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: Go to Grus!

*Realizing he has to make the first move, Yuri starts pummeling the one who appears to be the leader of the gang*

: Aagh! Kachko!

Kachko: Hey!

Fighting noises

: Grr! You son of a --!

More fighting noises

Kachko: Damn. This guy is pretty tough!

: Hey, hold him down, guys! C'mon!

Glass breaks, furniture smashes, and soon...



: Ha ha ha! Get 'em, kiddo! Hang in there!

: C'mon! Just give up and hand over that Epitaph, nice and easy!

: Hnh! Go to Grus!

: Hm. Maybe the kid is a little bit outnumbered. Here, lemme give you a hand with that.

The screen goes white, and an energy blast is heard!



I love the look on their faces

: ...

: N-no way!

: Was that a...maser blaster?!

: Now this time I'm gonna aim for somebody's head!

: N-no way...No friggin' way!

More shots ring out!

: Yikes!

Kachko: Aaaaagh!

The gang flees! Victory to Yuri and Nia!

: Ha ha ha! Buh-bye! See ya later!

: Ow...Are you crazy? You can't go firing off a maser blaster in here!

: What, that? Just your typical night out on the town. Ooh, ouch. They got you pretty good, huh?

: Yeah, well, I was outnumbered. And they had knives, too.

: Okay, that does it. I think I'd better give you a little present now.

: A present?



Screen fades to black, before returning to the tavern.

: That's right! It's one of my old ones, but it fits you perfectly!



: A bodysuit?

: That's right. It's way better at absorbing impact than regular clothes. And I threw in a plasmic blade for you, too.

: A plasmic blade?

Exposition! A plasmic blade emits a pulse that generates plasma that can easily cut through objects. It's not a sword for the average novice adventurer.

: Let's just say I like to go that extra mile for my clients.

: Wow! Thanks!

You got a bodysuit and a plasmic blade! Yuri's Combat skill increased by 5!

And so we leave the tavern. While I'm here, check out the music that plays while on a planet!
Now that I think about it, Yuri never got his drink. Let's go back to the tavern...

: You again! I've been waiting for ya!

*As soon as they enter the tavern, Nia and Yuri are once again surrounded by the gang of ruffians*

: What do you want now? You're not getting the Epitaph, so don't even try it.

: Shut yer mouth! If I had that Epitaph, I could be livin' high on the hog for quite some time, wouldn't ya say? Now, hand it over! And I ain't takin' no for an answer this time!

: You just aren't going to go away quietly, are you?



: But I'm warning you. It's not going to go quite the way it did last time.



Kachko: Hey! That thing's--

: A plasmic blade?!

: Well? Come on. Let's do this.

: Yikes! Hey, h-hold on!

Yuri puts the sword away.

: Okay, okay! I give! I won't ever raise a hand against ya again.

: ...

: So...I hear you're heading over to Central Elgava. Lemme give you a little tip.

: Yeah? What's that?

: You're gonna run into a security force hired by Demid Panfilov. He's got 'em stationed all around the void gate that leads to Central Elgava. So unless you do something about 'em, you proll won't be getting anywhere near Central Elgava.

: Something? Like what do you mean?

: Well, I hear when they get off their shifts, they like to get together for drinks at the tavern on Hapsal. And they say that's the best place to have a "chat" with 'em, if you know what I mean.

: That's a good tip. I'll keep it in mind.

: S-so, are we good?

: Yeah, sure. We're good. As long as you don't try to jump me again.

: Ha ha ha! Of course I won't! And now I owe you. Well, see ya later!

*With a friendly wave, Torlo and his gang leave*

: (Well, that was a complete about-face).

The bartender has some new information.

Bartender: There are always transport ships flying through Ropesk, bringing in lots of luxury items for Lord Panfilov.

: You don't say.

Bartender: I bet those ships carry riches beyond the imagination of us ordinary folk.

: Those ships, do they use the starlanes around here?

Bartender: Huh? Oh, yeah. I think they use the starlanes around Bagut, too.

: Heh heh. Very interesting. Thanks.

: Huh?

You got some starlane information! A new starlane has been added to the Destination screen!

We can also talk to Nia. Perhaps she has some insight on Epitaphs?

: Nia?

: Yeah?

: How far do you think the human race has traveled throughout the universe?

: Huh. That's a good question. Far, far beyond the Small Magellanic Cloud, that's for sure. They say that mankind has spread to galaxies up to ten billion light years away.

Surprise! We're not in the Milky Way galaxy, or some random galaxy that humans happen to have evolved in (a la Star Wars). We're actually in one of the dwarf galaxies that make up the Local Cluster. From now on, I shall abbreviate this galaxy as the SMC.

: And there are plenty of planets we could never reach in our lifetime, not even if we used warp navigation and void gates.

: Wow...

: Ha ha ha! Don't get all freaked out on me, now! Hey, you're a zero-G dog now, aren't ya? If you wanna see how far man can go, why don't you just see for yourself?

: Okay, maybe I will!

There's nothing else to do here, so let's head out!

As you can see, there's a new destination available to us! New starlanes will periodically appear on the navigation screen, depending on who you talk to and where you explore. This one leads to a ? ? ? sector, which is basically empty space that is otherwise important. That's where we're heading!



Upon entering the mystery area, we see a lone ship!

: What's that?

: That's one of those transport ships the bartender was talking about.

: Oh, yeah. Carrying all kinds of luxury goods for Panfilov.

: Private property of the feudal lord, right? So it won't hurt anybody if we just help ourselves to it, will it?

: What do you mean, help ourselves? You mean steal the cargo? That would make us pirates!

: That's right. So what's the harm in taking a little treasure from an evil feudal lord anyway?

: Well...

: C'mon, Yuri! Quit draggin' your feet, or it's gonna get away!

: All right, fine!

Well, that didn't take much convincing. Now, the transport is completely weaponless and has no escorts. Easy pickings, right?



Wrong. It's slower than the DAISY, but not by enough. It flees the battlefield just before we can bring it into weapon range. Nia, understandably, is not pleased.

: See?! I told ya they'd get away if ya didn't step up your game!

: S-sorry. But there'll be more transport ships passing by here later, I'm sure. There always are. Don't worry.

: Tsk. I was really looking forward to belting down some cold ones today.

We head back to Bagut to rest. Along the way, I encounter a Boiky RA class ship. They're a little stronger than the RB class, but identical design, so I took the opportunity to get a decent picture of the ship:



Just before arriving, Nia pops up with some important information...

: That's funny.

: What is?

: There's a really powerful IP communication broadcasting throughout the Ropesk sector.

: Huh?

: Here. It's quicker if I just show you. Look at the monitor.



Oh crap!

??: ...reading this, Yuri? If you're watching this broadcast, I demand that you return to Ropesk immediately.

: Hey!

: Who's the cue ball?

: That's Demid Panfilov! The feudal lord of Ropesk!

: You mean to tell me this whole broadcast is just for you?!

: ...

*On the screen, Demid continues*

: Yuri, because you chose to break the law, an important loved one of yours is now suffering the consequences.

: Loved one?



??: Yuri! Yuri!

: Huh? Kira!

: Kira? You know that girl?

: Yes. She's my...



: She's my little sister!

: What? You've got a sister?

: Yeah. She's the only family I've got. I can't believe this! They've got her, and it's all my fault!

: ...

*Demid's voice continues to boom from the monitor's speakers*

: And so now you can see the situation. If you see this broadcast, Yuri, I'm sure you'll understand what you have to do. I'd hate to see a young man with such a promising future turn into anything as lawless and as desperate as a zero-G dog. Obey the law, return to Ropesk and devote yourself to the betterment of your planet, as is your duty.

: Damn him! How dare he pretend to be a benevolent ruler, when he's holding my syster hostage?!

: So, uh, what are you gonna do? It's up to you, ya know. I can take you back to Ropesk...

: No way! I'm not gonna give in to his dirty tactics! Isn't there some way I can fight him?

: Fight him, eh? Well, we won't get very far against his military might with just this one ship, I promise you that. And I don't fight a battle unless I know I can win it.

She's right. The DAISY is sub-par in pretty much every fashion. The only reason I can one-shot those Boiky ships is because they're even weaker.

: ...

: ...

: Oh, Kira...what am I going to do?

: ...(sighs). Well, as long as you understand what we'd be in for, there might just be a way.

: Really?!

: But you have to be prepared to do anything. Do you understand? Come and talk to me when or if you think you're ready.

Yuri and Nia return to Bagut, before heading on to Hapsal; the only other planet we can visit right now.



Hapsal is a much nicer-looking place than Bagut, for sure. Once again, the only place we can visit is the tavern. Let's go!



Inside, we are greeted by the bartender. If JRPGs have taught me anything, it's that unique sprites = important characters.

: Welcome, welcome! I'm the owner of this establishment. The name's Radimir. Relax, and please enjoy your time here!

We can talk to Radimir and Nia. Let's talk to Radimir first.

Get information

: I heard that someone from Ropesk disobeyed the ban on space travel and went off into I don't know who that person is, but I'll tell you one thing. They've sure got guts! But folks like that usually go to an early grave, if you know what I mean. Ha ha ha!

: (This guy doesn't know when to shut up.)

Ask about a job

: Looking for work, are you? All right. In that case, I'd like you to take this cargo to Bagut. This job pays 300G.

The pay is a pittance, but we need the money. I accept the job.

: Yes? Okay, then. Great. Take this cargo to the tavern on Bagut. Give it to the bartender there.

I decide to do the job before talking to Nia. Technically I could do it any time, but Yuri seems like he needs a little more time in space before going up against a small fleet. The job itself is very boring, so I skip over it.
Back on Hapsal, Yuri goes up to Nia to start planning.

: Nia? You said there was a way to fight Panfilov...

: Yeah. It's kinda a gamble, though. Are you sure you're up for it, kiddo?

You can choose yes or no here. Since the story can't continue until you say yes, I'm just gonna get on with it.

: Okay. Here's what we do. There's a planet named Toropets in this sector. There's a little shipyard there.

: Hold on. You mean, we buy a ship there?

: That's right. If we can get a hold of a destroyer-class ship, we just might be able to pull this one off.

: But wait a minute. I don't have that kind of money!

: Don't worry about that. I've got an idea.

: Okay...(I don't know about this, but right now, Nia is the only one I can trust.)

Toropets is added to the navigation screen. Let's go right now!



Hot damn, look at all of the options on Toropets! I can't wait!

Once we dock at Toropets station, Nia interrupts us.

: Whew. We're here.

: But what do we do now? I still don't have enough money to buy a ship.

: Don't you worry your pretty little head about that, kiddo. You just leave it to Nia! Wait right here.

: All right.

Screen fades to black. Some time later...

: Sorry for the wait. Here you go. 10,000G.



: That ought to be plenty to buy something in the destroyer class.

: Wh-where in the universe did you get all this money?!

: Well, I kinda pawned something. Something of yours, actually.

: Something of mine? What do I have that's worth this kind of money? I -- Wait a minute!

Uh oh

: That's right. I pawned the Epitaph.

: What?! You did what?! How could you?! My father left that to me when he died!

: All right, enough already!

: Huh?

: What's more important, something a dead guy gave you, or your still-alive sister?

: W-well...my sister, of course.

: See? So, first, we go rescue your sister. Then, we'll have plenty of time after that to think about getting your precious Epitaph back. And it's not like it's gone or anything. I just pawned it. When we get the money together, we can get it back.

: I-I guess you're right. I'm sorry, Nia. I was just...I didn't expect that, was all.

: No hard feelings. As long as you get it. Now, let's go get us a ship built. First we go down to the ground and buy a blueprint from the ship design company there. Then we just take that blueprint to a shipyard. And, by the way, as long as you have the blueprint, any shipyard on any planet can build you that exact same ship.

: Okay, thank you, Nia.

Metal Slug 5