Disclaimer: See the Prologue
File #1 – Prelude to Second Impact
It is agreed that the Universal Union's invasion of the planet Earth begun with the Second Impact, which occurred on September 13, 2000. The Angel's had just escaped from Xen and now lay dormant around the Earth. The Angel known as Adam hid itself in Antarctica, where hopefully no human would find it.
But all that was about to change…
14-year-old Misato Katsuragi walked through the corridors of the science lab in Tokyo. She wore a very happy smile on her face.
Today was the day she would embark on an expedition of discovery to Antarctica, where there were reports of an ancient creature that lay beneath the ice and snow. This expedition would be named after he own father, the famous Dr. Katsuragi.
This was the person she was looking for in the labs.
She came to up to a passing security guard. An American man in his early 20s.
SUBJECT CURRENT STATUS
SUBJECT: Calhoun
STATUS: Out of Range
No further comment.
"Hey Barney?" Misato said, smiling at her friend, "You know where my dad is?"
"Sure Misato," Barney replied, smiling back, "He's done at theconference room."
"Thanks," Misato replied.
As she walked away, Barney called out to her.
"Hey Misato?"
"Yeah?"
"Good luck on your trip to Antarctica."
"Thanks again, Barn."
In conference, Misato's father sat in the main chair, as if waiting for somebody. He was of the highest spirits, as he and his daughter along with the rest of the expedition would leave for Antarctica.
A guard entered the room.
"Excuse me, sir?" the guard said, "Your visitor has arrived."
Katsuragi nodded, "Thank you, Otis. Show him in."
"Right away sir."
The door into the conference room revealed…a pale looking man in a business suit and tie, and carrying a briefcase.
The G-Man smiled, "Mr. Katsuragi."
The doctor smiled and they shook hand, "Commander. How nice of you to drop by and wish us luck on our voyage."
"Actually, Mr. Katsuragi," the G-Man said, his face turning grim, "There has been a major development among my…er…employers. It also concerns the upcoming expedition financed by them."
"Oh? This late into preparation?" the doctor asked, then offered, "Let's take seat."
Katsuragi sat while the G-Man continued to stand, "I prefer to stand, Mr. Katsuragi."
"Suit yourself," the doctor said, before getting down to business, "What appears to be the problem?"
The G-Man cleared his throat, "My employers wish to pull the plug on the expedition."
Katsuragi's eyes widened at hearing those words, "What?"
"They see no need to send a pointless expedition to a already explored place such as Antarctica," the G-Man explained, before continuing, "My employers believe we should devote more of our time and resources to the upcoming Project E. Which is to be handled by GEHIRN under my supervision in the near future."
"But we are so close to discovering if life outside our planet does exist," Katsuragi argued, "This will be the greatest scientific discovery in the course of man's existance."
He sat up from his seat.
"Any the higher-ups wishes to stop? Have you talked to them?"
"I have, Mr. Katsuragi," the G-Man said, "And I agree with them."
Katsuragi produced a folder and handed it to the G-Man, which he opened and found that they were satellite photographs of Antarctica. Heat signatures were within the icy continent and the G-Man knew right away that is was energy from an Absolute Terror field.
And only one kind of species in existence produces an AT field.
"Me and my employers do no recommend that the expedition goes forward," the G-Man explained further, "Our sources say that what lays beneath Antarctica could bring great misfortune on the planet…"
He then smiled lightly.
"…and your daughter."
Misato was listening in on the conversation through the panel window outside conference. Her eyes widened, the G-Man mentioning her explicitly.
"I don't understand," Katsuragi explained, "The higher-ups want to cancel the expedition before we are ready to go?"
He rubbed his head, trying to comprehend.
"It boggles the mind."
"The welfare of the planet confuses you?" the G-Man asked.
Katsuragi got serious, "Listen, I am going forward with the expedition, with or without your employers' approval. If there is any problems that come from going to Antarctica, we can deal with it."
He then smiled.
"Supreme Commander."
The G-Man frowned, "If that is your decision, I will relay it to my employers. We will not support you if anything goes wrong."
"I understand," Katsuragi said, "I just can't back out of this now."
The G-Man, clutching his suitcase, said, "I bid you goodbye, Mr. Katsuragi."
The G-Man smiled, feeling a sense of fatalisim, "Have a nice journey."
He walked out of the room, leaving Katsuragi alone. He sat down, sighing.
'What is up with that man?' he thought.
Suddenly, his intercome rang. He pressed it.
"Katsuragi here," he begun.
"Sir," the voice on the other end said, "We've just received a MK-4 Emergency Protection System from the United States Military."
"What?" Katsuragi said.
"It was ordered by the Commander himself," the other line explained, "What should I do with it?"
"Keep it," Katsuragi ordered, "We'll take it with us when he we go to Antarctica."
The Katsuragi Expedition went forward despite the entity known as the G-Man's efforts. The next day on September 13, 2000, as predicted, the Angel known as Adam was awakened, and it's immediate instinct was to self-destruct, fearing the Union would attempt to take control of it.
The Expedition was wiped out, as well as much of Antarctica. The G-Man oversaw that Dr, Katsuragi's daughter, the future Major Misato Katsuragi, would escape, to be evaluated later on during the course of Earth's upcoming trials.
The G-Man provided the Protective Capsule, which saved Katsuragi's daughter. She was found by the newly formed United States Hazardous Environment Combat Unit (HACU) and returned to Japan…
Days later in Tokyo Hospital, the G-Man watched the sleeping Misato, who had been in shock over what had just happened to her and her father, who sacrificed himself to save her.
SUBJECT: Misato Katsuragi, Female, Age 14
STATUS: Hospitalised
Subject is slowly recovering from the effects of the Antarctica Incident. Medical reports speculate she is temporary mute and is scarred across the chest. She will be closely monitored until further notice, or if she is suitable to be employed into our cause.
Misato stirred in her sleep, before her eye opened to see, the Man in the Suit. Her eyes instantly widened.
"Hello, Miss Katsuragi," the G-Man greeted her, "We meet again. No need to thank me for saving your life, it's all in a day's work."
Misato felt fear grip her.
"I know what you are thinking," the G-Man went on, "How could he predict what would happen on the trip? Why did he only save my life and not my father's? Well, Miss Katsuragi…"
He looked at her deeply.
"It's complicated."
The G-Man walked towards the door, but not before turning around to see her one last time for many years.
"Get well soon."
He left the room, leaving Misato to herself, and her pondering.
She then muttered one word which would probably explain it all…
"Why?"
