>>5212975“By pulling out all the stops.” You reply, placing a finger to your ear. “Everyone up to speed so far?”
A chorus of affirmation echoes from the swarmling nestled in your ear canal before you continue. "Alright—this’ll be a team effort. We only have one chance, ne opportunity to make it work and make the most of the brief minute or so if or when the phone call connects before it's lost forever. Leviathan, Gina, and those with Doctorates, I'm gonna need you to come up with ideas on how to make and arrange our Fragments, Forge cores, and Sparagmos Engine in a way that min-maxes our chance of pulling off a cosmic phone call with the strongest wi-fi connection. If you need to explain, adhere to the K.I.S.S. Rule—Keep It Short and Simple."
“Got it, babe.” Gina affirms, and through the Crimson Cord you can feel the gears of her mind turning as she takes command of the task at hand.
“I’ll get on the Sparagmos Engine.” Jeraha clips.
"On that note…Ziz, Amara? Can you and the Skintalkers make a call to Charon, Themis, and Veilen in Laoc?” You ask, and you’re treated to a three-wing salute from the enormous avian behind you. “We need their help as well when it comes to Crucible tech. They made the Sparagmos engines, their help would be appreciated.”
“What about me ‘an the big guy?” Rath asks, and you appreciate her follow-through with behemoth more than you can express. “What can we do to help?”
“By building the structures needed to make this work and help get the Sparagmos engine to this place via Terraforming boost. Can you do it?"
“Of COURSE we can.” Behemoth rumbles proudly. “There is NOTHING on the land that is BEYOND my REACH.”
"And before we set off and make this happen...Ziz, Leviathan, Behemoth.” You say, turning to each of the siblings in turn. “I want the three of you to THINK about what you want to say to your father. As much as it pains the three of you and even though you have a mountain of words you'd like to say, I'd like you to keep your messages short and simple.”
“Do you HEAR her, LEVIATHAN?” Behemoth growls, and Levy gives you a pointed look.
“I’LL GET MY ANSWERS BY MERELY BEING PRESENT.” They say curtly. “IF ANYTHING, ZIZ SHOULD BE THE ONE TO ADDRESS FATHER FIRST.”
“…Agreed.” Behemoth says, his solemn tone and agreeableness taking both you and Ziz aback, though unlike her, you try and hide your surprise.
“M-Me? Why?” The aerial titan stammers.
“HE WAS ALWAYS MORE OPEN WITH YOU. IF WE WANT ANSWERS, IT ONLY STANDS TO REASON THAT YOU SHOULD BE THE ONE TO OPEN THE DIALOGUE.” Comes Leviathan’s calculatingly clinical answer.
“Well, th-then…Behemoth, would you be open to going aft-?”
“WHY are we talking as though we’ll only have a SECOND or TWO to speak with him?” Behemoth interrupts with another eyeless glare thrown your way. “Are we SURE this CONNECTION will even WORK?!”
(Continued)
