* Steven and Brisa race to speak to Colonel Thaddeus Watershed, the blastoise commander of the Commonwealth Army currently stationed outside Fort Sunward.

* Watershed is actually willing to hear them out, but one of his captains, Arcanine Halleck, doesn't want to entertain the idea that "foreign agents" and "savages" (Wayfarers and locals) have any business meddling in what he considers a rightful siege operation.

* Watershed explains that the airship currently above the mesa does belong to his army, but that it was commandeered by some "slick" character, while the Army was told to besiege the fortress. Steven manages to convince him that the "slick character" (presumably Matthias or someone else from the Covenant) used their connections to take advantage of him and keep them threatening Sunward for their own purposes, rather than allowing them to return to a more comfortable climate.

* Halleck is determined to continue the attack and orders the cannons to open fire on Brisa, defying Watershed's orders. Brisa's Plasma Fists deflect the artillery shot, and she evolves into a luxray in the process.

* Convinced by Steven's argument (and Brisa's iron will), Watershed agrees to stand down. Steven and Brisa inform the Captains of Sunward, and the four of them hurry up to the mesatop...

- Phoenixsong