[Sentai]

Ever see the movie Doctor Strangelove? Whoever designed the council room had because it looked just like the War Room from that movie. The hanging monitors over the oval table. The large digital map in the background with orange dots representing where a Shinimasu was discovered, and then destroyed, by Hikari. All we were missing was a whacked out scientist in a wheel chair, with a mechanical arm that never listened to him.
But they had Mira. Standing before the representatives of the UN, JSDF, the Japanese Government, the American Government, and even NATO. In another crimson outfit, this one more a functional business suit and skirt. It was the only color she ever wore. “Gentlemen. As you know the Shinimasu attacks have increased. Since the last attack one week ago, by what we’re calling the Spider Shinimasu, there have been five in as many days. Hikari is handling them well with minimal damage to civilians and property. And what damage is caused is being repaired on time, and budget, as laid out in the blue folders before each of you. But, as you already guessed, you weren’t brought halfway around the world for another progress report.”
Mira carefully removed her glasses and turned everyone’s attention towards the map behind her. Watching, with everyone gathered, as the map changed to a picture of the Pacific Ocean. “The JSDF captured this footage from a fishing vessel. 100 miles off the coast of Tokyo.” And each man gathered watched as the waters began to churn, bubble and rise up like in those old Godzilla movies. But it wasn’t the product of radiation which raised up from the waters. Parting the waters arose a great spire. Black, with a winding staircase moving along the outside with torches which came to life. One by one, as it rose from the depths. “We used satellite imagery to ascertain the Spire’s size: At the surface of the water it’s three hundred meters across, and almost double that high. We’ve sent out unarmed Drones to survey the Spire, this next footage is what happened.”
The footage changed to the feed from the drone. Black and white, with the target reticule fixated on the spire quickly approaching from the distance. Including a distance readout showing how close the Drone was to the structure. 1200 meters, 1000 meters.. Then nothing. The screen went blank like someone had flipped a switch. But just as quick, the screen flickered on. Focusing slowly on another Shinimasu. Standing tall above the downed camera, covered in black molded armor broken up to simulate rock with orange glowing seams. And a helmet that molded black. With two large horns twisting from the top and back along the slope of the helmet, and two narrowed compound eyes which seemed to burn with an unseen fire. “I am Lord Shi. Shinimasu God of Death, Reaper of your World. Your Lives will soon end.” And just as quick his foot lifted and smashed down onto the camera severing the feed.
The men all began talking amongst themselves, trying to determine if the footage was real, but Mira brought them back again. Standing back on her podium and dropping her clipboard down hard onto the top, sending a nice heavy thud resounding through the room. “Gentlemen. This is the first named Shinimasu we have ever come across. We think, through research done on the stone tablet found beside Shin when I found him, that this is their leader. We’ve tried assaulting the island directly. Using Drones at first, and through artillery strikes from three American Warships. None have been successful. The drones splashed down from an unseen force before even reaching the Spire. And the Warships’ barrage ever even got close. The Spire is protected by some kind of dome made from purple energy. Hikari is still our best weapon.”
“What about Project Two?” Mira turned her attention towards the voice. Yamamoto. Head of the JSDF. An elder man with graying hair, but if you ever called him Elder it’d be last career choice you ever made. “As some of you know,” Mira began. “Project Two is the development of our own Kamen Rider Hikari. Based on research gathered from examining the Driver. And we are ready for testing.”
“Testing? We have a Spire off the coastline, increased attacks throughout the country. We all trust you Mira. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think you were doing the best humanity can against these Beasts. But your Hikari cannot last forever. Powerful as he is, he is still human. He cannot keep this pace up forever.”
He wasn’t saying anything she wasn’t already thinking. What everyone inside the room was already thinking. “We have a pilot in mind for Kamen Rider Inochi.” Mira finally chimed. “We’ll step up the time table, and launch Inochi with the next attack as support.”