Jasmine looked down slightly.
"So… you don't trust the Alliance to protect us?"
Aksai shook his head before speaking his mind freely.
"It's not about trust, Jasmine. It's about knowing where we stand.
We shouldn't depend on the Alliance to send help when war reaches our shores, nor should we ask for it. Help that comes from others always comes with strings attached, and those strings can choke you when you least expect it."
He walked a few steps back toward her, his voice steady but quiet. "Keep in contact with the Alliance. Use their information channels, trade networks, and news flow. We can also contribute to Alliance in other ways. Like supplying the war essentials and providing fiscal support. That way, we could contribute without getting our warriors killed on unknown turfs.
When it comes to defense and control, Emerald Cove must rely on its own strength. Only then can we stay free, even in the middle of chaos."
