PACIFIC RIM : RAJAH

Chapter 24

The moment the last Kaiju fell, a wave of relief swept through the pilots. Their mission had succeeded beyond expectations—no casualties, no lost Jaegers. It was a feat that had never been accomplished before. The silence on the comms was momentary before it erupted into cheers. Back at the Shatterdome, the command center broke into celebration. Operators, engineers, technicians—everyone who had been holding their breath since the mission began—erupted into shouts and applause. The biggest celebration came from the Philippine branch, as one of their own, Shane, had played a crucial role in the success of the mission. Families of pilots and engineers cheered at home, news stations scrambled to get the scoop, and for the first time in a long while, humanity had something to celebrate.

Despite the victory, the mission was not over yet. The pilots still had one final task—to ensure the breach was destroyed once and for all. The Kaiju bodies were secured, tied with reinforced steel cables, and the specially designed bomb was embedded within one of the corpses. The mechanics and engineers back at the base had designed it to blend seamlessly with Kaiju DNA, ensuring that the breach would recognize the body and allow passage through.

Herc, Raleigh, Shane, and the other pilots stood in their towering Jaegers, watching as the cables were tightened. Herc, ever the voice of experience, reminded them of the mission's importance.

"This is it," he said, his voice steady. "This is what we've been fighting for. We drop that thing in, we seal the breach, and we end this war."

The pilots nodded in silent agreement. They could feel the weight of the moment, the history being written in real-time.

As the countdown began, they moved carefully, dragging the massive Kaiju corpse toward the breach. It was a nerve-wracking moment. The breach, pulsating and glowing ominously, remained the last gateway to the invaders' world. If anything went wrong now, all their efforts would be for nothing.

Shane, never one to stay silent, chuckled nervously. "You know, I was expecting a parade or something, but I'll take standing in the deep sea staring at an alien hole instead."

"Shut up and focus," Herc said, though even he couldn't help but smirk.

The corpse hovered above the breach, its grotesque form twisting slightly as the water pulled at it. The tension was thick as the pilots watched the descent. The Kaiju corpse passed through the breach, and for a moment, everything was still.

Then, the countdown began.

Ten. Nine. Eight…

Back at the Shatterdome, the entire base was on edge. Eyes were locked onto screens, breath held collectively. Tendo Choi clutched his headset, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Come on…"

Seven. Six. Five…

The pilots braced, their Jaegers positioned like guardians around the breach. They had no idea if something would emerge in these final seconds.

Four. Three. Two—

A blinding explosion erupted from the depths, shockwaves ripping through the ocean floor. A deafening silence followed before the water itself seemed to tremble. The breach, the gateway that had brought terror and destruction to Earth for years, shuddered violently before collapsing in on itself. The rift sealed, the connection severed.

A second of stunned silence. Then—

A roar of victory.

The Shatterdome erupted into cheers. People hugged, cried, and screamed in triumph. Across the world, as the news spread, celebrations broke out. Families who had lost loved ones to the Kaiju invasion wept—some in joy, some in sorrow. Cities that had been on the verge of destruction lit up in fireworks. Newscasters barely kept up with the breaking updates as the footage played repeatedly: the Jaegers standing tall as the breach collapsed beneath them.

The pilots sat back in their cockpits, exhausted but victorious. Shane let out a long breath, resting his head against the seat.

"We did it," Raleigh said, voice filled with awe.

"We sure as hell did," Herc responded.

A pickup team was immediately dispatched to retrieve the Jaegers. Engineers and medical teams were prepared to welcome the returning heroes. As they arrived back at the Shatterdome, the pilots were met with thunderous applause.

Marshal Pentecost, a rare smile on his face, approached them as they disembarked.

"You all did the impossible," he said, his voice strong. "The world owes you everything."

One by one, the pilots removed their helmets, standing tall, faces filled with pride, exhaustion, and relief. They weren't just soldiers—they were legends now.

As the world absorbed the reality of the victory, the celebrations continued. Streets were filled with people singing, dancing, and lighting lanterns in honor of those who had been lost in the war. Humanity had endured, and for the first time in years, there was hope again.

The war was over. The monsters were gone.

A new era had begun.