$W 26th $W January $W 2368
$W 41 $W days $W after $W the $W Great $W Exodus

$W Hangarbay $W Recreation $W Room 
$W ORD $W Ironclad

$b Harper: Clayton, Hunter, von Braun, Lambert, Al-Massani... 

$G Spark: O'Dallie, Cheng, Rosie... 

$Y Wingman $Y Andrew $Y “Fives” $Y McFadden: How the hell you all doin', folks?

$G Spark: Fives, are you drunk?

$Y Fives: A little, but not enough. Are you counting our dead instead of celebrating? C'mon, people! We won! We fucking won! We destroyed the Tyrant and cut off the whole fucking Shivan armada! The war is over! The Exodus Fleet is safe!

$b Harper: Calm down, you asshole. The fact we cut those bastards off doesn't mean we're safe. The Shivans will be back someday, even if it's not today.

$G Spark: Forward elements of the Roaming fleet are scouting the Andromeda cluster. No sign of the Shivans so far, only more wrecks of the Ancients and desolated planets. It's a graveyard... but it's free of Shivans.

$Y Fives: You see, boss? Even Spark thinks it's fine. Can you even chill out from time to time?

$b Harper: I can, but not now. It's high time we counted our losses. Make a tribute to all who died to ensure our survival. They died for the Syndicate. They didn't die for Europa...but they died for the Exodus Fleet. And there are a lot of them.

$Y Fives: Okay, I'm sorry. I understand. I shouldn't get cocky this soon.

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: In fact, you should never be too cocky, Wingman McFadden. 

$G Spark: Fleetmaster Tyrone! It's...an honor to have you here, sir! 

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Squadmaster Harper, Wingmaster Gibson, Wingmen Nielsen, McFadden, Dyer, Nishimura... Excellent. You are almost complete. As you were. I suppose you all know exactly why I am here.

$G Spark: We've seen the Mastermind. We're the ones who've operated the closest to it and we've seen the most.

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: You are aware of the Mastermind's existence. You know about its power. You also know this thing is in fact an intelligent being. You know about Rossendarch's fleet. You Direwolves were present in every theater of engagement since the Exodus began and you know every major secret of the Fleet. 

$b Harper: What's your point, Fleetmaster? That you'll throw us out the airlock because we know too much? That would be a nice end to our story. 

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Don't tempt me. It's very simple for now. Keep your mouths shut. The secrets you know are extremely dangerous, for both you and the people around you. There are people in the fleet who would kill to know what you know. But there are people you can trust. You can trust me, High Magistrate Al-Zardari and Fleetmaster Raji. You can trust officers like Shipmaster Wisniowiecki and Shipmaster Hartwick. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you can trust Shipmaster Le Brunon as well. 

$G Spark: Understood, Fleetmaster. That's how the military works. We will follow your orders no matter what happens. 

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: That's appreciated, Wingmaster Gibson. I put my trust in you, Direwolves. Don't make me regret it. And...thank you for the escort. You are truly the elite among all pilots onboard the Ironclad. Please excuse me. I have a great deal to do.

$G Spark: Where are you going, Fleetmaster?

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: I have to meet with Fleetmaster Raji onboard Anjaneya. The subject is classified.

$b Harper: Is that the most pleasant type of “classified,” sir? 

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Do you really want me to change my mind about not throwing you out the airlock, squadmaster? 

$G Spark: Good luck then, sir. It's been a pleasure. Ad astra per aspera.

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Ad astra per aspera, ladies and gentlemen. Rest for a day or two, then report back to your tactical arbiter. There are lots of secrets in the Andromeda cluster waiting to be uncovered. 

$Y Fives: Fleetmaster! Wait!

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: What is it, McFadden?

$Y Fives: What's the Sanctuary?

$b Harper: Fives! Shut your mouth now!

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Calm down, squadmaster. You already know a great deal.... Sanctuary is our destination.

$Y Fives: But what exactly it is?

$B Fleetmaster $B Tyrone: Something that's far beyond your understanding and mine alike....
