creating a jaegar academy au handbook

[supportadmin]

Timeline of Major PPDC related World Events:
● August 10, 2013 - August 15, 2013 First Attack - K-DAY:
- The breach opens.
- San Francisco experiences a 7.1 earthquake.
- San Francisco is attacked by "Trespasser".
- The Golden Gate Bridge is destroyed.
- News stations cover the disaster in San Francisco.
- Trespasser moves toward Sacramento.
- Trespasser is killed by three nuclear missiles in Oakland.
- "Tens of thousands" of lives are lost in the Kaiju's rampage before it is killed.

● February 5, 2014 - Second Attack:
- Second Kaiju Hundun attacks Manila, Philippines.

● February 8, 2014:
- Kaiju Emergency Alert System is established.

● April 1st, 2014:
- Pan Pacific Defense Corps is established.

● June 1, 2014 - Third Attack:
- Kaiju Kaiceph emerges from the breach.
- Kaiceph attack hits Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
- Kaiceph is killed. Remains relocated via aircraft carrier.

● September 2, 2014 - Fourth attack:
- The Kaiju Scissure attacks Sydney.
- Jasper Schoenfeld comes up with the initial concept behind the Jaegers.

● September 15, 2014:
- Seoul, South Korea Conference commences.
- Jasper Schoenfeld presents his idea for the Jaeger.

● November 9, 2014:
- The Jaeger Program begins.
- Construction of arm for Mark-1 prototype (Brawler Yukon) begins.
- Caitlin Lightcap begins working on the concept behind the Pons.

● December 1, 2014:
- Pan Pacific Defense Corps. Proving grounds are established on Kodiak Island.

● January 30, 2015:
- Brawler Yukon is launched.
- USAF Captain Adam Casey dies from a seizure in an attempt to pilot Brawler Yukon.

● February 18, 2015:
- Sergio D'onofrio attempts to pilot the Yukon; experiences seizures.
- Caitlin Lightcap successfully achieves the first Drift when she connects with Sergio.

● April 23, 2015:
- The Kaiju Karloff attacks Vancouver, Canada.
- Brawler Yukon kills Karloff.

● July 24, 2015:
- Pan Pacific Defense Corps. begins hiring pilots for Jaegers.

● September 18, 2015:
- Russian Jaeger, Cherno Alpha, is launched.

● October 6, 2015:
- Australian Jaeger, Tango Tasmania, is launched.

● November 25, 2015:
- Hong Kong Shatterdome is established.

● December 6, 2015:
- Japanese Jaeger, Tacit Ronin, -**-is launched.

● December 15, 2015:
- North American Jaeger, Romeo Blue, is launched.

● December 22, 2015:
- First Chinese Jaeger, Horizon Brave, is launched.

● December 30, 2015:
- Japanese Jaeger, Coyote Tango, is launched.

● March 30, 2016:
- Kaiju Reckoner attacks Hong Kong.
- Jaeger Lucky Seven and Tacit Ronin kill Reckoner in Victoria Harbour.

● May 15, 2016: - Onibaba attacks Tokyo.
- Coyote Tango kills Onibaba.

● May 19, 2016: - Mark-2 Chilean Jaeger, Diablo Intercept, is launched.

● May 25, 2016:
- Sydney, Australia Shatterdome is established.

● July 27, 2016:
- Mark-2 Peruvian Jaeger, Solar Prophet, is launched.
- Mark-2 Panamanian Jaeger, Puma Real, is launched.

● August13, 2016:
- Mark-2 Russian Jaeger, Eden Assassin, is launched.

● November 19, 2016:
- Panama City Shatterdome is established.

● November 23, 2016:
- Anchorage, Alaska Shatterdome, "The Icebox", is established.

● December 4, 2016:
- Vladivostok, Russia Shatterdome is established.

● December 15, 2016:
- Tokyo, Japan Shatterdome is established.

● March 11-29, 2017:
- Mark-3 Chinese Jaeger, Shaolin Rogue, is launched.
- Mark-3 Australian Jaeger, Vulcan Specter, is launched.
- Mark-3 Canadian Jaeger, Chrome Brutus, is launched.

● July 10, 2017:
- Mark-3 American Jaeger, Gipsy Danger, is launched.

● July 11, 2017:
- Los Angeles, California Shatterdome is established.

● September 14, 2017:
- Mark-3 Mexican Jaeger, Matador Fury, is launched.

● October 17, 2017:
- Kaiju Yamarashi attacks Los Angeles.
- Gipsy Danger is deployed in Los Angeles.
- Romeo Blue is deployed in Los Angeles.
- Gipsy Danger and Romeo Blue kill Yamarashi.

● February 14, 2018:
- Mark-4 North American Jaeger, Hydra Corinthian, is launched.

● February 23, 2018:
- Mark-4 North American Jaeger, Mammoth Apostle, is launched.

● March 16, 2018:
- Mark-4 Korean Jaeger, Nova Hyperion, is launched.

● May 1, 2018:
- Mark-4 Japanese Jaeger, Echo Saber, is launched.

● May 17, 2018:
- Agreement for Valparaíso, Peru Shatterdome construction is reached.

● May 20, 2018:
- Kaiju Pompadour attacks Puerto San José, Guatemala.
- Matador Fury is deployed in Puerto San José, Guatemala.
- Matador Fury kills Pompadour.

● August 9, 2018:
- Valparaíso Shatterdome is established.

● August 22, 2018:
- Third Chinese Jaeger, Crimson Typhoon, is launched.

● November 6, 2018:
- Kaiju Raythe attacks the Okhotsk Sea.
- Cherno Alpha is deployed in the Okhotsk Sea.
- Raythe is killed by Cherno Alpha.

● June 5, 2019:
- Drift Compatibility Testing Facilities open throughout the countries of the Pacific Rim.

● July 22, 2019:
- Kaiju Clawhook attacks San Diego.
- Hydra Corinthian is deployed in San Diego.
- Hydra Corinthian kills Clawhook.

● November 2, 2019:
- The first Mark-5 Jaeger, Striker Eureka, is launched.

● December 16, 2019:
- Kaiju Casper, Category IV Kaiju, attacks Manila.
- Horizon Brave is deployed in Manila.
- Gipsy Danger is deployed in Manila.
- Gipsy Danger, Horizon Brave and Lucky Seven kill Casper.

● December 31, 2019:
- Production of Jaegers stops with the Mark-V group.

● February 15, 2020:
- Second Jaeger Academy opened by the Valparaíso Shatterdome.

AU Creation Guidelines:
The above is a guideline for events and locations of most, but not all, attacks occurring up until the in game point of February, 2020.

When establishing a character AU in this universe, take into account where you choose to have them physically located/their origin point, what their age would have been at the time of the first Kaiju attack, and what changes they might have experienced in their world afterward.

Once the Jaeger Program was running live, people found more confidence in survival. The Jaegers were taking down the Kaiju, and at this point, there hasn't been a turnaround where Jaegers have started losing. There's been one incident of a Category IV Kaiju, and no real thought put into how it took three Jaegers working together in order to bring it down.

As of game opening, recruits are looking at participating in a program that has a high allure of fame and a certain sexiness to the propaganda attached. As Raleigh says in the film, Jaeger Pilots are "Rock Stars." They're larger than life personalities doing larger than life work, and they haven't lost yet.

Any questions in regards to helping establish your character in an AU for this universe may be asked in the comments of this page. Keep in mind that the K.I.S.S. rule (Keep It Simple Silly) is your best friend. Maintaining canon relationships is not a priority! Those are best hashed out in details if and when people app canonmates to the game, and there will be "hash out past CR" memes that will go up in the Out of Character community to help facilitate this kind of world building.

The application for this game requires a two to three paragraph short character bio. Where they were born, where they grew up, whatever major life defining things happened (if any), and what and how the Kaiju factored into their life should be the main focus. Don't worry about exactly recreating a canon environment. In many cases, that will prove next to impossible. Focus on who your character is and what sort of personality traits and circumstances figured into the equation.

Also of note are the numerous propaganda displays made by the Pan Pacific Defense Corps over the last six, seven years since their founding. Merchandise of the Jaegers, former Kaiju, and the pilots can be found worldwide, and public appearances by Jaegar Pilots are treated as major events. Everyone knows something about what the Jaeger Pilots are doing, or what the PPDC is doing, though opinions are not uniform. How your character feels about the toy lines and clothing lines and the commercialization of the Kaiju threat is individual and unique to them.

Some basic Kaiju information your character will probably be aware of includes the following: Kaiju are creatures of a highly toxic nature and have been categorized on the "Serizawa Scale". Each Kaiju is classified under five different categories. Categories I and II represent the weakest of the Kaiju, while Categories III through V are the strongest. The Serizawa Scale measures water displacement, toxicity and ambient radiation levels given off by their bodies when they pass through the breach. The fluid of a Kaiju is ammonia-based.

Upon decomposing, their bodies release a noxious agent into the air known as "Kaiju Blue", their blood. Kaiju Blue has the ability to contaminate the air and its immediate environment, making it uninhabitable. The blood of a Kaiju is highly acidic, corroding anything in its path. This makes it especially hard to gather samples safely for examination and experimentation. As a result, Jaegers have been equipped with weapons that cauterize wounds they inflict on Kaiju to prevent the spread of their highly acidic internal fluids. As silicon-based organisms, the design of their bodies makes it difficult to determine and study particular parts of their internal systems.
→ Directory ←

Comments

[deloreans]

Hi! I'm planning on applying for Hitagi Senjougahara from the Monogatari Series in this game and I'm working on her au history and adapting certain aspects of her canon backstory. In her canon backstory, Hitagi's mother was involved in a cult so I was wondering if it would be alright to incorporate that in her au backstory. In the movie, it's mentioned that there's a cult that worships kaiju as gods and I'd like to work that in! However I'm worried that anything I establish as far as the cults go would end up being an imposition on any other player who'd want to use that in their character backstories as well! In that case, ow much (if any) leeway would I have to build on the cult mentioned. I was planning on working off of what's mentioned here but you guys might have different ideas or plans already! I'm absolutely open to working with whatever you guys might have in mind! Thanks in advance and my apologies for the inconvenience!

[supportadmin]

What's on the wiki you've linked is a fine basis from which to begin! As they say there, the cult itself changes from region to region, based on local customs and beliefs, so any particular one that Hitagi's mother was involved would could be regional. In that case, it wouldn't impinge on others if they have a different sort of Kaiju Cult theme they wanted to work with in a character's back story. As long as the basic beliefs of the BuenaKai are consistent, specifics you come up with should be fine!

"[...] adherents commonly believe that the end times have arrived, and the Kaiju have come to scour the world's sins away."

That's the most important element to have preserved. I know the wiki also states there appears to be good funding coming in, which makes sense on a regional basis, much like it'd make sense for the larger followings to be within the Pacific Rim region, as it's the one where the Kaiju have had direct literal impact. (Elsewhere it's been more indirect.)

[deloreans]

Thank you so much for the quick response and the clarification! I'll also make sure I have a proper write-up for what I come up with in case other players want to use it as an additional reference point (what they might want to change, not use etc.) Thank you again!

[deloreans]

Just a few more questions! i swear i'm trying to compile all the questions so i have so i won't keep spamming this page

1.) Per Tales from Year Zero (which I uh. haven't read) even just a few splashes of kaiju blood are so toxic as to be deadly. What about brief indirect exposure though, for example inhaling the fumes from about a couple of drops of kaiju blood?

2.) After passing the Drift Compatibility Test, would there be time between passing the test to being transported to the Valparaiso Shatterdome to allow the student to say get personal affairs in order etc.?

[supportadmin]

1. For purposes of this game (and considering a "splash" may well be enough to soak someone through) exposure to Kaiju remains is toxic, but not strictly lethal. You can be killed from prolonged exposure and/or ingestion of any Kaiju by-product. The fumes released by Kaiju after their death are particularly potent, and are considered injurious. Those with weakened immune systems or pre-existing medical conditions concerning the lungs can and have died from exposure to Kaiju Blue.

2. Yes! As the worldwide testing facilities didn't open until June 5, 2019, anyone who tested between June 5th, 2019 and February 10th, 2020, will have been given time to get personal affairs in order.

After JA goes live on the 15th, potentials who are found to be Drift Compatible will have one week to get affairs in order, with an extension up to ten days, before reporting in to the Valparaíso Jaeger Academy.

[deloreans]

1. So would it be safe to infer that hospitals and institutions focusing on treating any diseases / illnesses caused by exposure to kaiju blue would have been established? In relation to that, would having past kaiju blue exposure be detrimental to anyone wanting to apply to the Jaeger Academy (with the assumption that they their test result shows that they're drift compatible)? Specifically if a previously healthy character developed say lung problems as a result of minor exposure to kaiju blue, was treated and eventually given a clean bill of health were to do so, would they be discouraged from joining?

2. Great thank you! That's exactly what I wanted to know.

Thanks again for your patience with all of my questions!

[supportadmin]

1. I'd say there is a subset of the medical profession that focuses on treating Kaiju Blue related illnesses, particularly in the the cities/countries of the first three Kaiju attacks. Exposure in the past would only be detrimental for a person looking at the Jaeger Academy if it has a lasting ability to impinge on their ability to perform. If they've been given a clean bill of health, they'd be able to stick with the program, but will be told up front that they're required to check in more often to ensure they're remaining healthy and stable.

Someone who is unable to hold up under the physical duress would be considered very carefully only if they were also an extremely promising candidate, but by and large, if you can't keep up with the big dogs, you're left on the bench.

Individual pressures from family or staff met initially in the testing facility are welcome to cast further doubts and create an atmosphere of questioning ability for any given character. The question of "Will they be able to keep up?" is important! That point will be driven home early on.

[amillion]

I've seen mention of countries taking financial impacts, and I've been thinking that for countries rebuilding from pre-Jaeger Kaiju attacks and later building Shatterdomes, that money's got to come from somewhere. Would it be alright to establish that the Australian Government took the Sydney rebuild and Shatterdome money out of disability support?

Also, are the Anti-Kaiju Walls (above or underwater) in the planning/consulting stages yet?

[supportadmin]

It would be fine to establish such for Australia! (Much like I'd make guesses on the United States taking funds out of various federally funded programs (or re-directing portions of military funding) for similar reasons.) It should have an impact on citizen perceptions within countries making those compromises.

As for the Anti-Kaiju walls, they are in planning stages right now, though they haven't gained ground as of this point in time. Jaegers have still proven the best line of defense, and the Kaiju haven't started decimating the Jaegers in-game.

However, the underwater Anti-Kaiju wall is moving into consulting stages.

[europeanunion]

I haven't read the graphic novel for PacRim (and I'm planning to once I find a copy of it) so I'm not entirely sure if there has been any mention. But I did notice in the movie that the United Kingdom is actually one of the countries that funds the Jaeger Project/Program (at least, under the flag of the UN) despite it being on the other side of the Atlantic. Did the UK ever have any other involvement in the program or any other mention that might be relevant to the verse or the game?

[supportadmin]

If we go along with the references on the wikia (there isn't much brought up in the Pacific Rim: Tales from Year Zero), then the UK's ties were largely financial in nature.

Though not explicitly a Pacific-adjacent nation, the UK was involved with the Defense Corps by virtue of commonwealth ties with Australia and Canada. They operated a critical oceanic monitoring hub and extensive K-Science research facility on British-controlled Pitcairn Islands.

At the same time they were assisting in the monitoring and research in the Pitcairn Islands. While they may not be in the Pacific, they had interests there beyond the ties the United Nations was asking countries to act together cohesively to support.

Does this help answer your question?

[europeanunion]

Yes, it does! Thanks for the clarification.

[nisemoron]

Hey! I have a question about PPDC training. I'm planning for Yaichirou's father to have worked in the Tokyo shatterdome. If you never intend to pilot a Jaeger, do you still go through the same academy? Basically I just need to know if his dad would've had to go to the Alaska academy, and if so how long he would be gone before he could get a transfer back to Japan. Thanks!

[supportadmin]

If you did not intend to pilot a Jaeger, no, you did not need to go through the Academy! (In game here, it's a means of allowing younger characters into gameplay, and ICly allowing them access to work that would be off limits for a while longer otherwise, or for older characters, simply providing a direct means in without references, etc.)

Yaichirou's father would have remained in Japan, and not needed to go out to the Alaskan Shatterdome.

[nisemoron]

Got it! Thanks for the prompt response.