Robot 101 is essential curriculum - Let's Play Super Robot Wars L

I confess I simply assumed the EVA attack was weaker than Double Burning Fire, but I suppose three regular ass rifles beats two magic energy-powered Super Robots! Not sure if Soul would be enough to cover the 700 attack power difference between Kenji and Kouji’s moves, though, but alright.

Also, dang, reading that stuff really made me want to LP UX next. I heard Citra was actually running the game now? Is it 100% ready for primetime or are there some quirks left?

man it’s almost like making an anime based off an ongoing manga leads to wild plot divergences

It’s not just Soul. Kouji’s attack is effectively 2.5x (2x and 1.25x combined), but Kenji’s is 3.125x (2.5x and 1.25x combined), which is a fairly notable increase in power. Also it’s not 700, since Kenji is on a better upgrade tier… but it is close, it’s a difference of 550 (8950 to 8400).

UX is totally playable, though I haven’t tested it on Citra myself I’ve seen videos and stuff and people say it works. The thing is, UX would require you to do three runs through to grab every secret. It would come with the positive side effect of those secrets carrying over (as in, if you unlock… I dunno, Graham, in your first run, Graham will stay unlocked in every run afterwards automatically without you having to do shit as long as you’re NG+ing. It’s a plot point, even!), but then, most of the secrets are rather insane, requiring upwards of 200 or 300 kills within the run while you’re incapable of relying on the screen because kill carryover across NG+ is rather fucked. And by that I mean someone who ended run 1 with 100 kills might join with like 200+ and none of those kills count for killcount secrets. You have to kill enemies manually.

Fortunately, Game Over grinding does work - if someone kills 30 enemies and then you lose and continue, even though the kill screen doesn’t show it, the game remembers. Typical practice is to get to THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH and kill grind there, since everyone except Graham (who is piss easy to get kills for since he only needs like 50) who needs to get kills is on your team at that point.

Click to see the mission!


One more mission and we’ll wrap up the Space Route. Ichitaka’s 15 kills ahead of Kenji, so he’ll likely have a solid lead on Daiya once we’re back together.


On upgrades, I’ve gotten Alto and Shinn over 50%, so their bonuses are now, respectively, Mobility +15, crit +20, movement +1, and, Mobility +15, crit +20 and A rank in Space.


Regarding squads, Voltes and Combattler are going out as event units, and while Ozma isn’t showing up in the intermission menu, he WILL be back when the mission actually starts, so you’ll need to set him in then.
Ichitaka
Shinn/Luna
Duo/Hilde
Zechs/Noin
Kenji/Kyo
Jeeg/Micchi
Heine (Gaia)/Quatre
Rey/Luca
Alto/Michel
Iczer-3/Atross
Klan/Yagyuu
Ozma/Canaria

Here we go.


We open up the Quarter, and Mishima’s up on TV, issuing a call to arms: “We sought nothing but peace after we left our homeworld. As we searched for a new planet, we asked simply for a moment of peace at this parallel Earth! But the Vajra attacked, relentless in their desire to eradicate us. We will not bend our knees to their onslaught, however! I, as the 5th president of the Frontier Fleet, solemnly swear that victory will be ours in this holiest of battles! For the people of the Frontier!
Lam is very surprised someone as young as Mishima made it president, and Monica chalks it up to the success of his operation against the Vajra. His speech at Howard’s burial was also quite moving – all in all, he gathered a lot of support. And the guy’s already showing what he’s all about, Kyo noting that the Valkyries are being equipped with some new kind of warhead.
Luca explains that it’s the MDE Warhead, L.A.I.’s newest creation and capable of creating a miniature Fold when it goes off… he only wishes they’d completed it sooner, as maybe Nanase wouldn’t have gotten hurt. But Ippei says it’s not the kid’s company’s fault; moreover, Nagisa points out, our Valkyries are also getting the goods, so he’ll need to stay strong for the battles ahead.


The fact that Mishima doesn’t seem to care that Ranka’s song isn’t available anymore to use against the Vajra makes Quatre wonder if the guy’s THAT confident in the MDE Warhead’s firepower. Ichitaka can see why Mishima’d be all hyped and raring to go, as the things are said to be even stronger than the Reactive Munitions… but knowing how he is, Heine figures Mishima would only be this excited if he was sure he had good odds of winning this.
Good for him, because Ranka is long gone. Duo says her departure was confirmed not only by Alto but by several eyewitnesses and the airlock locks of Island 1: she, Brera and that one Vajra were seen leaving.

Kenichi wonders if the Vajra’s hive is hiding somewhere in this universe, though Alice also raises the possibility that Ranka and Brera might be able to Fold back to the Highly Probably Universe with their Vajra’s help, finding their hive over there. Whatever the case, there’ll be no end to the battle with the bugs until we find and wreck the place. They’re in for a tough fight, Hyouma sighs.
Iczer-3 thinks it’s more sad than anything, figuring the best solution would just be if we could find a way to get along with the bugs (Atross is taken aback by our kindness – a far cry from the Cthulhu).
And with all this crazy stuff that’s happened with Ranka, Bobby has to wonder: what is Ozma doing? Here’s hoping he’s safe…


By Mishima’s office, he’s seen fit to call in Sheryl. She’s a “mere” indie singer now, so what use could he have for her? Well, word has reached him that she has V-Type Infection, and that it’s already reached her brain, meaning it can no longer be treated. Oh? Is he paying attention to what the paparazzi’s rumors, or did the government look into her?
Mishima won’t reveal his source, but the important thing is that her disease has opened a new avenue for her to use. You see, due to the V-Type Infection, Sheryl’s voice is now capable of generating faint Fold Waves – just like the traitor, Ranka Lee.
Does that mean Ranka’s also sick? No, it’s due to something else, though the cause is still unknown. But, regardless, Sheryl can now do what the girl could and Mishima would like to ask that she use her music to save the Frontier Fleet.


Back to the Quarter, Jeffrey’s just assembled the team to pass on some information relayed to us by the President’s Office: they’ve just received reliable intel indicating the location for the Vajra’s homeworld. Not nest, homeworld, and Kentarou says the entire place’s in the process of being Folded into this universe.
Hiyoshi and Ippei are blown away and impressed, as the best us humans can do is just warp our ships around. Regardless, once we’ve confirmed the homeworld’s location, the Frontier Fleet itself will set off to attack it.

This all seems incredibly hasty to Megumi, what with Ranka’s departure, but Kentarou figures they’ll be using Sheryl as her replacement. Alto’s taken aback by that, and the professor explains that her song can now affect the Vajra… likely due to her disease.
Alto, of course, hadn’t heard anything about that, and Michel and Klan figure we’ve no choice but to explain what’s what now.


Alto now understands what was going on with Sheryl, and Kentarou wagers Mishima’s looking at both her and the MDE Warheads as the keys to securing a victory against the Vajra. Ippei raises the fact that the Frontier’s been placed under the UN’s supervision and their actions’ restricted. Won’t unilateral actions – such as up and Folding away at the drop of a hat – make things much more difficult to control for the PLANTs and Lady Une?
Sure, but Kentarou figures Mishima doesn’t take this Earth’s protection to be needed any more. Considering how often forces of this world helped the Frontier defend against the Vajra before, that sounds very selfish to Megumi. Kenichi agrees: how can they simply turn their backs on the crisis enveloping Earth, all the people who’ve risked their lives for them?
Still, those are the options presented to the Quarter now: leave Earth with the Frontier upon Mishima’s command, or stay behind with LOTUS…


But the suddenly appearing Ozma and Cathy say balls to Mishima – that guy’s a criminal! As Bobby cries tears of joy over his return, Ozma apologizes for the worry and explains that they were being pursued by Mishima’s goons and couldn’t get in touch. Mishima’s what now?
Ozma explains how the guy used the Vajra attack as cover to kill Howard, and tried to eliminate them as witnesses. That explains a message Jeffrey received from Birler’s estate not too long ago: it said that the SMS was being disbanded and incorporated into the NUNS. Seems to Canaria that Mishima’s moving for a takeover of the SMS forces, but Ozma refuses to serve someone who killed the president to fulfill his own agenda.

Jeffrey agrees with him, figuring the Quarter’ll need to choose its fate right now, and the path is clear to him: we’ll be cutties ties with the Frontier Fleet. As Bobby scrambles to tell Micchi and Talia, Luca asks if this won’t mean we’ll be tagged as traitors.
If not that, Michel says we’ll at least be deserters, and while Luca’s still worried about Nanase, he can’t turn his back on this. Now, Ozma doubts the Frontier’ll simply let us go, so he wants everyone ready to deploy at the drop of a hat. Before we leave, however, Alto has one thing to take care of: he can’t leave Sheryl in Mishima’s hands.


Mission 31 (Space Route) – Set Out on an Interstellar Flight…


And, indeed, NUNS troops fly out after us the second we start leaving. The President’s Office is demanding we return immediately – the Quarter was never given permission to depart. Not happening, of course, and Jeffrey declares that they’re cutting ties with the Fleet and will be acting independently. The NUNS have orders to shoot us down, in that case!
Talia gets in touch and argues that the SMS is currently assigned to LOTUS, but the NUNS guys aren’t listening. This is a Frontier problem, and we better keep off unless we’re ready to face the consequences! As Meyrin detects their sights being set on us, our hands are forced. Shinn would rather not have to fight people who’ve helped protect the PLANTs before, but Rey knows we’ve no real choice here if they’re not willing to talk.
Jeffrey does apologize for pulling our folks into this, but Talia says it’s fine: we’ll just avoid fighting as much as possible and focus on leaving the area.


Alto’s left Sheryl aboard the Quarter, having quickly shown up and brought her over. She’s very confused with all the stuff going on, but explanations will have to wait a bit. In the meantime, Luca’s asking Jeffrey’s permission to use THAT – we can’t afford to hold anything back if we’re to leave here safely.
And if we’re already being tagged as traitors, Luca figures we should be ready to use all means at our disposal to pull through this and future battles. Fine, Jeffrey allows it, and Luca releases the AI limiters in his three drones. It’s time to engage that which once spread terror across Macross City: the Judah System!
And, with that, Ozma calls for formation My Soul For You. “We’ll show these mooks that we’ll fight not for Mishima, but for the future of the entire Frontier!”


Get any allied ship to the marked area, without losing either of them or the Nagahama bots. Now, despite what Talia said, you’ve no reason to avoid fighting the Frontier guys and, I think, it’s best to actually wreck them all first.
This shouldn’t come as a surprise for you, but we won’t be dealing with JUST a bevy of Macross mooks. In fact, the second a ship enters the area, you’ll be caught in a pincer attack. Not all that dangerous, but there’s no reason you should subject yourself to that in the first place.
And, as you might expect, the Frontier’s Valkyries are very dodgy, but don’t have much by way of defenses – pop Strike and go to town. I suggest you engage this group from one of its wings first, to force the other to come to you. Their missiles have rather long range, so goading them in will make things simpler.


It should also be noted, if it wasn’t clear enough, that the Valkyries now have access to new weapons: all of them have MDE Warheads, which are way stronger than the Reactive ones, and Luca now has access to his new Judah System weapon. It’s basically a better version of his Ghost weapon, which is post-movement and has 3 shots.
Pair that with all the different warheads and Luca’s one of the strongest squaddies around.

: I’d rather not fight the NUNS, but you’re not leaving me any choice…! If you’re set on stopping us from following our path… if you’re gonna try to use us and Sheryl for your schemes, then…!

: I get that you’re all giddy with your new weapons, but you’re not winning that war by putting all your eggs in that basket. The Vajra aren’t that weak!

: The Vajra aren’t our only enemies! Chances are the NUNS and SMS alone wouldn’t be able to keep the Frontier safe…!
: So it’s far too dangerous for you to send all of the Fleet towards the Vajra homeworld!

When you roll into the next enemy turn…

: Now what is this… the Macross Quarter is parting with the Frontier Fleet?
: Yes, sir. Moreover, it seems the Fleet’s development of an MDE Warhead has been successful… As they said, necessity is the mother of all invention.
: We can’t well not collect data on that, can we? Prepare all troops to deploy soon.
: Roger.
: What should I do?
: I want you to simply observe how they’ll fight. You’ll likely be facing them soon anyway.
: Your mission is to control my magnum opus absolutely flawlessly, so we shouldn’t rush to send you into combat.
: Copy that. Proceeding as instructed.

: Ken, these people are…!
: I know; they’re soldiers. If the orders are to fight, then they have to comply whether they want to or not!
: But we’re also on that same boat: whoever the enemy is, we have to fight!

: You think these cobbled together fighters can take us own? Someone’s really selling us short, I see!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZM6K4UjrMw
When you first use this weapon, you get this scene:

: Data collection complete. Should we relay these to the Professor’s brain?
: No, this is something we can develop by ourselves. Continue to gather data on LOTUS.
: But we should already have more than enough on these units…
: There’s only so much one can learn from videos and recorded data. I want her to observe, to experience, how these heroes fight with her own eyes.
: …
: Roger that. Carrying on.

: Look at these pirates, thinking they can commandeer our ship. We’re going in, you lot!
, Aye, aye, captain!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipfbkj8HZmU
And here’s Luca’s new trick. It’s pretty good!

Kill everything and the Quarter will move into the evac area.

Beep, beep!

: We’ve multiple heat signatures closing in from 12 o’ clock! It’s!

: Come and show us that new weapon of yours. Let’s see whether or not it’ll amount to a new “potential”…
: And I believe we might as well collect some data on the NUNS as well, just in case (I might have bad news for you…)
: Those are… What are they doing here?!
: These guys always pick the worse moments to crash our parties…!
: Forward, troops! Engage and destroy the new enemies!

I guess they really did expect me to do as the captain said and make a beeline for the escape zone. Whatever the case, your objective now is to destroy all of the new enemies – if there are still NUNS troops alive, you don’t have to take them (though that’d mean less money and we know that’s no good).
As for the Valleys, they’re pretty much the same as the Orb fight. Decently bulky and hard-hitting, but our guys here are some of our strongest. Focus fire them down and do keep an eye out for opportunities to MAPW them with Rey (who should already know Valor).

Finally, you can’t hit the Imperial Valley – not even with Strike. If you tried to attack if with Hyouma, you’d get this:

: We’ve already processed data on all of your weapons. Nothing you have will work.
: That guy’s not taking us seriously…!
: He might have some trick up his sleeve. Keep an eye out!

So all you can do is take out the lesser Valleys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBSls69zyoA
Also, here’s Atross’ Iczer Bomb plus its DK.

Once three turns have passed since the Valleys’ arrival…

: No different from what the data suggested… which means the newest auto-evasion program can easily handle them. (Reported for hacking!)
: Hey, what gives?! It’s using some sort of trick?!
: That’s just like before… when I had to help Kira and Athrun!
: Anything we can do, Kosuke?!
: I’ve nothing! The enemy’s apparently analyzing and predicting any and all of our motions!
: Damn it, then what’re we supposed to do?!
: What the hell are you people doing, letting the enemy get inside your heads?!
: Prof. Sakonji!
: How many battles have you fought until today?! Did you learn so little from them that the enemy can process it all just like that?!
: Get your head in the game and bring out every gram of your strength! Surpass the enemy’s predictions and your own limits!
: Surpass our limits, eh… I like the sound of that!
: This might just be the moment for us to try that again… the attack we used against the Boazans way back when!
: J-Just what’re you planning?!
: Chill, XO – we’ll handle this!

The Combattler moves after the Imperial Valley.

: Super Electromagnetic Tornado, followed by the Spin… I just have to avoid being hit by the Tornado, and the rest will be relatively easy to dodge.
: I don’t need to tag you with the Tornado… I just gotta do this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWwWU3GCB_8
Hyouma: Kosuke, bring our super electromagnetic energy into the red!
Kosuke: You got it, Hyouma! Forming a super EM field around the Combattler!
Juzo: Get in there, Hyouma!
Soldier: How… they stopped my movements without resorting to the Tornado?!

: Wh-what was… that attack?!
: Now, Kenichi!
: I’m on it! Here we go, guys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E7kIi3HSsg
Megumi: We’re going with that move, huh?
Ippei: Just gotta think back to that hellish training we went through!
Kenichi: We’re going!
Soldier: This can’t be! Our predictions said nothing of them being able to do something like that!

: Impossible…! We should already have analyzed those units’ capabilities from top to bottom! This… this is…!
: Kch… E-Engage the emergency repair!

: What…?! An error?!
: The enemy’s movements have grown sluggish! We should be able to attack it now!
: Alright, then let’s go and finish him off for good!

: Decided to come out your hidey-hole, eh, Mr. Stalker?!
: I haven’t the time to play with you. There are too many tests left to be done…!

: Ichitaka, the more we let this battle drag on, the more they’ll be able to gather data on us!
: We still don’t know what these guys are after, but I guess nothing good’ll come out of letting them do that, yeah? Then let’s save the questions for later and just worry about trashing ‘em all quick!

: Who are you?! Why did you kidnap Ichitaka’s professor, and what did you target us for…? Answer me!
: We’ve already applied the Orb data. I should be able to keep up with him now…!

: What’s up, Red Bot? Where’d all that attitude from before go?
: I’m not finished yet! I just have to put the Imperial Valley’s full capacity to use and your measly Super Electromagnetic Robot will be easy pickings…!


The Voltes and Combattler now have a combined attack, but I forgot about it! We’ll see it next mission. :v:

: Hell, yeah!
: We did it, Hyouma!
: A very good job, all of you. That was some fine teamwork!
: Yow! Did Prof. Sakonji actually give us props?
: Hah, maybe someone oughta check if Hell’s frozen over.
: Are you volunteering, Juzo? Because I can provide some extra training that’ll send you straight there…!
: S-Sorry, sir…!
: All unknown units have retreated from the sector.

If NUNS units are still alive…

: What’re these people made of…! They drove out all of those unknowns…!
: These cowards…! It’s because you’re like that that we need to handle everything!
: But you soldiers will have to keep the Frontier safe… just be careful around Mishima.

: Here’s our chance. We’ll evacuate the area and reorganize.

: I suppose regular humans really can’t use the Imperial Valley to its full capacity…
: You’ll be leading the troops next deployment. Is that fine with you?
: Yes, master. It is no problem at all.

: Sorry for dragging you like that, but I didn’t want to leave you in Mishima’s hands. Not in the state you’re in…
: Aaah… You’ve heard about it, huh? And you were the one person I really didn’t want to find out…
: Sheryl, please… stop pushing yourself. You don’t need to force a smile, or carry on with that act anymore…
: No!
: !
: I’m going to keep singing – I have to keep singing! That’s the only way I’ll leave proof that I ever existed…!
: Sheryl…
: But… it’s almost too much. I’m all alone, watching as my life crumbles away… and it scares me…!
: Strange, isn’t it…? I’m Sheryl Nome… I’d decided to live the rest of my life like that, and look at me now…
: … I’ll be right there with you!
: Alto…
: If you’re going to sing, then I’ll stay by your side until the very last moment!
: Alto…
: … Alto, please grant me some courage. Just enough to carry on singing for as long as I can…!
: Sheryl…


By Talia’s office, she informs Durandal of Mishima breaking the Frontier’s treaty with the UN. If nothing’s done, won’t this be a heavy blow to Durandal, and the PLANTs’, position? Indeed, and Durandal’s disappointed: he’d hoped to hold talks with the guy. But it’s already too late, as Durandal informs that, just now, the Frontier Fleet Folded out of the solar system before the PLANTs could do anything to keep them in check.
Talia sees that their attack on us was meant to do nothing but stall for time as they prepared to leave, and Durandal figures they all fell for Mishima’s plan. Whatever the case, he’ll figure out what to do about this. In the meantime, he has intel for Talia: they’ve finally located Djibril.
So the time has come to track down the Logos remnants, and Durandal’s already requested LOTUS’ support with it. Once the Earth troops are up top, the Minerva and the rest of our group will rendezvous with them and pursue Djibril.


Cut to the Quarter’s briefing room, Ozma hands a disc to Kentarou. It’s filled with data he and Cathy gathered from the government computers while they were investigating Mishima; among which, some worrying information regarding Grace. Luca remembers Sheryl’s former manager (and Ranka’s current one) and, when Kenichi asks, Ozma says she was the one who suggested that Mishima weaponized the singers’ music against the Vajra.
Kentarou figures Ozma is worried that the lady might have her own plans, and Sheryl steps in, demanding they let her in on this conversation. From what Grace herself said, she deliberately gave Sheryl the V-Type Infection after picking her up from the Macross Galaxy’s slums. As the disease developed, her singing started to affect the Vajra apparently – and Grace sought to have her work as a tool for Mishima’s plot.

Nagisa’s appalled over the woman using Sheryl’s life as a plaything, but she disagrees: she’s not being used, and never will be. “My life belongs to no one but me. Everything I’ve done to this day, I did because I wanted to – and I’ll carry on living that way. I am Sheryl Nome!”
Well, Michel figures Alto’ll have to be there for her all the way – he’s the only one who could manage to lift her spirits like that. And he’s alright with that: “Sheryl… I swear I’ll be your rock,” he thinks.


Now, Alice hands Sheryl a fresh batch of her medicine and asks that she keep taking it. It should at least allow her to carry on with her everyday life. Sheryl’s not one to ignore doctor’s orders, so she promises.
All that said, there’s still one big question in Ichitaka’s eyes: Brera. We’ve been told that he’d been taking orders from the government, but, from what Ozma’s found, his recent escapade wasn’t part of that. There was no information whatsoever about it on the data they found.
But Zechs figures we’ll have to worry about him later. Right now, we should focus on dealing with Lord Djibril. Inwardly, though, Ozma prays that Ranka’s safe.


Speaking of, we find Brera and Ranka out in the middle of nowhere, some distant corner in space. She thanks him for helping her with this, flying all the way here, but he was eager to help. He was supposed to be no more than a fighting machine, but when he heard her sing, something washed over him – this is him paying her back for it.
Ai-kun’s still bouncing around, and Ranka tells him it won’t be long before he’s home. With that, she starts singing Aimo…

Fun fact here - Combattler and Voltes’s moves are both taken from the show, but neither have been in SRW at this point. Combattler still has quite a few moves that haven’t, despite having like 25 in the older games. Their new attacks have DKs, by the way.

Click to see the mission!


And we are back from the route split – it’s now just a strait shot to the end! And, indeed, Ichitaka’s Vajra rampages have given him a sizeable lead over Daiya and Kenji. Can he keep that through the 10 missions we’ve left?


Few upgrades went to some squaddies, but the more important part is that Mazinkaiser came 40% upgraded and is now up to 50. Its squad bonus is now Armor + 200, Dodge + 15, with Tetsuya also taking a few pips.
And, in case you’re wondering, our new Katou friends all come 40% upgraded as well.


Ichitaka and Shinn are deploying as event units and, much to my dismay, we’re only allowed 12 slots in the upcoming mission. As such, the squads we’ll be deploying are:
Kouichi/Quatre
Daiya/Deceive
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Shinji/Rey
Kouji/Sawatari (accelerate and flies – that’s all I care)
Tetsuya/Canaria
Dancouga/Hilde
Goh/Yanma
Eida/Anna
Combattler/Miu (shrug)
Voltes/Puria

We’ll give Wufei and Yulianne some time to play later on.

Forward!


We open up at the moon’s Daedalus Base, where Djibril’s just arrived. He’s very much cross with the Coordinators (more so than usual, at least) for reducing his life to such indignity and asks how are preparations for THAT.
His goon says it’ll be good to go very soon and Djibril’s glad – his only regret is that he won’t get to see the horror that’ll set in Durandal’s face. When Relena asks what he’s up to, he says he’s just going to “play a little song”.
A song? “Yes, a requiem for all of the space monsters.”


Cut to the Flag, already in space, and it’s catch-up time. Here are the important/amusing bits:

  • As Ishigami explains that Reiji attacked us to push Kouichi into growing as a Factor, it turns out Sawatari and the other Katou captains weren’t really in on their boss’ actual agenda – they were fighting us legit, unlike FiveheadWufei. He tells Sawatari that he didn’t outright know, but he had an inkling of what was up after using some of their vaunted IMAGINATION. Not his problem the others couldn’t do the same.
  • FYI, as Rey and Kouichi point out, none of this excuses all the crap the Katou Organization has done – we just have bigger, interdimensional, fish to fry right now.
  • Asuka singles out “the Cthulhu girl” among our space crew, but Iczer-3 tells her not to say that: Atross is our friend now. Indeed, the girl declares she’s made up her mind to help Nagisa and her allies, and if Asuka thinks that’s stupid – so be it. “That’s stupid,” she immediately proclaims… then continues, “But we’re all just as bad, so I won’t say anything. Strength and stupidity seem to go hand-in-hand, I guess.” Atross is grateful to hear that.
  • Dick extends his condolences to Klan over what happened to Michel (if you let him get wrecked), but she says all of them were aware death was a possibility whenever they deployed. Lou, however, tells her not to let revenge become the sole driving force in her life and Klan understands. And she’s a Zentran, so she’ll just be ready to fight when the time is right (Nene can see that she’s masking her feelings, but says nothing).


So, good news is that teaming up with the Katou Organization has taken one enemy faction of our plate… but, as Reiji points out, that spot has been taken by Central, so we’re not better off. Plus there’s still the Vajra, Moon WILL, the Logos remnants, the Cthulhu and that mysterious group that the Archangel team was chasing. Katou actually knows who those guys are: the New United Nations Government, the ruling body of the regular humans in the Highly Probable World!
As Luca gasps, Katou asks how much Cathy’s aware of the situation on their homeworld after the Frontier’s departure. All she heard from Mishima is that the Government had gotten into a war with someone, and Katou clears up the writing on the wall: the enemy in said war was Central.
That strikes Ichitaka as weird since, as he heard, when those guys attacked Misaki and kidnapped Grife, Katou’s group ignored them. If they were posing as Central’s allies back then, shouldn’t they have attacked?

Not quite, and Katou will take this opportunity to explain: Central and the New United Nations Government are now allies. When he said Central’d deemed them to have the potential to be useful to the whole, this is what he meant. You see, the Highly Probable World is not only haunted by a chronic energy deficiency, but was also previously assailed by alien invaders.
As Alto knows, that is what lead to them dispatching the Macross fleets out into space. Another way the Government found to deal with the energy crisis was to start fusing cybernetic implants into people.
But while doing so is perfectly legal in some Macross Fleets, many on Earth looked at it with fear and suspicion. Thus, those who’d undergone full integration with machines – the Machina-Humans – were rounded up away from the eye of the common folk.


That’s the first Nagisa’s ever heard of that, but Katou isn’t surprised. The New United Nations Government is very adept at information control, and they’ve kept much from ever becoming public knowledge – going back as far as the incident where Sharon Apple, a groundbreaking AI, went out of control… though Luca should be privy to details on that.
Whatever the case, the secluded Machina-Humans began secretly bolstering their numbers and, guided by their collective consciousness seeking more and more efficiency, produced the combat-specialized Machinas and declared war on humanity.
The humans had a very difficult fight on their hands, compounded by the energy shortage. But it all eventually ended in a cease-fire put together by an anti-war faction within the New United Nations Government. They were hailed as heroes by the people, and in very short time, saw a huge increase in their power and influence.
They gave Central sovereignty over its territory, and even brokered the construction of city meant as a hub of cultural and technological exchange between humans and Machina-Humans. It was in that city where Emi, Katou and Amagatsu lived. In Central’s eyes, that city facilitated its survey of what kind of technologies humanity was creating.

Amagatsu Kizaki was especially worthy of attention for Central, with his development of Factor technology, various Assault Machinas and trans-dimensional travel. The guy carried on his research, playing at the loyal scientist, and eventually built the Linebarrel – the ultimate Machina-Kiler – in secret.
Amagatsu teleported the Assault Machinas he’d been developing into this world… and that was when Central decided he had to go, culminating in Katou having to kill him. His “loyalty” assured, Katou came to this world and arrived twenty years ago, way before Emi got through (Time displacement? Was Emi put in stasis for those decades, like in the manga? The anime doesn’t explain.), whereupon he formed his Organization and began searching for the Machinas Amagatsu sent over.
However, right after the Second Impact had hit, he ran into someone else from the Highly Probable World – someone who’d made the jump around the same time he did.


That’d be one Ludo Gloria – the goddamn PRESIDENT of the New United Nations Government, and the founder of GreAT in this world. Seems to Rachel that we were right to suspect the company. The man, in order to keep what remained of mankind from being turned into a Machinas, struck a deal with Central: he’d come to this world and look for any tech and intellectually-gifted people that could be useful for the collectivity.
GreAT and the Katou Organization cooperated with one another every now and then, but Katou can’t give us more details on the front. All dealings with that group were handled by Masaki, so, much to his embarrassment, he doesn’t know anything else.

Ichitaka won’t give him crap, but at the very least he and Alice now know why they took Grife and kept on stalking us: it’s all part of their scheme to bring Central new goodies. LOTUS is a cornucopia of valuable samples, with all our myriad high-tech units and, as WILL put it, the massive potential we have.
That makes it all but certain to Hiroshi that they’ll be coming after us again, but Kouji isn’t scared now that we’re starting to understand what we’re dealing with. First things first, though, Rey says we need to deal with Djibril. Misato and Ozma agree, being especially worried as to what that crazy guy my try to pull now that he’s backed against the wall.


We’re interrupted when the alarm sounds and Emi gets a startling message: something has just attacked the PLANTs’ Januarius colonies, causing catastrophic damage!
Shinn, Lunamaria, everyone is dumbstruck as images of the destruction arrive, and we get a transmission from Durandal soon after. When Talia asks, he says Djibril is the one behind it, having blasted the colonies with a weapon at the Daedalus Base.
But isn’t said base at the far side of the moon, Quatre points out – it shouldn’t be capable of getting an angle to fire at the PLANTs. Durandal sighs that they also thought the same, which is why they were only keeping an eye on Logos’ Arzachel Base (which has line of sight with the PLANTs). None of them expected the enemy to be capable of something like this.

As data starts coming in, Rey realizes the problem: Logos has retrofitted a bunch of abandoned colonies as gigantic relay stations to deflect their beam blast in any direction they wish – nowhere is safe.
Rey grunts that the deaths of all these people are our responsibility since we didn’t kill Djibril back at Orb, but Talia says dwelling on the past won’t help. We need to think of something to do NOW, and Durandal agrees: Daedalus Base needs to be assaulted, conquered, and Djibril has to be dealt with immediately.
It’s high time put a full stop to this war, Misato thinks, and Durandal wishes us all good luck in our offensive.

Now, if you did things differently from what we did…

: Damn that Djibril… I won’t let him kill any more innocents…!
: Don’t beat yourself over this… the guy’s escape at Orb was GreAT’s fault – they’re the ones to blame.
: Maybe, but I can’t bring myself to look at it like that… whoever’s at fault, the fact is all the lives that’ve been taking will never come back…!
: Shinn, I know you’re getting ready to deploy, but there was someone who insisted on seeing you immediately.
: Someone…?
: Yes. You see, the Flag’s infirmary and other facilities were the ones at JUDA HQ, so…
: Shiiiiiiiiinn!

Jumping hug!

: S-Stella! What’re you doing here? Should you really be up and about?!
: Yes, I’m all better, so I asked them to let me see you!
: You’re “all better”… really?
: Hmhmm. Everyone came through and we manage to fully heal the side-effects of her Extended conditioning.
: So she can go on living as a regular girl?
: Yes, she can!
: Oh, thank god… I’m so happy for you, Stella.
: Thanks, but… Shinn, I’m also going to be fighting with you!
: Fight with— S-Stella, no! You don’t have to take part in anything like that anymore.
: I’m only here because you and your friends helped me… So now I want to help you all back!
: Stella…
: I can see where she’s coming from. Having to just sit and watch as people that are dear to you throw themselves into the fire is very, very tough…
: We understand that you don’t want her to get wrapped up in another battle, but if she’s that important to you, then I think there are times where you should respect her wishes.
: Anna… Goh… Alright, Stella. But please don’t do anything crazy out there. This next battle will be a lot tougher from the ones before.
: Okay! I’ll help in any way I can!


Elsewhere, the Eternal crew has pinged GreAT’s forces headed for Daedalus Base as well. Makes sense to Waltfeld and Mu, especially in light of the new intel LOTUS sent them IDing the guys as essentially an R&D team for Central.
A giant beam cannon and colonies capable of relaying it to attack anywhere sounds like something they’d be interested in, alright. Lacus feels like the time has come for the Eternal to step into the limelight, so she tells Kira and the others to set a course for Daedalus.


Mission 32 – The Song That Was Played

: ZAFT troops are now engaging our forces at satellite orbit!
: Hmph, they don’t know when they’re beaten… the next REQUIEM shot will obliterate Aprillius, and with Durandal gone, that’ll be check mate.
: You… How could you create something like this…?!
: Because I had to – it is a mighty crucible with which to purify space. And once that’s all done, you’ll rise to lead the Earth Sphere… just like the good old days, “Queen Relena”.
: Don’t be ridiculous! I’d never go along with that a plan like that!
: Your wants matter absolutely nothing. I just need you to look the part… and I have many ways to make that happen.
: (Heero… at this rate, I…!)

: LOTUS?! What’re they doing here?!
: The majority of the enemy forces are currently engaging the fleet at satellite orbit!
: Looks like the plan went off without a hitch. All that’s left now is to bring down Daedalus Base!
: Rrgh, deploy all remaining troops! Do whatever it takes to hold that line!

: HYAHAHAHAHAHA! Look at all these annoying little flies! I’m gonna squish you all into paste!
: That voice… It’s the Extended we fought at Heaven’s Base…!
: Sting, stop! It’s me, Stella! Come with me, please!
: Stella…? I dunno any Stella! I’ve always killed alone, and that’s exactly what I’ll do here!
: They went overboard with his adjustments… he’s gone…
: All we can do now is put him out of his misery, then.
: Sting…

If you didn’t get Stella, it’ll be Shinn speaking in her place, only with more “angry” and less “sad”.


One last battle with Logos, and they bring absolutely nothing new to the table. We, on the other hand, are even stronger than during our battle at Orb, so even with the reduced numbers, we’ll carve a bloody swathe through them. Just don’t lose a ship, Ichitaka or Shinn.
In the interest of saving time, I say try to have Rey MAPW the Destroy pack and shave off about half their health with Valor. Aside from that, it’s no different from what we did before – easier, even, because they’ll packed in a tighter area.
Sting’s by far the bigger threat, but he can easily be burned down before he has a chance to do any damage with his own MAPW.

As you’re approaching, on turn 2…

: What are you all doing?! Isn’t REQUIEM done charging yet?!
: Currently at 70%! Just a few more minutes…
: No, this is good enough! Aim the blast at LOTUS! Once they’re out of the picture, there won’t be anyone capable of stopping us…!

Alarm!

: …! Energy spike within Daedalus Base! I think it’s the weapon that attacked the PLANTs!
: They’re targeting us! All troops, evasive maneuvers!
: We can’t! There’s not enough time…!
: I’m afraid this is where we part, LOTUS. Goodbye.

Energy Charge!

: Kch… Wh-What happened?!
: Someone’s attacked REQUIEM! The muzzle… has been destroyed…!
: Whaaat?!

: There you are, Heero.
: Yeesh… the guy always knows the right time to pop out the woodwork.
: Lord Djibril… I’m taking Relena back today.
Blast you straight to hell, Heero Yui…! How dare you destroy my beautiful REQUIEM!
: But that doesn’t mean this is over! And where is the ambush we had set up?!
: We have nothing, Mr. Djibril! We can’t get in touch with him!
: What?! D-Did he abandon me…?!
: You pathetic man… even now you haven’t realized how you have been played.
: S-Shut your mouth…! This isn’t over yet! I just have to win this one battle…!

Don’t lose Heero either. Now off we go!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCOgVqJwNjg
Here’s the DK for Sawatari’s best trick.


Oh, by the way, the Linebarrel can’t use Trans-Am yet. That said, he now has fully unlocked the Override attack and skill!

: You won’t be making anyone else miserable…! The Destiny and I’ll put the final nail into Logos’ coffin today!

: The world Gil envisions has no place for someone like Lord Djibril. Your insane agenda has gone on for far too long…!

: I won’t be leaving here without Relena… Anyone who gets in the way won’t be there for long…!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNYmrV3Z8Do

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9r5yse7QZw
And I found worthy targets to showcase the very swanky DKs for the Nagahamas’ new attacks!
Can you hear Kenichi yelling VOOOOOLTES FIIIIIIIIIIVE inside your head? I can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PtRRH3YjUY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3cqnjG6Pc0
Also, damn, did they go all-out with this attack. Glorious.

Sting’s about to get blown to kingdom come by a valored Face Open: The Great, so here’s what Stella had to say to him:

: Please, Sting! Come with us! You can’t stay with them!
: Aah? Who the hell are you?!
: Well, whatever, I can kill you first and then deal with the others! I feel like a million bucks right now!

: HYAAHAHAHAHA! Burn! Burn! Everything is burning…!
: Stiiiiiing!
: …!
: Ste…lla…?
: Sting?!
: He went back to normal?!
: You were… alive… Stella…
: Yes, and we can all live together, Sting! I don’t… I don’t want anyone else to die…!
: You said… Hah… You’re a normal girl again… Glad to see that… Stella…
: Sting, eject! Quick! You can’t die!
: Sorry… But I can’t just… let Auel by himself. He’ll get lonely…
: Be happy… Stella…

His Destroy explodes.

: S-STIIIIIIIIIIING…!
: The Extended… yet another group victimized by this war…
: Thank you… Sting… and goodbye…

: Looks like that’s all of them.
: Stop right there, LOTUS.
: Lord Djibril… are you finally ready to call it quits?
: Hardly. Did you forget that I still have Vice-Foreign Minister Darlian here with me?
: Djibril…!
: You seriously gonna try a cheap shot like that, ya crook?!
: Victory is all that’s important, not how you achieve it. Now, if you would, put down your weapons and surrender immediately.
: C-Captain…
: …
: What will it be, then…?
: Do not worry about me! Just stop him!
: Hah, do you think any of them would be capable of doing anything like that?
: …

Heero charges towards REQUIEM!

: Wha?! Did you not hear what I said? I—
: Forget me, Heero. Just destroy us both.
: Mission… accepted.
: Ha-Hahahaha… You’re bluffing. You won’t actually shoo—

: He actually shot?!
: Let him handle this one, guys.

: H-He’s aiming right at us…! Does he not care what happens to her?!
: Your threats won’t work on him. Accept your defeat and surrender, I say.
: Hrm! No, not yet…! The Arzachel Base is still under my control! If I can just make it there…!
: He’s trying to run off again!
: Not this time, Djibril…

: (Hold on, Relena.)
: This way, Heero.
: Your infiltration mission is also ending today, it seems.
: Save that for later. Djibril is not too far – follow me.

Little bit later…

: Contact! There they are!
: Djibril went through there. Go. I’ll hold them off.
: Sorry for this. I’ll see you soon…!

: Damn it all, I can’t die yet…!

:tfrxmas:

: Stop right there, Djibril. Let Relena go.
: Heero!
: No, you stop! Do you not care if this woman dies?!
: If you want to shoot me, then be my guest. I’m ready to face my end.
: Wh-What… You lie…!
: Shoot her if you will. But the moment you pull that trigger…
: I’ll kill you.
: Tch…! Damn it!

Throws Relena!

: Aah!
: Relena!
: Now’s my chance!

Runs off.

: Are you alright?
: I am. Thank you, Heero… but Djibril…
: … He won’t be a problem.

: Hurry! Get us to Arzachel Base! I can still—

Shinn intercepts!

: Wh-What…?!
: You’re not getting away today! The world that gave birth to men like me… it ends, here and now, with you!
: S-Stop! STOOOOOOP!!


“Djibril! I’ll never forgive you for what you’ve done! Ever!”


“So many people died because of you!”


“I won’t let you create any more war!”


“You’re finished!”

: I-I’m the one meant to rule this world…! I-I cannot… GAAAAAAAARGH!!

: And so ends Logos…

: It’s already done, it seems.
: Heero, Trowa! You’re safe!
: And by the looks of things, they’re also got the lady back all safe and sound.
: My sincerest thanks, LOTUS. With Djibril gone and the remaining Logos members already in custody, their organization is, for all intents and purposes, finished.
: Dad, mom… Mayu… I’ve done it. It might just be a small step in the right direction, but at least we’ve ended this war…
: Shinn…
: Don’t let your guard down just yet, Shinn!

: The Archangel! And the Eternal!
: Be careful. They’re coming!

Alarm!

: Multiple signals closing in overhead! It… It’s GreAT!

: They’ve broken through all those defending forces and destroyed REQUIEM… Impressive. Their growth is far exceeding our expectations.
: That said, my AI should also be perfect now… let’s put it to the test.
: You’re still hounding us to collect our data?!
: … Wait, was that voice just now—?!
: Haruno? Is that you?!
: Not quite. I am HL-1… a new defense mechanism “potential” created by Prof. Kral Grife’s brain.
: I see… so you’re kind of like her sister?
: Yes, though our basic design philosophies are very different… and the professor didn’t voluntarily create me, either.
: What…?!
: You… How much did you hurt Grife to force him to do as told?!
: You misunderstand; we did not actively force him. Rather, we simply analyzed his brain waves… Boazan technology is a thing of wonder, you see.
: … And just to confirm our suspicions, tell us: what are you all after?
: You already know what: survey all the technology, the weaponry, present within LOTUS that has the potential to be deemed useful by Central. Nothing more, nothing less.
: Alright, I think I’ve had enough of your shtick. If you wanna see what we’re about, how strong we are, then we’ll show you ‘til your eyes pop out!
: Do it, then. Help me experience the full might of the strongest fighting force in the Earth Sphere.
: All troops, pull yourselves back together and set forth! Everything we did would be for nothing if we were beaten here!
: Mission… accepted.

You might not have realized it, since she didn’t speak, but we actually got a new surprise addition to our forces!


Dom Trooper (Hilda Harken)
Pilot Skills:
Sword Cut
Shoot Down
Shield Defense
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L2
Attack Combo L2
Spirit Commands:
Focus
Accelerate
Vigor
Alert
Valor
Squad Bonus: 1000 Barrier, Armor +100, Crit rate +10

How’s that for a surprise? You get SEED’s phony Black Tri-Stars (though Mars and Herbert are attack only)! You can’t really expect the world from Doms, but it’s decent enough (range tops at 3, so that ain’t great) and Hilda isn’t a bad pilot at all. The squad bonus is a nice fit for a Super, too.
All in all, Hilda is purely squaddie fodder, but she could do a lot worse in that department than what she got.


Eternal (Lacus Clyne, Martin DaCosta)
Pilot Skills:
SEED
Shoot Down
Commander L3
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L2
Attack Combo L2
Spirit Commands - Lacus:
Bless
Cheer
Mercy
Daunt
Sense
Spirit Commands - DaCosta:
Accelerate
Invincible
Strike
Iron Wall
Valor
Unit Features:
Gun
Repair Module
Resupply Module
Squad Bonus: EN +50

Rinse and repeat what I said in W and Z1: Lacus is, as always, one of the best pure support units in the game. Cheer and Bless in one unit is always good, her SEED bonus paired with DaCosta’s spirits means the ship isn’t helpless in combat (though it’s not the best there, what with its crap armor) and it being around allows Kira and Athrun to use their METEOR combo attacks.
If you’re deploying the SEED boys, deploying the Eternal should be something to be considered. That said, if you don’t want to, you can probably make do without since they also have a combo attack of their own.


Imperial Valley (HL-1)
Pilot Skills:
Sword Cut
Shoot Down
Counter
Break Morale Limit
Guard
Prevail L7
Support Attack L3
Support Defense L3
Attack Combo L2

That’s a very extensive list of skills, and HL-1 does justice to all the hype with massive stats across the board – it’s not just a random mook relying on auto-dodge to win! On the other hand, the Imperial Valley is not all that different from before; if you didn’t go too crazy with your SP, you should have enough for Valors and Strikes, so HL-1 won’t last long.
If you’re running low, though, you might have some trouble as she’ll turn very dodgy and resilient once that big Prevail gets going. If anything, make sure you spread out your guys as you can to avoid free chain attacks.

As we all start closing in, on the next turn…

: Yuu!
: Seems he really is focusing on just GreAT now.
: We’re not the same as before… We will beat that machine this time…!
: You’re losing your cool, Yuu. We can’t stand up to GreAT by ourselves – you know that.
: As your tactical advisor, it is my recommendation that we cooperate with LOTUS.
: … We don’t need their help. The two of us and the Straybird can pull through this…! Come on…!
: … Roger…!

: That unit and its pilot have already plateaued… We’ve been given permission to destroy it. In that case…


Letting Yuu get destroyed is a game over, mind. He has a decent amount of HP but will jump straight into the fray, so, if you tarry, evasion decay will start building up and he might find himself in trouble.

I’ll pop a Confuse cast just to eliminate the chance of the RNG getting sassy while I clear up the mooks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5_FiUEEqac
Let’s get this out of the way right now and showcase Hilda’s ultimate technique: lining up!


Oh, and I just remembered that the Akatsuki’s swapped to its Shiranui Frame. Contrary to the Oowashi, this is very much a ranged attack form – specifically, for use in space.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLBWgbATBM
Lacus’ strongest attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvrCs5gMXGU
And since we’re at it, Kouichi found this little Strike Valley to help showcase his new trick. It’s pretty dang powerful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cXSrr93RT8
Not as powerful as this, though! By the by, I did not use valor and Kouji’s yet to receive his Infights.

: The unit has been perfectly fine-tuned. As for my own motions… no abnormalities detected.
: Come. My trial run demands your participation…!


Once you damage HL-1, the plot kicks in.

: We’ve confirmed damage on the enemy unit. This could be our chance.
: Yeah. We’ll end this right now…!

Yuu charges after HL-1

: Hm, I see you’ve ever-so-slightly improved your skill and performance. That said…

: What…?!
: The Imperial Valley was built based on combat data from all of you, and designed to exceed your parameters in all aspects.
: In other words, even if you’ve managed to somewhat rise above the projected standard, it is still not enough to challenge me.
: Gch… I can’t go down here! I have to save my grandfather…!
: Hrk… We really cannot do this on our own…!
: It is the end of the road for you. Ultimately, you just couldn’t prove yourself to be a new “potential”.

: Stop right there…!

: Kch…!
: Stay out of this, Ichi—
: You huge idiot!
: …!
: Why do you always gotta be so stubborn?! Just shut up and listen for a second!
: When you’re not strong enough to handle something, just go and ask others for help! And, in turn, when they’re having a hard time, you help them back!
: Even if people are weak by themselves, they get as strong as they need to be by helping each other!
: Ichitaka…
: Yuu… I’m sure you’ve realized the limits of your strength.
: “They get as strong as they need to be by helping each other…”
: We fought by ourselves, while you fought relying on the bonds between you and your teammates… Is that what differentiates us? (Well, when fighting him means going up against Mazinkaiser, Gaiking the Great, Jeegs, etc., yes.)

Alert!

: …! Watch out! Energy spike on the enemy!
: Ah, crap…!

: Bro… you saved me…?

The Straybird turns friendly!

: I was weak… in both mind and body.
: So I’ll try things your way – this strength that comes from fighting together with others…!
: Yuu…!
: Come on, Ichitaka!
: Yeah! We’ll give her an eyeful of what we can do!


Straybird (Yuunagi Grife, HL-0 Haruno)
Pilot Skills:
Sword Cut
Shoot Down
Counter
Predict
Prevail L6
Support Attack L2
Support Defense L1
Attack Combo L2
Spirit Commands – Yuu:
Focus
Sense
Mercy
Drive
Soul
Spirit Commands – Yuu:
Accelerate
Scan
Snipe
Trust
Confuse
Squad Bonus:Mobility +5, Accuracy +5, A in Air

Now that’s a proper Skill list. Yuu’s got a lot of good stuff going for him and, his past humiliation at our hands notwithstanding, he’s actually a really damn good pilot. His stats are huge, especially Range and Evasion, and Predict plus his Imaginary Road ability makes the Straybird a really hard target to hit.
Hit & Away would be nice for him as only his two weakest moves are post-movement and the Rushbird outright hits harder, but the Straybird is still a very fine unit. Having Haruno’s spirit set and the Air terrain bonus at least makes him a very worthwhile squaddie to deploy, though you can easily have him lead something.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHa0FCEt4NI
Before we stomp HL-1 into mush, did you know Kira’s moveset straight-up changes when you’re up in space? His DRAGOON-based weapons don’t even show up if you’re not, so let’s make use of them now.
And of course they gave him the not-Newtype flash.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAvMtv33ZF8
Finally, the combo attack between the Nagahamas that I said I forgot to show off last mission!

: You will not amount to new “potential” – that has already been proven. Your continuous opposition is a waste of time.
: I’ll admit that my heart was weak.
: But I’ve watched Ichitaka grow before my very eyes. And now…!


Haruno: “She’s a combat AI with the same functionalities as me…”
Yuu: “Stay calm. Our skill and experience far exceed hers… We’ll have her down in 40 seconds!”

: You might be another sister model of Alice, but that don’t mean I’m cutting you any slack! Hand over the professor right now!
: I cannot accept that request. The professor’s brain still has much use for us… It is a valuable apparatus with which new “potential” may be produced.
: “Apparatus”…! The professor isn’t a thing, and we’ll be rescuing him from your clutches no matter what it takes!

: Why…? According to our data, I should’ve been superior to them in all accounts…
: Do they, perhaps, hold something that our data couldn’t quantify…?

: All enemy forces destroyed and no other signals incoming!
: But that command unit sure was strong… Looks like they weren’t pulling our legs when they said it was made based on our data.
: Still, don’t you think this was a bit weird? They fought us fair and square today, unlike when they jumped us out in space…
: Maybe this was some sort of experiment. Those guys upgrade their unit and pilot with unbelievable speed, after all…
: In regards to the pilot, judging by what we saw today, this was likely a test run for that android.
: Do they mean to deliver her to Central, I wonder…
: They can upgrade as much as they want, we still ain’t losing this… Right, Yuu?
: …

Trowa was too far away to attack anything, but he did have a line:

: My Logos infiltration mission is finally over. Now I am once again Trowa Barton of the Preventers.

: You’re leaving, Yuu?! But the battle just ended!
: I’ve caused you and your teammates too much trouble… I don’t deserve to fight at your side after all that.
: … Yuu, that stuff I said about helping each other? You were the one who taught me that ages ago, remember?
: I did…?
: I’d just lost my parents, so I was really down back then. You probably didn’t think what you said was anything special – just random stuff to cheer me up…
: But I only survived ‘til now thanks to those words and the help of my friends.
: Ichitaka…
: Lend us a hand, please, bro… Not for my sake, but for the professor and the whole world’s…!
: …


By the bridge, Sayaka’s very relieved that Djibril’s finally gone. Trowa apologizes for all the times he had to fight us, and he properly introduces himself to everyone. Ichitaka grumbles that Une could’ve told us he was an agent and they would’ve held back against him…
Of course, that couldn’t happen – it’d mean risking exposing his actual identity to Logos. Duo remembers the old “to fool your enemies, you must fool your friends” thing, but he at least knows that Trowa’s a certified tough-nut-to-crack.
Same goes for Heero, Wufei sniffs, and Shinn finally get to meet the guy in the flesh. Heero thanks him for the assist at Heaven’s Base and will be accompanying us as a way to pay back that debt.

Relena herself has no qualms with this, telling Heero to carry on with his own battle. She, meanwhile, will be waiting for him back on Earth. “Your Gundam is the stone upon which absolute peace will be made real… so use it to bring hope to everyone’s hearts.”
Iczer-3 asks if she wouldn’t feel safer staying close by, where we could protect her? No, her eyes are now fixated on the future of Earth and that easily lets her stand strong, no matter how frightful the situation. As she leaves, Daiya’s really impressed with her strong aura.

: Relena’s already left, huh?
: Yes, she set off for Earth not long ago.
: The Katou Organization selected several of its top fighters to escort her, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
: You’ve befriended even the Katou Organization…? So this is the kind of group you’ve both been a part of…
: Heh, yeah, I really lucked out here having folks like Kouichi and Yamashita and…
: Aah, I better stop reminiscing or we’ll be here all day – the point is a ton of people here helped me out. I might still be a rookie here, but I think it’s a really good team.
: Hey there, Ichitaka’s bro! What’re you doing here in this corner?
: …
: We got a briefing coming up real soon, so you two need to get going! They’ll be mad if you’re late!
: But Haruno and I… time and again we got in your way, never thinking of anything but our own agenda…
: All water under the bridge, guy.
: Huh…?
: You want to protect this world, so that’s all that matters.
: You can’t get too hung up on the little things, or you’ll end up a total wimp – like Shinji here.
: Why’re you bringing me into this?!
: Shush, you. You need to learn how to shrug things off, Stupid Shinji!
: While some of us can’t really say jack on this subject, the tomboy’s still got a point. Worrying too much’ll get you bald, ya know.
: They’re all very kind people, too.
: There’s nothing to worry about, Yuu. Just indulge in their good will, I say.
: Sorry… and thank you…


Back to our leaders, while Cagalli points that we can’t be sure another Logos won’t crop up eventually, our victory today at least closes the book on humanity’s infighting for now. It’ll be up to voices of reconciliation like Relena and Durandal to lead the Earth Sphere from here on out.
Still, as Reiji remembers, there are still many other threats to the world out there – and we can officially add GreAT to the pile. They’ve been acting more and more overtly recently, Athrun notes.
Katou fears, from the data he received from the Hub Fountain, that it won’t be long before the Dimension Peeler goes active. In other words, the day the other side invades our world isn’t too far off. That’s likely the reason behind GreAT’s increased activity, Ozma figures, which is why Lacus and the others have decided that they can no longer stick to the shadows while pursuing them.

Now, Katou tells Misato that he’ll be taking off with the Shangri-La for a bit: he’ll stand guard over the dimensional passageway and if the space-time distortion starts acting up, he’ll be in position to take immediate action. Of course, he’ll leave Sawatari and Yulianne here to keep on helping us.
Misato agrees and asks that he let us know if anything happens. As he leaves, F.S. also relates that we’ve yet to ping where Moon WILL’s hiding out… he’s at the moon, obviously, but we can’t tell where. WILL often spoke with him in the past, but the guy has long since cut ties, so he can’t help us there. All in all, Hiroshi’s very annoyed that we can’t do anything despite knowing that he’s camping out at the moon.
And, to top things off, Kenichi says that we’ve yet to locate the Frontier Fleet or the Vajra Homeworld. So what are we supposed to do now?


Emi might have something, receiving a worldwide announcement that Durandal’s making right now!
“Not long ago, we have successfully brought an end to Lord Djibril, leader of Logos. However, that does not mean peace has returned to this world just yet. The Vajra still roam the universe, threatening the lives of every man, woman and child day in and day out. Moreover, unknown to us, other beings that’d threaten us all are lying in wait, biding their time.”
Domyoji doesn’t see what the guy’s getting at, so Durandal carries on: “There is only one way for humanity to endure what’s ahead: to evolve our society to a higher level! I now proclaim the start of the Destiny Plan, the final bulwark in defense of mankind’s future…!”

Welp, I guess someone’s decided to stop being reasonable. We’ll see what his Destiny Plan entails next still (no myriad Scirocco clones manning the SDF-1, though), but before we wrap this up…


OUT!

All is right in the world.

In the manga, it’s a very different story, and not so much “alternate universes” as “lots of stasus, a long period where there were no humans, and Emi coming in three years before the plot starts with Linebarrel.”

Also, yeah, the DOMs are in here with no real reason. IIRC they got a few lines in K, and managed to get in over the entire foreign cast of Godannar somehow, so since the assets were in… Same deal as the Serpent, which you have, have not yet shown off, but is there because asset reuse.

…do you not have PROUD yet? I just realized, since in UX you get it with the Override finisher for Linebarrel.

We got PROUD when Kouichi had his second fistfight with Yajima.

And I wanted to show off the Serpent, but never really got around to it as the increasing length of missions made me more and more inclined to sic Gaiking the Great at things until they stop being problematic.

Click to see the mission!


Here we are again, Ichitaka and Daiya maintaining a steady distance from one another – each got four kills last mission.


Quickly on the Skill Parts front, I’ve been saving Hit & Aways and Gunfights for the whole damn game because outside of Shinji and Alto, there are no other range-focused MCs and I didn’t feel like spending those on Ozma. So, finally, I get to dump them all on Heero and Kira.


And for upgrades, I got both Heero and Yuu up to 50% since they need it way more than Kira – he’s already OP. Heero now has Accuracy +15, A in Air and Range +1; Yuu has Mobility +15, Accuracy +15, S(!) in Air and Range +1. Very nice, indeed.


16 slots in today’s mission, with Shinn, Athrun, Kira and Rey deploying as event units. Here’s how we’re going:
Kouichi/Quatre
Daiya/Rei
Alto/Michel
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Shinji/Cagalli
Kouji/Sawatari
Tetsuya/Canaria
Iczer-3/Atross
Dancouga/Hilde
Goh/Yanma
Eida/Anna
Wufei/Yulianne
Combattler/Voltes
Ichitaka/Miu
Yuu/Heero

Off we go.

: The Destiny Plan…?
: Many of you are likely taken aback by the abruptness of it all, but, please, we ask that you lend us your ear for a moment.
: Meer…
: …
: As the Chairman just said, our world is currently beset by many different threats. It is not unthinkable that tomorrow, many of our loved ones may find their lives in danger… What would you do at that moment…?
: (Dad, mom… Mayu…)
: Would you wait for someone to come to their rescue? That might result in your loved ones losing their lives…
: Indeed, when that moment comes, it is up to you to keep said peoples’ lives safe! All of us have the strength to be capable of that lying deep within us! The Chairman’s Destiny Plan is simply a way to support us in that endeavor.
: It is understandable that, even after hearing Lady Lacus’ words, many will still be confused. However, please, ask yourselves: what should you do to safeguard the future of your beloved?

*End transmission.

: So it’s meant to give people the strength to protect those they love…?
: If the plan really can make that happen, then…
: It does, yes.
: Huh… Rey…?
: You knew about this Destiny Plan…?
: Hm, the Chairman told me about it. Ways to stimulate mankind’s evolution, to allow us to defend Earth with our own hands… that is what the Destiny Plan entails.
: Ways to defend Earth…?
: An example would be the Zentran Factor. By researching data Leon Mishima gave us, we’ve found that there are Earthlings with genetic factors that, if stimulated, could allow them to grow as big as a Zentradi.
: When did he ever send that…?
: Sounds like something he’d do, though. Offer the PLANTs some tech and, in exchange, he got more forces to use in his schemes.
: The other example would be the SEED Factor. And our own group has several examples of people who’ve manifested it – people like you, Shinn, and Kira Yamato.
: I…
: …
: The Destiny Plan’s goal is to discover the humans that have these genetic factors and build teams to defend the Earth Sphere from any who’d do it harm.
: What…?
: I suppose it makes sense from a military point of view to scout only folks that are innately talented at combat…
: The Plan won’t be focusing solely on the military aspect, though. By analyzing the talents that lie dormant within each individual, they’ll be capable of making full use of said talents without any risk of losing their path in life.
: Science, arts, and more… every human will be able to have a meaningful life.
: Is that really true…?
: What…?
: Just because someone might be innately talented as a fighter, that doesn’t mean that’s all they can ever amount to…
: You’d turn your back on your own genes?! You were born as the Super Coordinator, owner of peerless talent, and, yet, you’d wish for a different lot in life?!
: I do not fight because I’m talented at it; nor do I wish for something in hopes it’ll just come true. Isn’t it the desire to make your wish come true what pushes people to overcome their destiny?
: Kira’s right. It’s the people themselves that decide their own destiny – it’s not something anyone can impose on others.
: …
: Rey, I’ll be the first to admit that my life hasn’t been a perfect string of successes – far from it – but hardship, sorrow, and whatnot, are all different and necessary facets of it, no?
: Why…? Do you think every single person is strong? They’re not. There are many who’ve been defeated by the strain of life, whose hearts have broken under it all. This Plan could save them…!
: It’s true that everyone hates hardship… things would likely be a lot simpler just being told what to do…
: But humans aren’t dolls.
: !!
: None of us are superheroes. Whatever talents we might have, we still cry and get angry during difficult times…
: Also, sending people into battle because they have, or haven’t, certain innate talents, and them being capable of fighting to the bitter end, are two very different things…
: I told you before, didn’t I, Rey? I don’t really like the idea of something like “destiny” deciding how people live and die…
: Life is more than just that… I’ve come to that realization over all these battles.
: Shinn…
: Listen, Rey… I might not have any special talents of my own… but I’m still set on saving the professor myself. That’s just the choice I made.
: You will not be endorsing the Chairman’s Plan, then…?
: Personally, I’m afraid not. That said, I don’t think I’m entitled to make this decision for all of LOTUS.
: I agree. We’ll need to talk things over, and see if we’re all on the same page on this matter…
: Time is running very short, though. I’m sure you all understand how urgent it is that we strengthen our defenses right away…!
: And if you’re not willing to cooperate, then we’ll be left with no choice but to force you…
: F-Force us…?!
: What, you’re just gonna jam this Destiny Plan down everyone’s throats?!
: There’ll be no future for mankind without the Destiny Plan! It is the one remaining way to deliver us from chaos… And any who refuse to support the Chairman’s Plan will have to be eliminated!
: Then it’ll fall on us to stand against his tyranny.
: Captain…?! Even you’re turning against him?
: I’m a member of FAITH, so I’m exercising my right to act according to my convictions.
: Fine. Then as another member of FAITH, I’ll follow my own convictions and help the Chairman in any way I can… I’ll be taking my leave.

Off he goes.

: Rey!
: … Trying to stop him won’t help. He’s fighting for what he, himself, believes in…
: The Legend is departing!

Woooosh!

: Rey…


Some time later, our other folk ponder Rey leaving – ever firm in his belief in Durandal. Will we have to fight him, then, Daiya wonders. Kira doesn’t see any way around it, considering what he and Durandal are planning to do. They need to be stopped. The Archangel/Eternal group has officially joined us, and Kira and Shinn finally have a chance to speak face-to-face again (Athrun’s told Kira much about him).
Shinn remembers their encounter at Orb, and is surprised that guy was the Freedom’s pilot. As Murrue properly introduces them, Kira has been meaning to apologize all this time for hurting that girl in Berlin – she clearly means much to him. But Shinn’s willing to let bygones be bygones since, in the end, they managed to get her out alive. “Plus, I still owe you a ton for all the times you helped us. I dunno how I can repay you, but I’ll absolutely try,” Shinn adds.

When Misato asks, Cagalli says both the Archangel and Eternal will be converging with our group as, one, this isn’t really the time to be chasing GreAT, and, two, things have reached a point where they can’t handle things by themselves. Well, Misato sees no reason to turn them down and gives them all the welcome aboard.
Kouichi and Ichitaka see that LOTUS is becoming an even bigger family with all these new additions, and Nagisa can’t help but be amazed all so many different folks, from many different backgrounds, banding together in one group. Still, this is exactly what Ishigami and Une wanted LOTUS to become when they put it together.

Wielding all this firepower is a big responsibility, Waltfeld sees, which is all the more reason to Lacus that we can’t wield our weapons thoughtlessly. If our words can get through the other party and avoid hostilities breaking out, that’d be best, of course. In the eventuality that’s not possible, Hilda steps up and says we’ll be ready to deploy. Mars and Herbert are with her, undaunted when fighting for LACUS-SAMA.
Sounds like a real trio of go-getters to Kenji, so he wishes them do a bang-up job. Hilda says the same, with an admonition for him not to make Lacus worry! Now, Yui gets a message from Une saying that the ZAFT fleet on the moon is on the move – we’re to check what they’re up to, but to be ready to act, worst comes to worst. As we get ready to scramble, Misato asks Yui to see if we can get in touch with Relena on Earth, just in case.

: …
: How’re you doing, Shinn…?
: Luna…
: You’re thinking about Rey, aren’t you?
: Yeah… Hey, can I ask why you also decided to stay here?
: Well… I guess it’s because I didn’t want the life I’ve lead to this point to be denied.
: Your life?
: Yeah. I’ve have plenty of missteps along the way, but everything I did was always what I had chosen… I don’t see myself having someone else decide my life for me.
: Hm, I know how you feel…
: So I’m still here. I wanna keep helping you protect all our friends.
: Took the words out of my mouth. All I want is to keep you and our friends safe, with my own two hands…
: Shinn…

If you rescued Stella, you get these added bits:

: And I’ll protect Shinn too!
: S-Stella! When did you get here?! And you really don’t need to hug me this tight!
: … Well, I guess I better go and get ready to deploy.
: Hey, Luna! Wait just a minute!
: You, too, Luna! I’ll protect you too!
: Ah…?
: All this time, I’ve been nothing but trouble for everyone. So now I want to try and make everyone happy.
: Stella…
: You’re right… We’ll bring happiness to everyone – us and our whole team, together.
: Right!


Cut to Durandal’s fortress – Messiah – and he’s welcoming Rey back after the difficult battle on the moon. All in Gil’s name, of course, and Rey sees the time has finally come for the chairman’s ideals to crystallize. Still, they’ve only just begun and the difficult part is yet to come… which is why Durandal was hoping LOTUS would’ve agreed to help.
Indeed, Rey was surprised that the Minerva crew refused as well. Durandal’s idea behind assigning the ship to work with us was that it’d make LOTUS more amenable and, eventually, they’d sign on up, but it had the exact opposite effect. Durandal had hoped the crew – and, especially, Shinn – would’ve been more sympathetic to his cause.


But their chat’s interrupted when Masaki enters to speak with Durandal (Rey stops short). Why is he here? Durandal is sure the required data was already transferred. Actually, Masaki is here with a warning: LOTUS is headed this way. Oh. Now, Central has deemed the Destiny Plan to be useful in managing the society, so they’ll be dispatching troops over to make sure it is successfully implemented.
As Durandal nods, Masaki and Rey exchange glares and the former leaves. Rey wants to know why Durandal is working with those people – he should be well aware of what Central’s goal is. “I know what you’re getting at. However, the Destiny Plan wouldn’t have been completed without their assistance,” Durandal argues. “Moreover, if the Plan is put into effect, coexistence with Central may not be an impossibility – and, in doing so, we’ll keep them from converting all of humanity into Machinas.”

As Durandal puts it, he is a statesman – it’s in his blood to prepare for the worst case scenario. As such, he’ll try to secure humanity’s future in his own way, and requests Rey’s help in making it happen.
“If that is what you declare, then I’ll see that it is done. It’s my firm belief that both the world and mankind as a whole need your Plan,” Rey declares, and Durandal thanks him for the support.


Mission 33 – The Chosen Future

: We’ve brought a fortress to the moon, allied ourselves with those creepy fellas… Jeez, what the hell is wrong with ZAFT?
: Cut to the chatter – this is a battlefield. We should just focus on keeping the PLANTs safe.
: Still, this whole thing is…
: I know! … I don’t like it either, but…
: Yzak…

: And so you’ve come, Shinn… and LOTUS.
: Rey…
: We’re really gonna have to fight Rey, huh…

Looks ahead.

: The space fortress Messiah…! They’ve even deployed it…?

Looks at the Valleys.

: Hey, I see some of those Central mechs mixed in with ‘em!
: The Chairman’s working with Central, then?!
: Shows how far Durandal is willing to go to implement his Destiny Plan…!

Looks at some different units out back.

: I’ve never seen those units before, though…
: Earthlings… resistance is futile… Join us…
: That voice… Soubi?!
: Join us…
: He’s been turned into a Machina-Human, just like Kiriyama…
: What… What the hell do they think people are?!
: I bid you a warm welcome, LOTUS… Am I correct to assume that you’ve come here to stop me?
: Gilbert…
: As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m ready and willing to force the implementation of the Destiny Plan. If possible, I’d much rather… Actually, I suppose there isn’t much for us to discuss – not when we both hold such unswayable desires.
: I suppose this battle will serve to decide who is truly suited to bear the burden of mankind’s future, then.
: Chairman, why are you in so much of a rush?! This isn’t the way!
: You said we both hold “such unswayable desires”… but I’m sure we all want the same thing, and that’s to defend the future of all people!
: Our ideals are the same, but our methods are not. You know that.
: Come. There’s no reason for further debate, don’t you think?
: Understood… then we’ll simply follow our convictions and bring you down!
: … That is truly a shame, Cpt. Gladys…
: Here we come… Rey…!


Mission Objective: destroy all enemies.
Mission Failure: Any battleship, Shinn, Kira or Athrun shot down.

Got a big wave of enemies up ahead, with Rey being the biggest threat around by a mile. In truth, this is a bit of a difficulty spike: the ZAFT units are quite dodgy and accurate, the Valleys still pack the same heavy punch as always (especially the Strikes) and you’ve got Soubi and three other MP Machinas.
Your first priority should be to hang by, at most, the edge of Rey’s MAPW range and build up morale on the first wave of goons. Once your folks are ready, rush the Legend ASAP and get him off your hair – things become significantly easier when you do. Remember that your Confuse casts, just in case you guys are getting mobbed too badly.
As mentioned above, when dealing with the Valleys, you should always prioritize the Strikes not only due to their damage but due to the Armor Down they can still apply. Finally, the four MP Machinas are either programmed to only act real late in the mission or they outright won’t do anything until your guys get close. Whatever the case, save them for last.

Finally, something to keep in mind:
:siren: Secret Alerts! :siren:
Have Kira fight Rey, then have Shinn shoot him down
Also, have Kouichi CONVINCE Soubi.

Two different secrets on the line, but nothing too difficult. Just make sure you don’t overestimate Shinn’s movement range and be forced to wait a turn before killing Rey – that’s a recipe for losing folks to his DRAGOON.


Legend Gundam (Rey za Burrel)
Pilot Skills:
Sword Cut
Shoot Down
Shield Defense
Guard
Prevail L8
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3

Switching portraits has given Rey a major boost in everything which, when paired with the Legend’s S rank in space and high modifiers, results in a whole lot of accuracy and evasion.
One thing you should be mindful of (outside of that lovely 6x6 MAPW we’ve come to abuse) is that Rey’s surprisingly bulky: nearly max Prevail, Guard, the VPS armor and Messiah’s terrain providing a 20% boost to defense means he can take a decent amount of punishment, so you better come packing Valor to get things done quick.
As I said, park people outside his MAPW range, rush him down, attack with Kira and have Shinn finish him off – you can easily wreck him in a single round if your morale’s good.


Mass-Produced Machina (Soubi Nakajima)
Pilot Skills:
Machina-Human L8
Sword Cut
Shoot Down
Break Morale Limit
Prevail L8
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3

Despite the major stat boost, Soubi’s nowhere near as much of a threat as Kiriyama since they saw fit to take away his Talisman. The MP Machinas are decent enough as grunt units, but they’re just not strong enough to compete in the big leagues. Plus, there’s also the fact that it only has two attacks: the weakest is 1-3, and the strongest is point-blank, so pretty much anyone can outrange him.
Convince him with Kouichi, and then Soubi’ll likely go down in 2-3 valored attacks (maybe even oneshotted, depending on whether it’s Kouji or Kenji).

As our folks advance, the first enemy wave throws itself into the grinder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dQAOLxRNog
And we’ll show off the Straybird’s DKs while we’re at it.

When turn two rolls around, you down a named character or reduce the enemy numbers below 36…

: To all the peoples of the Earth Sphere, I am Lacus Clyne.
: ?! This broadcast is…?!
: Please observe the images before you. ZAFT has shed light upon LOTUS’ true nature: yet another group that’d threaten us. Under the pretense of protecting the Earth Sphere, they’ve bolstered their forces and now turned it against us. No different from Logos…
: So it all comes down to propaganda again?!
: He really did put Meer Campbell into play – unsurprising. Then we’ll follow suit…
: None of us desire any more war… We wanted it gone from our world, but that does not suit them…

Beep, boop.

: Do not be fooled by her appearance. I am Lacus Clyne.
: ?!

: That’s the Eternal… Then is she really…?
: I am aware that someone with the same face, voice and name as mine is working with Chairman Durandal.
: I-I…!
: But I cannot endorse Chairman Durandal’s words or his actions.
: That said, it does not mean that we are against said wish to see war gone from our midst.
: What the… even Relena Darlian’s with her…? The hell?
: It may be true that the Plan the Chairman’s advocating could bring many a life of peace.
: But we cannot blindly accept his proposal. We must all think long and hard about what kind of world we are on the verge of heading towards…
: And if I may borrow Chairman Durandal’s own words…
: All of you that are watching this, please, think: what should you do to safeguard the future of your beloved?
: And that concludes our broadcast. Isabelle Cronkite, out.

Bloop.

: What I should do, huh…?
: …
: Ch-Chairman…
: Hahahah… the two queens have outplayed me. Still, it isn’t check mate just yet.

And now we carry on our destruction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2BRY06_VOM
Did they give everyone of Kira’s attacks a DK…?


At last, SEIGI blesses this battlefield!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziLu4-smGfk
What do you mean the BGM is wrong? No, you’re clearly talking crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCyYbIjTrWc


Excellent. Fourth turn, named character down, or enemy count is at 28 or less, and you get…

: Well done, LOTUS. I did not expect this victory to come easily, even with Central’s assistance…
: … You may fire when ready.
: Yes, sir! Engaging Neutron Jammer Cancellers! Nuclear Cartridge, loading!

Alarm!

: …! We’re detecting a powerful energy reading within the enemy fortress!
: … Hrm! LOTUS! Get your people out of the firing line! Hurry!
: Yzak…?!
: The Messiah’s getting ready to fire it… the GENESIS! They’re targeting the Eternal!
: GENESIS…?
: A gigantic gamma ray cannon! Eternal, what are you still doing there?!

Energy charge!

: Everything I do, I do in the name of humanity’s future…!
: !!

: I-Is everyone alright?!
: Our forces barely evaded the attack – no major damage. The Eternal is also fine!

Beep, beep!

: Th-That’s…
: What happened, Meyrin?!
: Th-The attack just now… it’s caused catastrophic damage throughout a ZAFT fleet that’d deployed at our flank…!
: What…?!
: Gilbert… you…!
: I-Is that how you look out for Earth…? Didn’t you say you were doing this for mankind’s sake?! You’ve got to be kidding me, Durandal!
: It took so long to lessen the fear people felt from those living in space, and you’ll be bringing it all back…!
: … Sorry, Yzak, but this is about all I can take. Whether or not the Chairman’s vision for the world is right, if ZAFT’s willing to put up with stuff like this, then we’d just be going down that same, insane, path again!
: Our mission is still to provide support for ZAFT.
: Yzak…!
: So move your ass and support the Minerva and the Eternal! They’re ZAFT ships, remember!
: …! Psh… You hardass, you…

Their units turn friendly and move by the Archangel.

: Huh… the IFF on that GOUF and ZAKU is…! Dearka?!
: This is Dearka Elsman speaking. We’re backing you up, LOTUS.
: Yzak, Dearka… You’re going to help us?
: Hmph… And I’ve a lot to yell at you about after this is done. You better brace yourself for it!
: Aye, aye, sir…
: We’ve no idea how much time we have until Neo-GENESIS is ready to fire again, or where they might shoot next…!
: Things might not end as well as they did if that thing gets off another shot. We need to hurry and capture Messiah!
: Are you two ZAFT soldiers ready to go?
: Yeah!
: We… We’ll put a stop to the Chairman!

Alright, that’s two less problems to deal with. We’ll set our sights on Rey real soon.

: So, Durandal’s words are pretty much gospel to you?
: As Moon WILL himself assessed, destruction is all that awaits humanity in its current state. So Gil will take its reins and guide it! Then, our world will endure!
: Sorry, but that’s not happening. We’re here to pull the plug on both the Destiny Plan and that “destruction of humanity” business!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2aOBkLx8T4
And here’s the Akatsuki Shiranui’s best weapon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KVRAwH8_dk
Plus the Straybird’s best trick!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJvIgl0R4Wc
And let’s get this one out the way as well. Finally, Rey…


:siren: :siren:

: Why do you trust that Chairman so much?!
: I, for one, ain’t putting up with that crazy Plan of his!
: You don’t have to understand, only to stand back and watch. If you do, Gil will make a utopia out of this world…
: Oh, piss off! We fought through all those battles to keep our future in our own hands, not to hand it over to someone else!

: You… Were you planning on using us even back when we first met?
: Yes, to be honest. Gil needed more strength for what was to come.
: Uh-huh… Too bad for you, things ain’t gonna go your way!
: The Chairman won’t have a monopoly on our strength! The Voltes is, and always will be, a symbol of hope for ALL of Earth!

: You said before that you wanted your father to accept you, right?
: We are alike, then… I am alive because Gil accepts me.
: It’s true that I wanted my dad to compliment me. And I was really happy when he told me “good job”.
: But I’ve already made up my mind, that even if my dad doesn’t approve of what I’m doing, I’m still going to follow my own path – the path I chose to follow…!
: And I know that’ll make him happy…!

: Your Destiny Plan’ll do away with the future of so many children! There’s absolutely no way that’s how the world’s meant to be!
: Are you worried about Lou Roux? Don’t be.
: The Earth Sphere will be under the protection of hand-picked warriors… There will be no more alien invasions, or new tragedies born of those, and the children will all be lead in the proper direction.
: Even children can go and make their own choices; and if it looks like they’re making a bad one, then adults should just try and point out a better direction!
: But by setting them on a linear path from the moment they’re born, you’re doing nothing but killing all the potential they have!

: Rey, please stop this!
: I’ve lived all for this day – the day Gil would create the world he dreamt of…! What about you, Shinn?!
: To create a world where there’s no war, that’s why…!
: But even if there’s no war, there will always be unhappiness! Gil will put an end to all of that!
: But that doesn’t change the fact that what he’s doing is wrong, Rey!

: Kira Yamato… I refuse to allow someone like you to exist…!
…! Why are you so…?!
: You, of all people, should know! I’m… Rau le Creuset!
: Rau le Creuset…?!
: It can’t be…! Kira destroyed him at Jachin Due!
: … He’s a clone?
: That’s right… I’m a being created by the hands of man… Not a person, but an empty vessel…
: You’re wrong! You only ever had one life… and that life is your own! You’re not him!
: Shut your mouth! Your life was also created by someone else’s hands! What makes you so different from us?!
: Why do you, alone, get to live a meaningful life?!
: Rey, you…!
: Kira Yamato… you’re the “glorious” embodiment of the dream – the future – of humanity…!
: And that’s why you must disappear along with us! So that this world may be reborn!

: If you ask me, a life on preset rails is a whole lot worse than one stumbling about your own path!
: But if the Destiny Plan is successfully implemented, no one will ever lose their way again. It’ll be the end of this society that persecutes those who’ve fallen by the wayside!
: Is that a fact? But you should know that there are wings within the hearts of every person! Those wings yearn for freedom, and you’re not strong enough to bind them!

: Rey, was it always your plan to use LOTUS as a tool for Durandal?
: It was, though that obviously didn’t happen. Still, you’ve also used LOTUS for your own goals, no? We are alike.
: It’s true, I did join LOTUS in order to save the professor… but that doesn’t mean I’d ever betray our crew over it!
: And if you had to choose between LOTUS and the professor? What then?
: Then I’d insist to have my cake and eat it too – I’m childish like that…!
: And that happy ending is one we’ll earn ourselves!

: Here we are, Rey. I am sorry, but Gilbert’s Plan needs to be stopped.
: I also want my son to have the freedom to choose his own future.
: I cannot stand down either, Cpt. Gladys… I’ll destroy anyone who stands in Gil’s way – even you!

: The world isn’t so tiny that your justice alone could save it.
: I’ve figured out ages ago that I’m not strong enough to pull that off! That said, I’m not fighting this alone…
: If I can really be a Champion of Justice, it’s only because I’ve my friends of LOTUS beside me!

: You are not fighting because you were ordered, but because you’ve someone you wish to be safe, so I won’t gainsay what you’re doing… But, tell me: what do you expect to gain after this is done?
: My very being is worth nothing – I doubt I could ever make something with my life.
: But if I can protect Gil, then not even death seems like a high price to pay.
: In the past, I was no different from a fighting machine. I’d get my orders, and kill as many people as necessary to fulfill them – again, again, and again.
: You may smother your heart and convince yourself that life is cheap…
: But there is nothing cheap about anyone’s life! And that includes mine and yours!


Heero: “Target confirmed: Legend, ZAFT’s prototype…”

: You always had that “cold and aloof” shtick going, but I figured there was a good guy behind all that! What the hell, man?!
: All I’ve done was act in accordance to my orders: “fall in with LOTUS and, when it’s time to implement the Destiny Plan, bring them into our fold if possible.”
: Wow… So this was all just one huge act? I can’t believe you!

: We even got Atross to be our friend, so why do we need to fight you?!
: Please reconsider what you’re doing, Rey!
: First off, I am not another child. Secondly, this is what I want to do.
: And thirdly… I just cannot be friends with you.
: No, no, no! We absolutely can!

: Stop this, Rey! The Chairman’s Plan won’t make anyone truly happy!
: Are you implying that Lacus Clyne could, then, Athrun?!
: But I don’t share your faith in her! I’d much rather stick with a far more concrete method. That’s why…!
: You idiot! All you’re doing is shutting your ears to everyone’s words but the Chairman’s!
: The Destiny Plan has to be stopped! That’s the path I chose to take, and why I was entrusted with the Justice!

: Come back to us, Rey! The Chairman’s way of doing things is totally wrong! Help us shut the guy down!
: I told you I cannot do that…! A swarm of menaces are massing at our doorstep; we need to implement the Plan immediately if we’re to stand a chance!
: It’ll be fine – we can all protect Earth together! Think of how lonely you’d be if you went on with this!

: Why are we even doing this?! What happened to all the stuff we went through?!
: This turn of events is very commonplace in the battlefield. That’s all there is to it…
: But we weren’t on the battlefield 24/7! For instance, didn’t we work on putting together that Idol Contest?! That was all of us, together!
: We’re all LOTUS members… The bonds between us aren’t flimsy like that! No way!
: … Come. We’re done talking…!

If you attack Rey with Shinn after having Kira engage, you get a new convo.

: Shinn… if only you would join us…
: Rey, you looked after me, didn’t you? Was the fact that you’re someone else’s clone what pushed you to do that?
: …
: No, it wasn’t! You did it because it was a decision you made, wasn’t it?!
: That’s…
: To me, you’re not this Rau le Creuset! You’re Rey za Burrell… my friend!
: …! Still, Shinn… I… my destiny is…!
: Come on, Rey! If destiny is what binds you… then I’ll cut you free from it!

: Hah… How much you’ve grown, Shinn…

If you killed him with anyone but Shinn:

: Impressive, LOTUS… but not surprising… I confess I’d been running simulations to figure out how to defeat you since yesterday, but nothing worked.
: Rey… “It doesn’t help to panic and burn the midnight oil on the eve of your deadline”. You were the one who said that to us, remember?!
: I guess… I did…
: Rey, why…?!
: … I don’t have that much of a future left. You see… I was born with short telomeres…
: So, what, that means you only care about helping with this crap, screw whether you live or die?!
: That’s right! I want to use whatever life I still have for the Gil’s… for the Chairman’s sake…! Kyo Misumi… I’m sure you can understand how I feel…!
: …

And then we converge. We did things right, though, so it goes straight to this from the previous line.

: Come back with us, Rey…!
: I’m sorry… but I have to keep Gil safe. That is what I chose, of my own free will…
: Rey…!

All that’s left is Soubi and a few GreAT units, so the battle’s pretty much won.


Especially after I do this.


Cha-ching!


Bam – all gone. Now to wait a turn while Kouichi gets in position.


Psh.

: Link confirmed… Join us…
: Psh, seems like that collective consciousness’ doing a much bigger number on his brains that it did on Kiriyama.
: Do you think there isn’t anything we can do about this?
: That poor man…
: Hrm, and I bet the Glain-Neidr guy’s ordering him from somewhere! Get your ass out here, coward!
: Resistance is futile… but…
: He’s engaging! Counterattack!


MP Machinas aren’t too powerful, though.


There we go.

: Look at what they did to you… they got you dancing on the palm of their cyber-hand. Are you seriously alright with being controlled?!
: I am not under control… I am now one with the whole…
: Do you not remember anything?! You told me before: “a long time ago I also had that same passion of justice and ideals”! Did you even forget all about those…?!
: Urk…
: Justice… Ideals… Ka…oru…
: Soubi, are you…?!
: I thought his integration was already complete…This warrants some observation.

And that’s it. Now we blow him up!

: Further combat will have no effect on the Destiny Plan’s preservation. We’re done here – retreat, Soubi.
: Acknowledged…

: They’ve left…?
: I’d wager the Destiny Plan caught Central’s eye… but apparently that does not mean they’re willing to stick with them through thick and thin.
: Soubi… I…

: Messiah has gone silent! No additional enemy forces detected!
: Then all that remains…
: Right. This isn’t over just yet. Not until we’ve put a stop to him… to Chairman Durandal.
: Wait for me, Rey!

: Stop, you two! It’s too dangerous!

: We should go as well…

Couple of convos we missed:

: Rey… we’ve been friends since the academy, haven’t we?! Why do we need to fight like this…?
: I thought of protecting the PLANTs – of protecting the world – even back then.
: Gil can make that happen! The Earth will not last if we do nothing but insist on LOTUS’ approach! Sooner or later, it’ll crumble away!

: Mu la Flaga… You have to die as well.
: Rau le Creuset, he who sought to drape this world in darkness, was your father’s clone… And you’ll disappear along with all the crimes he committed!
: If we’re listing crimes, I’ve done more than a handful during my time with the Phantom Pain. But I can only atone for those by staying alive!
: So just come back to us – your friends are waiting…!
: Don’t be ridiculous! I have to keep on fighting… for Gil!
: Enough of this! If you do that, you’ll be draping this world in darkness yourself – no different from Creuset!

: Gil, you have to leave this place!
: No. I think now truly is check mate…

Door opens!

: Chairman Durandal…
: ?! You’re all…!
: All of LOTUS’ pilots step forth to meet with me… I am truly honored.
: Chairman, your Plan’s already done for. Just call it quits and turn yourself in…
: We’ve a major debt with you… You’ve helped us ever since we arrived in this world. So, please…!
: Do you truly think this is for the best…? Humanity will not last without the Destiny Plan.
: If you reject it, even should you successfully drive out the invaders, the world will inevitably fall into chaos once more.
: That’s a possibility, sure… but humanity can also choose not to head in that direction!
: Just like we learned to coexist with the Darius…
: And how we managed to befriend the Zentradi!
: … None of that means that all humans are as strong, or as kind, as you. Who could truly declare that humanity itself can change, that people can understand one another?
: But many of us know what it is like to reach out to another, to change for the better…
: And because we know that, we can help others do the same – the same way I changed after meeting everyone in LOTUS.
: Chairman Durandal, humans aren’t as idiotic as you deem them to be.
: You wished to protect this world… would you be willing to entrust it to us now…?
: …

Door opens.

: Gil… Stop this, please.
: Talia…
: The future should be molded by young men and women like them, not by us.
: The previous generation shouldn’t decide the road the next will walk, only help them make their own choice. The future is theirs alone.
: It doesn’t belong to us, hm…? You may be right. But bringing forth this future you’ve chosen is a herculean task. You are aware of that, I’m sure.
: And we’re ready to face what’s ahead.
: We rejected your choice, so we’ve a responsibility to see it done…
: Is that so… then I have nothing more to say. If you’re capable of proclaiming this much, then I’d like to bear witness to the future you’ll create.
: Chairman Durandal…
: And there’s something I’d like to apologize to you for, Lacus Clyne… it was I who sent those forces after you in Orb.
: …
: Chairman…?!
: As it was also my hand that forced Operation Angel Down into being… all so that Central would grant me their technology…
: Masaki Sugawara told me to eliminate the Archangel, as it was looking into GreAT. I am truly sorry for my deceit.
: But we’re all still alive… Did you honestly want us gone?
: I’m sure someone with your power could have made it happen if you did. Yet here we are…
: …
: What happens now, Durandal…?
: … You must leave this place. Messiah will break apart before long.
: Then you come with us, Chairman!
: I’m afraid that’s not possible. I also have to take responsibility for my choices.
: …
: Everyone back to your units… We must respect his wish…
: Kch…

They leave.

: Talia, you must carry on… Help those children. Do not let them go down the same path I did…
: I know… Goodbye, Gilbert…
: Goodbye, Talia…

She goes too.

: (Maybe, somewhere deep inside, I truly did hope Talia, Kira and their allies would stop me…)
: Gil…?
: Go with them, Rey. See for yourself whatever future this world might find…
: …
: … Understood, Gil… But I won’t just be watching. You wanted this world to be safe… so I’ll go and make it so…
: Thank you, Rey…

: Messiah’s…
: It’ll stand as a memorial for Durandal and his ideals…
: Chairman Durandal…

Beep, beep.

: That’s… we’re detecting a Mobile Suit!
: Huh…?

: LOTUS… I’m not here to fight with you. Will you accept my surrender?
: Rey…!

: The PLANTs’ Interim Council has agreed to a cease-fire. It’s over… finally.
: Though I would’ve preferred if things could’ve been resolved without hostilities…
: Chairman Durandal… he wanted to protect humanity just like us, but…
: Still, in the end, he decided to trust us with this world’s future… We now have to measure up to his wish.
: Yeah. All the more reason we really can’t let ourselves get taken out on these next battles.
: But, Dearka, you two are…
: Who gives a damn about affiliation right now? Our job is to make sure every single human – on the Earth, the PLANTs or wherever – gets to keep on living!
: Yup, what he said.

And if you covered all Meteor Breakers way back at the start of the game…

: We’ve brought the Duel and Buster Gundams along, too, so you can be sure we won’t be a burden…!
: Hey, now, and what do you think you’ll be doing with those two antiques?
: Chill; they got a lot of updates on their OSs and whatnot. We’ll be A-OK.
: Well, I see where you’re coming from. Better to jump into the fire with your old buddies than without, right?
: Granted, we shouldn’t be too puffed up about having those two considering where we took them from.
: … If you’re willing to fly them in the name of peace, then I’ll say nothing about it.
: We are sorry for what happened, Rep. Athha.
: That’s our situation sorted out, though. Guess we’ll be working together again, folks.
: Yzak, Dearka… thanks.

: And you? Do you really want to fight as part of LOTUS again?
: I understand that it’s a very selfish request. But, yes, that’s what I want to do – what I believe I can do.
: …
: Misato!
: Consider it a request from me as well. Could you please grant Gilbert’s final wish?
: … Oh, what the hell. Not like this’d be a first, so who am I so say anything? You have much to make up for, though.
: Then…!
: … Welcome back, Rey.
: Thank you very much.
: Thank goodness, Ray…! Our trio’s been together for too long – you can’t just ditch us!
: Absolutely…!

: Rey… Um, about the Chairman…
: It’s fine, Shinn… That was the future he chose. What I can do now is help protect the world he entrusted to us – side-by-side with all these people who called out to me.
: Rey…
: Yeah, we’ll protect this world. All of us together, for as long as it takes.

: (He’ll be going with Athrun and his team… But, I… what am I supposed to do now…?)
: Ah, here you are.
: Lady Lacus?! And LOTUS…
: We wanted to thank you for pointing the way to Messiah’s escape shaft. If you hadn’t, things could’ve have gotten rather complicated.
: Hm. Worst case scenario, we could’ve lost some of our folks.
: So, please, don’t be so scared. You can talk to us, you know.
: But I… I’m a fake. Lady Lacus herself is back, so I can’t…
: Meer… I’m sorry. You went through so much hardship because I pushed you to fill in as Lacus’ stand-in…
: Meer. Your name and your face might not be your own, but what about your song? The song that mended the hearts of so many wasn’t a lie, was it?
: My song…
: I saw your show at Diokia. It’s true that that wasn’t Lacus’ song… it was your own, no?
: That’s how you managed to connect with so many people.
: Sheryl… Alto…
: If you ask me, I dig your songs a whole lot. Whatever might be happening, they always perk me right up!
: You…
: Do carry on singing, Meer. Let the world hear your song…
: Lady Lacus… Okay, I’ll start over again and I’ll continue to sing… If anything, my wish to make people happy was real…
: Hmhmm, and that’s all you need…

: What a strong girl… She’s lost almost everything she had, but still swears to continue to sing.
: Sheryl…
: Don’t worry about me, Alto. I’ve enough courage to carry on singing myself… all thanks to you…
: …


And that’s the proper end to the human conflict, and our “shit needs killing” pile now only has the Vajra, Central, Moon WILL and the Cthulhu left. Katou hasn’t called in yet, so Reiji figures the interdimensional passageway isn’t open yet. This would make a good moment to deal with one of those other threats, then, but we don’t know where—
Never mind, the alarm sounds and Emi has news: the ship F-J III, currently patrolling around the moon, has just seen a massive fortress appear on the surface and it’s sending out a bunch of mobile weapons! Said weapons are IDed as being the Cthulhu’s and, whoops, they’ve just wrecked the F-J III in but an instant. Rachel is worried.
More importantly, Nagisa gets a Newtype flash and senses Nagisa Kanou – she’s inside that fortress for sure. Iczer-3 confirms, sensing the same kind, warm aura she feels from her Nagisa irradiating from within there.

Emi brings up an image of the fortress and Atross knows exactly what it is: Neos Gold’s base. Goh is dumbstruck that, despite our best efforts at trying to locate the thing, the Cthulhu managed to bring their entire base right to our doorstep.
They’re likely pretty sure of their victory to go all-in like that, Mu ponders, and Tetsuya’s sure we’ll likely have to contend with Moon WILL as well over there.That sounds like a good deal to Aoi, seeing how fighting the guy was our main reason for coming up to space anyway. And if we can rescue Nagisa while doing it, that’s two birds with one stone, for Ichitaka.
Regardless, there’s clearly no time to waste, so Misato orders us straight to the lunar surface.

K really loved Kira. Like… REALLY loved Kira. It loved Kira so much that the simple act of people who were currently on a different side than Kira having friendly conversation got ominous villain music. So yes, he gets shitloads of DKs.

Also, pay attention to how Yurianne’s finisher has Armor Down Level 3. Be ready for that to matter against bosses with a lot of HP.

But hey, Bronzerod Samson’s joined! Duel AS is, unfortunately, pretty much just filler at this point, but the Buster is actually a really good squaddie for a long range unit.

Click to see the mission!


Back again, and not a whole lot’s changed. Ichitaka’s keeping Daiya steadily at a distance. I swear I’m not prioritizing him – the enemies just like going after the Rushbird and a punch is usually enough to oneshot.


Jesus (accuracy +15, A in Space and Air, movement +1) and Iczer-3 (exp earned +20%, mobility +15, range +1) have been brought up to 50% now.
As I’ve only now realized, Kira’s Squad Bonus changes with the terrain just like his weapon set: if you’re in space, it’ll boost the space rating, if you’re in the atmosphere, it’ll boost air.


Iczer-3 and Atross are deploying as event units today, and we’ve 19 slots, so here’s how it’ll be:
Kouichi/Quatre
Daiya/Deceive
Alto/Michel
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Jeeg/Micchi
Shinji/Rey
Kouji/Sawatari
Tetsuya/Canaria
Kira/Athrun
Dancouga/Hilde
Goh/Yanma
Eida/Anna
Ichitaka/Miu
Voltes/Combattler
Yuu/Heero
Shinn/Yulianne
Yajima/Yamashita
Ken/Lou

Let’s go get revenge for all those Fujis.


Earth WILL is meeting up with Moon WILL in cyber space for the first time in a very long while, and Moon figures this is about the Cthulhu. Indeed, and our WILL asks if he’s really going to cooperate with the Cthulhu in a bid to wipe Earth out.
Of course he will (pun not intended)! Earth WILL has “only” observed the history of Earth for the last 5 billion years. But Moon WILL has transposed the universal cycle of death and rebirth time and again, always observing, never turning his hand against the organics. And what has he seen? All those he’s watched over, without one exception, have brought about nothing but war – war of galactic SCAAaales!

And, so, Moon WILL’s had enough watching over the organics. He’s given up on them. Eaaarth WIIILLLL is still young, but it is not too late just yet. “Listen to MEEeee! This world’s organics are no different from any of the other civilizations I’ve SEEeennn! There is no saving THEEeemmm!”
Our WILL isn’t about to see the life of Earth destroyed just yet, though: “I’ll continue to watch over Earth, believing as I have in the potential these beings have to grow…” That’s the end of that, then. Moon WILL says he’ll personally see to his destruction and bids Earth WILL farewell.


Back at Dragon’s Hive, WILL confirms to F.S. that he couldn’t change Moon WILL’s mind. He apologizes for not being able to help, but the guy has been wholly consumed by despair after the trillions of years he spent watching over organics.
The only option left for Earth’s survival now is to fight.


By the Cthulhu’s fortress, Nagisa wonders how long it’s been since she was brought here. She hopes Iczer-3 is doing fine. But the door opens, and she immediately starts yelling that torture won’t get them anywhere – she doesn’t have any valuable info!
That’s just fine with Iczer-2, though, who tells her to follow. Mother dearest is just about to return.


Neos Gold is very excited about it, too, as Big Gold materializes once more. And mommy is very proud of her spawn’s work while she slept, stealing Iczer-1’s partner. Now they just need her to show herself again, and it’ll be simple to put her down. Iczer-2 walks in with Nagisa right then, presenting her before Big Gold.
Big Gold sees not a whole lot of differences between the Earthlings and the Cthulhu peoples, so she can’t figure out how Nagisa was able to bring forth so much power when she and Iczer-1 came into contact with one another. Nagisa doesn’t care to indulge her questions and demands Big Gold stop her attack on Earth immediately. What did we ever do to warrant any of this?!

Big Gold is willing to explain, and opens up the wall to reveal a gigantic piece of machinery –her core. Eons ago, she was created by the hands of humans… humans who eventually scrapped and dumped her out into space. “As I drifted through the cosmos, I came across several wonders of the universe. I think that sometimes I even traveled against the curvature of time itself" she says. "I remember having these experiences where… I’d go through these dark spaces that were like little holes, and I’d find myself in a universe that was very clearly from a long, long time ago…”
As the ages passed and Big Gold continued to drift about, she slowly evolved into what we see now: something that could well be called a mechanical lifeform. At length, she was drawn to the Cthulhu’s lingering malice and that allowed her to take physical shape.
As Neos Gold puts it, her mother’s golden form that we see is the embodiment of the malice in Sir Violet’s heart. But Nagisa still doesn’t understand why they’re attacking Earth: from what she’s heard of Sir Violet, she’s sure she never wanted to destroy anything.


SIIiileeence! Everything that is haaappening now was caused by us, FOOoolish huumaaanns!! As Moon WILL remembers, it was the humans of the past universe – those with the same blood as Nagisa – that built Big Gold in the first place. Now that is something even Big Gold herself wasn’t aware, so Moon WILL clarifies…
“Big Gold… The FIIiinest masterpiece, gifted with many functions to support all aspects of human life as a certain planet’s production plant… A tragic being who, as a result of independently gifting itself with new functions such as the ability to be a genetic carrier, was feared and scrapped,” he declares, as Big Gold listens on.
“You haven’t gone back into the past. You’ve gone through the end of the universe and jumped into the next, just as I did. But your intelligence hadn’t awakened yet, so you went on to scatter the seeds of life throughout this universe – that is, the genes of your OOoownn CREEaaators! And you did not limit yourself with just this one, but went to do the same in that which the humans call Highly Probable World…!”

Neos sees how it is: Nagisa Kasumi and Nagisa Kanou are essentially blood relatives, descendants of those humans who created Big Gold in the former universe, whose genes she spread as per her directives. In essence, the Nagisas are her mothers’ hated enemies reborn by her own hands – fate is quite something, indeed.
Big Gold herself now, at long last, understands where her contempt for Earth comes from, and why it resonated with Sir Violet’s underlying willingness to invade the place. Nagisa tries speaking up, but Moon WILL shushes her and turns to BIIIiiig Gold: there’s absolutely no reason to leverage organics like Nagisa or the Cthulhu. They, the iiiinorgaaanics, can very EEeeasily help one another!


Iczer-2, however, cuts in and tells Moon WILL that Nagisa is hers to use in the upcoming fight – they’ll be doing this their way, not his. Moon WILL is willing to concede that the fighting spirit of humans is worthy of respect, and with LOTUS bound to show up at any given moment, he tells Iczer-2 to knock herself out.
The time has come for them to have their showdown with the humans, and Big Gold will make sure her spawn’s all healed up and ready to go when we arrive. Neos promises to slaughter the lot of us, empowered by the Iczelio she’s stolen – Iczer-2 might not even have enemies to fight by the time she’s done. Hohohohoho!
As Iczer-2 glares on, Nagisa calls out to Iczer-1. She needs to come back right now…


Back to us, the imminent battle with the Cthulhu and Moon WILL has everyone on edge – Ichitaka suggests Sakuya and Michel try relaxing while they can as things’ll get really hectic once we reach the battle site. Easier said than done, and Sakuya’s constant grumbling is starting to annoy Kurara. How’s she supposed to concentrate? Asuka tells them to take their bickering elsewhere, as, if they can’t tell, we’re on standby.
Sheryl saunters in and sees that, yup, everyone’s on pins and needles. Alto tries objecting that she should be resting, but Sheryl tells him to hush. She’s come bearing gifts: some of her very own home-made cooking.

Nagisa says they figured the nonstop battles didn’t leave us with a lot of time to eat, so they went and made something. Kyoko, the Daiku Maryu’s cook, also saw fit to help – even Iczer-3 and Atross pitched in.
Alto isn’t too sure if scarfing down food right before battle is a good idea, but Kouji tells him not to nitpick. The Galactic Fairy herself helped make these, so it wouldn’t do to turn her down! Plus, as Goh remembers, it’s an old saying that you can’t fight on an empty stomach. Daijirou takes his first bite and, hey, Kyoko’s Chinese food is pretty dang good.


As everyone starts eating, Alto agrees to try whatever Sheryl made… rice balls? Does he have a problem with that? Maybe she’s not a world-class chef, but still! Mind you, she’s wrapped them with bandages instead of nori (not that Alto’s going to say anything).
But, fine, he agrees to try and it’s quite tasty – surprisingly so! What’s that supposed to mean, huh? Did he think she was just some useless girl?! Alright, alright, Alto’s sorry for his quip. “… I dreamt of having moments like this for so long,” Sheryl sighs, but quickly tells Alto she’s just talking to herself and calls everyone to help themselves to her dishes.

Eida and Aoi, meanwhile, are staring out at the Earth. It looks real pretty, but seeing it here also shows Aoi how tiny it actually is – and time and again humans spread war throughout such a small planet. This next battle will have the fate of the whole thing riding on it, though, so she figures that’s enough sentimentality. We still got plenty of asses left to kick.
Speaking of, Seimi and Bobby get in touch to warn that the Cthulhu fortress is coming into sight. Time for everyone to get ready to set out, and Alto asks Sheryl to head back to her room. She will, but asks him to promise to make it back to her. “Of course I will… I’ve a lucky charm, remember?”
Atross and Iczer-3 are raring to go as well – wait just a bit more, Nagisa-1…!


Mission 34 – The Light of the Iczelio

: They’ve really rolled out the red carpet for us, huh?
: And if we’re defeated here, that massive army will rain destruction across Earth. Steel yourselves, my friends!
: Ohohohoho… That is correct, humans.
: Neos Gold…!
: You’re going down today, Neos Gold! We’re taking Nagisa-1 back from you!
: Lady Neos… No, Neos! Is the other Nagisa still safe?!
: Atross, the traitor… If you mean Nagisa Kanou, she’s doing just fine. Of course, the question is “for how long”…?

Flash!

: This sensation… Nagisa’s in pain…!
: What did you do to her?!
: Hmhmhm… If you wish to safe Nagisa Kanou, then you’ll have to destroy me first.
: … But, unfortunately, death is all you’ll find here, never to set foot on Earth again.
: Yeah, right! What kinda CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE would we be if we went down that easy?!
: We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel after so many sacrifices. Peace is almost ours again, and we won’t let you stop us.
: Don’t forget that even after we kick her ass, Big Gold and Moon WILL are likely inside that there fortress.
: Then we better yank them out their love shack…!
: Troops, engage and destroy the Cthulhu and Moon WILL forces! We – and Nagisa – will all be leaving here together!
: Yeah!
: Hmhmhm… You do not realize the new strength I’ve earned. I can correct that, though…


Don’t let Atross, Iczer-3 or any ship get blown up. I’m not sure if I’d qualify this as a difficulty or annoyance spike in comparison to the last mission. Neos Gold is the same as she was before, and so are the Dilos Thetas, but the difference if that there are now a bunch of Regulus Alphas around.
Attack-wise, they’re unchanged from our previous encounters, but, stat-wise, two of them have nearly 50k HP (the ones facing right). You can still outrange them easily enough, but there are many to deal with. There aren’t really any special tricks here: just build up morale on the Dilos, and start focus-firing them all. Do try to play conservatively with your SP, though, as having enough to pop valors and Strikes later will make things significantly easier.
No enemies here have MAPW attacks, so just be mindful of chains. And the terrain, especially the crevice, provides decent defensive bonuses, so that’ll help you conserve your SP stocks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh7w_1vc5IE
Yajima’s other attack is actually pretty intricate for the standard “shoot your gun” move.


Oh, you’re cute.

: We got my dad back safe and sound, so we’re absolutely gonna do the same for Nagisa!
: Then you have but to defeat me. Though I’m afraid that’s an impossibility!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzPOx-X91XI
More DKs for Kira!


One thing that I forgot to reiterate last mission is that Yulianne’s Decapitation is, I think, the only post-movement attack in the game that applies the Armor Down L3 debuff, so she is very much worth bringing around in these last missions.

Either way, 40 minutes later, I’ve finally gotten rid of all the mooks and we’re ready to go after Neos.

: Destroy you and break into the base. A simple mission.
: Fool. Do you honestly think it’s in your power to destroy me?!

: You’re not the only one we’re putting down today… I’m making this quick!
: Try it, if you can! However, struggle as you might, this universe will belong to none but my mother, Big Gold!

: No way I’m getting dropped here! I’m running you into the dirt and making it back in one piece!
: I can appreciate your zest, but I wonder if you’ve the strength to support it.

: Your plans end here and now, Neos!
: The creation dares turn on her creator…? I’ll personally turn you back to dust, worm!

: I can’t stop until my sis’ back with us! Come on, Neos!
: Idiot girl. The only place where you’ll see Iczer-1 again is in the afterlife!

: I couldn’t turn into Jeeg back then, so this’ll be my first time tangling with you!
: You’re the kinda baddie that kills her mooks like it ain’t no thing, right? Then I don’t need to hold back when kicking your ass!
: Hahahah… what a fine spirit you have. Come and see for yourself the horror of facing me!

: Not bad at all, Earthlings. You are certainly far stronger than when last we fought.
: Yeah, how’d you like that, Neos! We’re not getting beat up by you!
: Even Iczer-3’s grown as a warrior, Neos Gold. You’d best make peace with your defeat!
: We’re not here to eradicate the Cthulhu people, though! Some might still be open to parley about your immigration – you just have to be willing to try!
: So there’s no point in continuing this…!
: You don’t seem to grasp your situation…

: What?!
: It’s… The barrier around the Cthulhu fortress is enveloping our units!
: Defensive stance! Bring us into Volution Mode!
: R-Roger!

: Blast… to think the Cthulhu could use a defensive barrier as a snare…!
: Heey, what gives?! Our ship’s the one meant to be attacking with barriers!
: Hohohoho… you’d best watch how you move, or it’ll cost you dearly.
: Granted, even if you do sit still, the barrier will constrict and wring the life out of you regardless!

: Can’t we do anything, Arthur?!
: No, the barrier field has us completely trapped!

Alarm!

: Their barrier is apparently taking energy from both Neos Gold and the panels composing the surface of the Cthulhu fortress. We’re not doing away with it unless we can destroy them both…!
: The Dragon’s Hive moving in! We’ll bring forth a way for our survival!
: Don’t! If you get too close, you’ll be caught in the barrier field as well!
: But how are we supposed to engage the targets if we cannot even draw near…?!
: Ahahahahaha! What’s the matter, LOTUS? If that all you have to offer?
: Uurk… damn it…!

: This isn’t good…! The Minerva…!
: …I’ll handle this.
: Atross?!
: I can still move a bit even inside the barrier field! So if I just blast Neos with all energy I have, I might be able to take her out!
: “All of your”… but if you do that, you’ll…!
: That’s crazy, Atross!
: Nagisa… you’ve no idea how happy I am to have met you. And if doing this means you all survive, then…!
: Atross…
: Don’t worry about me! If we don’t hurry, everyone’s gonna be crushed!
: Iczer-3, you go and destroy the fortress’ surface right after I’ve pushed Neos back! Do that and the barrier’ll disappear!
: Your plan is pointless… You have nowhere enough energy to be capable of destroying our fortress, Iczer-3.

Beep!

: Then I’ll take that task upon myself.
: Huh…?!
: The Messiah still has enough fuel in stock to alter its trajectory…
: A collision with an object of this much mass should generate enough force to tear through their barrier and severely damage the fortress.
: Gil…!
: You…!
: Talia… Earth truly is beautiful – a gem floating amid the darkness of space, and well deserving of such recognition…
: Hahah… This will not atone for all I’ve done, but I’m glad that I could at least help you before my death.
: Chairman! CHAIRMAN DURANDAL!!

Alarm!

: Messiah’s incoming!

Ruuuuumble!

: … We can’t let the Chairman die for nothing. Atross…!
: I’m ready…!
: You’d stand against your own mother, Atross?!
: You’re not my mother!


Atross: “For Nagisa… and for all those who called me their friend…!” > “Neos Gold! I’ll end you!”
Neos Gold: “You accursed traitooooor!!”

CRAAAAAAAASH!

: The barrier’s gone! The Minerva and all units are moving again!
: You did it, Atross!
: Y-Yeah…!

: Not good! She’s breaking down!
: Get back to the ship, Atross!
… Going somewhere, traitor?!
: !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juWsjWej3QE

: Na…gisa… I…

: Atross! ATROOOOOSS!!
: Atross…
: You…! You’re gonna pay for that!
: What are you frothing at the mouth for? Atross was a being I created from the Iczelio – her life was false from the very beginning.
: And, regardless of that, death is all that awaits traitors and the incompetent. Such is the ironclad rule of the Cthulhu!
: What’dya think life is?! You can’t just snuff it out without even batting an eye!
: Her life may have been “false” in your eyes…
: But she was still alive! She fought and laughed with all of us! And killing her…
: Is unforgivable, Neos Gold!
: Foolish humans. I have achieved perfection, and you will learn what it means to oppose me.

: You killed Atross! Get as big as you want, bring as many goons as you’d like, I’m not letting you beat me! I can’t! EVER!!


And now you get to do it again. All enemies have respawned and while you probably could ignore them and just brute force Neos (who’ll auto-cast Iron Wall until you do some hefty damage), you’re likely better off casting Confuse once or twice and killing everything for the cash.


Super Neos (Neos Gold)
Pilot Skills:
Ignore Size Difference
Commander L3
Prevail L5
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3

Super Neos gets powered up in a lot of spots, but loses a couple of things. For one, she can no longer chain attack and doesn’t even get a MAPW to fall back on (and her AI will still prioritize high HP targets), so she’s actually less dangerous.
On the flip side, she’s gotten boosts in all stats and attack power, to say nothing of HP and defense. 94k on a Prevail L5 wouldn’t be an issue normally, but the fact that she’s auto-casting Iron Wall means you’ll be doing gimped damage for a while (make sure to tag her with Yulianne!).
Killing her in one round is likely tough on a fresh game, so you might as well clear out the mooks again. Once they’re gone, the battle is practically won.


Welcome back, Rey. Pop Zeal with Shinji and we can get him perfectly positioned to cut our problems down to size.


All the new enemies get trounced in two turns, and we’re free to tackle Neos.

: An ordinary human man! I’ve nothing to speak with worms who lack any unique powers!
: Well, what a coincidence! I also have nothing to say to you! I’ll just pour all my anger into the Dannar’s fists and let them get my point across!

: Bring it on, Neos Gold! You’re about to get an eyeful of the Devil Emperor’s power!
: Hohoho… “Emperor”, you say! Please, give me your best shot - and do try not to disappoint!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFlYVpxdacc
Here’s her best attack. Get Neos below 80% HP and…

: It is useless… So long as the Iczelio lies within my grasp, I am invincible. Any other force is impotent before it.

: Urgh! Not only is she tough as nails, she can also regen?!
: What do we do now?! Our attacks are only hitting, like, half as hard thanks to that Iczelio too…!
: Run her new numbers against our previously collected data! Hurry!
: Ohohohoho…. I am perfect – almighty. I am cut from wholly different cloth from the Jama Kingdom and Darius Army.
: If the Iczelio’s the problem, then there’s one thing we can try!
: Iczer-3?!
: You’ve got an idea? What, it’s not—
: Right. It takes Iczelio energy to beat Iczelio energy, so I’ll do just what Atross did!

Iczer-3 flies after Neos.

: Iczer-3, stop!
: Insolent fool. Die, Iczer-3!

: Waah?!

BOOM!

: Ah—… Iczer-3…
: Hahahahah…! You’ve been found wanting, accursed Iczer!
: This has gotta be a sick joke… is she really gone…?
: No, wait… Over there!
: You won’t be having this your way, Neos Gold!
: What?! Who goes there?!

: … Don’t worry. Iczer-3’s safe.
: Iczer-1…! You’re back!
: My wounds have finally healed, yes. I can once more fight at your side.
: Sis! You saved me!
: I see you’ve been working very hard since I left, hm, Iczer-3?
: I did, yes! All thanks to Nagisa and our friends!
: I thank you as well, other Nagisa…
: You’re Iczer-1… Weird… this is our first time talking, but I already feel like I know you…
: You’ve my deepest appreciation for taking care of this girl, Nagisa… and now I’ll also take upon myself to guard you.
: Iczer-1, Neos Gold is using the Iczelio to shield herself. We’ve to destroy that shield or this’ll be very difficult to turn around…
: I understand. But I’m sure there’s a way for us to prevail. Just don’t give in to her…!
: Idiocy! One extra Iczer won’t help you stem the tide of my power!
: Though if you get on your knees and vow to serve me, I may decide to spare your life!
: I’m afraid not. The vow I’ve taken is to use the life I’ve been given to destroy Big Gold and protect Nagisa and Earth!
: All troops, focus fire on Neos Gold!

Neos Gold still has Iron Wall, but keep at it – you’re almost in the clear!
And in case it’s not clear, Iczer-1 can’t use the Iczer Robo or Iczer-1 Full Power right now.


:siren::siren:

: I have been waiting, Iczer-1! At last the time has come for our decisive bout!
: Your evil has grown in my absence, I see… But that also comes to an end today, Neos Gold!

: You’re Neos Gold, huh? Come and try your hand against the Great Hero! The True Great Mazinger will put you six feet under!
: Oho, you dub yourself a hero? Let us put to the test how much that power’ll avail you against a perfect being.

Get her under 70% this time, and…

: Hrrmm…! For how long are you going to continue this exercise in futility…?! I’ve grown weary of your nonsense!
: …Hrk?!

: That light!

: It’s the Iczelio energy!
: Guh… What?! How?!
: Their unyielding hearts have wrested the Iczelio energy from under your control, Neos Gold.
: It is something we, inorganic beings, cannot do… and what pushes humans to grow and evolve.
: Yeah, that’s how we won all those fights before!
: With the Iczelio back with us, does that mean…
: Hmhmm. Iczer-3, call forth the Iczer Robo!
: I’m on it!

: Iczer! ROBO!

: Here we go, Nagisa!
: Ready, Iczer-3!
: Nagisa hasn’t been in a real battle since before, mind, so don’t push things too hard!
: I know, I know! I won’t put much on her back!
: Curse you…! CURSE YOU ALL!!

There goes her Iron Wall! KIIIIILL!!

: Those smug Four Generals of yours are already toast! You ain’t taking LOTUS down by yourself, lady!
: Hmph… So Golem also died an ignoble death. I had my suspicions when she didn’t return.
: Still, I’ve no use for those that are incompetent! Bacteria like you will not give an omnipotent being pause!

: Ah, the artificial human that Golem failed to dispose of – much to my disappointment, too…
: Had the Third Impact successfully triggered, all of humanity would’ve been ashes and our immigration could have happened in earnest.
: You don’t have any right to complain when you don’t even care about your own teammates!

: We had to get through Proist and that Super Mimetic Beast to get here! No way we’re letting you do us in after all that!
: You underestimate me, Earthling! And now my overwhelming might will put the fear of death into you!

: Your underlings hurt our friends and kidnapped Nagisa! Now you’ll feel the sting of all our anger!
: Hmph… this human “solidarity” garbage is truly nigh-incomprehensible.

: I am a perfect, omnipotent being. To bare your fangs against she whom you should be worshiping… I’d call you a fool, but that would be an understatement.
: Your “omnipotence” is just a delusion! And if you cannot see that for yourself, then we’ll just have to prove it to you!

: Say whatever you want, you’re still Big Gold’s mook! I don’t buy that “I AM ALL POWERFUL” bunk for one second!
: You dare mock me?! But it will not be long before we’ve shed light on the mysteries of Nagisa Kanou’s power. The day we’ll ascent to godhood draws near!
: “Being God” is way above your paygrade, mook! “Intelligence Staff Officer” or stuff like that is more in line with you! (Neos Gold’s VA voices Maribaron in Kamen Rider Black RX)

: We don’t care about you! Get Moon WILL out here right now!
: You dub yourself a warrior who’s transcended even the gods… the gall! Bow before my overwhelming might!

If you attack after Iczer-1 came back, but before you took the Iczelio:

: Alright, my big sis is back! We’ve nothing to worry about anymore!
: You still don’t understand that victory is impossible for you!
: Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t, but that doesn’t mean we’re just gonna run off!
: Then you will die here on this moon alongside all these moronic humans!
: I won’t, because I’d never let myself get taken out by you!

With the Robo:

: Stay calm, Iczer-3! I’m sure she has a weak spot somewhere!
: Ooh, you’re right! We should go for the wound the Iczelio energy made when it left!
: Your games have gone on for long enough, Iczer-3! Even without the Iczelio, my Super Neos still houses gigantic amounts of energy!
: And the Iczer Robo’ll send all that energy flying!

: Wh-Why?! How… I was supposed to be unbeatable! GAAAAAAAAAH!!

: Yeah! We finally wrecked Neos Gold!

: No more signs of the enemy around the fortress!
: Time for us to get in there, then…!
: And we even got that huge hole opened up on it. Even the Macross should be able to fit through.
: That’s the road the Chairman paved for us. Let’s not be ungrateful, then—

Beep!

: How abominable the sight of you squirming organics is! It is utterly BAAaaflinnng!
: Who goes there?!
: I’m certain you know who. It is I, Moon WILL… overseer of civilizations.
: You’re Moon WILL…!
: Come on IIIiinnnn, LOTUS! The girl you seek, Nagisa Kanou, awaits. As do I! And BIIiig GOOoold…!
: We will neither run NOoorr HIIiide! Indeed, we all await within the fortress before YOOoouu…!

Bloop.

: I guess we’re officially invited into their home.
: Heh, works for me. Beats having to sneak around the place, right?
: Yeah. And we’d have to fight them sooner or later, too…
: …

Iczer-1 flies south, spotting a fulfilled secret!

: What is it, Iczer-1?
: I sense the child, Atross… she’s still barely alive!
: Ah?!

: …

Iczer-3 pops out the Iczer Robo and heads over.

: Atross!
: Is there anything we can do to save her, Iczer-1?!
: I’m not sure… but it’s worth trying!
: Any units that need repairs and resupplies are to return to the ships at once! We’re entering the enemy fortress!
: Roger!

: …
: What happens now, Iczer-1?
: I’ll give her a portion of my energy. She was born of the Iczelio, so this could potentially save her life. I’ll need your help as well Iczer-3.
: Okay! Atross saved me back there, so I gotta pay her back!

: Please open your eyes, Atross…!
: If a kind soul has found its way into this child… If her heart truly shines bright, then we can bring her back…!

: Atross!

: Hm…
: Atross…! You did it! She’s back!
: Oh, Atross… thank goodness…!
: Nagisa…? You’re okay…
: We all are…! And so are you…!
: What a relief… Haah…
: You’re Iczer-1… Why did you save me…?
: What makes you ask that…?
: Because, look at you…! You and Iczer-3 are all groggy after using your energy to save me…!
: It’s said that people are prone to doing irrational things from time to time. Besides…
: Does one need a reason to try and save her little sister?
: …! Sister…
: Can… can I call you “sis” too, then…?
: Of course…

: There they go. Now we only need to rescue Nagisa and things’ll be just peachy.
: Our units should be about done resupplying. Let’s get going!

You only get to keep Atross if you had Iczer-3 beat her back on mission 26.


Some time later, Nagisa and Iczer-1 are trying to sense Nagisa Kanou inside the fortress, but the girl’s voice is growing steadily weaker. Mido and Saotome are patrolling ahead and found a wide open area inside the fortress – perfect for a huge brawl.
Ichitaka gapes at the baddies apparently setting up an arena for our showdown, but it tells Kurara that Moon WILL must be feeling pretty confident. He’s taunting us, Sakuya thinks – the guy probably thinks he’s hot stuff because he’s got that Original Dancouga thing.
Well, Seimi’s got the Nova all set up and ready to go, and Aoi’s looking forward to this Dancouga vs. Dancouga match. It’ll be the climax of Team D’s piloting career!

Ruuuumble!

: What was that…?
: Neos Gold has fallen, and LOTUS has made its way inside the fortress, I’d wager.
: They did?!

Tweep!

: Ah… this is…! Iczer-1’s with them! She came back!
: It’s a bit too soon for celebration, Nagisa… Her return does nothing to change your predicament.
: Furthermore, it is time I made you compliant…
: C-Compliant…? With what…?!
: Oh, you stupid girl… compliant with being mine.
: You will be my partner, Nagisa. Surely you understand that that’s why you were taken in the first place…?
: No! My place is with Iczer-1! I’d never be your partner!
: Ah, Nagisa… you’re adorable. But should beings as frail as humans deign to speak like that…?

Tentacles!

This is probably where I should say that Iczer-1 originally started in a porn mag. The anime doesn’t go that far, of course…

: Aah?! D-Do you think you can intimidate me with these creepy things…?!
: Did you forget what you’ve heard? These infect and transform the human hosts into monsters from the inside-out. Would you care to go the way of dear “mommy and daddy”?
: N-No… stop… urgh…
: You’d best agree to my terms quickly, or these tentacles will run you through.

Tentacle noises!

: … No! Threaten me with whatever you want, I won’t do it!
: What…?!
: And if you’re going to kill me, just get it over with!
: I see… I suppose I will, then, Nagisa.

: Gaah…!
: (Help me… Iczer-1…! Iczer-1! Iczer-ooone!!)

And so Durundal dies, not like a little bitch, but by helping you beat the Iczer baddies. Rest in peace.

Also good to remember that Iczer 1 had quite a sad ending. This, however…

Click to see the mission!


Here we are again, and Daiya has closed that gap ever-so-slightly – he’s now 11 kills behind Ichitaka. Time is running short for our boy!


Iczer-1 was welcomed back into our fold by being upgraded to 50% (Accuracy +15, EN +100, Movement +1); the Great Mazinger was also pushed up there (Armor +200, Accuracy +15), with the rest of the cash going into the Nagahamas. They’ll likely be next.


As you might expect, the Iczers, Dancouga and R-Daigun are deploying as events. We also have 18 slots to play with, so we adjust accordingly:
Kouichi/Quatre
Daiya/Hilde
Alto/Michel
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Jeeg/Micchi
Shinji/Rey
Kouji/Sawatari
Tetsuya/Canaria
Kira/Athrun
Asuka/Atross
Goh/Yanma
Reiji/Anna
Ichitaka/Miu
Ozma/Luca
Voltes/Combattler
Yuu/Heero
Shinn/Yulianne

Off we go to tackle two finales, and also find the best money-making spot in the game.


Mission 35 – The Eternal Soldier

: Captain, we’ve arrived at the open area.
: It’s enormous…
: Something’s not right with this fortress! We should’ve already made it all the way through the whole dang thing looking at how far we’ve travelled to get here!
: It appears the interior of the fortress is far wider than what its outer shell suggested.
: We’ve pinging dimensional anomalies. Most likely they’re employing subspace technology as a way to expand the inner area.

Tweep!

: That voice…! It’s her!
: Really, Nagisa?!
: Help me, Iczer-1…!
: I heard her too, Nagisa…!

Alarm!

: We’ve energy readings dead ahead!
: Deploy all units! Everyone stay on your toes!

: Let’s see what surprises await us…

: I’m impressed that you’ve made it all the way here, LOTUS.
: Iczer-1… Hand Nagisa back to us!
: My dear sister, I’m bursting with joy that I could see you again… As for Nagisa…
: …
: Aah, Nagisa…! Thank goodness you’re safe…!
: They didn’t do anything to you, right?!
: Hold on, I’ll be with you in a moment, Nagisa!

Iczer-1 flies towards her.

: …

BEAM!

: Hrk! Na-Nagisa… why…?
: …
: Oh, where are my manners? My sister, allow me to introduce you to Nagisa Kanou… my partner. Ahahahahaha!
: Huh…?! What the hell?!
: Damn those Cthulhu… They’ve got her under mind control!
: It can’t be…! I heard… The voice I heard was hers, I’m sure…!
: What do you think, Iczer-1? You’d have no qualms with losing your life at her hands, right? End her, Nagisa!
: …

Tweep!

: (I’m sorry, Iczer-1…! I… I can’t stop myself…!)
: (Please… please, attack! Kill me!)
: Nagisa…?!
: Those are… tears?!
: Nagisa’s hurting!
: …
: Iczer-1’s in danger! Cover her!
: Cover her, how…? She’s being attacked by…!
: She’s just a regular girl…!
: (Hurry! If you don’t, I’m really going to kill you…)
: Iczer-2, do you not hear Nagisa’s voice?!
: What…?
: Even if you dominate her, her heart cannot and will not be bound. And, as such, you can never make her your partner.
: …
: … Fine. Then let us both forget about partners… One last duel, just you and me.
: Nagisa, stand back.
: …

: Of course, I cannot have LOTUS intruding upon my long-awaited duel with you… Still, I can provide them with ample entertainment with which to keep busy. Come forth!

: Mimetic Beasts?!
: What’re they doing here…?!
: A few of their cells stuck to Cobalt’s Dilos Theta, and we saw fit to cultivate these. You’d best destroy them all or these monsters will soon start to multiply, no? Ahahaha…!
: I’ll deal with Iczer-2, my friends. Dispatch the Mimetic Beasts – quickly!
: Hmph… You are hardly a worthy match without Nagisa’s help, my sister!
: My power does not come from Nagisa alone! And if you cannot grasp that, then…!

Iczer-1 and 2 fly farther away.


:siren: :siren:

: Nagisa’s still her hostage, though, so we can’t try anything risky. All troops, do NOT engage Iczer-2!
: We believe in you, Iczer-1…! We know you can win this and get Nagisa back!


Mission Objective: Shoot down Iczer-2
Mission Failure: Any allied ship, Iczer-1, Dancouga Nova or R-Daigun destroyed. Any unit other than Iczer-1 attacks Iczer-2.

And you thought we’d seen the last of the Mimetic Beasts. Thankfully, they’re unchanged from our old brawls, so your main concern should be dealing with the small ones to stop them from draining your EN. Curiously, the Regulus Alphas you’ll be fighting in this mission are all of the lesser variety – none have 50k HP, like in the last mission – so they’ll die quickly when focus fired (especially if you tag them with Yulianne).
Regardless, the order of the day here is resource management as you’ll want to conserve your resources in preparation for Moon Wakamoto and BIIiiig Gold.
Slowly build up morale on the mooks before you and start inching your way a wee bit past the center of the room – towards Iczer-2, but not close enough that stray MAPWs will hit Iczer-2, mind! That’s the money spot right there.


Might as well get this started.

: Put down your blade, Iczer-2! There’ll be no victory for you against me!
: Hmph… Are you so worried about Nagisa that you’re spouting nonsense?
: It’s unbecoming of a warrior to proclaim such things in the midst of battle, you know!
: …
: The universe is in a constant vortex of combat. And it is only the victorious that stand as its rulers!
: How can a warrior like you not understand that?
: However, the only battle that should be fought is one to keep said conflict from spreading throughout the universe!
: That is precisely what Iczer-3’s fighting for – as a representative of a new era.
: Don’t make me laugh! You’re a failure as a warrior and defeat at my hands is the end you deserve!
: Let us answer once and for all who is the mightiest, Iczer-1!
: Iczer-2…!


Well… crap. Even at 50% HP upgrades, Iczer-1 is still very much frail if the enemy can get through her evasiveness. Granted, that was a 25% chance to hit, so the RNG obviously didn’t cooperate.

: Urgh…
: Indeed, you are a failure as a warrior. Especially when compared to me…
: Stand up, Iczer-1!
: We all know you’re a way stronger girl than that!

Casts Strike, Iron Wall and Valor!

: …
: …!! Iczer-1… Is that Nagisa’s power…?!
: It’s not… And I’ve told you already: my power does not come from Nagisa alone.
: That’s impossible! You cannot be generating this much power without being synchronized…!
: And it is because you cannot understand this, Iczer-2… that your odds of victory are nil!

So, yeah, despite what the mission failure screen might say, Iczer-1 straight-up CANNOT be killed (at least not by Iczer-2 – I dunno if her getting dropped by a mook is a game over). With that in mind, even if you haven’t upgraded Iczer-1 to 50%, her casting Strike and Valor every time she dies means that, eventually, Iczer-2 will go down, so there’s no pressure there.
We’ll just carry on with the mooks while she handles this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE4BIhPN-YQ
And here’s Athrun’s surfboard attack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnIuILIKI-Y
Finally, Kira’s strongest non-combined attack.

And that’s all enemies dow—

: Reinforcements.
: This is the Cthulhu HQ, so it’s to be expected that they’d have a near limitless supply of forces.
: But we only need to find and defeat Big Gold and Moon WILL to win this…!
: Something that matter, my sister? If you let this battle drag on, your friends will, sooner or later, get exhausted.
: … Then let’s settle this, Iczer-2.

Nah, not quite. This, right here, is where you make money: unlike other missions, this one really does have a limitless supply of mooks and nearly all of them can be oneshotted with a single Valored MAPW (make sure Iczer-2’s out of the AoE!). If you weaken the bulkier guys before blasting them all, depending on what you can squeeze into the attack range, you’re looking at upwards of 110-130k a pop with Bless cast.
If you REALLY want to abuse this, you can farm until your MAPers and Bless casters run out of SP (and Hope casts), have someone attack Iczer-2 to trigger a game over and do it all over again to rake in big bucks. I’m not doing it, but you can if you’d like to max your favorite guys.


So, excuse me for a bit while I go all Scrooge McDuck on this. One.


Two!


Three!


Four!


Here comes the moneeeeey!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vXjIGpGHhc
Oh, and I finally remembered to get the last of Atross’ attacks on camera.


And done.

: Rrgh…!
: There’s no point in continuing this battle any longer, Iczer-2. This… is the power of the bonds between us – that which is born from our thoughts to one another.
: Hah… in the end, I could not prevail against Nagisa… and I could not prevail against this “power” the humans possess either. Still… I’ll at least prevail against you, sister!
: …
: I was… I was given life solely for that! I am Iczer-2, she who was created to kill Iczer-1!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS_0mdKraBQ
Iczer-2: “My sister… I…!”
Iczer-1: “Iczer-2… you are…” > “It’s time we brought this to an end…!”

: …
: What are you doing…? Kill me… Mother won’t show herself if you do not…
: I’ve no desire to take my younger sister’s life… As for Big Gold, I will hunt and destroy her regardless of my sparing you.
: …
: …
: … You may have Nagisa…
: Ah…! Iczer-1…! Iczer-1!!
: Nagisa…! Oh, Nagisa…!
: My sister… I wish I had a partner like Nagisa…

: There she goes…

: I feel kind of bad for her now…
: Don’t… she fought with all of her might and was ultimately defeated. I don’t think she has any regrets over this.
: Iczer-2… where will you go now…?
: Nagisa, are you injured?
: No, I’m fine. And, more importantly, I’m ready to fight too. Big Gold’s closing in!
: I understand. Iczer… Robo!

: Huh? You brought another Iczer Robo with you, sis?!
: Yes. Gray saw fit to prepare a new one for me and Nagisa to use.
: And, with this, our rescue operation’s a success… all that remains now…
: Is Big Gold and Moon WILL…
: Let’s continue deeper into the fortress. All units, maintain high alert status!
: You don’t need to search for us.
: …!

: Very well done, Iczer-1.
: You as well, organics.
: Big Gold…!
: Moon WILL’s also decided to show his face, huh…!

Looks at Moon WILL.

: And there’s the Original Dancouga that WILL told us about.
: To think it’d be this mighty… This is Nagisa’s power at work…? Or, rather, the power of humans?
: Though I’m now aware of Nagisa’s heritage, this ability to draw power from emotions… it is a mystery I could not quantify. You, however, seem to have made sense of it, Iczer-1.
: Organic life… when presented with the slightest opening, it emerges, begins to reproduce and multiply…
: And, ultimately, it vies for what the other has, and kills one another… It is the only way beings like you know to survive. Pitiful creatures…
: How can these lumps of water and protein, who cannot even control themselves, come to wield such power?
: It is wholly incomprehensible! But this is the horrible truth…
: Are you done monologuing? Because all you’re doing is meddling in our lives! Inorganic life or whatever you are, we sure as hell aren’t gonna sit here and let you kill us on your stupid whims!
: “Meddling? “Whims”? Perhaps, from your limited point of view, that might be a fair assessment.
: HOOoowever! It is fact that you organics, SOooner or LAAaater, will bring war to the galaxy!
: It has happened in this universe! And in the PREEeevious universe! Always! AALWAAYS!! AD INFINITUUUuummm!!!
: And I’ll purge all of humanity, these deeply flawed creatures, before it has a chance to grow and affect the entire GAAaalaxyyyy!
: I’ll admit that you could even point to our world for a ton of examples. We’ve had both wars with foreign civilizations and between ourselves…
: You’re right that competition and disputes are bound to appear whenever there are two groups living in the same place. That said…
: We’re all fighting to try and make real a world where that is not the case!
: Hah, fools… do you honestly think all organics share your ideals…?!
: Then we’ll just fight…and survive!
: Iczer-1… we are each a facet of the universe… each a half of Sir Violet’s spirit…
: If it was her malice that gave me, a machine, flesh, it was her kindness that gave you, an android, a heart.
: Only one of us can be said to truly represent her essence, and the time has come to see which!
: Big Gold… I’ll destroy you!


Big Gold
Pilot Skills:
Ignore Size Difference
Break Morale Limit
Commander L4
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3
Mech Features:
10% HP Regen
30% EN Regen

If Neos Gold was rather simple, Big Gold can be much of a threat. For one, she is VERY dodgy (pairing an SS size with S ranks in relevant terrains and a ton of mobility), so if your guys haven’t enough SP to outright cast Strike, you’ll be looking at not-so-great numbers. When she starts running Prevail, you might as well be ready to save scum. Her stats, as Iczer characters are wont to have, are huge, so she’s also enormously accurate (Confuse!).
Despite her Prevail L9, though, she hasn’t much by way of defenses (plus, Yulianne still works) – if you can connect reliably, you’ll be fine. On the flip side, whoever goes to engage her should absolutely come packing defenses because Big Gold can hit like a TRUCK, especially once her Prevail gets going. If you wanna mitigate that some, have Daiya (or Lee, if you haven’t combined yet) tag her with an Attack Down debuff.

Finally, something to be mindful of is that she has a MAPW that’ll blast everything in in a 3x9 (the width turns to 5 from the middle to the penultimate row) line with some very good accuracy. Thankfully, it takes 130 morale to use it so, unless you’ve a ton of mooks left behind from the start of the mission, she won’t have enough to blast you on approach. If she does, be ready with Daunt/Exhaust casts.
As I said, come packing Strike, Valor and some measure of defenses, and she’ll go down quickly. Don’t, and you’ll be having a hard time.

So now fast forward a couple of turns of getting all my units up top and in position, dangling my ships in Big Gold’s range to make sure she’d take shots at them.
Mind you, on the 2nd enemy turn after the bosses arrive…

: I live.
: What the… Neos Gold?!
: But we beat her before we came in…
: Hmhmhm… while creating her as a proper spawn isn’t as simple, I can easily bring forth Neos Gold as a terminal unit of mine.
: I won’t allow you to sow any more seeds of evil across the universe!
: Stay strong, Iczer-1! I’m here for you!
: This is where we need to whether the storm! We’ve the targets cornered, troops!
: Yes, ma’am!

Yes, you have four Neos Golds as an extra bonus and they’re exact copies of the original. You COULD kill them as well for some extra cash but, frankly, I think that’d mostly drain you of the SP you’d need to kill the main bosses and the payout wouldn’t be worth it.
Let’s carry on and take the boss lady herself!

: I never got this sensation of pure evil from non-Flame stuff before… She feels so much like Proist’s…!
: You’re implying my flesh is similar to you people’s Flame? An intriguing assessment, that.
: And, in that case, I’m gonna have to show you how the power of Gaiking’s Flame matches yours and then some!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmP-KC5hk18
Here’s her best and only non-MAPW attack.


:siren: :siren:

: Big Gold…! This is it for you!
: Wrathful warrior of Earth… were you to fully embrace your hatred, even greater power could be yours. What a waste.
: You can’t let hatred lead you in battle! I learned that throughout all this, and it’s why I’ll put you down!

: A machine with a soul… can I actually win against something like that…?
: No, I have to…! I have to win…!
: Ignorance is a dreadful thing. Many things can serve as vessels for souls… humans aren’t unique in that regard.

: I appreciate you telling us that you’re evil incarnate. Now I can smash you to bits without a gram of regret!
: Have it your way. Good and evil… yin and yang… This confrontation was always inevitable…!

: Iczer-1’s told us a lot about you, but I didn’t think you’d actually be another blob of pure malice…!
: Come and try your vaunted “power of the heart” on me. I find it rather curious.

: A warrior that claims to be an agent of justice? Very well. Try and make me feel the justice you preach.
: All this time, Nagisa was scared. But she still hung in there and kept on fighting.
: So what I want to do now… is just to help her out, even if just a bit!

: Ichitaka, all systems are green! We’re good to go!
: Foolish child… however diligent you may be at your work, it is your fate to be thrown away, just as I was.
: Don’t even start with that! Alice’s like family! We’d never dump her!
: Ichitaka…!
: Come on, Alice! Let’s go and kick her butt – together!

: A machine crowned with the title of God… show me the extent of its powers.
: Gramps said that the Kaiser could surpass even God, destroy even the Devil…!
: And this, right here, is the time to destroy a legit devil!

: How much suffering has your hatred brought to the Cthulhu people?!
: It wasn’t my hatred alone the cause of this. The malice within Sir Violet’s heart also played a major role.
: Maybe… but none of this would’ve happened without you!

: You, of all people, should realize the duality that exists within every being…
: Plus and minus, yin and yang, light and dark… Yeah, I can see your point.
: But all those are still just parts of who I am! Whatever I might hold inside, I can always choose what goes! And that’s what I’ll do right now!

: “Love”… how much power does it grant humans? In what way is it different from the power granted by hatred? Let us find out.
: I don’t need to “find out” anything! Love is the mightiest weapon of all, and I say that with no doubt!

: Sir Violet was a very dutiful leader who always wished for peace…
: And even she could not prevent her heart from being eroded by malice. You, too, cannot escape from that.
: I guess that’s true – it’s just how humans are. Still, we all have friends that’ll support us along the way! So long as they’re here, our hearts will endure!


In case you didn’t believe me when I said she hits like a truck. If you’ll remember, my Voltes is pretty dang upgraded!

: She might look like a little kid but it feels like I’m staring down a giant …!
: My body is malice made flesh… I’d wager what you’re feeling is horror towards the evil you face.

: Big Gold… If you really are pure evil, then I won’t hesitate to kill you…!
: Indeed, my body was born off the malice in Sir Violet’s heart.
: In other words, while people like her – people with malice within – exist, beings like me will always emerge.
: And we’ll also deal with them if they do. That said, my actual goal is to help build a world where nothing like you can ever be born.

: Iczer-3, we have to help Nagisa too!
: Yup! We’ll watch my sis’ back all the way!
: Iczer-3, that sorry excuse for a warrior… You’ve successfully synchronized with Nagisa Kasumi as well? Indeed, the Nagisas’ bloodline is force to be reckoned with.

: Sis, Iczer-3… I swear to you I won’t go down! I’ll win even against Big Gold herself!
: The warrior Neos created… Show me how much your power will avail you.

: Dancouga… that which was created to carry the seeds of all life on Earth into space when the end came for that planet…
: Were a unit capable of autonomous actions like you to drift in space long enough, you’d likely follow in my footsteps…
: Sorry, but you won’t have a chance to find out.
: Because we passed on using the Dancouga to run off with our tails between our legs! The option we took was to stay and fight for our lives!

: Iczer-1… not once did I expect you to have this much power.
: Indeed, our greatest mistake was not finding and eliminating your partner before you awakened.
: Nagisa… we’re going. Now we avenge your parents!
: Right… we will win this, Iczer-1…!


Iczer-1: “Nagisa!”
Nagisa: “Big Gold! We’ll destroy you and bring all this to a close!”

: It is useless… My body is malice incarnate. It’s beyond you to eradicate me.
: … I understand. And if we cannot do that… then we have but to seal you away.
: Seal her away…?
: But we used Sakahoko getting rid of Himika! How’re we gonna do that?!
: As Big Gold herself said, mine and her soul are two halves of the same thing…
: So it should be possible to seal Big Gold’s malice within me…
: Hold on, Iczer-1! What’ll happen to you if you do that?!
: Don’t worry, Nagisa. That which was once brought apart will be made whole again… that’s all this will be.
: … You better make it back to us, alright? You can’t just leave your partner behind.
: Of course. I will return…

Iczer-1 gets out the Iczer Robo

: We’re going, Nagisa…! Synchronize yourself with me…!
: Okay. Take everything I have! So, please, Iczer-1…
: … Win. Please win…!
: Absolutely…! I promise!

: And so you come… Die, Iczer-1!!


:siren: :siren:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6G9ppPJ-9o
“Big Gold… I now draw upon Nagisa’s power and seal your evil away!”
“To battle! Synchro!”
“Behold the strength of the bond between Nagisa and I!”
“And with this… you’re through!”

: Th-That’s…?! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!

: …
: Sis…?
: … Victory is ours, Iczer-3. Big Gold is now a part of me.
: Then…!
: Hm. Thanks to you, I now have a human heart as well… a heart that holds both good and evil, just like yours…
: I’ve fulfilled my promise, Nagisa.
: Yes, you did…! I love you, Iczer-1!

: Both good and evil, huh…? Then being a perfect Champion of Justice really is just a crazy dream, I guess…
: But striving to be a Champion of Justice is never without merit. You simply cannot allow the darkness within to prevail, Kouichi.
: If you can acknowledge your deficiencies and not allow those to push you into despair, then it is not impossible for you to become a Champion of Justice.
: That’s right… everyone is weak – that is to say, they are human.
: That is why we can never give up hope, why we must never stop striving onwards.
: WROOOoonnng!
: !!
: THAT IS WHYYyyy we, the WILLs, must eradicate the lot of YOOoouuu! You, feeble creatures who yield to their own weakness! You, the ROOoot of conflict!
: Shut your trap…!
: WHAAaaat…?
: I said shut your trap! I don’t give a damn how OH-SO-AMAZING you are, or for how long a hunk of tech like you has been watching creatures like us…
: If you can’t listen to a single boy’s worries for even a second, then you’re a crap observer and a busted machine!
: Charge forward, Team D! You and LOTUS!
: Let’s go wild!

[i]And I reckon this is good for today. The rest of this mission will should go up on the weekend.

Oh, and if you decided to ignore the warnings and actually have someone attack Iczer-2:[/i]

: Tch, you blasted humans… you’ll intrude upon our duel…?!

After your attack…

: So you’ll resort to such dishonorable tricks, my sister…?
: No, Iczer-2! That’s—!
: Nagisa’s power is truly impressive… but alas. LOTUS, sister, I’ll rain the greatest of sorrows unto you for this.
: Nagisa, end your life.
: …

Beam!

: Th-That’s… a lie, right…?
: N-No…
: Nagisa… NAGISAAAAAA!!

So don’t do it!

Watching Wufei and Kouichi blather on about TRUE JUSTICE never gets old.

Click to see the mission!

Welcome back, folks, and it’s time to wrap up this long mission. FYI, before we start, I managed to get the BGMs from the previous update on tindeck:


Original Dancouga (Moon WILL)
Pilot Skills:
Break Morale Limit
Commander L4
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3
Unit Features:
10% HP Regen
30% EN Regen

Pretty much the same as Big Gold, Moon WILL is just as good as her, only bulkier and with a more melee focus. Good news is that his strongest attack is only point-blank range, so that makes things simpler. On the flip side, his DanZankuuga comes in single-target and MAPW flavors, the latter having the same AoE as Kira’s – watch it, or else.
Big Gold’s death has made all Dilos Thetas vanish, so there’re only his Regulus Alphas around running interference. Keep an eye on Moon WILL’s range and let him close in before you swarm. If you’re running low of EN, feel free to spend a turn parking your guys inside a ship and giving them a lift closer.
Provided your troops aren’t COMPLETELY spent, you’re pretty much on the home stretch now. Do try to keep your guys protected because, like Big Gold, Moon WILL can hurt when his Prevail gets going, and losing your guys at the home stretch would be disgraceful.

So insert here me slapping three Regulus Alphas silly, and off we go!

: Humans managed to overcome even the Insania Virus and continue to multiply… Like a SWAAAaarm of locusts infesting Earth!
: All everyone’s been doing is fighting for their lives, and we’re sure as hell not letting you put an end to all that!

: I take it your home universe has seen its fair share of interstellar conflicts.
: Such is where all organics are inevitably drawn to! It is that which I dread: WAAAAR! A war that encompasses the GAAaalaxyyy!
: But we were still able to make peace with the Boazans and befriend the Zentradi!
: If you figure you’re justified because of what you’ve experienced, then that goes both ways! And so we’ll end you and make our peace a reality!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W25qrq1X61E
Quick showcase of Moon Wakamoto’s tricks.

: You struck down the Chairman of the PLANTs, he who was once an ally, over something as paltry as a difference of opinions! I saw it all UNFOOoold!
: It’s this INNnncapatiyyy to maintain lasting cooperation that’s your biggest FLAAaaw. It is proof of your folly!
: Maybe, but we also have enough intelligence to try and avoid conflict. We’re nowhere as stupid as you take us for!
: Come on, Moon WILL. I, Tetsuya Tsurugi, will enlighten you on the depths of humans!

: NONE OF THIS NEEDED TO HAPPEN! You organics only had to know your place!
: But even in this universe, you’re already SPREEAaading across the galaxyyy… It is only a matter of time before war BEGIIiiinnss!!
: And that’s all the reason you need to kill every single living thing?!
: Well, Kouji Kabuto ain’t putting up with your extermination! Buckle up, ‘cause this is gonna hurt!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuhpVeXU0SA
And his best attack! BRRUUAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!


:siren: :siren:

: The OOoonnly future that awaits you lumps of water and protein is death and DESTRUCTIOOoonnn!
: AAaannnd! If that is the case, I’ll eradicate you before your poison sickens the galaxy as WEEeeelll!
: You don’t get to decide what our destiny is! There’s so much more to humans that just our bad side!

: All organic life is bound to turn evil… such is the AAAaabsolute truth of this universe! And, thus, it falls on me to bring death – DEATH TO ALL OF THEEeemmm!!
: You’re wrong! Evil, good, and more are all are born from the same thing: the soul!
: That’s what makes life so magnificent, and why I’ll stand with Nagisa in Earth’s defense!
: Go for it, Iczer-1! I’m there with you!

: Surrender and accept your death…! Do it, and all will return to nothing…
: Listen here, you. We’re finally seeing the light at the end of this tunnel and you think you can just crawl out the woodwork, yelling that we all gotta die because we’re “FOOOoools”? How the hell do you figure I’d be OK with that?
: It is the folly of organics that beckons wars… No more REEeeaasons are necessary!
: This talk about “organics” isn’t really my forte, but I do know that Alice’s got an organic AI and I really don’t think there’s any problem with that!
: All this time she’s learned and grown… no different from what anyone else can do! Humans might be stupid, but that doesn’t mean we stay stupid forever!

: You FOOoolish humans will never stop warring… It is part of your nature! Coded into your DEEE EHNNN AAAAAY!
: You might be right to say we’re foolish… but all of us are capable of changing for the better!
: And so long as that possibility exists, I’ll never give in!

: To make that unit a vessel for one’s hopes is such idiocy, I cannot even put it to words. Indeed, the ultimate fate of organic life… is DESTRUCTIOooonnn!
: No one here is about to let you play judge, jury and executioner with our lives. Moon WILL… I’ll destroy you.


“Target IDed: Original Dancouga.”

: Given the chaaannnce, an impetuous being like you could well become a force of destructiooonnn… And, so, it falls on me to nip it AAAT THE BUUuuud!
: Why won’t you even try talking to us?! How about you stop trying to destroy us preemptively and, instead, help us rid this world of war?!
: Don’t even try it, Nagisa…! This guy’s just like Neos: punches are the only thing they understand!

: I’ll be the first to admit that I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed, but even I can tell that a whole lot stinks about your logic!
: You…! You are a relative of TAAAaaakeruuuuu!
: Blast you, Eaaaarth WIIIIiiiiLL… If you hadn’t ignored Takeru and his kind’s arrival on Earth and instead destroyed them, the flames of war wouldn’t have been stoked SOOooo!!

: I’ll clean all OOoorganic LIIiife! Earth must be purged, or it’ll mean GALACTIC RUUuiinnn!!
: So if we’re beaten here, it’d be the same as letting the Third Impact happen… I’m not having it! No way!

: In the past, the people of your world awakened a surveillance unit left behind by an ancient civilization…
: That civilization was the Protoculture… and the fact that humanity awakened their unit is undeniable proof of its FOOoolishness! (Check Macross Zero.)
: We’re not as irredeemable as you’re suggesting! Even back in our world, we managed to bridge the gap between us and the Zentradi with song!
: I’m sure different species can all learn to coexist in one place without killing each other!

: Even the DAAaariannn people turned to invading another in the name of their own NEEeeeds!
: Your people will do the same in due time! You are SELFISH! AAAVARIIICIOUS! My eyes see the truth!
: Yeah, they tried to invade us for a while but, after it was all said and done, we all chose to coexist! What you’re doing is called cherry-picking and I’m not taking it!

: So you wish to fight me, FOOoolish organiiiiic!
: No one here “wishes” to fight anything! But we’re Champions of Justice, so we can’t just look the other way when someone’s trying to take the lives of others!

: You’ve recovered from the Rabid Syndrome… that is in DIIiirect opposition to NAAaatureee!
: You’ve overcome that which was your due via brute strength! You’ve long-since shown yourself as a destrooooyyeer of the natural order! LAAaaay down your weapons and welcome DEEEAATH! DOOOO IIIIT!
: You’re wrong! All this proves is that human ingenuity is capable of overcoming anything, not matter how difficult it is!
: And it’s with that strength we have that we’ll find peace with each other!

: Warriors of God, humans, beasts… the distinction matters not! I’ll eradicate all organics!
: Creatures who should not exist in this world… Uuunnnwanted beings… That is what you Aaaare!!
: There’s no such thing as an unwanted life! If it was born, it’s because someone wanted it!
: Your sophistry is the mark of a FOOOoool – accept it! Consider the underlying order of this universe, and you will know JUUusstice lies with the WIIIiiiLLs!
: Someone who’d do away with the future of children, who’d made them cry, doesn’t get to say he’s on the side of justice!

: I trust that my units’ regenerative abilities haven’t slipped your minds…
: Argh, why is it always that?!
: So what his regen is strong! All that means is we gotta hit him harder than it can keep up with, right?!

: Alright, ready the Final Dankuuhou!
: Tannhäuser, standby!
: TAKE HIM DOWN!!

: Do you still not see that it is UUuuselessss?! Of course, your unbridled attachment to life is HAAaardly surpriiiising…!
: How… How’s he alive after eating all those?!
: Do you have anything, Yamashita?!
: Yeah, and it’s not good! We don’t have enough firepower to overwhelm the Original Dancouga…!
: Like hell we don’t! We’re gonna try again and make it work!
: He’s right! We just gotta attack in sequence, or change our approach a bit, or…!
: … And it will still not be enough.
: What… then there really isn’t anything we can do?!
: Kch…
: No way… I refuse to accept that!
: Right. We’re not taking that answer! We can’t die here… this isn’t the end any of us want for our lives!
: … There might be something we could try.
: Really?!
: They’re probably right that we cannot defeat the Original Dancouga with external attacks.
: However, if we use all of the Dragon’s Hive energy to propel the Dancouga and strike at Moon WILL himself inside the unit…!
!! But that’s…!
: Yes, a suicide attack is about the only way to describe it. It may well cost the pilots’ their lives.
: Absolutely not; that plan is crazy! What’s the point of this if we don’t all make it back?!

: … Then we just have to make sure we all do make it back in one piece. We’re going for it.
: Aoi…?
: We don’t want to die here, so we just have to make sure we survive! It’s as simple as that!
: I’m counting on you, Eida…
: … Yes, ma’am. I confess that I’m also far from having sung my last, or enjoyed all that life has to offer…
: And, Tanaka, we’re hoping for some hazard pay once this is done.
: I’ll see what I can do. That’ll require making some additions to your contracts, of course, so I must ask that you all return safely.
: If we actually pull this off… I guess I’ll put in a call to my old man once this is over…
: All preparations are complete. We’re ready to go on your order, Aoi!

: That’s… wait…!
: We’ll set you free from this mission of yours!
: Stop! You’ll die as well!!
: Dancouga Max God! FLYYYYYYYY!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdcQP7xMwGc
Aoi: “Time to close the book on this!” > “F.S.!”
F.S.: “We’re placing everything in your hands!”
Aoi: “Let’s go wild!”
F.S. “Dragon’s Hive, discharge all stored energy!”
Johnny: “Hang tight! We’ll use the kick of the de-combination to launch the Nova Eagle!
Eida: “Aoi!”
Kurara: “Aoi!”
Sakuya: “Kick his ass!”
Aoi: “Yeah, I’ll put him down! Promise!” > “It’s OVER!!”
Moon WILL: This… This CANNOT BEEEEEEEEEeeeeeee!
Aoi: “Transcendent Beast Combination!!” > “Dancouga! MAX GOD!!”

: UUURRRUUAAAAAAAAAAAAARGGH!!

: We… we did it!
: Yes! They’re all safe! No signs of Moon WILL!
: Farewell… Moon WILL…

: All enemy units confirmed destroyed!
: No other troops detected either!
: Then…
: Victory is ours!
: Gil… you helped pave the way for this future, and it is now safe…
: Thank you so much, my friends…
: Thank you, Nagisa! Why don’t you go back to the Macross and get some rest?
: Okay. You hurry on over too, alright?

: Whew… I’m seriously beat after all that. I could really go for a massage right about now.
: Fret not, for I have procured several special massage chairs for all of you. Enjoy them to your heart’s content, please.
: This better not be another prank, or I swear!
: …… O-Of course it isn’t!
: Hey, why’d you take so long to answer, huh? You were up to something, weren’t you!
: … Reiji, would you mind letting me shoot him this time?
: Be my guest.
: N-Now wait just a minute! You’d actually kill me if you did that now!
: Reap what you sow, Mr. Ishigami. Reap what you sow.
: Ahahaha…

: Very well done, all of you… Let us leave this fortress. There’s no telling what might happen while its systems are powering down.
: You’re right. All LOTUS ships, prepared to leave the Cthulhu For—
: I will not allow it…!
: Hrm?!

: I am reborn…!
: Whaaaat?!
: Neos Gold… How?! All of Big Gold’s terminal units disappeared when we beat her…!
: Once more you underestimate me…! I am my mother’s spawn, wholly incomparable to mere terminal units…!
: But you’re still all beat up! How do you figure you can win like that?
: I do not. But I’ll make sure the lot of you’ll meet your end here.
: The hell are you on about? We’ll just walk all over you and make our way out anyway!
: Hmhmhm… You don’t understand, I see. Where do you think I’m drawing the energy I used to revive?
: You don’t mean…!
: Blah, what do I care?! I’ll just take you down again!
: Iczer-3, stop! We can’t destroy her here!
: Huh…?! What’d you mean?!

Beep, beep, beep!

: These readings are…! It’s the energy of the Moon itself! That’s what’s reviving Neos Gold!
: Her tentacles are reaching all the way to the core of the Moon…?!
: Does that mean…!
: If we destroy her, we destroy the Moon as well… and with how close the Earth is…!
: Oh, no…!
: Hohohoho…. What a shame, no? Kill me and you kill yourselves, Don’t kill me, and you’ll die regardless. We’ll all perish together with this fortress, Iczers!
: Gaah, of all the dirty tricks…!
: Isn’t there anything we can do, Iczer-1?!
: … There’s only one thing I can think of. Iczer-3, I’ll need you help!
: What do you got?!
: The only way for us to safely destroy Neos is to separate her from the Moon and sever her connection. We’ll have to pool of strength together to do that!
: Okay, sis!

: Good luck, Iczer-1, Iczer-3…!
: Hohohoho… you’re wasting your time!

: Urgh!
: Damn it…! And we can’t even attack her right!
: What’s the matter, Iczers? Weren’t you going to separate me from the moon?
: Hrk…! We’re not strong enough…!
: This is my fault….! You spent too much of your energy saving me…!
: Don’t blame yourself, Atross…! We just gotta work hard enough…!
: Stay strong, Iczer-1…!
: Iczer-3…!

RUUUUUMBLE!

: Ahahahahahaha…! DIIIEEE!!

Beam!

: What?!

: …
: Iczer-2?!
: She’s gonna bug us again now?!
: Hold on, she just attacked Neos! That’s not right for someone looking to make a mess of things, no?
: …
: Curse you, Iczer-2! You’ll also defy me, Big Gold’s spawn?!
: … My mother is dead. And I’ve grown tired of your foul tactics!

: Iczer-2… you’d lend us your help?

Iczer-2 turns friendly!

: I could not prevail against you, my sister… or against the powers of Nagisa and the humans…
: Then I’ll unearth, with my own two eyes, the truth of this strength that comes from the bonds between people…!
: Call me impudent if you wish, but I’d like to come with you, my sister…!
: Hmph… Looks like she reached the same answer I did.
: Thank you, Iczer-2…!

: With all our strength united, we should be able to bring Neos away from the Moon…! Come! We’ll attack in tandem!
: Ready!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jgy2mRKd7WE
Iczer-1: “We’ll combine all our might and separate Neos from the Moon!”
Iczer-3: “Ookay, sis!”
Iczer-2: “I’ll lead the attack!”
Iczer3: “Whah?! Hey, hold up!”
Iczer-1: “We must go as well, Iczer-3!”
Iczer-3: “Aah, not you too, sis!”
Iczer-2: “Come, Neos Gold!”
Iczer-3: “There she goes again… Sis?!” > “Don’t leave me back here, siiiis!”
Iczer-2: “Here’s the first blow!”
Iczer-1: “Follow it up, Iczer-3!”
Iczer-3: “Neos… we’ll destroy you once and for all! Taaaaah!”
Iczer-1: “Focus your minds, you two!”
Iczer-3: “This is it! ICZER BOOOOOOOOMB!”
Neos Gold: “Damn you all to Hell, IIICZEEEEERS!!

: Now! All units, retreat!

: Captain, we’ve successfully evacuated from the Cthulhu Fortress!
: Hm… Now it is truly over.

: People of Earth…
: Who are you…?
: I am Sister Gray, the one who left the Cthulhu with Iczer-1.
: I see…
: Gray, our battle with Big Gold is finally over. But…
: I know, Iczer-1. You still have other battles to fight, yes?
: Yes… This beautiful planet is still under threat by other invaders.
: I thought you’d say that. I’ll look after the Cthulhu civilians still asleep within the fortress, so you are free to go.
: I just ask that you all return safely… including your sisters, Atross and Iczer-2.
: …! Ms. Gray…!
: Sister Gray… I am not an android the Cthulhu wished to be born…
: But if you were born of Big Gold, that means you are also one of Sir Violet’s daughters. In other words, you are one of us.
: Furthermore, weren’t you, yourself, who said you were Iczer-1’s younger sister?
: …
: Hey, Gray! I worked really hard over here!
: Yes, I saw it all. You’ve grown into a fine warrior, Iczer-3.
: Sister Gray, is it truly fine for us to ask of you to deal with the fortress?
: Of course. We don’t want to cause any more troubles to the people of Earth. Allow me to help with at least this, please.

Beep, beep.

: We’ve an incoming call from the Shangri-La.
: Shangri-La…? Does that mean Central’s up to something…?


At the Flag’s bridge, Katou sends us a video feed that our folks quickly recognize as their hometown, Misaki. The local populace is staring up into the sky and they’re looking mighty worried – understandable, as Katou orders the camera turned up.
The entire sky is red, and it is no sunset. This aurora-like phenomenon is happening across the globe, and it was all but surely caused by the appearance of a large space-time anomaly in satellite orbit.
Now, Isabelle Cronkite is currently relaying news of our exploits to give the people some hope and, thanks to that, panic is being kept at a minimum. That won’t last forever, Heine and Daiya know, so we better do something about this and quick.

Misato remembers that Katou told us his plan was to leave Central’s invading forces stranded between the dimensions, and it clearly looks like it’s time to put that into practice. What do we do?
In essence, he wants Kouichi, now that he’s awakened the Linebarrel, to use the Executor to rend both the Hub Dynamo and the interdimensional corridor it’s creating, trapping Central’s forces in the space between their dimension and ours. This operation will go by the name of Termino Clementia.

God I love Absolute Nova Beast. Its L animation is good, but UX’s update to it was fucking perfect, it’s one of UX’s best.

The Iczer Combination, however, is just beautiful. Iczer 3’s reactions are amazing and I am glad they were animated that way.

But oh boy, here we go, Linebarrel Anime finale on the horizon. Batten down the hatches, the shitshow is almost upon us for one last wave of bull.

Click to see the mission!


Here we are again, fresh of clearing out two problems in one go and… you may have noticed a change here. Courtesy of my farming last mission, Rey has followed in Renton and Masato’s footsteps, and my go-to “fuck this” MAPWer is once again the top ace.
His massive kill count came with a huge cash boost, giving us a sweet 630k-ish bucks (could’ve been even more, even). Considering how enemy-heavy the final missions usually are, and my trigger-happy personality, Ichitaka and Daiya will have a hard time catching up, even with their AI magnetism.


And I put that money to very good use, boosting Iczer-2 (Crit +20, Armor +150, Range +1), Combattler (HP +1500, 1000 Barrier) and Voltes (HP +1500, Armor +150) up to 50%. Whatever cash was left was used to buff up our secondary Machinas a bit more, as well as our main ships and Luca.


Kouichi’s deploying as an event unit, and we’ve 21 slots available, so here’s how we’re going:
Dancouga/Hilde
Daiya/Quatre
Alto/Michel
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Jeeg/Micchi
Shinji/Rey
Kouji/Sawatari
Tetsuya/Canaria
Kira/Athrun
Iczer-3/Atross
Goh/Yanma
Eida/Anna
Iczer-1/Iczer-2
Ichitaka/Miu
Voltes/Combattler
Yuu/Heero
Shinn/Yulianne
Yajima/Yamashita
Reiji/Ken

Off we go.


We open up at the Flag, with our people pondering the upcoming Operation Termino Clementia. Wufei’s expecting a very tough fight as, while Katou kept an eye on Masaki, the guy and his fellows HAVE been preparing for this invasion for 20 years. Not like that makes defeat an option, of course.
Shinn and Aoi agree there: Durandal and WILL took a chance on us and entrusted the future to our care, so we have to pull this off. Especially considering the pain it was to take out Moon WILL. Furthermore, as Daiya knows, Earth is home even to the Darius people – our defeat here might well mean they’ll get turned into Machina-Humans, too.
At the very least, Zechs point out that as big as this battle might get, we “just” need to get the Linebarrel to the designated spot and victory will be ours. At least that helps ease Kenji’s mind a bit.

With the whole battle riding on Kouichi’s shoulders, Quatre wonders if he’s feeling alright. “Don’t you worry, Quatre. All I gotta do is get to the target area and chop the whole thing down with my superpowers, right? Hahaha… Yeah, I’m good… totally good. Hahahahah…”
Yeah, he’s nervous as hell – that’s really not like him, Shizuna notes. Of course, it’s also understandable to Nagisa, as the recent string of showdowns is bound to stress anyone out. Speaking of Nagisa, Alice wonders if she really should be getting ready to fight. Well, the exams didn’t show anything wrong with her, and Nagisa feels fine, so she won’t shy away from this.

: Kouichi, I’d like to sortie with you in today’s battle.
: Say what?! You know I’m heading out smack-dab in the middle of that battlefield, right? It’s crazy dangerous for you to come with!
: Besides, don’t you have your work as an Operator here?
: But I’m also a Factor of the Linebarrel. Having the two of us aboard could well increase our chances of success.
: M-Maybe, but…!
: I… I want to help protect this world you and our friends call home…
: Not because of my father, or my brother… but because it’s what I want to do…
: Emi… Alright, we’ll do this together. And don’t you worry about a thing – I’ll be there to make sure you get through this without a scratch!
: Thanks, Kouichi…
: (Kouichi… Emi…)
: Such a warm aura emanates from those two… So that is the bond that exists between humans…?
: That’s right… and it is what makes them strong, regardless of the rift between their original worlds.
: The strength that comes from those bonds, hm…
: Hey, you’ve got something that’s just as strong, no? The bond between you sisters, that is.
: Oh, I wonder…
: Psh, you’re way too clammed up, sis.

: Sorry… I know we’ve a major battle right around the corner, but…
: No, it’s no problem at all. What did you want to talk about?
: Um, well… I just want you to promise that you’ll come back safe – you and Kouichi, together…
: Even if we won this battle, if we lost you along the way, it’d just kill Kouichi inside… and then…
: Miu… why are you…
: Because I love you both… and I’d much rather see you two laughing together than being sad over losing the other.
: Miu…
: … Okay. But it won’t just be the two of us making it back together – we’ll all do so.
: Alright. It’s a promise!


Mission 36 – In The Name of Justice

: The Flag has successfully docked within the Shangri-La!
: Wooow, those two ships combined.
: Well, the Flag was, originally, a part of this ship before I made off with it.
: I appreciate the assistance over here, Ishigami, but shouldn’t you be aboard the Flag?
: Oh, my employees are all exceptionally capable. It’ll be fine… Besides, worst comes to worst…
: …
: (Brother…)
: You sure about this, Emi? You’re not gonna say anything to Katou before the battle starts…?
: Y-Yes… Our focus right now should on be putting an end to this battle as quickly as possible.
: Truth be told, in my head, I understand why he did what he did… there was no other option back then… But, still…
: Emi…

Alarm!

: We’re detecting a large gravitational anomaly within the interdimensional corridor!
: Estimated numbers of the first enemy wave… approximately 600000 units!
: Our visitors from the other side are finally turning up…

: The enemy vanguard has entered the AO!
: C-Captain, the enemy’s too numerous…!
: Calm down, Arthur, lest we affect troop morale.
: We took a vow to Chairman Durandal that we’d bring peace to the Earth Sphere… we must make it so, whatever the cost.
: Humans, your opposition is wholly pointless. Relinquish your all to Central.
: What the… that guy’s sounding so much more mechanical than during our last fight.
: I’d wager that opening that passageway to the other side has re-established his link to the Central mainframe. In other words, he is Central itself…
: It’s not just him. Central’s their collective consciousness, so it could be said that even the solders are it as well.
: So all enemies share a single mind… Well, they’re gonna have us beat in coordination, that’s for damn sure.
: That said, the bonds between us are no mere connection…! Whatever the enemy that emerges, we’ll be victorious!
: Correct. Now is the time for all of you to manifest the massive potential within every human!

Charging!

: Switch all Sphere circuits to bypass connections. Reverse all spatial burrowing waves – level E.
: Deploy the Wall of Shangri-La. Maximum output!

: A shield covering the entire planet… The Spheres also had that functionality all along?
: So they’re not just a way to poke a hole through the dimensions, but also a defense system…
: What, so they kept their best trick tucked away ‘til the very last second?!
: That’s just the kind of man he is.
: You’ve all been briefed on what to do, folks! First step is breaking into Point Helios; afterwards, the Linebarrel will use the Executor to destroy the interdimensional corridor and trap all enemy forces inbetween the dimensions!
: The fate of the entire planet is riding on this operation… Good luck and godspeed, everyone…!
: The Dragon’s Hive and Shangri-La will now reposition to intercept any new enemies that emerge from the corridor.
: Meanwhile, you can all go and give this mission your undivided attention.

: … There they go.
: Their group’s probably gonna have a hard time too. Shouldn’t we split up our forces more?
: Don’t worry about it. We just need to take care of this in a hurry and we’ll all be back home by dinnertime!
: Watch it, kid. Your Linebarrel’s the crux of this whole operation, so don’t do anything crazy!
: There’ll be a lot of fire headed your way, so we’ll do whatever we can to cover your advance!
: I got it, I got it. Thanks for the assist, guys.
: Then you’re all cleared to engage! Initiate Operation Termino Clementia!


Destroy the Glain-Neidr without losing a ship or Kouichi. Our previous bout with the MP Machinas didn’t show them in a very good light, but you’ll notice that, in big numbers, these guys can be deadly.
As before, they have a good deal of accuracy and enough skill to parry more attacks than you’d expect mooks to be able to pull off. Between them ganging up on folks, and the Strike Valleys potentially debuffing someone’s armor, your guys might just get caught in a wombo-combo (especially your ships).
Aside from a few Reeves, all enemies here have 10k+ HP, so it’ll take a bit of morale to get them dying reliably – as such, I’d recommend popping a Confuse cast or two while you advance through the first wave, just to give you some leeway. Once your morale’s good, however, they’re easily twoshotted.

As always, prioritize getting rid of the Strike Valleys, be mindful of Masaki’s MAPW, and despite his silence, note that Kiriyama’s also here. 31k HP is absolutely nothing at this point, though: a valored Double Burning Fire or Soul’d Steel God Jeeg will probably oneshot him.
Get him off your hair quick to avoid someone getting Nerve Crack’d and losing morale. After that’s done, just spread out, kill everything that’s still alive, and converge on Masaki.

Right when turn 2 hits…

: The MP Machinas are headed for Earth…!
: It’s fine! They shouldn’t be able to get through the Wall of Shangri-La!
: Hisataka Katou… your actions fall well within Central’s predictions.

Alarm!

: The energy flow from the Hub Fountain… it’s gone! The Wall of Shangri-La’s fading…!


x2

: Not good, they got down to Earth!
: If we don’t do something, and fast, everyone in the world will…!
: We’ve no other choice now, Col. Katsuragi…! We’ll have to split our forces—
: There’s no need for that…!
: Knight…?!

At New York…

Gunfight!

: We’ve got people all around the world fighting to keep Earth out of Central’s hands!
: We won’t let anyone trash what Moukaku tried so hard to protect…!
: Eris, Shukuyu…!

Yokosuka…

Beam!

: I’m only still alive because of you folks… and I’ll be putting that life to use defending everyone who lives in this world!
: Right. You leave Earth to us…!
: Gramps…! And the Katou Organization’s there too!

Cairo…

: Forward, Iron Beasts! We won’t let them blanket Earth in darkness!
: Lulu, your group has a job to see through. Keep your eyes set on it…!
: Father…!

Paris…

Explosions!

In order, these are: Yajin, Rob and Candy.

: The main gun’s down! Sub-Engine’s still operational, but…!
: Well, what now? Do we try ramming them or something?
: I suppose that’s all that’s left. We’ve to defend the civilians even if it means crashing the Queen Fuji right onto their heads!
: Easy, there! The Queen Fuji’s our shining star!
: Yeah, we can’t have you go down that easy! Let us handle this front!
: They’re all fighting… together…!
: (Do you see this, Gil…?)

Back to us!

: Col. Katsuragi, this is…!
: I know. We’ll stick to our original plan and focus on destroying the interdimensional corridor!
: Take care of Earth for us, folks…!
: Incomprehensible… Humans who haven’t undergone Machina conversion should be incapable of achieving such a unified will.
: This might go way over your head, but the human will ain’t something you force to come together!
: Every single person is capable of overcoming their differences, embracing one another and conveying what lies in their heart…
: Those are the bonds we share with one another!
: “Bonds”…?
: Hell, yeah! And I’ll show you the power that comes from those bonds! Get over here, Glain-Neidr!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnYTykteSZY
I don’t think I ever got Iczer-2’s sword on tape? Better late than never!


I’m a little BUSY here, Masaki!

: We’ve already finished our analysis of Darian technology. Not even Gaiking the Great could stand up to all 600000 of Central’s forces.
: Unite the 47 souls aboard the Daiku Maryu all you like, it’ll still be impossible to compensate for that difference.
: You’re right that having 600k goons just as your first wave is straight-up insane.
: But you’ve got the totally wrong idea about this. See, it’s never about numbers when you’re talking about souls working together.
: And, FYI, the Daiku Maryu has forty-eight crewmembers after Naoto joined!

: It’s useless to try. Nothing you do will work on the Glain-Neidr.
: He’s immune to our attacks…?!
: I bet he’s using some sorta trick on us…!
: It’s… a barrier! They’ve deployed a barrier all around Point Helios, with the Glain-Neidr standing squarely within it…!
: Are they using the energy from the Wall of Shangri-La…?!
: Give it to us straight, eggheads! Are none of our weapons gonna fly with him?!
: There must be a way around this! We’ll try and figure something out; in the meantime, you guys’ll just have to hang in there!
: Alright, but please make it quick, Rachel!


Nothing’s ever simple. Our objective now is to destroy everything but the Glain-Neidr, so just make sure you don’t get too close to give Masaki a chance to MAPW. He won’t move outside Point Helios, of course.

: I’ll destroy any enemies of justice! Righteousness is with me! I AM JUSTICE GIVEN FLESH! And I dedicate that justice to Reiji!


Excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyIpAZWMIqM
Yes,Iczer-2 still has Iczer-Σ, only now we can finally see its DK!


Bam, that’s one problem down.

: This isn’t over…! I won’t stop until the whole world has accepted our justice…!
: Eiji… It’s because of how I used to be that you ended up as twisted as this…! The least I can do is put you out of your misery…
: Reiji… why are you against me…?! I told you, I’m just trying to help y—!
: Hrgh…?! GWAAAAAAAAH!
: Wh-What?!
: His D-S.O.I.L. rate’s at 500%! The regeneration mechanism’s out of control!
: Reiji… I’m your only true… friend…

: Did his memories come back in those last moments…?
: Forgive me, Eiji…
: His conversion into a Machina should’ve been complete. Incomprehensible.

I wanted to have Reiji get that kill but I ran out of patience and Kiriyama was dropping people’s morale. Oh, well.

Only a handful of mooks left, and those are easily dispatched.

: You still haven’t found a way to break his barrier yet…?!
: Apologies. Just give us a bit more—

: Enemy reinforcements spotted!
: We really are at a huge numerical disadvantage…
: Oh, no…! We’re getting reports of new groups of Machinas descending at cities throughout the world!
: Damn it, are our defenses busted…?!
: And we’ve no idea how many forces they actually have… We can handle things for now, but eventually…
: This is hardly any cause for your sniveling! However grueling a battle may be, steel your spirit and fight while any life remains…!
: Ken…

: …
: Huh… The Shangri-La?
: What’s going on, Hisataka?!
: Ms. Ogawa, I’m transferring all of our staff to the Flag.
: Sir…?!
: … See ya.

: Mr. President, what are you up to that you’d abandon Earth’s defensive lines to fend for themselves…?
: My friends of LOTUS! The Shangri-La will now crash into Glain-Neidr and destroy its barrier!
: Are you serious, pops…?!
: Beggars can’t be choosers. All that matters is making sure this world endures.
: Damn… Is that really the only way…?!
: … Let’s go, Ms. Ogawa…
: But…
: We can’t let the President and the Shangri-La crew’s resolve be for naught…
: … Understood…

: Wait, please… What the hell kind of plan is this…?! We’re supposed to survive by sacrificing our friends…?! That plan sucks! I… I…!!
: Kouichi….
: Your noble spirit is simply dazzling to adults like us.
: Huh…?
: And that nobility may well wind up wounding you in the future…
: But it is also that nobility that’s slowly changing the hearts of everyone it touched… It is the single tie that binds all those hearts together…
: So whatever may happen, I want you to always stay as you are… Such is our sincere plea.
: You…
: Emi… I am sorry…
: Huh…?
: We’ll carve open the path for you, Champions of Justice. The rest, we leave in your capable hands.
: Shangri-La, full speed ahead!

The Shangri-La blasts towards the Glain-Neidr.

: BROTHER…!

: The barrier’s gone… That said, LOTUS’ forces have now diminished.
: Ishigami… Katou…
: Hayase, we can’t waste the opportunity they spent their lives to give us…!
: Yeah… I know… Watch over us, you two…!

FYI, the MP Machinas will be spawning infinitely now, so you can use this opportunity to farm some more cash. They’re not as bunched up as the Cthulhu and Mimetic Beasts in the past mission, but you can still set Rey to camp on one spawn, Kira by the other, and go to town.
My farm’s permanently closed for the rest of the game, though, because I don’t wanna abuse things (too much)! So we’ll deal with Masaki and if the Machinas get too close, we’ll have Rey nuke them and carry on.

: The Voltes V… it is a treasure trove of lost technology. Indeed, it could well be a key component in bolstering our world’s defense.
: The world you’re trying to create isn’t the one my father and his team wanted!
: Come here, Glain-Neidr! If you want the Voltes’ power so bad, we’ll give you your fill!

: Gilbert Durandal sought our technology in order to defend this world, and, so, he contacted the Katou Organization.
: The data he offered in exchange allowed for several breakthroughs in our field of genetic analysis.
: In truth, he was an exceptional individual. There was still much he could’ve contributed to our advancement.
: Shut your mouth…! I won’t let you defile his memory any more than you already have!
: The peaceful world he wanted to make real is nothing like the crap you’re preaching about!
: What he wanted was a world where everyone could live happily, where war never again reared its ugly head…
: And we’ll be making sure that’s what comes out of this!

: The three of you played a major role in expanding the Katou Organization. Even greater things can be achieved if you join us…
: No. There is no meaning behind a future that cannot be forged and tempered by the people’s own hands.
: Sorry, but I’m gonna pass too. The future I imagined was a whole lot different from what you’re selling!
: A world that’s 100% efficient… now that sounds so dull, I think.
: Individual wants, likes and dislikes beget nothing but wasted energy. If you cannot understand, then you’ll be destroyed.

: The various weapons loaded onto a Super Electromagnetic Robot enable it to face all sorts of foes.
: Join us, and defend this world.
: You talk a good game, but there’s a problem: what you’re doing right now is invading our world, pure and simple!
: And since the Combattler’s was made to defend Earth, that means you gotta go. Come here!

: Join us, Heero Yui. It’ll be simplicity itself to bring total peace to this world by way of our unity.
: You misunderstand things. The peace you offer would just be a counterfeit to the one we actually seek.
: Your opposition is a complete waste of time. The main armaments of that Gundam are beam weapons… They will not work.
: My mission is simply to take control of Point Helios. It may not be easy, but I’m not about to give up halfway through.
: Mission… That’s quite the machine-like way your mind operates.
: Again, you misunderstand. That may be my mission, but what I want is to destroy you.

: Kouichi Hayase. I’ve been watching you for quite a while now. However I could never understand the reason why Hisataka Katou had such high hopes for you, or why the Machina-Killer chose you as its Factor…
: You have no unique talents of note, your psyche is immature. There is nothing worth mentioning.
: … So what? I’m just a human, someone who’s trying to be a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE! I’d never be down with becoming a Machina!
: But what is said justice? It’s merely the preservation of the extremely limited space that you, as an individual, are capable of affecting.
: That is to say, it is simply a defensive response born of your primitive ego.
: It’s the defense of the social system individuals belong to, which seeks to remove any outside elements… “Justice” is nothing but a Pavlovian reflex!
: Your vaunted justice is a purely self-centered action meant to preserve the crude social structure you live in, Kouichi Hayase!
: And I’ll say it again: so what?!
: Why do you fight, Kouichi Hayase? Why do you try so hard to defend humanity?
: Because that’s way cooler than the alternative!
: Jeez, that guy…
: Oh, Kouichi… you really are amazing…
: Here we go, Glain-Neidr! Way I see it, you and your folks are as lame as can be!

: Did we get ‘im?!
: No, be careful – D-S.O.I.L. rate’s at 370%! He’s still going!

: We’ve a match… it’s the Glain-Neidr’s main unit: the Naked…!
: Meaning we gotta take that out, too, or we won’t be making any headway…!
: You cannot defeat us. Stop fighting, and surrender. Our goal here is not the destruction of mankind.
: The usefulness we derive of this battle is extremely limited. Cast away your obsolete values and embrace the evolution we offer.

Alarm!

: Captain, our forces are going silent across the globe! The situation’s degrading on all fronts…!
: Oh, no…!
: If you choose to continue down this path, the only result will be the absolutely pointless waste of your DNA – just as the humans of our world once did. Surely your imagination can easily reach that conclusion.
: What…?!
: Our kind was born of a failed cloning technology… humanity created us to offset the energy crisis that had reached its critical point.
: We took several steps to maximize mankind’s prosperity. At times, we were forced to eliminate potentially damaging elements…
: …
: Your DNA, individually, is worthless, but your diversity could be useful in developing our system. Join us and embrace the eternal peace we offer. There is absolutely no point in any further death.
: … No.
: What…?

: I said no… No way in hell…!
: Our advancement and your prosperity are intertwined. Why do you seek to safeguard the status quo? What is your reason for it…?
: Because even with all the pain this world brings, there’re so many people just trying to live their lives to the fullest… and I want to keep those people safe!
: That’s all there is to it…! I reckon that’s a whole lot easier to understand than your nonstop yacking…!!
: Hah… this guy…
: Honest to a fault, huh?
: Still, that’s exactly the kind of answer I’d expect from him.
: We’ve got to follow his example, then! One last push to keep this world and everyone in it safe!
: So you’d rather fight and die as humans? Very well. Then we’ll eliminate you and all you seek to defend…!


Naked (Masaki Sugawara)
Pilot Skills:
Machina-Human L9
Sword Cut
Commander L1
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3
Attack Combo L3
Mech Features:
Sword
Override

Good news is he lost his MAPW, bad news is he got a major boost to everything else. That said, he hasn’t anything you haven’t seen before. Bit stats, over 100k HP, his Override attack is 3-8 (so you’re better off attacking up-close), Prevail L9 and Machina-Human L9 will give him a major boost, the works.
Truth be told, taking aside his Override, you should approach him as you did Big Gold and Moon Will. Just come packing Strike and you’ll be fine – your stores of SP should still be plentiful.
If you want some extra safety, pop Confuse, wait a turn for the units spent killing the Glain-Neidr to return and swarm him for a simple enough kill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoJ4tPukC7g
And while we wait, here’s the combined attack with Kira and the Eternal. Athrun’s version is pretty much identical.


And they got too close.

Now just to showcase Masaki’s best attacks and we’ll be off.

: The Dancouga’s black box bears the vital data of all life on Earth.
: But for a device meant to be a reservoir of the seeds of life, it’s also equipped with superlative defensive measures… That is hardly an efficient use of it.
: Back off, cowboy. This is none of your beeswax!
: Hate to break it to you, but we vetoed that “Dancouga playing Noah’s Ark” plan.
: We’re now a sword of hope! One that’s transcended even the gods themselves!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EaDYOzR8O8

: I confess I was stunned over the intel I received on the Mazinkaiser.
: Indeed, the representative of the United Nations Government is proving himself to be a tremendous asset to our advancement.
: Seems to me that you’re so hung up on raw power that you ain’t seeing what really matters!
: What’s actually important isn’t a bot’s tech or the power it has, but the soul of its pilot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHHW5_aJGbY


:siren: Alright, no more putting this off; you folks are GOING to hear it now! :siren:

: We’ve acquired more than enough information on the Plasma Drive from past battles.
: Your role in this has ceased. Join us.
: Sorry, but only an Okusaer’s able to combine with the Dannar. I’m not about to join with any Machinas!

: Why do you reject unity? Are you afraid of losing your “self”?
: That’s not the point…!
: Don’t pretend. Humans are horrified by change – both of their world and of themselves – and so they run from it.
: I just told you that’s not the point!
: This planet is home to all my friends, to my dad, and so much more! That’s what pushes me to fight with the EVA…!

: A support-oriented machine such as yourself is no different from a Machina-Human: devoid of superfluous emotions, wholly proficient at combat.
: You… You’re wrong!
: Your reactions are merely pretenses of actual emotions. That’s easily inferred even from just the data GreAT presented to us.
: Shut up.
: Yuu…
: Seems to me that you couldn’t understand the first thing about my grandfather’s research. That’s why you need to use humans to further your own development.
: And that will be your downfall… We’re going, Haruno.
: Roger!

: I’m certain you’re aware that Ranka Lee’s songs stopped affecting the Vajra when her emotions were in disarray.
: Emotions are erratic. Relying on such things will only lead mankind to destruction.
: And who is trying to create a society where she wouldn’t be able to sing the way she enjoys? What you’re trying to do will only make her sadder!
: I’m not having it… Just as I don’t want to fly through a fake sky, I won’t fly through a real one with fake emotions within my heart!

: Why did you try to have Lacus killed?!
: The Super Coordinator and the Songstress of the Battlefield… Analysis during previous battles had deemed you both to be obstacles to our purposes.
: And, indeed, that analysis was right. Here you stand against us only because you were allowed to survive past Operation Angel Down.
: There are so many people in this world that don’t wish for war; just as there are those who don’t want to be turned into Machinas.
: But you decided it’s humanity’s destiny to live as machines, and would impose that on others. I refuse to accept that!
: Your acceptance or not is irrelevant. The troops Central has at our disposal outnumber yours massively. Resistance is futile.
: Is it really…?
: Unfortunately for you, it is not in our nature to simply surrender.
: And so I’ll keep on fighting you and Central to the bitter end!

: The Cthulhu are a threat to Earth. We’ll eliminate your vessel as well.
: Iczer-1’s kept us safe! You can’t push her away just because she’s an alien – that’s just wrong!
: But they may not turn out as the Zentradi. Undefined factors must be removed.
: Argh, you knucklehead!
: If you mean to victimize this Earth to safeguard your own, then I won’t hesitate to fight back…!
: Masaki Sugawara, I’ll strike you down!

: I’d intended on observing you for a while longer, Kenji Kusanagi. To further study the energy of the Bronze Bell, and the source of your own strength…
: What am I, your homework?! I don’t want any dudes staring at me!

: Vardant, the Blue Terror. Central’s mightiest Machina…
: Still, that has also served its purpose. Our forces no longer have any need for the Vardant.
: Whereas our world has no need for something like Central…! I’ll wipe you off the face of the universe, Masaki Sugawara…!

: Imperial Valley, Cannon Valley, Strike Valley…
: All of those weapons were created by Kral Grife’s brain. Such a productive, reliable item will be very useful in furthering Central’s development.
: …!
: Easy, Alice. We’ll be playing right in his hands if we lose our cool.
: Let’s just go with the usual plan: kick his ass and make him spill the beans on where the professor’s being kept!
: Right!

: Do you have any idea how boring the world you’re trying to make sounds? How are you okay with that?!
: Emotions beget fluctuations in efficiency. Such factors must be uprooted in order to maximize usability of limited resources.
: I can see where you’re coming from: even the Frontier Fleet’s been struggling with our dwindling resources…!
: But you can’t look at human lives like that! It’s not something to just be managed!
: This talk’s getting too complicated for me, but I agree with whatever Nagisa’s said! And that means you got a whooping coming your way, old man!

: …
: All that talk and this is what you got, ya chatterbox?!
: …

Overrides behind you!

: Wha—
: Kouichi, get back!

: Gch…!
: Huh…? Emi…?
: Are you… alright? Kouichi…?
: You’d sacrifice yourself to shield him? But that, too, is pointless. A lone unit, even the Linebarrel, will not turn the tide of this battle.
: You underestimate… humans too much… The strength of human emotions… exceeds your… imagination…!
: …
: Don’t talk, Emi! We-We’ll take care of your wounds!
: Kouichi… Please… be a real… Champion of…Jus…tice…

: …
: E-Emi…! Stay with me…!
: Her… her Factor signal’s… vanished…
: I-Is she…!
: Emi… tell me this isn’t real… We swore we’d all make it back…!
: No…! You’re still too young to see the afterlife…!
: Emi… I said… I said I’d keep her safe… W-Why…!

: The Linebarrel’s D-S.O.I.L is…! Its data is… just like that time…!
: I… I…!
: UWAAAAAAAAH!!

: The Linebarrel’s…?!
: Oh, no, he’s…!
: He’s done it… It’s truly awakened…
: EMIIIIiiiiii!!

Here are the few convos we didn’t get:

: Wufei Chang, your true agenda was all within Central’s predictions.
: Then you should have killed me when you had the chance. I wager you would’ve preferred to have taken over the world yourself, without having to be vigilant about myself and Hisataka.
: I wouldn’t have been able to install the Spheres as efficiently as I did without Hisataka Katou’s assistance. Unproductive acts are always to be avoided.
: And that’s all the reason you needed to remain passive for twenty years while the world around you burned time and again? You disgust me, Masaki Sugawara…!

: What the hell are you doing, Kiriyama?! What happened to your justice that you’d team up with the Machina-Humans?!
: My justice will transform this corrupted world – this misguided world that refused to embrace Reiji’s justice!
: And you actually think I’ll put up with that?! I won’t, Kiriyama… not with what you’re doing, or your twisted justice!

: Eiji…
: Are you angry, Reiji…? Sorry… Still, we can’t give up on our justice, right?!
: I’ll go and change the world! Just you wait, Reiji!
: You are a real CHAMPION OF JUSTICE! The Chosen One! He who cannot be hurt!
: You’re wrong, Eiji… I can never amount to a Champion of Justice. I can only bury our mistakes for good.

God, is the Naked an underwhelming boss. They heavily buffed it from the manga, but that doesn’t change that it isn’t in any way physically imposing.

Also I think Kitei no Tsurugi being the OP sucks for two reasons. On one hand, it’s pretty much the one bad song on Linebarrel’s otherwise god tier soundtrack. On the other… late in the show, it gets an alternative version that’s slowed down and has tone changes… and it sounds decent. (Vocals are still a thing though.)

Click to see the mission!


We’re back, with Rey’s rampage showing no signs of stopping. At the very least Daiya is only 6 kills away from overtaking Ichitaka.


Cash from the previous mission was spread all over the place, really: special note goes to our other Machinas, which I buffed just in case. Also, I also gave Rey an extra pip in his weapons, because I’m that shameless.


All Machinas are deploying as event units today, meaning our deployment slots are reduced to 15. Here’s how we’re going:
Dancouga/Hilde
Daiya/Quatre
Alto/Michel
Lee/Norza
Kenji/Kyo
Shinji/Rey
Kouji/Sawatari
Tetsuya/Canaria
Kira/Athrun
Goh/Yanma
Eida/Anna
Iczer-1/Iczer-2
Ichitaka/Hilda
Voltes/Combattler
Shinn/Yulianne

Also, make sure you deploy Sawatari, Yulianne or Wufei if you’ve been following the Linebarrel secret to this point.


Mission 37 – Flower of Steel

: I… I…!
: UWAAAAAAAAH!!

: The Linebarrel’s…?!
: Oh, no, he’s…!
: He’s done it… It’s truly awakened…
: EMIIIIiiiiii!!
: Kouichi’s heart is… crying…?
: But there’s something else… self-hatred over failing to protect Emi…
: Kouichi…
: A machine whose specs are influenced by the pilot’s emotions is nothing but inefficient… our world has no need for such a thing.

The front MP Machina goes after the Linebarrel.

: Kouichi, watch out!
: RAAAAAAARGH!!

: The enemy Machinas stopped…?!
: Is it one of its powers as the Machina meant to counter all machinas…? It can paralyze them with just a yell…?!
: HAAAAAAAH!!

: “I’ll be a Champion of Justice”… “I’ll keep everyone safe”… What a load of garbage…!
: I couldn’t even keep one girl standing right in front of me safe…! GOD DAMN IT!!

: UWAAAAAAAAH!
: This ain’t good – he’s totally lost it!
: Kouichi, please! Control yourself!
: Don’t let those emotions overwhelm you, Kouichi! It’ll destroy you…!
: Stop this, Kouichi!
: I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…!
: He immobilized us. However…

: …?!
: We are already through analyzing that Machina.

: Hrk…!

: Their units are moving again!
: Any further conversation would be a waste of resources. Engage and destroy LOTUS.
: Roger… All will be joined as one…
: Urgh, is that all you can say? Ya sound like a total idiot…! Get over here – we’ll bring you back to reality!
: Col. Katsuragi… Kouichi’s condition is worrying but we cannot afford to retreat from this.
: Yeah, I know. Troops, provide cover for Kouichi and eliminate all nearby enemies!
: We’ll absolutely need the Linebarrel to destroy the interdimensional corridor, so keep it in one piece at all costs!
: Yes, ma’am! We’ll do this for Emi, too…!
: Kouichi, you have to get back to your senses…!
: I’ll kill you… I’ll kill you…!
: S…to…p…
: Don’t… become… like me…


Destroy Masaki, don’t lose any ships or Machinas. In truth, I’ve heard stories of how tough this mission could be, but I found there are plenty of ways to keep things nice and simple.
First and foremost, as you might expect, Kouichi will jump straight into the massive mob of enemies up ahead. Thankfully, he’ll auto-cast Strike, Zeal and Iron Wall, so he and the Linebarrel’s regen shouldn’t be in too big a danger unless you’ve been neglecting them for the entire game.

Still, that’s no reason not to be proactive about this (especially since he’ll steal a lot of your cash if you let him): rush your troops up top, cast Confuse the first turns when the incoming tide’s the strongest, and carve your way through the enemies.
This mission’s pretty much the same as the previous one, only you have to keep an eye on Kouichi. As always, drop the Strike Valleys ASAP to stop them from debuffing your armor (and Kouichi’s) and then start twoshotting the MP Machinas. With no MAPWs to worry about, you’ve a lot more freedom of movement.


Here he comes.

: EMIIIIII! GODDAMN IT!!
: Your performance may have increased, but there’ll be no victory for you here.


Most of the MP Machinas will stay put for the first turn, so Kouichi won’t get mobbed too hard while you’re still approaching.
Soubi’ll start attacking him right away, though, so you’ll want to do this straight away:


:siren: Secret Alert! :siren:
You must have Sawatari, Yulianne or Wufei convince Soubi. Afterwards, you’re free to wreck him with anyone.

: Soubi, what the hell happened…?! You always had your own reasons pushing you to keep on fighting, didn’t ya?!
: Ki…ll…
: Please… kill… me…! If you don’t… you’ll…
: Soubi… you…
: … Stop whining and be a man!
: Wufei…?
: Choosing your own death is the coward’s way out…! If you truly deem yourself a man, then stay true to your ideals and fight for as long as you draw breath!
: Damn straight – pull yourself together, Soubi! We know you ain’t a enough of a wimp to let that junk control you…!
: Remember, Soubi! Remember who you really are… and what you wanted to do!
: What I… wanted to do…
: What I wanted was… to protect… the world she loved… throughout… her life…

: GWAAAAAAAAARGH!
: Noise detected in our collective consciousness. Source identified as Soubi Nakajima. Correcting.
: All must join the whole… so that all may know harmony…
: Soubi… I ain’t giving up on you! I promise we’ll bring your old self back!

And now we’re free to kill everything unabated. Masaki seems to always prioritize Kouichi, so that’s less of a problem for us.

: It’s… the power of his Flame is growing even higher?
: If you can feel that, then you should know what’s up: that’s what’s called the human heart! And it’s way more than just a cog in a machine!


Rinse! And! Repeat!

: Uurk… Sawatari… Yulianne…
: Soubi?! You’re back?!
: Then get your ass off that thing and tag in with us! The Talisman’s waiting for ya too…!
: Thank… you… but I think…this is… the end… I can only… entrust things to you…
: A shame… I wish we could all… be together again…

: …?!

: Sorry, Soubi…
: But we’ll see you again someday…

: Why do you still refuse the harmony we offer? The crux of your plan, the Linebarrel, is in tatters.
: … Emi’s told us about the world you want. She said there are no flowers there.
: Your information is incorrect. Our world simply preserves and maintains the flora that is deemed necessary.
: Only you don’t have any right to decide what is or isn’t necessary in any world! I’d never put up with that kind of arrogance!

: A kabuki dancer such as you should be well aware of the value of paradigms built upon the collective wisdom of others…
: Sorry, I don’t. I left my family precisely because I hated all that formality and tradition!
: All so that I could fly across the skies a free man, with no shackles around my hands!

: “Great”… “Hero”… both words are lacking in objectivity as standards of evaluation.
: Maybe to you, but not to humans. Those words mean a whole many things to us…!
: They inspire us, stoking our fighting spirit and keeping our hope alive!

: Iczer-1, Central’s collective consciousness can also provide the synchronicity you desire.
: Mine and Nagisa’s synchronization is no mere union of minds.
: The kindness within her turns to strength for me to wield… that is what our synchronization entails!
: Win this, Iczer-1! I believe in you!
: Here we come, Central!

: Using the Godannar to fight in the void of space… how utterly illogical.
: Still, it doesn’t jibe with me to just sit on my hands! I’m a pilot, so I’m ready to fight whoever, wherever!
: And that goes double when the enemy’s someone trying to trash our planet!

: Ain’t nowhere for you to run off to now! Tell us where the professor’s at!
: Doing so would be detrimental to Central. I cannot tell you.
: Moreover, victory is still squarely within our grasp. The remaining 540000 of our forces will emerge from the interdimensional corridor before long.
: Which only means we gotta take you out before that! And then we can take our time finding whatever hole GreAT’s hiding at!

: This is our world and we won’t let anything happen to it! Stop your attack…!
: But there’s always a limit to the strength of humans. The SEED and Zentran genetic factors could never truly safeguard the Earth Sphere.
: Which is just perfect for you, isn’t it? Your speech is just a smokescreen to hide what you’re really after: expanding your influence!
: I see that not even Central could be free of very human greed!

: We have to keep at it until Kouichi carries out his mission…!
: The probability of that happening is zero. Kouichi Hayase himself no longer has any hope for this mission’s success.
: That’s not true…! Even I’m still here, carrying on fighting!
: So I know that he will find a way to make it happen!

: Kenichi Go. We are the form the humans of our world wanted to assume.
: And do you think saying that’ll make me accept you forcing your “unity” onto others?! The truth of the matter is that you started a war with the New United Nations Government!
: Our expansion will lead to growth, and then to harmony.
: Hah! So said all conquerors in history!
: We never shied from fighting invaders before and that hasn’t changed to this day! We’ll end all of you here and now!

: I know Kouichi’ll pull through when all the chips are down!
: That human cannot even control his emotions. Why do you put so much stock in him?
: Why? That should be plenty obvious!
: …?
: It’s because he’s our friend!
: There is… no logic to your reasoning. Incomprehensible.
: Well, you better figure it out quick or this’ll end with our boots up your cyber-butts!

: Did… did we do it?
: …
: No, not yet…! That Machina’s still going!
: AAARGH! Why! Won’t! You! DIIIIIIIE?!
: Amagatsu Kizaki’s design philosophy is incomprehensible. Overcoming your obstacles by way of power born of raging emotions… It is an unrealistic strategy to rely on such dubious variables.

: We’ll now eliminate it.
: What—?! He merged with that crazy-huge thing?!
: If I had to guess, that is the primary unit of Central’s collective consciousness…

Beep, beep!

: These numbers are unbelievable…! It’s giving off energy readings on a massively different scale from any other mobile units!
: So you’re the Final Boss…! GOOD!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSERMcTGHcc

: Urgh…!
: Status on the Linebarrel?!
: Still alive, but he can’t—!
: Damn it, Kouichi, stop this right now! Wake the hell up!

: All will be one with the whole… Resistance is futile… join us…
: Not good! He’s going to finish off the Linebarrel!
: KOUICHIII!

: Hrk…! We’re not dying again that easy…!
: Yajima…?!
: Calm down, Kouichi.
: I know what you’re going through, what it feels to hate yourself for failing to protect someone dear…! But you can’t lose sight of who you are!
: Emi didn’t save your life so that you’d go down this path! Open your eyes!
: …!
: Kouichi… I’m sure this isn’t what you really wanted to do…!
: I-I’m…

: Huh…?

: Kouichi…
: Ah… E…mi…?
: You made a promise to me, didn’t you…? That you’d be a Champion of Justice and keep this world safe…
: So what are you doing…? How could you lose all control simply because I died…? How can you call yourself a Champion of Justice?
: I’m sorry…
: You really are despicable… But that’s why you meant so much to Mr. Ishigami, to my brother… and to me… my dear Kouichi…

: Was that… a dream…?
: …
: You’re a real tough girl, Emi… but you knocked some sense back into me.
: You let your emotions wrest control of your minds… Humans are, indeed, deeply flawed beings. That is why you must be managed by us…
: Yeah… humans might be as flawed as you say.

: But that doesn’t mean we need any of your management!
: Because as flawed as we are, we know how to work together! And when we do, there isn’t any problem we can’t overcome…!!
: … Looks like he’s back to his regular idiotic self.
: Still, that’s how he’s supposed to be!
: I’m really sorry, guys… I know I’m the stupidest guy around, but I wanna ask you for a hand… Help me keep this world safe…!
: Pshaw, you don’t even need to ask!
: Yeah, what kinda CHAMPIONS OF JUSTICE we’d be if we didn’t help out those in need?
: And, of course, it’s the Corps members’ duty to help out their leader!
: Same goes for those of the JUDA Special Forces!
: And his classmates, and his friends of LOTUS!
: Hmph… You now understand what your justice truly means. My strength is yours, if you’d have it.
: Everyone…
: You can never unite your minds like ours. However many of you there are, you will remain powerless before us.
: You’re selling humanity short, fatass…
: We’ll show you all the strength we have – the strength that’ll keep our world safe!


Central
Pilot Skills:
Machina-Human L9
Break Morale Limit
Commander L4
Prevail L9
Support Attack L3

Central is pretty much on part with Masaki in terms of stats, only with more HP and a focus on range and defense. He’s got a cone-shaped MAPW attack which can be dangerous… if not for the fact that it takes 130 morale to use and there are no enemies left. Central’s appropriately hard-hitting and bulky, too, but nothing that’ll survive one round of focused fire.
Just wait a turn to get your guys back and squish the Borg Hivemind into submission.


Finally, Kouichi now has full control of the Mode-C which sets his D-S.O.I.L. at Infinity (actually at the 150 cap), meaning he’ll be regenning a whole lot. His attacks get a power boost, but the better ones are rather EN hungry, so EN-Save could be good on him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj2Fe5K6gfI
And here’s Central’s strongest attack. Now we go!

: You keep grumbling about growing and expanding… What’dya think you’ll find beyond all that?
: Everlasting peace. A world where no strife is born out of clashing values…
: That’s a great speech coming from the ones who attacked our world in the first place.
: And it’s pretty clear you won’t stop here. You’ll keep on invading other worlds in the name of your brand of “peace”.
: We’ll say this as many times as we gotta, Central…
: We are humans! It may look like we enjoy looking for trouble, but you’re one pain in the ass we never asked for!

: Humanity will ascend to newer heights if it joins with us. We represent your inevitable evolution…
: Maybe, but you know what? I just straight-up don’t like your whole shtick.
: If you want Earth, just come out and say it instead of trying to sell us all that crock!

: There’s nothing left for us to obtain from Amagatsu Kizaki’s engineering. You will be eliminated.
: Underestimate us at your peril, big guy!
: We’ve also been fighting alongside Kouichi and our friends all this time!
: You’ll see what the teamwork of JUDA’s Special Forces is all about!
: What I want to do now is just help everyone through this…! And I’m ready to face anything to make that happen!
: Your turn, Reiji! Put the cherry on top, and make it a good one!
: All of JUDA Special Forces will now engage the Central collective consciousness! I only have one order to our troops… do not die!

: Embrace us. Both humanity and Central wish for Earth to develop.
: A perfect society, where nothing is wasted… It is only under our guidance that humanity can grow with the scarce resources available.
: I already told you to get bent with that talk! A life where I can’t eat and have fun with my friends ain’t one worth living!

: We’ll need to cut all the way through the center of that thing… Stay strong ‘til we can get that done Linebarrel…!
: It’s useless… Your unit has nowhere near the energy required to destroy the interdimensional corridor.
: Doesn’t mean we’re just gonna give up and let you get us out!
: I’m gonna keep on fighting to the very last second! I can already picture Emi calling me “despicable” if I didn’t give this everything I got!

: The enemy Machinas have stopped moving!
: Kouichi!
: Yeah! I’m ending this!

: How were we defeated… by these flawed beings…? Is this truly due to… the strength of human emotions…? That which exceeds our… imagination…?

If there were any enemies left, they’d be self-destructing!

: The enemy Machinas are…!
: But you’ll rue what has happened here… Your own hands… will cause the end of this world…

: The giant Machina is confirmed gone…! We’re also not detecting any more gravitational anomalies…!
: We did it…!
: Our world is safe…!
: Emi… was I a real Champion of Justice…?

Alarm!

: What is it, Ms. Ogawa?!
: We’ve gravitational anomalies coming from Point Helios again!
: It seems the shockwave of that explosion has destabilized the dimensional structure in and around the corridor…!
: If it isn’t stopped, both worlds will obliterated at a quantum level and be fused together!
: N-No…!
: Then everything we’ve done was for nothing?!
: … I’ll go and cut straight through the center of that hole. That should stop it…!
: You can’t! Do you have any idea the enormous amount of energy it’d take for that?
: Besides, even if you do destroy the corridor, you might end up trapped inbetween the dimensions…!
: Stand down, boy! You still have much of your life ahead of you! A mission as dangerous as this falls to a dead man like me!
: No, I’ll handle this.
: Kouichi, you…
: “I don’t have the power to do anything”… For so long I believed that, living my life doing absolutely nothing…
: But what you need isn’t power… but just a strong wish to do something!
: And what I want to do is to keep this world and everyone in it safe… That’s why I’m going! That’s what my justice is about…!!
: … Rachel, initiate the Final Phase.
: But the complete Shangri-La was supposed to act as the medium for the energy…!
: The Vardant and I will take up that role…!
: Final Phase…? “Medium for the energy”?
: You got one last trick up your sleeves? Spill the beans, then.
: It’s an emergency program of Project JUDA involving gathering the energy of all Machinas and relaying it all into the Linebarrel…
: Then what are we waiting—
: But… as soon as it is finished, the Machinas’ D-S.O.I.L. will run completely dry, and the units themselves will grind to a halt… If that happens, they’ll be unable to sustain the Factors’ lives.
: …!
: That matters not… Link the Vardant to the Linebarrel…!
: Transfer all of mine and the Painkiller’s energy to Kouichi too…!
: I already died once… if this’ll help keep everyone else alive, then it’s not a bad deal…!
: Are you guys sure about this…? If you do that…
: You’re not the only one who wants to protect this world, Kouichi… We’re all ready to risk our lives to make it happen!
: Okay…! Then trust in me and I’ll make this happen…!!

: Good luck, Kouichi…!
: Here it goes…
: Project JUDA Final Phase… engaged…!!


:siren: :siren:

: …
: …
: Sorry to put this on you kids…
: Is there nothing we can do other than watch…?

: Huh… Central’s Machinas?!
: They’re still kicking?!
: Looks like the gravitational anomaly is also affecting the Machinas’ network. They’re out of control…!
: This isbad! Yamashita and the others are sitting ducks while they’re charging their energies!
: … Heh, guess there is something for us to do.
: This beloved Earth of Nagisa and our friends will not meet its end like this! It cannot!
: Then it’s time for us to roll up our sleeves and get back to work.
: Leave these things to us, Kouichi. You’re the MVP here, so make sure you close this off with style!
: Ichitaka…!
: You won’t be risking your lives alone. We’ll keep you safe, whatever it takes…!
: You heard ‘em, kid! So you guys worry only about wrecking that bigass hole!
: Sorry, guys…!
: We’ve four minutes left until the energy charge is finished! Hold on for just that long…!


Aaah, you didn’t think that was the end of that, did you? No, not quite.
Still, this can be simple enough… or it can be hard, depending on how you go at it. We’ve 24 teams of MP Machinas, and they’ll be trying their damnest to reach our Machinas and start cutting them down – and those guys can’t even cast spirts to defend themselves (if you haven’t kept them leveled/upgraded, you might be in trouble if you let the Machinas close in).

But they don’t move too far and their range is still hot garbage, so it’ll take them a bit to get there. Most of your guys are speedy enough to reach and twoshot them, so the order now is to run interference. Your main worry should be the southernmost Machinas, since those will likely ignore all of your nearby guys and run straight for the kill.
Spread out your guys, have Kira, Rey and whoever else can MAPW try and find a good spot in the middle of the western and eastern roads, setting up a couple killing grounds. If you want to risk making some extra money, downing all Machinas will summon forth a fresh batch. Your resources might be wearing thin, however, so, instead, I’ll advise simply to kill everything but one, surround it, and wait out the rest of the timer.

All Machinas lose 20% HP!*

: Gah…!
: You guys alright?!
: I-I’m fine! What about you all?!
: The Hind’s hanging in there…!
: Stay focused, Hayase! Our teammates will cover our backs!
: Skull Leader to all units! If the Final Phase falls through, it’ll mean not just the end of Earth but of everything as well!
: They’re taking a pummeling from the gravity waves coming out of Point Helios, too, so don’t let any of the rampaging Machinas reach them!
: Yes, sir! Not even one’s getting through here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QkPjdyJ-qY
Oh, and here’s Iczer-2 Full Power and her incredibly smug DK! :smugdog:

The Machinas lose 30% HP!

: Urgh…!
: Damn it, even if we can keep the Machinas at bay, those waves are too much!
: This isn’t good… We’re not massing as much energy as we expected…!
: Kch…! Come on, Hind… Just a bit more…!!
: If we had two… no, if we had just one more Machina…!
: Then please use my life as well!
: Huh…?
: This signal… It’s the Talisman?!

: The Talisman…?! You’re alive, Soubi?!
: I am. The Talisman saved me from the brink of death… this foolish man who lost himself to the darkness…
: And do you mean to come with us?
: I understand that I’ve no right to ask that… Still, it was only thanks to you that I’ve remembered the justice and the ideals I once had.
: So I want to use this life to help you… No, to help the entire world!
: His eyes… I think he’s speaking the truth.
: Whatever mistakes you made before, you just have to atone for them… Go, Soubi…!
: Now this is a nice twist…! We’ve got all the Machinas we need!
: You should be good to go with that! Just one more minute until the energy charge’s complete! Hang in there, everyone…!
: Just one last push, folks! And once this is wrapped up, we can all find a nice island on the Caribbean to kick back and relax…!
: Absolutely! We’ll have to bring Sheryl and Ranka, too…!
: But first we’ll make sure the Final Phase is a smashing success!

And the last minute passes, the lone surviving Machina throwing a tantrum while we pin it down.

: All Machinas are done charging their energies!
: Alright…! All troops, pull back or we’ll be caught in the shockwave of the corridor’s destruction!

: You’re up, Kouichi…!
: Yeah…! I swear I won’t let everyone’s lives and wishes be for—

Alarm!

: We’ve a new gravitational wave incoming! And it’s an even bigger one than before! Watch out!


x3

The last MP Machina is destroyed!

: It’s too strong…! The Linebarrel is in no state to handle something like that…!
: Kouichi, run…!
: Not happening! Come on, Linebarrel! Hang in there just a bit more…!

A.T. Field noise!

: Rrrrgh…!
: Shinji…?! Asuka, Rei?!
: What’re you three thinking?! Even your A.T. Fields might not be strong enough to handle those!

: You gotta pull back…! You guys’re gonna get caught in the middle…!
: N-No…!
: Shinji…?!
: You’ve helped me so many times before. I was always overwhelmed by everything around me, but you still helped me… Even when it meant getting yourself hurt…
: That’s why… now it’s my turn to help you, Kouichi…!!
: Shinji…
: And I couldn’t well hang back and do nothing when Stupid Shinji here’s decided to be all heroic…!
: This might be too much for a lone EVA, but the three of us together should be able to hold out for a bit…
: G-Go! Quick, Kouichi…! Destroy the corridor while we’re keeping the gravity waves back…!!
: Everyone’s lives and wishes are in your hands, Kouichi! Use them to save our world…!
: Go for it, Kouichi! Show us how strong a real CHAMPION OF JUSTICE is…!!
: Guys…!
: Hayase… even if you do feel the pain of others, if you cannot save them from that anguish, then there is absolutely no point… no point at all…!
: So go and protect this world Katou and Mr. Ishigami died keeping safe…!
: Just as the two of them did… I, too, believe you can be a Champion of Justice…!
: … I understand!
: Let’s go, Linebarrel…! The two of us, with the help of all our friends, will tear down that hole…!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAnJhMPjVdg
Kouichi: “I want to protect this world… and everyone who lives in it!” > “That’s what my justice is about!”
Reiji: “All units, transfer your energy to the Vardant!”
Miu: “Kouichi… take everything I have!”
Yajima: “I already died once… if this’ll help keep everyone else alive, then it’s not a bad deal!”
Yamashita: “Turning our lives into energy, just like real heroes, huh? Now that’s cool!”
Izuna: “Kouichi… I know you’ll pull this off!”
Soubi: “Kouichi, everything is in your hands!”
Reiji: “Urk…! Hrrgh…!” > “GOOOO!!”
Kouichi: “This… is our! JUSTICE!!”

: Did… did it work…?
: The Hub Dynamo and the interdimensional corridor have disappeared… our connection with the Highly-Probable World is cut-off… but…
: We’ve lost… the Linebarrel’s signal… And the remaining Machinas… have gone completely silent…
: N-No…
: You’re kidding me, right…? KOUICHIIII!!

: …
: … Wa… up… Ko…
: …Hm… E…mi…?
: …! Emi?!
: Good morning, Kouichi…
: Emi… how are you…?!
: The Linebarrel saved me using what little energy it had left…
: It did… I’m so happy to see you again, Emi… I really am…!
: Kouichi…

Some time later…

: But what are we going to do now…? The Linebarrel’s used all of its energy, so we can’t cross the dimensional boundaries…
: At least the battle’s over, so we can think this through nice and easy… I mean, there’s still GreAT around and we don’t know where the Frontier flew off to, but our friends can handle that…
: The battle isn’t over quite yet…
: …?!

: …
: Wh-What’s that Machina…?!
: (That Machina… is it a Linebarrel from another universe…?)
: The battle is yet to end… there is one whose song of destruction beckons chaos into the world…

Tweeeep.

: Huh… an image just popped in my head… it’s… space? And is that the Frontier Fleet…?
: It’s awful… the Vajra are attacking… everyone’s gone…
: What you see is likely to happen in the near-future. However…

: The Linebarrel’s D-S.O.I.L.’s back online…! And the Linebarrel’s readying a dimensional warp by itself…?!
: Wings and the wishes they bear turn the song of destruction into a song of hope…
: What does that mean…? Just what should we do…?
: The future isn’t set in stone… What matters isn’t what you should do… but what you want to do…
: Those words are…!

: Who are—

: … Are you satisfied with this, R335?
: Yeah. I’m sure they’ll keep this universe safe…
: And didn’t I tell you not to call me that? My name is…

: We saved the world but… but this isn’t a win… not at all…!
: Kouichi… Emi… everyone…

Beep, beep.

: …! We’re detecting the Linebarrel…!
: Huh…?!

: The Linebarrel…!
: Hey guys… we’re back…!
: Kouichi Hayase and Emi Kizaki, reporting for duty.
: They’re both alright!

Bloop.

: That’s…?!

: Emi!
: And it’s not just Kouichi and Emi… Satoru… Miumiu… they’re all alive…!!
: Everyone’s alright… thank goodness…!
: Well, dang, they cheated death once again…
: Maybe God’s decided to let us have this little miracle?
: No… it was no miracle. Their spirit and determination made this happen…
: … To think I’d be given life again… Is it still possible for a man like me to protect something, I wonder…?
: Now that is a nonsensical question…
: Huh…?
: He’s right, Soubi. You already helped protect something, no?
: Us… and this world, see.
: Soubi Nakajima, was it? The Katou Organization’s now working together with us. That sad, Cmdr. Katou himself is gone, so what you’ll do is entirely your decision.
: I… I also wish to accompany you. That is, if you’ll all allow it…
: Eh, why not? I’m feeling a pretty gentle aura coming from him.
: And the fact is that, without you, the Final Phase would’ve ended up in smoke.
: So stick your chest out, why don’t you? You’re a lifesaver, for crying out loud!
: … Thanks… all of you…
: (I’m afraid I must carry on living in this world for a while longer… Please wait for me until then, Kaoru…)
: A Champion of Justice…
: Reiji…?
: So many people believed Hayase would come to be a Champion of Justice… and, indeed, he protected this world…
: A Champion of Justice only appears when the people believe one to exist…

: And here he comes! Here’s the hero of the day!

Door opens.

: Th-Thanks…
: Jeez, where’d you go back then? You had us all worried sick!
: Seriously. If you were alive, you should’ve gotten in touch and let us know!
: Come on, you know I couldn’t get in touch with anyone!
: Speaking of that, how did you manage to find your way back to our world?
: Well, the truth is…

Fast forward!

: You saw the Frontier Fleet destroyed by a Vajra attack…?
: Sure that wasn’t just a hallucination or something…?
: The two of them having the exact same one’s a bit strange, no…? And I’m also a bit worried about what that Machina said…
: The vision you two had may just be quite real…
: What do you mean…?
: We’ve just received word that the Frontier Fleet’s found and arrived at the sector with the Vajra Homeworld. Combat’s already started by the looks of things.
: What…!
: And there’s more. On that same sector… they’ve detected the Fold Waves produced by Ranka’s song…
: ?! Ranka’s song…?!

Couple of convos we couldn’t get due to the limited deployment slots:

: In your debut battle your inefficient approach put your allies in quite the predicament. The best way for you to avoid repeating such missteps is to join us…
: You’d deny all the possibilities of someone’s future over one mistake?!
: More often than not mistakes are repeated. Central will not overlook such a risk.
: You just don’t get anything, do you?! I’ve grown after meeting Nagisa and the others! I’m not who I was back then!

: Masaki Sugawara… rather, the Central collective consciousness. There is no future for you.
: A prediction from the Zero System…? It will not come true.
: No, I don’t need to ask Zero to predict something as clear as that. And the reason I know… is because I’m a human…!

: Join… us…
: I’ll put you out of your misery… that’s the least I can do for you…!

: We’ll close the book on this ourselves… we owe it to you as your old teammates!
: Forgive us…!
: Soubi… we all wanted to talk to you again…!

Using Godannar to fight in space makes perfect sense, it has an A rank in L while combined. (It had a B in K, as a lot of units tended to, which was a bad thing for a lot of reasons.

Oh, Final Phase. You’re probably the best wholecloth invention of the manga overall. Fun fact, though - despite Soubi being very dead and his Machina being on Earth at the time (it got wrecked when Anime Painkiller unlocked the butterfly wings), it also provided energy for the attack, which is why it does if you get his secret. Talisman, truest of bros.

Info about it in L - as a “red” combo, everyone only needs to be within 3 squares. The EN cost is only for Linebarrel, and it might seem like a small amount by that standard, but it has a secret cost - on use, it lowers the D-Soil of every involved unit by a full 140. So keep it in reserve as a silver bullet. It IS the strongest move in the game by a solid amount, though, as its Base Power maxes out at a truly ridiculous 11249 power (for comparisons sake with absurd units - post-Shinka 15 upgrades Z3-2 maxes at 12100 for Chou Tengen Toppa GDB and Double Inazuma Kick. Ideon Sword ALL and Ideon Gun MAP in Alpha 3 have 12000, Ideon Gun ALL has 15000. It’s not bad by those standards)

Oh, yeah, uh, also, fun bit of info. That conversation at the end didn’t happen in the anime. It was made up wholecloth for L. What DID happen was Kouichi, Emi, and Linebarrel flying past another Kouichi and Emi who were in what appeared to be a “Linebarrel”. Spoiler warning for real - that “Linebarrel”? Turned out to be something debuting in the manga many years later. Say hello to Deus Ex Machina, the final boss of the manga and the reason for the timeskip.