Location: The Bunker

A mid sized man sat at his desk in the Bunker command center, analyzing the logs, storage records, personal, and much more at the moment. This man was director Vilmire, and he was the designated leader of his Bunker.

As He was reading through who was currently awake, and who was still in stasis, he received a ping from his interface. It was from the scout team, declaring a Code Green.

Code Green was one of the many rainbow designations given to certain situations. In this case, Code Green meant that there was another Sentient Species that had somehow evolved on Earth. Vilmire looked at it with confusion, evolution takes millions of years, how did a species develop intelligence in what was relatively a blink of an eye compared to the time that would be needed.

Code Green was made just in case, but still, this made little sense, though the picture evidence that was relayed to him from Scout group alpha appeared undeniable. Large Bipedal bug, wearing armor, and having weapons on what appears to be their deceased person.

This would make things…. Complicated. The planned action in case of a Code Green was to awaken a small force of military personnel early, just so that the Bunker had something in the way of a standing defense force in case this species was hostile.

In storage were about 2,000 regulars, and 500 gene troopers, a small portion of the 50,000 people the Bunker held. Gene troopers were genetically modified special forces operatives, along with their enhanced training, they had thicker bones, denser muscles, they were taller than the average human and had quicker reaction time. They also were equipped with things like an airtight powered exo-suit to enhance their already impressive abilities, along with hand held rail rifles, heavy magnetic machine guns, gauss pistols, in some cases carbyte swords, along with various other sorts of heavy weaponry.

Vilmire contemplated, and decided to awaken 100 regulars, he did not think it was necessary to awaken gene troops just yet.

Vilmire pressed a button to turn on the intercom where the group of regulars were waking up.

"Attention military personnel, report to armory and be ready for deployment within the hour, patrol schedules have been posted to your personal tablets, Officer Allen, please report to the Director's office"

Vilmire stretched, and continued to take stock of the Bunker's supplies until Allen finally arrived.

"Sir, you wanted to see me?"

Vilmire pulled his eyes away from the screen to look at the officer, and gave him a friendly smile.

"Ah, Allen was it? Come in come in, take a seat"

"Thank you sir" Allen pulled a chair out from beside the door, and sat down in front of the desk

"Allen, we have a confirmed Code Green"

Allen gave a look of disbelief

"W-WHAT?! How? How does that eve-"

"I'm not exactly sure either, here, come take a look at this"

Vilmire turned the screen around as to give Allen a better look at the photos the scout team sent in

"Well, at the very least they don't seem too advanced, though they appear to have mastered metallurgy" Allen said voicing his observation

"Scout Team Alpha reported that there was cheering above them, maybe this is some blood sport of theirs"

"So it's clear they have an organized society, considering that we won't be speaking the same language, diplomacy is going to be difficult"

"That's probably why you woke us up this early right?"

"Correct" Vilmire responded"

"What is it you want me to do sir?" Allen asked curiously

"I want you to help me plan a possible armed response in the scenario this civilization turns out to be hostile"

Location: The White Palace

The Pale King was having a pretty good day all things considered. The population was booming, tax money was flowing into the royal coffers, the kingdom was stable, and the infection was gone.

There hasn't been any major crisis for a few years now, and the Pale King finally felt that he could relax somewhat.

It wasn't all peachy though, his wife still hated him for what he did to her….. "children"

It was unfortunate, but considering the alternatives… this would do, at the very least, the infection was gone. His kingdom would live on, and that was all that mattered.

The Pale King was walking to his workshop in the palace as he mused

" Sigh There is no use in moping about the past… what's done is done, now, where did I put my- WHAT THE?!"

The (former) Hollow Knight stood before them, and he looked, for lack of a better tem, pissed off.

"H-Hollow? W-what are you do-"

"Where are they?"

The voice in their head sounded like a cold wind.

"Where are wh-"

"THEM!" Hollow sounded even more furious with what appeared to them be a feigned ignorance

"THE SIBLINGS YOU KEPT FROM US! WHERE ARE THEY?!"

The Pale King raised his hands in defence, if there were…. "Siblings" outside the Abyss, and considering the Shade Lords warning about if he kept any void forms from him, it makes sense he would send a response. However, he truly didn't know what The former Hollow Knight was talking about. He gave them every bit of void he had, from vessels, to kingsmoulds, to wingmoulds, even that damned Collector. What on Hallownest could they possibly be talking about.

"Hollow" The Pale King said in an assertive tone, lowering his hands. He could kill him, easily in fact, but getting the ire of the Shade Lord would be a death sentence.

"I truly have no idea what void beings you are talking about, I gave it all to the Abyss when the demand was made of me. What possible use for it would I have? The Infection has been dead for nearly a decade now, I no longer need a vessel to contain it."

The former Hollow Knight didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press it any further, he just turned around, and teleported somewhere else.

The Pale King sighed, he had a feeling that this was going to be a problem sooner or later, wasn't it.