Benny tells the half-alien children on the Collection a story: The Fifth Axis decided to purge the Collection of all non-human art and artefacts. They demanded that Braxiatel remove these items to make way for their own acquisitions. When he refused, they destroyed one of the artefacts. Braxiatel had to give in, but he persuaded the Axis researcher, Martlak, that he could make money selling the alien artefacts to the Finliri. He offered Bev Tarrant's services as pilot to ferry the artefacts to the Finliri ship. She used the Ormand-Seltec flyers that had been commandeered by the Axis. For several weeks, Bev brought artefacts to the Finliri. Martlak soon grew suspicious of Braxiatel's enthusiasm for the project, and suspected Bev of smuggling something off-world. A surprise inspection tur