“The file says ‘Intel has reported a Gremlin deconstruction crew dismantling a level within the Clockworks in order to generate enough scrap metal and other resources for use in Project R. Based on the information gathered, they are essentially burning the place to the ground before ripping it apart. The squad tasked with investigating the site has gone missing and is believed to now be held in captivity at the site.’ Seems like the attached images must have been the last thing the squad sent before going MIA.”

I opened the attachments to the file: they contained a few images of a charred forest, with fields of ash and black trees; I even recognized a wolver den among the remains of flora. More images depicted the foundation for a series of Gremlin-styled fortifications: gun puppies, supply crates, and varying structures in the process of being built.

“Our objective this time is to ‘Infiltrate the fiery deconstruction zone and rescue the captive squad of knights. Be warned, the deconstruction crew are said to have a powerful security construct hidden somewhere on site. Precise details on said construct are unavailable.’ Ah, yes. How vague and predictable. Very helpful tidbit, that last part.”

“The Recon Knights can’t have all the answers, Balldrick.”

“I know, Blast. Just makes our job that much harder without them,” he replied.

“I can’t believe they’re willing to just…” Lance muttered.

“What? Destroying an entire forest-floor to recycle bits of the Clockworks to create some weapons of mass destruction? Sounds about right for Gremlins,” Zimthose said.

“Well, yeah I guess. But like… still, they’d destroy a whole fragment of the Clockworks, just for that? Because they hate us and the Strangers that much? Isn’t Cradle their home? Wasn’t it their job to protect and maintain the Clockworks, or something?”

“The Clockworks is big, Lance,” I commented. “If it weren’t for this mission and the briefing, we’d probably never have known about it to begin with. Not until it was too late.”

The Skylark had crashed nearly five Cradle years ago, and so far not even half the Clockworks had been explored yet. Not to mention, almost all Spiral Knight efforts since landing had been focused on making it closer to the core, so the rest of the planet’s surface was for the most part just as foreign as when we first arrived. There must be more towns or cities out there, inhabited by Strangers or others we’d not met yet. Haven was big, sure, but I had a hard time imagining it was the only large congregation of Cradle’s non-Gremlin inhabitants. It could also never compare to the never-ending cities reaching miles high on Isora; then again, even Isora would never compare to the incomprehensible, interconnectedness that comprised the Clockworks. I hoped, with no small ounce of worry, that after our conflict with the Gremlins, Cradle wouldn’t wind up with the same fate as Isora.

"Wait,” Balldrick said, rousing my thoughts. “Something doesn’t feel right. I get Gremlins are twisted and knights get captured from time to time, if only to be tortured for information before, well…"

"We know, Balldrick. No need to dwell on that topic; our war with the Morai wasn't too different in that regard," I reminded him.

"But that last image in the file," he said pointing to his data pad, "those look like cells.” The image in question was taken dangerously close to the Gremlin construction site and focused on an open space with completely empty, miniature prison cells. It looked like a small enough knight would be able to extend their arms at their side if they stood in the middle, but only just.

“He’s right,” Lance said, resting his chin on his palm. “But…why would Gremlins be building cells to hold prisoners on a floor they're in the middle of deconstructing? It seems like a wasted effort. If they had already captured the knights, that’s one thing. But the squad couldn’t have sent the photos if they’d already been captured, so…?”

“They’re Gremlins,” my brother said. “Do they have to make sense?”

“It’s exactly because they’re Gremlins that it has to make sense, moron,” Lance retorted.

“It could be for other prisoners, I guess,” Balldrick said, before they could start arguing again. “There’s a chance they were always planning on making a fortified prison there, and if they’re deconstructing the level for resources, it makes more sense to use what’s there for the prison, and then ship any extra resources out for this Project R.”

“Smells fishy to me,” Zimthose said, propping his feet on the table in front of the sofa.

“What do we want to do for this one?” Ballrick asked, to nobody in particular. It only took a moment for me to decide. Fellow knights’ lives were on the line after all. We couldn’t afford to waste any more time bickering or deliberating.

“After we return with the data, we’ll head out immediately and do the same thing again. Sneak in if we can, as far as we can. But this time we’ll do it together, no teams. That way, we can bust the joint on the way out. I’m sure those knights will be itching to settle the score with whoever caught them. I’m not sure what the Gremlins are planning, but there’s only one way to find out what’s really going on.” I shoved my brother’s feet off the table with my boot, and stood up with a clap. “Gear up Wolver Squad, we’ve got some data to steal and knights to save!”

We left to our own private quarters to gear up. I made sure to leave a few Divine Stones out on my desk for my battle-sprite Syrin to eat when she woke up; the little Seraphynx had grown a lot since I’d taken her in, but I still couldn’t imagine her as a tool or weapon to aid me on the front lines; not when she acted so much like the household cat she looked to be. I watched her snowy fur rise and fall for a minute as she lay curled up at the end of my bed. While she and some other battle-sprites had been the changing tide during our fight with The Collector, I wasn’t eager to find myself in a predicament where I’d need her help like that again.

Yeah, there’s no way I could risk you in the Clockworks. It wouldn’t feel right.

About half an hour later, I made my way to the Entrance Hall to find Zimthose already waiting. As Lance and Balldrick appeared behind me in the doorway, it seemed like Wolver Squad was ready to head out.

I had already donned my Solid Cobalt Helm and plated, frost-colored Flak Jacket, and my Great Defender was strapped to my back. On either side of my hips was a Tempered Calibur and an enhanced Blaster, as well Silver’s favorite dagger running along the back of my belt.

Lance reminded me of the majestic or magical Owlite depictions from the Candlestick Keep with his Elemental Hood and Cloak, and he carried a Spur and Prismatech Alchemer pistol at his sides. He wore his recently upgraded Horned Owlite shield in the same fashion I did, and the bandolier across his chest only carried one aquamarine colored haze bomb; he likely hadn’t gone out of his way to restock his usual mishmash of bombs since the last mission. Hopefully Kozma would be at her usual spot in the Arcade with her usual supply of goodies for him.

Balldrick was wearing his Plated Sentinel helmet and armor. He usually left his Heavy Plate Shield in storage at the Arcade so he wouldn’t need to lug it around, since he already had an Antigua holstered on either side of his hip, a Tundrus across his chest, and a parry blade along the back of his belt. The white and purple magnum felt out of place with his red-tinged armor, but it was the perfect foil to his twin revolvers.

“Hey, guys?” Zimthose called out as we walked to the door. “What’s the date?”

“Today is Golden Phantom,” Lance replied.

“Or day 723 since the Skylark crashed,” Ballrick added.

“Right, right…gah, damnit!”

“Why? If you had plans, go and give whoever a raincheck,” I told him. Out of the four of us, of course he would be the one to have something to do at the same time as a mission.

“That’s not it. Crap, I was supposed to stop by and grab my gear yesterday, but I forgot about it while late night Auction hunting! They needed some repairs and an upgrade, but I didn’t think we’d be immediately heading out after the meeting this morning either, so all I’ve got is this now,” he said, gesturing to the one weapon on his belt.

I was wondering why my brother was traveling light. He was wearing his Angelic helm and gray Wolver coat, reinforced with metal plates at the hips and wrists. His Swiftstrike Buckler rested high up on his arm, but I didn’t recognize the weapon on his belt. It was only a bit shorter than my Tempered Calibur, but it had large serrated teeth along the blade.

“It’s only noon. Shouldn’t be a problem, right?” Balldrick asked.

“Shouldn’t be. We need to eat first, and weren’t planning on actually deploying for a few hours anyways. You can just meet us at Snipe’s Perch after you grab your stuff from the forge.”

“That’s… just it.” My brother winced as he turned to me. “My stuff isn’t at the forge. I went to Vise and Punch right after our last mission. So… I need to head to the other side of Haven.”

Ah.

“That’s almost an hour-long journey, without foot traffic!” I facepalmed as I realized why my brother was acting sheepish. “If you run there and then straight to the Arcade, you might just make it in time for departure. Might.”

“We’ll be fine. I know a shortcut or two,” Lance said, resting a hand on my brother’s shoulder. “Now that he mentions it, I’d like to pop in and ask those chaotic geniuses if they can’t whip something up for me real quick.”

“You don’t think that’s a little abrupt?” I inquired. “I doubt they’d have time to even hear about it, considering how busy they usually are. I mean, Zimthose’s gear took almost a whole week by the sounds of it. I can’t imagine they’ll be too pleased with him being late to pick up his stuff either.”

“I know it’s impolite to suddenly show up and ask for something out of the blue, but if my hunch is right, it’ll be an extreme boon to this mission in particular. I’m sure I can work something out about the time frame and cost. Probably.” I had no idea what plan Lance was cooking, but I didn’t see any need to stop him.

“Fine. Rendezvous in the Arcade at 1300 then. Emerald Lion gate. And you’re on your own to eat!” I instructed. Lance saluted with a smile, while Zimthose nodded with a thumbs up. With that, Balldrick and I headed out on our own.