| "Ahhh, I see," the king says, nodding as he looks at the pictures,
"Our allies, the dwarves, had said that they'd feared as much...... since
it was common practice for each dwarven clan to keep backup sights in case
things......go sour."
"Of course, this help we are offering is......officially
not the Military getting involved in local politics," Evis 7 put in, "Frankly,
the High Command feels that that would be an undesirable thing since we
KNOW that you would rather handle your affairs by yourself.....even though
you are almost officially Members of the.....er...... Federation. Members
with special import and imigration barriers that will stay in place until
tech levels and cultural paragons get used to the idea of.....us outsiders.
Won't be too long since mages are quickly, and gleefully applying old and
dusty magical theorems that had been dead ends if they tried to implement
them using magic. Say within a decade or so....especially with the way
things are going up here and down in Ethiopia.......for the most part."
It would give some a case of "future" shock the size of the moon, but
so be it. The die had been cast when the Enemy had paid Terra Prime a rather......lethal
visit something like a half year ago.
"So the Star Fleeter finally got over the shock of such a low tech people
applying to join?" Will chuckled without much mirth, "Can't say I exactly
appreciate it."
"Well, you know....." Probe sighed, "they have the Prime Directive and
certain standards and rules to deciding when contact can be made.....when
a planet is advanced enough to join the Federation........that sort of
thing."
"Which became a moot point in my world's case when the Enemy made a
shamble of things here," Will guessed, and was rewarded by a nod from those
around him, "Still and all I think I will always remember that rather.........
green around the gills look from that strange fellow.....Picard?.....when
I and the other High Council Members....being that of Ethiopia,
Aqualaria, and the Manimal Nation amongst others....came up and applied
for membership."
"Yes, that was rather amusing," Probe smiled, remembering especially
the look of......horror.....on that of the Janeways in particular (two
in particular who would be the brunt of many of Military jokes and insults
for years to come). "Almost as amusing as that look of....consternation
they had when the Military and the Alliance......our brothers from what
you could call the other Military realm, came up and applied and
was accepted without hesitation by what was left of the Federation Council."
"It would be a tad foolish and insulting if the Federation hadn't accepted
your application for membership!" Will says, surprised, "After all, you
provide the resources they need to wage this war against the Enemy. You
leapt to their defense when they were on the rocks when the Enemy robbed
them of their ability of using warp speed....if I remember correctly, with
the massive dumping of....what was it?.......Omega?"
"Yes, indeed it would have," Evis 7 chuckles and sighes, "Yes, it would
have indeed been that....but you have to remember that they don't exactly
like the way the Military did business beforehand."
Will nods and keeps his opinions of that problem the Federation
has with the Military to himself. Frankly, he'd found the whole patronizing
attitude by some of Star Fleet in particular very annoying and only political
necessity had prevent him from challenging them to duels of honor! At least
with the Military, Terra Prime had earned a great measure of respect and
admiration!
"But though the Military will not officially throw in with Aqualaria
in this war.....they will support us in other....smaller fashions," Probe
continues. "They are will help by providing transport of a contingent of
Ethiopian warriors and their war machines in case things grow worse. Frankly,
I'm a touch worried about all this because it's beginning to look something
like the how World War 1 began back home, where nations got dragged into
a war due to treaties and political obligations, but then again......these
Orcs need to be stopped."
"Stopped.....but not exterminated?" Will asks, seeing a look on several
of the AIs' faces, "Perhaps that has something to do with the rather.......distasteful
events surrounding the Enemy trick upon the Military?"
The others nod, and Dragon Synizn then speaks.
"You might say they had grown a bit.....leary about deciding when a
species of intelligent beings should die," the dragon mage says, "the question
of the Enemy needing to be put down.....that goes without question. However,
the Military does not wish eradicate another race without using other means
of resolve. They're...... going to remember the events surrounding what
happened to the Dragons for a long time."
Will coughs and then changes the subject, uncomfortable with the whole
of this. Dragon Synizn and the other Dragons no longer hated the Military
for what had happened. Rather, they now knew where to direct their ire
and hate for the deaths they'd suffered: the Enemy for tricking the Military
by making it appear the Dragons were fully in support of the Enemy and
were allies.
Back to the scheme that he had hatched and wanted Probe to help implement.....
and that Will will have to instigate here at the Castle...... carefully!
"So.....we are ready for this joint venture between my bureau of spies
and this Taskforce, the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce? UNIT?" Will
asks, wondering briefly why Diane Walker, Empress of the Dwarven Nation,
had nearly broken down in hysterical gales of laughter at the naming of
Probe's group.
"Indeed," Probe says firmly, "We know we have a leak up here in Aqualaria,
somewhere. Those Orcen movements were too swift and sudden to be plain
luck. Either that, or they've suddenly become much smarter than they've
been in the past...... help from Ballok's now orcen clan or no. No, time
for a little bit of sniping. A bit of casting out nets.....well, more nets
with us helping bolster your intelligence program and see if we can sniff
out our traitor."
"Through a bit of propaganda and dropping hints to certain suspects
and see who swallows the bait." Will nods. "See how much rope it will take
before the leak hangs himself."
"I say I just do a bit of interrogation on some of the people on the
list," Alex mutters, wanting to apply his specialty, being an interrogation
specialist, on a few of the more annoying people on the list. "But that
would have a rather adverse reaction, politically, if things go wrong and
we squeeze the wrong people!"
"So we'll spread out into the wilds of the battle to make things a bit.....hot
for the Orcs," Probe nods, "We'll keep an eye out to look for leaks out
on the battlefield. Hopefully this leak is out THERE, rather than here
back in the Castle."
"If it is here......" Will says coldly with a gleam in his eye, patting
his weapon harness, "they shan't be a leak long.
"But first let us get myself off the suspect list," Will claps his hands
and submits himself to magical and technical probing by golem and dragon
mage, looking for any indication that Will was a willing dupe (or unwitting
via spell or scientific implant..... mind washing........ or other techniques
the dragon and the golems were familiar with.
He'd like to run the entire list through this procedure, but didn't
want to tip off anyone of this "sting" as Probe put it. Not even his wife
knew of all he did, as per their agreement beforehand when Will set up
his "shop" so she could deny involvement if things went sour. Love and
trust was a grand thing but some things you just don't share with even
your wife. If Will did tell her everything, he'd be half worried out of
his mind that somebody might try to compromise her or some such.......
Will awakes thirty minutes later, feeling like his body has been ran
over by something called a "Semi-truck" (whatever that was).
"By the Jestor!" Will mutters, rubbing his stiff neck while reverting
to a phrase that has become popular with the influx of some analogous people.
"I feel like an elephant stomped on me!"
"Sorry, but you'll be happy to know that you came up clean," Dragon
Synizn smiles as he helps up the young king and gives him a potion for
the pain. "Nothing was detected, magical or otherwise. Even the most subtle
of spells leaves SOME mark, and as a Dragon I've come across a LOT, even
some of the more esoteric orcen variety. We looked for everything I've
ever come across, and even some things I've only heard of."
"Time to do a bit of fishing," Will says, smiling as the pain recedes
as his headache fades.
"On your side of things you'll have a little something extra," Evis
7 put in, "along with Sigin Vulpine and his family and apprentices visiting
up here......he also has a rather........ unique individual who'd become
ever so......friendly and eager to please. Seems that his old partner left
him a bit ago and nobody would talk with him...... or something. Quiet
over the edge and going more and more insane for even the smallest of interaction
with others. Almost makes me feel sorry for the guy......if he and his
kind weren't unmitigated bastards! Loyal and eager to please, he'll keep
an eye out for us and tell all......just so he'll have somebody to speak
with. Sigin Vulpine will speak to him via spell, and we'll see what comes
of it."
Will left, eager to
The person in question, once he finally recovered enough to become coherent,
had been childishly eager to do ANYTHING.....just as long as somebody would
SPEAK to him.
The fact that if he did a good enough job in redeeming himself would
spare him Hellfire was an added bonus for this poor wretch.......
Later, Probe and Evis 7 are enjoying a romantic walk in the Palace gardens
when they see a blue box materialize and grind into existence. Dr. What
is aghast at returning a week late, but....his TARDIS had a tendency to
be difficult to steer......
The Doctor has news of Inquirer! He'd heard her on a recorded message
back at one of the Betty's place of residence (re: 9134). She was ALIVE!
-
 We switch
scenes and follow Will, who's sharing some information and baiting a trap.....
at the same time......
Go Back
|