PACIFIC RIM : RAJAH

Chapter 22

As Shane received the critical information from Tendo, his eyes narrowed. There was no time to waste. He adjusted Rajah's positioning, recalibrating the Jaeger's systems for maximum speed. His sensors flickered as he changed course, heading toward Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger's location. But just as he was about to push forward, something on his radar made him halt for a moment—Crimson Typhoon was struggling.

The triplets were locked in a fierce battle with their assigned Kaiju. Shane could see from his heads-up display (HUD) that they were facing the same challenges he had dealt with moments ago—darkness, powerful underwater currents, and an incredibly agile opponent. The situation was even worse for them because they were fighting in open water without the strategic advantage of terrain, like Shane had used earlier. The triplets were highly skilled, but this battle was pushing them to their limits.

Shane made a quick decision. He opened comms to Tendo and spoke with urgency. "I'm diverting to back up the Wei triplets first! They won't last much longer at this rate."

There was a brief silence before Marshal Pentecost's voice came through. "Make it fast, Shane. Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger need you immediately after. We don't have time to drag this out."

"Understood," Shane responded, his grip on the controls tightening. He activated Rajah's full thruster capabilities, pushing the Jaeger through the crushing depths with incredible speed.

As he neared Crimson Typhoon, he got a clearer view of the battle. The Category IV Kaiju they were facing was a nightmare in motion. It was sleek and eel-like, its elongated body twisting effortlessly through the water. Its long, sinewy limbs lashed out at Crimson Typhoon, striking with brutal force. The triplets had their Jaeger moving defensively, blocking what they could, but they were being pushed back.

Shane analyzed the Kaiju's attack patterns. It wasn't just randomly striking—it was calculating, learning their movements. That made it even more dangerous. He had to act fast.

"Crimson Typhoon, hold on! I'm coming in from behind!" Shane announced, speeding up.

The triplets responded in unison, their voices tight with strain. "Make it quick, Shane! This thing is relentless!"

Rajah closed in, and Shane formulated a plan in seconds. "Crimson, listen carefully. I need you to get a firm grip on that thing. Don't let it slip away. Lock it down as hard as you can."

"Easier said than done!" one of the triplets grunted as they barely managed to parry another vicious strike.

"I know," Shane replied. "But if you can hold it in place for even a few seconds, I can take its head clean off."

There was a moment of hesitation, but then, Crimson Typhoon adjusted its stance. The triplets moved with impeccable synchronicity, shifting their Jaeger's weight at just the right moment. As the Kaiju lunged forward again, they sidestepped slightly and then twisted their Jaeger's arms around its torso. The massive machine locked its servos, straining to keep the Kaiju from escaping. The beast roared and thrashed, its long tail whipping around violently in an attempt to break free.

"Hold it steady!" Shane shouted as he propelled Rajah forward. His Jaeger's massive blade gleamed under the dark ocean currents as he raised it, priming for the strike. With precise calculation, Shane activated his thrusters and leaped upward. The movement caught the Kaiju off guard. For a fraction of a second, it hesitated.

That was all Shane needed.

Rajah's blade swung in a clean, brutal arc. The sharpened edge met the Kaiju's neck, cutting through thick flesh and cartilage in a single powerful motion. The impact sent a shockwave through the water, and then, in an eerie moment of silence, the Kaiju's head separated from its body. Dark blood clouded the water as the creature's body spasmed before finally going still.

Crimson Typhoon released its hold, letting the lifeless Kaiju sink into the depths.

"Holy crap," one of the triplets breathed.

"You actually did it," another said in disbelief.

Shane smirked. "Told you I had a plan. No need to thank me, just send me a gift basket later."

A short burst of laughter came through the comms, though it was mixed with exhaustion. "Thanks, Shane. We owe you one."

" right, you do," he replied. Then, his tone turned serious. "But we're not done yet. Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger are still fighting a Category V. We need to move. Now."

Without wasting another second, Rajah and Crimson Typhoon turned toward their next objective. Shane pushed Rajah's engines to their limit, the thrusters igniting in a fiery burst of energy as he propelled forward.

As they neared the battle site, Shane's HUD picked up the massive form of the Category V Kaiju. The thing was colossal—far larger than any of the previous enemies they had encountered. It had a reinforced exoskeleton that looked almost impenetrable, and its four glowing eyes gave off an eerie, intelligent glare. Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger were engaged in an intense struggle, trading blows with the beast.

Herc and Raleigh were holding their own, but it was clear they were at a disadvantage. The Category V's strength was unlike anything they had faced before.

Shane opened his comms. "Reinforcements have arrived. Let's take this bastard down."

Herc's voice came through, filled with determination. "Glad you could finally make it. We need a new plan. This thing isn't going down easy."

Shane took a deep breath, scanning the battlefield. They had one chance to get this right. If they failed, the mission—and humanity—could be lost.

"Alright, listen up," he said. "We're going to hit it with everything we've got. Crimson Typhoon and I will keep it distracted while Striker Eureka and Gipsy Danger get into position for a kill shot. We do this fast, and we do this right."

No one hesitated.

"Let's end this war," Shane said, gripping the controls. Rajah surged forward.