American comics: Starting with Luke the Maker

“General, I think you can already see it.” On the virtual screen, a middle-aged council member with a grave expression said, “The fourth-generation Kaiju have been driving straight in through that 【breach】, and the Jaeger Program hasn't been performing well in recent years, especially this past year. The kill ratio between you and your Jaeger and the Kaiju has been steadily increasing. This strategic plan is no longer working.”

“As the number of attacks and the strength of the Kaiju continue to increase, there is no doubt that the Jaeger Program, which initially effectively contained the deterioration of the situation, has become outdated. It is no longer the steel defense line that everyone trusted.” Another of the nine people on the screen echoed.

“I fully understand that every Jaeger that falls means sacrificing more soldiers and civilians, but…” Stacker Pentecost said with a serious expression, but before he could finish, the nine council members on the virtual screen interrupted him. Even though he ignored the interruption and wanted to finish expressing his inner needs and words, the people on the screen clearly did not intend to let him finish.

“Interrupting you again, General! Whether you admit it or not, the Jaeger Program is already dead in name. We have given you at least two years of buffer time! Faced with an increasingly worsening situation, we have to seek other better solutions. The Jaeger Program is outdated.” Councilman Cole, an elderly man with gray hair from England, said expressionlessly.

“What is a better solution?” Stacker retorted.

“I think the coastal wall is a plan worth considering. It appears to be the most successful and protective at present.” Councilman Cole replied.

“You would rather believe in an ethereal and unproven wall than believe in the Jaeger Program that has protected the world for ten years? That's not wise.” Stacker said calmly, “Moreover, the Kaiju named 'Hakuda' at sea even had wings in the end. If one day, Kaiju that can fly in the sky appear, can that wall, which cost a huge amount of money to build, really guarantee the safety of the people?”

“Nonsense! Monsters of that size and weight cannot fly under the gravity of this planet, even with wings. That's common sense!” Councilman Taylor, a shrewd-looking middle-aged man from the United States, said, “We are not going to abandon the Jaeger Program immediately. You still have time to arrange everything. The world is like this, it always has to adapt to changes in the times and needs.

The whole world will remember the contributions you and your troops have made to world security in these ten years, and you will receive the honor you deserve. Next, there are eight months until the complete completion of the wall plan—the Coastal Lifeline. In these eight months, we will continue to fulfill our responsibilities and continue to fund and support you. But during these eight months, other Jaeger bases will also be closed one after another, and you can lead your remaining Jaeger warriors to retreat to PPDC headquarters.”

“So, eight months later, you will abandon the PPDC?” Stacker asked.

“We have not abandoned the PPDC, we are just no longer providing funding to the PPDC's Jaeger Program.” The only female council member among the nine said slyly.

“This is the final result we have agreed upon. This meeting is just a notification.”

The figures on the screen disappeared one by one. A sense of powerlessness surged in Stacker Pentecost's heart, but soon, he discarded this emotion behind him and forced himself to cheer up.

“I didn't expect them to be so stupid.” Cai Tian Tong, who had watched everything, and Stacker's friend, General Haik, said at the same time.

“It's okay, we still have at least eight months.” Stacker Pentecost said calmly. It's not time to despair yet. He has experienced more despair than this, but he has survived it!

“Dr. Luke Field of Shao Industries has sent a reservation and wants to visit the General at the PPDC tomorrow to discuss some cooperation.” Cai Tian Tong suddenly said.

“The maker of the sixth-generation Jaeger?” Stacker Pentecost was surprised when he heard this.

“Yes, he said he can help us provide some necessary assistance.” Cai Tian Tong read the official information of Shao Industries.

“Promise him. I would also like to meet him.” Stacker Pentecost responded. His understanding of Shao Industries is only two points: one is that they have technology, and the other is that they are very rich! These two points happen to be what the PPDC needs now. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that Shao Industries wants to team up with the PPDC for warmth. After all, with the rise of the wall faction and the PPDC becoming an abandoned child, Shao Industries, as the leading enterprise in the world's largest Jaeger industry chain, will definitely not have a good time. Maybe the other party heard some rumors in advance. After all, once the major member states start withdrawing their investments and the Jaeger Program is completely shelved and abandoned, then if Shao Industries still wants to operate the industry chain generated by the Jaeger project, then the only customer seems to be the PPDC. From this point of view, the decision-makers of both parties should indeed meet.

…

PPDC Headquarters.

Shatterdome.

A tall Jaeger, without being hoisted by a heavy transport helicopter, landed rapidly in a shocking posture with flames spewing from its feet. The Shatterdome was specially reinforced so that the Jaeger could fight on it. The deck trembled slightly. Then, this skull-headed Jaeger unfolded the palm of its left hand in front of everyone, gently ejecting a silver-white cylindrical metal body with a radius of about one meter from its palm. After sliding a distance on the deck, it stopped in front of Stacker and others who were waiting on the deck.

The next moment, the cylindrical metal body slid open a door, and a young figure was taking off his silver-white helmet and walking out of it.

“Cool, I like this kind of entrance!” The somewhat neurotic Hermann Gottlieb seemed to like this unusual entrance very much, and lowered his voice to his colleague and friend, Newton Geiszler. However, Newton Geiszler ignored him and looked at a silver-white mechanical body following behind the young figure with surprise. That's right! Axehead! That was the original Kaiju!

“A show of force.” Stacker Pentecost looked at the person coming and said to his friend General Haik, and stepped forward to greet him.

“I think it's more like showing strength.” Cai Tian Tong, who rarely came out to greet guests, followed up, glanced around, and went to Newton and the others.

“Welcome, Dr. Luke! I thought you would come by helicopter.” Stacker Pentecost said.

“President Shao took the helicopter, but he won't be able to come until the afternoon after he finishes his work. I was too anxious, so I drove the Kourtulok first.” Luke Field shook the hand that Stacker offered, shook it twice, and let go. A crowd of people scattered densely around, crowding the two of them towards the base.

In the elevator, Newton Geiszler looked at the mechanical Axehead that followed closely into the elevator and couldn't help but said, “Is this the first-generation Kaiju Axehead?”

“Obviously.” Luke Field nodded.

“Is it controlled by someone?”

“I wrote an intelligent system for it, and it can move on its own.”

“That's so cool! I like it. I mean, can I touch it? Will it trigger any of its security protocols?”

“Feel free to touch it. Its program is very rigorous and stable, and its logical judgment is no problem.”

“That's great! It's really beautiful. I never thought that the combination of Kaiju and machinery would be so beautiful! Do you also like Kaiju? I've always wanted to study a live specimen, but unfortunately, all I can study are dead ones.”

“Okay, Newton, let me talk to Dr. Luke first. When we entertain him at lunchtime, you will have enough time to chat. Even if we have a very harmonious conversation today, Dr. Luke will come to the Shatterdome base often in the future.” The elevator stopped, and Stacker Pentecost interrupted the chattering Newton as he walked.

Luke followed Stacker to the Shatterdome's base control room, which was also Stacker's office. After he took Luke to sit down in a small office that belonged to him, he looked at Luke Field and said, “Now, can you talk about Shao Industries, or rather, your purpose? Or do you want to wait for President Shao to come?”

“The PPDC is encountering a terrible predicament, isn't it? Although Shao Industries is powerless to the situation the PPDC is facing, it is willing to contribute.”

“Funding?” Stacker's eyes lit up. Although he knew that Shao Industries was rich, it was impossible to really support the PPDC, but if Shao Industries was willing to provide some funding, at least the PPDC could have a better life, or at least it could survive for a few more days.

“More than that.” Luke Field took out his phone, tapped on the screen, and then placed it on the table next to him, connecting to the office's virtual projection equipment. “There's also Shao Industries' full set of technical support!”

“What do you, or rather, what does Shao Industries want?” Stacker Pentecost's eyes were calm. He knew that such an effort would not be without wanting something in return.

“The complete set of Jaeger technology mastered by the PPDC.” Luke Field said.

“That's impossible!” Stacker Pentecost changed his expression drastically and flatly refused. There have been people in the PPDC who have secretly sold some Jaeger design drawings and technology, and most of those people are now in prison.

“Why not take a look at what I can bring you first?” Luke Field was very calm and started working on the virtual projection.

“The production technology of each Jaeger is confidential! And the complete set of Jaeger production technology is the collective wisdom of all member and non-member countries over the past ten years! Although Shao Industries' technology is very powerful, compared with many countries…” Stacker Pentecost was about to continue to deny it, but the next moment, when he saw the technical information projected by Luke, his mind went blank!