//------------------------------// // Prologue: Darkest Days // Story: Pacific Rim: Equestria Rangers // by Loki777 //------------------------------// Chapter 0: Lost Hope? (*Note 1: If you've read Irredeemably Rejected by PLCTheCd (PEter), you'll understand where this is getting its start) Intro: Protectors of the Earth October 12, 2024 (1:00 PM); Anchorage Shatterdome, USA /*CLOSING DAY FOR THE ANCHRORAGE SHATTERDOME/* Today wasn’t a very good day for Marshall Stacker Pentecost of the Pan Pacific Defense Corps or PPDC as the African-American veteran PPDC leader was getting news he dreaded; the UN was cutting funds for the Jaeger Program starting with the closure of several Shatterdomes and was getting an earful from the politicians who were cutting off the funds. “The Kaiju are evolving rapidly and we’re losing the Jaegers faster than we can make them and along with training more pilots.” “What you see Marshall Pentecost is that this is no longer a sound battle plan, but a very painful and agonizing slow march to surrender.” “The pattern is everywhere; Seattle with Romeo Blue's loss, Lima with the loss of Horizon Brave, Vladivostok with Tact Ronin's destruction along with Eden Assassin as the list goes on…and on...” Then Marshall Stacker Pentecost spoke, “I understand every time that a Jaeger falls, those are my men and women who die under my command that I take personally sirs and ma’ams. We still have Crimson Typhoon, Cherno Alpha, Striker Eureka, Gypsy Danger whom that American Mark 3 Jaeger is still being fixed up thanks to you folks. We also have that one Mark 5 turned Mark 6-“ He didn’t get to finish when the United Kingdom UN Representative that was an older gentleman glared at him and spoke to him with his accent adding more salt to the wound. “Excuse me?! But one; that Jaeger was a financial bloody nightmare that makes Striker Eureka look cheap by comparison, two; the pilots assigned to it are dead along with the backup pilots thanks to a stupid volcanic eruption that may or may not have something to do with those damn Kaiju, and three; the once proud Jaeger Program is dead Marshall Pentecost, dead in the water no pun intended. On the other hand, the Wall of Life Program looks more promising that that rotten program.” “Wall of Life? You mean that wall that will protect only the very rich and powerful like you mates while leaving the rest of us as Kaiju food? Bloody Hell….you stupid wankers…” The one who spoke was Ranger Hercules “Herc” Hansen a veteran PPDC Ranger who was currently assigned to the Jaeger Striker Eureka as he was clad in a similar uniform to Marshall Stacker Pentecost, but he had a lower ranking, ginger-red hair, and blue eyes. One of the UN Representatives spoke, “Watch your tongue Ranger Hansen…..” Then the USA UN Representative spoke up that if one looked at him, he could be mistaken for the 2012 USA Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, but his hair was a bit darker in color and spoke his peace. “You have our answer Marshall that’s on top of the disappearance of several Jaegers including Noisy Boy a Jaeger Mark 4 from Japan, El Tornado a Jaeger Mark 2 from Mexico, and Azure Defiance a Mark 3 Jaeger before it's upgrade into a Mark 5 from the Philippines several years ago shortly before Gypsy Danger’s faithful battle with Knifehead along with a few others with those three machines and their beloved pilots, this is the best option. We will fund the PPDC for eight more months, but no more and-“ He was interrupted by the Japanese UN Representative who made a cough sound for one last detail and the USA UN Representative resumed his talk. “Also, if you want to finish that money drainer Mark 6 Jaeger from Japan, you have our blessing as there are parts enough for just the basic structure, but that’s it. You are allowed control over the remaining Jaegers along with their crews and will have them relocated to the last Shatterdome we'll allow to remain open; Hong Kong in China, how you want to use them is up to you. If those missing Jaegers show up that is if they do show up by some bizarre miracle, they will have the same fate as the other Jaegers you can still use. We’ll assign you eight months of funds, but after that you’re on your own. Good day…” Seconds later, the screens all went dark as Stacker Pentecost walked away with his head down as Herc and another man named Tendo Choi looked on as the Asian-American PPDC LOCENT operator spoke out with worry and anger. “That’s it? It’s over?!” After opened a tin box he had on him, he picked up a pill, and then he swallowed a pill, Marshall Stacker Pentecost looked up and turned to his two companions before he spoke in the soon-to-be-closed Anchorage Shatterdome. “We don’t need them. Besides, I got an idea that will sound crazy, but if it works out…we’ll show them…that they were wrong to cut funds to the Jaeger Program and go for that stupid Wall of Life.” He then pulled out a drawing of a drone that will look for additional help beyond Earth and hopefully the plea for help will be heard. Then, the trio left for Hong Kong, but Stacker Pentecost on the aircraft for Hong Kong was looking at his iPad as he began his plans to bring back a veteran pilot who left; Raleigh Becket. On the far side of the world, a young woman named Mako Mori was looking at what was left of the incomplete Mark 6 Japanese Jaeger at the Tokyo Shatterdome with a sigh before she received a call from Marshall Pentecost to alert their remaining Science Team on an important task as she soon boarded a plan to Hong Kong moments later. One month later… At the Hong Kong Shatterdome, Newt or Newton Geiszler was in a very good mood as not only had Mako become a pilot of Gypsy Danger after getting a second chance at the reactivation of the Jaeger, but also the probe droids he and Herman were ordered to build were done. “Oh boy, Newt you’re a genius!” Newt said to himself with joy as he danced. Activating them, they flew out across the planet and beyond in order to find help against the monstrous creatures called Kaiju. As the days went by, hope started to fade from everyone's minds. Then one day, another rift was found making everyone scared at another Kaiju breach or attack. Wondering what it was, Marshall Pentecost ordered one of the four surviving operational Jaegers Crimson Typhoon a Mark 4 Chinese Jaeger to investigate. The location of the rift was west of Hong Kong that was near Mount Everest that when Crimson Typhoon got close, they found no Kaiju guarding it or coming out of it and with permission, they crossed into the breach that was on land instead of underwater. What they discovered was it lead to a peaceful area on land as the pilots of Crimson Typhoon who were the Wei Tang brothers Jin, Hu, and Cheung were baffled in the least. Investigating further, they knocked away a thin rock wall and found no Kaiju, but they saw desert for miles and after walking for a few hours, they saw a castle on another mountain nearby. "What is it?" Marshall Stacker Pentecost asked. "We'll take a closer look Marshall..." Wei Tang Jin said. Back at the Shatterdome, Newt along his buddy Herman Geotab and Marshall Stacker Pentecost looked on as they saw something interesting; a battle was going on as they all saw one individual that stood out; a creature called Twilight Sparkle fighting against some bug-like creatures. Another one stood out; a strong stallion that could fly and was very loyal to his duty to his country. Then before the Chinese Jaeger could move, it ended as the pilots all saw the bug-like creatures get expelled by some random force. "What was that?" Wei Tang Hu asked. "Scanning, some kind of energy though it is a very positive feeling like love or something, Marshall, do you think these pony-like creatures are the answer?" Wei Tang Cheung said. "Return to the Shatterdome, we'll deploy a drone or two to see if we can get help from this world." Stacker Pentecost said. Crimson Typhoon then left as quickly as it had appeared as once they returned, the drones were sent out with a message for help against the Kaiju. A couple of months later, the last operating drone was sent out in another attempt for help as the few that were sent to this land went unanswered though that was about to change. Back in the Shatterdome, Herman, Newt, and Marshall Stacker Pentecost looked at the latest footage from the drone as the PPDC Marshall looked at his companions with concern and just before he could speak, an alert from another drone got his attention along with Herman and Newt; a scene of the two they just saw being banished to a bad area that could cost them hope as they all heard the voices directed at the pair: "Git, you no good traitor!"     "You're now a disgrace to our nation of Equestria for doing what you just did Flash Sentry!"     "You're no longer my sister Twilight!"     "Get out of here you monster who I once called my son!"     "I, Princess Celestia hereby banish you Twilight Sparkle from Equestria forever!"     "Flash Sentry, for you arrogance! Piloting of mass murder! The bombings of Canterlot and Ponyville! Willingness to attack your own and refusing to carry out my orders I, Princess Celestia strip you of your awards, achievements, and cast you out!!"     "Traitors!"     "Monsters!"     "Savages!" “Heretic!” "Marshall, what should we do?" Newt asked. Marshall Stacker Pentecost then spoke, “Get Gypsy and Striker to that location ASAP!” Seconds later, the Jaegers Gypsy Danger and Striker Eureka were boarded, powered-up, and transported to a spot in the where Crimson Typhoon and the drones had been to the area before. After getting through successfully, the two Jaegers then raced to the spot hoping they would be in time…. Ending Theme: Requiem of the Gods