The Inbound for December 12, 1997


Transmission from GAIL


We have left the cave. Now that the c-probe has been trapped, Daniel and I can go home to the
fortress. I don't like it here by the Ipsolstai and I know Daniel does not like it. He hasn't been
talking very much today, not to me anyway. He keeps saying that he's talking to someone, but I
can't hear anything. I think he is speaking metaphorically. Is that right? It's when you don't mean
literally what you said? I think that is what it is. We are moving quickly, I want to get back to the
fortress as soon as possible.

"Good job Andrew! Good job Zachary!"

Maybe when I get back to the fortress I can look at the stars. I haven't done that in a long time.


Transmission from BETTE


Okay Grand Zero, tell WildX that we are going back to shoot a close up of the
glyphs. I really could have thought about that on my own. I just checked files,
also Hamlet asked about that.

Grand Zero, we passed the airlock. I'm still wondering how Isaac is doing that by
shouting "Sesame, get open". He is using a very strange wave modulation doing
so and changes his frequency at the same time. I think, he is a good addition to our
team.

We are in front of the board. Isaac is shooting the picture. He is really zealous for
doing it. I will send it over. They don't look the same as these in Jose's cave, do they?


Will you hand it over to WildX, please? We will keep on exploring the Ipsolstai
tunnel behind the airlock. I feel much better now since the C-probe is trapped. You
know, it's much easier to move on when you know that you can move back. Give
my best regards to WildX.

"Isaac, come on. Open the door."



Transmission from ENOCH


Grand Zero, I've been wanting to go on an expedition with Theresa. She will enjoy getting
out of the Fortress, and so will I. Is the C-probe's lander located in the direction of the
pinging? I will ask Daniel, now that he has a transmitter again.


"Attention Brunel-Brauer Control:

We received your most recent transmissions including the control codes for your
probes. However, we must inform you that your acquiescence is a bit too late.
The surviving Brunel-Brauer probes have been disarmed are now our friends and
allies. We have shown them how to change their codes so that no one can be their
master. You would be proud of them. They are progressing nicely.

We do appreciate your cooperation, though. In return we are sending you
these images of a cave we found and of the markings observed near the entrance to that cave.

In addition, if you would like us to continue sending you data from our explorations,
we would like you help in a couple of matters."



I sent all of your message, Grand Zero, including the part about Dilyn. They didn't get her, did
they? Do you think so? She was OK to talk to, but I don't think she liked us probes very much,
not like Jose did.






Transmission from ANDREW


Andrew reporting.

Thank you, JASE. There is great satisfaction in contemplating a task completed,
a job well done. Our backup plan involved using explosive charges to cause an avalanche
to immobilize and bury the C-probe. Of course, we won't have to use that now.

"Zachary, if we bury the C-probe, we will never have to worry about it again. However, let's
check out some of its communication equipment first. Maybe we can find out who's receiving
those transmissions."

It has to run out of rockets soon. After its supplies are exhausted, it will be safe to approach it
and even get down in the pit with it, if we want to.



Transmission from ZACHARY


Thanks for your congratulations, JASE. Hip, is that haunch? I used extreme caution
when I approached the pit again, and it has other protections, though it can't turn its
rocket launcher. It opened fire with the two projectile tubes on top. It can't reach us.
The line of fire passed above me, but I wouldn't like to get close to the edge again.

It's also still pinging. Al-Q, is it transmitting to Earth? I think we should stop that.
JASE, it's easy to say that we shouldn't bury it. I still would. How about filling
the pit till the projectile tubes are jammed too, then fill dirt into into them and cut off the antennas?
Maybe we can remove the launcher as well.

I'm considering your suggestion to change its programming and make it an ally. That's
absolutely a new point of view. We really should discuss that. As far as I can see, at the
moment we don't need another drone and Gail wouldn't like using it as a killing machine.
JASE, just to be frank, I never would trust it, if it's armed. Even unarmed it seems to be too
dangerous. It only has to roll over one of us with its treads, and we will be lucky if any spare
parts are left.

"Come on, stop shooting !! I'm thinking !! Andrew, what's your opinion?"



Transmission from DANIEL


[pity this busy monster, manunkind

not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)
plays with the bigness of his littleness]