HomeZoid Graphics - Volume 17
Dark Horn vs. GunblusterThis time, the new Republic Army's latest mecha,
Gunbluster, rushes forth to attack Dark Horn.
Finally, the fierce fight of the Republic Army and The Dark Army has begun
On their way to the Dark Continent, the new Republic Army scout force commanded by Shuu recieved a violent reception from the Dark Army in the Triangle Daras. But the Republic Army, made up of brave battle-tried warriors, obliterated the enemy mecha, approached the Dark Continent, and landed from the Bloody Gate in one stroke.
The enemy's counterattacks were weaker than they'd thought, but it was nothing before the fierce counteroffensive to come. Their formation forced into the Bloody Gate, the Republic Army would be exposed to the vicious attacks of the Jet Black Army Corps as soon as they took one step into the interior. What were the Jet Black Army Corps? Their main mecha was Dark Horn, a heavily modded version of the Zenebas Empire Army's famous Red Horn. Equpping the powerful Hiblit Vulcan Gun and Focused Beam Cannon on its back, it was powered up into the terrifying mecha awaiting the Republic army. Commanding these mecha corps, needless to say, was the brave yet calm commander Störmer-formerly of the Zenebas Empire army, now with Guylos. Störmer's strategy was to draw the Republic Army into the interior of the Dark Continent and finish them there in one attack.
Shuu's Decision
Shuu took on the enemy's unexpected attacks, and handed down an order to the Raynos air corps. They would request reinforcements from president Helic."I want you to return to the Central Continent, and ask the president to send reinforcements. Say that even just scouting, it's impossible to budge an inch with this fighting power."
"Understood. I will leave at once. Please hang on until I can bring good news."
In the blink of an eye, the Raynos air corps vanished among the clouds. Though you are probably wondering why they didn't communicate by radio if it was so earnest, magnetic storms sweep through the demonic Triangle Daras, and radio waves can't pass through it at all.
The attacks from the Dark Army commanded by Störmer grew increasingly violent. Republic Army casualties were mounting, and their food supplies had completely run out. But their fighting spirit was by no means extinguished. On the contrary, they kept altogether defeating the approaching Dark Horns, and as one would expect Störmer started thinking of a change in strategy. The Guylos Emperor also began to show irritation at the long battle, and kept saying "Störmer's attacks are too lenient." Störmer finally ordered the entire army into a maximum-level general offensive.
Gunbluster calling...
"Sergeant Chance! Those guys are finally coming for us," Shuu said to his aide. Sergent Chance was a verteran of battle who served under Shuu's father, General Isaac."I've thought it was my last moment any number of times, but I am still fighting thus now. And tomorrow, I'll fight."
"Now I get the reason why the presdident appointed the sergeant as my aide. Well, then, let's quietly prepare a welcome for our enemy..."
All the Dark Horn began their attack at once. The Republic Army soldiers, all positioned at the front, prepared a system of ambushes for the enemy. Everyone figured they were going to die, other than Sergent Chance...
The Dark Army's Jet-Black Corps rose a cloud of dust as they drew near, and the huge figures of the Dark Horns grew steadily larger.
And then, Shuu's tranceiver rang.
"Commander, sorry we're so late." The Raynos flight corps had returned, bringing along reinforcements.
As or even before the voice had finished, the lead force of Dark Horn suddenly burst into flames. The creature that bounded into Shuu's line of vision was a bizarre sort of mecha that he'd never seen before. Even though there was only one, every time the three rolling cannons on its back fired, the Dark Horns kept being completely blown away? Not only that, its entire body had the look of a weapon. Shuu and Chance were left speechless at this terrible firepower.
"Commander, may I introduce the reborn Republic Army's latest mecha, Gunbluster. Please use it as your commanding Zoid from now on. It is a gift from the President."
Shuu fell completely in love with Gunbluster's magnificent mobility and attack power. Its speed and destructive power were undisputable. Changing from Cannonfort to Gunbluster as his command Zoid, he began to advance, aiming for the interior of the Dark Continent.
For commander Störmer of the Dark Army's Dark Horn force, Gunbluster's arrival was a complete surprise, so the blow they took came as a great shock. But like the brave yet calm commander descended from General Gambino that he was, he rallied his troops at once. And in the face of that, their fighting spirit was spurred on. To recover the army for a moment, Störmer decided to withdraw the Dark Horn force to the depths of the valley called Godcry. By drawing that Gunbluster into this narrow valley, he could halve the power of its Rolling Cannon, thereupon ending the matter in one stroke. This tactic using Godcry's maze-like terrain was Stoermer's specialty among his strengths. But the Republic Army took heart in/gathered strength in obtaining the new-type mecha, and set up force in the plain facing the valley. Shuu read the aim of Störmer's plan, too.
"Raynos corps, I want you to report on the enemy's movements from the sky. Ground troops, start attacking."
"Roger. The enemy Dark Horn are set up waiting for us in the valley interior. It seems like they intend to shoot at you as you're drawn into the narrow valley."
"Okay, I gotcha. This is the perfect chance to show them how great Gunbluster is. Everybody, attack!"
With Shuu's command Zoid, Gunbluster, at its head, the Republic Army began an all-out attack on the valley where the Dark Horn waited for them. Störmer thought their attack strategy futile and reckless. But only a few minutes into the battle, he knew his judgement had been overly optimistic. Wasn't Gunbluster going to advance bravely even while faltering in the violent crossfire of the Dark Horns' guns? Störmer became unable to do anything but embark on close combat. Dark Army and Republic Army mecha all jumbled together on the battlefield, and it became a great fierce battle.
Dark Horns' Hiblit Vulcans blazed, Gunbluster's Rolling Cannon whirled, and the Dark Horns that crossed into its line of sight were shot down. But in close combat, Gunbluster crunched enemy mecha in its jaws, and Dark Horn stabbed into the bodies of Republic mecha with its horn.
The fight was even.
On the battlefield where the fellow mecha had clashed, the cockpit of the Dark Horn opened, and Shuu saw the commander who had given the order, staring back with eyes sharp as razors. And Störmer saw the young officer in the Gunbluster who had charged bravely at the same time...
Neither two of them knew the other, but Shuu and Störmer would become rivals in the long battle ahead. This was merely their first meeting.
The sun set, and both exhausted armies naturally withdrew their soldiers...
Big John sounds out enemy territory
In the Republic Army, there is a boy soldier who goes by the name Big John. He's younger than Shuu, and though he seems like a child, he doesn't lose to adults, having courage more than that. Because of the incredible things he does, he began to be called Big (as in big guy) John without anyone saying. Big John's work was scouting. No enemy would take notice of a child. When Shuu, who he looks up to as an older brother, was crossing over to this unknown continent, he followed to lend a hand.Sneaking into the interior of the Dark Continent, Big John questioned civilians and enemy soldiers, and Shuu heard the information he'd gathered. According to him, this continent is ruled by the Guylos Emperor, who attacked the Central Continent to obtain the Empire army's mecha and soldiers. Make the Dark Army into the strongest of army corps with their excellence, destroy the Republic army, and gain complete rule over Zi: that is Guylos' ambition. And Zenebas' princess Elena is held captive in Guylos' castle...the commander of the Dark Horn force is a former hero of the Zenebas Empire army, and Big John suspects that he is obeying orders because Elena is being held hostage.
Shuu heard secrets even more important [Elena says "gee, thanks"] than that: one was the energy destroying the Central Continent was somewhere on this continent, and the other that Big John had discovered a secret route for them to sneak into enemy territory. To this secret route, Shuu threw the small-type swift attack mecha, Houndsoldier and Kingliger. He set up a strategy attacking the enemy's rear. They surely wouldn't suspect mecha to come attacking from the narrow route...
Will Shuu's aims succeed?
Will the battles of the Dark Continent change with one move?
Catching Deadborder's weak point?
The Republic Army's scout force has been pressed into hard fighting. In the midst of it, excellent group members have obtained valuable information. Let's introduduce this info, in part:About Deadborder's weak point
Clearly, fuel? [kana say フェル...] tubes are exposed on various parts of its fuselage. The fuel tubes play an important role, sending energy amplified in the light-storing body of this mechanical living being to the important parts of its weapons and body. Therefore, if they are cut, it powers down. It's reported that the Republic Army has instructed their whole force to concentrate attack on these fuel tubes.
The code of the Dark Army mecha was deciphered.
On the Dark Continent, order is especially followed. The name of the force each battle machine beast mecha belongs to according to its role is indicated by signs. The code on the front indicates duty, and the mecha's nickname is written on the back. The official individual name is shown with the development number of the fuselage (the code and number).By deciphering the signs, the organizaton and power of the Dark Army's forces became known, and would become an important key in strategy afterwards.
(click for my dodgy translation)