Note: From this chapter you would see many changes in my writings; I plan to re-write first seven chapters to match the current one so don't be mad if I change a lot. I do this because some said that this way of writing is not perfect and there is many errors. Also I plan to bring Sasha Kaidonovsky back into the story, but only once I finally get some time to re-write first chapters, and removing the part where she and her husband died during the Hong Kong battle in 2025.

VIII: STORM ON THE HORIZON

"I never believed in bad luck, there is no such thing like that. However when you fighting a kaiju, you cannot think of anything else then concentrating on battle and how to kill the beast as fastest and efficient possible.

We stand on edge, even as United States and many other countries once again fund the Jaeger program, we know that it will take time before we can have effective strength again, needed to protect not only Pacific this time, the whole world. Two breaches on two locations and no enough Jaegers to form efficient line of defense.

Two months passed since battle in New York, and we had only Kraken, Desert Crawler and Abyss Six in North America and Europe. And while we repairing Kraken, Desert Crawler was only patched on the field, not enough for 100% function but It must be at least before UK finish with construction of their first Shatterdome. Pacific region I would say is in better shape. Tsunami Thunder, Hyperion Frenzy were both ready, and Crimson Typhoon was repaired and upgraded. Only Vulcan Specter was still under repairs and Indian Gurkha Warrior was towed to Hong Kong to be finished. I would lie if I would say that everything was silent and that world was safe. Four days ago category II kaiju emerged from breach in North Sea. We didn't see such low category since 2018 when last of category II emerged. Because of its shape and speed we nicknamed it "Velociraptor". Relatively small but extremely aggressive, it past our defenses and lay destruction to the Glasgow before Crawler could react, of course old Jaeger was more than a match for category II even damaged, it succeed in killing it. Glasgow was saved from total destruction, and no doubt it will be rebuilt in no time. But this was a new situation to us. Why would Precursors send category II kaiju?, did they run out of big ones? Hardly. So what is purpose of this attack?"

My brother find that Russians built more Jaegers, but none of those ever enter the service, so I ask him to go and check Vladivostok and their Shatterdome, if they have more Jaegers we need them and we need them now."

An MH-60L lands on one of outer helipads near the main Vladivostok shatterdome building. It belonged to Nexon Corporation. Matthew Dentell exists the helicopter and was welcomed by General Baranov, chief of Russian Jaeger program.

"I hope you had pleasant flight mister Dentell." Said general

"Not too much comfy but it was okay. I presume you know why I am here?"

"Yes, and why do you think Russia have more Jaegers? We build only two during the war."

"Don't lie to me General, I know well that your government fund your Jaeger program on much bigger scale then you show to others. Cherno Alpha and Eden Assassin were not your only Jaegers."

General flinched on memory of Cherno Alpha and his deceased daughter.

"Come with me." It was short replay and then general turn back toward the largest building, Matthew followed without question.

They enter the service lift that was stationed in one of entrances and general press button, lift start to move slowly down.

"I don't know how you get that information's mister Dentell but you are right, we build more Jaegers.

Matthew didn't say anything, and lift after one minute stop, general exits and Matt follow him in what appears massive Jaeger depot. Matt expect to find another Jaeger inside however there were six of them, some not finished but mostly in one piece. Two on the left he recognize as Cherno type, they were the same like Cherno Alpha, only difference was color. One was dark blue, and other one had the same color as Alpha. He couldn't recognize third Jaeger, fourth and fifth were what appears still under construction only there weren't any workers and sixth was the biggest.

"Those two on left were Cherno Beta and Cherno Gamma. After Cherno Alpha was build our government decides to build three additional just in case."

"You said four in total, I only see two in here." Matt said.

"That is because the fourth or Cherno Delta was sold to Egyptians before it was finished, Desert Crawler is Cherno Delta. The one behind them was Mark III Jaeger, Iron Victor. Those two that were not completed were Mark IV's they are still without names and the big monster on the right was Mark V Goliath Ravager."

"Mark V, how the hell you build a Mark V and more important why you didn't' use it.?"

"Mister Dentell, it is not only your company that builds Mark V, you did excellent job on Striker Eureka and Tsunami Thunder but for sure you weren't the only one capable to build Mark V Jaeger. I think that second question is a little bit hard to answer.

When we built first three of Cherno types, we received orders to start building Mark II Jaeger, Eden Assassin; fourth Cherno was incomplete and remain in storage till 2019 when Egyptians buy it. After Eden was build we start with Mark III project and by the time Iron Victor was finished we already received another orders to build two Mark IV's. When we ask what to do with those Jaegers already built, only answer was to storage them. During construction of those two Mk IV, we once again receive orders this time to build Mark V and so those two IV were stopped with construction but they weren't scrapped. We finally build Mark V half month before war ends but it was never deployed."

"But why not? Matthew was persistent.

"Bureaucracy, funds, there was so many problems, you name it and it was there. And our country like rest of PPDC starts investing large resources in that useless wall. "

"But instead of Cherno Alpha why your daughter and her husband didn't use Mark V?"

"Probably because entire country see Cherno Alpha and its crew as national heroes. They get use to its victories so giving its crew a new Jaeger was not acceptable, I can only see that as great mistake, if they had Goliath Ravager they would still be alive."

These last words general said quietly, Matthew knows that it was hard to him and didn't want to push but he still needs those Jaegers. Nexon could build new ones but it would take some time, and here there was six Jaegers eating dust.

"I Apologize if I push to much general, but world need these jaegers, without them we could lose the war. Crawler was badly damaged, leaving only Abyss Six to guard Europe. Kraken is only defender of North America now. Things on Pacific were slightly better but it was far from safety. You have six Jaegers here that we in Nexon could get in 100 % shape and upgrade them with most advanced technology we have. Every each of this could bring world a safety."

"I know mister Dentell that you came for them." General said showing on Jaegers. "And they are yours under two terms."

"Name it"

"At least some of Jaegers will be piloted by Russian rangers. And Goliath will be piloted by Rangers I chose."

"Done." Frankly Matt didn't care who will pilot those jaegers as long they protect cities from kaiju.

"Where do you want us to deliver them?" General asks.

"Nowhere, let them stay here, we will get technicians and engineers to start work on them. Some of them would probably stay here in this shatterdome."

He reports to me that he gets all six jaegers, I was surprised when he tell me about Mark V. Who would think about another Mark V. Goliath Ravager was one big metal beast, ten times more armored and more powerful than Cherno. It was walking Leviathan. It wasn't pretty but wasn't building to be pretty, it was monster. It was created to kill kaiju and I mean category IV and theoretically V. All around the world new Jaegers were in construction. People realized in how big danger we are. But this wasn't even a start.

January 16, third breach open in middle of Atlantic ocean, no doubt this was biggest shock to mankind. We didn't know how many other new breaches could open any moment. But right now we had three and for some reason we are still not overunned by kaiju's.

Two days after the third breach open category III kaiju "Hookhead" emerge and attack Bordeaux in France. City was leveled to the ground, thousands and thousands were killed. Abyss Six intercept it near La Rochelle and kill it. This was our wake up call.

You couldn't believe how things changed. Every country now stops financing their own military's and get every resource in construction of Jaegers. France start building three jaegers, UK also followed with three. Spain fund construction of one. Germany builds two. Even countries on Mediterranean start building their own Jaegers. Italy, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine and Croatia all build jaegers. Some of these countries build their jaegers on their own, but some smaller with help from other countries from region. It was same thing in Baltic. South America, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentine all funding everything into jaeger program.

In United States already six of new Jaegers were under construction, even Canadians start building one or two. It was same thing in Pacific where Chinese were first who after rebuilding their Crimson Typhoon start with construction of two additional Mark IV jaegers. Followed by Japan and Australia.

Some would say that this was great waste of resources. Why? If we win we could easily scrap all surviving jaegers and use their material in other purposes. United Nations still believed that Wall was better and cheaper idea. But after destruction of Bordeaux they change the minds. The only effective way to kill kaiju was after all Jaeger.

Since I become marshal I had many interviews. Many ask me how I would react if I lost Jaeger and its crew under my command. My answer was always the same. I would rather risk two pilots then entire city. Two pilots to save a city that have millions of people, it worth it. But of course it was my duty to keep those men and women alive if possible.

I already work on plan to close at least one of the breaches; however we still need more jaegers to do that. Russians give us their jaegers and after upgrades we deployed Cherno Beta and Iron Victor to Atlantic. Shatterdomes were been build or in constructions almost everywhere. Goliath was deployed in Scandinavia, I was surprised when I hear that it was piloted by General Baranov's younger daughter and another unknown female. That man already lost a daughter, Sasha.

I meet Sasha in 2018 for first time, it was year or so before she married Aleksis. Only the bloody drift keeps us from having some relationship even as she was older than me. We simply couldn't risk it. No matter how good she is in keeping secrets everything could be seen in drift. And I didn't want her to have any problems.

Her death hit me hard. Although I love Carla and I have child with her, I still some times think about Sasha, what would happen if we were together. Of course Shirley keeps taunting me about it. She saw my thoughts in drift more than once.

I was also the first who reach with rescue units to location of Cherno after been destroyed. Hoping that they both survived but they didn't. If Hyperion was in game they would never be killed.

Precursors obviously didn't learn the lesson, well this time they will. No matter how many breaches they open we will close them and we will destroy them this time. Or otherwise they will just keep coming.

My sister starts working as instructor in Jaeger Academy. As one of several surviving Jaeger pilots from first war she couldn't decline the offer. New generation of PPDC rangers needed a good teacher, and she was just that.

Jaeger Academy 21.01.2034

In large class room there were about forty people. They were chosen from thousands of people for next generation of Jaeger pilots. On the walls of left side of the room were pictures of every single Jaeger pilot that graduated so far. On right side there were only those who survived. And beneath those who did something that others didn't, piloting the Jaeger alone and survive. Only Stacker Pentecost, Raleigh Beckett and Alex Dentell were among those special pilots.

"You are chosen as new generation of PPDC rangers, you passed most of the tests in last year and now the hard part is in front of you. You were chosen as first of several groups that past first tests, in last year you had many psychic tests, endurance and mental tests. Many failed but you in this room past those challenges. Now in last second and last year you will have third part. First it was Kwoon battle room, where you will learn fighting skills. You will master array of different combat disciplines which will help you adapt and fight in a Jaeger. Also it wills asset your drift capabilities with your partner. It is important for every each of you that observe others in battle, and not only master every aspect of the room to create your own unique fighting style. This unique fighting style can save your life once you get in real combat. Aggressiveness was usually not a good trait but to fight kaiju it is necessary.

Simulator, although it was close to reality it was never as real thing. To pass to next part you must score over 90%. Those who score direct 100% going forward those beneath will have extra drops. By the time you finish this part of your training you must be ready.

Hong Kong Shatterdome

"Ah you two, I am glad to see you." Said marshal Hansen after noticing Mako and Raleigh.

"So which Jaeger will we get, although there is no much of a choice." Ask Raleigh

"Hyperion Frenzy is your new Jaeger, at least till Gipsy Danger 2.0. is ready. "

"They build new Gipsy?" Mako asks.

"If what Alex Dentell said is true, yes they building a new one. But I think you will find Hyperion equally good. "

Before Raleigh was able to respond, alarms start beeping everywhere.

"Warning, category IV kaiju "Sharknife" emerged from the breach. Its targeting location is Singapore. Hyperion Frenzy team to suit room. "

"That means us." Said Raleigh, and Mako only nodded.

"Good luck you two." Herc added.

…..