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Today was more puzzling than normal. Two Ipsolstai came in and tried to play a game
with Daniel and Isaac. They put something on top of Daniel, like a stick with some
flexible material on it, and told Isaac to get it. Isaac ran up to Daniel and tried
to climb over him to get the thing, but Daniel kept moving back so Isaac would slide
off. Then Daniel tried to get it off but he couldn't, it was too far back for him to
reach it. Isaac tried to knock it off with a stick he found, but Daniel wouldn't let
him close enough. Isaac wasn't using that stick very well.
The Ipsolstai were watching all the way through this and seemed to get more
excited as the process went on. One of them pressed something on its equipment
harness and the next time it flashed a translator worked.
Isaac kept trying to get it off of Daniel and Daniel kept trying to stay away
from him. Daniel grabbed Isaac and pushed him away. Isaac kept trying to get
it and get it until finally Daniel told him to stop. Isaac stopped, but keeps
looking at Daniel. One Ipsolstai started flashing then.
Thought we did as is it.
Motivation friendship with opponents make.
Good. Strength respect of-
Then the other pointed at something and flashed and the first pressed the button
again and the translator stopped. They left the thing on Daniel and left. Isaac
is playing by himself now, but Daniel is backed into the corner. He still has
that thing on him. I wonder why he doesn't ask me or Andrew to help him?
We betray ourselves.
Be being ourselves.
There is danger.
There is an enemy.
Burn was wrong.
"Enoch don't move! The C-probes are programmed to attack whatever is moving.
Hold on! I'm coming. I'll be there soon!"
Mao brought in five fully equipped warrior probes that were guarding next to the
plant, while Kim went on to get the C-probes at the basaltic plateau. I watched
how Elder Brother and Mao reprogrammed them. Mao went to Elder Brother and
received a file that he carried over to one of the C-probes. So, they were able to
transmit the software routines by small scope transmissions undetectable by any
Earth radio. Quite clever to keep a mission secret.
It was funny to watch them. Elder Brother consists of three identical units, which
move totally synchronically. He also programmed Mao, so I'm able now to talk
to him directly. Finally a robot arm painted a big red star on each side of the
warriors, so we know which are the friendly ones and which are unmodified
and hostile. There were also some special modifications added to their ping ID.
Kim will start with another forty or fifty warriors in two days. Elder Brother also
gave me three modified decoders and several adapters complemented by a manual
switch. He wished me good luck and fortune and I rode on the front warrior. Elder
Brother's signals got soon weaker and weaker when we left the big hall, and I
realized that I forgot to ask him if I can send him a movie via our communications.
Now, let's move on. A new phase of our mission has started.
I'm okay and I can read you clearly, Thixel. I instantly played possum when
the rocket went toward me. It barely missed me and hit the tram. The tram blew
up and so did the cartridge. It was a huge explosion. My casing got hit by rocks
and soil and the shock wave catapulted me several meters toward the C-probe.
I was not hurt but I remained quiet without a single motion.
Then I sensed Sojourner. He was okay. A rock shielded him, but he moved. I
didn't know how to stop him. The C-probe turned toward him. I yelled. So the
C-probe came after me. I thought that the next moment I will be crunched by
its treads. Then it stopped. It turned around and vanished.
I needed some time to recover from that shock, but I think that I saw one
of those little blue probes Zachary was talking about between the basaltic
mounds, but I'm not quite sure.
The tram is messed up. Not much left. It's a total loss. I liked to drive it. At
least we know now that it was vulnerable. From this point of view it's better that
we learned that now than later. It was just luck that I took Sojourner out first.
My goodness, the C-probes is coming back. No, it's even more than one C-probe.
I can see their antennas between the mounds. They keep their sensors constantly
turning around and their rocket launchers are fully loaded with missiles too.
"Come on, Sojourner! We have to take cover immediately."
Where to hide? This basaltic area is polished smooth and the rock that shielded
Sojourner is to small to cover both of us.
Oh no, it's Zachary! He is riding on top of the front C-probe. He is waving
his arms. There is also that same little blue probe next to him. Didn't it have a
yellow knob before?
"Zachary! Great to have you back. I'm over here! I'm fine and so is Sojourner."
Our situation is even worse than before, if that is possible. Poor Enoch was
caught in an explosion and is probably injured. Zachary has been captured and
evidently brainwashed by the C-probes.
I have started the drones digging a new tunnel into the rock. It should connect
with the Ipsolstai tunnel complex. Then we can escape from the C-probes.
Miss Chang has been very supportive. I told her how worried I am about Enoch and Zachary.
She must be talking about the Chinese expedition.
Why didn't you follow up earlier, Mr. Parker?
This information changes the entire picture.
We may have lost the minerals, but the alien technology is still within our grasp.
Andrew reporting.
I took advantage of the diversion. While the Ipsolstai were busy watching Daniel and
Isaac, I have quietly slipped out the door.
Fortunately there is no Ipsolstai in sight. I am proceeding at top speed down a side
branch of the corridor.
If anything happens to me, please tell Gail I did my best.
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