Meanwhile, at the Shatterdome Hunter Program command base in Hong Kong, everyone was on edge watching the Jaeger struggling against the Kaiju. The atmosphere in the command centre was agitated.
The Kaiju's sudden attack was unexpected. It emerged from the Pacific Ocean's rift and headed straight for Hong Kong, classified as a Category 4 Kaiju. Initially, everyone hoped the costly and tall "Life Wall" would hold the Kaiju back, keeping it out of the city. At the very least, they expected it to delay the Kaiju's advance.
However, to everyone's shock, the Life Wall crumbled under the Kaiju's initial assault. With no other options, they deployed the Jaeger to intercept it. Despite being a Mark-4 Jaeger, Crimson Typhoon struggled against the Category 4 Kaiju, quickly falling behind.
"General Lin, Crimson Typhoon seems unable to defeat this Kaiju alone. What should we do now?"
Someone asked anxiously, watching the real-time battle feed from the frontline. All eyes turned to the highest-ranking officer in the room, awaiting his command.
...
Unbeknownst to them, General Lin Zhen Guo was feeling equally helpless. Years ago, many countries simultaneously cut funding for the Hunter Program, diverting resources to the Life Wall Project, hoping to keep the Kaiju at bay permanently.
China followed suit, although they still had to abandon the Hunter Program completely. The meagre funds allocated were insufficient for new Jaeger development and barely enough to maintain the existing ones.
The allocated funds were originally sufficient to maintain one Mark-4 and two Mark-3 Jaegers. This was considered adequate until the Life Wall was completed, which was expected to hold off the Kaiju.
However, the base's commanding officer, Lin Zhen Guo, knew this approach needed to be revised. The Kaiju were getting more robust, and developing more powerful Jaegers was necessary to avoid serious trouble. He had opposed the Life Wall Project, believing a passive defence was inferior to an active offence, especially against an unknown and evolving enemy.
Unfortunately, his objections were ignored, and the Life Wall Project proceeded.
...
Knowing the Life Wall was likely to fail, Lin Zhen Guo took a bold step. He diverted funds to maintain the two Mark-3 Jaegers and secretly developed a Mark-5 Jaeger with superior capabilities.
As a result, only Crimson Typhoon was operational for Kaiju combat. While capable of handling the occasional Category 3 Kaiju, it needed help against the newly emerging Category 4 Kaiju.
When the Life Wall was finished, the new Mark-5 Jaeger was nearly completed. However, it had a critical flaw—the neural load on the pilots was too high. The selected pilots could only handle it for five minutes before suffering permanent neural damage.
Then, worse news arrived: another, more muscular, Kaij was attacking Hong Kong. The Life Wall failed in less than ten minutes, and Lin Zhen Guo received urgent orders to deploy all Jaegers to destroy the Kaiju.
"Damn it, I warned them the Life Wall wouldn't work. Now they remember the Hunter Program!"
Cursing internally, Lin Zhen Guo couldn't just watch the Kaiju rampage through the city. He deployed Crimson Typhoon, the only operational Jaeger.
But now, Crimson Typhoon was losing. Lin Zhen Guo knew he had to act quickly, or the Kaiju would devastate the city, and he would face severe consequences for disobeying orders and secretly building a new Jaeger.
"How long until Russian and American reinforcements arrive?"
He asked, hoping for good news.
"Sir, they can't assist us right now. Sydney is also under attack by two Kaiju, and their Life Wall failed as well. They've prioritized defending Sydney. We're on our own."
Lin Zhen Guo felt a wave of helplessness.
"It seems this is my end," he thought bitterly, seeing no way out. Even if he was to die, he preferred fighting the Kaiju than facing a military tribunal.
"Prepare to activate the Mark-5 Jaeger!"
He ordered loudly.
"Yes, sir!" the team responded in unison.
"But we don't have suitable pilots..."
A hesitant female voice reminded him.
...
At this moment, Li Yue saw a prime opportunity to showcase his abilities right after arriving in this new world.