Operation: Home Front, Interlude.

      by Warrior Aphrodite Persephone, Doberman Empire.

      Persephone sighed contentedly and slid deeper into the tub. She blew a
 few bubbles off the tips of her fingers as the steamy waters slowly eased
 her road-weary muscles.
      *This is the life, Zaph. It's been way too long since we've had the
 chance to properly pamper ourself.*
      *Hmmm... * the dragon purred in agreement. *I do think that many of
 your customs are rather strange, but even I must admit these "bubble baths"
 are wonderful.*
      As the two relaxed, letting the water soothe both body and soul,
 Persephone found her thoughts drifting back over the last couple of days.
 *Ahh...* she sighed, *things really have a strange way of working out,
 don't they? I mean, last year this time, my life was in pieces. And now, I
 have you, the Empire, and have met the most intriguing person.*
      The dragon snorted.
      *Well... you at least have to admit he's not like anybody else we've
 ever known.... he's...* Confused, Persephone let her mind go, as she
 replayed their conversations from the last few days - trying to get a grip
 on her emotions.
      *Pers? Not to interrupt, but you do know that Sam might not be overly
 pleased about the lastest... developments, don't you?*
      Her bubble of happiness suddenly burst. *Why in Grimace's name should
 he care!?* the Warrior snapped back.
      *Well... it is rather unusual, isn't it? The mixing of JAO's and
 such?*
      *So? There aren't any regs against it or anything. Besides it's my
 personal business - it has nothing to do with the Empire, the Jihad, or
 anybody else except Will and I!*
      *If you say so... just don't say I didn't warn you.*
      Pers relented, *I will. And Zaph? Thanks for looking out for me.*
      *No problem.*
      The two settled back into the water, relaxing again. A scant few
 minutes later, their peaceful interlude was interrupted by the prudish,
 mechanical voice of Mr. Chips, the Warrior's personal AI/desktop computer.
 "Warrior Persephone, an urgent message has just arrived from Dobe HQ. You
 are to report for duty immediately."
      Pers sighed in disgust. "So much for the pampering. Chips, have
 Brackard meet me in my office in 15 minutes."
      "It'll be my pleasure, Sir."
      "I'm sure it will..." the Warrior muttered, wondering what new torture
 the computer had in mind for her friend. Sighing, she hauled herself out of
 the water. "Duty calls... again." It was too bad that nobody was around to
 notice the heavy sarcasm in her voice.

      ...

      About fifteen minutes later, Persephone stood in her office, arms
 crossed in front of her chest, wondering what was keeping Brackard and the
 AI. Just then, she heard indignant shouting coming from the hallway
 outside. Hiding a smile, she sat down behind her desk and connected to the
 Doberman Empire's network. She immediately spotted the three new messages
 from the Fleet Commander and opened them first, ignoring her other mail.
 Pers quickly skimmed the first two, surprised by neither the universal
 recall nor the Northern base's specific orders. The subject of the third
 message gave her pause though, and she slowed down to read it in more
 detail.
      *Personal orders?* she muttereed curiously to Zaph.
      She was in the process of reading that last message when the
 disturbance from the hallway erupted into her office. Persephone glanced up
 from the monitor, and she felt her mouth drop open in shock.
      "Brackard?"
      The man who had just enetered her offce, dangling ungainly from a
 robotic arm, stopped his kicking and squirming just long enough to offer
 her a quick salute.
      "Yes, Ma'am. Reporting as requested."
      While his attention was diverted elsewhere, the robotic arm released
 its cargo, and Brackard fell to the ground with a solid thump.
      "Oof!"
      Pers shook her head ruefully, "Chips, behave yourself!"
      The computer grumbled quietly but finally fell silent. Frowning and
 glaring a bit at the machine on the Warrior's desk, Brackard dusted himself
 off and took a seat in a nearby armchair. He waited patiently for his CO to
 continue, knowing her habits well.
      Persephone sat looking at him and pondered what her next move should
 be. "How much have you heard about my forray into Kansas?"
      He eyed her quizically. "Not much - only what the FC mentioned in his
 message."
      The Warrior paused momentarily and her eyes began to sparkle
 devilishly. "That will change shortly. For now, Nelson has been placed in
 charge of the base and its mission. I need you and Ryser to come with me."
      "While the rest of the base is sent out to cover other areas, we are
 going to stay here. We've been given the assignment of taking out the Array
 Elements[tm] located in nearby Ely. However, in addition, the FC has
 requested that, in our case at least, minimal force should be used. He
 wants us to gather as much information as we can regarding the main
 generator and the locations of other array elements."
      Brackard looked at her in disbelief. "And how in Grimace's name are we
 to do that!?"
      The sparkle in her eyes deepend. "Well, in the immortal words of
 Hannibal Smith... I have a plan."

      To Be Continued...