Reunions - part 2

[srwu_npc3]

[1]

"Welcome to the Shatterdome!"

All Unity Group members received an invitation to Hong Kong. The weather is foul, but Marshall Pentacost greets everyone in person on the helipad, right next to the colossal structure behind him. A structure that many of you know the purpose of already.

"You may have been wondering why you heard so little of the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps recently. That's because this is all that remains of it!" He gestures at the Jaeger dome behind him.

"The project is getting cancelled. It was deemed inefficient. In a few days, the Rangers will be no more. This is why we're pooling all our resources and making a final stand. But we are not alone. I know we have allies and, damn, that's what the name 'Unity Group' symbolizes - standing together. Let's take down at least ONE threat to humanity before the suits shut us down!"

Do you want to talk to the Marshall, or explore the dome? If you thought UG's budget cuts were bad, you saw nothing yet. This place is old and rusty, its large halls housing only a few Jaegers even though they have space for many more.

[2]
Speaking of Jaegers, their pilots are around too.
The bulky Russian Cherno Alpha's Rangers are the Kaidanovskys, posing stoically under their trusty unit.
The Chinese Crimson Typhoon has three pilots - the Wei Tang brothers, who are currently playing basketball - and are really good at it.
Lastly, there's the Australian Striker Eureka, the most advanced Jaeger ever made. Its pilots are a father and son duo, Herc and Chuck, the older of Hansens overseeing the swarm of people working all aroud you while the younger... well, he's actually playing with his dog, and looking really happy about it. Not as happy as the dog though.

Will you interact with any of the teams? Or perhaps...

[3 - prompt for player to player interaction]
With an old friend whom you didn't see for months?

There is one more Jaeger. It was destroyed, but it has been rebuilt. Good as new, in front of you stands:

Gipsy Danger.

And a certain mr Beckett is not too far away, either.

[4]

"I must insist. This is... foolishness! An example of short-sightedness!"


"Hermann, my good man. Both of us know, every Kaiju humanity has ever encountered was different. You can't just make sweeping statements like that without any proof other than your black boards! Some things just... can't be calculated."


"I am not your good man, and you are incorrect Geiszler. With a sufficiently large data sample, everything can be calculated!"

Looks like two of the Shatterdome scientists, one more eccentric than the other, are arguing. Dare you ask them what is this about?

[5]
Gipsy Danger activation - one thread only please. Will be started by a certain PC.

Comments

1

[keep_your_dignity]

[For once, Pentecost doesn't tower over the visitor walking alongside him - because said visitor is Kagura, who has to duck to go through the doors of the Shatterdome's corridors]

I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT. SOMETHING ABOUT SETTING WALLS ALONGSIDE THE PACIFIC RIM TO STOP THE KAIJU.

FUCKING WALLS. I WONDER IF THESE PEOPLE HAVE EVER SEEN AN ANIMAL IN THEIR LIVES.

[srwu_npc3]

"The farther you are from the front lines, the greater your appreciation for cost-cutting measures." Pentacost talks with clear distaste.

"Someone high up doesn't like what we're doing here. In Commander-in-chief Antov's place, I'd look out. Unity Group could be next."

[keep_your_dignity]

UNITY GROUP HAD MOST OF ITS SUPPORT BUDGET CUT ALREADY. IN THEORY, TO CREATE A SPECIALIZED UNIT FOR ONE LONI GAVIN, WHO BY THE WAY IS A RANK BAD HAT IF I'VE EVER SEEN ONE, MARSHALL. IN PRACTICE, IT SMELLS LIKE RAT.

THE PPCD, UNITY... I WONDER IF THIS LITTLE THING I'M DEALING WITH AT GRAVEYARD ALSO HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH ALL THIS.

[srwu_npc3]

"I really hope you are wrong, Major. We have enough outside enemies, both of us, to need enemies from within."

[keep_your_dignity]

I HOPE SO TOO. BUT I HAVE AN HABIT OF BEING RIGHT WHEN IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE MORE DIFFICULT, SO I DOUBT IT.

SO WHAT'S THE PLAN, MARSHALL? HOW MANY JAEGERS IN WORKING CONDITION DO WE EVEN HAVE LEFT?

[srwu_npc3]

"Fully operational ones? Cherno Alpha, Crimson Typhoon, Striker Eureka. Only three - out of dozens we used to have."

"There is also a fourth. The machine is ready, but what it needs: is a pilot."

[keep_your_dignity]

LET ME GUESS. GIPSY DANGER.

[srwu_npc3]

"I need every experienced pilot at their best I can get for what needs to be done."

[keep_your_dignity]

YEAH. PLUS IT HAS ONE OF ITS PILOTS STILL ALIVE, AND CAME OUT OF ITS FINAL MISSION FAR BETTER THAN MOST DOWNED JAEGERS, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN EASIER TO GET INTO SHAPE.

3

[actuallyselfish]

"Oh you beautiful thing." Dido says softly, starring at the rebuilt Gipsy Danger. "It's been too long since we've seen you..."

[genericprotagonist]

That's the same way I felt when the Marshal got me to come back.

[Raleigh was standing not too far away.]

[actuallyselfish]

"Yeah..." Dido says. "I mean, Gipsy's not technically a cutting-edge Jaeger. But she's classic and strong! Like those sleek Chevvy automobiles from the mid 20th century, you know?"

She regards Raleigh with a worried look. "So, you're gonna pilot her again?"

[genericprotagonist]

Yeah. I am. It'd be better than just building a wall and hoping for the best. And I'd rather die fighting in a Jaeger than getting crushed underfoot.

The Marshal's still working on narrowing down a partner for me though.

[actuallyselfish]

"How's that work?" Dido asks, curious. "I always assumed it involved a lot of those trust building exercises you see in corporate retreats. You know, catch a friend as they fall flat off a wall..."

[genericprotagonist]

Its a little more than just trust...

[Raleigh sounds a little annoyed before trying to ponder on how to explain it.]

Its about knowing. When you go into the drift, rangers are just...

[He snaps his finger.]

We're on the same wavelength. We know what's in the other's head. That's the sort of thing that's hard to train.

[actuallyselfish]

"I guess that's why there's so many sibling/family bonds." Dido muses. "I can see how that'd help you sync up your neurological commands."

She strokes her chin in thought. "And maybe, Drifting aside, you fight harder and longer if you've got someone you care about at your side. Like the Sacred Band of Thebes."

[genericprotagonist]

It also means it hits us harder when the worst happens.

[Like with Yancy.]

Its not just losing someone you're close to... its... deeper than that.

3

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei is there having seen Raleigh. Being Kei, she isn't entirely sure how to approach a man who has been in a coma for months.]

[genericprotagonist]

[That's fine with Raleigh, he's gotten quite a bit less social ever since then. Still... eventually he glances at Kei.]

Hey.

[majestic_keiki]

Hi. It's good to see that you're no longer in the hospital.

[genericprotagonist]

That makes two of us... have you and your teammates been doing alright?

[He had to ask... Yancy wasn't around to do so anymore after all.]

1

[abugslife]

Jaegers are some of the mightiest mecha Earth has created, among its most stalwart defenders. Deciding they are not efficient enough is ridiculous. Financial costs do not matter when the alternative is doom.

[srwu_npc3]

"I'm glad to hear there's at least one reasonable person left in charge, general. Shame few ESUN officials agree with your way of thinking. Way too few."

[abugslife]

Unfortunately, I do not hold any official power within Unity Group, or ESUN. At best, I can only offer advice.

But know this; if the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps is shut down, I will advice commander Antov to keep as many Jaegers operational as he can afford. We should not lose these mighty guardians.

2

[herodrawing]

Oh wow, this is incredible! Awesome!

[Izuru runs around the giant hangars like if Christmas came early. He's jumping from jaeger to jaeger, trying to sketch them - and the pilots too, unless someone interrupts him!]

I never thought I'd see Cherno Alpha up close!

[srwu_npc3]

[Well Izuru, while you're looking up at Cherno Alpha their pilots were pretty much standing behind you. Aleksis glanced at Sasha who simply put a hand on his shoulder to keep him from getting the Rabbit's attention. Better to let the boy figure out for himself they were there.]

[herodrawing]

That'll do for now, I'll remember the rest from memo... ry?

[Izuru turns and realizes he's not alone. In fact he has two powerfully built but deceptively silent Russians right next to him.]

Hello.