Part 58: Chapter #17: Sharking Attack!

Chapter #17: Sharking Attack!

But first, a look at our ATACs



Bastion

Someday, I will find an even mightier ATAC than the Ultragunner to use...someday soon.



Sadira

In about two missions, I'm going to wish I had invested a bit more in her DEF



Franco

He'll have Wind Strike soon, although I'm not sure its worth it for Franco.



Halak

Care not about Halak, I do! Find character speech of pattern irritating most I!



Cecilia

If you plan on doing Cecilia's ending, I would invest in as much AGI as you can for reasons that will become clear eventually.



Claire

Well, at least I remembered to put her in the Alba.

Briefing



: This is where we stand, and this is where they fall! Let's go!

Interview



By popular demand, Bastion loves Cecilia. I only hope that once you see the consequences of your choices, that you don't blame yourselves overmuch...how could you have known.
: Uh, Bastion, you wouldn't tell Claire all the nasty things I said about her, would you?
: Prince Bastion, I sense a growing bond between you and the Princess. This pleases me greatly.
Guess again, comrade.
: Have you only a friendship with the girl named Milea? Or think of her as more than that, do you?
Um...wrong branch, Halak?
: This war will be over soon, Bastion. One way...or another.
Excellent choice, lads!
: Like, here's a word of advice from me to you, Bastion...Sadira is a lot more fun when she's drunk!

Mission



: Commander Zakov! You are ordered by the Imperial Princess to return to the Empire immediately! You are furthermore to cease and desist using the Sharking ATAC, the use of which I have forbidden!
: First, I do not take orders from traitors! Second, dhe Sharkings are dhe Empire's greatest strength! It is a new age in dhe Imperial Army, Princess Sadira, and it is vonderful to vitness! Ve are now dhe Army uff Darkness! Feared by ewery man, voman, und chilt on dhe Continent!
: You will be punished, Zakov.
: Oh, vill I, traitor? I tink not!
: You are a bloodthirsty animal, Commander Zakov! A rabid dog I shall put out of its misery!
: You vill suffer for your insults, traitorous vench! You vill SUFFER!

So, you're six against five Sharkings. But, what if I told you that I could get through this level with those five Sharkings making but a single attack?



As is tradition, the Sharkings come at you two-by-two. But, as I explained, you can immobilize four ATACs at a time. So, as long as you kill one Sharking by the time Zakov starts moving, you can lock them all down.

Oh, some of your characters say things when they hit Sharkings for the first time.
: (I totally understand why Sadira wanted to ban these things! They, like, HURT!)
This quote will fire whether or not the Sharkings responds with an attack. In fact, Claire is never even targeted by a Sharking attack throughout this whole mission.
: (These Sharkings are incredibly strong!)



One Sharking is dead, only four remain, they aren't so fast that they'll have more turns that me, and so as long as I can keep my FP down, the mission is basically over.



The enemy can't do anything but sit there and slowly die.

: You have brought great shame to my father's Empire, Zakov, and I despise you for it!
: Your insulting vords only make me stronger, little girl!
Perhaps consecutive Spiral Dives shall temper your ardor, friend Zakov!



Defeated dhe Sharking? No. I massacred five Sharkings.



: I don't see any more ATACs on my scanners. We've defeated them all! Now I understand why the Kingdom was forced to retreat. An army of Sharkings would be unstoppable. We have to defeat Faulkner before he produces any more of these...and before he conquers the Continent!



: For the time being, Duke Logan, but they'll be back, and they'll attack in greater numbers. We need to cut off their head to spite their face, if you will.
Well, I'm always saying that you have to cut off these sort of problems at the nose. You've just got to nip these situations in stem, or you'll be opening up an entire zip-lock bag of worms.
: You mean, like, we have to attack the Empire and kill Faulkner.
: Exactly. The only other option is to wait here until the Imperial Army overwhelms us.
: That's not an option, Sadira. If I die on the battlefield, it's going to be in pursuit of Faulkner. It's time to finish this.
: Then we will depart for the Imperial capital at once.
: I'll come with you, Sadira. If you're attacking the Empire, you're going to need my incredible strength!
Bitchin' You know, it's about time the game did someth-
: Like, we appreciate the offer, Daddy, but you should stay here and protect Nordilain, okay? Okay!
: Nonsense, Claire. I've already placed Shion in charge of the castle defense force while we're away...
There, see. Beautiful. I suppose there's no getting around my 'no fire stone' policy with Logan, but I think-
: DADDY! Are you even, like listening to me or what?! You're NOT going! Oh-KAY?!
: Aw, c'mon, Claire...
Wait, what's going on, this, no, no, come on, game, we've been through so much together, don't screw me on this!
: Like, nice try with the sad face, but I can totally resist your guilt trips! You're staying right here! If the Empire destroyed Nordilain because you were gone, I would be SO mad at you!
: Claire! I beg you to reconsider!
It can't end like this! Please, don't....
: Duke Logan, I'm happy that you want to help us, but defending Nordilain should be your primary concern. I assure you that we will deal with General Faulkner.
You two are so fucking dead. Fuck strategy, I won't rest until I see Sharkings murder the both of you. Mark my words.
: You don't need to be polite, Sadira. Daddy was just looking for an excuse to get violent. Weren't you, Daddy?
: Claire, you know me far too well! And you sound more and more like your mother every day!
: Good, 'cause then maybe you'll start listening to me and stuff!
: I listen to you, Claire! I just choose to ignore you most of the time! Alright, I give up. I'll stay here in Nordilain, and you go to the Empire.
: Thank you for giving up, Daddy.
: Be careful!
: I will, Daddy!
I'm the one who gets to decide how safe you're going to be, and it doesn't look good.
: We'll all be careful.
Well, I can certainly say that Bastion, Cecilia, Franco and Halak will be careful.



: Not even, Sadira. We always talk to each other like that.
: Really?
: Like, really. I mean, I know that's worried about me, and he knows that I'm worried about him. But he won't show his concern for me. He's afraid to get in touch with his feminine side, you know?
Why the fuck won't you just shut the fuck up, Claire? Haven't you done enough? Do I really need to deal with more this 'man, wouldn't it be fucking hilarious if we had a character who talked like a Valley Girl in a medieval setting?' Also, this game was released in the year 2000, only roughly a decade after that joke would have been fresh!
: So we joke around with each other because that's the only way we can express our feelings.
: Oh...
: And I'm totally wondering what happens when I get older. Do I get control of Nordilain or what? I feel like Daddy needs me to replace Mom since she died. But I really can't do that forever, you know?
: I didn't realize your relationship with him was so complicated. Then again, I barely had any sort of relationship with MY father. He was always too busy for me.
Well, part of that had to with him having to run an empire, a larger part, though was that he, like all-right thinking men, wanted nothing to do with you.
: No relationship is perfect, you know? Like, we're all human.
: (A little unexpected, in your case...)



: But now we have to get through this totally guarded checkpoint.
: It's possible, but unlikely, that these troops will heed my orders and let us pass without incident. If not...we'll have to fight.
: I was expecting a fight in any case, Sadira. Let's go. Stay on your guard, everyone! I doubt these soldiers will respect Sadira's authority!

Next Time: I kill a whole bunch of named characters, but not Sadira or Claire...no, the time is not yet right...

Voting Irregularities


No, as a Cardinals fan, your vote was actually worth -1, so I just counted it as a vote for Cecilia.

But seriously, if the vote were actually that close, I would have counted The White Dragon and dis astranagant's votes and not given Feinne a double-vote. Just wait a couple of days, you'll see it.