Part 184: Mission 46 - Justice Amidst the Chaos - Part 3

Chapter 46 Part 2
_{Sorry about being a day late, technical issues.}


Thing's start with Gainers overskill kicking in.



Time to start taking down these new enemies.



Tetsuya takes out a squad with a Valor boosted Double Burning Fire.



If only he had gotten three crits instead of two.


Oh well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f19ATBP76IU









They're fragile enough I'd rather weaken the squadmates with Wide Formation rather then get rid of the leader slightly faster with Center.






That's just absurd.


Soften up this one Duke.







Nearly blowing up that one triggers Dizer Full Power.



Then Amuro destroys this one.






And that's another set gone.



Another gold unit comes on over and, this time, it’s Harry. Lacus is with him, piloting some other familiar mech, and he wants her to head for the Archangel while he provides cover.
As she goes, Loran asks Harry about Diana and Kihel but that’s a conversation to be had after we clean up this mess.
When Gym asks, Harry says that he WILL fight against him today for his way of valuing life only through the prism of battle is going to threaten Diana someday. So, it’s better he go down before that happens.
“Have at you, then! I’ll enjoy delivering the news of your death to Diana back in the Moon!”, Ghingnham yells.


So here's Harry! And he's finally joined us for good.





Welcome to the team Harry.









Everybody's moved, so it's time to go to the Enemy phase!


Gym will automatically cast Strike at the start of each Enemy phase, which is bad.


Within Orb’s HQ, Cagalli’s demanding to know just who that scarred MS is – he’s only making things progressively worse for ZEUTH and the Archangel; Neo shows up then, despite her having expected him to have left Orb by now.
If he is truly an old acquaintance of them, then he wants to borrow that Akatsuki of hers for old time’s sake – he might as well use the thing to help out both Orb and the Archangel.


Back in the Archangel’s hangar, Lacus and Athrun meet face-to-face again. The MS she was piloting is a new Justice but, despite Athrun being baffled that she’d do so, Lacus’ main concern is asking if he’s doing well.
He confirms but she wasn’t asking about his physical health – he then rephrases and says he’s made up his mind. That’s a good enough answer and Lacus entrusts this new unit to him and, when he asks, adds that it's up to him to decide whether that makes him nothing more than a warrior or not.
To be afraid is to think there’s nothing else one can do and simply give up, but the power he has or doesn’t have is not what defines him. He may be a warrior but he’s still himself, no?
Indeed, he agrees.


Back outside…




: That MS…Cagalli?!
: It’s me, boy. I borrowed this from the princess.



: Kira…
: Athrun…!
: The Justice…! No way, is the pilot--!
: Yes… It’s me, Shinn.
: Athrun…! You still live?!
: We’ll talk about this later! Right now we need to protect Orb!

*Athrun and Neo tag into Kira’s squad.*

: Kira, Athrun…I’ll also fight alongside you. (Brunom says: do note that the Eternal isn’t here so I guess she means that figuratively! )
: Athrun’s still alive…
: …
: Focus, Shinn, Lunamaria! Don’t forget what were here for!
: R-right!
: Athrun and Kira Yamato are both alive and here I am fighting for Orb…
: Just what is going on…?
: ...



Not much else of note happens on the Enemy Phase, no random hits, nobody gets swarmed, just some counter attacks.


Lancerow is the only Space Revolotuonary Army guy to be any threat. Even then a cast of Strike will work.







Ouch.


Of course Gym will immediately attack the ∀ if it's deployed.


: I must be blessed indeed, to encounter the other Turn Type so soon after I reach Earth!
: Turn Type... the "Turn A"... does he mean the White Doll?
: Come! We have unfinished business from the Black History, and it must be settled!
: Wait! How are your Mobile Suit and the White Doll connected?
: Enough talk! The scar on the Turn X's chest demands I defeat you!






Since I don't want to have people get shot down, not much choice but to defend.

Turn 4


∀ Gundam
Gym Ghingham - Turn X
Voiced by Takehito Koyasu

Skills:
* Perfection - At 130 Will, Hit Rate, Evasion, and Critical Hit rate increased by 30%
* Guard - At 130 Will the character will take 20% less damage.
* Battle Spirit - Starting from the second turn, will gain 3 Will every turn.
* Will +(Damaged) - Pilot gains 2 Will every time they are hit by an attack.
* Will Limit Break - Maximum Will is increased to 170
* Attack Again - If the Pilot's skill stat is 20 points or higher then the enemy, the pilot will perform a second attack. This second attack is considered a Support Attack and is effected by the Cooperative Attack skill.

Squad Leader Bonus
Hit Rate and Critical Hit Rate +30%

So, Gym. He's one of the more dangerous Real bosses in the game. First, he has massive defences thanks to Guard, his Will is going to skyrockey quickly. He'd be insanely accurate even if he wasn't casting Strike each turn, he has a flat +60% to Critical rate, and he has really good Skill, so Attack Again is a big risk. Thankfully like most bosses he'll tend to prefer his ALL attacks if possible. Strictly speaking, the Turn X is optional. The stage will end if I beat the Space Revolutionary Army soldiers. However, you'll notice that the Turn X is equipped with an S-Adaptor. This powerful part raises all the terrain ranks of a mech to S Rank. I want it.


So he's going down.


: I don't know who you are but if you're looking for a fight, you've got one!
: That's the spirit I want! I hope you have the skill to satisfy me!
: Give it a rest! You're going to regret sticking your neck in here!





: What is he? It's like he's enjoying the battle!
: I am, but a woman would never understand the pounding in my heart!
: I would never want to!
: You only think that because you've never experienced the sorrow of war!
: Then show me! Show me what you think is sorrow!
: I won't! I'm only fighting so this doesn't get any worse!




I moved her up with Zeal, didn't have her cast Soul yet.


Now, she used Soul.


Wiping out the grunts starts Sara's Overskill.


Oh yes, it seems that Leele has learned her fourth Spirit Command, and it's a doozy of one.

* Wish(60) - Casts Luck, Gain, and Faith on an allied squad, and raises all pilots Will by 10.

Wish is another absoultely absurd Spirit Command. It's excellent for late stage boss kills. Heal up the damage, get Luck and Gain up, and top off the pilots Will!


Harry's going to be the one to shoot down Gym today, so he gets the Wish. Back to fighting him!

: Hhmhmhm...you may try to hide it, but you are a creature of battle, just like me...
: !
: Butt out and stay out! Toga doesn't enjoy battle like you do!
: Yeah! Toga's fighting to protect the peace on Earth!
: Ridiculous! Peace is another word for boredom and atrophy!
: I will change the world! I will bring upon it my own age of battle!




: My heart leaps at the chance to fell one greater than myself!
: What's the matter with you? Are you enjoying this battle?
: Indeed! Feel the intensity of the pounding in my breast!
: And feel the terror of the Turn X as well!






Harry's learned his final Spirit Command, Boost(20) in the meantime. Now blow Gym up!








: Hm…that was enjoyable.
: But nowhere near enough to satisfy me!



: You still want to fight, Gym Ghingnham?!
: No, I came here today merely to greet my Turn X’s sibling!
: The Turn X’s sibling… the Turn Type MS…
: We shall meet again, ZEUTH! Next time, I’ll face you earnestly!



: The hell is wrong with that Samurai guy?
: I’d say he’s more “lordly” than “Samurai”-esque.
: Regardless, his MS…its power felt limitless.
: Gym Ghingnham, commander of the Moon Race’s fleets… that man is our enemy…?


So, let's take an look at Athrun's new toy, and Neo.


Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
Athrun Zala - ZGMF-X19A ∞ Justice
Voiced by Akira Ishida (Japanese), Samuel Vincent (English)

Skills:
* SEED - At 130 Will the pilots attacks will do 1.1 times more damage. +20% to Hit, Evasion, and Critical Hit rates.
* Blocking - If the mech is equipped with a shield and/or sword, can use Sword Block and Shield Block. Sword Block will neutralize melee and missile attacks, while Shield Block will reduce damage taken. Activation rate is based off the skill stat.
* Support Attack (Level 4) - When Adjacent to an allied character before having attacked that turn, can perform a Support Attack after the ally attacks. The support attack will be slightly weaker then a regular attack.
* Focused Attack - The damage penalty for performing ALL attacks on multiple units is reduced.
* Will +(Evade) - Pilot will gain an additional point of will every time the pilot successfully evades an enemy attack.

Spirit Commands
* Focus(15) - Increases hit and evasion rates by 30%
* Sense (20) - Casts both "Strike" and "Alert" on the caster.
* Boost(20) The caster's squad gains a one use +4 to movement.
* Valor(40) - Multiplies the damage done by the units next attack by 2.

Squad Leader Bonus
Squad Movement +1, Damage Taken -10%


Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
Neo - ORB-01 Akatsuki
Voiced by Takehito Koyasu (Japanese), Trevor Devall (English)

Skills:
* Prevail (Level 7) - As the character takes damage, hit rate, evasion, defense, and critical rate will increase.
* Support Attack (Level 3) - When Adjacent to an allied character before having attacked that turn, can perform a Support Attack after the ally attacks. The support attack will be slightly weaker then a regular attack.
* Counter (Level 6) - On the enemy phase, will sometimes attack before the enemy. Activation rate is determined by the skill stat.
* Commander(Level 3) - Allies in an area (denoted by yellow squares when highlighting the character) have an increased hit and evasion rate. The size of the area and bonus increases by level.

Spirit Commands:
* Focus(15) - Increases hit and evasion rates by 30%
* Invincible(10) - The next attack that hits the caster will do 10 damage.
* Accel(20) - The caster's squad gains a one use +2 to movement.
* Valor(40) - Multiplies the damage done by the units next attack by 2.

Squad Leader Bonus
Hit and Evade Rate +10%

So, Athrun is still Athrun. With his Squad Leader Bonus and Boost he can get from one side of the map to the other in two turns. The ∞ Justice is a strong enough machine, essentally Savior+ in terms of utility. Plus, Athrun has SEED now, which is a great upgrade to his damage and survivablity. One minor pain is that I forgot that while, technically, the ∞ Justice has an ALL attack, it's a lot more of a pain to use. So I feel like I wasted some PP on Focused Attack for him. Neo is... well, he's kind of there really. He's a mid-tier real pilot that can work as a leader if you like him. Kind of unexciting. He's a bit less tanky then most reals, with Prevail and Invincible, and he does have commander. I'd be happier if the Akatsuki wasn't locked to him for no good reason.


Now go Athrun, now that you're not killstealing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3k3aTrhgFs


Blowing them up managed to teach Athrun his final spirit command, Faith(50). I guess a handy command if you're not using him as a leader and don't need to use his Valor.


Blowing up the remaining grunts is pretty trivial.



And Shinn doing this bit of mopup taught him his final Spirit Command; Soul(50). If you thought Shinn was doing tons of damage before, now he has this baby to raise it up.


Time to do some minor beating on Lancerow.






Banjou: still amazing.


Next, Jamil.

: Those moves... do I know this pilot?
: Could it be...?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH5Auabn-Oo


Now to actually, you know, beat him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzX171vJolo


Quattro learns his final level of Commander from it.





Lancerow’s surprised that an independent squad has so much power and calls for his men to retreat and reorganize.
With that, all enemies are gone but Talia doesn’t think the battle’s over just yet. She means Athrun and the Archangel but he says they’ve no intention of attacking us.
Of course, Rey’s not about to believe the words of a traitor that’s decided to cozy up with those guys and Lunamaria has a bone to pick with him after what happened to Meyrin. Athrun asks them to hold up because they don’t know the whole story but Rey figures he’s just going to try to confuse them.
This is interrupted when Arthur detects Zaft’s main troops approaching – strange that the Freeden and Iron Gear didn’t warn us that they were on the move.


The captain leading the large demands an explanation from Talia about what’s going on and she tells that we, as ZEUTH, made our own attack in order to capture Djibril…who managed to flee into space. This, essentially, means that our team obstructed Zaft’s operation and we can only apologize for it.
The captain had heard good things of our independent squad but if we simply act on a whim, ignoring the plan, then we’re the same as hoodlums! The Minerva and Argama’s captains are ordered to stand down immediately and answer to an inquiry into their actions.
Furthermore, Zaft demands the Archangel AND Orb’s government to unconditionally surrender due to their hostile actions against the Plants! Quattro realizes that, now that Logos is pretty much dead, Durandal has shifted to a more forceful approach.
Kei and Banjou try explaining that Orb has just went through a change in leadership and that the Sages’ supporters, the Seiran Family, are gone. Zaft will attack regardless of that?

The Captain doesn’t answer, as his ship’s crew detects another one of those world-wide transmissions being made and, this time, it’s coming from Orb.
Harry was expecting this and suggests we all leave: the world will shift once again very soon and, when it happens, we must maintain our freedom to do what’s right. Talia agrees with his suggestion and everyone bails.
Kira and the others are sticking around, though – things are in Cagalli and Lacus’ hands now.





: So, Rep. Athha’s mounting her counterattack through the media, huh?
: Still...she’d been doing all those crazy things with the Archangel until recently…
: Even with her showing up back there, I’m not really feeling much for her speech.
: Ya got that right. What the Archangel did was pretty much terrorism.
: You feel the same way, right, Shinn?
: …
: What’s up, Shinn? It’s that Rep. Athha chick. Didn’t you hate her A LOT?
: Not gonna say anything? “Idealistic Promises are the Athhas’ specialty!”…or something.
: You hear a lot of hollow words when you’re fighting as part of ZEUTH…
: But what’s important is whether someone’s words ARE hollow or if the person will actually make good on them…
: Shinn…
: So, I…I’ll at least listen to what she has to say. And if she’s not being sincere, then…
: What would you do then?
: I’d destroy Orb.
: Hey, guys! Looks like there’s a transmission coming from the Plants in answer to Rep. Athha!
: A public showdown over the media… Guess we’ll see Chairman Durandal’s political acumen at work.
: Put his transmission on another monitor. We’ll watch them both.




: …To everyone watching this transmission: I am Lacus Clyne.
: Figures he’d bring out Lacus.
: The Plants’ walking billboard, hm? The suddenly-returning Rep. Athha won’t stand a chance against her worldwide appeal.
: I’m sure you’ve already been informed but Orb is giving shelter to Lord Djibril, member of the Sage Council and leader of Blue Cosmos.
: Even now I cannot understand why a nation that once held a close relationship with the Plants would make such a choice.
: A member of the Sage Council and the leader of Blue Cosmos… he enveloped this already chaotic world in the fires of war, all for his personal gain. Why would Orb go so far as to fight to shield such a person?
: Due to Orb’s protection, we’ve been unable to capture him once more.
: Hold on…! Something’s wrong here, isn’t it?
: The ones who protected Djibril were the Seirans and only now did Rep. Athha return as Orb’s leader…
: They’re deliberately overlooking that fact. I dare say they’re trying to use this event to socially isolate Orb.
: There are many temptations in our world… we need to have more; we need to have better things…
: Granted, desire isn’t an intrinsically bad thing. But the Sage Council is different – it’s something that shouldn’t exist.
: They are an unnecessary evil in this world. And so we decided to wield righteous force in the name of defeating it.
: …
: She’s not really saying anything wrong there…
: Yes…that’s why we fought with Zaft’s support…
: They used some political savvy there, yes, but it’s an overall fair argument… What will you do now, Rep. Athha?




: Regardless of how beautifully spoken, I cannot bring myself to truly believe the Chairman’s message…
: Do not be fooled by her appearance.
: !
: I am Lacus Clyne.
: Ah…aah…
: I am aware that someone with the same face, voice and name as mine is working with Chairman Durandal.
: However...I am Siegel Clyne’s daughter, the one who fought alongside the Archangel in the previous war. And now, just like then, that ship and I both stand with Orb’s Rep. Athha.
: Aah…
: She and I are two different people. And I want to state, before anything else, that her beliefs are also different from mine.
: I…!
: I cannot endorse Chairman Durandal’s words or his actions.



: Um…I…I..--!

*Bzzt.*

: The Plants’ transmission stopped…!
: Guess they figured they were at too big a disadvantage to keep that going.
: Then that means the one in Orb is the real Lacus Clyne?!
: Considering how panicked Plants’s side acted, that seems to be it.
: That’s…no way…
: (It’s the girl I met in Port Tarkius…so she really was Lacus Clyne…)
: The combatants and non-combatants are blameless. The blame lies solely with those who instigate others to fight: the Sage Council and their collaborators…
: That’s what the Chairman said but is it really true…?
: Whether you’re a natural or a coordinator, whether you live on Earth or in Space…
: I ask that you do not fall into the trap of thinking that only the Sage Council is to blame.
: A trap…?
: …
: Of course, I do not mean to defend Mr. Djibril or support the current New Federation.
: But I do not trust Chairman Durandal, either. We must have a clearer picture of what world he truly desires.
: I, Diana Soreil of the Moon, stand in agreement.
: Queen Diana…?! No…that’s Mistress Kihel!
: Then they’re using an impostor of their own to fight back?
: No. The lady has been chosen by Her Majesty to act as an agent of her will.
: She is no impostor... indeed, it’s best to think that she is the Queen herself.
: Well, I guess that’s that if the captain of her guard’s saying it.
: Yes…
: I am aware of both sides’ goals and, thus, I’ve come to a conclusion.
: Plants, Federation, Moon Race… the peoples of all nations need to reaffirm the future they desire…
: So why not join hands with those who’d walk the same path – those with whom we can share the future's bounties together?
: We are not broadcasting this message as an act of opposition against the Plants.
: We’ve done so because we wish for each and every person - for the sake of this chaotic world’s future - to CHOOSE their own destination instead of accepting one given to them by others.


Shinn’s a bit blown away after the speech ends and while Jiron doesn’t know, as Shinn pondered, if those words were sincere or not, they certainly sounded nice.
Amuro and Kamille do know that the revelation that Durandal’s Lacus was a fake all long will certainly shock and confuse many people; when Katz asks, Shinn says they had no idea either.
Eiji and Kappei aren’t happy with the idea that Durandal was lying to everyone here – does this mean he only helped us because it was convenient for Zaft?
Maybe but Mizuki says it’s too soon to pass judgment on Durandal simply because of today’s broadcast and Rey agrees: doing so would just be falling for Cagalli’s pretty words.
Beltorchika also adds that, while the Lacus revelation WILL cost the guy some political capital, there are plenty of people who’d just chalk that up as a PR stunt and forget about it. Furthermore, still has quite a positive record, revealing the Sage Council and all.

That said, Loran can’t well trust a liar and that opinion is quite understandable but these are still politics we’re talking about. Of course, Tetsuya argues that Orb’s government is just as untrustworthy and there’s also the issues his side of ZEUTH had with the Archangel.


When Kei asks, however, Olson posits that we shouldn’t think our choices are limited to trust or don’t trust Durandal. After all, this is ZEUTH and we do what seems right: just because we can't fully trust the guy doesn't mean we’re forced to be his enemies right now.
At the end of the day, it wouldn’t do to make such a big decision without getting more information on this matter than just Cagalli’s message. This primarily concerns our Zaft and AEUG members who deal directly with Durandal and the latter at least will need to consult with the brass.


Kai Shiden comes in right then and while Amuro and he haven’t seen each other since their meeting in Augusta, they’ll need to catch up later because he brings huge news: Blex has been assassinated.
As everyone gasps, he also has a message to pass along to Quattro: it’s time for him to step up.


Over by the Gekko, Garrod is trying to get in touch with the Freeden but it’s not working. He’s got a bad feeling and Pala wonders if both ships were taken out by Zaft.
Thankfully, no, as Gidget manages to connect and we’re greeted by Carris from Fort Severn (remember him?). Garrod asks what he’s doing there but Carris has something to tell him first: both ships have been heavily damaged and Tifa has been kidnapped.
Garrod wants to know who and where they went but the attackers escaped when Carris arrived – surprise, it was the Frost Brothers. Carris is escorting the two ships to their rendezvous with us and will give more details there.
Garrod isn’t happy, figuring this all happened because he left Tifa’s side.