I've seen Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire and decided that it will make a good idea for a major plot for a future sequel. One that I already have a trailer out for as many of you have seen.
Now that's done
Reviews
NopticIllusion- Thank you. And I took a break alright. Sort of.
DJ Rodriguez- (Bows Japanese style multiple times) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I had more fun writing Godzilla's reaction through the whole ordeal.
Now Mothra and Queen Ghidorah fighting over Gojira, THAT sounds amusing.
Gojira is aware of the translation, which is why he didn't mention that.
LORD DESTRYUK-You would be correct.
On with the story!
Darth Vader stormed into the Command Center followed by Princess Azula and Lord Megatron stomped in, flanked by their personal guard. General Ironwood straightened from leaning over the command counsel and turned to face them. He had a feeling the Sith Lord and his allies wanted news on how the operation was going. Unfortunately, Ironwood had nothing to report. Interference from the sudden storm in the area cut off any communications from Starscream as well as the extra spike in radiation. It was taking longer to receive information. He needed to stall for time until he had something to report.
"Lord Vader, Princess Azula, Lord Megatron," he greeted, trying to sound in control. "I'm awaiting further information on the operation. Final confirmation of the Kaiju's death should be coming-"
"We do not need your report," Darth Vader boomed at him loudly. "The Kaiju has already escaped your trap."
Ironwood looked aghast. How could they possibly know that? This had to be a trick. A test to see how he would react to such a situation. He did his best to keep his composure.
"Lord Vader, I highly doubt it could've freed itself," he insisted. "Just because it is taking longer for Commander Starscream to report-"
"We are not mistaken, General," Azula declared. "We have sensed his escape through the Force. He is free of the quarry but not of his own hand."
Ironwood stared at them, wide-eyed, trying to see if they were joking or messing with him. None of them were. In fact, they looked enraged. Ironwood was afraid he was about to learn Jacques's lesson. That a lightsaber was going to stab him in the chest, or a fusion cannon or even a blast of fire was going to reduce him to ash. Instead, the Sith Lord stood there as his allies showed various forms of anger on their faces. So, Ironwood asked his question. If Alpha Predator One hadn't escaped on his own, that left only one explanation.
"Are you saying the Rebels helped him?"
"Worse," Megatron replied. "The Alien Kaiju that invaded Remnant before have returned and attacked the quarry. After that, both groups of Kaiju Girls have joined together under Alpha Predator One and the Rebels are following the Kaiju's wake."
"Following?" Ironwood paled. "Are you saying that Alpha Predator One is coming here? With an army of Kaiju?"
None of them answered that, but Azula simply raised an eyebrow at him, telling him everything. This was it then. Their last stand. That monster would come here with his army and destroy all their work and then the Rebels would mop up what was left. Composing himself, he stood at attention before them.
"What are your orders?" he asked readily.
"We've already ordered more AT-ATs down to the surface, along with special walkers held in reserve." Lord Vader said simply.
Azula spoke next. "Contact all Imperial Forces and relocate them here in Atlas and Mantle. We shall hold this kingdom and facility no matter the cost."
"Star Destroyers are on their way and I have already instructed Shockwave and Dr. Boll to finish final preparations on the Zillo Beast prototype immediately," Megatron said. "Shredder is preparing the psychic connection to one of the Kaiju Girls."
Ironwood looked back in surprise. They were considering unleashing the Zillo-Beast and the Godzilla clones on Alpha Predator One? That seemed to be a drastic measure. Not to mention potentially costly if it failed.
"Are you certain of this?" he asked, trying not to sound like he disagreed with the plan.
"With all the Kaiju coming, yes. We are certain." Azula said coldly. "Especially if all else fails."
Ironwood knew what that really meant with "All else" really referring to him. If he failed. Ironwood really did not want to think about what else Vader or any of them would do should that happen. As they turned back to the door.
"This shall be our final stand," Darth Vader declared. "Either Alpha Predator One and his Kaiju Army fall with the Rebels or this Kingdom does."
With that, Darth Vader, Princess Azula and Megatron left, taking the two former's personal guards of Stormtroopers and elite Firebenders with them. Again, Ironwood realized the real meaning behind the statement. it wasn't their last stand at all.
Just his.
(Play Transformers 2007 Soundtrack "Optimus" by Steve Jablonsky)
Gojira, in his human size and form stood on top of the hill overlooking the Rebel camp as he watched them helping out the injured Imperials from his last attack. The Rebels decided that they couldn't ignore them entirely any longer and the Kaiju Girls deemed it necessary to rest. With what happened back in the pit on top of a five hour fight with Queen Ghidorah, he secretly agreed. He still felt the pain from the Oxygen Destroyer and the toxic gas, but that's when he heard footsteps approaching. Turning his head slightly, he looks and saw the Autobot Leader, Optimus Prime standing right next to him.
Optimus gestured to the spot beside the male Saurian Kaiju. "You don't mind if I stand here?" he asked respectfully.
Gojira just shrugged his shoulders in response. "Do what you like."
Optimus nodded his head as he too looked on the site that Gojira was looking at. "Tell me Gojira, why do you still hate the humans and now Faunus from your point of view?"
Gojira just sighs at this but decided to answer the bulky Autobot leader. "There's no difference between Humans and Faunus to me." he replied. "And it's not really hatred. Just anger. They're a violent and destructive race. You have to know what they're doing to their own planet." he turns back to Optimus. "I've read about your exploits, heard whispers about you from the Kingdoms of Vale and Arendelle, why fight for them?"
Optimus nodded his head as he understood on what Gojira meant. "My race was no different." he admitted as he closed his optics remembering the past when his home world was left barren thanks to the war along with other planets, they fought on leaving devastation on those worlds as well. Composing himself, he reopens his optics and looked on to the Rebels. The humans, Faunus, Mutants and aliens like the Autobots, the Na'vi family with their Jawa and Yautja friends, Lasat, Twi'lek and Torgruta with one young Kryptonian. "They're a young species, they have much to learn but I've seen goodness in them." he stated and turned back to Gojira. "There's more to them than meets the eye. You can deny it, but you have as well."
Gojira didn't say anything as he stilled listen to the Autobot. He could just imagine Mothra saying something like, It's true and you know it. Don't deny it, Goji. "Tell me, what changed your mind after you heard about the Kaiju clones and Zillo Clone?" Optimus asked. "There was something in your eyes when you looked at Ezra."
Gojira was silent for a bit. ". . .Because he reminds me of Peter Parker. Along with a few others of my world." he admitted. Memories of other heroes back on Earth flashed in his mind. Those that didn't see him as a a destructive force but just an animal that was the last his kind and the first of a new one. Despite the walls he made, they saw through him and spent many years trying to be his friend. Did they succeed? Well. . . he wouldn't remember them if they failed.
Optimus smiled at this before frowning as a thought came to his mind. "Gojira, I need to tell you that when the Empire leaves this planet, there is a high probability that they will eventually be back for revenge. They will see you as a threat and will do everything in their power to kill you." He warned the male Kaiju. "They might destroy this planet if they have to and that means killing the Kaiju Girls like Godzilla and her children."
Gojira's eyes flash blue at this when he heard of the possibility of Godzilla's kids getting killed which was pissing him off even if they weren't his kids but he won't allow them to die. "Let them try." he growled.
Optimus noticed his tone but didn't say anything right away. He saw Gojira's eyes looking to the Kaiju Children. "You have children back on your world." he stated.
Gojira sighed and nodded his head. "Two sons and a daughter." he said softly. Were they his by blood? No, but he loved them as if they were. Athena, Junior and Minilla. My goddess, my princes. "What hurts more than the fact I may never see them again is that this Junior is at the age when my-" he took a deep breath to steady himself. "And I fear her mother won't have the power to bring her back should the worst happen." Despite trying to keep his composure, he glanced over to the Alien Kaiju Girls, more accurately to Destroyah.
He and Athena screeched as Junior fell screeching in fear. A loud SNAP was heard when he landed on the-
He stiffened when he felt Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder. A bit unexpected due to Optimus' hands being big as the Hulk's but the gesture was appreciated. The two went silent as they looked back down the hill and watched the humans, Faunus, mutants and aliens interact.
Caine had always feared this day. In the back of his mind, he just knew it would happen. You can't expect to kill a whole damn order of one of the most powerful warriors in the Galaxy wholesale. No, some had to have escaped. He just kept lying to himself that they hadn't. Now, they were back. They were back for him. They had to be. And somehow, he didn't know how exactly, they had brought that Kaiju with them. It was the only explanation his mind could come up with for such a huge coincidence. This Kaiju shows up at the same time as a bunch of Jedi return? They attack this planet, of all planets, with him on it? No, not a coincidence. It couldn't be.
He had seen it with his own eyes. Those Jedi were controlling that Kaiju. He knew they could do that. Clones knew everything about the Jedi. For all he knew, every attack was orchestrated by them. That this creature was in fact part of whatever plan they had in store. Alpha Predator One was an instrument in this endeavor, being used to strike back against the Empire on this world. And why this world? Because he was here. One of the last Clones still active in the service. They must have found out about his deployment here and took the chance to get revenge for what had happened.
Caine didn't know if that was completely reasonable or if if sounded rational. The old Clone supposed it only made sense to him really. No one else had been at the Temple. No one else knew the details of what exactly they had to do that night. The only people who knew were the Clones that had been there and Jedi. To everyone else it was just some little blurb in a history book or a short film. They didn't know the truth, they were just told to regurgitate some story they had been fed. He knew what really happened and why the Jedi would be after a Clone like him.
He was right about the Kaiju having an intelligence and goal behind his actions. He didn't suspect it was due, at least in part, to Jedi trickery. That Kaiju was still a danger alright, still smarter than what Command seemed to believe, but now Caine knew where some of that direction it had came from. However, he didn't share it with the others or anyone even when they had said that they were there. He couldn't let people know Jedi were still alive. One, it would create a panic among the ranks and two, because his mind told him not to. He had to remain secretive, quiet so no one would stop him from doing what had to be done.
They all Ground Bridged to Atlas itself. And more forces were coming from the other Kingdoms to defend it.
Defend it, not just against the approaching Kaiju Army but Rebels who had somehow gotten past the blockade and onto Remnant. And they were following Alpha Predator One it seemed, and they'd be attacking Atlas alongside the Kaiju. That pretty much confirmed Caine's suspicions that the Jedi were directing the Kaiju. But again, he didn't say anything. He knew Command would not believe him about the Jedi with a more tangible threat in the form of a Rebel Assault on the way. Even if they did, they certainly wouldn't believe that three Jedi were directing Alpha Predator One Taking them out was key to finally killing that thing, he knew that. No one else would understand.
No, if he wanted the Jedi dead then he would have to rely on himself. He was the only person here capable of doing that. Jaune and the others, they wouldn't last long. They didn't understand the Jedi like he did. They hadn't fought beside them; they hadn't really known them, and they certainly hadn't had fought one in their life ever. When the Rebels got inside this complex, and with the help of their big angry mutant wingless dragon friend they most certainly would, the Jedi would be with them. It would be up to him, a lone Clone (Ha! Rhyme.) to take them down. No one else.
As soon as they landed in Atlas, he broke off from the main group and slipped away into the inner bowels of the complex. He didn't know if either Jaune or his friends noticed his disappearance and he didn't really care. Was that harsh? Yes, but it was the truth. Caine had a mission. It wasn't new but it overrode everything else. Killing a Jedi was not easy however, let alone three. Add on he was no longer young. He wouldn't be a match for a Force User. Not by himself. He needed to gear up.
After nearly an hour of searching, Cain found what he was looking for. The main armory. Most of the guns had been taken away. Only the surplus remained but that was fine for him. He would take whatever there was left.
In the back of the room, there was a number of high-powered blaster rifles, long ranged and scoped. He knew better than to overload himself, so he only took one. Not that he believed it would be much use against a Jedi, but there was always the chance of a lucky shot. He grabbed a number of grenades as well for a last resort. There was also a spare Arc Caster, but he doubted it would be that much effective. This was all to wear the Jedi. Tire them out. It was the only thing he could do. For backup, he picked up some blasters as well. Just in case things went wrong.
He found the real prize. A rotary blaster cannon, similar to the used back in the Clone Wars. This would be the weapon that could break the Jedi, the gun that could take one down. Of course, it was easier when there was at least five of them against one. He'd have to play it smart if he hoped for the cannon to be effective.
As he picked up the rotary blaster cannon, he noted how he struggled to hold it properly. It had been a long time since he had used one of these and he was not in his prime. These Jedi had years to train, while he hadn't seen any real action since the end of the war. The odds were against him here, but if there was any chance of survival he had to see this through.
"There you are, Sir."
Caine turned around to see Jaune standing in the doorway. The old Clone didn't say anything in response. He just hefted the rotary blaster to a table and then gather what he had grabbed into a satchel for later use.
"Uh, you really think you're going to need all this?" Jaune asked as he approached the Clone. "I mean, I know there's going to be a big Rebel force out there, but still."
"For what I'm fight, I'm going to need it," Caine stated bluntly.
"What you're fighting?" Jaune repeated, perplexed by the choice of words. "What are you talking about, Caine? You mean the Kaiju? That's kind of out of our hands at the moment, Sir."
"He's not the problem," Caine insisted through gritted teeth as he looked back to Jaune briefly.
The Scout Trooper was a bit put off by the Clone's sudden shift in tone. As Caine started a system check on the rotary blaster, Jaune approached him slowly. His concern was obvious, even through the helmet. "Is everything okay, Sir?" he asked tepidly.
"No," Caine replied bluntly. "Nothing has been okay for a while."
He wouldn't tell Jaune anything. He didn't need to know. He couldn't. He wouldn't last five seconds against a Jedi. Let alone three. Caine wouldn't be able to protect him. At least with Alpha Predator One, they were dealing with something indiscriminate. A creature focused on the battle as a whole and rarely individuals. At least in its Kaiju form. The Jedi were different. They were up close. They were personal and they had abilities that made soldiers like Jaune redundant. Besides, this was his mission, he couldn't bring him in on it. That wasn't how this worked.
"What's wrong?" Jaune asked again. "You been acting weird since we left the pit. Haven't said a word to me or the others. You've just muttered something about following orders and then nothing."
Caine stopped his work briefly but did not speak or turn to the Scout Trooper.
"Do you know something about the Kaiju?" Jaune asked. "I mean, you've been right about him so far. Besides where he really comes from, that is."
Caine had heard about that. That Alpha Predator One was actually from another universe and he came here because the people of his world used an artificial black hole in an attempt to kill him. It made sense. Why and how the male Kaiju could shrink and transform. How he knew how to fight. The Kaiju Girls of Remnant and beyond knew how to fight, but not like Alpha Predator One. He was trained well, and he was more experienced. And the battle in the Grimm Lands. He fought armies before. And he also knew how to fight superheroes. Caine would have been shocked to hear that, but his mind focused on the Jedi.
After a long silence, Caine spoke. "I did find something out," he informed the Scout Trooper. "But it's something you can't help with."
"What do you mean I can't help?" Jaune asked, sounding offending. "I thought we're a team!"
"I'm sorry, but that's just how it is," Cain replied. "It's something I got to do. I can't involve you. That's all I can say."
Arc still looked confused. He didn't say anything in response but he didn't move. He had a ton of questions, no doubt. Questions Caine couldn't answer. All he could do was try to explain.
"Remember when you said you hadn't expected your first combat to be like this," he began to recall, turning to the scout and staring him in the eyes. "What did you expect when you joined up?"
"Well, adventure mostly," Jaune admitted. "Serving the Galaxy, maintaining order, keeping the bad guys down."
"That's how I started too," Caine admitted morosely. "Heroic aspirations, noble ideas. Difference is, I didn't have a choice. I never had one. I was bred to go to war, from day one. That was all that ever mattered. I never thought about what would happen when it was over. When the war was done and the soldiers they bred to fight it were no longer needed. I just went day by day, doing what I was told, expecting it would all be worth a damn, that I was doing something important. In the end, I did do something important and it's the one thing I can't really remember much about except that I did it."
Jaune just stood perplexed, trying to figure out what the old soldier was trying to tell him. The others, the Huntresses and Prince Zuko stood at the doorway and looked confused. Caine supposed he was being cryptic. Like he suspected, Jaune just didn't understand. None of them did. They weren't clones. They didn't know.
"They gave us a bunch of promises when they made us," Caine continued. "Motivation to keep fighting, I guess. It seemed enough at first, but as time went on, their promises didn't seem to pan out like we wanted. Then we get ordered to take down the very people who commanded us. None of us even flinched. We just do it, because that's what good soldiers do. What do you get in return for that? For saving them from a conspiracy against them? Nothing."
"I remember," Jaune tried to squeak out. "You all got discharged." Pyrrha added nervously.
"We were thrown away, cast aside, tossed into a box or out to the streets and forgotten." Caine corrected them harshly. "We've done their dirty work, we did it proudly. We were good soldiers, we followed orders. We did what had to be done, didn't hesitate. Hell, it was easy! I don't why, but it was! And what's our reward for that kind of loyalty? We end up forcibly ejected from the one job we were born to do and left alone to rot!"
Jaune backed up slightly as Caine started shouting while Pyrrha and her teammates flinched. The old Clone Trooper caught himself and quickly calmed. He then asked another question. "Do any of you know of when the night the Jedi Temple on Coruscant was attacked by Republic Forces?" he asked.
"Well, you'd know more than us, Sir," Ren replied respectfully. Nora nodded. "Yeah, you were there."
"That's the thing, I don't know," Caine explained plainly. "I only get flashes, brief images. I don't remember anything substantial. Just that I was there. That there were Jedi and I killed them because they were traitors. I don't remember how many, who or how. Something happened that night and I can't remember it for some reason. I don't even know how I feel about it! Does that sound normal to any of you?"
The young men and women just shook their heads.
"That's the price of war, kids," Caine informed them grimly. "I killed a bunch of people who were the guardians of peace in the Republic for thousands of years and I don't even know how to feel about it. I only know what they told me, and I have to accept that. What I can't accept is being treated like garbage by the very people who made me do the thing I can't remember! But I'm still loyal to them, a good soldier who follows orders. You know why?"
"No," Jaune admitted sadly. "I can't really say why, to be honest."
Caine walked over and placed a hand on the Scout Trooper's shoulder. "Because I have nowhere else to go," he said sullenly. "I never had a chance. I never had a chance to walk away from something bigger than myself. I'm a soldier, it's just what they made me to be. The hero they wanted, until they didn't need me anymore."
"I'm sorry, Sir." Jaune told him earnestly. "I. . . I didn't know that-"
"It aint' your fault, kid." Caine told him sadly, and glancing to the Fire Nation Prince, Huntresses and Huntsmen. "You're not the one who needs to apologize. None of you do." he added.
The old Clone went for the door, leaving Jaune and his friends standing there. Neither the scout, young Firebender, or the Hunters went after him. Caine decided to leave them with a parting bit of advice.
"Don't try to become heroes, kids." he warned them. "It's never worth it in the end. There's no real award. No glory. Just a few worthless bits of metal they pin to your shirt and memories you don't want to dwell on."
And some you couldn't, he would've added but he suspected that Jaune and the others already knew that though. Without another word, he left them behind and walked off into the Academy. He'd wait for his moment in the dark. Wait for the Jedi to come for him. And then, he would end what he started all those years ago. Only this time, he would feel something he could remember.
"That conversation was honestly a wild ride," Sabine stated to Ezra and Kiri as they sat in the lounge of the Ghost. The three, plus Adam who was trying to reach his father on his Scroll, were sitting while the Rebel Force were flying to Atlas. "I mean, I know that we spoke to the Kaiju Girls, but that conversation with Gojira was a whole other level."
"Try it with the Force," Ezra remarked. "I've sensed the thoughts and feelings of animals before, but it was different with Gojira."
"My people have done that back in Pandora with the animals," Kiri said in remembrance of old times. "But being in close proximity with Gojira, or any of the Kaiju really, felt akin to being in the presence of Eywa."
"Got to admit, it makes me wonder," Sabine said. "How do animals see us? How does nature view us?"
"Well, Gojira's not really an animal," Ezra hesitantly spoke up. "I mean, I guess he is like that in some sense, but he's more than that. Through the Force, it felt like I was communing with nature itself."
"He does have the name 'God' in his name," Kiri noted.
Sabine nodded and added, "Not to mention his pretty defiant attitude. Seems like he has a bit of an ego."
"Maybe, but there's a reason he isn't very humble," Ezra thoughtfully continued. "After surviving for so long, against near impossible odds, it's hard to claim he hasn't earned that image he's built for himself. To be honest, I think it's more self-confidence and esteem than ego. He knows and understands the kind of power he wields and refuses to hide it."
Sabine was drawing in her sketchbook before she looked up, her full attention on Ezra and their new friends. "You know what I'm still wrapping around my head?" she asked inquisitively. "The fact he's from another planet, another Universe even. That he was such a huge threat to the people of that world, that they got desperate enough to try something crazy. They made a weaponized black hole that actually sent him here to this planet!"
"And he survived that experience," Kiri said in agreement. "That is insane. No one in this Galaxy has ever made an artificial black hole, let alone anyone known to survive a black hole."
"His story, his words," Ezra replied. "But yeah, it did sound like he made a real nuisance of himself over in that world. He certainly doesn't feel sorry about it either."
"He's not exactly your average sapient being," Adam spoke up from where he sat. "His sense of morality may in fact be different from ours completely. Like, beyond our ability to understand fully."
"True," Sabine concurred. "I will admit though, just thinking how many people he's probably killed scares me a little."
Ezra felt the same and he could tell Kiri did too. Adam's mask didn't show anything, but he could sense his feelings through the Force. While Gojira didn't harbor any particular joy over what he had done, he had no regrets. His rage wasn't fueled by a hatred for humans, but anger still fed him. There was pity, and maybe respect for some, but no empathy for the entire race. Like Adam said, they could hardly judge a creature whose sense of right and wrong was separate from their own. But the thoughts currently swimming in Ezra's mind concerning these facts were not so easily banished.
"He thinks in terms of survival, mostly," Ezra said thoughtfully. "He attacks those who hurt him, people who are scared of him. He's filled with thoughts of revenge, subsists on violence, but that's just skin deep. I could sense more."
"Like what?" Sabine asked, sounding genuinely interested.
"Loss, pain," Ezra started with a careful tone in his voice. "And I could feel a more noble desire too. There was a small sense of fondness at times when he spoke, remembrance."
Sabine rose an eyebrow and Kiri spoke what she was thinking. "Are you saying the big grey shapeshifting lizard was getting nostalgic?" the teenage Na'vi girl asked, trying to stifle a bit of a laugh. "That he's. . . homesick?"
"However much it changed, he was still torn away from his home," Ezra explained in a wistful tone. "I think beneath all the anger over what the people did to him, there was an undercurrent. He saw an abuse of power, saw injustice, potential danger to his home. He wanted to stop it all, change things. Maybe he did things the wrong way, but there was more to it than just payback."
"Didn't he say that's all it was about though?" Sabine asked.
Ezra didn't really have an actual answer, just feelings lingering from the conversation with the male Saurian Kaiju. He could only shrug at the question and offer his best guess. "I'm just saying I felt there is or was a part of him that is a defender," he elaborated best he could. "A protective instinct. Maybe he won't admit it, but it's there."
The Mandalorian and Na'vi gave him curious looks, trying to figure out where this little talk was heading.
"He did agree to help us," Sabine relented. "All that stuff about doing it for himself could just be a cover. A way to keep up a tough guy act. You could ask Kannan or Ahsoka about it. Or even Miki. Maybe they felt it too."
"I don't know," Ezra sighed dismally as he stared off to the side. "I'm not sure about Miki but I don't think Kannan or Ahsoka took the same experience from the conversation like I did. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it."
Sabin leaned on the table, forcing Ezra to look to her. She had a small smile. "I'm big on art interpretation," she began simply. "Trust me on this, Ezra. You can never read too much into something or someone. People aren't simple sketches with two or three colors. They have various shades and colors to them. I doubt giant monsters are in any less complicated."
That got a chuckle out of Ezra, pulling him out of his funk. She was right. Kannan always told him to trust his feelings and what the Force was telling him. And right now, his feelings were telling him that Gojira or Godzilla, undoubtedly a big angry jerk of a fire breathing dinosaur, was more than he let on. He considered the idea of talking to Kannan or Ahsoka. Maybe even Miki. The idea to talk to the male Kaiju was the Togruta's after all. And Miki was the only one who talks to Kaiju all the time. However, the thought would have to wait as Hera's voice came over the Ghost's intercom.
"We're approaching the continent of Solitas." she announced. "ETA to Atlas and Mantle 45 minutes. Setting down on Ahsoka's Juggernaut in the staging area. She says we'll have a good view our new friends' assault from there."
It was finally time. After days of planning and hard-fought battles, they were nearing the final objective. Everything now hinged on how much damage Gojira could do to the Imperials. With any luck, he and the Kaiju Girls would do the entire job for them. Needless to say, Ezra was hoping for some decent front row seats to the action. Whatever was about to unfold, he didn't want to miss a second of it.
Ironwood now finally stood staring directly at the enemy they had been fighting for the past few days. In person, the giant lizard was a lot more intimidating than he first pictured him. He watched through his Command Ship's glass windows as the male Kaiju and his army ran onto the frozen tundra, both him and the female Godzilla were shrieking like mad in a pair of enraged and vicious battle cries.
Ironwood's resolve did not waver in the slightest. He had the firepower to blow this monster back into the hole it had crawled out of now. Its inhuman and bizarre cries would not break him. If the Kaiju Girls were going to stand against the military then so be it. It would was time to put these menaces down for good.
"Winter," Ironwood called to his Commander. "Order the AT-ATs forward, delta attack formation. AT-MPs are to offer support, but are to remain at the back of the attack column. We will need them later when the Rebels assault the Kingdom."
"Yes, sir," Winter saluted. "Also, the Star Destroyer battlegroup is closing in on our position. Their arrival is imminent. I've already relayed your orders for them to stay away from the city and the Academy. If Alpha Predator One or Godzilla does manage to somehow shoot one down, we won't have to worry about them crashing on the city."
"Good, but that won't happen," Ironwood assured her. "Their shields will protect them from the Atomic Breaths and neither of them can fly. Once they have a clear shot, they can bombard Alpha Predator One until there's nothing left of the corpse."
By now, the AT-ATs were already closing on their targets. Ironwood turned to see Darth Vader already watching the proceedings. He quickly turned away before the Dark Lord could see him. Reminded of the stakes of the battle at hand, he finally gave the order.
"All AT-ATs, Decepticons, Elemental Benders, engage targets at will," he ordered. "Annihilate Alpha Predator One and the Kaiju Girls!"
Every AT-AT, Decepticon and Elemental Bender then started opening fire all at once. The final battle had begun.
(Play Godzilla Minus One-Ultimate Soundtrack Suite)
Blazing hot lasers, powerful missiles, intense fire and massive boulders blasted and slammed against Gojira's scales followed by massive ice spikes. The male Saurian Kaiju simply brushed the ice spikes off his scales and kept charging through the fire along with the Kaiju Girls behind him. He already had his sights on the lead Walker that was traversing ahead of its pack. Its guns were raised high and blasting towards his face, the others following its lead.
"Gah! My eye!" He heard the female Gojiran exclaim. Ah, so that's what they were trying to do. Blind him. No matter, he did not need sight to destroy the machines. Closing his eyes, Gojira charged forward like an enraged Wolverine.
At the apex of his charge, Gojira lifted his leg up and slammed his foot down on the cockpit of the AT-AT. The running kick sent the Walker's head clean off and flying in the air. As the head crashed down, he stomped his foot through the rest of the AT-AT's body, and it exploded.
As smoke billowed around his head, Gojira looked around and saw more Walkers closing in, encircling around him and firing from all angles. Then he saw Rodan and Godzilla blasting fire at them to his left, Queen Ghidorah and Gigan blasting the other Walkers with Gravity Beams and red lasers. He snorted before raising his fists above his head. Hulk smash, he thought before slamming his fists down on the ground, sending a shockwave that blasted the Walkers before him away. He saw more of the bulk of the Empire's forces still blocking their path to Mantle and those remaining at the sides kept raining fire on him. He knew he couldn't risk leaving his or the others' backside open to this overgrown robot war horses. They need to thin their ranks before attacking Atlas properly.
"Gain way!" Anguirus shouted as she jumped over his head. She then curled up into a ball and executed her infamous Ball of Spikes move and started flattening Walkers and Decepticons.
Rodan soared through the air, leaving behind a supersonic wave that blew the Walkers off their feet below her.
Biollante and Mothra waved their hands and the snow and ice melted and then moved forward like a tidal wave towards the Decepticons in front of them.
Growling, Gojira stomped away from the wreckage of the Walker he had destroyed and turned to another at his left flank. He closed his mouth and charged his Atomic Breath before firing directly into the machine's cockpit. The blast tore through the machine's head, setting the cockpit on fire. It took a few more steps before tumbling forward to the ground.
But before Gojira could fire another blast, the AT-ATs raked lasers across his side side and up towards his head. Taken by surprise, the reptilian Kaiju dropped to the ground. He gritted his teeth as he turned his back to the bulk of their forces. He growled in anger at himself. He had just left himself open to attack, gave the Imperials an opening without knowing.
"My King, are you alright?" Queen Ghidorah asked. Gojira growled in response. "Disrupt their range of vision." he ordered.
"On it," Battra said before she and Orga blasted their beam attacks, then the black Moth Kaiju Girl used her Airbending to blast ice and snow up like a sandstorm.
The war machines had lost their target, but Gojira hadn't lost them. He watched a figure through the winds slowly move forward. As the Walker parted through the snow and ice, their cockpit was filled with a big claw. The pilots screamed as the claws ripped into the head of the machine and tore off what would be considered the lower jaw.
Gojira pushed the broken machine over onto its side, just as he heard another of the AT-ATs lurching forward. The giant Saurian Kaiju turned, lifted his tail and then slammed it down on the cockpit of the Walker as it emerged. The strike was powerful enough to decapitate the machine, the head tumbling down to the ground and then stepped on by Godzilla. The Walker toppled over after it, both crashing into the ground in a twisted heap.
Gojira snorted as the female Gojiran wiped her foot on the snow as if to wipe off dog shit. But then he watched as another Walker emerged just next to her. It fired several blasts into her front as she turned away. Growling, she aimed to swing her tail low at the Walker's legs. The strike broke the machine's right front knee joint and caused it trip over itself. The AT-AT smashed head first into the frozen tundra ground.
He glanced around and saw more Walkers walking towards him and the others. "The Empire was not lacking courage; I'll give them that." he muttered to himself before his face was hit with laser fire from the flying Decepticons. At least so long as they had their precious war machines to protect them. No matter, he'd take as many on as he could. He looked to the sky briefly, tracking the progress of the incoming flying ships. They were closing fast, but moving in a position far to the right of the cities. A strategy motivated by fear, no doubt, Gojira had seen it before. It showed that they weren't confident in their weapons as they appeared, for they feared the possibility of failure. Whereas Godzilla, with nothing to loose in this world, feared nothing.
But then he saw something that caught him off guard. The Gotengo flying in and attacking the Imperial Forces. He tilted his head in surprise. It looked the same yet there was a symbol of a butterfly with the word MONARCH on the side. This was followed by the Rebel ships he had seen earlier.
So, the Rebels were helping them after all? Well, wasn't today full of surprises? Might as well let them engage in their baser instincts. There was no sense in him and the Kaiju Girls having all the fun and there were plenty more Imperial Walkers to destroy.
Ahsoka watched as the Gotengo attacked three Imperial Walkers and Bato's bombers did the same for another. Sure, it was only four but it was less for Gojira and the Kaiju to deal with. It was all part of the plan. The Raiders and other assets would help thin the herd a little. Gojira and the Kaiju Girls were taking up the core attention of the Imperials for now, giving the Rebels a chance to strike their own blows to the enemy's defenses. She didn't know if Gojira would appreciate the help, but he didn't seem to mind it.
She did know that the approaching Star Destroyers were going to be a concern though. They had a lot of firepower backing them up. She imagined they wouldn't bring their full wrath down on their giant friends so long as their allies were in the way, but not for a while. The Empire was quick to sacrifice the lives of their soldiers for victory, especially if things were going badly.
"How long do we wait until we move in?" Kannan asked, standing beside her with the rest of the Ghost Crew and Optimus Prime in the hangar of her Cruiser. "He has them taking their sweet time in destroying the main defenses."
"I don't think Gojira or any of the female Kaiju are concerned with timetables," Ahsoka informed him. "Besides, they still have a lot of AT-ATs to kill. Until the and the main defenses are down, we'll be risking a gauntlet."
"Is there any way we can at least nudge him in the right direction?" Kannan asked.
"You mean issue orders to him," she responded, quickly discerning the true nature of his question. "Unless you want to risk angering him, I don't think that's a good idea."
"Your concerns are understood, Kannan," Optimus stated. "The quicker we can get inside Atlas the better off we'd all be. However, there doesn't seem to be anyway we can direct Gojira without him seeing it as an attempt to control him."
"The big guy had made it very clear he was against that," Adam concurred.
"What if we play to his aggression?" Hera suggested. "We've seen how often he's exploited weaknesses in the Imperial Forces. If we give him an opportunity to strike, he'll more than likely go for it."
"We can have the Hail fire droids open fire on the main defenses," Rex said. "At this range it won't be very accurate, but a few of the missiles should find their targets. Gojira could then be convinced to hit the facility directly if he sees it under fire."
"Shouldn't we be just as concerned with the Star Destroyers that are moving in?" Sabine asked suddenly. "They're going to make any attack pretty hard, even if all the AT-ATs and guns are knocked out."
Another fair point, one Ahsoka had already considered with Wolfe.
"We'll need to take them out if any assault is to be successful," Wolfe admitted. "If we're going to direct Gojira, or the Kaiju Girls' attention in any form, that should be our prime directive. For now we'll just launch a Hail Fire volley. The Star Destroyers are not really in range to do much harm for the moment."
"Our fighters are going to need all the help they can get to deal with them when that moment does come though," Hera cautioned. "That and convincing our giant friends there to coordinate with us is going to be a challenge. I should head up with the Ghost, I'll be of more help up there anyway. Maybe together Jake, Neteyri and I can figure something out."
"You'll need gunners," Kannan told her. "And some of us will need to stay and prepare for the ground attack."
"Chopper can take over the rear turret," Hera suggested. "Sabine still has that jet back she stole-"
"Liberated." The Mandalorian was quick to correct the Twi'Lek.
Hera rolled her eyes. "Fine, liberated," she relented. "I can take her into the heat of the battle myself when it's time and meet up with all of you at Atlas."
"I'd feel better about this if you had an extra hand," Kannan informed her. "You'd have full coverage that way."
"I agree," Ahsoka concurred. "I have just the person in mind. Well, person being the operative term."
She looked over her shoulder to look to see the Pandora Raiders' grungy old battle droid working on an anti-vehicle skiff in need of some repairs with Jack. The droid was unscrewing a latch when it suddenly opened and a flood of engine fluid spewed in Bolts and Jack's faces. Ahsoka chuckled slightly at the scene. Despite being accident prone as all of his metal brethren, Bolts was still more competent than most as the fight in orbit had proven. Besides Jake had put him at her disposal for the coming fight. No sense in wasting him on mechanical duty when the Rebels could use him in the fight more.
"Hey, Bolts," Ahsoka shouted over to him. "I got a new job for you. Less engine grease involved in this one."
The battle droid, still covered in oil and gunk from the skiff as well as Jack, just lifted his arm and gave a thumbs up. "Aye, Aye, Captain."
The battlements of Mantle were lined with turbolasers and missile launchers. AT-MPs patrolled around, while Stormtroopers and Atlassian soldiers held position on the Kingdom's wall. All guns trained on Alpha Predator One. They fired every now and again, but to little or no effect. The male Kaiju and the Kaiju Girls were occupied with the Imperial AT-AT Walkers. But everything they fired just seemed to bounce off while the Kaiju destroyed more and more Walkers. They weren't a threat, to any of them. A fact that wasn't really comforting.
Within the city itself, the Red and Blue Remnantian Troopers and the Dragon Riders were helping civilians evacuate to underground shelters or Ground Bridges that would take them to shelters outside of the Kingdoms.
While Sarge conversed with the leader of the Happy Huntresses, Robyn Hill, Jaune looked out to the battle that was happening less than twenty miles from the city. One AT-AT charged forward, slamming into the male Kaiju's upper leg with its head. Alpha Predator One looked down, seemingly surprised and confused that the Walker had slammed its head against his leg. In response Alpha Predator One knocked the Walker down with his fist and then slammed his foot down on its head. A few feet away, Jaune saw the female Godzilla Kaiju Girl doing the same thing. The two Gojirans then roared to the sky while facing different directions.
Well, the only bright side for the Empire was that the AT-ATs were affecting the Kaiju more than anything else they had thrown at it before. Even if he wasn't fighting alongside them at the moment, Jaune couldn't help but feel like there was futility in the Empire's actions. Like they were just delaying the inevitable.
Maybe it was just his nerves unraveling after facing the male Kaiju after so many times. Or maybe it was Caine's words that his concern stemmed from. How heroics were for naught and about memories he couldn't remember haunting him as much as those he could recall.
That last bit felt troublesome. With a fringe of truth behind it. Up until the battle at the pit, he didn't know why there was a blockade of Star Destroyers or why the Empire was working so closely with Atlas and the Fire Nation and he didn't bother to ask.
And apparently, he wasn't the only one asking questions. "I hear there are Rebels attacking," Robyn stated. "What's the plan?"
"Nothing, Ma'am." Sarge said. "The Rebels are fighting the real enemy of Remnant. That's all we can say."
Robyn rose an eyebrow. She looked liked she was about to ask for more before something pulled her attention. Jaune and Sarge followed her gaze and saw missiles flying out of control in the air. And they were plummeting towards the earth, towards the wall of Mantle and towards them!
"Hit the deck!" Sarge said before they all jumped down the stairs leading to the underground bunker. Explosions ruptured outside and the ground shook. Jaune could feel the quaking of his boots as whatever missiles hit them. He could even hear a few Troopers' death screams from the wall as the fire swallowed them up.
When it was over, Jaune and Sarge looked out with Robyn. Although there was a amount of casualties and property damage, the missiles seemed to hit a nearby AT-AT. The wall the two Troopers and Huntress were next to was just on the edge of the missiles area of effect.
"Let's get down below," Jaune said to the others. "The Rebels are trying open a weak spot for the Kaiju to exploit." He turned to Robyn. "Trust me, you don't want to be around when the male comes charging in."
Robyn took one last look out to the battle just outside of her Kingdom before walking down after them.
Winter rushed over from her station to Ironwood. The General was so transfixed by the holographic images of the battle on the strategic table that he didn't notice his Commander's approach. He didn't like what he was seeing as more and more AT-ATs were vanishing from the table, one after the other. Alpha Predator One and the Kaiju Girls were holding their own certainly. Winter finally got his attention by tapping his arm slightly.
"Sir," she began cautiously. "We've analyzed the barrage hit our lines. Our archives suggest they are similar to Hail Fire droids of the Clone Wars. It's likely the Rebels have appropriated such weapons from that conflict. Significantly modified too, Hail Fire droids never had that range before." She did not say what the Gotengo had done. She knew that the General knew what the Gotengo was capable of.
"Not accurate, at least." Ironwood noted. "And they're using it to help their giant friends. Same for those Rebel starfighters we've heard about."
Ironwood glanced over to Darth Vader briefly and saw him glaring at him. He knew, yes, things were not going well. Ironwood shook the death stare off and returned to work.
"Are the Star Destroyers in position?" he asked Winter.
"Almost, Sir." The Specialist promised. "But with the Kaiju so close to the Walkers, there is no guarantee they'll be able to avoid friendly fire."
"Tell them they'll have to risk it," Ironwood replied briskly, his agitation showing. "And have them send flyers to deal with the Rebels helping Alpha Predator One. I want them gone now! The AT-ATs are to push forward with their assault on the male Kaiju the most and ignore the rest of the threats. Have them engage four at a time! Gamma Formation. He seems only able to react to one Walker, we can use that to our advantage."
Winter saluted and headed off to relay orders. Ironwood in the meantime, tightened his grip on the table and gritted his teeth. He glared at the green dot on the radar, representing the male Godzilla.
"What is it going to take to kill you?" He glowered in a guttural voice.
To be continued. . .