Cradle, Haven.

Two Days after attack.

Lieutenant Feron walked towards the Command Center, sighing as he stopped to watch several Knights patch a hole in the wall from the attack.

"Such a waste." Feron groaned. Three Recon Rangers and two Knights had been severely wounded, enough for them to be out of action for at least another month. Thankfully, no one had died, or had to use their Emergency Revive. Feron then noticed a comms notice on his wristpad.

Lt. Feron, It's Data Knight Alris. We need you in the lab as soon as possible.

Feron broke his stride and entered the lab to see three Data Knights scanning the crystal we had retrieved from the Crystal being.

"What did you get?" Feron asked.

"We've managed to find out what this thing is." Alris said. "Think of it as a pseudo-brain for the being, allowing it to move and fight. However…"

Alris motioned to the crystal, which was crackling with black energy.

"It's currently infested with dark energy, similar to the Swarm's signature." he finished.

"There was no Swarm contamination anywhere near here." Feron mused.

"That's because it's not the Swarm. It's similar, but not the same. We're working on cracking into it without being incinerated in the process. We do know that if we manage to get the data, we can convert it to latent energy and we can see what or who sent them here." Alris said.

"Good work." Feron said. "I'll take my leave."

The Knights saluted, and Feron left. He stood at his desk and groaned, lowering his head.

"Feron?"

He looked up to see Lt. Barrus, normally found in the Arcade, walk forward.

"We've received a High-gain signal from Emberlight, a data packet. They say some high-ranking Gremlins are willing to negotiate a ceasefire."

"Negotiate?" Feron asked, surprised. "Why?"

"They say that their kingdom's status quo has all but fractured due to infighting after the deaths of Herex and Seerus. Seems multiple political factions are fighting for influence over King Tinkinzar. One of these factions, led by former royal advisors are requesting a meeting with us at Depth 7 in the Steel Phantom Gate. They call themselves the Blue Writ, whatever that means."

"That's a Wolver Den." Feron said, pulling up the Gate map. "No signs of Gremlin activity there. Very well. Take Theta Squad and several Wardens and see what the Gremlins have to say. Be careful, there's no way to know if this is a trap." Feron said.

"Yessir." Barrus replied, as as he departed, Feron looked at a small scar on his wrist. That scar had come from Operation Crimson Hammer, the costly assault on Seerus's Grand Arsenal. He himself had been wounded, and though it had healed, the mental and physical scars remained.

"Good luck." Feron murmured.

===========

As the elevator landed in the Wolver Den, Barrus, Theta Squad, and five Wardens were greeted by several Gremlin Thwackers, only they wore a different crest on their shields, one of a blue crown.

"You came." The leader said.

"We did." Barrus replied.

"Follow us." Was the reply. The ten Knights followed, and to their surprise, a full military camp was already set up, with tents peppering the area. Mecha Knights, Retrodes, and Scuttlebots walked about, though they didn't raise a single hand against the Knights.

"Inside." The Thwacker said, motioning to a rather large tent. Barrus and Theta squad walked in, and found an old Gremlin, leaning on a cane fashioned from a Thwack Hammer, waiting for them.

"So, you came." The Gremlin said. "I am Advisor Delrex, or at least I used to be."

"Used to be?" Barrus asked, sitting down.

"The Crimson Order saw to that." Delrex replied. "The King has gone quite mad. Fears that his own subjects, day and night, plan to kill him. He has secluded himself for fear of assassination. The Crimson Order are the only ones who see his face."

"I see." Barrus said. "I take it the other Gremlins aren't happy?"

"That is quite the understatement." Delrex replied. "The subjects are in fear. Tinkinzar's Secret Guard silence all who oppose him. The air we breathe is tinged with fear, of the King, and you."

"Because of Seerus?" Barrus asked.

"Seerus was insane." Delrex said. "He was not missed. It is the fact that you are even on this world scares the people. We once considered that we had the right to inherit the stars. You proved us wrong. We fear you because we know what happened at the Core Terminal. Herex left us a message."

"You know the truth?" Barrus spoke.

"Yes." Delrex said. "But tarry we must not. I have several requests for you."

"State them." Barrus replied.

"One, We wish to go to the surface, as far away from the Crimson Order as possible. Two, we need supplies and medical aid. Three, to oversee this, one of my trusted warriors will stay as a viceroy in your city."

"Your conditions are acceptable." Barrus said. "In return, we would like that any Knights currently kept prisoner be released, and their gear and weapons returned. Furthermore, we want samples of your construct tech to advance our own."

"Acceptable." Delrex said. "And you are in luck, Knight. I have managed to extract three of your squads from their captors upon our escape. Follow me."

Barrus and the Knights nodded, and they followed Delrex to a large tent, where several Knights, about twelve, were being kept.

"Lieutenant!" One cried. "Were you captured?"

"On the contrary, Knight, you're being freed. We just finished up negotiations with Delrex here. Grab your gear, we're heading back to Haven."

"Sir, yessir." They chorused. The Gremlins returned their weapons and equipment, and as the Knights and Delrex boarded the Elevator, a light wind blew.

=========

"What did you just say to me, Kazin?" Sombra murmured angrily. Kazin cowered before his King, petrified in fear.

"I said that our force was destroyed and a Golem Heart captured. They were skilled in battle, and possessed weapons unlike anything we have seen. And…"

"They did not have a magic aura." Sombra finished. "They defeated them...WITHOUT magic?"

"Apparently so, my lord." Kazin said. "They used strategy and their weapons to destroy the golems."

Sombra huffed.

"Kazin, this is troubling. If these beings join our enemy, it could mean trouble. Go to this word and negotiate with them. We must bring them to our side, by whatever means possible."

"Yes, my king." Kazin said. He departed, and Sombra turned away. He looked to a strange object his troops had discovered. It was an obelisk of a black and purple crystal, radiating with energy unlike anything the Dark King had ever sensed. Whenever he came near it, Sombra felt the one emotion he swore to never let show.

Fear

"Whatever you are…" He said. "I will conquer you. Soon, your world and Equestria will be mine."

Author's Note

Yep, update.

Next Chapter-Kazin comes to Cradle as Feron learns that Alris and the Data Knights extracted the Golem Heart's knowledge, giving Feron the upper hand. At the same time, Equestria's envoy in Twilight Sparkle manages to get to Cradle as well. Three paths cross, and the Knights must pick a side.