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Description
From the Files of Frank Womack, Kaiju Expert*

Kaiju File # 001

Umbara (Oom-Bah-Rah)

First Seen: Hatteras Island, North Carolina, USA
Last Seen: Arden Tower Ruins, Old Detroit, Michigan, USA

Primary Range: Data Not Available due to Termination of Xenoform

Dietary Preference: Standard for a kaiju, Umbara primarily preferred energy sources, notably electrical stations and power grids. Subject was observed partaking of organics as well, though if this is simply due to prior genetic patterns before its mutation, or meant to serve a specific purpose, I'm not sure.

Description: (Unlike most kaiju, a full profile of its description and behavior can only be acquired through retroactive means. As such, no data presented below can be considered completely accurate.)

Possessing a bulky, roughly humanoid build, Umbara was a bipedal beast with a sloping, slow gait, viscous, slime-covered skin, a cycloptic, horned cranium, and seemingly unresponsive behavior. Upon first making landfall, it by and large ignored residential and even light military obstructions, instead making its way to the first major metropolitan area in its path without distraction. As the American Navy and Air Force escalated matters against it, its temperament rapidly changed to one of calculated, instantaneous rage, destroying its perceived enemies swiftly and brutally.

Most noticeable about Umbara is its lack of bony arms, instead possessing a set of elongated muscular tubes, ending in toothed maws akin to inaccurate pop-culture portrayals of the common leech. These are not true 'mouths,' however, instead they serve as highly specialized delivery systems for chemical and energy attacks in any direction, and when grappling these arms can stretch more than double the creature's height, twisting and turning to chase and catch faster opponents.

Defense Protocols: As the beast was the first proper kaiju sighting in the modern age, there were no equivalent military protocols in place to deal with such a being besides a few hypothetical files kept by the Pentagon, which grossly misled the military into taking disastrous steps against it.

Given the monster's apparent death in Detroit, no proper protocols have been enacted for its reappearance. However, as kaiju cells possess regenerative abilities far beyond any found in the galaxy thus far, its reemergence is far from impossible, and as such standard protocols have been recommended, with an extra focus on non-penetrating weaponry. Standard evacuations and deployments will suffice, but it should be remarked that this kaiju's regenerative abilities exceed most subsequently encountered, and without a proper way to measure the exact quotients of difference, there is no true pattern of protocol to follow until cellular reconnaissance can be conducted. Barring standard practices, it is my personal belief that this kaiju warrants deployment of the M-O-A unit should it reappear. Its a strong one.

(ADDENDUM: It was later learned that Umbara's creation and emergence is what awoke the mysterious lifeform Grorn from its epochal slumber. Given this fact, it is likely that aid from the being, and possibly even its wards, could be expected in the event of its return.)

(ADDENDUM II: For details on the Amminot virus and its various strains, see individual entries as well as personnel files on Doctor Allison Gaither and UNOS.)

Noteworthy Abilities:

-Hyperegeneration: Though many claim this to be a case of hindsight bias, the kaiju Umbara possessed a regeneration factor far beyond the average for a septix organism, recovering from artillery bombardments in a matter of minutes that would take the average kaiju hours. This brought with it an increased potential for the CHI-DNA (Chimeric Helixiform Intermutated DNA) effect, as the forever altered ecosystem of the north american eastern seaboard now stands testament to. Suffice to say, it was very hard to kill this thing.

-Energy Absorption: Now considered a standard kaiju ability, Umbara famously possessed the ability to absorb and retain raw energy, with a noted preference for electrical grids. This unknowingly guided the creature's path to Arden Tower in Detroit, where a precursor energy cell secretly powered the entire facility. Also standard, Umbara could direct and release pent up energy in concentrated bursts from its 'arm-mouths' as well as from the eye in the center of it cranial cavity. These attacks are costly to the kaiju's energy reserves, however, and are rarely used save in a battle in which it fears for its life.

-Acid Spray: The most memorable and even dare I say iconic weapon in the kaiju's arsenal, Umbara's body could produce a highly corrosive acidic substance that could disintegrate most conventionally utilized materials in a matter of minutes. These sprays could be directed from any of its numerous orifices, most notably the ones under its primary arms and the four above its knees. It is unknown what sort of effects it could have on other kaiju, as no interactions exist on record.

-Intelligence: Its not confirmed, but it is personally believed that Umbara possessed a high degree of intelligence, or rather, potential for intelligence. In the short time before its death it had learned to discriminate quite a few important details to its survival, such as which vehicles were likely to fire upon it and which were not, as well as the sound and direction of incoming jet fighter craft. While several kaiju display intelligence, this one seemed to learn faster than most, who are guided moreso by instincts and precursor protocols. Perhaps, even, there was potential for sapience itself in the beast. But again, barring its re-emergence, there is no way to know for sure.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: If you ask anyone old enough to remember, they can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when the first footage of Umbara, rollicking through Detroit like a child with a penchant for squashing bugs, was shown. Much like other unforgettable events, the answers for this are usually quite mundane, like getting groceries, at home with their families, and so on. Not everyone is so lucky and so far away from the eye of a storm, though.

Now, you may ask, what was I, Frank Womack, kaiju chaser and devotee to the pursuit of truth, doing when Umbara emerged? Well, to be truthful, I was unconscious. And detained at the now abandoned Fort Bragg for straying too far into a quarantine zone. True to their post-UNOS form, the military had blacked out the entire eastern part of North Carolina to keep the media quiet and to, in their eyes, provide no exits for any cybernetic invaders. How wrong they were, and how much damage that decision would cause, is not something I need to tell you about. The story of my subsequent escape alongside the now immortalized Doctor Allison Gaither, UNDER officer Jameson Horvath and Army Lieutenant Paul Gregory is also well known, as was our journey to Detroit, circumnavigating the monster's terrible wake as well as the destabilizing efforts of my homeland's finest to keep it, and news of it, contained. That was the longest I've ever gone without aether access, and I plan on never going back.

It's something of a point of pride with me that I've seen most of the world's endemic kaiju in person, as well as a good chunk of the mechanoids and even extraterrestrials. Many have been bigger, stronger, faster and altogether more unusual, but Umbara holds a special, primal place for me in my heart. It was what got me hooked, and was the closest I've ever been to death's door. Sometimes, when my line of work begins to wear me down, I look back and remember that excursion in my old RV, careening for our lives down abandoned interstates while chased by the first ever known CHI-DNA cases, and it puts me back in my place. I don't ever want anyone to feel that way again if they can help it, and it is for that purpose that I have begun writing these 'unofficial' kaiju profiles. Educate yourselves, people, and always keep an eye on the sky!

*These files are in no representative of nor indicating the opinions and/or facts concerning various government bureaus, including but not limited to: The United Nations, UNDER, etc. These are unofficial productions by a private citizen determined to aid the concerned public in the event of a kaiju or extraterrestrial incursion and are in no way to be considered authoritative reports on the aforementioned dangers.

---------------------------------

And here we are again. The end of another year, a crazy one, and me uploading a new, retooled and very different version of the same story. That's what, the third time? But you can be sure that this one will be the last. My life has been a whirlwind the last couple of years. I've lost homes, jobs, family, access to technology, and a whole heap of drama I'd rather not go into. But today, at the tail end of 2016, I can say my life is the most stable its ever been since I was a little kid. I have a home I can easily afford, bills I pay to provide services that allow me to do things like this at a level I couldn't for a very long time.

But enough about me, lets get down to business.

This is the new format for the kaiju story I've been working on for several years. Its right where I want it now, and the first draft of the first novel is in progress. I'll go into more detail about the synopsis and whatnot soon enough, but for now this file will be your sole canon piece to look upon until the next is done. I'm going to try and shoot for getting one of these done every couple of weeks or so.

If any of the elements interest you, feel free to ask in a comment below. I'm willing to address most non-spoiler questions. Hope you have/had a good holiday, everybody!

Description
From the Files of Frank Womack, Kaiju Expert*

Kaiju File # 001

Umbara (Oom-Bah-Rah)

First Seen: Hatteras Island, North Carolina, USA
Last Seen: Arden Tower Ruins, Old Detroit, Michigan, USA

Primary Range: Data Not Available due to Termination of Xenoform

Dietary Preference: Standard for a kaiju, Umbara primarily preferred energy sources, notably electrical stations and power grids. Subject was observed partaking of organics as well, though if this is simply due to prior genetic patterns before its mutation, or meant to serve a specific purpose, I'm not sure.

Description: (Unlike most kaiju, a full profile of its description and behavior can only be acquired through retroactive means. As such, no data presented below can be considered completely accurate.)

Possessing a bulky, roughly humanoid build, Umbara was a bipedal beast with a sloping, slow gait, viscous, slime-covered skin, a cycloptic, horned cranium, and seemingly unresponsive behavior. Upon first making landfall, it by and large ignored residential and even light military obstructions, instead making its way to the first major metropolitan area in its path without distraction. As the American Navy and Air Force escalated matters against it, its temperament rapidly changed to one of calculated, instantaneous rage, destroying its perceived enemies swiftly and brutally.

Most noticeable about Umbara is its lack of bony arms, instead possessing a set of elongated muscular tubes, ending in toothed maws akin to inaccurate pop-culture portrayals of the common leech. These are not true 'mouths,' however, instead they serve as highly specialized delivery systems for chemical and energy attacks in any direction, and when grappling these arms can stretch more than double the creature's height, twisting and turning to chase and catch faster opponents.

Defense Protocols: As the beast was the first proper kaiju sighting in the modern age, there were no equivalent military protocols in place to deal with such a being besides a few hypothetical files kept by the Pentagon, which grossly misled the military into taking disastrous steps against it.

Given the monster's apparent death in Detroit, no proper protocols have been enacted for its reappearance. However, as kaiju cells possess regenerative abilities far beyond any found in the galaxy thus far, its reemergence is far from impossible, and as such standard protocols have been recommended, with an extra focus on non-penetrating weaponry. Standard evacuations and deployments will suffice, but it should be remarked that this kaiju's regenerative abilities exceed most subsequently encountered, and without a proper way to measure the exact quotients of difference, there is no true pattern of protocol to follow until cellular reconnaissance can be conducted. Barring standard practices, it is my personal belief that this kaiju warrants deployment of the M-O-A unit should it reappear. Its a strong one.

(ADDENDUM: It was later learned that Umbara's creation and emergence is what awoke the mysterious lifeform Grorn from its epochal slumber. Given this fact, it is likely that aid from the being, and possibly even its wards, could be expected in the event of its return.)

(ADDENDUM II: For details on the Amminot virus and its various strains, see individual entries as well as personnel files on Doctor Allison Gaither and UNOS.)

Noteworthy Abilities:

-Hyperegeneration: Though many claim this to be a case of hindsight bias, the kaiju Umbara possessed a regeneration factor far beyond the average for a septix organism, recovering from artillery bombardments in a matter of minutes that would take the average kaiju hours. This brought with it an increased potential for the CHI-DNA (Chimeric Helixiform Intermutated DNA) effect, as the forever altered ecosystem of the north american eastern seaboard now stands testament to. Suffice to say, it was very hard to kill this thing.

-Energy Absorption: Now considered a standard kaiju ability, Umbara famously possessed the ability to absorb and retain raw energy, with a noted preference for electrical grids. This unknowingly guided the creature's path to Arden Tower in Detroit, where a precursor energy cell secretly powered the entire facility. Also standard, Umbara could direct and release pent up energy in concentrated bursts from its 'arm-mouths' as well as from the eye in the center of it cranial cavity. These attacks are costly to the kaiju's energy reserves, however, and are rarely used save in a battle in which it fears for its life.

-Acid Spray: The most memorable and even dare I say iconic weapon in the kaiju's arsenal, Umbara's body could produce a highly corrosive acidic substance that could disintegrate most conventionally utilized materials in a matter of minutes. These sprays could be directed from any of its numerous orifices, most notably the ones under its primary arms and the four above its knees. It is unknown what sort of effects it could have on other kaiju, as no interactions exist on record.

-Intelligence: Its not confirmed, but it is personally believed that Umbara possessed a high degree of intelligence, or rather, potential for intelligence. In the short time before its death it had learned to discriminate quite a few important details to its survival, such as which vehicles were likely to fire upon it and which were not, as well as the sound and direction of incoming jet fighter craft. While several kaiju display intelligence, this one seemed to learn faster than most, who are guided moreso by instincts and precursor protocols. Perhaps, even, there was potential for sapience itself in the beast. But again, barring its re-emergence, there is no way to know for sure.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: If you ask anyone old enough to remember, they can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when the first footage of Umbara, rollicking through Detroit like a child with a penchant for squashing bugs, was shown. Much like other unforgettable events, the answers for this are usually quite mundane, like getting groceries, at home with their families, and so on. Not everyone is so lucky and so far away from the eye of a storm, though.

Now, you may ask, what was I, Frank Womack, kaiju chaser and devotee to the pursuit of truth, doing when Umbara emerged? Well, to be truthful, I was unconscious. And detained at the now abandoned Fort Bragg for straying too far into a quarantine zone. True to their post-UNOS form, the military had blacked out the entire eastern part of North Carolina to keep the media quiet and to, in their eyes, provide no exits for any cybernetic invaders. How wrong they were, and how much damage that decision would cause, is not something I need to tell you about. The story of my subsequent escape alongside the now immortalized Doctor Allison Gaither, UNDER officer Jameson Horvath and Army Lieutenant Paul Gregory is also well known, as was our journey to Detroit, circumnavigating the monster's terrible wake as well as the destabilizing efforts of my homeland's finest to keep it, and news of it, contained. That was the longest I've ever gone without aether access, and I plan on never going back.

It's something of a point of pride with me that I've seen most of the world's endemic kaiju in person, as well as a good chunk of the mechanoids and even extraterrestrials. Many have been bigger, stronger, faster and altogether more unusual, but Umbara holds a special, primal place for me in my heart. It was what got me hooked, and was the closest I've ever been to death's door. Sometimes, when my line of work begins to wear me down, I look back and remember that excursion in my old RV, careening for our lives down abandoned interstates while chased by the first ever known CHI-DNA cases, and it puts me back in my place. I don't ever want anyone to feel that way again if they can help it, and it is for that purpose that I have begun writing these 'unofficial' kaiju profiles. Educate yourselves, people, and always keep an eye on the sky!

*These files are in no representative of nor indicating the opinions and/or facts concerning various government bureaus, including but not limited to: The United Nations, UNDER, etc. These are unofficial productions by a private citizen determined to aid the concerned public in the event of a kaiju or extraterrestrial incursion and are in no way to be considered authoritative reports on the aforementioned dangers.

---------------------------------

And here we are again. The end of another year, a crazy one, and me uploading a new, retooled and very different version of the same story. That's what, the third time? But you can be sure that this one will be the last. My life has been a whirlwind the last couple of years. I've lost homes, jobs, family, access to technology, and a whole heap of drama I'd rather not go into. But today, at the tail end of 2016, I can say my life is the most stable its ever been since I was a little kid. I have a home I can easily afford, bills I pay to provide services that allow me to do things like this at a level I couldn't for a very long time.

But enough about me, lets get down to business.

This is the new format for the kaiju story I've been working on for several years. Its right where I want it now, and the first draft of the first novel is in progress. I'll go into more detail about the synopsis and whatnot soon enough, but for now this file will be your sole canon piece to look upon until the next is done. I'm going to try and shoot for getting one of these done every couple of weeks or so.

If any of the elements interest you, feel free to ask in a comment below. I'm willing to address most non-spoiler questions. Hope you have/had a good holiday, everybody!