03 - Revelations

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Ages - Kurtherian Gambit - Boris Chronicles

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Revelations deals with the investigation/reconstruction/battle of Konrad's NVG Research Base, in Archangelsk, Russia. Zakhar, Konrad's In-Charge, helped Boris with The Beast (Gyada), and the AI (Lilith)

Boris, the Base, and the Beast

BC 03/1

NVG Research Base, Russia. One of Konrad’s bases, it had been incommunicado for many months ( Konrad had kept it secret, as the Russian government would not like the idea of potential alien tech on their land being recovered and researched without their sanction), and Zakhar, Konrad’s in-charge, was extremely worried, for three reasons. One, he had not heard or had communications with the outside world, or with his boss, Konrad, in months. The lack of any interaction with his commander made him feel like he was standing in the eye of a storm, waiting for disaster to strike. Two, his team had confirmed the existence of an unknown alloy at the opening of the main cave mouth, and the metal seemed to be from out of this world, quite literally. With the news reports the base still occasionally received, Konrad and the NVG would need every possible advantage against the damned Americans. Three, his teams were losing people. They simply disappeared. With no radio communications underground, it was hard to track them. . The unexplained loss of people in the tunnels was causing huge morale problems. No blood, no sign of rock fall, no weapons fire heard. However, the men swore they had heard sounds which they described as wheezing, roaring bellows from some sort of creature. The cries were so low pitched that not all of his men could hear them, but each time people had mentioned the sound, one of his team members had disappeared. Now, a three-person team was missing. Local legend that told of a devil trapped in this very region. He would have the ramp into the cave replaced by a lift. If there was a creature stuck in the caves, Zakhar would not be responsible for releasing it into Mother Russia. He believed his government was corrupt and ineffective. However, he loved his fellow countrymen.

The Beast was angry. HUMANS had invaded her territory. This wouldn’t be allowed. She was the Queen of her area and nothing was going to change this. She had been thrown down here by an odd and powerful man, who had blocked the entrance, and might still be waiting for her outside. Now HUMANS had built a ramp, and she could get out if she wanted. She did go up the ramp, smelled the forest air she had not sensed in centuries, and was attacked by the humans, with poles that stung. She attacked them, and would hunt them down at her leisure.

The Base

BC 03/2

Boris and Janna, Paul and Alecta had discovered Konrad’s hidden base, helped by the rants of a delirious injured man who was spouting out its GPS location, and by the legends that designated that Michael fought “to the east”, and “to the west”. They had come in with a Command container, and found the base to be mysteriously quiet, almost empty except for one small group of buildings. They felt a nervous tension in the air. They too had heard whispers as they approached the area. They went to investigate. They were met by weapons, but convinced everyone to talk. NVG is gone, Konrad dead, so tell us about the Beast. Must be the Devil St. Michael trapped and threw down into the cave. Also, strange metal alloys at entrance to cave. Alecta to look at those. Did you try to send for help? “We did send three different groups, beyond the hundred or so who ran when the Beast first escaped, but we heard nothing back. To be honest, we hoped you might be the help. Even if the government executed me, these people are mostly scientists. Cavers. Support staff. What if it was actually Michael who had trapped the beast? That felt right. Michael, whatever his reasons, had imprisoned a creature? Not killed it. He’d better call Bethany Anne before he moved forward with anything. They might want to catch it again.

The Beast

BC 03/3

Boris tells Bethany Anne of finding the base, despite it having an impressive Etheric spoofing measure. Janna found it, because of a legend that tells about St. Michael fighting the Beast. Further, we hear something like the whispering of some sort in our heads. Could there be a Kurtherian still alive in the caves that is trying to contact outside? “If it still exists, and Michael is not alive to consult on capture or kill, the decision seems to rest on you.” “Send you team in to capture it.” They found multiple tracks to and from the cave, fresh every two or three days. One of the digits in the forepaws was sticking out at right angles compared to the other four. Either Boris or Janna would probably be able to control it, by the size of its tracks, so they took shifts, planning to take their Pricolici form and hold down a limb each, preferably getting it on its back, giving Paul easier access to restrain it. It came in around midnight, and they were alerted not by sound, but by the smell of deer’s blood on its fur. It turned to run. It was fast. They were faster. Tt seemed more intent on getting away than hurting them. Between them, they managed to get it on its back. They cuffed the creature, doing their best to restrict its movements without being cruel. They took it back to the cave, for safe-keeping.

BC 03/4

For two days, Paul guarded The Beast, feeding it three times a day. Boris gave the camp a choice. Work for him to work off the “debt” they had incurred by trying to wipe out a whole town, or leave. About a dozen of them left. After he'd shown them his other shape he could feel that there was less concern about the Beast and, oddly, less fear about him. That he could take a different form may have made them nervous, but it also made them incredibly curious. Boris was a window to the technologies that the mysterious TQB was making. The loyalty of the remaining soldiers was solid as a rock. They trained with them every day, and how easily Boris, Paul, and Janna threw them around solidified in their minds their rightful place as leaders. Boris had a gut feeling that there was something far more important than the Beast in that cave, although the feeling did not have the overtones of doom and death along with it. And they still kept hearing the whispering, constantly, but not a human language. It was almost like hearing constantly running water from a brook. After they spent a week mapping the cave system, Alecta noticed that there was one interesting feature. A straight arrow hole that seemed to have been bored through from the entrance to deep within the system. t was agreed to try and explore the tunnel as far as possible. At the end of the tunnel they found the wreckage of what looked to be some form of space craft. What looked like a campsite in the large cavern had been set up for a being smaller than most humans, and the whispering grew louder. With what Boris knew, he was sure it was a Kurtherian spaceship that had been wrecked here. With the family warnings and the odd beast that had been guarding it, he was feeling sure this was the one responsible for the nanites inside his mother and himself. They’d get Shen out to analyze what might be. With Bethany Anne’s assistance, they had moved more than a hundred of the former mercenaries from Boris’ town, and a group of about thirty trusted ex-mercs who wanted in on whatever TQB was doing that had contacted Boris through back channels. Boris welcomed the new blood from outside. They would have skills and techniques he was less well versed in. They would also be an enormous asset to improving the effectiveness of his small force. The site was simply too dangerous and valuable to treat with any laxity in security. Several of the trusted mercs were taking some of the strain of leadership off of Boris’ shoulders. One item had been identified by TOM from the pictures, combined with the emissions that the ship gave off inside the cave. It was evident that the damaged vessel had a crude, somewhat inefficient, and very dangerously modified Etheric energy converter. No one had yet come up with an answer as to why this ship was here, or how it had crashed. The analysis of the alloy scrapings had confirmed that the ship was more than two and a half thousand years old. No Kurtherian would have built a ship with such comparatively fragile alloys when the alloys that had been used to make, for example, TOM’s own ship were cheaper and tougher. They had decided to delay the analysis of what seemed to be the ship’s computer until Shen arrived. It wasn't its size that would identify the era which it came from for Tom, but rather its design and processing power. As with humans, the design could define a period of history that such an artifact could be placed in.

Gyada

BC 03/5

Bethany Anne and Boris plan and argue the various merits of optional defense systems, town planning, what he might need “just in case”. (See Locations, Archangelsk, Russia) Gyada, The Beast, was comfortable for the first time in centuries. Her two biggest problems had been boredom, and figuring out what the voice in her head had been. She'd been so enraged when the alien creature had changed, or as he put it, ‘improved’ her and her children, that she had ignored his threats that he would trap her in this animal’s form if she acted against him. (See Characters, Gyada, for full chapter). She lay down on the cell that her captors had made for her and listened, trying to learn the language which they spoke.

BC 03/6

TOM and ADAM theorize that someone from at least two and a half thousand years ago, at TOM’s best guess, had ended up all the way out here. Not only ended all the way out here but ended up out here after TOM had arrived? It was clear from the degradation of the alloys that the ship had only been in the atmosphere for eight centuries or so. Ships from that era weren't designed for long-term periods in the atmosphere. By this point, even if the ship were able to be pieced back together, it would never be able to fly in space again.

They have also found out more about her nanites, and how they could be re-programmed (See Gyada). They continue to talk about the AI in the computer. Would it be sane? What is sanity? ADAM was happy it would be contained in the Faraday cage. Didn’t want it set loose. Might even be able to harm him ( Might be equal to his abilities).

LI Chen-Wu, sent to Siberia for not protecting the clan’s Great Lady, had found it different than legend would have it. For centuries, that bear had blocked the clan’s expansion into Siberia, killing all of the clan's people who trespassed on what he called his territory. Rumors abounded that the Ghost Bear had found holy objects, what the inferior called alien technology, in Western Russia. Such items needed to be taken by the clans. They were the only ones that had the right to them. . He needed information to allow the clans to plan.

BC 03/7

TOM and ADAM had come up with some cures for Gyada, and an opinion about the computer’s AI, TOM’s opinion being dominant. It was not entirely sane, nor was it dangerously insane. After all, it was programmed with Kurtherian code, and inside what seemed to be a two thousand or more-year-old Kurtherian organic computer, even though it had been on Earth only 800 years. Boris talked to Janna about Gyada’s sanity. Do we have a right to change what was done to it? What if there was good reason that it was put in that form?" Yes, it was probably trapped in that form for a reason. But would it be a reason we’d agree with?” I've spent a bit of time talking to TOM. From what he tells me, the Kurtherian that landed here wasn't standard issue, the Seven wouldn't trap someone in a form that was not native to them, they would simply have killed them, and the five would have been even less likely to trap them in such form, being more likely to find some way to restrain them or put them in stasis. So, as far as I see it, there are three major points for releasing the beast's form. It's the only way we are really going be able to get any answers, and you need those answers before you make a decision on the creature's fate." No time like the present, so Boris grunted, stood up, and grabbed the device that TOM and ADAM had sent down with the radio signal to reprogram the beast's unique nanites. Boris pressed the button. Gyada seemed confused, then fell unconscious. Boris was upset. Did not want to hurt Gyada in any way. Gyada’s last thought before unconsciousness took her, was that these beings weren't human. They had mastered the technology of the being that had changed her and had found a way to kill her without violence. Two hours later, they were called to her cage. Gyada had awakened and had managed to change into human female form. They helped her dress, fed her, and took her to her own room.

BC 03/8

Boris and Janna frustrated with trying to communicate with her. It was as if she had lost something of the concepts of being human and was slowly rediscovering them over the first week. Could talk to Tom and Shen when they spoke Kurtherian. Over the following weeks between TOM and Shen, they managed to teach her the basics of Russian and English. she could no longer hear the voice that had been her constant companion for centuries. Boris and Evgeni talk about giving Russians information about the base (Evgeni had been chosen as the emissary.). Boris says absolutely no, but "I will make an offer to you, and provide something of interest for the government. We are getting housing delivered manufactured from the leftovers of the space mining operations. Basically, solid formed rock walls that can be fitted together to make a house. I will ask Bethany Anne to also provide the government with several samples of this material and make it available for the Russian government to purchase upon request at a discounted price. And I offer this to YOU." Boris pulled a pair of radio transmitters from his pocket. "If your family and yourself find others harassing you, contact me through these. We'll reach you far faster than anyone could imagine. And we will offer you a place in our community. If you choose to assist me by giving me further information of any rumblings against our town that would be welcome, but my offer of assistance to you in troubling situations is not contingent upon it.

BC 03/9

Boris dreaded the day that Frank turned up. Gyada was reticent about her past. Bethany Anne was frustrated with Boris' slow progress in both deciphering the Beast, and extracting information from the computer. Boris needed more time. Finally, Boris was able to send a report on both counts. She explained her story, and Boris suggested that Marcus and TOM question her on things she might have learned from the AI, as she had already shown a quick adaptation to several items that were far beyond the era she was from. Gyada wanted to get out to see the world, and how it had changed, so was frustrated with being relegated to passive work. Gyada's restlessness and impatience hindered her integration into the modern world and the town. People found it uncomfortable to work with her for any length of time. None of the command group were comfortable with throwing her straight into the militia training programs. They had no idea how controlled she was. So Boris set aside a part of every morning for her to train with him and either Janna or Danislav and three of the wolves. Had long discussions on the ethics of war (See Gyada on Warfare). She had a good understanding of the Etheric, and Marcus had described her theoretical understanding of Gravitics as exceptional. What else had she learned from that computer’s database?

BC 03/10

Story of Gyada and her past (See Characters Gyada Gyada's Past)

BC 03/11

Many in the group liked to talk of their successes and failures as soldiers. Danislav talked of his success as Boris’ second in command, of Janna’s part in the explosion of the Cargo Container, and of what had happened there. Gyada didn’t talk about her past, although she finally displayed an interest when the descriptions turned to close in, hand-to-hand combat. She talked to the man who brought up the incident for a bit, discussing the tactics and movements used in bayonet drill. Boris overheard Gyada saying that from the description it was somewhat similar to those used in short spear fighting. Janna told the story of the destruction of the Comm Post, and of here changing into a werebear/Pricolici. Faraday Cage: Gyada learns that the voice hadn’t been heard since the Faraday cage was put around the computer, and she was very sad for her friend, who didn’t like boredom. She wants to go into the cage to talk with her, in Kurtherian. She doesn’t like other languages. Boris told her, “ “She’ll need to learn Russian at least. Probably English as well. If she doesn't talk to Bethany Anne, the decision might be made to simply take her apart.” Gyada frowned but slowly nodded. If the voice from her head wouldn’t associate with whoever was guarding it, the safest solution would be to simply dismantle the box that held her. Then she wouldn’t attract unwanted attention nor would she be a potential threat to her guardians.

The Chinese Contingent

BC 03/12

Meeting of Li Chen-Wu with Bohai, an easily bribed communist Party member. He had asked Bohai to research Boris for him. Bohai was intelligent. Otherwise, they weren't worth the effort to nurture and maintain. Bohai was one of the most intelligent agents. He'd always been cautious in his dealings with the Sacred Clan. It had been as much fear as money that kept him in line. The problem facing the clan was a possibility of not only the technology slipping through their fingers but landing in the hands of an enemy. Told him of New Romanovka, in Eastern Siberia, under Boris’ auspices. Bohai had overlaid legend with fact, and come up with Boris’ contact with Bethany Anne. “Now, I have made various arrangements that should aid you. Any attack I can arrange on an ally of the so-called Queen would be welcomed, I am sure. “I would suggest you don’t go after the civilian population, however. The… woman seems to have an extreme reaction whenever people do that. If there were Holy Objects or technology there, it wouldn’t matter what they did. Li was after one object, to be transported by a one-use teleportation device keyed to his bloodline. He would get the Council of Elders to support this plan.

The AI

BC 03/13

Janna had placed dictionaries inside the Faraday cage, a Kurtherian/Russian and a Kurtherian/English one before they went in to talk to the AI (EI? KI? -Kurtherian Intelligence). The computer was a complete unknown to TOM and ADAM, a blank book. Boris wanted to be the one to communicate with it, Janna thought he was too valuable. If it was a full AI, then they needed someone with leadership responsibilities to communicate with it. It had been decided that as Janna, Paul and Alecta were the only other known Wechselbalg derived from Gyada’s type of nanites, steps needed to be taken to protect them. It was possible that anything that might occur once the cage was opened could affect them as well. So Boris and Gyada went into the Cage. She missed the contact she had had with the intelligence that was contained within. Nothing happened at first. Then he heard in a singsong tone in his head. <Who is it that I am speaking to?> and it was a mental link. Unnecessary to speak, as would slow and reduce clarity. Boris stated his request for history and purpose, and Gyada started to whimper, in pain. The AI stopped Boris, stating that she had linked, and he had read of the history between then and now. (See Vehicles, Kurtherian ship, Siberia) The entity and Boris spoke shortly, the entity beginning to relate a complete history of its being, when Boris requested a written copy, to be better able to understand it. The Entity did that. Thank you. (See vehicles, Kurtherian Ship, Siberia)

BC 03/14==

TOM and ADAM dispatched a Pod to pick up the data, and freed several EIs to sift it. There were tens of terabytes of data that had been provided. Only a tiny fraction of that was what TOM and ADAM were looking for to analyze and formulate a report to Boris and Bethany Anne. They needed to know the basics of what had occurred, not the detail of the individual reactions to the experimentation performed. Tom presented Bethany Anne with a summary of the high points. The short story is that there is a is a Kurtherian personality in the computer. It's not an AI, EI or KI. It's a pre-existing personality running the quantum computer. That makes it anathema." (See Species, Kurtherian )

Finally, Bethany Anne spoke up "TOM and I been discussing his Gott Verdammt surprise revelation. Apparently, it is based on some bad experiences the Kurtherians had in their past. As we have no idea exactly how her personality was kept intact inside the computer, we'll take it one step at a time. We need to find out why she selectively redacted the information of how she got there.”14 Bethany Anne let loose a deep sigh, "Well, Boris, you need to go back in and find out why she hid this from us. It is still possible, no offense intended Gyada, that she might mean harm to us. Be careful. But find out her personal history." BC 03/15 Ivan, a supported of Boris and Romanovka, saw Sergeant Brogonovich talking to a tall Chinese fellow. Brogonovich had turned traitor, and been killed in the fighting. When he saw him, Ivan followed them to a bar, overhearing a planned attack on New Romanovka. He would need to tell Boris. Why on earth did the Chinese have an interest in New Romanovka? Boris was worried about re-entering the Cage, but Janna and Gyada had talked, and Gyada had convinced her of the friendliness of whatever personality the machine contained. In some ways, she was potentially a better source of information on the computer’s intelligence than TOM. She had spent eight centuries communicating with it, after all. Many months ago she hadn't truly understood what a computer was. In theory, Gyada understood, but it was hard for someone from the Iron Age to comprehend their appearance or how they functioned. She felt from how people acted around computers that continuing to declare it 'her friend' would result in her opinion as being less valued. It may even convince them she was at least a little crazy. People seemed to consider computers tools, with no aspect of personage about them. The computer speaks to Gyada while Boris waits, explaining that she wanted to live, and that there were parts of her programming she could not relate, until the blocks were removed. Gyada realizes that they would have to get ADAM to remove those parts, so that they could get her whole truth.

BC 03/16

ADAM reports that every time he attempts to access the programming, he runs across this riddle: “ 'Found before I'm proven, absent once realized. I am seen most clearly in utter darkness, never to be found in the light. To be found commonly in battle, rarely near the hearth. The Poor find me easily, but the Rich find me easy to lose. What am I?'" Bethany Anne clicked off, and Janna was upset that she couldn’t talk more with TOM, as she believed that she has no idea how Kurtherians think, and that could be key to solving the riddle. Boris began by breaking the riddle down into four pieces, putting potential answers to each of the paired statements.

Paul asked Gyada what the author of the riddle was like. eyes "I believe the English term from how I saw him is 'Bat-shit crazy'. Completely nuts was my perception. Always talking to himself or the air around him. They analyze his thinking and actions. A riddle's answer is as much an artifact of the person who created it as anything. He kept pushing Gyada to remember what she could of the Kurtherian, crazy or not.

Shen tried to approach ADAM and computers, 'See what you can do about getting an analysis of this Kurtherian group's leaders actions - I think his name is Chaos is in Limited Options. See if you can get any information relevant to his state of mind to someone for a quick psychological analysis.' Timeframe outside acceptability. 2 – 3 weeks.

The group was addressing words that would fit in with each of the four area of the riddle, and came up with a half dozen: Fire, Despair, Fear, Nothing, Hope, and Grace. They started eliminating words that didn’t fit all four areas. Only two fit all areas, hope and despair. “Now, which one would a narcissistic sadist use? It comes down to blocking off her ability to tell anyone the answer,” Paul remarked. I’d bet on Hope. Hard to be certain if he’d lost touch with reality completely but Hope is the more likely answer all things considered. It would have been another way for him to torture the personality.”

Suddenly, all hell broke loose on the systems. Alarms blared in the conference room. One of the twenty-four assets or someone from their families had triggered their panic button.

Evgeni

BC 03/17

Ivan and Anton had been tasked to keep an eye on the Chinese after Ivan submitted his report to Janna. They were to set up a signal intelligence intercept on the Chinese intelligence outpost in Moscow. They knew the frequencies that the Russian bugs would be using. This enabled them to catch anything for those devices. They also set up listening posts on several of the windows. These would burst transmit any recordings back to their daytime operations site. After two weeks, orders came down from the outpost to track down and capture the agent called Bohai. He seemed to be taking too much interest in New Romanovka for Boris to be happy with. Taking him out was a risk, as it might make the Chinese more curious. But if he were taken by Russians, it might also look like an official government operation. They got a request to call in over the specialized equipment.

Evgeni had triggered his get me out beacon. Someone would be sent in a pod to pick him up. Ivan and Anton were to get his family out of harm’s way in case they became secondary targets. They should have up to four additional assets en route and should move towards the outskirts on foot until their supports arrived. Bohai had taken Evgeni, and was interrogating him. Evgeni hoped that Boris would show up to rescue him.

Boris is planning the rescue mission, and finds that Gyada want to go. She claims she could smell the excitement from the caves. Danislav, do you see her as a potential asset or detriment to the mission profile?" "Given the mission, I have to say that she would be a significant asset and a slight liability.” Fine, she goes, but on trial only. If she screws up, nothing but close patrols for three months. The Rescue Squad was three Spartans, four Weres, Danislav, and Gyada. Gyada attacked hard and fast, killing one guard with an ax in the first room, then running to a second. She had a scent, and was following it. Gyada charged for the door that was guarded by a half dozen thugs, using one of them as a cushion when she knocked down the door. Danislav killed some of them, then moved into next room. He found Evgeni in shock, and Danislav and the Spartans were taking him to the Pod, when they heard a keening from another room. Entering, they found three ordinary bodies, with a fourth looking as if some beast had ripped it apart. They found Gyada in a corner, one arm changed, and bloodied.

The AI talks

BC 03/18

Gyada hadn’t recovered from the mission yet, and Paul was upset. She had been tortured in the past, and had been sent on a mission where torture was involved. Had partially changed. Unusual? Hadn’t changed back yet. Would it harm her or help her? Danislav went to Boris, in the computer room with the AI entity. Programming had been unblocked, and she was talking freely. (Never did learn what the riddle translated to.) Would not yet give herself a name, as needed to be within the context of Earth. Speaking of sanity, "Sanity is not something that you will find fits any being unless the meaning is re-crafted to suit their particular psyche. Besides, true artificial machine intelligence is something unique to my knowledge.

Previously I was an outcast and scorned for my beliefs. In those 800 years, I believe I attained the relationship with Gyada that is called friendship, perhaps for the first time in my existence. You have cared for her even though you didn't know her. I feel once I prove I am not a threat, you will be far happier with my presence among you. And willing to care for me as well." The AI offers a secret room and device for the hostage’s recovery. But the Faraday Cage will have to be dropped until she is done setting the device. They went to the Cave to retrieve it, when she had opened the doors. Looked like an overgrown Pod-doc. They did as she asked, and then started looking around at other gadgets in the room, which she instructed them not to touch without her explicit instructions. Boris obeyed. Discuss failure of the Etheric Generator. Too complex science for Boris, so he asked that she tell them her history, which she agreed to do. Paul, Gyada, Alecta, and Danislav also gathered to listen.

BC 03/19

At beginning of conversation, agreed to call Chaos is in Limited Options by nickname acronym, CILO, for ease in flow. (See Characters, Chaos is in Limited Options, CILO The History of the Rogue Expedition.) She explains that her data cannot be accessed without her permission. I am willing to provide several prototype designs in exchange for the database I request. Although some may have flaws in real world development, I am sure some will be useful. Boris asks how Evgeni is doing, and she tells him she has enhanced him in some ways. I have removed several concerning cell clusters that could have become cancerous, fixed a mild heart defect, and improved his lung capacity. Also, I have corrected some imbalances and nutritional deficiencies. Two modifications are not complete. I have triggered increased body hair growth to aid in his survival in the conditions that exist in the near vicinity. I have also enabled his fingernails to grow significantly thicker and sharper by activating dormant genes to give him a natural weapon of self-defense.” Boris feels that she has gone beyond her instructions, and locks her into the Faraday Cage again. Adam argues on her behalf, and Boris realizes why he was reacting so violently to this. A little voice in his head answered, because you only saw her as a tool, an interchangeable piece. Not as an individual being, who has been abused, who deserves rights. Boris turned off the switch, and the entity responds, “Thank you. You have now abused my goodwill. I refuse to give you anything until I get a large database of myths, legends, and religions to peruse. Take it or leave it.” Now Boris had to try to calm down a petulant computer with a personality!

Gyada, the Berserker, Lilith Chooses her Name

BC 03/20

Gyada had changed her arm back, but was depressed. They concluded that her emotional state was linked to her ability to change. The new computer personality had chosen her name – LILITH . ADAM had spotted a large group of soldiers forming, but the weather worked against determining how many, or what armaments. When it cleared, there were over 500 soldiers there. The Russian government was being intransigent. Their support in the UN was risked if the forces available to Boris couldn't handle the incursion with minimal casualties and no additional support. They claimed that they had forces available to secure the site upon his failure. The base was not yet secured – only a half-dozen of the bunkers had been completed. None of the railguns or pucks were online yet due to the incomplete support EI. The only viable defensive option was the layered patrols. The most substantial point group of four hundred was dug in around the new Pod hanger. Another two hundred and fifty men were in and around the caves, protecting the women, children, Lilith and the newly revealed alien tech. ADAM informed them that satellite backtracking had traced some of the forces back to China. They had been warned to change tactics to combat forces that would contain Weres. Gyada's patrol was in the path of the first major push by the Sacred Clan and the remaining NVG. A pack of thirty Weres supported by ten infantrymen moved in on her location. One of the patrol Weres came back with a silver bullet in his hind leg. Retreat was not an option. "We've been asked to spread out and delay them. The patrols to either side are flanking the spearhead, and forces are moving up to support. We have to hold for thirty minutes." We have six shooters and six Weres against forty plus enemy of various types and light artillery. We can't pull back without being overrun. It's been nice serving with you all. Tell them we'll do our best and God bless." Gyada had a plan, using the weres, so called them all to her. "Two Weres will stay behind with the dug-in troops, covering them against other Weres. The rest of us will move towards the mortar truck. With you covering my back, I'm sure we can take out at least twenty Weres. Capture the mortars. Destroying the truck will just reduce their mobility. If we can turn it against them, we have a better chance of taking out any force following these guys. Hell, we have a better chance of surviving overall." "Try and keep me between you and any shooters. I have armor, you don't. Also, a helmet. The best options for your survival and our success is to maintain our speed and cover my back against any Weres we come up against." In the battle, Gyada was bayoneted in an eye, losing all control past that point. The Chinese Weres gathered their wits quickly and charged the small group of Russian wolves. Hearing this, Gyada turned and counter-charged the largest group of about fifteen of the Sacred Clan. She was beyond any concern for her own safety, indifferent about the overwhelming odds, undaunted by the fact that she had never been able to take on more than seven of Danislav’s wolves at once. She had to protect her packmates. Her rage differed from the normal Pricolici. It had a defined purpose behind it. To protect those that she felt responsible for. Gyada, the Berserker, the Protector, went to war. Li Chen-Wu was in the truck Gyada headed for, and jumped out before she got there, changing form in the process. He used his favorite tactic, leaping onto the back of an enemy, to stop Gyada, clawing, biting and savaging her. She flipped onto her back, crushing him, breaking his ribs, but as she rose, he escaped into the woods. Her weremates couldn’t lift her onto the truck, although they noticed her healing already. Four weres were needed to lift her.

The Battle for New Romankova, POD stolen

BC 03/21

The battle raged on. The damned Sacred Clan and their forces had been probing for nearly two days since they broke off the abortive assault that Gyada’s patrol had stopped. Even though the enemy forces were taking attritional casualties, Boris was forced to station nearly a thousand of his two and a half thousand force around the Town and Pod hanger. Additional troops had to be positioned in the cave. His patrols were also taking damage. He’d lost an entire long-range patrol to a pair of Werecats, and another patrol had been injured so severely that they were effectively out of action. The only reason that anyone had survived was Janna had been nearby and driven off the attack. The constant harassing tactics had forced Boris to move his Spartan patrols to reinforce the inner patrols. He, Alecta, and Gyada, who claimed she was fully recovered, were acting as a rapid-reaction strike force for the town and cave. Janna and Paul were out with the patrols, to give them some cover. For the first time since they had left, he wished he had the full Siberian Were pack here. He now estimated the enemy force at somewhat over two thousand.

Boris was thinking of calling in Bethany Anne’s Black Eagles, but talked to Stephen about what her reacton might be. “Decline to use the Black Eagle support. None of us want her to have caused those casualties. Ultimately, she gave you judgement over Russia, and she will respect your decision, even if she could never understand why the Russians would be… pushed to act against you after a display of the force she could release against them. We need her to keep her bright soul.” “I thank you for your counsel, Stephen. Now I have a battle to fight. Later.” “Just make sure you are around for the later, Boris. If you get more attackers than you have currently estimated, use the Black Eagles and damn the consequences. The people have some responsibility. They elected the government, after all.”

Boris had to defend the town. If attackers turned the mortar fire on the town, Boris would be screwed. He'd have to call Bethany Anne down when the government decided to move in, considering the town 'indefensible' with the forces he had available. He could see their concerns. Hell, it was even somewhat justified. A further concern to him was the Government hadn't warned him. Without ADAM, this attack would have been a complete surprise. He had to maul the attacking forces so badly they would not consider trying again. They were attacking the town. "If there is no mortar fire on the town within the next five minutes the attackers are definitely using the harassment as a distraction. Keep reserves in their positions unless mortars start falling on the town within five minutes." The next bit of information: "Mortars are punching a hole in our lines. Sector 12 North. Troops are vacating the path of their walk, but a force is preparing to move in right behind the mortar fire. A large one. I don't think we'll be able to hold without reinforcements. Estimate four hundred soldiers and a large, repeat, large, supporting force of Weres leapfrogging, using fire and maneuver tactics." Was this their primary attack or not? He simply had no idea at this point. They could be using two distractions, convincing him to put his reserves into combat. An additional report came through "Tiger spotted, repeat Tiger spotted." If the tiger was there, this was the main attack. He counters. He sent out an order for Gyada and Alecta to armor up now and link up with the third company of reserves. After three hours, another message. "They're coming right over us. They came out of nowhere. South three is being overrun. Repeat South three..." then static. Boris swore and rose from his seat. The attack at North 12 was a diversion. Mortar carriers are all costs targets.” Boris dresses in Pricolici armor, silver-edged bullets, weapons. Approaching the hangers, he found that there had to be over a thousand of the enemy troops coming through the hole in his defensive line near those doors. With weretigers among them, he was entirely sure that they were Sacred Clan. Boris, Gyada and Alecta fight off weres, go to hangers, see the weretiger on top of a Pod. Another man throws a device to the tiger, calling ,”Take it, Cousin.” An explosion occurred, and the Pod was gone. Debriefing- Bethany Anne present, Lilith running holographic projection of the battles. "Somewhere around sixteen hundred dead on their side. "We have forty severely wounded still waiting for their time on the treatment table. Several want to become weres, and one a Pricolici. Any new Pricolici from our injured will result in you being in the Faraday cage for some time." "Seventy-two people were too injured to save. All of them had died at least half an hour before they reached my care. There are still fourteen missing in action. That makes a total of seventy-two KIA, fourteen MIA, three hundred and seventy-three with various states of injury. Railguns will be on-line soon. Janna continued.” Ex-Sergeant Brogonovich betrayed my Intel team and is directly responsible for the death of at least five good men under my previous command. I want to execute him myself." About the missing Pod. "It appears that the device took a spherical volume of space, and transported whatever was in it," Janna stated, "The residual heat on the remaining pieces of the Pod meant they could not be handled for nearly a day afterward. Although the Clan managed to take most of the fuselage including the Etheric generator, they cut through the railguns on the roof of the pod. ADAM predicted a ninety-seven percent chance that any remaining railgun equipment on the Pod will be damaged beyond the point that it would be useful for reverse engineering. However, the Etheric tracker was in the nose of the pod, as were the control systems. So we have no means of finding where they transported it to, if it is deep enough underground. Considering TOM's lack of success in pinpointing it, we have no choice but to assume that it is somewhere underground in China. Those were definitely Sacred Clan that attacked us. We can only assume that the NVG became involved in the meeting between the corrupt agent, Bohai, and Brogonovich. We were incredibly fortunate that our agents lucked into overhearing that meeting." The device? “Any organic matter in the radius will have been incinerated in this scenario. Every simulation we have run makes it clear that they did not truly understand the technology they were using. It is recovered technology, not something they created themselves. Nor is it something they, or we, can likely recreate. The amount of energy it used is beyond what I have records of the Kurtherians being capable of producing in such a small device. It almost certainly has to have been a single use tool. While it is unlikely there is another similar device on Earth, it is possible that others may have this technology elsewhere. You need to be wary of this Boris," TOM finished". This was a lesson well learned. With TOM and ADAM’s guidance, they had thought they knew everything and had been wrong. It was a lesson for her as well. If they could be surprised by something like this on Earth, she could be surprised out there in the vastness of space.

Epilogue

The Russians had tried to take the town, and failed, but Boris knew what was coming, and was preparing. The town's population was slowly growing, both through vetted people joining the community and through new additions to families. But things were starting to fall apart. Boris had seen this before, and they were preparing. He was stockpiling as many preserved foods and raw materials as he could.

Lilith had designed and helped fabricate a tunneling device so they could create some caverns for secure farm space using similar concepts to the early space borne farming containers. They had also started a school system for children and another for people to learn how to maintain and care for equipment and weapons systems. Those who showed potential for invention and innovation were given tutelage by Lilith. They knew it could be a very long time before any outside help would be coming. Lilith had also developed what they were now calling 'Black Wheat,' a grain that provided all the non-protein-based energy and nutrients a human needed. It was also a more efficient crop since it used more of the light spectrum. It had two forms of chlorophyll which combined to make a more effective use of available light. Since Weres needed more protein than a standard human, hunting provided the community with some of its meat, farming on the surface provided the rest. The group was also experimenting with other sources of meat protein using some of the information already learned from the scientists on the Meredith Reynolds.

Whatever happened, Boris wanted a firm base to support Michael on his return.

And Janna’s final surprise – she was pregnant. "Finally, a full family of my own." Suddenly, all his worries seemed petty, compared to the happiness and completion he felt.