Hi this is a post for a new idea, hope the devs might consider it. It also fills out the Cradle story a bit by explaining how knights return after having fallen in the clockworks.

Rescue Raiders!

Synopsis:
"The clockworks are dangerous places, particularly for uninvited guests such as our brave knights, traversing an unfamiliar, ever-morphing terrain. Many a knight falls in combat, but as Spiral HQ standing orders go, as long as their life beacon does not blink out, rescue must take place. Spiral HQ seldom has to worry about its toughest knights, seasoned and squad-sufficient as they are, since they rarely go down where other knights do. Ironically, if they should become incapacitated, it is often in the most hazardous, monster-infested, trap-filled level, making it difficult for other squads to execute recovery. These knights are highly valued by headquarters, and this is where the Rescue Raiders come in. Usually picked from experienced bodyguards and former commandos, these knights operate with high speed, stealth, and rescue-and-run tactics. They are not often seen by other knights as they are kept as reserve units; insurance for Spiral HQ's top knights, and sometimes have to give their lives to ensure a successful recovery."

New set of prestige missions, with a focus on rescue!
Features in these missions:
-fallen knights, who can be picked up like keys and must be brought to the gate
-Players have to work together to move knight(s) to the gate
-tough, tough levels, espiecally the one where knights are found fallen. Hazardous, monster-infested, trap-filled, etc. Difficult to complete without teammates.

Missions: (some ideas)
Scattered! :
-Knights of a squad are incapacitated on different levels. One knight on each level. Find and collect them all! to complete the mission. Gets harder as the party progresses since multiple knights have to be moved.

Grab & Go :
-A High ranking Knight trapped in an extremely tough level. Monsters are crazy-tough, and numerous. Players would find it near impossible to fight enemies head on, and must seek to grab the knight and escape asap in a hit-and-run style.

Bodyguard :
-Players are inserted into a dangerous level, having to work with NPC medic knight(s). Players have to protect the NPC who will follow them(maybe can have an option to call them to you) and clear the way for them to reach the injured knight.

Sacrifice :
-On the last level players are forced into a monster situation which can be solved by having a player(s) distract the monsters while the rest evacuate with the downed knight.

Ninja :
-Players work through a highly dangerous level by trying to avoid and not disturb monster hordes. This plus multiple puzzle traps(overlaps with Hazards!)

Hazards! :
-Trapped filled levels where players have fun solving a mainly puzzle mission

Recovery from Boss :
-Downed knight(s) found in a Boss room. Players have to defeat boss while making sure it does not crushed the downed knight(s)! (Opportunity for new boss! :) )

Untimely end :
-The life beacon on the knight(s) to be rescued has indicated that the knight(s) has reached critical stage, and started a countdown timer which requires them to be brought to the gate before time runs out.

Bonus on-the-field items available only to these missions: (Bought with CE or a rare item find)
-"Guardian Knight call-in" (summons a Guardian Knight on the field, just like a mecha knight. Guardian knight has the properties of a Trojan, such as immunity to attacks from front and weak spot behind)

-"Energy stretcher" (A knight activating this may carry two knights instead of one for the rest of the level)

-"Paramedic Vitakit" (Use on a knight in critical stage to increase his life beacon countdown time.)
Alternative:Health capsules have the added ability to do the same as above)

Extras:
Rescue prize boxes! Medic themed items! Defibrillator Confetti!(shocks user)
New medic-styled weapons! (Rescue Raiders need dual-purpose equipment)
-Chain Scalpel(Sword) "Dissects as easily as it incises"
-Gamma Laser(Gun) "Two modes; Precision Emission & Vaporize"
-Dubious Defibrillator(Bomb) "Can be set to Pulse or Explode"
(So Controversial) XD

Admins pls post your comments. Guys pls don't flame, it's still in progress. Tell me nicely what else can be added or changed though! :)