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Video of this chapter
I’ll go over the units when we get to the battle map.
I want to go over the intermission screen real quick first. Going from top left down, the options are Unit Stats (shows the stats of mechs), Unit Modification (lets you spend money to upgrade mechs), Unit Replacement (lets you swap out frames on specific mechs), Save (save), Pilot Stats (shows the stats of pilots), Weapon Modification (lets you spend money to upgrade weapons), Map Preview (lets you see a preview of the next chapter’s map), Load (load), Pilot Change (lets you swap out pilots to mechs of the same series), Equip Parts (lets you equip parts onto mechs), and Next Scenario (go to the next map). No puzzles this time.
You can swap characters to other mechs within the same series universe. For example, you can put a pilot from a Universal Century Gundam show (Z/ZZ/CCA) into any mech from that same series, but not into a mobile suit from Endless Waltz or Gundam X. You can swap pilots between Mazinger Z and Great Mazinger mechs as well. It’s not useful at this moment, but it can make for some interesting combinations later.
I’m not going to spend money on this first intermission.
Last time, a test flight of a new mech, the Excellence, was horrifically disrupted by a freak accident. Or was it an accident? Regardless, Raul and the gang decided to board the Ra Cailum.
[Ra Cailum, Deck]
So the Excellence is the type that can change out frames.
Yes. It’s a prototype so we can’t make many of them. I thought this way would make it more adaptable. Now that I think about it, I heard that you designed your own mobile suit.
You mean the Nu Gundam? I’d like to hear your opinion on it later.
Doesn't the Excellence have a cockpit that turns into a separate fighter? I’m pretty sure the early Gundams had that too.
Mazinger Z is also like that.
That it is.
How’s the Time Flow Engine?
No problems. But we have to be more careful with it from now on. Otherwise we won’t have the facilities to repair it if it breaks.
So its completion is once again delayed. Well, we have a spare one if necessary.
Don’t rely on the spare. It’s even more difficult to manage than the frames.
Come on, you’ll be fine. I’m counting on you.
I don’t want you to just leave me all of your trust.
Lieutenant, the Captain is calling for you. He wants you to come to the bridge immediately. And bring those three too.
Us too?
[Ra Cailum, Bridge]
This is an emergency. We’re changing our plans and heading to intercept Fifth Luna.
Fifth Luna is supposed to be a resource satellite for mineral extraction. What’s going on with it?
Neo Zeon is up to their old tricks again.
You mean they’re going to drop Fifth Luna on Earth?
Yes. In an attempt to cool Earth down.
Will that really happen?
In theory.
Now that I think about it, I’ve heard the reason the Earth entered an ice age a long time ago was because of a meteorite impact.
You mean the one that wiped out the dinosaurs?
No. The dinosaurs were hit by Getter Rays. There just happened to be a meteorite impact at the same time, so the two events get mixed up.
Let’s get back on track. Even though the New Federation was careful about the colonies, it seems they didn’t expect them to drop a resource satellite. We were too late in learning their plan. This ship will head immediately to Fifth Luna!
Roger that.
Also I’d like to ask you guys about your mobile weapon, the Excellence. Can it fight?
Yes it can.
In that case, I’d like you guys to deploy it.
It’s still in development.
I understand your feelings, but since you’re part of the military, I want you to participate. This is an emergency, after all. We need every ounce of power we can.
Understood.
[Ra Cailum, Cabin]
I didn’t expect to be in a real battle this quickly.
The incident at the moon base was also a real battle. …Not that I wanted it to be one.
What’s the issue? This is our chance.
What is?
For a real combat test for the Excellence. If we can get a great result here, it won’t just be dismissed as a mock battle. It’ll be an achievement.
Are you sure it’ll be that simple?
And if it doesn’t work, we’ll figure out why.
I agree. It’s better than doing nothing.
See? Have confidence. I know the Excellence’s capabilities very well.
Yes. Fine. Let’s do it.
Okay. This is to build up the Excellence’s reputation.
Raul, we’re having a strategy meeting. Head to the Bridge.
On it, Captain.
[Ra Cailum, Bridge]
Fifth Luna itself has no propulsion. That’s why nuclear pulse engines were installed in various places to help move it around.
The key is to destroy these engines. Without propulsion, Fifth Luna is nothing more than a rock. However, as expected, the enemy’s defenses are concentrated there too.
We must achieve our objective before it reaches the point of no return. After that, even if we destroy the engines, it’ll fall due to Earth’s gravity.
And that would be game over.
Exactly. I wish everyone the best of luck.
[A monitor turns on]
Captain Bright, we’ve got a problem!
What’s wrong?
There’s been a coup d’etat at the Hisago Plan’s Amaterasu Colony!
What? Is it Neo Zeon?
No. They’re calling themselves the “Martian Successors” or something. What’s more, even within the Federation, more and more factions are supporting them and some units that were supposed to go to Fifth Luna have changed course.
Of all the rotten timing… Anyway, we’ll head to Fifth Luna with what we’ve got!
…With this timing it’s almost like it was planned this way. Do you think it’s a coincidence?
I don’t know. But if it is or isn’t, our purpose doesn’t change, right?
True.
Anyway, just stop Fifth Luna’s drop with what we have!
Ra Cailum Route Chapter 2: Char’s Counterattack
So you’ve come, Londo Bell!
(Gyunei Guss)
Everyone, don’t get complacent just because there are fewer enemies!
(Rezin Schnyder)
Listen up. Our goal is to destroy the nuclear pulse engines. It’s right here…
We have seven minutes until it reaches the point of no return! Get there before then. Don’t forget!
You’ve got seven minutes to play with them, but that itself isn’t a time limit for this stage. Make sure the Excellence is in the Cosmodriver frame before this stage since, ya know, it’s in space.
Let’s go over the new units.
[RGZ-01 Re-GZ]
As mentioned previously, this is a pretty good mobile suit. In its more powerful BWS form, it has a long ranged beam attack and great movement. You can then purge the BWS either manually or when its HP drops to 0 and get a full HP/EN refill. Then it can fight in its mobile suit form where it’s kinda average. Still better than the next one on the list.
[RGM-89 Jegan]
The Jegan is kinda boring. It’s bog standard with no frills. It can become a workhorse if you invest a lot of money into it, but there are much better targets for upgrades.
[Ra Cailum]
The quintessential battleship. It’s bulky, slow, powerful, but needs help hitting things later. You can put any unit into it to slowly regenerate HP and EN at the cost of 10 will. It lacks the defensive options that the Nadesico has, but it’s also not entirely reliant on EN for its attacks. Just make sure it doesn’t die, because that’s always a game over.
There’s also the Excellence Striker Frame, but I’ll be going over that on the Nadesico B’s route.
There’s also the very first secret in the game right here.
SECRET ALERT
Clear this map in under seven turns.
Basically, don’t fail in stopping Fifth Luna. It is possible to stop Fifth Luna while defeating all enemies. Instead, I usually just rush down to Fifth Luna. Move the maximum amount south every turn and focus on counter attacking. Make sure to clear the way for the Re-GZ since it has the most movement. The enemies at this stage in the game won’t give much exp or money, and any exp or kills that Amuro, Kayra, and Bright get won’t matter in a few more chapters.
At the start of the third turn…
CHAR!
AMURO!
(Char Aznable)
Char Aznable. The Commander-in-Chief of Zeon is here in person!? …This is my chance to make a name for myself, but I don’t think he’ll be easy to take down.
Why would you drop something like this on Earth? It’ll make Earth too cold for humans to live on. It’s a nuclear winter.
Those who live on Earth only think about themselves. That’s why I’ve declared that we will wipe them all out.
You’ll eliminate humanity!?
Colonel, I’ll take care of this.
Don’t underestimate the enemy, Gyunei!
I know this is how it’s supposed to be, but it’s jarring to see this after the good times we’ve had in SRW D. Anyway, Char and his Sazabi are strong for this point in the game. He retreats at 30% HP (2400). The decision is yours, but just don’t let the rock drop.
Bright does remind you about the time a few times.
Three minutes left until the point of no return. Hurry!
One minute left until the point of no return!
There is some boss dialog here too.
How can one human punish the rest?
I, Char Aznable, will purge you, Amuro!
That’s just your ego.
The time has come to give up the Earth.
So this is Amuro Ray!
What? I sense hostility, but I don’t sense any malice.
If you manage to push Char back, either by destroying him or hitting the threshold…
Damn, I had too much confidence in the Sazabi’s capabilities. I’ll retreat for now!
Amuro makes it to the asteroid, mostly because he has the best movement.
Destroying the target!
Since Char is still alive by the time I make it to Fifth Luna on turn five, he has things to say.
Dammit!
Okay, now Fifth Luna is shut down.
…We have no choice. All units, withdraw from the space around Fifth Luna! Amuro, Bright… I won’t give up!
All remaining enemies then retreat, ending the map.
If you somehow failed to get any unit onto Fifth Luna before turn 8, this happens…
Dammit, we didn’t make it in time…
Good, now the Earth will pull it in even if we leave it alone.
…I can’t believe I couldn’t stop Fifth from falling to Earth.
Fifth Luna is falling…
The map then ends right there without a game over. The story continues.
If you failed to stop Fifth Luna from falling…
[Ra Cailum, Deck]
Pathetic! All I could do was watch Char drop the damn thing…
It can’t be helped. Our fighting power was halved because of the Amaterasu coup.
Even so!
I’m sorry. If only the Excellence was stronger.
No, it’s not your fault. Don’t blame yourself.
You’re right, Raul. We can’t blame ourselves for everything. There’s no way Char would end it like this.
But we’re good pilots and stopped Fifth Luna, so all that was non-canon.
[Rewloola, Bridge]
Colonel, I’m sorry about Fifth Luna. I wasn’t strong enough.
You were strengthened at the Newtype Research Institute for a lot of money. I can’t just let you die.
Gyunei, don’t worry about it.
(Nanai Miguel)
But.
I don’t intend to end it here either.
Gyunei, go get some rest now.
Ma’am! Director of the Newtype Research Institute, no, Operations Officer!
Gyunei is oversensitive.
He’s young… I can almost hear Dekim’s laughter… Damn you Londo Bell.
[Ra Cailum, Bridge]
Do you really think Char is planning to freeze the Earth?
Char once fought with us against anti-federal government people and aliens under the name Quattro Bajeena. But when he found out Dekim and his army’s true nature, he was disgusted.
Disgusted?
The New Earth Federation government is controlling the universe from Earth. There’s a lot of Spacenoids who hate that.
At first, Dekim’s army were colony sympathizers, but things changed once they got actual power.
The New Federation don’t understand why they’re hated. They don’t even try to understand.
But that doesn’t mean we can let them freeze the Earth over.
That’s why we’re doing this, right?
Yes. Bright, when will we get supplies from Londenion?
Soon. As long as the Martian Successor’s coup is happening, we need to stock up on as much as we can. Otherwise, we won’t know when the next shipment will come.
A coup d’etat… What do they mean by Martian Successor?
[Ra Cailum, Deck]
Are you going to stay on Londenion or continue to cooperate with Londo Bell? I’d rather resume my research as soon as possible.
They say haste makes waste. If we can achieve some results here, we might be able to get Captain Bright to recommend us. After all, we’re helping to save the Earth from tragedy.
Understood. Leave the Excellence’s adjustments to me.
[Ra Cailum, Bridge]
Regarding reinforcements, unfortunately, we’re doing our best to counter Char with our remaining forces. We don’t have any resources to spare.
It’s the same for us. The New Earth Federation is in disarray. It seems that the units who can move have to act on their own. I’ll leave Neo Zeon to you.
(Ruri is on the phone)
Then I’ll leave the Martian Successors to you.
Understood. Later.
[They hang up]
I wanted to use the Nadesico’s connections to gain some more firepower, but that ended up impossible.
It can’t be helped. Countermeasures against the coup at Amaterasu are important too.
I know that…
Now that you mention it. Raul’s group expressed their desire to remain with Londo Bell.
Ah, that’s a relief. Now all we need to do is pick up the Nu Gundam in Londenion…