A small group of Morrowinders got together at the pub to discuss tactics after the town meeting. Most of the citizens were content to go along with whatever the "Counterstrike Force" thought up.

"Fricken' nerds," Branwen muttered under her breath when they chose their name.

The strike force consisted of Branwen and Wigliff, Fokkusu and Wolfie, Grizz, Tristem, and a guy new to Branwen named Dracolith. Zaralith leaned against the wall, silently, and stared at them ominously.

"You COULD join us Zaralith," Branwen offered, and pointed at an empty chair.

"I could," he said stonily, and crossed his arms.

"That guy kinda creeps me out," Branwen thought to Wigliff and the Cube.

"Don't antagonize him. He's the one who can help us find Cyprezz," Wigliff explained.

"Do you think that we could actually ride on Dashie?" Tristem asked, referring to the pegasus that was currently munching grass outside the pub. "She'd make scouting so much easier."

"That's a pretty good idea," Fokkusu agreed. "We need to know where we're going, and what we're up against."

"We do have certain advantages," Wigliff explained. "Once we really plan out a prototype for something, Cube can create it for us."

"You really have to be specific if you want a working model," the Cube cautioned. "I can help a bit, but real innovative stuff might be... a bit beyond me."

"Humility from YOU Cube?" Branwen teased.

"Be nice," the Cube grumbled.

"I might be able to come up with some ideas," Dracolith offered. "I used to tinker around with robotics a bit, back home."

"Well, the circuit boards are going to be an issue," Grizz countered. "Isn't that why Paril's gone with steam and clockwork parts?"

"Possibly," Wigliff mused.

"Circuit boards aren't a problem," Zaralith said quietly.

"What do you mean, Zar?" Wigliff asked.

"Cyprezz uses them... in his cyborg parts," Zaralith replied.

"Why doesn't Cyprezz live here in Morrowind?" Branwen asked.

Zaralith shrugged. "Got too big for him. He likes his privacy."

"Can you bring us to him, Zar?" Wigliff asked.

"Yeah, but not all of you. Just you two," he said, pointing at Wigliff and Branwen.

"What should we do in the meantime?" Wolfie asked, squeezing Fokkusu's hand.

"I think the main thing is the scouting right now," Grizz suggested. "Why don't we see if Dashie can carry a rider, and fly? If it works, maybe the Cube could whip us up another couple pegasuses. Pegasi? Flying horses!"

The suggestion sounded reasonable, so everyone got up, brought along their beer mugs and went outside. Tristem approached the placid animal and stroked her nose. "She's actually much bigger than a pony," he said. "How am I supposed to get up onto her back?" Fokkusu went back into the pub and grabbed a chair for Tristem to climb onto, and then onto Dashie's back. He settled himself onto her with his legs behind her wings, and took hold of her brilliantly coloured mane. The pegasus unfolded her wings, startling the onlookers into stepping back. They were huge! Tristem clicked his tongue and said "Let's fly, Dashie." The sky-blue creature took a running start and launched herself into the sky, using powerful strokes of her huge wings.

"Wheeeeeeeeeee!" they heard Tristem yell as the two flew into the distance.

"Well, that answers that question," Zaralith stated flatly. "Can the Cube make up a couple more of those?"

"Ooh!" said Wolfie. "Can mine be pink?"

Wigliff chuckled. "How about you, Fokks, what colour do you want your pegasus?"

"Leopard-spotted," Fokkusu challenged.

"Done," Wigliff said. At that point, a delicate pink pegasus with a fuschia mane and tail appeared beside Wolfie, and a large, leopard spotted pegasus appeared behind Fokksy, and head-butted him. Fokksy went flying.

"Now that we have a plan," Zaralith said, ignoring Fokkusu's swearing, "Let's get on with it. It's time to go visit Cyprezz."