The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC Part #59 - Be careful. This won't be a normal fight.

Part 59: Be careful. This won't be a normal fight.

-Under the Moonlight-

Hmm...

Your men have been maintaining it since its capture, then?
Guard Captain: Haha, well, we've used it for flight practice a number of times. Even flew it myself a few times.

I'm curious. As a man with experience, how would you say it handles?
Guard Captain: Amazingly, I'd say. Its speed and agility are superior to even our military patrol ships. It's one of the high-speed classes made by the Reinford Company some years back, right? That was a bit of a surprise--Er, begging your pardon, Major. I always tend to think of airships as a Liberlian thing, you know.

None taken. And yes, it's 'ours,' but the armor is frighteningly thin compared to your ships, and it carries few weapons. At the same time, however, it's far too expensive and non-expendable to use as a scout vessel. Airships of this type frankly have little military value.
Guard Captain: Huh...I see. Well, it's a good ship, though. Feels like a waste.

In Erebonia, ships of this type are really little more than toys of the nobility and newly wealthy. I'm sure those 'bandits' obtained it in a similar fashion.
Guard Captain: Right, they're the family of Baron Capua, correct?

FORMER baron, Captain. With the loss of their land, the family's been stripped of the title, as well. In fact, the creditor who issued the original title loan on this airship has requested we return it to them.
Guard Captain: I see...Sounds like a bit of a mess.

Regardless. The fact of the matter is, former Imperial nobility have caused Liberl a great deal of hardship. You have my apologies.
Guard Captain: Haha, don't worry, it wasn't that big a problem. So when would you like to take it?

In a few days, at the earliest. I would imagine you're busy with a few things as well.
Guard Captain: Hah! No, it's nothing. Dregs of the old Intelligence Division is all. It's really just the final thrashings of a dying beast. We'll have them all in stocks before the month's out, mark my words.
Young Woman's Voice: Wooow, it's way different from the last time I was here!

I didn't know it was still here...Neat!

Ahhh, it's so nice. Very cutely lit by the night sky and everything!

Soldier: Uh, 'scuse me, missy! You mind getting permission before snapping pictures?

Ooooooh!

Hee, it's so magical! And cute! Okay, say cheeeese! ♥

Soldier: LISTEN to me, woman!

Guard Captain: Ah, her? Liberl News photographer, if I remember right. She visited--more like pushed her way in, really--to write an article on the training ground we're running. She had an appointment earlier...Didn't think she'd be around, uh, this late.

Hm.

Whooooooooa!

And you're reeeally tall, too! Hey, hey, what squad are you a member of?

Erm, no, I'm--

Oops. I forgot to introduce myself, sorry! I'm Dorothy! Dorothy Hyatt! I'm a camerawoman for the Liberl News! I'm here to get a lotta pictures of the new training grounds for a special edition.

...I'm Mueller of the Erebonian Imperial military, here on a diplomatic mission on behalf of my country.

No way! Erebonian army man?!

Woooow, I've never seen one of YOU guys before! I was living in Grancel during the war, you see.

Is that...so?

Guard Captain: What is it, soldier?
Soldier: Communication from headquarters, sir. There's been a change in the movements of the Intelligence remnants.

Private Gutte: Isn't it time to change watch YET?
Private Rakel: Who the hell'd think a level two alert would be this boring, eh? Wish that girl would come back this way, at least.
Private Gutte: What, that chick with the glasses? You got weird tastes, man.
Private Rakel: Heeey, she's, uh, unique, sure. But did you see her? She's got that 'cute nerd' thing goin' on! I'm just sayin', I wouldn't mind gettin' to know her, y'know?
Private Gutte: Hah, well, go indulge her camera fetish once you're on break. Still...what the hell are those Intel leftovers even thinking? Hiding out in the Ravennue mine like a buncha monsters? The hell, man.
Private Rakel: Who knows, with those guys. The minds of crazy 'elites' like them? Ain't like yours or mine, my friend.
Guard Captain: Good work, you two.

Private Rakel: Captain! All's clear, sir.
Guard Captain: Right, good. Listen up. The remnants of the Intelligence Division showed up in Grancel. All members, including former Captain Amalthea, are in custody.
Private Gutte: For serious, sir?!
Private Rakel: We're standing down from alert, then, sir?
Guard Captain: About that. What they're calling a...'giant flying orbal puppet' showed up in the capital. We're currently searching for its whereabouts.
Private Gutte: A...flying...puppet? Like a doll?
Private Rakel: You sure HQ isn't...um...pulling your leg, sir?
Guard Captain: Hell if I know, private. Regardless, we're to maintain alert status until dawn. Sorry, gentlemen, but I need you to remain at your posts.
Private Gutte: Ugh...Yes, sir.
Private Rakel: Understood, sir.

Private Gutte: A 'giant flying puppet'? What, someone launch a huge toy out of a cannon or something?
Private Rakel: Ah, who knows. You heard the captain, though. Intel guys are done and dusted. We aren't gonna get attacked out here. All we gotta do is stand around until we get relieved.
Private Gutte: Yeah.

_*snap*

Private Gutte: Huh?
Private Rakel: What's up?
Private Gutte: Thought I heard...

-Silence-

Man's Voice: Heh, not bad, Joshua.

Yeah, that was...kinda cool!

It was nothing. Knocking out inattentive guards like this is trivial.

Ah, yeah, I bet. Geez, can't you take a compliment at least once?

Are you sure the Bobcat's here, though, lad? I would've thought they'd move it to that fort across the lake.

All the information I have says it's here. They're even using it for flight training, so it should be in working order.

Heh, well, that suits us just fine. We'll need the Bobcat's ignition key to start it up, though. Got a plan for getting that?

I suspect the guard captain we saw has it. They're probably keeping it until they hand it over to the Imperial Army along with the ship.

In other words, we need to crack some skulls to get it back!

Let's avoid killing anyone if we can. I'd rather not make more of an enemy out of the Royal Army than absolutely necessary. We should hide and avoid confrontation with any patrolling guards.

Boy, you sure make it sound simple.

Not that I'll complain about not killing anyone, though!

Hahah. Naturally. The Capua family will never resort to murder on my watch!

True, but...so much for our great run of villainy, huh? Maybe that guy was right.

...Heh-heh.

Hey, what's so funny?

It's nothing...We've no time. Let's begin.

O-Okay...

Finally.

All right. Let's do this!

-Recapture-

Joshua will find the villains who stole his butt, and he will make them pay.

Huh. Seems they're doing the same. Even put a phone in here.

And they left it unguarded. Talk about careless.

Looks like this is the guard captain's room. If we wait in ambush here...

They're already back.

We'll hit them when they come in.

Er.

Soldier: Huh?

...Too late.

The Sky Bandits are non-controllable NPCs here. Josette will plink away with her peashooter...

...Kyle pulls out grenades, but never remembers to throw them...

...and Don makes the most of his giant orbal cannon, by waddling up to people and conking them with it.

They're mainly useful as warm bodies to distract the enemy and soak up attacks. Fortunately that's all Joshua really needs. What's nice is that the Capuas will fully heal after every fight, even if they get KO'd. You can just leave them to do their thing.

quote:

Received Bobcat Ignition Key.

Hah, well, that was easy!

Helluva takedown, though...

Hey, Joshua? Were you going easy on us the last time we fought?

Hm? What do you mean?

I MEAN that you're crazily, superhumanly strong and fast! You aren't even the same person you were when we fought back then!

I wasn't holding back. Let's just say my 'switch' hadn't been flipped.

Your what now?

I'll spare you the details. It's enough to say that with that switch flipped, I am utterly focused on logical analysis and action which will further my goals. That's the only difference.

Okay...I, uh, think I get it. Well...not really.

The power used is the same...But now you're using it in a more effective manner. That it?

That's one way to think of it, yes.

Heh, well, either way, you're quite the beast now, lad. I think you could even cross swords with that special ops lieutenant at this point.

Ah, right, that Lorence guy. He was a society agent, wasn't he?

No. I...couldn't defeat him. My training and abilities are specialized in covert operations and guerrilla warfare. In a one-on-one fight...the Bladelord would defeat me in moments.

The 'Bladelord'...?

You mean that Lorence guy, right?

Yes.

As long as he is there, I cannot fight the society head on. I can only live up to my namesake, the Black Fang...All I can do is bite at them from the darkness.

Joshua...

Mmmm...

That's, uh...kind of heavy? Ah, doesn't cover half of it, really...

We don't have time for this.

Come. We need to move.

Other Soldier: Time to make my way over there.

(This is bad.)

(Kyle. Hand me one of those S2 bombs I gave you. Quickly.)

(Uh, sure...)

An S2 sleeping gas bomb, huh?

That took effect far faster than any gas bomb I know of. You blend it yourself?

I did.

The recipe's a trade secret, though.

Hmph.

Whatever, eh? Let's keep moving.

The mountain base is mostly empty, but some of the side rooms will have Teara Balms, Curia Balms, or EP Charges to loot.

There are vermin scurrying around, too.

This interlude is not shy with the big turn bonuses, which helps the Capuas stay useful.

I'm moved to teeeears. ♥
Soldier: Heh! Hearin' you say that makes the work worth it, miss. How about you, sir? Does it rate compared to Erebonian cooking?

Oh, I'd rather say so, yes. It's like manna from heaven, compared to the slop they feed us in the Imperial military.
Soldier: Really? What kind of food does the Erebonian army prepare? If you, uh, can tell me, sir.

Hmm. Let's see...

Corned beef...that tastes of nothing but salt. Beans...so overcooked they have no texture. And bread that is more than a bit stale.

You'll always find those three, at least.
Soldier: Ugh! I see what you mean, then.

Wow, that's awful! Is that why you guys attack people so often? Because your food is yucky?

That's...
Soldier: Ah, haha! C'mon, missy, don't be cruel.

Well, I'd certainly like to believe we're not that kind of country.

Still, feeding a large army takes a great deal of food, and serving low-quality food allows it to be done more cheaply. That does factor into why the meals served in our military are...lacking, I imagine.

Wow...Sucks to be you guys...
Soldier: Yeah. I'm glad things aren't like that over here.

Hmm? (Joshua, what's up?)

(Oh...The people within are eating. They probably won't be getting up for a while, so let's just sneak past.)

(Got it.)

(Let's keep moving.)

Looks like they kept it fixed up, at least!

Just what you'd expect from the Liberlian Royal Army. They know how to treat an airship, if nothing else.

I know this is a happy reunion, but we're very short on time.

We have the ignition key. Let's get in the air.

Right, right. Give me just a second here...

Hmph. Let us enjoy the moment a LITTLE.

All righty! All aboard!
Voice: Over there!

Dammit, they found us!
Soldier: The Sky Bandits!
Other Soldier: How'd they--?!
Other Other Soldier: They must be the ones who knocked out the captain! GET THEM!

No choice, then.

Naptime, suckers!

Finish this fight as close to 200 CP as you can. Try not to use all your EP, either.

Isn't that right, Satan?

Good man.

That won't be the last of them.

I'll hold them here. Get the Bobcat ready for launch.

Right!

We'll be just a minute!

My brothers can get the Bobcat in the air just fine. I'm gonna stay here and back you up.

But...

Haha! No buts! You know, you try acting all cool, but you're kinda near-sighted.

Hm?

Despite the whole 'blargh emotional distance, you are my chess pieces' thing, you've been really helpin' us out. A lot. Do you really think I--we--are just gonna dump you here and run at this point?

Well...I do think I'm a fairly good judge of character. Especially with someone who wears their heart on their sleeve, like a certain bandit I know.

Hey, who wears their heart on their sleeve? I could say the same about you, buster!
Man's Voice: Hm. I thought it was a bit noisy in here.

-Silence-

The Capua Sky Bandits...What perfect timing you have. And HE'S with you, no less.

...You remembered me.

What the--?! Oh, CRAP, what's an Erebonian army guy doing here?! And...Wait a second, you know him?!

We've met...briefly. You're here to collect the ship prior to the pact signing, I suspect.

Exactly.

To be perfectly frank, I could not care less if you take that ship and fly it to the moon. Now that I am here, however...I cannot simply let you pass.

-The Fate of the Fairies-

Oh, man...

Be careful. This won't be a normal fight.

I'd say that's due more to you, Joshua. Regardless...

On your guard!

If you try to fight Mueller the way you've fought most everything else so far, he will demolish you. But there's a trick.

Outside of a few things like Estelle's Morale and Zane's Distend, buffs and debuffs have never been much use up until now. Every status effect in Trails in the Sky lasts a fixed amount of time, but for some sick, depraved reason, this time is not measured in turns. Instead they're all set to some fixed integer, with every combat turn taking a variable integer of time depending on characters' SPD stats. SPD levels will rise across the board as you progress, meaning buffs and debuffs will get better and better. Joshua and Mueller are fast enough for them to finally be useful.

You do still need an opening for Joshua to cast uninterrupted...

...because Mueller likes to be a little fucking brat.

A for effort, Josette.

With Clock Up EX and Clock Down both in effect, Joshua can take two or three turns for every one Mueller takes. This is how you even the odds.

Then you just True Dual Strike the hell out of him.

And, you know, use a Balm if you think you need to.

The nice thing about Dual Strike, aside from the damage, is that Joshua gains CP for both hits. The effective cost is only 10 or 12.

Make sure you keep those Clock arts up. They really are vital.