The emergency alert reached the Express crew at dawn, transmitted through Belobog's communication grid with the kind of urgency that made Alex's blood turn to ice. Fragmentum corruption was erupting from the planet's core in patterns that defied all previous experience, and energy readings suggested that whatever was driving the acceleration had entered a new phase of activity.
"Stellaron activation," Dan Heng confirmed, studying readings that painted a picture of systematic reality breakdown spreading outward from Jarilo-VI's center. "The influence patterns suggest it's attempting to synchronize with planetary geological systems."
Alex stared at the data displays while their mind raced through implications they'd rather not consider. In the game, the Stellaron crisis had been the climactic challenge that brought all of the planet's factions together in a desperate alliance against cosmic-level destruction. Experiencing it as a real threat to millions of real people was profoundly different from watching it unfold as an exciting plot development.
"What does synchronization mean?" March asked, though her tone suggested she suspected the answer wouldn't be encouraging.
"Complete planetary transformation," Himeko replied grimly. "If the Stellaron successfully integrates with Jarilo-VI's core systems, it will be able to reshape the entire world according to its nature. Everything we understand as normal matter and energy would be converted into Fragmentum variants."
"Total extinction," Alex said quietly.
"Or worse," Dan Heng added. "Stellaron transformation doesn't necessarily destroy consciousness. It just... changes what consciousness means."
The communication system crackled with an incoming transmission from the Supreme Guardian's command center. Cocolia's voice carried an edge of controlled desperation that suggested someone operating beyond the limits of normal stress tolerance.
"Express crew, I need you at the administrative complex immediately. We're implementing emergency protocols, and I require your assessment of our available options."
The streets of Belobog had transformed overnight into something resembling a warzone preparing for its final battle. Silvermane Guards were establishing defensive positions at key intersections while civilians moved with the kind of purposeful efficiency that came from disaster preparation that had been practiced too many times to be unfamiliar. Even the underground organization had representatives visible at surface level, suggesting that the crisis had forced cooperation that previous diplomatic efforts hadn't achieved.
"How bad is it?" Alex asked Gepard as the Express crew was escorted through the administrative complex's security checkpoints.
"Worse than our worst-case projections," Gepard replied without his usual diplomatic deflection. "Corruption emergence points are appearing in areas that have been stable for decades. We're talking about fundamental changes to planetary environmental systems."
The Supreme Guardian's emergency command center was a space Alex hadn't seen before—a hardened facility deep within the administrative complex that looked like it had been designed to function even if the surface world became completely uninhabitable. Tactical displays showed corruption spread patterns that resembled a vast infection consuming the planet from the inside out, while communication stations maintained contact with defensive positions that were being systematically overwhelmed by forces that didn't follow normal physical laws.
"The situation is accelerating beyond our capacity to respond," Cocolia said without preamble as the Express crew entered the command center. "Conventional containment strategies are proving ineffective against corruption that can reshape terrain faster than we can adapt our defensive positions."
Alex studied the tactical displays, noting patterns that confirmed their worst fears about Stellaron influence. The corruption wasn't just spreading—it was organizing, creating structures and pathways that suggested purposeful design rather than random growth. Whatever intelligence was driving the process had moved beyond subtle psychological influence into direct environmental manipulation.
"What about evacuation options?" Himeko asked.
"Limited," Cocolia replied. "We have transport capacity for perhaps ten percent of the population, and nowhere to evacuate to. Neighboring systems are either too distant to reach with our available ships or already facing their own Stellaron-related crises."
"So we stop it here," March said with the kind of determined optimism that Alex was learning to associate with people who refused to accept defeat even when facing impossible odds.
"How?" Alex asked, though they suspected they already knew the answer.
"Direct intervention at the source," Dan Heng said, pointing to energy readings that showed massive disturbances at the planet's core. "If we can reach the Stellaron itself and disrupt its integration with local systems..."
"It's suicidal," one of Cocolia's advisors interjected. "Core access requires traveling through corruption zones that have reached density levels beyond anything we've previously encountered."
"And if we don't attempt it, everyone dies anyway," Seele said from across the command center. Alex hadn't noticed her arrival, but her presence suggested that the underground organization was fully committed to whatever desperate measures might offer a chance of planetary survival.
Alex found themselves thinking about the game's resolution to this crisis—a desperate mission to the planet's core where the Express crew had confronted not just the Stellaron itself, but Cocolia transformed by her exposure to its influence. In the game, it had been an emotionally powerful climax that tested the player's combat skills and narrative investment.
In reality, it would be a mission where people they cared about would face genuine mortal danger against cosmic forces that could rewrite the fundamental nature of existence itself.
"I'll go," Alex said suddenly, surprised by their own words.
"Alex—" Himeko began.
"I have the best chance of understanding the Stellaron's integration patterns," Alex interrupted. "My dimensional sensitivity means I can perceive things about its influence that others might miss."
"You have no combat experience," Gepard pointed out. "Core access will require fighting through corruption zones that would challenge our most experienced Silvermane veterans."
"Then I go with a team that does have combat experience," Alex replied. "But someone needs to be there who can recognize opportunities to disrupt the integration process, and that someone is probably me."
Alex could see the calculations running behind Cocolia's eyes—weighing the value of their analytical abilities against the risk of exposing an untrained civilian to lethal danger. The Supreme Guardian was operating under pressures that made every decision a gamble with stakes measured in millions of lives.
"You understand that this mission has a very low probability of success," Cocolia said finally.
"I understand that doing nothing has a zero probability of success," Alex replied.
"The core mission launches in six hours," Cocolia announced to the command center. "Express crew, select your team composition and coordinate with my tactical staff on approach routes. Everyone else, continue defensive preparations and civilian evacuation procedures."
As the command center erupted into frantic preparation activity, Alex found themselves standing with their Express family, knowing that the next few hours would either see the resolution of Jarilo-VI's crisis or the death of everyone on the planet.
"Are you sure about this?" March asked quietly.
"No," Alex admitted. "But I'm sure about not doing it."
"Then we go together," Dan Heng said with the kind of calm certainty that made impossible missions seem merely difficult.
"Together," Himeko agreed.
Alex looked around at their faces—determined, afraid, but united in their commitment to stand against forces that threatened everything they cared about. In the game, this moment had been exciting. In reality, it was terrifying and profound and more meaningful than any fictional narrative could capture.
They were about to descend into the heart of a dying world to confront a cosmic force that could unmake reality itself. And somehow, knowing they wouldn't face it alone made all the difference.