[ Saint King Hospital, Northern Mid-Childa / October 1, 0078 13:25 ]
Chrono heard a wave of metallic thuds coming from the direction of the Grand Cathedral a few seconds before he saw the Gadget Drones beyond the hospital wall sink onto the pavement, as if someone suddenly pulled their plugs. A victorious cry erupted from the barricades, as the knights began pummeling away at the inert Gadgets.
"Hold your fire!" He ordered as he switched S2U to broadcast on all frequencies. "I repeat: All troops, hold your fire!"
Gradually, the firefight died off across the entire evacuated area and a tense silence set in over the city. The two giant projection screens appeared on each side of the Cradle. He recognized the face on them in an instant.
"To the Bureau troops currently in battle," the woman's voice boomed over the battlefield, "I am Hayate Yagami, Queen of the Night Sky, first Sankt Kaiser of the New Belkan Empire. On behalf of my realm, I hereby request a ceasefire to conduct peace negotiations with the Bureau and the Mid."
"Hayate? It's impossible!" Yuuno was staring up next to him. Behind them, the murmur of the knights grew louder.
Chrono took off into the air, rising above the buildings until he reached the altitude of the nearest screen.
"To the current commander of the Saint's Cradle, I am Admiral Chrono Harlaown of the Dimensional Navy and I speak with full authority of the Bureau High Command. Identify yourself, please."
"Chrono?" Hayate beamed from the screen. "I missed you!"
"Hayate… is that really you?" He felt torn apart.
"It is me, Chrono," Hayate replied simply. "I've come back to finish the job."
"How did… This is a miracle, isn't it?"
"Yes. If you remember, I made a career out of them," she continued smiling.
"You have," Chrono finally smiled back. "You spoke of a ceasefire?"
"Yes. Can you please tell your troops not to bombard my ship, so I can let Fate's team out?"
"How are they?"
"Roughed up, but alive, all of them."
"And your knights?"
"They are all dead," Hayate's face darkened. "I will return their bodies after I… said my goodbyes."
"I am sorry. But what about…"
"She is with them," she smiled again.
"Very well, I'll give the order."