Elysium was a planet that never slept. As soon as Rhys and Silas set foot on its bustling streets, they were swept into a sea of activity. Mercenaries and pilots haggled over contracts, merchants shouted out their wares, and every corner was filled with the hum of people going about their business. It was a place where opportunity and danger walked hand in hand.

Silas Fier, with his imposing frame and steady gaze, maneuvered through the crowded market with purpose. He knew exactly where he needed to go. The contact he had mentioned to Rhys was not just a friend but a vital link in their mission against the Vexari threat. Silas found a small, out-of-the-way bar that catered to travelers and off-duty pilots. Its crowded floor and the low murmur of conversation provided the perfect cover for his real objective: a secure terminal hidden in the back room.

As Silas stepped inside, his eyes scanned the room, searching for any sign of trouble. It was then that he noticed her—a figure exuding an air of elegance amidst the haze of smoke and chatter. A woman sat alone at a corner table, her posture poised and her gaze focused, as if lost in thought. Silas approached her cautiously, unsure of what to expect but drawn in by her captivating presence. Whoever she was, he was certain that she didn’t belong here.

"Silas?" Anna's voice was smooth and melodic, cutting through the din of the bar. Her eyes, a mesmerizing blue-green hue, held a curious glint as she assessed him with a hint of amusement.

Silas nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hello, Anna. I didn’t know you’d be here."

"Nobody told me you’d be here either. It's good to see you! Come on, she’s waiting." Anna replied with a graceful nod, rising from her seat to join him. She gestured for Silas to continue and fell into step beside him as they made their way to the back room, her movements fluid and purposeful. Her hair was long, wavy, and a light blonde color, cascading down her shoulders and back. She was nearly as tall as Silas, which made her a couple of inches taller than Rhys. Whoever she was, she looked like she knew more than they did.

The crew slipped inside, Silas nodding to the barkeep who seemed to know better than to ask questions. The back room was empty save for the terminal and a single chair. Silas took a seat and activated the terminal, inputting a series of encrypted codes. The screen flickered to life, displaying the emblem of the imperial family.

The back room was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the bustling market outside. The hum of conversation and clinking glasses from the bar barely penetrated the thick walls, leaving the space feeling almost insulated from the world. Silas, Rhys, and Anna gathered around a secure terminal, its screen flickering to life as Silas input a series of encrypted codes. The anticipation in the room was palpable, a mix of curiosity and trepidation hanging in the air.

When the screen finally stabilized, the regal image of Princess Auralia appeared. Her youthful face, light blue eyes, and platinum blonde hair were immediately recognizable to any human who didn’t live under an especially large rock. She wore white and green armor with gold accents, and a cape draped gracefully over her shoulders, exuding both authority and elegance.

"Your Highness," Silas greeted with a respectful bow of his head. Rhys felt his chest tighten. This was Silas’s contact?

"Silas," the princess acknowledged, her voice calm and authoritative. "I see you arrived safely this time. Captain Redfield, it is a pleasure to finally put a face to a name."

Rhys's breath caught in his throat. The princess knew his name? He felt his pulse quicken and his hands involuntarily shook. He quickly clenched them into fists, willing himself to stay composed. "Your Highness," he managed to say, inclining his head slightly. "How may I be of service?"

Princess Auralia's gaze was composed, almost serene. “I will hear your report now, I think.”

Silas spoke first, fiddling with the controls to upload the information from his recovered data chip as he did so. "The situation is more critical than we thought. The Vexari are organizing raiders not just to weaken the fringe systems; they are after something. Whatever it is, it’s likely something powerful. Something that they need in order to escalate their attacks.We need to find out what they’re after and what they’re planning."

Anna, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. Her large, almond-shaped blue-green eyes flashing with reflected light. "I've just returned from Astraea, ma’am. It’s outside imperial space, but the Vexari have been searching for artifacts through the entire system. I believe their efforts there may be linked to what they're after. There are rumors, none of them substantiated, that there may be a link to an ancient precursor weapon buried there. Some sort of clue to its location."

Rhys felt a weight in his pocket and pulled out the small, dark cube he had kept since Chatham Station. "Something like this?"

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There was a stunned silence.

“Where,” Anna began, “did you get this?”

“I bought it from a man who said he got it on Astraea. He practically gave it away. I had it checked out and it’s ancient, but it still works.” Said Rhys, holding it out for Anna to take. She took it gingerly, turning it over and over in her hands.

“This is an ancient star map.” She said, leaving no room in her tone for debate. “They’re extremely rare. One like this isn’t even supposed to exist anymore. We would need a reader for it. I can’t believe it still works. After all this time.” She continued to regard it with barely concealed wonder, but after a few moments, she turned to the display screen and gave a single curt nod.

Princess Auralia's expression grew more intense. "Mister Fier, that artifact may hold the secret to the Vexari's plans. We need to uncover its mysteries immediately. Captain Redfield, how soon can you make it to Astraea?"

Rhys's mind raced. This was taking a stranger turn than he had imagined. "It should only take a few days but…why me, Your Highness? Why not the regular military?"

Auralia's gaze softened slightly, her voice taking on a more personal tone. "The military is, in a way, compromised and burdened by bureaucracy. There are many who believe that the Vexari have been vanquished, never to rise again. I do not believe that this is true. For now, I am forced to use my own resources, such as they are, to work behind the scenes. Silas is an example of an operative that I have to call on, Anna is another, but now I need you. You have shown capability and initiative. Without your help, it’s possible we won't be able to meet this threat in time. The speed and discretion that you and your team can provide will be vital to the success of the mission. A mission that could save millions of lives. The truth is, Captain, that the mission falls to you because there is no one else.”

Silas leaned in, his eyes fixed on the princess. "What exactly are our orders, Highness?"

Princess Auralia's expression was grave. "I need you to protect that cube and uncover its secrets. It may hold the key to thwarting the Vexari's plans. Find a way to read that map by any means necessary. To ensure your cooperation, the empire is prepared to offer you significant incentives."

Rhys raised an eyebrow. "Incentives?" He said, momentarily forgetting himself.

"Letters of Marque, Captain," Auralia said, manipulating something in her hands that Rhys could not see. Her tone was stern and official. Though she was quite young, her voice carried the weight of righteous authority. "I will grant you a temporary one to ensure your safe passage for now. If you succeed, you have my word that I will make it permanent. You and your descendents shall have the rights, in perpetuity, to a writ of safe passage from the crown. You will call no man master, and sail as you wish across the sea of stars." She let the words linger for a moment. “Forever.”

Rhys stood still as a statue, his mouth had gone bone dry. This changed everything. A Letter of Marque was among the rarest of privileges in the entire galaxy, offering unparalleled freedom. Even aliens would respect it. He could keep it for as long as his family lived, or sell it for a fortune beyond his wildest dreams.

"And for you," the princess continued, "Silas, I offer you patronage, land and resource rights on a frontier world. I will personally provide you the resources and protection for you to found your own colony up to, say, " she thought a moment. “One thousand souls.”

Silas seemed momentarily stunned by the offer. Rhys could see the weight of their decisions pressing down on them all. It was Silas who spoke then, for both of them. “We accept these terms, Your Highness.”

Princess Auralia's expression softened into a small smile of relief. "Thank you, Silas. Anna will accompany you to lend her expertise and be my eyes on the ground. I expect regular reports. The empire is in your debt. Good luck, all of you."

As the transmission ended, the room was filled with a charged silence. Rhys turned to his crew, feeling a newfound sense of purpose.

"You heard her," he said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Let’s get to work."

The group left the bar, stepping back into the bustling streets of Elysium. The cacophony of the marketplace seemed distant compared to the gravity of their new mission.

Rhys looked down at her, feeling a protective instinct surge within him. "We’ve faced tough odds already, Tally. We can handle this. Besides, we have each other."

Silas joined them, his expression thoughtful. "This could change everything."

Rhys nodded, feeling the weight of their combined hopes and dreams. "Then we give it everything we’ve got. Together."

They walked the rest of the way back to the ship in thoughtful silence, each lost in their own thoughts. As they approached the Kestrel, Rhys felt a sense of anticipation building within him. While they were gone, the clearance for the Letter of Marque had come through and Rex was nearly beside himself with questions and excitement. Rhys fetched Tally from her rack in the crew living quarters and, after a fashion, the crew gathered in the common area, the familiar hum of the engines warming up providing a comforting backdrop. Rhys took a deep breath and addressed the crew.

"We have a hell of a job ahead of us," he began. "None of us chose this path, but I believe in each and every one of you. All of you bring something unique to this crew – your skills, your courage, your loyalty. We’ll find a way to read this map. We’ll stop the Vexari, and protect the empire, because no one else can. Are you all with me?" The crew nodded, their expressions resolute. Rhys felt remarkably like he was going to throw up.

Minutes later, the Kestrel lifted off from Elysium, soaring into the vastness of space. Rhys sat in the captain's chair, feeling a mixture of excitement and dread. This was their moment, and he was determined to make it count.