Prologue.
1954.
The Ekiko Maru was enjoying the day fishing when suddenly a bright light from below their ship caught everyone by surprise. The ship burst into flames with all hands aboard as it sank. They never saw it coming.
Not far away another ship picked up a large return on radar. The captain looked in shock at the size of whatever it was. 100 meters long. The object swam right by where he saw the explosion and vanished. Back in Tokyo, Japan news ran rampant of a missing nuclear sub from America. What no one knew, what caused it was not Russia or any other country, but something else. Something no one ever expected.
At the South Seas steamship company Naval officer Hideto Ogata and his supervisor walk in. "What is the news?" The other officer handed him the slip of paper. "Eikiko Maru sunk." Hideto looked back at the other officer then nodded.
Two days later the Bingo Maru was steaming into the same area when it exploded. Back at the Southern Sea Steamship company everything was a mess as people tried to get answers. "I can't believe it." The officer looked up. "That Bingo Maru has also met the same fate." Families outside the offices were yelling, demanding answers of what happened.
On an island not far from the shipping lanes people waited and watched. Fishing had been poor for a while now and no one knew why. "Ahh, just like last time." one man said as he hauled in his nets and found them empty.
The village elder sat in his chair watching. "Perhaps Gojira has returned." Some women near the beach began laughing. "Gojira? Just fools tales to scare us." The old man got up. "A fool am I? Watch what you say woman or else he will kill us all." The elder stormed off back into his hut. Other people shrugged. He was the only one who remembered the old legends their ancestors told of a giant beast who would destroy their homes and kill their people.
On a US frigate just out of Manila the crew were spending a day off when a loud rumble came from below them. Some ran to investigate when a bright flash erupted from the ocean. One man dove overboard as the ship exploded into a fireball. The last thing he saw before blacking out was a triple row of jagged fins as large as a house surface before darkness overtook him.
He awoke later on a beach and a few locals. A few days later he was in the hospital and a few military officers came in to talk to him and the man described of what he saw. A creature of massive proportions with blue fire glowing in it's mouth. He even pointed on a map where the ship was sunk.
A few days later the US navy showed up. Two aircraft carriers and destroyers. The Natives look on surprised at the new comers as they walked on shore from their metal boats and people with guns. What did the American's want with them? They were asked to leave their home and move to another island. Some cried, unhappy about leaving,but they had no choice. The Americans began setting up base with small buildings where the native's huts were and caged animals were placed on a concrete platform near the beach. Labeled "test Animals" they were shaved and had special ointments put on them for whatever test was to come. The object of the test was lowered atop a steel tower. A yellow bomb, with what appeared to be an image of a snarling monster on it. The helicopters departed for their carrier.
The USS Bariko and USS Saratoga sat miles away, filled with crew, scientists, and observers watching the test. The sonar began to ping as something massive appeared on it. The water began to churn as something large broke the surface. Jagged fins 30 to 40 feet tall pushed through the water as the object swam close to the bomb site. "Target approaching. 20 seconds to detonation. 19, target 100 yards. 50 yard. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5 ,4,3,2,1."
The bomb detonates just as the beast rises and some see for the first time how large it is as it begins to stand up. It roars as the flash hits and engulfs it. The flash is so bright people on the Saratoga's deck turn away. By the time they look back the fireball rises into the sky. Near the blast site, a cloud of debris engulfs everything in it's path. The loud rumble of the blast rocks the ship as onlookers for the first time feel relief. Bikini atoll is no more, and just maybe the large animal along with it. Or so they believed.