From: will.keith@mail.utexas.edu (William J. Keith) Subject: Operation: Phoenix - Battle's Eve (Will Keith and Matt Korth) Date: 1996/05/13 Message-ID: organization: University of Texas - Austin newsgroups: alt.tv.barney,alt.barney.dinosaur.die.die.die,alt.tv.the-jihad On a hill overlooking the Gate, two warriors prepared to implement their plan; weaponry capable of blasting through solid steel was aimed carefully at a delicate set of equipment visible from the outside. ³You know, Keith, when I took sniper training, TRES Headquarters was not high on my list of potential targets.² ³Well, learning how to interface a CompTech A-4 with a plasma rifle wasnıt a topic of interest in Programming, for that matter. Howıs the sight?² ³Relax, will you? I know what Iım doing. Under these conditions and with a stationary target, I could carve my name in the sensor. Just make sure their guy can hit that little camera youıve got. We went through some trouble to get that.² ³Really? I wouldnıt call that trouble...² ...Just a couple of sponges looking the place over; they clearly didnıt think that anything of use was in the building. After demolishing the transmitters to stop Ensign Keithıs message(shortly to be Lieutenant, though he didnıt know it yet), the Xıhirjq must have left without bothering to search the building. Not that his battlesuit would have seemed like much in lockdown - just a set of overlapping plates of something reflective, in the approximate shape of a wrecked motorcycle. Korth finished his circuit and rejoined Keith at the front of the building. ³Not a problem. Iıve got a couple of Jolt solids, which should suffice if we can immobilize them. Theyıre armed with what looks like a mace - ² ³Theyıre called Boppers. Theyıre basically maces, but the spines are tasers. A touch anywhere can immobilize an opponent long enough for the actual hitting to do the job. Getting close means disarming them first.² ³Still not much of a problem. Here...² He handed Keith one of the pellets and shifted his stance. ³Iıll take the one to the right. This should be a cakewalk.² The pair broke cover and charged, although in this case it was more of a saunter. The sponges, temporarily confused at the lack of heavy-fire weaponry being aimed at them by the men in the bad uniforms, collected such thoughts as existed and raised their weapons. A near-casual encounter resulted in the brief flashes of a rifle butt and blade knocking aside two maces, a variety of fast wrestling maneuvers, and two sponges laying on the ground in Unhealthy Snack(tm) Shock. Once in, finding the mecha and retrieving the computer was a matter of seconds. Detaching the optical setup took somewhat more time, but was quickly accomplished. Keith packed the equipment and stood up to find Korth gazing out the foyer window. ³Hey, Keith?² ³Yeah?² ³We forgot something.² ³Whatıs that?² He shouldered the pack. ³They have to report to someone.² Keith pondered a moment. ³So? They wonıt be missed until the end of the shift.² ³Actually, itıs here.² ³Lizard?² Korth nodded. ³Dark red. I think itıs looking for someone specific.² Keith leaned against the wall. ³Damn. Of course they would have found it. They left it here and hoped Iıd come back to get it. And now an immortal warrior is going to want me dead the moment it sees me.² Korth moved away from the window. ³So we donıt let it see us. Thereıs got to be another way out of here.² ³Back entrance, sure, but theyıve certainly got it watched.² ³Donıt be so negative. They could have put more resources on this if the Lizard wanted. My bet is this is all it could round up for a personal vendetta in the middle of a war.² ³Okay, letıs try it.² They searched the back rooms of the building until they found the exit they wanted. A low-level scan turned up no lifeforms in visual range. As they exited, a loud roar was followed by the unusual event of a sponge body flying across the street and hitting a wall. ³I think he found the sponges. HAUL ASS!² The two ran until several corners were between them and the enraged Xıhirjq, when Matt stumbled and grabbed his head. ³Matt, whatıs wrong?² ³Ow... I think itıs communicating with its leaders. Iım catching the fringe of a high-band telepathic transmission. Why arenıt you... oh yeah.² ³Sometimes a block has its advantages. Letıs go. Can you pick anything out?² ³Sheıs requesting some sort of personnel. And something about... smell? I think sheıs insulting us.² ³Maybe we offend. The nose of a reptilian probably isnıt used to the bouquet of a mammalian.² ³Not to mention being in the wilds for days on end. Iıd trade this rifle for a shower.² ³Youıll get your wish soon enough if my transmission got through. Weıll know if we can see the equipment on the Gate.² It was there. And as noon approached, Keith keyed in the first message and prepared to send it over. ³Ready, Matt?² ³Load it in.² APOLOGIZE FOR CAPS LOCK. MEMORY LIMITED. MATT KORTH AND WILLIAM KEITH WISH TO COORDINATE ENTRANCE INTO HQ. STOP. ³Loaded. Fire when ready.² Matt pulled the trigger, feeling a slight kick-stutter as the low-power beam transmitted the information at high frequency across the gap separating the two devices. About a minute later, Keith sighted along the optical sensor as the Gate personnel fired back. The computer picked up the variations in light intensity and translated with the program his previous unit had worked out. UNDERSTOOD. ALL PERSONNEL ENTRANCES UNDER ATTACK. AERIAL TRANSPORT ONLY, AND THAT UNDER HEAVY FIRE. STOP. ³Okay, we donıt have a plane handy just now. Mine got shot down, and so did both of your teamıs. Suggestion?² ³If a plane can get in, we can too. Howıs your skill at rock climbing?² ³The launching tunnels? You do have guts. I think we can mount the face of the rock to tunnels... 3 or 5. Which one?² ³If I remember that face correctly, 5 would be a more difficult climb. On the other hand, itıs less exposed. I think 5 is the best choice.² RECOMMEND CANCEL LAUNCHES FROM LAUNCHING TUNNEL FIVE. WILL ATTEMPT ENTRANCE THERE. STOP. YOU ARE INSANE. PLAN APPROVED. EXECUTING. STOP. It was mid-afternoon by the time Will and Matt had made their way to the base of the mountain wherein resided the Pyramid. The sun glanced off the casing of the launch tunnel and bronzed the rocky land around them. Crags and ledges dotted the surface of the mountain, broken by ravines small and large. As they watched, the heat haze washed the path in mirage. ³Flyby.² As had happened dozens of times in the past few hours, the two dropped to the ground and tried to pretend they were rocks as a Luv Fighter or the strange Xıhirjq jets passed overhead. No ground forces had been patrolling this side, the enemy forces assuming that it was unnecessary. Every now and then a Jihad fighter roared out above them or returned from holding pattern, keeping watch over the skies. ³Letıs go.² The path up the mountainside was easy enough for its slope; the forbidding juts and crevasses provided handholds and footrests, and ledges the occasional resting spot. On one such ledge the soldiers tried again to gauge their progress. ³Looks like weıre nearly there, Iıd say - Ow! That flashes bright!² ³Flashes? The sunıs sitting still - and there are no planes in the air. Where could a moving light source be... oh, screw.² Korth dropped to the ledge and carefully peered over. There they were. Just below them, two Lizards in battle gear were snuffling their way up the slope in the path the two had taken. He kept his voice low. ³Will, take a look at this.² ³What... oh. That must have been what you picked up about smell. They must be some sort of tracker.² ³Yeah, no kidding.² He readied his rifle over the ledge. ³Easy shot...² Will looked up. ³No, wait!² Matt pulled the trigger - and felt the kick-stutter as the low-power beam engaged and dealt the Lizard the equivalent of a tap on the head. It looked around for a moment, confused, then looked up and snarled. Korth thrust the rifle at Will. ³Get the power back to full, and cut the text out. Letıs move. The ledgeıll provide cover for a minute.² ³I canıt fiddle with the text now... here.² They started up the rock face, moving as fast as possible. After crossing over a small crag, Korth turned and readied. The first Xıhirjq to cross over the ridge they had come from caught a full-power shot which splintered its helmet. Dodging return fire, the two Jihaddi scrambled up the few feet which separated them from the lip of the launch tunnel. ³Thatıs a long tunnel, Matt.² ³Thatıs a long, bare, coverless tunnel, Will.² Running at top speed, zigzagging, they started shouting to the pilots and maintenance personnel visible in the hangar beyond. Shortly, several Jihaddi had lined up at the tunnel entrance and readied weapons. As the Lizards jumped the lip to the tunnel, Keith and Korth broke for the sides as a barrage of fire slammed into the trackers. Lizards are violent, war-crazed scumbags, but theyıre brave enough when they want to be. Facing horrific odds, but with their target in front of them, they screamed a war-cry of voice and mind and charged Will and Matt, firing at them and the Jihaddi in front of them. On both sides, plasma bolts and laser fire pinged off armor, ripped apart walls and flesh, or buzzed past to open air. Matt and Will pelted hell-for-leather down the tunnel. One Xıhirjq finally went down, but the other was firing until they entered the hangar and the officer in charge slammed the control which closed the blast doors. ***** I leaned against the wall just inside the heavy blast door, breathing heavily. It'd been close, but we'd gotten in. 'course, it was about a step ahead of a pair of X'hirjq tracker/hunters (aren't they all?), but we'd made it. "C'mon, Keith... we'd better go report in. We need to find out who's in command. Plus, I need a recharge on this," I said, pointing to my plasma rifle, which was reading about 3% charge remaining. We stood up and began weaving our way through the mazelike lower corridors of TRES headquarters. ***** The Command Center was even more chaotic than usual. With the X'hirjq/Minion attack well underway, there were techs running around trying to keep the command systems in operational condition, as well as the status reports and orders being shouted back and forth. I grabbed one of them as he ran by me with a replacement part for a console. "Who's in command right now?" I asked. "Admiral Marburger, sir. He's right over there," came the reply, as the tech pointed the admiral out to me. The tech continued on his way. Keith and I headed for the admiral. "Reporting for duty, Admiral," I said as we approached. "About time, Korth," he said shortly. "We're fairly shorthanded in here. Just about everyone is out on the defenses." In a lower tone of voice, he added, "We've got a problem. You and Keith, come over here." We followed him over to an isolated corner of the room. "Keith, we received your data on the com traffic. Weıve come to some bad conclusions.² "A traitor." I said. ³Even one could jeopardize this defense, given the odds against us.² ³You knew?² Keith handed over the hard copy of our search. ³Yes, this is our guy. Heıs either that or a mole. We're not sure which, yet--whoever this is is good. We've broken his code, but we haven't been able to get a fix on the position he transmits from yet." "So I take it that our job will be to *find* the bastard?" "Exactly." "Sir," Keith asked, "what do we know about... our friend? What sort of information has he been transmitting?" "The information we've been intercepting is fairly low-level stuff. Whoever this is, is probably a low-ranking officer, from what we've gotten. We've narrowed the transmission's origin down to the lower half of the pyramid, but we haven't been able to get any further." "Great," I muttered. Trying to track someone through the pyramid would be extremely difficult. The corridors were great for defense, but lousy if you were trying to catch a traitor. "A place where literally *anyone* in TRES is authorized to be. This is going to be *fun*. Come on, Keith... we've got some work to do." ***** "I was going to put you to work on sealing the security hole that allowed the mailbomber to get in," I remarked, "but this takes precedence. I need you to get some more sensitive equipment that we can use to fix this asshole's position with. Do what you have to--borrow, steal, kill. Make some if you need to, but we've got to pinpoint the transmissions." "Right," Keith said. He headed off toward the communications labs. Meanwhile, I had some drudge work to do. I sat down at one of the JihadNet terminals, reconfiguring it for other duties. Research time. I got a current TRES roster, complete with current duty assignments, from the computer. The printout was fairly intimidating in size, but I had to start somewhere. I also got the records of the transmissions that the mole had made. Given the information that was leaking, I figured that "our friend" was probably no more than full Lieutenant. I crossed the names off. I also crossed off anyone who'd been in TRES for more than a year or so (on the theory that our security procedures couldn't be *that* bad). A few hours later, the list was approaching almost manageable proportions. ***** The list of good candidates for the mole was down to about 100 or so. It was a start, anyway... but now I needed to be able to track down the mole. With 100 to choose from, it was both impractical and a bad idea to go around asking everybody where they were when the last transmission had been made. If word of what we were doing got out, we'd have to deal with morale problems (the guy standing next to you could be a spy!), as well as the real spy simply ceasing transmissions. I called for Ensign Keith over my comlink. No reply. I repeated the transmission, and got the same reply (nothing, that is!). I quickly checked out the comm lab (he wasn't there). This was becoming serious. I spent the next several hours quietly fuming, and looking to see if I could trim my list down some more. I also paged Keith several times, to no avail. ***** (Authorıs note: This section sets up the basis for a number of character ³extras.² It can, roughly, be skipped without affecting the continuity of this part of Operation: Phoenix. Simply note that I get the tracking equipment desired. Pronunciation Guide: Sidhe - ³Shee² ; Nudd - ³Neeth² ; Taliesin - Tal-YESS-in ; Cwn Annwn - Koon an-NOON) I had been heading to the Com labs for only a minute when an explosion gently shook the Pyramid. Something heavy had apparently gotten through the defense grid. This conclusion was supported a moment later, and replaced in priority by consideration of the possibility that something had hit me, and that I was now unconscious. The sight of a heavy piece of ceiling laying on my prone form below me, although confusing in other respects, cleared this up considerably. ³Excuse me, I seem to be a bit lost.² Nice voice. Male. One you could have a conversation with. One you could trust. I wished I could see the owner. ³Iım behind you, actually. Or above you, as the case may be.² I turned. The face matched the voice - fair hair above a pleasant face, shape in trim condition, overall youthful appearance. The clothes, though, were either six hundred years out of date or well beyond it. A tunic and trews of some soft, slightly shimmering material were the basic pattern, rounded out with a pair of finely worked boots and a greyish-blue cloak. A sword belt held a vaguely English midweight one-hander. ³Um...² He smiled. ³A bit awkward, I know, but youıre a hard man to contact via the mind. Unconsciousness was the best I could do to get you here, and no one else seems to have a mind that works on an appropriate wavelength.² ³Ah.² I thought a moment, or at least tried to. ³Why couldnıt you speak to me in... person, as it were?² He grew serious. ³The imramms have ceased, and we obey the word of His Keltic Majesty in such decisions. Therefore, human knowledge of our existence is something we will not permit, nor will we interfere with your lives until such time as you meet each other once more.² ³His... Keltic Majesty?² ³Aye. You are not expected to know of this.² ³Imramms?² ³Those either.² ³And you would be...?² ³Powyl ap Denwic, of the Solas Sidhe, at your service.² He bowed slightly. ³Chosen for my relative youth among our kind, that I would not frighten you with the depth that later comes to us.² Okay, thought had returned. ³This is stuff straight out of the Keltiad. What kind of joke are you trying to pull?² ³The Keltiad? A tale of Kelts? Ah, perhaps you mean our Keltichronicon.² ³Yeah, they call it that at the beginning of the books. And if you donıt mind, Iıve got a job to do.² As I turned to go, he called out behind me. ³But I need your help, sir. And, to be honest, you wonıt be able to go anywhere like that until youıve helped me.² Like that? I looked down at myself(the one standing, not the one on the floor). I did look rather insubstantial. In fact, as I watched, a pair of soldiers came down the corridor and saw me lying there; passing *through* both of us, they attempted to wake me, then called for some medics over the comlinks. ³Alright, I believe you. This is blackmail, by the way.² ³It shall be made so that any goals you would have reached during this time will be achieved.² ³Iıll choose to believe you on that. So, what is it you need of me?² ³The location of this place with regards to the center of the Hanging Dance. To the mile will be sufficient accuracy.² ³The Hanging Dance... I remember. Morrison said that was what we call Stonehenge. To find out, Iıd need to be in the data library. Letıs...² A cloud rose about us. Although it apparently did nothing but rotate 90 degrees, when it settled we were in the data library. I gave him a look and settled into a cubicle. Tried to settle into a cubicle. I was as insubstantial to the chair as to people. ³Look, Iım going to need to sit down at the computer and do some typing.² ³Oh, you wanted to retrieve information? Unnecessary. I am sure you know it already. Permit me to...² he trailed off. ³Permit you to what?² ³I am unable to access your memories.² ³Quite possible. I have the psionic ability, they say, but itıs blocked.² ³No, not blocked. It is frequently used, but you use it to prevent its use against you. A side effect is that you cannot transmit, either. This is a grave situation. Oh, and you can sit now.² I tried and was successful. As I requested maps of Great Britain, the U.S., and Wyoming, I asked Powyl: ³What do you mean, a grave situation? Iım sure youıre not referring to just poor me.² ³No, I am not.² He was definitely worried now, pacing behind me. ³My intentions were to retrieve the information from you and make you forget, leaving behind the materials necessary to create the device you intend.² ³How do you know what I planned to make if you canıt...² ³I read other events.² He waved a dismissive hand. ³But now you know who I am, what I can do, and the simple fact that we of the Sidhe exist. You were not supposed to... I have made a grave error indeed.² ³Hmmm... does it count if I sort of already knew?² He stopped pacing. ³What do you mean?² ³Sit at that terminal and call up the fictional novel _The Silver Branch_. No, scratch that. Who is the current King of the Sidhe?² ³Nudd ap Llyr.² ³In that case, call up _The Hawkıs Gray Feather_. Complete text.² Iıd gotten the locations and was working on mapping out distances. ³Received.² ³Read it.² About a minute later: ³It is a tale told by Taliesin. Why is it said to be written by a Terran author?² ³Because here, pal, it was. Wherever youıre from, its events coincide exactly with a fictional tale written here by a popular author. Hereıs the information you wanted.² He looked at the numbers Iıd given him. ³If these are right, then we should be near the heart of the dun now. There are no means by which humans could have built here.² He looked around the library as if expecting to find a home of the Sidhe appearing around him that moment. I sat back a moment. ³There are tales among us. They speak of a lessening of the Folk, a withdrawing into the other realms. The influence of humans gaining control of more and more of the world.² He smiled sadly. ³And indeed that may be what has happened here; but here is not where I was to be. My friend, this is not my reality.² ³I suspected as much. There was a nasty war a while back concerning multiple realities, in which some serious damage was done to the multiverse before we managed to fix it. You might have gone through a microrip in space somewhere that was missed in the cleanup phenomena. Does your traveling method take up zero space as you move?² ³Aye. Doubtless that will explain it. We felt the effects whereof you speak, but were able to defend mostly against them with our power. We had healed tears near us, but considered effects further than the orbit of our own planet to be negligible.² He chuckled quietly. ³Here we are reminded of the ever-present truth of all Creation: that nothing exists without effect, and no event occurs without consequences.² We were quiet for a few moments. Then softly - ³Can you get back?² He looked up ³What? Oh, never fear that! I have already cast my mind back along my path and found the rip. I could even communicate with my brethren should I desire to raise the power required. In fact, I will do so shortly. There is much I must report here, and a new envoy to our few remaining on our Earth must be sent.² ³You will not return yourself?² He laughed outright, and stood up. ³Not hardly! This is a mission worthy as any other; I will find our missing brethren of *this* Earth, and open relations with them! I need only find a dun, and I will be half completed in this.² Sobering quickly, he continued. ³Further, I must request instructions concerning what must be done about you.² ³I understand. And what will you do in the meantime?² ³In the meantime, I will do as I promised - you will have the materials you desired for the device. Take this -² he pressed into my hand a stone, seemingly uncut, but with an odd crystalline structure that caught the light as it turned - ³and this.² He removed from his head a band that I had not seen, made of copper and silver woven as strands and links, like a net of rings that held its shape. As it settled onto my own head, it faded and disappeared. ³The stone is from a collar never used, which was to be for a hound belonging to Arawn.² ³The Cwn Annwn... the Hounds of Hell...² I smiled. Quite nastily, I think. ³The hounds whose rightful prey is traitors.² ³The Hounds will not come to this, but the stone will find who you are looking for, and it will find him more strongly when he is doing his traitorous acts. The coronet contains a spirit that will allow you to communicate with the stone.² ³Intelligent?² ³Aye. Verbal communication will come as he attunes himself to you, but the level that exists will suffice for now. And worry not about his position; he chose his post, and could abandon it if he desired.² Was that a feeling of indignation I heard? ³I know, old friend. We will meet again, I am sure. William, I will leave you now.² ³Are you going to leave me the way you Sidhe always do?² ³Pretty much...² He laughed once more as the spinning rose and I fell into brightness. I awoke in the base hospital, still in uniform and wearing even the comlink. Well, if the medics were that busy, I was walking wounded at most - I felt the back of my head, not even a bump - and I was freeing up a bed. Stone in hand, I got up, told a doctor I was fine, and left, contacting Korth. ***** "Commander?" came a voice over my comlink. "If that's you, Keith, you'd better have a good explanation for not responding to your 'link." "It's a long story, sir. I'll explain later. The equipment you asked me to get is ready." "Good. Turn it on, and I'll be right there." I grinned, and headed for the comm labs. Five minutes later, I arrived. "I think we've got him, sir. Pyramid, base level. In a bathroom near the entrance." "Let's go. Get your sidearm. And bring the tracking equipment." ***** ³Itıs a stone? Your tracking equipment is a stone?² ³And an invisible coronet. Part of the long story.² ³Iıll be sure to free up an evening.² The stone started pulling harder. "He's transmitting again, sir," Keith whispered. "From right over there." "Don't do anything, but be ready to back me up," I ordered. "It's time to have some fun with him." I approached the indicated doorway and entered. ***** The spy was indeed transmitting from a bathroom, as it turned out. From inside one of the stalls, I could hear a low conversation, spaced out with radio noise. I leaned up against the row of sinks and waited. "But sir! I've been doing this for over a year now! You can't..." "Get this straight, moron," came the reply. "They've gotten suspicious. You're being cut loose because you've been sloppy. Out." The second voice was rather saccharine-sweet. Not the Hellwyrm itself, but likely a SM, or maybe a Lyran. Not that it mattered. The first voice began to swear. Loudly, speculating broadly on the parentage of the other voice's owner, as well as several anatomical impossibilities. I was impressed, actually. Then whoever it was flushed the toilet in his stall, and exited... ...to find himself face-to-face with my plasma rifle. "Going somewhere, Ensign... Jackson?", I asked. "Um... yes, sir. I have to report for duty..." "Heh. No. You're under arrest, Ensign. Put your weapon on the floor, slowly, and right now." He twitched toward his rifle, so I sent a pair of plasma bolts into the floor at his feet. "Don't make quick moves, neighbor. I get nervous when you do that, and next time I might just hit you in a very painful spot. Place your weapon on the ground, SLOWLY." He did so, and then slid the weapon toward me. Ensign Keith, having heard me fire my plasma rifle, had already entered; he put the cuffs on our prisoner. "Oh, Jackson," I remarked, after looking at his weapon, "this was a truly pathetic attempt." I turned the overload sequence he'd started off. "Lieutenant Commander Korth to Admiral Marburger. We've got the mole, and we're bringing him to the command center." ***** ³Theyıre doing WHAT??? Son of a...² Never a pleasant phrase to hear from the guy standing on the command balcony, we hustled Jackson into Admiral Marburgerıs presence. ³Well, sure, I guess... bring Œem on.² Keith moved out of range of the viewscreen just activated and called over the connection: ³Whatıs going on, sir?² ³I didnıt think they _knew_ what a parley was, but the Xıhirjq have called a temporary one.² Korth gave out a low whistle. ³Ten bucks they know we found him.² ³Found who? Oh. I see.² Why Jackson didnıt burst into flame from the look the Admiral gave him will never be determined. ³Ensign... Jackson, you have committed a serious crime, and I have little time. You have five seconds to tell me why I shouldnıt have you shot here and now.² ³Iım not a spy any more, they let me go?² ³Not good enough. Two.² Scared as anything now, he rushed out: ³The leak is in the diplomatic shuttle, itıs been altered to accept transmissions from outside sources and its identity hidden.² Marburger glared at him another moment. ³Com officer!² A voice on the lower level yelled back, ³Heard it, teamıs on the way!² A remarkably less pleasant voice growled out, ³If you are done with the traitor?² Marburger quickly returned to the open channel. ³Of course. For what reason has this parley been called?² ³We have recently been alerted to the presence of a traitor who gave our mailings access to your communications net.² ³What do you mean, recently been alerted? Youıve been mailbombing us since this began.² ³We had been informed that the Purple Thingıs hackers had opened a way into your systems. This is acceptable. A traitor is not. We have therefore ceased the Œmailbombingı.² ³How did you find out the difference?² Jackson spoke up. ³That would be me, actually.² Marburger turned, the Lizard face on the screen stared, and I became acutely aware of a number of nasty glances from the command floor. If Jackson wasnıt out of here shortly, he might be dead whether or not the Lizards penetrated. Marburger spoke up. ³Explain.² ³Well, I never got the chance to tell my contact about an insurance plan Iıd set up. If my name were removed from the active informant list or I activated the program, the Xıhirjq would be informed that a spy had been used. From what Iıd heard, they wouldnıt be real happy.² He shrugged. ³Not much good if they donıt know about it, though.² Korth growled. ³Goddam two-sided traitor.² Marburger didnıt spare him another thought. ³So you will cease attacks on our communications?² ³In electronic fashion only. You still must defend your equipment yourself. I believe you are finding this somewhat difficult at the moment.² Keith muttered, ³If thatıs a Lizard smile, Iım glad Iıve never made one happy.² Marburger spoke to the Xıhirjq on the screen. ³I think you should consider what this says about those youıve allied with. If you -² The transmission cut off. ³Well, bye to you too.² He looked at us. ³Get that into the brig.² ³Keith, you stay here and help out. Letıs go, rat. Thereıs a nice soft jail cell I want to introduce you to.² With the bombing over, JihadNet still down, and the attack taking its final stages, Keith took a short moment to look over the view. A setting sun competed with lasers and blood and explosions in reddening the landscape. Even as he watched, the direct sunlight settled away and left the command deck in shadow. Shaking off the reverie, he settled down to work. The task of defense was still ahead. Copyright Notice: _The Silver Branch_ and _The Hawkıs Gray Feather_ are novels of The Keltiad by Patricia Kenneally-Morrison. The Keltiad and all related significa are under copyright and used herein without permission. Some information is public domain via Celtic mythology.