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Andrew reporting.
I hope things on Mars are going better than they are here. I can't calculate our
chances of overcoming the six amphibian ships because I have no estimation of the
range and power of the armament carried by the Guardian-of- Younger-Nestbrothers
and its companion ship. Even the most powerful and intelligent computer can't give
correct answers on the basis of insufficient data. That is the one area in which
human people excel.
Daniel is unrepentant regarding the alteration of the ship's computer. He seems
smug, as if he has accomplished a difficult task. He will not discuss the reason for
his actions. I am giving him the benfit of the doubt, by assuming that he has a reason.
"Daniel, for the last time, why did you modify the computer? How does it relate to
the One? And Daniel, what are the qualities and characteristics of the One?
Nelson has been trying to explain what has been happening. It hasn't been easy for
him, though. It seems that the Amphibian ships are divided into two groups, coming
in from two directions towards the colony. The Guardian-of- Younger-Nestbrothers
cannot be separated from the Nest-Enveloping-Eggs or both ships will probably be
destroyed. They have to go after one group of Amphibians or the other at a time,
not both.
Once I felt the whole ship shudder and loud sirens screamed immediately afterward.
Nelson darkened for a moment.
Damage receiving have. A hit not did they score direct, dead would we be or.
The screen is amazing. Now it shows the space immediately around our ship. Every so
often a group of little objects appears from out of nowhere and then they usually explode.
Nelson says they are being shot down. He says they are missiles, like the ones the
C-probes used, but bigger, and armed with thermonuclear warheads. I hope we don't
get hit. That doesn't sound good at all.
We joined the main tunnel again at the other end of that hall. We kept exploring
as far down as we could. It leads down several twists and turns, but then suddenly it
drops down a rock face for about a hundred feet. We informed Elder Brother about the
barrier and asked him to move his base camp down to this end of the hall. We have to
find a way to overcome these difficulties. Elder Brother said that he was busy with
Sojourner, but he will come immediately after he's fixed it.
Okay, so we'll keep waiting.
"What's that, Zachary? Something small is approaching us out of the dark. It isn't EB or
one of the warriors. It's not Mao, either. Now I can see it better. Don't worry, Zachary.
It's Sojourner. But look at him go! He's moving faster now than he ever did before."
Elder Brother is coming also. He took everything with him. The warriors, the two carriers,
and Mao. I bet that it was him who changed Sojourner's gear
transmission ratio.
"Not just that. I also implemented a nuclear power source to its solar electric. I thought
that might be more useful in here. Since NASA is economizing they leave even the useful
things. No wonder they lost contact with Sojourner."
We introduced EB to the twists and turns and the drop down. He also inspected the other
side tunnels nearby. But most of them drop, too. There is no doubt the main route is
the tunnel that turns so much.
I never thought I would be so glad to see an Ipsolstai. Commandant Fitzgerald
came to look for me and Theresa, and he found us. He got us unstuck, and we are
now free to move. It was very nice of him to do that, especially when he had
so many other things to do, like fight Amphibians.
He asked us many questions about Burn and Caleb. I told him about everything we had
seen, and replayed their arguments so he would know what happened.
Ulitmate disposition not worrying you are.
Concern now younglings is for. Caring, having them you are?
So I gave him the container with the six little eggs. I was getting tired of carrying them
around anyway. It was really inconvenient. It is hard enough to keep track of Theresa,
without worrying about spilling or breaking them.
Elder Brother couldn't make it down into the abyss, but he fixed Enoch on a cable and
lowered him down. Next Sojourner followed. Enoch went on a little further, but soon
he reported that he was stopped by another shaft. I remained with Elder Brother.
We are busy to unloading one of the carriers now. Elder Brother wants to build
a smaller vehicle out of it, fully equipped with a winch and a rope with a hook that
can be also shot straight up, so the vehicle can lower itself down but also get
back up again.
I'm watching him work. It's a big job to cut through all the shields of the carrier.
He also cuts down the treads to make them narrower. Good thing we built those
lasers. Now the warriors are helping also. Elder Brother is separating the parts
that he is going to use. Power source, gear, winch, spot lights, electric, two
extra lasers, plates, shields, treads, joints, nuts, bolts.
"Elder Brother, are these base plates?"
EB nods. Correctly identified. Looks like he is building three units that will
be linked to each other. Concerning the base plates, no unit will be larger than me.
Good idea, so none of us will get stuck unless there is really no way to move on.
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