With our money from last time, we've upgraded GaoGaiGar and Falsaber's survivability and attacks a bit more.
We got 1 skill part from last stage, another Gunfight part, which I've decided to use to bump Alto's Gunfight to L2, even though I personally find the Valkyries to be pretty underwhelming in this game, Valkyries just don't seem to be as useful as things like Diamond Force and the DYRL Skull Squadron was in @3. I'm holding onto the other one and the support attack one.
At the Anaheim Electronics Industrial College, Banagher Links and his friends discuss current events, including Ezelcant's message and the Vagan hostilities. They talk about how Vagan utilize special pilots called X-Rounders who have some kind of latent psychic abilities, allowing them to pilot more effectively. Of course, Banagher and his friends are no stranger to that concept, since they're already comparing the similarities between X-Rounders and Newtypes. Takuya asks Banagher what seems to be bothering him, and all Banagher says in response is that "he has a bad feeling"
On a beach on the coast of G-Island, The young Mamoru Amami talks with a sad old woman who stands alone of the beach like she's waiting for someone or something. The woman mentions "Ikumi" and Mamoru knows that name right away since Kaidou attends his class and all. The woman asks him if he's seen him, and Mamoru points out that yeah, they attend class together, but he seems to be around a lot less, and that he often disappears sometimes. The women explains that Kaidou hasn't come home in a long time, and she's waiting to see him again, and she tells Mamoru if he sees him again, to tell him she misses him and wishes he would come back home
Concerned and nervous, Mamoru mutters to himself and has a flashback.
Mamoru: "I'm... A Destruction.... Machine?"
Pasder: "Yes, that is the purpose that you exist for... Cain created you to destroy us..."
Mamoru: "Cain? Who is that? This Cain!?
Mamoru wonders what Pasder could have meant when he said that, and what it means to be a "destruction machine"
Mamoru: Who could you be...Cain?
Our team returns to the 3G base in the bay tower, as they are all trying to decide what to do now that they all have been dragged into the war with the Federation and Vagan. Taiga says that 3G isn't technically part of the federation forces... But the UN will likely want them to aid the Federation in any way they can, despite the fact they were not created to get involved with human wars. But since the threat of Zonderization is believed to be stopped due to the fall of the Zondarians and Pasder, their hands might be forced, especially after Ezelcant's ultamatum and the loss of Big Ring.
So, the members of Class 5-2 and their teacher talk a bit with Mamoru, Mamoru seems to know Jin and co. pretty well, since Class 5-2's school is in a neighboring school district from Mamoru's school, and it was close enough they know each other just like if they were actual classmates. Mamoru's also helped out the self-proclaimed "Earth Defense Class" before, from showing them around G-Island, to helping them directly like he does with 3G, as his powers seem to be able to locate the robots of the Jaaku Empire just as well as with Zonders. Jin is curious and asks Mamoru stright up "How did you get those powers anyway". Asuka and Tsutomu wonder if it was something given to him by some powerful superbeing, like how Eldoran gave the Earth Defense Class their ability to call forth Raijin-Oh, Mamoru of course says that in a manner of speaking that might be true. since he always thought his powers "were a gift from god". Koji (the Raijin-Oh one) being the alien-sightings nut he is, says that "those powers are so amazing it's almost like you're an alien from a distant world!" which the others don't take seriously at all. That foreshadowing tho
The Main Order Room is contacted by a representative of the Feredation that lets them know that yes, 3G, WSO, S.M.S. and everyone there, and likely the Nadesico as well when it finishes it's repairs, are being asked to assist the Federation with the war against Vagan. Of course, this doesn't sit well with Guy and the rest of 3G, they fought so very hard against the Zonders, that now they're being asked to fight and potentially kill other human beings? Even if they are from Mars? Alto and the Valkyrie pilots take it a little better, after all, their soldiers trained for such things, but they've grown so accustomed to the peace after the treaty with the Zentradi and such, and with the Vajra riled again, can they really be afford to fight other humans?
However, the discussion is interrupted by an explosion. Kazuo points out it came from outside the Bay Tower.
A strange monster appears and has started to attack G-Island. Jin and the rest of the Earth Defense Class wonder if it's the Jaaku Empire. Mamoru glows green and uses his sense to confirm that, yes, it's Jaaku. Jin says that there's little the class can do right now, their classroom, and by Extension Raijin-Oh, was a good distance away! The other members of the class being to panic a little, but Jin, Asuka, and Kijo try their best to hold everyone together, and they look to Mamoru, Mamoru tells everyone to hurry and make a run for 3G's Main Order Room!
Mamoru and the Earth Defense Class rush in to tell the others about Jaaku's attack. Guy and the others are a bit suprised that Mamoru was able to sense things that weren't Zonders, but that's not important right now. Jin ad the other request some help in getting back to their classroom, the others say "Oh, we can keep you safe here, it's be more dangerous in the school." but Jin and the other tell them "No, we need to get there so we can bring Raijin-Oh here and help fight! Eldoran entrusted us with defeating Jaaku!" to which it's agreed they'll be taken in a transport to the school as fast as possible. However, a complication arises. GaoGaiGar and the other's units are still damaged and stil need repairs from the battle witht he Vagans at Big Ring, so they'll have to sortie before repairs can be completed, which mean, yes, we're starting the mission down some health and energy on our units.
Episode 6: Absolutely Invincible Combining Robo
Okay, so our group sirties to deal with the group of Jaaku robots. Mikoto has Jin and his classmates board 3G's Triple Deckered Flying Carrier (which has been re-built since the battle with Pasder.) so they can get back to their classroom in order to go get Ken-oh, Hou-oh, and Juu-oh, GaoGaiGar and the others come onto G-Island to hold off the Jaaku until they get there. Hoewvwer, since the other's units still have not completed their repairs since the fight with the Vagan at Big Ring, our current units are down half of their health and energy at deployment. so we're going to have to be a little careful.
Yep, starting off in bad shape...
Since the Valkyries have the movement to get across the water and bridge to where the Jaaku are the easiest, they're first up. Alto pops a focus and goes first, wanting to be careful because the Valkyries start in super rough shape.
Alto: Skull 4! Commencing Attack!
Yeaaah, the fighter mode attacks are kinda not great in this game. Fighter mode attacks used to be so good on the Macross units in Alpha 3...
At least they're probably not getting hit!
Leon goes in too on a fresh target, want to soften them up for my better units, that's all valkyries are particularly good for in fighter mode in this game.
Now with that out of the way, let's move on to the meatier stuff.
Youta pops Accel and Focus (enemy hit rate was before focus) and follows up on one of the softened targets after getting in support range of one of the Valkyries
Falsaber: In order to preserve peace, this will end here!
Youta: With the power of the Saber Knuckle!
Youta: Saber Knuckle!
Youta: This should do it!
Didn't quite get it...
Guy manages to barely get in rage of a different one.
Guy: GaoGaiGar will deal with this one!
Ah well. during the enemy tur we do counter and kill a few, though Falsaber and GaoGaiGar take some damage and get low in the process.
Unfortunately it took Koji and Sayaka that whole first turn to move to be close enough to do much of anything. Sayaka patches up a damaged Falsaber.
Since Guy is low as well, Koji gets into Support range of Guy just in case, and hopes to take this one out with Alto's help after Alto changed to Battroid mode to get access to better attacks.
Koji: Rocket Punch!
Looks like Alto's support is not needed.
Aisha enters Battroid mode and continues to soften up high health ones.
Aisha: Go!
Alto: TAKE THIS!
Thanks to Alto, Guy smells easy XP.
Guy: Break through!
Eventually we take more down and then...
Yet more Jaaku robots appear!
Things are getting really bad, the others comment that they can't hold on for much longer since they haven't had a chance to be fully repaired. Leo ask Taiga if there's anything they can do. All Taiga says is
"Have faith. Those brave children will get here and combine in time."
And there they are, Jin, the other Koji, and Asuka arive in Ken-Oh, Hou-Oh and Juu-Oh.
Jin: The Absolutely Invincible Earth Defense Class, We're here to help out!
Mamoru: Jin-kun and the others made it, I knew they would!
Alto: Those robots, The Absolutely Invincible Machines?
"Jin, the combining system is OK!"
Asuka: Yeah!
Koji (Raijin): Yeah!
Jin: RAIJIN-OH! INVINCIBLE COMBINATION! (cue DREAM SHIFT!)
They come with their will charged up unlike the Aevestalises last stage that were not helpful at all.
Jin: Here we come, Jaaku Empire! We'll show you Raijin-oh's power!
Jin: Raijin-oh is gonna take you on!
Asuka: Go, Jin!
Jin: Take this! Raijin Flaaaaaash!
Everyone is really suprised what these kids are capable of, So now everyone is motivated to get back in the fight.
Taiga: All units destroy the Jaaku forces, hurry!
Taiga: Support our young friends, and we can win this!
Paglacchio: Earth robot, Raijin-Oh... Absolute Danger level 25...
Raijin-Oh heads to help the others, Let's keep this thing going.
"The 3 of you, you have to help out 3G now before this gets out of hand!"
Asuka: We got it! Now's the time we show what we're made of!
Now that's more like it.
The others help clear out the map of the Jaaku, until there's only one more left, let's see what more Raijin-oh can do!
cue music
Jin: Jaaku Empire! Let's fight!
Jin: Absolutely Invincible! Raijin-Ohhhhhhhhh!
That was neat.
Everything seems to be okay with Jaaku defeated, everyone begins to relax, thank Jin and the other children of the class for their assistance, and it seems like the danger is all over.
Swan: A...An energy reaction is headed right for the Bay Tower!
Taiga: Could it...be a Zonder...!?
Youta: 3G is...!? Did 3G's staff escape in time!?
Mamoru: This, This can't be...
Mamoru: No...Everyone is... Everyone is.... Everyone at 3G is gone...
Falsaber: They... didn't make it...
Youta: No way... They had to make it out!
The Primeval Machine Shells show themselves...
Mamoru: It can't be...!?
Guy: If the Zonders still exist and everyone died becase of them, I'll stop them for sure...
Guy: Everyone of 3G gave their lives, I'll avenge them even if I have to give my own!
Jin: Asuka, Koji, We're going as well. We won't let them die for nothing, definitely not
Youta: Sounds like we all understand and have your back
Guy: Everyone...Thank you, Let's give this everything we have
I should note, while you're fighting the Primevals here, everyone''s music gets overidden to the SRW BX sad theme which just cranks up the feels to max. Sure it's not the same as Battle of Courage being in the game like W, but it's still pretty fucking moving.
Anyway, we move a bit closer, carefully, until the Primevals come at us. This part isn't particularly hard, you only ave to down one Primeval to trigger the end of the stage, since resources are stretched pretty thin by this point.
Youta: 3G is gone...For the sake of justice I definitely won't lose now...!
Koji: Now they've all gone to wherever my grand dad is, I won't let them die for nothing! Let's go, Mazinger!
(Spport Attack( Sayaka: Koji-kun! Venus will go as well!
Guy: Because of you, Everyone of 3G...
3G always believed that, that I and GaoGaiGar, with courage, could 1 percent can turn into 100 percent! That's a true hero!
A Primeval Machine Shell finally falls, but then....
The Primeval charges up and fires on GaoGaiGar again and again....
*somethng blows up*
Mamoru: Huh...!?
The others begin to wonder who this mysterious benefactor is, but it seems like he's not interested in answering the heroes questions.
And so the mission comes to an end.
The others try to wring J and Kaidou for information, but they get miffed and take off before dishing out any deets, while the others are concerned about Guy now...
Belzeb, Felzeb, and Taida of the Jaaku Empire appears to have allied themselves with the Primevals. Belzeb and Taida crow that with 3G out of the picture and GaoGaiGar taken care of, the only threat to the Jaaku Empire's goal of wiping out humanity, and the Primeval's goal of mechanization, is Raijin-oh and Eldoran's "pet brats" and those others that were fighting them. The Arm Primeval agrees with Paglacchio, though. That The Disaster Left By Abel is the more pressing concern, and that The Legacy of Cain was not completely destroyed, but with the one who gives Galeon it's power surely killed, the G-Stone is no longer a threat, with the sole execption of "Cain's son".
Something has to be done to make sure Guy survives. Many of the others are not sure he's going to survive much longer, Mamoru blames himself for being unable to purify the core, leading to the Primevals regenerating and being able to defeat Guy, and in the end, this is all his fault for letting Guy down when he needed him most. Jin however tells Mamoru to stop feeling sorry for himself because it's clear it's not his fault and goes on that "It's decided! Mamoru, from now on you're an honorary member of Class 5-3! But you gotta be stop feeling so sorry for yourself!" Koji (The Raijin-Oh one) chimes in and says "Jin-kun is right, Mamoru-kun. you should not try to bare the blame all by yourself." Mamoru cheers up a bit from the Earth Defense Class's kind words. Then a mysterious person shows up and says she is from Nergal and says they might be of some assistance.
And with that, we finally reach intermission! I checked, we don't actually get Raijin-oh in our roster quite yet, unfortunately. See you guys next mission!
