Kugel contacts Ledo and instructs him to return to active duty. Upon reuniting with Kugel, Ledo learns that Kugel is struck with some disease that does not allow him to leave his cockpit. When Ledo tells Kugel that he learned that the Hideauze are originally humans, Kugel reveals that he always knew about it, just like the high command of the Galactic Alliance. Despite that, Kugel insists to fight the Hideauze, and all this time he was organizing a powerful fleet with an occult militaristic society in order to rally all the humans on Earth under them. Pinion is summoned to Kugel's fleet, surprised to be taken there by Lukkage, who is now working under Kugel. Then, Pinion is approached by Kugel's Machine Caliber Striker X3752, who offers him a post as an engineer to repair and develop weapons for the fleet. The rest of his companions are also forced to join Kugel's fleet in separate departments. Some time later, Kugel discusses with Ledo the next step of his plan, a large scale operation which, much to Ledo's shock, somehow involves the Gargantia.