Hale has no idea whether the new buyer will give her her goals. But if she was able to exchange this new Key in exchange for the Technology the aliens had given her: it appeared this Key contained weapons of unimaginable power, including weapons that could manipulate gravity and unlock faster-than-light travel. Whoever this Empress was, if she provided her end of the deal, both sides could make a gain worth the world.

You come in, cloaked, everything hidden in the shadows. Your gait is purposeful, professional, no intimidation whatsoever.

"Well, well." Hale asks. "So you're the enigmatic Empress."