25 Quad 2471 R.E.
Eltyn stood to one side of the "window" in the upper chamber that served as Faelyna?s laboratory. After one glance, he did not look toward the corner that held her pallet bed. He tried not to shift his feet from one side to the other as she went through the checklist for the array of equipment centered on the modified and overpowered polariton generator/imager.
Estimate three minutes before initial probe. Faelyna made some adjustments that Eltyn could not follow.
Second time you've said three minutes. [irony]
You want me to focus unshielded PG/I on you? [humor]
Not possible…before I move. [wide grin]
Her response was a feminine snort.
What Faelyna had earlier hoped would be several hours, or less than a day, had turned into two days and then three, before she had judged that the equipment was properly set and positioned. Then she had discovered a need for an additional modification. While she had worked on that, Eltyn had made some changes to the station equipment and power system, particularly in the reporting monitors-in reaction to the totally irrational periodic demands for station power reductions. He?d also isolate-blocked the internal net against probes from outside, but in a way that simply indicated that the entire comm system had been shut down except for emergency comm. All incoming probes and messages were quarantined so that he could view and analyze them without contaminating or compromising the station systems.
Two minutes.
Ready. Eltyn looked at her, trying to maintain a calm and unworried expression while not showing any sign of what he had begun to feel about her. To do otherwise would be unRuchelike.
The command comm level seared a white priority pulse across all CommNet channels. URGENT! URGENT! All stations! Mandatory reduction of power usage to minimum.Discontinue all routine and [low] priority usage. Nonessential energy usage will result indisciplinary action…
Faelyna glanced at Eltyn.
Eltyn triggered the shield-system he?d developed in reaction to the power hysteria coming from Hururia, a hysteria he suspected was being generated by the RF fanatics among The Fifty. ????? questioned Faelyna.
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.