Admiral Walter Wedge enters the bridge of his destroyer class airship, The Impaler, flanked on either side by his right hand officer and a trusted ally. The Admiral is a large, strongly built Xirian man with dark brown skin, a full beard and piercing brown eyes. He cuts an impressive figure in his long, blue officer's coat and slacks; His boots, as always have been shined to perfection. A blue turban covers his head and a scimitar, with a ruby-encrusted hilt, rests at his hip.

His officer Inan Faraj, and friend, Taka Aydinarill are as different as night and day. Major Faraj is a slender, Xirian man with a shaved head and scar across his wide nose. Taka on the other hand is an Arti'vali, that is to say one of the "Cat Elves" of Stryden as they are colloquially known. She is lithe in figure with raven hair and pale skin. Her face possesses faint, feline properties and her ears are sleek and triangular.

Unlike the two men, Taka does not wear a fleet uniform. She is garbed in a black kimono held together by a red sash in the middle. A short, curved Khanese blade known as a wakizashi sits at her hip. The three of them approach the ship's controls. "You were wise to send for me Walter." She says. Major Faraj scowls, "That is Admiral to you!." He scolds.

"I am not an Airman." She reminds him simply. "Right," He says "You're from the Tower." His tone of voice reveals just what he thinks about the fabled Assassin's Guild. "Major, Taka is my friend of many years. She has saved my life- and yours." Walter's deep voice is resolute but gentle. Faraj nods and lowers his head.

"Our mission, I'll remind you is to hunt a member of the Tower. Kurosai Anatsu. It will behoove us to have Taka at our side." Taka smiles flashing her tiny fangs, pleased by the Admiral's recognition. Faraj says, "Yes Admiral." Walter pauses with a sigh. Once again he finds his attention divided between the task at hand and the latest news concerning a disturbance in Berusa, far to the north.

"Major, Taka- please leave me. I must attend to something." The two of them comply and after each giving gestures of respect- Faraj salutes, and Taka Bows- they depart leaving Walter alone. "Soundscape- contact Persephone." He commands after a few moments in contemplative silence. A metallic voice from the command center speaker says "Contacting... Persephone." There is several seconds of static and then a voice can be heard via the speakers on the ship's controls.

"Hello Father." The voice is deep like his own and tinged with a playful edge. "Hello Percival." Wedge replies. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Percival asks, putting an ironic emphasis on the word pleasure. "I only wished to speak with my dear son," The Admiral replies and then adds, "Who never calls."

On the other side of the device Percival snorts, "Please, you know you heard about what happened in Highbridge and called to scold me." Walter silently grits his teeth at the boy's impudence, and at being called out so directly. "Admiral Wedge! Hi Admiral Wedge! It's me, Aphrodite! We made a pillow fort!" A girl's voice, her Dhass is spoken in a bright, Posh, manner- the mark of Khalish aristocracy.

"Hello Aphrodite," He greets her. Gods... If Viscount Athantus ever found out about his daughter's exploits- or about Walter's role in introducing her to his Son... Another voice says, "Aphrodite! Stop hogging all the Absinthe you hoe!" Aphrodite gasps. "Captain! Anemone's being mean to me!" Walter shakes his head, the Stheno girl is there of course. The K'satya- Hero caste of Titania are indeed a force to be reckoned with. Any one of them is said to possess the strength of ten men.

"I'm not here to scold you." Says Walter. "But I am here to caution you. You're making enemies, Son." Percival's laughs, "That sounds like scolding to me. Of course I'm making enemies. We're fucking powerful and that terrifies these shepherds and their flocks of inbred sheep." Does this boy's arrogance know no bounds? "Just remember, Berusa is part of the AUF- as is Xire. If you make too much of a nuisance of yourself you could become internationally wanted."

After a few seconds of silence, Percival replies, "Are you going to arrest me, Admiral Wedge?" Walter Growls, "Boy I ought to-" Then catching himself he changes course. "No Percival, but you don't want to make an enemy of Xire, and It would be wise to stay off of... their radar." Percival's answering laughter is joyless, "Well, they'd have to acknowledge me first, wouldn’t they?"

Walter sighs, that boy can travel from insufferable and jovial- to sullen in an instant. Just like his Mother. There is a sudden audio commotion followed by an "-oof!" and another female voice says, "Percival! Stop being a brat to your father and pay attention to me!" This girl’s Dhass is fluent but she speaks with a distinctly far-northern Gamroth accent, Endyllish by the sound of it. "V! Get off of him- you're going to crush him!" Aphrodite protests. "With rock hard abs like this? Please, what are you- aahhhh don't pull my hair you psycho!"

The commotion abruptly ceases as the transmission ends, and Walter stands alone in stunned silence. The Admiral lets out a deep laugh in spite of himself. The Crystal Pirates... They are wanted and feared throughout the Northern Continent. Their crimes include extortion, arms trafficking, robbery, and even murder. They also fly around in that damned impossible airship daring anyone to stop them- but at the end of the day, they truly are just kids fucking with everyone.