The Big Change
Summary: What if Raleigh and Mako's first drift was a success? And when Leatherback and Otachi come to Hong Kong to eliminate Newt, what if Gipsy Danger had been deployed alongside the other three Jaegers? Will its presence mean anything, or will it all be in vain?
Tendo Choi, the Chief LOCCENT officer, had just finished grabbing three cups of coffee, with a doughnut jammed in between his teeth, when he heard a resounding warning from the main computer. "MOVEMENT IN THE BREACH. DOUBLE EVENT." It announced. Tendo watched in shock as the computer produced two strips of paper, each indicating the Breach opening.
Tendo's eyes widened as he stared in shock at the monitor behind him, the digital Breach flashing. "DILATION INDICATOR... CATEGORY FOUR." the voice pealed as two large red dots appeared on the screen, indicating the two Category IV Kaiju.
In the Breach...
Electricity crackled around the entrance of the Breach as a massive foreleg pushed itself out of the gaping crack. The water cleared as a monstrous, long crocodile-like snout pushed itself out of the crack. Two horn-like projections jutted out of its head. It opened its maw, splitting it into two seperate mandibles, and released a resounding roar that echoed through the Breach.
Back to LOCCENT...
Raleigh and Mako hurried to the LOCCENT, after hearing the news of the two Category IVs heading towards Hong Kong. They quickly pushed their way to the front, where Pentecost and the fully suited Rangers were standing, along with Tendo was currently giving instructions. "The Breach was exposed at 2300 hours. We have two signatures, both Category IV. Codenames, Otachi, Leatherback. They'll reach Hong Kong within the hour."
"Evacuate the city, shut down the bridges. I want every single civilian under refuge right now. Crimson Typhoon, Cherno Alpha, I want you to frontline the harbor, stay on the Miracle Mile. Striker, I want you to stay back, watch the coastline. We cannot afford to lose you so only engage as a final option." Pentecost ordered. "Yes sir!" Herc and Chuck responded.
"As for you two... why aren't you suited up yet? Thanks to that nearly perfect drift you two had, it shows that Gipsy will be back-up, you are to assist Cherno or Crimson if they are experiencing trouble." Pentecost said. Raleigh and Mako's eyes widened. "Marshal... are you sure-" Pentecost raised a hand, stopping Raleigh before he could finish. "I'm more sure then I could ever be mister Becket. Let's go!" He shouted, clapping his hands together.
The top of the Shatterdome opened as Crimson Typhoon, attached to a network of cables and pulleys, was raised from its platform by a squadron of Jumphawks. They then slowly flew to the harbor to meet the Kaiju. Striker waded through the water, carefully watching the coastline as the other three Jaegers were suspended from the Jumphawks, who were lifting them to the front to stand guard. The squadron that was carrying Gipsy hovered a bit slower, to drop the Mark-3 Jaeger just behind Cherno and Crimson, so that Raleigh and Mako could instantly run to their assistance.
"LOCCENT, Striker's got the bol and we're on the roll." Chuck said briskly. "LOCCENT, near position and awaiting orders." Herc reported, as he and Chuck waded towards the crescent that was the coastline. "Remain in the Miracle Mile, engage at your discretation. Guys, keep your eyes open. These Category IVs are the biggest we've ever seen, both in size and weight." Pentecost ordered.
Inside Cherno Alpha's Conn-Pod, Aleksis's helmet snapped downwards, covering his eyes and nose, before the right eye glowed a eerie red, signaling he was linked to the Jaeger. Sasha gave her husband a quick glance before her own helmet slid downwards as well. The helicopters carrying Cherno slowly stopped and hovered over a area of water, the beginning of the Miracle Mile.
"Cherno Alpha reaching target zone. Disengaging transport." Sasha reported as a digital dashboard appeared before her and she tapped a few buttons. Instantly the hooks detached, releasing the massive Mark-I. Sasha and Aleksis staggered as their Jaeger dropped feetfirst into the bay. With a tremendous splash and a echoing boom, Cherno's feet struck the bottom. The Russian Jaeger slowly rose, water dripping off its armor and chassis as the massive searchlight switched on its reactor, bathing the area in front of them with radiant light.
Cherno then straightened, its shoulders pushing themselves out from their closed position as the Russian Jaeger prepared itself. Behind it, Crimson and Gipsy were also released, both Jaegers dropping into the water with splashes and echoes as well. Crimson straightened as well, before its glowing searchlights snapped on as well. Gipsy landed a few metres behind the two Jaegers, before its searchlights turned on.
"Cherno Alpha in position, Miracle Mile. Cherno Alpha holding the coastline, begin zone." Sasha reported as she and Aleksis started to patrol, Cherno thundering through the water, with Crimson right behind it. "Cherno and Crimson, we're right behind you if you need anything. Give us a call if you require assistance." Raleigh reported as Gipsy trailed behind the two Jaegers. "Understood Gipsy." Jin responded through the comms link between the three Jaegers.
A few minutes passed as the three Jaegers continued patrolling, Striker standing in the coastline and watching intently. The triplets shouted in Chinese, reporting that there was movement on the right. As Crimson's head swung around, carefully surveying the area, it begun.
The water in front of the Chinese Jaeger exploded, heaving upwards and back into the bay as the monstrous head of a Kaiju burst forth. This one had a long crocodile-like snout, a lower jaw that split into two seperate mandibles, and two curved, horn-like projections jutting from its head. Its body was lean but muscular, with two long arms, a pair of shorter legs and a long, powerful tail with a massive, three-pronged claw. According to the size and reading of the two Kaiju, this one was Otachi.
The beast roared as it twisted round, slamming its massive tail against Crimson's side, knocking the Chinese Jaeger flying. Crimson dropped into the water, causing a enormous splash as the Mark IV fell onto its front. Slowly, it got back up, shaking its head like a wet dog as it did so.
"Thundercloud Formation!" The triplets shouted in Chinese as they whipped their gauntlets up. Instantly Crimson's hands transformed into massive diamond-tipped buzzsaws. With a whir, they began to spin furiously as Crimson entered a fighting stance. As Otachi lunged forth with a challenging roar, Crimson spun, slashing at the Kaiju with its bladed hands. The sawblades carved through Otachi's neck and torso, leaving several long gashes. The rockets on its back propelled, increasing its striking power.
Otachi shrieked in pain as the blades connected once more, causing glowing blue blood to spray from the wounds. Suddenly Crimson aimed a slash from its right upper arm, and Otachi promptly caught it in one massive claw, before crushing the saw, causing a spray of sparks to erupt. The Chinese Jaeger then lashed out with its left arm, but the Kaiju caught that too. Crimson responded by promptly firing the rockets in its back, lifting itself above Otachi.
As soon as the Mark IV was directly above the Kaiju, its torso twisted one hundred and eighty degrees, before the Jaeger dropped back down. As soon as Crimson's feet hit the bottom of the harbor, the Chinese Jaeger pushed all of its momentum and pent-up power into its arms, and with a mighty heave hurled the Kaiju through the air. Otachi screeched in confusion before it dropped back into the water, causing a huge splash.
Unhurt from the impact, the Category IV glared at the Chinese Jaeger, who was standing a couple hundred metres away, but a the challenging roar of a horn echoed through the air. The beast turned around to face Cherno Alpha charging directly at it. Otachi hissed as it lunged at the Russian Jaeger, but Cherno promptly drove a elbow drop onto the Kaiju's neck with its right arm before grabbing it in a headlock. Cherno then raised its left arm and drove a powerful punch into the Kaiju's face, before a spring in its arm activated as its arm lengthened, connecting again with Otachi's face. The beast shook its dizziness off, before opening its maw and lunging at Cherno. The Russian Jaeger responded with another crushing punch to the Category IV's face.
Inside Cherno's Conn-Pod, Aleksis and Sasha shouted in Russian as they continued to rain blows upon the Category IV. As they raised their arms for a double smash with both arms, Otachi's tail lashed around, smashing across Cherno's reactor tower and knocking it off balance. As Cherno landed on its back, causing a huge splash to emerge, Chuck and Herc watched in shock.
"LOCCENT, Typhoon and Alpha are in trouble. We're moving in." Herc reported. Pentecost quickly grabbed the mike and shouted into it. "You are to hold your ground, do not engage! We need you to carry that bomb! Do you copy?" Chuck and Herc exchanged a frustated glance. As Cherno clambered back to its feet, Crimson came charging in again, but Otachi's massive tail whiplashed it across the back, knocking it off balance.
The tail then whipped down like a scorpion's tail, before the massive three-pronged claw grabbed Crimson's Conn-Pod, the prongs piercing the metal. The triplets shouted in shock as the claw squeezed, slowly crushing the Conn-Pod around them. They had lost control of the Jaeger. As Otachi's tail squeezed harder, the sudden bellowing of another horn cut through the air. Otachi's tail released its grip on Crimson's Conn-Pod as it slowly turned around to face the new challenger. The Category IV let out a threatening hiss.
Gipsy Danger had been busy scanning the area and gathering information about the two Kaiju when they heard shouts of panic coming from Crimson. Otachi was crushing its Conn-Pod... "Come on Mako! Lets go kick some Kaiju ass!" Raleigh shouted as he ran. Mako followed his motion, propelling Gipsy into a sprint. As Otachi turned around, Gipsy barreled in from the right and punched Otachi hard across the face, knocking the Category IV clean out of the water and onto its back.
The American Jaeger then turned to Crimson, whose Conn-Pod was partially destroyed, the sides penetrated by Otachi's tail. "This is Crimson Typhoon... we are not combat operational... the beast has destroyed our neural link!" Cheung shouted over the comms. Raleigh and Mako nodded silently. "Crimson, we hear you. Just try and hang on." Raleigh responded. They turned to Cherno, who had just managed to clamber back up. "Cherno, try to pinpoint where Leatherback is. We'll take care of Otachi." Aleksis nodded. "Understood." Gipsy then turned back to where Otachi had landed.
The Category IV had managed to get itself back onto all four of its legs. The Kaiju hissed angrily as it shook itself off and glared at Gipsy, who was standing in front of the disabled Crimson Typhoon. Gipsy blasted its horn in response and smashed its right fist into its left hand, palm first. Otachi roared in rage as it charged, Gipsy charged as well, splashes coming from everytime its feet hit the bottom.
Gipsy smashed into Otachi, and the two combatants immediantly began exchanging powerful blows. Gipsy smashed a powerful right hook across Otachi's face, before the Category IV's right foreleg smashed into Gipsy's left arm, damaging some of the armor there. Raleigh snarled in anger at the damage done to his beloved Jaeger and nodded to Mako. The young woman nodded and focused back on the Kaiju. The water splashed everywhere as Jaeger and Kaiju hammered each other with powerful blows.
Cherno, in the meanwhile had decided to follow into the fight, to help Gipsy finish Otachi, before the shouts of Herc and Chuck echoed through the bay. "Gipsy! Get out of the way! We'll hit the beast with missiles!" Raleigh nodded to Mako, and Gipsy raised both its arms, before the rockets on its back fired, boosting its double handed smash right on top of Otachi's skull. The beast howled in agony, before collapsing, dazed.
Chuck nodded to Herc, and the two Austrailians thrust their chests forward. Striker's chest slid downwards, revealing the Anti-Kaiju Missile Launcher in its chest. The tubes then extended, revealing the stubby tips of K-Stunner missiles. "Ready Salvo One. Good night Otachi." Chuck said, as they prepared to launch.
Suddenly the water behind the Australian Jaeger exploded as the second Category IV, Leatherback, emerged. This one had a huge barrel-shaped torso, short, muscular legs that ended in clawed feet, massive arms that were considerably larger then its feet, and a reptilian, lizard-like head with a large crest and a mane of short, glowing green tendrils that were similar to a sea anemone's tentacles. Its scaled skin was patterned with a network of glowing green lines. Between its spiked, armored shoulders, a strange organ began to pulse as energy surrounded it.
Some kind of trigger suddenly activated, and a massive wave of electricity burst forth. A organic EMP. The electricity washed over Striker and the rest of the Jaegers. Herc and Chuck screamed as the Drift went haywire, before it abruptly vanished. The Jaeger's lights deactivated, and its arms dropped to its sides as it stood like a motionless statue. The wave also traveled over Crimson, whose lights also deactivated, before its partially crushed Conn-Pod sparked as it stood motionless.
Cherno and Gipsy, on the other hand, had collapsed to their knees from the force of the blast, but were relatively unscathed as they ran on the power of their nuclear reactors, rendering the EMP useless. Cherno slowly straightened as the Russian Jaeger's lights reactivated, bathing the area in light. Gipsy followed, and the Mark I and III stood back to back, facing both Otachi and Leatherback. "This is... Crimson Typhoon and Striker Eureka... We're disabled! That damned EMP disabled our systems!" Herc shouted, but the LOCCENT didn't respond. When he looked back, he was shocked to see the entire city of Hong Kong had gone dark. The EMP has disabled all the electricity.
"Cherno... This is Gipsy Danger. We will take Otachi. You focus on Leatherback." Raleigh reported over the comms as Gipsy charged towards the Category IV, who had seen the two nuclear-powered Jaegers standing and still operational. With a shriek of rage, Otachi then hissed as it tilted its head. Suddenly its throat began to expand like a pouch, blue light shining through its skin. It opened its mouth wide and spat a jet of glowing blue liquid at Gipsy.
Raleigh and Mako reacted immediantly, and the American Jaeger twisted round, avoiding most of the liquid. However, some of it dripped onto the Jaeger's legs, melting through the armor to reveal its inner workings. "That liquid's acid! We have to rip out that acid sack!" Mako shouted to Raleigh. He nodded curtly and ignoring the damage, pushed Gipsy towards Otachi. As the beast prepared to spit again, Gipsy plunged its right hand into the Kaiju's mouth, grabbing hold of the large blue sack the acid originated from. Otachi retaliated, wrapping its tail around Gipsy's other arm, the three-pronged claw snapping at its head.
Fortunately, since the tail was wrapped around Gipsy's arm, it couldn't reach quite far enough to reach the Conn-Pod. Raleigh grabbed the tail with the other hand and struggled to keep it away from the Conn-Pod. "I'll hold it! Vent the coolent on the left side!" Raleigh shouted to Mako. "Venting coolent!" She shouted as she hit a button on the dashboard.
"Venting Coolent." the Jaeger A.I chimed in. "CO2 levels rising."
A moment later, thick white vapor, which Raleigh knew was extremely cold, began to pour from nozzles on the Jaeger's left arm and side, enveloping Otachi's tail. The Kaiju didn't seem to notice, continuing to snap at Gipsy's head with the claw, even as its flesh chilled and hardened, until the claw- and the rest of the tail- was frozen solid.
With a yell from Raleigh and a sharp yank of Gipsy's arm, Otachi's entire tail shattered, leaving only a bleeding stump. Raleigh and Mako dug their fingers as hard as they could into the sac inside Otachi's mouth, before they twisted, pulled, and with a sickening squleching sound, ripped the sac completely from the Kaiju's mouth.
Otachi let out a bubbling shriek of agony, blue blood and acid frothing and bubbling from its mouth, before it leaped up and seized Gipsy's torso with its clawed hind feet. Razor sharp talons speared through the metal armor, puncturing its back in half a dozen places, and Gipsy crashed to the harbor with Otachi on top of it. Water swirled over Gipsy's Conn-Pod, but the American Jaeger's head remained above water.
Otachi snarled then flicked its arms outwards transforming them into wings. Raleigh inhaled sharply. The damned beast could fly?! Otachi then gave a screech of rage before flapping them powerfully, lifting from the water into the air with Gipsy gripped in its talons. Meanwhile, Cherno had been grappling with Leatherback, the water spraying all around them as the two powerhouses laid into each other.
Both were designed for supreme melee combat, and so far they were evenly matched. Cherno smashed a powerful punch across Leatherback's face, but the Category IV roared in rage before grabbing Cherno in a bear hug, crushing the Russian Jaeger's body to its. It then howled in rage before slowly spinning in a large circle, before releasing, hurling Cherno through the air.
The Russian Jaeger flew through a nearby bridge, collapsing it as the Jaeger fell into a construction area. Digging its armored feet into the ground, Cherno slowed itself, before it straightened. Leatherback emerged from the harbor, its feet smashed onto a truck, destroying it, before it smashed its enormous fists into the ground gave out a challenging roar, electricity crackling around it.
Cherno responded by blasting its horn and smashing its armored fists together. "Let's get this bastard!" Sasha shouted in Russian as she and Aleksis charged. Cherno charged with them, shaking the ground underneath them as they thundered towards Leatherback. The Category IV bellowed in response and charged as well. The two juggernauts barreled towards each other, about to collide, when Cherno suddenly whirled to the right of Leatherback.
Grabbing the EMP emitting organ between its shoulders, Cherno dug its fingers into it and with a sharp yank, ripped it out and tossed it over the horizon. Leatherback bellowed in rage at the loss of its weapon and buried a powerful punch into Cherno's reactor, knocking the Russian Jaeger backwards. "This bastard hurt Cherno." Sasha snarled. Aleksis noticed and grinned evily. "Shock and awe?" He asked. Sasha looked back at him and gave him a dry smile. "Shock and awe." She responded. She hit a button on the dashboard.
"Tesla fists activated." the Jaeger A.I droned.
Cherno then smashed its fists together once more, and this time sparks burst from the impact, filling the air with the smell of ozone. Leatherback wasn't impressed, and merely roared in response before charging again. Cherno responded by squaring its shoulders and digging its armored feet into the ground. As the Category IV thundered towards the Mark I, Cherno suddenly swerved to the side, avoiding Leatherback's charge, before bringing both fists down onto its back.
Instantly electricity arched through Leatherback's body, paralyzing it. Cherno then swung again, smashing the beast in the side of the head with its massive fist. Leatherback screamed in agony, before shaking it off and grappling Cherno. Its massive fists locked around Cherno's shoulders in a wrestling grip, and it started pushing the Russian Jaeger backwards.
"NYT!" Sasha shouted as she smashed a powerful electricity-infused punch into Leatherback's chest, but it didn't stop. "NYET!" Aleksis followed it up as he slammed a button on the dashboard. "Incinerator turbines activated." The Jaeger A.I said. Instantly the massive flamethrowers on Cherno's shoulders started to glow with a hellish red, before with a echoing bomf a massive stream of fire shot out and engulfed Leatherback in its depths.
The Kaiju shrieked in pure agony and pain as its flesh blistered and burned, before its forward thrust weakened. "NYET!" Both Russians shouted as they pulled both arms out of Leatherback's grip, and smashed both fists into both sides of the Kaiju's face at once. Instantly its skull imploded and it dropped limply to the ground. Cherno stood over the fallen body of the Kaiju, its fists still crackling with electricity.
The Russian Jaeger was covered in Leatherback's blood, but was relatively unscathed. "Now... we must go assist Striker and Crimson... they need our help. Gipsy will have to fend for herself." Sasha sighed somberly. Aleksis nodded curtly and the Russian Jaeger waded back to help the disabled Mark IV and V Jaegers.
Meanwhile...
In the air, Gipsy was desperately trying to escape Otachi's grip, but it was too strong. The American Jaeger reached up and grabbed hold of the Category IV's upper jaw, but unfortunately the beast quickly shook it off. Raleigh tryed to activate the plasma cannons, but they were shot from the extreme air pressure.
"Damn! The plasma cannons are shot and we're running out of oxygen! We're out of options Mako!" Raleigh shouted. "NO! THERE'S STILL SOMETHING LEFT!" Mako shouted in Japanese, as she tapped a glowing icon on the dashboard. "SWORD ACTIVATED." The Jaeger A.I blared. Instantly from a slot in the Jaeger's gauntlet, a series of steel segments attached to a chain rattled out, forming a loose whip that flapped about in the air, until Raleigh and Mako swiped their arms in a wide swing.
Instantly the segments clanked together to form a massive, shining sword. "FOR MY FAMILY!" Mako shouted as both she and Raleigh brought their arms whipping up. Otachi shrieked in agony as the blade chopped into its side, before Raleigh and Mako whipped their arms into a full circle. Instantly the blade cleaved straight through Otachi, slicing the Category IV cleanly in two.
Gipsy found itself released from its captor's grip, but also found itself hurtling through the air, followed by the two halves of Otachi. Pentecost, followed by Hermann and Tendo along with a crowd of Shatterdome staff, rushed to the end of the pier, looking up in their binoculars.
"Gipsy! Loosen all shock absorbers and use your gyroscopes to steady yourself! Its the only way!" Raleigh turned to Mako and nodded. They then set to work, loosening the shock absorbers and using the gyroscopes to make sure they didn't land on their back. "Firing fuel purge!" Raleigh shouted as he hit a glowing icon on the dashboard. Gipsy's nuclear vortex turbine then shot a beam of fiery plasma, slowing the fall drastically.
It wasn't enough however. "Brace for impact Mako!" Raleigh shouted as they landed in a football stadium, blowing the entire stadium into pieces and sending a massive dust cloud swirling around. Pentecost then looked through the binoculars... to see Gipsy slowly getting back up!
The crowd burst into cheers as Tendo clapped Hermann on the back. Pentecost smiled with relief. He knew his adopted daughter would find a way. He just knew it. Now was no time to celebrate though. He quickly turned to Hermann. "Dr. Gottelib, I want you to go help Newt!" "Understood sir!" The German scientist saluted as he hobbled away. "Tendo, get Striker rebooted and Crimson repaired. I also want Cherno and Gipsy looked over and repaired as well." "Yes sir!" Tendo said as he hurried away.
Cherno, meanwhile, had managed to get the other two Jaegers one at a time back to the Shatterdome, where the technicians and workers used the helicopters to slowly move the Jaegers into their individual holding bays, where they quickly set to work repairing the massive mechs.
They sealed over the holes in Crimson's Conn-Pod Otachi had made, before rebooting its systems. They rebooted Striker as well before turning their attention to Cherno and Gipsy, who had just arrived back. Cherno needed some basic repairs to its reactor tower caused by Leatherback's blows, as well as refilling its flamethrowers. Gipsy had its armor repaired from where Otachi had spat the acid as well as repairing the holes the intense friction had created on its armor.
The four Jaegers were once again combat operational. Their pilots were currently in the hallway, swarmed by the staff. Raleigh and Mako, along with the Kaidnovoskies, got the most gratitude thanks to them killing the Kaiju, while the triplets along with Herc and Chuck got some respect as well.
Herc quickly pushed to the front of the crowd and shook Raleigh and the Russian's hands. "Thanks to you four, Operation Pitfall is still a go. You saved our lives back there... My boy would never admit it but he's grateful." Chuck gave them a curt nod. The triplets then arrived as well, thanking the four pilots for saving their lives. Other then slight headaches from getting tossed around in Crimson's Conn-Pod, they were alright.
However, the biggest challeneg lied just ahead... The four Jaegers had to destroy the Breach... but could they? Only time could tell...