Dr. Takado was dashed to the floor.
A second roar shook the entire ship. Dr. Takado pulled herself off the floor. Fearfully, she peered out through the cracked windows.
The Pacific night was lit by blue electric flashes. The water glowed as if on fire.
Godzilla comes , Dr. Takado thought, an eerie calm descending on her. It is karma.
Then fire ripped through the research ship as the fuel tanks ignited. Crewmen and technicians were incinerated in the terrible heat.
Finally, a tremendous blast ripped through the ship, and it split into two burning pieces that quickly sank into the dark ocean like stones.
A row of jagged, irregular dorsal spines broke the surface briefly, then sank again as Godzilla swam away.
The destruction of the Kongo-Maru happened so fast - and was so complete - that not even the briefest message of warning had been broadcast.
12
BIRDS OF PREY
Friday, May 28, 1999, 12:07 P.M.
Project Valkyrie's main hangar
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
According to the White House press secretary, the first phase of General Burt Selkirk's battle plan was a great success. The swarm was contained, many of the giant insects were killed or wounded, and the lives of dozens of civilians had been saved.
According to Pentagon insiders, however, the initial assault was an unmitigated disaster. Million-dollar aircraft had been reduced to metal fragments and a number of pilots - trained with plenty of Air Force dollars - had been slaughtered, possibly in vain, because the swarm was far from defeated.
In fact, three hours after the battle in Kansas began, it was obvious there would be no immediate victory. Contrary to the kaiju ologists' predictions, the creatures had proved to be immune to cold. Now the scientists were thinking that the Kamacuras had gone dormant only long enough to grow wings.
At least the initial assault had confirmed that the creatures were relatively easy to destroy. The biggest problem the military faced now was their numbers. After the first two hours, the A-10s were recalled, and F-111 low-level fighter/bombers were scorching the big bugs with napalm.
The tanks were able to hold the creatures back. So far, none of the monsters had moved beyond Route 70 or the banks of the Big Creek, despite their ability to fly.
The bad news was that casualties were indeed heavy, and the battle was far from over. The joint military command announced that the conflict was expected to stretch on into the night.
In the meantime, reconnaissance teams were sent into areas where the Kamacuras had rampaged. Civilian survivors who'd found refuge in storm shelters, root cellars, and drain pipes were quickly airlifted out.
Tia watched the INN network feed and saw her uncle interview a farmer, his wife, and a nine-year-old girl who had survived the onslaught by hiding in a tornado shelter.
The G-Force team, along with Air Force technicians and Colonel Krupp, watched the battle in real time on the giant television screens. Over the course of the three hours, they lost their connection with one satellite after another as each moved out of range. Soon, however, another would move into orbit over the battlefield.
Tia Shimura was enjoying herself thoroughly. She took to the satellite equipment the way she took to every other technical problem thrown at her - like "a duck to water," according to Colonel Krupp.
At ten o'clock, the G-Force team broke for brunch. To Colonel Krupp's surprise, the usually solitary Kip Daniels sat between Pierce Dillard and Tobias Nelson at the table. They didn't talk much, but at least some of the tension that had fragmented the team was evaporating. Krupp believed the change was due to the harsh lesson of the battle in Kansas.
During the meal, Lori Angelo was unusually quiet. She cou1dn't forget the haunted eyes of that mute little girl she saw on television, nor the troubling feeling that her dreams had been more than mere dreams.
As the meal ended, General Taggart made an appearance. He
A second roar shook the entire ship. Dr. Takado pulled herself off the floor. Fearfully, she peered out through the cracked windows.
The Pacific night was lit by blue electric flashes. The water glowed as if on fire.
Godzilla comes , Dr. Takado thought, an eerie calm descending on her. It is karma.
Then fire ripped through the research ship as the fuel tanks ignited. Crewmen and technicians were incinerated in the terrible heat.
Finally, a tremendous blast ripped through the ship, and it split into two burning pieces that quickly sank into the dark ocean like stones.
A row of jagged, irregular dorsal spines broke the surface briefly, then sank again as Godzilla swam away.
The destruction of the Kongo-Maru happened so fast - and was so complete - that not even the briefest message of warning had been broadcast.
12
BIRDS OF PREY
Friday, May 28, 1999, 12:07 P.M.
Project Valkyrie's main hangar
Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada
According to the White House press secretary, the first phase of General Burt Selkirk's battle plan was a great success. The swarm was contained, many of the giant insects were killed or wounded, and the lives of dozens of civilians had been saved.
According to Pentagon insiders, however, the initial assault was an unmitigated disaster. Million-dollar aircraft had been reduced to metal fragments and a number of pilots - trained with plenty of Air Force dollars - had been slaughtered, possibly in vain, because the swarm was far from defeated.
In fact, three hours after the battle in Kansas began, it was obvious there would be no immediate victory. Contrary to the kaiju ologists' predictions, the creatures had proved to be immune to cold. Now the scientists were thinking that the Kamacuras had gone dormant only long enough to grow wings.
At least the initial assault had confirmed that the creatures were relatively easy to destroy. The biggest problem the military faced now was their numbers. After the first two hours, the A-10s were recalled, and F-111 low-level fighter/bombers were scorching the big bugs with napalm.
The tanks were able to hold the creatures back. So far, none of the monsters had moved beyond Route 70 or the banks of the Big Creek, despite their ability to fly.
The bad news was that casualties were indeed heavy, and the battle was far from over. The joint military command announced that the conflict was expected to stretch on into the night.
In the meantime, reconnaissance teams were sent into areas where the Kamacuras had rampaged. Civilian survivors who'd found refuge in storm shelters, root cellars, and drain pipes were quickly airlifted out.
Tia watched the INN network feed and saw her uncle interview a farmer, his wife, and a nine-year-old girl who had survived the onslaught by hiding in a tornado shelter.
The G-Force team, along with Air Force technicians and Colonel Krupp, watched the battle in real time on the giant television screens. Over the course of the three hours, they lost their connection with one satellite after another as each moved out of range. Soon, however, another would move into orbit over the battlefield.
Tia Shimura was enjoying herself thoroughly. She took to the satellite equipment the way she took to every other technical problem thrown at her - like "a duck to water," according to Colonel Krupp.
At ten o'clock, the G-Force team broke for brunch. To Colonel Krupp's surprise, the usually solitary Kip Daniels sat between Pierce Dillard and Tobias Nelson at the table. They didn't talk much, but at least some of the tension that had fragmented the team was evaporating. Krupp believed the change was due to the harsh lesson of the battle in Kansas.
During the meal, Lori Angelo was unusually quiet. She cou1dn't forget the haunted eyes of that mute little girl she saw on television, nor the troubling feeling that her dreams had been more than mere dreams.
As the meal ended, General Taggart made an appearance. He
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