KAIJU FIGHT #1

[synfluxmods]

KAIJU FIGHT #1

CONTENT WARNINGS: thalassophobia, natural disaster, drowning, body horror, violence, blood & gore.

▶ 001. SEAS THE DAY.

On the morning of the 1st, sirens will blare, forcing every Outsider and Neo Tokyo civilian awake. While it hasn't been activated for a while, every citizen within the city knows this alarm all too well - it wails through the city whenever a Kaiju has been detected, ordering everyone to return to their homes immediately and stay there until they receive further information. Outsiders gazing at Neo Tokyo will see the armored city in its full technological splendour for the first time today. Once the civilians have returned to their homes, machinery within the buildings will work like clockwork, sinking each and every LILITH-augmented building beneath the ground. Just in time, too, because the waves are starting to roar again, crashing beyond the shore and flooding the city once more. Observant Outsiders may note that not every building has been modified. The older ones remain standing, vulnerable to the impending flood. Does anyone live in those buildings? The answer is yes, but that's not a priority at the moment.

Every Outsider will receive a summon, ordering them to prepare for battle. The Kaiju has been identified and located. It's show time.

"Angels of LILITH. We have located the Kaiju coming from beyond the sea. A full mission brief including the information we have gathered will be sent to you immediately. For now, make your way to the bay where your transport will be waiting. Be prepared for anything, but mostly, be prepared to swim."

Waiting for the Outsiders at the bay appear to be ... expensive-looking, personal yachts? This has to be a mistake, right? It's no mistake. Through intel LILITH has exchanged with international companies, it appears that this particular Kaiju has a fondness for overturning civilian yachts, and there's no better way to attract it than to leave it its favourite bait. The goal is to attract these Kaiju towards the boats and then attacking.

The ships may look like they're outfitted for a fancy yacht party. In fact, some exploring down below deck in the lounging room, one may find caviar on fancy ritz, oyster tower, little finger sandwiches with the crusts cut off and bougie smelly cheese that nobody in LILITH's pay grade can identify. On another table, there is fancy ramen spoons filled with microgreens, crystal jelly vinegarette, and a thin slice of parmesan cheese. Some further looking may find some fine aged wine, but you're not here to drink and party, you're here to fight a Kaiju! Right? Right.

Despite the fact everything about these yachts just look like... fancy yachts... they are actual warships that are mounted with naval artillery such as swivel guns, missiles and torpedos. Spears, harpoon guns and fishing nets can also be found and used if an Outsider is more comfortable getting extremely close to the monsters. There's no time for a proper seafaring course, so Outsiders will be given a quick run down on how the controls work, and be sent on their way. They will also be given a special jewel-like implant that attaches to the skin, right along the forehead, and told to wear it if they need to go into the water. "Don't worry about it," the LILITH crew says. "But it'll be one hell of a ride if you use it."

Alongside the crew, Seok Dang seems to be also assisting (?) though he's gotten a hold of the reception food down below. Did he smell like fine wine? Possibly. But that's definitely a fancy, half eaten cracker in his hand. He's also got on a bright, neon life preserver. Maybe someone doesn't know how to swim.

"WHOOO HELLA YEAH, MOTHERFUCKERS. Don't know how to swim? Don't'cha worry. Daddy Dang has got you covered. I know CPR! I give the best CPR! 💖 I'll rescue ya. TONIGHT, WE BALL!"

Nobody uses that phrase anymore, but you know what? You do you, SD.

▶ 002. WHALE WATCHING.

Minutes into their ship's course, the boats will rock violently, as if those already violent waves have somehow come alive. There is something in the water! The mission brief would have been shared with them sometime during their trip, but maybe Outsiders want to pull up on their implant the image and debrief shared once again now that there is some action. The orca-like Kaiju trying to reach the shores of Neo Tokyo is called Shachimon, and she's been the cause of the violent waves and flooding we've seen for the past few weeks. Alongside of her and are her children orca who love to mimic everything their mother does. The biggest one, the matriarch of the pod, is over 60 meters in length - large enough to swallow a boat whole. The younger ones are smaller but just as ferocious, spanning from the size of a car to the size of a bus. The youngsters are a size small enough that they can leap out of the water, sometimes crashing down onto people and ships. Beware!

Shachimon will be fighting to knock over boats, or climbing on boats with their amphibious legs. Once they get their hands on humans or Outsiders, they pull them into the water, tearing them limb from limb to feed. Their control over the waves are no joke, either. With a powerful swing of their tail, they can conjure up tsunamis capable of overturning ships. The matriarch, if left to her own devices, seems bent on submerging Neo Tokyo to make food of all its citizens.

█ █ █ MONSTER DEBRIEF SHEET
NAME: Shachimon
HEIGHT: Younger whales are 4 - 18 metres. The matriarch is 60 meters in length.
WEIGHT: 1500kg - 5000kg
CLASS: Highly dangerous.
LOCATION: Large bodies of water
ABILITIES: Use of sonar to detect any water movement. Fast swimmer. Very sturdy body thanks to all that whale blubber. High intelligence - commonly works together as a pod to take down prey. Capable of creating tsunamis that overturn boats. The largest Shachimon can sink a city if not stopped.
WEAKNESS: Electricity (since it will be inside water), dissection, spearing its eyes or blowhole. Loud vibrations within the water can stun or confuse it.
EXTRA NOTES: Dislikes and will attempt to overturn civilian yachts. Carnivorous, eating marine life and human flesh. Sadistic personality, may play with their food prior to eating.

█ █ █ MISSION OBJECTIVE:
✖ Lead the Shachimon away from the shore.
✖ Extermination of Shachimon in the water and if they reach the shore.
✖ Protection of nearby fishermen's boats and civilians within those boats.
✖ Teamwork to destroy the matriach Shachimon.
✖ Bring back specimens (live or deceased) for research purposes.

█ █ █ ATTACHED PHOTO:

As a note, Outsiders who wish to remain on land and help civilians there may do so. There are waves flooding the city, and some of the smaller, quicker Shachimon will have made it to shore. They will need to be taken care of before they can terrorise the city.

▶ 003. OCEAN GEMS.

Shachimon are most deadly in the water and their go-to strategy is to pull others into their turf, where they have the advantage. That's where those jewel-like implants come in. These implants, called OCEAN GEMS, when attached to the skin, temporarily modify the body. Once activated, nanobots will invade the bloodstream and alter the user's lungs, giving them a set of breathable gills. Their legs will also be altered, giving them fins and the tail of a fish. This is a recent invention by LILITH ever since the first Shachimon was spotted a few years ago, and the technology is still experimental. This means that the transformation process will be significantly uncomfortable, feeling a bit like being asphyxiated and having your legs sewn together at the same time. Deactivating the gem and turning back feels just as uncomfortable, and being experimental technology, it can take a while before the user can successfully revert back. Those who want to fight in the water and lack any weapons or abilities that can be used can request Seok Dang for a weapon. There's a limited supply, but they will be given a special trident. Directly driving the spear into one of the kaiju will electrocute it, giving a higher chance for higher damage. These tridents will be handed out to those who want to use their Ocean Gem and ask.

It's up to Outsiders whether they want to use this new technology or not. Being able to fight the monsters on their own terrain is certainly an advantage, so LILITH would highly encourage it.

▶ 004. MEDICAL BAY.

Healers and those with medical experience will be placed on the warship with a red flag on it. Dr. Spim & Alex will also be present on this ship to assist any major injuries to both LILITH and civilian fisherman alike. This ship is bigger than the others, and while stocked up with the same artillery, it is also stocked with beds and medical supplies. This will be the Outsider's naval medical bay during the siege on the Shachimon and all injured Outsiders or civilians will need to be transported there. This ship will also need to be protected heavily, because once the Shachimon catch on that all the injured, vulnerable prey are being transported to the larger ship, they will start to target that ship in particular. Characters that need immediate medical help should be transported to this ship via a dataportal. Each yacht has a dataportal that can teleport anyone instantly to the medical ship. The dataportals are also located down below deck to prevent them from getting damaged.

▶ 005. THE CALM AFTER THE STORM.

It's a bloody, soggy and gruesome battle and the seas' waves begin to calm down, the sea filled with kaiju carcasses. LILITH's clean up crew is working hastily to collect these corpses, but with the Outsiders' occupied and recovering from their fresh battle, help is limited. Search and rescue scavenges the sea to find any civilians who didn't make it or may need medical help. Meanwhile, the valiant teamwork and effort has paid off. After many hits from many different weapons, artillery, natural abilities, etc. the matriarch kaiju has been downed and sank to the bottom of the ocean floor. LILITH's team will work to retrieve the massive carcass, though it will take awhile. Those who put in notable effort will receive praise and a little extra payout. Outsiders will see an instant transfer of funds to their account: 340,000,000 KRYPTOS. This is roughly about 2500 USD.

The intense battle will have lasted several days and Outsiders are free to go from land to sea as little or as often as they like. It is all over, though, and Outsiders will be called to return to the MAIN BASE for rest and recovery. LILITH will also be searching for the rift where the kaiju came from while Outsiders recover. A message from an unknown voice will pop up an hour or so after all Outsiders have returned to the MAIN BASE. Outsiders may use this time to socialize in a commons area, wash up in the showers, get a meal in the cafeteria or rest.

"Good work."

▶ 006. AFTERWORD.

Welcome to our first Kaiju log! All prompts are highly encouraged but OOCly optional. ICly, characters can choose to fight in the ocean, on the ships or stay behind on land and protect the city. At the end of the siege, characters who accepted an Ocean Gem will be asked to return it. It's experimental technology, so LILITH will need to do more tweaking before they can properly release it. Outsiders who use the gem may have whatever fish tail they like, as long as it is a sea creature.

Feel free to NPC your characters' fights with the smaller kaijus. The main fight with the Shachimon matriarch will be determined via a HP-based system (See below).

Please note that all tags in this log count for 2 reward points each. Ask any further questions below!

Below is also the month at a glance. We understand the CALENDAR has been a little inconsistent, but the mod team is sorting all of this out. Expect a FEEDBACK POST this month as well so we can check in with the playerbase and make any adjustments to the game. This log, even if the time stamp says JANUARY, will count for FEBRUARY AC.

FEB 1st: Kaiju Fight Log in LOG COMMUNITY
FEB 15th: Text Post in NETWORK COMMUNITY
FEB 25th: Mod posted MEME COMMUNITY; FEEDBACK POST is live.

Thank you all for being a wonderful and understanding playerbase!

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Comments

[blastedass]

[OF COURSE IT'S BETTER! Hero names are supposed to strike the opponent with intimidation, capture the essence of the image or ability the hero has, and give the civilians around them a sense of confident, relief, and protection, knowing the hero has arrived. Bakugou glares to the side, but doesn't mention further on the cough. They have bigger things to worry about now, getting the civilians trapped in the building to safety.

At least Elan is better at the directions than Bakugou is... The people seem to trust his voice more and would rather go with the guy not threatening to blast them off the building.

Also it's a good thing Bakugou is guarding the west side of the building, because he definitely would have started throwing people out the windows to get them down the damn slide. Adults can help the scared children and those able can help the disabled down the slide, dealing with fear of heights as needed.]

So the rich buildings can take shelter during a kaiju raid, but the poor are left to get wrecked. Tch. Even with 30% of the population left, there's still social divide.

[Because people are people.]

[gundemn]

That's how the rich are. I'm not surprised.

[ Caring only about their own safety and treating other lives as cheaper than theirs...Whether in this world or his, on earth or in space, the social divide persists. Elan shuts off the external speakers so the refugees can't hear his conversation with Bakugou. What he's about to say doesn't mince words. ]

This building's done for. They'll have to find a different place to live or end up homeless.

[ He makes Pharact wave encouragingly to signal a child to slide down, giving the kid a thumbs up when she reaches the bottom. Kids are easy to delight when they haven't seen the horrors of what a mobile suit can do. Her innocent heart probably doesn't realize she won't be coming home again. ]

[blastedass]

Not all rich are like that. You just think these asshole would pull together more when there's a fucking global threat.

[The grumpy, sarcastic way he says it indicates Bakugou's pissed the society hasn't done that, without conveying any surprise that it's gone the way it has. People are often worried about their own, even during times of trials, though there have been plenty of examples where trials bring out the genuine humanity in people...

He glances to the side when the communications go quieter, indicating Elan's shut off the gundam's speakers. Private, huh. Oh that's why. There's a brief "che" of annoyance before he responds.]

I could've told you that from the start. A lot of people are carrying personal items they rescued. Seems they know they won't be returning. [It makes him wonder what LILITH plans to do with those left devastated by the kaiju attack.] LILITH's report indicated people chose to live here despite being warned not to.

[But what he doesn't know is whether that choice was a "choice" or if people simply opted to stay where it was cheaper, farther away, or some other personal decision not motivated by a forced social division. If LILITH is offering housing in the safe buildings, but people opt not to accept for other reasons, technically that's not LILITH's burden to bear...

They don't have the information yet to make that judgement call without assumptions and bias.]

[gundemn]

[ Heh, wouldn't that be something. Elan can't imagine the rich setting aside their own interests and banding together. If that were possible, they wouldn't be here taking care of people who should have been accounted for. ]

Maybe they're too poor to afford better, maybe they were refugees to begin with. With giant monsters around, there can't be that many people too attached to their homes to leave.

[ He can't remember the last place he had to call home, so it's not a sentiment he understands. If they knew the risks and chose to live in the old constructions anyway, they'd have to be foolish or overly-sentimental. Personally, he would pack his bags and leave at first opportunity. It would save the rest of them a whole lot of trouble, too. At least evacuation goes quickly enough and without incident. ]

We're about done here. See any stragglers?

[blastedass]

[Oh rich people will definitely do that when the rich as a whole are threatened. Bakugo's seen it happen in his world, both for good and for evil. Note, rich banding together with rich, not with the lower or middle class. Well, there are plenty of wealthy people in his world who actively help those less fortunate than themselves. But he can't begrudge someone who's built their fortune up from skill and work not wanting to just give their fortune away to other people.]

I don't know. If it was their choice, they have a reason for it. If LILITH was bringing Outsiders in to help save people while kicking people out to die, we would've noticed that already.

[And likely many of the Outsiders would refuse to help a group as corrupt as that. Still, whatever has driven these people to live in the older housing despite warnings to the contrary can't be good. Perhaps they know something that others don't... or actually care about that knowledge enough to choose the harder lodging. Without talking to them, they have no idea. It could be as simple as sentimentality. Or it could be complex with plots.]

None. [Yeah, because they're scared as fuck of Bakugo yelling and threatening them.] Once they're out, back off. The building's gonna come down.

[Bakugo takes the time to go inside and scour through the floors, keeping his blasts lessened to avoid damaging the structural integrity more. He wants a run through first, yelling for people and listening for answers. Any one trapped, anyone foolishly sleeping. So far no one on the metal slide is shouting at either Outsider to go back and look for someone left behind... no "my baby" or "save my mother" or "my friend's still in there" hollers.]

[gundemn]

You mean they kidnapped us to do the work they don't want to do! The way these buildings have been neglected, some lives are cheaper than others and they know it.

[ Elan exclaims brightly. He won't give LILITH any credit for their benevolence. In his opinion, the organization is made up of selfish corporate honchos who will put others in the firing line before they stick their own necks out. They'll "save" people as long as it's not them taking on risk. His past at Peil Technologies has done a number on his willingness to trust a company's goodwill.

As the last few citizens make their way down the slide, he calls for them to keep moving and not hover at the base of the building in case of what's soon to be falling debris. Elan doesn't need to be told twice to retreat, pulling the roof away and setting it flat on the ground where it can't fall on anyone. He's been watching the structure's integrity for his own safety as much as anyone else's. ]

I'm pulling out. Don't play hero too long in there.

[blastedass]

OF COURSE THAT'S WHAT I MEANT, DAMMIT! [He's just not going to say it every time for ease of conversation! Don't think he's forgotten none of them came here of their own volition. Sheesh.] They're not cheap enough we're being told to ignore them.

[Just a reminder, though Bakugo's not defending LILITH for their choices. He would like to know why these people decided to stay in this building, knowing it was in the way of the kaiju, but that's for another time, when they're talking with the rescued. If Bakugo bothers to stick around long enough for that.

He's seen companies that honestly work to help people, large hero agencies that routinely put their people in harm's way to help civilians, even Pro Heroes getting brutalized to protect those around them at the cost of their own flesh. He's also seen companies that delve into the black market, sell drugs and weapons, don't give a shit about the people they endanger just to make a profit. Enough experience on either side that Bakugo opts to make his own choice on a case by case basis after he's had the time and evidence to weigh his options. He's not going to take someone else's bias as fact.

That said... kidnapping people instantly slots LILITH into "untrustworthy" territory. He has his misgivings aplenty.]

I'm not playing hero, you tin can pilot!

[Bakugo finishes up his own sweep inside and a few seconds after Elan's comment, the young hero emerges from a window near the top. There were residences in there, furnishings, but... With a groan and crashing rumble, the building finally succumbs to the pressure, crushes the vehicle propping it, and begins its collapse into the nearby waters. Bakugo lands on the gundam's shoulder once again, one hand resting against its head as he watches.]

How're your engines?

[gundemn]

[ Bakugou really believes himself a hero. No. Not just believe, it's a purpose to uphold. Where he gets his pride and conviction from Elan will never know.

Knowing the people inside had all been evacuated, he watches the building crumple without feeling. Too bad about the furniture, though. They could have pawned it off for a hefty sum... Just kidding. That would certainly be an unheroic thought. ]

They're holding up. Why?

[ Please don't ask him to do any more work. He's done his one good deed. Can he go home now? ]

[blastedass]

[He doesn't believe himself a hero; he is a hero. But a hero does uphold his or her purpose, so at least Elan has that thought correct. The pride and conviction are a more complicated question. Bakugou likewise silently wonders what Elan experienced to make him so jaded towards people.

It sounds like common complaints people have about organized corporations or groups of people with self interests. Not that he completely disagrees with the gundam pilot on that... but... someone's certainly jaded and biased for a reason.

As the building safely collapses, Bakugou has to once again wonder about LILITH and their concern for people outside their cities. Was it them who ran these people out one way or another? Or was it these people who decided not to live where LILITH claimed it was safe? Who knows. He'll have to ask around. And that's not his strong point.

(Look, if no one wanted the furniture, it's better to sell it to someone who does than just trash it.)

Anyways.]

I don't want it breaking. [Simple answer.] That's the last building. The others are being attended to already.