A/N: The site kind of shit itself for the last two days or so, so you may have missed the addition to the last chapter. If need be, you might want to go back one before coming to this one. I don't know how notifications were affected, so consider this a head's up.

Upon entering the command center, Tobias once again found himself at the center of everyone's attention as they focused in on his presence.

"Admiral Four," greeted Fenrir, albeit with quite the unenthusiastic tone. "Thank you for joining us." He supposed that Barker must have gotten Fenrir to cool it a bit when it came to her aggression towards him and KT.

He nodded respectfully. "Of course, ma'am." He had a number of things he would have rather said, but arguing would get them nowhere. "What can I do for you? I was told that there was something about a broadcast?"

"We'll get to that in a moment," she said dismissively, gesturing towards Barker to continue the meeting.

"Here's the long and short of it, kid," he explained, pointing at a monitor on the far wall of the room. "We're running out of time."

Tobias turned towards it to see the emblem of New Humanity emblazoned upon the screen. No audio was present for a few seconds; then, a very familiar and very hated voice began to play through the speakers.

"Time. Humanity has always been so concerned … with time."

His fists clenched in response, though he said nothing. Everyone was silent, hanging onto Spyglass's every word.

"What you all fail to understand is that time, by its own nature, is simply a matter of perspective. A conceptual construct made to bring balance, stability, and meaning to your lives and the events that take place in them. But when one can see past the illusion of a limitation, one realizes that time is merely analogous to opportunity.

"I have had nothing but time to devote towards a plan that would ensure peace on the frontier. No more death, no more senseless war that stretches across the cosmos, no more families torn apart or cities set upon fire. It has always been my objective to advance humanity and secure its future.

"I am proud to declare that finally, I am at the precipice of completing that objective."

Slight murmurs began to rise from those within the room who hadn't seen this yet, whispers of concern from soldiers who wondered what exactly the AI meant.

"In the name of peace, freedom had to come to an end. Extreme methods would have to be enacted; killing humans to save humans. I knew that this would bring dissenters, those that refused to yield … the resistance group that refer to themselves as 'the Embers'. I do not blame them; it is simply human nature to fight against a perceived threat. But for humanity to survive, to progress, they could not be permitted to interfere.

"Fortunately, your hardships are at an end. I hereby dissolve the governmental body of 'New Humanity', and release any enforcers, whether human or Titan, from my command.

"I thank you for your endurance over the last four years; because of your efforts, a greater tomorrow awaits you all. End transmission."

The monitor fell silent, and Barker turned to Tobias again with a solemn expression. "That speech came in on all open channels thirteen minutes ago. Our sources around the frontier confirm what he said; his automated security force is disbanding, all the Spectres, Reapers, what have you. And the volunteers he spoke of, the humans and Titans, seem to be just as in the dark as we are … no one knows what to make of it."

"I think it's pretty obvious what this is," supplied Fenrir as she stepped forward in front of the monitor. "It's a ruse- he wants us to attack, he wants to goad us into making a move. This is bait, short and simple."

"You're right," Tobias muttered, still looking at the monitor absentmindedly.

Fenrir seemed ready to debate him before realizing what he'd said. "What?"

"He's expecting us to launch an offensive, absolutely. But I also don't doubt that it's real." He made a gesture towards the pre-fab buildings of the base outside. "How many forces do we have- a few thousand?"

"Almost four-thousand," Gates confirmed from behind him.

"Spyglass has never been concerned about the Embers before- he wouldn't do all this just to try and eliminate us. He thinks that we're too insignificant to stop him," he explained. "He'll be ready and waiting for us- but the whole 'greater tomorrow' thing? I believe he can make good on that threat."

Fenrir said nothing, she only stared in growing concern as she understood and even agreed with his logic.

Barker noticed her agreement, and realized that even she was aware of the truth behind Tobias' words. With a sigh, he leaned over the holographic table in the center of the room. "Then we've got less than twenty-four hours to stop the Coalescence."

The table brought up a display of the planet Regis. The planetary hologram hung there, spinning slowly as Barker moved his hand over various points of it. "We've tried long-range satellite imagery to see what we're up against, but haven't been able to see much. Whatever's there, we're gonna need to be a hell of a lot closer to get a good look."

Fenrir glanced over at Tobias. "Please tell us that your alien pal gave you some useful intel."

He grimaced. "Only that Spyglass was interested in the Architects' history. She doesn't know why he's spreading the nanites, or how he plans to do so."

Tiredly, she reached up and placed the palm of her hand flat against her forehead. "So not only do we not have any idea as to why or how he's going to do this, but we don't know how we're going to stop him. Am I getting that right?"

"Not exactly," Gates piped up, reaching around to one of the pouches at her waist and pulling out a familiar black cylinder. "We've still got this."

In all that had happened over the last few days, Tobias had almost completely forgotten about the Cinder. "She's right- we might not know just how big the snake we're dealing with is, but cutting off its head will kill it like any other." Holding his hand out, Gates gave it to him and he held it up for Fenrir to see. "We take out Spyglass, we take out the nanites. No nanites, no Coalescence."

"That's assuming you can even get to Spyglass," she retorted. "We don't know anything about Regis or the layout of whatever base he's got there, and we certainly don't have the numbers to maintain any attack for very long."

"That's where the broadcast comes into play," Barker continued. "That is, if you're willing to do it."

Tobias tilted his head slightly. "What broadcast?"

"Like she said, we don't have the numbers for a full-scale assault like the one needed to pull this off- but we could."

"How do you figure that?"

He pointed at Tobias. "You. Right now, people are confused- they're scared. That's been Spyglass's MO from the beginning, keeping us divided and off-balance. I'm sure you've realized by now that his announcement of your death was done for exactly that purpose."

"You gave us hope in a time where Spyglass's rule depended on us having none," Gates said gently, coming up behind him to place a hand on his shoulder. "You've always been a symbol of defiance against all odds- but that defiance left once everyone thought you were dead."

Even Fenrir began to encourage him now. "But if you could speak to them- show them you're alive, and that you're going to fight- it might go a long way towards convincing them to do so as well."

He crossed his arms. "What exactly do you have in mind?"

"We can patch into the same communications frequency reserved for Spyglass's propaganda speeches. It'll be broadcast to the entirety of the frontier, just like he can do- only problem is that we'll only have one shot, and it won't be long before he detects it and terminates the signal."

"You want me to convince civilians to fight?"

"It's not just civilians- it's anyone who's scared to take that next step of standing up against tyranny," Barker clarified. "A lot of people are going to die- but if we don't succeed, then everyone will. We need every last man and woman that can take up arms to do so."

He swallowed hard, prior doubts beginning to resurface. "How can I do that? I gave up, you were the ones who kept fighting while I hid. I'm not sure if you really want me to be the one that-"

"Tobias."

With a tentative step forward, all eyes were on KT as she approached him. "It's only because of you that we've made it this far."

"C'mon, you know that's not true-"

"Look around you!"

Tobias did as she said, letting his gaze settle on all the faces of the people he'd come to know over the years.

Vale, the Simulacrum who'd trusted him along with Tyra when no one else in the Militia would.

Gates, his best friend who'd refused to give up on him on Erebus, on Typhon, and on Ceto.

Kay … his other half.

"You are surrounded by people who believe in you," she breathed fiercely. "When you were gone, it was your memory that inspired others to pick up the fight where you'd left it. And when you stopped believing in yourself, our faith never faltered."

"But I left you on Luma," he argued. "It was only because of Gates that I even came back!"

"That's our job as a team- to pick each other back up when we fall," she whispered. "I'd follow you anywhere, Tobias, and I know they'd do the same. On Erebus, we fought with you. On Harmony, we fought with you. And now, we will fight with you."

And he knew, looking into the blue of her visor as it stared back into his eyes, that she meant it. He looked up at Vale and Gates to see them nod in agreement- they were with him until the end. And if he could inspire that kind of loyalty in them.

Slowly, he turned towards Barker and delivered his answer.

…

The worlds and cities of the frontier were filled with many different reactions; confusion was prevalent among them, as was jubilance. No one was quite sure as to why Spyglass had ended his regime over them, but for the first time in years they didn't feel the chill of fear tainting their every thought.

Celebrations were had, bars were filled, and songs of merriment were sung as the Spectres and Stalkers seemingly disappeared from the streets they usually patrolled. The Titans who had enforced New Humanity's tenets for so long were now left to wonder if it had been worth it; for them to betray their former masters in the name of protecting them.

No one was expecting to receive an answer so soon.

Across the frontier, monitors and radios crackled to life. All fell silent once more as they listened intently, expecting the voice of the one who had ruled over and oppressed them for so long.

"My name is Tobias Four … and I am alive."

Those nine words were monumental, world-shattering. Everyone knew of the legendary Pilot who had saved humanity from the Amalgamation, who had defied Spyglass until his assumed death. The few who did not were quickly filled in, and shushed to allow all to hear what he had to say.

"Spyglass has told you that a greater tomorrow awaits you. That a future of peace and security is your reward for the years of oppression.

"He has lied to you."

Insidiously, the creeping tendrils of doubt and fear began to ensnare the joyful spirits of the night once more.

"His plan of Coalescence, his supposed proposal of peace, is dependent on infecting every last one of us with nano-machines that will take away your free will and turn you into mindless servants of his to control as he sees fit. He has ended his rule and retreated back to the planet Regis because the Coalescence is finally ready to be unleashed. If he is not stopped, then tomorrow will not see a greater future; it will see the complete extinction of humanity as we know it."

Frightened cries of horror could be heard as the hope that had so completely filled their hearts minutes before was dashed.

"Everything that you are, everything that you ever could be, will be lost. He believes that this is the only way to save humanity from itself.

"I believe that it's too high a cost."

Their wails stopped as they heard the boldness in his words growing. Slowly, that boldness began to resonate with all who heard his message, strengthening their resolve which had beaten down for years.

"I don't say these things to scare you- I know you're already scared. I'm scared. Spyglass has taken away hope and used fear as a weapon for years, trying to divide us and keep us from coming together because he knows that hope inspires bravery. Bravery isn't about being fearless, it's about taking that fear and using it to your advantage.

"I say, be afraid. Be afraid for your friends, for your loved one, for your future. Because the only way we can save them … is if we take the fight to him."

Shouts of agreement rang out, replacing those doubtful thoughts with ones of anger, rebellion … defiance.

"Tomorrow, the Embers will fight for the fate of humanity … but we can't do it alone. I'm asking you now to stand with me, to take up arms, and to be brave as we take back our future!

"Together, we will become the inferno that burns Spyglass to the ground!"

With that final rallying cry, the energy in the air spilled over. Citizens raced out into the streets, making whatever preparations and choices they could as to whether or not they would partake in the reclamation of their destiny.

Back on Atania, a different kind of reaction was had; one that was far more subdued. With a breath of relief that it was over, Tobias stepped away from the microphone of the console and looked over at Fenrir who was monitoring the broadcast.

"I have to say, you sure know how to string your words together," she muttered with a slight smirk. "Our sources out there are actively transmitting Regis's coordinates to anyone on an open frequency … only tomorrow will tell if anyone listened."

She glanced back at Tobias who took a deep breath and shrugged at the situation with half excitement, half resignation.

"Well … if Spyglass didn't know we were coming before, he sure as hell does now."