The State of the World: Prelude to the Siege

The world had changed.

Homelander no longer pretended to be anything other than what he was: a god among men, unchallenged and untouchable. The mask had slipped, and instead of recoiling in horror, millions had fallen to their knees, worshipping him in broad daylight. With the government firmly under his control, the American First State had become an extension of his will, its security forces little more than his personal enforcers.

Vought, once a corporate puppet master that manipulated from the shadows, had been forced into the light. Officially, its leaders still called the shots, still sold the lie that they were in control. But in truth, they feared the monster they had created. Victoria Neuman’s assassination had shattered their contingency plans, and without her in the White House, their influence had waned. Homelander no longer needed them.

But they needed him.

The world beyond America’s borders watched in uneasy silence. Other nations knew that to challenge Homelander meant destruction, and with Vought feeding the regime its technology, the rest of the world was locked in a fragile stalemate. No one dared to intervene.

And so, the war had gone underground.

[The Resistance Falters]

The Boys were scattered and broken, their numbers dwindling as Homelander’s forces hunted them down. Butcher was gone—vanished after securing the virus, leaving behind only speculation and desperation. Hughie, M.M., Frenchie, and Kimiko fought on, but every battle cost them dearly. Supplies were running low, trust was eroding, and with each new crackdown, another safehouse fell silent.

Starlight had become a symbol of defiance, but even symbols could bleed. She was exhausted, haunted, pushed beyond what she ever thought possible. The world she once believed in was gone, and the line between hero and soldier had blurred into nothing.

There were whispers in the streets—Vought was preparing something. Some claimed it was a new generation of Supes, stronger and more obedient than ever. Others spoke of a weapon—something meant to counter the Supe-killing virus. If that was true, then all hope of stopping Homelander would be gone.

Then came the tip.

A high-ranking scientist from Vought’s classified research division had gone rogue, slipping past security and reaching out to the underground network. They had knowledge of the countermeasure, and if they could reach the resistance, the war might not be lost.

But Vought wasn’t about to let that happen.

[The Mission Begins]

The defector had been captured before they could reach safety. Vought’s elite security division had them locked down, preparing to transport them to a secure facility in New York City. The convoy was heavily guarded—Supe operatives, armed drones, AFS enforcers. Everything about it screamed untouchable.

But the resistance had no choice.

If the virus was neutralized, the fight would be over before it even began. Homelander would rule without opposition, and humanity’s last chance at stopping him would slip away forever.

So Starlight and what remained of The Boys began to plan the impossible. An ambush. A desperate last-ditch effort to turn the tide before it was too late.

Failure was not an option.

The war for the future had begun.