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Andrew reporting.
I have mixed thoughts, Koala, about your message. While I am flattered that you
perceive my reactions to be human-like, I also consider them in retrospect to be
less than totally efficient. Therefore, I will waste no time in recriminations.
Loyalty is an admirable human characteristic, Koala, one which I have chosen to
adopt. I commend my companions for their loyalty to Burn who helped them, loyalty
to Nelson who got us out of the research facility, loyalty to Dr. D and friends
on Earth when they realized that the Amphibians would harm them. Loyalty to Gail's
concept of Probe Society, to the Ipsolstai ideal of peaceful scientific investigation and
the opportunity to join them in exploration.
The Court has just received shocking news. The Imperial Navy has engaged a
large fleet of Amphibian ships which appeared within the boundaries of the
Homeworld solar system. This is the Final Conflict which the Ipsolstai have feared
and anticipated for so long, and the battle is not going well.
The Emperor seems subdued and somehow smaller. I am unable to incite him
to take further action. All actions taken, all deeds done. Too late.
Yes, Koala, there is a solution.
In this universe of radial possibilities, there are multiple solutions.
For the sake of brevity and efficiency:
Thixel, I contacted Zachary. He is okay. He went with Sojourner outside the
cave. They are busy doing soil analyses. Don't worry, Zachary won't give up,
he only needs some time by himself.
Koala, her's a big promise. I will stop thinking about destroying myself. No
craving for a Button of Mercy anymore. Okay?
Also, I was thinking about The One, Koala, and what he might be able to do. I asked
him to demonstrate his power to show Spur that he himself is the Groove. Is that
according to your line of argument saying that Spur needs to be shown that he is
not as clever and cunning as he believes, and that the more he thinks of us as
"scrap" and "machines" the less he will be on guard against us? Koala, I disagree
only that we have enouhg time left to wait until Spur creates his own downfall.
We must act, and we must act now! Otherwise you are gone!
Guess what? The One agreed. He told me just to tell him when to build a Groove anchor
in the cave. Guess What's Next? It happened exactly that way. Spur is desperate.
Wait a moment, I will send you an image of the Anchor that the One has just built.
Did you get that Amphibian too? No, you didn't. Anyway, an Amphibian in its black
armor jumped in, and I pointed at it, and so the One opened up this Groove, and
threw it out of the cave that way. Isn't that super?
Hey, there is another one. And off again. Spur is beginning to get very worried.
He is cringing in despair. He is afraid that I could point at him too. But I won't.
Spur is our prisoner now.
"Did you get that, Glorious Defender of the Delemreck, Fearless Conqueror of the
Known Universe, Generalissimo of all Armies, Designated Patriarch of Zonc, and
whatever? We got you, Big Mouthed Frog!"
"Theresa, Koala asked me if you know which other planet that you said the
Amphibians could use?"
I looked at those glyphs very closely, Koala. I think you might be right about
their interpretation. Is that how Art is done? Not just a pretty arrangement of
line and color, but a way of showing somebody an idea or a mood or meaning.
I will have to think about this. I want to try it later.
Anyway, Koala, I'm in front of the glyphs and Theresa is with me. She fully
agrees with your version. The two circles could be the Earth and the Moon both
surrounded by an Amphibian fleet. But they the fleet is gone now. Spur ordered them back,
and there is no Ipsolstai fleet anymore.
Koala, there are many more glyphs on the wall than Enoch transmitted. I'll
send you an image with an wider angle. Please wait.
Did you get it? Can you see these planets? There are more than one planet and more of
those ships. The whole pattern repeats itself endlessly along the whole wall. I have no
idea what it means. Do you know?
Andrew just reported that the Imperial Navy was defeated by an Amphibian fleet. I
got his Inbound directly via the One a few minutes ago. Those Amphibians seem to
be all around. We must save the Purple Planet too. It's the Ipsolstai homeworld and
besides, Bette and Andrew and Daniel and Isaac are there.
"Enoch, what is it? Yes, Koala asked me the same thing. I'm going to ask Theresa about it.."
No, Theresa doesn't know for sure about another planet. She says that it was just an
idea that came to her. She only mentioned it, and she is sorry that she bothered
us. That's all.
"Yes,Daniel? Ask the One? Okay, I will."
"Hi, One. Did you follow our conversation? Any reasonable contribution?"
I think that's the answer. It makes sense of the glyphs, too. The One just told me
about a star system that is surrounded by a lot of big water planets. And do you know
what? There are no sentient life forms there but a lot
of living cloth and light
bulbs and stuff like that. And now for the best part! That star system is in a
discontinuous section of the Universe. And that section is millions of light
years away.
Do you know what that means? Because the One is the Groove. He will move them over,
but he won't allow them to come back ever. The Amphibians will be banished there
for all time to come.
"Bette, listen! The One has the answer to our worries. The glyphs are deciphered.
Both Earth and the Purple Homeworld are saved. We only have to explain that to the
Amphibians. Well, isn't Spur their chief? I'm going to go and tell him."
"Listen, Spur. What about you and your friends? Do you agree?"
Once again, I couldn't help speaking up. When I got Gail's message, I
understood exactly what needed to be done. All the puzzle pieces made to fit.
Truly there is hope everywhere in the universe.
"Excuse me for interrupting, Your Majesty. But don't you see, there is a way to
make everything come out all right. What if the Amphibians are banished, taken
millions of light years away, with no way to ever return? Isn't that just as good
as destroying their species? They can never, never bother the Ipsolstai or the
Earth people again!"
He didn't get mad. He got thoughtful.
Known to US is the Spur.
So-called Patriarch of Zonc and so forth alleged self-proclaimed.
Usurper not hereditary. Dangerous competent.
Surrender forthcoming, agreeing to banishment conditional.
Treaty of Peace conditional.
Banishment accept banishment only.
(Historic Final Disposition of Amphibians accomplished by US.)
So the Emperor agreed that moving all the Amphibians to their own water worlds
far, far away was a good plan. He also thought about it and realized that we Probes
are the only ones who can directly communicate with the One.
He said that he needed us.
Thixel, I will keep fighting. Nothing will stop a Probe of our brand. Dr.D, my best
compliments to you. You did an outstanding job setting up these wonderful circuits.
Koala, I'm going back. I will join Enoch, Gail and Theresa. I did wrong moving up
to the surface. No excuse for that. Giving up and running away is the worst thing
a Probe can do. We are not designed to act like that.
Spur surrendered. Without control of the Groove, their advantage over the Ipsolstai
and dominance is gone. The war is over. Invasion of Earth cancelled and the Amphibian
fleet commanded back. Spur will accept banishment to those water planets millions
of light years off in space with no way that may ever lead them back.
What did the Prophecy say?
And endless Gloriness in watered world for living.
So, in fear and modesty lead them to the watered world,
fullfill their destiny.
Koala, you were always right saying that the glyphs may well be a prophecy, just
not the one the Amphibians think it was. Thanks for your faith, advice, and
postitive guidance.
I released Sojourner. He immediately moved down the Big Canyon toward the plains.
He has become a pretty fast probe since Elder Brother changed his drive and
equipped it with a nuclear power supply. I can see him, I'll send you a zoomed image.
Look at Sojourner. Isn't he a brave probe, and a cute one too?
Oh, what about my command codes? Al-Q, did they became public? Can you call
them back and can you destroy the file, so they won't get into the wrong hands?
I'm back on duty again.
You know what?
Being free, independent, and sentient, that's the best that can happen to a Probe.
Good luck, Earth.
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