Stage 03 (FM4)/Transcript

The following page is a transcript of Scene 03, the fourth mission of Front Mission 4, in addition to the dialogue before and after Scene 03.

Pre-Mission Dialogue

 * News: The U.C.S. Central Government has elected to send troops to its state of Venezuela following a declaration of independence made earlier this week by Governor Diaz. Colonel Donalds, commander of the 332nd Mobile Company being dispatched to Venezuela, promises to fully liberate the state within a week of his troops' arrival. On the other hand, Diaz strongly emphasizes that his state's secession is the will of the people of Venezuela, who have been suffering under U.C.S. oppression for far too long.

The screen fades to an open sky.


 * Darril: (voice over) I think we all want the same thing... To do something great, become rich and famous, marry our sweetheart, and have cute little kids. But most of us never realize those dreams, and as the years pass, they drift away from our minds one by one, like leaves in autumn. We think they crumble away and disappear... but in truth, they're always there, only scattered away by the winds of fate. And fate, as we all know, is a fickle thing. Sometimes she drops one of those leaves in our paths just to see what we'd do. Of course, we're all bound to pick it up...

The screen focuses on a group of wanzers.


 * Darril: Ahh... Beautiful day, ain't it?


 * Renges: Yeah. It really is.


 * Chaeffer: Hey, guys? Umm... shouldn't we be getting back to our patrol soon?


 * Darril: C'mon, we're assigned to rear defense. The hotheads who volunteered to be at the front can take care of Governor Diaz for us. Just relax.


 * Renges: Right. The U.C.S. Army doesn't pay us enough to be heroes. Just sit down, lay back, and take in the view.

Radio noise is heard.


 * Renges: But first, turn off that damn radio. How can a man get any sleep with all that racket?


 * Chaeffer: Sorry, I'm just bored...


 * Renges: As I said, take a nap... or I'll put you to sleep.


 * Chaeffer: Hey, what's this...?

An image of a damaged plane flashes.


 * Chaeffer: Huh?

A second flash.


 * Renges: Dammit, I said--


 * Chaeffer: W-waitaminute, listen!


 * Radio: Mayday! Mayday, Caracas Tower! The controls aren't responding! We're losing altitude! We... we're gonna crash!!!

The plane flies over the wanzers and crashes into a nearby forest.


 * Darril: What the hell was that!?


 * Chaeffer: Probably a Venezuelan Army transport...


 * Darril: Tell me something I don't know, genius.


 * Renges: It didn't fall too far from here...


 * Darril: Yeah.


 * Chaeffer: What are we gonna do?


 * Darril: We're going to check it out.


 * Chaeffer: Huh? But I thought we were gonna sit back and relax...?


 * Renges: You stay and do that.


 * Chaeffer: H-Hey, don't leave me here all by myself! Wait!


 * Darril: How's it look?


 * Renges: They didn't make it.


 * Chaeffer: Yo! Check this out!

A cargo box comes into view.


 * Darril: What is it?


 * Chaeffer: The cargo. Looks like this is all they were carrying.


 * Renges: Only that? That's strange...


 * Darril: Whatever's in there's gotta be worth a helluva lot.


 * Renges: Or it could be a trap...


 * Darril: ... Chaeffer, you open it.


 * Chaeffer: Me? Why me!? ... Okay, okay, fine! I'll open it.

The cargo box is opened to reveal large amounts of gold.


 * Chaeffer: Whoa!


 * Renges: This is...


 * Darril: Yeah... it's gold. How much do you figure there is?


 * Renges: Two... no, three tons, at least.


 * Darril: That's about twenty-five million dollars.


 * Chaeffer: T-twenty-five MILLION?


 * Renges: I think I know what this is. I heard that Diaz used his position as governor to hoard incredible amounts of money for himself.


 * Darril: Maybe he got scared when we showed up, and decided to move his cache elsewhere... So that means...


 * Renges: Yeah.


 * Chaeffer: Means what?


 * Darril: Listen. This secret cache of gold belongs to Diaz. What do you think he'd do if it disappeared?


 * Chaeffer: Uh... look for it?


 * Darril: How? He can't go to the police. He can't go on TV and ask the people of Venezuela to help him look for it.


 * Renges: He can't make it public that he had this kind of money. It's not supposed to exist. But we have it right here in front of us.


 * Chaeffer: Oh my God... We're gonna steal it, aren't we?


 * Darril: Finders keepers! But don't tell anyone. All right, amigo?


 * Renges: You sure about this?


 * Darril: About what? Deserting? Or being chased by the Venezuelan State Army?


 * Renges: Both.


 * Darril: Well, I think it's worth the risk. I mean, we're not getting anywhere in the army anyway. With this gold, though... we can do all the things we've ever dreamed of!


 * Renges: Good enough for me, amigo.

[Outside U.C.S. Army Garrison]


 * U.C.S. Guard: Hey, Darril. You done with your patrol?


 * Darril: Yeah. Anything interesting happen while we were gone?


 * U.C.S. Guard: A-yup. I heard the flyboys shot down a State Army plane.


 * Renges: Oh? Any details?


 * U.C.S. Guard: Nah. That's all I heard. You gonna report to HQ, right? You should ask around there.

[Talking to Guard]


 * U.C.S. Guard: I envy you guys. While I'm stuck here, you guys go on 'patrol'. Don't deny it! I know you're not doing any work out there.

[Talking to Renges]


 * Renges: We gotta make sure no one knows we found that crate.

[Talking to Renges, second time]


 * Renges: The longer we stay here, the higher the chances of someone finding out. Let's hurry.

[Talking to Chaeffer]


 * Chaeffer: Carrying that thing with our wanzers isn't gonna be easy. We'll need one of those trucks in the hangar, but they probably won't let us take one without a good reason...


 * Darril: Don't worry. I'll think of something.

[U.C.S. Army Garrison Hangar]


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Hey, Renges, my man. How's it going?


 * Renges: Not too bad. I need to borrow one of those trucks. You know, for the usual work. I have some connections here.


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Not today, Renges. I almost got into trouble last time. Make your connections wait for a while, okay? Unless you bring me an official allocation order, that is.


 * Chaeffer: Hey, Renges. What 'connections'?


 * Renges: You don't need to know.


 * Chaeffer: Does Darril know?


 * Darril: Kind of.

[Talking to Mechanic]


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: I already told you, I can't let you use any hardware without an official order.

[U.C.S. Army Garrison Command Center]


 * Darril: Fifth Platoon reporting, sir! We encountered no enemy activity on our patrol, sir!


 * U.C.S. Major: Thank you, Sergeant. Dismissed.


 * Darril: Yes, sir!


 * Colonel Donalds: Wait. Major, isn't Fifth Platoon in charge of Sector B-2?


 * Darril: Yes, sir!


 * Colonel Donalds: Did you see anything suspicious?


 * Darril: Nothing out of the ordinary, sir.


 * Colonel Donalds: You didn't hear any explosions or receive any transmissions?


 * Darril: No, sir.


 * Colonel Donalds: Then exactly WHAT were you doing in Sector B-2!?


 * Darril: Patrolling, sir!


 * Chaeffer: Pfft... Heh heh...


 * Colonel Donalds: Something funny, Private!?


 * Chaeffer: Oh, uh... no. I mean, no, sir!


 * Colonel Donalds: ... Major, I seem to remember hearing from you that these men have utterly deplorable track records. Is this true?


 * U.C.S. Major: Yes, sir. Especially this sergeant. He's famous for skipping out on his duties...


 * Colonel Donalds: Wonderful! How does the general expect me to fight the State Army with such useless personnel!? Why, I'd be surprised if these fools could even take an anthill without suffering casualties!


 * U.C.S. Major: What punishment should I give these men, Colonel?


 * Colonel Donalds: Just... get them out of here! Out of my sight! Now!


 * Darril: Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!

[Talking to Colonel Donald]


 * Colonel Donalds: Great Caesar's ghost, you're still lollygagging around here? Get out! Get out!

[Talking to U.C.S. Major]


 * Darril: Uh, Major? What's Colonel Donalds so upset about?


 * U.C.S. Major: You hear about the State Army transport plane that the Air Force shot down? Well, the Colonel was ordered to find it, but so far we've had no luck. If you had come back with some news of this transport, I wouldn't have the Colonel breathing down my neck. I hope you're happy, Sergeant.

carrying?
 * Renges: Sorry, Major... If I may ask, sir, what was that transport


 * U.C.S. Major: That's what we're trying to find out!


 * Renges: Ah, of course.

Second time and beyond


 * U.C.S. Major: I hope we find that transport soon. I'm getting sick of being yelled at by the Colonel...

[Talking to Male Operator]


 * Male Operator: The transport was headed for Atabapo, but it changed course when it was intercepted by the Air Force. It was heading east, towards us, before it disappeared from radar.

Second time:


 * Male Operator: Rumor has it that Governor Diaz has a secret cache hidden in the basement of his manor.

[Talking to Female Operator]


 * Darril: Hiya, Corporal.


 * Female Operator: Hello, Sergeant. How are you?


 * Darril: Great! Though I'm always chipper when I get to talk to you. You're as gorgeous as always.


 * Female Operator: Why, thank you.


 * Darril: I was wondering if you could do me a favor... I, uh... I was wondering if you could get me some papers for one of the trucks. You know, for our future and all that.


 * Female Operator: Sergeant... What's a truck have to do with our future?


 * Darril: Everyone's looking for that State Army transport, right? What if I came back with a truck full of its cargo? You'd be dating a hero!


 * Female Operator: Me and you, Sergeant? Tempting... but I can't.


 * Darril: Hey, why not?


 * Female Operator: You'll need an allocation order signed by the Colonel himself. You know that. Unless you know where the transport is. If I let you take a truck without permission and you come back empty-handed, I'll get demoted, you know?


 * Darril: Uh... Yeah, I guess...

Second time and beyond:


 * Female Operator: I like hardworking men, Sergeant. So maybe you should go out there and start looking for that transport.

[U.C.S. Army Garrison Communications Room]


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Well, if it ain't the stooges. What's up?


 * Chaeffer: Work.


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Work!? You three? That's funny.


 * Darril: Hey, Johnny-boy, give us a break. We need you to do us a little favor.


 * Renges: You hear about the transport that was shot down?


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Yeah. Actually, I was trying to find out what the Venezuelan Army boys had to say about that on their frequency just now.


 * Darril: We need you to write us a report. One that says you caught a distress signal coming from the south.


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Is that where the transport is!?


 * Darril: Yeah. Positive.


 * Chaeffer: South? I thought it was--


 * Renges: Quiet, you.


 * U.C.S. Radioman: You're sure about this?


 * Darril: I may lie to officers, but I never lie to my buddies. If the transport doesn't turn up in the south, just tell them I forced you to do it at gunpoint.


 * U.C.S. Radioman: ... All right. Gimme a few minutes.

[Talking to U.C.S. Radioman]


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Here, I'm done.


 * Darril: Great! Let me see.


 * Renges: Looks great! This should do it.


 * U.C.S. Radioman: Hey, man. I'm a pro. And... you're sure about this, right?


 * Darril: Yeah, no problem. I'm a pro, too.

Second time and beyond:


 * U.C.S. Radioman: That's one you'll owe me, Darril.

[Talking to Guard]


 * Darril: Hey. What are you doing here?


 * U.C.S. Guard: Getting away from work. Like you slackers do all the time.


 * Darril: Take my word for it, amigo. A man can't do without work if he wants to realize his dreams!


 * U.C.S. Guard: What's with you today, Darril?


 * Darril: What are you talking about? I've always been a hardworking model soldier, you know.

Second time and beyond


 * U.C.S. Guard: Just don't tell the captain I'm here, okay? You try standing in the heat out there for ten hours a day...

[U.C.S. Army Garrison Command Center]

[Talking to Colonel Donalds or U.C.S. Major]


 * Darril: Sir! We have good news! We found the transport!


 * Colonel Donalds: What!?


 * U.C.S. Major: Is this true, Sergeant?


 * Renges: Here's the report, sir. The transport's emitting a distress signal due south of our position. We have a pretty good idea of how far south, too.


 * Colonel Donalds: Hmm... Major, get me First Platoon. We're going to retrieve the transport's cargo!


 * Darril: Sir! Permission to join the search, sir!


 * Colonel Donalds: Finally decided to do some work, eh? All right, permission granted.


 * Darril: Sir, we could probably use a truck to carry the transport's cargo...


 * Colonel Donalds: Hmm... I guess you're right. Major, give them an allocation order for one of the trucks.


 * U.C.S. Major: Yes, sir! Corporal! Give the sergeant here an allocation order.


 * Female Operator: Yes, Major. Here you go, Sergeant. Bring this to the hangar and you'll get your truck.


 * Darril: Thanks. Love you, Corporal.


 * Female Operator: Good luck, Sergeant. "For our future and all that", right?


 * Darril: Of course! Renges, Chaeffer, we have ourselves a set of wheels.


 * Colonel Donalds: Things are looking up. If we get some information on the State Army along with the cargo, the general will have to promote me!

[Talking to Colonel Donalds]


 * Colonel Donalds: "General Donalds"... Hmm, I like the sound of that!

[Talking to U.C.S. Major]


 * U.C.S. Major: Looks like the colonel's finally in a good mood. Thank God for that!

[Talking to Male Operator]


 * Male Operator: It doesn't make sense... The transport was headed east, according to our reports...

[U.C.S. Army Garrison Hangar]


 * Renges: Here's the allocation order. Can we take the truck now?


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Yeah, no problem. Hey, you there, give these guys the keys to that truck!


 * Renges: Thanks.


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Orders are orders, you know.

[Talking to U.C.S. Mechanic]


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: I don't know what you guys are up to... But good luck.

[Moving Out]


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Hey, Renges. You said you had work from your connections?


 * Renges: Yeah.


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: If it's who I think it is, can you collect what he owes me?


 * Renges: Are you sure...?


 * U.C.S. Mechanic: Yeah. Don't worry about it. Just give it to me when you come back, all right?

[Outside U.C.S. Army Garrison]


 * Darril: What's with the gloomy mug?


 * Chaeffer: Well, I mean... This is the last time we'll see everyone, right?


 * Darril: It is?


 * Renges: Hey, man, don't look at me.


 * Darril: Just... don't look so glum, okay? People will think we're up to something.

Before Mission Start
[East Venezuela]

The truck is hit, causing it to veer off the road.


 * Darril: Ow... Dammit! What the hell's going on!?

Several Venezuela State Army wanzers and tanks appear and open fire.


 * Renges: Do you think they know we have the gold?


 * Darril: No, we were the only ones at the crash site! They can't know!

The truck is hit several times.


 * Renges: Still, it doesn't look like they're planning on letting us go in one piece. We have to fight.


 * Darril: Yeah... Let's show them what we're made of!

Mission Complete

 * Darril: Is it bad?


 * Renges: It redefines 'bad'. The engine's shot... literally. I don't have the tools to repair it here.


 * Darril: So we're going to have to carry the gold with our wanzers again?


 * Renges: The State Army is on our heels. We won't be able to make it past the border without a truck.


 * Darril: Yeah, you're right...

The screen scrolls to Chaeffer, who is observing a destroyed wanzer.


 * Darril: Hey, Chaeffer! How do they look?


 * Chaeffer: I found one who's in pretty good shape.


 * Darril: Good job. Make sure he doesn't get away. He could be our ticket out of this country.