Part 73: Chapter #14: Sharking Sortie

Wow, that is...a surprising amount of replies. You guys really don't like this version of Sadira, eh? Too bad she'll be sticking around for the rest of the LP.

Chapter #14: Sharking Sortie



We've actually fought on this map several times before. You might remember it as the place where Thomson bought it....twice.
: Well, if it's the Imperial Army, I'm going to hide and let you deal with them.
: That's helpful.
: And what if it's the Kingdom Army?
: I'll hide and let you speak with them!
: So regardless of where these ATACs are from, you're going to do nothing while we risk our lives.
: I beg your pardon! I'm going to give you moral support, of course!
: How fortunate we are...
I think Sadira may be the most intentionally grating character I have ever seen...

Interview



: Just between you and me, Bastion, the Princess is really starting to get on my nerves...
: Are you sure I can't give Sadira any chocolate, Bastion? She looks like she needs to gain a few pounds.
Barlow, I think the last thing we need at this point is more Sadira, in any sense of the word.
: Bastion, buddy, I don't think having Sadira around is worth the trouble. And besides, she...scares me!
: Sadira is a shameless flirt, Bastion, and I don't like the way she speaks to you at ALL!
: Remember, Bastion, you promised to protect me if we're found by the Kingdom Army!

Mission



: (Dhis obwiously means dhat my talents are finally being noticed ant appreciated! All dhat is left is to find a suitable wictim and put dhis vonderful ATAC through its paces!)
: Those are definitely Imperials...



: It's not strange, Reyna! It's horrible!
: Hmmmm? Vhat?! It is dhe TICTAC!
: Who is inside that ATAC? Answer me!
: Dhe TICTAC and dhe Sylpheed?! Vhat is dhe Imperial Princess doing in dhis place, and vith dhe ATAC uff dhe Kingdom?
: I'd recognize your idiotic accent anywhere, Commander Zakov! I never gave Madoc or anyone else permission to use that ATAC! Why has it been dispatched?!
: Sadira, I am only following dhe orders of General Fokkner. I haff done nothing wrong.
: Unbelievable. Faulkner has directly defied my will...And allowed Madoc to unleash his most horrific creation! Who knows how long the two of them have been conspiring against me?! Zakov!
: Yes, Princess?!
: Get out of that ATAC immediately, unless you want me to destroy you along with it!
: Vhat?!
: I'm going to smite this monstrosity from existence, Zakov! I should have destroyed it long ago!
: Dhis ATAC coult be dhe key to my future vith dhe Imperial Army! I cannot abandon dhat opportunity!
: The only opportunity you have is to save your miserable life, Zakov. Now get OUT of the ATAC.
Poor Zakov, he just can't catch a break.
: ... ... ...You leaff me no choice, Sadira!! I vould rather kill you dhan let dhis chance for success slip away!
: Everybody! Attack!
: But, uh, isn't this really just between you and Zakov?
: You think too much, Bastion! This is a time for action!
: (If that was true, I would've realized that bringing you with us was a very bad idea.)



One Sharking? The only challenge here is making sure I put Zakov in the ground before he runs away.



My punishment for straying into Zakov's attack range is having to transcribe this confrontation. Oh, and Zakov is going to use Cutting Wheel on Sadira. Bad news all around.
: I am loyal only to myself, Sadira!
: You sound like a typical man to me!
Just when you think Sadira can't get any worse, she decides to randomly become a misandrist!
: Ant you sound like a spoilet brat!
: I am not!!



As long as you stay away from Zakov, however, he'll just sit there through the first 2/3s of the battle as his men are brutally killed.



This is all building to something...something wonderful...



: Are you ready to be defeated again?
: You do not realize dhe sufferink you caused me vhen I returned to dhe capital! I vas werbally abused by Prince Duyere and physically abused by Fokkner! It vas utter humiliation!
: And you deserved every moment of it, you Imperial dog!
: No vun deserffs a tongue-lashing from Prince Duyere! No vun!!
Okay, it's time to take care of Sharking. Now, Zakov will run at half-health, and make a few threats like so:

: (Aargh! I am getting so frustrated!! But I must calm down ant realize dhat dhere are more important tasks ahead uff me. And Madoc must haff all dhe data he requires by now.) Dhis retreat does not mean anything, Sadira, except dhat I, uh, vill return to kill you later!

But that is not enough. I want the XP and money that can only come from killing Zakov outright, but, to do that, I need to be able to take off more than half of the health of the Sharking in one blow. Andrew is great, but he can't do a ton of damage. Barlow and Reyna are obviously not going to do it. Sadira is theoretically capable, except I just got her and she currently has a whopping 8 POW. Milea is not quite as bad, but still lacks power. That leaves Bastion....but no ordinary attack is capable of doing enough damage. I need an attack of such power that has never been seen in this thread.



The Tidal Wave...the TICTAC's most powerful attack, and the best attack you will ever have access to in Vanguard Bandits. It only costs 30 AP, 30 FP, and does a ton of damage...but I don't need to bore you with numbers...



Yeah, that'll work just fine....

: Dhis vill not impress Madoc...I vill not give up! You haff not seen dhe last uff me!



And that'll take care of that, wait, I missed one Imperial...



Better.

: What kind of ATAC WAS that?



: It is the Sharking, and it was built by the Empire's sadistic engineer to kill the pilots of enemy ATACs! I can't believe that Faulkner and Madoc have unleashed it!
: Sadira...
: Don't look at me like that, Bastion!
: Look at you HOW, Sadira?
: As though I'm somehow affiliated with that ATAC because I'm a child of the Empire!
: I don't think that at all, Sadira. It's obvious to all of us that you're extremely upset by its existence.
: But that raises a more important question, Bastion.
: What's that, Reyna?
: Why was the Sharking out here in the first place? And why in this part of the Empire?
: Uh...Why WAS the Sharking in this part of the Empire?
: It's suspicious to say the least.
: I have a plan! Because we didn't encounter anyone in our travels to the north, let's head south instead...And make lots of random movements as we go!
Wow, that's...just a terrible, terrible plan.
: Isn't that exactly what you were doing before we found Zakov?
: Yes, and I think I've become fairly skilled at it! Are we ready to go?
: I suppose so.
: As ready as I'll ever be.
: Do I detect a hint of sarcasm in your voice, Bastion?!



: There's a small town directly ahead of us, Bastion, and it's filled with an assortment of unhappy ATACs.
: You're right. My scanners show several battles under way.
: Let's see if we can determine who's fighting, and why...

Next Time: Thomson returns....poor, poor Thomson...