Ready to Go

——June 16, 2043, 7:00 AM——

A deafening alarm blared through the Shatterdome, causing everyone to look up. Then, they understood its meaning—

A Kaiju had arrived.

"Quick, quick, quick!"

Mechanics scrambled to their stations. Cleaners began clearing the sea access routes for the Jaegers. The sixth hangar, heavily damaged in the previous day's battle, was swarming with nearly a hundred people accelerating repairs. Construction workers who had been mending the hangar walls slid down, now tasked with more urgent duties.

Every face was etched with seriousness and calm. Tens of thousands of people moved with the orderly, methodical precision of ants in a colony.

Humanity had never been so united, so determined to face a common enemy. It was, in a way, thanks to the Kaiju that humanity had found the resolve to overcome anything.

This wasn't just happening within the Shatterdome's general staff.

Simultaneously, in confinement cells, residential areas, hospital wards, combat simulation zones, Jaeger maintenance bays, and throughout Hong Kong—more than a dozen intensely burning gazes were fixed squarely on the Shatterdome command center.

Regardless of whether the owner of that gaze was male or female, old or young, a single thought surged through their minds at that moment—

'It's my turn now.'

These individuals, each with their own distinct personalities, adjusted their collars as they sat or stood, their expressions varied. They prepared themselves and headed towards the command center.

The command center was in utter chaos. The operational terminals hadn't even finished their final checks, and now the Kaiju alert had sounded. Everyone was tense, doing their utmost to complete their assigned tasks.

The main screen above the control console displayed a map of the Pacific region. A flashing light indicated the Kaiju's first reported location, 200 kilometers north of the Solomon Islands. Outside this light was a large dotted circle, representing the Kaiju's potential area of movement. Although its exact position was unknown, the Chinese Air Force had already dispatched two squadrons of J-20 fighter jets for reconnaissance, and the Navy's destroyer early warning group was also en route. They expected to receive visual confirmation soon.

The Shatterdome in Sydney, Australia, was on high alert. Five 7th-generation Jaegers were fully operational and positioned with the Australian military in a coordinated sea and air formation along the eastern Australian coastline. If the Kaiju dared to make a move, the well-prepared Jaeger pilots would strike them head-on.

Jiang Tianzheng monitored the real-time feed while simultaneously working on system diagnostics. At that moment, Zhang Wenhu, the pilot of Huangshan, entered, followed closely by the Tang Brothers. The three immediately approached the commander to inquire about the situation.

"Report!" the three stood at attention and saluted, their voices firm and synchronized. "Huangshan (FL Dongting) pilot, Zhang Wenhu, and Tang Jia, Tang Yi, are ready. Requesting orders!"

This was a standard procedure unique to the Chinese military. Although Jiang Tianzheng knew the three were already prepared, he was always strict about separating personal and professional matters, with military regulations taking precedence. The spirited report instantly boosted the command center's already high morale.

"Very good!" Jiang Tianzheng nodded solemnly. "Maintain your readiness and await orders!"

"Yes!"

The three immediately marched to the side. Jiang Tianzheng then turned to a messenger and began issuing evacuation orders for Hong Kong.

"Evacuate residents, clear the docks, and seal the bridges," Jiang Tianzheng added with a serious expression. "Even though the Kaiju is thousands of kilometers away from Hong Kong, we cannot let our guard down. Everyone alive must be moved to the shelters. Not a single person is to be left behind!"

The messenger saluted and quickly returned to his station to relay the orders to various units.

Just then, all the pilots and Jaeger workgroup leaders flooded into the command center—

Lin Yin, calm despite her injured right hand, Angie Beckett, visibly anxious and slightly nervous, Sethi Andrews, relaxed and eager to engage, Mike Kane, calm and collected, not looking away... and others.

Jiang Tianzheng even saw several doctors who rarely left their labs, including Hermann Gottlieb... In short, the command center was suddenly packed with these individuals.

"Alright, everyone's here now," Jiang Tianzheng began, outlining the current situation. "A Kaiju has appeared 200 kilometers north of the Solomon Islands. While we don't know its current movements, we cannot ignore even the slightest possibility... Do you remember the purpose of our existence?"

"Eliminate them!" "Protect the citizens!" "Send them back where they came from!"

The crowd erupted in a cacophony of shouts. Though the words differed, the meaning was the same. Jiang Tianzheng was deeply satisfied.

"Very good," Jiang Tianzheng raised a finger, signaling for quiet. "We don't know the number of Kaiju yet, so I won't assign specific tasks for now. But I expect everyone to give their all. Starting today, all recreational activities are canceled. You will be on 24-hour standby. Pilots must ensure sufficient sleep. Smoking and drinking are strictly prohibited. Do you understand?"

"Yes!" The crowd responded with a thunderous roar like a tidal wave.

Jiang Tianzheng nodded, then spoke to the messenger beside him. "Connect me to LYG Shatterdome."

Soon after, the commander of the LYG Shatterdome appeared on the main screen.

"Comrade Wang Kaishan, has your promise been fulfilled?" Jiang Tianzheng asked, looking at the screen.

"Rest assured, Comrade Jiang Tianzheng. 'Shanghai' and 'Huashan' are undergoing their final inspections and will be deployed to your unit within a week at the earliest," the middle-aged man with stern eyebrows and a heroic countenance replied from the screen.

Before Jiang Tianzheng could speak, the crowd behind him couldn't help but start whispering.

People discussed the reasons for the simultaneous arrival of the 8th-generation Jaeger 'Shanghai' and the late-model 7th-generation 'Huashan' at the Hong Kong Shatterdome, and the spectacular scene that would unfold.

Among the crowd, only Hermann seemed to have a sudden realization.

It feels good to be trusted, Hermann thought. It seems Jiang Tianzheng believes my theory. He's willing to go to great lengths to destroy the wormhole within three days.

"Excellent." Jiang Tianzheng's expression finally relaxed. He nodded gratefully to Wang Kaishan on the screen, then addressed the now-excited crowd. "Additionally, Singapore's 7th-generation Jaeger 'Midnight Ghostfire' will also join us. They are currently en route. As for the reasons why the two 'Great Gods' and 'Midnight Ghostfire' are coming here, we'll explain after we achieve victory... For now, everyone, go get some rest and recuperate."

Jiang Tianzheng paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"A tough battle awaits us."