30 Quad 2471 R.E.
Despite Eltyn?s worries, no aircraft or other inspectors soon followed the first group of RF inspecting enforcers. Their sole captive lapsed into sullen silence. Eltyn had also been correct about the difficulties in changing the calibration settings for Faelyna?s equipment. After another day?s work by both of them, her modified assemblage was ready to test by late afternoon on sixday.
Once more the assembly was focused upon the upper-level north side window, except this time Eltyn was standing well back from both window and the projecting transmitter.
Ready…actuate! pulsed Faelyna.
The only sound was a faint hum-and the window opened, far wider than Eltyn had seen whenever he?d touched it to open it in the past. Outside, the sky was a hazy grayish yellow, an indication that another sandstorm was imminent, possibly why they had not seen another RF attempt to attack the station.
Eltyn looked back to where the window would have been on the south side of the chamber, but that space remained solidly closed. !!!!!!!!!! Faelyna smiled broadly.
"You did it!" exclaimed Rhyana from the top of the ramp into the work space. "You didn?t have to touch the window."
"Would you look down below and see if any windows or doors opened?" asked Eltyn.
"Yes, sir." Rhyana headed down the ramp.
That shouldn't happen. That command shouldn't affect any openings below.
Correct…but…sometimes…
Skeptic.
[rueful admission]
The delivery woman reappeared. "Tight as tight can be down below."
Faelyna arched her eyebrows. [satisfied amusement]
I concede. "So…we can now seal the entrances and windows?" Eltyn spoke aloud for Rhyana?s benefit. "From one location? You won?t have to cart the assembly to each place?"
"Possibly." That comes next. Provided there's not something else locked into the shadowcodes. ????
Secondary control level beneath(?) direct physical controls for station.
Physical controls secondary to other layer?
Most probably.
Interrogative protocol? Similarity?
Structure appears the same. Greater 4 complexity.
"What are you two talking about?" demanded Rhyana.
"Whether we can learn to do more than open and close and lock windows and door openings," replied Faelyna. "We might need that if The Twenty sends a large force." ??? pulsed Eltyn.
"If they can?t get in, what can they do?" Rhyana?s pale brow furrowed.
"Starve us out," replied Faelyna. "They could surround us to the point where we couldn?t get out, even if they couldn?t get in."
"Couldn?t you just make that stone window small enough to poke out a projectile rifle?" asked Rhyana.
"That?s possible. We don?t have unlimited ammunition or food, and they can sever the cables from the powernet."
"Best you keep working. I?ll check on the riffie again." Rhyana headed back down the ramp.
Practical, observed Eltyn.
Practical 3.
Now what? he asked.
Follow Rhyana's advice.
He laughed. Where do we start?
Analysis of the shadow symbols on the next level linked to activation commands. If evenpossible.
That made what she?d accomplished so far seem like a very small step, indeed. He linked into her workplan.
Two hours later, they were just beginning to catalogue patterns/structures.
EEEE!!! The white emergency pulses were followed by a red flash, something Eltyn hadn?t sensed on the CommNet before.
The Twenty have confirmed that all critical functions of the Ruche in Hururia and inregional centres have been restored. While a handful of isolated installations have not yetreaffirmed their loyalty to the Ruche, largely because of weather conditions, it is expected thatfull loyalty will be reported no later than threeday…
Full loyalty? [snort] Eltyn shook his head, although he knew Faelyna was not looking in his direction.
Full coerced loyalty was her reply. Doubtful if true.
Most doubtful…You think Chiental still resisting?
Most likely holding out. Otherwise The Twenty would be claiming great triumph…greattriumph [irony].
Twenty may not even know location…in detail…isolated, Eltyn pointed out.
…but, once incorporated in the Meld [bitter sarcasm]…formerly isolated instances ofdisloyalty will result in de-Ruchement…
That sounds so much better than disminding or discorporation, pulsed Eltyn.
As intended.
Do you think they'll be here with enforcers by then?
Unless the sandstorms are still raging.
For the first time he found himself hoping for the mother of all sandstorms.