Chapter 5
The debut of Shane as a pilot and his Jaeger, Rajah, sent shockwaves throughout the world. This was the first time a single-pilot Jaeger had not only functioned effectively but had also showcased capabilities that rivaled or even surpassed those of traditional two-pilot Jaegers. Experts and analysts from various nations scrambled to analyze the implications of this breakthrough.
News outlets, both international and national, featured Shane's remarkable feat as their top story. The footage of the battle, recorded by both PPDC cameras and media personnel on-site, went viral within hours. Experts dissected every move, every maneuver Shane had executed. His combat style, a blend of agility, precision, and brute force, was unlike anything seen before in Jaeger combat. Where two pilots often struggled to maintain synchronization, Shane displayed a level of control that was beyond what had been deemed possible.
In the PPDC main headquarters, Marshal Stacker Pentecost watched the battle footage intently. The footage had been transmitted from the Philippine branch, and now, the upper echelons of the PPDC were gathered in a high-level meeting.
"This is… incredible," muttered one of the analysts, rewinding a section of the fight and playing it in slow motion. "He's not just reacting—he's predicting. It's as if he sees the Kaiju's moves before they happen."
Marshal Pentecost remained silent, his eyes fixed on the screen. Shane's fluid movements and adaptability intrigued him. A single-pilot Jaeger was theoretically impossible because of the immense neural strain, but Shane made it look almost effortless. Almost.
"What's his condition post-battle?" Pentecost finally asked, turning to a representative from the Philippine branch.
The man hesitated before replying, "He's… fine. No signs of neural strain. His vitals were stable even after disengagement."
Pentecost's eyes narrowed. That was the real anomaly. Every Jaeger pilot in history had suffered neural backlash after prolonged combat. Even the best of them. But Shane Buron? He had piloted Rajah solo and emerged unscathed.
"We need to bring him in," Pentecost stated firmly. "I want him at the Hong Kong Shatterdome for further evaluation."
Across the world, nations that had been struggling against Kaiju invasions now turned their attention toward Shane and Rajah. Many governments began to question their own Jaeger programs. Could single-pilot Jaegers become the future? Could Shane's techniques be replicated?
As the PPDC reeled from recent Kaiju attacks that had devastated several cities, the success of Rajah and Shane became a beacon of hope. Some countries reached out to the Buron Enterprise, eager to gain insight into their technology. Others, particularly those with strained relations with the PPDC, viewed the emergence of a single-pilot Jaeger as a potential game-changer in the ongoing war.
Meanwhile, Shane found himself in the eye of a storm. His face was plastered all over television screens. Reporters camped outside his family's estate, desperate for an interview. His siblings were bombarded with questions about his newfound fame.
Sitting in his personal quarters within the Philippine PPDC headquarters, Shane scrolled through news articles about himself. Some hailed him as a revolutionary pilot, while others speculated on the dangers of a single-pilot system.
A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. It was his father.
"Shane," his father began, his tone filled with pride, "Marshal Pentecost wants you in Hong Kong. The main PPDC headquarters wants to conduct further tests on you and Rajah."
Shane "I expected as much."
"This is your chance to change the world," his father said firmly. "To prove that what you did wasn't a fluke."
Shane nodded. "Then I better not keep them waiting."
End of chapter.