Slightly delayed, but never late! Whatever sense that sentence made... nevermind. This is the first update! And as first updates go, this will have a long, long introduction.
Endure Enjoy it.
Mist: Urgh... my head. Wait, where am I? This is not the street gutter!
Nanae: Hey, are you okay now? Everyone, he woke up!
Nanae, Tonko and Morimoto - Dannar Base's grease monkeysMorimoto: You fainted from exhaustion on a street. You should be happy Nanae found you.
Nanae: Yup! And brought you right 'ere! This is the Dannar Base's medical ward. We have giant robots and stuff!
Mist: Giant robots, huh...
Doctor cameo: Try to rest for a while. You were malnourished but you should be fine now.
Tonko: Now, I don't want to rain on everyone's parade, but who will pay the medical expenses?
Shibakusa: Don't worry a thing. I already have a solution for that.
"Old Man" Shibakusa, Dannar Base's chief mechanicMorimoto: Boss!
Nanae: Old Man! You're here?
Shibakusa: Don't call me old! Anyway, I brought a guest.
Mist: Wow, it's a pair of giant breasts attached to a woman!
Professor Kiriko Aoi, leader of Dannar Base's R&DKiriko: Very clever. I see this guy you picked up is not the sharpest knife in the drawer... what's your name? Can you remember that at least?
Mist: Urm... it's Mist. Mist Rex.
Kiriko: Alright. Listen up, mr Rex. Dannar Base is always short on hands, so we want to hire you. This way you will be able to repay your debt, and maybe earn some money of your own. What do you think? It's not a hard job, especially for a muscular hunk like you.
Nanae: Yes! We need more hunks!
Morimoto: Nanae-san, you break my heart...
Mist: Okay, I accept!
Mist's inner thoughts: So they don't know who I really am? Good. I guess it's alright to work as dumb muscle for these people, at least for a while...
Time for the backstory! Blah blah, humans develop, blah blah
giant robots, blah blah colonies in space blah.
A few years' back, space colonies declared war on Earth and created their own independent nation of ZAFT. The war was long and bloody, and technically the Earth Federation won. Actually, the ones who stopped the conflict was a rogue party known as Three Ship Alliance. ZAFT remained a nation, but its independence is questionable. And it looks like it's going to start some trouble again...
Also, an insane mad scientist by the name of Dr Hell tried to destroy and/or take over the world (OF COURSE!). He was stopped by a brave man named Kouji Kabuto, and his giant robot Mazinger Z. Oh, and Kouji's friends I guess. Dr Hell's Mechabeasts weren't the only menace to Earth. There was an infestation of giant, biological monsters known as Mimetic Beasts. They are mostly destroyed but some still remain. Also, terrifyingly powerful, mysterious golden creatures known as Festum appeared recently, and they seem unstoppable. And who knows what other baddies may appear?
And that's just the Earth...
Few months pass peacefully, and then...
Episode 1!
You can't spell wedding without "ding"!Gou: So, this is finally the day.
Gou Saruwatari, Dannar Base's ace mecha pilotGou: Watch over us, Mila. And give us your blessings.
Indeed, it was one of the trickiest days in Gou's life ever. Forget fighting monsters, today... he was getting married.
Shibakusa: Move it, guys! Everything's gotta be in top shape in three hours!
Mist: Old Man, where do you need this crate carried?
Shibakusa: Argh, don't make me fire you Mist! Ah, right. Mist. Drop that thing, I got a special assignment for you.
Mist: Huh?
Shibakusa: See this present? You gotta carry it... there. But it's a secret, so keep your mouth shut on where you're going.
Mist: What, a church?
Shibakusa: I said, keep your mouth shut!
Anna: I'm happy you guys could make it here, Sayaka.
Sayaka: Don't mention it. Just because we're heroes doesn't mean we got no time for friends like you!
Anna Aoi, bride-to-be (and Professor Aoi's daughter)Sayaka Yumi, giant robot pilot (and Kouji's not-girlfriend)Kiriko: Indeed. Keeping this marriage a secret from the whole base and their gossiping mouths AND securing special invitations for you two was quite a pain in the ass. Okay, you're ready Anna. Looking good - make your mother proud.
Voice from the outside: Umm... may I come in?
Anna: Shinobu? Is that you? You know you can't get in here yet... okay, okay! Just for a second.
Shinobu, Gou's younger brotherShinobu: Wow, Anna. You look beautiful!
Anna: Do you think so?
Shinobu: Will you... marry me?
Sayaka: ... What's with this comedic timing?
Speaking of comedic timing.
Kouji Kabuto, pilot of Mazinger Z!Kouji (Kabuto): Hey, who is this guy?
Mist: Special delivery!
Anna: Someone's knocking to the door again?
Mist: Special delivery! Here you go, professor Aoi!
Kiriko: Urgh, it's all covered in mud! What is supposed to be in this box anyway?
Mist: I don't know. It's supposed to be a secret!
Further shanenigans have to wait, because a red alert went off in Dannar Base proper.
Kagemaru: What's going on? Give me a situation report!
Kagemaru, Dannar Base's commanderKonami: Mimetic Beast detected off the shore!
Momochi: And Gou has a day out! What should we do?
Konami and "Momochi" Momoko, Dannar Base bridge bunniesKagemaru: Keep your cool! We still have our backup unit. G Gunner, do you read me?
Kouji (Tetsuya): Yes, boss!
Shizuru: We're ready to take off!
Kouji Tetsuya, G Gunner's idiot hotblooded pilotShizuru Fujimura, Core Gunner's pilot and expert sniperKagemaru: Your mission is to intercept and destroy the enemy. There is no backup available. Use extreme caution!
Unbeknownst to all, one more robot was standing between the Mimetic Beast and the helpless, undefended heartland of Japan.
Boss: Damn that Kabuto! He gets the invitation to a fancy wedding and I don't? I was much more of a hero than he ever will be!
Boss, comic relief delinquentBoss: But I have a plan!
Nuke and Mucha: What's the plan, Boss?
Boss: I brought Boss Borot here, and we'll crash the wedding! This will be my vengeance! Muahaha!
Nuke and Mucha, Boss's useless toadiesNuke: Brilliant!
Mucha: You sure this is a good idea?
Boss: Don't doubt me! Or else... hey! What's that?
Shizuru: We have the Mimetic Beast in visual.
Kouji (Tetsuya): What's this? HQ, I see some funny-looking robot!
Kagemaru: That's not ours! Is it aggressive?
Boss: An audience! Change of plans, guys! See the big ugly? Wreck it and I'll prove how much of a hero I am!
Boss: Shi shi shi!
Okay, here we go!
Nuke: Boss! We're going down!
Boss: Aah! That didn't turn out so well!
Kouji (Tetsuya): That funny thing attacked the Beast and got destroyed!
Shizuru: Watch out Kouji!
It's going for us now!
Kagemaru: Minor damage! Counterattack from outside its distance!
Shizuru: Yes, sir!
Momochi: Sir! We analyzed the Beast's appearance. Look at this!
Kagemaru: These parts? It looks like... the Clubmariner?!
And finally,
finally the interactive part of the mission starts. The G Gunner is out of its league here, so the best I can do is retreat to a better position.
Shizuru: Here it comes again!
Kouji (Tetsuya): I won't let you!
Wing Cannon! What! It's got a shield!
Back to the church.
Priest cameo: Anna, do you take this man, Gou, as your husband?
Anna: I do!
Priest cameo: And you, Gou, do you take this woman, Anna, as your wife?
Gou: I...
Shizuru: Gou!
Gou: Shizuru! Not now... this is the worst possible moment!
Shizuru: We're in trouble... aah!
Gou: Shizuru!
Anna: What's going on!
Kiriko: Gou, we have to go!
Gou: Right! I'm sorry Anna... there are giant beasts to fight!
Anna: Left at the altar... I can't believe it...
Kouji (Kabuto): Giant beasts? This is our cue! Let's go Sayaka. Our bikes are just outside!
Sayaka: Good thing we parked Mazinger and Diana not too far away, Kouji!
Anna: No, wait. This is not it! Gou-chin went away to protect me (even using our "just married" car...). That's right! And as his bride, it is my mission to help him! Wait for me, Gou-chin!
Shinobu: Everyone is leaving...
Mist: I'm still here.
And, back to the battlefield!
Kouji (Tetsuya): Argh!
We're getting clobbered!Shizuru: It's too close to use anything but Gatling Arm! At this rate...
Boom!
Anna: Aah! A stray explosion! My wedding dress... it's all ruined now... hey!
Anna: This giant robot? It moved on its own! Okay, I'm not my school's top mecha player for nothing. Please, lend me your power!
Mimetic Beast: *rip*
Kouji (Tetsuya): AAARGH!
Shizuru: Kouji!
Konami: G Gunner, destroyed! Core Gunner is still operational!
Mimetic Beast: *Not if I can help it!*
Block!
Gou: Sorry for taking so long. They've stripped you naked, Shizuru.
Shizuru: Gou, you made it!
Gou: How's Kouji?
Shizuru: He's dead.
Kouji (Tetsuya): I'm not dead!
Gou: You two retreat.
I'll handle this... aargh!
Momochi: Sir! Why is Gou not giving his all!
Kagemaru: It's the Clubmariner and Gou knows it. It reminds him of five years ago!
Momochi: That means... Mila?!
Swoosh! Block again!
Anna: I won't let you!
Gou: Anna! Are you inside? What are you doing there?
Konami: Neo Okusaer? Who is inside?
Kiriko: That would be my daughter, Anna. She pilots the unit with my blessings.
Gou: Anna, stay back! An amateur like you will only die here!
Anna: I will defend you if you can't defend yourself! That's because you are... my husband!
Everyone: HUSBAND!?
Anna: Gou-chin, please let me help you!
Everyone: GOU-CHIN?!
Kiriko: Ah-ah... So much of the secret...
Now we have two units ready to beat the crap out of the enemy. The advantage is on our side,
so let's go!
As veteran SRW players (or readers of my previous LP) may have noticed, I used spirit skills to help my cause a bit. Their use is rather straightforward - you activate a skill, pay some SP, and receive an effect. In this case, I used Alert for Anna (the next enemy attack automatically misses), and Invincible for Gou (the next enemy attack
that hits deals only ten damage). Godannar units aren't that heavily armored, so defensive spirit skills like that help. A lot.
It looks like the good guys have the advantage now!
Or not. Smaller mook Mimetic Beasts appear to rip us to shreds!
Fortunately, they are not the only backup that arrives.
Kouji (Kabuto): Plider On!
Kouji: Mecha Beasts or Mimetic Beasts, no difference - all will get their asses kicked! Mazinger Z is here! Sayaka, follow me! We'll teach these guys a lesson!
Sayaka: Kouji, wait! Diana A cannot fly, you're leaving me behind!
Kouji:
ROCKET PUNCH!Anna: Sayaka and Kouji! They came to help us!
Small Mimetic Beast: Gao!
Anna: Ah, can't get distracted!
Angel Wall!
That's right, Neo Okusaer has a barrier-like ability. It only protects against weaker attacks, but that's still something.
Kouji: This is it. Time for the finishing blow!
BREAST FIRE!Yes, I used another spirit skill - Sayaka's trademark Bless, which you can use on anyone, not just her, and it doubles the funds you get for the next attack. Useful for finishing off bosses. Speaking of bosses, downing the huge Mimetic Beast did not end the stage yet. We still have the mooks to finish off.
Mist: I... changed my mind. Hold the fort, Shinobu!
Shinobu: Now really everyone left...
Priest cameo: ...
Mist: Is it time for history to repeat itself? Whatever the case, I can't just stand aside while these people fight! You were hidden too well for anyone to find you. Crystal Heart, activate! Let's go! Revlius!
Kouji: What's this, more enemy reinforcements?!
Mist:
Not if I can help it!Anna: What was that! Mist, is that you? Why are you in a mecha?
Mist: It's... a long story.
What you witnessed now was a Combo Attack - the SRW K-only version. Mist technically doesn't have the skills to perform an advanced 3-unit one yet, but eh. Cutscene power.
Mist: It's not over yet. These guys... I won't let them disturb the peace like that!
Groovine Buster!
Unlike other units we have so far, the tough-but-clumsy (or clumsy but not so tough in case of G Gunner) super-types, Revlius is a real-type. Which means it's pretty good at dodging, and Mist shouldn't get damaged even if he is ganged up on by enemies! Cool, huh?
Crap.
Mist: Uh oh! Better finish this quickly!
And so we did. With dynamic kill animations! That is, a different attack animation if it deals the finishing hit.
Mist: Did we do it?
Anna: Mist, look out!
Mist: Aaaargh!
Gou: The Clubmariner!
Anna: Gou-chin, quick! We gotta finish it off!
Gou: ...
Anna: What's the matter, Gou-chin? Gou-chin! Snap out of it! What's wrong?
Gou: Five years ago...
Anna: Yes, remember five years ago? That's when we first met, when you protected me from the monsters!
Gou: No, that's not it... That's not all...
Anna: Snap out of it, Gou-chin! We gotta do something right now or Mist dies!
Gou: AAAAAA!
Gou: Twin Drive, Engage!
Anna: Twin Drive, Engage! (?)
Gou:
Anna, help me here! Fire when I say so!Anna: SOUL!
Gou: BREAKER!
Mimetic Beast: Gyaooo! *iz ded*
Anna: Are you alright, Mist?
Mist: Yeah, somehow...
Kiriko: Good job, everyone. I will have some questions for you, Mist Rex...
The battle was won! But what's this! There was a spectator!
Daiya Tsuwabuki, son of a lost-at-sea fishermanDaiya: The giant beasts... they really are back... that can only mean!
Meanwhile, at Dannar Base.
Anna: Gou-chin, we did it!
Kouji (Kabuto): Yeah, we kicked ass! Mazinger didn't go rusty in the slightest! Wait a sec... Gou-
chin?
Mist: Let's ignore it, I'm sure nobody will notice...
Kiriko: Like nobody will notice your mecha, Mist Rex? Why do you have one? Tell me.
Mist: It's a... long story.
Kiriko: And we have all the time in the world. Come with me to the headquarters. But first...
Mist: Gulp.
Kiriko: I want to give you a raise. Under condition that your unit will help Dannar Base in various operations. We're short-handed when it goes to fighting Mimetic Beasts, too. Not just in engineering.
Mist: You want me to fight, again? I guess I have no choice, now that the secret is revealed...
Shizuru: Hey, what are you doing Kouji? The doctors told you to stay in bed and rest!
Kouji (Tetsuya): It's ok! I feel just fine and dandy! Soon I'll be back to pilo... ow ow ow.
Shizuru: See, I just told you - stop moving!
Anna: Kouji, is he okay?!
Kouji (Tetsuya, again): I'm ok! Ouch.
Still,
unlike canon, Kouji will find himself checked out of the hospital soon enough. I guess there was a mixup between him and Kabuto.
Kiriko: Now, Mist. Tell me how you got this robot.
Mist: I was a guardian of...
Kagemaru: Professor Aoi! Come here quick. This is extremely important!
Kiriko: Your secrets remain hidden for a bit longer, Mist. You are lucky.
Mist: Yeah... really lucky...
Kiriko: What is it, Kagemaru?
Kagemaru: Take a look at this. The Mimetic Beast really did control the Clubmariner. And inside, we found...
Kiriko: Impossible! After five years, she is still alive?
Kiriko: That woman! Mila Ackerman...
DUN DUN DUN!
Intermission menu time. This is where we upgrade units, give pilots extra training, organise two-people squads... but since it's only mission one, we can't do much of anything yet.
Well, at least we can see who the top aces are. Or browse through the
unit list.
Speaking of the units, here's what we have so far! Organized by series.
[spoiler]Revlius: The original unit! And as far as originals go... it's really not that good. It's a dodger, but it cannot dodge TOO well, and its weapons are not that powerful. Fortunately, it gets better later. Much better.
Mazinger Z: The super robots' super robot. It is tanky, with lots of armor and HP. Weapon-wise... it is nothing special. Its most useful attacks and even Mazin Power are locked away. How disappointing! Luckily, later they get unlocked and then Mazinger becomes a powerhouse.
Diana A: Mazinger's support unit. Sayaka can use it to repair people. Offensively, it sucks. Simple as that. It's not too good in defense either.
Boss Borot: We're not getting rid of Boss that easily! As usual, he is a joke. The Borot is weak and its armor might as well be made of cardboard. At least it can resupply/refuel energy, and since it has three pilots (Boss and his flunkies), we can get some mileage out of spirit skills.
Godannar: Gou's unit is decently strong, but its range is criminally short. It has pretty good HP, but its armor is lackluster and dodging skills are terrible. Definitely a glass cannon.
Neo Okusaer: Anna's unit is not much weaker than Gou's, and Angel Wall provides some defensive options. Still, the real power of these two units is their ability to combine into...
Godannar Twin Drive: Now we're talking! This unit packs some serious punch, and its defensive abilities are somewhat increased. It is still a glass cannon, just glassy and more... cannon-y. Very cannon-y indeed.
G Gunner: Long-ranged combat is this unit's forte. Kouji (Tetsuya, not Kabuto) can deal some pretty good damage. Defensively, it's worse than Godannar. Ouch.
Core Gunner: Pretty similar to G Gunner, albeit with slightly better dodging abilities and slightly worse armor. Also, its final attack is close-ranged. Shizuru pilots a glass cannon, just like her
partner friend colleague.[/spoiler]
That's it for update #1. Tell me how you like the formatting I use. I tried to make it a bit more concise than my previous LPs, but the post is a long one anyway. I guess the episode just had a lot of talky bits. I'm motivated by attention, being the shameless beast I am, so if you have anything to comment at all, speak up. I'm looking forward to all input.