The Cherry Deception

**The Cherry Deception** is the twenty-fifth episode of Season 1 of the Neo Alliance series.

## Synopsis

Neo Alliance makes an alliance with the remaining empires of the World of Sengoku, to put an end to the invasion by Sigurd and Duke. Will they end it or cause more destruction?

## Plot

As Gaim and his forces head to Yggasril along a cliffside path with Tulip Hoppers and Yaroi Armors, they are ambushed by several Sigurd Kurokage Soldiers and DarkArmoras. Their turrets incapacitate the front of the line and then target the rear side, seeking to trap and destroy both Neo Alliance and the remaining World of Sengoku forces. Eyes saves a Kurokage Shin Soldier from the Baron Empire from a Yaroi Armor, and then he comes up to Baron and informs him that they're pinned down. Gaim tells Baron to call a Tulip Hopper squad to the front. Baron relays the order while Eyes pulls the fallen rocks off the cliff, clearing the path. The Tulip Hoppers are deployed from the second batch of forces and moves up to the front. Gaim, Baron and the rest of the Tulip Hoppers squad then overrun the turrets and the DarkArmoras and Sigurd Kurokage Soldiers. Afterwards a Kurokage Soldier tells Gaim and Baron that they have lost seventeen men. A Scout DarkArmora spies on them, discovering that the both Neo Alliance and World of Sengoku forces will reach Yggasril sooner than expected and that they will need help to free World of Sengoku from the Legion’s grasp.

Listening to the scout at his command center in Sigurd Empire City, Sigurd confers with a DarkArmora Commander, DQ-4028, refusing to retreat, despite the odds being against him. Sigurd states that the World of Sengoku leaders doesn't have the troops to take the city. Sigurd orders that all troops to be brought into the city and to secure the bridge. In a holographic conference around a campsite in Yggasril, Cross and Whizaru informs the others that their team that the far-right side of the city is theirs. Eyes mentions that Zangetsu and Ryugen has taken the far-left side of the city, hiding and waiting. The only thing that remains is the Sigurd Empire City. Scouts are certain that Sigurd and the Legion of Horus are there. Ryoma asserts that when they have taken the city, they must capture Sigurd, but Eyes is unsure if that is possible: The city has a plasma bridge that is the only way in or out, a siege could drag on indefinitely. With remaining forces stretched thin, Eyes decides to do an all-angle strategy, splitting all forces, surrounding the city.

Meanwhile, Rifai informs Sigurd that DQ-4028 has informed him of the "pitiful job" he has done. Sigurd insists that the DarkArmora has exaggerated, and asserts that he has not lost; Rifai states that Sigurd is no match for Neo Alliance especially their main four members and orders him to retreat with what valuables he can and destroy everything else. Sigurd is rather alarmed, but Rifai explains: World of Sengoku's fate will demonstrate to the universe the cost of a "Neo Alliance victory." Ryugen and two Kurokage Soldiers come across a patrol of DarkArmoras looking for lost patrols sent, but ends up being defeated by the latter.

DQ-4028 notifies Sigurd that their Gyro Armors equipped with bombs are ready for launch and states he will ready Sigurd's ship for evacuation. However, Sigurd is not yet ready to leave. Ryugen and the two soldiers return to Zangetsu and his forces and reported about their situation.

The Sigurd Empire bombers launch, and Sigurd targets all the north-side within range, starting with Icea’s team. Icea, Sora, Haven and a platoon of Kurokage Soldiers plans to camp for the night and regroup with everyone else tomorrow. Suddenly they got blasted by the bombers but managed to take out the bombers of their range. Icea asks a surviving Kurokage Soldier to call the others. Zangetsu makes a conversation with Ryugen that something is bothering him. Ryugen replies that after this, he will join Neo Alliance and hand his empire to him. The two and the others receive a report from Icea about the recent bombing on their side.

Sigurd oversees the loading of valuables onto his shuttle by the DarkArmoras. A DarkArmora tells Sigurd that two more transports are still coming in from the south sector, thus Sigurd decides to wait for the last of the valuables of the world to arrive and be loaded onto his ship, much to the fury of Rifai, who wants him out of the city before the Neo Alliance arrives: once they have invaded the city, Rifai orders it to be bombed from afar. DQ-4028 will do so, despite what Sigurd wants. All the leading members of the siege engage in a holographic conference to talk about the attack, with Cross reports that his forces are trying to destroy the bombers on his side, but there are too many. Gaim instructs him to destroy the bombers and then meet everyone at the city, and Cross continues to engage the bombers with assistance from Demonar. Soon, everyone reaches an agreement: After the siege, The World of Sengoku allies with Neo Alliance with Ryugen joining them. The next morning, all sides rally their men for the siege and grouped up all at the same position.

Meanwhile, A guard patrol leaves the bridge as the DarkArmoras deactivated the bridge except two arrogant Kurokage Soldiers who fell. The troops escort civilians of the city to the outer wall to slow them down. As they discover this, they spot the two transports making their way toward the city. Gaim reports that his spies say that they are filled with stolen treasure, and they decide to use them to get across and activate the bridge despite the chance of being scanned. Eyes, Ryugen and the two troops earlier managed to subdue a few Kurokage Soldiers from behind and enter the rear transport, while Gaim and Baron prepares to lead the attack. Eyes asks Whizaru and Icea to create a diversion and while the others get everyone ready. The plasma bridge is activated for the transports, and they begin to cross; Sigurd prepares to leave with the last of the treasures. However, the DarkArmoras scan the transports, and they pick up an anomaly in the second transport. As they open the transport's doors, Eyes, Ryugen and the troopers exit the transport and destroy the DarkArmoras, while both of them begin to open fire. The bridge is deactivated, and Eyes uses fabrikinesis to push Ryugen and the troopers across. Eyes uses a Gyro Armor to get to the other side, and DarkArmoras and Kurokage Soldiers begin to attack the four. Ryugen orders the troopers to get the bridge back up while he and Eyes holds the enemy off, and Gaim begins the charge. Eyes and Ryugen takes out an entire battalion including a Yaroi Armor on his own, while the troopers get the bridge up just in time for Gaim, Baron and their forces to cross. The civilians wave happily at the passing forces; Ryugen instructs Gaim to take care of the remaining forces while he and Eyes find Sigurd. The World of Sengoku forces and Neo Alliance take out the DarkArmoras and the Kurokage Soldiers quickly.

In the control room, the two Kurokage Soldiers are ambushed by several DarkArmoras and two Sigurd Kurokage Shin Soldiers but they defeat them. DQ-4028 lifts off in the shuttle without waiting for Sigurd, much to the latter's surprise. DQ-4028 reports to Rifai regarding Sigurd's refusal to retreat in time and suggest to cut ties with the Legion’s allies in the World of Sengoku. Despite this unfortunate setback, Rifai gives the order for the remaining DarkArmoras to destroy the city immediately. The DarkArmoras in the hangar kills the Kurokage Soldiers inside and boarded their Gyro Armors. Ryugen subdues Sigurd's Kurokage Shin Soldiers and holds Sigurd at bay. Sigurd tries to reason with Ryugen but he refuses since he has the upper hand. Sigurd then states that a surrender is unnecessary now since the Gyro Armors are coming and they both will perish for the glory of the Legion of Horus. While the bombers approach, Cross and Demonar attack and destroy them. Everyone surrounds Sigurd. Everyone in the Sigurd Empire except the civilians are arrested for treason against the universe. Gaim thanks Neo Alliance for freeing the world. Later, the faction leaders are waving to the people in a parade with Neo Alliance as well with them watching in satisfaction. Ryugen readies himself for what’s coming next.

## Characters

* Cross Winguard
* Whizaru Techava
* Eyes
* Icea Frostheart
* Sengoku Ryoma (hologram)
* Ryugen
* Sora Hearts
* Haven Whitesoul
* Gaim
* Baron
* Zangetsu
* Sigurd
* DQ-4028
* Kurokage Soldiers
* Demonar Neslavo
* Rifai (hologram)
* Ali (mentioned)
* Duke (mentioned)
* Shadow (mentioned)
* DO-3315

## Events

* Siege on the Sigurd Empire (started and concluded)