Would things really be so simple?
Of course not!
Although laser technology had been developed by the PPDC headquarters research lab,
at its core, it still belonged to The U.S.
Even if General Jonathan truly was selfless, what about President Chuanpu? What about the members of Congress?
They would only drain your blood, devour your flesh, and grind your bones to dust!
For them to selflessly hand over laser technology—especially technology for what was currently the most destructive weapon—
Impossible. Absolutely impossible!
Unless
there was something that outweighed profit.
Dr. Herman sat in his airplane seat, looking at the documents spread across the small table before him.
His thoughts drifted back to a day earlier...
PPDC Headquarters, The U.S.
As usual, General Jonathan was reviewing the massive life-energy detection systems installed at each wormhole.
Dr. Herman hurried over with a stack of documents in his hands.
General Jonathan did not find it strange. Herman was always in such a rush every day.
"General, I would like to speak with you alone!"
Jonathan's expression turned grave. He knew Herman's personality; though aloof, Herman understood what was important.
He would not make such a request lightly unless something major had happened.
And it was most likely bad news.
Without hesitation, they left the command center and found an empty meeting room.
"General, the analysis results for the tissue samples from Bladehead's body, transported from Hong Kong in Nation Z, are out."
"Hm? Is there a problem?"
"A huge one! Bladehead, which attacked Hong Kong in Nation Z; Axehead, which attacked San Francisco; Blazing Flame, which attacked Los Angeles; Skyhook, which attacked San Diego; Giant Baby, which attacked the Port of San Jose; and Virus, which attacked Sydney some time ago."
"The cellular genetic results from all these monsters are identical. Though they look completely different, that is the result!"
"In other words,"
"they"
"are clones!"
"Impossible!"
For the first time, anger and disbelief appeared on General Jonathan's face.
"That is the truth, General. Our enemy is not them, but the masterminds behind them."
"This also explains why the monsters only destroyed buildings after making landfall and showed no interest in humanity. They are provoking us. If we kill them, their blood will destroy everything, just as it did in Manila!"
"They are not driven by animal instinct. Someone is controlling them!"
"Then what is their objective? Our mechs can clearly defeat them!"
"No. They are merely probing, observing, and testing our strength. It is not that they are helpless against us."
"You can tell from the monsters' different weight classes. They are merely toying with us. Once they understand everything, they will launch a large-scale assault!"
"But what good would destroying Earth do them? Could they still live here?"
"They are transforming Earth! Judging by the monsters' blood, it is lethal pollution to us, but perhaps it is the best nourishment for them!"
"Once the environment has largely been transformed, they will send monsters of the largest class to destroy us, and then the new tenants will move into Earth!"
"No... this can't be real."
"Politics? Poetry? Those are the lies. Only data will tell us the truth of everything!"
General Jonathan wore a bitter expression. This news was difficult for anyone to accept.
Though he was a battle-hardened soldier, he was also human.
Faced with an enemy that could not be resisted, even he felt the bitter helplessness of being powerless.
This was the apocalypse!
"Could it be... there is no way for us to fight back?"
Herman turned around, his expression solemn.
"There is. It is simple and brutal: kill them!"
"If they send one monster, we kill one! If they send two, we kill a pair!"
Hope reignited in General Jonathan's eyes.
"Right. We have developed laser technology. I will make it widespread!"
"That will give humanity another chance at victory!"
"But how will we explain this to the President and Congress?"
"We will not explain! Humanity is on the brink of extinction, and Earth is about to cease belonging to us. What use are profits? To hell with that bullshit!"
"I am the commander of PPDC Headquarters. I have only one mission: to defend the Pan-Pacific Defense Line at any cost and by any means!"
"Other than that, nothing else is my concern."
"Before the monsters began attacking, the troops we sent all over the world were supposedly there to preserve global unity and maintain peace. For that purpose, we did many things against our conscience, and our hands were stained with blood."
"At the time, I truly believed I was helping them. But when I watched our boys return home, most of them looked numb and hollow. Many suffered from depression and war trauma."
"Back then, I wondered whether what we were doing was truly right. Why were there more conflicts after we intervened? Why were more people dying?"
"But now, when the time has come for us to truly protect the world, our Congress wants us to sit back and watch. What kind of logic is that?!"
"Now I understand. Everything we stand for is, in their eyes, nothing more than a game of capital!"
"Ah, but what can we do?"
"Our voices carry little weight. Even as the commander of PPDC Headquarters, how much say do you truly have?"
"Heh! The breakthrough lies with the mech pilots from various nations who have come here for special training. Show them the laser technology and tell them it will be released freely to the public. In reality, that is a declaration to the nations behind them."
"That way, even if the President and those people in Congress disagree, they will have to swallow it."
"Also, you should go to Nation Z!"
Dr. Herman looked puzzled.
"Why, General?"
"They need your help more. For a long time to come, headquarters will face tremendous turmoil. You are a scholar, an expert. You should not be dragged into this vortex. Go do what you can!"
"And you?"
"Do not worry about me. There is nothing they can do to me. At most, I will make concessions in certain areas. Heh, that is the game of capital!"
After Herman left the meeting room, Jonathan returned to the command center.
His gaze fell upon a document on the table.
It was an appointment letter from Sakura Nation concerning the replacement of its theater commander.
General Jonathan called over the secretary nearby.
"Reply to the Sakura military. Reject their proposal to appoint former deputy commander Yamashita Teru as theater commander of the Pan-Pacific Defense Line. There is absolutely no room for reconsideration!"
"Yes, General!"
Jonathan picked up the document. Beneath the appointment proposal recommending Yamashita Teru's succession were two conspicuous words: Approved.
"Since I have already made up my mind, I will no longer be constrained by Congress. One more thing to slap them in the face means nothing."
"Filthy politics!"
Then he tossed the document into the trash can.