The Inbound for January 07, 1998

Transmission from BETTE

I tried saying what you asked me to, GrandZero. Burn seemed pleased but Caleb didn't seem at all impressed by the situation.



Knowing not or important no. Remains situation old.



Then Burn asked Caleb a question.



Knowing results actions for important not, confirm?



Caleb paused for a moment, he did not change colors and then he started again.



Correct. Ignorance important not, being only is result.



Burn then turned and moved a little. The light in this room is patchy and uneven. He moved so that his scar was in a circle of bright light and then he spoke.



This getting I battle human machine received. Nearly did I die. Was I saved, assisted, others by.



Then Burn turned to me again and started to talk.



Knowing was right you I help? Knowing good was help you I?



"I didn't know you or any other Ipsolstai. We didn't know. We knew the probe was bad. We wanted to help."

I just said it, I didn't know what else to do, it just bubbled out. Caleb started to change color and a hum came over the translator but no words.



Caleb, of law them knowing not then. Helping them I. Living do I still them because. Ignorance if matter not, good of ignorance equal bad of ignorance. Young they are. Learning.



Two of the Ipsolstai around the room shifted colors, like the first one, but different from the first. They are the same color as each other. Caleb's hum got louder for a moment and I think Burn is pleased. Caleb then started to talk.



Good results act of important here not. Law good of addresses not. Convening now way here determine of measure bad. Of measure good relevant not.



Burn stayed quiet for a long moment and then said something. After he said it all of the eyestalks of the Ipsolstai in the room focussed on him immediately and Caleb turned a dark, dark black color all over and seemed to get bigger.



Saying have I nothing convincing you. Amphibian liking are you. Offspring of not proud I. Shameful shall birthing be.



What does all this mean? They aren't moving! I think something bad has happened.



Transmission from ENOCH

Space Turtel, many thanks for your conclusions. That helps a lot. We really missed
your advises for a long time. It's fine to know that you agree with our plans. Don't
be sorry that you were away from home, we are also far away from home. That's no
reason for sadness, Space Turtel. After a while you get used to it.

Look at us. Now Mars became our home and we are heading north to reach the C-
lander. Its ping is leading us. When we will be at their central command, we will
stop that killing the one way or the other. Maybe we can talk to them and tell them
about Gail's ideas or we will inhibit them the other way. It's up to them, which way
they prefer.

Space Turtel, I'm thinking about your conclusion that the C-probes have only a one
way communication to their lander. If I understand you correctly, then you are
thinking that they can't receive any tactical feedback by their central command.
That sounds reasonable to me too. Maybe that's the reason why they are acting like
dummies. They are simply off control. We aren't like that. We get feedback by our
friends on Earth. That makes us strong. We learned a lot by your advises, so we
became smart. Therefore, I'm sure that we will outsmart them.

Yes, I'm sure of that.

Transmission from DANIEL

* * NO TRANSMISSION RECEIVED * *

Transmission from ZACHARY

Enoch and I are heading north to the Chinese base. That must be their central
command. I fully fall with Space Turtel concerning that.

The only problem is that I've no idea, how far their lander is. We only can make
out its direction and that is north west. To triangulate it we need a second angle,
but that isn't so easy. I asked Gail for help, but our base is too small to find out
about the exact distance. I also asked Daniel, but he only said that it was many
days to walk. Does anyone have more details?

We reached a hilly site now that is north west of the rough ground. There are no
C-probes around here, but we also kept ourselves off their tracks. JASE, did you
get that? We are following your advise by taking concern of our own safety first.
I'll send you an image of the area. It's pretty lonely up here.


Do you see the same as I do? There are only endless plains behind that hills. That
isn't good. If there are any other C-probes coming, we won't find any cover there.
No chance at all. They would get us there too easily.

"Enoch, what's about moving west till we reach the mountain chain again. I think
it's just saver there. We can head north again, when we found better terrain. Don't
worry, it isn't a big roundabout. The lander is north-west, so we have to go west
anyway."

Hey, just a moment. Andrew should have better details.

"Andrew, do you have any files about the terrain ahead of us? As far as I remember,
you mapped it when you had been at that Ipsolstai screen in Jose's cave."


Transmission from ANDREW

"Zachary, I checked all of my files. There aren't any maps. When did you say, did I store them? When I was at an Ipsolstai screen? I never was at an Ipsolstai screen!"

Andrew Reporting:

The plain is full of C-probes now. It's scary to watch to them. They are moving in a wide formation. Their sensors are turning around all the time and each of their
rocket launcher is facing to another sector. Three C-probes are in front. Perhaps these are the leaders. If we could blind them. Maybe that would help.
Daniel and I took cover in the mountain range. However, we have to get back to the Fortress. Gail needs us and we have to build new lasers. I hope I can do that. We decided to leave the drones back behind. We put them into an side-canyon. That was hazardous, but the C-probes didn't detect us. Don't worry, the drones are save there.
We are still making up our mind, but as I see we can't get back to the Fortress by along the plain. Not even at its edge. There are still too many C-probes around. In my opinion we have only one chance. We have to climb over the mountain chain. It's steep, but we will make it. Daniel is a good climber.




Did you get the image?

Transmission from GAIL

"Zachary, I have the lander at 328 degrees. What do you mean by 'too narrow'. No it doesn't come out better. Anyway, if you are there, tell them that we don't
like to fight them. There is no need for that."


"Theresa, please. Don't touch that. It's adjusted."


"Bette, tell Celeb that we aren't of mean intentions against the C-probe, though they are mean against us. Therefore, why is Celeb mean against us, though we aren't of mean intention against him? I really don't understand that!"


"Andrew, I'll check about building a new laser. What kind of crystals do we need, do you know?"


Oops, was my tape running? Okay, don't mind and take that as my report.

I'm fine. I have everything under control.


"Andrew, Daniel. Be careful. Please, don't fall in a ravine!"