i need my brain to stooooooppppp
Coalition Lance is what we're gonna call this AU.
Disclaimer: it's been a bit since I've actually watched the later seasons of Voltron so my timeline isn't exact to canon. We're starting this around the time Keith is on his Quantum Abyss mission, I think? Also, established relationship klance bc you can pry them from my cold dead hands.
Lance gets captured by a group of Galra that have access to a druid. With no luck getting any info out of the paladin, they erase his memory till back before he left Earth and drop him off back home. He's found and returned to his family who have been under the impression that he's either been missing or dead for the last year (two years? idk how long they've been in space by this point) and they're happy to have him back.
The Garrison finds out he's been found and have their go at questioning him, but he doesn't even remember starting school there. There's no Hunk, no Pidge, no Keith in his memory. He opts to stay with his family because there's a part of his heart that feels the void of missing them.
Months go by and Sam Holt shows up in an Altean pod.
When he's debriefing Iverson and co. he learns that Lance is on Earth, too. They meet up in hopes of Sam being able to jog Lance's memory. No dice, Lance continues on with his simple life at home.
Days go by and he's getting these horrible headaches and flashes of people he doesn't recognize. It overflows one night and he wakes up with everything back in place.
The first thing he does is call the Garrison. Iverson was the last person to call him, so that's the number he dials. Lance demands to talk to Sam, no this can't wait until morning this needs to be dealt with now bc there are planet destroying aliens that could arrive any day!
They try patching in Voltron, the Castle of Lions, the Olkari, but no one is picking up. Lance remembers some of the planets in the Coalition, ones that took particularly well to their crew and have been helping the efforts from early on, taking a very active part in the Coalition. One of them finally answers and gives them some not great news.
Voltron and its paladins have vanished.
The Olkari were attacked and are currently housed in a fleet of ships while they search for a new home.
The Galra is falling deeper into chaos without Lotor as their emperor.
The Coalition has grown restless without the protection of Voltron and planets have already begun to drift away.
"Tell them that there's still a Paladin of Voltron out here fighting."
He becomes the new head of the Coalition. The leader in him starts making plans over that three way call, figuring out a way to get Voltron's allies together and get Earth ready for an attack. He threatens to start a rebellion if Earth's government refuses to help him ("I've started a dozen rebellions on a dozen planets, I know how to work around stubborn governments. Either you waste all your resources trying to stop me or we can work together to fortify Earth.").
Until he can pack and move to the Garrison, the McClain living room becomes his office. When he does finally move, his family takes up temporary residence nearby - it feels too soon to let him out of their sight after so long of radio silence. They'll happily support him and the Coalition members grow to love seeing Lance's family in the video calls or hear their voices in the background.
When they finally make contact with Ryner, Lance doesn't hesitate to offer them refuge on Earth, even if it's just until they can find a suitable planet to move to. In the meantime, the Olkari help Earth advance its technology, working with Sam and any other planet that's willing to offer help and resources.
Matt and his rebellion head to Earth, picking up offerings from various planets on their way home.
Still no sign of Voltron.
Lance picks up the task of training the upcoming pilots on the new ships Sam and co. are creating. He acts as the main coordinator for visiting aliens and the democratic meetings that follow. Without realizing it, he moves up the ranks in the eyes of the Garrison.
The Galra show up on the edges of the Milky Way.
Earth is alerted immediately.
Lockdown is commenced across the planet. Particle barriers go up and ion canons are charged. Pilots get their ships ready and wait for the signal.
Sendak and his fleet don't manage to make it planet-side and lose a sizable chunk of their ships.
Reinforcements show up for both sides. Sendak not only has to face Earth's troops, but those of the rebellion and Olkari and every planet that's been phoned in to help. These aren't just people helping out another planet, they're people helping the last standing Paladin of Voltron and the Coalition's base.
Earth holds its ground over the next year.
An ally sends word about a spreading rumor: the Lions of Voltron have resurfaced and are enroute to some undisclosed location. No one has been able to pin them down but they're heading vaguely in the direction of Earth...
Lance awaits the day he'll see the Lions entering the atmosphere.
