Analia strode down the gray hallway of the cadet quarters, the rhythmic sound of her black boots tapping sharply against the floor breaking the silence. Each step echoed in the narrow corridor, a steady reminder of the weight of what she had to do. The sterile walls seemed to close in around her, the fluorescent lights overhead casting a harsh glow on the metallic surfaces. Her breath felt tight in her chest as she approached the door of the room where the newest recruits were housed.
She paused outside, her hand hovering over the isn't easy, but it has to be done, she thought, steeling herself. Drawing in a slow, deep breath, she keyed open the door, the soft hiss of hydraulics breaking the stillness.
Inside, Amara was by her bunk, furiously stuffing her belongings into a worn backpack. Her movements were jerky and aggressive, each item shoved inside with the kind of frustration that radiated from someone on the edge. Analia watched for a moment, her heart heavy. She had seen so much potential in the young cadet—the spark in her eyes, the fierce determination that had reminded Analia of herself when she first started in the program. But now, that same fire seemed to be flickering, weakened by the crushing weight of guilt and disappointment.
"Amara," Analia said softly, her voice cutting through the tension in the room as she stepped further inside.
The cadet whirled around, her eyes wide in surprise. Her body went stiff, as if caught doing something wrong. "Ranger Beckett," she stammered, quickly snapping to attention, her voice tight. "I didn't hear you come in."
Analia waved a hand, her expression softening. "At ease, cadet," she said, her tone gentle yet firm. She took another step forward, her gaze drifting to the half-packed bag on the bed, the disarray a mirror of the young girl's inner turmoil. "I'm sorry you have to leave us. For what it's worth, I'm not mad at you about Ezra. He's his own person, and he'll be rightly grounded for following you. But he's old enough to make his own decisions."
Amara's rigid stance crumbled, her shoulders slumping as she turned back to her bag. The fire in her eyes dimmed as she grabbed a crumpled shirt and shoved it into the backpack with unnecessary force. "It doesn't matter now, does it?" she said bitterly, her voice strained with the effort of holding back her emotions. "I'm being dismissed from the program. All that training, all that hard work, for nothing."
Analia sighed softly, the sound filled with empathy. She moved over to the edge of the bunk and sat down, the mattress groaning under her weight. The room felt too small, too filled with the heavy weight of Amara's regret.
"Amara, look at me," Analia said gently, but there was an underlying firmness in her tone that demanded attention. After a moment of hesitation, the cadet turned to face her, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears, her jaw clenched tightly to keep them at bay.
"This isn't the end of your journey," Analia continued, holding her gaze steady. "You have so much potential, so much talent. I've seen it in the way you build Jaegers, the way you think on your feet. One mistake doesn't define you."
Amara blinked rapidly, her hands tightening into fists at her sides as she fought to keep her emotions in check. "I shouldn't have gone into that Jaeger," she whispered, her voice wavering. "I let my teammates down. I letyoudown."
Analia's heart ached at the vulnerability in Amara's voice. She reached out and grasped the young cadet's shoulders, her grip firm but comforting. "Listen to me, Amara. Every great Ranger, every successful cadet, has faced setbacks and made mistakes. What defines us isn't that we fall, but how we choose to move forward, how we learn and grow from those experiences."
She let go of Amara's shoulders and leaned back, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she recalled a distant memory. "Before I became a cadet, before the world went to hell, I was a nurse. A good one, but I was also young and stupid in those early years. One time, I misread a chart and almost killed a patient by giving them the wrong medication."
Amara's eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected confession. "What happened?" she asked hesitantly, her voice softening.
"I was devastated," Analia admitted, her gaze distant as she remembered the moment. "I thought my career was over before it had even started. But my mentor, a seasoned nurse named Olivia, pulled me aside. She told me that every nurse, every doctor, makes mistakes. The key is to own up to them, learn from them, and never stop striving to be better."
Analia shifted her focus back to Amara, her expression serious but compassionate. "That's what I want you to remember. This setback doesn't define your future. You have a choice now—you can let this defeat you, or you can use it as fuel to push yourself further, to become the Ranger I know you can be."
For a moment, Amara was silent, her breath catching in her throat. Then, her eyes snapped up to meet Analia's. "What?" she asked, her voice trembling with confusion. "I thought I was dismissed."
A smile broke across Analia's face, one of warmth and pride. "I fought a little harder with Raleigh and got him to bring it down to probation and latrine duty for three months."
Amara stared at her, her mouth falling open in disbelief. "You... you fought for me to stay?" she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
"I did," Analia said, her smile softening. "Because I believe in you, Amara. I see the potential in you, the fire that drives you. And I know that with the right guidance, you can become an exceptional Ranger." She gave a small chuckle, her eyes gleaming with fond memories. "I also reminded that stubborn man that he fought for me when I was nothing more than his wife, when we closed the breach."
A single tear slipped down Amara's cheek, her defenses crumbling as the weight of relief washed over her. She quickly wiped it away, a shaky laugh escaping her lips. "I don't know what to say," she admitted, her voice breaking. "Thank you, Ranger Beckett. Thank you for believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself."
Analia stood, placing a comforting hand on Amara's shoulder. "You're welcome, cadet. But don't thank me yet. You've still got a lot of work ahead of you. Latrine duty is no picnic, and you'll have to earn back the trust of your fellow cadets and instructors. But I have faith in you. Use this as an opportunity to grow, to learn from your mistakes, and to come back stronger than ever."
Amara nodded, her eyes shining with renewed determination. She straightened her posture and met Analia's gaze with renewed focus. "I won't let you down, Ranger Beckett. I'll work harder than ever before. I'll prove to everyone that I have what it takes to be a Ranger."
Analia's smile widened, pride swelling in her chest. "I know you will, Amara. And remember, my door is always open if you need anything."
Analia turned to leave, but Amara's voice stopped her. "Ranger Beckett... Shao Industries."
Analia turned back, confusion knitting her brow. "What?"
"When I was inside the Jaeger... I noticed that Obsidian Fury has tech made by Shao Industries," Amara explained, her voice serious.
Analia's expression hardened. "That's impossible. Jules and her team scanned every centimeter of that Jaeger."
Amara shook her head, her eyes determined. "Insulating metamaterial wound counterclockwise in the shunt cabling. Shao's the only company that winds them that way."
Analia's eyes narrowed, her mind racing. "Are you sure about this?"
"Yes," Amara nodded vigorously. "I stole a ton to make Scrapper. I thought it might be important."
"It is," Analia said thoughtfully, her mind already turning over the implications. "Thank you."
Analia strode down the corridor, her mind racing with the revelation Amara had just shared. Her steps echoed against the cold, metallic walls of the base, the sterile lights above casting long shadows as she moved with purpose. The air felt heavier, as if the weight of what she'd learned was pressing down on her, suffocating her thoughts. Shao Industries—their name was supposed to stand for innovation, protection, progress. But if what Amara had seen inside Obsidian Fury was true, everything could be turned on its head.
Shao Industries' involvement in the Jaeger's technology…Analia's jaw tightened, her pace quickening. The questions clawed at her mind, each one more unsettling than the far did this go? Were they complicit in the creation of a Kaiju-hybrid Jaeger, or had someone stolen their tech?Either scenario had devastating implications for the entire Jaeger program. If the fragile alliances between nations were built on trust, this kind of breach could shatter it in an instant, leaving them all vulnerable.
She moved through the base like a shadow, her thoughts a storm brewing just below the surface. Her instincts told her to move fast—this wasn't just about a piece of stolen tech. This was bigger, more dangerous, and the clock was ticking. Every second wasted brought them closer to disaster.
As she rounded a corner, lost in thought, Jules Reyes nearly ran into her. The young mechanic was walking briskly in the opposite direction, her focus glued to a tablet in her hands.
"Jules!" Analia's voice came out sharper than intended, startling the mechanic.
Jules looked up, her eyes wide with surprise. "Analia! Sorry, I didn't see you there." She glanced up, and her expression quickly shifted from surprise to concern. "Is everything okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Analia shook her head, her expression darkening. "We need to talk," she said, her voice low but urgent. "Somewhere private. It's about Obsidian Fury."
Jules immediately straightened, her brow furrowing with concern. Without another word, she gestured for Analia to follow her. They moved swiftly down another corridor, the atmosphere in the base feeling somehow more claustrophobic than usual. The sound of their footsteps echoed in sync, creating a tense rhythm that mirrored the pounding in Analia's chest.
They entered an empty conference room, the door sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss that seemed to amplify the silence. The moment the door was closed, Jules set her tablet down on the table and crossed her arms, her face tight with apprehension.
"What's going on, Analia?" Jules asked, her voice laced with tension. "Did you find something new about the rogue Jaeger?"
Analia took a deep breath, her mind still spinning with the enormity of what she was about to say. She locked eyes with Jules, needing her to understand the gravity of the situation. "Amara just told me something that changes everything," she began, her voice steady but filled with urgency. "She said she noticed technology inside Obsidian Fury—technology made by Shao Industries. Specifically, insulating metamaterial in the shunt cabling wound counterclockwise. Shao's the only company that does that."
Jules' eyes widened in disbelief, her face going pale. "What? That's impossible!" she stammered, shaking her head as if trying to process what Analia was saying. "My team and I went over every inch of that Jaeger. We would have noticed Shao tech."
Analia's jaw tightened as she pressed further, her voice rising with the tension in the room. "Are you absolutely sure? Amara seemed certain about what she saw. And she would know, considering her experience with scavenging Jaeger parts. We can't afford to miss something like this."
Jules ran a hand through her hair, visibly unsettled. "I..." She hesitated, her eyes darting away for a moment before meeting Analia's again. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice trembling slightly. "I mean, Isupposeit's possible, but we were thorough. I can't believe we would've missed something like that."
Analia could see the doubt and fear creeping into Jules' expression, but there was no room for uncertainty now. If there was even the slightest chance that Shao Industries was connected to this, they needed to act immediately.
"Send someone in there again," Analia ordered, her tone firm. "We need to know for sure. Re-examine every inch of that Jaeger. Look for anything—anything—that could tie this back to Shao."
Without hesitation, Jules pulled out her comm device, her fingers moving rapidly across the screen as she sent instructions to her team. Her face had grown tense, the same realization that had been plaguing Analia now settling on her shoulders.
When she finally turned back to face Analia, her expression was grim. "If Amara is right, and Shao techisinside Obsidian Fury, then the implications are devastating." Her voice trembled slightly as the gravity of the situation weighed on her. "It would mean that someone within Shao Industries is working against us—undermining the Jaeger program from the inside."
Analia nodded, her mind already racing through the possible ? Corporate espionage?It was hard to say what the motivations might be, but the idea of humans collaborating with Kaiju tech—or worse—was terrifying. "And using Kaiju biomaterial to pilot them... If this is true, we're dealing with something far more dangerous than we imagined."
The room seemed to grow colder, the weight of their conversation hanging heavy in the air.
"We need to inform Raleigh and the others immediately," Analia said, her voice filled with determination. "If there's a traitor in our midst, we have to act fast to prevent further damage."
Jules nodded in agreement, her face still pale with worry. "I'll keep you updated as soon as my team finds anything," she promised, though her voice lacked the usual confidence.
As Analia turned to leave the conference room, her heart pounded with a sense of urgency that hadn't left her since Amara had first told her about the Shao tech. If someone inside Shao Industries had betrayed them, there was no telling how deep the conspiracy went. And if Obsidian Fury was just the beginning, they were all in more danger than they realized.
Analia and Jules moved swiftly through the dimly lit corridors of the base, her boots striking the metal floor in a sharp, purposeful rhythm. The weight of Amara's revelation hung heavy on her mind, the implications spinning faster with each step. Shao Industries—one of their most trusted allies—could be at the center of something dark, something dangerous. The idea seemed impossible, but the evidence was stacking up, and if it was true, the consequences could unravel everything they'd fought for.
The sterile lights overhead flickered as they rounded a corner, and in the distance, Analia spotted Jake and Hermann approaching, deep in conversation. She raised her hand, motioning for them to join her and Jules, who was walking beside her, looking equally concerned.
"We need to fill you in on something," Analia said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. She quickened her pace, pulling Jake and Hermann into step with them.
Gottlieb's eyebrows shot up in alarm, his usual fidgeting hands now gripping a tablet tightly. "Shao Industries?" he repeated, his voice edged with disbelief. "They don't even have a bio-division. It doesn't make sense."
"Yeah, not that we know of," Jake added, his tone grim. "But if what Amara saw inside Obsidian Fury is real, we have to assume the worst. They could be hiding something big."
Analia's jaw tightened. "The cabling could have been stolen, just like what happened with Amara's Jaeger, Scrapper. But we need more than that to directly connect Obsidian Fury to Shao."
Hermann's eyes gleamed with sudden enthusiasm, his mind already racing through possible avenues of investigation. "What about Newt?" he said quickly. "He'd have access to internal records—shipping manifests, materials logs, anything that could point us in the right direction. We could cross-reference it against what we found in Obsidian Fury."
Analia nodded decisively, her mind clicking into action. "Good idea. Go see him, Hermann. But keep a low profile—we can't tip our hand until we have solid proof."
A small, almost giddy smile crossed Hermann's face. "I have a mission? Finally!" Without hesitation, he hurried off, his coat flapping behind him like a cape as he rushed to find Newt.
As the group continued toward the command center, the tension was palpable, the implications of what they were uncovering weighing heavily on them. The corridors seemed longer than usual, every step echoing with the uncertainty of what was to come.
Analia glanced at Jake, their eyes meeting briefly. Though their partnership had found a rhythm in the drift, the shadow of Mako's death still loomed over them. It wasn't something either of them spoke about directly, but it was always there, just beneath the surface. The silence between them wasn't uncomfortable, but it was heavy.
As they neared the entrance to the command center, Jules' comm device buzzed to life. She paused, lifting it to her ear, her expression turning sharp.
"Jules here. What've you got?" she asked, stepping slightly away from the group.
The crackle of static was followed by the urgent voice of one of her team members. "We found it. The cabling, just like Amara described. It's everywhere inside Obsidian Fury—wound counterclockwise, just like Shao's manufacturing specs. We didn't notice it at first because it's been camouflaged with other components, but it's definitely their tech."
Jules' face paled as she processed the news. "Everywhere?" she repeated, her voice low.
"Everywhere," came the reply. "This isn't just a few stolen parts, Ranger. This thing is practically crawling with Shao tech."
Jules ended the transmission, her jaw set, and turned back to the group. Analia's eyes met hers, the silent question hanging in the air.
"It's confirmed," Jules said, her voice tight. "Shao cabling is all over Obsidian Fury. My team found it embedded throughout the entire Jaeger, like a spider web."
Analia felt a cold chill run through her. The weight of the revelation settled over her like a thick fog, and the pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together—dangerously so. "We need to act fast," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Just as the words left her lips, they spotted Raleigh ahead, walking with Ezra as they made their way back to the cadet quarters. Raleigh's face was serious, the lines of stress deepening around his eyes. When he saw Analia approaching, his expression softened slightly, but there was still tension in the air.
"Raleigh!" Analia called out, quickening her pace.
Raleigh stopped, turning to face her as Ezra glanced between his parents, sensing something serious was unfolding. The room felt charged with anticipation.
"What's going on?" Raleigh asked, his voice firm, though a hint of concern seeped through.
Analia took a breath, steadying herself before she spoke. "Amara noticed something while she was inside Obsidian Fury. She recognized some of the tech—said it was Shao Industries cabling. Jules' team just confirmed it—it's embedded throughout the entire Jaeger."
Raleigh's eyes darkened, his mind clearly processing the gravity of the situation. "Shao?" he muttered, the disbelief clear in his tone. "That's a hell of an accusation, Analia. Are we sure?"
Analia nodded firmly. "Amara knows her Jaeger parts better than most, and Jules' team found the proof. The cabling is everywhere. If we don't act fast, things are going to get ugly. The council's already approved Shao Industries' drones for deployment."
Raleigh ran a hand through his hair, tension tightening his features. "So we're talking about someone in Shao using their resources for... what? Sabotage? Kaiju tech?"
Jake, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward, his voice low but filled with urgency. "If Shao's involved, it could mean they've been working on something bigger, something we're not seeing. They might be playing both sides—selling us Jaegers while secretly advancing Kaiju hybrid tech."
The thought made Analia's blood run cold. "And we can't afford to wait and find out what their next move is."
Raleigh sighed, frustration etched into every line of his face. "Alright," he said finally. "I'm headed to the landing bays to oversee some other preparations. Keep me updated on whatever you find. And be careful, Analia."
Analia nodded, her expression resolute. "We will."