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Timeline
1954: A giant monster, dubbed Godzilla, rises from the Pacific
Ocean. Awakened by nuclear testing in the South Pacific, it attacks Japan and destroys the city. It then retreats to the ocean.
1964: Various mutations begin to arise in the world. In Japan, an ancient subterranean dinosaur called Baragon attacks
communities near Mt. Fuji, but is driven into the Earth again from a fighter attack. In London, another prehistoric monstrosity,
Gorgo, attacks London, but like Godzilla earlier, retreats to the sea. In American, a giant mantis attacks New York, but its
delicate frame allows for rockets to kill it.
1966: Godzilla attacks Japan again, this time at Osaka.
1969:
A giant tarantula attacks Los Vegas, but the military responds with a new weapon. The Zoid, a large dinosaur looking machine,
is launched to attack it. Armed with cannons large for its time, the machine prooves a useful weapon and kills the arachnid.
1976:
From the Pacific Ocean, a giant spiked dinosaur attacks San Diego. Called Anguirus, Zoid is called in to attack it. However,
Zoid barely manages to hold its own against the beast and retreats. Luckily, it delivered enough damage to fend off Anguirus,
who has not been seen since.
1984: Godzilla strikes America! Targeting a nuclear power plant on the California coast,
Godzilla devours the nuclear material. The now aged Zoid is sent in again, but Godzilla makes short work of the machine, destroying
it.
1990: Godzilla strikes again, targeting other nuclear stockpiles. He would continue doing so till 2006.
Between
1980 and 2006, the US and Japanese government began developing new weapons to combat Godzilla and other threats. Based on
the designs of animals and dinosaurs alike, these new weapons were made to go into direct combat with kaiju. The first units
would be used in 2006. The weapons were called Zoids…
Chapter 1
In
this desolate region of the United States, not many lived. A few coyotes chased after jackrabbits and vultures pecked at the
remains of the dead. Only one installation was in this desert. A series of roads and truck depots made it up. North of the
depots, a huge flat piece of land sat, with nothing but sand on it. Decrepit missile launchers sat roasting in the sun. To
the naked eye, this place looked deserted.
But that was what they wanted you to think.
Rumors had always circled this
place. The most common one was that alien research was done here and crashed UFOs were stored in the hangers below ground.
In truth, new weapons were built here. New attack fighters.
But again, that is what they wanted you to think.
Area
51 had been the source of mystery for decades. No aliens were ever kept there, and fighters were only tested once every six
months. The real secret was kept about a quarter mile beneath the scorching sands. For over twenty years, these new anti-kaiju
weapons were being researched, developed, and armed to combat the ever continuing spawn of monsters. Godzilla had attacked
the US four times now. It was time for payback.
***
Van Flyheight stirred in bunk. He was scheduled for a debriefing
on the new weapon at 9 AM sharp. It was 8:30 now. Van’s eyes opened and searched for his clock. Realizing the time,
he got out of his bed and stood on the cold floor. His normally spiky, black hair was draped around his head. Sleepy, brown
eyes struggled to keep open.
Going to the shower, Van bathed quickly and got dressed in his uniform. His hair was spiked
up now, with a ponytail in the back. A lieutenant in the force, Van carried great admiration as a talented pilot in both jet
fighters…and Zoids. He was among the first to test the infantry units. Now he was going to see what all these years
of R&D were worth.
Exiting from his room, Lt. Flyheight made his way down the halls. The Area 51, or in truth, Zi
Installation 1, halls were busy with soldiers and scientists alike. Most were probably preparing for the test of the ZG.
Van
arrived at the elevator and it took him up to the Control Room. It looked like many others he had seen in his past. There
was one giant monitor in the front, surrounded by many smaller ones. Computer stations lined the sides of the room, with a
large table in the center. Behind him was Van’s destination, the meeting room. He stepped inside. The interior was nice
compared to the rest of the base’s metal structure. Mahogany wood made up the walls, and pictures of various things,
from high ranking officers to Howitzers, were mounted on the walls. One caught Van’s eye.
In the picture, there
were two men. He recognized both. One was General Krueger, Van’s CO. A man of great authority and respect, the general
was a veteran of Vietnam and Desert Storm. Now he was leading the American portion of the Zi Project. The other man in the
picture was Van’s father, Dan Flyheight. Dan had been the pilot of the Zoid that battled Godzilla in 1984. Van was only
four when he died. Since then, Van harbored a deep resentment of the monster. Yet something about the creature fascinated
him.
The door to the room opened. Van turned to see Krueger enter. Van saluted.
“Sir.” Van said stoically.
Krueger smiled and returned the salute. He very much liked Van and had acted as a father figure as best he could after
Dan had been killed. Van was a great pilot, and was very much like his father. The two also shared a slight problem with authority
and were a little hotheaded. Still, Van was a promising man.
“Van, you know today we are discussing the ZG.”
Van nodded. “I do, sir. The ZG is currently our most powerful weapon made besides the nuke.”
“That’s
right, Van.” Krueger replied. “But you also know it is still in its testing stage. We do not know how the machine
will perform, till today.”
Van remembered back when the machine was first being made. He marveled at its immense
size. It was perfect.
“Keep in mind, Van.” Krueger continued. “You won’t be piloting this machine,
not yet anyway.”
“Yes, sir.” Van sounded a little hurt.
Krueger chuckled. “Come now, it isn’t
like we are giving up on you. You still have an assigned position on the other weapons.”
“I know, sir. It’s
just that…”
“I know, Van. You want to use it against him.”
Van looked up. “How did you-“
Krueger cut him off. “Van, I knew from the day your father died you wanted to get revenge. I miss your father too,
but we have to put the past behind us. This weapon is not a tool of war.”
Van was angered some, but he could not
respond. The doors opened and more men came in.
“Ah, Van, I want you to meet the men behind the ZG.”
Four
men entered the room. They each took and seat at the conference table. Van took a seat near the front, by Krueger, who had
taken the front end seat.
“First off, Van, this is Colonel Rob Herman.” Krueger motioned to a blonde hair
man sitting across from Van. He seemed to be in his forties. Van knew Herman from reputation as a good officer. “Rob
was one of my assistants in developing the project. Next to you is Doctor Carl Daniels, or Doctor D as we call him. He is
the weapons designer for the ZG.” Doctor D was an elderly guy from what Van could tell. At least in his late sixties,
or maybe even his early seventies, the doctor had long white hair running down the sides of his head. A pair of glasses sat
on his nose. Van shook his hand.
“Ah, Lt. Flyheight. It is very good to meet you. I am astonished at how much you
look like your father.”
“Do I really?” Van said, though he had heard many people say that before.
“Yes,
from what I hear from Krueger, you act like him too. Hotheaded and all.” Dr. D burst into a loud, almost maniacal laugh.
Van was a little scared that this guy made the ZG’s weapons.
“Ok, well, Van, this is Mr. Shinjo Odaiba, the
head of the Japanese section of the Zi Project. Mr. Odaiba designed the ZG.”
Shinjo was probably in his early forties,
but you would not know it. His black hair was neatly combed and his business suit was wrinkleless. The most distinguishing
feature was a large scar running down the right side of his face.
“Lt. Flyheight. I have heard much about your piloting
skills. We hope that you can one day pilot one of our Zoids.”
Van was going to respond when he was cut off by the
fourth man.
“Hopefully he will be better than our previous pilots. It is a lucky thing they chose me to pilot the
ZG.”
The man who said that was Colonel Trey Stoning. His short, brown hair was as motionless as he was, and his
cold blue eyes shone with seriousness. Van knew Stoning from reputation like Herman, but unlike Herman, Van did not like this
guy. Stoning was known for his cocky attitude and brash actions.
“Yes, well, Trey, we all know you will excel as
the ZG’s pilot.” Krueger said.
Van did not bother to say anything. He knew Stoning would shoot him down in
an instant. A moment of silence passed when Krueger stood.
“Gentlemen, let us begin the debriefing.”
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