Crimson Squadron. Avery could hardly believe her own eyes, but there the Peacekeepers were, just a few hundred feet away from her. She'd had the privilege to see them fly at an airshow once, long, long ago. Their planes looked just as beautiful now as they did back then, and now she got to see them up close. and potentially even meet their pilots- a thought that terrified her down to her core. She looked over at her wingman, looking to see if she was even close to as nervous as she was, only to see ASH smirking at her.

"What?"

ASH snickered. "I never would've thought that you'd be such a fangirl, is all," she teased Avery. "It's actually kinda cute."

Avery's gaze flicked between her wingman and the Peacekeepers as they taxied into their hangar. "How are you not more excited about this? We have the Peacekeepers in the hangar right next to ours."

"Guess it's just not as novel to me," ASH guess with a shrug. "Back before I was assigned to Locksmith I was flying in Magadan for a bit. When I was there I got to fly with Sapphire Squadron once or twice, so seeing the Peacekeepers isn't all that new to me."

"ASH, these aren't just any Peacekeeper squadron. This is Crimson we're talking about. Hell, they practically turned the tide in Oceania by themselves! They're probably the best pilots in the world.

ASH smiled, rolling her eyes as she finally conceded. "Alright, alright, I guess it is kinda cool. Still, it's fun watching you geek out over this."

One by one the eight pilots emerged from the hangar, and leading the group was none other than Crimson 1 himself. Growing up, Avery had seen dozens of videos, documentaries, and interviews with him, but there was something about seeing the man in person that was just so much different. She deduced that it had to be the way his squadron followed him- the way they looked up to him and just seemed to enjoy being in his presence. In a way, it almost reminded her of the way she and the others looked up to Shepard. Before long, though, she noticed another, much older, man following the squadron out of the hangar. He was dressed in an officers uniform, and although Avery couldn't see his rank from the distance they were at, it was clear that he was an important man. With the way that he carried himself- chin held high and shoulders propped back as he strode across the tarmac- there was only one person that he could be. She'd never seen his face before, but Avery knew without a doubt in her mind that the man who quickly surpassed the Peacekeeper pilots and assumed the head of their formation was none other than General Caine, the Commander of Crimson Squadron.

After they disappeared into the main building, Avery glanced back over to ASH. "C'mon, let's follow 'em." And before her wingman had any time to object, she was already moving.

Everyone that the two pilots passed in the halls was murmuring to each other, their gazes still following the Peacekeepers as they passed by. The braver ones even pointed to them, but only well after they were certain that they wouldn't be seen doing so. Before long, they arrived at the commons area. Avery and ASH sat down at the closest table they could to avoid being seen as conspicuous. A moment later, Grayson emerged, smiling as he close the distance between himself and the Peacekeepers.

"General, it's good to see you again," he said, already extending his hand out for Caine to shake.

Caine ignored his hand, which Grayson quickly returned to his side to avoid a further embarrassment. The General's eyes flicked around, taking in every little detail around him. "It seems quite a bit has happened in our absence. Crystal Kingdom filled us in on everything."

Grayson nodded. "Yes, sir, but rest assured, we were more than capable of handling the situation."

"Indeed…" Caine's voice trailed off, and he began pacing back and forth near the center of the room. Finally, he smiled. "I must commend you, Commander. Lesser men would have surely frayed under the stress of such a difficult task. You, though, are no lesser man; and because of that you allowed us to retake Presidia. No doubt the rebels fought tooth and nail for it."

"Like cornered animals," Grayson agreed. "Even as they were evacuating, their air power was giving us quite a bit of of difficulty- especially the mercenaries they hired."

"Ah, yes… the mercenaries," Caine spoke softly, nodding to himself. "Crystal Kingdom told us that they've gotten reports of some high-caliber pilots doing some heavy lifting for the rebels- especially one with a Crown. Rest assured, though, Crimson Squadron will see to them. It seems that the wild dogs must be reminded of how things went for them fifteen years ago."

Avery and ASH shared a confused look with one another. "The hell is he talking about? With all that Crown nonsense?" ASH was the first to ask.

Avery shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine," she replied before turning her attention back to the conversation a few yards away from them. "Now shh!"

"Tell me, Commander, how many fighter squadrons do we have stationed here at this base?" Caine asked, finally stopping his pacing.

"Six at the moment," Grayson answered. "Although we only just began moving supplies and manpower back into the city yesterday, after we drove back the last of the rebel stragglers."

"I'd like to speak with them, please. Send them to the briefing room as fast as you can," Caine told him before he began moving again, and the rest of Crimson Squadron went with him.

Grayson murmured something into his radio, and a moment later, the PA crackled to life. "All pilots, please report to the briefing room. Repeat: all pilots to the briefing room ASAP," they said, in a bored, monotone voice.

Several others in the commons area stood up to begin moseying over to the briefing room. Among them, as Avery and ASH quickly noticed, was Padlock, who, after making eye contact with them hurried to join up with them.

"Grayson sure has some nerve, calling everyone in for a briefing when we're still reeling from last night, " Pad groaned, still trying to wipe away the sleep from his eyes. "What could even be so important that they need every single pilot on the base to be there for it?"

"Grayson wasn't the one that called the meet, Pad. It was the Peacekeepers," Avery insisted. She paused, taking a moment to look him up and down- his wrinkled flight suit, his messy hair, the bags around his eyes. "So you might wanna take a minute to make yourself look more presentable than…" she gestured to his whole body. "That."

Pad's eyes widened. "Oh shit, really?" He immediately started combing his fingers through his hair as they walked. "Why the hell didn't you just say so?"

"Pad… how in the ever-loving hell did you not notice them?" ASH asked him in disbelief. "They were literally just in the commons area like a minute ago."

Pad tried once more to rub the sleep away from his eyes. "ASH, I don't think you realize just how little sleep I'm running on right now. Because unlike you two- who chickened out and went to sleep way too early- I was busy having the time of my life last night with Shepard and Cutter. Seriously, we went on for another two hours after you to slinked away."

Avery and ASH smirked as they exchanged a knowing look with one another before looking back to Padlock, who by now, at least looked somewhat presentable- definitely not Peacekeeper presentable, but it would have to do. When they arrived at the briefing room, Cutter and Shepard were already there. The three younger pilots quickly slipped through the growing crowd to grab seats next to them before they filled up. Slowly but surely, every pilot filtered into the room, wondering amongst themselves what exactly they were here for, and as if on cue, the door swung open. Grayson led the way, with Caine close behind and the pilots of Crimson Squadron bringing up the rear. Nobody peeped a sound. Most just looked at them in disbelief, but Shepard's gaze followed Crimson 1 with an expression that Avery couldn't quite describe.

Grayson situated himself in front of the podium at the front of the room and cleared his throat. "Everyone, I'd like to start off by saying that I apologize for calling you all in on such short notice, especially after last night. However, as I'm sure you can all gather, this is quite important." He stepped to the side, gesturing to the Peacekeepers standing next to him. "I'm sure Crimson Squadron needs no introduction, but for those unaware, this is General Adam Caine, he's the commanding officer of Crimson Squadron and all Peacekeeping forces in Cascadia." He stepped further away, giving the General the floor.

Caine stepped up to the podium, looking out into the crowd of pilots. "I have served the Federation loyally for the better part of four decades now," he began, pausing for a moment to collect his thoughts. "In that time, I've learned a lot about the bond that we, as soldiers, share with one another- specifically, there is but one truth that remains absolute: trust is the key to victory. I'm sure you're all wondering where we were- where the Peacekeepers of Cascadia were when they were needed most- as you rightly should. In truth, we were across the Pacific in the Core States. Quite simply, we failed you. Bureaucracy got in the way of our duty, and that is a mistake that Crystal Kingdom will never make again. If we had been here, things could very well have been different. Perhaps this war would be avoided entirely, but none of that matters now. What does matter is that we are here, and mark my words: we are going to show these rebels what it means to fight a war with the Federation. With Presidia under our control once more, we can finally focus on wiping out this so called "Independence Force" once and for all. Brace yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. For the real counterattack is only just beginning, and we will ensure that the rebels understand the true might of the Federation."

Just before the room could erupt into patriotic cheers, Crimson 1 stepped forward. Addressing the entire room with a firm voice, commanding and authoritative. "Make no mistake, though. The rebels will not roll over and accept defeat. They will fight to the last man, the last bullet, and the last drop of blood, and so too will their mercenary dogs. Several of them have already proved to be a significant threat. Many of these lowlifes will be the vermin that escaped their judgment fifteen years ago at Oceania. No doubt, they intend to sink their claws deep into the soul of Cascadia- to corrupt it for their own twisting desires. In turn, we will deliver unto them the same wrath that the dealt to their comrades, and this time, they won't escape. We will extinguish the last pathetic embers of their Round Table. Make no mistake, this war isn't just about Cascadia's soul. It isn't even about the integrity of the Federation. This war we fight is for world peace as we know it, so prepare yourselves. The real fight is only just getting started."

The crowd of pilots finally cheered. Avery looked around at her comrades and couldn't help but notice that everyone seemed so… enthusiastic. Maybe they were still riding the excitement of the previous night, but Avery thought that maybe- just maybe- they were all beginning to understand. Ever since the war started, she felt that none of the others that were born elsewhere in the Federation could ever fully understand the importance of this fight. Now, though, she believed that this war could finally be over soon.