Part 28: Mega Update, Giant Sci-Fi Lasers, Maximum Anime

Update 22 - Mega Update, Giant Sci-Fi Lasers, Maximum Anime
Welcome back to this game about wacky life at a military school. No, wait, it was a dark and grim game about military schools... No, that's not right either.

Hell with it, this time we'll be doing the last mission for the month.


We've got two events I've saved up first, though. Can't let you go without your high tension high school hijinks after all.

Let's get to them, because this update won't be short.



--

Music: Spring in Lanseal


: Hm? Is that Brixy? And the headmaster...?




: Before I can propose any candidates, I really must ask for more infor--


: Er, Avan?
: And just what are YOU doing here? It's about time for class, isn't it?





You wouldn't know it, but this was actually an important plot point. It won't come up again for a long time, though.


~* ??? (Rebel HQ) - Daily Event *~

Music: Theme of the Rebels


This dude barely changes expression, and since I've always been consistent (I haven't), I'll just be labeling these dude as I usually do.



: That's Berthol, isn't it? In the east. Is that where you come from?

: Yes, sir! But... How do you know about a little town like Berthol?


: Broad seas of wheat, the townsfolk busy at work... A calm, beautiful town.



: Plus, the Archduchess's confession brought in a wave of Darcsen refugees.
: Yes, all of the border towns suffered a flood of Darcsens from the Empire.

And here I was, hoping this might be a nice, wholesome event.

Thanks game.


: House Randgriz plots to turn Gallia into a nation of Darcsens!

: That's not... We can't let that happen!


: I'm ready to risk my life for the cause, sir!




--

Damn it, game, you could've worked towards having villains better than "Rah, ethnic cleansing, rah!"

...Eh, why do I even bother caring at this point? Let's just get to the main story then.


~* Classroom - Story Event *~

Music: Days With Classmates


: Me?
: What did you do this time?


He slams the desk as he says this.


: What?
: Search me. I guess we'll know when we get there.



Music - Briefing



: Knock knock, teach.


: A Gallian government dignitary is visiting the south.
: We've recieved a request for an escort squad.
: We'll be guarding a VIP?
: That's right. The task has fallen to Class G.


: Class G still needs a lot of training. I'm worried this mission is above us.
: Perhaps so. If your luck is bad, you may lose a few people out there.
: But such is war.
: It's hardly out of place for a soldier to die in the line of duty, hm?
: That is so, but, sir...


: The moment you all walked onto campus, you became Gallian soldiers.
: Cast away any illusions of comfot now. There are no guarantees to comfort you.
: Um...
: Your task is to succeed at this mission at any cost.


: Okay, we're on it! Class G's gonna see this through, I promise!




~* Briefing Room - Pre-battle Event *~


: Class G will escort them via armored vehicle to their destination.


: A tank's coming? Makes things pretty easy for us, doesn't it?






Music: Theme of the Rebels



: Armed escort confirmed! We believe they're from Lanseal, sir!


: I'd expected more than just children from the tone of Father's orders.
: Dirk! Take your men and secure the target!
: Put any who get in your way to those azure flames!
: ...Understood.




Music: The Rebel's Assault
This is the closest I could find.





















Music: Defense Battle



: If a human target were hit by that beam attack, there'd be nothing left.




--

So that happened. If you're thinking we're royally screwed, then you'd be right.


This mission's not so bad with promoted units, especially snipers. Unfortunately our only promoted unit is Marion, and its not really enough.


I'm doing it anyways to show you how hard it is without them. It's still possible to make an A-rank, but it's not going to be clean.


Those new names on the enemies list is why this map is hard. V2's are basically Dirk, but with somewhat less defense and power. The Supply Vehicle is something special, and I'll cover that when we get to one.

The map is also foggy, causing a map-wide reduction in accuracy. It hurts you way more than it will the enemy.


It took me a few retries to get this right, so I'm only showing the succesful run. The APC starts here, at Old Castle. If you're going for A rank, you don't need to care about deploying really anyone here. I unfortunately did. You'll see why it's a bad idea.

This one's by no means perfect and makes lots of mistakes, but let's get to it already.



It's worth noting that the armored car we get is significantly stronger than the usual Escort APC. It still sucks at combat, but it'll be fine as long as it doesn't take a big laser.



This is why you don't place any personnel units here: Dirk is pointed right at you. The best plan is to immediately haul ass and get out of here. Since the APC can't capture bases, someone's either going to have to run for it (bad idea) or you'll need to cap it from the other side.


I'm capping the base from the other side. First, I send in Noel to handle this Supply Vehicle.



These things are poorly named if you ask me, but I guess I understand what they were going for with the name.

Supply Vehicles provide extra power to the V2s and Dirk (if present) in the current area, causing a massive increase in defense, and a heavy increase in offense.



They are still vulnerable to lances though.


I leave Noel on the cliffside to potentially fire at this trooper later.



This is just a straight run forward to this base. It's entirely undefended. Chloe's out of AP, so I send her back.


The V2 on that hillside will just stay there, but I'm going to try and make it past him anyways. Helmut's up.


Ow. This was the first shot. This is why I was making a big deal about the Supply Vehicles- these guys hit like trains even without them.


Helmut gets lucky and only takes 2 shots. Unfortunately, I'll have to do it again just up ahead.


Don't expect to kill these guys very easily. They also retaliate, so keep that in mind.



Noel makes an incredibly risky shot, clearing the way for Helmut.




He limps his way to the flag. Good job, dude. None of the other scouts would've made that.


That opens up the last map, but I don't have enough to properly defend it. I accidentally sent Helmut back, so I'm probably going to lose the base again anyways.


My last action for the round is to get the APC the hell out of there. The V2s also have that giant laser attack you saw in the cutscene, and it tears through vehicles.


This thing has incredibly high defense, but keep in mind that was only two shots from Dirk. He still hits hard, and especially hard at close range.


Escort APC's automatically transfer to the next zone, so I'm mostly safe for now. I'm not looking forward to taking a lance shot, but I have to do it.


First movement the enemy gets, they move Dirk, because of course they do.


Avan only survives because two shots whiff past him. The others were dead on. He's left with 37 HP.




Here's the big laser I was talking about. The V2s usually only use it at long range.


Avan continues his dodging spree.


Which is promptly ended by a second lance shot.


Oops. This is why I said to not deploy any units on this map.


As expected, they re-capped the base Helmut nearly died for.


The lancer miraculously manages to whiff his lance shot.


My turn again. I send Coleen to try her hand at taking one of these V2's down.




It's...not great. These were counted as headshots by the way. I didn't have to take this guy out, but I really need to get another scout down there. Not leaving Helmut in the area was a serious mistake.

_{The third screenshot is after the second attack. Somehow I missed it.}


Coleen's left stranded on the hill, and for some reason I waste AP moving Alexis, then retreating him.


Then, instead of a scout, I send in Marion for some reason. I guess I wasn't very sure if a scout would survive the second V2.


My last CP leaves the APC hiding under the cliffside.



Dirk moves up and steals the base I just moved the APC from.


They don't do anything else but spawn Fire Emblem style reinforcements off the side of the map at said base.


Now that it's my turn again, I rush the APC to this flag. With the Supply Vehicle still gone (yes, they respawn), this guy can't do too much damage to the APC.




Marion barely manages to get the base, which shows that it was a good idea to use her instead of Chloe.


Unfortunately, I wasted 2 CP by moving the APC here first. I assumed that I would be able to send it through like I'd recall a unit, but no, you have to have to do it in action mode.

This game really sucks sometimes.


The deadly pop star kindly gives her regards to the lancer that stole this base back.



Then I have her grab another base. It was completely undefended, so hopefully it should distract Dirk for a while.


I then set Mischlitt to hold the base. She still takes 6 damage, even through the shield. The trick to these guys is to have fencers, as their improved defense makes them nearly immune to the lasers even without the shield. Their damage to V2s isn't anything to snub your nose at either.


With Noel standing near our home base, but not close enough for a free recall, and Coleen left on that cliffside, it's left to reserve choice Rene to clear this Supply Vehicle.



: ...And it's good!

Her lines are all soccer based. That being done, I hide her in the grass, hoping the V2s don't start moving and come for her.


There is never enough CP.


Dirk re-caps the base he was at before. If you're wondering why I'm doing this, it's that he will activate a Withdraw order, and place himself in a new map if you give him time to. However, he prioritizes capturing bases first and will always do that before he moves on.

Like every boss, he can act twice, but he's not likely to.


In the meantime, a V2 lands one shot on Mischlitt and it hurts.


A jerk shocktrooper moves up and shoots Coleen.

Sorry about that, Coleen, but I blame the game for not letting me dismiss the APC from the map.


After a few enemy movements, it's my turn again. I can Hospitalize her for 2 CP, and I'd really like to say I did.

...I didn't, though. I opted to finish the mission first, since doing that will auto-recover any fallen units.


ughhhh, you suck, game




Well, there goes my CP.


Of course they have one standing right there.

I can't just rush my APC to the end because I have too little AP because it wouldn't let me withdraw the APC from the map.


Knowing I don't have enough to finish the round right here and now, I retreat Anisette and then deploy her back at the nearest base to the lancer.



He's not very hard to take down.


With my last action this round, I put Mischlitt back on the base. Spawning the APC knocked her away for whatever reason.

There ends my turn.


: "Shoot to kill!"

The enemy opens with this. As I said before, I was delaying him from doing this. I should be in the clear now.


Well, mostly clear. This basically means I've got one turn before he wrecks everything.


That's fine. He's too late anyhow.


I only needed one more full turn of movement to make it here.


You said it.


Despite the irritating factors of that mission, it has a really kind turn requirement for A-rank.


Still basically useless.


Wha-

Anisette, what the hell are you going to do with 4 certificates? You only ever need one, at best, two at worst!

Eh, whatever. It kinda sucks this is when they give you some certificates for once, especially if you farmed them before coming here.

--



: Avan, we can't keep them at bay for much longer!
: Rrgh! Looks like we didn't get far enough!



: We're here for raw combat data this time. Kill them however you please.

Yep, this is happening.




Music: Theme of Valkyria





...You're not hallucinating. This is actually a thing. The game has reached peak anime.












Have some nightmare fuel while you're at it.


I can't do much for the video quality, that's just how it was compressed.




Also, yes, super loli here has a whip-spear.








Will Super Loli beat Captain Edge? Tune in next time to for the culmination of the final final battle!




: That's enough. All troops, fall back!





I-I just...just no.

Why?



Music: None


: She completely outclassed them. What was she?



: Our destination is just ahead. You all did well. We'll take it from here.
: Yes, sir! You be careful out there!






Music: Faint Youth

: Your Highness, you mustn't leave the vehicle!

: Allow me to thank the brave souls who fought to keep me safe.
: Y-you're... Archduchess Cordelia?! No way! Why... How?!
: Archduchess Cordelia? Wait, THAT Cordelia?! The head honcho of Gallia?
: Avan! Watch your mouth, you're in the presence of royalty.
: Please, be at ease. I want to thank you all.


: I heard a village in this region was leveled by a rebel attack not long ago.
: As Gallia's ruler, I must know the extent of the harm if I am to repair it.


Exactly my thoughts.


: I pray they are enough to stem the prejudice and hatred poisoning Gallia.
: I don't know one thing about running a country...
: But I'm sure folks'll see how much you care about the people hit by the war.


: Oh, one more thing. I brought these to share with the villagers.
: If you would like some though, it would please me to share them.


: Cinnamon rolls. They're a favorite of mine.

This game and it's bread, I swear. It's obsessed with it.



*She presumably gets back in and the APC is heard driving off.*


: We've got to work extra hard not let her down!

I mean it's a nice gesture, but can't she do a bit better than some cinanamon rolls? Some funds? Maybe some help repairing?


: Bathed in blue light, bearing lance and shield. That inhuman strength...
: It was as if she'd walked right out of the legends of the old Valkyrur.
: I've heard the fairy tales but I didn't think they were THAT strong. Man...



--


Cripes, that's that update done with. Also, there goes my lovely update buffer.

I've gotta say, I planned on sending this savefile to the recyling bin and never having to look at this travesty of a game anymore. I'd already started a different, more fun LP, but damn, I can't bring myself to do that. Not now at least, not with as much demand that's been shown for me to continue.

I'll finish this accursed thing in one way or the other, out of spite for it if necessary. Unfortunately, I don't have full time to work on this anymore (well, I do, but I have other projects I really should get to working on,) so something needs to happen to cut these updates a bit.

Regardless, the update schedule's going to need to be cut way back. I really don't need to dedicate every living hour of my life to this mediocre entertainment software, which would happen if I didn't slow these updates down. How far they get pushed back isn't yet determined.

What I need from you, readers, is tell me how you'd like me to continue this LP.

Should I cut out character/ daily events entirely?

Should I cut out most, if not all combat, like this LP did from the start?
Do you want me to just power through only the main story events?

Long story short, this thing is staying alive, so what do you want to see most and what would you not care about if it was removed from the LP?


If you have any particular questions about anything regarding the LP, you can ask here or send me a private message.

_{Apologies go to any lurkers who have an opinion on the subject and can't reply.}

Next Update: You Can Stand Me Up At the Gates Of Anime