Getting Carol accustomed to the controls of the Crab Flyer proves a trivial task: the control system is very simple and intuitive, and the wildcat has no difficulty learning it. And with that task complete, the trio returns to the bridge to help plan the assault on the Sigwada.
They arrive just in time for the end of an argument: Mayor Zao of Shang Mu on one side, and King Dail, General Gong, and Neera on the other.
"For the last time, this is a military operation!" King Dail argues angrily. "And the most senior and experienced military person here is General Gong!"
"If you don't want my superior leadership, then I withdraw my fleet!" Zao declares defiantly.
"Enough!" Neera barks, freezing Mayor Zao, and earning curious looks from everyone else. "What?" she protests. "He wasn't helping much, was he?"
"Not the way I would have handled it, but it works for me," General Gong shrugs. "Ah, I see we're all here," he continues, noticing Team Avalice. "Ready to plan the assault?"
"Of course," Lilac agrees, stepping forward then stopping. "On second thoughts: Carol, you want to take this?"
"Me‽" the wildcat asks, surprised.
"You've uncovered more about Corazon's plans than anyone else," Lilac reminds. "Who better to help plan the assault?"
"Uh…"
"'Who leads the fight shouldn't be determined by seniority or species; it should be determined by the situation, and who's best suited to dealing with it'," Lilac quotes herself. "And in this case, it's you, as it should have been right from the start."
Carol looks around to see Neera, Gong, and Dail looking at her expectantly. "Corazon is my sister, and I did say right from the start that means I should lead…" Ancients, I'm so nervous! "OK, I'll take this."
As Carol joins Neera, Gong, and Dail to plan the assault on the Sigwada, Lilac and Milla take a seat with Maria, Tai, Danny, and Sally.
"Glad to see you're all happy friends again," Maria greets.
"Not as glad as me," Lilac smiles.
"Be honest: what are our chances of taking Corazon down?" Danny asks.
"If we can prevent her activating the Bakunawa, our chances aren't bad," Lilac concludes.
"And if she does?" Danny continues.
"Then we'll really be up against it," Lilac admits.
"You want to be involved with the planning, don't you?" Sally asks.
"Like you wouldn't believe," Lilac sighs.
"You're doing the right thing," Milla assures.
"I know," Lilac acknowledges. "It's just… I guess I need to get used to not being the leader, s'all."
"It's all a matter of trust," Danny informs. "Do you trust Carol?"
"With my life," Lilac answers without hesitation.
"Then it won't be a problem," Danny assures.
On the bridge of the Sigwada, Corazon's attention is fixated on the scanners, tracking both the approaching enemy fleet and the area containing the Bakunawa. Half an hour behind us… This is cutting it much finer than I had hoped. But even my back‑stabbing shit of a sister can't stop me now.
"How close are we to finding it?" Merga asks from her position by the main window, her attention entirely on the Eastern Ocean below.
"No more than an hour," Corazon answers.
"Excellent."
Ten minutes later (and ten minutes closer), the assault planning is complete, and it's been decided Carol will brief the mission teams. The wildcat had expressed nervousness at being given the task, but reassurances from everyone (except Spade, who's remaining quiet about everything) give her the confidence to continue.
"Before we begin, I just want to say thank you to everyone who's taking part," Carol begins. "I'm not going to lie: the upcoming assault will be immensely difficult, and the risk of failure and fatality is uncomfortably high. However, I know that if we all play our parts to the best of our abilities, we will emerge victorious.
"The assault will consist of three teams. Team Azure is the Sky Battalion, and the fleets of Shang Mu and Shang Tu. King Dail and General Gong will collaborate on commanding the combined fleet in action against the Sigwada's support fleet, with Neera supporting. With luck, they'll keep the enemy fleet occupied enough to allow the other two teams in.
"Team Crimson is the Red Scarves. Maria, Tai, Danny, Sally, and the lying sack of shit‑" Spade shifts uncomfortably "‑your objective is to board the Sigwada and disable as many of its systems as you can, especially engines and propulsion. Your method of entry is unfortunately going to leave you exposed, as you'll be riding on one‑man units like the ones we used during the Brevon Crisis."
"An attack I'll never forgive myself for," King Dail apologises.
"You weren't yourself," Carol reminds before continuing. "If we can bring the Sigwada down into the water quickly enough, we'll prevent Corazon and Merga finding the Bakunawa. And that's where Team Avalice comes in. We're the spearhead of the assault, flying in on Pangu, Kujacker, and the Crab Flyer, and we'll be going after Corazon and Merga themselves. Any questions?"
There are no questions.
"Excellent," Carol smiles. "Good luck, and may the Ancients guide us to victory."
As everyone separates into their teams, Neera receives a message. "Lilac, it appears the Magister wishes to speak with you."
"If it's all the same to him, I just want to relax with my friends before the assault," Lilac replies.
"He says it cannot wait, and that you need to hear it before the assault starts," Neera informs.
"If I must," Lilac sighs. "Carol and Milla will be joining me."
"He's insistent it's you and you alone," Neera explains.
"Whatever he wants to say to me, he can say in front of my friends," Lilac states with finality.
"I'll let you tell him that," Neera accepts.
A few minutes later, Team Avalice is in the galley, speaking to the Magister in private.
"I am glad you agreed to speak to me," the Magister greets once communication has been established.
"I hope you have a good reason for contacting us," Lilac replies. "You're not exactly in our good books right now."
"Understandable," the Magister accepts. "Nevertheless, there is something I want to say."
"We're waiting," Lilac prompts.
The Magister takes a deep breath. "A century ago, I took actions that have ultimately led to the current situation. However, recent events have shown them to be incorrect. There is nothing I can say to excuse my actions, and nothing I can do to correct them. Certainly, I will not blame you if you never trust me again, and that is why I am not involved with this assault. I trust General Gong to always have the security of Shang Tu's future in mind.
"Since the Brevon Crisis two years ago, I have taken the opportunity to learn more about my own kind. I trust Lilac has already seen the information Pangu contained about draconic purity."
"I have," Lilac acknowledges.
"Me too," Carol adds.
"I haven't," Milla admits.
"We'll explain later," Lilac promises.
"Then I can be brief," the Magister continues. "I have learnt that it is not the purity of our DNA that matters most, but purity of draconic ideals. It is now my firm belief that Lilac is the embodiment of those ideals, and as such, she is more of a dragon than myself, Merga, or any resident of Lóng Tǔdì or member of Shuǐmù Shìzú. It is also my firm belief that Carol is the embodiment of the best of Yěmāo Shìzú, and a worthy successor to the late Coral Tea."
Lilac puts her arm around Carol as the wildcat wipes away a tear.
"What about me?" Milla asks.
"You embody the best of the Bái Shén and are every bit as noble and honourable as Lilac and Carol," the Magister answers, causing Milla to blush. "All three of you are fully deserving of your status as world heroes."
"Thank you for your support," Lilac smiles, her earlier guarded tone replaced with friendliness.
"There is one more thing I would like to say," the Magister informs. "Show that green maniac how to save a planet."
"Aye‑aye, Your Excellency!" Team Avalice choruses.
With the assault now just moments away, and with King Dail and General Gong back on their command ships (and with Mayor Zao thawed and safely confined to the brig of Neera's ship), Team Avalice and the five Red Scarves are on the top deck, all eyes on the Sigwada in the distance. For a while, they all stand in silence, their attention firmly on the mission.
"I don't know how many of us will make it back alive," Carol begins, breaking the silence. "All I know is we need to stop Corazon. We need to prevent her awakening the Bakunawa and subjugating our world, and we need to make her pay for killing Coraline. Except for Milla and Sally, we all knew her, and we all know how special she was. She was one of the finest Red Scarves to have ever lived, and I looked up to her, idolised her even, and I know I'm not the only one to hold her in such high regard. To know she was taken by our middle sister leaves a hole in my heart that will never be filled.
"Today, we all fight for the future of Avalice. I choose to do so in memory of my sister Coraline and everything she stood for. It would be my humble honour if we all fight in her memory."
"I fight in memory of Coraline Tea," Lilac decides without hesitation.
"As do I," Milla decides. "I never met her, but that doesn't matter. She's important to my friends, therefore she's important to me."
"Thanks, Milla," Carol smiles. "That means more than you can imagine."
Spade can feel the piercing glare of his fellow Scarves. "I will also fight in memory of Coraline Tea," he decides. "Given my failures, it would be remiss of me not to."
"That actually sounded sincere," Carol remarks, pleasantly surprised.
Maria and Tai exchange a brief wordless dialogue. "We'll fight in memory of her too," Maria announces.
"As will we," Danny adds, Sally nodding in agreement.
Carol takes a deep breath, struggling to hold back tears of happiness. "Thank you everyone."
Lilac and Milla each place a hand on Carol's shoulders, the wildcat placing her hands on theirs.
"We're behind you all the way," Lilac informs.
Carol closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens them again, her expression is transformed from one of conflicting emotions to one of pure determination. "There's no turning back. Let's do this."
As one, the assembled teams move to deploy. The Scarves jump on their flying platforms and rise in chevron formation, Spade at the apex, Maria and Tai on one side, Danny and Sally on the other. Milla hops on Kujacker and rises in front of the Scarves as Carol climbs into the Crab Flyer and launches.
"Go on Lilac; you know you want to," Carol smirks before closing the hatch.
Lilac cannot resist a smile. You're right: I can't resist. She unleashes a shrill whistle, then sprints to the prow and Dragon Boosts off the end.
With a roar like rolling thunder, the Holodragon swoops up from below the ship, catching Lilac as she begins to fall. The Holodragon then loops up, over, and behind the group before powering forward as the head of a spear, the others following in attack formation as they begin their assault on the Sigwada.