EVA: Shinji Ikari Returns from Tiga

Chapter 63 The Eighth Apostle Attacks——!
"Everyone! Are you here? What's going on?"

Relying on her familiarity with NERV headquarters, Misato Katsuragi returned to the combat command room as quickly as possible.

"Sanzu Katsuragi!"

In the stuffy room were Aoba Shigeru, Hinata Makoto, Ibuki Maya and Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki Kozo... They all used candles, a lighting method that could almost be described as antique.

"Dr. Ritsuko Akagi and her technical team went to investigate the power outage, but they haven't returned yet... Since my cell phone isn't working, I don't know what's going on..."

"No time for that! The apostles are attacking!!"

"Eh?!!!"

After hearing the news about Katsuragi Misato, everyone screamed in unison...

NERV is completely paralyzed right now! Under these circumstances, the Angels are attacking?!

"Is the information accurate? Colonel Katsuragi?"

Even Fuyutsuki Kozo checked it over and over again... In fact, he already knew in his heart that Katsuragi Misato would never joke about such a thing, but he still couldn't help but hope... He hoped that the other party could answer with a joke.

"Of course, external observers have already observed it with the naked eye. They have arrived in Tokyo-3 and are on their way to NERV headquarters."

The eighth apostle, the giant crawling spider... is already crawling towards the headquarters step by step.

...We can't even evacuate the people; we can only hope that they will go to the shelters on their own initiative.

"...Have you come up with a plan yet, Lieutenant Colonel Katsuragi?"

At this time, Ikari Gendō was not there, and he was not good at flexible battlefield command, so he could only leave everything to Katsuragi Misato.

"Yes! All conventional weapons are now unusable... and we can't contact the combat forces for coordination and containment! The only recourse is to use all possible means and deploy the EVAs!"

Now that the Angels are so close, letting the EVAs launch an attack is the only way for NERV to save the situation.

"Since you say so, you already have a plan. Then, everything is up to you. Use all means at your disposal to protect NERV and humanity! I give you ultimate authority!"

After giving the order, Fuyutsuki Kozo retreated to the rear. The biggest taboo on the battlefield is a chaotic command system... Now everything can only be left to Misato Katsuragi.

"Yes!"

After watching Fuyutsuki leave, Katsuragi Misato quickly began giving orders.

"What's the situation with EVA now?"

"Unit-01 and Unit-02 are both on standby at designated locations... Since Unit-0's restart experiment was originally scheduled to be conducted soon, Unit-00 is also on standby!"

"Alright! Gather the entire maintenance team! Drop everything you're doing, including inspecting and repairing the electrical system! Power won't be restored anytime soon! Give up on restoring the power! Everyone, gather in Hangar 3! Prepare for the EVA launch!"

"Um... the communication system is also disabled now, what should I do... wow!"

Hinata Makoto had just asked the question when Katsuragi Misato threw something at him, knocking him to the ground... When he got up, he saw that what was thrown at him was... a loudspeaker?
"Hinata-kun, I'm counting on you. Go shout, in the most primitive way! Convey my orders to the entire NERV!"

"Yes!"

After realizing the determination of Katsuragi Misato's attitude, Hinata Makoto ran out while roaring.

"Apostles are attacking! Repeat! Apostles are attacking! All maintenance staff! Stop what you're doing! Gather at the third shelter...! Repeat! Apostles are attacking!"

"Great...! Next step! How's the plug insertion going?"

"Standby status... It's not in the ready position. How do I move the insertion pin to the EVA..."

"There's no other way. Let's use manpower."

"Human power?!" Misato Katsuragi's words left Maya Ibuki and Shigeru Aoba confused.

"Yeah, there's a rope in the warehouse, right? Let's use the most primitive method to hang the plug up!"

“Ah, this…!?”

Ibuki Maya was bewildered. Was this method... really possible? Logically, it should have been precisely calculated by a computer to insert the plug into the EVA at the optimal angle...

Using purely physical means... is it really possible to activate EVA?
"What's wrong? Maya? Is there a problem?"

"...I mean, in that case...without the MAGI command input, how can I open the plug port and the EVA's back armor..."

"No way, let's just blow it up with explosives. Anyway, we just need to get the plug into the EVA and it'll be considered a success."

"How can this be... This is too outrageous!"

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures! To protect humanity! We must try every possible method."

Although Katsuragi Misato spoke so eloquently, Ibuki Maya had no morale at all.

"…Is it okay if we don't have to go that far?"

"What did you say?"

Misato Katsuragi frowned. Ibuki Maya is not usually like this. Why is she so lacking in morale today?

"What I mean is... we don't need to go this far. Anyway... anyway... anyway, in the end, that unknown life form will appear and defeat the apostles, right? Isn't it always like this before—"

...As expected, the answer was as expected.

Tiga...an unknown life form, a giant of light...his appearance, just his appearance...will make humans involuntarily dependent on him, and will also make NERV's employees lose their fighting spirit.

"So, we just need to wait, wait for that giant to come... There's no need to blow up our own base, right...?"

"Ibuki, you said..."

Just as Katsuragi Misato was thinking about how to refute Ibuki Maya and boost her morale...

"Of course that's not right!"

Unexpectedly, it was Aoba Shigeru who took the lead and angrily rejected Ibuki Maya's idea.

"Aoba?"

Ibuki Maya was shocked. Aoba Shigeru, who was usually calm and composed, would actually contradict her so excitedly...

"We are NERV! We are human! Protect our world! Protect our home! This is what humans should do! We cannot, and cannot, rely on unknown life forms!"

"Aoba..."

"Ibuki! Have you forgotten? The last time... when the Seventh Angel attacked! What did Shinji-kun tell us?! When humanity gives up the fight... humanity has already lost! We, the wicked adults, are hiding behind fourteen-year-olds... letting those kids fight on the front lines! They didn't even tell us... to stop fighting! Just wait for the Giant of Light to come! How could we possibly give up before those kids!!"

"That's right—well said! Aoba Shigeru!"

Misato Katsuragi looked at Shigeru Aoba with great satisfaction... It seems that Shinji Ikari has influenced more than just the two pilots, Asuka and Ayanami Rei.

Even the employees of NERV began to shine imperceptibly under the influence of Shinji Ikari's golden spirit.

"...Everyone, prepare for battle! The pilots must be on their way! We can't let those children... put us adults to shame! Before they arrive! Make all the necessary preparations! Since we can't share their burdens on the front lines... we must ensure that everything is perfectly prepared—this is our NERV, this is humanity's struggle!"

(End of this chapter)