Considerable time has passed since the earlier probing of the "boomer". Since then, various "non-invasive" studies have been done, with various ways of trying to measure the boomer's activity – or, rather, inactivity – in the realm of magic without danger of setting it off. So far, it hasn't been set off (obviously), but very little progress has been made, and that not really being any practical progress at all.

In the meantime, more guards have arrived at the sky island, and many fortifications have been built. Over time, the sky island has become roughly equivalent to a flying fortress. And then the odd airships started arriving that did not have Imperial flags. Today, the flags and sails flying over the sky island include those of Babel, Titania (?!), Jadai, and numerous vessels that fly the golden or silver serpent along with, of all things, variations on the 'skull and crossbones' – mercenary ships?

For the most part, Qing has been kept buried in rituals and experiments, and pretty much kept in the dark as to what might be transpiring in the world beyond. But he hasn't been given any further assignments today, curiously enough, and nobody bothered to come wake him in the morning. It seems that the camp is abuzz, and something important must be going on.

Having had time to gather his wits together after having them scattered by the experiment that seemed ages ago, the current lack of progress has rendered Qing sullen and irritable, as icy as he was when he arrived. However, there's an underlying agitation to him now… a tenseness than makes his throat tighten every time he looks up at the ever-increasing number of flags, warships, and troops arriving. He tends not to talk about much except for things about "his missive" and vague mutterings about things "being out of control".

A few Titanians lumber about, laughing loudly, and occasionally hitting each other with big meaty fists. One of them takes it a bit personally, though, and the friendly back-clapping soon turns into a full-blown scuffle. The far more conservative Nagas look on distastefully, but the guards keep their distance, not interfering with the immature and violent display.

Several Naga mages can be seen disembarking from airships. Their robes identify them as being of many spheres: Mind, Dream, Spirit, Chaos. A number of Eeee mages can be seen as well, most of them having robes of blue or red – Air and Fire.

A garter snake weaves his way across the grounds, heading toward Qing. "Mage Qing! Mage Qing! The Great Serpent tightens his coils about the globe! We may be attacked!"

The Rokuga witchdoctor slithers amongst his comrades, looking on the outsiders with great distaste. He doesn't look much relieved when the garter arrives, and he only inclines his head slightly to glance at the smaller snake out of the corner of one of his ruby eyes. "I suppose it shouldn't come as a surprise, given the garrison we've received. Titanian, Eeee… just what is going on, Undercoil? Why the alliances? Has this escalated into full-blown conflict, simply over the Device?"

Undercoil flicks his tongue disapprovingly in the direction of the brawling Titanians, who are now laughing loudly as they punch each other silly. Then, he looks back to Qing and hisses, "The Temple has given us an ultimatum to surrender the device. The Emperor-Potentate has refused to be cowed, and has refused to be ordered about by the Rephidimites. Many have rallied to our side, to defy the so-called 'authority' of Rephidim. The High Princess of Babel has pledged her allegiance to our cause … " He glances back at the barbarians. "We also have many of the barbarians, simply because their enemies, the Chronotopians, have sided with Rephidim."

"In similar fashion," adds Undercoil, "we have some Sylvanian counts assisting us, because Gallis sided with Rephidim. But we have heard that there are some splits in these alliances. To better identify friend from foe, our allies fly the flags of the Great Serpent."

The witchdoctor's eyeridges crease slightly, and he flicks his tongue slowly. "Has there been word from the Emperor? What of my report? We may be wasting resources for nothing. I see many mages here, and their lives are not so cheap. It is not a simple matter to train them."

Undercoil looks at Qing. "This is not a matter of the device. Does Babel care to defend our right to hold such a weapon? Surely not. This is a matter of the Temple abusing its self-appointed authority, and impinging upon the autonomy and glory of the Nagai Empire, and the rest of the peoples of Sinai. It is not the Temple's place to dictate to us what we may do with our own affairs. This is a matter of principle."

"Bah. Let them wield their mock authority," hisses Qing, crossing all three pairs of his arms. The three blue wisps hovering around him circle faster for a moment, then slow down again. "The Device's potential is wasted as a weapon, and that is what they, and everyone else, are concerned with. If we could secure our own gate through use of it, and plant it on our soil, not even mighty Rephidim would challenge us in our own dominion for something of, at least on the surface, civil value."

Undercoil nods. "I have heard that the intent of the Emperor-Potentate does not wish to use the weapon until all methods to determine how it works have been exhausted … or until we acquire another sample."

Another mage, this one in robes of yellow, hisses, "The word is that we shall be attacked this evening, some time after sundown. We are presently skirting the edge of Kilmanjar, so they shall surely be coming from the south, since the north approach would be suicidal."

Qing nods. "As well it should be. If the Emperor assured Rephidim use of the Device would be scientific, perhaps they'd stand down, and we could move it someplace more secure." He turns his attention away from Undercoil toward the newcomer, and his head lowers slightly. "… But perhaps we are too late. This has gone out of control. What are our military commanders planning to do about this, Bekins?"

"We are to meet them," answers the seer snake, his purple-enameled scales clashing with his golden robes, "and demonstrate the unity of Sinai against them. The mages are to be kept in the back, on the north side. Should the battle go against us, or should the enemy make a direct attack against our mages, we are to be ferried away immediately." He then pauses, and lowers his head a bit. "We are expecting to lose this battle. The Emperor-Potentate plans to allow the 'boomer' to fall into the hands of the Temple."

"WHAT?!?" hisses Undercoil incredulously. A few of the other mages, previously occupied with their own concerns and whispers, show similar expressions, not knowing if they have heard properly.

The Rokuga's eyeridges flatten out. "A decoy?"

The seer shakes his head solemnly. "No. This battle is not about the device. It is about the Temple and its place in the order of things on Sinai. If the Temple wished to protect the City of Hands, it has already sounded its death knell by destroying Safar. For a long time, it has been little secret that the City depended on goods smuggled through that decrepit hive of scum and criminal activity."

Qing unfolds his arms from top to bottom, clenching his fists. "We're going to surrender Fetiss Sky Island, and an artifact of priceless value, for the sake of a political point? A position and a weapon that could potentially be used against us? To disastrous effect, should we even try to assault the City?"

"We surrender it not for a political point," hisses the seer. "We surrender it so that our enemies may destroy themselves."

"… How so?" asks Qing, after a brief pause.

"That," hisses the seer, "is not for us to know at this time. The Emperor-Potentate has his purpose. I trust in his wisdom."

Qing's throat works for a moment, brought short by the line of reasoning. "But… what of my missive to him? Is he aware that the device does not destroy? That it in fact transports?"

The seer's mouth draws back in a curious expression. "Do you think the 'boomer' is sabotaged? That will be what our enemies first suspect. I trust that the Emperor's intent is considerably more sophisticated than that."

Qing shakes his head, reaching out to grip Bekins' shoulders with his top pair of hands. "No, that is its purpose! There is a device within it that transports things to other worlds. The 'boomer' as a whole simply transports things on a mind-boggling scale. Hasn't anyone read my research?"

Bekins frowns at Qing. "Kindly unhand me, Mage Qing. This is uncalled for."

The Rokuga stares for a moment, then snatches his arms back, folding them under his mantle and looking away. "He may not even know yet. I have no way of knowing if my message has reached the Emperor. The device could very well send an entire brigade of Rephidimite troops to another world, and Gateway is proof they could return with superior arms and technology."

"What does it matter?" hisses the purple-scaled Naga. "Let them do that, if that is how they use the 'boomer'. All the weapons of a thousand worlds will not help them, if all the worlds are against them."

Qing's face tightens. "How do we know that? There are things out there beyond our comprehension, beyond our imagining, and the boomer is but one of them. This act may well be turning Rephidim into the superpower it only thought it was before. A gate of worlds could be ours. It could advance the Empire immeasurably."

"Then," hisses Bekins, "you are welcome to stay and fight to the death against the Rephidimites to defend the 'boomer' against their advance. They shall be coming, and our time to prepare draws short. I shall go now and begin my rituals." The seer gives Qing a severe scowl, as his lower body begins to uncoil from the spot.

"It is not as though we are given much choice," Qing hisses coldly. He adjusts his spectacles, and turns away.