(Pre Chapter Words: This chapter would continue coincidence with the final chapters of The Geist Within, and by extension the August 2022 broadcast for Warper News Network.)

[Opening: Project M Theme]

FusionFall Infinite

Season 7 – The Final Barrage

Chapter 52: It All Came Crashing Down

[Neo Bayview, Outer Towns]

Jade Company had gathered immediately after seeing the news on television, all at Saki's house. Reactions were not pretty.

"FUCK! Rendo Nexus got us with our pants down." Saki said sourly. "What about Amethyst?"

"I called her. She's safe. She managed to meet up with a scouting ship on behalf of Geist Fox. So, they're traveling together. Pearl and her family as well. All those migrants were planning to go V-2406 are planning to go to DBG-22 instead." Ryker said. "But Saki, your…'brother', he's in a coma."

Maylene looked distraught over this, and Mandy comforted her the best she could.

"They're going for our allies…current and former." Garnet said firmly. "While trying to screw us over financially."

WHAM! Joshinari opened the front door with a slam and stormed in fuming.

"Ya damn right, they are! I had a lot of stake and allies in Geist Fox's neck of the woods. And now several of them are dead and most of my stakes either ruined or in limbo. I will help you all because I want to wring both bastards' necks!" Joshinari said furiously as Delia followed him inside.

"We have a team working recon to get as much information on RN as we can. Right now, we need to prepare a method of action. We got two options. One, we play defense to let the recon while as much as they can to plan a major attack. Two, we use any new piece of information from the recon to form smaller pirate attacks going for taking as many assets as possible alongside wrecking any turf they got so we can to whittle them down to where they can't afford a war." Delia mused.

"If we do the second option, we're going to need a way to secure Zen Kuro." Ryker said. "At least one 10th ranker is going to have to stay on the planet."

"I'll do it. As much as I want to go on a rampage, my village needs me. Plus, I have to look over Tatsuya. He got out the hospital recently and he's been recovering at my home." Joshinari remarked before his look turned fierce. "But when we find the headquarters of where these gutter rats are hiding, I want to be there by your side."

Joshinari's phone rang, and he answered. It was a quick call before he hung up.

"Well shit. Seems the Roundtable's got betrayed by two of their own. Tatsuya's upset he can't avenge his team…" Joshinari said.

"I don't really know about Bleach that much, but I do know Aizen isn't supposed to be trusted or something." Ryker remarked as everyone nodded.

"Also Dio Brando as well. But it seems Aizen's dead…along with a fleet he was going to lead. Apparently, the leader saw Aizen's betrayal coming. But Dio caught him off-guard…That's all the info I got." Joshinari remarked. "Tatsuya's pissed."

"Ok, I guess I'll plan a strike team." Ryker said. "Any takers?"

"I'll go." Kaze affirmed. "You need all the help you can get."

"Oh, you know I want in." Jasper said excitedly.

"I'd go, but it's better I stay behind to help defend the planet." Pink Diamond insisted.

"We'll make some calls to get you some backup." Kaze stated as Ryker nodded.

"Meeting adjourned then. Kaze, come by my place when you got it." Ryker said as Delia cleared her throat.

"I'll get you access to a shared network to feed you information. You should ready a ship." Delia said before leaving.

[~FFI~]

[Original County, Outer Towns]

Kaze and Carol were flying back home with looks of worry, more evident on Carol's face. She did not say it, but it was clear she was worried about Kaze's safety. She had another kid on the way…she had a partner by her side. She did not want to lose him.

"Carol. I'm having second thoughts about going." Kaze confessed as they landed in front of their house. "I don't want to leave you alo-"

"Don't. Kaze, you're a tenth rank warper. They're going to need all the help you can give…if anything, I'm angry that I'm pregnant because I want to be fighting with you." Carol said as Kaze took her hand looking her eyes.

"I'll make it back to you. I promise." Kaze said gently.

They sensed a presence and heard a camera flash. They turned to see Wilhamena with a camera looking so invested in their chat.

"I would be annoyed, but I actually am glad you're here, Wil. I need your help." Kaze remarked before explaining everything to her.

"Say no more. I'll help you, and my husband will be happy to keep Carol company." Wilhamena said with an eager grin.

Carol and Kaze looked at each other with a knowing look before looking back at her saying that they need to establish some terms.

[~FFI~]

[The White House, The Core]

Peridot downed a glass of brandy before glaring at her generals and staff. They all looked pensive and nervous considering the situation. Some were glaring right back at Peridot.

"Rendo Nexus wants us to surrender. Obviously, I can't do that." Peridot said slamming the glass down on her desk. "Because if it's not the leader who immediately tried to stab me in the back…I have a feeling Ryker may stab me from the front. So, I need some updates."

"The Plumbers have managed to retake Neo Kuro's space. Allied planets have their security up and running. We're patching as many holes as we can and keeping an eye out. They won't get in easily." Max stated as Peridot sighed.

"We're working to root out whatever spies and sympathizers this group has." Rex said nonchalantly. "We nailed a few."

"The Infected Zones." Peridot said getting up to walk towards the windows. "I want an exploratory team put together to look them over."

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Kuki asked.

"I do. Call up Jade Company. We can some independent contractors on hand." Peridot remarked.

"We may have a problem about that." Buttercup said looking at her phone. "JC just announced they're currently not taking jobs at the moment to focus on more pressing issues."

Peridot whirled around before going to her desk and calling Ryker up herself.

"Ryker, I…"

"What do you want?" Ryker snapped.

"Is that anyway to speak to your friend?" Peridot asked sweetly.

"You threw me and our 'friends' under the bus for your presidential career. Bismuth at least cut ties with no issue…Pearl did as well." Ryker remarked.

"Pearl's left the team? A shame, but I need your help." Peridot said. "I need assistance for on-planet recon. I at least need one of you."

Ryker took a deep breath.

"Most of us are not going to be available. I'll talk to someone to see if we got people. Please hold." Ryker said as the phone went on hold.

"Just one?" Lapis asked.

"Considering what we did, it'll be a miracle we get one." Peridot said.

"I'm back." Ryker remarked. "Saki agreed to help. Where do you want to debrief him?"

Peridot would send him the coordinates before hanging up. She poured herself another drink.

"Kuki and Max. I would operatives from each group to put together as a temp team for this. Have them and ready at that camp pronto. Blossom, I want you as mission handler. Rex, you're with Blossom." Peridot said drinking the arid drink down.

"I think you had en-" Bubbles said as Peridot slapped her hand away.

"I know my limits! Now everyone get out." Peridot said pointing to the door.

Everyone shuffled out save for Lapis who took a swig of the bottle.

[~FFI~]

[Camp Kidney, The Wilds]

Craig did not mind getting to be excused out of school. In fact, he and Kelsey were excited to be hand picked for this mission. Let alone to get to work with the Plumbers and Providence. The Plumbers had sent Shar. They had waiting for nearly two hours along with their handler.

"Where are they? I-"

"Incoming." Rex said as seeing a ship in the sky.

A cruiser ship was overhead landing on the ground as it opened to revealed Saki and Mandy before the ship took off.

"I'm sorry for the lateness. Last minute things I had to arrange. First things first, the payment." Saki said as Blossom tossed him a capsule. "Thank you. Now what we doing?"

"You are tasked to lead those three on a check over of all Infected Zones in the Core. Your goal is investigating with this team each one and report on any findings out of the ordinary. The pay you have is your starting pay. You'll receive the rest of your payment after all ten are check provided your teammates sign off on it as proof you completed your job. You don't have to do all ten tonight, but they want you all to at least visit one or two every two days and report here with every completion." Blossom stated. "Any questions?"

"Any equipment to be provided?" Saki asked.

"It's all in the capsule." Blossom said formally. "Saki, this is Numbuh 2008, Numbuh 2010, and Plumber Rook Shar. Your team for the time being."

Blossom yawned before leaving them to talk. She already had to deal with living on base camp in a capsule home and she was ready for some rest. Rex watched from afar hoping this would go smoothly.

"So you're the Saki Shadows? You're pretty famous among the older crowd. They talk you up like some kind of legend." Craig said excitedly shaking Saki's hand.

"It's an honor, sir." Shar said shaking Saki's hand.

"A pleasure to meet. Let's get to business. We'll deal with the Infected Zones in the Wilds first, they're more of a problem. But before we go, we'll have to go over equipment and procedure. I guess I'll order a pizza or something." Saki remarked getting his phone out.

[~FFI~]

[Space]

In that cruiser ship, Ryker piloted it being alongside his strike team of Jasper, Kaze, and Whilhamena. Delia had informed them that Rendo Nexus was using another universe not too far from Neo Kuro to plan attacks, run attacks, and spy.

"To get to that verse, we'll need to get pass a few sub-universes where they have outposts. It's going to be a gauntlet. The sub-universes are patterned like a constellation. Each having a key. One we get all the keys, it'll the expose to the way to be the base." Ryker said as Kaze asked what the first one was. "That's the thing, our source was only able to give information on the first sub-universe with an outpost…the only one that doesn't need a key. It's an NGE universe…their hotspot."

"Well then, let's crash the party." Jasper said as Ryker piloted the ship off to the further reaches of space.

"Shit! I just realized we completely forgot about Yoshinari and his family…and wait…RN didn't even declare war on them!" Ryker said before asking himself where they were.

Having been consistently overlooked and forgotten about by both Rendo Nexus and their allies, the Haruhara family had decided to make themselves scarce for a while waiting for the right moment.

(A/N: The final arc is going to split in two with each chapter alternating between the A-Team and the B-Team. All the while on race to battle Rendo Nexus. The goal is to get this story complete by the either the end of this year or early 2023. We'll see. See you all next time!)

Editor's Note: Chapters 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 50 were edited for grammatical errors.