I grabbed the engineer as he headed for the exit. I needed to get to the loading bay at all costs. There was a pressing urge to get pictures of the Jaegers going into their very last mission, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. At first the young man balked. He had gotten specific orders to escort us to the transport choppers that would lead us out of Hong Kong. He had no desire to disobey Stacker's orders.
I could tell he was scared, we all were. Who wouldn't be in this situation? This kid in a normal world would probably be somewhere getting wasted with his peers. He looked like he had just graduated from college. To think, the outcome of the night would determine whether this guy would get to see another year was quite terrifying.
We were all gambling on a long shot, hoping Stacker's crew would deliver. It was a bit much to swallow, knowing everything pertaining to our survival was coming down to that one attack. I had to see for myself who was going on the mission and how I could immortalize these heroes. After much cajoling and convincing, he agreed to get me on the upper deck but I had to be quick. If I was spotted, we were both in deep doodle.
I thanked him profusely, making sure to stay behind as my unsuspecting fellow journalists trooped out and towards the vessels that would take them off the shatterdome. The spot the young man snuck me in was a bit far from the loading bay; thankfully technology had empowered people like me with telephoto lens that made such distance look like it was right next to me.
Imagine my shock when I saw Stacker suited up with Chuck Hansen, getting ready to board Striker Eureka. Herc who was supposed to be in Stacker's position was looking upwards from the ground floor, sling on one hand whilst the other held Chuck's pug. He had a resigned look, like he knew this was it for the Australian machine. I felt bad for him, his only son was in that machine, it must hurt terribly to know he not only would be unable to protect him, but this might be the last time he ever saw him again.
Just before Chuck stepped aboard his Jaeger, he embraced his dad tightly. I couldn't have asked for a better photo yet I felt so sad knowing the significance of the moment. Two other black suits moved into the periphery of my vision and I quickly adjusted the lens to see Raleigh accompanied by a young Asian lady, walk towards the remodeled Gipsy Danger. The young lady of Asian descent had to be Mako Mori, I had heard of her but never saw her till now. They briskly boarded their machine, no hesitation in their movements. My shutter button was going into overdrive trying to snap as many pictures as I could. If these got out some day, I wanted the rest of the world to know just how determined these brave men and woman were in laying their lives on the line for us. Shortly afterwards, the hatches were closed and the reel lines were connected to the carriers that would take them out to see.
The young engineer that brought me up kept urging me to get back, something about the last vessel out of Hong Kong getting ready to leave. I was faced with a dilemma, I had one last shot in mind but I needed to get up close to the jaegers. A departing shot of some sorts but the only way that would be possible was to either get on one of the huge carriers tethered to the Jaegers, or convince the pilot of the chopper assigned to get the journalists off the shatterdome, to get me close enough to take the shot. Both were looking like impossible tasks, but I owed it to the world to take those photos.
I followed the engineer to the departure pod, thanking him profusely for his help. I did not let him know of my plan, I was pretty sure he'd have shot it down. Luckily for me, the other journalists had left on different choppers. I was the only other passenger aboard the last one, though it was loaded with all sorts of gadgets. I was left with the unenviable task of convincing the pilot to take me as close as he could to the Jaegers before turning back.
He didn't even let me finish my sentence before flat out refusing. According to him, it was an unnecessary risk. He did not want to jeopardize the mission by breaking orders. We argued back and forth, me trying desperately to convince him of the importance of this one last shot. I was almost resigned to the fact that it wasn't going to happen but I had to try one last angle. I told him all that was at stake. Why the masses needed to know how important the PPCD was to saving us all. If this plan worked, the rangers and everyone involved, deserved to be lionized. I even told him; his sacrifice would be noted, as the brave pilot who aided in getting the shots of the Jaegers as they went on their final battle.
After a few moments of him mulling on my words, he shrugged and agreed. I am pretty sure down below, the young engineer must have been furious to see the chopper headed towards the bay instead of going the opposite direction. If I ever saw him again, I'd buy him a beer. Lord knows we would both need it.
I hopped in the chopper, adjusted my lens, primed it for what was ahead and fastened my belts. This was going to be the defining shot of my career.