| |
| "Destroy the Drive Block" | |
| General information | |
| Japanese name | 動力ブロック破壊 |
| Client | Ayre |
| Stage | Xylem Drive Block |
| Reward | COAM |
| Music | "Steel Haze (Rusted Pride)" |
| Real world information | |
| Game | ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON |
"Destroy the Drive Block" is a mission in Chapter 5 of ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON.
It is the penultimate mission of the Liberator of Rubicon path.
In-game information[]
Combat zone: Stratosphere - Xylem Drive Block Objective: Destroy Targets |
Objectives[]
- Destroy all large skyrmion generators
- Escape from the drive block
- Defeat V.II Snail
Walkthrough[]
The mission starts on an exterior platform of Xylem. The player must navigate the Xylem's maze-like Drive Block and destroy a total of five skyrmion generators while destroying or avoiding various Reuse and Development and Arquebus Corporation mechs that are engaged in combat with each other. The generators are soft targets, so the best way to approach this mission is to find each generator, destroy it, and quickly move on without bothering the mop up the enemies littered across the mission area.
After the first three generators have been destroyed, the player will reach the mission's mid-boss, an EC-0804 SMART CLEANER. Not only is the area where the SMART CLEANER is fought more open than in "Infiltrate Grid 086," making aerial combat tactics much easier, but the player will be assisted by Rusty in his new AC, STEEL HAZE ORTUS. Rusty will absorb most of the SMART CLEANER's attention, allowing the player to focus on DPS. Once the SMART CLEANER is down, Rusty will announce that Arquebus has sent an interceptor fleet of AS07: HEAVY WARSHIPs to destroy the Xylem, and he must leave to eliminate them.
It falls to the player to take out the final two generators. Head through the gate to the targets, keeping in mind that the area ahead is even more constricted and labyrinthine. If locating the generators is difficult, do not hesitate to take some time to learn the area layout and clear out any enemies, as there is a Supply Sherpa and checkpoint shortly after the generators.
Destroying the generators does not end the mission, however. Following the Supply Sherpa and checkpoint, the player is confronted by the mission's final boss: AAP07A: ARQUEBUS BALTEUS, piloted by V.II Snail. This upgraded iteration of BALTEUS is considerably different from the original in "Attack the Watchpoint" in terms of offensive capabilities, but it has the same weakness of becoming automatically staggered when its pulse shield is depleted. ARQUEBUS BALTEUS eschews large salvos of missiles in favor of heavy energy weapons, including lasers, plasma, and pulse blasts. When it is reduced to half of its AP, it will unleash a powerful, extended-duration laser beam that spins around its lateral axis and can prove challenging to dodge even with an AC optimized for speed or airborne maneuvers. A solid approach to this battle is to maximize DPS and play aggressively to keep ARQUEBUS BALTEUS staggered as often as possible so it has fewer opportunities to use any of its attacks, and also stay directly above or underneath it as much as possible to keep out of its attack range. Upon the boss's defeat, the mission is concluded.
Dialogue[]
| Condition | English | Japanese | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Briefing | Ayre: I'll explain our mission. Carla's last trick has rendered the Xylem inoperable. There's only one way left to stop it from colliding and igniting the Coral... We have to take the whole thing down. The lower drive block is powered by large skyrmion generators distributed throughout the area. If we destroy all the generators and stop the ramjet engine in the upper city sector... ...then we can crash the Xylem into the Alean Ocean without impacting human life. One more thing. I took the liberty of using your name to rally allies to our aid: "Beyond scorched skies, Raven fights on." No one has shaped Rubicon's destiny as much as you have. Come and see what the name "Raven" means to them. | - | - |
| Sortie | Ayre: Let's go, Raven. One of our allies should be arriving already. | - | - |
| Introductory cutscene | Looks like the guest of honor's here. Hey, buddy. Rusty: Never thought I'd be rubbing shoulders with the liberator of Rubicon. Every Rubiconian who heard your cry rose up to fight. Let's show them there's a future for Rubicon beyond these scorched skies. |
- | - |
| Mission start | Ayre: V.IV... Rusty was the first to offer his help. Rusty: Never thought the plan would go so wrong... But it's good teaming up with you again. Couldn't have hoped for a better silver lining. |
- | - |
| Player makes delays | Rusty: Those laser cannons are keeping us out. Our target's inside. Let's hurry this up. | - | - |
| Entering the drive block | Ayre: Even more of RaD's MTs... Rusty: Let's clean up, buddy. |
- | - |
| Encountering skyrmion generators | Ayre: Target confirmed. That's one of the skyrmion generators. | - | - |
| Destroying first generator | Ayre: One generator destroyed. Three remaining. | - | - |
| - | Rusty: Looks like the Liberation Front has broken into Institute City. You should hear this—patching you in. RLF Ground Troops: Now, comrades! Rout the corporations! We'll show Raven— the Rubiconians will wallow in the ashes no more! Rusty: Slogans scrawled in ash were never going to change Rubicon... The[sic] cinders are alive with flame once more. |
- | - |
| Destroying second generator | Ayre: Two generators destroyed. Two remaining. | - | - |
| - | RLF Ground Troops (2): Surround the Plant! Keep pushing them back! RLF Ground Troops: It's time. Deploying the Schneider AC. Rusty: Sounds like quite the party down there. Love to see all my hard work paying off. |
- | - |
| Encountering RaD SMART CLEANER | Ayre: That's the machine from Grid 086... Rusty: Looks like we've got our work cut out for us. It'll be just like when we climbed the Wall... |
- | - |
| - | Rusty: I see... The intake's vulnerable. I'll get its attention—you handle the shooting. | - | - |
| Player AP falls to ~30% | Ayre: ...Stay focused, Raven. You've beaten this mech before. | - | - |
| SMART CLEANER's AP falls to ~30% | Ayre: Enemy defenses compromised! Just a little more! Rusty: We've got it now. Finish it off, buddy. |
- | - |
| Eliminating SMART CLEANER | Ayre: Confirmed. SMART CLEANER destroyed. Wait, I'm detecting hostiles ahead of the Xylem... Enemy fleet approaching! Rusty: Guess Arquebus decided to escalate... They must really want us dead. Let me handle the fleet. You've got a mission to finish. ...I'm counting on you, buddy. Ayre: ...Let's keep up the pace, Raven. |
- | - |
| Entering drive block core | Ayre: We're entering the drive block's core. Watch out for ambushes. There's two skyrmion generators left. Once we've shut those down, we need to deal with the ramjet engine. Destroy the generators and head outside. | - | - |
| - | Arquebus Interceptor Crew (1): Sustaining major damage! We're dropping like flies out here! Arquebus Interceptor Crew (2): Target is one AC! Identification... ...V.IV... Rusty?! He's supposed to be dead! Arquebus Interceptor Captain: Full barrage! Don't let him get any closer! Rusty: You're out of luck. There's only one person who can keep up with me. |
- | - |
| Destroying third generator | Ayre: Three generators destroyed. One more to go! | - | - |
| Destroying fourth generator | Ayre: All skyrmion generators destroyed! Get clear, Raven. The drive block's going to explode! Rusty: Bad news, buddy. Something's heading straight for your position. I've never seen something move that fast... They must have finished work on BALTEUS! Ayre: Raven, we need to get outside fast! |
- | - |
| Exiting the drive block | V.II Snail: ...Raven, the independent mercenary. You're not the mutt I thought you were. Ayre: <gasp> That machine! V.II Snail: You're below that—you are vermin! Ayre: Analyzing enemy data. AAP07A: ARQUEBUS BALTEUS. Pilot identified as V.II Snail! |
- | - |
| If the player ignored Snail in "Eliminate "Cinder" Carla" | V.II Snail: ...The Xylem is doomed. Good. It would be most inconvenient to see our hard-won Coral go up in smoke. Rabble-rousing the locals... another inconvenience, but I'll overlook that. No, your crime is that you ignored me... Ignored Arquebus. You are vermin, and I will be rid of you! Ayre: Energy output's off the charts... Be careful, Raven! |
- | - |
| If the player defeated Snail in "Eliminate "Cinder" Carla" | V.II Snail: ...The Xylem is doomed. Good. It would be most inconvenient to see our hard-won Coral go up in smoke. Rabble-rousing the locals... another inconvenience, but I'll overlook that. No, your crime is that you tried to kill me. Kill Arquebus. You are vermin, and I will be rid of you! Ayre: Energy output's off the charts... Be careful, Raven! |
- | - |
| - | Arquebus Interceptor Crew (1): The second fleet has been wiped out! We can't get a lock on him! Arquebus Interceptor Captain: We're wearing the enemy AC down! Maintain fire! Rusty: ...How's it looking, buddy? I'd say I'm about...halfway done. Snail might be V.II, but he's second to none. Stay focused! |
- | - |
| V.II Snail's AP falls to ~50% | Ayre: Energy output is ramping up again! V.II Snail: Out of my sight, vermin! That traitor, V.IV... Those dolts at Command... And worst of all—you, the pest of Rubicon who stirred the cinders... You sicken me! All of you! I'll crush you underfoot! I AM ARQUEBUS! |
- | - |
| V.II Snail's AP falls to ~30% | Ayre: The enemy's taken critical damage! Arquebus Interceptor Crew (1): We're... We're losing the flagship! Arquebus Interceptor Captain: Deploy fighters! We need cover! Rusty: Whew. Knew there'd be more... I'm beat, buddy. ...Well. You're gonna finish this, right? Guess I'm not done yet, then! |
- | - |
| Player AC destroyed | V.II Snail: ...Finally dead, are you? Now I'll have to re-educate those apes... More housekeeping. | - | - |
| Eliminating V.II Snail | V.II Snail: No... I...am... ARQUEBUS! One...last...plan... EAAARGH! Ayre: Confirmed. V.II Snail...down. Rusty: Sounds like it's over. I...just about mana— Ayre: Rusty's signal just...disappeared! ...Raven. It seems we've got trouble ahead. We need to take down the Xylem fast. |
- | - |
| Debriefing | COM: Augmented human C4-621: Entering Standard Mode. | - | - |
Gallery[]
