“That's right, no sign of the reactor, helicopter, or even any radiation. I wish to state I haven't seen it for myself, we're still at least a few hours from getting there, but that's the report from the men I sent ahead on foot. I can't imagine it to be true, but I trust those men otherwise. They were quite insistent. So I thought it best to tell you that much, you did say to contact you the second I had anything to report. I can't give you any other news for the time being, but as soon as I see for myself, I'll be sure to tell you what's there in greater detail.
“As strange as this is, shouldn't someone fly by for a closer look?” Takahashi had been wondering why they hadn't already done so. He thought the question might be a bad idea since it pointed out something they should already have done, but he felt he had to ask since he was started to get worried himself.
“We'll send someone as soon as we can,” the major said and then disconnected.
Takahashi noticed the pause. He could tell the major didn't like the question, perhaps they'd already sent a plane or helicopter and lost contact with it just like they did with the news helicopter?
* * *
Major Kurosaki passed on the report he got from Takahashi. His superiors were no happier than he was. And indeed he did already send a plane as Takahashi must soon assume he did, but they lost contact with it and their own satellite recon could get any clear images of the area for some reason. Hopefully the Americans would be able to provide some aerial data on the situation soon.
* * *
In another four hours Takahashi made it to the end of the road. The asphalt just seemed to have rotted away into dust and then disappeared altogether, the nuclear facility was simply not there. No buildings, no people, not even the guard post, fencing, parking lot or any of the worker's cars or any sign of the news helicopter that had supposedly gone down here. Looking around, even the debris that had washed up here with the water that had flooded the grounds was in the same state as the road. It seemed to sort of fray off like the end of a broken rope.
He saw him men walking towards him, moving slowly and checking around them with the Geiger counter. As they walked up, Hanaka began to speak.
“Sir, we aren't actually detecting much of any radiation. Even the background radiation you'd expect anywhere is almost non-existent here.”
That made no sense, Takahashi thought. He even had a few more workers scan the area with other Geiger counters with the same results. He reported his findings back to Major Kurosaki, but could offer no explanation.
* * *
Since they were still unable to get any images of the area, Captain Thomas was listening in as a recon place with escort approached the site of the nuclear reactor. As they got closer they began to pick up a 'non-signal.' A blind spot in all their monitoring equipment. Though they could certainly track the lack of data, they could tell nothing about what was going on otherwise.
“Still detecting nothing, no sign of the nuclear plant or that it was even once there. Just reduced background radiation from where it should be and no other data. There isn't any white noise as if the area was somehow cloaked, sir. That we would surely pick up. It's as if the area has been drained of it's electromagnetic radiation would be my guess.”
Captain Thomas then snatched up a headset and spoke to the operator himself. “Say again, and how do you reach that conclusion?”
“Well, sir, if there was a cloaking field, it should have lit things up like a Christmas tree, sure it would block signals, but not itself, and we aren't reading any such field. So then any lack of data would have to mean that the data just isn't there to be picked up.”
“Do you have any visual data on the area yet?”
“Not yet, sir. Cameras still aren't picking up any clear images. We'll have some visuals ourselves any moment though.”
* * *
“We've been circling the area for thirty minutes now, sir. No change in the readings, we do have visual confirmation of no buildings or wreckage at the location in question though.”
“Noted. Please change course to North zero-zero-eight degrees. We have a call for assistance. Delta Air Lines Flight 819 reports they are under attack by a strange aircraft. You are to render any possible aid at once. We estimate your ETA at just under seven minutes.
* * *
“We have radar interference as reported, but are starting to get a visual. We can see a trail of smoke coming from the Delta Air Lines flight. I can't make out the other aircraft at this range. It seems to be highly acrobatic and at least five times larger than the 767 airliner.”
“Give them a warning to break off their attack.”
“Unidentified aircraft, this is the U.S. Navy, you are hear by ordered to break off your attack. I repeat, this is the U.S. Navy, you are ordered to break off. Please respond.”
“Sir, the aircraft is not responding. It's going to destroy the airliner if we don't stop it. Permission to open fire?”
“Permission granted. Fire a single shot, see if that will break off their attack.”
“Acknowledged. Using heat-seekers. Locking on. Missile fired.”
The bridge of the Roosevelt listened quietly for the results of the missile, wondering what the effect would be on such a large aircraft. The didn't have to wait long.
“Direct hit to the midsection. No sign of smoke or debris. We have it's attention, the aircraft has broken off it's attack and is heading our way. It doesn't seem to have any wings, just one long fuselage. Hard to estimate the size, but it's easily much thicker than the 767 it was attacking.”
“No wings at all? Any signs of bombs, missiles, or other weaponry?”
“None sir. Permission to continue our attack?”
“You're clear to engage.”
“Still no radar lock, using heat-seekers. Missiles away. Three more hits. No visible effect.” Could this thing be armored? How could anything still fly with this much protection?
“Try to maintain visual, we'll send more planes with the appropriate missiles.”
“Acknowledged. Flight 819 has now turned back for Haneda Airport. They keep saying it wasn't an aircraft though. The pilot isn't making any sense, he keeps yelling 'Manda, Manda', I have no idea what that is.”
“The word isn't familiar, it must be Japanese.” Thomas replied. Speaking to the bridge he asked, “Anyone know what 'Manda' means? Someone try to find out.” Speaking back to the pilot, he continued, “Try to get closer for a visual, we need to know what this thing is in any case.”
“Understood, commencing flyby.
Sir, the only hit on 'Manda' I'm getting is some sort of dragon, but it's from the Godzilla movies..."
* * *