Thanatos Cutscene 1

Somewhere, a child cries out as her parents drag her out of their burning home, while fire rains down upon everything they knew. Somewhere, men bathed in a red glow scream obscenities as their war machine rumbles with each shot. Somewhere, children stretch their hands down towards the sky. Somewhere, a pair of men in black suits are about to knock on a third floor door.

Somewhere, a woman plays the role that was written for her.

Alarms blare in the NERV Command Center, located deep under the geofront, in the area known as Central Dogma. Today, as it always does, the gigantic chamber plays host to dozens of NERV officers and enlisted personnel as they dutifully man their stations.
In front of them, a massive holographic screen displays images of the enemy alongside tactical readouts for all to see.

"Target is 10 kilometers off Santa Monica Bay. MAGI running full analysis," reports 1st Lieutenant Patricia Mackenzie, a young, brown-haired woman.

Behind her, a middle-aged blonde in a lab coat picks up a discarded, unlit cigarette. "Walked right past the first defense line without anyone noticing..."

"It's the same one," states the Asian woman to her left, her arms crossed, her face locked on the main display.

"Is it now?" She asks, blowing air on the tobacco roll to dust it off before placing it back in her mouth. "I can certainly see the resemblance but..."

"MAGI analysis complete! Target’s wavelength pattern confirms it as the 8th Angel, designation: Sariel. Archangel-type."

"It survived after all," Reiko grimly reflects.

"The beast that destroyed the Pacific fleet," assents the doctor, "will you be able to stop it this time?"

"The American army has begun long range artillery fire," speaks out a man with a heavy British accent. To mark his words, the main display flashes as flowers of fire blossom on and around the alien giant.

"Are they crazy? There's people still living there!" Exclaims the brunette who sits on the opposite station.

"Mackenzie, focus!" orders Ionides.

"Aye! Ma'am... the target is intact. All impacts nullified by a close range rejection-type AT Field."

"Evans, status on the civilian population," orders Reiko.

"Ma'am," answers a girl with honey hair, a slight Texan accent trickling through, "the U.S. Army commenced emergency evacuation of the greater Los Angeles Area 10 minutes ago. ETA fi-"

"Enslave artillery firing solutions to the MAGI system," the captain orders with a stern voice, uncrossing her arms and taking a step forward, "switch munitions to HE shells. Tactical scenario: Shishigami-oh-4-3".

"Aye."

"Blake, inform the American forces that we’re taking operational command. Get all armored units within 300 meters of the target to clear out; the rest may fire at will. And patch me through to Edwards, I want birds on the air."

"Ma'am, I've got General Rushmore on the line. He refuses to rescind command to NERV but will 'take our tactical advice into consideration'"

"He will what?!" is the doctor’s response, while the captain limits herself to narrowing her eyes as her clenched fists tremble. "Get me Commander Navarro."

"Ma'am... unreachable."

Ionides looks behind her and up, to the one-way glass window behind of which lies the Commander's observation platform. "Figures," she scoffs.

Mackenzie: "The target has reached downtown LA. No reaction to received fire... wait, AT Field fluctuations detected!"

Ionides: "If it switches to extermination mode-"

"This is a waste of time..." is Reiko's answer, "Evans, would you kindly force my orders through?"

"Ma'am?" The girl turns to look at her superior. After a nod from Reiko, she gets back to her station with a knowing smile on her face. "Aye."

Ionides raises an eyebrow. "Hmmm?"

"Contingencies."

The main display changes, the tactical map now dominating the view. Several icons indicating American armed forces change color and begin to move as one. Artillery fire on the enemy ceases for a few seconds, then resumes as constant, high intensity barrage. For the first time the monster reacts, covering its mask-like 'face' with one of its clawed hands.

Mackenzie: "Enemy AT Field intensifying! It’s… condensing. Confirmed, defensive response. "

Blake: "Ma’am, General Rushmore is on the line, he sounds angry."

"Tell him we’re not obliged to answer to him but that we’ll take his tactical advice into consideration."

"Heh, aye."

The monster’s eyes flash, and half a dozen crosses of light form on the skies of L.A., preemptively detonating the artillery shells before reaching the creature.

Reiko: "Category-D interception… ready rocket artillery and order our VTOL wings to stand-by at maximum effective range."

Mackenzie: "The target is advancing. Projected path onscreen.” On the main display, a line is traced between its current location and the southern approach of Death Valley. “ETA to the third defense line: 105 minutes."

Reiko: "That takes it straight through Edwards base… Blake, relay the information to the American forces. Evans, take us to Condition 2."

"Aye."

Blake: "Ma’am, NORTHCOM acknowledges the situation and authorizes the use of N2 weapons."

Ionides: "Like we need *their* authorization."

Reiko closes her eyes and counts with her fingers. "Ready silos 9 through 15."

Ionides: "Only 6?"

Reiko: "It’s sooner than I’d have liked but…"

Ionides: "…if we don’t use the Evas, we might as well be green-lighting Babel."