Part 56: Chapter #15: The Royal ATAC

I leave this thread alone for one day and it falls all the way to the fourth page. Well, might as well keep this trainwreck a-rolling

Chapter #15: The Royal ATAC

Briefing



: (It's time to go outside and show off this beautiful ATAC!)

Interview

: Bastion, did you know today is my birthday? You still have time to buy me a present!
: The Princess caught me telling a bad joke, and now she won't speak to me. Why must she be so cruel?!
: Say something, you did? Hear it, I could not! Going deaf, I am!!
: I was taught that a ninja needs to more swiftly and quietly, like the wind itself. Isn't that profound?
No, it is not. Also, the wind tends not to be swift and quiet at the same time.
: Bastion, I'm just going to, like come out and ask you...do you like Sadira, or do you like me?

Mission



: It's very impressive, Bastion--and very, very white!
: Indeed it is, Sadira. I'm not looking forward to keeping it clean between battles. What concerns me more is that I don't sense anything especially...powerful about it.
: I'm totally surprised you were able to find it so quickly, Bastion! Wasn't it hidden or something?
: Who cares, Claire? What's important is that we found it, and that Bastion can operate it! Let's head for Norze Castle, Bastion. We can rest for a while, then decide what to do next.



Faulkner, you're the greatest!



: Like, whatEVER!
: Faulkner!
: And my brother, Duyere?!



Incidentally, if you're playing the Empire Branch, Emperor Degalle never appears in the game. He may be the laziest evil emperor in video game history.

: What?!
: Emperor Degalle was certainly not young, but also not in poor health! Was it an accident, Duyere?
: No, Franco, it was an assassination. Someone crept into his bedchamber and stabbed him to death.
: How horrible! Who would do such a thing to Father?
: I was hoping you might be able to answer that question, Sadira.
: What? I don't understand, Duyere.
: I see. You are feigning ignorance, just as Faulkner predicted you would. Let me make it clear for you, then. You are the one who orchestrated our father's murder, Sadira. You conspired to kill him.
Hey, if this were any other jrpg, we'd be getting medals for killing the emperor!
: Brother!! You are obviously overcome with grief, or you would realize what a ridiculous accusation that is!
: Really, Sadira? You deny your intent to kill Father and me, then claim the throne of the Empire!
: I don't want the throne, brother, and I've told you that many times! Don't you remember?
: We captured the assassin, Sadira, and he told us everything! Spare me your litany of lies! You are under arrest for mutiny and murder, Sadira! Come with us now, or we will take you by force!
: You're making an enormous mistake! The assassin was lying to you! I am entirely innocent!
: Is that so, Sadira? Then why did you rescue the Prince of the Kingdom, and help him find the Ultragunner? Because you and he have scheduled to conquer the Continent under the flag of the Pharastia Kingdom!
: You stupid freak! Don't you understand? Bastion and I want to end the war, not to wage one!
: Sadira, there is only one way to convince me of your innocence. Allow us to arrest Bastion and take the Ultragunner from him!
I'm not quite sure how that will prove that Sadira didn't kill Emperor Degalle, but fine.



: Let them take me, Sadira.
: Bastion! No!
: Sadira's right, Bastion! You'd be totally stupid to let them take the Ultragunner! Especially 'cause they want to use it!
: What do you mean?
: Claire is correct. Prince Duyere is being manipulated by someone who wants the Ultragunner. Someone who could arrange for the Emperor to be killed. Someone who could fill Duyere's head with lies.
: And who would have that kind of influence, Franco?
: Faulkner.
: Of course!
Good work, team, we figured out who was leading the conspiracy against us! It would have been better had that happened before Faulkner killed Sadira's father and effectively taken over the Empire, but, well, you can't have everything.
: If we surrender, Princess, we will be thrown into prison and executed shortly thereafter. And if we fight Faulkner and Duyere, we will be charged with additional crimes against the Empire.
: It is a no-win situation. What should we do now?!
: I say we fight, Sadira. We'll break through these troops and find a way to prove Faulkner's guilt. I will never surrender, Sadira. It is without honor.
: Bastion...
: I'm with Bastion. Let's fight!
: I agree. We must fight, Princess.
: There is no try, only do.
Oh, come on! It's bad enough to shoehorn in a Star Wars quote, but that doesn't even make any fucking sense. No one brought up trying to beat the Imperial Army, we were talking about fighting them! I mean, if you're going to go down that road, and I don't think you should, at least set it up properly.
: I hate the thought, and the phrasing's a little queer, but the truth of that statement is clear. Alright. We will fight.
: What's the matter, Sadira? Are you afraid to admit that everything I've said about you is correct?
: No, brother! You're still wrong! But you won't listen to me. Faulkner has clouded your mind with his lies. I'm going to prove my innocence to you, my brother, but I must remain free for that to happen.
: You're going to fight us, Sadira? You're ready to cross swords with your own soldiers?!
: This is a tragic day, Prince Duyere. You must be grieving over the awful choice you are forced to make.
: Indeed, Faulkner. The citizens of the Empire would consider me weak if I do not kill them here and now. As the new Emperor, I must show strength and courage in the face of this enormous tragedy.
: It is a courageous decision indeed, Prince Duyere. I applaud you. Capture the traitors, my soldiers! Kill them if they resist!
: I think the conversation is over.
: Here they come!



We've fought on this map before  and we'll fight here again , two bridges, one of which will be assaulted by many more soldiers than the other. This deployment is either right or wrong depending on which ending you're angling towards.



So, I'm going to balance the sides out a bit, because I'd like to keep the pretense that I don't have separate saves queued up for when you guys make your choice.



This isn't a particularly long mission, as there aren't many Imperials, and, even if there were, we have an ideal defensive position. After a while, Duyere and Faulkner will make their move.



I believe that they'll both flee is either is damaged below half-health, still, Sadira's power is now at an acceptably high level so that it's no longer a concern. Killing Duyere gets you more money, killing Faulkner gets you more experience.

: Duyere! Why won't you realize that Faulkner is manipulating you?!
: Sadira, why won't you surrender? You're just making this harder for both of us! Besides, it's YOU who's being used! Bastion has shamelessly exploited your affection for him!
: My feelings for Bastion have nothing to do with ANY of this, Duyere!
And the Spiral Dive hits...
: Aargh! NO!!



: Your Highness! (Duyere, you fool! Now I have to rescue you and retreat!)

: They're gone...for now. (Sadira must be torn apart inside. What a horrible situation!)



: It was my pleasure, Claire, although I found it even more enjoyable to kick the Empire's backside.
: I didn't find anything enjoyable about it at all...
: Your spirits, high you must keep them, Princess! Persist and you shall prove your innocence and Faulkner's guilt! Yes.
: I'm not worried about that as much as what will happen to my brother.
Well, he'll probably show up again as an enemy and then I'll beat him to death. No worries.
: So, like, it's probably a bad idea for us to stay in Imperial territory. I think our new base of operations should be my dad's castle!
: That's a wonderful idea, Claire. Thank you.
: Let's go!
Later...
: So watch out for falling rocks, okay? These mountains are all treacherous and stuff.
: I have a bad feeling about this...
Grrr....
: Princess! There's an ATAC dead ahead! Check your scanners!
: What perfect timing.

Next Time: I make through an entire update in under twelve parsecs!