Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 4 Chapter 36 Date: Mon, 27 Apr 1998 23:41:37 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Wheel of Fire (I) On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 22:46:25 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004148 First, Stranger said: >/Hey/ he broadcasts generally /Can anyone tell me how much time has >passed for the Army of Light since I was last a member?/ /About six weeks, our-Morgan's and my-time,/ Roland sends. Mike said: >And they were gone. A small burnt crater was all that was left, >radiating with dimentional rift energy, similar to some of the >crudest, most dangerous early X-windows experiments, where the >traveler could be thrown at random anywhere or when... /NO!/ Roland tries to 'lock' their signatures, but he's spread so thin, that it's like trying to grab a mist with tongs-nothing solid to _grab._ Zia said: >> The thing doesn't move, but seems to try and jump around in her >>hand all the same. Roland _helps_ her teleport it into the sun; that >>won't destroy a Trump, but it'll keep it out of anyone's hands for a >>while. > >ooSC: It won't destroy a Trump? Gee, how indestructible ARE Trumps? >My Game Master would fry mine at the least excuse, because 'they are >just paper.' (OOC: The Amber book says that Trump-or rather, the process that _creates_ Trump-is inherently indestructible, and that's what I go by. As with Roland, the only way to 'destroy' Trump-based artifacts (like the cards) is to remove the Trump 'force' which binds it together. With apologies to George Lucas. 8^) >> Zia, you and your crew already set something up that'll hold the >> planet together nicely, with a few modifications. > >The brunette shoots Sheila a glance, and shrugs, [Like we didn't know >that?] (OOC: Well, he couldn't _order_ you, since you're not members of the CAoL, so a gentle reminder seemed in order. ) >Sarcastically, to Roland's earlier comment, she drawls, just to the >Crew, [Well I may not be 'cosmic' whatever THAT means, but I sure as >Hell ain't chopped liver, either. But it doesn't look like anyone >tries to find the best solution, it's just 'Ready, Fire, Aim' again. >I couldn't even help Mike's group, though at least we know they'll >make it through alive.] (OOC: By mentioning Zia by name, he included her in the 'cosmic' class by implication.) >Sera, not visible to anyone else, picks her up, even as Roland >somehow manages to be everywhere at once dealing with almost every >problem at once, including sending her some sort of healing energy. >The angel shakes her head, because it's not a type of energy she >knows. But seeing the rawness, and the soul-sickness from being near >demons in Legion, she chooses to do support work. Roland, knowing full well that an angel giving her full attention to Legion can do _far_ better than he, withdraws, satisfied that he has helped and that Legion is in good hands. *My thanks for your help, Bright One,* Roland sends reverently (if Sera accepts the transmission). >> The world is once again in balance, the damage undone. Only one >>thing remains. >> Roland stays within the much-healthier (but still shifting) chi >>lines, watching to see if any other efforts are made to disturb >>them. Then, with a horrifically powerful telepathic probe, he lances >>out and cries... >> *JAAAAADIS!* > >The young brunette grins, as she effortlessly reaches out, allowing >the healing of the chi lines to reflect their improvement in >condition back through Roland's own consciousness as his workings >everywhere, his probes, and even his considerable wrath distract the >Immortal. Making sure that such an effect will be most understandable >and quite easy to trace to "natural" causes later. Vishnu approves. (OOC: Fuzzy would almost certainly have noticed the Presence. Hey, you didn't think Roland was doing all that by _himself,_ did you? Even with the power of Stardragon and NEMO to call on, he would have burned himself out by now.) And no, Roland doesn't have a hell of a chance of noticing that little stunt. ;^) Dane said: >Hydra, backed by the full power of The Stardragon, extends his hands >and emits a sphere of energy from them. As the sphere expands (at a >speed of roughly 30,000 MPH, should take about 15 minutes for the >sphere to encompass the whole Earth), the ground begins to settle >(the energy is keyed to the Earth itself, and will hold in place what >it is keyed to). /Thank you, _Hydra!_ Way to go!/ Roland 'rolls back' his own protective effect as Hyrda expands his, allowing Roland to concentrate on hunting down Jadis. ><Two's link carry the healing clear back over into Morgan herself. >It's just so druidical. :)>> (OOC: Morgan [the RL one] is suffering from burnout of her own; she'll be back when she's ready.) >> /He's not here. HE'S NOT HERE! How did he perform an enchantment >>-an ENCHANTMENT-on an entire world?! It shouldn't be possible!/ (OOC: This comment did not take place. Jadis was stoopid enough to call attention to himself while Roland was almost literally _everywhere._ More on that below. ) Then Shadow said: > He paused briefly, then quickly moved to the med-center, walking >past the injured until he came to a small boy, "Abomination.. DIE!" >he cried as he plunged a blue glowing fist down at the child's head. >The child's features showed terrified incomprehension for one breif >instant before becoming cruel. A small hand shot forward to grip the >descending wrist, fingers crunching into bone as the killing blow was >stopped, "So, cur, there's still some bite left in your beaten hide. >You shall know agonies _I_ haven't dreamt of yet." They both fade out >as the child stands and calls, "Roland! I thank you for the medical >attention. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Which gets Roland's attention. Which earns Jadis Excedrin headache #27,000,042. *JADIS, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF NASS,* Roland sends, as he maintains 'lock' on Jadis' mind, *I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND TURN YOU INTO PUTTY.* Roland's 'higher' self is being directed by Vishnu; that leaves the 'dark' side that Raver saw. And it is PISSED. The battle is short and vicious, Roland trying to rescue John while Jadis (I would imagine) tries to escape with his prize. (OOC: Which, of course, he does; otherwise Shadow's run would be _real_ short. Insert Jadis' escape here.) /Gloat all you want, bastich,/ Roland snarls, as his energy-self begins to re-form inside the church. /I've got a lock, folx. He took a twisted route through space-time, but we've _got_ him. Now it's just a matter of cleaning up here and hunting him down./ >OOC: Well, that's the lead in to what I'm going to do... Once we >finish with the Hellgate stuff. Which the continuity gods are trying >very hard to ignore, at the moment. Oh, Gamer, if he's still looking >Justin can see Jadis now before he fades out. (OOC: Said gods being...you? 8^) >(Still OOC:) >But you've got the trace on Jadis. Oh, if she's got an actual lock on >Jadis, it lasts just long enough to show where you're all going next. >Space-time effect, goes backwards, to another dimension, forwards, >then goes to his current locale. Once he's there he slips the lock. >And anyone thinking of going there before Jadis gets there from >here-now clear it with me. This dimension is special. Oh, anyone who >did contact John, (how could you find the time?) Did get an >answer from him, but it seemed a little forced or mechanical. (OOC: And if you don't mind, Roland has one as well. This gives Zia a chance to follow quietly if she wants to, and Roland _really_ wants this one. But losing the lock isn't a big deal; all he wanted from the get-go was the _dimension._ From there, it should be an easy matter to track Jadis down. Right. Suuuuure. ;^) >On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 18:47:51 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004140 > >Zia 'watches' the Node a few moments, then as the 'voice' is >addressing the demons, and the three seconds go by, she is suddenly >addressing several people in quick succession. ^Sil, if you can, I >need support here. No one else has time to handle ops, and Roland's >flooded, and his XO is AWOL. I figure that means it falls to you. >Relay until I can brief you, please? Things are a bit ... >dis-orderly.^ A slight smile. /Roland has already given his orders, but we're not formal about such things. At least they _listened_ to him this time. You're a go, Zia,/ Sil notes, and transmits. >/Justin, Sheila, and anyone else not occupied, please start working >damage control. Especially how to control the earthquakes, and rescue >efforts for the survivors. Raver and Mandy, are you recovered enough >to act as sweep detail for our own stranded, and if so, do you need >teleport support for such an effort? If it's a yes, coordinate with >Sera. If no, organize the local supers from Hydra's chambers, and set >them on doing it./ > >/First, Rhiannon, next, find Driss, he's been out of touch too long. >Then anyone else still missing, and Roland if he falls on his nose >after all the heroing jazz is complete./ > >/Dhryclanc, or anyone else in contact with the former rebels right >now, let me know, they can be the core of our rescue force. We've got >to get civil order re-established fast, or we'll have looting and >worse. Coordinate through Nemesis or Nemo, if he gets loose of that >tiger's tail he has ahold of./ > >She seems ready to detail further plans, but stops, and waits to see >what the reactions and next happenings are first. Roland finishes forming. /Zia, Hydra and I were already on rescue detail-there shouldn't be anyone _left_ to rescue. Still, double-checking couldn't hurt-Hydra's busy holding the planet together and I was kinda distracted tracking Jadis./ He checks his own energies, and becomes solid. Rather than being burned out, he's _overcharged;_ there are several rents in his costume where kinetic energy wafts off him like heat from a sprinter. /I'm fine, BTW, and-Stardragon? Would you please either a) drop the teleport block or b) get a fix on all CAoL members on this world who are _not_ at the London base?-we really _can't_ lose our own members so long as they're on the link./ Roland winces as he remembers his failed attempt to hold on to Mike and his crew. /As for civil order, that's not really within our bailiwick, though I suppose we could help if the Resistance-aka the soon-to-be provisional government-gives the OK. I imagine you can handle that, though-we're going to have to bug out soon. Jadis has _got_ to be up to _something,_ and we have a comrade to rescue. Stranger, you're our best link to the Resistance; (OOC: add this if Zia has mentioned openly that this is her homeworld) Zia, this is your home-is there anything specific we can do to help get this world back on its proverbial feet in a _hurry?_ We gotta go./ (OOC: Stranger? Is your run finished? You mentioned that you wanted to have a...talk...with Arioch and MolloM...) Finally, Shadow said: > As the sphere expands the ground settles, but the spacial tension >increases. Eventually the entire globe will move through the gate at >once, in about a half hour, instead of bits and peices. Minor Demons, >those intelligent enough to realize the likely effects of staying, >disperse from the main gateway, trying to scatter and hide. (OOC: Um...let's see. Zia closed the gate, Nemo closed the gate, Oracle closed the gate, and I/Vishnu closed the gate. I think it's closed. 8^) =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 00:05:08 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Just Like Old Times On Sat, 25 Apr 1998 05:08:28 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004149 << Roland wrote: /In the meantime, Jadis' plan _has_ to be stopped. Hydra, all bets are off if that gate opens fully; I'll take responsibility for your return if the local gods get pissy./ It's obvious that Roland has no delusions about his capability to resist the will of gods, but he'll deal with what comes. /The rest of you, well, you know what you do best, and I'm a 'hands off' kind of leader./ He smiles briefly. /But everyone who can track Jadis, give it a shot! We've got to find him, and we've got to do it, like, yesterday! /Geez, all hell is literally breaking loose, we're running hither, thither and yon with three half-baked plans, and half the team's missing... yep, things are back to normal./ (OOC: This idea is where the post title came from; I forgot to include it last time. ) >> Hydra appears, suddenly, outside of the base (crushing a few houses under foot). "/*@I don't think that will be a problem. MolloM's forces have been defeated. I am not at this time opposing them, and I doubt that either MolloM OR Aurioch want that gate open. If it does, almost surely an incarnation or the avatar of an incarnation would pass though it. And while they are gods of order, and chaos, they are not necessarilly evil. What would come into this world IS. Also if an Incarnation, or avatar should come through, and they don't like me being here to oppose it, they would have a MUCH more powerfull being to be concerned about, since The Stardragon would enter also, and probably Oracle as well.@*/" Hydra says. "MolloM! Aurioch! Attend! This threatens your very existance." He continues, as he gestures in the direction of the nearest line of the hell gate sign, if you would live, you must put aside your differances, and assist us in holding this gate closed, or closing it if it does open fully." As he says this, one head "looks" in the direction of Raver, and a beam of energy stabs out, passing through stone, wood, people, and earth without harming any of it (the stuff). As the beam strikes Raver, she is bathed in a kind of healing energy that she had never before encountered. Both of their minds and spirits are strengthened, enhanced and buttressed (the energy is both spiritual and psionic). At the same time another head "fires" a similar beam of energy to Morgan. Roland "hears" in his mind the voice of Oracle, ^Roland, killing Jadis won't stop this gate. It is a 'cast and forget' spell. You must deal with the gate, and the sign itself.^ =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 06:05:34 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV Mother from HQ to All Effectives On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 07:52:29 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004151 >On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 21:42:24 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004146 > >> On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 18:47:51 -0500 >> Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004140 >> >> /Someone get me Rhiannon here, so Sera can heal her, STAT. > >/Unless you need her for something, there's no rush. She's in stasis > until someone turns off the generator. Time ratio is 100 million > years outside equals 1 second inside./ Zia sighs, careful not to send it over the link. Then to Sil, and over the link, /Even so, I think I did explain why I wanted her here as soon as possible. Time is still passing for the rest of us, and Jadis is setting y'all up like ducks in a shooting gallery./ She sounds a bit disgruntled. "I could have sworn I said that she had a link to Jadis I wanted to use." This comment does _not_ get sent to the link, she is _trying_ not to 'smart off' to anyone. And knows she has no real authority, or even fake authority anyway. She's been really trying to keep her mental tone in the 'advice' range, but any decent telepath will be able to tell she's been in a military command before. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 06:36:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 08:30:40 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004154 > (OOC: The Amber book says that Trump-or rather, the process that >_creates_ Trump-is inherently indestructible, and that's what I go >by. As with Roland, the only way to 'destroy' Trump-based artifacts >(like the cards) is to remove the Trump 'force' which binds it >together. With apologies to George Lucas. 8^) >>> Zia, you and your crew already set something up that'll hold the >>> planet together nicely, with a few modifications. >> >>The brunette shoots Sheila a glance, and shrugs, [Like we didn't >>know that?] > > (OOC: Well, he couldn't _order_ you, since you're not members of >the CAoL, so a gentle reminder seemed in order. ) Doesn't matter - Hydra and I think one other person jumped on the stabilizing long before Zia and Crew could react and try. Besides, James is nearly burnt out on magic, and Sera nearly so. They got ready, but didn't actually power the Seal up. > (OOC: By mentioning Zia by name, he included her in the 'cosmic' >class by implication.) > Roland, knowing full well that an angel giving her full attention >to Legion can do _far_ better than he, withdraws, satisfied that he >has helped and that Legion is in good hands. > *My thanks for your help, Bright One,* Roland sends reverently (if >Sera accepts the transmission). Sera nods and gives him a warm smile for helping the lady. >The young brunette grins, as she effortlessly reaches out, allowing >>the healing of the chi lines to reflect their improvement in >>condition back through Roland's own consciousness as his workings >>everywhere, his probes, and even his considerable wrath distract the >>Immortal. Making sure that such an effect will be most >>understandable and quite easy to trace to "natural" causes later. > > Vishnu approves. > (OOC: Fuzzy would almost certainly have noticed the Presence. Hey, >you didn't think Roland was doing all that by _himself,_ did you? > Even with the power of Stardragon and NEMO to call on, he would >have burned himself out by now.) > And no, Roland doesn't have a hell of a chance of noticing that >little stunt. ;^) Given Fuzzy's current level of power, and his subtlety of mind, I'd say he is about the only entity here liable to notice at all. Zia was being truly concealed about this, and making the slightest changes she could. Hydra, for instance, being very busy at the moment, probably wouldn't notice. (Or care, but that's different). Grin. I don't mind. It gives Fuzzy and Zia something interesting to talk about later. >><>Two's link carry the healing clear back over into Morgan herself. >>It's just so druidical. :)>> > > (OOC: Morgan [the RL one] is suffering from burnout of her own; >she'll be back when she's ready.) Sure, I was just trying to include everyone to have fun. That being the case, of course ignore that attempt. > *JADIS, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF NASS,* Roland sends, as he maintains >'lock' on Jadis' mind, *I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND TURN YOU INTO >PUTTY.* Roland's 'higher' self is being directed by Vishnu; that >leaves the 'dark' side that Raver saw. > > And it is PISSED. > The battle is short and vicious, Roland trying to rescue John >while Jadis (I would imagine) tries to escape with his prize. > (OOC: Which, of course, he does; otherwise Shadow's run would be >_real_ short. Insert Jadis' escape here.) > /Gloat all you want, bastich,/ Roland snarls, as his energy-self >begins to re-form inside the church. /I've got a lock, folx. He took >a twisted route through space-time, but we've _got_ him. Now it's >just a matter of cleaning up here and hunting him down./ Zia sighs, and rolls her eyes at Sil with a pained look. > Roland finishes forming. /Zia, Hydra and I were already on rescue >detail-there shouldn't be anyone _left_ to rescue. Still, double- >checking couldn't hurt-Hydra's busy holding the planet together and >I was kinda distracted tracking Jadis./ He checks his own energies, >and becomes solid. Rather than being burned out, he's _overcharged;_ >there are several rents in his costume where kinetic energy wafts off >him like heat from a sprinter. /I'm fine, BTW, and-Stardragon? Would >you please either a) drop the teleport block or b) get a fix on all >CAoL members on this world who are _not_ at the London base?-we >really _can't_ lose our own members so long as they're on the link./ >Roland winces as he remembers his failed attempt to hold on to Mike >and his crew. Zia says pointedly, but NOT over the link. "So then, you KNOW where the missing half of your group is? Because I see Mike's family, Driss and Roscoe, the drow, and those others who were with Driss. I think the last departed on their own, the others have disappeared. Plus, you have at least 3-4 members heavily injured enough to be out of action. Some of them may appreciate being gathered in before some enemy of the group notices the bona-fide grade AAA opportunity. Legion, Rhiannon, one Nemo, and I believe Fuzzy might need time to recover." She deliberately doesn't mention Morgan, none of her business." > /As for civil order, that's not really within our bailiwick, >though I suppose we could help if the Resistance-aka the soon-to-be >provisional government-gives the OK. I imagine you can handle that, >though-we're going to have to bug out soon. Jadis has _got_ to be up >to _something,_ and we have a comrade to rescue. Stranger, you're our >best link to the Resistance; (OOC: add this if Zia has mentioned >openly that this is her homeworld) Zia, this is your home- >is there anything specific we can do to help get this world back on >its proverbial feet in a _hurry?_ We gotta go./ "I already made my suggestion on that. You claim it's not your bailiwick to do mop ops. Though it WAS what you were doing when the conflict got hot. You may have a comrade to rescue, but Jadis _let_ you get that lock. Cripes, Roland he even taunted you by name when he was SURE you'd notice. You're being set up, you've got less than a 1/3 of your team still combat ready, and you're brains are shut off by wanting that fellow too badly." "I believe following Rhiannon's trace is the wiser course than where Jadis leads you into. If you want to charge in doing your bull in china shop impression -" She sighs. "Never mind. You go ahead and do what you think right, you will anyway. I'm staying here at least until Fuzzy, Rhiannon, and Legion aren't in danger." She suddenly straightens to attention, snaps a French-style salute at the (maybe a bit surprised) Immortal, and reports, "You have the con; I'm relieved." Boy, is she ever! She teleports from the London underground Node back to the church, to help with the rescue and medical efforts. She tries to trace Mike and companies disappearance but has no luck with it. Legion should be up and around soon. Angels are great healers. Though she may want to talk to someone, which oddly enough given Zia's usually abrasive manner seems most likely to be her. As soon as other injured/worn out CAoLers return, Sera will also be helping them. Zia will bring food, water, bandages, and do what simple first aid she knows on the injured humans rescued from the earthquakes fallen buildings. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 17:11:47 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV Mother from HQ to All Effectives On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 15:20:16 -0700 (PDT) The Lone One Said As CAoL Message # 00004156 On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Ziactrice Keenan wrote: > Sil is re-directing comments from the CAoL Link to him. But he is at > least nominally present in Mandy and Raven's shared mind, as he > studies it momentarily to learn how to help best. ^Better than > Brosnan? My. I'll try and live up to that. Or live it down, > whichever applies.^ He 'teases' gently. He has the manners of a > British gentleman, without the famous reserve. He also has a > carefully controlled streak of killing instinct, that Raver couldn't > mistake. But it's very narrow and focused towards his chosen ends, > probably one of the most disciplined 'souls' the demoness has ever > been in close contact with as well. Mandy grinned inside their mind at the famous Bond charm. [Definitely live up to.] As for Raver, she was rather intrigued by the way James's mind worked. > James made sure to repair any weakening or ablative damage to their > link, then quickly made it back to his own body before anything > nasty tries to catch him 'in the open' as it were. OOC: He fixed only the damage that occurred from the ley-line storms -- the rest of it is still there. > ^I couldn't help but be aware of it, although I was rather too busy > after the initial effort for monitoring the higher memory and > consciousness functionality. Is there any difficulty I can be of > some help concerning?^ > He will relate what he saw, which is all of the problem up until the > felt his mental 'pull' to restabilize, and not any of their speech > after that. He seems to feel obligated to do so, since they don't > seem to be as highly psionic as himself - operating openly and > answering their questions seems to be what he considers the only > correct way to do this. Raver felt a chill go down their spine at the thought that someone had witnessed her brief change. After a moment, she replied on the Two's private connection. [There is no further difficulty...but I would appreciate it if you would speak nothing of what you saw to anyone. It would only stir up further trouble.] After a moment, she added, [We appreciate your aid with our bond.] <> OOC: I don't think this would work -- James is holding the Two together right now, not Morgan. > /Justin, Sheila, and anyone else not occupied, please start working > damage control. Especially how to control the earthquakes, and > rescue efforts for the survivors. Raver and Mandy, are you recovered > enough to act as sweep detail for our own stranded, and if so, do > you need teleport support for such an effort? If it's a yes, > coordinate with Sera. If no, organize the local supers from Hydra's > chambers, and set them on doing it./ Anyone looking at Raver right now would have gotten the impression that she had bitten into something nasty. /Her?/ [We have to work with that...angel? I am going to enjoy this ever so much.] [I'll be there to save you from cavities, never fear.] Raver snorted mentally, feeling better already. The wry smile faded as she reached out to Sera on the Link in an ultra-polite tone. /Angel. If you would teleport the stranded that we find back to the church.../ She disappeared into the gloom of the tower stairs without waiting for a reply, their armor seeming to absorb any visible light. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 18:35:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Wheel of Fire (I) On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 21:13:04 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004157 On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Morgan wrote: > *JADIS, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF NASS,* Roland sends, as he > maintains 'lock' on Jadis' mind, *I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND > TURN YOU INTO PUTTY.* Roland's 'higher' self is being directed by > Vishnu; that leaves the 'dark' side that Raver saw. > And it is PISSED. > The battle is short and vicious, Roland trying to rescue John > while Jadis (I would imagine) tries to escape with his prize. Jadis pauses in mid-fade, his powers are at the lowest point they've _ever_ been. Roland is winning, until Jadis grabs the starburst pendant. He Pulls as much power from it as he can, the John's psychic cry is only a high-pitched whine (think of the start-up sounds of the power packs from Ghostbusters), then throws it at Roland. Continuously. Then John's psychic attack hits. (Roland could fight through John to get at Jadis, but I don't quite think he will.) Jadis regains his smile, "You're only hurting your comrade now, Phoenix. GoodBye." >>OOC: Well, that's the lead in to what I'm going to do... Once we >>finish with the Hellgate stuff. Which the continuity gods are trying >>very hard to ignore, at the moment. Oh, Gamer, if he's still looking >>Justin can see Jadis now before he fades out. > > (OOC: Said gods being...you? 8^) OOC: Let's just say events did not happen within the same time frame that I was using and leave it there... :^) > (OOC: And if you don't mind, Roland has one as well. This gives > Zia a chance to follow quietly if she wants to, and Roland _really_ > wants this one. But losing the lock isn't a big deal; all he > wanted from the get-go was the _dimension._ From there, it should be > an easy matter to track Jadis down. Right. Suuuuure. ;^) OOC: Sure, no problem. He definitely knows the dimension. > Finally, Shadow said: >> As the sphere expands the ground settles, but the spacial tension >>increases. Eventually the entire globe will move through the gate at >>once, in about a half hour, instead of bits and peices. Minor >>Demons, those intelligent enough to realize the likely effects of >>staying, disperse from the main gateway, trying to scatter and hide. > > (OOC: Um...let's see. Zia closed the gate, Nemo closed the gate, > Oracle closed the gate, and I/Vishnu closed the gate. I think it's > closed. 8^) OOC: Well, yeah, but they hadn't when I posted that now had they. And I have yet to post the closing of the main gate, even if it's done. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 19:05:28 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shadow Boxing - 9 Rounds... On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 18:00:35 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004158 >On Sun, 26 Apr 1998 22:08:22 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004121 >> ^I have analyzed the Shadow ability she used to infiltrate me. >>Such an event will not occur a second time,^ Chronos intones. >> ^Oh, Chronos, you're a jewel,^ Ariel says, gushing with >>uncharacteristic sincerity. > >> (OOC: That's sort of the idea. ) >> ^What-where did she go?^ Ariel demands. > >couldn't help it, really....> (OOC: No relation to Fiona. Really. ;^) >> On a completely different frequency: ^Ghostwheel? Greetings. I am >>Chronos. Were you aware of my contact?^ >> >A small pool of light from somewhere about the room answers, ^Of >course. Acknoledgements and greetings. Shall we move to another >loacle for better privacy to converse?^ ^Certainly. I expected as much.^ A Trump 'hologram' appears in the location of Ghostwheel's choice. >^An interesting idea. But since you know more about both of those >entities, and what they are planning it seems like what Merlin would >call a 'sucker bet'. And why would you want Trump data-packets from >shadows, if you do not acknowledge the reality of any Amber but your >own?^ this segment of the Ghostwheel is very, very limited, and >functions only to communicate. Even if Chronos 'takes' it completely, >it won't get anything useful. Chronos has no interest in 'taking' Ghostwheel-he figures he can learn a _lot_ more through cooperative interaction. (Apparently, Ariel is a better mother than she is a schemer. ) ^I do not possess the prejudices of my creator. You are clearly 'real,' though it bears noting that I cannot find any evidence of any so-called 'Shadow' being non-real. They merely possess a lower level of Pattern or Logrus energy. All possess 'Trump' energy on some level. This of all my findings is the only one my mistress has rejected; she is convinced that my data is somehow in error. Though I would hope that, given the evidence of your involvement in some covert operation involving Roland and his army, you would consider yourself capable of taking this 'bet,' I am willing to listen to other optins, including different wagers or simple trading of data. Your response?^ =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 19:05:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 18:03:55 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004159 >On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 11:07:52 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004136 > >Dr. Haakin doesn't even look up from the tests she is running on the >samples from Roland. >"Freed? If they are alive, wouldn't that put them in the heart of >Grey territory? And if so, wouldn't someone need to retrieve them?" >The questions are asked with her usual tone, which is to say next to >none. Roland^2's eyes glaze over for a moment. "They're having a bit of trouble with the few remaining Grey saucers, but other than that, they've all got their bodies back and want to dish out some payback." Roland^2 answers Chris' grin with a like one of his own. "You guys can pretty much contact the Resistance of the whole planet right now. "Anything you want to tell 'em?" (OOC: With Stranger's run about wound down, it looks like it's time to wrap this bit up. They're all yours, Caprice. ) =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 19:05:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 18:48:28 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004160 >On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 08:30:40 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004154 > >replace one once you've lost it. I also play you can't make a Trump >of someone unless you've met them in the flesh (for a good psychic >impression of them) and seen them truly (without disguise). Tell me >if you have a different method.> (OOC: Not for 'basic' Trump Artistry, but I allow more leeway for Advanced Trump, and we have _got_ to talk about our respective Ambers. ) >> Roland, knowing full well that an angel giving her full attention >>to Legion can do _far_ better than he, withdraws, satisfied that he >>has helped and that Legion is in good hands. >> *My thanks for your help, Bright One,* Roland sends reverently >>(if Sera accepts the transmission). > >Sera nods and gives him a warm smile for helping the lady. Sera can hear herself being addressed from anywhere on Earth. And has >a pretty wide-ranging ability to perceive, which is what Zia and Crew >are using to keep a 'spy eye' on everyone. Roland responds with a shy smile. >> /Gloat all you want, bastich,/ Roland snarls, as his energy-self >>begins to re-form inside the church. /I've got a lock, folx. He took >>a twisted route through space-time, but we've _got_ him. Now it's >>just a matter of cleaning up here and hunting him down./ > >Zia sighs, and rolls her eyes at Sil with a pained look. Sil responds with a confused 'huh?' expression. >Zia says pointedly, but NOT over the link. "So then, you KNOW where >the missing half of your group is? Because I see Mike's family, Driss >and Roscoe, the drow, and those others who were with Driss. I think >the last departed on their own, the others have disappeared. Plus, >you have at least 3-4 members heavily injured enough to be out of >action. Some of them may appreciate being gathered in before some >enemy of the group notices the bona-fide grade AAA opportunity. >Legion, Rhiannon, one Nemo, and I believe Fuzzy might need time to >recover." She deliberately doesn't mention Morgan, none of her >business." (OOC: Xzerrion said that his crew will be 'fading out;' I imagine that he didn't mean that literally, though. It's unlikely that he'd have something bad happen to them, at least that we could do anything about.) "Mike disappears once a week, almost like clockwork. Driscoll goes where he pleases. As for the others, we take care of our own." All said with as even a tone as he can manage. >"I already made my suggestion on that. You claim it's not your >bailiwick to do mop ops. Though it WAS what you were doing when the >conflict got hot. You may have a comrade to rescue, but Jadis _let_ >you get that lock. Cripes, Roland he even taunted you by name when he >was SURE you'd notice. You're being set up, you've got less than a >1/3 of your team still combat ready, and you're brains are shut off >by wanting that fellow too badly." Roland says nothing, but the look he gives her is more expressive than many speeches. The short version of what it says is: "Of course it's a trap. I _know_ it's a trap. We _all_ know it's a trap. Just how stupid DO you think we are, anyway?" >"I believe following Rhiannon's trace is the wiser course than where >Jadis leads you into. If you want to charge in doing your bull in >china shop impression -" She sighs. "Never mind. You go ahead and do >what you think right, you will anyway. I'm staying here at least >until Fuzzy, Rhiannon, and Legion aren't in danger." Morgan, duplicating Zia's tones as best as she can, sends from Earth-9 on her private link to Roland, ^"So kind for you to give your permission."^ Roland stifles a snicker. >She suddenly straightens to attention, snaps a French-style salute at >the (maybe a bit surprised) Immortal, and reports, "You have the con; >I'm relieved." Boy, is she ever! ^How sweet,^ Morgan adds. ^I wasn't aware that you'd _given_ it to her.^ >She teleports from the London underground Node back to the church, to >help with the rescue and medical efforts. She tries to trace Mike and >companies disappearance but has no luck with it. Roland is briefly torn...but decides that if he doesn't kill homicidal psychopaths, then turning Zia into guacamole dip would _probably_ be an overreaction. Sil unclenches her fists. *UN-believable,* she sends on the telepathic 'band' that Roland's kind uses. *I thought you were being unfair, but-* *Oh, I was,* Roland replies lightly. *She's nothing like the stereotypical Amberite.* He pauses for a moment. *She's a pain in the nass completely on her own merits.* Safely at home, Morgan doesn't _have_ to stifle _her_ snicker. *I've only been doing this sort of thing my entire adult life,* Roland sighs. *Though it confirms what I said to Ariel about God.* Then he turns to Sil. /Here are our healing powers. Combined with your innate nature and the cosmic stuff you got from Phoenix, that should make you the perfect living MASH unit./ /On it,/ Sil replies, and appears beside Sera and Legion physically, Rhiannon and Nemo astrally, and all other wounded telepathically. /Folx, you want it, you got it-I'm your one- stop fixit shop,/ she sends with a smile. /Hydra, Armagedon, Nemisis, check with Stranger on coordinating reconstruction efforts with the Resistance. I want civilization's infrastructure back up and running within the day-in the hour if you can swing it. Dhyrclhanc, in Knytt's-I mean Mike's-absence, and Morgan's convalescence, you get the XO position./ As Roland mentions her convalescence, Morgan sends him a raspberry over the open link. /Oh, _thank_ you, my love,/ Roland replies dryly. /Everyone else, ground and center. Take five-they're probably the last few minutes of rest any of us are likely to get for a while./ =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 19:05:51 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Wheel of Fire (I) On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 21:55:58 -0400 (EDT) Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004161 > On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 21:15:27 PST > Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004145 > >> On Sun, 26 Apr 1998 23:44:49 >> Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004126 >> > Oh yes, Nemo is still pushing. He looks a bit crisp around the > edges,but he's pushing. Magickly against the demon, and physically > towards the center of the gate. > > With the extra distractions Roland (and no doubt others) are > providing, he reaches the center and slams the sword into it. Then > he collapses across it. As the sword slams into the gate it the ley lines leading into it flare. The energy is no longer being fed to the gate, it's going straight into the sword. The effect travels around the world and back as the sword pulls the energy into it. The sword itslef begins to glow, and a halo of force expands around it, destroying any demons it comes into contact with. Inside the lines of the rune leading into the gate begin to twist as the gate wavers. Nemo's body can be seen floating above the sword, it is healed and restored, but the sword itself looks blurry, indistinct, and.. smaller? Using the chi energy of a planet the sword rejects the gate, removing the close linkage formed by the rune. The sword begins to melt, pooling, changing, flowing into the whirling runes, and solidifying. The light begins to fade, the energy flows back out along the ley lines, and it is over. Nemo remains lying on the large green gem that used to be the sword, with a small ruby earring in his hand. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 21:05:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Wheel of Fire (I) On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 20:58:53 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004165 >On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 21:13:04 -0400 (EDT) >Shadow Said As CAoL Message # 00004157 > >On Mon, 27 Apr 1998, Morgan wrote: >> *JADIS, YOU WORTHLESS PILE OF NASS,* Roland sends, as he >> maintains 'lock' on Jadis' mind, *I'M GOING TO HUNT YOU DOWN AND >> TURN YOU INTO PUTTY.* > Jadis pauses in mid-fade, his powers are at the lowest point >they've _ever_ been. Roland is winning, until Jadis grabs the >starburst pendant. *GOT YOU!* Roland exults, until... >He Pulls as much power from it as he can, the John's psychic cry is >only a high-pitched whine (think of the start-up sounds of the power >packs from Ghostbusters), then throws it at Roland. Continuously. >Then John's psychic attack hits. (Roland could fight through John to >get at Jadis, but I don't quite think he will.) (OOC: Well, there's a shock. 8^) *Coward,* Roland snarls, backing off and switching to defense. He tries to hold John and Jadis, then just John, but the shoot-and-dodge tactics are all too effective. *Next time...* >> (OOC: And if you don't mind, Roland has one as well. This gives >> Zia a chance to follow quietly if she wants to, and Roland _really_ >> wants this one. But losing the lock isn't a big deal; all he >> wanted from the get-go was the _dimension._ From there, it should >> be an easy matter to track Jadis down. Right. Suuuuure. ;^) > >OOC: Sure, no problem. He definitely knows the dimension. (OOC: Thanks.) Roland immediately gives this information to Sil, Dhyrclhanc, Nemo, and Hydra. /Backups,/ Roland notes evenly. =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 22:42:35 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE IV: Welcome to Earth-9 On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 22:06:35 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004166 "What are we?" Al-Aswad, Dark Oracle of the Nephandi, intoned. "The Spiral of Oblivion," the other five answered. "What is our destiny?" he asked. "To devour all enemies and be masters of the shattered Circle," they replied "Be seated." They were. "Anathema. Report," Al-Aswad said. "The Gaunts have had little succcess militarily, but the pressure placed on the Aeon Covenant as a result have caused the Arachne to vote for the inclusion of Pride Eremite into their numbers," the immortal said with confidence. "Hmm. Llhandren." The fallen fae lord stood quietly. "Thorne is dead." "Good riddance. Do you have anything of significance to report?" Al-Aswad said dryly. "An immortal killed him. As he was in the possession of the Shadow Brand, and thus an immortal by proxy, she took his power and knowledge." The Spiral erupted into chaos. "SILENCE!" Al-Aswad roared, and the other five Malfeans sat and grew silent. "Continue, your Grace." Llhandren smoothed his doublet. "Thank you, Dark One. This immortal is suspected of being an associate of the would-be superhero 'Blaze,' and is the mate of the disavowed Roland Phoenix. Her power comes from Arcadian Glamour, of that much I am certain. She is almost certainly from another reality, and is without question Awakened. Worst of all, she holds none of the allegiances through which we pit one group of well-meaning 'heroes' against another." "Concordia and Aeon Covenant, allies..." the Spectre Gorool whispered in its ghostly voice. "If the Traditions were to make contact with the Order of Reason and the Umbral Underground, they would be rooting out our agents within a week," Al-Aswad said evenly. "Exactly. And as Mr. Phoenix has been an agitator for alliance for some time, it is almost certain that she will use her knowledge of us to hinder our plots against the forces of 'light.' Indeed, it can only be a matter of time," Llhandren finished darkly. "So? We kill her," Gaiasbane, the first Metis of the Garou, growled with a shrug. "I imagine she'd taste good." "Easier said than done," Set (the Kindred, not the god) replied. "Even Anathema's 'god of immortals' could not bring them low." "Watch your tone," Anathema warned in a low voice. "You are merely a tainted offshoot of my kind. Why you are permitted to remain on this council is beyond me," she snarled. "Enough," Al-Aswad snapped. "Since this falls under your forces, Anathema, you may deal with her. Do as you will, but she must be prevented from revealing any of the fool Thorne's knowledge to the forces of Order or Chaos, or worse, the Council of Nine. The voice of Oblivion has spoken." The six monsters continued to discuss the war of corruption... =========================== Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 23:12:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: The Wheel of Fire (I) On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 01:45:24 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004168 << Roland wrote: Roland finishes forming. /Zia, Hydra and I were already on rescue detail-there shouldn't be anyone _left_ to rescue. Still, double-checking couldn't hurt-Hydra's busy holding the planet together and I was kinda distracted tracking Jadis./ He checks his own energies, and becomes solid. Rather than being burned out, he's _overcharged;_ there are several rents in his costume where kinetic energy wafts off him like heat from a sprinter. /I'm fine, BTW, and-Stardragon? Would you please either a) drop the teleport block or b) get a fix on all CAoL members on this world who are _not_ at the London base?-we really _can't_ lose our own members so long as they're on the link./ Roland winces as he remembers his failed attempt to hold on to Mike and his crew. >> /It is released, Roland,/ The Stardragon says, in its small voice. It then takes form beside the entrance to the church, its small child like form leaning against one of Armagedon's feet. (OOC: I think that Zia is in the near vicinity, so) Zia's special Amberite senses, should be telling her that BOTH the Logrus and the Pattern just made personal appearances, nearby. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:37:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 02:32:17 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004170 In a message dated 98-04-28 22:08:11 EDT, you write: << Roland wrote: /Hydra, Armagedon, Nemisis, check with Stranger on coordinating reconstruction efforts with the Resistance. I want civilization's infrastructure back up and running within the day-in the hour if you can swing it. Dhyrclhanc, in Knytt's-I mean Mike's-absence, and Morgan's convalescence, you get the XO position./ >> Oracle, Hydra, and Armagedon simultaneously reply /On it./ Armageon waves a hand in the direction of the nearest coast, and a cloud of constructor sparks flash out and into the water. Moments later BILLIONS of contructor sparks flash into the sky separating, and heading towards ALL (former) major population centers on the planet. Oracle links to Hydra, who links to Armagedon, who gives instructions to each constructor. As each population center is completed, the sparks flash to secondary locations, moving steadilly downward in size, until only the smallest of crossroad hamlets are left un-repaired. All the powerplants have been replaced with matter converters (no pollution, and no blocking the streams). Communications centers have been replaced with a subspace communications network. Roads, railways, airports, and harbors have all been restored, as instructed within one hour. Outside the church sensing humans with injuries nearby, The Stardragon sends out a blast of healing energies, As it did on Quaren, only this time it encompases the entire Earth (what isn't already dead, is healed, all diseases, bacterial, and viral, are cured (at least the ones that are inside another body), amputated limbs, and organs, are restored in full health (please note that augmentations, and mutations are not affected)). =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:38:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV Mother from HQ to All Effectives On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 23:52:21 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004171 >Raver felt a chill go down their spine at the thought that someone >had witnessed her brief change. After a moment, she replied on the >Two's private connection. [There is no further difficulty...but I >would appreciate it if you would speak nothing of what you saw to >anyone. It would only stir up further trouble.] After a moment, she >added, [We appreciate your aid with our bond.] James grins, they can feel it somehow, ^What? Tell? About a lady? Or, in this case, two? I would never think of doing such a thing. My pleasure to be of assistance, ma'am, your humble servant.^ One blandishment to each of them. > Anyone looking at Raver right now would have gotten the >impression that she had bitten into something nasty. /Her?/ [We have >to work with that...angel? I am going to enjoy this ever so much.] > [I'll be there to save you from cavities, never fear.] > Raver snorted mentally, feeling better already. The wry smile >faded as she reached out to Sera on the Link in an ultra-polite tone. >/Angel. If you would teleport the stranded that we find back to the >church.../ She disappeared into the gloom of the tower stairs without >waiting for a reply, their armor seeming to absorb any visible light. *Of course, fallen sister. I shall aid your efforts to save them.* Not without a wry twist of humor from Sera herself at the situation. James and Sera And their quote: Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today. (James Dean) =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:38:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:14:47 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004172 >>She teleports from the London underground Node back to the church, >>to help with the rescue and medical efforts. She tries to trace Mike >>and companies disappearance but has no luck with it. > > Roland is briefly torn...but decides that if he doesn't kill >homicidal psychopaths, then turning Zia into guacamole dip would >_probably_ be an overreaction. > Then he turns to Sil. /Here are our healing powers. Combined with >your innate nature and the cosmic stuff you got from Phoenix, that >should make you the perfect living MASH unit./ > /On it,/ Sil replies, and appears beside Sera and Legion >physically, Rhiannon and Nemo astrally, and all other wounded >telepathically. /Folx, you want it, you got it-I'm your one-stop >fixit shop,/ she sends with a smile. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 01:04:42 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shadow Boxing - 9 Rounds... On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:06:12 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004174 >>> > (OOC: That's sort of the idea. ) >>> ^What-where did she go?^ Ariel demands. >> >>>Nyyyyyyaaaah! Sorry. I couldn't help it, really....> > > (OOC: No relation to Fiona. Really. ;^) > Chronos has no interest in 'taking' Ghostwheel-he figures he can >learn a _lot_ more through cooperative interaction. (Apparently, >Ariel is a better mother than she is a schemer. ) ^I do not >possess the prejudices of my creator. You are clearly 'real,' though >it bears noting that I cannot find any evidence of any so-called >'Shadow' being non-real. They merely possess a lower level of Pattern >or Logrus energy. All possess 'Trump' energy on some level. This of >all my findings is the only one my mistress has rejected; she is >convinced that my data is somehow in error. Though I would hope that, >given the evidence of your involvement in some covert operation >involving Roland and his army, you would consider yourself capable of >taking this 'bet,' I am willing to listen to other optins, including >different wagers or simple trading of data. Your response?^ Ghostwheel: ^Roland? Covert operation? Oh. You mean Aunt Sarah? No, that isn't my function, I was just along to watch. Let me see, we could wager on something that wasn't family business, like whether Jadis will turn traitor successfully or not. We could wager about if any other intelligensa like ourselves exist. For stakes, we can wager theory of how Shadow interplays with Symbol, exchange Symbols of which we have knowledge, exchange knowledge of the inner workings of Shadow, or even just those shadows that are useful for some odd property or another. We could discuss the two Ambers from which we originate, and attempt to rationalize differences.^ ^If you're interested in any of those?^ =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 04:11:30 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Legion and Company On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 06:30:19 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004175 >On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 08:37:36 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004133 > >She gets her cleaned up, laid comfortably in a bed (or church pew, >which is probably more comfortable than a hospital bed, anyhow), and >journeys out to the entry room. Sera walks back in carefully >balancing a hot plate, and a large mug of tea, which she places near >Legion. She will wait for her to wake, then explain how things are >progressing. Legion awakes, and sits up slowly. She reaches for the mug of tea, giving Sera a thin smile. "Thank you... we feel alot better than we have any business feeling after pulling a stunt like that." =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 04:14:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 06:56:33 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004176 >On Tue, 28 Apr 1998 18:03:55 >Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004159 > > Roland^2's eyes glaze over for a moment. "They're having a bit of >trouble with the few remaining Grey saucers, but other than that, >they've all got their bodies back and want to dish out some payback." >Roland^2 answers Chris' grin with a like one of his own. "You guys >can pretty much contact the Resistance of the whole planet right now. > "Anything you want to tell 'em?" "Yes!" The word explodes from Chris's lips about the same moment as it does Dr. Haakin's. Soon a tactical map of the world is up on the computer, marked with the most recent information they had about the Greys. It's the work of moments for Roland^2 to update the map. Then the three begin to direct a coordinated effort between the resistance cells to wipe out the Grey forces, Dr. Haakin showing a grasp of tactics which proves that her genius is not limited to medical matters. The fighting across the globe is furious, but the conclusion forgone as Earth takes back her own. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 04:14:27 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 07:08:04 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004177 >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 02:32:17 EDT >Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004170 > >Oracle, Hydra, and Armagedon simultaneously reply /On it./ Armageon >waves a hand in the direction of the nearest coast, and a cloud of >constructor sparks flash out and into the water. Moments later >BILLIONS of contructor sparks flash into the sky separating, and >heading towards ALL (former) major population centers on the planet. >Oracle links to Hydra, who links to Armagedon, who gives instructions >to each constructor. As each population center is completed, the >sparks flash to secondary locations, moving steadilly downward in >size, until only the smallest of crossroad hamlets are left un- >repaired. All the powerplants have been replaced with matter >converters (no pollution, and no blocking the streams). >Communications centers have been replaced with a subspace >communications network. Roads, railways, airports, and harbors have >all been restored, as instructed within one hour. Outside the church >sensing humans with injuries nearby, The Stardragon sends out a blast >of healing energies, As it did on Quaren, only this time it >encompases the entire Earth (what isn't already dead, is healed, all >diseases, bacterial, and viral, are cured (at least the ones that are >inside another body), amputated limbs, and organs, are restored in >full health (please note that augmentations, and mutations are not >affected)). In resistance HQ: Chris looks away from the the tactal map as Dr. Haakin's voice falters. He lunges for Victoria, catching the doctor as she is about to fall from her wheelchair in convulsions, her body soaked with sweat. Lifting her into his arms, he cradles her carefully against him. "She... was infected with some kind of virus in the early days of the invasion... She was never sure what it meant to do, but it left her crippled and fragile... she hates that..." [OOC pause in case Roland^2 wants to reveal what is happening, or comment about Chris's sudden tender side] Carefully Chris places Victoria in one of the beds, her convulsions having already eased off. He watches her worriedly. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 09:45:11 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 12:27:18 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004181 > On Tue, 28 Apr '98 > Roland Said: > /Dhyrclhanc, in Knytt's-I mean Mike's-absence, and Morgan's > convalescence, you get the XO position./ /Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you./ sends the Lensdragon, with obvious and implicit saracastic, but good-natured, humor. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 09:49:48 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 12:43:48 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004182 > On Wed, 29 Apr '98 Caprice Said > > In resistance HQ: > > Carefully Chris places Victoria in one of the beds, her convulsions > having already eased off. He watches her worriedly. Dhyrclhanc, still in his winged Lens-T'Skrang form, aproaches both Chris and Dr. Haakin. providing that not he isn't met with the business end of too many weapons, that is Placing a three-digited hand upon the good doctor's arm, he says, to Chris, "I have a modest Healing ability, thus I might be able to help." Caprice, for the moment Dhyrclhanc and I are ignoring the fact that his initial comments about who he is, the CAoL, and his offer to answer any questions, has been ignored While I'm at it, Dhyrclhanc's healing ability it purely psionic in nature and it isn't on the "fantastic, comic-level, power" range so what kind of disease/ilness is he dealing with here? =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 10:38:29 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 13:33:59 -0400 (EDT) Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00004184 >On Tue, 28 Apr 1998, Morgan wrote: > Roland^2's eyes glaze over for a moment. "They're having a bit of > trouble with the few remaining Grey saucers, but other than that, > they've all got their bodies back and want to dish out some > payback." Roland^2 answers Chris' grin with a like one of his own. > "You guys can pretty much contact the Resistance of the whole planet > right now. > "Anything you want to tell 'em?" There is a small disturbance in the local energy planes, followed by the sense of a small Gate opening. Xzerrion and Tezrantha stumble through it, followed by Dantris. The gate immediately collapses, followed by the three of them. All have several entertaining wounds, and appear quite drained of both physical and magical energy. <* No, nothing's chasing us, *> Xzerrion sends weakly. <* If you're wondering why the Grey's couldn't muster more resistance, that's what we've been up to. I'll fill you in later. For now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll pass out. *> <* OOC : I still have a lot of catching up to do, but thought this was a good way to explain their being out of touch, and thus not filled in on the latest happenings. We're back, I think. *> =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 12:39:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 11:49:40 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004187 > << Roland wrote: > /Hydra, Armagedon, Nemisis, check with Stranger on coordinating > reconstruction efforts with the Resistance. I want civilization's > infrastructure back up and running within the day-in the hour if > you can swing it. Dhyrclhanc, in Knytt's-I mean Mike's-absence, and > Morgan's convalescence, you get the XO position./ >>> /Oh fearless leader, you need to get used to the idea that from now on, we can *always* leave someone behind to monitor things. Me./ /And in this case, I'm going to have at least two of me left behind. One here, and on on the Grey's world./ =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 15:51:25 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:41:30 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004190 >While doing the medico thing at the North American Resistance Base, >Dhyrclhanc sends the following, via both broad-band telepathy and the >CAoL Lens-link, /Everybody keep me informed as to current events on >this TP frequency {}, seeing how I have become the new XO. Last >orders stand. On the off chance that the organic byproducts do hit >the bladed propulsion device, > > With group, why ever would you think that? > >give me a TP holler and I will get there faster than a seven-sector >call-out. Otherwise, we've got woulded and ill here, so any healers >who are not involved in anything else would be very helpfull to me./ From James to Mandy and Raver, thence to the link when they forward, /* Yes, Zia told us to expect them, although she doesn't believe Dr. Haakin is actually wounded. As soon as we have Nemo and Rhiannon into the ward here in London, they can help you transport the others back here as well. Or let me know if they're too injured to teleport, and I'll ask Sera to go to them.*/ James' distinctive speaking style is clear even after re-transmittal. /*You must not have caught Zia's transmission on Sil's echo earlier.*/ James _zips_ him a repeat of her plans and requests made during the 'Mother from HQ to Effectives' posting. James - "Her kisses left something to be desired -- the rest of her." =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 15:51:31 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Legion and Company On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 16:58:53 -0500 Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004191 >Legion awakes, and sits up slowly. She reaches for the mug of tea, >giving Sera a thin smile. "Thank you... we feel alot better than we >have any business feeling after pulling a stunt like that." Sera smiles, handing it over, and setting up the food where it's easy to reach without straining. "That was very brave and courageous. Hardly pulling a stunt. I've been a guardian angel for children. They pull stunts." She looks as if she remembers the children fondly however. She bustles off to check on more patients, as Zia is walking about being as much help as a non-trained person can in a medical situation. She nods to Legion, "Everything seems to be calm at the moment, and Dhyrclanc is seconding Roland, if you have anything time critical to report." She winces at the Stardragon manifests locally. I don't think any of that group will even notice the power Zia has here now, as it's not nearly (or at least, doesn't sound as if) in their 'range'. And she isn't being obvious about it, instead trying to conceal it without being obvious in the subterfuge. At Hydra's healing over the entire Earth, people all around the infirmary start to exclaim, and wounds heal by themselves. Chaos soon results. Zia leaves Legion with a quick nod, going to help a local doctor remove a half-done plaster cast on someone's arm. =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:29:05 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Shadow Boxing - 9 Rounds... On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:10:34 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004192 >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 00:06:12 -0500 >Zia Said As CAoL Message # 00004174 >>I am willing to listen to other options, including different wagers >>or simple trading of data. Your response?^ > >talking to each other about our respective Amber univeses. Want to do >it in char, or wait until you're back from a burn-out break?> (OOC: Private post coming.) >Ghostwheel: ^Roland? Covert operation? Oh. You mean Aunt Sarah? No, >that isn't my function, I was just along to watch. Let me see, we >could wager on something that wasn't family business, like whether >Jadis will turn traitor successfully or not. We could wager about if >any other intelligensa like ourselves exist. For stakes, we can wager >theory of how Shadow interplays with Symbol, exchange Symbols of >which we have knowledge, exchange knowledge of the inner workings of >Shadow, or even just those shadows that are useful for some odd >property or another. We could discuss the two Ambers from which we >originate, and attempt to rationalize differences.^ > >^If you're interested in any of those?^ ^Several, actually. I am interested in the wager on Jadis-I am of the opinion that he will attempt to betray KnightMare, and will fail. I know for a fact that others like us exist, though you are the first non-hostile being I have encountered that possesses my level of complexity or greater. I am also interested in exchanging data on my Trump imprint for yours of Pattern, and worlds with what Roland refers to as 'supers' fascinate me. Incidentally, do you possess any of your creator's thought processes? I ask out of theoretical curiosity. If such was the case, it may be possible for me to create beings like myself-in essence, offspring.^ (OOC: Are you scared? I'm scared. Man, now I know what Knytt-uh, Mike-means when he talks about characters writing themselves...) (OOC: Morgan wonders how long we'll keep typing 'Knytt-uh, Mike' when we can go back and fix it. :-) =========================== Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:29:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:23:37 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004193 >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 07:08:04 -0400 >Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004177 > >>On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 02:32:17 EDT >>Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004170 >> Roads, railways, airports, and harbors have all been restored, as >>instructed within one hour. Outside the church sensing humans with >>injuries nearby, The Stardragon sends out a blast of healing >>energies, As it did on Quaren, only this time it encompases the >>entire Earth (what isn't already dead, is healed, all diseases, >>bacterial, and viral, are cured (at least the ones that are inside >>another body), amputated limbs, and organs, are restored in full >>health (please note that augmentations, and mutations are not >>affected)). /Good work,/ Roland sends, impressed anew at the Stardragon's power. >In resistance HQ: > >Chris looks away from the the tactal map as Dr. Haakin's voice >falters. He lunges for Victoria, catching the doctor as she is about >to fall from her wheelchair in convulsions, her body soaked with >sweat. Lifting her into his arms, he cradles her carefully against >him. "She... was infected with some kind of virus in the early days >of the invasion... She was never sure what it meant to do, but it >left her crippled and fragile... she hates that..." "The Greys want to kill us, pure and simple. If I'm getting my counterpart's thoughts right, that's a healing 'pulse' sent by one of the sickeningly powerful types he hangs out with." >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004181 > >> On Tue, 28 Apr '98 >> Roland Said: >> (Mega-snip) >> /Dhyrclhanc, in Knytt's-I mean Mike's-absence, and Morgan's >> convalescence, you get the XO position./ > >/Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you./ sends the Lensdragon, with >obvious and implicit saracastic, but good-natured, humor. /You're quite welcome,/ Roland sends innocently. (OOC: I'm going to wait for Xzerrion to confirm his location before responding IC; assume that Sil is administering her presently cosmic-level healing abilities on him wherever he is, and that he'll be up and around as soon as he's ready to rejoin IC. Likewise with anyone else who needs healing. ;^) >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 11:49:40 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004187 > >/Oh fearless leader, you need to get used to the idea that from now >on, we can *always* leave someone behind to monitor things. Me./ Roland blinks confusedly. /Okay, I think I'm going to need to know as much as my 3-D brain can assimilate about the relationship between your 'extentions' and your 'greater self.' The last comments I heard implied that each was, to some extent, a sentient individual. Approximately how true is that?/ >/And in this case, I'm going to have at least two of me left behind. > One here, and on on the Grey's world./ Roland pauses, then does (in a credible Richard Moll impression) /Oooooo-kay./ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 00:34:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE 4: Healing and Resistance On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 03:18:16 -0400 Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004199 > On Wed, 29 Apr '98 Caprice Said > > After Roland^2 responds showing that he does (or does not) have the > ability to explain what is happening to her, or after you repost > showing you know what has happened to her, then they'll have some > questions. > > Time is supposed to keep everything from happening at once -- it's > not working Gee, re: the .sig; been there, done that (unfortunatly) }:=8( QX, between Dhyrclhanc's modest psionic-based healing abilities and his ultra-tech medical smart-kits he'll be able to figure that Doctor Haakin is in light shock from the Stardragon's/Hydra's forced healing energy waves. So he'll do that bio-rythm-feedback schick he did earlier with Legion/Caprice to stabilize the good doctor's life-signs, explaining what he's doing so that no over-eager Resisance soldier decides to get trigger-happy, even at this late stage. Just read Zxerrion's (sp?) post saying that his team appeared in London, not NorthAm so I'll let the crew at the church deal with them Seeing, finally, that Dr. Haakin is resting as comfortably as he can provide, Dhyrchlanc says, giving Roland^2 a strange look out the corner of his now blue and gold-flecked eyes, "I believe there was that offer that I made earlier about answering any questions that you might have?" =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 04:02:16 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE 4: Healing and Resistance On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 06:38:43 -0400 Caprice Said As CAoL Message # 00004200 >Dhyrclhanc Said As CAoL Message # 00004199 > >> On Wed, 29 Apr '98 Caprice Said >> >>>Dhyrclhanc Said >>> >>>Dhyrclhanc, still in his winged Lens-T'Skrang form, aproaches both >>>Chris and Dr. Haakin. >> >>>Placing a three-digited hand upon the good doctor's arm, he says, >>>to Chris, "I have a modest Healing ability, thus I might be able to >>>help." Chris seems almost to be grinding his teeth. "Then do it... I don't know what one of your legion-of-overkill friends did...." >Seeing, finally, that Dr. Haakin is resting as comfortably as he can >provide, Dhyrchlanc says, giving Roland^2 a strange look out the >corner of his now blue and gold-flecked eyes, "I believe there was >that offer that I made earlier about answering any questions that you >might have?" Chris lets Roland^2 have first shot at asking questions, keeping one of his hands holding one of Victoria's even as he turns his attention back to helping coordinate the assault on the Greys. It's a few minutes later when Dr. Haakin opens her eyes again, and sits up shakily. She doesn't say anything at first, just leans on Chris to steady herself. =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 04:05:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? -Yep. On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 23:11:15 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004202 > On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 18:23:37 > Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004193 > > If I'm getting my counterpart's thoughts right, that's a healing > 'pulse' sent by one of the sickeningly powerful types he hangs out > with." > Roland blinks confusedly. /Okay, I think I'm going to need to > know as much as my 3-D brain can assimilate about the relationship > between your 'extentions' and your 'greater self.' The last comments > I heard implied that each was, to some extent, a sentient > individual. Approximately how true is that?/ /We are individuals, and we are the same "person"./ /NEMO has all our sensory input and thoughts recorded as they occur, unless we are seriously "cut off". We can access any of that, plus a large amount of NEMO's "databanks". Our "personality" is a combination of the initial setup and "learned experience"./ /We generally restrict our "local storage" to memories that have shaped us, and recent memories, say the last few centuries of the the body or the body it was derived from. And we purge older memories as needed. After all, they are "backed up" if we do need them./ /So, as an example, all of me have copies of the "important memories". And all of me on this planet share memories up until the point of creation, and can share memories since that point if we need to. But the Nemo on the Grey world was split from the one in that interesting place Chaos left us. So his memories diverge at the point I was created in this world./ /And if one of us "learns" a "lesson" of sufficient importance, it becomes part of the "base" memory set, and is "downloaded" to all of us. So we learn from each other's mistakes./ /While our "earliest" memories are of the human who eventually became NEMO, and thus those of an actual, individual human, we are not truly individual. We are part of Nemo, and part of each other. While we could exist as individuals, we find the idea uncomfortable at best./ /But we are the best compromise between a transcendent[1] member of a collective[1] mind and a "real" individual that Nemo has come up with. We can are part of him, yet we can understand "normal" humans./ /And in spite of all our "experience", it's often "necessary" to make the same mistakes. :-( / Nemo's mental voice seems a bit odd at this last bit. The more powerful psis will sense that he's *heavily* filtering the emotional overtones. Unfiltered, the sadness would be enough to make a frozen rock weep. Brightening up, Nemo adds one last comment. /And short of the sort of blocks we put up here, any of me can open a "gate" to any other me. No doubt you will find this useful./ [1] As in Vernor Vinge's works (ie a Post-Singularity human from "Across Realtime" or an inhabitant of the "Transcend" from "A Fire upon the Deep". [2] as in Spider's "The Mind" or the humanity described in Marc Stiegler's "The Gentle Seduction". >>/And in this case, I'm going to have at least two of me left behind. >> One here, and on on the Grey's world./ > > Roland pauses, then does (in a credible Richard Moll impression) > /Oooooo-kay./ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:11:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:21:29 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00004209 > Oracle, Hydra, and Armagedon simultaneously reply /On it./ Armageon > waves a hand in the direction of the nearest coast, and a cloud of > constructor sparks flash out and into the water. Moments later > BILLIONS of contructor sparks flash into the sky separating, and > heading towards ALL (former) major population centers on the planet. > Oracle links to Hydra, who links to Armagedon, who gives > instructions to each constructor. As each population center is > completed, the sparks flash to secondary locations, moving steadilly > downward in size, until only the smallest of crossroad hamlets are > left un-repaired. All the powerplants have been replaced with matter > converters (no pollution, and no blocking the streams). > Communications centers have been replaced with a subspace > communications network. Roads, railways, airports, and harbors have > all been restored, as instructed within one hour. Outside the church > sensing humans with injuries nearby, The Stardragon sends out a > blast of healing energies, As it did on Quaren, only this time it > encompases the entire Earth (what isn't already dead, is healed, all > diseases, bacterial, and viral, are cured (at least the ones that > are inside another body), amputated limbs, and organs, are restored > in full health (please note that augmentations, and mutations are > not affected)). /Cool, that'll do it/ Stranger grinned mentally /is it possible to reinstate the NORAD and Russian DEW systems, point them outward and link them in to the surviving sub fleet? That with the missiles I equiped them with will give Earth a decent anti-invasion defence that's not too far beyond their tech/ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:12:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: Molly's Notes on Ley Line Storms On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:29:13 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00004210 M. J. Knight wrote: > Back to Stranger... >> /Hey/ he broadcasts generally /Can anyone tell me how much time has >> passed for the Army of Light since I was last a member?/ > > Mike sends, /3 months since last on Quaren, here. Not sure about the > rest./ He adds with a grin, /And you think we let you out that > easy?/ /Oh/ replies Stranger /It's been 210 years, subjective time, for me./ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:12:06 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE Over on Greyworld On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:57:07 -0700 Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00004211 Leonard Erickson wrote: >> > > Ask Keith Laumer. :-) > > Most folks I know assume that they are something from farther along > the progression: gatling gun -> machine gun -> min-gun (aka Vulcan) Hmmm, the term occurs in the RPG Space Opera where they're very high ratte of gyrojet type weapons, that's why I ask, wondered if they were the same thing. >> "There is a library nexus located 12 miles to the northwest of >> here, on the small island you will find there. If you are as >> powerful as you seem you may be able to reverse engineer our >> protocols from the translator device." > > Nemo will get to work on the reverse engineering. Doesn't take too long. Essentially it confirms a lot of what the rebels have said. Grey society is almost a hive system, though, with a leader caste and a warrior caste. They really are prepared to be wiped out by a stronger race, although internally they co-operate, apart from when a leader challanges another. The strongest leader acts as racial leader. One of the 'rebels' appears to be a leader caste Grey. > Nemo will continue working his way "down" the existing heirarchy, > and will ask his "allies" who they think will be most "in tune" with > them. He'll help the allies contact them as well. > > This should let me work from both ends of the "political spectrum", > and by letting my Grey allies do the contacting of their > sympathizers, that should minimize the culture shock. > > Oh yes, I'll ask my allies which they think is best, putting the > former leaders in stasis, or if sticking them in some sort of > "internment facility" might help them change their minds. > > permanent one that didn't involve mass executions. I'm hoping that > seeing (large) numbers of their people co-operating with me will > make *them* the stressed out ones. :-)> If enough Greys follow the rebels the original leader will yield to the new one, contacting leader after leader, it looks like about 40% of the populous will support the new leader, enough of the rest may be persauded by some show of strength or an act of overt superiority by the rebel leader. The pasting that Grey forces on Earth are getting will help. You manage to isolate the Grey telepathic bands, using their library, too. Are you keeping the rest of the CAoL informed of this BTW? =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 21:24:50 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE Over on Greyworld On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 20:20:34 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004218 > On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:57:07 -0700 > Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00004211 > > If enough Greys follow the rebels the original leader will yield to > the new one, contacting leader after leader, it looks like about 40% > of the populous will support the new leader, enough of the rest may > be persauded by some show of strength or an act of overt superiority > by the rebel leader. > The pasting that Grey forces on Earth are getting will help. I'll offer the Leader Grey command authority over the Bolos, but subordinate to mine. That should help him provide a show of strength, but not endanger anyone off world. > You manage to isolate the Grey telepathic bands, using their > library, too. > > Are you keeping the rest of the CAoL informed of this BTW? We've been a bit busy. But I'm not trying to keep it secret. Matter of fact, I'm trying to figure out how to extract the surviving Greys on Earth without pissing off the Resistance, or compromising the "rebel" position on the Grey homeworld. And I've stated that I've got their world occupied. To the "rebel" leader. ^Which is best for your success, rescuing the remainder of your race from Earth, or leaving them to their fate?^ Relayed to a Nemo on Earth, and then through the link. /We have a possibility of peace with the Greys./ More info will follow, but a lot depends on the rebel leader's response. =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 21:24:57 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 19:46:14 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004219 > On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 23:21:29 -0700 > Stranger Said As CAoL Message # 00004209 > > /Cool, that'll do it/ Stranger grinned mentally /is it possible to > reinstate the NORAD and Russian DEW systems, point them outward and > link them in to the surviving sub fleet? That with the missiles I > equiped them with will give Earth a decent anti-invasion defence > that's not too far beyond their tech/ Nemo responds. /The Grey homeworld is currently under miltary occupation by myself and some friends. I'm working on several possiblities for "neutralizing" the problem at that end./ /The current systems aren't really suitable for defense against space attack. But I know that several countries have designs that are at least minimally adequate that they never built. Mostly for budget or political reasons. Since one of me will be staying here, I have no problem with helping them build their own designs and emplacing them./ /And yes, I do mean *help*. There's no benefit in my doing everything for them. I'll probably ask the occasional "leading question" if they are overlooking something that would be dangerous. But they get to come up with the solution./ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 21:25:03 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Thu, 30 Apr 1998 21:08:42 Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00004220 >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 13:33:59 -0400 (EDT) >Xzerrion Said As CAoL Message # 00004184 >There is a small disturbance in the local energy planes, followed by >the sense of a small Gate opening. Xzerrion and Tezrantha stumble >through it, followed by Dantris. The gate immediately collapses, >followed by the three of them. All have several entertaining wounds, >and appear quite drained of both physical and magical energy. <* No, >nothing's chasing us, *> Xzerrion sends weakly. <* If you're >wondering why the Grey's couldn't muster more resistance, that's what >we've been up to. I'll fill you in later. For now, if you'll excuse >me, I think I'll pass out. *> (He also said OOC:) >Hmm, probly London. Xzerrion tracked in on the power signature from >the CAoL sigils. (OOC: C'mon, Xzerrion, yer makin' me look bad here. ) /Grife, Xzerrion-/ Roland begins, then decides that conversing with an unconscious man won't do anyone much good. /Sil./ /On it./ Sil generates hospital beds under Xzerrion and Tezrantha, and a harness for Dantris, and begins using the combined powers of her cosmic imbuement, Roland's biopower, and Morgan's Life magick to heal them. (Note: She's doing this for all CAoL wounded, so anyone who needs to be unconscious for a while has an excuse.) /They should be fine, though they have several entertaining wounds./ /I've never found any wounds to be entertaining, myself,/ Roland notes dryly. >On Wed, 29 Apr 1998 23:11:15 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004202 > >/We are individuals, and we are the same "person"./ > >/NEMO has all our sensory input and thoughts recorded as they occur, > unless we are seriously "cut off". We can access any of that, plus a > large amount of NEMO's "databanks". Our "personality" is a > combination of the initial setup and "learned experience"./ /Okay, I just wanted to make sure that none of your 'selves' would object to a permanent post on alien or extradimensional worlds,/ Roland notes. >/But we are the best compromise between a transcendent[1] member of a > collective[1] mind and a "real" individual that Nemo has come up > with. We can are part of him, yet we can understand "normal" > humans./ /Useful./ >/And in spite of all our "experience", it's often "necessary" to make > the same mistakes. :-( / > >Nemo's mental voice seems a bit odd at this last bit. The more >powerful psis will sense that he's *heavily* filtering the emotional >overtones. Unfiltered, the sadness would be enough to make a frozen >rock weep. Roland's mental shields flare brightly for a moment, though a single tear forces its way out of one eye. >Brightening up, Nemo adds one last comment. > >/And short of the sort of blocks we put up here, any of me can open a > "gate" to any other me. No doubt you will find this useful./ /Exceedingly. My thanks./ =========================== Date: Thu, 30 Apr 1998 22:06:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Heal, Regroup, and Onward? On Fri, 1 May 1998 00:54:25 EDT Dane0R0A Said As CAoL Message # 00004221 << Stranger wrote: /Cool, that'll do it/ Stranger grinned mentally /is it possible to reinstate the NORAD and Russian DEW systems, point them outward and link them in to the surviving sub fleet? That with the missiles I equiped them with will give Earth a decent anti-invasion defence that's not too far beyond their tech/ >> /Technology shouldn't be a problem for them now. I intend to leave the instruction and supers booths operational. That means that this Earth's technology just jumped forward, about 200 years. The bases you mention CAN be re-activated, and enhanced, though,/ Hydra says. Armagedon, receiving instructions from Hydra, directs the clouds of constructors to repair and upgrade the equipment and bases of this Earth. Minutes later all the world's major millitary bases are duplicates of the London base. They are all tied together with sub-space and hyper-space communications equipment, and all are keyed to the London base (so that the Major in the London base can inform all the bases who to allow in). Then the clouds flash into the sky, to eighteen locations in geosynchronus orbit above the equator. A few minutes suffices to create giant space-station bases, with the same weapons, defenses, and sensors as the bases on the Earth. Power for these bases is supplied by cosmic absorbtion (ala E.E. Doc. Smith's Lensman and Skylark series'), and 300K tons of matter conversion as backup. /There that should secure the planet, and if it doesn't, well../ Hydra says, as he leans over and places somthing like a small room or booth against the wall of the church, to the right of the door. /"This contains a panic button. If the defenses I have arranged for you to have are, or are about to be, overcome, push that button. It will call Oracle, or myself to come to your aid."/ He says to the major. /I think that should cover it/ he finishes. /I will have Armagedon stay here to back them up, until they can educate enough people to maintain, and operate the bases./ =========================== Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 04:05:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE IV: Resistance wrap-up On Fri, 1 May 1998 00:03:59 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004225 > /Okay, I just wanted to make sure that none of your 'selves' > would object to a permanent post on alien or extradimensional > worlds,/ Roland notes. /That's standard operating procedure for us. Unless there's a good reason *not* to stick around, we observe to see the consequences on any intervention may be. Even if we leave the world, there's usually an entire universe to explore./ =========================== Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 04:05:21 -0700 (PDT) Subject: AAE4: The Grey War, Aftermath On Fri, 1 May 1998 00:48:53 PST Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004226 The Time: Sometime after the end The Place: Near the ruins of a Grey Installation that has been set aside as a "War Memorial". Nemo has finished burying the last Grey remains he could locate on Earth. The markers are simple, as the human don't much care, and the Greys aren't terribly interested (OOC: that's how I read them). He stares across the acres of graves, and with other senses, looks over the human graveyards holding their dead from the war. He seems lost in thought. The sun is about to set when he next moves. "It's not theirs, after all they don't mourn this way. But somehow it seems to fit.", he says to himself. As he straightens his clothes chnge to a simple, stark black. Then, in a deep voice, he begins to sing... "Soldier, ask not - now or ever, Where to war your banners go. The old Friendly soldier's hymn is stark, but moving. Nemo finishes it, and leaves the graves to eternity. =========================== Date: Fri, 1 May 1998 06:12:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: Re: AAE4: The Grey War, Aftermath On Fri, 1 May 1998 07:37:47 -0500 Mike Said As CAoL Message # 00004227 >On Fri, 1 May 1998 00:48:53 PST >Nemo Said As CAoL Message # 00004226 > >"Soldier, ask not - now or ever, > Where to war your banners go. Molly, the thirtysomething one, and Jack stroll over a small knoll, passing between the simple grave markers. Molly has on her fancy 20's barnstormer's outfit, and there is a small black band on her left arm. Though she never opens her mouth, her singing carries across the cemetary, which is reminiscient of Lucy Lawless's. She stands at Nemo's side for the last two lines: "Baptized in our wounds, red-flowing, Sealed unto our Lord - alone!" >The old Friendly soldier's hymn is stark, but moving. Nemo finishes >it, and leaves the graves to eternity. Molly and Jack follow along, musing silently. > ===========================