Ramifications of Repeated Kaiju Attacks

[Majin Gojira]

This is an extension of the Kaiju Timeline excersize, but it's not needed to read in full to contribute to this.

Okay, here's the deal. We have a world where, over the last 100 years, various "Strange Beasts" appear across the world at an average rate of 2 every year. These range from the appearnce of foot long slugs to NotLD Zombie outbreaks to full on Godzilla and Mothra attacks. Most attacks/occurences occur in remote locations/small towns, with only a fourth (at best) occuring in a major city, and another fourth never even reaching civilization (Monster Island type stuff). Over this 100 year period, there are, perhaps, 50 major city attacks, but also 5 "Monster Wars"/major monster conflicts spread over 100 years.

The monsters come from various sources. Some are chemical or radioactive "mutations"; others are naturally occuring creatures; others are alien beasts; and others still are out and out dieties (ranging from Cthulhu to Mothra).

To give a bit more detail, the following creature groups re-occur:

The 100 Class Monster: Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah, Gorgo's Mother, Clover. It takes near-nuclear strength weaponry to effectivly damage these creatures (MOABs, FAEs), and they often leak things that are nasty when that happens--and their ability to 'come back from the dead' makes it somewhat moot. They mostly keep to themselves, thankfully, but have attacked cities on occasion. Some are mutations, others are outright dieties.

Class 50 Monsters - Anguirus, Gamera, Gyaos, various Ultraman monsters. Some of these can actually be contained--even slain--by conventional weapons. This is only a recent development, however, and they to have the nasty ability to apparently return from being slain. Most of these are just animals, several display frightening intelligence.

Class 30 Monster - Baragon, Rhedosaurus, Dragons, Sea Serpents, Giant Snakes, Gargantuas/"Frankenstien Brothers" Sanda and Garia. These can be slain by conventional weaponry--from the Korean War on, and are often just animals.

Kraken - There is a species of Giant Octopus that lives in the deep ocean trenches, it grows up to 200ft long, but are quite squishy--they can sink some ships if their food sources are disturbed.

Giant Ants - First appearing in the 1950s, the ants from the clasic "Them!" re-appear when certain ant species are exposed to radioactivity.

Average Giant Insects - Certain wavelengths of radiation can enlarge and reinforce insects to Carboniferous-sizes (1 meter long) quickly.

Ghouls - Night of the Living Dead-style Zombies appear every now and then--certain animals (such as the Sumatran Rat Monkey) can transfer the disease to humans.

CHUD - Cannibalistic Humanoid Underground Dwellers. Degenerate former humans--or perhaps a new species of human, designed to live in chemically and radioactivly tainted underground lairs. Most major cities have small populations of them feeding on Rats and the homeless.

Giant Rats - The size of German Shepards living in larger, older cities with high waste outputs.

Zahazan - In the Sargasso/dead sea areas, conglomerations of an odd Seaweed (and now, polution) become carnivorous and mobile--measuring up to 50m long.

Swamp Beasts - Creatures half plant half animal like Zahazan, but freshwater versions, usually smaller.

Enlarged Animals - Normal animals--but BIGGER! Mammals tend to cap off at the size of a rhino or elephant (which can be pretty scary to see a wild boar the size or a rhino); Reptiles reaching 50ft long at most (including lizards and crocodilians, snakes reach twice that length) and Spiders varying in size from 5 to 70ft long.

Triffids - a Bio-engineering project from the Russians, they provide a good nutrient source for power-bars and such, despite the dangers inherent in raising them (undocked atleast).

Blobs Alien Macro-slimemold things that traverse the world via meteors to other planets. About 4 have hit the earth.

Terriroriality Shark - A larger than normal, occasionally abonromally developed/mutated, aquatic predator. Think "Jaws."

Human Giant - Standing up to 20ft tall, human giants with mild regenerative abilities occuring due to radioactive exposure.

Monsters from the Id - Think "Forbidden Planet" and the Pink Slime from Ghostbusters 2 in effect. Give a sensitive human enough energy and they'll manifest things from their subconscious.

Dinosaur and Super Dinosaurs - Several places hold surviving dinosaurs. Some are dwarfed from Isolation, others are Skull-Island-like Hells. Others still rest upon the remains of a sleeping Old One. Some of these have been taken by the "Races that Came Before Man" and turned into superweapons, enlarged to Kaiju Class 30 and armed with various weapons.

Other things exist, but these are the most common.

What I ask of you is this: What are the Ramifications (not in terms of Weapons Development, I think I have that covered) of thes repeated appearances? Culturally, economically (They tend to attack North America, Eastern Asia and Europe), politically, etc.

It's a big question, but post your ideas and concepts regardless. I'll come by later with some of my own thoughts involving Kaiju Cults/Worship.

[DPDarkPrimus]

Insurance as we know it no longer exists.

[Tasoth]

Populations would be clustered in easily defensible positions, whether cities in the mountains/hills or downward growing arcologies. Depending on how concentrated the populations become, agriculture might take a hit as there are less bodies to go out there and do it, a big time concern if the farming and ranching industry in the setting his heavily automated and petroleum reserves are winding down.

Also, depending on the history of attacks in an area, you could end up with cities full of paranoids or those living in fear that something is going to crop up and squash the city or people blithely going about day to day business until the monsters show up and catch them with their pants down.

Technologically, there'd be a lot of automation to take care of things out in the boonies where people don't want to be, perhaps a push for stronger structural engineering if everyone his hiding underground or living in low buildings on the surface. Pollution control would probably be big in the event of large percentages of the population being in a small area as well as recycling. Instead of digging up resources, there might be a heavy stress on recycling what you have to lessen your reliance and need to expose yourself in remote areas while getting said resources.

[Anguirus]

Unless the Class 100s and 50s conducted themselves in a predictable, relatively restrained manner (causing no more damage than, say, a hurricane every few years) then I have a hard time imagining they wouldn't be nuked, and then the area either cleaned up or simply written off.

In particular, if the Gyaos even remotely resemble the Gamera 3 Gyaos in their plague-like proportions humanity would almost be forced to launch a global crusade against them, destroying them or being killed trying.

Also, I have a hard time imagining the World Wars would have happened in the way they did with all these gods running around. That alone alters the political landscape in frankly unpredictable ways.

[weemadando]

At worst we have to use Tac Nukes and maybe sacrifice a city.

At best, they're picked up while still on their approach and as soon as any hostility is found they'll be destroyed while at sea/still in their "lair".

[Rye]

At worst, I would consider it a new dark age.

The giant monster and sea problems make much of modern life like the mass transit of goods severely difficult. Given the inter-related nature of modern life, all of that will have to be revised or become hideously expensive. Perhaps airships could remedy the seagoing problems to some extent? Still, due to Clover et al coming back from the dead, coastal cities that end up on their hitlists will be violently eroded to ruin as time progresses, and the repair costs would be prohibitive and this would cause a noticable shift in global economy and therefore politics. See 11th of September. This would all naturally lead to severe problems with psychoreactive slime.

If the blobs have landed in second or third world nations, chances are the ecosystems will be devastated and large areas become uninhabitable. Again, lots of knock on effects with economics, environment and politics.

The rest aren't that dangerous. The zombies can be dealt with fairly easily by most cultures on Earth, as can the giant animals. I would suspect the morlocks or whatever they're called could end up a problem if they get a messianic cause and destroy the sewer system as a form of terrorism. That doesn't sound that impressive on its face, but as soon as everyone starts getting diptheria and smells shit everywhere, there's a whole new expensive problem in the cities.

[Majin Gojira]

Insurance as we know it no longer exists.

I bet they'd try to classify a Kaiju (well, certain Kaiju) as "Act of God" type attacks, but that sound's likely.

Populations would be clustered in easily defensible positions, whether cities in the mountains/hills or downward growing arcologies. Depending on how concentrated the populations become, agriculture might take a hit as there are less bodies to go out there and do it, a big time concern if the farming and ranching industry in the setting his heavily automated and petroleum reserves are winding down.

Very good point. The Average Class 30 attack would be a Baragon burrowing up from the earth and eating a herd of Cattle, which would not be good for the land or the industry.

Also, depending on the history of attacks in an area, you could end up with cities full of paranoids or those living in fear that something is going to crop up and squash the city or people blithely going about day to day business until the monsters show up and catch them with their pants down.

So, Tokyo and New York (which seem to be hit every 3-10 years by any of these), and possibly London and Los Angeles (hit every 8-12 years) would be like this.

Technologically, there'd be a lot of automation to take care of things out in the boonies where people don't want to be, perhaps a push for stronger structural engineering if everyone his hiding underground or living in low buildings on the surface.

I'd see an increase in Bomb Shelter sales because of this.

Pollution control would probably be big in the event of large percentages of the population being in a small area as well as recycling. Instead of digging up resources, there might be a heavy stress on recycling what you have to lessen your reliance and need to expose yourself in remote areas while getting said resources.

Keep in mind, the world is a realyl big place, and that even in the boonies, you're not likely to see anything as much as a 1m bug once every 15 years. So, it'd be a little living in an earhtquake prone zone, where a "Big One" is a Class 100.

Unless the Class 100s and 50s conducted themselves in a predictable, relatively restrained manner (causing no more damage than, say, a hurricane every few years) then I have a hard time imagining they wouldn't be nuked, and then the area either cleaned up or simply written off.

Most do, at least--based on the films. And then there's the problem of A) the creature returning anyway, B) The nuke making more monsters.

In particular, if the Gyaos even remotely resemble the Gamera 3 Gyaos in their plague-like proportions humanity would almost be forced to launch a global crusade against them, destroying them or being killed trying.

That would count as a 5 per century "Monster War," though I doubt the proportions of creatures would be that large. Besides, with Mothra and Gamera around, it's not as though there aren't some "Natural" defenses...

Also, I have a hard time imagining the World Wars would have happened in the way they did with all these gods running around. That alone alters the political landscape in frankly unpredictable ways.

So, the only way for this world to resemble out political climate in any way would be if the attacks were kept to a minimum until 1945? QED.

At worst we have to use Tac Nukes and maybe sacrifice a city.

At best, they're picked up while still on their approach and as soon as any hostility is found they'll be destroyed while at sea/still in their "lair".

If the Cold War occurs as normal (which is possible if WWII happens), then there'd only be a short window between 1945 and 1949 where the US could nuke Monsters (if there were any worth it--and before they realized that nuking things would make more).

[Majin Gojira]

Culturally, I see a few changes.

Some "Big Name" Kaiju (Godzilla, Mothra, Rodan, Anguirus, Gamera, King Ghidorah) would likely be used as political tools or symbols for various groups.

Mothra in particular might gain a true Cult behind her, given that she has some degree of intelligence and is more benevolent than her bretheren.

Some polytheistic religions would take some of the above Kaiju as new Gods--and others would interpret them (probably erroniously) as various figures from their Mythology. Rodan would be a great Thunderbird; Godzilla the Leviathan; and King Ghidorah would be the Dragon of the Appocalypse.

If there are Ultramen to counter perhaps half of the Class 50 or above outbreaks (a Big If), then they too would have such interpretations behind them (since they just sort of "Appear" and Disapear when needed, Christians might cite them as examples of Divine Intervention). Regardless, they'd be shoved into the worldviews of various religious groups--and most won't care.

The other effect they could have is perhaps a greater trend towards religious thought. With death literally lurking around the corner in so many horrible forms, frightened people might turn to religion as a comfort/protection much as they do in third world contries/wartorn areas. With the Churches claiming that the monsters are part of their belief system, we can probably see many people attempting to exorsize a Zombie or two before things go south.

On the science end of things, you can bet that people would be studying these phenomena and working out how they act the way they do and you can bet the Military would want to either make their own monsters or apply some monstrous traits to their men for true "Super Soldiers."

At worst, I would consider it a new dark age.

The giant monster and sea problems make much of modern life like the mass transit of goods severely difficult. Given the inter-related nature of modern life, all of that will have to be revised or become hideously expensive. Perhaps airships could remedy the seagoing problems to some extent?

Till Rodan or something similar appears. The Sea Problems can mostly be avoided by not entering certain areas--though this might redraw the trade routs and change some cities into important ports to the detriment of others. It might also throw off fishing lanes.

Still, due to Clover et al coming back from the dead, coastal cities that end up on their hitlists will be violently eroded to ruin as time progresses, and the repair costs would be prohibitive and this would cause a noticable shift in global economy and therefore politics. See 11th of September. This would all naturally lead to severe problems with psychoreactive slime.

That is a very distinct possibility in this world. Makes me glad that New York only gets hit by Class 50s or worse once every ten years over the last 50 years--that's still probably enough to erode segments of the city greatly and that doesn't include the lesser incidents.

If the blobs have landed in second or third world nations, chances are the ecosystems will be devastated and large areas become uninhabitable. Again, lots of knock on effects with economics, environment and politics.

Since they're akin to Slime Mold, the earch a certain size, then spore off. Thankfully (or maybe not), their spores are the meteors.

The rest aren't that dangerous. The zombies can be dealt with fairly easily by most cultures on Earth, as can the giant animals. I would suspect the morlocks or whatever they're called could end up a problem if they get a messianic cause and destroy the sewer system as a form of terrorism. That doesn't sound that impressive on its face, but as soon as everyone starts getting diptheria and smells shit everywhere, there's a whole new expensive problem in the cities.

Now that is a frightening prospect!

[SylasGaunt]

At worst we have to use Tac Nukes and maybe sacrifice a city.

At best, they're picked up while still on their approach and as soon as any hostility is found they'll be destroyed while at sea/still in their "lair".

I find it pretty unlikely given the number of monsters on here that are spawned by radiation. Not to mention in some cases that'll just make things worse (for instance Godzilla, the one time I can recall him being near a nuclear scale blast went from city-wrecker to potential walking apocalypse).

[Peptuck]

Just as an aside, how effective would bunker-buster bombs be at penetrating kaiju monster skins?

[The Yosemite Bear]

What about The Thing?

or all those aliens with sinister european accents?

[Anguirus]

That would count as a 5 per century "Monster War," though I doubt the proportions of creatures would be that large. Besides, with Mothra and Gamera around, it's not as though there aren't some "Natural" defenses...

Well, even if these occurrences are survivable, five in 100 years is some serious business. The military would be utterly transformed, focusing on extremely heavy weapons and anti-kaiju tactics. The draft would certainly be in effect, if a monster plague can and has shown up without warning.

[Majin Gojira]

Just as an aside, how effective would bunker-buster bombs be at penetrating kaiju monster skins?

Class 30 Kaiju can have their skull penetrated by 75mm rounds or greater due to the density of these things bones. Lesser shells and other anti-tank weaponry would also prove effective (with small arms not being very effective).

The bones of Class 50 are comparable to Diamonds, Class 100 are possibly the densest material on earth.

Class 50 could likely be penetrated in soft spots by Bunker Busters (the armored backs of Gamera and Anguirus could prove to thick for them)--even some Class 100s like Clover, who was officially slain by multiple MOABs. Poweful FAEs are also effective against Class 100s. MOABs, FAEs and so on are, of course, more effective on Class 50s. Large Battleship guns and other weapons designed to one-shot battleships in a big way (not "Open a hole in it and let it sink" type shots, but "Break the damn ship in two" or worse) ships would have some effect as well. A normal 150mm canon round can get the attention of a class 50, but doing little more than a BB-Gun would in damage.

These weapons could open up wounds--and, if in the right areas, greivous wounds, but getting them to bleed or blowing them appart can be hazardous. Sometimes, it'll work. Other times, the blood will be extremely toxic and spawn more monsters (though lesser). Other times, the blood will contain a new Plague. This also tends to negate most toxins and sicknessess that can be used agianst them. High Voltage Electrical Discharges generally prove more effective than conventional canons.

Class 50s and above have a nasty habit of being regenerators as well, some verging on Wolverine-level speed, making minor penetration moot in addition to their armor. Then there's always the threat of a Reptilicus appearing--a creature that, if blown into itty-bitty peices, will have those itty bitty pieces grow into new Reptilicus. Others have compositions (like Hedorah--living industrial sludge; and Zazahan--living Seaweed losely joined together; and even Man-of-War like Jellifish 400m across composed of dozens and dozens of individual jellifish) that makes conventional damage very difficult.

Other problems with these weapons arise in that many of them are adept (IE: 10s of MPH) burrowers. MOABs are designed to deal with that--but the monster might very well escape if it's not fired quickly enough.

I think that about covers it.

What about The Thing?

Only one incursion--and we got extremely lucky.

or all those aliens with sinister european accents?

Not as common as you'd think.

Well, even if these occurrences are survivable, five in 100 years is some serious business. The military would be utterly transformed, focusing on extremely heavy weapons and anti-kaiju tactics. The draft would certainly be in effect, if a monster plague can and has shown up without warning.

Perhaps I should define the big events (though it occurs at a time with a lot of anti-kaiju weaponry) and Banner Years.

World War I -- The Germans first attempt to weaponize these monsters as they begin to lose. None passes Class 30 in size/power. 30 some creatures imployed, but not all at once. Most minor of the incidents.

1956-1958 - No connected event, just a very bad year with a high rate of incidents. Notable for the Locust Plague of 1957--a swarm of thousands of bus-sized Locusts cross a large section of Ohio and descend upon Chicago before being driven into the Great Lakes. 1958 ended with the breif awakening of an Old One. Other notable incidents include a Kraken attacking San Francisco and damaging the Golden Gate Bridge, the first apperance of ID monsters and the Blob (PHeonixville, PA).

1965-1968 - No Connected Event, but another banner era of Kaiju Attacks after a 10 year lul in activity. Parly counter by the first appearances of Ultramen (if included). Notable incidents include the appearance of Peguila, Gamera, Barugon, Baragon, a "Monster Island" with multiple species appearing there, the first attempt by aliens to use the Loch Ness Monster as a Kaiju WMD and the first alien Mecha attack (on the UN building in New York!).

1972 - First apperance of Super Robots and Robot Terrorism.

1972-1976 - The Yapool Invasion - An extra-dimensional beings/Old One who use Class 50 Kaiju as WMDs. Ultraman Intervention occurs on occasion. Specific Locations wide and varied due to the dimensional travel invovled. Totalling in about 15 attacks over this time period, half reach populated areas.

1973-1975 - The Dinosaur War -- Serpent men using Dinosaur Super Weapons send them to the surface from the earth's core. Occurs in Asia and parts bleed into europe. Ended when a JSDF Super Robot Pilot sacrifices himself and his machine in the Silurian's main city, destroying it completey. These forces consiste of Class 30 monsters.

1975-1976 - The Demon-Mu War -- Right on the heels of the previous war, a new invader appeared. Though not true animals, strange weapons are in use in addition to some Class 50 Kaiju--as is an ancian Mu Superweapon defending the planet. Many Anti-Kaiju weaponry (Gotengo, Seaview, Getter Robo G) are in use to quell the uprisings.

1998-2000 - The Millenium Buildup -- Kaiju appearances become more frequent, including several Class 100 monsters appearing: building up to the Return of Godzilla in 1998, Gamera and the Gyaos appearing in 1996, Legion in 1997, the Plague of Gyaos in 1999, Rodan and Varan appearing then as well and the appearance of King Ghidorah in time for the new Millenium. King Ghidorah alone levels Paris, france (Which hadn't seen a Kaiju attack since the first World War).

In short, the 70s Sucked.

[SylasGaunt]

Also I'm not sure I'd class Gamera down in the 50s myself. I mean in Gamera 2 he was at ground level for a nuclear scale FAE detonation (with a crater several times his height in diameter) and survived (albeit he got torn up severely).

[Majin Gojira]

Also I'm not sure I'd class Gamera down in the 50s myself. I mean in Gamera 2 he was at ground level for a nuclear scale FAE detonation (with a crater several times his height in diameter) and survived (albeit he got torn up severely).

Yes, but tank rounds can hurt him (Gamera 1, when hitting unshelled portions of his body) and heavy anti-air missiles can knock him down and cause a flameout. The Legion-flower blast rendered him comatose and near death.

I mean, sure, he has an outpute weapon that's in the megaton strength, but the durability he has is rather low.

[Murazor]

In the context of this universe the giant mutant sharks of Deep Blue Sea would be like an artificial version of the giant white that appeared in Jaws 3 or something like that?

[Majin Gojira]

In the context of this universe the giant mutant sharks of Deep Blue Sea would be like an artificial version of the giant white that appeared in Jaws 3 or something like that?

Not So Much. A true Slasher-Shark is more akin to Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger and Micheal Meyers than to an artificially created being. They're supernaturally endowed.

Consider them a T-Virus mutant in comparison to Jason Voorhees.

[Lord of the Abyss]

You'd probably see fewer wars. Both because lower trade would mean less wealth to shovel into the military, and countries would be nervous about sending off large amounts of military force they might need to fight monsters.

You'd see more use of and research into incendiary and chemical weapons in order to deal with things like giant ant swarms and other swarm & underground critters. There wouldn't be nearly the taboo against them we have, because that's what people would think of when they hear about such weapons; burning out nests of "Them", not burning/gassing villages.

You might see a lot of watercraft based on GEV ( ground effect vehicle; hovercraft ) and semi-GEV principles. In the real world they aren't normally worth it economically speaking; if monster-world being fast to dodge monsters might make such technology attractive. Not to mention for pure GEVs being able to drive the thing right off the ocean and avoid the damaged/abandoned coastal cites.

[Anguirus]

I mean, sure, he has an outpute weapon that's in the megaton strength, but the durability he has is rather low.

I'd argue that he's easily more powerful than any known Mothra, most KGs, and Clover. Easily.

First off, the flower explosion to the face in G2 is the single most powerful blast that a kaiju has been known to survive, excepting Godzilla Final Wars. Not only did he survive it occurring in his face, but he was conscious for several seconds. If you are having MOABs kill Clover, then you sholud take this into account.

Second, he has never been injured by tank shells. SAMs and dropped bombs have mildly inconvenienced him, that's all.

Third, his durability has increased over time to the point that Gyaos beams actually bounce off him in G3.

Fourth, of all the kaiju listed he is by far the fastest, with the single exception of Gyaos. He can fly himself into low orbit in a few seconds.

Fifth, he is a pyrokinetic and actually can subsist on heat or electrical current (once resting in a lake and feeding on local electricity in an unknown radius). While this wouldn't protect him from, say, shrapnel from a bomb, it could complicate certain attempts to kill him. In fact it may be how he survived his point-blank nuking in G2.

But yeah, he should be Class 100 if some version of the Heisei Gamera timeline actually happened. If you want him to be Class 50 in your universe, great, but then he's not really Heisei Gamera.

[Stark]

The draft would certainly be in effect, if a monster plague can and has shown up without warning.

Why? Infantry would be useless. To fight walking no-limits fallacies you don't need men with M16s, you need space lasers, giant robots and nuclear airplanes.

[Peptuck]

The draft would certainly be in effect, if a monster plague can and has shown up without warning.

Why? Infantry would be useless. To fight walking no-limits fallacies you don't need men with M16s, you need space lasers, giant robots and nuclear airplanes.

The only thing I can imagine a draft working for is security, civil services, and labor. Possibly also to fight off the lower-level monsters. But they're definitely not going to be thrown at the big kaijus except - at best - to be distractions to slow them down, though the effectiveness of that would end the instant the draftees realize they're being used as chew toys and thus desert.

[Stark]

But they wouldn't even BE distractions. Godzilla's not going to give two shits, and nobody would waste their time sending thousands of M16s to be melted.

Space lasers. Giant robots. Nuclear airplanes. Not practical? Read the fucking OP.

[Anguirus]

You need a ton of support staff for your "nuclear airplanes," and governments will need trained, able-bodied men at their beck and call since Hurricane Katrinas will essentially be hitting left and right.

Plus, infantry will help against more common, "low-class" threats.

[SylasGaunt]

Yes, but tank rounds can hurt him (Gamera 1, when hitting unshelled portions of his body) and heavy anti-air missiles can knock him down and cause a flameout.

I'd have to check out Gamera 1 again but roaring because they're being shot is something every Kaiju does just about. Anti-air missiles that create fireballs bigger than he is.

The Legion-flower blast rendered him comatose and near death.

The blast that left a crater several hundred meters in diameter as I recall.

[Cykeisme]

What I ask of you is this: What are the Ramifications (not in terms of Weapons Development, I think I have that covered) of thes repeated appearances? Culturally, economically (They tend to attack North America, Eastern Asia and Europe), politically, etc.

Sorry, where was weapons development covered?

I'm thinking that if the physics in this alternate reality allow the existence of such creatures, would we be able to take advantage of the physics to develop technology and engineer weapons beyond the capabilities of what we have in reality?
Perhaps taking the form of fantastic fictional weapon systems like giant robots with laser guns etc

This is important, because if we can defend ourselves adequately against these threats, they may not have a significant economical impact, though there will almost certainly be cultural ramifications.