Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Racing Against Time

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Above the Pacific Ocean.

Inside a black military Sikorsky helicopter.

"Marshal, do you really think he'll come back?" A fully armed soldier sat beside Stacker Pentecost—dark blue suit, documents in hand—and asked.

"What do you think?" Stacker shifted his gaze from the papers, raised his eyes, turned the question back. Waited quietly.

Stacker Pentecost was a Black man with buzz cut and thick mustache. Posture upright—battle-hardened veteran, marshal who'd once held high command.

"Raleigh Becket—he was excellent Jaeger pilot." The soldier thought for moment, replied honestly. "He and his brother co-piloted Gipsy Danger, personally took down five kaiju. Remarkable achievement."

"But five years ago, during mission, they disobeyed orders to save fishing boat. They killed the kaiju, but it directly led to his brother's death."

"Neural handshake transmitted full agony of death to Raleigh Becket. Since then, he's been in downward spiral. Left the Jaeger program, now scrapes by working construction on Wall of Life."

"I believe he hasn't moved past his brother's death. High probability he'll refuse your invitation."

This soldier was Marshal Stacker's bodyguard and assistant for this trip. Knew plenty of inside details.

Marshal Stacker's lips curled upward slightly.

"You're absolutely right."

"His brother's death hit him hard. And he's always believed his own recklessness caused it."

Then tone shifted. "But he'll come back."

"Why are you so certain?"

"Because he has no choice." Resolute.

He turned his head, looked out helicopter window, stared down at churning Pacific waters below. Gaze deep, as if trying to pierce through ocean to see bottomless trench beneath.

He knew that was where it all originated.

"Once, I thought aliens would descend from sky in spaceships, like in sci-fi movies."

"But we were all wrong."

"Real aliens came from ocean floor."

"They built passage at bottom of Pacific, sent kaiju to Earth, let them ravage our world."

"Twelve years ago, when we killed first kaiju, we realized it had been allowed to die."

"Kaiju killed by conventional weapons—toxic blood exposed to air, spread by explosions—turned hundred-mile radius around San Francisco into dead zone."

"To eliminate kaiju with minimal casualties, we can only rely on Jaegers developed under Hunter Program."

Marshal Stacker paused here. Sighed.

Trace of nostalgia flickered in eyes.

When Hunter Program first launched, he'd received massive funding from UN, allowing team to develop generation after generation of powerful Jaegers.

But now? Hunter Program shut down. He was no longer marshal. Without UN support, had to scrounge for funding himself. Only handful of Jaegers remained under command.

At this point, all or nothing.

Even now, couldn't understand why UN had staked hopes on that idiotic "Wall of Life."

Did they really think damn wall could stop increasingly powerful kaiju?

"Kaiju are getting stronger. That foolish wall will collapse—just like it did in Sydney."

"We have to take offensive. Only by going deep into ocean can we truly end this disaster."

"Raleigh Becket understands that."

"He's excellent pilot, capable of handling my next operation. And joining that operation is his only choice."

"He'll come back."

Marshal Stacker continued staring at ocean below. Gaze unwavering.

Raleigh Becket was worth traveling this far to recruit in person.

"By the way." He turned back. "What's situation in Sydney?"

Half hour ago, Wall of Life in Sydney had been breached by kaiju. Caught UN off guard—but not Marshal Stacker.

He'd immediately dispatched nearest Jaegers to scene to clean up mess, save as many lives as possible.

"Echo Saber and Vulcan Specter are engaging kaiju. Striker Eureka has also arrived on battlefield," soldier reported.

"Three Jaegers against one kaiju. That's enough." Marshal Stacker recalled Striker Eureka's combat power, nodded, stopped worrying.

Next, all he had to do was get to Sitka, Alaska, fast as possible, bring Raleigh back to base.

"Wait, Marshal!" Another soldier suddenly spoke up. Expression tense.

"What is it?" Marshal Stacker immediately sensed something wrong. Asked urgently.

"Another kaiju has appeared!" soldier shouted.

"What!?" Marshal Stacker's eyes sharpened. Snatched headset from soldier's hand, barked into it, "Talk to me—full details!"

Any news related to kaiju—he needed to know every last detail. Too dangerous.

Hearing his voice, person on other end immediately relayed information.

"Breach at bottom of Pacific has reacted again. Based on amplitude of readings, it's another Category IV kaiju!"

"Damn it." Hearing that, Marshal Stacker's brow furrowed instantly.

Years of discipline allowed him to calm down immediately, issue orders. "Get Cherno Alpha ready to support Sydney!"

"No, Marshal—this kaiju's target isn't Sydney!"

"Not Sydney?" Marshal Stacker was puzzled.

Previous kaiju was attacking Sydney. Logic dictated this one should be heading there as backup.

"Its target… is Alaska!"

"Alaska?" Hearing that location, specific person's profile flashed through Marshal Stacker's mind. Eyes widened.

Alaska!

Raleigh Becket was in Sitka, Alaska!

"Dispatch Cherno Alpha to Alaska immediately, and have Crimson Typhoon on standby!"

"Copy that!"

Moment Marshal Stacker finished speaking, helicopter pilot asked, "Marshal, do we still proceed to Sitka?"

Their destination was Sitka. If they continued forward, might run straight into kaiju.

And if they encountered kaiju, guns they were carrying would be nothing but toys.

But Marshal Stacker's resolve was absolute. "Continue!"

"Move fast. We have to reach Sitka before kaiju does!"

He'd decided to race the kaiju.

Had to get Raleigh Becket out before kaiju arrived!

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