Alexandria needed to figure out which places to hit first. There was also the matter of what happened to her when she shifted into the polar bear. The addition of Valentina was a welcome one since anyone that could stop time was invaluable. The map of the territories she was looking to hit was laid out in front of her on the desk. She was alone for the moment while everyone else went about getting things ready for the first battle. Their strength at the moment was good but they still needed someone to fix the ship. While Lyric was good at light work any major repairs were above her skill level.

Her journal was on the other side of her desk open. When she wasn’t plotting out how to take down island defenses she was pouring over her notes trying to find any mention of passing out and not remembering a shift. There had to be something somewhere in her writings even the smallest clue would be extremely helpful.

She started cracking different bones in her body trying to relieve her stress level. A sigh of relief escaped her lips with each crack. Each time a different bone would crack she turned to the next page doing a bit of speed reading. There was still a ton to do and not much time in which to do it. That is of course she could find a way to use Valentina’s ability to give them more hours in the day. A chuckle escaped her lips as she looked around making sure Lyric wasn’t around to hear that.

The first few areas on the map seemed to be lightly guarded so those would allow them to gain a foothold. However everything towards the middle was heavily guarded. Alexandria was a bit annoyed that the inner strongholds seemed much more defended than just a skeleton crew. That must be because of what Valentina did to Fina. Even if that wasn’t the case it seemed a bit like overkill. Of course it was good proving grounds which was something Alexandria knew she needed for herself and the crew as a whole.

Another page turned and Alexandria poured over the contents. Her own handwriting at times was a bit jarring most likely due to the drugs they were given after each test. So far there was nothing that told her why this last shift was so different. She needed those answers but at the moment only going back to the facility would provide what she so desperately wanted.

The first island wasn’t far away and it would be a great way to test how Valentina would fit into the fighting style of the rest of the crew. Alexandria was eager to see how far she would go. They also had a facility they could attack nearby that wasn’t being used but for storage purposes. There could be something there she could use to find her answers.

A knock of the door echoed throughout the room. Alexandria looked up for a moment still in the middle of a thought. “Come in.” She called out, turning her attention back to the map and her thoughts.

Lyric walked into the room, shutting the door quietly behind her. She walked up to Alexandria’s side peering over the map. “You have been cooped up in here for a few hours. Everyone is wondering what the next move is. Have you figured it out or would you like some help?”

Alexandria heard Lyric speaking but the words were inaudible at the moment. She was close to figuring out the correct path to take out the territories. There was also the matter of her polar bear shift that she was working on with the back burner of her brain. A few minutes passed before she was finally able to hear what Lyric had said. “Oh hey Lyric sorry about spacing out on you there. I am doing two important things at once. Could you call Tyra in here for a moment?”

Lyric nodded, patting Alexandria softly on the back as she moved to the door. She opened it softly peering up at the crow’s nest. “Hey, Tyra captain wants to see you for a moment.”

Tyra popped her head over the rim of the crows nest nodding in response. She climbed down the ladder quickly walking into Alexandria’s quarters. Lyric closed the door standing by it while Tyra moved over to Alexandria. “You wanted to see me captain?”

Alexandria turned around in her chair with a smile on her face. “You are going to get that raid on a facility sooner than you wanted.” She stood up moving to the table in the middle of the room. Pointing to the spot Alexandria believed to be the facility she came from with a devious look on her face. “I haven’t been able to find anything in my journals about the kind of shift I experienced in our last battle. The only place that would have more extensive information would be where I was experimented on. Are you up for a side mission?”

A heavy silence took over the room for a moment. Tyra raised an eyebrow. She was a bit concerned since they were not ready to assault a facility of that size just yet. Tyra was surprised Alexandria was able to escape in the manner she had. Of course Alexandria was a person Tyra had never encountered anywhere so it was possible. “It is doable but don’t you think we should wait until a full crew is assembled. We really don’t have the capability to assault a facility of that size and come out the other side with no losses.” Tyra didn’t want to cause problems but someone needed to smack some sense into Alexandria even if it was only figuratively.

Lyric covered her mouth to keep from giggling. It wasn’t that what Tyra said was funny it was because only she would get away with talking to Alexandria like that. They had not been together long but from the outside looking in it was as though they had always been a crew. Lyric was going to interject but Alexandria’s hand went up to stop her.

She took in a deep breath, closing her eyes to focus the thoughts running rampant in her head. Once things were calmer Alexandria opened her eyes staring right into Tyra’s. “I understand your points on this matter and they are taken under advisement. However if you're not up for this mission then I will go myself. If I don’t solve this problem it can only cause more down the line for everyone. That is not something I want to put my crew through ever.” Alexandria didn’t waver; she just stood there with an intense look on her face.

There was another moment of heavy silence. Even Lyric was completely serious, which didn’t happen very often. Tyra tapped a finger on the stock of her rifle. It would seem Alexandria wasn’t playing around and her thought process was sound. Even though she looked unhinged and unprepared, the attention to protecting her fellow crew members showed the passion that Tyra saw in her when they first met. Tyra burst out into laughter causing the heavy silence to evaporate into the air and out the window. “Well then if you’re that set on getting this done I am up for any mission as long as your head is on straight.”

Alexandria rubbed her hands together, joining in on the laughter. If Tyra was there with her there would be no way for this to fail. However their territory conquest did have a time limit which they needed to keep in mind. If they were going to pull off both the crew needed to split up. “Alright Tyra and I will take the smaller ship and make our way to the facility. We are only there to gain access to information so fighting is a last resort.” Alexandria paused for a moment turning her attention to Lyric. “You will take the main ship with the others and focus on the islands I have marked on the map. With the addition of Valentina you should have no issues taking those islands.” She gestured to the map that was now placed next to the larger one. It had all the territories up for grabs circled.

Lyric put her hand up letting out a nervous giggle. “Hold on a second, how the hell are we supposed to do that when you're risking your life for information we could get later?” She usually wasn’t this intense but everything that was going on right made her feel uneasy. The problem wasn’t taking command, it was the fact Alexandria and Tyra could be killed, captured, or something far worse. She wasn’t sure that was something that was bearable after all the good that has happened.

A third round of silence lingered around the room. This time Alexandria was the way to chase it away. She walked up to Lyric placing a firm hand on her shoulder. “You have nothing to worry about with the command since you taught me a great deal so far. There is also no chance in hell myself or Tyra is going to die. She has lived on an island killing people from miles away. No way some facility is going to be the thing that does her in. Plus I know that place inside and out so there is nothing to worry about.”

Lyric took in a deep breath looking up at Alexandria with that annoying grin. This is why Alexandria was the captain and Lyric was content to be her first mate until the day she died. “Alright so where will we be meeting up after your mission is complete?”

The three of them made their way over to the map again looking it over. Alexandria marked a spot in the center off the coast of one of the larger islands. “This is where you will wait for Tyra and I to return. If you don’t hear from us after three days of waiting then I want you to move forward with the conquest. There is nothing stopping you and the others from taking a good portion of the islands. Just leave the larger ones for last when you have more supplies and hopefully crew members.”

Lyric nodded, turning to make her way to the door. A firm hand stopped her as Tyra spoke. “You need to take these islands quickly and with the least deaths on the enemy side as possible.”

Lyric turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. “Why would that matter? Wouldn’t wiping out the island be more of a statement than not?”

Tyra let out a soft chuckle shaking her head. “Being ruthless is a good tactic for a pirate. However, if we are going to make a mark in this era, doing things differently is always a good move. Plus you will need the extra muscle if Alexandria and I don’t arrive as planned.”

That was a good point. Lyric nodded, touching Tyra’s hand, giving her a reassuring smile, as she left the cabin to brief Eve and Valentina on the plan. The door closed quietly again behind her as she left.

Tyra turned to Alexandria, wrinkling her forehead. “So if we are going to do this you need to tell me everything you know about the facility. Even if I don’t go inside with you the layout will be helpful. I can place myself in an area I can be helpful no matter where you are inside.”

Alexandria nodded glad to see Tyra was fully onboard with what needed to be done. “I have a map in my journal. We can superimpose it onto some map paper so you can study it better that way. Is there anything else you need before we move to the smaller ship?”

This was going to go down as one of the craziest missions ever pulled by anyone at any given time. Of course if there was anyone that could pull it off it would be this crew.