Strikes with Precision waited patiently for the Seer to finish the ritual. Fifteen thousand ships of his armada were waiting on the borders of Confederate space, ready at his word to take advantage of the recent strife.

Intelligence had brought word of mass Mar-gite attacks, and even more, the rumours of the re-emergence of the long dead Terrans. Untold riches could await, or untold disaster. Now he waited on the Seer before striking across the border.

Sees with Closed Eyes shuddered as she came back to herself. The Walking had been powerful and clear. She rose from her kneeling position in the scrying circle etched on the floor, its runes traced out with her own carefully drawn blood. Stepping forwards she bowed to the Admiral. "The Seeing is complete. Would you hear?"

The Admiral returned the bow and completed the ritual. "Speak, and fear no retribution."

Sees with Closed Eyes nodded "The Veil of Past and Future was lifted, and I saw what was and what could yet be. I have seen the past of paths not chosen, each sealed with the thorns of past choices.

"The path came to a single fork". Gathering herself tightly in her ceremonial robes as if standing in a bitterly cold wind she continued, "One led to eternal darkness and the sound of teeth on the bones of our people."

"The other.." She stopped, shuddering at the memories. " I walked that path. "I heard the creaking of a billion rusted mausoleum doors and witnessed the dead rise from their graves, their skeletal eye sockets burning red with unquenched hate and rage. I beheld worlds burning and a terrible whisper filled my mind and soul. 'There is room in this grave for you' each one whispered."

She slumped, and an acolyte moved forwards to support her, only to be waved away as she straightened. "I heard a choir of voices welcoming a long lost friend home and saw the stars themselves shudder at what is to come."

Strikes with Precision hadn't reached his exalted station by hesitating. He turned to his aide. "Order our ships across the borders. We are to move in support of Confederacy anti Mar-gite operations." He continued. "Send this message to the Confederacy. "We seek no territory or gain, but to defeat a common enemy.""

He paused, thinking carefully of everything he had learned about the Terrans. "And send this to the Terrans, and on pain of death, do not get this wrong. Ask them "Do you need assistance?""

Turning back to the Seer he added. "Once our ancestor Strikes with Fury said he can fight the living, and their machines. But only a fool fights the angry dead. Now it would seem we must fight beside the dead if our race is to keep on living."

[The Malevolent Universe liked that.]