[ Claudia briefing room / September 30, 0078 21:04 ]

"Urgent transmission from the Captain!"

Forward StarS had gathered in the darkened briefing room a while ago but the strategy discussion didn't really start up. Teana and Subaru were reminded of their last visit to this room, when Lt. Pallas was briefing them on the Walder mission. Fate, Erio, and Caro gathered in another corner, discussing something in low voice. The Commander and Caro were giggling from time to time, and Teana felt bad about interrupting them with her bad mood. Ginga, who had only recently came aboard, was the only one who actually tried to go over the mission specifics but soon gave up on it and joined her sister and Teana for small talk. By an unspoken agreement, the three of them avoided the topic of their last deployment on the Mid.

When the screen on the wall lit up, everyone stood up and stepped towards it. It showed a gaunt young woman with short shaggy pink hair—Teana barely recognized Lieutenant Signum. Her head was crowned with a silvery band adorned with magic triangles. Out of the corner of her eye, Teana noticed Fate's features tighten, and for a moment, she wondered whether it was a coincidence that the former Lightning Captain and Vice-Captain's hair were cut in almost exactly the same fashion. Signum was talking:

"To the Time-Space Administration Bureau, the Saint Church, and the Saint's Cradle: I am Signum of the Knights of the Night Sky, and the today is September 30 of the year 78 of the New Calendar. I am currently in possession of the Crown of the Saint Kings. At noon of October 1 my comrades and I will be at the Grand Cathedral Square of the Belkan Autonomous Area in Northern Mid-Childa to hand the Crown over to the highest bidder. However," Signum raised her voice, "as Belkan Knights, we shall only accept the price in steel. If you want the Crown, come and take it from us—we will be waiting for you."

The recording ended and was almost immediately replaced by Chrono's face.

"Fresh from the net, officers," he explained. "We did our best to trace it but lost the lead after the twentieth proxy. That line has been prepared ages ago, so they must be serious about it."

"So we have confirmed it, Nii-san?"

"Yes, and it's time to get to work. The evacuation of the Belkan Area is already underway, so we will make it with time to spare. Carim is pulling every available knight back to the headquarters, and I will be ordering the fleet to gather presently. Have you finalized your combat plans?"

"Not yet," Teana admitted guiltily.

"Well, better get to it, then. You haven't got much time."