| From: | Ereskanti@***.com Ereskanti@***.com |
|---|---|
| Subject: | [Story] Log Entry (First Translation) |
| Date: | Mon, 31 May 1999 10:46:39 EDT |
down the reactors in the Arc last week. It's taken me a few days to
recuperate, and I really think I'm glad too. Everyone else is downstairs
working out the beginnings of their group. Let 'em have it, I wish them luck.
-=-=-=-
CTAC <04:40:30/02-27-61>
Everyone is unloading their jymmies from the van. Several people, and from
the general appearances, a small army. 4 Humanaform drones, true robots for
all intents and purposes. Kenny is helping them unload stuff, gods I am so
glad I managed to get him fixed after that last messup for this.
###Comscheck: Frank, Hive, you guys there?###
[Frankenstein] Clear, like that should matter. Hive is busy uploading the
additional mapsofts and routing programs into the Jyms. HAL is getting
Goliath and Igor into prepmode. We're also getting a clear reading from
Conspyre. She's waiting just underwater for us.
[Padre] Good. Damn, doesn't he look scarey Herc?
[Frankenstein] Yes, yes he does.
###Image camera panorams over the bow of the Eisenhower, here in dock at the
old shipyards. We still don't know why it was moved up here back in the late
teens. Might have been a leftover consideration in the US's final days. Who
knows.###
[Jynx] I'm online and ready. Calling now.
###The female form moves over the waters edge, her hands reach into the
water, cold and briny Puget. Her eyes glimmer, reflecting the dark lights of
the city on the opposite side like a cats', the shoreline edge of the boat
ramp seems to shiver.###
[Jynx] The waters are with us, they say there is activity.
###Water breaks just next to her, and a man in a black suit strides out of
the water like it was his home.###
[Tempest] She's right, there is activity down there. But I think I can get
us past it.
[HAL] Countermeasure units are ready, but not active.
[Greaser] Let's do this then.
###The suits are sealed, and the upboard of Conspyre is just visible beneath
the surface. Everyone moves into place ... the Crash Testers, Frank's Igor
and Scorpions ... Tempest gets in the lead ... Kenny attaches the trailing
line to Conspyre, his gyrosphere motivator having extended it's rotor blades
for marine operations. We're getting hold of the tow line or clasping
handles on Conspyre. No one's running her from inside this time. That's
Hives' job far away in the Dark Tower, and he's doing a good job of it.
Things get dark fast.
Virtual Overlap displays move onto the HUD units from the Crewtacs. We're
going absolute dead down here. Tempest is out in front, his unaugmented
styles are keeping well ahead of us. Myself and Artemis occasionally take
peaks into the astral environs, just to make sure of things. The spirit is
there, keeping us concealed as best it can. I can see the schools of
Glo-krill moving up ahead of us as well. Time for the next step.
Artemis begins the phase of her spellcasting. Modified Crowd Scenes made out
to become "fish schools" are woven. I do my part, and interweave threading
and masking to hide the astral precepts of the magic and to protect it from
any astral predators.###
[Greaser] I've got movement.
[HAL] So do I, Tempest?
[Tempest] Already see her, changing course now.
###As he moves, the GPS and Orientation Guidance systems in his Crewtac send
modifications down to all the rest of us. The Jyms do the powering, and
Conspyre sways in a strangely graceful arc, continuing to take us further
down into the sound. In the darkness, mirrored only by the glo-krill, a
shape looms out. One of the subs, an attack submarine that the UCAS has put
down here in case anyone tries the reverse of what we are doing. Infrasound
passives on Conspyre show no noise, she's running dead silent. I can't
imagine what it would be like to a crewmember on board her right now. No
noise ... for weeks at a time.
We continue our descent to the bottom reaches of the sound, just skirting
above the silt and filth layers that have descended down to this place.
Tempest keeps right on moving, barely slowing down for the change of
direction as we begin to reascend on the Seattle-side of the sound. And the
Arc.###
(more)
