Looking at the Ground

───「 Human POV 」───

After stepping out of the vehicle, Hideo Takahashi and Mitsuyu Amano, flanked by two robotic escorts, walked through the area where the foundations for fortress gun emplacements were being laid. They emerged at the vast construction site beyond.

What was once a dense, thriving forest had been completely cleared, replaced by a landscape dominated by machinery and metal.

Above them, massive heavy transport planes descended from the sky, offloading shipments of construction materials and more autonomous workers. Below, teams operated towering industrial machines, moving raw materials, melting them down, and shaping them into the structures that would serve as their accommodations for the night.

As soon as the framework for a building was completed, swarms of small, unmanned robots swarmed in, seamlessly transforming skeletal frames into fully functional shelters.

The sheer scale of the operation was staggering. Dozens of machines and thousands of personnel worked tirelessly to erect what would soon become a fortress of steel. The speed of progress was nothing short of astonishing. By the end of the morning, a metallic city had begun to take shape—an entire military base, constructed at an almost surreal pace.

To an outsider, such rapid development would be nothing short of unbelievable. But for Hideo Takahashi, who had seen these construction projects countless times in preparation briefings, the sight was expected. This was efficiency on a scale few could imagine.

Upon reaching the site, the two robotic escorts guided Hideo and Mitsuyu into a newly constructed command building. Inside, a group of military officials were engaged in discussion. At their arrival, the conversation halted, and one of the officers, a man with a commanding presence, stepped forward.

"Welcome, comrades. You must be the representative from Hokkaido. I'm Yang Qing, commander of the East Asian Far Eastern Barrier Construction Support Unit."

"Hideo Takahashi, head of Emergency Management for the Hokkaido metropolitan region," he replied with a curt nod.

"Mitsuyu Amano, Mr. Takahashi's assistant," his companion added.

The two exchanged firm handshakes before Yang Qing's expression turned serious. He wasted no time getting to the point.

"Alright, let's skip the formalities. Mr. Takahashi, we need to address the matter of power supply and construction materials. I assume you have an answer for us?"

"That depends—how much are we talking about?"

"500 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and 10 million tons of steel."

Back at the Hokkaido Metropolitan Government Hall, the weight of the report sat heavily in Amano's hands. As a seasoned member of parliament, he had seen his fair share of logistical nightmares, but this was on another level.

He glanced at Takahashi, aware that neither of them would have rushed back if they hadn't already found a solution.

"We've figured it out," Takahashi stated simply as he and Amano handed over a newly compiled report.

"Currently, ten major steel manufacturers, including Tengang, Shin Kyokuto, and Shinkyu, have a stockpile of steel produced this month that hasn't been shipped due to emergency cargo rerouting."

"If we requisition their entire stock, we can cover the shortfall in construction materials. But I need your authorization to proceed."

"And the power situation?"

"With Tokyo gone, the Far East has an excess energy surplus. If we redirect a portion of the power originally allocated to the Tokyo grid, supplying an additional 100 billion kilowatt-hours won't be an issue."

Amano didn't hesitate. He swiftly signed off on the document before handing it to Takahashi.

"Get it done. Don't disappoint me."

"Understood."

With the official authorization in hand, Takahashi and Amano exited the government hall, summoned a self-driving vehicle, and set off for the port.

"For the production of 34 Anti-Godzilla Cannons, we're going to need a total of 170 million tons of steel."

"Other regions have pledged to supply 150 million tons. That still leaves us 20 million tons short."

"The first Anti-Godzilla Cannon is expected to be completed in five days. The full installation will take 50 days. Are we on track?"

"Steel isn't the issue. The real bottleneck is energy storage."

"Each cannon requires 200 million watt-hours per shot to generate a blast strong enough to damage Godzilla."

"If we assume 50 shots per cannon while Godzilla is advancing, we're looking at a total requirement of 300 billion watt-hours."

"And we don't have that capacity?"

"As it stands, we only have enough stored energy to power five cannons for a single round of firing. If we want sustainable, long-term firepower, we need at least one trillion watt-hours of battery storage. Without it, our operation grinds to a halt."

"Understood. We'll make it happen. Expect delivery to the Far East within ten days."

Seven hours later, on the road leading to the Anti-Godzilla Cannon base, an endless convoy of heavy-duty trucks stretched as far as the eye could see. Each one carried essential construction materials, forming a mechanical procession that snaked its way through the landscape.

On an elevated platform overlooking the base, two figures observed the organized chaos below.

"I have to admit, your efficiency is impressive. I've always heard that the Far East was slow to act, but you've proven otherwise."

"That was before the nuclear war. After that, the whole world changed."

"Fair enough. Maybe I had the wrong impression."

A heavy silence followed, punctuated only by the distant hum of machinery.

"Want a cigarette?" one of them offered.

"No thanks. I quit," the other replied before adding, "But I do have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Do you really believe we can finish all of this before Godzilla arrives?"

The response was measured. "I can't say for certain."

"Godzilla's awakening and landfall aren't dictated by us. All we can do is build as fast as possible and prepare this place to serve as humanity's first line of defense."

"Commander Yang, do you think we even stand a chance at defeating Godzilla?"

Yang Qing exhaled slowly. "Defeating it? Possibly. Killing it? That's a different question."

"Godzilla is still a living organism. It can move, adapt, and retreat. The Anti-Godzilla Cannons are powerful, but they aren't a one-shot kill. They also can't be used underwater."

"Even if we succeed in pushing it back, without a major technological breakthrough, we won't be able to finish the job."

Takahashi fell into thoughtful silence, absorbing the weight of those words.

"But don't lose hope," Yang Qing continued. "I know about your background. I believe in your ability to see this through."

"A few days ago, I heard someone else say the exact same thing—that we'd definitely win. Their reasoning was science. What's yours?"

Instead of answering, Yang Qing gestured downward. "Take a look."

Takahashi followed his gaze.

Even though it was already past ten at night, the base was alive with activity. The steady roar of transport helicopters echoed through the air. Robots tirelessly welded the massive cannon structures together. Workers operated in shifts, never pausing, never resting.

Click. Click. Click.

A series of substations came online one by one, flooding the construction site with brilliant artificial daylight. The mountains, once shrouded in darkness, were now illuminated as if it were midday. Vehicles moved in perfect synchronization. Machines hummed in harmony.

It was a symphony of progress.

Takahashi understood.

March 21, 2208. 22:31.

Nine days before Godzilla's awakening.

(A/N: Dropping a chapter per day for a day or two, then going back to the usual two chapters per day.)