Finalizing the Landings; February 20th

"You're crazy… you know that right?" I addressed our resident crazy Australian with a bit of awe. We'd all gathered on Lubang, finalizing the landing zones. And Jake… well… from the looks of things… I stared up at the massive form of Godzilla standing above the newly laid runways.

"What? She's just like any other girl you know?" He said defensively. The guy was absolutely soaked, having almost forgotten about the meeting today as he was busy trying to date a god damn kaiju.

I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore Li's nails digging into my arm. Her death grip was likely to draw blood if this continued. She stared up at Godzilla, her face pale. Siska was subtly trying to pry her loose, so far to no avail.

"So… you are absolutely positive? Without a shadow of a doubt?" I pressed Jake, turning my gaze to him. He rolled his eyes.

"Mate, I couldn't be more serious if I tried. In less than forty eight hours my marines are going to make their landings at Mariveles. I'm even going to set up my headquarters on Corregidor." He smiled mischievously, sneaking a glance at the monster looming over everyone.

I looked around the base, the soldiers warily watching Godzilla, fingers hovering nervously over triggers, every weapon on this damn island was likely pointed at the monster right now… and now there was a bit of blood dribbling down my arm.

"Li. Your nails fucking hurt. Let go." She snapped back, looking at my arm before releasing it, seeming even paler as she tried to make the blood stop. I bought a first aid kit from the store, wrapping some gauze around my arm and taping it down.

I sighed, tossing the kit to the side. I looked at the series of hastily selected landings sites, a complete reorientation to the south of Manila, far less favorable approaches.

"Li? Your thoughts?" I asked, silently thanking Siska as she got between Li Fung and myself. Li glanced down at the map. Then spent a short while staring at Jake.

"If he believes… I'll also direct 2nd and 6th Panzergrenadier divisions to use the original landing sites." I sighed. Glancing up at Godzilla one last time.

"Alright Jake… if this goes sideways…" I grumbled. He laughed heartily.

"You'll see mate! Gotta believe sometimes, faith nourishes the soul." He grinned, skipping out of the tent and off towards the looming figure. it was almost unbelievable, watching the massive beast let him clamber up its side before carefully wading into the sea.

That alone. That Godzilla had swam over, stared at us for an hour, then just left like nothing had happened? Jake just might be right. I only worried if that girl he mentioned was fully in control, or the instincts of the monster.

I turned to Zerfirov, who'd been over in the corner, quietly watching everything, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he took long, steady drags. He saw my glance and stood, dropping the cigarette and grinding it out.

"Are you comfortable with your original landing zones in Subic?" I asked as he leaned over the table. 

"It's the best option for a port that we have, sir. Close to Manila proper with enough facilities to easily unload supplies. Far enough that if shit goes sideways we can fall back on it with little worry." He said, looking down at the maps spread on the table.

There'd been a lot of reports of strange new mutants, far more than I was really comfortable with. Almost like whatever nests were under Manila were being used like engineering vats. Being tinkered with, perfected. It wasn't much of a wonder why the system had decided Manila needed liberation. The only question…

We were being pulled into a war to serve some grand vision, being treated like parts of a machine. It left me to wonder? Were we just victims of the times? Part of someone's larger goals?

I gave Zerfirov approval for the landings, he'd iron out where and when each unit would hit the beaches. I walked the length of the runway towards the base's eastern edge, staring at the smoky horizon.

Were whoever made these schemes just crazy madmen on a leash? Young men that had lost their way? Or just blinded by illusions of grandeur that shimmered enough to seem real at times?

Regardless of their schemes, the misery they brought, this damn system. It was the line between us and death. I was one of the chosen, one of ten picked to defend humanity. One of the likely millions of soldiers holding the line, forming humanity's spine. Creating a lethal design, a new paradigm. To a degree I was just a man following orders, just like those under me.

A people in despair, clinging to what we could. People seeking answers wherever they could. Growing anger, hate… someone was going to have to be blamed, to pay that price. Humanity's fury.

I could see it already, the wicked propaganda, spurned by whoever found someone to blame. They'd be the pariah. No one would stop as a people would be killed, as soldiers kicked in door, former friends turning into foes.

Their freedom would burn. A final solution would be enacted. Millions of innocents would die upon the altar of vengeance. But they wouldn't care. They'd be cast into the flames to die. Dreams and hope dying in flames.

Once we walked through those blackened twisted gates… there would be no turning back. I could only hope it would happen long after I no longer walked amongst the living, that the retribution occurred long after my death, and my actions had no bearing on it.

Enough of this dreary, satirical thinking. In two days armies would move, boots would kiss Luzon and a new liberation would grace the Philippines.