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[i]As part of the Colossus pilots' regular training, they were taught how to fight kaiju according to the knowledge and experience that had been accumulated over the years. [color=ed1c24]"Kaiju are notoriously difficult to kill,"[/color] Dr. McCulloch lectures in a darkened room, her arms crossed while flicks of her wrist direct the red dot from the laser pointer in her hand to point out relevant points on the screen, and clicks on the device advance the slideshow. This was her in her element; an academic, a professor. She spoke with an almost nonchalant manner about dismantling mankind's greatest existential threat, hiding her own hatred of the creatures. [color=ed1c24]"Apparently, the Hyperian name for kaiju roughly translates as 'the legacy of a star', whatever that means, but it's why we've started referring to them simply by the star systems that they supposedly originate from. According to what we've gleaned from the Hyperian ship's logs, kaiju are wholly unique existences unto themselves. The death of a kaiju is literally extinction for that species since there are no others, a somewhat comforting thought. But as such, kaiju are primed for self-preservation, capable of rapid regeneration and the ability to consume vast quantities of energy to heal. Defeating a kaiju requires preventing it from gaining access to the specific forms of energy it consumes. But this is not enough. They traveled lightyears to come here; their energy reserves are more than enough to keep them floating in space for millennia. In a fight, they will keep regenerating unless their core is exposed and extracted."[/color] The slide begins to play a movie, snippets of recordings of fights between the Hyper Men and various kaiju. In each fight, the Hyper Men finish with attacks that pull some writhing, alien heart out of the kaiju. The kaiju's body disintegrates, and the core is taken into custody by CETM. [color=ed1c24]"The core can be located anywhere in the kaiju's body, though usually in the head or chest. During this fight, you must locate this core as quickly as possible. So far, CETM has had the audacity of keeping these in storage, however, I would have you destroy them if given the chance. Dr. Park plays a dangerous game, and I would rather he have fewer toys."[/color][/i]

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[color=fff200]"GO! Anvi!"[/color] Shinobu calls out, elated that Talos seemed to have the upper hand against the Centauri alien. This was the first fight against a kaiju without a combatant from Project Olympian, and hopes were running high. Since his father left, Shinobu had borne the responsibility of being Earth's sole protector against the kaiju, and the burden had taken its toll. Was he really rooting for Anvi, or was he merely happy to pass on the responsibility?

As Anvi grabs the Centauri alien's tendrils, it reacts in surprise and attempts to pull away. Unable to do so, the tendrils spark with electrifying energy. Talos' cockpit readouts show minimal damage; despite being a large metallic machine, it seems the mech is quite well insulated. Recalling McCulloch's lecture, the kaiju's core would need to be located. However, it's head had a shrunken, almost vestigial look to it, seemingly without the space to hold a 'brain'. Most likely the core was in its chest, where such a creature's heart might be located, which was a bit of a problem, given how well-armored the creature's torso was.

[color=00aeef]"Electricity,"[/color] Dr. Park muses, [color=00aeef]"Did Oleander know?"[/color] He looks over at Helen, who only glares back but can't hide a smirk. Obviously, she would not design something that would simply short circuit at the first sign of an electrical attack. but the thought was troubling, the coincident too glaring.

The kaiju's tendrils wrap around Talos' arm trying to constrict it, but to no avail; they writhe and seek out weaknesses and openings in Talos' armor but fail to do that as well. Finally, it brandishes the two menacing claw flippers and take a wild swing at Talos.