On the air.....

<Seeker Unit ready for transmission, SIR!> Seeker snaps off instantly, text book perfect. Probe mentally grinds his Avatar's teeth. Seeker was a new member of the 'family' and something about that AI made Probe distrust and dislike Seeker immensely. The arrogant Seeker was always something of a suck-up to the higher ups, and opportunist. Probe, the oldest AI in the Intel unit/family was keeping an eye out....waiting for Seeker to show his true colors (and thus have cause for booting the SOB out.....and evidence of wrongdoing was the means of doing that.....or gross incompetence). However, though Probe wanted Seeker OUT of his family, Probe was a professional. He could work with a human or a fellow AI despite what he thought of that sucker's personal character (all part of being in the military).

The other AI's (which numbered twelve when counting Probe and Seeker) followed suite. Some were less than formal, some were out and out bizarre. All, however, mirrored the contents of Seekers message to the Saratoga.

<Captain Standern here,> the captain of the Saratoga says. <Report status and current operations.>

The various sundries of biological, mineral, and political evaluation proves to be about what Standern expects. The Phage is still present in every biological creature. It is still deadly dangerous except for the handful of surviving humans dirtside. The planet is still the richest Tiberium find in all the Multi-verse (and still causing drooling back at the main office....as well as cursing because it is denied to the Alliance and the Company because of the Phage. Extensive investigations into the hills and jungles of known Enemy deployments prove to show no surviving lizards....most puzzling. Military Intelligence was STILL trying to understand WHY the Enemy had bugged out. They could have kept fighting (and just might have secured the planet.....Halloway grudgingly admits.... despite the actions of present Allied forces). Then again, the reinforcements that Halloway's friend had called for WOULD have turned the tides..... Remaining local human concentrations forming to what amounted to city-states (a city that was also a country for those who don't speak the lingo ........

Probe's report is the one that makes Captain Standern drop his mug of coffee. It shatters on the floor, and the Captain leaps to his feet in surprise.

<Probe,> he says after calming his racing heart. <You say that some of the locals you've been buddying up to may be on the trail of a possible CURE for the Phage? Explain!> If this was on the level, the War could well be over for the Enemy.

And a few suites will get fatter, the Captain sighs mentally.

<Sir,> Probe explains. <I only found this out a few days ago from a discussion with one of the manimals.....a special type of lycanthrope that Inquirer reported on....let slip that AFTER a little business with a certain duke, will resume their quest for the lair of Minestus. That's the bastard who started this whole mess in the first place. They hope that in there they will find laboratory notes or something that will cure them the Phage.....and also restore them to human beings.>

<Isn't there a danger that our friend is alive in that lair?> queries the captain.

<Possible sir,> Probe explains. <We do get power reading from what the Southern Caves....what Frederigo D'Honaire calls them.....grid section f-23 bravo, sir. But the readings are muddled. Could be just a discarded Enemy power rifle.....or something else. Unlikely though, considering the radiation levels in and around my sensors detected until recently. The area is now halfway safe to life.....but I wouldn't recommend moving in to live there until.....a month or so. The same goes for Gala and most of what was Allaria.>

Probe mentally grimaces at the last. He hadn't the heart to tell Fred and the others from that area what had happened. It might be for the best to tell, but......

<And I assume that your helping them to keep tabs on them?> Halloway probes the AI.

<That and to gather a measure of trust from them, Sir> Probe states. Basically true.....but revealing the fact that their were deeper factor....like joining in because of a sense of an affronted sense of morals....was not what the Captain really needed to know.

<Now THAT shows some intelligence and initiative!> Standern praises Probe. <Keep that up and you'll be in line for a medal and a jump in rank!>

<Yes sir.> Probe says in a neutral voice. The AI and the Captain break the cybernetic contact.

However, on another channel to the Saratoga....unmonitored......

1. Seeker feels like he's going to blow a circuit.....so angry is the AI......

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree