The Steel Bison
What?!
You want me to cross the border into Imperial territory?
The town I want you to go check out
has recently been targeted by a group claiming to be Republic soldiers.
However, the Republic Army doesn't have any forces deployed in that area.
I just need to know how big the group is, and what kind of Zoids they're using.
I wish I could tell you, but we don't have any specific information yet.
What?!
We're hoping to learn more from a guardian the Imperial Army dispatched to the area.
By the time you get there, you should know what's going on.
Who is that gonna be?
Their guardian is someone I believe you know well. Schwarz...
Hey, O'Connell! Captain O'Connell!
Van, we lost him.
Communication is difficult with this much interference.
It must be because of the sand storm.
I don't think that's the only reason.
Whatever it is, we better get going.
It will be nice to see Schwarz again. It's been a while.
We haven't seen him since the Death Saurer, right?
Yeah.
Hurry up!
We've got to get as much of this loaded as we can before tomorrow.
Get that loaded as well.
Are you sure it was a good idea to leave the Blade Liger behind, Van?
If we came storming in here ready for battle, just think of the panic it would cause in the town.
I guess so.
Now we have to find Colonel Schwarz, and find out what's going on.
Get out of the way!
If you don't move, we'll run you over!
Get out! Get out!
Sieg!
Hey! Watch out!
Is he all right?
Come on! Hurry!
Van, everything here seems pretty normal.
Stop squirming, Sieg.
I know it tickles, but we've got to keep scrubbing to get you clean.
Thank you very much.
No problem. The children are enjoying themselves.
I'd like to ask you.
Why aren't you evacuating with the rest of the town?
We have no choice.
These fields and orchards have been on our family for generations.
We can't take them with us if we leave.
Besides, where would we go?
This has always been our home, and we don't want to just leave it.
We couldn't get the paint off so we just filled in the gaps. Doesn't he look great?
Fiine!
What did you do?
Who is that?
I am Lieutenant Thomas Richard Schwarz, of the Imperial Army.
Currently with the Guardian Force.
Schwarz?
Are you the ring leader who has been causing trouble?
Causing trouble?
A group of bandits who are terrorizing the border regions
have a leader who uses a red Organoid just like yours.
Wait a minute. You're making a mistake.
My name is Van Freiheit.
That's my Organoid, Sieg.
Van? Oh, I see.
What a pleasure it is to meet Van Freiheit!
So you know why we're here!
I know, I know.
Enough!
I'm not going to believe that some kid like you was the hero who saved the Empire.
Besides, your Organoid isn't the right color.
He is not really red, he is normally a silver color.
He just had an accident with a paint bucket.
Fiine! Why couldn't you have cleaned him like I asked?
Be quiet!
Why are you kidnapping that woman?
What woman?
That mother and her two children in front of the Organoid.
Are you talking about me?
Who else?
I'm in love.
But what is such a beautiful woman doing with this impostor?
He has probably persuaded her to go with him by pretending that he is Van Freiheit.
And she is falling for it.
Why couldn't she have fallen for me?
Hey...
Stay away from me!
BEEK!
What?!
Sieg!
BEEK!
A Dibison?!
Big brother? Big brother?
Lieutenant Schwarz.
I'm sorry.
It won't happen again, Colonel Schwarz.
Now it all makes sense.
He's Colonel Schwarz's little brother.
I'd like to report the capture of a suspected bandit in possession of a red Organoid.
Hey, Schwarz!
You idiot, I can hear you fine.
No, not you.
Can I talk to the other Schwarz to ask him to get me out of this mess?
Of course not!
A member of the Guardian Force has been dispatched to the area.
Yes. To offer assistance.
He has a silver Organoid.
His name is Van Freiheit.
What?! Silver?
What do I do with the prisoner?
Colonel Schwarz!
A silver...
Organoid?
I don't need any help around here. Especially not from some hero.
Silver.
You bastard! I want you to tell me what this is all about, right now!
I've told you, but you didn't believe me.
My Organoid is called Sieg, and he is normally silver, not red.
Don't mess with me!
Bastard, what do you want?
They arrived six days ago.
They entered the town with Republic Zoids.
They went around ordering everyone to leave by the end of the week.
If not, they would suffer the consequences.
Why us?
Our friends Michael and Mark used to live here.
But their house has been destroyed.
Michael and Mark have disappeared too.
Everything was destroyed.
The same thing happened a month ago, and they managed to get away.
This time we want to catch them.
So I was dispatched here to try and locate their hideout.
I requested support from my brother, Colonel Schwarz, when I saw what these guys were up to.
But it will be at least a day before they get here. And if they don't make it in time...
It's going to be down to me to fix this situation.
We could get support from the Republic Army.
They wouldn't make it.
Of course not!
And we're not gonna ask them.
They'd get in the way.
Listen!
Our mission here is to primarily protect the lives and property of the inhabitants of this town.
If we turn the place into a battlefield,
the town would be destroyed, and we would not achieve the goal of our mission.
The safety of the people of the town is more important than winning?
Yes, you're exactly right, Miss Fiine.
So what now?
Our only option is to surprise them by attacking them before they attack the town.
You mean all by ourselves?
Yes!
Let's go, BEEK!
Lieutenant,
isn't the Dibison a Republic Zoid?
After the arms agreement took place between the Empire and the Republic,
I received one of their Zoids in the mutual weapons exchange program.
Oh, I see.
Right. Let's go, BEEK.
It's there.
Are you sure about that?
That would mean their hideout is in the middle of the desert.
Exactly.
Really? I'd say you're trying to lead me into a trap.
Maybe it is a trap.
After all, we don't know much about these guys.
All we know is that they've got control of at least ten Command Wolves.
That's not a lot to go on, is it?
I'm sorry, Miss Fiine. We're doing our best.
But the man who defeated the Death Saurer,
Van Freiheit, the hero, will help us out here.
You little kid better be of some help.
What did you say?
Van, don't start an argument, we need to work together here.
Shut up! It's between me and him!
Van! You idiot!
That's no way to speak to a lady like Fiine.
You little...
Can I ask you something, Lieutenant?
If we hadn't been here, would you have tried to take care of these bandits all by yourself?
But of course.
Many generations of the Schwarz clan have laid their lives on the line
to protect the Imperial dynasty, and the citizens of the Empire.
Are you gonna let me have a look?
No, I'm not gonna let you look.
Please, may I have a look?
Yes, Miss Fiine.
What?!
Wow. Look at them all.
Thirteen, fourteen...
Hey, what are those flashing things?
I don't really know...
But I don't see any problems here.
The Dibison is equipped with triple main cannons.
Eight shot missile clusters and seventeen shot assault cannons.
It has firepower equivalent to three Zoids.
It also has the twin crasher horns for close combat.
And, most importantly, BEEK is in control.
BEEK?
I remember you mentioning his name before.
I'm flattered and touched that you remember something I said to you.
BEEK is the name of an AI that I've been developing to assist me in battle.
"AI"?
Don't know what AI is?
If you were half as smart as they say, you'd know that.
What are you saying?
Can I hear?
Yes, Miss Fiine.
I installed a computer in the Zoid Core that can make decisions just like humans.
I suppose it's a bit like a man made Organoid.
But my calculations show that it's far superior to a real Organoid,
in terms of its ability, intelligence, and performance at every level.
You are way more intelligent.
I have a direct link to the central processor with this piece of equipment.
It's really impressive.
You don't know how happy it makes me to hear you say that.
How can you answer all her questions and not mine?
All right. Let's go.
Let's get one thing clear. I'm in command in this mission.
I expect you to obey me at all times.
Yeah, yeah.
So what order should I obey first, Lieutenant, sir?
I want you to protect Fiine while I take care of these guys.
Isn't that sweet? I don't think I've ever met such a true gentleman before.
True gentleman?
Sieg!
Were you trying to impress me?
My turn now.
BEEK!
Analyze the enemy situation, BEEK.
Target, locked on.
How about we get rid of them all in one go?
Seventeen shot assault guns ready?
And fire!
Amazing!
What?
It veered away from the target.
I've missed every one of them.
Lieutenant Schwarz, get back. There's something wrong.
Don't you tell me what to do.
There's no time to argue about it, just do it!
Enemy attack from above. Watch out!
What's happening?
Van, I want you to take Fiine and leave the battlefield now.
But...
That's an order.
The Dibison is more than enough to handle anything from these guys.
Plus I've got BEEK.
With BEEK, I'm invincible!
What?!
Where'd those shells come from? Behind us?
Yes. But there's nobody there.
What?! They're changing trajectory!
You bastard!
Take this!
No!!! Stop it!
Van, we've got damage to the left front leg.
Acceleration power is down 10% and maximum speed is down 30%.
It's not too bad.
Miss Fiine,
are you all right?
Hey, kid. What are you doing getting in my firing line?
What's wrong with you?
I thought I ordered you to stay off the battlefield.
I've had enough of your orders.
How dare you speak to a superior officer like that!
Van, there's something wrong.
All that's wrong is Van disobeying orders.
No. There's something strange with those poles.
-Like what? -Look at this.
There are powerful magnetic fields around the poles that cause the shells to swerve and change direction.
So that's what happened.
It must be a magnetic induction weapon.
That's why my shells weren't able to hit their targets.
But this technology is currently in development by the Empire.
Van!
Yeah, you're right.
These bandits have some connections in high places.
Hey, Van. Do you think we could destroy the magnetic field?
Great idea.
I will be fighting this battle for you, Miss Fiine.
Off we go.
That's it, BEEK!
Fire at the areas where the magnetic field has been cut!
Look at that!
That Dibison has some amazing firepower.
Van,
that Gordos is controlling the magnetic field.
Now I get it.
Ban, I want you to get out of here.
You need to protect Fiine.
Don't worry. I'll be fine.
But...
Damn!
Good work, Van.
Leave the rest to me.
BEEK, target.
Van! He's targeted us!
BEEK!
Megalomax!
Fire!!!
Hey, Thomas!
What are you doing?
If you're going to shoot one, why not shoot them all?
I've had enough of this guy.
Big bro.
Sorry... Colonel Schwarz.
As you can see we succeeded in defeating the enemy.
Hmm...
Hello.
Van Freiheit. It's good to see you again.
And it's good to see you too, Fiine.
How are you doing, Colonel Schwarz?
Colonel?
It looks like you've already met my younger brother.
Thomas has always been difficult to work with.
Colonel?!
Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Schwarz.
Y-Yes, Miss Fiine.
Big bro, what are you laughing at?
Van, you idiot!
Come on. Be nice.
Hey. I'm Thomas, the hero.
The new mission of the Guardian Force is...
BEEK, what will it be?
Oh, all right.
What?! Van is the hero?
If you say so.
What?! How can we fight an enemy that's invisible?
Huh? That is...
Ambient and Hiltz!
Next time, Zoids episode 39:
The Invisible Enemy.
Megalomax. Fire!