Let's Play Iji

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Sector X: Unstoppable

Second Part

IJI
Damn it! Stupid cameras - get out of our Control Room already, you bastard!



I ain't sparing anyone who tries to run from this mission. Our opponent is a single damn human, so get your asses over to your posts and KILL HER DEAD. You say she's the reason we found the Tasen? I say she's a rogue murdering machine with unique Nanotechnology and a priceless Nanogun, and so does High Command. And do you mess with High Command? NO. AND YOU DON'T MESS WITH ME, EITHER, SO GET THAT HUMAN. If you're more afraid of her than ME, YOU'RE A TRAITOR.



Don't complain, Tarixuro. I wanted to be famous, and what am I famous for? Inventing and coding the kill counter in the Annihilators' visor displayers. Some people want me dead for what happened at Ciretako, like it's my fault. And I don't even know what the Annihilators will say when they find out that the counter reverts to zero after passing a thousand. Iosa the Invincible once reported the bug, but at least now she won't be telling anyone. Heh heh.



Remember that allusion to "Annihilator Beta" I unlocked a Sector or two back?

It's time for a bloody reckoning.



PRIORITY OVERRIDE, NEW USER INITIATED

NOW TAKING CONTROL OF ANNIHILATOR BETA



REMEMBER CIRETAKO



A few destroyed walls and Berserkers later, Beta comes to the end of his usefulness.

Entire segment bypassed by force!



Another 2 points into Attack!



When people say they hate their job, I ask them if they have to travel for hundreds of turns on end through dead space just to find and kill some puny Tasen. What's the use of the Imperial Army when the Tasen are gone? Oh right, they need people for guard duty. And guess who'll be flying around guarding some random Komato planet from absolutely no one? That's right, people like ME. Bored Troopers and lifelong guard duties is what'll be feeding Zentraidon.



RIP MURDER KILL



MORE ANNIHILATORS



NANORAAAAAAAAAAGE



VELOCITHOR FOREVER MUAHAHAHAHA



WAY TOO SMALL A SPACE TO COMFORTABLY FIGHT AN ANNIHILATOR



ASCENDING SEQUENCE OF ESCALATINGLY CRAZY TURRETS



And done.

Through the barricade.

Just... Lemme catch my breath for a second.



It was mere turns ago that we were passing Origin by, sending a scout team consisting of three Troopers to the surface. They took a long time replying, but we didn't think much of it. A few turns later, they sent report; they had crashed and were dying, but could confirm through standard global scanning that there were no Tasen on Origin.
I of course withheld this report from the fleet. I'm not as knowledgable as Kiron when it comes to Imperial Research's new inventions, but I know the "global scanning" project never took off. It remained but a scare to keep the Tasen in line. This report was clearly sent by them, and I had found their last stronghold in the universe. Origin, of all places.
I had the power in my hands, the power to annihilate them onceand for all, the power to bring peace back to our shameful race - the power to kill a million people in mere cycles. Mere cycles...
My fleet has destroyed worlds before, but then it was by the order of High Command. This time it was all on my shoulders.



I had not much time to ponder this alone, as Iosa walked into the command bridge. I told her about my dilemma, as I knew that I could trust her. Her reaction was not surprising. This is what the people had been waiting for, she reminded me. Clearly, making countless billions of Komato happy would be worth more than sparing a million Tasen.
I had not much to object to that; it is plain logic. We are a race of conquest, and as such we must remain unified. We are like an enormous organism spreading throughout the galaxy, ever improving itself, and dangerous defects like the Tasen will be purged so as not to let them spread and corrupt the rest of the whole. Destroying them now is my responsibility as a Komato. But bringing peace at the cost of so many lives? I was reluctant, and Iosa understood that. She didn't like it, no, but I believe she understood.
I was ready to ignore the Tasen and move on, but all of a sudden, we received a distress call from Origin coded in a strange amateurish fashion. It was actually sent by a human, using a Tasen communicator. Without even thinking, I made the broadcast public. How could I possibly explain THIS transmission when we got back to Tadezocore, I thought? Within moments, we indeed heard the roaring and cheering of our troops all the way to the command bridge.
I remember Iosa calmly looking at me. "Now the burden is not on your shoulders," she said, her self-confidence strengthening me. There could have been no other outcome. This is for the greater goal. One uneasy thought lingers in my mind - whoever sent that distress call took my burden.



Time to get ready, I guess!



With IMPROVED AUTOLOADING, the subroutine programming of your Nanogun is enhanced, lowering the reload time of all non-rapidfire weapons by 20%. This does not affect the time it takes to switch Nanoweapons.



IJI
If this guy tries to fight me like Krotera did, I'm dead. I'll try not to say anything stupid, okay, Dan?

IJI
Good. I know you believe in me. Wait here... I'm afraid this could get ugly.



I am going to make one thing clear: I have never, and will never let personal emotions interfere with my logbook. The news jsut reached me that Annihilator Iosa is dead. That is a matter I will not discuss here. Currently, we have just finished routing the Tasenc olony, but the only way to truly please the public is Alpha Striking Origin. Taking the final step... blowing Tasenkind out of history, out of space and time.
The humans are not worth saving, either; they have no future left. If my feelings for this planet are to be shaped by the public and the Imperial Army, then who am I to object? This is it, and I may finally be ready to end this.



You have moved, Anomaly, far too fast. Your course has been erratic, but steady. I believe you are fully aware of the General's outpost, located right above your head. At least it will be if you're reading this - which means I will be dead.
I had improved, I had advanced, I gave everything I had to make sure you never found this logbook, but here you are. This is your end, Anomaly. I heard the log recorded from Iosa's exoskeleton before it exploded. I know your motives and your shallow shcemes, but General Tor will not be impressed.
Like I knew you would never listed to me after going for the bounty on your head and setting the trap with your partner, so Tor will never listen to the killer of his beloved. You may have taken comfort in revenge - but like me, the General is not a man of change. This is the final mission, the end of Operation Purge and the end of Origin.
You cannot seriously believe that your pathetic sob stories about humankind's future will invite anything but a swift pull of the trigger from Tor. It is logic, logic you fail to understand.
You have a lot in common with the Tasen legend, Hel Sarie - she thought she could end the war, she invoked a fear I have never seen in the Imperial Army's troops, and she defended her people to the end. She was also mown down by General Tor in an instant, not merely annihilating her body, but her very existence, her very beliefs. The beliefs of a FOOL.
Forget whatever hope your crushed, cybernetic mess of a body may still house. You are nothing before the might of the General, and when you're gone, neither will anything you have ever believed. Tor will blow you into Phantom Hammer mist and spread your ashes to the winds... like he did Hel Sarie.







IJI
Uh, hello, General. My name's Iji, and I'd like to have a word with you.

TOR
...

IJI
Can you understand me?

TOR
What exactly is this? A human walking right into my post, asking to speak with me, in my own language? Wait, you have to be...

IJI
Yeah, I know, I'm the "Human anomaly"! But there's something very important that -



IJI
WAIT! General, please wait and let me explain!

TOR
How DARE you come here?! How DARE you insult a Komato General and -

IJI
I haven't insulted anyone! All the people I've tried to talk to have TRIED TO KILL ME! None of you will EVER LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY!

TOR
...

IJI
I'm not here to fight you - all I want is a peaceful discussion!

TOR
Oh, of WHAT, may I ask?

IJI
W-What do you think? We live here on this planet, and we haven't hurt anyone! All of a sudden, the Tasen came and wasted most of our people, and now you think you can get away with Alpha Striking us, too! I mean -

TOR
Huh! Of course we can get away with it. Perhaps you're not aware that the only way to make sure that the Tasen are extinct is to -

IJI
No, that's not right. You already know that the Tasen are as good as gone!

TOR
That's correct, but -

IJI
But WHAT? What do you have against us? If you think the humans don't even matter, that's just STUPID! Same with the Tasen, you killed them because they're not the same as you!

TOR
Fuh! You have no idea what you're talking about, human! What do you hope to accomplish by complaining to ME about the errors of my people? The Tasen were a lesser form of Komato, a society of outcasts and leeches! The Komato's hatred for them grew over so many starturns, and once the war started, there was no stopping it. The majority always thought of the Tasen as inferior, and no matter what you say, you cannot stop such a massive force of strive once it's begun to spread
Our leaders in High Command were powerless - the Imperial Army took the law into its own hands!

IJI
So what you're saying is, is that you didn't care that the Komato would rather wipe the Tasen out than live in peace with them?

TOR
BAH! You seem to think that it's so easy, human! You think that the handful of leaders of High Command, who DID seek a rational solution to the conflict, could stop the ignorance of the masses? When the war broke out, anyone opposing the Imperial Army would be killed! You honestly think we're so heartless as to wipe out a planet if it wasn't even necessary? You can't blame me without first blaming the public and the Imperial Army!

IJI
But, I, I thought the leaders of a people were responsible for them! You keep talking like it's not your fault, when YOU'RE the one with the power!

TOR
Power?! The people outnumber their leaders, do you expect us to just wish their intolerance away? We TRIED to end the conflict, damn it - don't come here and tell me that we DIDN'T TRY!
High Command did the right thing when going with the flow of the Imperial Army, otherwise we'd be stuck in internal war! You just strut into my post and expect to know the answer to all of our problems, when all that you say has already been said!
I'm stick of this conflict, and I'm sick of people like you - if there's one good thing about the extinction of the Tasen, it's that we'll find an end to the most pointless war I've ever seen!

IJI
But, but the Tasen are already dead!

TOR
That may be good enough for me, but it's not enough for the people - they've waited ages for this to happen, and we have to finish what they started! They couldn't care less about this planet either, no matter what I or anyone in High Command says! This is the only way - the Alpha Strike is just about to begin pwoering up, and once I've returned to lower orbit, one word from me will put an end to your suffering!

IJI
NO! I don't care what you say, I'll save the world if it so takes me life!

TOR
Save the world, is it? Fine - then I will grant you your death wish. Prove to me that I am wrong... prove to me just how strongly you believe in your words. In the meantime...



TOR
Enjoy the view.

IJI
NO! STOP IT! STOP CHARGING THE ALPHA STRIKE!

TOR
Too late, human - tonight is the end of our bloodstained history!









[ BGM - Tor ]


Komato General Tor
Armor: 200
HP: 900
Weight: 250
Security: 250
Height: 13.2m

-VS-


Human Anomaly Iji Kataiser
Armor: 100
HP: 14
Weight: 1
Security: 1
Tenacity: 250
Height: 1.9m



Okay! Time to stop an Alpha Strike. Somehow.



First thing Tor does is leap into the background for his opening attack!



Fairly easy to evade, but he's coming back!



If you're not careful, even the act of landing can knock you off your feet.

Let's see what his weapons are like!



By the time I get up from being knocked down, I'm already getting hit by his blue shockwaves.



Before they're even off the screen, he's started firing his Fractal Rockets on top of it!



While I pound him with the Velocithor for honestly piddling damage, he fires scattershot fire grenades that will pepper the ground with explosions when they land!



And because Tor doesn't like doing just one thing at a time, I get trapped between that and this wave of incoming explosions from the ground.



Another set, and he mixes it up with a massive explodo-shotgun shot!

Furthermore, he seems to be charging something up...



Graaah!



And now, waves of huge homing missiles from the background.

I need a plan!



That orb he fired at me is orbiting him ominously now - and I've nearly emptied my Velocithor without taking out even his first lifebar.

There must be something I can do!



Fun fact: Whenever Tor hits with an attack, he remembers, and starts using it more often.

Anyway, time to reveal the secret key to victory.



It's a weapon I haven't touched since I built it!

The Resonance Reflector.



He starts charging his death orb...



PING



83 HP damage.



What the--



OW GOD DAMN IT



Other weapons are just to chip away at him between Reflects.



It's a six-way version of the MPFB Devastator!



He caught me with the firebombs once, so he's favoring it a bit...



KWAPING

This is the pattern!



His attacks are getting more dangerous!



You have to be sure to switch to the Reflector early, because if you wait until he's charging, it won't be ready in time.



And if you let him get up to three orbs in orbit...



NANOSTORM



The Nanostorm aims at you constantly for a few seconds, doing Armor damage - but if it wipes out your armor, the HP damage is 3, not 1.



So I just need to keep reflecting accurately!



Quickly and efficiently evading his overpowered attacks!



Get knocked around brutally, but get back up afterwards!



Fight for my planet!













The battle is won.

But what fate awaits humanity?



TOR
Cough! I won't die... by the hands of a Human!

IJI
Huh! You should've thought of that before you tried to fight me! I could beat Iosa, and I can beat you too! NOW will you listen to me, Komato scum?!

TOR
You... you think violence will solve everything? You think finding the one "responsible" and killing him would -

IJI
SHUT UP! You, you haven't listened to a word I've said at all, I just came here to stop the Alpha Strike! Look, the Tasen are dead! All you gotta do is to show the report on their extinction to your army, and they'll believe you - right?



IJI
SCREW THEM! Anyone can understand that the Tasen never had a chance against the kind of force you brought down here!

TOR
...

IJI
Don't YOU think it's meaningless to Alpha Strike this place?

TOR
If we don't... what would the people think? They and the Tasen are the reason for the war in the first place.

IJI
I, I'll tell you what the humans would think. We'd be grateful.



IJI
Th-that's ridiculous! Some people did this to me by reverse-engineering the Tasen's stuff, they had nothing to do with it - and why the hell would they help us after Alpha Striking us?

TOR
Hm, it was just a theory I'd heard. I don't personally believe it, but High Command likely does - any reason to Strike this planet is good enough. They're that afraid of the Imperial Army. If I defy them now, I can't tell what will happen to Origine. The fleet that was sent here is but a fraction of the Army - I may be in charge of this particular attack force, but I'm only one of many Generals in the big picture.

IJI
But then, at least you're the leader of THIS fleet! If they won't listen to you - I mean, how can you be their leader if they DON'T listen to you?



KIRON
General Tor. Respond, General Tor.

TOR
Hm, Kiron? What is it?

KIRON
The Strike is almost ready. Why haven't you returned yet?

TOR
I've... been caught up in some personal business on ground level. What's the Strike time?

KIRON
Half a cycle. You'd better get up here quick.

TOR
...

KIRON
Hold on. It's now a quarter cycle, so abort whatever you're doing and head up here right now.

TOR
Kiron, wait. I have a message for the fleet.

KIRON
What is it?



KIRON
Come again, General?

TOR
You heard me, loud and clear. Abort the Alpha Strike!

KIRON
General! Are you out of your mind? What about the Tasen? What about the Anomaly? We spent so many troops -

TOR
Don't make me repeat myself, Kiron! The Tasen are gone, and the Komato will never again touch this planet - we don't need another civilization on our conscience. We're returning home, and the mission will be reported as a success, because that's what it is. Is that perfectly clear?

KIRON
Yes, General. Understood. There's always been readon behind your decisions, and I'm sure you're right this time, too. We'll never both with Origin again.

TOR
Good. As for the Anomaly, consider her dead. And Kiron, I may not return.

KIRON
What do you mean, General?

TOR
I have... made a personal decision. I entrust the fleet to you, and that you will report a full success.

KIRON
I see. I'll make sure to follow your orders down to the last word, General. It's been an honor to know you.

TOR
Thank you. Take care. End of transmission.



TOR
...the first to ever stand up to the Army. But if the planet dies, let it be a testament to your foolishness... that some things are not meant to be overcome.

IJI
I, you, you think we'll all die? You spared us just to make an example?

TOR
No - to give you a chance. But that one chance is all you get. Remember that. Now tell me, how many of your kind survived here? How much of the natural life remains?

IJI
Ah... not a whole lot, I think.

TOR
Then, I assume that you don't have a home to return to?

IJI
N, no.

TOR
I see. Human, I'm sorry about what happened to your friend.

IJI
What?

TOR
One of my Assassins, Asha, reported that he killed him during an attempt to capture you.

IJI
Wh, what are you talking about, Dan is... is...

TOR
...

IJI
He's... dead?

TOR
Hm. I was the same way once. Never mind what I said. It was a lie. Your friend is just fine.

IJI
But...



TOR
...count, and I take full responsibility for what's happened to Origin. Iosa is dead... and the Tasen are gone. I don't believe in your future, so I don't want to see Origin die. And if you can't return home... then neither shall I.





[ BGM - Further ]

THE END

Next: We begin again, and unlock the true secrets of the Iji universe!


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