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Andrew reporting.
Grand Zero, I am not making much progress with Nelson. I have tried to explain to him
that it is imperative to describe the ship's navigation, propulsion, and weaponry systems
to us, so that we may be helpful if the Ipsolstai crew becomes unable to function.
This is only pragmatic and logical.
I believe it was a new idea to him. He seemed to be giving it careful consideration.
Then he flashed orange and crimson and waved his tentacles.
I will persist.
Grand Zero, I am perfectly willing to accept Daniel and work together to accomplish any
necessary task. However, I do not recognize that he has any particular expertise or
experience with computer systems that would be superior to my own.
Andrew has been arguing with Nelson for a long time. He tried to slip away in the
confusion as we moved closer to the core but he got caught. He just looks too different.
He's trying to get Nelson to let him help, but what one probe can do, I don't know!
Isaac is still scared, terrified even. Part of it is the Ipsolstai that look bad,
and the others moving quickly in every direction. We've felt the ship shake several
more times. Nelson seems very afraid. Some of the Ipsolstai are flashing very rapidly,
but all in dark colors. I don't think those Ipsolstai are afraid, they are something else.
I think they are angry.
Something bad happened.
I was riding the warrior at its top speed. The sun was reflecting off the orange
layer that now covers the Big Canyon, while the warrior was rocking over rough ground.
It was really like second nature. Pure pleasure, nearly as good as flying. It gave me
A big taste of boundless freedom.
Then I met Elder Brother. He did not locate Gail, so we went back and found her and
Theresa further up the Big Canyon. Theresa fully enjoyed riding Elder Brother and
we had a lot of fun.
When we passed near the Hidden Gate we were stopped by several Ipsolstai. They
looked almost black, very angry and very strict. About twelve of them holding projectile
tubes in their tentacles. They blocked the whole canyon, staying there in a military
formation pointing at Gail and Theresa. We played possum.
Elder Brother slowly turned his lasers toward them. They lifted their devises. I tried
to negotiate, but none of them had translator devices to understand me.
"All probes are under the personal protection of Commandant Fitzgerald." I transmitted, loud.
No reaction. The tension increased. We were facing each other lens to lens. One
wrong move and the shootout would start. I'm sure we could kill most of them before
they got us.
But if we did, after killing Ipsolstai, what would happen to Bette, Andrew and Daniel?
Even if these troops are outlaws belonging to Caleb, we don't know about their law
system. At that moment I truly knew how badly we still depend on Ipsolstai benevolence.
We stood there for an endless while. Then Gail looked at me and looked down at Elder Brother.
"Don't worry, Enoch." She climbed down from Elder Brother and went toward that gang,
followed by Theresa.
I felt so helpless, I can't tell.
Hi, Grand Zero! I'm always happy to hear from a friend. After thinking about what
you said, I decided to let Elder Brother carry Theresa and me to meet Zachary. I think
it might be OK if I don't give him orders, like we give to a dumb miner or a construction
drone. I asked his permission before getting on. He told me that strength was always
the servant of gentleness. Whatdo you suppose he meant by that?
Anyway, it was nice to see Enoch again. But we didn't get very far before several
flying vehicles landed and a lot of Ipsolstai hurried out. They had big projectile
tubes pointed at us, too. I was afraid that Enoch was going to get mad and do something
to make them damage him. I couldn't let that happen. I had to do something before they
started shooting. I climbed down and faced them directly.
The Ipsolstai moved quickly to surround Theresa and me. They motioned for us to get
into the flying vehicle. So we did. There was no alternative.
"Enoch, if I don't see you again, send this picture to Andrew and the other probes."
Sojourner is finished with its soil analysis. That natural platform that we are on
is mainly of basaltic origin, but in addition to traces of sulfur and quartz Sojourner
also found layers of sandstone and a thin layers of lime.
I'm quite bothered about the dimension of that dome that we are in. It gives me
a strange feeling staying on that semicircle rim and looking into the black
darkness. It's like staying on a huge table attached to a rock sphere somewhere
far out in space and facing the darkness of the infinite cosmos.
I had an idea. I commanded Gen to fire a shot.
I counted. It takes 1.89 seconds for the echo to return to the bordered edge of the
platform. That means another 314.68 meters to go to the opposing wall. Then I dropped
a rock to learn about its depth. 5.72 seconds. But I'm not quite sure if I heard the
final bounce.
I looked at Mao and gave Elder Brother this data, so he doesn't feel excluded
from the project. Doing so, I received the news about Gail and the raid.
She always liked looking at the stars. Sorry, I can't find any words ...
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