“...It’s confirmed by our analytics and the outposts black box footage that the enemy have an overwhelming advantage in their first strike, Admiral. Our current ship production is estimated to only marginally close the gap than to put a stop to their march for our home systems...” A robotic voice spoke. Revealed to be a pink-tinted hologram depicting an avian creature dressed in embellished robes. Of which spoke to the sole figure in the room which sat with their back facing them in contrast. One that sat comfortably within their captain quarters and their wide one-way sensor view of a swirling gas giant. Amongst it, an orbiting barren and beaten moon and in stark contrast, a buzzing exotic tropical world with numerous extraterrestrials. The two creatures' homeworld.

“So, what I ask of you now, is how you intend to stop such a more advanced force as you’ve led me to believe?” The figure continued before a pause created a silence in the room aside from the ship's ventilation and engines echo. The seated Admiral then leaned forward in their leather chair. Their three-way opening beak painted gold moving alike their decorated admiral outfit and shoulder cape. “Director-general… What do you think of them? Of our past? Well, Feathers of Burgundy?” They suddenly asked as the hologram appeared confused at the sudden change of topic before finally replying. “Of Micaw? Well… To simply put Beak of Gold, we were standing unknowingly on the shoulder of giants that ensured our very survival to this day. Something that we could never repay them for if we were to truly ever encounter them in-person some day. They are that of which-”

They were halted by a sudden click in the direction of Admiral Beak of Gold. An ancient recording that they held onto coming to life as the voice of their Benefactors message spoke. “Young ones, we are the Qusotarians. If you have found this device, then… Then it means your species has taken to new heights just as we knew you would. Each of every treasure, trial and recording we’ve left behind for you is to find the answers to your past. What state you’ve found your world in is no sheer coincidence, but of our own initiative. We are at war-No, we have lost against the Relentless and we could not idly stand by and watch another endure the same fate. Your ancestors, they were advanced in their own time. With their own rockets that pierced the skies. Which would have only made them an equal target for the Relentless… This is why you likely found such strange pieces until now. Because of us.”

There seems to be strange interruption as voices could then be heard in the background. The audio begins to tear apart in static as words cut out mid sentence until near the end. “Your race, your people… From the little we do know… You will be free to be yourselves.” The recording finally ends as the silence returns once more. A feeling of tenseness as the mood shifts and the information is made fresh in their minds again once more. The leather chair squeaks as Beak of Gold sits back once more in their stare out into their home system. “No, we won’t be ever seeing them in person again, Director-general. They are gone from their own words. But you are right about one thing… We stood on the shoulder of giants for centuries and yet, were just as oblivious… Until now.”

With their finishing sentence, they stood up. Featherly arms held behind their back after a swift swing of their shoulder cape. For once throughout this, looking to Feathers of Burgundy in the eyes of their reconstructed figure. “The inconsistencies of our history have finally been explained and it’s no longer any burden. But a sense of proud heritage for us and us alone in the galaxy. Our people are spurred by our past. Of these giants that sacrificed everything for us. It is why they do not doubt anything that we are doing now to ensure our species does not fall. Not to repeat history as we know it. And we now have the tools to do just that.”

Footsteps echoed in the room for a moment as Beak of Gold stopped mere inches away from the view out in the cold vacuum of space. “These ships are more than enough to ensure our path to victory, Feathers of Burgundy. What you failed to notice aside from their numbers, was their specifications. With a keen eye, you’ll notice their lack of coil guns as our own and their over-reliance on their more advanced shielding. With these ships, they will take full advantage of that no matter the disparity in technology. And with it… My predictions for the maximum for our casualties are…” They held up only 1 finger on their hand. Of which, the Director-general could only watch in their taken aback state.

“Our time being on the shoulders of giants has long come to an end, Director-general. We have reconciled and moved on. Because now... “ There was something akin to a smug smirk across the bird’s beak as they emitted a confident grunt as they stood tall against the window. Zoomed out amongst their sole ship stood a fleet mighty for its era. Steadfast for their coming duty. Across from themselves, appearing unknown to all on the material plane, was content spectating figures from a place beyond. “It is our time to become the giants.”