Besides, she had the overwhelming impression that despite their equal stature as individual members of the team, somehow Shadow Hawk had identified her as the Captain of the ship. After all, every ship has to have a captain. She felt it. And she thought the other two felt it, too. In other words, without a formal announcement of fact, she was distinctly certain that she had the prerogative of Veto Power over her companions. She hadn't realized it before, but now it became quite apparent to her as she wrestled with her dissatisfaction over the current arrangement. There was definitely something wrong with the plan, and she was the one who had to put it to rights.
Jacob looked at Vallnam. Vallnam looked at Jacob, his fingers fidgeting under Ling's unhappy gaze.
"Okay, Ling," said Jacob finally, "Out with it."
Ling explained her point as succinctly as possible. "I don't want to split the team," she said.
After a moment's pause, Jacob and Vallnam agreed.
"But we need a new plan, in that case," said Vallnam. Ling raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Fine," replied Jacob, "why don't we hand the moon refugees over to Captain Samwise? He will be here soon. He can take them to Earth, and introduce them to Federation Command. That would leave us free to haul the forty-nine nuclear bombs out of the solar system. Together."
"That sounds like a much better plan," said Ling enthusiastically, a lovely smile spreading across her beautiful face. The men smiled with her. Everyone was agreed.
And with that, Ling flipped the switch on the radio console.
"Captain Samwise," she said. "Captain Samwise. Come in Captain Samwise."
"This is Captain Samwise of Federation Command," replied the good Captain. "With whom am I speaking?"
She proceeded to brief Samwise about the group of technicians who had aided the heroes, eager to return to Earth as Moon-Nazi refugees. Samwise would be responsible for this group, led by Nicolas Tesla. She recounted their battle with "mind-piercing entities" that necessitated Eisenhelm's complete destruction, resulting in the gigantic nuclear explosion consuming the moon's North Pole in hellfire. Seventeen members of the Nazi regime, she explained, were aboard the two UFOs hovering near the giant robots in space. The crew members, all technicians including Tesla, were not complicit in the Nazi leadership's crimes and had been assured new lives on Earth as part of Federation Command. She elaborated on the Entity's infiltration of the ill-fated technician, Dietrich, and his ultimate doom, advising thorough bio-sensory precautions before landing, despite her belief that the entity had been utterly destroyed. Lastly, she highlighted a major remaining problem: a line of nuclear devices floating one mile from the giant robots. Each was a 500-megaton Cobalt bomb, one of which had detonated above the moon with obvious, catastrophic effect.
"Vallnam, Jacob and I," Ling went on, "need to remove the fourty-nine bombs from the vicinity of Earth, as they are an overwhelming danger. While we do this, we need you to usher the technicians in their UFOs, and the giant robots down to Kitt Peak where the robots are to be presented as a gift to Federation Command."
Sam remained silent for a few seconds.
"Captain Brisbane, that's a lot to take in, but from what we have just seen in terms of the incredible destructive power of the bombs, yes, the priority must be to get rid of them as soon as possible. I agree."
"Captain Samwise," interrupted Fred as he tried to scrape the lint off another macaroni he had extracted from his pocket.
"Yes, Fred?"
"I don't understand. Why do we need to get rid of the bombs?" he asked as he slid the wiggly bit of pasta into his mouth. "I mean, what if we need them for, I don't now, like something else, later? Why are we getting rid of them? They're powerful weapons. We might need them at some point, no? Shouldn't we give them to Federation Command? Shouldn't we at least advise the leadership about them? I mean, what if we need them in the future, for a war or something?"
"Fred, based on what we just saw on the moon, if even one of those ever goes off in Earth's atmosphere it would destroy us completely. The last thing we want is for those bombs to be anywhere near Earth."
"Ok, but we know there were Nazis on the moon, right?"
"Yes," replied Sam impatiently.
"Ok. Right. And they got to the moon using UFOs, right?"
"It seems so," replied Sam.
"Right. So what if there are other Nazi bases out there that we don't know about? On other moons?" asked Fred pointedly as he fished around for another macaroni. "We don't know if there are other Nazis bases around the rest of the solar system. With those UFOs they could have built other bases, right? We just don't know."
Captain Samwise thought about this.
"I'm not saying we would ever want to use those bombs on Earth, of course," Fred went on. "What I'm saying is, what if we need them to fight Space Nazis somewhere out in the solar system? What if they're on Ganymede? What if they're on Titan? Why would we give up that capability? Maybe Federation Command would want that option, don't you think?"
Vallnam turned and gave Ling a look. "You see what you just started?"
"Fred," said Sam evasively, "I'm convinced that the presence of these bombs is a threat to Earth no matter how we try to manage them. If there is a Nazi threat out in the solar system, holding on to these nukes is even more of a threat because we have no way of securing them. What if the Nazis with superior space capabilites wrest them from us?"
From her position in the third Mech, Major Sekston had been keenly listening in.
"Captain Samwise," broke in the Major, "if I may?"
"Yes, go ahead, Major Sekston," replied Samwise, his annoyance increasing as he thought it completely obvious that the bombs had to go.
"We have weapons of all kinds in the Patriot Army. I'm sure the same is true for your Federation Command. Against UFO riding Nazis, I'm pretty sure we couldn't secure most of them. And from what we understand of their technology, they out-class us in their ability to navigate space, and they have superior weaponry. Yet, we still need to possess weapons as we're currently in the middle of a war for survival against a mysterious foe marching out of Las Vegas with capabilities that are as unclear as they are deadly. In the same way we can't secure anything, ultimately, does it mean we shouldn't have any weapons at all? I'm not sure I can agree with your reasoning there."
"True, but none of the weapons we had or have are anywhere near as powerful as the bomb that just exploded above the moon. Those weapons represent an existential threat to Earth."
"This is a fact," replied Major Sekston. "The bomb we just witnessed was probably twenty times more powerful than anything we saw before or during the Ultra-War."
"We know what happened with the nuclear weapons of Earth," replied Sam, "While those destroyed large regions of the planet, weapons such as these would completely eliminate all life on Earth. I think that should be quite obvious to everyone."
"That's a fact," said Fred, "but I'm not suggesting we keep the weapons on Earth. However, instead of sending them sailing off into the depths of space way outside the solar system, what if we found a place to hide them not too far from Earth, but within range of our getting them if we needed their capabilities against enemies elsewhere in the solar system. Such as if we discover more Moon-Nazis on Titan, or someplace else, for example?"
"Lexi," barked Samwise, now clearly irritated by this line of reasoning, "how far away would we need to keep these bombs from Earth if we were to secure them such that they could not pose a major threat if they went off for any reason?"
"Mars, sir," said Lexi calmly.
Captain Samwise sighed. "So we would need to secure them on Mars, when we just barely have the ability to get there at all with our most advanced technology. After all, our Brain V Mechs are space worthy, but we didn't even develop them ourselves. Brain V designed and built them for us. So how can we secure bombs on Mars when we can barely get there ourselves, and with a technology we barely understand? Maybe in the future as we learn more we could secure those bombs, but as of now, there's no safe way for us to hold on to them."
"What about the UFOs?" asked Major Sekston. "From what we've seen of them so far, aren't they unbelievably fast?"
"Well, yes," replied Sam. "But I still don't see, even with the two UFOs, how we would be able to hide them on Mars, and maintain them. And besides, if there are other Nazi bases out there, wouldn't they be able to detect the nuclear signatures just the way we did? Then we'd basically have delivered a set of doomsday weapons to our enemies."
"We could hide such that their radioactive signatures wouldn't be visible. For example, we could bury them in deep tunnels under the surface of Mars, and even line them with lead. That would prevent detection," suggested Major Sekston. "Essentially," she went on, "as much as it pains me to admit, I agree with the point Fred made."
"I believe it will be, sir. I will keep you informed of our progress," said Lexi as he handed Samwise the two ampules, and the data crystal that had the full transcription of the analysis Lexi had conducted.
Captain Samwise returned to his Mech with an upgraded version of Ultra. Not perfect, but far better than before.
The two Mechs decoupled, and Samwise watched as Lexi's ship sped off in the direction Saturn. Meanwhile, Samwise planned to take the UFOs and giant robots down to Kitt Peak, and introduce the technicians to Earth. He relayed a message to Major Sekston, asking her if she would be willing to meet Lt. Brisbane of Federation Command at Kitt Peak before returning to Panguitch. Major Sekston was eager to do so. After introductions and settling the technicians into the hospital, Captain Samwise suggested returning with her and Penelope to Panguitch in order to meet up with his man, "Guns" Gunnison, collect the AGV, and potentially help the Patriot Army with its efforts against the Black Manticore. She thanked him, and so they set off for Earth, the UFOs coming in behind, and the fifty giant robots trailing in tow. Once they reached Earth's atmosphere the robots would re-animate and land themselves in the desert near the spaceport below Kitt Peak, along with the UFOs, and they would take it from there. All agreed, they began their descent.
Meanwhile, far out in space, Lexi and his secretive AI companion plotted a course for the molecular cloud. As they sailed past the moon, a particularly dark shadow of space slid by them on its way towards the small fleet of ships and giant robots descending into Earth's atmosphere. Neither Lexi, nor the AI, had any instruments by which to detect this shadowy being, but had they been able to, they would have seen a sphinx-like form with a malevolent grin on its hideously terrifying face.
And this is where we left things that evening. And it is likely where we will leave things with The Way of All Flesh Campaign for a while, as we plan to embark on a new adventure GM'd by one of my fellow players. Our thought is to pick up on the adventures of Linda and Pita, and perhaps Bruin Hilda, at a later date, and see whatever becomes of those heroes! Stay tuned!
Jacob looked at Vallnam. Vallnam looked at Jacob, his fingers fidgeting under Ling's unhappy gaze.
"Okay, Ling," said Jacob finally, "Out with it."
Ling explained her point as succinctly as possible. "I don't want to split the team," she said.
After a moment's pause, Jacob and Vallnam agreed.
"But we need a new plan, in that case," said Vallnam. Ling raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Fine," replied Jacob, "why don't we hand the moon refugees over to Captain Samwise? He will be here soon. He can take them to Earth, and introduce them to Federation Command. That would leave us free to haul the forty-nine nuclear bombs out of the solar system. Together."
"That sounds like a much better plan," said Ling enthusiastically, a lovely smile spreading across her beautiful face. The men smiled with her. Everyone was agreed.
And with that, Ling flipped the switch on the radio console.
"Captain Samwise," she said. "Captain Samwise. Come in Captain Samwise."
"This is Captain Samwise of Federation Command," replied the good Captain. "With whom am I speaking?"
She proceeded to brief Samwise about the group of technicians who had aided the heroes, eager to return to Earth as Moon-Nazi refugees. Samwise would be responsible for this group, led by Nicolas Tesla. She recounted their battle with "mind-piercing entities" that necessitated Eisenhelm's complete destruction, resulting in the gigantic nuclear explosion consuming the moon's North Pole in hellfire. Seventeen members of the Nazi regime, she explained, were aboard the two UFOs hovering near the giant robots in space. The crew members, all technicians including Tesla, were not complicit in the Nazi leadership's crimes and had been assured new lives on Earth as part of Federation Command. She elaborated on the Entity's infiltration of the ill-fated technician, Dietrich, and his ultimate doom, advising thorough bio-sensory precautions before landing, despite her belief that the entity had been utterly destroyed. Lastly, she highlighted a major remaining problem: a line of nuclear devices floating one mile from the giant robots. Each was a 500-megaton Cobalt bomb, one of which had detonated above the moon with obvious, catastrophic effect.
"Vallnam, Jacob and I," Ling went on, "need to remove the fourty-nine bombs from the vicinity of Earth, as they are an overwhelming danger. While we do this, we need you to usher the technicians in their UFOs, and the giant robots down to Kitt Peak where the robots are to be presented as a gift to Federation Command."
Sam remained silent for a few seconds.
"Captain Brisbane, that's a lot to take in, but from what we have just seen in terms of the incredible destructive power of the bombs, yes, the priority must be to get rid of them as soon as possible. I agree."
"Captain Samwise," interrupted Fred as he tried to scrape the lint off another macaroni he had extracted from his pocket.
"Yes, Fred?"
"I don't understand. Why do we need to get rid of the bombs?" he asked as he slid the wiggly bit of pasta into his mouth. "I mean, what if we need them for, I don't now, like something else, later? Why are we getting rid of them? They're powerful weapons. We might need them at some point, no? Shouldn't we give them to Federation Command? Shouldn't we at least advise the leadership about them? I mean, what if we need them in the future, for a war or something?"
"Fred, based on what we just saw on the moon, if even one of those ever goes off in Earth's atmosphere it would destroy us completely. The last thing we want is for those bombs to be anywhere near Earth."
"Ok, but we know there were Nazis on the moon, right?"
"Yes," replied Sam impatiently.
"Ok. Right. And they got to the moon using UFOs, right?"
"It seems so," replied Sam.
"Right. So what if there are other Nazi bases out there that we don't know about? On other moons?" asked Fred pointedly as he fished around for another macaroni. "We don't know if there are other Nazis bases around the rest of the solar system. With those UFOs they could have built other bases, right? We just don't know."
Captain Samwise thought about this.
"I'm not saying we would ever want to use those bombs on Earth, of course," Fred went on. "What I'm saying is, what if we need them to fight Space Nazis somewhere out in the solar system? What if they're on Ganymede? What if they're on Titan? Why would we give up that capability? Maybe Federation Command would want that option, don't you think?"
Vallnam turned and gave Ling a look. "You see what you just started?"
"Fred," said Sam evasively, "I'm convinced that the presence of these bombs is a threat to Earth no matter how we try to manage them. If there is a Nazi threat out in the solar system, holding on to these nukes is even more of a threat because we have no way of securing them. What if the Nazis with superior space capabilites wrest them from us?"
From her position in the third Mech, Major Sekston had been keenly listening in.
"Captain Samwise," broke in the Major, "if I may?"
"Yes, go ahead, Major Sekston," replied Samwise, his annoyance increasing as he thought it completely obvious that the bombs had to go.
"We have weapons of all kinds in the Patriot Army. I'm sure the same is true for your Federation Command. Against UFO riding Nazis, I'm pretty sure we couldn't secure most of them. And from what we understand of their technology, they out-class us in their ability to navigate space, and they have superior weaponry. Yet, we still need to possess weapons as we're currently in the middle of a war for survival against a mysterious foe marching out of Las Vegas with capabilities that are as unclear as they are deadly. In the same way we can't secure anything, ultimately, does it mean we shouldn't have any weapons at all? I'm not sure I can agree with your reasoning there."
"True, but none of the weapons we had or have are anywhere near as powerful as the bomb that just exploded above the moon. Those weapons represent an existential threat to Earth."
"This is a fact," replied Major Sekston. "The bomb we just witnessed was probably twenty times more powerful than anything we saw before or during the Ultra-War."
"We know what happened with the nuclear weapons of Earth," replied Sam, "While those destroyed large regions of the planet, weapons such as these would completely eliminate all life on Earth. I think that should be quite obvious to everyone."
"That's a fact," said Fred, "but I'm not suggesting we keep the weapons on Earth. However, instead of sending them sailing off into the depths of space way outside the solar system, what if we found a place to hide them not too far from Earth, but within range of our getting them if we needed their capabilities against enemies elsewhere in the solar system. Such as if we discover more Moon-Nazis on Titan, or someplace else, for example?"
"Lexi," barked Samwise, now clearly irritated by this line of reasoning, "how far away would we need to keep these bombs from Earth if we were to secure them such that they could not pose a major threat if they went off for any reason?"
"Mars, sir," said Lexi calmly.
Captain Samwise sighed. "So we would need to secure them on Mars, when we just barely have the ability to get there at all with our most advanced technology. After all, our Brain V Mechs are space worthy, but we didn't even develop them ourselves. Brain V designed and built them for us. So how can we secure bombs on Mars when we can barely get there ourselves, and with a technology we barely understand? Maybe in the future as we learn more we could secure those bombs, but as of now, there's no safe way for us to hold on to them."
"What about the UFOs?" asked Major Sekston. "From what we've seen of them so far, aren't they unbelievably fast?"
"Well, yes," replied Sam. "But I still don't see, even with the two UFOs, how we would be able to hide them on Mars, and maintain them. And besides, if there are other Nazi bases out there, wouldn't they be able to detect the nuclear signatures just the way we did? Then we'd basically have delivered a set of doomsday weapons to our enemies."
"We could hide such that their radioactive signatures wouldn't be visible. For example, we could bury them in deep tunnels under the surface of Mars, and even line them with lead. That would prevent detection," suggested Major Sekston. "Essentially," she went on, "as much as it pains me to admit, I agree with the point Fred made."
Fred cheerfully popped a macaroni in his mouth and began chewing with exaggerated pleasure.
"And I think the bombs could be," Sekston went on, "potentially, hidden on Mars. But not without risk. There is a chance that if there are Nazis out there that they could detect them and steal them back and use them against us. That is possible, I admit. And the other risk is that some maniac who knows about them commandeers them. However, if we kept them a tight secret, that mitigates both risks, and then we might be able to use them in the future, if necessary. It is speculation that we might ever need such weapons. But I agree that Federation Command would probably want to at least deliberate about the option. Nevertheless, I'm not a member of Federation Command, and these are your ships, Captain Samwise. I can't even pull rank on you, because I'm not a member of your military hierarchy. You are the leader of this expedition, so it's your call."
Jacob was looking at Vallnam and Ling, and signaled for Ling to cut the mic. She did.
"We're not members of Federation Command, anymore," said Jacob gruffly. "We don't have to do what they tell us. That's all I want to say."
"And you, Vallnam?" asked Ling.
"Well, not to say I told you so, but I told you so," he replied with big I-told-you-so-eyes.
Ling agreed with her brethren. Even if Captain Sam decided to keep the bombs, the Shadow Hawk Heroes should nevertheless whisk them away for the safety of the Earth. They were united in that decision.
"I still cannot abide by that," Captain Samwise was saying. "We cannot secure them on Mars, and they are too much of a risk. I would rather them be destroyed or removed. Trying to handle them safely is out of the question."
"Okaaay," drawled Fred sarcastically, "but what are you going to tell Federation Command when they ask you about this? I mean, aren't you making this decision alone without consulting the leadership a bit of a career risk?"
"Yes, but that's why they pay me the big bucks," replied Captain Samwise. "To make the tough choices."
Fred saluted Captain Samwise, accidentally flicking a droplet of tomato-sauce across the flight deck. It sailed forward in a straight line and hit the far wall eventually with a dull red splat. He closed his eyes and prepared for another nap.
Samwise, feeling peeved, counted his mounting responsibilities and annoyances. It looked like he wasn't going to get help from Lexi with the Ultra drug after all. He was making a top level executive decision about the nuclear bombs that might cause him to lose his commission, or worse. And he now had seventeen Moon-Nazi refugees, and their pet giant robots to take care of. He thrummed his fingers on the hard white console in front of him and thought it all over. Annoying is what it all was. Annoying.
"Ok. I've made up my mind," said Sam. "Captain Brisbane, I agree with you. Those bombs are too dangerous to leave anywhere near Earth, and I cannot picture a safe way to keep them secured while we are still developing technology to go back into space. So I agree with you on getting rid of those bombs. I will help the technicians make it down to Earth, and work on integrating them into Federation Command. But first I have one matter of business to attend to."
And with this he turned his attention to Lexi.
"Lexi," said Sam into his mic.
"Yes, sir?" replied the Android with the positronic brain.
"I'm chasing you because I need your assistance," said Sam in measured tones, "and I find that your determination that the molecular cloud is a maximum priority, and therefore warranting your commandeering a Federation Command Mech, extremely out of character."
Fred began making hand signs at Captain Samwise. Sam looked over. Fred pantomimed cutting the mic, which Sam did.
"I don't know, but aren't we chasing him because we're, um, concerned about the possibility that some weird mystery AI from the computer spike took over Lexi's mind?" asked Fred.
Sam reflected on the fact that it had become obvious that Fred had been hiding something from him about that AI all along, but now was not the time to dress him down for it.
"Well, anyway, that's all I wanted to remind you about..." said Fred as he went back with noodling through his pocket lint.
Samwise flipped the switch on the mic back on.
"So Lexi," he began, "you commandeering the mech out of the blue, not being completely honest about it, and the fact that there is something I seriously needed your help with is really causing me some doubt about your intentions."
"Doubt, sir?" asked Lexi.
"Yes," replied Sam.
"I don't think there is any reason for you to doubt my intentions," replied Lexi. "My intentions are good, I can assure you."
There was a pause.
"Yes, well, you admitted that you obfuscated the truth when you commandeered the mech."
"I was not entirely forthcoming," replied Lexi, "but I believe I already explained why. The mission is too important to get bogged down in Federation Command deliberations. If you will recall, the fact is, technically, I never lied to you. The misinterpretation of my statements, which were quite clear, was on your side."
"Okay, so maybe you did not make literally false statements," admitted Sam, "but I still need your help with the Ultra."
"So what your suggesting," extrapolated Lexi, "is that in exchange for helping you with the analysis of the Ultra drug, you will allow me to take the Mech into space without further objection so that I can complete my mission?"
"Yes, in so many words," replied Captain Samwise.
"I consent to your conditions," answered Lexi.
"I have a sample of the Ultra drug. What is the best way for us to proceed?" asked Sam.
"I would need whatever data you have accumulated thus far on the drug, and the sample, in order to conduct the analysis as efficiently as possible," stated Lexi.
The good Captain reached into his satchel and extracted the ampule containing the tiny blue droplets of Ultra. It held so much promise, and so much danger. Fred peered at the ampule with avid interest, but he grasped that it would be futile to act on his impulses. He took a couple of green and purple pills to calm himself down, and that did the trick. His eyes glazed and he drifted off into a dream.
"Okay, lets rendezvous at the Robots and you can check it out," suggested Sam.
"That will do," replied Lexi.
It took about two hours for the ships to intersect at approximately one mile from the Robots. During this time Vallnam explained by radio the situation to Nicolas Tesla who was stationed on one of the UFOs, and they made arrangements for Samwise to take over the migration of the technicians to Earth. Samwise spent time greeting each of the technicians, and in the process he assessed each one's personality, and took notes on every member of their crew, including name, rank, and technical skills.
During that time Vallnam, Jacob and Ling secured the bombs and linked them under Shadow Hawk's control. They decided to fly the ship directly up from the orbital plane so the terrific bombs would have no chance of ever interacting with any of the planets. Ling activated the Helio-Drive and within no time they were travelling close the speed of light. It would take them a little over eleven hours to get the distance of Pluto, and another eleven to return.
"Shadow Hawk," directed Vallnam, "calculate the time differential between us and the Earth for this flight, both going there and returning to Earth."
Shadow Hawk performed the calculation. They were travelling at near-light-speed, which was the maximum possible for the Helio-Drive, and the only safe speed to travel while still within the confines of the solar system. Once outside the Ort Belt they could engage the far faster Quantum Drive, but they had no immediate plans to do so.
"Moving at maximum speed for twenty two hours will cause approximately twenty days to pass on Earth," replied Shadow Hawk in her deeply resonant tone within their minds.
There wasn't really any particular reason for them to return to Earth so far as Jacob was concerned. He was eager to launch off into the galaxy. He didn't know where, but he wanted to explore. Ling, however, thought it would be wiser for them to use Shadow Hawk to explore the solar system first, looking for any signs of Nazi space fortresses. If all seemed clear, they could explore the galaxy afterwards. Vallnam felt ambivalent on the question as any exploration at all would be exciting, wherever it was.
Meanwhile, far behind them, Captain Samwise viewed the the line of fifty giant robots floating in space, and near them, a string of nuclear bombs. But the glinting objects of destruction had suddenly vanished. With a salute to his friends aboard Shadow Hawk, a ship that he knew absolutely nothing about, and had not for a single moment seen or in any way detected, he resumed the tasks at hand. From what Sam understood from speaking with them, the technicians had never experienced any time on Earth at all. They had lived their entire lives within the iron walls of the now vaporized Moon-Fortress Eisenhelm. They had no understanding of actual Earth history, and their storybook idealization of the "mother world" was such that they imagined it was filled with happy meadows and flowering fields of grain, dotted with puffy white sheep, and pristine oceans of blue waters filled with teaming schools of enormous fish and herds of gigantic blue whales. Nor had they ever endured Earth gravity. As Nicolas Tesla warned Sam upon their first contact, that would be an issue for the men, and that they should be taken first to a biologically secure hospital for a period of time while they gain strength to function properly on the planet. They might also be vulnerable to microbes and diseases of Earth that none of them had ever come in contact with before. And of course, there was the crucial matter of inspecting them extremely carefully for any indication of biological threat, such as a lingering tendril of The Entity on the moon, now deceased. This was agreed upon, as well as some gentle indoctrination program for the Eisenhelm refugees, as their dreams of a pristine, loving and happy little Earth were very soon to be dashed to smithereens.
Yet before anything else, Sam wished to complete his rendezvous with Lexi. They agreed to match speeds and trajectories so that they could dock their mechs together. Once done, Samwise opened the inter-ship portal and entered Lexi's Mech with the Ultra, and the data crystal that had all of his own analysis etched within it.
"Welcome aboard, Captain Samwise," said Lexi, his positronic brain sparkling blue through its glass dome. Nothing seemed strange to Sam. He didn't see any sign of an alien AI. But of course, how would he? But there was no indication of anything amiss, and so he ambled in and handed the data crystal and the ampule over to Lexi.
Jacob was looking at Vallnam and Ling, and signaled for Ling to cut the mic. She did.
"We're not members of Federation Command, anymore," said Jacob gruffly. "We don't have to do what they tell us. That's all I want to say."
"And you, Vallnam?" asked Ling.
"Well, not to say I told you so, but I told you so," he replied with big I-told-you-so-eyes.
Ling agreed with her brethren. Even if Captain Sam decided to keep the bombs, the Shadow Hawk Heroes should nevertheless whisk them away for the safety of the Earth. They were united in that decision.
"I still cannot abide by that," Captain Samwise was saying. "We cannot secure them on Mars, and they are too much of a risk. I would rather them be destroyed or removed. Trying to handle them safely is out of the question."
"Okaaay," drawled Fred sarcastically, "but what are you going to tell Federation Command when they ask you about this? I mean, aren't you making this decision alone without consulting the leadership a bit of a career risk?"
"Yes, but that's why they pay me the big bucks," replied Captain Samwise. "To make the tough choices."
Fred saluted Captain Samwise, accidentally flicking a droplet of tomato-sauce across the flight deck. It sailed forward in a straight line and hit the far wall eventually with a dull red splat. He closed his eyes and prepared for another nap.
Samwise, feeling peeved, counted his mounting responsibilities and annoyances. It looked like he wasn't going to get help from Lexi with the Ultra drug after all. He was making a top level executive decision about the nuclear bombs that might cause him to lose his commission, or worse. And he now had seventeen Moon-Nazi refugees, and their pet giant robots to take care of. He thrummed his fingers on the hard white console in front of him and thought it all over. Annoying is what it all was. Annoying.
"Ok. I've made up my mind," said Sam. "Captain Brisbane, I agree with you. Those bombs are too dangerous to leave anywhere near Earth, and I cannot picture a safe way to keep them secured while we are still developing technology to go back into space. So I agree with you on getting rid of those bombs. I will help the technicians make it down to Earth, and work on integrating them into Federation Command. But first I have one matter of business to attend to."
And with this he turned his attention to Lexi.
"Lexi," said Sam into his mic.
"Yes, sir?" replied the Android with the positronic brain.
"I'm chasing you because I need your assistance," said Sam in measured tones, "and I find that your determination that the molecular cloud is a maximum priority, and therefore warranting your commandeering a Federation Command Mech, extremely out of character."
Fred began making hand signs at Captain Samwise. Sam looked over. Fred pantomimed cutting the mic, which Sam did.
"I don't know, but aren't we chasing him because we're, um, concerned about the possibility that some weird mystery AI from the computer spike took over Lexi's mind?" asked Fred.
Sam reflected on the fact that it had become obvious that Fred had been hiding something from him about that AI all along, but now was not the time to dress him down for it.
"Well, anyway, that's all I wanted to remind you about..." said Fred as he went back with noodling through his pocket lint.
Samwise flipped the switch on the mic back on.
"So Lexi," he began, "you commandeering the mech out of the blue, not being completely honest about it, and the fact that there is something I seriously needed your help with is really causing me some doubt about your intentions."
"Doubt, sir?" asked Lexi.
"Yes," replied Sam.
"I don't think there is any reason for you to doubt my intentions," replied Lexi. "My intentions are good, I can assure you."
There was a pause.
"Yes, well, you admitted that you obfuscated the truth when you commandeered the mech."
"I was not entirely forthcoming," replied Lexi, "but I believe I already explained why. The mission is too important to get bogged down in Federation Command deliberations. If you will recall, the fact is, technically, I never lied to you. The misinterpretation of my statements, which were quite clear, was on your side."
"Okay, so maybe you did not make literally false statements," admitted Sam, "but I still need your help with the Ultra."
"So what your suggesting," extrapolated Lexi, "is that in exchange for helping you with the analysis of the Ultra drug, you will allow me to take the Mech into space without further objection so that I can complete my mission?"
"Yes, in so many words," replied Captain Samwise.
"I consent to your conditions," answered Lexi.
"I have a sample of the Ultra drug. What is the best way for us to proceed?" asked Sam.
"I would need whatever data you have accumulated thus far on the drug, and the sample, in order to conduct the analysis as efficiently as possible," stated Lexi.
The good Captain reached into his satchel and extracted the ampule containing the tiny blue droplets of Ultra. It held so much promise, and so much danger. Fred peered at the ampule with avid interest, but he grasped that it would be futile to act on his impulses. He took a couple of green and purple pills to calm himself down, and that did the trick. His eyes glazed and he drifted off into a dream.
"Okay, lets rendezvous at the Robots and you can check it out," suggested Sam.
"That will do," replied Lexi.
It took about two hours for the ships to intersect at approximately one mile from the Robots. During this time Vallnam explained by radio the situation to Nicolas Tesla who was stationed on one of the UFOs, and they made arrangements for Samwise to take over the migration of the technicians to Earth. Samwise spent time greeting each of the technicians, and in the process he assessed each one's personality, and took notes on every member of their crew, including name, rank, and technical skills.
"Shadow Hawk," directed Vallnam, "calculate the time differential between us and the Earth for this flight, both going there and returning to Earth."
Shadow Hawk performed the calculation. They were travelling at near-light-speed, which was the maximum possible for the Helio-Drive, and the only safe speed to travel while still within the confines of the solar system. Once outside the Ort Belt they could engage the far faster Quantum Drive, but they had no immediate plans to do so.
"Moving at maximum speed for twenty two hours will cause approximately twenty days to pass on Earth," replied Shadow Hawk in her deeply resonant tone within their minds.
There wasn't really any particular reason for them to return to Earth so far as Jacob was concerned. He was eager to launch off into the galaxy. He didn't know where, but he wanted to explore. Ling, however, thought it would be wiser for them to use Shadow Hawk to explore the solar system first, looking for any signs of Nazi space fortresses. If all seemed clear, they could explore the galaxy afterwards. Vallnam felt ambivalent on the question as any exploration at all would be exciting, wherever it was.
Meanwhile, far behind them, Captain Samwise viewed the the line of fifty giant robots floating in space, and near them, a string of nuclear bombs. But the glinting objects of destruction had suddenly vanished. With a salute to his friends aboard Shadow Hawk, a ship that he knew absolutely nothing about, and had not for a single moment seen or in any way detected, he resumed the tasks at hand. From what Sam understood from speaking with them, the technicians had never experienced any time on Earth at all. They had lived their entire lives within the iron walls of the now vaporized Moon-Fortress Eisenhelm. They had no understanding of actual Earth history, and their storybook idealization of the "mother world" was such that they imagined it was filled with happy meadows and flowering fields of grain, dotted with puffy white sheep, and pristine oceans of blue waters filled with teaming schools of enormous fish and herds of gigantic blue whales. Nor had they ever endured Earth gravity. As Nicolas Tesla warned Sam upon their first contact, that would be an issue for the men, and that they should be taken first to a biologically secure hospital for a period of time while they gain strength to function properly on the planet. They might also be vulnerable to microbes and diseases of Earth that none of them had ever come in contact with before. And of course, there was the crucial matter of inspecting them extremely carefully for any indication of biological threat, such as a lingering tendril of The Entity on the moon, now deceased. This was agreed upon, as well as some gentle indoctrination program for the Eisenhelm refugees, as their dreams of a pristine, loving and happy little Earth were very soon to be dashed to smithereens.
Yet before anything else, Sam wished to complete his rendezvous with Lexi. They agreed to match speeds and trajectories so that they could dock their mechs together. Once done, Samwise opened the inter-ship portal and entered Lexi's Mech with the Ultra, and the data crystal that had all of his own analysis etched within it.
"Welcome aboard, Captain Samwise," said Lexi, his positronic brain sparkling blue through its glass dome. Nothing seemed strange to Sam. He didn't see any sign of an alien AI. But of course, how would he? But there was no indication of anything amiss, and so he ambled in and handed the data crystal and the ampule over to Lexi.
Without further ado, the android went to work at a massive compositional analysis machine, which incorporated an electron microscope, spectrometers, chemical analyzers, and a myriad of other instruments that Brain V had thoughtfully provided. The full power of Lexi's positronic brain was focused on this analysis for two solid hours. Sam ambled around the deck casually, and waited as patiently as possible, while surreptitiously looking for signs of a hidden AI. None appeared.
"I have completed the analysis," said Lexi, finally. "I now have a comprehensive reading of the structure of Ultra. It is, in fact, enormously complex. More than I expected."
"Can it be safely manufactured?" asked Sam.
"There is a good chance that it can be safely manufactured with some changes to the molecular structure. The process to do so would need to avoid disrupting the mechanisms of the Ultra Drug, so that it has the same effect, but substantially reduces the risks of usage. With the proper modifications, the Cats-Paw risk can be substantially reduced by approximately 82.35 percent."
Sam smiled.
"I can take this sample and apply the changes, and this should make it 85% safe to use. Would that do?" asked Lexi.
"Yes," said Sam enthusiastically. "And please provide a copy of your analysis when completed."
"I will do that," said Lexi. The android went back to the workstation and began the modifications. This also took a good deal of time, and Sam again waited as patiently as he could. He reviewed the notes that Lexi's process was generating, but the mathematics quickly went far beyond his comprehension. He then turned his attention to the molecular cloud. Fortunately, Lexi was able to chat with Sam while making the modifications as this work was not computationally intensive, but just required a steady hand and excellent equipment.
"I know we discussed this already, but can you clarify for me, what caused you to decide that the molecular cloud was an emergency, such that you need to deal with it immediately?" asked Captain Samwise.
"As I investigated the research conducted before the Ultra-War, it became apparent that the Earth had entered a region of increased interstellar medium density, possibly a diffuse molecular cloud, beginning around 1336 CE and continuing to the present. While I don't want to speculate too extensively on the exact mechanisms involved, it appears that since this period, the Earth's atmosphere has undergone a slow but steady change due to alterations in the solar radiation reaching our planet. The interstellar medium may contain dust particles that scatter and absorb certain wavelengths of light, potentially altering the solar spectrum reaching Earth. One of the goals of my mission is to determine the nature and effect of this hypothetical alteration.
The effect of this increased density seems to have become more pronounced over time, which may explain some historical events in Earth's civilizations during this era. Geological and astronomical records suggest that Earth has encountered regions of higher interstellar medium density before, with a notable episode possibly occurring around 11,000 BCE. If my hypothesis is correct, the Ultra-War and the events leading up to it from the Early Renaissance forward may be influenced by our solar system's current position in the galaxy. To put it in plain terms: When a patient is bleeding, immediate action is crucial as every minute of delay exacerbates the damage. If my hypothesis is correct, the increased interstellar medium density is like a slow-acting environmental stressor on Earth's systems. The longer we wait to address it, the more severe and far-reaching the effects may become. The end of the Ultra-War did not resolve this underlying issue. We must investigate and address the root cause of humanity's recent cataclysms, and I believe the changes in our local interstellar environment may be that cause.
"What's particularly concerning is that the effect of this phenomenon appears to be cumulative and potentially accelerating in severity. Each moment of delay could lead to a disproportionate increase in negative consequences. If my hypothesis is correct, this issue must be addressed as soon as possible, sir. We have no time to waste, as the next global crisis could push Earth's civilization past a critical tipping point from which recovery might be impossible. We must investigate and address the root cause of humanity's recent cataclysms, and I believe the changes in our local interstellar environment may be that cause. The stakes are too high for delayed action. Every minute counts at this point."
"Okay," said Captain Samwise, daunted to the core by this information.
Lexi paused, and then went on.
"While my data on previous occurrences is limited, there's evidence suggesting that increased interstellar medium density has had profound effects on Earth and potentially other worlds in the past. Some ancient records hint at a decline in higher cognitive functions across various species during these periods. Interestingly, there are even obscure mythological references to godlike beings from other worlds who seemed to withdraw or diminish during such times.
Of course, I can't confirm the veracity of these accounts, but they do align with observable patterns of civilizational decline and species die-offs in Earth's geological and historical records. If there's truth to these stories, it could indicate that the effects of this phenomenon extend beyond just our world, possibly impacting advanced cognition on a broader scale.
This adds another layer of urgency to our mission. If these accounts are even partially accurate, we're not just fighting for Earth's future, but potentially for the preservation of intelligence itself in our region of space. However, I must stress that this is highly speculative and requires much more investigation."
Lexi paused again as he focused on the last changes required for the Ultra molecular transformation.
"Captain," said Lexi, "I need to use two parts of the three parts of the Ultra sample you gave me, the remaining part will be left unchanged. That sample will continue to be as dangerous as before. The two parts I am transforming will be placed in a separate ampule and the color will be light green, instead of blue, which is the original Ultra coloration, which will remain in the original ampule. I recommend you destroy it."
"I concur," said Sam, "and I will keep your recommendation under advisement. I want to thank you for your help. However, I should also add that I am still concerned about your method of operation, but I won't keep you, as we agreed. If your hypothesis is correct, the stakes are extremely high, indeed. I hope your efforts will prove productive, and beneficial to Earth."
"I have completed the analysis," said Lexi, finally. "I now have a comprehensive reading of the structure of Ultra. It is, in fact, enormously complex. More than I expected."
"Can it be safely manufactured?" asked Sam.
"There is a good chance that it can be safely manufactured with some changes to the molecular structure. The process to do so would need to avoid disrupting the mechanisms of the Ultra Drug, so that it has the same effect, but substantially reduces the risks of usage. With the proper modifications, the Cats-Paw risk can be substantially reduced by approximately 82.35 percent."
Sam smiled.
"I can take this sample and apply the changes, and this should make it 85% safe to use. Would that do?" asked Lexi.
"Yes," said Sam enthusiastically. "And please provide a copy of your analysis when completed."
"I will do that," said Lexi. The android went back to the workstation and began the modifications. This also took a good deal of time, and Sam again waited as patiently as he could. He reviewed the notes that Lexi's process was generating, but the mathematics quickly went far beyond his comprehension. He then turned his attention to the molecular cloud. Fortunately, Lexi was able to chat with Sam while making the modifications as this work was not computationally intensive, but just required a steady hand and excellent equipment.
"I know we discussed this already, but can you clarify for me, what caused you to decide that the molecular cloud was an emergency, such that you need to deal with it immediately?" asked Captain Samwise.
"As I investigated the research conducted before the Ultra-War, it became apparent that the Earth had entered a region of increased interstellar medium density, possibly a diffuse molecular cloud, beginning around 1336 CE and continuing to the present. While I don't want to speculate too extensively on the exact mechanisms involved, it appears that since this period, the Earth's atmosphere has undergone a slow but steady change due to alterations in the solar radiation reaching our planet. The interstellar medium may contain dust particles that scatter and absorb certain wavelengths of light, potentially altering the solar spectrum reaching Earth. One of the goals of my mission is to determine the nature and effect of this hypothetical alteration.
The effect of this increased density seems to have become more pronounced over time, which may explain some historical events in Earth's civilizations during this era. Geological and astronomical records suggest that Earth has encountered regions of higher interstellar medium density before, with a notable episode possibly occurring around 11,000 BCE. If my hypothesis is correct, the Ultra-War and the events leading up to it from the Early Renaissance forward may be influenced by our solar system's current position in the galaxy. To put it in plain terms: When a patient is bleeding, immediate action is crucial as every minute of delay exacerbates the damage. If my hypothesis is correct, the increased interstellar medium density is like a slow-acting environmental stressor on Earth's systems. The longer we wait to address it, the more severe and far-reaching the effects may become. The end of the Ultra-War did not resolve this underlying issue. We must investigate and address the root cause of humanity's recent cataclysms, and I believe the changes in our local interstellar environment may be that cause.
"What's particularly concerning is that the effect of this phenomenon appears to be cumulative and potentially accelerating in severity. Each moment of delay could lead to a disproportionate increase in negative consequences. If my hypothesis is correct, this issue must be addressed as soon as possible, sir. We have no time to waste, as the next global crisis could push Earth's civilization past a critical tipping point from which recovery might be impossible. We must investigate and address the root cause of humanity's recent cataclysms, and I believe the changes in our local interstellar environment may be that cause. The stakes are too high for delayed action. Every minute counts at this point."
"Okay," said Captain Samwise, daunted to the core by this information.
Lexi paused, and then went on.
"While my data on previous occurrences is limited, there's evidence suggesting that increased interstellar medium density has had profound effects on Earth and potentially other worlds in the past. Some ancient records hint at a decline in higher cognitive functions across various species during these periods. Interestingly, there are even obscure mythological references to godlike beings from other worlds who seemed to withdraw or diminish during such times.
Of course, I can't confirm the veracity of these accounts, but they do align with observable patterns of civilizational decline and species die-offs in Earth's geological and historical records. If there's truth to these stories, it could indicate that the effects of this phenomenon extend beyond just our world, possibly impacting advanced cognition on a broader scale.
This adds another layer of urgency to our mission. If these accounts are even partially accurate, we're not just fighting for Earth's future, but potentially for the preservation of intelligence itself in our region of space. However, I must stress that this is highly speculative and requires much more investigation."
Lexi paused again as he focused on the last changes required for the Ultra molecular transformation.
"Captain," said Lexi, "I need to use two parts of the three parts of the Ultra sample you gave me, the remaining part will be left unchanged. That sample will continue to be as dangerous as before. The two parts I am transforming will be placed in a separate ampule and the color will be light green, instead of blue, which is the original Ultra coloration, which will remain in the original ampule. I recommend you destroy it."
"I concur," said Sam, "and I will keep your recommendation under advisement. I want to thank you for your help. However, I should also add that I am still concerned about your method of operation, but I won't keep you, as we agreed. If your hypothesis is correct, the stakes are extremely high, indeed. I hope your efforts will prove productive, and beneficial to Earth."
"I believe it will be, sir. I will keep you informed of our progress," said Lexi as he handed Samwise the two ampules, and the data crystal that had the full transcription of the analysis Lexi had conducted.
Captain Samwise returned to his Mech with an upgraded version of Ultra. Not perfect, but far better than before.
He took a glance at the blue ampule. And now with this, he thought excitedly, he could potentially augment his own genetic code, enhancing himself in ways that he could never have imagined before. Of course this was a very, very risky proposition, but with all of the analysis that Lexi had provided, and given sufficient time and resources, Samwise felt that his Bio-Augmentation skills would be sufficient to do the job, and he was willing to take the risk. It would take time, and nothing would be done in a hasty manner, but he was confident that in the end he would become what he always dreamed of. A new species of human.
The two Mechs decoupled, and Samwise watched as Lexi's ship sped off in the direction Saturn. Meanwhile, Samwise planned to take the UFOs and giant robots down to Kitt Peak, and introduce the technicians to Earth. He relayed a message to Major Sekston, asking her if she would be willing to meet Lt. Brisbane of Federation Command at Kitt Peak before returning to Panguitch. Major Sekston was eager to do so. After introductions and settling the technicians into the hospital, Captain Samwise suggested returning with her and Penelope to Panguitch in order to meet up with his man, "Guns" Gunnison, collect the AGV, and potentially help the Patriot Army with its efforts against the Black Manticore. She thanked him, and so they set off for Earth, the UFOs coming in behind, and the fifty giant robots trailing in tow. Once they reached Earth's atmosphere the robots would re-animate and land themselves in the desert near the spaceport below Kitt Peak, along with the UFOs, and they would take it from there. All agreed, they began their descent.
Meanwhile, far out in space, Lexi and his secretive AI companion plotted a course for the molecular cloud. As they sailed past the moon, a particularly dark shadow of space slid by them on its way towards the small fleet of ships and giant robots descending into Earth's atmosphere. Neither Lexi, nor the AI, had any instruments by which to detect this shadowy being, but had they been able to, they would have seen a sphinx-like form with a malevolent grin on its hideously terrifying face.
And this is where we left things that evening. And it is likely where we will leave things with The Way of All Flesh Campaign for a while, as we plan to embark on a new adventure GM'd by one of my fellow players. Our thought is to pick up on the adventures of Linda and Pita, and perhaps Bruin Hilda, at a later date, and see whatever becomes of those heroes! Stay tuned!
