Nuclear Missile

This article is about the Hunter Vertigo weapon. You may be looking for the Nuclear Weaponry used in Pacific Rim.

The warhead of Hunter Vertigo's nuclear missile.

Nuclear Missiles are a secondary weapon used by the Jaeger Hunter Vertigo.

Mechanics

Nuclear missiles are armed by voice command using the Jaeger's dedicated A.I., or manually in the event of the A.I.'s destruction. Once fired, the nuclear missile extend from the warhead, and are propelled forward by its rocket.

History

While transporting civilians to safety, Hunter Vertigo engages the Kaiju Acidquill at Shadow Basin. After one of its Cryo cannons are damaged in the fight, Ford Travis arms the nuclear missile and fires on Acidquill. The Kaiju knocks a nuclear missile intended to kill it towards the group of civilians Hunter Vertigo is protecting. The Travis's catch it, and shove it down the Kaiju's throat before it detonates. The explosion kills Acidquill and destroys Hunter Vertigo's right arm.

Hunter Vertigo is eventually abandoned in Clayton City after encountering a Kaiju that forced the Travis's to expend all of its arsenal save one nuclear missile that got jammed upward in the barrel. Five years later, the abandoned Jaeger was found by their children, Taylor and Hayley.

When Copperhead entered the city and attacked Atlas Destroyer, Hayley returned to Hunter Vertigo and managed to unjam the last nuke by kicking it until it nose was forced downward. Once Copperhead was in position, Hayley manually fired the missile on Copperhead. The missile entered through the chest wound created by Atlas Destroyer's Saber Chain, and obliterated Copperhead.

Known Inconsistencies

• In Pacific Rim: Tales From Year Zero, Jasper Schoenfeld was inspired to design the Jaegers in an effort to eliminate the use of nuclear weaponry's destructive power. In Pacific Rim: The Black, Hunter Vertigo's use of nuclear weapons contradicts the philosophy of the Jaegers.
• Hunter Vertigo's nuclear missiles lacks the customary mushroom cloud and fails to create the usual amount of destruction caused by even a tactical nuclear missile. Additionally, the missiles do no appear to release the radiation that would otherwise render the survivors' settlement uninhabitable.

Trivia

• Reference to the missiles as nuclear is likely a misnomer on the part of the writers.

Gallery

Screenshots

Ford Travis arms the nuclear missile

Brina Travis watches the missile sail over Hunter Vertigo's shoulder

The nuclear missile in mid-extension

Hunter Vertigo's last nuclear missile (jammed)

Hayley approaches the nuclear missile

Hayley frees the nuclear missile from the chamber