GigaBash (2022) reports
The following is a list of reports for all original GigaBash characters.
Gorogong
Legend of Gorogong #1
In a time before this island was named, King Kahu'a and Princess Luana led our ancestors on a great voyage across the ocean. They stood with pride on their great sailboats, eagerly searching the horizon for new lands to settle. Soon, a massive volcano poked out from the blue waters. The crew jumped around with great excitement. At last, they've found a fertile island ready for settlement! Its jungles grew halfway up the towering volcano, an irresistible sight after weeks of restless sailing. And so, they made their way to the shores and began to unload their luggage. Little did they know, they had trespassed into dangerous territory, for their is a tyrannical beast who rules this little paradise... He is the one we called Gorogong.
The beast rushed out to greet his fellow guests with untrammeled fury. His seething rage melting the sand into glass. Our ancestors took up arms and began to fight the beast. Yet bone blades and wooden spears simply bounced off his obsidian skin. The beast's reckless swings easily destroyed all their sailboats. With no way to escape the island, they fled into the dense jungle, hoping to lose his relentless pursuit.
Nevertheless, Gorogong was as stubborn as his unquenchable anger. He followed them into the wood, burning every tree and vegetation in his path. Eventually our ancestors reached a dead end. Their last moments were filled with the thumping shockwaves of his footsteps. They helplessly cried as their impending doom approaches.
Legend of Gorogong #2
Yet, in their darkest hour, a faint light shines through their hopelessness. Princess Luana sang her final song to soothe the crying children. Her voice echoed throughout the dark forest. Even the beast was enchanted by her graceful rhythm and froze in his footsteps. He bent down to indulge in her tranquilizing voice.
Although the people were frightened by his monstrous face, Princess Luana gently approached the mad beast. His rage extinguished... the wild furnace that burns in his eyes had quivered into a faint ember. It sat motionlessly, and without intent, alas Gorogong had been tamed.
Unfortunately, his presence alone posed a great danger for her people. He had already seeded them with fear, and consequences of his rage cannot be undone. There was no way they could live side by side in harmony. Princess Luana looked at her father one last time and bid her farewell in silence.
She led the beast far away from her people. She knew that leaving him alone would only lead to inevitable destruction. King Kahu'a watched helplessly as her daughter led the beast up the volcano that centers the island. Without hesitation, she leaped into the crater with Gorogong following behind. A wave of cool mist blasted out! When they went up to investigate, the once active volcano had been sealed shut with the mad beast inside. The Princess, however, was never found. Some say she had turned into the volcano itself to keep Gorogong imprisoned for eternity. Others say her spirit lives on in the birds that sing in these jungles; their lullabies continue to smother the beast in sleep.
Whichever ending you might believe, or whether if it was even real... her actions that day marked the end of Gorogong's reign and the beginning of human settlement here on Luana island.
Pipijuras
November 12, 1984- P.P.J.U.R.A.S.
To: Lionel Richard, Council member of the GTDI Central Command
Thanks to Reiner's new design on the energy core, we've finally got P.P.J.U.R.A.S. running properly. The kid is quite the genius! He's made many improvements to the design, one of them being the Energy Refractor Lens. It's able to condense Giga Energy into a ball-shaped projectile and fire it at high speed. It even explodes on impact! With further development, we'll be able to fit these on our armored vehicles. It'll drastically improve our offensive capabilities when fighting those damned Titans!
The cybernetic department is hard at work getting the specimen on its feet. They are currently using electric pulses to stimulate muscle contraction for movement. However, certain body parts that have been damaged beyond repair have been completely replaced with mechanical implants. At this rate, it'll be able to move autonomously in no time! But the Mind Control system is still in its infancy. Maybe Reiner boy can help us sort out that mess down the road. Soon, we'll be able to have an 'Alien Cyborg' fighting on our side against those Titan menaces. Your colleagues will definitely wet their pants when they see what this thing is capable of!
Dr. Heinz Ludwig
Chief Weapons Research
Global Titan Defense Initiative
February 7, 2004- RE Shut It Down!
To: Adrian Renaud, Council member of the GTDI Central Command
The cuts in our funding have dealt a huge blow to the project's progression. We are running out of the necessary resources to complete P.P.J.U.R.A.S. to its planned specifications. It is operational but terribly unsafe for field deployment. Here are the details:
The Mind Control system attached to its head section is known to loosen after a few test runs. The attachment design is outdated, and it's struggling to keep up with all the new tech we've put on it. It desperately needs an overhaul before we can send it out.
We'll need new materials to fabricate a new design, and with all due respect, that would require funding from your side, sir. There are too many random malfunctions with the current version. We've been using scrap parts from the junkyard to keep it together. Still, it's proving difficult if not worsens the situation.
I understand you may have your doubts about my capabilities as a leader for this department. Dr. Reiner has entrusted me with this project since his departure in 1998. It has passed through the hands of many geniuses, and cancelling it now just to "save cost?" It doesn't seem right to me sir.
We just have one last thing to fix, and it'll be the perfect war machine. Again, I'm advising against the cancellation of Project P.P.J.U.R.A.S. If channeling more funds is out of the question, at least let us maintain it until we can prove its capabilities in the field.
Dr. John Adler
Chief of Weapons Research,
Global Titan Defense Initiative
Thundatross
Personal Entry #7
21st Dec 1991
We've finally acquired enough Giga Crystals to get things rolling, 12.7 kilograms, to be exact. It's amazing how much mass is packed in something this small. It probably has the potential to produce more power than a full-sized nuclear reactor. We just need to find a way to channel it safely into something conventional... like electricity.
I'm still working on the next Gigatron Reactor design (v 4.0). The previous version (v 3.72) had a malfunction in the stabilizer chip. which caused a meltdown. Most parts were destroyed, including the crystal... Luckily we only used a 5-gram fragment from the main crystal. We'll have to start from scratch for this new one.
We discovered these crystals radiate energy in all directions and have a tendency to alter the chemical structure of nearby objects. One of my more peculiar observations is the cellular regrowth of organic materials. My half-eaten pear actually grew back some of its bitten-off portions... It even expanded its size after a few hours of close exposure to the crystal! But strangely, the effects aren't consistent. I don't see any of those effects on myself or any of my colleagues. I still hypothesize that the Titans use this same energy to grow into an S-class.
Our knowledge of this mysterious energy is still in its infancy. I estimate at least another 15 years of hard work and the involvement of many talented individuals. We'll have to increase our net profit on our civilian-grade products... Maybe even contemplate some kind of deal with the GTDI for additional funding.
Project T.R.O.S.S.: Entry #145
4th Jun 2013
With Dr. Reiner leading the charge, we've got most of the systems running smoothly. His reputation from his years working in Area-51 did not disappoint. System power output outperformed by 543.85% from what we've initially predicted. The reactor framework held strong despite the massive overload. I believe it's safe to say we can finally begin integrating the Reactor into an actual mechanical body. It won't be long until the average human can stand toe-to-toe with a 35m tall Titan.
Thinking back to my younger days when I just started out, I was driven by an insatiable curiosity to understand Giga Energy. But with something this powerful coming out from my lab... I fear it may fall into the wrong hands and doom us all... that very thought haunts my very being...
Perhaps I should consult Dr. Reiner... maybe he'll have some more brilliant suggestions. Then again, he'll probably go against my idea of hard-coding a biometrics security system into the design... It'll only allow me access and operate to the suit. Then again... my intuition tells me to do it regardless... It'll have to do for now, at least until we figure out the criteria (both physical and moral) for selecting a pilot. Sigh... if only Megumi was still with us... she probably has the answer to this...
Project T.R.O.S.S.: Entry #295
The suit is nearing its completion and will soon be ready for combat. We even got the Condenser Sword MK-I operational! It can channel Giga Energy directly from the Reactor Core and even gather more from the surrounding, condensing both into a concentrated mass of Giga Energy. It'll be able to cut through anything with ease!
It also creates lightning sparks around the sword upon activation... it's as if it was empowered with magic! Hmm... "Thunder-Robot". "Lightning-Fighter". "Shocker-Sword"... I'm sure Yuuki can come up with a fitting name for the suit! Yes! That'll be an enjoyable family activity for us! Am I doing this right, Megumi?
However, I am more concerned with Dr. Reiner's growing insistence on selling our blueprints to the GTDI for mass production. He's pretty firm on cleansing the world of the Titan menace... Everyone knows the GTDI is too muddled with corruption to be trusted with such a powerful weapon. But without Gigaman, it's becoming harder to keep up with these Titan invasions, both in Japan and around the world... It's starting to feel selfish on my end to not share its knowledge outside.
At any rate, those questions will have to be put on hold. We have to focus on getting the suit ready for its first field test for now.
Woolley
J. Lorenz Personal Journal #231
12th Dec 2009
Jolly days! Discovery after great discovery! What a fruitful research expedition this is coming to be! We were charmed with good fortune since our arrival in the Himalaya Mountains.
First off, the carbon dating results are in! If I'm not mistaken, these fossils are from a type of prehistoric small mammalian that lived in this region long before humans even existed. Based on the geographical layers in this area, they migrated here after some kind of a cataclysm sometime around the Pleistocene Epoch. Marty also found evidence that these little creatures had thick fur insulating their bodies from frigid weather.
We've also noticed large amounts of frozen mud craters dotted all over these mountains. I think they used to be hot springs... but they're all dried up now... Elizabeth thinks it's probably just erosion. Intriguingly, I've also detected small traces of Giga energy at the bottom of these craters.
This might sound like a crazy idea... I think these prehistoric mammals are the ancestors of the Yetis. Perhaps they soaked in the hot springs to keep themselves warm? The long-term exposure to Giga energy in those waters might cause them to grow larger each generation.
My grandfather, the great Austin Lorenz, documented the sighting of a massive hairy creature appearing in these very mountains. He especially noted their height was about 4-stories tall. There was also the local practice of venturing to the mountain peak to collect giant fur balls to be made into winter coats!
It all adds up! Although we haven't found a live specimen yet... I remain hopeful! I can't wait to see the look on the research committee's face when I bring one back to Boston.
J. Lorenz Personal Journal #355
24th January 2014
It's been 2 days since the GTDI Research Committee confirmed the termination of this research team. Morale is low here at camp. Marty and Ellie had already started packing. Dang it... just when we're so close to finally finding a alive specimen...
We've been out here for 5 years already! The timing couldn't be any worse... We just recently discovered a trail of destroyed trees that lead Northwards. These are perhaps markings left behind by these elusive creatures. I believe these are evidence of the Great Yeti Migration! Maybe that's why we couldn't find them here?! Perhaps they have set off from these mountains to search for new Giga Energy-filled hot springs? I am certain their bodies have evolved to absorb Giga Energy instead of regular food for sustenance. The local tales suggest they are harmless and do not seem interested in food...
Marty thinks I am getting way too obsessed with them. He has kids and is probably homesick! Meanwhile, Ellie had already gathered the info she set out to acquire. I guess it's just me who's not ready to retire... I will find these magnificent creatures someday... just gotta keep pushing forward!
North it is! By the next sunrise, I shall continue forth on this journey! Even if it means going it alone! I am so close to the answer! I know it to be true! They'll see!!!
Skorak
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 1
Doug Chapman, a student from my 'Heritage of Ancient Humans' class, reached out to me in private. He sparked my interest when he his indoctrination into an international cult called the Eyes of Skorak! He cited that it originated from an uncharted island called 'Tarabak'?
It all seemed like a prank until he showed me the actual scripture of this so-called 'religion.' It had the weathered look of a thousand-year-old book. The pages within were filled with unknown hieroglyphics and strange diagrams of a 4-eyed deity. The images alone invoke a subconscious terror deep inside my heart. "How curious!" I said to myself. I was hooked! Intrigued! I must know!! Where is Tarabak? What kind of civilization existed there? What grave truths had men not discovered in this age of science?!
Today, these questions brought me to Puerto Rico, where we met with Captain Garcia and his crew of renowned treasure hunters. Their sources cite the uncharted island likely resides in the seas around South East Asia. We'll be setting off tomorrow morning. I hope I don't get seasick...
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 4
No! No! No! She is not what I expected her to be. I mean, seriously!? A colossal living mass of vines and flowers! Are you joking?! For God's sake! She's a giant plant monster! During the ceremony, she sniffed out Doug's ridiculous pagan mask. Apparently, that Skorak he was preaching about is one of her rivals! Which makes us prime fertilizer for her freakin' garden!!
We were hunted by more plant creatures! They were little one-eyed creatures with purple spikes! I mean, compared to their Queen, they were little, but to us?! Well...as tall as my house! Then there's the larger fellow. I presume it was taller than the Queen herself! Its footsteps tremored the earth when it chased after us. By the Gods, they were a terrifying lot!
We were finally rescued by Doug's fellow "Eyes of Skoraks." They threw stink bombs to distract her while we were escorted away. I remember we followed a river upstream and climbed some steep elevations. We eventually reached a grand waterfall surrounded by cliffs and rocky hills. There was also a massive temple complex in the middle of the waterfall! How'd these wild-men manage to build that?! Well... at least it's safe to rest now.
They let us into the building and gave us some food. It's slimy and somewhat chewy. I have no idea what it is... Doug was pleased! He finally met his fellow brethren. He dragged one of them to sit with us. With Doug acting as translator, he began to preach about the story of their Overlord, o' Skorak, The Great Devourer.
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 5
Transcript from Skorak follower:
Hundred of years ago, the people of Tarabak lived with happy blindness under the shadow of the Dragon King. Those who grew weary sought to overthrow his tyrannical reign. It was only a few years ago when our great leaders gathered in these very halls. They formed a circle and began the forbidden ritual. They shed their blood and poured the Violet Elixir into the forbidden well. The halls echoed with their dark chants and the pungent smell of incense! We were desperate! We needed help! It was time for the Dragon King to fall! Tarabak needs a new ruler! And from the depths of the temple Skorak answered our call.
In the past, every year before the harvest festival, it was tradition for all the people of Tarabak to offer a sacrifice to the Dragon King. It was the 97th year when it happened! Our great leaders gave the most generous offering during the festival! 50 carts worth of Violet Elixir! But little did he know it was laced with the Overlord's poison. The foolish King fell for our trick and allowed the wise Skorak to devour him from the inside out! The king is no more! Skorak merged with His remains and took his skull as a prized trophy! All hail Skorak, our one true Overlord!
-Transcript End-
As the man finished his last words, he burst into maniacal laughter, and Doug followed suit. The halls began to fill up with the same madness. It appears the Captain and I are the only sane people left. Doug is desperate to be inducted into their group. Apparently, every follower must receive a sting from Skorak's venom. Those who lack devotion will be tormented; those who are loyal will be enlightened. They say it grants them the ability to connect themselves with fellow cult members, all 5 senses, memories, and all. Perhaps Skorak is the one who seems to control them all? I guess that's how these cultists got their name... "Eyes of Skoraks," huh? Well... I certainly will not partake in this bizarre ritual! After all, curious as I may be, I still value my most personal privacy.
Gigaman
The San'ya Shonen
Not much is publicly known about Gigaman outside of his heroic career. Growing up watching this legendary hero at work only inspired me to uncover his true story. Who is he? Where did he come from? Is he even human? These questions led me here to San'ya District. The recent gentrification projects have completely transformed this area. Before that, it was poverty-stricken neighborhood, but today it's one of the more bustling districts in Tokyo. This made it a real challenge to find the original residents from the early days. Well, here are some of my findings...
The senior folks recall a 'Giant' appearing out of nowhere around the 1980's. He resembled a teenage boy in a jumpsuit. At the time, he was fighting against a Titan that was invading the area. They recall he sent the Titan flying into the sea with a single punch. Best of all, this 'Giant' had a letter 'G' on his chest... clearly a Gigaman trademark. This just means I'm on the right track! They also noted the commotion broke out near the Kamikuzu Orphanage. I should probably head there later to look for possible clues.
Conversations with Ms. Haruko
This is Kamikuzu Orphanage. According to the folks here, it was once overcrowded. Most of them were young survivors of the 1970 Tokyo crisis. It probably played a huge part in the city's recovery. Unfortunately, it now sits as just another abandoned building queued for demolition... Back then, only a lucky few were allowed to enter San'ya High School to receive formal education. No one could support educating these poor kids, so the rest of the bunch were left unattended. Many might have turned to a life of crime, hopefully, they turn out fine... Maybe the government was trying to erase all the evidence of this dark period? Best not to get distracted by those conspiracies for now!
I've managed to locate Ms. Haruko, one of the retired teachers from San'ya High School. My conversation with her revealed something interesting. She had a student named Sho, who was an avid follower of the legendary hero. She remembers him skipping class to watch Gigaman fight the Titans. Sadly, she couldn't rethink any further after that. She's old, and I should cut her some slack. It'll be hard to find someone without a full name... but at least it's a lead.
He could probably tell me more about Gigaman's early days, perhaps even photos! Maybe he even knows Gigaman's true identity! But now that I think of it... that means this dude might be in his 50's by now! That'll be hard to track down... but I think he used to stay in this orphanage. No family name... makes sense! There should be some leftover paperwork in the manager's office! I'll look there next!
Rohanna
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 2
The sea here is perilous! It was many hours of unforgiving thunderstorm in the dark night. We were all exhausted by the constant fear of impending death! Doug refused to come inside. He was by the rails at portside, his face clobbered by the raging seawater while he gurgled with maniacal laughter. I had presumed the boy had gone mad! I was gonna drag him in, but before I knew it, the ship slammed into something and knocked us all unconscious.
When the storm cleared, and the sun peaked over the horizon, we woke up to find ourselves beached on an island. The ship was in awful condition, but most of Captain Garcia's crew are already hard at work patching it back together. The rest of us will be doing some exploration and maybe find something to eat. This place is nothing but thick rainforests as far as the eye can see. I am starting to suspect this might be the island we are looking for.
My suspicion were confirmed when we were confronted by a group of scruffy-looking natives. They came armed with spears made from thorns and vines. Their exotic face paintings could not hide their look of displeasure upon seeing us. The Captain came prepared with a barrel of spiced rum as a gift. They were puzzled by this strange beverage; perhaps they had never tasted alcohol before. They escorted us back to their village deep in the woods. We passed by a great wall of giant thorny vines. The Captain gave the natives a quick sampling of his fiery liquor. It broke the ice, and they exploded with euphoria! Nothing like a good drink to bring people together?
Of course, Clever ol' Doug had learned their language beforehand. He acted as a translator as they told us about the stories of their tribe. They mention a deity they worship, an ancient monarch that shelters them all, Queen Rohanna.
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 3
Transcription from Rohanna follower:
For centuries, this island was populated by many deities. They battled each other for territory and dominance over the humans. But in the end, the humans chose to live under the tyranny of the Dragon King for he was the strongest!
Despite the peace, many were discontent with the way humans were treated. The aristocrats leveraged His power to control the people. Anyone who spoke against them was burned alive by his ghostly flame. This eventually led to treachery from within. The Dragon King was disposed of, the aristocrats lost all their power, and the people's unity was shattered into the tribes of today. The other deities rushed to claim a slice of his territory. The survivors fractured into many tribes, each following a Titan of their choice. Unfortunately for our brothers and sisters, they had chosen wrong! There is only one true ruler over Tarabak Island! She is Queen Rohanna! And we are her most loyal servants!
As our civilization crumbled into ruins! We escaped into the sacred rainforest in the west. We scaled the massive thorn walls and entered this paradise. Although we are safe, we had no food, and the cold rain continued to pour. O' Queen Rohanna! She appeared right before our eyes! Her graceful presence showered us with fruits and erected these great canopies to shelter us! She gave us mercy and did not punish us for trespassing her lands! She asked nothing in return but our eternal allegiance to her great garden!
-Transcript End-
They began to dance and sing in her name. Later that day, they granted us an audience with their great Queen. I can't wait to see how she looks like! Their tales speak as if she knows magic... Perhaps a witch? Or maybe a fairy princess?! How exciting!
Rawa
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 6
The days of listening to their repetitive preaching are finally over! The temple was raided by another tribe. They dragged us to their village located within a cavern near some abandoned city. These fellows look might tough compared to the other tribesmen! They even decorated themselves with gold ornaments, each intricately carved to resemble some kind of a lizard head?
We were imprisoned and later put on trail. It was surprisingly sophisticated of them to have a legislative system despite living like cavemen. One of their elderly looked at Captain Garcia straight in the eyes and began to speak English! It shocked us all! They cite they were once children of a once glorious civilization. But the Skorak followers betrayed all of Tarabak and even stole their beloved temple! By their judgement, they will be sent to the lower caverns for slave work. On the other hand, we foreigners had to spread the news of King Rawa's return to the outside world! Hmm... That seemed easy enough! I'll be publishing my diary to the world anyway! We got off the hook easy for this one! Maybe we'll meet this King once this is over. I hope he'll gift us a souvenir for our troubles.
We were later cut loose and sent for reeducation for the next few days at the bottom of a waterfall. Studying in this glorious scenery would've been a pleasant experience if not for the blades pointed at us!
Transcript from Rawa follower:
Several centuries ago, Tarabak was overrun by many giant monsters called the Titans. They fought each other for dominance, and it became an unending cycle of chaos and destruction. The early humans here lives a perilous life. Nowhere was safe for their families, and they had to constantly run for their lives. They had no choice but to live a nomadic life.
Until one day, Rawa, the great Dragon King, came into being and crushed every other Titan to their knees. His power was unmatched! All who dared challenge him were burned to cinders by his ethereal flames. It didn't take long before everyone bowed down before their King. For the first time, the island knew peace and order. The once struggling humans finally established a foothold on the island and built the great civilization of Tarabak...
Lost World of Tarabak: Ch 7
... However the King's protection came with a price! To be part of his godly dominion, every civilian had to provide Him with a Violet Elixir every year. The only way to make it was to dig deep underground to search for its raw form called a Giga Crystal. Prolonged exposure to the crystals left miners with purple ring marks on their skin. If the elixir was made in poor quality, the presenter would be burned alive.
HA! Only fools fear death! Death is a gift from our King! He has released you from your tormented life! You must be grateful for such a fate! Those who have good offerings were allowed to pick up the golden scales He sheds as He grew larger. Wearing them is a sign of our loyalty and a hallmark of His ever-lasting reign! Though our 4-eyed brothers have betrayed our King, He will soon return to rule over us all!
-Transcript End-
On our final lecture, they brought us down into the caverns to meet their King. I saw Doug working in the mines with his new cult friends. Thank goodness he's still alive... We reached a pitch-black hallway where they forced our heads down to kiss the floor and bow before the King. I couldn't see him at all! Only heard a deep snarling coming from the shadows. It froze me up completely! They forced Captain Garcia to carry a bowl of Violet Elixir and walked towards it. He was always a swashbuckling fellow, but his face was completely pale and drenched with cold sweat. With every shivering step, his figure gradually disappeared into the dark. My final memory of him was his desperate scream. The elder said he stole a gold trinket, and that was his punishment. The King hated dishonesty most.
They had escorted me out of the halls where they had gathered up the rest of our crew who were supposedly repairing the ship. I told them what happened to the Captain, and they did not believe me. They went silent when they saw what was behind me. I took up my camera and snapped this last picture. After that, they brought us back to our ship, and we quietly sailed home without Doug or the Captain... The island slowly disappeared from the Horizon; it should have felt like we were finally safe. But the air was still thick with fear. A shockwave suddenly blasted out from the island, followed by a thunderous roar. It nearly capsized the damn ship! It felt like things are going to get a lot worse from here on out.
Zyva
Mysterious Light
Hear me out, Otoma-san! I stumbled upon this story in my leisure... but this might be a substantial lead to our current study. The myth of Ghamidzyva! I think this might be the first recorded sighting of the Crystalline Titan...
782 AD: A fabled kingdom in the Middle East was in high prosper. Trade was good and gold was in high demand. Thus, the king ordered his men to dig for gold in the nearby goldmine. They gradually expanded the caverns deeper into the Earth.
It was just another day of hard labor when it happened. A mysterious purple aura emanated from the mine's deepest corridors. Suddenly, a violent tremor shook the halls! The workers panicked and fled towards the exit. One of them looked back at the collapsing tunnel. He witnesses at giant shadow with large spikes all over, lit by a blinding purple beacon in its front! It was forcing its way through the narrow hallways, snapping the wooden support beams with every movement. Everyone made it out alive, but the mine collapsed completely.
In hindsight, it's definitely a Titan... and that purple light? Without a doubt, it's definitely related to Giga Energy! Inaba's team is already there to investigate. Unfortunately, that fabled kingdom lies in ruins under the dust of the desert plain... But they did find the mine entrance! Looks like someone recently tried to reopen the mines, but it seems like it collapsed again. We'll need to send heavy equipment over to start excavating. There's definitely something promising down there!
Kongkrete
Case #6532- "Rise of Gigaman" Lead Actor Still Missing
There was a time when Tokyo was drunk with Gigamania. It's a crazy period of pop culture fanaticism surrounding our giant vigilante, Gigaman. They even started film production for "Rise of Gigaman"! Unfortunately, a Titan attacked the film set last weekend. Gigaman jumped in to save the day, but all the film equipment and set material were utterly destroyed! Luckily, there were no casualties... but the unannounced lead actor is rumored to be missing!
The production team was planning to gradually release info about the actor's identity, a sort of marketing strategy to 'surprise' the fans. They still refuse to disclose the actor's full identity and are stubborn about changing their plans despite the current situation. Captain Sakuraba won't let me squeeze them for more info. Their financial backers have ties with our higher-ups... Damn it! All we know is that the actor has appeared in the background of several popular TV dramas. Insider news says he was a massive fan of Gigaman too. Well, at least we know it's a guy...
The actor was last seen near a building diorama. Eyewitnesses recall seeing Gigaman's Giga Beam bouncing off the building, and the windows started to glow... as if in response?! It's a lead, but when we returned to the site early this morning, the building had disappeared, leaving a large square crater in its wake. I'm no expert in film sets, but no way can a diorama be heavy enough to sink the ground like that! What are we dealing with here?!
Case #7851- Mysterious Building Cases Continue
Again! Another square crater! It's been 10 years since I've been on this case! Even Gigaman has retired! Yet this damned case remains unsolved!
Locals continue to report mysterious buildings appearing out of nowhere in their neighborhoods. No construction sites, no notices! The local authorities knew about this and were ready to demolish it! But it vanished without a trace the next day, leaving the same square crater in its wake. Meanwhile, an identical building appeared out of nowhere in the next district?! "I have no idea where it came from- Last night, it was an empty lot... Then this morning, her it was!" exclaimed old man Okubo.
On the internet, social media is abuzz! We have many reports civilians finding buildings in the most obscure of places. Someone even found it in the northern forest! That black water tank at the top floor, the blue-tinted windows, 6 floors from the ground up... Without question, they're all the same damned building! The same culprit!! Someone even mentioned its windows look like "glowing eyes"? A citizen claims to have seen a taller variant of the building. It was in the middle of the night near the OtomaTEC HQ. "One time, a very tall building appeared. It was titanic! Huge!" she said. I pushed her for more answers... but her husband declined to let her comment.
What is going on?! Is this the work of some secret organization?! A cult of some sort? Are we really going to push this aside as one of the world's unanswerable mysteries?! I hope I can find the answer someday... but for now... I better urge everyone to avoid these buildings at all costs.
MechaJURAS
Audio Log #0369!
The following is an excerpt from a recorded discussion between Dr. Adler and Adrien Renaud
Adler: Plans to release it soon, sir?!?! We already spent 90% of the budget on the prototypes, and it was nowhere near completion! I thought the MechaJURAS program got cancelled ages ago. And these blueprints, I thought they looked familiar...
Renaud: You heard me, doctor. The boss wants to kickstart production again, with plans to doa global launch next year. MechaJURAS will be fully realized, with all the bells and whistles that you boys at Weapons Research cooked up on those blueprints years ago. He's willing to pull out all the stops to make this happen. More budget, resources, upgraded coffee machines, all of it. So, gather the team immediately, and get started!
Adler: If I may ask, sir... Why? With the proposed improvements, even with double the team size, we'll still need at least 2 years of production! Not to mention we still have terabytes of field data to analyze, critical bugs we need to iron out, and design tweaks needed to increase combat efficiency. Once all that's done, Marketing needs to-
Renaud: I know, damn it! You think I'd be standing here wasting my time with you if I didn't know the logistics?!
Adler: S-Sorry, sir. I just... I wanted to know...
Renaud: ... *sigh*, it's alright. I apologize, doctor. It's been a long day. Yes, the boss was getting ready to axe the MechaJURAS program. However, lately there's been reports of... anomalies. Our Giga Counters are recording inexplicable massive spikes of Giga Energy, popping up around the world. The boss thinks this could indicate a new wave of Kaijus invading. Adler: Oh, man...
Renaud: This is why the MechaJURAS program must come to fruition. The fate of the Global Titan Defense Initiative, and the world depends on it. MechaJURAS, the world's first mass produced Titan deterrent, can be at the forefront of every Kaiju attack. Protecting homes and families, all over the world. Especially with those new upgrades, every MechaJURAS unit is going to be an absolute powerhouse. The future of liberty is waiting, doctor. The boss is trusting you to see this through.
Adler: I... I'll do it, sir! I'll make him and the G.T.D.I. proud! So, b-back to the production schedule, sir, does this mean we can get the 2 years for produ-
Renaud: No! 1 year, make it happen!
MECHAJURAS IS OFFICIALLY ROLLING OUT!
Ladies and gentlemen, it's my honor to finally announce: MECHAJURAS IS OFFICIALLY ROLLING OUT!
The Global Titan Defense Initiative will be officially shipping the first batch of MechaJURAS anti-Titan deterrents to countries worldwide today! Each of these units are outfitted with the most effective anti-Titan arsenal that our top minds at the G.T.D.I. have developed.
At long last, our shared dream of providing ultimate security to the masses against those barbaric Titans is achieved! No more do your children have to sleep in fear, MechaJURAS will be their beacon of hope. I implore everyone to close your eyes, and imagine. Every Kaiju attack, in every country, can now be dealt with swiftly, and with minimal collateral damage thanks to MechaJURAS. As of today, that has become a reality. The age of terror is officially over!
That's not all, folks. We're going big, I'm talking franchising big! Video games, movies, toys, TV shows, figurines! MechaJURAS is going to be the face of entertainment for the new generation. We just signed a 5 picture deal with Universell Pictures, and there's more to come!
From the biting cold of Slavagrad, to the tropical heat of Luana Island, MechaJURAS will be at the forefront of Titan defense across the globe!
Long live mankind, and long live MechaJURAS!
R.O.J.A.K.
Audio Log #0327
Another combat simulation failed, again, for the 23rd time today! Rex can't stop himself from dragging everyone into the fight; Tian Long just ejects from their Super Aegis formation and fights on his own terms; Liberty breaks off to bombard the entire area and friendly fires the rest of them. The Universal Adaptor System is working fine, and they all share the goal of defeating Balzarr, so why can't they work together for once?!
Sigh... Despite the technological advancements we've made in the Aegis Program, we're still light-years away when compared to the tech inside Thundatross. OtomaTEC's concept of a single pilot assisted by an advanced AI is the way of the future, but we're limited by time and resources. This squad of hardheaded idiots is all we have left to work with.
Eji asked everyone to take a break and come up with a name for their squad. Meanwhile, he's heading off to Malaysia to recruit a fifth Aegis. Apparently it's being piloted by some hacker girl who runs by the call sign "Crown". There are no records of her real name, but she does have a history of extreme social anxiety, an odd choice for a Mighty Warrior if you ask me. I have no idea how he's going to convince her to sit side by side in the control center with this noisy bunch; I guess she'll just have to get used to it. He believes she is the "glue" that will keep the team in Super Aegis formation; I wonder what he means.
Audio Log #0342
Crown: "Hacking into the system mainframe... overwriting admin access... increasing Universal Adaptor magnetization output by 500%... and done! This should stop everyone from breaking out of our Super Aegis formation. Phew... I hope that angry doctor lady doesn't find out... It's Kabuto's idea after all! Well, since I'm already here, maybe I'll have a look around these files... Oh, Mighty Warriors profile? Let's have a look...
Ahh ~ Call sign "Rex", a.k.a. Bodybuilder superstar Jack Kavana from the Kahu'a Republic. I heard he helped his country pay for their Aegis Program just so he could pilot an Aegis shaped like a T-Rex. He's a true meathead who always brings a lot of positive energy to every situation, perhaps too much. He gets excited whenever he sees an enemy nearby and tends to drag everyone into the heat of battle. It's really dangerous and stupid, but I gotta admit... it gets pretty fun sometimes! XD
Zhou Yang, the almighty "Tian Long" from China, and the only ace pilot on our team. He's really good, and he knows it. He likes to go off on his own without letting any of us know, which makes it really hard to coordinate our attacks, and he'll blame us for not keeping up with his pace! Grrhh, so annoying!!! >:( He's not all bad tho... Kabuto told him to give me vintage Gigaman figures as an apology after he made me upset, and he actually did it. Maybe I'll forgive him this time. :')
Sergeant Sam Williams, call sign "Liberty" from America. He really has a thing for big guns and always complains about how we don't have any on our Nauts. He likes to unload all his guns on the target, and Tian Long always gets caught in the crossfire. It's really stressful when they argue... Sigh... You can't always solve everything with big guns, old man! That said, he does make an amazing chicken pie! :P Lastly, Captain Yosuke Eji, call sign "Kabuto" from Japan. He's like the boss man who is keeping this team together. Since Gigaman retired all those years back, the G.T.D.I. had been sucking Japan's economy dry with all their "protection services." They couldn't afford to develop a full Aegis squad, and Kabuto ended up being the only Mighty Warrior they could produce, so he's never had real combat experience as an Aegis pilot. After Balzarr took down all the Aegis squads in the world, it was his idea to recruit us survivors to cobble together the last Super Aegis. Yeah, we'll bring justice back to this world and defeat that scary lion kaiju once and for all! Wait a minute... that's it, ROJAK!!! Robots of Justice Against Kaijus... That's our name-"
-Warning: Interception Signal Detected-
Crown: "Eek, i-i-it's D-D-Dr. Kaneko?! I d-d-didn't mean to... BYE!!!"
-Connection lost- Dr. Kaneko: "You see what I mean Eji? I told you she's been snooping around!"
Kabuto: "Hahaha! ROJAK... I like the sound of that."
Dr. Kaneko: "Kabuto! Did you hear what I just said?!"
Kabuto: "Alright, alright... I'll go talk to her."
Balzarr
June 7, 2021- Damage Report, Houston Giga Crystal Storage Facility
To: Dr. Adler
It's a mess here, doc. Even with the US Army on our side, we still lack the firepower to stop this guy. At 0227 hours, a meteor from the sky crashed into Storage Bunker C. The security team identified it as Titan A-016 "Balzarr." It was tearing through the vault door to get the Giga Crystals. Washington sent Super Aegis strike teams Sierra, Delta, and Echo to reinforce us.
At one point we managed to corner that damned Titan. Bullets ricocheting off its armor lit up the night as it continued to chomp on the crystals; its mane started to turn fiery red, and its body grew bigger and bigger. Suddenly, a red flash zipped past, and all 3 Super Aegises exploded. That's right, all 14 Mighty Warriors lost in the blink of an eye, with Sergeant Sam Williams as the sole survivor.
The shock of losing our trump card broke the troop's morale, and everyone scattered in panic. The Titan went on and ate all the crystals before it flew away like a comet. In all my years of service, I've never witnessed anything like it.
Anyway, send word to Central Command that this Titan is more than our best can handle. We'll need a fresh supply of men, materials, and weapons if we want to rebuild this base. I hope your team can come up with some kind of solution to deal with this guy ASAP because if you don't, God help us all.
P.S. While we were going through the wreckage, Kabuto from the Japan team paid us a visit. Somehow, Rex was tagging along with him: I heard his team took one hell of a beating when Balzarr visited Luana Island. The two Mighty Warriors are now talking with Ol' Sarge at the medic bay, but he seems pretty phased out.
Colonel T. Morowitz
Houston Base Commander
Global Titan Defense Initiative
June 8, 2021- The Demon Star grows stronger
To: Adrien Renaud, Council member of GTDI Central Command
Things are getting out of hand, sir. America, Canada, Malaysia, China, Korea, France, Kahu'a Republic... In just 2 weeks, Titan A-016 "Balzarr" has already cleared out 12 Giga Crystal Storage Facilities around the world. It only continues to grow stronger and more ferocious with every successful raid.
On the bright side, We managed to salvage its armor plate samples from the ruins. Lab analysis indicates it is structurally similar to the armor plate samples found on Titan A-001 "Rawa." We can't confirm whether the 2 Titans are biologically related, but our brightest minds are speculating they share some sort of "celestial connection". According to our sources, Tarabak Island also has a huge underground reserve of Giga Crystals, which means this beast will likely pay a visit there someday. If these 2 Titans engage in a turf war, they might just wipe out the entire island along with it. After all, Rawa had already proven his strength when he clashed with Gigaman in Tokyo back in 2012; he turned half of the city into a wasteland in a single blast before disappearing without a trace.
Here's my proposal. With most Aegis squads around the world wiped out, our only option is to buy us some time while my team develops some kind of countermeasures to use against it. I advise we station several extra battalions of anti-Titan tanks to fortify the remaining Giga Crystal Storage Facilities. Our Tarabak expedition team is still securing a route into the Tarabak underground reserves, so we'll need to buy them more time too. We'll need a few fighter squadrons patrolling the airspace, just in case; we'll shoot it out of the sky if it comes to it. These key areas must be protected at all costs to avoid further setbacks to our research on Giga Energy. Dr. Reiner's theory on the source of the Titans' existence is within our grasp, and the crystals are the answer to it...
Dr. Adler
Chief of Weapons Research
Global Titan Defense Initiative
Gaya Gigaman
The Disappearance of Gigaman
After years of trying to uncover the history and identity of Gigaman, it should be no surprise that the natural direction my investigations would take pointed me to his disappearance in 2012. Why did he vanish after the Tokyo Crisis? Perhaps more importantly, why did he return after eight years? I sought answers to these questions, and I could think of no better place than the site of the Tokyo Crisis itself: OtomaTEC Tower. In the intervening years, the Tower and the city around it have recovered quite splendidly. It's a wonderful sight, but one wonders if clues about Gigaman's fateful battle against Rawa have been wiped away.
Rawa... I was lucky to be out of the city when the Crisis happened. As best as I can tell, Gigaman fought Rawa to a standstill and forced the Titan to self-destruct, taking out a good chunk of Tokyo and damaging OtomaTEC Tower. The most common theory about Gigaman's disappearance is that he considered this battle to be his greatest failure. And so he left, ashamed and unable to be a hero. I... don't like that theory myself. I think Gigaman is stronger than that. What I'm interested in is OtomaTEC Tower, and Gigaman's relationship with the Otoma family. He was often seen nearby their headquarters, and his recent partnership with Yuuki Otoma, pilot of Thundatross, leads me to believe Gigaman and the Otomas are well acquainted.
Digging through old news reports and Gigoogle searches led me to find something interesting. Kazuo and Megumi Otoma went to school in the San'ya District, near the Kawakuzu Orphanage. Considering Gigaman's connection to the Otomas and Megumi's fate... yes, I think I know why Gigaman disappeared after the explosion. Many people have speculated whether or not Gigaman is human or simply a human-shaped Titan. Perhaps... it doesn't matter. Human or not, he is a person after all.
Old Gods of Tarabak
There are many theories about the source of Gigaman's power, perhaps only outnumbered by theories of his human identity (if he even has one). It's clear that he uses Giga Energy like all other Titans, but decades of readings and research have shown that his Giga Energy signature is ever so slightly different to that of the others. So far, almost all known Titans share an energy signature, and there are hints that GTDI have found the source deep in the Earth's core, whose signature matches that of the Titans. This all points to the Titans sharing a common origin, except for Gigaman.
So where does his power come from? Could it be some as-yet undiscovered form of Giga Energy available to humans? A gift from a heavenly being? The result of a scientific experiment? A chance mutation? One of the most popular theories ties Gigaman to the only Titan whose signature closely resembles his: Kongkrete. However, these theories are often half-baked and... silly. As far as I know, Gigaman cannot 'spawn buildings out of thin air' or 'inspire' them to 'have Kongkrete babies' to say the least.
A fringe theory instead looks at ancient civilizations such as Tarabak. In faded scraps of parchment, a curious symbol keeps appearing: the letter 'G'. Obviously, that's what 'Giga Energy' starts with, but the term is a relatively recent invention, having been coined in the 1960s by the newly-formed GTDI. Why does it appear on the old texts of the fabled Titan-infested island? Scholars tend to dismiss this as a coincidence, as a letter by itself doesn't mean anything. However, fans of this theory attest to the existence of a divine figure known as 'Gaya' who exists as a counterpart to 'Cosmic Chaos' which seems to represent the world's evil in their view. Given Gigaman's heroism, it is understandable why they would connect these elements together. Personally, I don't buy it.
A Letter, Unsent
Kazuo,
You've always wondered where I got my power from, and I've never really answered you. I appreciate that you don't hold that against me. How long has it been since that fateful day? Thirty years? More? I admit, back then, I treated it like an adventure. I understood the stakes, of course, but something about having the ability to go around helping people... saving them... It all felt like no matter what I did, I was going to be a hero. We both were--you with Tross, me with my powers.
After Tokyo happened, you pushed forward and I didn't. Even though you had every reason to let yourself wallow, you picked up the pieces and carried on. I was... I felt jealous. You completed your project, and your kid's been doing an incredible job piloting it. I wanted to stand by your side again, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt like I didn't deserve to.
You must be wondering, "what changed?" To be honest, so am I. I guess... I saw firsthand what my inaction caused. Seeing Yuuki pick up the fight I left behind, it lit a fire in me. I lost sight of what was important, Kazuo, and now your kid's risking life and limb out there instead of me. I couldn't take it! That little hellion is all we have left of Megumi. It started with protecting Yuuki, then... it grew to me realising... I had to come back. All the other Yuukis out there needed help too.
That's where my power comes from, Kazuo. Not literally, but... all the power in the world is worthless if I don't have the spirit and conviction to make use of it. I've made a lot of mistakes... Nothing I do is going to change that. So instead, I'm going to try and make less of them. Be a real hero again. Then I can finally stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you again.
Zargorah
GTDI After Action Report - The Ascension
"The Ascension" is the name given to the catastrophic phenomenon that occurred in 2021 that threatened the destruction of the world. It began with the Demon Star Incident, when a cosmic curiosity turned out to be a new Titan that fell into Earth's atmosphere. Titan A-016 "Balzarr" then proceeded to attack multiple GTDI Giga Crystal Storage Facilities worldwide, confounding defensive efforts with its speed and ferocity. Nearly all Super Aegis strike teams sent to intercept Balzarr were ineffective.
Meanwhile, the Titan known as Rawa had made an appearance on Tarabak Island, having bested Gorogong and taken the Luana Artifact for itself. Empowered by the massive stores of Giga Energy in the Artifact, Rawa's roaring was able to drive nearby Titans into a frenzy. Rawa flew around the world, roaring and causing widespread mayhem. Although its course appeared random, analysis showed that it was heading towards Siberia. Reports mention that wherever Rawa visited, Balzarr would follow shortly afterwards to take out whatever Titans were left after their frenzied infighting.
When Rawa and Balzarr encountered each other in Siberia, near the Hollow Earth entrance, they fought. Through this fight, they fused together and became the first recorded Apex Titan "Zargorah". Readings indicated Giga Energy from all over the world being siphoned towards the site of the Ascension after Zargorah's appearance. Preliminary analysis at the time of the event predicted that the stability of the Earth's core was at risk due to the rapid influx of Giga Energy. This was exacerbated when Zargorah absorbed a surfeit of Giga Energy and transformed into its Ultimate Form. Total planetary collapse was imminent.
It was only thanks to the second recorded Apex Titan "Gaya Gigaman" that the Ascension was stopped. After the battle, neither Apex Titan could be found. It is humanity's hope that Zargorah never reappears, or at least, that its counterpart would appear with it and protect the world again.
September 23, 2021- Titan Origin Breakthrough
To: Adrien Renaud, Council member of GTDI Central Command
We've finally made a breakthrough! Thanks to the copious amount of Rawa and Balzarr samples we acquired from the Ascension event, we've confirmed their connection to each other, and to the Apex Titan Zargorah. Dr. Reiner suggests, in his amended theory, that the two Titans share more than just an energy signature and a capacity to fuse with each other. Two key insights were gleaned from the Ascension: Rawa's ability to cause Titans to go berserk, and Zargorah's ability to absorb Giga Energy at a global scale. All of this points to Zargorah holding some kind of authority over not just Titans, but Giga Energy as a whole.
But the biggest clue we acquired was a sample from Siberia, directly from Zargorah itself. Rawa and Balzarr have estimated ages of a few thousand years. Zargorah on the other hand, has an estimated age of several hundred million years at least. The upper bounds reach as far as two billion years! This changes everything. Our leading theory was that the Titans must have been living beings who evolved from direct exposure to Giga Energy during the last Ice Age, but now? We think the Titans are extensions of the Giga Core; destructive manifestations of Giga Energy given form, lashing out, animalistic because they are pieces of a whole! Zargorah represents some malign intelligence seeking to recombine the pieces into one singularly powerful form.
And the Giga Core itself? We think it must either be the remains or the gestating egg of this theoretical whole. Someway, somehow, it fell into the Earth's core while the planet was young, and it became the source of Giga Energy that we know today. I know this raises so many more questions than answers, but we truly believe the Titans and Giga Energy itself must be splinters of this primordial Titan. Strangely enough, Fourier analysis suggests that the Giga Core's energy signature is composed of two distinct sources, one whose magnitude is much higher than the other. The dominant source lines up with what we think of as Giga Energy normally, and the other, much fainter source matches up with... Gigaman.
We're not sure what it all amounts to just yet, but the team's eager to research this new avenue. The future's looking very bright!
Dr. Adler
Chief of Weapons Research
Global Titan Defense Initiative
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