Shaw and Duvall arrive in Kazakhstan, where they are set to take down another colossal titan. Duvall suggests they could pursue easier targets, but Shaw, with a surge of anger, refutes the notion.
Rewinding to 1955, Keiko, Bill, and Shaw report to Lt. Hatch, who has assumed command of Monarch. He belittles their efforts and directs racist remarks toward Keiko, sparking Bill's fury to the point where he nearly strikes the lieutenant. As a result, all three are exiled to the basement. Sifting through their belongings, Shaw determines that their last-ditch effort to reclaim the project should involve creating a comprehensive map based on all their accumulated knowledge.
Meanwhile, Tim escorts Cate and the rest of the team to Monarch, intent on tracking down Lee Shaw and halting his dangerous crusade. His attempts to exterminate the monsters could potentially trigger another catastrophic G-Day. Kentaro doubts their ability to contribute meaningfully, but Verdugo insists they must at least try. While perusing Bill's files, Cate stumbles upon one detailing her grandmother's demise.
Delving deeper, they discover that her grandmother's death occurred in Kazakhstan, a location marked on Hiroshi's map. However, operating within those borders is prohibited, so Verdugo proposes assembling a small, covert team. She attempts to exclude Cate and her companions, but they argue that Shaw might treat them differently. When Tim volunteers to join the mission, Verdugo reluctantly agrees.
Bill and Keiko begin crafting their map, recognizing the need for compelling evidence rather than relying on dubious information. As they collaborate, their bond deepens, and Bill confesses his unwavering trust in her.
En route to Kazakhstan, an agent offers Cate body armor. She declines, asserting that pointing guns at everyone upon arrival will not yield the desired outcome. Since Shaw expects them, she believes he will attempt to communicate first. Upon their arrival, they find Lee and his team already inside the building. As Tim traverses a corridor, he is staggered by the sight of hundreds of monster shells, indicating that the titans have shed their skins and pose an even greater threat.
They stumbled upon an ominous, gaping hole at the heart of the area, encircled by an array of bombs. Tim, with a keen eye, identified it as a portal, quipping that it served as an entryway to the whimsical "tinfoil hat land." Kentaro, filled with uncertainty, posed the question to the group: Was Shaw's plan to seal the portal truly as preposterous as it sounded? Yet, his query lingered in the air, unanswered by any.
Soon after, Duvall materialized, his demeanor menacing as he ordered them to retreat. Shaw, ever the negotiator, agreed to engage in dialogue but only under the condition that it be a private conversation with Cate.
Meanwhile, Bill found himself lost, poring over a map when his gaze fell upon an ant, utilizing a tiny hole to traverse to the map's reverse side. Inspired, he dashed off to confer with Keiko. Upon knocking at her door, he found her visibly shaken. Bill unveiled his revelation: the Titans possessed a realm that coexisted with Earth, intertwined yet separate. Though the notion seemed far-fetched, Keiko acknowledged its ingenuity. Their exchange was abruptly interrupted by the presence of 3-year-old Hiroshi, whom Keiko introduced to Bill. She confided in him about the societal prejudices she faced as a Japanese female scientist and how concealing her motherhood was a necessary precaution to safeguard her professional reputation. Their conversation took a heartwarming turn as Bill pledged his support.
Shaw's insistence on speaking solely with Cate stemmed from her unique encounter—she had gazed into Godzilla's eyes. Sensing Shaw's resolve, Cate knew he was onto something. Shaw divulged that the Titans inhabited a world of their own, a realm he had already visited. There, he discovered that Godzilla's intentions were not malevolent; rather, he sought to maintain a boundary between his kind and humanity. Sealing the portals was, for Godzilla, an act of redemption.
Armed with the map from Keiko and Bill, the younger Shaw sought out General Puckett, who was on the verge of a pivotal meeting with the president. Initially dismissive, the general's attitude underwent a dramatic transformation when Lee revealed Godzilla's survival. Seizing the map, he became a convert to their cause.
Cate, desperate to halt Shaw's reckless plan, pleaded with him to reconsider. But Shaw, resolute, triggered the bombs. The ground trembled, structures crumbled, and chaos ensued as everyone scrambled for safety. In the frenzy, May tumbled into the portal. Cate, ensnared by one of the creatures, plummeted alongside Shaw, who valiantly attempted to rescue her.
