Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4
                              Chapter 18

Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 22:05:52 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watches the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 00:00:46 -0600 In Message # 00003037
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001250 Zia said:

Zia observes the 'floating' Knytt a moment, then replies with a
slightly ironic grin almost grimace, "A substantial risk to a
previously order-sided multiverse is a rather trying affair to have
suddenly come to one's attention. Especially first then in the
'morning'. Then to arrive and watch the only force working for said
place being distracted by a feint as their enemy easily takes his
objectives, being subsequently exposed after observing this enemy
trying to collect intelligence on your group's fighting techniques,
being put to questions on my purposes, and insults on my lineage while
it was plain I meant you no harm was additionally annoying."

"Then being threatened again by that Hydra creature. I admit meeting
Chaos was minimally diverting. But watching the power thrown casually
about was not; not when it acts against what little order this place
has remaining. And the delay fashed me something fierce, as you so
colorfully note."

"You see, James is still observing, and reporting. Most of humanity is
being stripped off this world. Some few by the Borg, but the far
greater percentage are simply fading away. A modified X-window, I
guess. Whatever and however X-windows work. Being an empath, I've had
to go to full shields just to tolerate the level of terror. Which is
dropping off sharply now as the population density falls off."

She sighs, and folds her elbows on the railing leaning down to put her
chins in her hands and look at him, "Finally, I left in haste because
I did not think I wanted to chance us journeying to the crystal cavern
together. One of my names has been Morgana, the Queen of Gorre. After
all, how many petite, sharp-tongued, cunning, brunette, and 'inhumanly
beautiful' shapeshifters can there be even in the infinities of
Shadow, right?" She smiles, not meeting his eyes, still gazing out at
the rubble heaps of London. "Of course, no bard would admit an "evil"
sorceress could be truly beautiful; needs be it was due to magic, or
trickery, or fae blood, of course. It is of no moment now, I
digress..."

"The true Merlin of the Courts of Chaos is my brother, called the
Sorcerer. I am the Conjurer. Not," as she smiles," as famous as my
brother, but men cannot fathom my talents as human, as they can his.
As infamous, perhaps. You might now assume me evil, as the legend
states. Or you might make a better judgment. I cannot say, I have
never understood this evil and good men use. I understand honor,
family, and duty. For me, that is enough."

She catches his eyes, solemnly, "But as Merlin did, I can see the
future a bit. You are all falling into a web of dark intents and
malign purposes. And, in some tellings of the Pendragon's legends,
Morgana is a healer. She is one of three who bears away Arthur to
Avalon."

"Go if needs be and tell whom you will; I just wanted you to be told
first and alone, as I judge you are a near-likeness to my brother, and
he is never a rash man unless it be in battle hot and raging. I will
say that I will none of your group, lest they offer me hurt and I am
forced to defend myself, until you have decided if I may remain about
you or must depart your mutual presence."

"But I will tell you this, a traitor you find helping you cannot be
truly a traitor. And even the most dishonorable of persons,
strengthened by hope and purpose, can regain honor. But redemption
requires forgiveness." She smiles, "No, I have done none of you any
dishonor. I do not speak of myself. Indeed, I am not one of your
number, so it cannot be myself, no?"
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 03:34:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watches the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 05:08:32 -0600 In Message # 00003038
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001251 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 00:00:46 -0600 In Message # 00003037
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001250 Zia said:
>
<snip of the makings for a very bad day>
>"Then being threatened again by that Hydra creature. I admit meeting
>Chaos was minimally diverting. But watching the power thrown casually
>about was not; not when it acts against what little order this place
>has remaining. And the delay fashed me something fierce, as you so
>colorfully note."

"I had a colorful childhood," Knytt replies with a grin.

>"You see, James is still observing, and reporting. Most of humanity
>is being stripped off this world. Some few by the Borg, but the far
>greater percentage are simply fading away. A modified X-window, I
>guess. Whatever and however X-windows work. Being an empath, I've had
>to go to full shields just to tolerate the level of terror. Which is
>dropping off sharply now as the population density falls off."

Knytt looks thoughtful as he mulls this over.

>"But I will tell you this, a traitor you find helping you cannot be
>truly a traitor. And even the most dishonorable of persons,
>strengthened by hope and purpose, can regain honor. But redemption
>requires forgiveness." She smiles, "No, I have done none of you any
>dishonor. I do not speak of myself. Indeed, I am not one of your
>number, so it cannot be myself, no?"

Knytt starts to remove the Ring Link from his finger, but realizes it
is already gone. Not that his connection to the link is any less
strong. Peculiar. He mentally excuses himself from the link, and
basicly mutes his end of the connection so he can't be heard, but his
presense still felt.

Knytt starts pacing on air. "He didn't age a bit during his
incarceration, nor did he die like the others. His suit once shifted
forms during battle like one of Nemisis's splits. And he was able to
alter the programming of one Split in the past that I know of, maybe
he did more than that. But I killed him. On the other hand, he killed
me, too, and I survived, so why couldn't he do it the same way?" Knytt
shakes his head a bit, and turns to Zia. "Right, well, if we're right,
our traitor is our best answer to what our enemy wants here. But, I
don't think this is all one person's doing. Let's just say it feels
wrong. Some of this isn't his style. He wants us to know it is him.
He's taunting us."

Knytt simply blinks from standing on air to standing leaning against
the railing next to Zia. "Backing up a bit, I am not that familiar
with Arthurian legends, despite a brief stint as Merlin on an
alternate Earth. I don't know what dangers might come from a visit to
a crystal cavern, but I certainly wouldn't force you to go. I was
mainly interested from a geological point of view. An entire cavern
full of crystals is, well, an exciting discovery to say the least. I
also wanted to know what sort of ruse Nemo had in mind, as it was his
idea. Besides something to draw the fighters here in England
together."

Knytt motions out onto the air as a strange spiderlike creature forms
there. "Jumping yet again, you've mentioned the word 'Shadow' several
times, though from your context I take it you don't mean one of those?
More like an alternate reality, where Earth has a purple sky instead
of a blue one, as is normal on most of the Earths I have been to?
Getting definitions correct is so important for effective
communication sometimes."

Knytt scratches his beard for a moment, "Lessee, what else? Your past
doesn't bother me. If evils committed are, as Dickens' claimed, like
links in chains that have to be drug around in some afterlife, my
chains are probably twice that of Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge
forged together. And I am not so sure I have been working very hard to
break those chains recently either."

"I'm no Judge," Knytt says, withdrawing a largeish card from inside
his coat. Zia will recognize it immediately as the Justice from a deck
of Tarot cards. "But, I do like to see this served and that things
stay in balance." Knytt flips his hand around with a flourish and the
card somehow vanishes.

Knytt starts pacing again, though this time he is at least on
something solid, "What I don't see is how that balance is tipping to
the Chaos side by using X-windows...-unless-, sure, this whole deal is
a war between a version of Chaos and a version of Order... Antioch,
Arioch, something like that, anyway... and Mollom. We were chosen as
proxies of the chaos god. So if chaos is winning with all these random
outsiders coming in and mucking up a nice orderly invasion, the only
way to restore order is to I guess, get out of here. And keep others
out. That way, we let order rebuild itself until a balance is reached
again. Only thing is, this fight seems to be for the whole cookie jar.
We need to force a draw."

Knytt turns to Zia. "First off, you stay right here. I hadn't realised
how flabby my braincells were getting. I need someone to shake things
up a bit. Second, I reserve the right to be totally out of my skull
about all of this, but if I happen to be right, which admittedly is a
rare and joyous event, there are two people we have to talk to...for
what is really going on on this earth, we need to talk to a Mister
Black, who I believe is an old friend of our group. If we can find
him. That leaves our traitor..."
 "Ironman, or as we used to know him...the Controller."

<OOC: First of all, if I am wrong anywhere, let me know. :) I know we
all know about the Ironman/Controller OOCly, but things just happened
to click ICly tonight and Knytt worked it out on his own. Whether that
is Zia's traitor, I dunno. Though right now, Knytt is only inclined to
let Ironman himself know...and to say the shellhead has a clean slate
with him. Considering they both killed each other last game, he
figures the scores are even. Especially as Zia pointed out, we carry
the Place with us, and one of Mike's up front rules on forgiveness is
doing something to redeem yourself, which Ironman is. (Remember the
Adolf Hitler chapter. I'd look up the exact line from the _Callahan
Chronicles_, but I am feeling lazy.)>

<OOC2: The second premise, about the lack of order on this Earth, is a
house of cards to say the least, but based on what we know, it sorta
fits. But, Knytt wants confirmation. So, his next logical step is to
find Stranger. Now this bit, I freely admit probably isn't quite what
Gareth has in mind, so by all means, if you don't like where this is
going let me know and my search will turn up negative. Basicly what
Knytt would try is saying "Take me to the Mr. Black the Resistance
told us about." and hope that his book/wristcomputer/vest (I really
gotta name this thing. Uhm, it originally looked like a MYST book, and
I called it a link home, so for OOC purposes, let's just say it is a
LINK.), anyway Knytt will try and use the LINK to get to Stranger by
just giving it a general directive and letting it figure out the rest.
Might work, it might not, he's never tried being quite that vague with
it before.>

<OOC3: In the meantime, Knytt is going to stay off the lens link. He
doesn't want the ideas of a suspected traitor, and what he feels is a
flimsy theory, coloring the judgement of the rest of the group. Not
that it would per se, just that he would rather not blow the group
dynamics with what is right now only supposition and conjecture and
not a shred of proof. So anyone trying to reach him is basicly going
to get an "I'm fine, BBL." while he tries to get some evidence to back
all this up. WHEW! What a night!>
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 06:34:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watches the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 08:19:56 -0600 In Message # 00003040
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001253 Zia said:

<snip Many revelations.>
|  Knytt shakes his head a bit, and turns to
| Zia. "Right, well, if we're right, our traitor is our best answer to
| what our enemy wants here. But, I don't think this is all one
| person's doing. Let's just say it feels wrong. Some of this isn't
| his style. He wants us to know it is him. He's taunting us."

"As I said, this person is not a true traitor to your cause. In using
the description, I am referring to his own troubles with himself." She
grins, "I think you of anyone should understand the emotional loops of
paradox. I agree; more than a single enemy has united their efforts to
spin this web of inexorable gravity. Taunts and feelings of failure to
save the humans are deliberate in purpose. Whom of your group would be
most affected by such things?" She is still quirking a grin, as if the
question were mostly rhetorical.

| Knytt simply blinks from standing on air to standing leaning against
| the railing next to Zia. "Backing up a bit, I am not that familiar
| with Arthurian legends, despite a brief stint as Merlin on an
| alternate Earth. I don't know what dangers might come from a visit
| to a crystal cavern, but I certainly wouldn't force you to go. I was
| mainly interested from a geological point of view. An entire cavern
| full of crystals is, well, an exciting discovery to say the least. I
| also wanted to know what sort of ruse Nemo had in mind, as it was
| his idea. Besides something to draw the fighters here in England
| together."

"Morgana used a younger female accomplice to learn the secrets of the
crystal cavern's power and then had the girl imprison Merlin within
the trunk of a young oak. It's powers were mainly divinatory in
nature. Perhaps your visit there would be very wise at this time if it
were done without female companionship of any kind. I am very leery of
using such methods; the future seems too willing to contort itself to
fit predictions."

| Knytt motions out onto the air as a strange spiderlike creature
| forms there. "Jumping yet again, you've mentioned the word 'Shadow'
| several times, though from your context I take it you don't mean one
| of those? More like an alternate reality, where Earth has a purple
| sky instead of a blue one, as is normal on most of the Earths I have
| been to? Getting definitions correct is so important for effective
| communication sometimes."

"Those are only named Shadows by those who oppose them with little
true knowledge of those whom they fight. They have a real name - ah,
well, perhaps I should not state it, if as it seems you are allied
with their counterparts. Neither side of that conflict is honorable in
their treatment of allies of lesser evolution. Although the damage
caused by the Vorlonic meddling is harder to out-grow for many younger
races."

"A Shadow as I speak of the term is a multiverse singular of the
infinite reflections ranging from Amber to the Courts, and radiating
outward in five dimensions from the World Tree, Yggsdrasil. Earth with
a blue sky is a near-Shadow of Amber herself. The term Shadow is one
selected from quantum mechanics and has much significance in that
study that I cannot easily explain to a layman. Which term should I
change to be more easily understood?"

| "I'm no Judge," Knytt says, withdrawing a largeish card from inside
| his coat. Zia will recognize it immediately as the Justice from a
| deck of Tarot cards. "But, I do like to see this served and that
| things stay in balance." Knytt flips his hand around with a flourish
| and the card somehow vanishes.

Zia finally looks up and grins slightly, then falls serious once more,
"You are much like Merlin. But it is not your own judgment that I was
concerned with."

| Knytt starts pacing again, though this time he is at least on
| something solid, "What I don't see is how that balance is tipping to
| the Chaos side by using X-windows...-unless-, sure, this whole deal
| is a war between a version of Chaos and a version of Order...
| Antioch, Arioch, something like that, anyway... and Mollom. We were
| chosen as proxies of the chaos god. So if chaos is winning with all
| these random outsiders coming in and mucking up a nice orderly
| invasion, the only way to restore order is to I guess, get out of
| here. And keep others out. That way, we let order rebuild itself
| until a balance is reached again. Only thing is, this fight seems to
| be for the whole cookie jar. We need to force a draw."

"You think your opponents here wish to claim this place themselves? I
do not agree - it has far more the look of a double feint to busy you
heroes whilst the people are stripped away, and then the place left to
the minor allied enemy forces, the Greys and Borg, while the
mastermind leaves with his booty."

| Knytt turns to Zia. "First off, you stay right here. I hadn't
| realised how flabby my braincells were getting. I need someone to
| shake things up a bit. Second, I reserve the right to be totally out
| of my skull about all of this, but if I happen to be right, which
| admittedly is a rare and joyous event, there are two people we have
| to talk to...for what is really going on on this earth, we need to
| talk to a Mister Black, who I believe is an old friend of our group.
| If we can find him."

"Knytt," she says, "there is nothing save a member of my family elder
to myself that I cannot find if I desire to do so. If I had a psychic
gestalt of him, I call draw a temporary Trump and use that. Assuming
no one wished to give me such a personal thing, I can still walk
Shadow until I find him. If he is here on this world, such a walk
should be short indeed."

| "That leaves our traitor..."
| "Ironman, or as we used to know him...the Controller."

Zia SNIFFS. "He is not a traitor by any but the skimpiest of
deceptions. Fact is, your leader's prejudices are of such venom and
depth, I myself choose NOT to willingly make contact with the group.
And I have the power to combat him, or more likely, flee. To the
Place. I admire this Iron Man's bravery - a known former enemy
struggling to aid you, wearing only the thinnest of veils as a
disguise. He is truly a brave and audacious soul. I have resolved to
buy him and yourself drinks when next we have occasion to be at the
Place together."

| <OOC: First of all, if I am wrong anywhere, let me know. :) I know
| we all know about the Ironman/Controller OOCly, but things just
| happened to click ICly tonight and Knytt worked it out on his own.
| Whether that is Zia's traitor, I dunno. Though right now, Knytt is
| only inclined to let Ironman himself know...and to say the shellhead
| has a clean slate with him. Considering they both killed each other
| last game, he figures the scores are even. Especially as Zia pointed
| out, we carry the Place with us, and one of Mike's up front rules on
| forgiveness is doing something to redeem yourself, which Ironman is.
| (Remember the Adolf Hitler chapter. I'd look up the exact line from
| the _Callahan Chronicles_, but I am feeling lazy.)>

<ooSC: Very cool - that's exactly where I was foreshadowing to. You
must watch too much B5. :) As if it were possible.>

| <OOC2: The second premise, about the lack of order on this Earth, is
| a house of cards to say the least, but based on what we know, it
| sorta fits. But, Knytt wants confirmation. So, his next logical step
| is to find Stranger. Now this bit, I freely admit probably isn't
| quite what Gareth has in mind, so by all means, if you don't like
| where this is going let me know and my search will turn up negative.
| Basicly what Knytt would try is saying "Take me to the Mr. Black the
| Resistance told us about." and hope that his book/wristcomputer/vest
| (I really gotta name this thing. Uhm, it originally looked like a
| MYST book, and I called it a link home, so for OOC purposes, let's
| just say it is a LINK.), anyway Knytt will try and use the LINK to
| get to Stranger by just giving it a general directive and letting it
| figure out the rest. Might work, it might not, he's never tried
| being quite that vague with it before.>

<ooSC: Or Zia might help - if only to meet the mysterious Mr. Black
herself.>
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 08:34:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Aae:Misdirection

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 09:59:25 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00003043
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001256 Driscoll said:

 The cyborg moves quickly and efficiently as he places the fourth and
last device in place. Thusfar The Controller's plan had worked well.
Porting him in with a group of Borg but then parting company to
complete his own mission had perfectly hidden his presense from the
Army of Light. A shiver ran down his spine as he thought about what
would happen if he had been caught by them. He had witnessed from afar
the fates of some of the Borg.
 They almost had gotten him though. The Xenon gas laid him low and
vulnerable but his cyber systems helped to revive him more quickly to
finish planting the last 8" x 4" diameter cylindrical device. Now
there was just need to move to the pick up zone and call for The
Controller.
 Free. At last he would be free. It had been so long he was almost to
the point of thinking freedom was a concept from some long forgotten
dream. Soon it would be reality.
 On the Bank overlooking the Thames under the Tower Bridge he pushed a
switch on his arm. A pre-set signal transmitted itself between
dimentional barriers. A moment later the X-window opened up and a
young girl wanders out. As soon as she's out of the way The Cyborg
moves through the window and it closes behind him.
 As he enters the Borg ship he finds The Controller waiting for him.
Dropping to his knees he babbles, "It is done my lord. Your bombs have
been placed as you ordered and I was not interfered with. My freedom
has been earned in good faith. When shall I have it?"
 The Controller regarded him off-handedly for a moment. "Why right
now." His antennae twitched and the cycbernetics sent a supercharge of
energy through the cyborg's brain electorcuting him instantly. The
Controller then gestured for two nearby Borg to take the body off for
salvage. "There is no such thing as freedom from The Controller."

 A little girl now wanders alone through London with one thing on her
mind. To find the CaoL and warn them.
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 12:35:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watches the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 14:03:05 -0600 In Message # 00003045
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001258 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 08:19:56 -0600 In Message # 00003040
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001253 Zia said:
>
>"As I said, this person is not a true traitor to your cause. In using
>the description, I am referring to his own troubles with himself."
>She grins, "I think you of anyone should understand the emotional
>loops of paradox. I agree; more than a single enemy has united their
>efforts to spin this web of inexorable gravity. Taunts and feelings
>of failure to save the humans are deliberate in purpose. Whom of your
>group would be most affected by such things?" She is still quirking a
>grin, as if the question were mostly rhetorical.

Knytt starts to reply, then stops, mulling it over. "Let's get back to
that in a minute."

<snip of buildup to what was special about the crystal cavern.>
>"Morgana used a younger female accomplice to learn the secrets of the
>crystal cavern's power and then had the girl imprison Merlin within
>the trunk of a young oak. It's powers were mainly divinatory in
>nature. Perhaps your visit there would be very wise at this time if
>it were done without female companionship of any kind. I am very
>leery of using such methods; the future seems too willing to contort
>itself to fit predictions."

"Indeed, it does." Knytt nods sagely, now in an area he has a -real-
understanding of. "I think I will decline that trip unless in dire
need. I tend to find myself with fewer options when I know the
outcome. Like being forced to play the part of Merlin."

<Knytt questions the meaning of Shadow.>
>"Those are only named Shadows by those who oppose them with little
>true knowledge of those whom they fight. They have a real name - ah,
>well, perhaps I should not state it, if as it seems you are allied
>with their counterparts. Neither side of that conflict is honorable
>in their treatment of allies of lesser evolution. Although the damage
>caused by the Vorlonic meddling is harder to out-grow for many
>younger races."

Knytt nods again. Again on familiar territory. "I am in no way allied
with that hypocritical race anymore. They have gone beyond the Rim
where I hope to only see them again when they have outgrown their
petty feud over how to raise the kids. Which last time I was out that
way, looked to be a good thousand years before they get even close."

>"A Shadow as I speak of the term is a multiverse singular of the
>infinite reflections ranging from Amber to the Courts, and radiating
>outward in five dimensions from the World Tree, Yggsdrasil. Earth
>with a blue sky is a near-Shadow of Amber herself. The term Shadow is
>one selected from quantum mechanics and has much significance in that
>study that I cannot easily explain to a layman. Which term should I
>change to be more easily understood?"

"Personally, I was mainly interested in what you were truely refering
to by Shadow, I had presumed you did not mean the Race, but I wanted
to be thorough. I also wanted to be sure we were putting the same spin
on the word. We appear to be close enough for horseshoes and
handgrenades. We can work out the nuances as we go."

<snip of Justice sleighted>
>Zia finally looks up and grins slightly, then falls serious once
>more, "You are much like Merlin. But it is not your own judgment that
>I was concerned with."

Knytt starts to reply, stops, takes a deep breath and says, "I shall
overcome a personal barriar today, by not presuming that my words will
convince you of my companians' good judgement. Instead, I shall simply
hope that in the fullness of time, my instincts about them will be
proven correct...no, make that 'in the fullness of time, I will
observe what I am meant to observe during this event. Good or ill, so
be it."

<snip of the iea that this battle is to divert us from Order and Chaos
wanting Earth.>
>"You think your opponents here wish to claim this place themselves? I
>do not agree - it has far more the look of a double feint to busy you
>heroes whilst the people are stripped away, and then the place left
>to the minor allied enemy forces, the Greys and Borg, while the
>mastermind leaves with his booty."

Knytt strokes his beard in thought. "Ok, while I throw that into the
proccessors, let's finish up the other topics we hit on..."

>"Knytt," she says, "there is nothing save a member of my family elder
>to myself that I cannot find if I desire to do so. If I had a psychic
>gestalt of him, I call draw a temporary Trump and use that. Assuming
>no one wished to give me such a personal thing, I can still walk
>Shadow until I find him. If he is here on this world, such a walk
>should be short indeed."

"Well, that is good to know," Knytt says.

>Zia SNIFFS. "He is not a traitor by any but the skimpiest of
>deceptions. Fact is, your leader's prejudices are of such venom and
>depth, I myself choose NOT to willingly make contact with the group.
>And I have the power to combat him, or more likely, flee. To the
>Place. I admire this Iron Man's bravery - a known former enemy
>struggling to aid you, wearing only the thinnest of veils as a
>disguise. He is truly a brave and audacious soul. I have resolved to
>buy him and yourself drinks when next we have occasion to be at the
>Place together."

"Hmmm. Yes, he is very brave for facing himself down, considering both
are to be the future of the Controller. Quite a paradox." Knytt
smiles. "I didn't catch it until just now, and I doubt I would have,
considering I know so little about him, but I can't imagine anything
more taunting and frustrating than a future that refuses to go away
once you have attempted to change your ways. So, am I to presume that
the traitor to himself is Ironman and that all the Controller's
actions are directed at him?"

"Okay, so I think I have the psychology of the thing down. Now what
about this lack of order you mentioned, and what point is there in
abducting people?"

<snip my OOC plans on Ironman and the mentioning of _Callahan
Chronicles_>
><ooSC: Very cool - that's exactly where I was foreshadowing to. You
>must watch too much B5. :) As if it were possible.>

<OOC: Actually, you just altered this plan. Unless Ironman gets into
some deep stuff and needs help out, Knytt is going to keep mum about
the whole thing until it is over at the least. He figures he would
hate to be made in that situation, so why do it to someone else.>

<snip about plan to meet Stranger>
><ooSC: Or Zia might help - if only to meet the mysterious Mr. Black
>herself.>

<OOC: Gareth is already looking into a good time for us to link up to
Stranger. Since Zia's fastest method of location sounds like it might
be something that they should ask Stranger's permission before doing,
I think Knytt will opt to try his way first. If that doesn't work,
he'll dive into the alternatives.>
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 17:36:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 20:11:17 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003048
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001261 Shadow <pookie> said:

> On Sun, 8 Mar 1998 21:47:15 -0600 In Message # 00003034
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001247 Michael Jon Knight said:
>
> Knytt sighs, "So much for spelunking. Though I suppose we weren't
> really dressed for it anyway, girls. Why don't the two of you
> coordinate with everyone about our next move while I go chat with
> our ever-critical observer. She requested we talk and I am inclined
> to think this is as good a time as any. Oh, yeah, Roland, we
> probably ought to get back to our military friends at the church.
> Though I am sure Hydra and Armageddon are keeping conversations
> flowing on their own."

Rhiannon /grins/ /GREAT, So now they'll not only _suspect_ we're an
interdimensional threat, they'll know./
===========================

Date: Mon, 9 Mar 1998 21:05:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 23:45:44 EST In Message # 00003055
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001268 Dane0R0A said:

<< Shadow <pookie> said:
 Rhiannon /grins/ /GREAT, So now they'll not only _suspect_ we're an
interdimensional threat, they'll know./
 >>
When the group gets back to the church, they will find that
Armagedon's constructors have been busy again. On the outside of the
church building there are a row of booths. Some of the booths have the
letters (big bright and metallic) SH on the doors. With Armagedon
explaining them to the Major. "The booths with the SH on them will
temporarily (about 48 hours) give your volunteers super-human
abilities. The others will train your techs in the ultra high tech
weapons, shields, and generators of this base." He says.
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:04:44 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 23:54:34 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00003061
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001274 The Lone One said:

On Sun, 8 Mar 1998, Michael Jon Knight wrote:

   When Zia had put in an appearance and the CAoL were introducing
themselves, the demon hung back intil last. When it was her turn, she
nodded at the newcomer gravely. "I am named Raver, and the human I
share this body with is named Mandy."

> Knytt smiles at Driss, Squee, Roscoe, et al. "Nice to see you guys
> again." Then, a London-bound gust of wind blows Knytt's constituent
> molecules away like so much smoke...

   Raver turns her head to look at Roland, one elegant eyebrow arched.
"We agree with Knytt -- we should return to the church soon and
ascertain exactly what we are going to do next. We believe we left a
discussion about splitting up the Army unfinished...?"
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 01:04:55 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: Lines of Communication

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:39:12 In Message # 00003066
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001279 Morgan said:

>On Mon, 9 Mar 1998 23:54:34 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00003061
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001274 The Lone One said:
>
>   Raver turns her head to look at Roland, one elegant eyebrow
>arched. "We agree with Knytt -- we should return to the church soon
>and ascertain exactly what we are going to do next. We believe we
>left a discussion about splitting up the Army unfinished...?"

   (OOC: What a coincidence; I was trying to figure out how to get the
topic back to the resistance when this post came in...)
   Roland composes himself. "Agreed." *We should return to the church,
confer with the locals-assuming they'll even deal with us at this
point-then split up. I have a feeling that breaking into small groups
(OOC: Each player writing his/her own mini-adventure) for infiltration
purposes will be best. We seem to work best that way, regardless.*
Roland sighs heavily. *But I want to stay in constant contact-every
five minutes, everyone 'ping' the web to indicate that all is well.*
(OOC: Only post on this subject if the 'ping' doesn't go through.)
   Roland looks around. *We also need to have someone deal with
_this,_ Driscoll and company probably need some downtime, _and_
someone has to keep the Greys distracted. Essentially, our heavy
hitters should pound on some military targets while the rest of us try
to infiltrate the terraformers.
   *Any questions?*

(OOC: Again, assuming that someone is passing all this to the folx not
on the lens link, as per standing practice) Morgan replies, <*Yeah. I
think our prodigal members aren't the only ones who would benefit from
some downtime. We've just been through I forget how many firefights in
a row,*> images of Borg, Greys, Maleficent, Lunatic, flit through the
link, <*and although I'm sure we _could_ keep going if we had to,
maybe we should catch some rest while we have the chance, _before_
things heat up again?*>

   Roland nods wearily. *Good point. Forty winks at the church, then
once more into the breach. Those who don't need sleep can trade watch
duty and R & R.
   *Anything else?*
   (OOC: That's your cue, folx. <g>)
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 04:04:49 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 01:59:57 PST In Message # 00003070
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001283 Nemo said:

The group will find Nemo rather obviously concentrating on something.
<OOC: Any of them who've made good contact with his mind out to have
some alarm bells go off at the idea of something he has to concentrate
*that* hard on.>

He comes up for air shortly after they return to the "base" in London.

"It would appear that the population is being siphoned off the planet.
The method feels somewhat like the technique some of you use for world
shifting. I would appreciate details about this. While I can puzzle it
out myself, I believe a briefing will save time."

<after being told about X-Windows>
<OOC: I'd kind of like some sort of explanation of them myself. :-)>

"Ah. It would appear that it is not practical to block this. If no one
has a better plan, I suggest that we do the following:"

"Primus: Have some of you use either your own powers or the power
available from the sigils and my power links to generate 'static' on
all communications channels other than the radio spectrum so as to
block both the Greys and whoever is throwing the Borg at us."

"Secundus: I will endeavor to 'stabilize' the bodies of all humans on
the planet so that they cannot be removed from the planet. This will
require real-time tracking of their bodies at the subatomic level. As
such, I will have little attention to spare. I would welcome aid in
this task from those of you with the computing capacity to assist me."

"Tertius: Something will have to be done regarding the Grey's planet
shaping equipment. Alas, I may not be of much help due to the task of
anchoring the population."

In essence, what Nemo is going to do is roughly equivalent to using a
sort of tractor/pressor combo on every particle of every human's body.
And controlling them such that the human can move normallyt, but can't
be "snatched" interdimensionally.

If it proves to be possible by anchoring at a "higher" level (ie
anchoring the body as a whole rather than the molecules, atoms,
quarks, or whatever) then he'll do it that wayt. But he's assuming the
worst until he *knows*.

<OOC: I'm reasonably sure that Nemo can do this, unless the GM
*really* doesn't want us able to stop the abductions. But it's a
matter of *control* more than power, so it's going to be a strain. The
twins and Armageddon are the only ones I can think of in the group who
*could* assist him.>

<And this is ought to make many of the group realize just *how* alien
Nemo is for all that he looks and acts more or less human most of the
time.>

<One possibility that I'll throw out for our GM to consider is that if
the abductor (the Controller?) "pulls" hard enough, he may get the
targets *and* Nemo. :-)>
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 04:35:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE: Meanwhile, back with Legion

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:05:49 -0500 In Message # 00003071
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001284 Caprice said:

(OOC: This is happening back during the borg fight)

Legion frowns, hearing about the first of the disappearing through the
link. When it becomes obvious that it is not a local phenomena and
that it is not stopping she becomes more disturbed. She and the boy
she rescued are on horseback, riding towards a resistance base... but
it will do them no good if they get there to find it empty, the humans
kidnapped off to slavery or worse.

Legion hesitantly extends her senses out... She really isn't sure
about the nature of her powers, and is now regretting it deeply. When
she has extended them as far as is comfortable, she grabs local
reality by the proverbial short hairs and informs it that these
teleports are -not- acceptable. Keeping a hold of it, she waits to see
if the teleports in 'her' area continue. Around herself and the boy,
nothing changes visibly.

[OOC: Take it as a telekinetic grip of the sub-quantum level to stop
the anomalous discontinuities of the teleports and you'd be close.
Anyone trying to force teleports out (of almost any kind) through this
will have to use a bit of power, a bit of subtlety, and will most
likely draw Legion's perceptions in along the teleport so she will
know where it is going. She thinks she covering part of NY state...
she's actually covering the Northeastern states and a good chunk of
Canada.]
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 06:04:47 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: Is that a TND in Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Happy
to See Me?

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:57:43 -0600 In Message # 00003072
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001285 Zia said:

<snip of Gamer's lead in>
finish planting the last 8" x 4" diameter cylindrical device.
<ooSC: Okay. First, are these really what they look like, a radiative
material-based explosive device? Or, thermo-nuclear devices? And are
there enough of them to increase the background radiation level here
in London? Cuz Zia will notice any significant increase, especially if
she travels by/near one.>

<gamer:> On the Bank overlooking the Thames under the Tower Bridge he
pushed a switch on his arm.
<ooSC: I Cannot Resist. "London Bridge is falling down, falling
doown..." SNICKER.>

<gamer:> A pre-set signal transmitted itself between dimentional
barriers. A moment later the X-window opened up and a young girl
wanders out. <snippage of the Villian's Retirment Pension Plan for the
cyborg> A little girl now wanders alone through London with one thing
on her mind. To find the CaoL and warn them.

A black ghost detaches itself once she is several blocks past his
position in the ghetto brownstones of the south bank. James looks
around, every sense (including psi and senstive EM detection, peeled
around for anyone and particularly any constructed electronic spy
devices. Once satisfied, he gently drifts after the girl, taking FAR
more care than her age or appearance could reasonably dictate.

-------------
Meanwhile on Big Ben:

<Knytt and Zia were deep in conversation, with Knytt 'muting' his link
to the general CAoL. And no one is suspicious yet?>

<snippage about the Iron Man and the Controller each fighting to be
the only future> Knytt, "So, am I to presume that the traitor to
himself is Ironman and that all the Controller's actions are directed
at him?"

Zia sighs. "No." Then she looks slightly distracted, as she continues,
"That would seem unfounded in the actual fight tactics used. He hasn't
even been around for most of this current debacle, and yet there is no
concerted attempt by the opposing forces against your group to locate
or capture him in specific. I believe this is a feint, or a taunt of
some sort - it's concertedly planned, and marvelously executed, but
the forces employed against your group are insufficient to guarantee
victory. All whoever is gaining from this is time, people, and delay.
I wonder why he or she wants a delay?" She sounds frustrated not to
KNOW.

"Okay, so I think I have the psychology of the thing down. Now what
about this lack of order you mentioned, and what point is there in
abducting people?"

"I think whatever had hold of Roland back there nullified a great deal
of the problem. Although if there are no people here, there seems
little point. You want me to ascribe ends when I do not know the
means, the perp, or the method? Difficult, Sir Knytt. Even for me.
There is a high chance of error withought enough to really guess well
on. But it probably means, if it's this Controller, he sees a need
for.... ahem, raw material? A LARGE need, as even women and children
are gone."

"Speaking of children, do you know a girl like this (describes the
Controller's proxy by features, height, apparent age, etc.)? She's
wandering from the ghettos on the south side, working that direction,
apparently looking for something. It's pretty easy to follow her, but
James is a bit concerned that the Borg will get her before she reaches
your group or who is here of it. Do you have a preference that doesn't
involve James being 'made'?"

Zia
<ooSC: And move them both back to the group, to, in yours, if you
would, please, Mike?>

<ooSC: Thanks for the kind words everyone; I was really down about
messing up the game last night. And it does look as if several others
have the ability to "change" or at least modify slightly, 'reality'.
Since Zia hates to use hers un-subtly (it tends to attract Elder
Amberites), I don't think it'll be that hard to run... esp. if the
current GM kind of lets me know where I have room to change or not
change things. Lady Ariel sounds cool - but she (and the Brand that
Roland dealt with) aren't from Zia's Amber. After all, he did call the
sword "Shadow Brand"... I figure they're from a close but not quite
'Prime' Amber. Zia is drawn right from the books, although Merlin
writes about her, it's not under the name of Zia.>

<ooSC: I'd love to play a scene getting Zia and Roland squared off
better - and since she DOES have a Lens, she isn't capable of WATCHING
James invade Roland's mind like that. So if he finds out, or just
realizes that on his own, he'll know it wasn't done that way. And Zia
is more likable once you know ... certain things about her. Like she
hates Brand more than Roland ever could. We can have fun playing that
out.>
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 08:06:38 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Lines of Communication

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 09:27:12 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00003077
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001290 Driscoll said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 00:39:12 In Message # 00003066
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001279 Morgan said:
>
>    Roland looks around. *We also need to have someone deal with
> _this,_ Driscoll and company probably need some downtime, _and_
> someone has to keep the Greys distracted. Essentially, our heavy
> hitters should pound on some military targets while the rest of us
> try to infiltrate the terraformers.
>    *Any questions?*

 It takes a moment for Roscoe to relay everything to Driss who then
laughs merrily. "I've just have about 10 years of nothing BUT
downtime. If I have any more I'm going to go nuts. Let's get some
action."
 [You already _are_ nuts.] quips Roscoe mentally.
 [Shaddup yo mouf] thinks Driss back.
 "I agree with wanting something active to do but I don't think we
have enough information yet to act. We've gotten a quick breifing but
I think there's things we'll have to see first hand before we rush
into anything." remarks Iron Man now fully armored and powered up.
 [I wanna go try those spells Aunt Isla was showing me.] Squee's voice
pops into the link.
 [I'm _not_ taking a 60 year old child into a battle to go try some
spells he's never even practiced before. You'll stay in the church
with the others.] Roscoe snaps.
 [Look at me I'm a big boy now! And I'll do as I wanna. And I don't
wanna sit in some smelly old chruch. I wanna go do magic!!!] Squee
whines
 [Alright we'll discuss this more when we get there. Now's not the
time or place.] roscoe sighs
 mumbling and grumbling is all that comes from Squee's mind but
nothing intelligable.
 "Personally a church sounds just fine with me. I have a couple of
spells I need time to work out to see if I can reverse some of the
effects of that damn place." Isla adds in with a bitter tone to her
voice.
 [Can I help you?] Squee's voice pops into her head brightly.
 Isla smiles down at him. "Yes young one you may help me."
 Roscoe's upsetness is easily felt through the link. Privately to
Morgan [They became really close inside there. I thought it was just
because he was so interested in magic and she was a sorceress. I
listened to a couple of their conversations for nothing better to do
and a lot of ti was magical theory and such that I really didn't
understand. In there I didn't have a choice but now I'm not sure I'm
comfortable with him dealing with that woman.]
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 09:42:29 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Meanwhile, back with Legion

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 12:19:09 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003079
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001292 Shadow <pookie> said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:05:49 -0500 In Message # 00003071
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001284 Caprice said:
>
> Legion hesitantly extends her senses out... She really isn't sure
> about the nature of her powers, and is now regretting it deeply.
> When she has extended them as far as is comfortable, she grabs local
> reality by the proverbial short hairs and informs it that these
> teleports are -not- acceptable. Keeping a hold of it, she waits to
> see if the teleports in 'her' area continue. Around herself and the
> boy, nothing changes visibly.

All the teleports in Legions area stop. There are now some very
surprised Jyhadein, and some very happy resistance fighters.

Jadis, at Command HQ, recieves wild reports from the five Commando
groups operating in the Northeast, "Lord, the weapons are no longer
working. We are pinned down. We need help. Please Lord, save us."

Jadis hurls a cup of spiced wine across the room, "Damn them," he
screams. He reaches out and rips his teams out of the danger areas,
then forces them back through to safe zones, adding a little backlash
to his spell. He quickly checks in with his other groups worldwide and
determines that this is limited only to the Northeast and Canada.

"All units, extreme care is to be taken in extraction operations. Any
instances of failure in extraction not due to team carelessness are to
be reported to me immediately. We must not lose any more of the
Chosen."
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 09:42:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Is that a TND in Your Pocket, Or Are You Just

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:33:23 -0600 In Message # 00003080
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001293 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 07:57:43 -0600 In Message # 00003072
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001285 Zia said:
<snip>
><Knytt and Zia were deep in conversation, with Knytt 'muting' his
>link to the general CAoL. And no one is suspicious yet?>

<OOC: Nope, its a common enough event.>

>Zia sighs. "No." Then she looks slightly distracted, as she
>continues, "That would seem unfounded in the actual fight tactics
>used. He hasn't even been around for most of this current debacle,
>and yet there is no concerted attempt by the opposing forces against
>your group to locate or capture him in specific. I believe this is a
>feint, or a taunt of some sort - it's concertedly planned, and
>marvelously executed, but the forces employed against your group are
>insufficient to guarantee victory. All whoever is gaining from this
>is time, people, and delay. I wonder why he or she wants a delay?"
>She sounds frustrated not to KNOW.

Knytt seems to be getting a headache. "I feel like I am spinning my
tires and not getting anywhere. The only other person that would seem
to fit your description, but as far as I know, without the paradox, is
Roland. He does tend to dual with his conscience on occasion and would
be highly affected by taunts and feelings of failure thanks to that
boy scout nature you have yet to observe in him."

Knytt smiles at that last bit. "If that isn't it, I would like to know
the name. Whether I work it out on my own or not, I think it a
tactical advantage we can't afford to pass up. The only other person
(and in his case, the fighting with himself is being done literally)
that leaps to mind is a fellow named John, but he isn't here. And
whether he is a paradox for doing so, is a question I can't answer."

>"I think whatever had hold of Roland back there nullified a great
>deal of the problem. Although if there are no people here, there
>seems little point. You want me to ascribe ends when I do not know
>the means, the perp, or the method? Difficult, Sir Knytt. Even for
>me. There is a high chance of error withought enough to really guess
>well on. But it probably means, if it's this Controller, he sees a
>need for.... ahem, raw material? A LARGE need, as even women and
>children are gone."

Knytt smirks, "If it is the sort of disappearances that were attempted
while you were chatting with Chaos, it is not the Controller. That is
what prompted me to presume two 'perps', as you put it."

>"Speaking of children, do you know a girl like this (describes the
>Controller's proxy by features, height, apparent age, etc.)? She's
>wandering from the ghettos on the south side, working that direction,
>apparently looking for something. It's pretty easy to follow her, but
>James is a bit concerned that the Borg will get her before she
>reaches your group or who is here of it. Do you have a preference
>that doesn't involve James being 'made'?"

"Sounds like the girl who I was talking about earlier. The one who was
dropping hints on Ironman's real name. Great, it would seem she is
following us. I'll have the girls keep an eye on her. They can handle
any Borg easily enough. Looks like Ironman is going to lose that
anominimity whether he wants to or not. But, maybe we can postpone the
inevitable."

Knytt looks at Zia. "I'm sorry, I am using the Queen's 'we' again. Are
you interested in going back to the group? If so, I can take us."

>Zia
><ooSC: And move them both back to the group, to, in yours, if you
>would, please, Mike?>

Knytt and Zia blink back into existance far enough from the church to
give those that might want or need warning of Zia's approach time to
react as they see fit. Opening himself up to the link again as he
arrives, Knytt sends, /Hello again, I have company./

Knytt and Zia arrive just in time for Nemo's announcement.

With a glance at Knytt and Zia's arrival, the twins nod and disappear,
to reappear tailing the girl slightly ahead of James. Melissa glances
around, in the process she momentarily seems to stare straight at
James, and smiles a "thanks, we'll take it from here." Pure
coincidence that she chose the right direction, but an eerie one.

<OOC: She knew he was there somewhere, but she just got a set of
coordinates for the girl from Knytt. The rest was luck. The twins are
also now in on the 'Ironman conspiracy', but it doesn't bother them.
They (and Knytt) are also keeping James' presence a 'secret', same
reasoning as Ironman. If he doesn't want to be found, they aren't
about to 'out' him.>

><ooSC: Thanks for the kind words everyone; I was really down about
>messing up the game last night. And it does look as if several others
>have the ability to "change" or at least modify slightly, 'reality'.
>Since Zia hates to use hers un-subtly (it tends to attract Elder
>Amberites), I don't think it'll be that hard to run... esp. if the
>current GM kind of lets me know where I have room to change or not
>change things. Lady Ariel sounds cool - but she (and the Brand that
>Roland dealt with) aren't from Zia's Amber. After all, he did
>call the sword "Shadow Brand"... I figure they're from a close but
>not quite 'Prime' Amber. Zia is drawn right from the books, although
>Merlin writes about her, it's not under the name of Zia.>

<OOC: *nod* Glad to see you sticking around. :)>
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 10:05:04 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 12:33:46 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003081
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001294 Shadow <pookie> said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 01:59:57 PST In Message # 00003070
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001283 Nemo said:
>
> "It would appear that the population is being siphoned off the
> planet. The method feels somewhat like the technique some of you use
> for world shifting. I would appreciate details about this. While I
> can puzzle it out myself, I believe a briefing will save time."

OOC: Actually, they're being siphoned off through a magical process
made to look like it's an X-Window. (Since Nemo picked up X-Windows
for it, I'll go along.)

> If it proves to be possible by anchoring at a "higher" level (ie
> anchoring the body as a whole rather than the molecules, atoms,
> quarks, or whatever) then he'll do it that wayt. But he's assuming
> the worst until he *knows*.

OOC: The anchoring works, Jadis feels no need to try and muscle people
out.

> <One possibility that I'll throw out for our GM to consider is that
> if the abductor (the Controller?) "pulls" hard enough, he may get
> the targets *and* Nemo. :-)>

OOC: Not in _this_ lifetime. :^)

Once Nemo begins the Jamming.

Jadis receives reports globally about the cessation of recruitment
activities. He ponders this a moment, then performs a world scan,
pinpointing the sources of the problem. "Hmmm, the main problem is in
England, with the original minor one still in NA. Blasted jamming,
someone very powerful is hiding them from me." He taps the air in
front of him, then speaks, "All units, cease and desist removal
operations. Begin extermination."

OOC: Small Note, there are not That Many of these groups. And they
tend to be where there are sizable numbers of people. So there is
still a downtrodden populance for us to save. It just keeps getting
smaller. And no _active_ groups are in London.
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 10:40:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Gathering the Forces

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 13:09:27 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003082
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001295 Shadow <pookie> said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:33:23 -0600 In Message # 00003080
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001293 Michael Jon Knight said:
>
> With a glance at Knytt and Zia's arrival, the twins nod and
> disappear, to reappear tailing the girl slightly ahead of James.
> Melissa glances around, in the process she momentarily seems to
> stare straight at James, and smiles a "thanks, we'll take it from
> here." Pure coincidence that she chose the right direction, but an
> eerie one.

Rhiannon, who had been back at the church when everyone arrives, looks
Zia over. She sends to her directly, and only to her, /Have you sensed
this presence here?/ Zia receives a sense of John.

[I'll let Zia respond in the negative here, as John is not here.
Rhiannon knows this, but hoped Zia would have felt his power
beforehand.]

Upon hearing Zia's negative rsponse, Rhiannon emits a sharp spike of
anger/rage/loss/sorrow which is quickly damped.
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:38:00 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE: Terraformers and Power Taps...

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:11:04 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00003084
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001297 fuzzy said:

<OOC: I can't find a good place to insert a responce...
   So I will start from here. ;)>

 While Zia, two Nemisis Splits (One in Buffy Mode), and several others
follow the Bouncing Ball...

Fuzzy considers briefly then puts the Cloak of Dreams away...
 When not being worn it is in a passive state.
(I believe that the Cloak of Dreams and The Cloak of Shadows are much
different, but I am not sure I can describe how at present)

Remounting his HoverCyclone he goes back to the task of finding and
Limiting the ExtraDimensional Power taps that are feeding the
machines.

Going to an astral plane adjascent to one of the Machines...
Using Psi, Magic, and Tech methods fuzzy examines the energy conduit

<I am going to assume it has a structure...
  Let me know if I am wrong.>

as Nemo becomes distracted fuzzy starts getting a grasp on what is
happening here...

Mental Mumble
\ It seems that they have found a way of creating a zone of conduction
through the world walls, without being precisely a gate...
 I can see where as long as the energy flow reamains below saturation
it is actually far safer than my methods...
 But once it hits saturation the Planc wall ould be locally
compromised... The backlash from that would smash the planet and
possibly disrupt the solar system...

Now, lets see if I can set the right standing wave patterns in the
Virtual/Quantum/Eventpoint fabric of space/time...

{magic formats}

Ok, I can force the pattern, but I can not stabalize it...

{Spell casting}

At about the time Nemo is speaking to the returned Team members
The power tap Nemo supplied is brought out...
{I need a standing wave pattern of {} for a radius of this structure
plus 1 Kilometer in the fabric of space/time (No this is not a magic
affect he is asking for though his example is created by magic)}

If/When the Standing wave pattern forms...
{More spell casting that links to the pattern}\

Within the area of effect here any attempt to draw more than the
current amount of power through one of those XD conduits will have the
excess rerouted to a re-enforcement of the local space/time fabric
which should actually reduce the maximum energy yield slightly...

A side effect may make it harder to open any kind of world gate or
X-Window from this area.

I suspect that Zia will percieve this as a increase of Reality in the
local (Near the machines) fabric of this Shadow...
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 12:11:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE: Metaplot

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:55:56 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003085
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001298 Shadow <pookie> said:

  Jadis (Not the one currently in the Grey world) enters the summoning
plane. He takes care in the preparation and setup of his spells, then
begins, "Adversary. Adversary, I call upon you. Heed my words, for you
are faced with an opportunity. Adversary, come to my call, answer my
summons, I request your presence."

OOC: Ok, Do I get a response? Do I get Shadow Boy? Do we get to watch
the forces of darkness shoot itself in the foot?
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 12:12:12 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Is that a TND in Your Pocket, Or Are You Just
Happy to See Me?

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:01:32 -0600 In Message # 00003086
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001299 Zia said:

|  OOC: Nothing quite so primative as Nuclear. Matter/Antimatter bombs
| actually. And I have no trouble with anyone "luckilly" running
| across one but there has to be at least one for Iron Man to find
| himself.

ooSC: Then Iron Man is welcome to it - Zia's not a real technically
oriented person.

<Knytt and Zia, re: Zia on possible enemy motives.>

> Knytt seems to be getting a headache.

Zia smiles, like it's not an unexpected reaction and comments about
Roland and John, "I didn't mean to put you out - call it onlooker's
curiosity and let things progress. Perhaps in the fullness of time,
the partial idea which is all I can offer now will become better
detailed. Or prove to be incorrect." She shrugs, slightly.

<massive snip>
[Knytt] "Sounds like the girl who I was talking about earlier. The one
who was dropping hints on Ironman's real name. Great, it would seem
she is following us. I'll have the girls keep an eye on her. They can
handle any Borg easily enough. Looks like Ironman is going to lose
that anominimity whether he wants to or not. But, maybe we can
postpone the inevitable."

Zia frowns, slightly as if troubled, "If you think that is for the
best."

Knytt looks at Zia. "I'm sorry, I am using the Queen's 'we' again. Are
you interested in going back to the group? If so, I can take us."

Zia nods, "Yes, if you would. A Queen on the throne of England, then?
How odd."

<Blink in> Knytt and Zia arrive just in time for Nemo's announcement.

Rhiannon, who had been back at the church when everyone arrives, looks
Zia over. She sends to her directly, and only to her, /Have you sensed
this presence here?/ Zia receives a sense of John.

She bounces. Completely. It doesn't even feel as if there IS a mind at
Zia's location. <But if it changes to voice, this conversation takes
the same dialogue. Zia is at full shields until this battle is over,
ESP. down here amongst the crowds.>

"I don't know him, and I didn't feel anything like that earlier. I
could try again." As Zia begins to let down shields, she catches the
'spike with a visible wince, and buttons tight with an 'eyeblink'
reflex. "What happened to him?" Puzzled and dismayed by Rhiannon's
reaction.

Just as Fuzzy's shielding goes up, Zia definitely seems to feel it.
She pales visible. And hastily gets out her Trumps, "Excuse me - but
any good observer knows standing where you're obvious makes you a
target, not an observer." And she 'colds' James' Trump. Then, keeping
the link 'cold', she carefully and gently puts the Trump away again.
It seems to be an act requiring concentration, but Fuzzy can sense it
still linked to James' locale, below.

Once the Knytt's girls have the tail on the younger one, James is
gone.

<Shadow - here's your flag on any oddball thing coming from me - I'll
check anything actually game-affecting I really try to do through you
and Roland first, though.>

The young man reappears from a bright flash-plane of a trump near a
ruined cathedral in Prague. He shoots the ruin a frown, of regret and
displeasure then scoots quickly for the walled cemetary yard, taking
up a snipers position high on the roof of an adjoining building. The
husky warrior with both blue tattoos and a claymore Morgan could
easily identify, and a trim woman but thinner and taller than Zia
armed with a pulser and skivvies of a pilot of Earthforce (from B5)
nod greetings.

James climbs up and sits down near them. "We might be in need of a
fifth, as well. She has apparently found the right set of shadows this
time - the injection went off fairly smoothly. She had about the
amount of trouble she expected with him, but the woman appears to be a
moderating influence, and he has good control thus far. It did seem to
be wearing a bit thin, but that might have just been me." He grins
like a scoundrel as they shake their heads.

The 6'4" and lumberjack type says, deep-voiced. "Sera or Morgana?" The
lady shakes her head, "Sera. Not only easier, but if we're made, well,
who will believe it, anyway?"

James nods, and they all seem to agree. "We might not be called upon
at all - that's quite a powerful group there, and they have a fair
degree of espirit de corps. She is going to have quite a time working
with them and not for them. But they might just pull this out without
assistance - at least as far as permanent effects."
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 13:41:03 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Terraformers and Power Taps...

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 21:25:09 -0800 In Message # 00003087
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001300 Gareth L Owen said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 11:11:04 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00003084
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001297 fuzzy said:
>
> At about the time Nemo is speaking to the returned Team members
> The power tap Nemo supplied is brought out...
> {I need a standing wave pattern of {} for a radius of this structure
> plus 1 Kilometer in the fabric of space/time (No this is not a magic
> affect he is asking for though his example is created by magic)}

The interdimensional power taps of the Azeronium Devices (the
terraforming engines) react to the attempt to "suppress" them,
aggressively shifting waveforms and patterns and changing between far
end dimensions. the shifts are very hard to predict, if they can be
predicted at all, they seem almost... chaotic?

<OOC: very evil grin>

<OOC: The nearest device appears to be on Anglesey>
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:39:21 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Terraformers and Power Taps...

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:33:59 -0800 (PST) In Message # 00003088
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001301 fuzzy said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 21:25:09 -0800 In Message # 00003087
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001300 Gareth L Owen said:
>
> The interdimensional power taps of the Azeronium Devices (the
> terraforming engines) react to the attempt to "suppress" them,
> aggressively shifting waveforms and patterns and changing between
> far end dimensions. the shifts are very hard to predict, if they can
> be predicted at all, they seem almost... chaotic?

It should be more like putting a thermistor inline...
The more power that is drawn the hotter it gets and the higher the
resistance...
 I am not trying to Suppress the Azeronium Devices, I am trying to
make it more difficult for the Azeronium Devices to get power.

\Hmmm, the power channel keeps moving around,
  It does not seem like I will be able to get it to power its own
limiter...
  I will have to think about this.\

<OOC: Garath, the way I was trying to do this it would just have not
been able to ramp-up until it explodes, and very very slowly it might
have forced itself into shutdown...
 If I ask one of the Cosmic or near Cosmic members to power this
effect there will be no reason not to just make it impossible to
tranfer power interdimesionally... all at once, globally.
 Rather than a gradual approuch local to the physical locations of the
Azeronium Devices.>

> <OOC: very evil grin>
>
> <OOC: The nearest device appears to be on Anglesey>

<OOC: That is where he would be starting then>
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 15:05:24 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Lines of Communication

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 17:58:06 -0500 In Message # 00003089
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001302 Caprice said:

>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 09:27:12 -0700 (MST) In Message # 00003077
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001290 Driscoll said:
>
> [Can I help you?] Squee's voice pops into her head brightly.
> Isla smiles down at him. "Yes young one you may help me."

Mischief pounces on Squee's foot. *i found you! i told them we had to
find you. i was going to bite chaos on the ankles if he didn't give
you back.*
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 16:39:01 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE4 - Run silent, run deep

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 23:08:22 -0800 In Message # 00003090
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001303 Gareth L Owen said:

<OOC: Knytt, if you try and find Mr black after a nights rest at the
church I'll write up your arrival, it wouldn't really work that well
in the Pasadena and I wanted to do a bit of submarine commander wish
fulfillment first :-)>

The USS Pasadena slipped silently through the inky waters of the North
Sea, high above it the surface of the sea churned under a force 8
gale, but down where the Pasadena cruised the sea was silent and calm.

On the bridge Mr Black sat in the captains chair, his face showed no
emotion, but he was impatient to be on dry land, the Pasadena was
stealthy, but he needed speed as well as stealth.

He picked up the intercom

"Sonar, conn, any sign of that Grey Los Angeles we picked up this
morning."

"Conn, sonar, no sir, no trace. They've either left or they're sitting
waiting for us."

Mr Black looked across at the fire control officer.

"Where was the sonar trace we picked up this morning?"

"Close to here sir, somewhere between four and six thousand yards
south of here, near as we can tell."

"Thank you."

"Torpedo room, conn, what do we have loaded in the tubes?"

"Conn, torpedo room, four ADCAPS sir?" the reply came over the
intercom.

He settled back in his chair.

"Steady as she goes chief."

"Aye sir."

Everybody heard the ping on the outer hull as the Grey subs sonar went
active.

"Conn, sonar, active sonar detected, bearing 178." The sonar
technicians voice was excited, but level.

"Sonar, conn, do you have a range!"

"Sonar, conn, no sir, we do have a passive trace as well, beearing
178."

"Sonar, conn, what is it?"

"Conn, sonar, sounds like a Grey Los Angeles."

"Designate target Master 23," Mr Black looked across at the fire
control officer, he suddenly seemed very young to him "Give me a
firing solution."

"Conn, sonar, range to Master 23 is short, 2,000 yards is our best
guess."

"Someone get the captain!"

"Aye sir."

"Conn, sonar, new sonar contact bearing 008, new sonar contact bearing
342, both Grey Los Angeles."

"Shit!" Mr Black knew he was in trouble now, this had trap written all
over it, one sub close to him south, two more north of him

"Desingate target Master 24 and Master 25. Sonar, conn, ranges to
those two?"

"Conn, sonar, close, under 3,000 yards."

The Captain arrived, Mr Blackj looked across at him.

"Carry on Mr Black, I want to see how you fight."

Mr Black looked back at him and grinned ferally.

"As you wish sir."

"Conn, sonar, torpedo in the water bearing 178, torpedo in the water
bearing 008, torpedo in the water bearing 342." The sonarmans voice
had more of an edge to it now, he was starting to panic.

Mr Black thought for a second, the torpedos were coming from north and
south, he could evade east or west, but one was bound to get him, no
he had a better idea.

"Come left to course 178, flank speed ahead."

"Come left to course 178, flank speed ahead, aye sir." The experienced
Master Chief at the helm calmly repeated the instructions and carried
them out.

"Sir!" exclaimed the fire control officer "That's straight towards the
Grey! He's bound to hit us!"

"What's on your mind Mr Black?" Asked the Captain more reasonably.

"Trust me, this'll work."

"OK."

"But sir..."

"Just do your job son." responded the Captain as he settled into a
spare seat, this was going to be real interesing or real brief, maybe
both.

"Time to impact?"

"Er," the fire control officer checked his console "45 seconds for the
first torpedo, two minutes 30 for the others."

Mr Black picked up the intercom "Rig for depth charge!"

"sonar, conn, what's Master 23 doing?"

"Sonar, conn, he's heading south, making 20 knots"

The Grey submarine designated Master 23 was fleeing south. Mr Black
knew he was a copy of an American Los Angeles Class, and could
probably do up to 30 knots, but the Greys just seemed incapable of
getting them to go that fast. Master submariners they were not.

"30 seconds"

"What depth is Master 23 at?"

"500 feet sir."

"Make your depth 470 feet."

"Make my depth 470 feet, aye sir." The planesman responded almost
resignedly.

"15 seconds sir."

"Conn, sonar, incoming torpedo!"

Mr Black looked across at the Captain "You know, I never did learn to
play the piano."

<CLANG>

The impact resounded through the submarine as the torpedo glanced off
without detonating.

"What the fu... ehat happened sir?!"

Mr Black smiled "We got inside their arming distance, the warhead
didn't run out far enough to arm and just bounced off."

Mr Black leaptr to his feet, grinning savagely, he was enjoying
himself.

"Right, load the ejector tubes with a pair of noisemakers. How long
until we pass Master 23?"

"Er, one minute 30 sir."

Mr Black started his stopwatch.

"And how long after that do the other torpedos catch us?"

"ERm, about three seconds sir."

"Timings going to be tight then."

He picked up the intercom again

"Engine room, conn, I need every kilowatt of power you can give me."

"Conn, engine room, we're running 115% as it is sir!"

"Engine room, conn, then give me 120%, it's not for long."

"OK, I want two torpedo tubes ready to fire, make tubes one and two
ready in every respect, including opening the outer doors."

"Make tubes one and two ready in every respect including opening the
outer doors, aye sir. Do you want a firing solution programmed sir?"

"Not yet, thank you."

"30 seconds to impact."

Mr Black checked his stopwatch.

"When I give the word, fire the noisemakers, smartly, mind you."

"Aye sir."

"Conn, sonar, incoming torpedos, bearing 002, 357"

"Now!"

The Pasadena had just slipped past the Grey Los Angeles as the two
Grey torpedos started their final approach, the noisemakers ejected
from the Pasadenas signal tubes created a wall of sound, blocking the
sonar from the ADCAP torpedos from locking onto the Pasadena. They
rapidly tried to acquire another target and the only one was the Grey
Los Angeles Master 23, silhouetted agains the wall of noise, the two
torpedos hit it, one in the propellor , the other just aft of the
conning tower, ripping it open and spinning it wildly in the water.

The PAsadena rocked with the force of the explosion, lurching wildly
as the shockwaves hit it erratically.

"Conn, sonar, loud explosion bearing.."

"YES! I know!" Mr Black gripped the periscope column and tried to keep
his footing as the submarine rocked.

"Conn, sonar, his pressure hull has imploded."

"Got him."

"All stop!"

"All stop, aye sir."

As the reverberations of the explosion subsided the Pasadena slid
silently to a stop, hanging in the inky darkness, silent and
motionless.

The Captain applauded Mr Black very quietly "Nice work! One dead Grey,
no torpedos expended."

"Sonar, conn, any sign of Master 24 or 24?"

"Conn, sonar, no sir, they must have stopped too, we lost them when
Master 23 exploded."

Mr Black grinned, here was a problem, two of them, one of him, no one
knowing quite where the other was, and no one able to find the other
without revealing their location. He did however have two open torpedo
tubes, so he didn't need to reveal his position to fire.

"Sonar, conn, what are the last known bearings and ranges Master 24
and Master 25."

"Conn, sonar, Master 24 bearing 009, rnage 3,000 yards, Master 25
bearing 350 range 3,200 yards."

"OK, weaps, I want the ADCAPS in tubes 1 and 2 programmed to swim out
dead slow, 15 knots, no more, hopefully they won't be heard launching,
then, passive sonar only, until they reach 2,800 yards downrange, when
I want tube 1 to go active and accelerate to battle speed."

"And tube 2?"

"Keep it passive, we'll see what we see."

The weapons officer programmed the torpedos and prepared to fire.

"Ready sir."

"OK, firing point procedure, tube 2, snap shot bearing 009, match
sonar bearings and shoot."

The Pasadena shuddered slightly as the torpedo slipped from its tube,
unravelling its thin silver control wire behind it.

"Conn, sonar, unit is running hot straight and normal."

Mr black checked his watch and thirty seconds later repeated his
order, sending the torpedo from tube 2 along bearing 350.

"Now we wait."

Mr Black sat back down and put his feet up on a convenient console.

"Sir, the unit from tube 1 is about to go active."

"Cool."

The torpedo accelearated to 40 knots and started pinging with its own
active sonar, the Grey submarine dead ahead of it was completely
surprised, it had not detected the launch, and had no time to react
before the torpedo smashed it open.

The other Grey submarine, swung around, and in desperation did the
worst possible thing, it used its active sonar to try and find the
Pasadena.

"Conn, sonar, active sonar detected, bearing 350!"

"Weaps, does the torpedo see it?"

"Yes sir!"

"Then let er go!"

The torpedo accelerated to combat speed and its warhead armed. The
officer controlling it didn't bother with active sonar as the Grey
submarine was advertising its presence for all to see.

Although the Grey did detect the Pasadena it was unable to shoot, the
ADCAP hit it head on while it was still flooding its torpedo tubes,
blowing off the bow and ripping open the pressure hull from the front.

The Pasaden quietly cut the control wires to the torpedos, reloaded
and returned to its previous course.
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 20:07:40 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 19:41:02 PST In Message # 00003091
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001304 Nemo said:

In mail you write:

> Once Nemo begins the Jamming.

It would be others doing the jamming. Nemo is doing the "anchoring".

> Jadis receives reports globally about the cessation of recruitment
> activities. He ponders this a moment, then performs a world scan,
> pinpointing the sources of the problem. "Hmmm, the main problem is
> in England, with the original minor one still in NA. Blasted
> jamming, someone very powerful is hiding them from me." He taps the
> air in front of him, then speaks, "All units, cease and desist
> removal operations. Begin extermination."

Excuse me? How is he doing this with all channels jammed? All he
should get is blinding static. My intent was to disrupt communications
for everybody but our allies. And then as a *seperate* item stop the
abductions.

I can think of several ways in which he *could* get around the
jamming, but I suspect that they are things the others would catch.
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 22:10:23 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Metaplot

On Tue, 10 Mar 98 22:01:54 -0800 In Message # 00003098
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001311 Roland X said:

>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:55:56 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003085
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001298 Shadow said:
>
>  Jadis (Not the one currently in the Grey world) enters the
>summoning plane. He takes care in the preparation and setup of his
>spells, then begins, "Adversary. Adversary, I call upon you. Heed my
>words, for you are faced with an opportunity. Adversary, come to my
>call, answer my summons, I request your presence."

   OOC: Not sure which one you mean here. The 'Shadow Boy' comment
below threw me.
   If you mean KnightMare:

   KnightMare snaps up from smelting the Helm of Nabu with Mournblade.
Focusing on the Last GL Ring, it freezes the process in place for a
moment and opens up a viewscreen. "Such as we are beyond the need for
such trappings. What is your desire?" (OOC: "What do you want?" <EG>)

   If you mean the Adversary from Roland's world:
   A dark, ancient power stirs in the dream-scape. "Who summons the
Adversary of light? Know now that you call on the Destroyer," he
intones. Its projection looks ragged, but still powerful-and
definitely interested.
   KnightMare looks up from the process described above. /Someone has
disturbed the Adversary./ *Thorne, what are you doing?*
   (OOC: Thorne's activities will be described better when I don't
need sleep.)
   *Just taking control of my realm, master. Why do you ask?*
   *Return to your task,* KnightMare snaps and cuts off the link. /The
Adversary was not pleased when last we met.../

>OOC: Ok, Do I get a response? Do I get Shadow Boy? Do we get to watch
>the forces of darkness shoot itself in the foot?

   OOC: Yea, right. <EG> Well, KnightMare and the Adversary ain't
happy with each other, but the big 'A' ain't in much of a condition to
do anything about it. Unless Jadis has plans to fix that...oh, yeah,
Jadis isn't interested in Roland at ALL...
===========================

Date: Tue, 10 Mar 1998 22:35:53 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE4 - Run silent, run deep

On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:24:21 -0600 In Message # 00003101
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001314 Michael Jon Knight said:

>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 23:08:22 -0800 In Message # 00003090
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001303 Gareth L Owen said:
>
><OOC: Knytt, if you try and find Mr black after a nights rest
>at the church I'll write up your arrival, it wouldn't really
>work that well in the Pasadena and I wanted to do a bit of
>submarine commander wish fulfillment first :-)>

<OOC: Okay. :) Works for me.>

Time: Just before Knytt and Zia discuss leaving Big Ben for the group.
Location: Big Ben.
Characters involved: Knytt and Zia.

While Zia mulls over whether she wishes to join Knytt in returning to
the church/base of the Callahanian Army of Light, Knytt's thoughts
drift momentarily to the mysterious Mr. Black, who the group suspect
is their old teammate, Stranger.

/Wonder what he's up to now?/ Knytt thought to himself. An obliging
Universe granted him a peek as semi-jumbled images filled his mind.

<OOC: If it is snipped, it isn't seen. :) And Knytt still isn't
positive it is Stranger, the voice sounds familiar, but it is like the
beginning shots of Raiders of the Lost Ark, you never quite see that
it is Harrison Ford until after he uses the whip for the first time.
The Aforementioned Universe is being shy.>

<snip>
>"Shit!" Mr Black knew he was in trouble now, this had trap written
>all over it, one sub close to him south, two more north of him
>
>"Desingate target Master 24 and Master 25. Sonar, conn, ranges to
>those two?"
>
>"Conn, sonar, close, under 3,000 yards."
>
>The Captain arrived, Mr Blackj looked across at him.
>
>"Carry on Mr Black, I want to see how you fight."
>
>Mr Black looked back at him and grinned ferally.
>
>"As you wish sir."

<snip>

>The impact resounded through the submarine as the torpedo glanced off
>without detonating.
>
>"What the fu... ehat happened sir?!"
>
>Mr Black smiled "We got inside their arming distance, the warhead
>didn't run out far enough to arm and just bounced off."
>
>Mr Black leaptr to his feet, grinning savagely, he was enjoying
>himself.

<snip>

>Mr Black grinned, here was a problem, two of them, one of him, no one
>knowing quite where the other was, and no one able to find the other
>without revealing their location. He did however have two open
>torpedo tubes, so he didn't need to reveal his position to fire.

<snip>

>Mr Black sat back down and put his feet up on a convenient console.
>
>"Sir, the unit from tube 1 is about to go active."
>
>"Cool."

<snip>

>Although the Grey did detect the Pasadena it was unable to shoot,
>the ADCAP hit it head on while it was still flooding its torpedo
>tubes, blowing off the bow and ripping open the pressure hull from
>the front.
>
>The Pasaden quietly cut the control wires to the torpedos, reloaded
>and returned to its previous course.

Knytt was caught off-guard by the vision, but not as badly as before.
A slight intake of breath and a stare into some unseen distance are
the only clues that something is amiss. After a moment, Knytt chuckles
as he mutters, "He's having fun."

Knytt shakes his head as the vision ends, clearing away the fog. "I
think we can leave our Mr. Black be for now. Let him savor the moment
before giving him more weirdness to deal with."
===========================

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 00:01:34 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Metaplot

On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 02:57:50 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003106
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001319 Shadow <pookie> said:

> On Tue, 10 Mar 98 22:01:54 -0800 In Message # 00003098
>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001311 Roland X said:
>
>>On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 14:55:56 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003085
>> In alt.callahans Post # 00001298 Shadow said:
>>
>>  Jadis (Not the one currently in the Grey world) enters the
>>summoning plane. He takes care in the preparation and setup of his
>>spells, then begins, "Adversary. Adversary, I call upon you. Heed my
>>words, for you are faced with an opportunity. Adversary, come to my
>>call, answer my summons, I request your presence."

OOC: This is the one I wanted, Not sure if you could still raise him,
what with KnightMare taking some of his power.

>    If you mean the Adversary from Roland's world:
>    A dark, ancient power stirs in the dreamscape. "Who summons the
> Adversary of light? Know now that you call on the Destroyer," he
> intones. Its projection looks ragged, but still powerful-and
> definitely interested.

Jadis looks him over, "Ahh yes. Been destroying a lot lately, have
you? One called KnightMare has approached me, and has offered me help
in a small item i requested. As a result, I may soon be in a position
to attempt to destroy the so-called Army of Light. Remembering your
interest in the Stardragon, who will most undoubtedly come running
when the CaoL begins to fall, I thought I would contact you."

OOC: If the Adversary responds negatively to Jadis's mention of
KnightMare, he ignores it and adds on the following.

"Of course, if you have a problem with KnightMare, I would be amenable
to helping you fix it, In addition to the destruction of some or all
of the CAoL.

>    OOC: Yea, right. <EG> Well, KnightMare and the Adversary ain't
> happy with each other, but the big 'A' ain't in much of a condition
> to do anything about it. Unless Jadis has plans to fix that...oh,
> yeah, Jadis isn't interested in Roland at ALL...

OOC: Of Course he isn't. If you all would just go away and stop
looking for John he wouldn't give this group another moments thought.
He is not biased against anyone, he's just as cruel, evil, mean and
sadistic to Roland as he would be to any other member of the group,
Roland's just more fun to bait.
===========================

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 06:35:59 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: Going to the Chapel

On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 08:05:59 -0600 In Message # 00003108
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001321 Zia said:

ooSC: I'm taking all the OOC and plot stuff not done with chars off to
the Greenroom co-list (Bujold reference, Fuzzy?), and just doing play
in AAE stuff. Which for a bit will just be Zia talking to a few
characters (e.g. whomever is at the church with the group and curious
about the new "observer"). Those who aren't involved in blocking the
reverse Dunkirk operation, that is.

After arriving in the church via Knytt's transport, and dreadfully
disappointing another woman (? Rhiannon (sp?)), Zia seems to resolve
to stay out of the way as the CAoL starts really gearing up against
the 'bad' guys. Looking a bit bored and vaguely out of sorts, she
flips over a long oak pew bench and quietly sits down in the rear of
the church against the wall. It's dim there, but she folds her feet
into a Lotus meditative position, and seems to be mumbling something
under her breath. Her eyes are open however, and if anyone approaches
her to talk, she will be receptive to an interruption.

(However, if someone in one of the 'stabilized shadow storm' cloaks
walks up and sits next to her, she'll stand away from them. Obviously,
she considers such cloaks dangerous.)
===========================

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 19:09:20 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE: Metaplot

On Wed, 11 Mar 98 19:09:31 -0800 In Message # 00003110
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001323 Roland X said:

>On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 02:57:50 -0500 (EST) In Message # 00003106
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001319 Shadow said:
>
>> On Tue, 10 Mar 98 22:01:54 -0800 In Message # 00003098
>>  In alt.callahans Post # 00001311 Roland X said:
<snip, cut & paste>
>>    (OOC: Thorne's activities will be described better when I don't
>> need sleep.)

   (OOC: Here it is...)
   Thorne looks around the virtual mess in the Ecstatic section of the
Spy's Demise. "Ahh, how satisfying." He turns to the lady chained to
the 'wall.' "See how easy it is, Marianna? They fall like dominoes."
   The lady looks unperturbed. "You always were a fool, Thorne. I'd
say you've got five minutes before you're made."
   Thorne laughs. "Dream on, weakling-"

>>    KnightMare looks up from the process described above. /Someone
>> has disturbed the Adversary./ *Thorne, what are you doing?*
>>    *Just taking control of my realm, master. Why do you ask?*
>>    *Return to your task,* KnightMare snaps and cuts off the link.
>> /The Adversary was not pleased when last we met.../
<snip>
>>    A dark, ancient power stirs in the dreamscape. "Who summons the
>> Adversary of light? Know now that you call on the Destroyer," he
>> intones. Its projection looks ragged, but still powerful-and
>> definitely interested.
>
>Jadis looks him over, "Ahh yes. Been destroying a lot lately, have
>you?

   The ragged look increases, but the gaps glow a deep red. "You dare
greatly, sorceror."

>One called KnightMare has approached me, and has offered me help in a
>small item i requested. As a result, I may soon be in a position to
>attempt to destroy the so-called Army of Light. Remembering your
>interest in the Stardragon, who will most undoubtedly come running
>when the CaoL begins to fall, I thought I would contact you."

   "You are a pawn of that...that spider?" The Adversary begins to
fade. "You are of no use to me."

>"Of course, if you have a problem with KnightMare, I would be
>amenable to helping you fix it, In addition to the destruction of
>some or all of the CAoL.

   The Adversary stops fading.
   "No pawn are you, then. A schemer." He nods in approval. "We shall
do business, if it is profitable to us both. What do you have in
mind?"

   Nowhen:
   KnightMare cannot see or hear the conversation, but through the
stolen energies of the Adversary, he can _feel_ the energies involved.
   /Jadis. So, one of my 'allies' may well mean to betray me. Very
well./ KnightMare taps a cylinder. /It appears that I may need
some...insurance./ The cylinder opens, and a humanoid male stumbles
out, blinking and weak.
   *Mr. Morden, I have need of you...*

>OOC: Of Course he isn't. If you all would just go away and stop
>looking for John he wouldn't give this group another moments thought.
>He is not biased against anyone, he's just as cruel, evil, mean and
>sadistic to Roland as he would be to any other member of the group,
>Roland's just more fun to bait.

   (OOC: Oookay, then Jadis _wasn't_ interested in Roland until now.
Due to some seriously messed up resonance nass that went on in AAE I,
Roland is the only being that the Adversary can use as a host for a
while-like the next few centuries. Jadis is probably powerful enough
to _fix_ that, but it would take a considerable portion of his power.
So it's either that, grab Roland, or get creative. <EG> I was going to
_get_ creative with the situation anyway, so if you have a cool idea,
I'm listening...)
===========================

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 21:09:13 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: AAE IV: Who Watchs the Watchers?

On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:57:34 EST In Message # 00003113
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001326 Dane0R0A said:

<<
 > On Tue, 10 Mar 1998 19:41:02 PST In Message # 00003091
 >  In alt.callahans Post # 00001304 Nemo said:
>>

Having been asked (OOC: I assume the request came, it just never
happened explictly IC) to assist with the jamming Armagedon taps The
Stardragon's power, and jams ALL physical (radio, subspace,
hyperspace...), except that between the AI twins, and all psionic,
except the lens, and sigil, communications throughout the solar
system. At this time he states, " I have blocked all communications,
except magical ones. With magic, I can attack, and/or defend, but
blocking magical communications is beyond my ability."

<<
 > Excuse me? How is he doing this with all channels jammed? All he
 > should get is blinding static. My intent was to disrupt
 > communications for everybody but our allies. And then as a
 > *seperate* item stop the abductions.
 >>

(OOC: Jadis works alot with magic, Armagedon can't block magical
communications)
===========================

Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:23:39 -0800 (PST)
Subject: AAE IV: Lightfall

On Wed, 11 Mar 98 23:15:29 -0800 In Message # 00003116
 In alt.callahans Post # 00001329 Roland X said:

>On Wed, 11 Mar 1998 23:57:34 EST In Message # 00003113
> In alt.callahans Post # 00001326 Dane0R0A said:
<snip>
>Having been asked (OOC: I assume the request came, it just never
>happened explictly IC) to assist with the jamming Armagedon taps The
>Stardragon's power, and jams ALL physical (radio, subspace,
>hyperspace...), except that between the AI twins, and all psionic,
>except the lens, and sigil, communications throughout the solar
>system. At this time he states, " I have blocked all communications,
>except magical ones. With magic, I can attack, and/or defend, but
>blocking magical communications is beyond my ability."

   Roland sighs.
   *Armagedon, please attempt to find those frequencies that the
resistance is using and restore them. And why would we need to jam
magickal communication? The Greys don't have any magick, as far as _I_
can tell.*
   (Assuming someone explains the disappearances and the
murders-Roland didn't know IC)
   "what?" Roland whispers.
   Suddenly, Green Lantern Roland Phoenix is standing where the
Freelance Immortal had been a moment ago.
   "No."
   Emerald energy bursts from him, reaching out across the horizon.
Though the ring's weakness has changed, it still has a weakness
extant, so Roland doesn't bother trying to pop forcefields around the
victims, instead temporarily altering them to become resistant to
attack.
   But Roland doesn't have _nearly_ the willpower to protect all of
Jadis' targets.

Morgan immediately comes to Roland's aid, giving him as much strength
as she can.

   "NO."
   The sigil lights up like a miniature sun. Roland draws on it
deeply, pushing himself to the limit and beyond, increasing his mental
capacity to divide his attention and protect all the victims.
   Still not enough.
   "NO!"
   Roland can no longer be seen within the emerald glow. Beams of
green light crisscross the globe, protecting an ever-increasing number
of targets. If he's lucky, he manages to save half.
   "DAMN IT!" Roland shouts at the universe at large. "Leave them
alone! Cowards! What is WRONG with you?! Haven't the people of this
world had _enough_ grief!? LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
   Finally, overloaded, exhausted and overcome with emotion, Roland
collapses and the emerald energy fades. The sigil stops glowing.
   "Leave them alone..."
   A green, bald head appears next to Roland. "Green Lantern Roland
Phoenix."
   "More good news..." Roland mutters.
   "The Guardians have returned the battery to us, as we are its
rightful caretakers," the Oan says. "Though we are no longer the
Guardians of the Universe, we _do_ intend to continue to administrate
the Corps."
   "Oh, for the love of Light," Roland sighs. "I've got people dying
here, and you're giving me a news flash? Not now."
   "I'm afraid it _must_ be now. As you are not of our reality, you
are not eligible to be a Green Lantern. I must request that you
relinquish your Power Ring."
   Roland stares stupidly at the projection for a moment. "You-you
want-but Hal _gave_ it to me!"
   "I am aware of that," the Oan explains evenly, "but with the
transfer of leadership you are no longer an acceptable Green Lantern."

"'No longer _acceptable_'?" Morgan's voice hovers between indignant
and disbelieving. "What, he isn't honest and brave enough for you any
more?"

   The Oan looks almost embarrased, though he is doing his best to
look officious. "Green Lanterns defend what you call 'Earth-1,' of
which Roland Phoenix is not a native. Naturally, Guardian Hal Jordan
will be informed at the proper time. If you wish to keep the ring
for...personal reasons, that will be acceptable, but its power must
return."
   Roland only blinks for a moment, then...
   "FINE!" A blast of power flies from the ring to the Oan, and the
glow around both ring and Roland fades away. "TAKE it! Take your
precious green power! Nothing else seems to matter to you Oans
anyway!"
   Roland turns away, shaking, and misses the stricken look on the
Oan's face. Before Roland can notice (but not before Morgan notes it)
the image vanishes.
   *Man, what else can go wrong,* Roland says.

<*Oh, no, don't say that,*> Morgan mutters as she hugs him.

   An image appears beside Roland, seemingly projected out of nowhere.
"Roland, I have-"
   The G'Kar hologram smirks. "Perhaps this is not the best time."
   Roland slowly (and reluctantly) disengages from his beloved. "No,
no. Your timing is actually superb. Give me _good_ news, G'Kar."
   "I truly wish I could-" Roland groans. "-but I am afraid that my
information merely confirms your suspicions. The 'Krann' of your
reality are sufficiently different from ours that any comparisons to
the 'Greys' you oppose would be irrelevant. I _am_ sorry."
   "You did your best," Roland sighs. "Please, keep me informed."
   "The Legion of Justice is, as ever, at your side," G'Kar replies,
saluting in the Narn manner. (Both fists into the chest and bowing,
for those not familiar with B-5.)
   Roland begins saluting in like manner, then stops and smiles. "The
'Legion of Justice?' When did _this_ happen?"
   "When the short blue humanoids took the Battery, the human who
accompanied them replaced it with an odd machine. Like the Great
Battery, it creates rings. Unlike the battery, each one seems to be
unique." G'Kar brandishes his, which is the deep red of the Narn sky.
He smiles almost smugly. "Mine gives me mental powers comparable to
yours."
   Roland finishes bowing, twirling his fists in the more formal
continuation of the salute. "Nice to hear _something_ good came of all
this. Thank you, _Legionnaire_ G'Kar. I'll call you back
if-when-things improve."
   "G'Quan be with you," G'Kar says, and the photokinetic projection
disappears. (OOC: FTR, the projection was created by Roland himself,
sent telepathically by G'Kar and translated by the powers they now
share. A psionic duplication of standard GL communication. For the
duration, G'Kar was essentially 'on the link.')

Morgan looks at him. <*So, the information you thought you had on
these Greys doesn't apply?*>

   *Bingo.*

<*Lovely,*> Morgan replies ironically. She rolls her shoulders
wearily, and looks at the cots and benches in the church turned
resistance HQ. <*We still need that down time, but those don't look
very comfortable.*>

   *Do you have a better idea?* Roland asks.

Morgan thinks for a moment, then smiles and pull out an object on a
chain around her neck. A small figure of a house (see note below).
<*Shall we look for a place to 'set up housekeeping'? It's not like we
need to maintain low-key, with all the missles around here.*>

   Roland chuckles. *Better Homes and Arsenals?*

A handfull of peanuts forms in Morgan's hand, and she lobs them at
Roland as she continues. <*I think there's enough sofa and spare room
space for anyone else who wants more comfortable crash space*> Her
mental 'voice' mutes for a moment as she adds a comment on her private
link to Roland, followed by him exhibiting his trademark blush. <eg>

(Note: Titania of Arcadia gave the house to us as a wedding gift. It
will expand to full size on command, and to some extent conform itself
to how we want it to look and to blend into the surroundings.)
===========================