Make it snappy!!

So when they (Artizza and Fertal) break in (the emergency communications), it's not exactly expected by the others (the other Champions)!!

Inquirer 2

Later....(sort of)

"Oh please," the Phantom interrogator sneers. "You expect me to believe that...."

"I don't give a flying fart what you believe," I shoot right back, already tired of this young snot straight out of the Academy. "First, I don't give a fart because you are not my Handler, nor in my chain-of-command by any stretch of the imagination. Second, you're damn lucky that I volunteered to meet you for this recap. Military Intel got all of this already, we're just being nice and kind in sharing with the rest of the "family", even if the "family member" of the intel community . . . parts of it before the reformation, was on the take! Didn't have to, you know! So be polite, you shit. Third, I have uniforms older than you, so do NOT take that...."

Sort of gives you an idea how that went after that, doesn't it.

"Last, I've cashiered in my comission so I'm off the freaking clock!!" I roar at this snot, finally tired of it all. "You know what is at stake here. You know but you stopped us in flight. Now stop wasting our time and let us OUT!!"

Actually, I don't say that aloud. Just put it into proper and polite Military protocol that conveys the same thing, with pretty much the same emotional reaction I would have gotten from this arrogant.....

Did I ever tell you that I despise Phantoms? Sort of like my "analog" sister (http:// www.geocities .com/rule179 /CharacterBios /BiosMil. html# Inquirer) from the Military Protectorate side of the house, in that manner. We both find these descendants of the very much mutated (and declined) intelligence agencies like the CIA, FBI, KGB (IRS) more than arrogant. More than a little trying, with their almost universal (within their agency) belief that my kind, the Inuit AIs, are nothing more than tools. Collection/Spy platforms to be used and discarded as they see fit. Even when they see we have personalities, they still have that damn Company belief (their chums and paymasters) that my kind are nothing but property. Slaves.

Sigh. At least Outside in the Civilian world back Home, the civis look at my kind (when rare encounters happen out there between AI and Home civi) are respectful. Maybe a touch skittish. Maybe even fearful (we try our best, but still). But at least they are respectful and polite (in as far as one can be when brought up on the street).

....

Things are improving, but the Company (whether you talk about "mine" or my sister's) let things go to Hell. The Agreement had been, back when the Alliance between the Military and Company formed, they handle civil affairs back home. We take care of fighting the Enemy.

But of course...it's just a page out of some kind of cyberpunk novel, if you're familiar with that genre.

Note: for information on the Company, the Military, and other general issues, go here:

http://www. geocities.com /rule179 /QA.htm

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up for me. We're analogs of each other, but things happened somewhat differently for her reality than mine. Our Enemy/Alliance War had been hard, but had been going much better for us, up until the point where we came across OUR version of Terra Prime. That world got destroyed by the Enemy and then I find out (much later) that tides were turning and things weren't going so good any more. Things like a click within "my" Company deciding on doing a little re-organizing within the Ranks of the Military. Make it where officers friendly to their way of doing things were in the drivers seat, all the while not getting caught. Well, they DID get caught and MOST of the assassinations got stopped. But head of our Military, almost worshipped by the troops (so looked up to by the troops), got whacked. So, in retaliation (partly in a quest for justice, partly in revenge), we....

....

Hey, it's a dark reality I come from, sometimes. Sometimes the stuff that is part and parcel of what I deal with....

....

We (not me personally, but I know some of those involved) did a "re- org" on the top tier of the Company Management, up to and including the CEO (who's analog from Inquirer's reality we're hunting for . . . . or some kind of secretive, dark project). Now we have Company management who's oh so FRIENDLIER to the Military. Much more willing to work with us, shall we say.

Oh, and that wouldn't have had to happen if they hadn't tried to do that shit to us first, so don't sneer.

But that's all aside. It happened all in house while "my" Alliance/Enemy War had somehow taken a bad turn. Won't bore you with the details, but on several dozen fronts the tides turned WAY against us. It's very involved and arcane to the uninitiated (and confusing to me, so let's just leave it off at "way bad", shall we).

So much so that some high foreheads within the Military Science ranks dared suggest (and desperate High Command types were desperate enough to listen and consider) something from the "Little Closet of Horrors of Area 51"! Yeah, the tech from that urban legend turned real was what made my kind's creation possible, ultimately, but there are thing within that strange place which....scares us still. Some of it we'd been able to unravel, and wished we hadn't. If my brother, Seeker (now named Elrondir (http:// www.geocities .com/rule179/ CharacterBios/ Biosall.html #Elrondir), a reincarnated elf (re: 7330) who's running around with a Timelord (http:// www.geocities .com/rule179 /CharacterBios /DoctorBios. htm#The) hadn't swayed listening ears within my sister's Military, have them unleash a totally unexpected blow of Kamazi ships they still call Slammer ships. Well, that Horror we almost unleashed upon ourselves (as well as "our" Enemy) . . . One of our "brother" realities had it happen....

.....

Look, this isn't probably is NOT in the most coherent of retelling of tales. However, like I said before I'm off the clock. I'd already had planned on this being THE last mission. Had already put in (and gotten approved) the resignation chit approved. Was already off the clock and would have been back Home, working some data/cyber job (closely related to the Military, still want to look after my own Military mates, out or not). Also, to be frank, I'm still a bit spooked by it all. Yeah, I'd be back Home if not for this snot! My comrades in arms (those who'd survived), would be back at Base and....

No, I'm not going to go off on tangents or rants. But I'll leave off by saying I'm off the clock and this Phantom spook cannot do anything to me to stop me (after I call in a few favors from old friends on this station). Yeah, I'm done. Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

As well as some others, I fear. In certain circles I've heard it whispered. Dark tales of what still is in the Closet.

It's called "The Abandon in Place" phenomena. It's not something we talk about. Not something we share with Outsiders. Sure that my sister's Military has it in their Closet, but I don't have a wish to ask her (or her friends). Sure do not share the fact of it's mere existence with those Star Treker pukes. Maybe those Timelord guys that have that nebulous, mysterious alliance with the Federation (and us) might know of it being possible, but were wise enough/lucky enough not to have it dumped in their laps. And our Company friends, friendly or not? HAH!!

See, the "Abaondone in Place" phenomena is where, once the weaponry is used too muhc (thresholds have never been tested for obvious reasons) both sides first find themselves fading from existence, wiped away from reality. From history, leaving behind artifacts and machinery.

For a time, then it to passes first into crumpled ruin....then dust. Then, nothing.

Temporal based weaponry can be dreadful stuff. Wiping out not only entire populations, but the history and the people who make up that history. Wipe out their past. Wipe out entire species of intelligent people. Meaning that I actually really fear that the reason why my Alliance hadn't met any other mirror versions of itself than my sister, Inquirer's one, until now. Oh, theories (actually pretty good ones) give all sorts of reasons for that, but myself I think that all our other mirror versions (they and the mirror Enemies) got wiped out of existence!

And while those innocents from worlds not totally . .. . integrated into the Alliance or Military Protectorate histories by various kinds of interactions. . . . get all kinds of AFUed by the indirect swat that the Temporal weaponry has!

And while my team, who'd landed in that Blighted Forest for reasons which don't matter now, find all sorts of odd stuff when we get free of it....

1. Ah, but first lets deal with questions of that rather unexpected interruption that elfin couple, Artizza and Fertal, did!

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