With their Weapons recharged, equipment checked, and minds ready for combat... Their new objective is to get to Svarog and convince him to reveal the reasons for the Stellaron in Belobog.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Virgilio told the Joint Task Force.

"Yep! Time to end this conflict!" Xiuying replied, with a proud smile.

"We're going to make history for this." Sullivan added.

"I can guide you to my heart, darling.~" Stelle told Virgilio.

"Not now."

"I'm ready!~" March 7th.

Dan Heng nodded.

"Hmph. Yeah, ready." Seele.

"So do I, Virgilio." Bronya Rand.

With the Task Force assembled, and ready.

"Good luck guys! The Moles are waiting for you all!" Hook told the trio.

"We will, Hook!" Sullivan replied.

The Wildfire told the task force, good luck and to be careful. Xiuying took the helm and guided them to the Vagrants' Base as Xiuying was skilled at Pathfinding. Which let them arrive within a few minutes.

And what about Sampo you may ask?

Well, let's just say, he prefers to deal with Stelle than her as Xiuying's threats aren't empty.

Ahem.

The Task Force helped the Vagrants, who were thankful for their assistance. They've arrived, and of course, they've helped Clara from the Ice Out of Space, Virgilio headsets Clara and then enters the place.

"You have arrived on Clara's recommendation. I will give you an opportunity to speak."

Svarog then noticed Virgilio and said.

"We meet again."

"Same here, Svarog. I suppose it's time."

Svarog made a noticeable nod and then signaled Virgilio to start first.

"Why not me?" Stelle asked.

"Virgilio has his experiences in negotiations. Since he knows his way to be a diplomat and a leader." Dan Heng told her.

"Care to explain why would you believe that humanity's best chance to survive is to remain in the Underworld?" Virgilio asked.

"Reason: The Overworld stands no chance with the disaster above. And the strength of the Underworlders is too few to even alleviate it."

"Then perhaps it's the Stellaron causing this world to be demolished by it. Do you have any intel about it?" Virgilio.

"Searching database... Access denied. Discussing "Stellaron" with unauthorized targets: Prohibited."

"What!?" Xiuying didn't sound happy.

"You tell me, Liana." Seele told Xiuying.

"Figures." Virgilio doesn't sound surprised.

"You are broaching a secret that lies at the heart of this world. A secret that should remain unknown to humanity." Svarog replied. "Reassessing targets... Threat index raised. I demand that you reveal your true intention, Lieutenant Colonel."

"As expected... He knows of the Stellaron, but it's a restricted topic..." Dan Heng remarked.

"We've come this far. Out with it already! Virgilio, just be straight with him! Everything depends on it." Seele added.

Virgilio the looked at Svarog and said...

"Hence why we're here. To find the Stellaron and end this damn disaster before it's too late."

"Historical records state that humanity has made multiple efforts to engage with the Stellaron. Without exception, these efforts have been motivated by human greed — attempts to secure the article for a selfish end. As instructed by the Architect: I shall provide a fitting answer for you, Lieutenant Colonel: Get. Bent."

Sullivan nearly laughed, Xiuying stared in shock, and Virgilio got himself an angry mark while maintaining his composure... As for the others...

"Did... Did he just tell Virgilio to Get bent...?" Seele.

"I didn't expect for him to insult Virgilio..." Bronya.

"Reassessing... Target threat index critical. It appears you've been unsuccessful."

"... So, looks like we're going to beat each other's ass, like a moron? " Virgilio responded.

"Correct. Peacekeeping protocol temporarily disengaged... Requestion extermination protocol launch."

"E-Extermination? In the literal sense?" March 7th with a scared tone.

"Peace talks are over - March, prepare for combat!" Dan Heng added.

"Lighting Squadron! Man the Battlestations!" Virgilio activates his Leader Mode.

"AYE!" Both Xiuying and Sullivan immediately replied and got ready.

"Mr. Svarog! Please, don't-!" Clara tried to stop the fight.

"Leave, Clara!" Svarog told her.

"Get to somewhere safe! You'll be hurt!" Virgilio added.

"Find somewhere to hide!" Bronya also told Clara.

She did, though she did feel like both Virgilio and Bronya just went into their Protective Mom & Dad mode.

"Tsk... looks like we have to take action after all." Seele as she was prepared to fight.

"Prototype number 3, monitoring automaton Svarog, exterminal protocol launch: successful... Annihilation permitted!"

"V! Watch-!"

All went black for him...

...

https://youtu.be/FphY16a1EiE

"Clear!!!"

With a second charge, Virgilio woke up and saw...

"You're lucky that Xiuying & Sullivan has placed a Signal Beacon from Outpost to here, last night!"

It was Alaia, the Medic of the Squadron who just brought Virgilio back from the dead, and Wilhelmina, Lighting 1-6 providing fire support with her Titan, without being encumbered. As Stelle is attacking Svarog relentlessly with her bat, Dan Heng with more precise strikes with his spear.

"AAAAAAAARGH!!! MY ARM!!! MY GOD DAMN ARM!!!" Sullivan screams about his broken right arm as Natasha...

"Hah, how can you put up your best fight without a doctor on the battlefield?" Natasha teased.

"Oh shut up!!!" Sullivan yelled.

"You dare to hurt my darling...?" Stelle as she then yelled... "YOU WILL PAY!!!"

"Jeez! Now Stelle's crazy!!!" March 7th added.

Wilhelmina, Lighting 1-6's Equipment:

Primary: Titan.
Secondary: EMC.
Rig: Stryker.
Payload: Centurion.
Trait: Relay.
Perks: Dexterity, Tac Resist, Gung-Ho.
Lethal: Plasma Grenade.
Tactical: Dome Shield.

"Wilhelmina!" Xiuying with an even happier tone, when she saw her favorite female LMG Pilot.

"We meet again, Frau Liana!~" She replied with the same tone.

Virgilio then turned to Alaia, and she helped him up and said.

"The Night's still young, Captain. Let's get back to work."

"Right. Let's go!"

With that Alaia and Virgilio got back to the battle, Virgilio fired at Svarog from a distance to provide additional firepower for the Trailblazers.

"Finally, you woke up. Thought you'd be daydreaming through the day." Seele noted.

"I knew you would say that." Virgilio replied, sounding almost like Judge Dredd.

"Regardless, it's great to see that you're still alive, dear." Bronya added that she helped distract Svarog, as Natasha treated a wounded Stelle.

Xiuying fired at the robotic hand, that Svarog summoned, along with Sullivan... Seele took the final blow on the hand and then...

"Let me end your misery..." And then used Virgilio's shoulder to boost herself and sliced through Svarog, as Wilhelmina was down by Svarog's Rocket Barrage, as Xiuying got hit by the laser and then yelled...

"MEDIC!!! OHMYFUCKINGGOD!!! IT BURNS!!! HOW THE FUCK AM I GOING TO FEED MY FUTURE BABIES NOW!?"

"Ever heard of Medical Tank? 7th Fleet now has it." Alaia replied, with her usual cold expression.

With Dan Heng able to land an Ice Arrow from March, on Svarog's back. He sends out another mechanical hand and it lands on Stelle, trapping her.

"STELLE!!!" Virgilio screamed.

The Trailblazers continued fighting Svarog as Xiuying...

"Grenades ready! Sullivan, get the P-LAW ready!" Xiuying immediately yelled out orders.

"AYE!" All Current Lighting Squadron Members yelled.

Virgilio along with all Lighting Squadrons pulled out their Grenades, or P-LAW (Sullivan) and tossed and Svarog. With Sullivan fired a charge. With enough explosives, Svarog was pushed back to the Mechanical Hand and got electrocuted. Freeing Stelle...

Which led him to get jumped and get a direct kiss from her...

"Cease fire! Cease fire! Svarog's done for!" Sullivan yelled.

All Lighting Squadron members immediately stand down and lower their weapons.

As Natasha was about to finish Svarog off...

"Wait... Wait!"

"CLARA!?" Xiuying shouted.

https://youtu.be/caCoHL2GM1g

"Please don't hurt Mr. Svarog!"

She went in front of Svarog to protect him... And then Virgilio rushed towards Natasha and lowered her Grenade Launcher...

"Nat... Don't do this..."

"I know." Natasha replied. Understanding his reason to be protective of Clara, and lowered her weapon.

He then rushed to Clara and said...

"Are you hurt?"

She looked surprised, by his sad smile...

"No... I'm okay... but thank you for looking after me, Big Brother..."

Virgilio sighed in relief that she was unharmed, including Bronya and everyone else.

"That's good... I won't forgive myself if you were to get hurt..."

"That was close..." Xiuying sighed in relief.

"Ja... Too close..." Wilhelmina added.

"Cla... ra..." Svarog...

She then turned to Svarog and said...

"Mr. Svarog... Don't push yourself any further. Can you tell them what you know?"

Svarog was silent, and then Clara continued.

"Mr. Svarog, you said you were willing to make all my wishes come true, right? My biggest wish right now is for everyone to work together. Like... like family."

"Recently, I learned something new... Calculation results can't always bring people happiness."

"Even if the world outside the cage isn't beautiful... people still want to know what it's like."

Which caused Wilhelmina to say...

"Du wurdest zu meiner Tochter befördert." [You have been promoted to My Daughter.]

"What?" Everyone looked at her in confusion. Wilhelmina looked away in embarrassment.

"Assessment system reset... successful. Processing variables..." Svarog.

"Variable 1: Clara's request... Variable 2: Outsiders' intentions."

"...Updated assessment result: Transference of decision-making authority to outsiders. Outsiders are granted access to Stellaron intelligence."

"So... So we did it?" March asked.

"Thanks to Clara, of course..."

"Yeah! Without her, even if we'd defeated Svarog, there's no way he'd have given us access to the intel, right?" March responded to Virgilio's interest.

"Ja, it appears that Meine Tochter is the only reason why Svarog is willing to open his intel to us." Wilhelmina added.

"... Is that it? The fight between the Vagrants and Wildfire is over...?" Sullivan said that...

But Virgilio told Sullivan...

"No... We've just opened a new front..."

"Agreed... It's just the start." Natasha added...

After learning the truth that the previous Supreme Guardians have been looking for a way to destroy the Stellaron, they all ended up in failure...

If the Lighting Squadron mobilizes, Wildfire and Vagrants to join the fight... it'll be a complete disaster, and she might be able to detect the sudden change the mobilize the Silvermane Guard... Leading to a complete divide of the people...

However, the Lighting Squadron along with the Trailblazers can instead deal with the threat. Which means, they'll be attacked instead. And the Undergrounder won't be targeted.

Now... They just need a clear way out... Xiuying managed to contact the rest of the Squadron to help them out...

For now... It's time for some much-needed rest...

By the time they got back to Boulder town, the Miners and Wildfire cheered for their return. Seeing that they've managed to convince Svarog to help with their situation.

As Virgilio is standing at the Abandoned Orphanage... Someone came to visit him...

["Shipping or Mature Chapter next?" A/N asked]