"You're bloody kidding us," Herc demanded.

"I only wish we were," Hermann replied, shaking his head. "But you know the saying – the best place to hide is right under the enemy's nose. Even the Precursors realize that."

"Still… you'd think there'd have been some kind of sign," Tendo protested. "There are still some natives left on the Hawaiian Islands that refused to evacuate with the rest of the population. They could have seen signs and given us some warning."

"I seriously doubt the Precursors stuck a neon sign over their base," Caitlyn pointed out. "Or let their kaiju out for a run on the islands themselves. They're far from stupid, after all."

Another hasty meeting had been assembled in the dim conference room, this time just the Marshals and scientists of the Shatterdome. A holographic map of a rectangular section of the Pacific Ocean shimmered over the table, a chain of islands highlighted in yellow and one flat-topped undersea mountain glowing ruby-red just a short distance away. A scrawl of green marred the base of the mountain, a smattering of buildings and crudely drawn monsters that Newt kept adding to with a holopen as Hermann went on.

"Koko Guyot is an extinct volcano close to the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, though not close enough to be considered part of the chain proper. During Hawaii's last kaiju attack before the evacuation…"

"Ukupanipo," Newt piped up, not looking up from doodling a few more flyers onto Armada's back. "Category 2, one of the biggest 2s on record, taken down by Eden Assassin and Tactic Ronin."

Hermann made a production of rolling his eyes before continuing. "During the attack of Ukupanipo, an anti-kaiju missile made impact against Koko Guyot's southern slope, leaving a large and distinctive crater impact. It was through this scar on the seamount that Newt was able to identify it… and thus, identify the location of the Precursor base."

Herc shook his head. "It's too easy. They know about the drift. They wouldn't just hand us this info if they weren't up to somethin'."

"It could be," Tendo acknowledged, "but all the same, this is an opportunity we don't dare pass up. We have a shot at taking out the Breach. We need to take it, and soon. That is, if the Jaegers are willing."

"They'll be willin'," Herc replied. "Eliminatin' kaiju's what they were built for, an' they ain't gonna pass it up. But this looks too much like a trap for our Jaegers – do we just let 'em walk right into it?"

"Why not just let the PPDC know?" asked Caitlyn. "Perhaps they can simply drop a bomb on it and save us from risking the Jaegers."

Herc scowled. "Whose side are ya on, Lightcap?"

"Whatever side will save the world, Hansen," she replied, eyes narrowed and steely. "I don't like what the PPDC officials have done any more than you do. But there comes a time when you have to let go of old hatreds and do what's best for the good of humankind and Jaeger-kind. Even if it means siding with the very people who want the Jaegers destroyed."

"I have every intention of telling them what we've found," Tendo replied, ignoring Herc's glower. "And I'm sure they'll respond. Eventually. Once they've finished their bureaucratic dithering and finally decided on a course of action, by which point the Precursors could have launched a more devastating attack or simply picked up and moved their base entirely. That is, if the PPDC even believe us. Visions in the drift aren't exactly compelling evidence to most people, especially those unfamiliar with how the tech works."

Caitlyn shook her head, lips pressed together in a thin line. "I knew governments had gotten corrupt, but I never thought the Defense Corps would reach this point. When I served as a Ranger, they still had the safety of the world as their first priority, not their own pride."

"Things change," Tendo said, and elected to leave it at that. "I propose we act on this information as soon as possible. Seeing as the PPDC has cut us off, I'd say that absolves us from having to answer to them anymore."

Hermann nodded. "The base looks exposed to a direct attack, but I wouldn't be fooled if I were you. I'd wager they have some sort of protection against a direct bombardment. Under normal circumstances I would recommend sending out a submersible scouting craft to investigate things in closer detail, but the odds are we don't have that sort of time."

Tendo shook his head. "The longer we wait, the more time the Precursors have to launch another attack… and the closer their organic Jaeger comes to completion. No… we have to act soon." He clenched his jaw, as if coming to a conclusion he didn't like, then shook his head again and pushed himself to his feet. "Have the Jaegers on full alert, Hansen. We want them ready to move out at a moment's notice as soon as they're fully repaired. Dr. Lightcap, contact as many of Gipsy's old recruits as you can, and start drifting runs to see if we can find a compatible team for Mustang. Hermann, Newt, put together as detailed a map as you can and give it to the Jaegers as soon as possible. I… I need to make a call."

Herc's expression hardened. "I don' like you dealin' with that parasite, Tendo."

"I don't like dealing with him either. But war makes for strange partnerships… and given that we have Hannibal to thank for Striker's return, it's hard to say he's our enemy. And given his past career as a gun-runner, I'd say he's the only person who can get us what we need to finish this job." He nodded to the others. "Let's move out. I don't know how much time we have, but it's safe to say it's not enough."

So this is the enemy, Sasha thought, gazing at the tank and the ruined prize floating inside. The ones who send the kaiju to wipe our world clean. They look nothing like us… I can only wonder if they think at all like us.

Somehow she had expected the masters of the kaiju to look more… human, for lack of a better word. Like the demons of mythology, or perhaps like humanoid kaiju themselves. But the Precursor body Crimson had extracted from Gipsy's body had only a few vague similarities to Homo sapiens, mostly in simply possessing a head and two lower limbs for walking. The rest of its body looked like a strange mix of insect and flower, multi-limbed and with ornate petal-like growths covering its head and body like organic armor. Its flat eyes had gone milky in death, but she imagined that if she looked into them long enough, she could sense an intelligence of sorts, albeit one far removed from anything she knew.

To understand your foe is to achieve victory, her father had always told her, especially on days she had come home from school bruised and bloody from standing up to the local bully. Blows will only get you so far. To truly defeat your enemy, you must look him in the eye and learn what drives him. That is the only way to win.

Perhaps his advice worked against a human opponent… but she doubted her father had ever intended her to face down an alien army. How could you even begin to understand an enemy from another world entirely?

"It's rather sad, really."

Sasha didn't turn to address the speaker, eyes still fixed on the body. "What is sad, Dr. Gottlieb?"

"The Precursors." Hermann stepped up beside her, gazing up at the preserved body. "I know their goal is to wipe out humanity, and that is unfortunate…"

Understatement of a lifetime, Sasha thought, but kept her mouth shut.

"But in a way I pity them as well." He ran one hand through his hair as he spoke. "Their world is dying. They've consumed every natural resource, and they only have another generation, perhaps two, before they die out completely. Our world's their best hope for survival… their only hope."

Sasha felt something in her heart twist at that. After learning the kaiju were not just random monsters from another world but the living weapons of an alien army, she had always assumed it was pure greed and power-lust that drove said alien army on. She hadn't stopped to think that it wasn't simple conquest, but a desperate mission to keep their people alive.

"I want to think that if they had sent an envoy early on, tried to negotiate with our leaders, we could have shared this world," Hermann went on. "Perhaps we could have given them the oceans while we kept the continents – it isn't as if we're doing much with the sea floor, after all. I want to hope humankind is still that decent. I suppose they figured we weren't worth dealing with like an intelligent species, however." He shrugged. "They think of us as animals. Or…"

"Or?"

"Or maybe that's what they tell themselves. That we're just animals, pests to be wiped out before they can settle this world. They may not fully believe it, but they tell themselves it's true. If you de-humanize the enemy, so to speak, it makes it easier to kill them, I suppose."

She raised an eyebrow. "This is a huge reversal for you, Dr. Gottlieb. To sympathize with the enemy."

He shrugged again. "Drifting with a kaiju has given me much to think about, perhaps." He gave a rueful chuckle. "Sorry for unloading my sudden bout of philosophy on you. You have enough to worry about without me adding my flights of fancy to it."

She shook her head. "No, Dr. Gottlieb. Understanding the enemy is the best way to victory. And you have helped me with that. It is perhaps too late for a peaceful resolution to this war… but knowing why the Precursors do what they do helps us to not become complete monsters, I think."

"Ah, good," he replied with a slight smile, relief suffusing his features. "Thank you for your understanding, Mrs. Kaidonovsky. And for allowing me to vent a little." He eyed the dead Precursor a moment longer. "I didn't just come here to chat, however – I'm to let you know that we're about to brief the Jaegers on the Precursor base and what to expect of it. Rangers are invited as well."

"Thank you, Dr. Gottlieb. I will be there shortly."

He nodded and walked stiffly away, leaning on his cane. Spike gave a low growl from a nearby workbench, and Hermann absently slowed down to pat his carapace as he limped by. Sasha smiled a little at the gesture before turning her attention back to the tank.

One of the Precursor's arms had drifted up against the glass, as if trying to touch her through the transparent barrier. She raised her own hand and rested it against the tank, only that layer of glass separating their fingers. Perhaps they weren't so different after all – soldiers striving to protect their kind by any means necessary, even if it meant the extinction of another race. It was only a shame that for one of them to succeed in their mission, the other had to fail.

The holographic map of the Precursor base glowed blue and amber and red on the floor of the Jaeger bay, a grid-covered display writ large for the Jaegers' benefit. The six active Jaegers crowded around the shimmering holo, watching and listening as Hermann limped from one end of it to the other, pointing out areas of interest. He seemed perfectly at ease delivering a lecture to such massive beings, as if he were simply a professor presenting a lesson to a studious class.

"There are approximately twelve mobile buildings in the base," he stated, pressing a remote that made the dome-shaped structures glow bright green. "We assume they are some sort of storage or production facility, though given their size it's possible each of them could house a Category 4 kaiju, or two Category 2 kaiju if they opted for a tight fit. Their composition appears similar to shell, though closer to the calcified shell of a mollusk than the keratin shell of turtles. We have no physical evidence of this, however, so they could be made of anything."

"I dunno what half those words you said meant, sorry," Brawler said with a shrug. "My guess is they all crunch the same, though."

"If they really do house kaiju, we'll have to be careful," Crimson added. "Though seeing as they have kaiju tethered to those frameworks, you'd think they wouldn't bother with housing for them."

"The frameworks Crimson speaks of look nearly identical to our world's coral growths, though again, it's impossible to be entirely sure," Hermann went on, highlighting the organic scaffolding penning in the kaiju. "They seem to be used for both construction of new kaiju and restraint of existing kaiju. We estimate about fifteen of these total, though only eight of them appeared to be in use. The largest, of course, is holding the organic Jaeger."

Cherno shuddered. "That thing is an abomination." His voice had been altered recently, sounding far higher and younger than his previous deep, thundering tone. It wasn't exactly a voice that befit one of the oldest and most dangerous Jaegers, many thought, but Cherno and his Rangers seemed perfectly happy with it, so no one voiced their complaints too loudly.

"We all think it's an abomination," Coyote told him. "I say it's the first thing to go."

"We need to think smart about this," Crimson replied. "I'm sure they know that we know about this Jaeger of theirs by now. It could have abilities we know nothing about."

"So we ice it 'fore it gets a chance to use 'em," Striker replied. "Simple."

"I don't think it's gonna be that simple, Striker," Gipsy said balefully. "Dr. Gottlieb, Marshal Hansen, what do you two suggest we do?"

Herc stepped forward at that moment. "We ain't plannin' on the six of you risking your lives more'n necessary. So the plan's identical to Operation Pitfall – go in, drop a bomb, get out 'fore it goes off. No heroics, no funny business, just blow the place up an' come home."

"A bomb?" Raleigh repeated. "Where the hell did you guys get a bomb?"

"We haven't gotten it yet," Herc replied. "Marshal Choi says we can't go through the same channels as last time, so he's going through alternate channels to get it. But it should be here soon, if all goes well."

"'Cuz things went SO well last time," Chuck snapped. "What happens when this bomb goes off too early an' kills our Jaegers? Or turns out to be a dud an' leaves 'em all sittin' ducks?"

"You got any other ideas, Chuck?" Herc demanded, eyes narrowed.

Chuck glared, but then turned away, clenching his jaw.

"Didn't think so. An' I know, y'all just wanna charge in an' start punchin' things. Can't say I blame you. But we're aimin' to do this with as few casualties as possible. An' I hate to say it, but this last battle proved that we can't stand up to a huge pack of kaiju, not without heavy firepower. We need th' bomb."

"There's also the matter of the second Breach," Hermann added. "Dr. Geizler and I did not see it near the base, but there's a chance it isn't far away from Koko Guyat. In the event that you get there and find that Breach, the choice is clear – use the bomb on the Breach instead of the base. That will both cut off their escape route and prevent them from sending reinforcements or replacements."

Gipsy nodded slowly. "Bomb the Breach if it's there, bomb the base if it's not there. Got it."

Herc nodded. "This ain't somethin' we ask you to do lightly, Jaegers. The first time we did this, the humans were completely in charge… but things are different now. You're all fully autonomous beings now, not just weapons. If any of you think you're not up to this, no one's forcin' you to fight. You're free to back out."

Striker snorted. "Like hell I'm gonna back out, old man! We're Jaegers. We were created t' fight kaiju. Like we're gonna stop that now!"

Cherno bobbed in a nod. "We have always protected humanity. I see no reason for that to change. Not now, when you need us most."

"Safe to say none of us are backing out," Coyote added. "The Jaegers of this Shatterdome – Cherno Alpha, Coyote Tango, Gipsy Danger, Crimson Typhoon, Striker Eureka, and Brawler Yukon – will fight to the end to defend Hong Kong… and the world."

A chorus of trills, rumbles, and growls backed up her declaration, and Gipsy even raised her hands in her signature fist-to-palm taunt. Herc gave a solemn nod, and though he'd deny it to his grave, he appeared to be blinking back tears.

"Thank you. All of you. This means more to us than you can know." He clenched his jaw, reining in his emotions, before speaking again. "Report to yer hangars for last-minute prep. You move out in an hour."

"One more thing, Marshal."

Herc frowned and turned to face Mako. "What, Ms. Mori?"

She stepped forward, her expression wary but determined as if preparing for an argument. "If the Jaegers go out to fight… the Rangers go with them."

Herc opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by Hermann. "That's a ludicrous suggestion. No humans are accompanying the Jaegers to the base."

"We have fought alongside the Jaegers for so long," she retorted. "We have been partners and comrades. Even before they became fully sentient, we fought as one. Why should it change now?"

"That's a noble sentiment, Ms. Mori," Hermann put in, "but that doesn't change the fact that the Jaegers simply don't need human guidance any longer. If anything, humans tagging along on this mission could be a greater hindrance than a help. And the fewer lives we can endanger in this mission, the better."

"So we're just going to endanger Jaeger lives, then?" Hu snapped. "That's cold, man."

"I know y'all are rarin' to fight with your Jaegers," Herc cut in. "Dammit, I know it as well as any of ya. But the Jaegers don't need us anymore. We'd be useless to 'em."

"Not entirely, Marshal Hansen."

Herc glanced up at Crimson. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that I agree with Mako's sentiments," he replied. "It… feels right… to have my Rangers with me when we face the Precursors. I have missed their guidance and companionship the last two times I've faced the kaiju, and would like to have that on this mission. And perhaps having human pilots is no longer necessary… but it can still be beneficial. There are things we might not see that our Rangers might, and tactics they can suggest that wouldn't occur to us."

"Both Mako and Crimson are right," Cherno added. "I've fought alongside Mama and – I mean, my Rangers for so long. It feels right to have them by my side for this fight. And they are warriors too… there are still ways they can help me."

Another chorus of noise from the Jaegers, metallic thrums and booms filling the massive chamber until every humans' ears were ringing. Herc finally cut everyone off by raising his hands.

"All right, enough!" he ordered. "I get yer points… an' they ain't bad ones. But as a Ranger myself, one who's seen more action than any of ya save Team Cherno, I gotta say…"

Striker's Conn Pod swiveled to glower at the elder of his Rangers, and Chuck opened his mouth to protest as well… but before either of them could make so much as a squeak, Herc finished his sentence.

"…that I've been dyin' for a chance to go back into battle. If Marshal Choi approves this, I do."

Striker boomed in his version of a triumphant laugh. "Knew you couldn't say no, old man!"

"Don't call me that, ya overgrown Rock-Em-Sock-Em," Herc grumped. "We still gotta get Tendo's approval on this, an' he could very well veto this."

"If he has a modicum of sense he will!" Hermann protested. "This is ridiculous!"

"We're Rangers," Raleigh reminded him, grinning broadly. "We're used to pulling off the ridiculous on a daily basis."

"Enough jawin'," Herc cut in. "All Rangers get suited up, all Jaegers get your weapons prepped an' ready. The Ao Kuang moves out soon as Marshal Choi comes back with our special delivery, an' anyone not ready by then gets left behind! No exceptions!"

"NEURAL HANDSHAKE FAILED. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY AGAIN?"

Dr. Lightcap sighed deeply and shook her head. "No… not today." She blinked, as if just realizing the computer's question had been rhetorical and wouldn't respond to her answer. "Bishop, shut down power to Mustang's Conn Pod. Deckerd, Lennox, step out and unsuit. We'll try again later."

"We almost had it that time!" Lennox protested.

"Uh, maybe a xenobiologist's word isn't worth a whole lot here," Newt put in, "but I'm gonna hazard a guess that if it didn't work the first ten times, an eleventh isn't gonna do a whole lotta good."

"You shut up, kaiju-lover!" Lennox retorted.

"Shut your mouth, Tyler!" Deckerd barked at his partner. "Have a lil' respect!"

Dr. Lightcap sighed again and muted the microphone before pulling off her headset. "So much for finding a proper match for Mustang before moving out. Seven teams and not one of them has managed a handshake. Deckerd and Lennox came closest, but… if you want my honest opinion, they're not much better than the Rossis."

Newt wanted to say something to ease the situation, but everything he could think of to say – from "sorry, that sucks" to "better luck next time" – seemed both inadequate and really disrespectful. And given that he was talking to Dr. Freaking Lightcap herself, he didn't want to make too much of a fool of himself. Sure, Jaegers weren't exactly his area of expertise, but he was still standing in the presence of one of the key figures in the Kaiju War. She deserved some respect.

Under normal circumstances, Newt had no reason to be in the LOCCENT. He was a biologist, not a technician, and anything dealing with the Jaegers was way outside his field of expertise. But the news that Dr. Lightcap would be screening new candidates for the Mark VI had him burning with curiosity, and he'd managed to weasel his way into the half-repaired control center by claiming he was looking for flying-parasite tissue samples from the battle. He knew that any samples left would have decayed beyond salvaging by this point, and he was fairly certain Lightcap knew that too, but evidently she'd figured his presence wouldn't be too distracting.

"What happens to Mustang now?" he asked. "Does it just sit here?"

"For the moment," Lightcap replied. "We're moving out to make a strike against the Precursors very soon, and Brawler's asked that I accompany him. After being out of action so long… how can I say no to another chance?" She smiled wanly. "I'd hoped Mustang could accompany us, but it's not to be."

"Oh… that's depressing." He immediately wanted to kick himself for saying that. To his relief, though, Lightcap didn't seem to take offense.

"We're not giving up on Mustang yet. The perfect set of Rangers is out there. And if… no, when we come back from this fight, we'll keep on trying. Mustang deserves to live as much as the other Jaegers, and I'll fight for its right to live with everything I have."

"Oh good." He chuckled. "I know I gotta reputation for being a kaiju groupie here, but I do like the Jaegers. It's good that all of them are getting the chance they deserve, I think."

Lightcap's smile widened a touch, looking genuinely happy instead of resigned. "Thanks, Dr. Geizler."

"Just Newt. Only my mom and Hermann call me Doctor."

"All right then, Newt." She chuckled. "You're okay, Newt. For a kaiju groupie."

"Uh… thanks. You too." Wait, wait, what? Did I actually just say that? No, no, no, stupid, stupid! A girl finally looks at you like you're not a weirdo and you stick your foot in your mouth!

Lightcap giggled, and he felt his face flame bright red. He desperately tried for some damage control. "Sorry… I'm a lot better with kaiju specimens than I am with girls. The last one I tried to be friendly with tried to force me to drift with a kaiju brain."

"Rest assured, Newt, I'd never make you drift with a kaiju brain. Unless you hurt Brawler's feelings, maybe." She giggled again. "I have to suit up and go join Brawler. You take care of yourself, Newt."

"Yeah… good luck to you guys. We're rootin' for you back at the 'Dome, all right?"

She nodded and strode out.

Newt made a pretense of looking around the LOCCENT a little longer, sidestepping consoles still in pieces from the last attack and trying not to get in the techs' way. But finally he gave up and turned to leave himself. Soon this place would be hopping with techs monitoring the battle and the living Jaegers, and Mustang would be shunted to the sidelines. Shame. He was sort of hoping he'd get to watch another Jaeger coming to life firsthand. And hopefully with less collateral damage than Cherno and Brawler's awakenings.

As he stepped out of the LOCCENT's lift, he couldn't help a glance at Mustang's Conn Pod, sitting at the Jaeger's feet like a doffed helmet. The glass of the cockpit was still shattered, though the interior had at least been scrubbed clean of the unfortunate Rossis' remains. Not that he expected otherwise – no use making new potential Rangers squeamish. Plus, even as disliked as the Rossis had been, they were still Rangers, and that deserved some respect.

He knew he should clear out before things got truly busy, but he couldn't help but linger a bit. There was something heartbreaking about seeing the black Jaeger so still and alone, a forlorn sentinel amid the seething activity of the Jaeger bay. Dr. Lightcap insisted she hadn't abandoned Mustang, but as far as Newt could see, the rest of the Shatterdome certainly had… and that saddened him.

Nothing you can do about it, he told himself. You're a biologist, remember? It's not like you can wave your fingers and make it all better. Besides, Hermann's the brains when it comes to Jaeger programming…

He stopped short, realization sinking in. He might not know how to help Mustang… but Hermann had programmed the first Jaegers, and his protégé had spearheaded the Mark VI project. Except for The Tech Who Must Not Be Named, he knew more about Mustang than anyone else in the Shatterdome. And even better, he'd helped coax Brawler back to life… so why not Mustang?

The more he thought on the idea, the more excited he grew. The LOCCENT might be tied up with the upcoming battle, but didn't they still have his homebrew neural bridge? And even better… he and Hermann had drifted before. Granted, it was with a kaiju and not a Jaeger, but still…

Mustang towered over him, a black-and-red-armored statue. Newt grinned and waved up at the Jaeger as cheerily as if it were one of the living mecha, then took off running, touching his earpiece as he hurried for the labs.

"Hermann! Hermann, I know you're there, pick up, dammit!"

"For God's sakes, Newton, what is it this time?"

"I've got a fantastic idea!"

"If you think it's fantastic, it's got to be lunacy. I won't have you wasting my time with-"

"Fine, if you don't want one more Jaeger to help with the battle, don't listen to me," Newt shot back, though he wore a huge grin as he spoke. "I'll just hang up and leave you alone, all right?"

Silence. Then a reply: "Keep talking."

Newt pumped his fist in a silent whoop before laying out his plan. Yes, it might be lunacy… but his lunatic plans had a pretty good track record so far, right?