"Lady Avistra" said a fancily-dressed elf, "the Fire Flower chief has arrived and has made contact."

"Thank you, Krillik. It's about time" said young and beautiful elfess sitting on the captain's seat of the bridge.

"Apologies my lady, if chatting with some pampered elven nobility isn't very high on my priorities list." Strigwire said in a soft, sarcastic tone.

"This will be the most important conversation you've had since your clan climbed out of your miserable hole" Avistra said. "I'm here to make a deal with you, and possibly, forge what could be a beneficial cooperation between us."

"What sort of exchange are we talking about?" Strigwire.

"Information for a little bit of muscle" Avistra answered. "How far into outworld do you think you can land a small force of about 50 hoplites and get out without detection?"

"With all the outworld's pathetic fleet in the crescent, we should be able to make a quick strike on any outworld planet."

"Good" Avistra said. "So here's what I need you to do. I have located the human who has the Talisman of the Goddess, but it's going to take a little … assertive action … to get him to give it up."

"You know where the talisman is?" Strigwire asked skeptically. "How?"

"The talisman was given to a young man by my mother, who may have had it deactivated. I have managed to track this human down, and if you act quickly, you can take the talisman from him if he still has it."

"All right, you have now got my attention, elfess" Strigwire said, his eyes narrowing. "But this will leave us with the little quandary of who the talisman belongs to."

"We will have to learn how to cooperate and share it" Avistra said. "You will need the the talisman to gain the upper hand over Turraski, and I will need it to get the upper hand over my half-sister."

"You think you have any chance of becoming the princess with the armada as strong as it has become?" Strigwire chuckled.

"She has already shown a willingness to let Zenithala be taken hostage for a tactical advantage. Between that and the knowledge that the talisman still works, she will only become more vulnerable. I've got more people in the Armada that would back me. And you can think of me as an enemy if you want, but you can't deny things will be easier for the Nal'Larak with me on the throne than with Zorthia." Strigwire eyed her suspiciously for a moment, in deep thought and not sure of what to say.

"I can get that talisman if it's there and get out quickly" Strigwire said, "but I can't guarantee you that Nadarska's forces won't torch her masterpiece with atomic weapons."

"That's why I'm counting on you to be inconspicuous and create the smallest splash that you can. You Fire Flower seem to pride yourselves on ferocious stealthiness. Now you've got a chance to prove that to the goddess herself." Strigwire once again stood silently, thinking for a brief moment.

"I'll do it. Just tell me where to strike" Strigwire said with an eagerness in his voice.