"I jotted down a list of the most sensitive bases in the Rogue Empire." Maurr said. Vasquez looked at him puzzled, Maurr was using the term Rogue instead of Rasharr. "We decided to use the Earthener term Rogue for the Admiral and his GHOULs. We agreed it fits best to those blackguards." Maurr explained. "Now we call ourselves Rasharr Democratic Republic," said Puhrr, "although I can't understand what a republic might be. Yet if it's like on the Earth where the boss is always elected within the same groups of power, that's fine for me." "Perfect definition of a mature democracy!" JS grinned nipping Lee's protests in the bud. "Maurr's government's recognition is a big problem." Eve stressed "The EA will hasten to recognize them, I presume." S-Malek said. "That's exactly what shouldn't happen!" JS replied. "Why?" asked Lee. "If the EA is the first government to recognize Maurr's, it will be good game for the Rogues to say Maurr is a traitor and the Earth's lackey. No, we must have the first official recognition from the Grays, then others will follow, the small states and the EA." "From the Grays?" Maurr exclaimed, "and how the hell do we make it?" "I'm thinking about it, but the Grays must be the first. Not only they must recognize you first, but they must allow our ships to pass through their space. In the Grays' space we'll create our sanctuaries we attack the Rogues from and our pipelines we carry supplies through to Pie. This way we'll keep secret Pie's coords and our forces will get respite, to regroup and resupply." "How are you going to twist the Grays' collective arm?" asked S-Nikki. "They seem a tough nut to crack." "Everyone has a price, even the Grays, I've only to find what's theirs." Eve, however, thought JS had a very clear idea of what might lure the Grays since he was spending his time badgering Vickie and the other ships with his questions. "Eve, we need you." JS said. "Girls, if we connect through the sword, are you able to record the starry melody from our minds?" "Yes, we can, I reckon." Blaze said. "Iskra, what do you say?" Vickie asked. "The request is unusual," Iskra mumbled. There was a murmuring. Quantum frequencies that neither JS nor Eve could understand. Eventually it came Iskra's verdict: "Dart and me, we think we can make it. We can hear the melody in your minds, so recording it on a physical medium is feasible. We'll also make the box you're asking for by encapsulating the said melody." "Compared to the original the outcome will be a bit flat," Etta added. "The Grays don't know that," JS grinned. "We'll offer them the sound of the stars' souls, how can they resist?" Inside Vickie's core JS and Eve connected with the stars through the sword. Eve performed one of her ballads entrancing the air like swelling sails beneath the firmament. The stars played a welcome song, but it was Pie's sun that sang a beautiful solo of solar flares. "At last a good jam session." she burst. "You're recording, Vickie, aren't you?" JS asked. "Jay Sea, the one who binds with gifts, what gift do you want in return?" the star's music gushed like a coronal ejection. Eve warbled their plan. "Ah, the Grays, always seeking the soul that cannot be seen! This will be a humorous opera buffa and you'll write the libretto, JS!" now the music was like a triumphal march. "Wilco, my star!" The Gray flying saucer approached them, their gun hatches open. "We have a gift for the Grand Council." JS said. In the Gray Capital the Grand Council met in full. JS showed the pyx with the alabastron inside. "Most potent ones, the stars' souls' precious song is in this vessel. It's a present for you." JS just lifted the stopper and the music coruscated through the hall from sensuous vibrations to pure intellectual harmonies. "Stop! Close it! the soul might escape!" cried a Gray queen. Then a very old queen said: "It's a gift we cannot refuse. It binds us, what do you want in return?" -- Thanks!