Thaleia whooped as she sped across the ice in a revamped Tundra Buggy[1] racing two other techies from S.P.A.R.T.A.N.[2] She startled a group of Polar Bears as she sped by at 190mph. All of a sudden, her base commander's face appeared upon the viewscreen. "Hello Trooper." he said without preamble, "I've orders from HQ to round up all personel and bring back to base to await further instructions. Do try to get back within the next couple of hours." "Will do. But what's up?" asked Thaleia. "New spongin activity. Here's a copy of the order." he said as he downloaded the file onto the Buggy's main computer: ___________________________________________ ATTN: All Dobermensch Subject: Real Big Nice-Making Array B'harniian Forces assembling mass spongification array. Elements of the array in transit to locations around world. Destroy elements and search for transmitter coordinates. Specific details to follow. Fleet Commander Aurelius Invid Manticore Samhain Commander Osiris Artemis Cyrene Inagei ___________________________________________ "Sounds like fun." she said with a nasty grin. "Now Trooper, I now you've itching for the opportunity to kick some serious spongin ass but I feel it's my duty to warn you...." "That's nice." she interrupted, "but you know how much I'm hoping I'll be selected." He smiled knowingly, "That's true, but remember al..." he was cut off then as a red light came on behind him. "Oh! If you'll just excuse me for a minute." He quickly trotted to the station. When he came back his face was grave. "I need you back at the station right now! I'm recalling all vehicles. Get your rear in gear and move it!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 minutes later.... Thaleia strode into the briefing room and was treated to an astounding sight. Pretty well all base personel were assembled in the room. She quickly sat in an empty seat as the commander started. "As you all have read," he began, "DE HQ has dicovered the existance of some spongin arrays which they are worried about. Well, we have discovered such an array near here." A murmur rippled theough the audience. The commander waited for it to die down. "As of yet we have been ordered by HQ intell to observe but, not to make a strike against it until they gain more info about them." He paused for a moment, "However HQ has told us to prepare to be shipped off to different locations. So, I want everyone ready to leave on half a minutes notice and I want in five minutes. That will be all." As the commander left the platform a swell of voices broke out whith a multitude of questions as people left to prepare. As people filed out in order, Thaleia stayed in her seat and prayed to Grimace that she would get her chance to do something soon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] A Tundra Buggy is a six wheeled truck of gigantic proportions that has tires that put monster trucks to shame [2] S.P.A.R.T.A.N.: Sub-Polar/Arctic Research, Technology, and Arms Nucleus. Located outside Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.