up the good work and you’ll all do fine.: Y-Yes, ma’am!: (Watch over me, Mamoru! I’ll be a worthy successor to your name as Goubine!)
: Rina Nishio, Akira Nishio, Seri Tatekami and Hiroto Douma are all set to begin pilot training aboard the Fafners today. (Toumi)
: And the units are prepped and ready to go? (Makabe)
: Barring the “numberless”, all units up to the thirteenth can be deployed on your order. (Hazama)
: Even the Mark Fünf? It was so damaged, I didn’t think it’d even move again… (Kaname)
: I wanted to make it pristine again, regardless of how hard that’d be. : I… I owed it to Mamoru to repair his Fafner.
: You did good, Tamotsu (Nishio).
: To tell the truth, I wish we didn’t have to send kids into battle again…: I know. But we can’t discard that option now that the core of the island has entered its growth phase. : What’s the status on the Brünnhilde System? : The core’s focusing its energies on growing, so the island’s ecosystem and life support functionalities are seeing some anomalies. : The islanders’ health is also expected to be affected, but my biggest concern is that it’ll hamper the island’s defense functionalities. : You’re right to be worried: there have been Festum sightings across the entire planet…: Who knows the kind of damage they’d cause were they to attack the island again…: (Fumihiko…): (Y-You’re…!)
: …: (Tsubaki Minashiro…): Is something the matter, Cmdr. Makabe?: N-No… it’s nothing…: …?: (Am I the only one seeing her…?): (It hasn’t ended yet, Fumihiko…): (There must be another path beyond that of hatred. You must look for it, together.): (Please, Fumihiko…): …: But I thought their core – the Mir – had been destroyed? Why are the Festum still active?: Perhaps the enemy Mir has simply assumed a different form.: In the same way our Mir became the island’s atmosphere? Could something akin to a core have been born within the enemy’s ranks?: There’s still much we don’t understand about the Festum.: As is also the case with your daughter, Miwa…: …: It’s been less than two months since she was born, yet she already looks and acts like a two-year-old toddler. : I suspect it’s related to her being the child of parents with Festum genes, but…: She might be a bit different from the other kids, but Miwa’s still my dear baby girl. : I’ll protect her with my life, come what may.If Michio’s dead:
: Whatever she looks like, it doesn’t change the fact that her birth spelled hope for our island. We must protect her, come what may.Common ground:
: You’re right… For now, let’s just pray that this peace lasts.
: Here’s a biiiig boat! And here, a bigger boat, and a mountain! (Miwa)
: Oh, wow, you’re so good at drawing, Miwa. What else can you make? (Yumiko): …: What is it, honey…?: Mommy, who’s that?: Huh?: …: Tsubaki…!: (They are suffering. They don’t know what they should do…): (And the one who can save them from it is…): N-No! Stay away from her! Don’t bring her into this… please!: Mommy, friends are coming.: F-Friends…?(In regards to Yumiko’s incredibly fast-growing baby, while I don’t know if UX will actually go somewhere to outright explain it in full, the JP wikis do point to a theory… a very eerie theory, in light of another series we have here. I can’t quite go into details yet due to spoilers, but give me until the end of mission 43, and I’ll tell what’s what.)
: …: This is the island of Tatsumiya…: The place Soushi where used to be…
Mission 41 – Reunion – Misao
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens
: Now this is much more like it! There’s nothing stopping me from moving how I want when I’m in my Fafner!
: Heey, Mark Drei! Quit zipping around and come help with the training!
: (The Mark Dreizehn, a Fafner made for me…): (Every move it makes is exactly how I want it… Thank you, mom…): Alright, listen up! What makes Fafners special is that you don’t actually need to steer them like you do a normal mech!
: Become one with your unit. Embrace your Altered Consciousness, the change in your psyche. : You got that, Mark Fünf?!
: Y-Yeah…!: Dang, look at Kenji… he’s really come into his own.: Call out to each other by your unit’s assign codenames. You are your Fafners, and the Fafners are you.: Understood, Mark Neun?!
: Y-Yes, ma’am!: Mark Zehn!
: …: Mi…ss… Tou…mi...: Huh...?! Did Akira just talk?!
: No way…!: It’s not that big a deal, really. Any impaired senses get unblocked again when you join with your Fafner.: Ms. Toumi… D-Do you hear me?: I do, yes.: Akira’s actually talking… wow…: Wake up and answer your hail, Mark Zwölf!: A-Ah…! Yes, ma’am!
: Maintain your minds crossed and shoulder your pain and your fear as a team.: And then try and take a stab at us! Show me what you got!: Raaaaaaaargh!
: Ooorgh?! A headbutt?! Who the hell does that?!: An unknown’s been detected moving inside the shield?!: Yes… Solomon hasn’t made any announcements yet, though.: What is going on? Does that mean we’ve an intruder that Solomon can’t identify?!
: …: I am here, everyone…*Solomon alarm!*
: ?! There’s an anomaly within the Brünnhilde System! These readings are… the Festum!: What?!
: The Festum…?!: How’d they get so close…?!: They’re so pretty…: Hrm, they sure picked a great time to turn up...!: Could they have planned to attack precisely during the core’s growth phase?!: Kenji! I know this wasn’t in the cards for today, but can you guys handle them?!: Aye, aye! We’ll make it work!: Fünf, Neun, Zehn, Zwölf, you guys stand down!: N-No… We’re fighting too! I… I’ll fight just like Mamoru did!: Y-You…!: Fine, then form up! Brace for the enemy attack!: R-Roger…!*Hiroto and Seri form a team; Rina and Akira form another.
: Are you there…?
: Aaaiiieeee!: W-We have to fight real Festum, just like that…?!: Pull yourselves together, folks!: The Nothung Models have been upgraded to the Nth degree. They won’t be brought down that easily!: Have faith in yourselves, in your units, and fight!: They’re coming! Hold ‘em back!
Kill everything, don’t lose anyone. This first part’s pretty simple (Shouko could solo everything without breaking a sweat), as we have, at most, some Sphinxes with a bunch of Grendels.
But it’s all to help us get acquainted to the new Fafner kids. Shouko’s unchanged (as is Michio), but the other vets have all been changed… some for worse.
Case in point, the Mark Acht. It’s lost BOTH its Luger Lance and Railgun attacks, which is a tremendous downgrade. Before, you could set the Acht pretty much anywhere and it’d do well, working as a fine squaddie since its Railgun had loads of ammo and good range – if stuff got close, Kenji had his EN-based lance to fall back on. Now? Kenji only has two basic rifles, both of which are weaker than his lost attacks, his point-blank Mine Blade, and his standard Medusa cannons. The kicker is that they didn’t actually increase the Medusa shots, so you only get 4 of those and that’s that.
Kenji’s mook-wrecking tag-team with Michel has come to a screeching halt, but the Crossing System still makes it a worthwhile proposition to find a slot for the Acht, if only to empower everyone else.
Maya’s stopped being a dedicated sniper to become a bit of a mixed-range attacker. Her stats are still gigantic and while her max range has taken a hit with the loss of her Dragon’s Tooth rifle (which is now with Akira), her average power has actually increased with the new moveset. Plus, her strongest non-combo attack is now post-movement, so she can really lead a charge now.
Oh, and she’s learned Hit & Away.
Canon Hazama’s (she changed her surname!) new Mark Dreizehn is a 100% direct upgrade to the Drei under her command: ranges and squad bonus are wholly unchanged, but everything else has gained a power boost.
Treat her as you did before.
Fafner Mark Drei - Lindwurm (Sakura Kaname)
Squad Bonus: Crit +10, ranged weapons +100 (Crit +20, ranged weapons +200, HP +750, S in Air)
Sakura has decided for a full re-spec for HAE, going from a close-range bruiser to a mid-range, pre-movement attacker. I hope you hadn’t been feeding her Infights. She’s overall stronger for it, but you’ll need to readjust and pair her with people that fits her new ranges, such as Kira, non-Michel Valkyries, Dr. West, etc (ironically, she’d be a good fit with the OLD Acht).
The boost in terrain that she provides plus the Drei’s big movement range makes for a nice squaddie; the fact that all her weapons are ammo based, and with decent clips, further cements her a spot. If you’ve a spare B-Save, consider giving it to her, but Hit & Away is a nigh necessity (except if her partner unit has it, of course).
Fafner Mark Fünf (Hiroto Douma)
Pilot Skills:
Synergetic Code L3
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L2
All Attack L2
Spirit Commands:
Invincible
Strike
Iron Wall
Faith/Friendship
Valor
Mech Features:
Gun
Aegis
Crossing System
Hiroto’s voice actor: Nozomu Sasaki (other roles: Clef in Rayearth, Olba in Gundam X, Hathaway in CCA, and many more).
HAE Mark Fünf is SLIGHTLY tankier than its original version due to 500 HP boost, and it has 10 extra EN in its pool. That’s about all the good things I can say, because this is another straight downgrade.
First off, the only thing Hiroto does better than Mamoru is the fact that he has Iron Wall – he’s a worse pilot in all other aspects. He has less stats and his Synergetic Code doesn’t go as high. As for the bot itself - brace yourself for this – it’s lost Goubine Smash and got precisely zilch in return (oh, excuse me, it got a new Gegner rifle that’s 100 points stronger than the piddly Durandal rifle); this means that, on its own, the bot is now a full 800 attack power weaker than it was around mission 16-17! I do not appreciate this.
On the other hand, the new kids have a Cross Dog combo attack of their own, which is 400 power stronger than the OG Triple Dog and helps offset the dip in raw attack power. That said, Goubine Smash had half the EN cost, took 20 less morale, reduced enemy morale and didn’t require Mamoru next to three other people to use. I still do not appreciate this. I’m sure Hiroto is a great kid, but he has a long way to go before he does GOUBINE justice!
Fafner Mark Zwölf (Seri Tatekami)
Pilot Skills:
Synergetic Code L3
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L2
All Attack L2
Spirit Commands:
Guts
Focus
Invincible
Mercy
Valor
Mech Features:
Gun
Crossing System
Squad Bonus: Mobility +5, EN +50 (Mobility +20, EN +100, Movement +2)
Seri’s voice actress: Misato Fukuen (other roles: Sakura in Street Fighter, Patty in DMC, Marie in Valvrave, and many more)
Fafner Mark Neun (Rina Nishio)
Pilot Skills:
Synergetic Code L3
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L2
All Attack L2
Spirit Commands:
Focus
Alert
Fighting Spirit
Valor
Hope
Mech Features:
Gun
Crossing System
Squad Bonus: Accuracy +5, Money +10% (Accuracy +20, Money +20%, Ranged weapons +150)
Seri’s voice actress: Ryoko Shiraishi (other roles: Hurricane in SKL, Aoi in Masoukishin II, Anew in 00 Gundam, and many more)
Seri and Rina are very similar to each other, in that their units are pretty much the same outside of their final attack (which has the same range, but Seri’s costs 10 EN more); each of their best weapons carries a different debuff: armor down and attack power down, respectively.
Pretty useful, especially as the endgame starts throwing bigger mooks at us, and both girls can easily handle themselves (though their stats are mostly a step below their seniors). The Crossing System further increases their value, and their Squad Bonuses carry enough goodies that you should always keep them at the top of your squaddie list.
Mark Zehn (Akira Nishio)
Pilot Skills:
Synergetic Code L3
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L1
All Attack L2
Spirit Commands:
Strike
Trust
Invincible
Snipe
Courage
Mech Features:
Gun
Crossing System
Squad Bonus: Ranged weapons +100, Exp +10% (Ranged weapons +200, Exp +20%, Range +2)
Akira’s voice actor: Yuuki Kaji
Akira is another full sniper, but when Maya frickin’ Toumi is your direct comparison, you’re bound to come up short. In terms of raw attack power, the Mark Zehn ties with the Sieben, but Akira can’t measure up to Maya. He’s still pretty good, mind you.
Unfortunately, the Zehn has one major flaw that keeps it from being an easy fit for sniper units: like HAE Acht, it doesn’t have any variety for strong weapons, relying solely on its Dragon’s Tooth – and it only has 4 shots. Akira apparently can’t run and gun with a sniper rifle like Maya can, so that’s another issue.
Still, Crossing System remains very good and can help him do reliable damage even when he’s forced to fall back on his weaker weapons. Again, B-Save is very important to get more mileage. Set him in with someone who has decent range but who can work on the mid-short range as well (like Kouichi, Kira, Alto, Yajima, Graham, Fei-Yen, etc.)
Whew. Now we can continue.
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: This is your first real battle, so pay attention! I’ll go in first and break the enemy lines, while you guys cover my six…: No, Mamoru was always fighting right at the front of the pack!: And I’ll do the same! I’ll keep everyone safe as Goubine…!: Don’t be stupid! Fight like that and you’re gonna get someone killed!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBVVp-6OlI
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: I’d almost forgotten how it feels to move as freely as this…! This might be my first battle in a long time, but I’m not afraid of getting back in the fray!: Our island’s not your plaything, Festum! I’m sending you right back to where you came from!
SRW UX - Shangri-La.: My mom planned this Fafner just for me…: And it’s with it that I’ll defend Tatsumiya! This island’s home to all of us!
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: What happened?! I thought we wouldn’t have to fight against the Festum anymore!: I’m scared… I’m so scared, Tsubaki…!: Calm down, Mark Zwölf! You need to accept reality for what it is!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZoGU2sXsfU
It’s important for you to know that Seri’s Altered Consciousness makes her very prone to head-butting. So, what did the geniuses at ALVIS do? Make her a Fafner with a laser spear hat.
And when you kill a Sphinx:
: …?!
: Wh-What…?: Something the matter, Mark Zwölf?: N-No, I… it just looked like the Festum was trying to say something…: The Festum…?: (Kazuki…): …?! Soushi…!: (I’m being forced to take a gamble, Kazuki…): Soushi… I understand!And when you kill 3+ enemy teams, including a Sphinx, the plot carries on:
*Alarm!*
: ?! I-It’s…!: Commander, the Mark Sein’s getting ready to take off!: Kazuki?!
: …: Kazuki… What’re you doing here?: Don’t worry about me. I can see just fine when I’m in the Fafner!: Kazuki…!
: Relax, I’ll watch his back!: Michio…?!: Can’t have the team’s vet hanging back while even the nuggets are getting their hands dirty, ya know. That’s just a bad role model!: Does my sister know that you’re piloting again?: Ah, don’t worry about it. I’m sure Yumiko won’t mind it too much once my baby girl sees her daddy kicking the Festum out the island!: Let’s get to it, kids!: (If this is what you want, Soushi… then I’ll fight them as well!) SRW UX - AzureHAE brings us a new BGM, and one of my top 3 songs in the game (I'm not strong enough to outright point one I like best). Come next mission, all my Fafner units'll be packing this... except Shouko, who's a Dunbine character.
: Why… Why is it you, and not Soushi…?!
Kazuki’s still Kazuki.
And when you kill a second Sphinx:
: …?!
: I-I knew it…: Listen… I’m positive that they’re trying to say something. What should we do? I can’t fight with that bugging me!: Well, of course the enemy’s going be saying stuff! Like, how they hate us and whatever… Just take them out before they open their mouths!: B-But… SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: Come back as many times as you want, I’m not letting you take this island! This is our home… it’s where we belong!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJcgpIuOk6s
Here’s Maya’s new strongest, non-combo attack.
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: Mark Zehn, this is your first real battle. Make sure you don’t do anything stupid.: Don’t you worry, Ms. Toumi! Look how well I’m flying the Fafner! I’ll have these Festum down in two shakes!: …
SRW UX - The Gate of Neidhöhle Opens: The Mir core inside your mech protects you against the enemy’s abilities! Believe in yourself and fight!: O-Okay, I’m going in... These are the Festum… they’re our enemies!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmeSwyT4YK0
And Rina’s best attack. All clear!