L Modesitt - Empress of Eternity

System shields activated, Eltyn private-pulsed. [concern] Possible RF takeover.

Fanatics 4, idiots 7!

The screens that had just shown the satellite images of continental weather blanked, followed by momentary light-static, and then blackness.

MetCom out/down, observed Eltyn.

Troubled times = fanaticism. So much easier than thought. As if political control willchange the weather.

Eltyn waited, then inquired, Wish to continue?

No logical reason not to. Even more reason to continue. One minute.

Eltyn moistened his lips, trying not to look too nervous while he waited. Her equipment could project enough power to fry his fingers. It wasn?t supposed to, but it could.

Now…touch the "window" to open it.

Eltyn did so, pressing his fingertips against the stone where human touch actually created an opening to the outside. He suspected that prolonged touch was unnecessary, that intent was primarily required, but some sort of touch/movement was nonetheless necessary. A gust of all-too-hot air dried the perspiration of anticipation-and fear-almost instantly.

Close it.

He did so, aware that even that momentary blast of air had raised the temperature in the laboratory where he stood significantly. He took a moment to smooth his hair, short as it was.

Power to standby, announced Faelyna.

Eltyn took a slow deep breath, then pulsed, Results?

Something registered on the PG/I tracker. [satisfaction/anticipation]

What??? Eltyn couldn?t help but display some impatience, unRuchelike as that was.

Probable shadow entanglement. Parallel shadowing.

Eltyn couldn?t help smiling. Did he dare? After a brief hesitation, he added,

[admiration…affection]

He could sense her embarrassment.

Thank you. [appreciation]

Not wanting to dwell longer in the uncomfortable area of expressed emotion, he pulsed, Detection sufficient?

Indications suggest tracking by???? within or behind the stone of the canal and stationwithout actual energies being radiated or deployed beyond the surface of the stone.

Eltyn frowned. How???

Unknown this time. One step at a time. Doors next, then conduits. Pattern check. Afterthat…[shrug]

Pattern replication?

Possible alternative. Except…what if replication freezes command structure?

Eltyn winced. He certainly didn?t want to be trapped inside the station. Yet…being trapped outside in the heat and the wind-whipped sand wasn?t likely to be much better.

The white emergency indicator pulsed three times before an announcement followed. Inresponse to the urgent needs of the Ruche, The Twenty have superseded The Fifty, in accord withPrime Emergency Authorization Number One. The Twenty are already restoring fullcommunications in Hururia…

Prime Emergency Authorization? questioned Eltyn. When Faelyna did not respond, he added,????

Unlikely to have ever existed. RF invention. But it will appear in the records of TheFifty's proceedings. Very proper.

Already in place. [cynical acceptance]

They turned and looked at each other, as if neither quite knew what to say when it appeared that the very structure of the Ruche was either crumbling or being supplanted from within.

A single cyan pulse flared through the comm system. TechOversight Contingency Three.Contingency Three.

The two exchanged glances.

Contingency Three? That's…retreat to Chiental redoubt, Faelyna observed.

How do we comply? Transport? A thousand kays from the north side of the canal.

In the middle of the Fhranan Peaks. [ironic disbelief]

All the contingency plans had been designed more for climate or weather disasters, or for a breakdown in civil order, reflected Eltyn-not an internal coup and takeover. Still…it might work. Then he shook his head. There was no way they could even consider crossing the canal, let along making their way that far to the northeast. They had no boat, and who knew what was happening in Apialor, where there was a ferry?

Another comm pulse followed. Disregard all other transmissions. Ruche security hasalready placed all comm and power-generation systems and facilities under immediatesupervision. Over the next weeks, all independent and outlying installations will be inspected toassure compliance with the emergency procedures promulgated by The Twenty…

That's to give everyone time to give the impression of compliance, Faelyna observed.

Sorting out noncompliers…isolating those who support The Fifty. He paused. TechOversight?

Total creation of the less "traditional" of The Fifty. That's why the cyan alert.

They exchanged knowing looks.

Eltyn pulsed, Interrogative possibility of gaining control of shadow system to prevent

"inspection" by the RF usurpers?

Time before arrival? ????

Shadow system appears to exist. Existence = controls. Control protocol unknown.Control language unknown… A faint smile crossed her thin lips.

[understanding…reluctant acceptance] [hope?]

Suggest we move equipment to lower door. Soonest. Depowering system this time.

Eltyn nodded and moved toward her.

Their project was taking on very personal importance, with The Twenty in control of the center of the Ruche in Hururia, especially since there was no way to cross the sands to the south and east, and they had no watercraft for the ocean and canal…and neither time nor equipment with which to build one. There certainly wasn?t any way that they could make their way to Chiental without encountering the minions of The Twenty…or any certainty of what they might find there if they could.

The suspicious cargo-sailer did not attack. Instead, precisely at midday, the vessel anchored to the south-southwest of the station. Before long, several individuals began using giant kites to surf the waves. Then two other groups launched sea-canoes and began a series of races, stopping just short of the outer surf line before turning and paddling northward, if slowly.

Duhyle stood at the corner of the ocean wall and the canal wall in the chill breeze. He studied the vessel, its sails furled, the picture of an ancient holiday cruise vessel, except for the heavy cargo booms securely fastened and immobile…and the cool temperatures out on the waves.

Subcaptain Symra stood to Duhyle?s left.

"What are they doing underwater?" asked Duhyle.

"Preparing to attack," replied Symra. "Most likely using an underwater lock to transfer gear and equipment to an undersea installation being assembled as we speak."

"SatCom won?t do anything?"

Symra gestured toward the apparently innocent scene playing out on the deep blue-green waters of the Jainoran Ocean. "Someone doubtless has images of what we see. Can you imagine…?"

Unfortunately, Duhyle could. "There?s no way to see what lies below? No evidence at all?"

"What may lie below. The water?s deep enough, and sonic monitoring isn?t descriptive enough, especially if what they?re using is largely nonmetallic, which is what any smart operator would do, I?d judge."

"At present," suggested Duhyle.

Symra only nodded.

Duhyle turned and walked back into the station. He made his way up to Helkyria?s laboratory to see what she might need. She didn?t even look up from the screens when he came up the ramp and waited. So he hurried down to the larger supply room and began to inventory what was there and what might be useful in unforeseen ways when they were actually attacked.

He?d actually created about a kilo of biotherm and colored it to match the stone of the station when he received a private link from Helkyria.

The airships are less than ten minutes to the southeast. They may need assistance inunloading and moving supplies.