So we finally got the R-3, and Aya will be using it during this mission, even if it still needs some upgrades before it's really useful. It took 25 chapters, but at least the whole SRX team has ass-kicking mechs, and they're not even technically done yet. More on that later though. The Hagane's current goals are getting Shine back and fighting the DC, and the latter seems to take priority at the moment. Everyone knows by now that their base is in the Earth Cradle, but they still can't go anywhere due to the current official orders.
Because the DC is constrained by the same 30 day time limit as the EFA, however, they're likely to hurry things along and attack EFA HQ directly now. Rescuing Shine in the meantime would be an option, if it can be confirmed somehow that she's alive. They can probably justify that sort of thing if they're on the way to Geneva anyway. Latooni's certainly happy about this, as she's started liking Shine enough that she's stopped wearing her glasses because the princess prefers it.
The Hiryu has reached the Taklamakan Desert by now, and Sean is kinda surprised they haven't encountered any enemy forces yet since he would definitely defend Central Asia if he were the enemy commander. This gives Lune and Masaki the idea that they should scout the surrounding area for enemies, since their mechs could handle any enemies they run into. Especially given the mechs' respective Cyflash and Psychoblaster attacks, as Masaki points out. For once I agree, those two attacks are awesome mook-clearing tools, if a bit expensive in terms of energy. Lefina initially objects, but Masaki figures that if Cybuster managed to go up against the Granzon, it can handle a few DC forces. Sean agrees that recon is a good idea, and sends the two of them on their way.
While she appreciates the fact that Masaki came along with her, Lune immediately supposes this was because he was worried about her, but his motive (or so he says) is just that he has business of his own with the DC. Not that Lune believes him, but decides not to argue with him and instead they both get going.
Despite being allowed to pilot the R-Gun, Katina still isn't satisfied and wants to test pilot the dangerous Huckebein 008L for the sake of her pride, and of course doesn't get to do so. Since the last 008 model that was tested caused a fatal accident, they're obviously not gonna be too eager to let someone pilot those again. She leaves in a huff, even though Sean knows the brass wouldn't allow them to have any more superweapons beyond what they currently have. Which is a pretty good idea after all, given that this is the reason they had to go through the whole DC war thing.
At that very moment, Russel is looking for her in the hangar, but nobody's seen her. Which is undoubtedly why Leona and Garnet feel free to talk about her behind her back, revealing that they consider Katina to be harmful to her underlings. Russel himself doesn't mind being treated like that and thinks she has her good points, especially that she takes good care of Tasuku. This conversation quickly reaches a dead end as Katina herself comes in, still looking a bit dejected, but otherwise acting normal. This quickly turns to screaming furor as she sees Cybuster and Valsione going off on their own, and she's determined to get some of the action they're getting. She gets in her mech as well, taking off without even requesting clearance. Must be the style in the SRW universe.
It quickly becomes clear during recon that something suspicious is going on as the Valsione and Cybuster are being jammed by something, and indeed: not a moment after they notice this, the enemies decide to reveal themselves, once again a force led by Siebel. Not that he expected to run into them, but it's all the same to him as he can use this opportunity to score points with the DC. For now Masaki and Lune will have to hold off the enemies until the others arrive, which shouldn't be too hard given the amount of upgrades I've given their mechs.
Mostly desert, really, not much in the way of interesting terrain.
None of the enemies can hit Masaki thanks to his speed, and Lune is also impossible to hit if I use Focus. Letting her use Cross Smasher to counterattack weak enemies seems a bit overkill, but it's not like I'll really need it for anything else on this map. For now I just let Cybuster bang away with its Zephyr Sword, and on the second turn Lune is surrounded by more enemies. Still not a threat really, and they're just as easy to damage as the others. When they're done attacking, there's a whole swarm of enemies nearby with a fraction of their HP left, which is the perfect moment to mop them all up with a single Psychoblaster. I do so love Friendly Fireproof map attacks.
On the next turn, Katina appears with Russel following close behind her. Not that she wanted him to come; in fact, she's telling him to go back to the ship, but since she is his superior he considers it more important to protect her than to follow her orders. It's almost touching how dedicated this guy is, especially working for someone like her. Not that I'll be using her, since she's still in a non-upgraded mech and would be reduced to rubble in about two shots, so I move her away from the battle. Russel's slightly more practical, since he's got high defense and can use Guard really cheap, which in terms of armor is as good as anything. I use Cybuster and Valsione to take out some of the recently-arrived mechs that have railguns, which should remove most of the threat for the others.
Finally the rest of the crew has arrived, and everyone enters the battle, cutting through the remaining enemies like butter. Siebel is undeterred and just sees this as another chance to take down the Hagane, gloating to no one in particular about how this victory will ensure his status within the DC.
EXCELLEN: What kind of idiot says something like that out loud? Men should shut up and do what they're saying.
A brief conversation between Siebel and Leona follows, in which he shows surprise at the fact that she switched sides, while she lectures him in turn about how he was wrong all along. The battle progresses well, and at the end of this turn he's almost out of troops. He would've probably been finished on the next turn, were it not that he suddenly received some spectacular backup.
[BGM Change: The Sword That Cleaves Evil]
It's none other than the famous Major Sanger Zonvolt and his Grungust Type 0, ready to fight on the side of the DC. He tells the rest of his troops to continue on their way to the Earth Cradle while he deals with us here, while Siebel merely thinks Sanger's trying to steal his thunder and sticks around to fight along with him.
SANGER: (Regardless of the DC, I cannot ignore my fate.) Warriors of the Hagane and Hiryu! Listen well! I am Sanger Zonvolt, the sword that smites evil! I will not allow you to pass through here!
Now, if you're just playing normally, this guy isn't too hard, as he runs away at about 50% of his HP. However, this is what makes it utterly infuriating if you're trying to obtain the level's Battle Mastery, which requires bringing his HP to 0. It took me long enough to find a setup that allowed me to deal more than 14000 damage in a single attack, but eventually I managed. The most important problem here was that his Prevail skill made him a lot more resistant to damage when he only had a few thousand HP left, thus making even very powerful attacks deal scratch damage.
When you attack him with a character from the ATX team, they'll chat a bit: Kyosuke's dialogue is mostly about why Sanger betrayed them, and Excellen gets to hear she makes a good team with Kyosuke. Didn't try it with Bullet, though he had some automatic dialogue beforehand about why they don't need to fight. I have to say, Sanger's take on necessary conflict is rather interesting.
SANGER: I taught you better than that...once you step into battle, your only concern is victory!
Luckily he kept targeting Kyosuke and never paid any attention to any other units, which kept them out of danger. I mostly have him defend, and position him underwater in the oasis to minimize beam damage from the Type 0's Hyper Blaster. Aside from that, I have the units with the highest evasion attack first, trying to drain his energy as he needs a lot of it every time he uses his Colossal Blade attack. It's then a matter of bringing down his HP as close to the limit as possible, and eventually finishing him off with a Darkness Slash/Doomblade combination attack. To enhance damage, I:
- Maximized my own Will by using the Spirit skill
- Equipped a Medal and Emblem on the Grungust Type 2 to boost its starting Will
- Equipped a Dustproof on the Grungust Type 1 to give it S-class attack ability on the ground
- Had Tasuku pilot the Type 2 instead of Kusuha
- Invested some pilot points in Irm and Tasuku (More melee damage for Irm, Support ability for Tasuku)
- Drained Sanger's Will a few times using Excellen's Daunt skill (which is the first time I actually found a use for that skill)
- Cast Valor and Focus on both of them
It took me at least five replays of this level, but the desired end result was finally achieved. I get my Battle Mastery, and Sanger is glad his students have improved in his absence. He's not yet done, though, he just escapes with his damaged mech and says Geneva is a better place for a decisive battle. He certainly is persistent, I'll give him that. Now all that remains is Siebel's Rhinoceros, which does not prove to be much of a challenge, especially after dealing with Sanger. He's got 30000 HP, but practically requires zero tactics, as I can just whack him with my strongest attacks until he dies. In Siebel's case, his dialogue does actually seem to imply he died when he was defeated. I certainly hope so, that guy was overstaying his welcome a bit.
The Hagane can continue with its journey, and once they're back on board Russel seems to be hitting Katina for once. He figured it was the only way to make her listen, since her safety is his primary concern and she can't go running off on her own in the middle of a war. He actually manages to do something nigh-impossible here, as Katina actually apologizes for her actions. Normally she'd shrug it off, but I guess it's different coming from him. Either that or he just made a very convincing speech. Excellen is just glad they manage to work together despite their differences, even if the method of conflict resolution was not as expected.
EXCELLEN: As long as she was willing to listen, I guess...Hey, Kyo...would you keep me in line like that?
KYOSUKE: I thought that was Radha's job.
EXCELLEN: *sigh*
Bullet still has trouble believing Sanger is his enemy now, but Excellen says Sanger's just being stubborn rather than actually hostile. He wants to have another battle in Geneva for unknown reasons, and Kyosuke figures the best way to find out is to just go to Geneva as planned.
At the Earth Cradle, the DC officers briefly discuss the loss of Siebel, deciding he was expendable anyway, and discuss the rest of their plans. Tenzan wants to have one of the DC's new units to fly, which he eventually allows, silently considering the fact that Tenzan and Hawker are useful for data gathering and expendable anyway. Dammit Adler, if you keep this up you're gonna end up without any pilots left. Hans and Lily still need to prove their loyalty to the DC as recent defectors, and so Adler sends them once again to once again stop the Hagane.
Meanwhile, dr. Sophia Nate wonders how long the DC is gonna stay at the Earth Cradle, since the facility will be in danger if they start fighting their war over there. Egret wants to appoint Adler as Keeper of the Cradle so that the currently uncompleted defense projects can be completed, though he still intends to seal off access to the supercomputer Magus if fighting should ever break out near the Earth Cradle. Sophia also has a brief talk with Sanger, who is checking up on his heavily-damaged mech, and he personally assures her the fighting will not reach the Cradle. She reflects some more on why people need to fight each other in the face of an alien invasion, and Sanger just gives the vague response that he has a mission that needs to be completed.
SOPHIA: That's just an excuse for humans to continue fighting.
SANGER: Maybe...but, I don't need you to understand my mission. I'll defend the Cradle with my life if necessary. So, don't you worry about that.
Any fans of SRW Alpha Gaiden may remember how well that worked out. Anyway, got a bit of money for this mission as well as a Mega Booster for defeating Sanger. Latooni gets the booster, and I upgrade a few mechs: R-2 gets an armor upgrade, R-3 gets a speed upgrade and the remaining money goes into upgrading the Type 1's Darkness Slash so that this'll be the last time I have to fool around like that to finish off a boss.
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