Martinez removed the drive Astra was on from the port in the terminal at the bottom of the small facility.

"What is this place even meant to be?"

"A relay node for the Siren Quantum Network. It allows us to communicate with each other seamlessly over any distance, but you need relays like these to make sure the signal doesn't become indistinct."

Martinez nodded. "So I'm assuming you used this to steal the data from elsewhere?"

"In essence."

Martinez wanted to know more, but it was quite cold and he felt like being done as fast as he could be so he could get back aboard Friedrich's bridge.

"Got everything?" He asked.

"Yes."

He ejected the drive from the port and made for the exit to the small outpost.

Once he made it back to the small harbor, one of the stranded Kansen stopped him. She had short grey hair and sported advanced looking metal gauntlets.

He tried to remember her name, and managed to recall it.

"Reno, right?"

"Yes, sir… I wanted to let you know about something."

"And that is?"

"How we got stranded here… there was a fleet of sirens, led by one that the radar tagged as "unknown…" and whenever she almost caught up with us, there were these big flashes of light. One of them hit Ingraham, and knocked her out."

"So you're saying I should be aware of this individual as we abscond from the area?"

"Yes."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He climbed back aboard Helena's ship after seeing the stranded kansen aboard safely.

"Drop us off over at Shangri-La's ship. And let Friedrich know that we will be keeping out of her way."

"Why?" Helena asked.

"She told me a few of her stories, and if she's to be believed, we're best off watching her work from a distance."

"U...Understood, sir. I'll keep watching out with the help of the other me."

"Good."

Eventually they arrived and boarded the carrier at the core of the fleet, where Martinez ascended to the Bridge. It, as he had grown previously accustomed to, was full of books and paper.

"Heh… how do you keep all of this organized?"

Shangri-La was in the captain's chair, writing into one of her journals.

"Oh, it's come to me naturally. Somehow, I can tell what I've written in a book just by resting my hand on the cover."

"Interesting… feels like I learn something new about you kansen every day."

Shangri-La smiled, and they set off.

V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V

"Odysseus is on the move, my liege."

"Interesting. Initiate the plan. If we do not kill him, he will still be wounded today."

XIX Laughed, manically. "Today, shall be your downfall, Odysseus!"