[ Allura does realize that it sounds easy, but it certainly isn't a plan that she had hatched overnight. She had to court loyalty, seek them out, and buy them if necessary. She hates herself over the thought that she was just seducing captives with kindness and feeding their hatred for the Galra, getting them in on her plan to build her own army of rebels and spies. But it is no longer the fate of just Altea that's at stake. It's the fate of the universe and the future of all its people.

Because war does not start with battleships and canons. They start on the ground.

As Shiro poses his question, her cleaning moves to the shoulder right above the Galra arm, drops of medicinal water slithering over Galra-forged metal. ]

That is where our buying time comes in. We need the final key to start the machine's engines. But that key is broken and it is meticulously being fixed as we speak. Its science is not so simple.

[ Inwardly, Allura appreciates greatly that she does not have to spell things out so explicitly to Shiro. Being able to speak of her plans to remind her of where she is ultimately placing her hope on puts her in a clearer state of mind. She then moves to face Shiro, and finally looks into his eyes; night dark, a perfect canvas for stars. ]

You will also help me fix this key.