"At least seventy years isn't even a tenth of my lifetime." La'vida offered as consolation. Ambassador nodded once, lightly. It seemed he had chosen his shirt for the evening. A gesture was given to indicate her to browse. Stepping up to the chest, she looked to the Mirror Kind. "When I spoke before, I wasn't exactly accurate. For the first few years after you left, it was hardest on Timesmith. But in a way, it was like a relief of pressure. Out on Dantooine, she met a Twi'lek hybrid and at least for now seems to have found a friend in her. It has made it a lot easier for Lo'tev and I to get along." she gave half a smile, then turned her gaze down to the assortment. Sifting through, she managed to find an off-colored pale brown gown. It was simplest in nature, with flared sleeve ends. Oddly, it seemed to be long. As far as she had observed, the Misu were a tropical people. They wouldn't have a need for the thicker and longer clothing. Opting to try it, she slipped behind the changing divider.
He remained quiet for a time. It was hard news to hear Timesmith had found someone else, even in friendship. He had the feeling it was more than that, and that La'vida withheld information. But what was his place to know? As far as Timesmith went, they had become separated seventy years ago. And it seemed she had taken up the offer on the agreement that in their separation they were free to partner others. At the time it had been more of his way of saying 'Find someone' in the likely event he died, he recalled. Six years ago. Ambassador simply stared at the wall, until asking "Is she a good friend?"
"Who, the Twi'lek? Yes. She's kind. And.. you would be interested to meet her." She pulled off her mud-caked boots, breathing a sigh of relief at the freedom. Her feet had long since grown to ache from the venture. Setting them aside, she continued "The first day we met her, she had been stranded from a communications mix-up at one of the estates. She had come in on an assignment to pick up botany samples to take back for the restoration project of Stravin Nine." she chuckled a bit, reminiscing. "Turned out that we were there because Timesmith was getting residential permits renewed. It just sort of worked out." After a bit of remembrance, she caught Ambassador's silence. Without visual contact, it was impossible to know what he was thinking. Opting for the safe route, she spoke again. "You didn't ask about my name-title."
He snapped out of his thoughts with the statement. Standing beside the divider, he could see the Eagox pups quite clearly. Their fur held an ethereal quality, with more of an iridescent sheen than an outright shine in the flamelight. "I assumed that it was a cover name. You weren't able to get to the untempered schism in time." he replied.
"Not the one at home, no. But there are more than just that." La'vida answered. Pulling off the over and under shirts proved to be a task, dampness clinging them to her skin. When finally disconnected from their grip, she took a couple of minutes to let her skin breathe. "There is at least one in the heart of Iranimul. You know that moon, right?"
"Sister moon to Luminari." Ambassador confirmed.
"Right, that one. Well, I headed there about forty years ago. At first I was going to visit Luminari to see the natural Mirror Kind, but we didn't have the equipment. While I was there, I met a little Dracona with a flightless wing. He was a sweetheart. Showed me one of their sacred rocks, if you can believe that." A break in her sharing took place while she slipped the dress overhead. It was a close fit, but a fit nonetheless. It finally worked in her favor to be on the shorter side of her kindred. "It was during this annual festival of sorts, where all the Dracona of a kin tribe get together for a reunion. Well... this specific stone was located right next to a rift. The Dracona had dedicated it to be sacred because of what they would see during their reunions there. I didn't know that at the time, I sort of just assumed it was a biological response from the proximity of other kin that caused them to see things. They're a solitary race, as you know." La'vida stared down at the boots, wondering what to do with them. She wasn't ready to don them again, though she wasn't confident that the floor wouldn't cause splinters. Emerging from the divider, she looked to Ambassador. "Within the schism, I saw myself returning to Luminari and Iranimul when the time came. It is my role to make sure nothing unnatural happens to the indigenous and their parent world. I do not know if you are familiar with the lore of the parent planet, but a handful of cultures believe in a deity called The Guardian. It is them whom I took the name of, in order to best communicate to the natives what my role is."
Ambassador took in the words, looking to his daughter in a new light. She looked much softer in the gown, much more the way he remembered her to be. And free from the artificial cloth, she seemed more... at ease. A smile broke across his face. "Congratulations, on being able to experience the schism. I'm..." He stopped. The words were ones he hadn't spoken in years, and it brought a sense of warmth to say them. "I'm proud of you, Guardian."
La'vida mirrored the smile, relaxing. There was a shift in the air, a sense of connection she hadn't expected. She stepped in when Ambassador prompted a hug.

At the end of the embrace, Ambassador held La'vida at arm's length again. After a moment, he let his arms fall again. "I'd love to hear of your time on Iranimul and Luminari. For now though..." a half a second of hesitation, "I need sleep. Do you.." He started to ask, then left the implication.
La'vida realized the question. Answering, "No, that was inaccurate as well. I don't need sleep. But don't worry about me, I've got ways to pass time awake."
Ambassador nodded once. "Alright. How do you feel about Kaliska staying here?" After the fact, he caught her look. "Not in the same bed. I would head to the other room. But these pups here are indigenous and I don't know what care they need." He indicated the Eagox, "And I don't trust the Follower to be alone with her. Even now..." He cast a glance upward.
"He's only a Brakori, you know." She chimed.
The look was returned to his daughter. "What?"
"Brakori. They were the water serpents on Stravin Twelve." She observed him with a hint of question.
Quiet set in during the moment of memory-surfacing. His mind was drawing blanks, running out of the ability to summon up thoughts. "Didn't look that way... But that can also be handled later. So.. Kaliska. Yes or no?"
La'vida twitched a frown. "She said she'd be staying in the storage. You seem to be keen on sticking to native customs, it would be best to honor that."
A quiet sigh and a look towards the room. It was too nice for casual passengers. In retrospect of the palace, the room wasn't luxurious enough for the royal Misu above. He missed the room already, with its sweeping curtains and its fresh air. Later, then, he would seek out to convince the Misu to take up a room. "Alright. Well then I'll go above deck and say her a goodnight. I'll be down in a bit."
"How many minutes?" she asked.
Ambassador frowned again, this time not related to the question. He had lost his grasp on accurate time since arriving here. "I don't know, I don't have a timepiece. And I believe the sun and moons are on a shorter cycle than Oranig. Still shouldn't be more than twenty-two minutes."
She nodded to that. "Twenty-two then. In the meantime I'll be here. But before you go, I trust Follower. I believe he isn't here to cause trouble. The ones on Stravin Twelve sought a Wanderer, perhaps the same."[/b]
Ambassador regarded the Guardian for a period of time, before acknowledging her remark and heading out.

Left alone, La'vida looked towards the young creatures. They were beginning to stir, offering tiny sounds that drew on her instincts. It was enough to know they were hungry. Scouting the table, she browsed through a handful of foods she assumed to be meat. The first was a rich reddish brown, preserved through a salting procedure. She tried a nibble first before removing tiny pieces and offering them to the young through the bars. A cream and a periwinkle snatched the pieces, leaving the others to outright reject it. La'vida smiled, features softening.

Ambassador wandered carefully, fingertips running along the thick wood of the ship hull. There were traces of whispers left behind. Old stories. Hard stories. Nonchalantly he moved his hand back to his side, finding the staircase. With a bit of vertigo, he maneuvered up the narrow and steep steps. Each stair held a hollow crackle, announcing his ascension and punctuating its end with a creaking door. Closing it behind him, he caught the gaze of a few different Misu. Lanternlight mixed with a rising moon cast a mix of warm and cold light aboard the ship. After only a few degrees' change in rotation, he spotted a vaguely lunar-reflective white form. Follower. Disregarding the Misu crew other than to keep out of their way, Ambassador made his partially-stumbled walk over. Relief set in when he spotted a darker-colored biped. Kaliska. A familiar face. He came up alongside her, the chill of the air already pulling on the skin of his hands and face.

^ Bump.

Others.

The news spread quickly, given the physical and cultural divide between the North and the South. Speculation fluttered through the Southern court, ideas and theories as the flurry of ash before the lava flow consumed them all, settling in a dusty cloud over every aspect of political and personal life, smothering the color from anything else.

The King was incensed. Why had they come? What did they want? And, perhaps most important of all, did they know? The fact that these outsiders had chosen their initial contact with the North seemed equal parts insult and idiotic to most Southerners. Everyone knew the North teemed with barbarians, heathens, women. By the very act of being seen, they had chosen sides in a blood feud centuries old. But some counselors to the King spoke a more neutral, reasoned path. Perhaps the choice was unwilling. Perhaps the visitors needed only an education in the ways of the strong and glorious South. Perhaps this spoke of ignorance, not malice. The King's own heir, Prince Pavé, advocated the path of exploration and dialogue before the inevitable condemnation, going so far as to oppose the King's opinions loudly, frequently, and publicly.

Outraged and insulted, the King hastily organized an envoy, led by the insolent Prince Pavé. The envoy would be sent without creature comforts, without fanfare, and without sufficient soldiers. The expedition would be punishing, difficult, and humiliating for a person of such status. Yet, the noble and brave Prince would fulfill her duty, bringing enlightenment and unification to the entirety of the Misu people, who would surely love her for her tolerance and silver tongue, and demand she serve as their Empress under a banner uniting North and South.

At least, that's the way Pavé told the tale to any who would listen. Her swagger and confidence, coupled with her battle-stung and glittering armor, created an intimidating and impressive sight. As the company made their way through the expansive and treacherous jungle, Pavé's hubris-laced speeches and tall tales spurred her meager battalion to survival.

Ultimately, an arduous three months after leaving their Southern homelands, Pavé's grouping finally arrived at the palace of Protector Jaimo, half their soldiers' lives already forfeit in the unforgiving jungle. Pavé and her crew wasted no time settling into the Protector's castle for rest, food, and a little bedwarming.

Sunrise. It was a common sight, and it was still something to look forward to. In the latest of days, it wasn't something that was guaranteed. In a pool of outer-village buildings, an offworlder found himself paying off the last of passage. With a heavy heart, he handed the last of the Eagox litter to the informant. He received a grin and a nod in response. Ambassador nodded back, expression solemn. The pups had grown to be a welcome companionship in the absence of his native friend. Local words accompanied vague directing gestures. He followed behind the shorter Misu, heading behind a divider wall and out of the building. A passage through a shared, rustic courtyard took place before Ambassador began to see the more aristocratic style of the inner city. Homes grew larger, pathways began to show cobblestone and shell. Vases and wind charms adorned windows, fences.
And still, faces peered out. People slowed, stopped. Backed away. Ambassador took a deep breath, offering a nod now and again with a smile. Anything to feel a little less... out-standing. He was answered only once before he stood in the presence of gates. Far behind, a small party of locals had formed to observe the stranger. Ambassador knew several of them were afraid; it had only been twenty-four local days since he'd arrived, but so much had happened. The peoples of the land were on edge. It had become more common to see armed citizens. And in that, Ambassador found himself grateful to have been of the first outsiders - Others - to establish a relationship with the Misu. He had built up the beginnings of trust with the peoples. At least the Northern ones. And that had bought him just enough sway to be considered an ally. Whereas the heir to the Castilla legacy had parted ways to serve with her people, he had been sent back away from the northern capitol with the hope that he could sway the southern peoples to help the north. As a non-Misu, he was both expendable and more likely to not be immediately written off as a "hostile Northerner".

Ambassador held his breath as his guide conversed with the guards. He could only pick out pieces, hearing the name "Castilla" as well as his own used. A frown crept across at the hearing of "beste". Other. It was synonymous with his name now. Still, after another set of dialogue and several suspicious glances, the guide returned. A call from the guard summoned the openers, and as the ornate gates opened, Ambassador cast a last look back to the citizens. Their colors were unsaturated. Fear. And then the doors shut behind his lone steps. He knew word of his arrival would reach the inhabitants of the palace before he crossed the extravagant courtyard. And in that time, Ambassador observed. There were no citizens here. No children played in the pools, no elders sat on the carved benches. It was a stark contrast from the palace of Ryilla.

A blanket of oranges and pinks coated the interior courtyard of the Kalixian palace. Each of the seven estates held decorations extolling the virtues and bounties of that region of the North. Being a city on a chain of islands, the chief resource in Kalixo predictably related to fishing and related industries.

Northern architecture chiefly consisted of simple lines and common, earthy materials. The Kalixian palace decidedly broke from these Northern traditions, declaring their burgeoning connection with the South in the very materials they chose. Recently renovated at great expense, the architecture of simple bones remained, but now, glittering mosaics and colorful paintings covered the palace, depicting the veritable zoo of creatures from which the Kalixo citizens made their livelihood.

At the center of this glittering courtyard sat a small fountain of sorts. The creatures who lived within best resembled a cross between tiny sea sponges and jellyfish. The brightly-colored, semi-transparent creatures, most no bigger than a navel orange, darted through the turquoise pool. Similar to jellyfish, the creatures would sting when touched, but this sting was generally mild, and provided a pleasant, tingling sensation. Like the Misu, these creatures could change their color to suit their emotions, and were long considered the unofficial mascot of the people of Kalixo.

There were few common citizens within the walls of the Kalixo palace, but it wasn't devoid of life. A flurry of bedwarmers swarmed the halls in occasional bursts of activity, visible through open archways commonly used in place of windows in more temperate zones. Housing a port and lying on the path between Northern and Southern Misu – between which travel had increased considerably within the last few years – had clearly produced a secondary income source for the historically impoverished residents of Kalixo.

A servant came to greet Ambassador in short order, and notified him that although dinner was long since cleared away, the vestiges of recent arrivals still cluttered the great hall, invested in deep conversation. The servant noted he would be welcome to join them, or retire to quarters, if he chose to stay within the palace walls.

Within the great hall, Pavé sat with only her translator for companionship. Keeping a contingent of bodyguards or soldiers within palace was one of the gravest offenses a Misu leader could make, and implied a lack of trust in their hosts. Still, a woman of Pavé's reputation couldn't be expected to lack protection. It was highly likely that her maidservant and translator and the Prince herself carried at least one weapon, folded in with the ornately patterned drapery that pinned to their bronze-colored frames.

The home, though gaudy by Northern standards, felt positively drab to Pavé's discerning eyes. Traveling North always felt so odd to Pavé. Here, she possessed far less political power, but people treated her with far more respect. Although the journey had surely been a grueling affair, Pavé herself showed no hints of fatigue, which would be another sign of disrespect to her host. She conversed closely with the host himself, Protector Jaimo, a thin man with a jolly face. A recent string of civil unrest aimed towards undermining the power of the historically female Protectors had shaken the villages. Though many suspected Jaimo himself played some role in the demonstrations, no one would dare accuse him outwardly.

Ambassador stood politely once the greeting had passed, listening to the palace informer. He had been left without a translator, and instead relied on the rough idea he had learned to pick up. From gestures mostly, but the recent greeting had given him the opportunity to search for and collect a handful of new words from the servant.

When prompted to make the decision, he opted for the great hall. It was more likely to hold representatives or at least visitors from the Misu civilizations he had sent to establish diplomacy with. With his choice stated, the servant gestured to follow. Taking up step behind, Ambassador began to move. With the way guided, he took the opportunity to observe. The walls around were far from uneven, with displaced bones embraced in color. Yellows blended with pinks and oranges, familiar seashells providing the majority of the source. They followed along a premade path of white shell, exposed flame providing warm light throughout the short corridor. Stepping out, the walls opened and were sent steeply upward. Within a dome-shaped room, natural light revealed dozens of plants. Some were recognizable from the far north, others were far newer. Ambassador minded his person, not willing to chance contact with toxic flora.

At a swift stop, he came to stand in front of a conglomerate of Misu. His servant guide stepped up, greeting first an elaborately dressed male and then introducing Ambassador. The latter waited until prompted for the greeting, and gleaned another token of information from the close contact. A Southerner, though the name of the region was lost. With some nervousness, Ambassador spoke the statement he had been taught. "Kaixo. Hau Beste-Misu bisitatzen baketsuan Ipar pertsonen izenean."
The Misu representative stood, moments of quiet settling in while the words were processed. Finally, a gentle smile broke across the representative's face, and he replied "Misu hau ez dabil Iparraldeko diplomazia aitortzea." With a turn, the man walked towards a pair of like-attired Misu. Ambassador stood, frowning. Already one representative had declined his attempt for building a relationship. Taking in a deep breath, he sighed. It was going to be a long day here...

The servant turned to him again, offered a peculiar half-bow, and began back in the direction of the corridor. Ambassador's gaze followed him for a few steps and then returned to the peoples. He was drawing attention already, with his height and choice of attire. Dark trekking pants with heavy boots contrasted sharply with the light, draping material he had for a shirt. It was a single off-white color, a difference he very quickly realized while observing the more common oranges and reds of the peoples around him. Leader colors. Setting nervousness aside, he sought out any who were set apart from the rest. While most had segregated themselves into twos and threes among the various seating arrangements of the hall, there was one who sat apart. A more simply-dressed woman was her companion, but despite that they interacted with more comfort than the other groupings. Mustering the courage, Ambassador approached. His eyes wandered at first, taking in the sight of a purple-flowered plant swaying in the breezeless air. Coming to stop several paces from the duo, Ambassador settled his gaze on the more elaborately-dressed of the two. Her hair stood upward and wild, something he hadn't seen before. Taking the initiative, he offered the general greeting of "Kaixo."

While other minor representatives commiserated in small groups, Pavé sat at the center, largely alone. The careful dance of diplomacy had intricate social rules, many largely unspoken. The behavior of the other guests made it clear that Pavé was both an outsider and an enemy here in the North, a lion in a den of sheep. Yet beneath the age-old story of xenophobia, there was another facet: they believed this lion had no teeth, posing no real threat.

And, for the moment, they were right. Power is derived largely from the expectations and behavior of others, and to be seen without teeth was to be treated without power. The feeling of impotence wasn't new for Pavé, a female prince in a kingdom ruled by men saw to that. In fact, she relished in this position, using it to her advantage, for what use were teeth to a simple scout? She knew the swell of soldiers who would invade this land like a tidal wave if she made it seem like a good idea; that was a kind of power she could not buy.

A fellow outsider approached her, though more outside than she. Her gaze shifted from his heavy boots through his sunset-colored face. A strange shade to choose; clearly he was not Misu. Though his greeting was short and improper for a person of her stature, she knew enough to allow certain breaches in protocol to slide. “Kaixo beste, hegoaldeko anaien from. Me Prince Pavé dei dezakezu. Zer berri ez ekarri duzu gure atea?” she asked, voice honeyed and overly sweet. She gestured with open arms, once to her translator, and again to the empty seat beside her, allowing him leave to join. “Ez itzulpen behar duzu?” she asked.

A green light, so to speak. Ambassador felt a tightening in his chest - anxiety - mixed with a sense of relief at the sight of a friendly gesture. Of the words he could grasp, the woman was of royalty directly. He had expected diplomats and ambassadors of them, but not the actual individuals. He knew the proper greeting was in order, although it hadn't been offered. Taking in a breath, he instead gave a smile and hoped not to offend.

The murmur of other dialects were kept in check by the ambiance of water features. One such ran along the floor, skirting around the circular sitting area Ambassador stepped forward into. To the female prince's companion, he gave a nod and hint of a smile. She had not been the one to engage conversation, so he left her to be the handmaiden. Sitting in the open space, Ambassador found himself holding down nervousness. Speaking slowly and with care for pronunciation, he stated "Barkatu nire hitzaldian, nire itzultzaile ez da gaur." That was the easy part. Quietness settled while he tried to form his next words. He knew that it would be a dishonor to turn down the offer of translation, and added "Eskerrak eman dut itzulpena eskainiko da. Dagokienez...." He trailed off, drawing a blank on the words. After a moment, a look of remembrance crossed his face. izango da nire ama-hizkuntzan hitz egiten dut."
A quiet sigh of relief. With bands of orange light dropping down onto the glittering Prince, Ambassador thought about how he would go about sharing his intention. He knew little of the Southern Misu, and the bits of information he had learned were through the filter of the Northern people. A misplaced word could land him in hot water, even when meant well. Forming an opening statement, he spoke. "I am honoured to be in the presence of such noble birth, Prince Pavé. I am known as Ambassador, and I am here as a diplomat on behalf of all Misu people." He braced himself, knowing the words might be taken as arrogance. "As you are aware, there have been many strange new Others in the recent days. They come from other planets - stars - and they may pose a threat to your culture." Holding his breath, he looked to the translator and waited.

Pavé may have been royalty of a variety in her home region, but here, she was little more than a well-tolerated Beste. Ironically, the arrival of off-worlders like Ambassador directly correlated with the Northerners' recent willingness to speak and negotiate more openly with representatives and citizens of the South. She could almost thank him, if she trusted him.

Pavé offered a delighted smile as he conversed – or, perhaps, attempted to – in a tongue that wasn't his own. She apparently found him tolerable and gracious enough not to take offense. “We of the Southern Misu would gladly welcome the conversation of one such as yourself,” the handmaiden translated. “Words are scarce to our region, and we appreciate any news you may bring.”

Pavé listened to her translator relay his words, slight smirk crossing her features at the mention of her birth. Slowly, as she listened, a frown crossed her features, settling between her bronze brows. “We ask you how it is you have this knowledge,” the translator relayed, “and what part you play within these stars.”

Ambassador waited politely for the translator's words, watching the subtle movements of her mistress to see how his statements were taken. It started well, though nervousness rose at the last bit. He expected the diplomats to question his origin - expected them to know he wasn't of their species - but that did nothing to soften the experience.

He chose to answer the first statements first. "There is more than one group who has visited this star in recent times. The most recent count is four. Two of them have caused trouble in the North, one has left this star, and one retains neutrality. The last has not caused damage, and is the reason I have arrived." Here he held eye contact with the nobleborn, trying to convey sincerity. "I arrived with the group who have already departed. As you may have known, there was an outpost - a sort of large hut - that was built with the intention to study the peoples here. The ones who built it meant nothing more than that, although misfortune fell on them and their outpost was destroyed. My people came to this star to remove the destroyed outpost so that your peoples could again live free of their influence." A pause here as a pair of other Misu passed by. His eyes followed them briefly, until they passed behind one of many broad-leaf plants. "I became separated from the group due to a marwyrm, and met the Northern Misu. I have chosen not to leave this star because in the time I have spent among your kin, I have seen the beauty of your arts and culture. The other stars I have lived on, they were subjected to invasion by Others who meant ill and won. Many peoples have been destroyed, many cultures lost. I do not wish that to happen to your kind." Ambassador was quiet for a moment, observing. "The role I play here is to educate the peoples of this star about the enemy that is growing power. They are not of anything the Misu have seen before."

Green. It was a simple color, an uncommon color. And it encompassed the planet. At first, the rumor of an unspoiled planet with a rich self-sustaining ecosystem just outside the jurisdiction of any respected government sounded like a trap. Being assigned to it, even more so. And yet there it had stood, viewed through the filtered glass of a nearly-out-of-commission corporate shuttle. Three months had passed since landing. Three uneventful months filled with cataloging. Reporting. And now, it had come time to branch out from the landing site. With atmospheric converters providing breathable air and communication devices connected, a brown-yellow environment suit touched ground.

Birds cried out, scattering into the orangeing sky. Their flights were tracked and recorded. The suit took a second step, then another. Another. A ranged weapon pointed down, unaimed yet prepared for use at a moment's notice. A handful more steps were taken until the figure stopped, prompted by a call over the communicator. "Environment is stable, no apparent parasites. No sight of predators. Proceeding towards report location." A confirmation ping was heard, and Janine began forward into the sunkissed plains. Stubby grasses leaned in towards her with each step, delicate seeds embedding themselves in the heavy material. Scanners sought out traces and footprints, looking for any sign of the indigenous bipeds. Only minutes passed before one was found. An old, it took three scans before the suit's visor confirmed the match. Footprints. The visor highlighted a trail, allowing Janine to report the find back before being authorized to follow it. With a heavy breath, she began westward.

“Yes... I have heard of these events,” she stated after he relayed the story of the destruction of a research outpost. She found their culture highly odd, to accidentally invade and intrude on an unknown civilization, and decide the prudent course of action was to send more men, exerting more influence in their efforts to clean up and erase their own existence. Puzzling and illogical, by Pavé's standards.

Pavé arched her fingers together, listening intently to both his words, and his tone. Body language and nonverbals did not require translation, and in this instance like many others, Ambassador appeared to speak volumes between each word. Regardless of the literal truth of his words, he appeared to believe them, and sometimes that was enough. She and her translator lowered their voices, an attempt at stealth and subtlety, despite their surroundings.

He paused his speech as others passed. He did not trust them, perhaps as much as they did not trust him. And then he spoke a single, powerful word, filled with meaning. “Enemy,” Pavé repeated, obsidian eyes glinting like arrowheads. “You say this group has remained neutral, yes? Do I understand correctly? Why is it you use this word, enemy?” She observed him shrewdly, mind calculating. “Are they your enemy... or ours?”

Still, in her speech and manner, he was beste, he was 'other'.

It seemed days before the environment changed. The sky above took heavy oranges and reds, an omen - perhaps - of the days to come. And as she traveled, Janine cataloged the multiplying native paths. The old one was long since gone, giving way to lighter but fresher ones to follow. As she stepped alongside them, they congregated into places where grasses parted. Until, finally, a fragment of blue caught light. Stopping, Janine stared down at it. After a quick recording of the scene, she stooped to fish it out with a gloved hand. Lifting it revealed a rounded, triangular shape. The rest of the image was lost, broken. What remained held a single depiction of an eye, with squiggles around the head. "Artifact discovered." A few moments passed before a response was given. "Notice received. Is it safe to transport?" Janine confirmed. Another moment, then "Cleared for transport. You are honored."
Janine confirmed again, before popping off a tiny sphere from her armed glove. Setting it against the fragment caused it to expand, enveloping the piece. Turning, Janine tossed it back across the path she had traveled. The sphere arced before taking a rapid straight shot back towards the base. Facing forward again, Janine looked up. Squinting against the light, she observed pink clouds. High above... a flicker of a shape. She frowned, no readings crossing the screen. Around, the calls of birds and creatures had shifted. Now they held more guttural sounds. Night.
A ping acknowledged that the artifact had been received. Looking back to the horizon, a small blue arrow showed across the screen. "Material recorded and analysed. There is a high concentration of this not far from here, in an inorganic formation. The coordinates have already been set. You are honored."
"Confirmed. Setting now." Janine replied. While communications stood by, she pulled the legs of the long-barreled weapon from the stock. Locking them in place, she knelt down and arranged it at an upward angle. Trajectory was calculated, matching the coordinates provided. The firing lock was released, and a bird flew overhead. Janine watched it, long feathers granting it mobility in the air. She paused, then proceeded. Bringing herself down to the firing level, she cocked the machine. A high pitch sounded out, rising rapidly until a blue sphere manifested at the base of the barrel. The instant it turned green, the machine fired.

Grasses blew to the side, vibrations accompanying the blast as the emerald sphere vanished into the horizon in an arc. A sharp blue tail marked its direction. Janine waited. And waited. Until finally, in the absence of birdcall, she heard the boom of impact. Her face broke a smile as a massive green beam spiraled into the sky. "Civilization contained. You are honored." And with the machine returning to its compact state, Janine got to her feet.

Ambassador took a quiet expression. Her questions were well-placed, and he knew he hadn't chosen the best of words. Still, he continued to watch his company. Here in this time, he needed what allies he could find. It was a promising sign that she was listening, engaging. Recognizing him at all as a proper informant. "The enemy is the Others who retain their outpost. These are the Others who have started the fires that plague the North now. The Others who have come to remove their outpost - the ones I arrived with - do not wish to cause the peoples here any damage. These Others are not the enemy." he clarified. With an anxious breath, he continued. "The ones who remain, who have no intention of leaving, would wish to destroy the cultures of the Misu who live here. Regardless of North of South." Ambassador shifted, leaning forward just enough to emphasize his words. "They are the enemy of us both. The Others who came here to study, to learn, to honor your people.. they are known as the Society of Lunar Exploration. They travel across stars, learning and teaching to and about Others just the same as your elders teach your children." He hoped his assumption of their culture was correct, at least. "Not out of malice or a desire to control the things they have seen, but to help your children understand the world they live in. But the Others, the other Others, are known by another name. This I do not know; they change it, to conceal their identity. But their actions remain the same. They would take your people from here, take pieces of your culture and arts, to be sold on other stars. It is against all the Society of Lunar Exploration represents, and for me to associated with the latter makes me an enemy-" he cut off, correcting himself, "- A threat to the Others who mean this world harm. The methods and tools these people use are well-known across the stars I have lived on. We have had time to find ways to disrupt...." He trailed off, a green light cast across the room. Ambassador looked to the side, the murmur of diplomacy falling quiet. And then a rumbling took the floor. Looking up revealed the sky to be a sickly green color. Ambassador stared until the color broke apart, a massive tunnel driving upward. His gaze dropped back down to Pavé.