Inquirer, working through another salvaged Avatar, sighs as she looks
around at the pile of bugs she had to fry.
I do declare, Scarlet. the AI thinks surveying the still slightly
glowing ruins of a town in Gala. Magic and science can make the most
FRIGHTENING of offspring! Those ants should have been impossible, yet they
were as alive and active as that horrible '50s flick Probe force her to
watch!
Suddenly, Inquirer hears her internal com channel paging her. She smiles
when she hears Probe.
<What's up, Joker?> Inquirer banters back. <Burn any good Enemy
Intel satellites lately?>
<Not recently.> says Probe. <Shame really. Scalies don't seem
to be up to Alliance standards when it comes to robo-ships.....else it
wouldn't be so easy to fry one! Even in my first days of service, I NEVER
was that dumb!>
<Live and learn.> chuckles Inquirer. <So....since you're talking
on this channel I take it this is not a social call?>
<Sad but true!> says Probe, getting down to business. Inquirer whistles
through her cyborg's mouth when Probe finishes.
<Sharky!> Inquirer swears. <But I think I've got just what you
need. Sending now.>
Facts, figures, and maps flash through Probe's mind.
<In the vicinity of a town called......Walants in Malbacton?> asks
Probe. <That's the nearest place? Even if I tow this piece of crap these
beast men are using......I'd still have to go via land to get there.>
<Hon,> sighs Inquirer. <Not only is this place the nearest local
for demi-animal settlement.....it's the ONLY one.....as far as I can see!
Not only that, it's exclusively demi-foxes! Something to do with other
demi-combinations shattering on conceptions or some such. The demi I talked
with, after I gained his trust, was quiet clear on that matter.....or unclear
as you see.>
<I see,> mutters Probe. <But......>
<Hey, I wasn't made yesterday,> interrupts the female AI. <I was
just getting to the part that makes this news worthwhile! You remember
the first victims? The ones that kinda tipped off the Brass hat aboard
that maybe the Enemy's plans were a bit ahead of schedule? Well, I'm in
the area that it crashed. I was on my way to give our comrades in arms
a decent burial, because they don't joke about our belief in our Afterlife....so
I think we should return the favor. Afterwards, I can use the ship one
last time.>
<Probably make some ghosts real happy,> smiles Probe. He was only
half kidding. Rumors had it that the natives believed in ghosts.....and
with magic being a reality here...... <But hold off on scuttling the
ship afterwards. Brass hates to see it's equipment destroyed needlessly
....even though you and I know that it'll be a LONG time before ordinary
humans can even think about coming down air-side here.>
<Yep.> the female AI responds. <Out.>
-
 So.....as Probe explains
his plan.......
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