Runereader of the Nightwings, Dragunz, thank you for the comments!

Dragunz, I think the whole 'leaders unable to adapt to change' comes down to a person by person bases. There have been many examples of leaders in history like that, but on the flip side there are many who have been the complete opposite.

For Sanda here, while there is a war going on, she is not on the battlefield having to decide on the spot. The main issue I have with her choice is that there is the whole, "don't negotiate with terrorists" mindset most countries have; not only does she not follow that, but she doesn't even seem to consider that there's a chance that Sendak would betray her. Which makes her look like an absolute moron.

To me it all comes down to the shoddy writing, and the fact that they wanted her to betray the Paladins so that they could give her a 'redemptive death.' Maybe had there been more time to develop this, it would have worked better, but as it is in the show, it's really crummy writing to me.

Aw, you're welcome. I'm very glad you are liking it so far, and don't worry, I definitely plan to cover the Keith-Griffin plot line.

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Also, from this point on, the chapters are going to come slower as I finally caught up to what I had on my /
Just to let everyone know, I do have all of the episode summaries written, so this isn't something that's going to be dropped, or anything. I've just got to continue editing and refining the others, which will slow updates.


Know Your Enemy

As the Paladins approach Earth, Pidge continues to try to make contact. Sam finally responds and warns them not to bring the Lions, as that's what Sendak is after. He says they can't afford to lose the element of surprise now that they are here. The Paladins agree, and hold back.

While deciding how to get to Earth without the Lions, Galran fighters spot them and begin attacking. Keith orders Pidge to block their signals, so they don't alert Sendak.

As the Paladins rush to quickly take the fighters out, Pidge has the idea to use one of the fighters for transport, Keith agrees and orders them to capture one.

Managing to disable one, without destroying it, the Paladins leave the Lions on Saturn, and take the fighter, sneaking through Sendak's forces.


Landing on Earth, the Paladins come to the ruins of Plaht City, and are in shock over the devastation. As they make their way through the decimated city, they are spotted by Galran drones.

Krolia and Shiro defend Romelle and Coran, while Hunk, Pidge, and Allura work together to take several out several more.

Keith and Lance get pinned down by several of them, and Keith tells Lance he'll get their attention. Lance says he's got his back, and with that affirmation, Keith runs out in the open. The drones quickly target him, but Lance is faster. He shoots them with his Bayard, and with that the drones are all down.

Keith wonders how many more there might be, and asks Pidge to see if she can check. She is able to connect with the drones systems, and finds that more are one their way. However, before those drones even reach them, Galra sentries begins firing on the group.

The Paladins prepare to fight when Garrison vehicles show up, running down several of the sentries. Griffin and Rizavi get out shoot the rest of the sentries and drones.

The Paladins go to thank them for the help, when Griffin begins reprimanding them for attacking, telling them that the drones send distress signals when attacked. Before he continues further, he and Rizavi see Krolia come out, and are instantly on edge. The Paladins assure them that she is a Blade and is on their side. The two look unconvinced, but agree it's better to talk about this at the Garrison.


Pulling up to the Garrison, Pidge sees her her mother and father waiting there, alive and well. Unable to wait a moment longer, she leaps from the car as soon as possible into her parent's waiting arms.

Watching her joyful reunion, Lance hears his name called and turns to find his family. He jumps out of the car, running and embracing them. After all this time, they are reunited.

Looking around, Lance notices that his father and brother, Marco, are missing. He asks where they are, and his mother mournfully tells him that they didn't make it. Unable to stop the tears, Lance clings tighter to his surviving family, as they grieve for those who were lost.

At the same time Hunk looks around for his family, but doesn't see them amongst the crowd of humans. Sam approaches, and Hunk asks him where they are. Sam regretfully tells him that they were unable to bring them to the Garrison before the Galra attacked, and that his parents were captured. He lets Hunk know that they know they are alive, and where they are being held, but they can't do anything for them at the moment. Hunk is distraught over this information, and Pidge comes up, hugging him as Sam also tries to offer him comfort.

At the other vehicle where the others were riding, Iverson approaches Shiro and apologizes for the rough treatment he received when he first returned to Earth. Shiro holds no hard feelings, understanding protocol and the desire to protect Earth. The two shake hands, and Shiro introduces him to Princess Allura, Romelle, and Coran.

Keith then approaches, and he and Iverson also make amends for their rough history, shaking hands in solidarity. Iverson takes an interest in Kosmo, and Coran tells him about the Cosmic Wolf as Keith notices Griffin watching. The two pause to stare each other down, their bad history still there. Keith considers the MFE Pilot as he turns and leaves without a word.

It's then that Krolia steps out of the vehicle they came in. The large crowd of humans freeze in shock, before Garrison officers draw their weapons on her. Krolia raises her hands in surrender, and Keith runs in front of her, telling them to stop; that she's with them and is his mother, stunning the humans.

Despite Keith's proclamation, the Garrison officers don't back down, so Romelle puts herself in front of Krolia and Keith. Reaffirming that Krolia is on their side, she states that they saved her and if there's a problem with them, then they should have a problem with her. Shiro, Allura, and the other paladins quickly join Romelle in standing protectively in front of Keith and Krolia.

Seeing this, Pidge's parents and Lance's family join their children without hesitation. As the Paladins and their families stand there against the Garrison, the message is made; Voltron will protect their own.

Sanda, having been watching from the side, finally steps up and orders the weapons to be put away. With her orders made, the soldiers obey. She then turns to the Paladins and says there is a lot they need to talk about.


After heading inside, and catching their breath, Iverson takes Shiro aside and informs him of Adam's death.

Looking at Adam's memorial plaque, Shiro regrets the way they parted and Iverson tries to offer him some reassurance. Telling him how many lives Adam and the other pilot saved by going out and fighting.

Shiro quietly thanks him, but no matter what words are said, the wound is too fresh and there is no comfort to be found.


After allowing everyone to gather their bearings, The Garrison and Paladins come together to debrief everything that has happened on both sides.

Listing to Sam share about the state of Earth, and what Sendak's currant forces have been up to, The Paladins inquire about any attempts to fight back. Veronica informs them that while there are some resistance forces out there, they haven't been able to do much. Earth just doesn't have the resources.

Hunk questions why there aren't any rescue ops happening, and Sam explains they tried, but they became too risky. Distressed over his family's situation, Hunk tries to argue for something to be done. Griffin, unimpressed by the lack of military composure the Paladin's have shown, tells him that he needs to listen to their CO.

The Paladins take offence to Griffin's attitude towards Hunk, and affirm that they aren't Garrison and Sam's not their CO. The MFE Pilots back their leader and argue that they have been fighting this battle on Earth for years; things have to be done according to Earth's ways, not Voltron's. The two sides get heated and with the emotional turmoil of the day hitting its peak, they begin arguing with each other.

Sam and Sanda try to calm both sides, but neither will listen to both of them. It's not until Shiro steps up and tells them to stop, that both the Pilots and Paladins listen and back off. Sanda takes notice of this as Shiro attempts to get the meeting back on track.

Composed once more, Allura says she wants to know what the Garrison has done with the Altean tech given to them. She looks to Hunk and says the sooner they know what they have to work with, the sooner they might be able to start fighting back and rescuing those captured. Hunk wearily smiles and thanks her as the MFE Pilots watch, their annoyance at the Paladin's turning to sympathy.


Down in the hangers, the Paladins are shown both the MFE Fighters, and their mobile command center/battleship, The Atlas.

Sanda explains that they've finished building the battleship, but have been unable to get it running. She says that she and the rest of the leadership recognize that they need to start a counter strike, but without having any major, mobile firepower, they haven't been able to engage Sendak's forces. The only way they see themselves having a chance of success against him, is by getting The Atlas working. Until then they are a sitting duck.

Allura, Coran, and Pidge say that they will start helping by looking into The Atlas and see if they can figure out a way to get it running. Coran also offers what little Faunatonium they have left to help boost the MFE's so that they will run longer without need of a recharge.

Krolia then steps forward and explains that she worked under the Galran Warlord, Ranveig, and has valuable, firsthand knowledge of how the most ruthless of Galra work. She offers to give them all the information they need on what tactics Sendak might use, what weapons he might have at his disposal, as well as teach them how to use the Galra's own tech against them.

One of the Garrison Leaders, suspicious by her statement, asks what it was that she actually did while working 'undercover.' Hearing the implication in his voice, Keith defensively asks what he means by that.

He plainly ask if she's aided in conquering planets in the past. If so, how do they know that isn't her end goal here, how can they be sure that she and the Blade won't turn against them.

The Paladins are insulted by the accusation, but Krolia brushes it off. She explains that she worked under one of Zarkon's most ruthless warlords, and won't deny that in order to get to that position, she did things she takes no pride in, but anything she did while infiltrating the Empire she did in order to bring it down.

She tells them that's what the Blade of Marmora was created to do, and despite being hated and considered traitors by the majority of their own race, they devote their lives to fight for a future where the entire universe can be free.

She personally admits that while that's what her fight started as, twenty years ago it changed when she crashed on Earth and fell in love with a Human. Earth was her husband's home, her son's home, and it became her home. She did all she could to protect it when she lived here, and when was no longer enough, she sacrificed a life with her son and husband in order to draw the Empire away.

Krolia says she might be Galra, but she is not the enemy, and her fight is about keeping Earth, and humanity safe. She says if her presence is too uncomfortable for them, then she will leave; but she implores them, no matter their decision, to allow her to share what information she has so they can use it to save the world she loves.

The members of the Garrison are stunned, never expecting to hear such genuine love for their world, and their race come from her. Sanda looks around and sees as the room slowly accepts Krolia's words. Humans might still have problems with the Galran race in the future, but this one woman has touched hearts, and made an impact on those here, offering the glimpse of a possible peaceful future between the races.

Looking to Krolia, Sanda asks her if she would stay and share all she knows. There is not one complaint to that request.


After the meeting is over, Allura, Pidge, Coran, and Sam work in his office together and look through the Garrison's data, trying to find figure out The Atlas' problems. Allura gets up for a break, but notices prosthetics Sam had been working on. Sam explains what they were for, and Allura asks if she can tinker with them.


Trying to keep himself busy, Hunk attempts to bake, but he can't get away form the thoughts of his family.

Keith finds him, and walking up to him, places a comforting hand on his shoulder. He asks him how he's doing. Hunk begins to vent his frustrations and feelings of uselessness about the whole situation. How even though it was a possibility, he never actually thought the Galra would make it to Earth, let alone conquer it.

He shares how he dreamed that once they got home everything would be peaceful, just as it had been before. He now realizes how foolish that was, and now that he's here, he realizes that he never need to come back to a perfect world; all he ever needed was for his family to be here, healthy and happy.

He says he knows how stupid it seems with all that they have faced as Paladins, but nothing they have been through has made him feel so alone and scared as looking around at the families and not seeing his own.

Keith squeezes his shoulder and tells Hunk that continuing on in spite of fear is what makes one courageous, and that's who he is. Keith knows it, the Paladins know it, and Hunk's family knows it.

And he understands Hunk's feelings, how terrifying it is to not be able to find those who were always there for you, but the thing is, he's not alone. The Paladins, Shiro, Coran, Romelle, Krolia, they are all here for him. They will all help him get through this and get his family back, no matter what. Right now, though, they need him to pull on his powerful inner strength so that they can work together to free his family and the world.

Hunk accepts Keith's words and thanks him, hugging the smaller man. The two pull apart, and Hunk says that he knows the risk, but he has to see his family now.

Keith smiles and says that he will help him.


Sneaking into the Garrison garage, Hunk and Keith look for a vehicle to take. However, Griffin and Veronica find them, seemingly having known they were here.

The two Paladins prepare to have to make a run for it, but Griffin says they are here to help them out. Hunk and Keith are surprised by this, but Griffin admits it's his apology for his tactlessness towards Hunk's situation. Hunk sincerely thanks, and forgives him. Keith and Griffin once again have a brief stare down, this time with Keith nodding his head in thanks.


Leaving the Garrison and meeting up with a resistance fighter Veronica knows, they are taken to an abandoned building in Plaht City, and shown the base where some imprisoned Humans are being held.

Hunk asks if they are sure there's no way to get them out, and the resistance fighter confirms it. Hunk is devastated, but knows more people would be harmed then saved, and is not willing to risk anyone.

Looking through binoculars, Hunk is able to capture a glimpse of his parents and vows to get them out.


Back at the Garrison, Shiro finds Allura, asking what she needed him for. As he approaches, she reveals to him a new prosthetic arm she crafted.


Notes:

I wanted to make sure to show the Paladins all working well together at the beginning in Plaht City. I hate how the writers still made Keith and Lance act so nasty towards each other, even though they were supposed to be friends at this point.

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Keith being thankful of Jame's actions here is not the end of that. They still don't like each other and will have to deal with their issues, but that doesn't mean that Keith can't be appreciative of him helping Hunk. Like I said before, Keith's matured in my version.

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Again, changed stuff with Sanda and the Garrison's thoughts on the war. No one believes giving Sendak the Lions will do any good, they want to take him out, not cave to his demands.

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So, there is not going to be a whole huge Human/Blade antagonistic subplot; I don't have the time for that. I just wanted something that pointed to issues the Humans would have with any Galra, and how they can start to work though issues that there would be.

Having Krolia (who I think is the most balanced Galra in the show) be the first Galra that Humans personally get to know, and the first example as to who the Blade are and what they fight for, would help them come to understand that not all the Galra were for the Empire. Doesn't mean that things will be perfect between the races, just that there is a chance for a brighter future of peace between them.

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I cut out all the stuff with Sendak's mind hologram thing. Both because because I don't think it did anything for the story -other then be another thing to cause Allura pain- and because Krolia can fill the role of information expositor.

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During the rest of the season, there's going to be a lot of stuff cut out and reduced. There was just so much wasted time in these last few episodes, it's insane. They had scenes of information that we, and they knew, being repeated, tons of magic meeting room scenes that weren't needed, and just slow scenes that padded out the run time but didn't add anything to the story. It's mind boggling that they chose to write it that way.

Thanks for reading, have a great day!