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“Captain Takagi, your division is needed promptly.” Chief Hideo announced over my partner’s radio, which he instantly grabbed.
“Understood, en route now. We got ready as soon as the Kaiju alert went across the news. What’s the sit-rep?” Takagi pressed.
“An insect-like honju with a 6.1 fortitude has appeared in the 3rd Division territory. It’s three stories tall, with an army of yoju clearing the area near it. Captain Ashiro is currently at headquarters, and can’t make it there to assist the 3rd. They are containing the yoju currently, the honju is remaining stable, observing the carnage while guiding its yoju. Vice-Captain Hoshina is leading the charge, but he is not well-suited against a bigger kaiju like this one.” Chief Hideo explained.
Takagi looked at me, taking off their glasses before responding. “Yes sir, we are 5 clicks out, be there shortly.” The Chief didn’t respond, and he didn’t need to. Captain Takagi Haru, my partner in crime as you might say, strapped his goggles onto his face.
“Are you ready for this Kirigiya?” He asked.
“Only if you promise I can get the final hit.” I grunted, voice steady.
“Alright hotshot, that’s how it normally goes anyway.” He began stretching in his specialized kaiju combat suit. It was harvested from a fire-breathing honju, with black scales that shimmered in the light.
The rest of our division was also gearing up, always ready to go at a moment's notice when the Kaiju alert sounded. We were a special division of the JAKDF, the 9th division. Think of us as a backup measure against kaiju, designed to help other divisions when they need it. Not everyone was cut out for our line of work though, being able to drop everything and fly across the country to assist where needed. Most recruits either washed out of the force or transferred to other divisions.
The satisfaction is worth it though. Those damn kaiju deserved to be punished for what they did, and I’m more than happy to deliver it. I checked my shoulder pads and spun my hammer, testing its balance. My weapon was made from a honju that could create giant shockwaves with each step it took, and my weapon reflects that capability, making me a walking powerhouse.
“Call Okonogi, I know she’ll be happy to hear from you.” I teased Takagi.
He rolled his eyes and punched me in the arm, “Shut up Daisuke.” He grabbed his radio once again, “Patch me through to the 3rd Division Operations leader.”
Our operations leader, Tomoyuki, spoke up from the cockpit where he sat passenger side with a portable control room. A few moments later, a click answered the call. “Go for Okonogi.” A female voice answered, shaking with anxiety and worry.
“This is Captain Takagi Haru, reporting from the 9th Division. We are about three clicks out before we touch down. Please patch me through to Vice-Captain Hoshina.” Takagi smirked, preparing for the thrill he always gets from killing these monsters.
“You got it.” Okonogi clicked off.
A few more moments and the radio turned back on, and Takagi spoke first. “Vice-Captain Hoshina,” he paused, “This is Captain Takagi of the 9th Division. My team is en route to the honju, but I have extra people to send your way if your platoons need help with the remaining yoju. What do you need?”
Hoshina paused a moment before responding through the static, “My forces have already cleared out most of the yoju, sir. It’s just that pesky honju left.”
“Understood. We’ll be taking over, then.” Takagi responded as we began our descent. “Hammer fully charged?” He asked me one last time.
“Always.” I replied, the bay doors of the cargo hold opening with a loud hiss. We stepped out onto a large apartment block, looking towards the honju sitting at the end of the street. Its wings were vibrating like it was trying to fly, but it was making a loud droning sound instead. Much like a cicada call, but warped and twisted. A mockery of nature.
The rest of our division, just nine members, filed out behind the captain and I. Takagi motioned for them to move in position and start disorienting the honju, which they did with admirable skill. Our backline, headed by Platoon Leader Isako, opened fire from behind rubble with regular ammunition. The front line, headed by Platoon Leader Hisaya, began circling the honju and alternated between firing ice rounds at its legs and heat rounds at the throat and stomach.
The wings stopped droning, and the honju became more agitated, now screeching and thrashing about trying to swat at my officers.
Yeah, good luck with that. Each and every one of them has been trained to dodge even their Captain’s attacks, no way is a slow honju gonna hit them like that. It barreled through a building, sending dust flying.
That’s when we made our move. I walked through the dust, letting it mask my presence as Takagi rushed forward, almost flying as he lunged. He brandished his sword, making gashes across the monster’s six legs and bottom of its abdomen.
I grinned in delight as the dust began to settle and I slammed my empowered hammer into the small gashes, merely chinks in this monsters exoskeleton, and shattered them from the inside out. Two of its legs buckled, making it sway to regain its balance. I leapt backwards and out of the way, letting Isako's group open fire on the ground with explosive rounds, causing the beast to crash to the ground with a sickening screech.
Hisaya’s platoon, only four of them, opened fire with ice rounds on its legs once more, trying to keep it down. Takagi appeared at my side and drew his sword once more, finally ready to begin his onslaught. Tomoyuki sounded over the radio headsets, “You are clear for full output, Captain. Knock ‘em dead out there.”
Takagi’s sword, a pure black chokuto, began rippling with energy and heat as he began powering up. The blade turned red, then orange and finally a bright white as it grew hotter and hotter. His suit reflected the blade’s light, shining brilliantly, like a shimmer off of a rainbow. He finally broke out of his stance, running towards the honju at speeds almost too fast to track, using the surrounding rubble to leap onto its back and create huge gashes across its body. His chokuto easily sliced through its exoskeleton in its super-heated form, causing the monster to continue screeching.
It slashed at the captain, knocking him backwards. He flew through the air, trying to steady himself as he landed next to me once more. The kaiju finally got back to its feet and roared with pain and anger once more. “Time for the house special?” I joked, walking forward.
Takagi stood up and fixed his goggles, “It’s almost a shame it has to end like this, huh?” You could feel the sarcasm dripping from his words.
I smiled like a madman, and readied my hammer to the side across the pavement. Takagi stepped up and crouched over the head of the hammer, gripping the lip and matching my crazed grin. I began spinning, like an athlete would spin to throw their weight, building up momentum and power. His sword began glowing with energy once more, super heating for another strike. After reaching maximum velocity, I launched Captain Takagi towards the monster like I had hit a home run!
He hit the back of the beast’s neck, almost severing its head from base to throat. I rushed forward as the beast fell once more, its roars became weak and scraggly. My hammer was powered up from the momentum of those swings, glowing bright purple and quaking from the sheer force behind it. That’s when I brought it down onto the honju’s neck, severing it in twain. Its head and body were disconnected, I was covered in kaiju blood, and I couldn’t be happier.
After a few moments of silent shock, cheers of joy and roars of yoju sounded from around the battlefield as news spread of the honju’s defeat. I grabbed my radio, “Neutralization complete! Vice-Captain Hoshina, we were ordered to stay until Captain Ashiro arrives; do you guys need any help with first aid or cleanup?”
“That would be appreciated,” Hoshina replied, “And until Captain Ashiro is here to do so herself, I’d like to thank you for neutralizing the honju. I admit, I’d have been hard-pressed to do it myself.”
I laughed over the radio, “Of course! We’re all one big team, aren’t we?”
Takagi tossed a towel at my head, “Yeah? Lying to your fellow vice-captain, Kirigiya?”
“What can I say, you know Captain Ashiro is my idol, I wanna see her honest review of my work.” I bellowed, walking back towards the helicopter. Takagi laughed and ran past me, catching up with the rest of our squad. On days like this, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!