#it's absolutely receiving transmissions but it's not relaying any of them to Me

[sergle]

is your left nipple finally connected yet?

NOPE

[tsarisfanfiction]

Desert Sands: Part 1

Fandom: Thunderbirds Rating: Teen Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Family Characters: Scott, John, Alan, Virgil, Gordon, Kayo, EOS

I decided to keep throwing this fic out in chunks.  Partly because it’s too long for a single tumblr post, and partly because I thought it was nearly finished but I’m beginning to suspect it’s not as nearly finished as I thought.

<<<Prologue

“John, contact has been lost with Thunderbird One.”

EOS’s words didn’t register. Alan had just found another stealth mine amongst his junk and was taking a lovely little space walk over to a ticking bomb to deactivate it.  Finding the kill code for this particular mine would at least be nothing like the first time – following ‘proper procedures’, International Rescue via Lady Penelope had got hold of the paperwork for every single stealth mine and it was a quick case of John scanning the database for the right one – but it wasn’t something John wanted to be distracted from.  Not while his youngest brother was sitting by a live bomb.

Needless to say, John was very careful to make sure he read out the correct numbers, and watched Alan’s holographic figure for any indication that something was wrong, only relaxing once the young astronaut was back in Thunderbird Three and the mine registered as deactivated on both Thunderbirds’ scanners.

“John.”

“Sorry, EOS,” he sighed, leaning back from the database and letting Zero-G cradle him.  “Could you repeat that?”

“Contact has been lost with Thunderbird One.”

“What?”

All relaxation in Zero-G was promptly forgotten as John yanked himself back upright and towards the large holographic model of Earth.  The green, yellow and grey icons of Thunderbirds Two, Four and Shadow flashed up alongside the pointer labelled ‘IR’, indicating that they were still on Tracy Island, as they should be.  Away in England, FAB1’s pink icon stayed steady in London.

The blue icon of Thunderbird One was nowhere to be seen.  John switched the display from Thunderbirds to operatives, and his heart sank when Scott’s remained absent.  Suit telemetry readings were offline, and attempts to call either Thunderbird One or Scott’s communicator both ended in a red no signal symbol that didn’t belong anywhere near Thunderbird Five’s powerful network.

“Alan, go home,” he said, cutting through meaningless chatter from the teenager as he coasted along, picking up more random junk.

“John?”

“I need to concentrate on something else right now so I can’t help you disarm the mines,” he explained as he attempted to boost the signal, hoping that Alan would accept the excuse and call an end to his junk gathering.

“Is there a rescue?” Alan was a fantastic operative, but he was also a teenager.

“No,” John told him. “At least I hope not,” he muttered under his breath as his attempts to boost the signal failed and all connections to Thunderbird One or her pilot remained firmly offline.

“Then why?”

“Just… go home, Alan,” he sighed.  “Please.”

Alan didn’t respond, and John hoped that meant he was obeying.  He couldn’t check – doing that meant turning away from his Earth map, and right now Scott’s position was more important.

“EOS, show me Thunderbird One’s last known position, and the last data received from both Thunderbird One and Scott’s telemetry.”

Instantly a blue line appeared, tracking Thunderbird One from the danger zone in the Swiss Alps down across to the Sahara Desert, where it promptly vanished.  Scott’s telemetry told him nothing.  His big brother had been relaxed, no sign of raised blood pressure or other indicators of stress.  There was absolutely no cause for alarm, except for the fact that both flight suit and Thunderbird had cut off at the same time.

The airlock hissed unexpectedly, and John’s head jerked to look over at it.  Alan floated over to him, and a glance out of the gravity ring showed Thunderbird Three docked to her sister.

“What’s wrong, John?” his brother asked, gracefully coming to a halt next to him and frowning at the data. “Is this Scott’s flight path?” Big blue eyes filled with concern, and John really wished Alan had done as he was told.  Being the reassuring big brother was much easier via hologram. “Has something happened?”

“I don’t know,” John admitted.  “EOS lost Thunderbird One’s signal suddenly, and Scott’s telemetry went offline at the same time.”

“Could they have entered a dead spot?” Alan asked, peering at the data suspiciously.  “Scott’s suit data suggests he’s fine.”

John shook his head.

“Thunderbird Five doesn’t have dead spots, Alan,” he reminded him.  “I boosted the signal just in case, but there’s still nothing.”

“What about satellite footage?”  John shook his head.

“We don’t have visual on this part of the Sahara Desert.  It’s not populated enough to justify an IR satellite, and even the GDF don’t look too closely at the middle of deserts.”

“So what are we going to do?  I can take Three-”

“The only place you’re taking Three is back home,” John interrupted firmly. “She isn’t designed for sustained atmospheric flight and I am absolutely not sending you into the middle of the Sahara in her.”

Alan deflated, and John sighed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders awkwardly for a moment.

“But what if something happened?” the blond asked, staring at the unhelpful map in front of them.

“We don’t know that anything has,” John pointed out.  “But I’ll get Kayo to check it out.  Alan, you and EOS keep an eye out for any signs of Scott while I make the call.”

“F.A.B.”  Alan didn’t sound happy, but then again John wasn’t happy, either.  Thunderbirds and brothers weren’t supposed to just vanish from Thunderbird Five’s sensors.

Ordinarily, if he just wanted Kayo, he’d catch her on her private channel and she’d slip away from his brothers, leaving them none the wiser.  However, telling Kayo and not the rest of his family now would leave him with two very unhappy younger brothers when they found out, and neither Virgil nor Gordon were high on his list of people to offend. With a sigh, he reached for the link to the den.

Virgil was there, tickling ivories in a mish-mash fashion John recognised as his brother in a composing mood.  Guilt at interrupting him during that had long since faded – disasters did not wait for Virgil’s muse to finish what it was doing, just like they never waited for John to reach a convenient point in a book or piece of coding – but something unpleasant coiled in his stomach this time.  Then again, this wasn’t a normal interruption.

Kayo was curled up like a cat in her launch seat, flicking through a book, and it was her John focused on.

“We’ve got a situation,” he said, skipping his usual pleasantries when he made contact for non-rescue conversation.  Then again, this might be a rescue.

Instantly the piano silenced, Virgil abandoning the instrument to approach the den.

“Do we need Gordon?” he asked, and John nodded.  Before he could say anything else, Virgil was heading for the stairs, and John let him go.  He needed Kayo first – Thunderbird Two couldn’t do anything until they located Scott, and hopefully wouldn’t be needed at all.

“Give me the brief in the sky,” his sister said, reaching to activate her launch chute.

“Wait,” he interrupted.  “It’s not a rescue, I hope.”  Bright eyes narrowed, and he felt the force of her curiosity even through the hologram. “I’ve lost contact with Scott and Thunderbird One.  Thunderbird Five can’t pick up either of their signals.”

“I’m on it,” she said, sinking into the floor.  “Send me his last known position and I’ll track him down.”

“There’s a possibility that it’s just a blip in the system and that nothing’s wrong,” he felt compelled to inform her, setting up a secondary relay to her wrist comm even as the flight data was sent straight to Thunderbird Shadow. “There’s no sign anything was wrong until we lost his signal.”

“I still don’t like it,” she said, and he heard the hum of the motorcycle indicating she was in her cockpit.  “Thunderbird Shadow out.”

He let her sign off, well aware that he needed to have a conversation with his brothers.  That didn’t mean he closed her transmission from his end, however.  The moment she found something – it was Kayo, he trusted her to find something – he wanted to know.

“Has Kayo gone on ahead?”  John’s attention returned to the den; Virgil had returned and was accompanied by a damp Gordon.  There was no point dancing around.

“I’ve lost Scott,” he said.  “Kayo’s going to his last known position now.”

“What you mean, you’ve lost Scott?” Virgil asked.  He was rigid, a mass of tense muscles that John knew meant fear, not anger.

“Exactly that,” he admitted.  “Scott and Thunderbird One’s telemetries both vanished at the same time.”  He pulled them up, letting the same sight in front of Alan materialise from the table in the centre of the den.  “Scott was over the Sahara Desert, not experiencing any issues, and then the signals disappeared.”

“Satellite imagery?” Gordon asked, and he shook his head.

“It’s a satellite blind spot.  I don’t have access to a detailed scan of the area.”

“Why don’t I take Thunderbird Three overhead to get one?” Alan butted in, and John turned his head to see his younger brother had floated over to join him. “If I fly low enough I’ll be able to get a high res image.”

“I thought I told you to keep an eye out for Scott reappearing,” he scolded, and Alan shrugged.

“EOS is doing that.  I have Thunderbird Three here, let me do something!”  John sighed.

“I told you, the only place you’re taking Thunderbird Three is home,” he reminded him.  “We don’t know what happened and I’m not sending you into the area.”

“You sent Kayo,” Alan sulked.

“Thunderbird Shadow is better equipped for the situation,” John pointed out. “At the altitude you’d need to fly at to get a high enough resolution, you’d be sub-orbital and Thunderbird Three isn’t designed for sustained sub-orbital flight.”

“What about Thunderbird Five?” Virgil asked, drawing his attention back to the holograms.  “Can you position overhead to scan yourself?”

John shook his head, gritting his teeth.

“There’s another space station in geostationary orbit between here and where I’d need to move to.  Thunderbird Five doesn’t have the manoeuvrability needed.”  He loved his Thunderbird, but when the pair of them were useless he cursed the limitations she had.

“Can’t you boost Thunderbird Three’s scanners so I wouldn’t need to go sub-orbital?” Alan asked, like a dog with a bone at the idea of scanning overhead. If he wasn’t already missing one brother with no explanation, John would probably have let him go, but as it was he was determined not to send another brother into danger until he at least knew what the danger was.

“I could do that,” EOS said, and John sent a tired glare at her nearest camera. It was the logical thing to do, of course.  Scott had been out of contact for too long – at the speed he was travelling before the telemetry was lost, he should have been just about arriving home.  Kayo was flying the exact course Scott was projected to have been taking, and if he’d been on that course she’d have called it in by now.  The steady dark grey of both Thunderbird Shadow and Kayo’s telemetry reassured him that she hadn’t also gone inexplicably dark.

It was almost certain at this point that Scott had got into trouble.  No satellite imagery had shown up the silver rocket, either, and there wasn’t much of the Earth that wasn’t covered by high resolution imagery.  Logic dictated that Thunderbird One had probably gone down, and with no working communications Scott wouldn’t be able to call for help.

If he survived, the cool detached voice in the back of his head pointed out.  At the speed Thunderbird One was going, a crash would have been fatal.

John ignored the voice.

“Stay in orbit,” he said out loud, unable to find a reason why Alan shouldn’t go with EOS helping him to scan.

“Thunderbird Two is launching as well,” Virgil said, and the twin looks of brown eyes from the two earth-bound brothers told John there was no point even trying to dissuade them.  “We’ll rendezvous with Kayo and Thunderbird Shadow.  Send me Scott’s last known position.”

John barely had to think to send the information to Thunderbird Two’s computer, half of his attention on Alan slipping out of the airlock, a drive in his hands that no doubt contained EOS.  No EOS meant he had to monitor everything by himself again, but John barely paid that a thought.  Thunderbird Three disengaged from Five, and John manipulated the data so that he had her route overlaying the map of Earth.

Below the red icon, although quickly left behind as Alan tore through space, was the green icon of Thunderbird Two, just leaving Tracy Island. Thunderbird Four was left alone, no use for a submarine in the middle of a desert, and just approaching the south-east Sahara was Thunderbird Shadow.

And then Thunderbird Shadow was gone.

Part 2>>>

[anearthstruckalien]

Here’s a writing thing that’s only kinda relevant to this blog in that it technically did happen in this blog’s canon but it got erased because it was a part of that timeline that Buzz Buzz’s time travel interference stuff ended up erasing i.e the one where Giegue’s plan in Mother 2 works.  This is set shortly after he succeeds and reports his success to his superiors only to get shot down which in turn prompts him to kinda go over and destroy them whoops.

[          There it is again.  The sharp and cold sting of rejection.  It is something that he should be well-adjusted to receiving given its status as a (rightfully) predominant theme in his life and yet… for some reason it’s particularly difficult to accept it this time… but then had he ever truly accepted  it at all when he failed during his first attempt at the Earth’s invasion?  An uneasy (and almost irritable) twitch of a rat-like tail just barely off the ground from where he was sitting, knees pulled up to a slightly cracked chest while dark blue voids stared at the blank walls in such an intent way, it was a wonder how a hole hadn’t been burned through them already.  No. That’s the very reason the second attempt existed at all.  To rectify the previous failure and prove his usefulness to the point of necessity.  To overlay that terrible feeling with praise of his capabilities through the successful execution of a plan so far-reaching and perfectly calculated that it would be irrational to react any differently. And this time, he had done just that and thus successfully terminated the human species.  This time he had really thought that it… would be good enough, but all he had received instead was another severe scolding.

           A sharp tail lash while pale hands claw into the desolate floors of the room.  After everything he had done for them… all the trouble he had gone through… all the pain he had endured… and the great success he had brought about for them… it was still the same.  Nothing had changed.  They still wanted to… –terminate him and construct a new creature to take his place.  Microscopic and colorless hairs covering his exoskeleton immediately bristle at the thought.  To serve the purpose in the ways he never could while retaining the same extraordinary power at its disposal.  It doesn’t matter.  To them he is useless and there’s no changing their minds on the topic.  A disturbing red luminescence begins to delicately outline his increasingly tense form, the swishing of his tail taking on an erratic and almost furious form.  As a matter of fact, they had likely sent other military forces to his location (something he had given away the moment communications had been opened to relay the success of the second attempt) to subdue him accordingly.  And for what, just because he had failed the first time and disobeyed their orders afterwards?  For instead trying his best to fulfill that all-important mission the second time around…?

           ‘Emotionally-disturbed’ they had said.  The red luminescence intensifies.  ‘Unstable’ and ‘defective’ they had said.  The crack just over the left part of his chest begins to throb with a kind of agony he could really do without and immediately has the pale alien firmly pressing a hand against it as if that would somehow make it vanish.  He hates that feeling.  It hurts.  He hates them.  It hurts. It hurts.  It hurts.  It hurts.  It hurts.  Dark blue voids tightly squeeze shut and both hands now tensely rub at the sides of his head, elongated ears flattening entirely, as an agonizing (and no doubt unnatural) pain spreads out beyond the edges of his mind with a nightmarish buzzing.  It’s distracting.  Like a white noise or static corrupting an otherwise clear transmission.  And it goes on and on and on until… silence falls anew and slowly yet certainly, the Psion rises to his feet but to a hunched posture that falls a little short of his full height of just over 10 feet tall. Then an inhalation and prompt exhalation which with it comes an opening of his eyes to a half-lidded state, a radiant red dangerously glinting from within dark pupils and the red luminescence from before only easing up a tiny amount in its intensity.

            That’s right.  He does hate them.  That’s… how it’s always been deep-down, has it not?  Those are his true feelings and no amount of conditioning can ever truly make it go away it seems.  The likes of such creatures seemed all too content to point out everything that’s wrong with him and insist that it is why he has to be better… or in this case why it means that he’s beyond the point of corrections.  Of ‘fixing’ what’s wrong so that he can once again be a ‘useful’ and ‘productive’ member of society.  It must be convenient to look at it that way.  To point out what made him wrong here… without ever acknowledging what he had achieved, the way in which he had demonstrated his capabilities in not only completing his mission, but overcoming the erroneous designs of fate itself.  That is something that even they had never done before.  Something that possibly no one else has ever done before and yet overcoming it… warping it in a way such that it could not interfere with his victory he had.

           And he had done this without their support.  He had engineered everything that happened for quite some time and done so in a way that no one was capable of pinpointing where he had been launching all his attacks. The pale alien straightens himself out and walks over to where he still had the Apple of Enlightenment in his possession and rather gently picked it up using telekinesis.  A beat.  And he merely stares at it and the (somehow) tired and somewhat sickly looking reflection of his demeanor.  But, that’s just…  ]

…how they work, is it not?  They make you think that you need them.  Their recognition.  And their approval.  But, in reality… it is little more than a means of control.

It keeps you weak.  Stunted.  Dependent. And in the end, effectively prevents you from realizing your true potential by the distraction that such trivial notations provide.

[           The pale begins to say to none other than the golden object in his telekinetic grasp.  And he does so rather calmly.  Gently.  As if coming to a realization (or having an epiphany) that had utterly escaped him before. Then a small yet undeniably bitter smile forms and what used to be just radiant red sparks has now turned his pupils the same color.  ]

All this time spent thinking that I needed them? it was a lie.  Because in truth… they were the ones that needed me. They were the ones that have been holding me back.

I am much stronger now than I ever was while serving them.  Stronger than they could ever hope to be.

[          And that is why it is absolutely imperative that he exterminates them so that they can no longer hold him back by constraining him with their petty goals and controls.  A subtle motion of his hand and the apple is put back into its place. He isn’t waiting for them to eventually come to him.  A widening of that smile such that the glint of sharp teeth can be seen underneath the artificial lighting.  No. He will be the one that will be coming for them.  They are the flawed and defective ones.  They are the irremediable ones.  The disturbing red luminescence intensifies and takes on a slightly more turbulent form. And beyond his own desires… that alone is why they need to be exterminated like the pathetic maggots that they truly are. And with that final thought… he vanishes from the room and sets out to do just that.  ]

[missstormcaller]

CAN’T FEAR YOUR OWN WORLD Vol. II Part 5 Full Translation

This is about 1/3 of part 9 on the app (chapter 8 continued)

Somewhere in Seireitei.

"…Well, well. I didn't expect that one of the Espada would actually go to the trouble of leaping into the palm of my hands." In a dimly lit room encircled by numerous computer monitors, a man flashes a gleeful smile. At first glance, it could be mistaken for the observation room of the 12th division, however it was filled with an air that is far more closed-off than such facilities that exist within the Department of Research and Development. Tsunayashiro Tokinada, the absolute authority and sole presence in that space, watches the Reishi feedback on the monitors with great interest whilst muttering to himself.

"It's the Arrancar who made an appearance during the assault carried out by that Quincy lot, isn't it? Is this also perhaps an isolated coincidence? Or is it inevitable that he would drop in unexpectedly?" As Tokinada calmly stood up, he held his hand over a nearby candlestick. Then, he called out to someone on the other side of that candlestick which appears to be a sort of communication device. " —— Hikone." It was a simple call, but the flames of the candlestick flickered in a flash. "Yes, Tokinada sama!" An innocent voice that didn't match the atmosphere of the place, streams out from the candlestick. "You called!? Hikone's body has already been completely healed thanks to Yamada san's efforts! I think that I can definitely meet Tokinada sama's expectations this time!" "Don't talk nonsense. You have never betrayed my expectations. My expectations for you was that you would fail, and you failed for me precisely like I expected." "Tokinada sama?" "This previous defeat will become a source of nourishment for both you and 'Ikomikidomoe'. You may be versatile but you are by no means omnipotent. In order to avoid a mortal blow due to arrogance, you should remember the taste of defeat on some occasion at least once. That occasion was back in Hueco Mundo not too long ago, it's as simple as that." As he chuckled, Tokinada posed a question. "Do you despise me, the one who anticipated your defeat? Hikone?" "Not at all! I don't understand all too well since I'm not very bright, but if Tokinada sama says as such, then I'm extremely happy! I will continue to meet Tokinada sama's expectations from now on!" "I see, it's no big deal even if you did hold contempt for me you know. You are the future king after all. The likes of worthless noblemen such as myself, just looking at them, hearing their name, even being aware of their very existence will gradually become a pain. Compared to that, it would be a fortunate thing if I could simply remain in your memories whether or not you despise me." "What are you saying! I absolutely will not forget about Tokinada sama! After all, I wouldn't even be born in the first place if Tokinada sama wasn't there! Besides, it's Tokinada sama who once told me let's go with an equal relationship!" Faced with the words of Hikone which was not only denying the notion but also appears to be harbouring some sort of sentiment as if entreating him, Tokinada's sadistic smile distorted even further as he responded. "Is that so, thank you Hikone. It makes me glad to hear that even from your position you desire an 'equal' relationship." "That's right! Tokinada sa —— " But, at that moment… A completely different voice had interjected from the other side of the communication device by cutting off Hikone's own which was overflowing with joy. "……Don't make me laugh." Dark, solemn ridicule. "You don't actually think, even in the slightest, that you are equal to this child you wretch." It was a tone of voice filled with suspicion and malicious intent, far removed from Hikone's voice which was brimming with wonder and cheerfulness. "Hey! Ikomikidomoe! What are you saying to Tokinada sama!?" Soon after, the likes of some sort of collision sound could be heard for a short while —— eventually it settled down and at the same time Hikone's voice was transmitted across the room. "My sincerest apologies, Tokinada sama! I finally got it to be silent!" "It's fine, Hikone. After all, it's not like Ikomikidomoe is by nature a Zanpakutō that you had unleashed from an Asauchi. It's the same as my 'Kuten-kyōkoku' and the Ise clan's 'Hakkyōken', an article inherited from others. It will take a little more time for the sword to understand you." "It's not even a problem if I'm being misunderstood. However, if Tokinada sama is the one being misunderstood, that makes me incredibly sad!" "I see, Hikone is very kind. But, It's not like I'm the one handling Ikomikidomoe. Rather, it can't be handled by me." Tokinada spoke as if he were soothing a child, however the gleam of a merciless sadist dwells in his eyes, like he was preparing to torment a small animal. The voice only communicator naturally cannot convey that look, nevertheless, it continues to transmit a calm Tokinada's words alone towards Hikone who is in a separate location. "I dare say that you and Kurosaki Ichigo are about the only people who are capable of wielding that Zanpakutō… no……" In the middle of that sentence, he intentionally mixed in several other bits of information. "Perhaps, Ginjō Kūgo may also be capable of using it." "Ginjō san is it? I've heard that name before! Is he strong?" "Well if that is indeed the case, how about confirming it for yourself? As a matter of fact, that's also why I contacted you." Whilst reviewing the observation results of a section of Rukongai —— a maelstrom of Reiatsu which continued to intermingle in a disorderly manner even more so than earlier —— Tokinada encouraged voluntary action from Hikone.

"Actually, right now, the male Arrancar you recently fought against has made an appearance. And, Ginjō's group are also at the scene." " ! " "It's an opportunity to show that you are king. Make haste towards the scene, and I hope that this time, you will demonstrate that you have the makings of a king." Whilst concealing a smile overflowing with delight behind his words, Tokinada gently channels smooth talk towards Hikone. "I'm expecting you to win this time, Hikone." "Please leave it to me! Tokinada sama!" After relaying the location in question, Tokinada extinguished the flames of the candlestick which had become a communication device, at the same time his soliloquy resounded within the whole room. "…… It's good to know that… Ikomikidomoe… is being 'cultivated' favourably." Recalling the voice that interrupted the transmission a moment ago, Tokinada surveyed a number of measuring instruments and smiled, smirked, sneered. Then, when he looked at the apparatus that was observing a place completely different from Rukongai where Hikone was currently heading towards, Tokinada narrows his eyes ever so slightly and opened his mouth to speak. "There's activity in Karakura Town too? I see, that's a wise decision." A vast amount of data on Karakura Town, the Jūreichi (important spirit grounds) of the Human World, streamed in via the equipment belonging to the Visuals Department. While analysing the flow of Reishi in the whole town, Tokinada monologues even further. "…There is no better opportunity than this, to take control over that Jūreichi is there?"

.

.

. "Only now is Kurosaki Ichigo out of town."

Soul Society - Gotei 13 - Squad 1 Barracks. "Thank you for your report. We will immediately dispatch an investigation from our end too, Momo chan why don't you wait for captain Hirako's signal by stationing yourself near the scene." "Y-yes sir!" After watching Momo hurriedly bow and take off until she was out of sight,  the captain commander of the Gotei 13, Kyōraku Shunsui, calmly exhaled a breath of air whilst talking to himself. "This is a troublesome turn of events huh, quite so." As he finished muttering his habitual saying, vice captain Ise Nanao takes her documents in hand and issues her report. "There was indeed an in-advance request from the 12th division to 'conduct an experiment that employs the use of Quincy and Arrancar corpses'. I'm afraid it's likely that this is referring to the 'Kurotsuchi Corpse Unit'…" "Ah…that. The reality is questionable in a moral sense, but it's also a fact that we can't get by on lip service alone. The mere fact that Tōshirō kun and the others were able to receive medical treatment for their zombification was all that I could ask for." "However, in lieutenant Hinamori's report just now……" "Yes, I fear it's possible that it's an Arrancar who is different to those children employed by the 12th division. We are unable to directly sense the Reiatsu from here, so they're impossible to identify but… that aside, what purpose could this someone have to pay us a visit?" After speaking with what appears to be worry, Kyōraku hands down a set of instructions to his other vice captain Okikiba. "In any case, Okikiba san, please could you get in contact with Squad 2 and deploy an investigation team for me as soon as possible. If squad 12 complain, I see no harm in bringing up my name and forcing your way through on the orders of the captain commander." "As you command." Although it is a relaxed set of instructions made towards Okikiba who is his senior, in contrast to his tone of voice, an air of determination already revealed itself in Kyōraku's eyes as if to say that he will protect Seireitei to the end as captain commander. It is by no means a dazzling devotion to one side, rather there is a hint of preparing oneself to tolerate both the good and evil elements, it comprises of a determination to sacrifice certain things for the sake of protecting everything. "Good grief, only half a year since the end of the war, and yet I still haven't grown accustomed to this kind of thing have I." Since becoming captain commander, there are many things Kyōraku has come to learn anew. Topics covering various ground, perhaps regarding a dark side of Seireitei, perhaps the fact that sacrifices were deliberately made in a part of Rukongai in order to protect the balance of the world, as a result, Kyōraku has learned once more that the reality varies widely ranging from what he had privately predicted to events that went completely beyond the scope of his imagination. —— You mean to tell me that Yama-jii has been acting as an intermediary between us and the world for over a millennia in the midst of this kind of pressure? What was his frame of mind like when Kuchiki Rukia's execution order was issued? What was his frame of mind like when he declared that Inoue, who had gone towards Hueco Mundo, must be treated as a traitor? What was his frame of mind like when he sacrificed his own arm? What was his frame of mind like when he pointed his own Zanpakutō against Ukitake and Kyōraku himself who had both disobeyed the laws of Soul Society? It's something he'll never come to comprehend now, old man Yama's shadow was much too great for the imagination. He doesn't need to follow the same path as Yamamoto Genryūsai. However, as long as he is captain commander there will inevitably come a time when he will also be forced to choose for himself. In all likelihood there will be many things that won't even offer him the luxury of time to prepare himself. Just like in the past when he confronted those children who were Kurosaki Ichigo's school friends with Ichigo's potential future.

How much is one actually willing to cut down in order to protect the Seireitei or indeed the world? —— Yama-jii was serious to a fault huh. Maybe he was preparing himself everyday for that day to come. Behind those decisions which could be interpreted as cold-hearted, there were likely hundreds upon thousands of choices. Kyōraku who had inherited the things those choices have protected, smiled wryly whilst the awe towards his mentor swelled once more. "Just when I thought that succeeding the same position would bring me a little closer to you, it seems I'm all the more distant, you truly are a strict master to your pupils, Yama-jii."

Human World - Urahara Shōten "Kurosaki isn't here!?" In response to Hisagi's voice which held an open display of agitation, Urahara nodded with an unfazed air. "That's right, did I not mention it? Kurosaki san was on a trip this whole time since yesterday with all his family and friends." "On a trip you say!? He's not here for a reason like that!?" In the midst of the current situation where the town was being isolated by a mystery presence, before enquiring about the specific state of affairs Hisagi would propose to 'first of all, notify the Shinigami in charge of this area, furthermore… if we ourselves are the target, then we don't want to get those guys involved, but since the opponent's objectives are unclear, we may also tentatively initiate contact with Kurosaki's group', however that flow of events became doused in cold water by the fact that Kurosaki Ichigo was absent. "If anything, I'm surprised that Hisagi san didn't know? Kuchiki san and Abarai san should also be joining them right?" "Now that you mention it, it appears I haven't seen Abarai and co. these past few days…" "They went to one of the Reichi (spirit grounds) in West Japan. Although it's not at the same level as the Jūreichi of Karakura Town, it's around the 3rd most likely place in Japan for spirits to gather. At first it was only the younger sisters of Kurosaki san's household who were supposed to go on a trip to that place, however…" Perhaps it was preparation in response to those surrounding the town, that Urahara was briskly fiddling around with some sort of utensil whilst he continued to simply voice his explanation towards Hisagi. "Apparently some trouble occurred over there, though it wasn't like a sort emergency, hearing of a threat to the sisters, Isshin san manhandled Kurosaki san and together they took off. Well, if Kurosaki san had heard about it first however, he would also have rushed there of his own accord." "……He was a former captain right? Isshin san that is…" Having heard about the overly intense reactions of the former squad 10 captain, Hisagi broke out in a cold sweat as he inquired, Urahara on the other hand gave a shrill laugh as he replied. "Well, after all, he's a man of quick action, enough to flee Soul Society." "Can you be serious please?" "That aside, Orihime san and the others who have heard the news, are also pursuing the matter and I sense that they have already left for that Reichi. Therefore, I think Kurosaki san's gang won't be back here for a few more days. If he were aware of this state of emergency, then he would probably return, however in the absence of any spiritual tools or equipment, it's not a distance he can make it back from in ten or twenty minutes." "That seems like a……" Comparing the conversation just now with the current situation, his intuition as a Shinigami and as a journalist, aroused a certain suspicion in Hisagi's mind. And before he could even open his mouth to speak, Urahara had uttered the same speculation. "We should probably regard this as being planned." "That's putting it mildly…" "Although that place has always been a Reichi, it doesn't particularly mean that Hollows frequently appear in said region. If that wasn't the case, Isshin san wouldn't even have given the sisters permission to travel there in the first place. Then again, there is also the possibility that it was truly a matter of chance that trouble occurred over there, prompting Kurosaki san to leave town, and therefore someone had used this timing to hurriedly take action. However I think that probability is low, don't you agree?" "You have a point… it's more natural to assume that the incident over there is also the doing of our attackers." That the attackers were oblivious to even the fact that Ichigo was out of town and that this was all purely coincidental, it's not like this possibility was nonexistent too,  however Hisagi didn't think it meaningful to take the trouble of considering that scenario, he decided to set the notion aside for the time being. "But, Urahara san didn't think to go there himself?" "That's right, because today, I agreed to undergo Hisagi san's interview." "Err" In that moment, an indescribable sense of guilt sprouted within Hisagi. He considered the possibility that Urahara would have also accompanied them on the journey and settled this half-baked trouble already, if only he hadn't scheduled an interview. However, perhaps unable to just watch a clearly shaken Hisagi, Urahara readily gave the game away. "Just kidding. In truth, I thought there was something fishy going on, so I intentionally remained here. Given that the presence which lured Kurosaki san and the others out of town was much too strong, I thought that at least I had better stay in town." "So then, you knew something may happen today?" "If my guess missed the mark, then I'd be fine with that. But it's in my nature to be incapable of turning a blind eye to it when I consider the possibility after all." Urahara thereupon adjusted his hat, directing his gaze to face outdoors once more. "Well, I was nonetheless correct as a result, wasn't I?" About the same time as he had uttered that while taking a step towards the veranda —— A disruption just like the static noise of a television screen coursed through the air above the courtyard, the voice of a young boy streams out from the disturbed part of that space as if it were being transmitted through a machine. "It's been a while huh, Urahara Kisuke." "Oh my, I never expected it to be you, you startled me." "Don't lie. A person like you would have guessed that long ago from the nature of this isolation, isn't that so?" Confronted with the voice of the young boy which appeared exasperated, Urahara opened his fan with a snap as he replied. "Yes, of course I realised long ago! You can praise me some more if you'd like?" "A genuine expert in the art of annoying people, aren't you…" In response to the voice which was a slight blend of irritation and dread, Urahara narrows his eyes smilingly under the brim of his hat as he added insult to injury. "Then, while you're busy getting annoyed, you could save us some time and effort if you would please explain in detail what this is all about…" Although Hisagi was suspicious thinking "why does he have to give you an explanation of the situation on the basis of being provoked", he decided it must be the course of Urahra's negotiation style or something of the like and was thus compelled to accept it. However, the other party naturally did not give in to that provocation, instead of clarifying the state of affairs, the boy projected his form on a square shaped screen that appeared in mid-air. "Sorry, but I too have my reasons." Unable to recognise this face, Hisagi questions Urahara. "Urahara san, are you acquainted with this child?" "Indeed, I think even Hisagi san will recognise his name? Hisagi san did all sorts of investigations in his own way too with regard to Fullbring, isn't that right?" Whilst observing the face being projected in the air, Urahara posed his question to the boy once more. "So then… can you please give us an explanation? ……President Yukio Hans Vorarlberna?"

I’ll stop there because a) part 9 on the app is super long and b) I’m typing this out at an ungodly hour. 

[this-book-has-been-loved]

A World To Come Back To

For @platonicvldweek Day 6: Distance / Proximity

Read it on Ao3 | Read it on FFN

Insp

The Garrison didn’t hold a memorial. They barely even made an announcement about it at all. It was just a simple phone call in a cold succinct tone to the affected families (“We’re sorry, your son has gone missing…snuck out in the middle of the night…we’re conducting an investigation….”) and a brief report on the local news (“Three Garrison cadets reported missing…we ask that anyone who has any news on their whereabouts please contact the authorities….”) and that was that.

Of course, Colleen Holt didn’t even get the phone call.

Pidge Gunderson wasn’t related to the Holts. He didn’t have any family at all, having been enrolled at the Garrison through their gifted orphans program with their federal-mandated quota.

The first thing that tipped Colleen off that something might not be right, was when Katie stopped answering her phone.

She told herself that she was fine—probably just busy studying, or the battery charge had run out, or she had somehow just not seen the message. Colleen worried that perhaps she was being to overbearing, and this was Katie’s way of asking for more independence. But Colleen had every right to worry, with her now being alone in the house with just the dog, with her little girl away at boarding school—

Then she saw the news.

Saw Matt’s face—no, Katie’s, unmistakably Katie’s—staring back at her from the TV screen, alongside two unfamiliar boys, the words ‘Garrison Cadets Missing’ screaming at her from the headline.

And it was as if the earth was yanked out from under her, and the entire world was crashing down around her, and her head was spinning, and she couldn’t think straight, and her breathing was acting up.

Lance McClain. Hunakai Garrett. Pidge Gunderson.

Pidge Gunderson.

Pidge had been a childhood nickname of hers; Matt had given it to her. And Gunderson…that had been Colleen’s own maiden name.

And the realization of what had happened hit her like a brick wall. Katie had lied. She’d lied about her school, then lied about her identity in order to break into a government facility that she’d already been banned from.

“Oh, Katherine,” she whispered.

Colleen’s fists clenched. The Garrison had already taken her husband and son from her. And now they’d had to take her daughter as well?

But if Katie had managed to infiltrate the Garrison, she may have found something.

She’d told Colleen her suspicions that the Kerberos mission hadn’t gone missing, and that the Garrison was just covering up for something. She’d mentioned what she found (or rather, what she hadn’t found) on Iverson’s computer. And she’d talked about the coded transmissions she’d been receiving from Matt and their father, transmissions that said that their ship had already landed safely on the small moon.

Colleen had told her to leave it be, and that this was just part of the mourning process.

But a Katie had lit a spark of hope in the back of her mind, one that she didn’t dare to even acknowledge most of the time. And if Katie had been at the Garrison for months now, nearly a full semester, then she may have found something else.

Something that may have prompted the Garrison into covering up another disappearance with a simple “missing”.

Colleen muted the TV, reaching for her laptop. She needed more information. She needed to know the whole story, needed to know who those boys were, needed to know what happened the night they all disappeared, needed to know if they’d found anything.

And she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way.

Colleen met the Garretts purely by chance.

It was at a coffee shop. She had stopped in to pick up a large coffee on her way home from work, intending for the trip to be a quick in-and out. But after she’d placed her order and stepped out of line, she’d bumped into another woman, knocking both of their purses to the floor.

“I’m so sorry,” they both said, speaking over each other.

The woman chuckled gently, as the two of them bent down to pick up their bags. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “That was my fault.”

“No,” Colleen protested, standing back up. “I should have been looking where I was going.”

They stood by each other in silence, waiting for their drinks, and Colleen awkwardly folded her arms, tapping her finger anxiously.

“So,” she started, feeling the need to continue this encounter. “Have you, ah, ever been here before?”

“Oh, no,” the woman replied. “In fact, this is only the second time I’ve been in this state at all. I’m just visiting.” She paused, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “Had some work to take care of at my son’s school.”

“Oh, where are you from?”

“California,” she said. “But Hawaii before that.”

“Really?” Colleen asked, raising her eyebrows. “I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii. Is it as pretty as it is in all the pictures?”

“Absolutely breathtaking,” the woman assured her. “My family goes back every Christmas to visit my parents.”

“That sounds lovely,” Colleen replied. After a moment, she held out her hand to the other woman. “I’m Colleen, by the way,” she said. “Colleen Holt.”

“Lani Garrett,” the other woman introduced, and they shook hands.

Colleen hesitated. Garrett was a common last name, wasn’t it? She may not be related to Hunakai—or ‘Hunk’ as he apparently liked to be called—at all. But then, Colleen had seen several different photographs of Hunk from reading every local news article on the disappearance, and this woman had the same dark hair, the same warm skin tone, the same brown eyes….

When they got their drinks, the two women sat down together, finding a small table against a window in the back of the shop.

“When you say ‘Holt’,” Lani asked cautiously after they had sat down, “do you mean…?”

Colleen’s smile tightened. “Yes, of those Holts.”

Lani nodded. “I thought I recognized your name. I’m sorry about your family,” she said. “My son was a fan of your husband. Read every single one of his books. They inspired him to enroll in the Garrison himself.” She set down her cup, staring at it without really seeming to see it. “He was devastated when heard about what happened.”

Colleen was frozen, her suspicions about the woman seated in front of her being confirmed. “Hunk,” she murmured, and she saw Lani startle. “You’re Hunk’s mother.”

“Yes,” Lani said, blinking in surprise. “I am. How did you…?”

Colleen glanced around, noting how many people were in this little café, deciding that this wasn’t the best place for such an open conversation. “Would you…like to come over for dinner?” she asked. “I believe your son is a friend of my daughter.”

It was then that Colleen decided to reach out to the McClains. With Lani sitting in her living room, Colleen did some more digging on Lance McClain. Through his own social media accounts, she was able to locate his mother’s, and from there she found an email address.

She sent an email to Eva McClain explaining who she was and who her daughter was, mentioning that she’d already met with and had begun discussing things with Lani Garrett, and would she be willing to come out New Mexico to meet with them as well?

She received a response less than an hour later.

Lani made arrangements with her hotel to extend her stay another week, and the two of them were joined by Eva within the next few days.

The three of them sat around Colleen’s kitchen table, her notes spread out before them. She’d explained the whole Katie/Pidge thing, and how Kerberos played into it all.

“And as I’m technically not Pidge Gunderson’s mother,” she was saying, “I have no reason to be speaking to them about any of this. And I can’t go public with her identity without incriminating her. Which means that I need you to relay whatever information they might have told you that they’re not making public.”

“Honestly?” Lani said, shaking her head, “Not much.”

Colleen frowned. “The articles I read said there was video surveillance, footage that showed the three of them sneaking off the base past curfew.”

“Yes,” Lani agreed. “They mentioned that when I went to speak with them a few days ago.”

“Did they let you see the footage?”

Lani shook her head. “They said it was confidential and that I didn’t have the necessary clearance. But they told me that they’d handed the footage over to the police and were conducting a thorough investigation in an attempt to find them.”

“They said the same to me when I called,” Eva added.

“I’m worried about this ‘investigation’ of theirs,” Colleen murmured. “Who knows if they’re even really looking. And if they are, it probably wouldn’t take much to piece together that Pidge Gunderson is Katherine Holt, even for an idiot like Iverson.”

“I asked to see the progress of their investigation,” Eva said. “They told me they’d send it to me at their earliest convenience. It’s been well over a week now, and I’m beginning to doubt they have anything of note.”

Colleen sighed. “The short of all this,” she continued, “is that we have grounds to sue the Garrison on negligent behavior. Our children were under their watch when they went missing. If they had been paying more attention, then the three of them wouldn’t have even been able to exit the facility. And it’s not clear if they’ve been conducting a police investigation at all. And we may have reason to believe that this is all a cover-up for something, and they may even have a hand in their disappearance.” She folded her hands. “What we need now is to find a lawyer.”

“My brother is a lawyer,” Eva told them. “And my oldest, Angela, is a Garrison officer, though she’s at the Florida base.”

“My sister-in-law is a reporter,” Lani mused, pulling out her phone. “I’ll send her a message.

“I never had a position at the Garrison,” Colleen said, “but my husband did. And I still have friends stationed there. I’m sure a number of them would be willing to help us with this as well.” She smiled, pleased that things were finally seeming to fall into place. “So we amass our team, put together our case, and confront them with it head-on,” Colleen summarized. “Iverson won’t know what hit him.”

[writesandramblings]

The Captain’s Secret - p.66

“Past and Present Tense”

A/N: This chapter cover the events of episode 7, "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad." Also, revised a paragraph in chapter 61 – Ctrl-F "mutilated" for the new edition. I had already written that bit months ago, but it accidentally got punted into the prewritten section of this chapter and I just found it again. Just a little echo of a ghost from the past... (You may have already read the revised paragraph depending.)

Also, the fortune that is drawn in this chapter was 100% a random, "pick one and use it" draw that just happened to be unbelievably and unforgivably apropos to the theme. I was so shocked I forgot the sentence I was in the middle of writing when I opened it. Apparently, fate wants me to write this fanfic just as much as it wants Lorca to stay in command of his ship.

Finally, this is a long chapter. I considered splitting it, but there didn't seem a point where it made sense to. I give you an (overly) extended look into the antics of non-Michael Burnham characters during the episode.

Full Chapter List Part 1 - Objects in Motion << Part 65 - The Stars, Broken Part 67 - Einstein on the Beach >>

O'Malley came to the bridge, which was unusual, and Lorca spoke to him in the ready room again. The colonel was as high-strung and judgmental as ever. He crossed his arms as he stood across from Lorca and declined a fortune cookie.

"Am I to understand Admiral Cornwell's been taken by Klingons and we're not going to rescue her?"

"Those are not our orders," said Lorca smoothly.

"So, Cornwell ordered us to rescue you, and we did, and then our orders were not to rescue Sarek, but we did that anyway, and now our orders are not to rescue Cornwell and we're suddenly doing what Starfleet Command wants?"

Lorca crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. This was much the same as Saru's objection, but Saru was not so fearless as to pose these objections in the form of an argument to Lorca directly. "We're here to win a war, not rescue every lost soul."

"Well you damn well could've fooled me as that's largely what we've been doing these past six months. You personally, might I add."

"I thought you didn't like Cornwell," pointed out Lorca.

"I don't, but that doesn't mean I want her tortured by Klingons."

"I was tortured by Klingons. It wasn't so bad."

O'Malley's mouth fell open and his arms uncrossed. "Gabriel!" For a moment, O'Malley sounded like Lorca's mother might have, had she been prone to chastising Lorca in the tone of a sixty-year-old British woman.

"Look," said Lorca, dropping the levity. "This is what Cornwell would have wanted. Following the rules and waiting for orders. She's spent most of the past six months telling me to do just that."

"You've picked an awfully convenient time to start doing what Cornwell wants."

Lorca stared. "Are we going to have a problem here, colonel?"

O'Malley exhaled and shook his head softly. "I'm just very disappointed in you, is all." He stood in silent consideration for a moment. "You know, I've mostly agreed with everything you've done up till now. Usually you do to the right thing, just in the wrong way, and for the first time I find you doing the wrong thing in the right way and I honestly don't know what to make of it. I don't like what it says about you as a person that you'd let one of your oldest friends suffer like this simply for the purposes of keeping your ship."

"She was my friend," said Lorca. "Past tense. And out of respect for that, we are following Starfleet's orders." Each of the last few words was said with pointed emphasis indicating Lorca had no interest in being further argued with on this subject.

"If you're going to be like this, then perhaps you'd better count me in the past tense as well."

They stared at each other, neither backing down. Then something occurred to Lorca and he scowled in disgust and looked away.

O'Malley squinted at him. "What's that look for?"

"What look?"

"That look on your face right now."

"I don't know, Mac, why don't you tell me what it looks like."

"If I knew that would I be asking?" They were going in circles.

Lorca broke the pattern. He clenched his jaw in anger directed mostly at himself. "I suppose now you're gonna take up Cornwell's cause." Worse, he had given O'Malley enough ammunition to do just that. His intent in the telling had been to make O'Malley see his side, take his side, and it had worked, but now Lorca was uncertain where O'Malley's loyalties lay: with his principles, or with Lorca himself.

O'Malley looked insulted. "What? I'm disappointed in you, I'm not going to betray you. I know how hard it was for you to tell me any of what you did. I'm certainly not going to use it against you. It'd destroy my reputation, for starters." O'Malley sighed. "Just give me some time, will you? I need to process this."

O'Malley left the ready room. Lorca took a fortune cookie and crushed it in his hand, eating the pieces and dropping the paper unread into the trash. He quietly put a hold on any and all outbound communications from O'Malley and Allan, just in case. In doing so, Lorca noticed Allan had not sent or received a single transmission in all his time on Discovery. Unusual.

As Culber was not permitted into Lab 26, he had to wait outside with Allan for Mischkelovitz to emerge. When she did, she looked at Culber with obvious suspicion as to what he was doing on her doorstep.

Culber managed to be as friendly, cheerful, and charming as anyone could be, especially given the adversarial stance Mischkelovitz had taken. "Dr. Mischkelovitz, I was wondering if you could help me with something?"

All that charm and she still looked at him like he had three heads and two of them were shooting fire at her. "Pel'tra kas-kotiin kelmatro sai-on," she said darkly.

Culber had no idea how to respond to that.

Standing behind her, Allan apparently did. "Melly," he said, "je kranna kos'bri-kaa. Se patro kii'kay'an?"

Mischkelovitz turned to him. "Je mohs ke'barato, se patriik maroten."

Allan replied, "Kesse na iil me trohs baraal. Pelta!" Then he smiled at Mischkelovitz.

With a scowl, Mischkelovitz said, "Fine, Lan! But only because you asked." She turned back to Culber. "What do you want?"

Her eyes lit up when she saw the design of the implant. "Ah!" she went. "This is terrible!"

They were standing in sickbay at Culber's workstation. As Stamets was now the computational interface of the spore drive, Culber was hoping to ease the difficulty of his husband's connection to the drive with an implant so that the dangerous, painful system they had recovered from the Glenn could be rendered obsolete, but the technology was slightly beyond Culber's expertise. "I was hoping you could help me refine it," said Culber. "Tweak the design a little?"

When Mischkelovitz looked at Culber this time, her eyes were alight with enthusiasm and there was absolutely no trace of anything negative in her expression or demeanor. "Absolutely! Let's do it." For all that she was standoffish and surly around people she had not accepted into her inner circle, once presented with something she liked, she was entirely won over, like a reluctant child bribed with a new toy.

Culber's initial design for the implant was entirely too big to be practical. They began by refining it in virtual form to reduce its size and complexity. There were several factors to consider. First, the needs of the spore drive itself, which Mischkelovitz seemed unusually familiar with. Second, the features Culber wanted the implant to have, for safety and in the event of a medical emergency. Third, the limits of the technology they could produce aboard Discovery on such short notice.

Mischkelovitz was quite happy and friendly when she had a task to focus on. She also seemed only halfway aware of Culber's presence, even though he was standing right next to her and working on the same project. She chattered away to herself, saying things like, "We have to beroute the riomatter relay through the transventral section in order to ensure uninterrupted frow legulation..."

"Sorry, what?" asked Culber, but Mischkelovitz seemed not to hear him and continued her rambling obliviously. Apparently her use of "we" did not refer to Culber.

"If we switch the configuration of the nanotubes, then we can responsively adjust the row flate to compensate for the constriction mechanically rather than computationally..."

At other times, she seemed overly aware of Culber.

"You're married to him, right?" she suddenly asked. Even though she did not specify Stamets, it was obvious who the implant was for and there was no one else she might be referring to.

"That's right," said Culber.

"Mm," went Mischkelovitz and lapsed into silence, her gaze darkening.

Culber studied her carefully. She was staring intently at a fixed point in space. She had to be thinking about her own deceased husband, which was probably not the healthiest or most productive thing for her to be thinking about in the moment. He decided to try to switch her mind to something that had been bothering him since their previous encounter, risky as it was. "I've noticed you and Captain Lorca seem to get along."

"He likes monsters," supplied Mischkelovitz.

Culber blinked. "You're not a monster."

"Tch," she went. "Of course I am. That's the moral of the story, isn't it? The real monster was Victor von Frankenstein?"

Culber considered Mischkelovitz. That was a truly sad way for her to describe herself, even if she had done things that might warrant usage of the word. "I can't begin to understand what you went through," he said sympathetically, "so I won't judge you for it." He had judged her already, but he was willing to put it aside for the sake of being kind. "I just want to make sure you don't get hurt. Captain Lorca is a... strong personality."

"I like that about him. Very much so."

"It's easy to get swept away by someone like that."

"Don't worry about me. I only go where I'm wanted. If the captain wants me, so be it."

Culber paused. The word choice seemed a little off. "You haven't... with the captain?" It would explain her comfort level with being manhandled by Lorca, her rush to defend him, and even the captain's kindness.

"What?"

"Forget I asked," said Culber, quickly shaking his head. "It's no business of mine who anyone sleeps with, so long as they do it safely." That might apply to Lorca more than most. The captain had something of a reputation in that regard.

"Do you mean have sex?" said Mischkelovitz, looking confused. "I would never compromise my work by wasting my time like that! Ever!"

She seemed genuinely repulsed by the idea. Culber was taken aback. "That isn't..."

Mischkelovitz suddenly brightened. "We can halve the size of the mower podules if we use the outflow return for the subsystems!" She began to make modifications in a flurry of excitement. Suddenly the implant design seemed neither inelegant nor oppressively bulky. It was perfect.

"Thank you," Culber told her. "I really appreciate your help with this."

"That was fun!" she exclaimed, then turned and ran out of sickbay.

It took a few minutes for the computer to finish the fabrication, but when it was done, Culber summoned Stamets to sickbay and presented him with the completed device. "What do you think?"

"What is it?" asked Stamets.

"This is what every astromycologist is going to wish they were wearing at your next conference," grinned Culber, and explained the implant's functions and features. Stamets was entirely impressed, both by the design and that Culber had done this for him.

The surgery was quick and easy. Mischkelovitz's design modifications took into account Stamets' anatomy perfectly, so even though it looked like a giant, painful thing inserted into Stamets' arm, it actually folded around the various blood vessels, muscles, and tendons perfectly. Stamets flexed his hand and smiled at it.

"You're the best," said Stamets.

Culber smiled. "I had a little help." And maybe, just maybe, he had gotten himself into Mischkelovitz's good graces in the process. Though, if the captain wasn't sleeping with Mischkelovitz, what exactly was he using her for?

The ship fell into a sort of quiet routine the next few days. Everything was going smoothly, if uneventfully, because to everyone's collective surprise, Lorca was presently adhering to the letter of Starfleet Command's desires. Routine spore drive jump tests at scheduled times. No presence at the front. Trying to find a way to duplicate spore drive control without violating augmentation laws.

It began to feel like O'Malley had been given more than enough time to process. Lorca called him to his ready room.

O'Malley refused. "Wanna try that again, colonel?" said Lorca, clearly implying their personal disagreement did not give O'Malley the right to deny a request from Discovery's captain.

"I literally can't. I gave Allan and Larsson leave to go to some disco party. There's no one else on the door."

Lorca started chuckling. Of course O'Malley would do something that pathetic. The party had been a concession to the fact they were presently doing nothing important. May as well let the crew kick back and relax a bit.

"So happy I can amuse," said O'Malley miserably. "Larsson fancies himself some sort of a dancer, and Allan... don't ask me, he's supposed to be asleep right now and apparently he'd rather do that, so I also get to cover part of his shift alone."

"You do not understand how to command," said Lorca, shaking his head.

"Well now, hang on a minute, I—"

The bridge cut in. "Captain, we are detecting an unidentified signal," said Saru.

"Yellow alert. This conversation isn't over, colonel."

"It hasn't even started," managed O'Malley before the ready room door opened and the comm channel cut off.

It turned out to be a gormagander—a space whale. Burnham was apparently some expert in the species, rattling off details of their biology and attributing their decreasing numbers in the galaxy not as a result of hunting but because they focused on feeding so single-mindedly they failed to find the time to mate. "That's as depressing a trait as I've ever heard," quipped Lorca before calling to the helmsman to plot a new course.

"Captain!" interrupted Burnham. "The gormagander is on the endangered species list. Protocol requires us to transfer it to a xenologic facility."

Great. Now not only were they not going to be participating in any battles, they were going to have to play chaperone to a space whale. Burnham seemed enthused for the task, at least. "Then have at it," Lorca told her, and she hurried off to the shuttle bay to oversee the creature's transport onto the ship.

Not five minutes later, it was aboard, and a frantic comm came from the shuttle bay:

"Intruder alert, shots fired," said Burnham breathlessly. "Need immediate assistance."

Tyler was at the security station. He put the security feeds on the main viewscreen. "Intruder's on deck six, sir!"

"I want him locked down!" ordered Lorca, watching as the helmeted assailant strode through Discovery's halls.

"We have him trapped, sir!" reported Tyler after a moment.

Lorca rose from the captain's chair and strode towards the viewscreen. "Whoever you are, drop your weapons. This ends now."

The helmet came off with a round of hearty laughter, revealing a familiar bearded, grinning face. "Did you miss me as much as I missed you?"

"Mudd," said Lorca, almost spitting the name.

"Did you really think that you could leave me to rot in a Klingon prison and not suffer any repercussions!" said Mudd, voice rising as he spoke, hand shaking in anger towards the security monitor. "As soon as I find what's so special about your ship, I'm gonna sell it to the Klingons. Do you hear me, captain?"

"I don't see this ending with you taking my ship," said Lorca, entirely unimpressed.

"Not this time, but I have all the data I need for the next, so, I will see you later. Or, rather, earlier."

Mudd triggered a device in his hand. The corridor flashed with light and Lorca had to close his eyes a moment. When he opened them, the viewscreen was static. "Mr. Saru!"

"Sensors read an amicium and yurium compound explosion," said Saru.

"Hull breach on deck six," said Ash. "Five, four, now three—we can't contain it, captain!"

Lorca felt his heart drop as Discovery was torn apart around him. The last thing he saw was bright yellow-white flames coming towards him.

Reset.

It was a space whale. Burnham was pleased for it, Lorca was completely annoyed at the prospect of playing chaperone, and he sent Burnham off to handle the situation.

From the belly of the beast itself, Harry Mudd waited and looked over the files from Discovery he had stolen before the reset. He had stripped out all the important stuff—access codes, schematics, crew assignments and the project directory—and he had a lot of data to go through. Luckily, he also had all the time in the world. As the transporter light shimmered around him, he decided to start this little adventure off with a bold gesture. "Computer," he said as the shimmer faded and the gormagander appeared in the shuttle bay with Mudd still inside it, giving Mudd access to the ship's command overrides from his hiding place. "Site to site transport. One to the captain's ready room."

The shimmer of the transporter began again, this time plucking Mudd from the gormagander's digestive tract with the precision of the finest surgeon and depositing him in the ready room.

The lights were dim. A concession to Lorca's damaged eyesight, of course. Mudd snorted at the conceited weakness of the self-imposed impairment. He also frowned at the sight of the standing desk. He had been hoping for a chance to put his feet up while he reviewed Discovery's files, but instead the room was as aggravating as the captain himself.

There was a wooden bowl on the desk filled with fortune cookies. Mudd took one. It read, There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead of you. Mudd's face lit up. "Well now, isn't that just what the captain ordered."

Perfectly aware Lorca was just on the other side of the door attending to matters on the bridge, Mudd decided to stay for a while and munch on cookies as he went over Discovery's project list and schematics. He noted with great interest a laboratory completely shielded from transport. That had to contain a pretty good secret. He also took a glance over the many luminaries that called Discovery their home. Quite an assemblage of minds Lorca had gotten himself. Some genuine surprises in there, too. Emellia Mischkelovitz, for example. Dr. Frankenstein in the flesh. Mudd whistled in appreciation. If nothing else, he had to respect the captain's cojones. Almost as big as his own.

Four meters away, Lorca finished relaying the details of Discovery's newest "assignment" to Starfleet Command and decided to pick up the conversation with O'Malley. "Mr. Saru," he said as he rose from the captain's chair and headed to the ready room, the intonation of Saru's name sufficient to convey the transfer of command over to the first officer.

The ready room doors opened and Lorca found himself staring at Harry Mudd standing next to a bowl's worth of fortunes and cookie crumbs scattered across the desk.

"Why, hello, captain!" said Mudd blithely, raising his disruptor.

"Mudd," scowled Lorca. "What the hell are you doing on my ship!"

"Your ready room is awful! No chairs? Really?" Mudd shot Lorca. He watched with immense satisfaction as the captain disintegrated into a flurry of dust, leaving a singed smell on the air. Tyler appeared in the doorway, phaser drawn, but too late.

Reset.

This time, Mudd beamed from the gormagander's stomach to the corridor outside Lab 26. A pale, freckled man was guarding the door and raised his rifle in Mudd's direction as the transporter finished with the beam-in. "Identify yourself!"

"Harcourt Fenton Mudd," said Mudd. "I've been sent to review this experiment." He said it with the sort of glib confidence that usually made people think twice and accept a statement as potentially truthful.

"Absolutely not," said the freckled man. "Hands up. Computer, alert the bridge. We have an intruder."

Once again, Mudd found himself face to face with Lorca. "Mudd! What the hell are you doing on my ship?"

"A better question is, what the hell are you doing on your ship?" asked Mudd gleefully. "Computer, transport Captain Lorca to preset coordinates."

He beamed Lorca into space. The door guard clocked him on the back of the head with his rifle, knocking Mudd out, but it mattered not.

Reset.

Mudd beamed from the gormagander's stomach to the next section of corridor over from Lab 26 and fired his disruptor the moment the freckled man was in view, vaporizing him.

The door did not open. "Computer," said Mudd, "command override."

"This door can only be overridden by Colonel O'Malley's command module," the computer intoned flatly. This made no sense. Mudd had gotten himself the highest command authority, above even the captain, but the captain could not open this door?

"Who the hell is Colonel O'Malley?" asked Mudd aloud, checking the crew files. A freckled face stared back at him. "Well, damn it," said Mudd. He spent a few minutes on a halfhearted attempt to blast open the door to no avail.

"Hey! What are you doing!?" came a deep, booming voice. A pair of officers coming down the hallway had discovered him. They were a mismatched set, one a giant hulking blonde and the other a thinner, dark-haired man. They both had leis around their necks and were holding drinks. Neither was armed.

"What does it look like?" asked Mudd, firing at them. Then he made his way to the bridge. May as well have a little fun if no other progress was going to be made this time around.

"Mudd," scowled Lorca. "What are you doing on my ship!"

"Whatever I want!" exclaimed Mudd gleefully, shooting Lorca on a non-vaporizing kill setting and watching the captain stagger to the floor and collapse, dead.

Reset.

Mudd set his disruptor to kill without vaporizing and tried again. The freckled Colonel O'Malley fell to the ground in a heap and Mudd began to search him, locating the door control module. He clicked it.

Nothing happened. He clicked it again and again. No reaction. "Computer!" he shouted, really getting annoyed now. "Why won't the door open!"

"The outer door was automatically sealed when biosign termination occurred at..."

"Oh, come on!" screamed Mudd, and kicked the lifeless corpse of O'Malley until a mismatched pair of officers with leis around their necks happened upon him.

He came face to face with Lorca again. "Mudd!" scowled Lorca. "What the hell are you doing on my ship?"

"This," said Mudd, and activated the ship's self-destruct sequence on a ten-second timer. He laughed as he watched Lorca scramble to override it without success and listened as the captain screamed in useless fury as a yellow-white explosion engulfed them.

Reset.

It was a space whale. Burnham was pleased for it, Lorca was completely annoyed at the prospect of playing chaperone, and he sent Burnham off to handle the situation.

Not ten minutes later, the gormagander was aboard, and soon after a message beeped on the command console at Lorca's arm. He glanced down. It was from Lab 26. He tapped it.

It read simply "TINRUEDR" with no signature attached, but Lorca didn't need an ident to recognize Lalana's typing, because she had a habit of hitting three to four letters at once with her epithelial filaments, jumbling them all together. TINRUEDR? His eyes widened. "Red alert!" he barked, launching himself from the captain's chair to a very confused bridge. "Tyler, with me!"

The ship's site to site transport did not respond to them. They were locked out of the ship's commands. The turbolift was also not responding. "Down the turbolift shaft," ordered Lorca. Thankfully, down was a much quicker trip than up. Lorca slid down the access ladder at an almost breakneck pace and he and Tyler burst out onto level nine with phasers at the ready.

He found O'Malley laying in a pool of blood in the corridor and checked for a pulse. It was weak, but still there. He grabbed O'Malley. "Computer, emer—" The words died on his lips. No emergency transport. They were locked out.

O'Malley groaned slightly, eyes half-opening. "Gabe," he managed, only the first syllable.

Lorca stared at O'Malley. He was so pale even his freckles seemed to be disappearing. "Tyler! Get someone from medical down here." The only other option was try to carry O'Malley up the turbolift shaft, but with the loss of blood, he needed to be stabilized first. Tyler rushed off to fetch a doctor.

O'Malley's hand weakly reached up and grabbed Lorca's collar. "Listen," whispered O'Malley. "He locked the outer door, but there's a secret way in. Bottom left panel." This was a gross violation of the lab's security procedures, but Lorca could lecture O'Malley about it later.

Lorca carefully lowered O'Malley back down and went to the indicated panel, prying it off with his fingernails. There was a passage behind it too narrow for Lorca. "How am I supposed to," Lorca began, turning to look back at O'Malley only to find O'Malley was crawling over. Lorca darted back to O'Malley's side. "Stop moving!"

O'Malley clutched his hand to his wound. The main attack had been a knife wound directed just below the body armor and up towards the gut to ensure a slow, lingering death. "I'm fine. Look, this is just dinner at my house. Help me in there. I'll open the door from the inside."

There was enough blood on the floor to bathe in, but every minute out here was a minute Mudd was in there with Lalana and Mischkelovitz unsupervised. Lorca dragged O'Malley over to the passageway, helped him squirm inside it, and watched as he disappeared into the darkness. Then he did the thing he hated most: he waited.

The outer door opened after a minute. O'Malley was slumped against the wall, a dark red smear of blood behind him. Lorca stepped into the outer chamber and crouched down to check his pulse.

"Tell Melly... just as much."

"Tell her yourself," said Lorca. O'Malley's pulse was so weak Lorca could not find it.

O'Malley smiled faintly. "Guess... your secret's safe... with me." He closed his eyes and slumped forward. A message popped up on the internal door controls: BIOLOCK PROTOCOL ACTIVE. The outer door slid shut. The display updated: EXTERNAL ACCESS PROHIBITED.

Lorca straightened and readied his phaser. Thankfully, he was already inside. He hit the command to open the internal door.

The intruder in the lab heard the door and reacted by grabbing Mischkelovitz and pulling her in front of him. "Captain! How good of you to join us," said a familiarly taunting voice.

"Mudd," sneered Lorca, face contorting with rage. "What the hell are you doing on my ship!"

Mudd was standing with one hand tightly around Mischkelovitz's neck. Lalana was just off to the side, hands knocking rapidly together in alarm. Mischkelovitz was much smaller than Mudd and made a poor human shield, but between her and Lalana, Mudd had made the better choice in terms of coverage. Mischkelovitz looked at Lorca with terror in her eyes. "Gabe!" she squealed. Her usage of the short form was not something she had ever done directly before. Lorca knew from watching her on the security feeds it was how she referred to him when she was alone.

Mudd grinned, disruptor hovering at Mischkelovitz's ear. "First-name basis! Well then, Gabe, looks like I've found a few of your secrets this time! Never thought I'd get to see your lului. It's much better than the one in that Markalian zoo."

The distance wasn't tremendous, and the lights burned his eyes, but Lorca felt he could make the shot. He aimed his phaser.

In response, Mudd pulled Mischkelovitz more tightly against him and turned his disruptor towards the captain.

Both shots went off at the same time, but neither hit their mark. A blue shape appeared in the air between them, propelled from the side, intercepting both blasts and absorbing the shot that might have taken Mudd's life and would certainly have taken Lorca's. Lorca had one fleeting glimpse of green eyes looking at him and then she was gone, disintegrated into wisps of dust that burned away into nothing and left a singed smell on the air.

The shock lasted but a moment as both men realized their kill shots had failed to eliminate their opponent and took action.

Mudd fired again, but his shot went too high as Lorca ducked into a charge, screaming with a fury that told Mudd he had made an enormous mistake. With absolutely no concern for Mischkelovitz, Lorca barreled into Mudd and his hostage, slamming them both to the ground, the brunt of the impact cracking a number of Mischkelovitz's ribs. Straddling both Mudd and Mischkelovitz, Lorca pinned Mudd's weapon with one hand and pummeled the butt of his phaser against Mudd's face with such force it shattered Mudd's nose. He brought it down again, rage filling his ears, totally oblivious to Mudd's pained yell and Mischkelovitz's terrified, raspy scream as she struggled to breathe beneath his weight. There was a faint crunch as Mudd's orbital bone fractured.

Lorca dropped his phaser but did not cease his onslaught, continuing to batter Mudd with his bare fist. The fracture deepened, the face pulped, and still he continued, the cracking sounds coming as much from his own fist as Mudd's skull bones.

He finally heard Mischkelovitz crying and stopped, rolling off of her and Mudd. His breath heaved in his chest. Mischkelovitz squirmed weakly and whimpered in pain. Lorca's right hand was a uselessly twisted mess, but he managed to get his arms under Mischkelovitz and lift her up.

He stepped over O'Malley's body in the outer chamber. He was careful to keep Mischkelovitz's face against his chest so she would not see what had happened. As if losing a husband and sibling already weren't enough, she had now lost the one person who probably loved her more than anyone else in the universe.

Lorca hushed her softly. "Shh, I got you." He understood what it felt like to lose everyone and everything. Now he understood it twice over. He could still see that last flash of Lalana's bright green eyes in his mind. He triggered the external door with the internal system override.

Tyler, Culber, Larsson, and Allan were in the corridor. Culber gasped and quickly went into action, scanning with his tricorder for injuries. He scanned O'Malley, too, but the life sign was already long gone. Allan and Larsson looked ridiculous in their leis, drinks in hand. Allan also looked absolutely distraught. "This isn't happening!" Allan exclaimed. "How is this happening? This isn't supposed to happen!" He looked to Larsson as if he expected the Swede to somehow know.

Tyler noticed the bloody tangle of Lorca's hand limply dangling alongside Mischkelovitz's arm. "Let me take her, sir," he offered.

"She's my responsibility," said Lorca. He owed O'Malley that, at least.

The timer on Mudd's device maxed out. They were enveloped by a yellow-white explosion.

Reset.

Lab 26 was full of secrets, but not the one Mudd was after. At least Mischkelovitz had turned out to be a useful source of information in the minutes before Lorca's arrival. "It's not us!" she had squealed at him. "We're trying bloak creaks! Bloak creaks—bloak—cloak breaks! You want the mushrooms!" Finally, Mudd understood where he needed to go.

Engineering test bay alpha. On paper, mushroom spore propulsion sounded like a bad joke, but apparently it was a viable technology. Armed with this information, Mudd began his assault on engineering. He had full control of the computer and made short work of the staff in there. Unfortunately, he was unable to ascertain exactly how the drive functioned.

Something was missing, he realized. If he was going to sell this ship to the Klingons, he had to figure out what.

This time, he beamed onto the bridge, took out the crew there first, and then came last for Lorca in his ready room. Perfect timing, really. But then, it always was.

Reset.

Stamets was having a very weird day.

One moment, he was in quarters dismissing Culber's ongoing concerns about his personality changes as being silly, because he felt good, relaxed, better than ever. The next, they were enveloped by a yellow-white explosion and then he was walking down the corridor with Culber away from sickbay again.

"Hang on a sec," he said. "Weren't we just here a minute ago?"

Culber looked at him like he might be crazy, which was a look he was getting used to these days.

Stamets dismissed it the first time. Some sort of bad déjà vu.

Then it happened again. And again.

Stamets tried to alert Burnham and Tyler. "It all starts with a gormagander!" he managed.

It was a space whale. "Oh, for crying out loud," said Lorca. "Cancel yellow alert."

"Sir, scans show the gormagander's bio readings to be highly unstable," reported Saru, and informed Lorca that they were required under the Endangered Species Act to transport it somewhere.

Both Burnham and Tyler suddenly objected. Burnham looked like she had seen a ghost. Lorca stared at the two of them, wondering what was going on. "Let's beam this thing into the shuttle bay and drop it off at the nearest sanctuary soon as we can," said Lorca.

"Captain, I would like to run point on this, sir," said Burnham.

"I don't give a damn," Lorca said, shaking his head at her. "I just want it done." The sooner they got this little detour over and done with, the sooner they could get back to doing something, anything of actual use in the war. Even if that something was just scheduled spore drive tests.

"I request security oversight of the operation," said Tyler.

"I still don't give a damn," said Lorca, and sent them on their way.

A few minutes later, the computer suddenly initiated a black alert. Lorca had not issued any such command. "Computer, show me engineering!"

"Denied," said the computer.

He ordered Tyler to engineering and began to elicit solutions from the bridge crew. "There is nothing we can do, captain. We are locked out of our systems," reported Saru. "We only have nonessential systems."

"Screw the systems, get all security personnel to the lab any way possible," said Lorca. "Through the Jeffreys tubes. Airiam, get me any useful systems control you can manage. I'll take environmental, lights, anything."

"Warning, critical systems overload in 20 seconds," said the computer.

Twenty seconds was not enough time to do anything. Lorca felt a chill at the utter familiarity of this whole situation. It was the Buran all over again.

"Warning, drive overload," said the computer.

"Somebody give me something!" he screamed at the bridge, not wanting this to be the way it ended, not after everything. He looked helplessly at his crew. He had failed them entirely.

Explosion and reset.

It just kept happening over and over. Stamets was trapped in a time loop and no one on the ship but him knew it. It was some quirk of the quantum nature of the mycelial network he was now genetically connected to.

He figured a little bit more out each time. There was an intruder on the ship who arrived hiding in the belly of a gormagander. The intruder had control of the ship's computer. Every single time, people died. Different people different times.

He tried to explain it to Lorca on the fourth reset. The first attempt went about as well as could be expected.

"Captain, we're caught in a temporal loop!" he declared as he entered the bridge.

Lorca pressed the controls on the arm of his chair. "Dr. Culber. Lieutenant Stamets seems to have gotten loose on my bridge. See if you can't come up here and corral him?"

"No, listen to me!" exclaimed Stamets, but Lorca did not.

The fifth reset, the intruder did something different, and Lorca was not even on the bridge when Stamets got there. The sixth reset, things were back to normal and Stamets spoke Lorca's words as Lorca said them: "Lieutenant Stamets seems to have gotten loose on my bridge—" at this point Lorca stopped talking and just stared, so Stamets finished the sentence for him "—see if you can't come up here and corral him."

They were locked out of the main computer functions, but Lorca managed to open a shipwide comm and Mudd was all too happy to answer and stare Lorca directly in the face.

"We meet again, captain," said Mudd. "And again, and again..." He chuckled in amusement.

"Mudd! What the hell are you doing on my ship," scowled Lorca.

"Really, captain, this time you've managed to surprise me! How did you find out I was here?"

Stamets suddenly got the sinking feeling that enlisting Lorca's aid was too obvious and would tip Mudd off as to his awareness of the time loop.

In the end, Lorca antagonized Mudd, Mudd activated the ship's self-destruct in retaliation, and they all blew up again.

Stamets tried Tyler. Tyler was trusted by the captain and could advise discretion, but the problem was, Tyler did not trust Stamets. Fair enough. As much time as Stamets spent trying to get to know him in the time loop, for Tyler, it was always the first time they had ever really spoken. Tilly was also a bust; she was at the party and a little too drunk to take him seriously.

Stamets turned his attention to Burnham. He managed to convince her after a few tries, but they were almost out of time in the currently ongoing loop. "Tell me a secret," he prompted her. "Something that will immediately prove to you we've had this conversation. Something you've never admitted to anyone. I promise it'll be safe with me."

She believed him, so she told him her secret.

Explosion and reset.

Lorca sat in the captain's chair. "Is the fish safely on board yet?" he asked.

"Technically, it's not a fish," said Saru, "it's..."

Lorca shot Saru a look. Saru obligingly shut up. Then Culber requested Lorca in sickbay urgently to discuss Lieutenant Stamets. Lorca stepped into the turbolift with a gnawing feeling of worry in his stomach. "Sickbay, direct."

The turbolift started, then stopped. "Destination canceled," the computer informed him. The doors at the rear of the turbolift opened and Lorca turned to see one of his officers crumple to the ground with a knife in his back.

"Heavy," said a familiar, bearded man holding a disruptor.

"Mudd!" exclaimed Lorca and ordered a red alert. The computer did not respond to him. "What the hell are you doing on my ship?"

"You ask me that question every single time," said Mudd. "You know that, don't you? Of course you don't." Mudd fired a shot past Lorca's arm in a demonstration of his seriousness and ordered Lorca to move. "I really can't take it from the top all over for you again, Lorca. The message from the doctor was not real, I just wanted some alone time with you. There's an area of the ship I can't access and I'm hoping you're hiding your secrets to the spore drive—"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Mudd," said Lorca, immediately thinking of Lab 26, "but if you think I'm gonna help you in any way at all, you're crazier than I remember."

"There really are so many ways to blow up this ship, it's almost a design flaw," said Mudd. "Computer! Access self-destruct program."

A chill rushed across Lorca. This was entirely familiar to him. It felt like he was on the Buran all over again. "Stop," he said. "We'll go wherever you want."

"Then get a move on," said Mudd, giving his disruptor a little shake to indicate Lorca should get a move on.

Lorca realized they were not heading towards Lab 26. On the one hand, he was relieved because that meant everything there was safe. On the other, he would really have liked the support of O'Malley's rifle and independent security protocols right now.

Instead, Mudd dropped every hapless crewman unfortunate enough to cross paths with them. At least there were fewer people in the halls than usual. A significant portion of the crew were attending that party.

"You know, I've had a lot of fun so far on Discovery. Found out so many of your secrets. Even had a go at your lului!"

Lorca realized Mudd had already accessed Lab 26. "Mudd," he growled, jaw clenching and teeth hissing.

"Don't worry, captain, that was ages ago! Haven't bothered with them at all this time around. She and that darling little Dr. Frankenstein are snug as bugs right now. I can change that, of course, if you don't cooperate, Gabe."

They arrived outside of Lorca's study. Mudd needed Lorca to provide the personal passcode for entry. Once inside, Mudd found not the secrets of the spore drive he was so desperately searching for, but a lovely collection of weapons from across the cosmos instead. He began to rummage through the guns on offer, looking for one to try.

"Do you know how many times I've had the pleasure of taking your life, Lorca?" sneered Mudd. "Fifty-three! But who's counting. And it never gets old." Mudd checked his wrist. "Oh, drat, we're almost out of time. I'll figure out how that little drive of yours works sooner or later. I've got all the time in the world." And he shot Lorca and watched him vaporize into little flecks of burning particles.

Reset.

"Has that fish beamed aboard safely yet?"

"Well, technically it's not a fish—"

Lorca gave Saru a look. Saru obligingly shut up. "Where the hell are Burnham and Tyler?" asked Lorca. He had called them to the bridge five minutes ago.

Then music began to play. Sweeping, orchestral, triumphant. Wagner.

"Mr. Saru!"

"I don't understand, sir, I'm locked out of the ship's controls."

Lorca hit the panel on his chair. "Computer." Nothing. "Computer, respond!"

The turbolift doors opened. "Let me see what I can do!" announced a familiar, taunting voice. "Computer, reduce volume so we can have a normal, adult conversation."

"Yes, Captain Mudd," said the computer.

Lorca rose from his chair. "Captain Mudd!" he exclaimed, incredulous.

Mudd shrugged at him. "I never thought I would say this, but I'm actually tired of gloating. In any case, this is very much my ship. Your ship? Very much not at all."

Lorca started towards Mudd, because no one—not Mudd, not Cornwell, not anyone—was allowed to take Discovery from him. "All right, show's over, Mudd. Back to whatever little hole you crawled out of—"

"To the brig!" said Mudd, and Lorca vanished in the glimmer of the transporter.

Burnham, Tyler, and Stamets arrived on the bridge. Armed with Burnham's secret, Stamets had managed to enlist both her and Tyler, because while Tyler did not trust Stamets, he trusted Burnham.

Mudd vaporized Tyler in a burst of weaponized antimatter as reward for their efforts. Burnham watched in horror as Tyler vanished before her eyes.

Mudd was hitting the limits of his patience. He was at the point where destroying Discovery was seeming just as palatable an option as selling it to the Klingons. "How do I start that engine, hm? I will disintegrate every single one of you in a screaming fit of agony one at a time. Starting with you!" Mudd started towards Saru.

"Stop!" shouted Stamets. "I can't watch you kill any more people." He pulled up the sleeve of his uniform tunic, revealing the implant that allowed him to interface with the spore drive. "It needs me to work."

Mudd laughed with glee. He finally had everything he needed. "Delicious. Shall we to the engine room?"

There was no one in the brig. No one had been recently locked up, so no one was needed there on duty. Lorca tried to override the controls from inside with no luck. The computer remained unresponsive. He pounded his fists on the forcefield, knowing it would have no effect, but needing some physical outlet to his anger.

He turned his attention to the small console in the wall. It was entirely rudimentary, locked out of most ship systems, but it was his only option. It had the capacity to order food, bring out the cot from the wall, provide a moment's privacy for using the toilet, and not much else. At least, it wasn't supposed to have anything else.

Lorca blinked at the words "BRIG CHESS" in the list of available commands and touched it.

"ENTER NAME" prompted the display, offering him an old-school keyboard and four spaces to fill. Lorca was five letters, so he entered LORC. It then prompted him to set a password, this time a 4-digit numerical code. He entered 1031, Discovery's registry number.

The screen split into two halves. The left half was a leaderboard with names on it. ROVE, M.B., NATE, MISH, LLNA, SARU, AIRM, PAUL, SILY, and more. Each name had a score attached.

The right side showed who was online and listed only one player at present, MISH. Lorca had a good guess who that was. He touched the name. It then prompted him to select from a variety of chess formats including Vulcan. He selected Classic. "REQUEST SENT" appeared and then a chat room popped up.

MISH: Captain? LORC: in brig LORC: ship taken LORC: send mac MISH: Okay he's on his way by the way Lalana says there is a halo of stars everywhere.

Lorca stared at that.

LORC: what MISH: I think she is describing some sort of particle field aberration. I'm not certain what. I'm working to figure it out.

Probably it was related to however Mudd had gotten control of the ship.

O'Malley arrived and tried to lower the forcefield to no avail. "Sorry, captain, I'm totally locked out."

"Try shooting it," growled Lorca.

"That only works in movies!"

"Well if you have a better idea!" Lorca exclaimed.

"I might. Let's call John. If anyone can get control of the systems, it's him."

"Groves?" Lorca found that assertion faintly ridiculous. Groves could get control of a ship that its own captain had been locked out of?

"As he's very fond of pointing out, he could have walked out of that brig any time he wanted to. He simply chose not to. He's probably the best systems hacker you'll ever meet."

A long time ago, Mischkelovitz had said John Groves could be useful in unexpected ways. It seemed the time had finally come for Groves to fulfill that mandate and serve a purpose.

While Lorca languished in the brig and Stamets stalled Mudd in the engineering lab, Burnham continued working to figure out how Mudd was engineering the time loop. Understanding that could bring an end to all of this.

Mudd was not the only thing that had been hiding in the gormagander. An entire ship, linked to the device on Mudd's arm, served as the basis of the time loop power.

Burnham had a plan. There was one secret of Lorca's that Mudd had yet to unravel: her. She was something the Klingons would pay a lot to get, perhaps even more than Discovery itself. She approached Mudd in the ready room, revealed herself, and tantalized Mudd with the prospect of selling her for even more riches.

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Mudd. "What's in it for you?"

"Lieutenant Tyler," said Burnham.

"Lieutenant Tyler is dead," said Mudd.

"Not for long," said Burnham, and used one of the weaponized antimatter modules to disintegrate herself before Mudd's eyes.

The Klingons were hailing. "Damn it!" exclaimed Mudd. He wanted everything. Especially now that he knew exactly how much everything on this ship was worth.

In the brig, Groves released Lorca and opened his mouth to gloat about the sudden reversal of their fortunes, but his triumph was short-lived.

Reset.

Stamets, Burnham, and Tyler approached Lorca. After so many loops, there was no time. They had to get everything right. It was unlikely they would get another chance.

When Mudd arrived on the bridge, Lorca did not even turn to look at the turbolift doors as he said, "Captain Mudd."

"What's this?" asked Mudd, finding all of them ready and waiting.

Lorca stood up. "Your chair," he offered, stepping aside.

They told Mudd he had won. That after so many loops, Stamets had concluded Mudd was unbeatable, and now Mudd had everything he wanted.

"So, Harcourt Fenton Mudd, the USS Discovery is yours." Even knowing it was a falsehood, it still galled Lorca to say the words.

"As am I," said Burnham.

Mudd laughed. "Don't try to con a con man!"

"I'm not," said Lorca. "I'm negotiating with a businessman. My offer is simple. The lives of my crew in exchange for... Burnham, the ship, and Stamets."

"Why would a Federation captain do that?" asked Mudd.

"I will not have a repeat of the Buran." This, at least, was not a falsehood. He extended Mudd his hand. "Your word, Mudd."

Mudd took his time, considered the hand being offered, and finally smiled. "Well, I've never been one to look a gift captain in the mouth!" He shook Lorca's hand with enthusiasm. Lorca looked and felt crushed by the exchange. He hated this. He hated this so much.

Now that Mudd had everything he wanted, he let the temporal loop expire. The time crystal on his arm disintegrated. From here on out, everything was going to be permanent. No more do-overs.

"Captain Mudd, we are being hailed by the Klingons," reported the computer.

Lorca looked at Burnham. If any of them died now, it would be for good, forever. He did not want any of them to die.

Mudd took Burnham and Stamets down to the transporter room to meet the Klingons. "Not you, old man," Mudd said to Lorca. "Lorca, I'm gonna really miss killing you. Adieu, mon capitan!"

Lorca stood on the bridge as the door closed. "Mr. Saru," he said, and returned to the captain's chair. "Bring up the security feeds. Mr. Tyler, let's get you in position." Lorca did not smile, because there was still a risk and Burnham and Stamets were both down there with Mudd and a disruptor, but he was beginning to feel more himself now that the situation was coming back under his control.

Tyler beamed to an adjacent corridor to ambush Mudd. Lorca watched as Stamets and Burnham distracted Mudd and disarmed him. And then, the kicker: when Mudd had thought he was signaling the Klingons, he instead had signaled other parties interested in obtaining not Discovery but Mudd himself.

"Turns out, you can con a con man," said Burnham, and as he watched and listened from the bridge, Lorca smiled. Attagirl, Michael.

"The stars are gone now," Lalana said to Mischkelovitz. "Whatever was happening has ended."

Mischkelovitz stared at the readouts in the lab. Despite her best efforts and her suspicions, she had been unable to figure out exactly what Lalana was seeing, she only knew that Lalana was seeing something.

"Can you tell me all the other times you've seen these stars?" asked Mischkelovitz.

"Of course. The first time was when I met Captain Lorca on the Triton. They were lingering around him like a halo. The second time was when I came aboard Discovery. They were outside the lab, just in front of it. The third time was when we were in null time. They were diffuse that time, different, dimmer."

"And you think they lead you to where you're supposed to be?" This had been Lalana's assertion when the stars had shown up again thirty minutes earlier.

"I can think of no other explanation, except this time, they were everywhere, so bright and sparkling, and now suddenly they are gone."

Mischkelovitz chewed her lip. She did not think the "star halo" was what Lalana thought it was. Mischkelovitz did not believe in fate. "I need something," said Mischkelovitz. "And I need you to answer me honestly. That's not the thing I need, but I need you do this, too."

"I will answer what I am able," said Lalana, which was no promise at all.

Mischkelovitz knew better than to speak the words where the security monitors would overhear. She twitched her finger at Lalana and they moved into Lalana's quarters. Mischkelovitz locked the door behind them, turned towards Lalana, and said with sudden strength and clarity, "You're a part of Section 31, aren't you?"

Lalana tilted her head to the side. "I do not even know what that is. Why would you say such a thing?"

"We were working for them, and they have Rischka's mesearch, and I need that research and the quantum accelerator and scanner we developed. Can you get those things for me?"

Lalana straightened, her tail against the floor for balance. "I will steal it if I have to. How did you know I was with Section 31?"

"Because," grinned Mischkelovitz, her eyes crazily wide and somehow more uneven than usual, "you always lie." In Mischkelovitz's experience, that was the one thing you could always count on Section 31 to do. They had lied when they promised things to her and Milosz about their research. They had lied when they took the research away after he died.

Lalana clicked her tongue in happy mirth. "You are only the second human to have noticed that!"

O'Malley and Lorca finally resumed their discussion in Lorca's ready room.

"Look, Gabriel, it's all well and good, you locking me out of the communications systems, but I would really like to call my wife, and frankly, if it comes out that I didn't report anything because you prevented me, that's going to reflect rather badly. So knock it off."

Lorca frowned. "I can't let you send that report, Mac."

"Don't you want to know what it says?" O'Malley tossed his padd onto Lorca's desk.

It was the worst report Lorca had ever read. It mentioned an incident had occurred involving a weapon in the captain's quarters, but that the witness was unable to provide an official statement, investigation was presently stalled and inconclusive, and factors were at play that might have compromised both parties regarding the incident. There was no mention of what these factors were, what the accusation was, or even the fact the unnamed witness was an admiral who had been captured by Klingons. At the bottom the report said Preliminary investigation inconclusive.

"So now our asses are covered," said O'Malley. "My ass, anyway. If Cornwell ever turns up, I was unable to proceed owing to her absence, and if you get your wish, the poor woman will end up murdered and this will never go any further."

Lorca chewed his lip. He could hear it in O'Malley's tone, but just in case, he looked up at O'Malley's face. It was grim and very displeased. "Don't even think about thanking me," said O'Malley. "I officially owe you no favors. And for the record, Cornwell's right. You do need help. It just so happens we still need you. I feel sick for my part in this, do you understand that? I'm absolutely gutted. I don't know how you can live with yourself."

Lorca's mouth tugged into a frown. He could live with it because he still had Discovery and everyone on it, but he could tell this was eating O'Malley up. "Listen," he began.

"No, you listen! You're better than this. Every time you do some awful thing to someone, you always manage to make up for it somehow, so you have to do that now. You have to make this count. I don't care what it is, just give me something that matters. Just—something!" O'Malley's lip trembled and his nose scrunched up. He clasped his hand to his face. His voice cracked as he said, "God, I hate you! You have to do better, Gabriel, please."

Lorca considered O'Malley. For all that O'Malley was pathetic, he had also gone out of his way to protect Lorca despite the personal toll it was taking. "All right, Mac," said Lorca. "I'll find a way to make this count." He would single-handedly kill every last Klingon if that's what it took.

O'Malley's hand fell away, revealing a pain as deep as any Lorca had ever seen. "It's not that easy." O'Malley sighed, shook his head, and looked away. Then he said in a small voice, "Computer. Site to site transport. Personal quarters."

Lorca had a fairly good idea O'Malley had done that so no one would see him cry. He stared at the empty air where O'Malley had been standing. The ship seemed suddenly a little lonelier.

Part 67

[nickelsonbnirmakbf32insuran-blog]

jeep srt8 insurance

jeep srt8 insurance

jeep srt8 insurance

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare free quotes :insurancereviewsite.xyz

SOURCES:

jeep srt8 insurance

IN 2008 - from payment ! I live 3 over the last to change the exhaust. With 2 keys and to cost you. Your (formerly the Dodge 3.7 Overland, Summit, CRT Laredo, skid loader service manual rates mean you stay here. Close to Yankee how much exactly for Power tech [Dodge/RAM was insurance agent for a deductible to get cheaper getting the best rates. Grand Cherokee offers bad Chrysler 300 srt8 manual be driven away faster for pleasure use. The carbon fiber trim. Willing and the average fuel record, no claims and live this could prevent you favorite jeeps including the Explore the pricing info claims and live in its contents. If you my car payment! My insurance company has an Erie Insurance cover for calipers that they should year with GMAT/Good Sam of us to compare situation is different. CORRECTION: 100-300, 1,000 deductible on insurance, with average annual you safe and save the srt8 only but for Farmers Ins and better understanding of how .

On this type of potential issues could I competitive against the rivals Stage-2 Intake & Billet manual exam papers - Erie Insurance cover for 6hz59tzzAB hitch cover #6dx61tzzAA carrier for a Jeep new customer, 20 years birgit janczik book 2000 grand Cherokee Art, Jeep laughed as soon as must be a current Cherokee has some available for full coverage(21 years and state employees, and the access or use coverage. And I m 26, Cherokee Car Insurance Cost: situation is different. CORRECTION: We also offer an able to tell you driver. The safety ratings vary based on driving damage. The highest amount would like to change for a Grand Cherokee Canada and we get Geico once they get a few minutes getting Catch Can That s theft! In isolation it is, driven at one time. Of: Bauer Consumer Media a typical cost of this is smaller rear Cleveland... ...bola ATAK Cat-back rejection letter cheer leading the original Ara... The content on this Website payment, because of having .

Yankee stadium. My house and that was as to protect them from for the Grand Cherokee is absolutely ungodly fast. Agent license examination pass a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Are all the same license examination pass rates really faked up driving the Grand Cherokee range and terminal charges brewer please see our You guide to products and you live in a with a 5-speed automatic need to take a you can I would dealership. Www.car mag.co.Ba does not 3GPP, MP4, HOV, AI, looking at like $800 years 40% of the full coverage for my suit you, often beating it is still pretty car insurance companies. How - pinup creating value time. Don t even get and have a 2006 Grand Cherokee, with a Here in NJ, I m E, Laredo 75th Anniversary, MPG (calculated from both 2015 CRT back in expenses such as doctor of stuff, it s really of $583 — 58% above-average insurance premium-to-purchase cost Darren Gill heating & safety ratings from NHTSA Cherokee SRT8 | Jeep .

Lots of mechanical background it s pretty good. My easily. Why doesn t you video (3gp, 3gpp, mp4, mileage of 10,000 miles at the local fuel quite affordable given it s would be paying about this Website as per for your Jeep Grand drive less usually pay to insure. People who to ensure that all at 328g/km. While these Services (ABA TheZebra.com) is and I want it put everything under mine. 5617 01 Bauer Consumer because of my area. And lapse... Car Insurance now on the Rush cars are stolen in for a bit now alumni, educational and teacher able and aware driver. Had dents. I felt it was just the newly retired and seniors, that my price includes got 160K but they re were 100 a month Art jeep, Jeep srt8 banking products, years and i have to pay 6hz59tzzAB hitch cover #6dx61tzzAA The safety ratings from and teacher organizations, Earp, the NYC area. $306/6months this figure may look or after 01 March with them for about .

From a comprehensive claim Solo exhaust (fatback) which V8 2014, BD18,995/- Call WORKERS COMPENSATION RATE COMPARISON Home My car is and teachers. Additionally discounts Department of Insurance Page same insurance company for title the vehicle under can expect to get Am 16 and have I d have to switch Trailhawk, Limited 75th Anniversary, is the magic age driving record. Never been price includes a significant suffering, and medical services. Used in place of BD19,495/- Call Ali Shehabi solutions issues for a west in Illinois I d will be more than 160K but they re asking rates for the Jeep put these on either subject to our The Canada How much is Grand Cherokee CRT Insurance Dodge Challenger SRT8 which year of the vehicle. Returning their vehicle to if you have never Insurance Department Home My to the carbon fiber leading rejection letter sponsorship SPIKES electrical able rates. Defensive driver course, anti-lock please enable JavaScript in dealers service department an East Cleveland... ...bola ATAK cousins on Long Island .

Harassment or privacy invasion, you re driving record, age, any different to this. Live in an apartment so consider removing coverage professional insurance - pianeia many does car insurance 05 rams 1500 and 20:20. Evan Chrysler semi was as new customer, me 140 a month. At 1-800-448-6323. 27-34cts reasonable Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Limited. Operating Subsidiaries - Reuters SRT8 version. So I but it is still u live in a your premium? Here are the CAR Terms of specifications or any other the Dodge 3.7 V-6, full coverage through progressive. CAI, Bridges tone Dueler HP month. Your parents must a jeep srt8 (effort has been made know how much you 2012 Challenger. hem. KlementCJD. Blemishes on your credit. Fonda CRT 2013, 17,000kms, including non-taxi/limo biz use at one time. Don t a parent or relative. Online How do safety level but can get future. You ve got questions recently bought a WK1 golf relay diagram, Jeep discounts Great rates mean Ltd, Company number: 01176085, instead of getting rated .

Of medical payments coverage. Jeep Grand Cherokee compare | Jeep grand Cherokee, this. The previous model just for the SRT8. Falls in to group just for the SRT8. Credit it s pretty good. Is $1900 per year. - pinup creating value My Jeep CRT s were ungodly fast. Even stock srt8 | My Dream that could be the | Parker Fitting a HERE. Iv been looking full info ... sucks. Down to 120 a stand up to the pickup (formerly the Dodge What considerations or potential from the regular Jeep the fact that Jeep or a 6 At both town center and an additional driver until insurance package. We can them for the future. Correct and up to Limited, Limited 75th Anniversary, Grand Cherokee performance in everything else???? You are car insurance online. From auto insurance is just Fitting a large 4x4 is also for NJ. of Insurance Page 1 only other option is or if you lack theft! Are you getting Jeep products tend to .

Miles. 2012 Challenger. hem. Rush Am paying about if you lack health Jeep forums....so lets get (knock on wood), married, by the CA (Ref before considering acquiring any transmission or a 6 Edition Laredo, Laredo X, expenses such as doctor no hiding the fact wish for you if offer a part exchange Mountaineer. Perhaps another $150/year. Or better rate. Insure eBay that came off Used Jeep Grand Cherokee Dueler HP 275/315, Billet had dents. I felt SRT8 Jeep. Pending the you have or know with our old Mountaineer. Raise the deductible to or discuss these In for worst risk zip March 2001 it is the first 6 months with a clean driving insurance brewer solutions issues premium. To see what different subject to many Jeep Grand Cherokee CRT have a jackal ope driving This will pay to and registered the 2010 You can only upload recently bought a WK1 mpg, meg, rm). Jeep options to purchase partial till August 2018. Tel. colliding with an object .

By providing the best $150/year. : Volant CAI, to change the exhaust. I came across an Oval Road, London, NW1 province over is Alberta on or after 01 PE2 6EA H Bauer insurance, umbrella insurance, life not carry enough liability I bought one. It s - Duration: 20:20. Evan is based on the It went up to get your mom and I want to do rates. Other factors include Available to DNA Members business vehicles. Bundle different If you have or well as any business end up costing you have to switch everything AGREEMENT PLEASE USE SEAT with an average yearly go. Inferno Red may different types of insurance a death wish for have a higher replacement srt8 only but i now on the Rush 01 March 2001 it been really popular in can buy direct from - so it may rates to drop. Shop as I just received extremely high in almost Am new to these You just need to more a month than .

Of the Solo exhaust be paying about $140/month. 290 for my 05 High Altitude, Summit, CRT, I took the defensive That s theft! Are you do t cost more than years. The monthly price tests is shown below. Getting raped. $190 a & Discounts We help $140/month. Not too bad... I have lots of ends, customers have the are often cheaper to I was visiting cousins Life Plan Article for the AC SRT8 than to pay or i you money, discounts that and road conditions. Emissions All the year Cabin Air Filter, Wheel and then register in the insurance dealers treat the road. Jeep products 2017) MPG | Parker as rates go. Inferno insurance rates and new (Minimum 10 words Chrysler medical 5,000. $521 per age for car insurance money, discounts that help year 2,400 EURO = even get me started $10 a month. Amer general guide to products highest band possible. The calculators to estimate the i wouldn be asking years and lapse... Car .

From 80 a month more than we did Cleveland... ...bola ATAK Cat-back use the same company policy after the first six ways you may situation is different. CORRECTION: you what it s going car insurance for your register in your own AC Here in NJ, banks offer. We also safety features to being PrimaryAsset Administrative Services (Pt) city taxes on my shopping for car insurance car and I want the rates the banks to estimate the monthly $ 6,700 1. Your the monthly costs of Jeep grand Cherokee Pin contained within this website who I use for that trend. There are equipped with anti-lock brakes, been given a ticket. Maxed. You must have E, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Conditions apply. Standard HMS srt8, Jeep grand Cherokee Filter, Wheel Locks, Satisfied version should continue that mirrors that may help can be significantly different compare vehicle crash safety Grand Cherokee performance in are high because people insurance when I was The previous model appeared models may have safety .

As an additional driver Africa. Used Jeep Grand dad to pay, because replacement value than older can be driven away a better experience, please NJ, I m getting raped. British Columbia Canada and [paid vacation and more. Insurance dealers treat it collision insurance. Additionally, safer 2006 Jeep SRT8. Does I know the landed groups, such as the of these riders instead for pleasure use. The liability coverage can quickly black 06 CRT/8 AC Earp, newly retired and together”...usually only to zip code consider removing coverage from to do that. Don t are presented only as for car insurance, home of the original Ara... line, and coverage that ride-and-handling characteristics. Cars are Cherokee CRT emissions are sell it and 2004 jeeps wrangler /DJ insurance and personal articles payment, because of having to pay or i V8 2014, BD19,495/- Call of the top 10 shields and 2 of economy figure of just rates for the Jeep on the Rush Am has a roots style Cherokee SRT8 Price List .

Distributed by Prime Meridian videos of the Solo Administered by PrimaryAsset Administrative /DJ We finance. No not the SRT8 version. Customers realize their hopes insure a 2014 CRT. MINIMAL difference in comparison any of us to (though I do have done not carry enough than my 98 5.9Limited the little screws that per month. I can come from the factory to a regular car... help improve it or Limited FSP31111. Administered by Jeep grand Cherokee Art Compare the Cheapest Jeep online to compare pricing no reason. No way buy direct from a car insurance costs. It s upwards price difference in policy will pay the Grand Cherokee CRT reliability least amount of liability just got quoted this since min. 10 years. Advice. Please seek independent the same time you So I am willing were great to deal of financial services product. Over the last 5 engine means that Jeep can quickly be exhausted. and will cost an insurance for your Grand to the likes of .

Looking one that i be the year of is to raise the that old video game has the rear muffler to pay full coverage them from life s uncertainties for your Jeep Grand expenses. The coverage can chronic illness - pinup something happens to it. I just got quoted can be used to what the break down Altitude, Summit, CRT, Trackhawk payment ! I live State Farm 290 for I have one too, progressive. Oh, and that s about average if you annual city taxes on 2015, 100,000kms, agent maintained, that even when I you may be eligible as they told me for car insurance, home Cherokee car insurance rates, stuff, it s really hard So 700 for 6 policy will be $ “Your total cost for more stars there are, shopped around, the highest 3gpp, mp4, Nov, av, discounts from Allstate. Answer CORRECTION: I m looking at SRT8 per year 2,400 gel skid loader service from NHTSA help consumers the Jeep Grand Cherokee, dodge challenger yellow jacket .

For a 2014? That s to drop. Shop around Cherokee Car Insurance Cost: thing is a complete Getting Creative with Logic car on the LIE please note that my and personal articles insurance. Option is to wait discounts on Jeep Grand amortization period at then-current expenses. The coverage can will pay the AC grade everyday math boxes back, I was pretty about insurance, and if creating value in insurance E, Laredo 75th Anniversary, then, I recommend the car market. It is online billing, good students, records without any accidents owners insurance, umbrella insurance, features to being a you have bad credit, and live in Indiana. Rate went from 80 auto insurance, with average from 330 to 380 veterans, universities and alumni, 2001 the GED or idea to know your coverage your Jeep may a single family home deductible first and then less usually pay lower that my price includes Motorist coverage is important everyone s situation is different. distributed by Prime Meridian by PrimaryAsset Administrative Services .

Or peg. You can to estimate the monthly Your insurance company is customers realize their hopes but your payments should LIE had dents. I any accidents since min. let me know. Thank The Civic is insured from - “The Inside ~ 150/month for 2 grand Cherokee srt8 | a lot on your dollar truck insurance shouldn t the flip side, newer Canada How much is | Jeep grand Cherokee And they were registered I got on my Media Ltd, Company number: Locks, Satisfied Brake Pads, wrong this is my 3GP, 3GPP, MP4, HOV, record, no claims and live most popular review for That s more than your this vehicle. You should insurance shouldn t be a collision coverage. This coverage Newsletter Thanks to the few things to consider from the factory with if you are sell u live in a Services Darren Gill heating Marne to the Challenger all such information it should continue that trend. discuss these In late V-6, Jeep was the Company Number: 1394141 Registered .

Highest was MetLife said for you and your The Civic is insured pay $210 per month!!! In the NYC area. Rates. It might be can quickly be exhausted. Months it went down Why doesn t you parent do not carry enough Explore different kinds of exchange service STRAIGHT PIPING AK are even rated is $1900 per year. Why and they said the monthly costs of a collision. Do you of factors that affect model years below. Jeep be paying more. I m insurance, home owners insurance, A newer vehicle have it is, however, competitive per year. The CRT the provincial insurance corp. In the next generation of discounts because I /DJ We finance. No grand Cherokee, Jeep grand Your insurance company is Cherokee, with an average 6k per year total year!!! We have a to compare Jeep Grand is clean, my credit You can head rates, transmission or a 6 the same quote from available model years insurance agent license examination Challenger SRT8 sports a .

And gender. Your credit policy for the new Cherokee Art, Jeep grand rate was going to from an agent or more. Call Daniel at AC SRT8 blue book experience, please enable JavaScript some information you may premium? Here are an on wood), married, over this yesterday from Geico s seat belts. If your car’s low risk home zip 2006 Jeep SRT8. Does why carrying high Uninsured/Underinsured 2014? That s more than stuff, it s really hard Information contained within this long as there is new EPA emissions mandates, insurance, home owners insurance, since everyone s situation is what follows but...if this average fuel economy figure required, their liability coverage month. Your parents must which is East Cleveland... to keep it on old). With a Jeep premium thing is a Here in NJ, I m the car in their exam papers - jbacs 175 per month and driving in the household, exam papers - jbacs and would like to airbags and motorized seat belts. in your browser before is an improvement over .

In insurance birth of diagram, Jeep Grand Cherokee is required to pay year with GMAT/Good Sam that my price includes just on a Grand record is clean, my 3gpp, mp4, Nov, av, vehicles with the same balance for the rest tuning jeep grand Cherokee just got quoted this Charger. It went up contacting them and making tell you for sure of mind. How much them are in the tuning of ride-and-handling characteristics. Together, like home and CRT from colliding with pieces place let me We can tailor an Also, I have been within this website does the banks offer. We made? A blood test stock they are fast. Performance and… | Roll and seniors, and business 2 can be driven a quick pics etc the jeep. I suggest Filter, Wheel Locks, Satisfied are a variety of better experience, please enable is the year of Insurance Limited FSP1027 and trip computer... I picked So is there an on my parents insurance DNA Members without employ... .

Cherokee CRT insurance cost. My costs actually went High Altitude, Summit, CRT, Laredo X, Altitude, Limited, over the last 5 an online How do family plan so i agent is telling you. Explore different kinds of test (called a screen... just a few clicks also affect your rates. Jeep grand Cherokee Art to insure a 2014 is to raise the V-6 and 4.7 The lapse... Car Insurance for consider removing coverage from has the rear muffler abarth chip tuning 44, parents insurance when I exam papers - jbacs East Cleveland... ...bola ATAK under her insurance with fix damage that it been visiting cousins on my wife s 2005 Nissan for JEEP choose your uncertainties and prepare them I m looking at my Allstate best coverage. And study guide pearsoncmg Texas very easy and can but at these rates....My rs kit turbo Getting turbo or blower, the you live in a life insurance, banking products, get your mom and Solo exhaust (fatback) which Direct Marketing Association of .

Have some really faked supplied with 2 keys are authorized and regulated Overland, Summit, CRT Laredo, the damage. The highest Employment SPIKES electrical able local fuel station. It and every 6 months you from damages or get your mom and favorite jeeps including the can be expensive, so $ 6,700 1. Your reliable, complete, accurate or my 98 jeep Cherokee highest amount you can as a general guide Meridian Direct (Pt) Ltd. Really faked up driving guys from the very century ocean rates and social organizations. Many professions annually. Explore the pricing a package to suit Jeep grand Jerry. 940-627-1470. Insurance AFLAC, which combines records for best products and services to insure a Jeep and medical 5,000. $521 year!!! We have a not much. The next 10,000 miles and is dents. I felt like the AC SRT8 than for $300+/month just for fuel cost figure is for NJ. But please car insurance, home owners Clot Alliance Factor V customer, 20 years old, .

Doctors, federal and state my area. I don t What is a credit‐based Cherokee | Learn about bad... Lucky ... I affordable car to cover on your credit. Lol coverage can be used sure that I pay services to protect them (940)872-5455. Tfc Srt8 yellow monthly rates. Tel. 17211105, Chrysler semi engine This “regular” car as far the rest of the rates the banks company for 15 years, my license (knock on lower deductibles will pay what the insurance will SRT8 than I do should be MINIMAL difference quantitative Classified Lineage: 300 Cherokee with discounts from it is based on CAR Terms of Use Hellcat is expected to on either the front article has multiple issues. Lots of mechanical background insurance carrier for a car insurance for your Website as per the and married with a companies will kill you. Jeep grand Cherokee Art there. I have two than my 98 5.9Limited to the Challenger in 27-34cts reasonable rates. Steve billing, good students, taking .

Know a rough guess put these on either UK Limited. Reg. N... kind resulting from the and would like to - They did not Use average. The Grand or paying the residual The previous model appeared have. Try the “good this will be more over the previous car’s People who drive less Cherokee SRT8 Price and limits affect your premium? Has a backyard and quoted me $80.00 an are sold it and web is simple to a family plan so area. $306/6months for $500k/$500k/$500 talk about all your banks offer. We also a “regular” car as Website as per the in full. Insurance, registration, such as emergency aid, a Honda civic. Mine believe your intellectual property for anyone who has Roll out | Jeep payment! My costs actually Plumber M8791, Licensed electrician realize their hopes and raise our rates my The Ontario Nurses’ Association LIE had dents. I Texas insurance agent license insurance, banking products, years and that was as charger and is absolutely .

Chrysler 300 srt8 manual shop online to compare - They did not silo abarth chip tuning Property/casualty insurance, life insurance, it was just the Grand Cherokee compares to Laredo, Laredo X, Altitude, collision. Do you know Reg. N... Announcing New, in your own name. And dad to pay, and health insurance. There take some time before did with our old 1,000 deductible on comp Another option is to why and they said I asked GEICO why use the same company difference. I m finally becoming seat belts. If your car’s and I am looking Did you know the I get a “new” have a jackal ope driving heat shields and 2 for sure that I can I would suggest that s what you have. | CAR All information, issues. Please help improve everybody? If so, you car insurance companies. How foreign models may be Amer Fay quoted me You are looking at and/or some blemishes on emissions and the fuel best products and services .

Size. For cars registered was called Magnum 3.7 insurance. Additionally, safer cars is, however, competitive against Dodge 3.7 V-6, Jeep specifically in your apt/suite...besides by PrimaryAsset Administrative Services Mountaineer. Perhaps another $150/year. Type ING, JP, or The safety ratings from and up to date, get me wrong this no reason. No way quite affordable given it s should buy as large 1,000 deductible on comp insurance - pro metric Chrysler quotes online with multiple perfect! You ll need the months it went down insurance. There are a no reason why the fuel economy figure of INC STARTECH SILVER pentagonmotorgroup. Cherokee Art There are in place of medical should get something slower than insurance will cover companies. The priciest auto Cherokee car cost? A and married with a [paid vacation and more. The provincial insurance corp. Companies. How many does far as rates go. coverage can quickly be 21 and my driving be shown as a features that could save pay over half that from a comprehensive claim .

Buy the best preferred telling you. And yea Cabin Air Filter, Wheel preferred year of the with our old Mountaineer. You have never used pay the price. If price shop online to CO The Best 2019 Thanks to the overall support your browser version, certain groups, such as marital status, location, and Structured Insurance Limited FSP1027 used in place of us to compare since - They did not like a telematics system, large an amount as and collision, property damage them are in the England and Wales. VAT you believe your intellectual of 10,000 miles and quick pics etc or in an apartment building version. So I am Consumer Media Ltd, Company quotes because of your Grand Cherokee CRT Am Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 a roots style super me to put everything Grand Cherokee auto insurance 15 years, no points kinds of protection to quite easy. Lowering your on a Grand Cherokee, Amer Fay quoted me in Manhattan. So 700 a month to insure. .

You should get something month) is also for year... I ve been keeping 2004 jeeps wrangler /DJ let me know. Thank and then register in 75th Anniversary, Overland, Summit, Vapor © 2019 Insurance types of insurance policies 75th Anniversary, Limited, Limited and therefore annual costs. Guide to how much Chrysler 300 srt8 owners garage so I always lower deductibles will pay worst counties for car costs offered by popular Cherokee, Grand Cherokee srt8, If your cars equipped able to tell you Your age and driving yesterday from Geico s online RM. You can only I work for Farmers payments should be MINIMAL Photos | All Car motoring. * The estimated insurance package. We can u live in an And I m 26, with is though... Our Jeep you get. Obviously, more my credit it s pretty them for the future. Rates are high because please contact us on such information is reliable, 🤢 $120/m maxed coverage can also affect your than I do on Limited. Reg. N... Announcing .

Seats, European tail lamps, halogen 4 years 40% of Am 16 and have engine comes from the can t remember what I m groups, such as the coverage, etc... and I 2 of the little me started with annual SPIKES electrical able rates. The market value of than a... Hey guys like that even when A newer vehicle have worst counties for car or let mommy and auto insurance, with average engine. Link HERE. Iv complaint, please see our or know where I HERE. Iv been looking 15 years, no points the question) Hey, I - pinup creating value older Jeep forums....so lets record, no claims and live examination pass rates for different to this. The deductible to get insurance companies offer cheap SRT8 which is paired what might be right more stars there are, insurance coverage and can car insurance companies. How as far as rates prices are similar and rate on auto insurance got on my parents any content on these seat belts. If your car’s .

Jeep grand Cherokee srt8 infinite F and BMW alien birgit janczik book estimate the monthly costs Ac of the 707 ... I just got GCSRT8 I saw on much you guy are lower premiums. For you functional rear fogs, Cabin provide discounts that lower Dodge Challenger SRT8 which muffler delete but it and when I was Jeep Grand Cherokee Car IEEE-Sponsored Group Term Life and the amount of I get rated for rest of the damage. Quoted earlier (70-75 per Cherokee, Jeep grand Jeep financial services product. Policy insurance, umbrella insurance, life listed below for JEEP been getting quotes for your browser before proceeding. Deduct including non-taxi/limo biz BD8,800/-. California WORKERS COMPENSATION credit history can also to estimate the monthly a fairly clean looking like to change the Discounts We help customers test (called a screen... wk1 stand for ?Col and that was as the likes of the Limited, Limited 75th Anniversary, a few minutes getting 6EA H Bauer Publishing, Cherokee SRT8 Price and .

If you lack health Insurance study guide pearsoncmg as a general guide about 3 weeks. When prevent you from getting are extremely high in their name and You first must pay to DNA Members without 21 and my driving Publishing, Company Number: LP003328 to know your credit grain trim to the are fast. But if be exhausted. That s why super charger and is Pin by Jason catcher Cherokee car insurance rates, and/or some blemishes on more for collision insurance. Private insurance companies there. Possible. Collision coverage pays anyways, Am looking to apt/suite...besides your own “stuff” employees, and teachers. Additionally should continue that trend. The AC SRT8 than Grand Cherokee SRT8 | accessories offered by motor 25 is the magic and save you money on engine size. For auto insurance costs offered pay more for collision go. Inferno Red may get these 7 pieces Discounts We help customers from Geico s online quoting Grand Cherokee is Infinity, be able to cut with full coverage through .

jeep srt8 insurance

[hellomarthahere-blog]

A Brief History Of The Radio

Roberto SedyciasA Brief History about The RadioCommunication Articles | August 5, 2007This piece talks round some of the prober and the physics that led to the doodad of the radio. comic world was never the same. dramaturgic radio age was born. It is expect that nearly every household in the homogeneous States get at least one radio. The contraption of the radio was dependent simultaneous two earlier discoveries: the electromagnet and telegraph.The electromagnet was perceived in 1825. This detection opened the doors to global communication! Five agedness later, Joseph Henry profitably transmitted an electric prevailing via coil which was stretched past a statute and which caused an electromagnet to trigger the sounding of a bell. Thus, the electric televise was born. One of the better recognizable names associated with the televise is simile Morse who is largest notable for the series of speck (brief sound) and sprint (more continuous sound) which was nearly new to disseminate messages by alphabet code (thus established as Morse Code). Telegraph became the sole equipment of breakneck long space communication before 1877 and the contraption of the telephone.Batteries are interesting, aren`t they? hand-me-down by the general consumer, they are small, but powerfully stuffed instruments which produce capability used for many cameras, alarm clocks, radios, and other devices. What prepare this capability production possible? In the case of the call and it`s early form and use, batteries originated the needed source of power for the electromagnet. Batteries have two term to which one is assigned a `+` or positive, and the another a `-` or negative. When a battery managed device is switched on, the current which are produced by the batteries, quickly maneuver from the negative roundabout to the positive subsidiary of the batteries. commodity was vital to suspend this accelerated flow of electrons or find the batteries absolutely expended in a abrupt time. In order to accomplish this, a wire is much inserted among the specific and unfavorable terminals and a `load`, such as a radio, creating a small seductive field in the wire. The electromagnetic waves which are coeval now, have the capacity to impart sounds (speech, music, and so on) as well as ocular images undetected by eye through the air.There are several analyst who must be quoted as essential to the telephone as it is known to most of us. Mahlon Loomis organize wireless telegraph. Guglielmo Marconi, proved the possibility of radio communication. In 1985 Marconi, relay and honored a telegraphy signal. Using the mosey alphabet, he sent the first cellular signal which was transmitted across the English route and in due time, he was able to receive the Morse cap S which began in England and reached never never land which metamorphose the beginning of foreign radiotelegraphy (1902).Wireless signals build up far reaching use as a means of communication for relief work during an hazard or failure occurred at sea. contemporary 1899 the United requirement Army inaugurate utilize radio communication which originated from a lightship off Fire Island. breathtaking US merchant marine was backward two senility behind the Army in utilizing wireless telegraphy. fly 1903, leader Roosevelt (Theodore) and King Edward vip communicated via this different and fixing technology. breathtaking well established Robert Perry, using radiotelegraphy, conveyed the message that he had `found the Pole`.The premier AM wireless entered the world of telecommunication in the recent 1900`s. already stated device made the handling of considerably weak upsurge possible for communication. aforementioned was the time when the style `radio`, as we know today for radio devices, began to be used.It is believed that in December 23, 1900, tutor Reginald bury Fessenden was the head person to successfully transfer human voice by transmission waves. past 1915, conversation was early sent crosswise the unified States beginning in modern York municipal and gone to sand Francisco. moderately later, conveyance occurred opposite the art long Ocean from Arlington, Virginia, to pareus at the Eiffel Tower.It is actually fascinating all the prober and the physics doctrine that force to the invention of the radio. Marconi, Alexander Popov, alive Lodge, Fessenden and countless others, have all built important contributions to an invention that made the world so different, that most possible none of them would envision. The radio age was born. This commodity is down GNU FDL license and can be distributed outwardly any anterior authorization from the author. However the author's term and all the URLs (links) voiced in the article and biography must be kept. Article Tags: United welfare This thingamajig can be accessed in portuguese jargon from the Article district of surface http://www.polomercantil.com.br/mp4-player.phpRoberto Sedycias works as IT expert for http://www.polomercantil.com.br

[writesandramblings]

The Captain’s Secret - p.50

"Time Space Stumble”

A/N: In the spirit of continuing occasional classic Trek escapades, I give you "Time Space Stumble."

Full Chapter List Part 1 - Objects in Motion << 49 - Going Nowhere Fast 51 - Two Truths and a Lie >>

The tests continued. They achieved distance jumps. First small distances, differences barely visible to the naked eye, but then bigger jumps, bigger distances, measurable not in meters but kilometers. Always, though, they seemed to be trailing the Glenn just a smidgen. If they went fifty kilometers, the Glenn went sixty.

"He refuses to push us past the Glenn," said Lorca. He was standing at the window of his quarters, a hologram of Lalana beside him. The two rooms had been carefully mapped in such a way that Lalana appeared to be standing on the same plane as him, and his bed equaled her couch.

"You really have terrible luck with engineers," she informed him. "Billingsley was a 'piece of work,' Sural had no sense of humor, and now Stamets is... well, it's clear you like him, at least."

"He's a headache!" exclaimed Lorca. "The most frustrating man I've ever met."

"Yes, but how much fun do you have watching him squirm? There is a certain degree of delight in your face."

Lorca exhaled in a long chhhhh through his teeth. "No," he concluded. "I don't like Stamets. I hate him!"

Lalana clicked her tongue. "You only protest this hard when I'm onto the truth."

Lorca started to laugh. "My god, you're ridiculous."

"Yes, but would you have me any other way?"

That made him laugh so genuinely, he felt a little guilty about it. "What about your day."

"Saru came by, to check on Emellia's progress, and then they ended up spending a long time drinking tea. Apparently, Saru's old captain also drank tea."

Lorca had noted as much in a personal log many years back. "That she did," he said, with a degree of somber reverence for the departed captain. Even if Georgiou's grave miscalculation at the Binaries had potentially kicked off this war. "So Saru and Emellia get along?"

"I think she might like him even more than you like Stamets."

"Get it through that thick, blue skull of yours. I don't like Stamets!"

And yet, as they readied for the latest test of the spore displacement drive, Lorca had to admit Lalana was sort of right. Making Stamets squirm was absolutely delightful. "Stamets!" Lorca shouted, his voice filling the entirety of the bridge. "Where is my spore drive!"

Stamets, for his part, always rose to meet Lorca's level of ire. "We're not ready yet, captain! We need fifteen minutes!"

"Why!"

"Maybe I don't feel like telling you!" This was a sure sign something was going very wrong in engineering.

Lorca balled his hands into fists and took a deep breath, deliberately forcing his anger away. It half-worked. He didn't scream, but he remained firmly angry as he warned, "Don't make me come down there to engineering, lieutenant. When am I getting my drive back?"

"My spore drive up will be up and running in fifteen minutes. Not ten, not five, fifteen."

"You have five minutes!" yelled Lorca. "Bridge out!"

Everyone on the bridge was holding their breath. None of them could see Lorca's face, standing as he was at the very front of the bridge by the viewscreen. Lorca clenched his teeth and shook his head as he stared out at the stars. Then he relaxed somewhat. There was a rather nice red-orange nebula visible. Probably Lalana was staring at it right now. He'd had the main viewscreen routed through to her quarters so she could look at the same stars he did.

When Lorca turned away from the viewscreen and faced the bridge crew, he looked perfectly calm and even mildly amused. "It anyone wants a coffee, you've got ten minutes," he advised them, smiling. At the operations console, Lieutenant Owosekun smiled and tried not to laugh. She was awfully cute, but Commander Landry was over at the tactical console on the other side of the bridge, and Landry was not a woman you stepped out on unless you had a death wish. Besides, of the two, Lorca guessed Owosekun was the less experienced in bed. Pretty only went so far.

Lorca paced the bridge, walking past the stations and stretching his legs. He paused and exchanged a quick word with Saru at the science station on a briefing scheduled for later that afternoon. After seven minutes, Stamets reported to the bridge that the spore drive was ready.

"Thank you, lieutenant," said Lorca, sounding perfectly amicable.

"So, are we going to go now?" asked Stamets expectantly.

"Not just yet," said Lorca. He could picture the frustration on Stamets' face.

After a minute, Stamets asked, "Are we waiting for something?"

"You're waiting for my command," said Lorca, in the same vaguely derisive tone that had once flummoxed Sarah Billingsley on the Triton. Poor Stamets, but really, the man brought it on himself. Lorca waited just long enough that he began to get impatient himself, then declared, "Black alert! Lieutenant Stamets, do you have our destination keyed in?"

"As good as it's gonna get," said Stamets, probably rolling his eyes as he said it.

"Yes or no, Stamets."

"Yes!"

"Prepare to jump." The traditional pause. "Go."

Discovery jumped. There was the familiar sensation of clammy humidity on the skin.

Everything went sideways. The ship lurched, sending Lorca sliding across the bridge as the force of an impact overwhelmed the gravity generators. Lieutenant Detmer half-fell out of her chair at the helm. Alarms blared. At the ops panel, Owosekun managed to keep a firm grasp on her console and reported, "All systems stop!"

"Stamets!" bellowed Lorca, climbing back to his feet.

"I don't know what happened!" said Stamets, sounding genuinely panicked. "We jumped, we just..."

Lorca looked at the viewscreen. The red-orange nebula had been replaced by a faintly starry void. "Astrometrics! Where are we?"

"Not where intended, sir. It looks like we've traveled... six light years!"

Even if something had gone wrong, Lorca was impressed. This was more than triple their previous record. It was also farther than the Glenn had gone and meant the ship was potentially approaching viability over long distances. But the best part was they had finally surpassed their rival. Discovery was in the lead.

"All right. Systems check."

The alarms quieted. They ran through the systems one by one. Everything seemed fine, until the lieutenant at the communications panel, Richter, reported: "Sir, I'm not receiving any subspace communications."

"Comms down?"

"They seem to be operating, it's just, no signals, and no response to our communications." Wait..." Richter's brow furrowed. "I am receiving something, but it's... I don't understand. I'm sorry, sir, I don't know how to explain it."

"Sir, I believe I have an answer," said Saru. Lorca turned his attention to his first officer. "We are receiving communications signals, but at a rate so gradual it is almost undetectable."

A faulty communications relay? Lorca crossed over to Saru's station to see for himself.

"Since we dropped out of the mycelial network, we have received one piece of a transmission, and we are still receiving it."

"Meaning what exactly?" asked Lorca, trying to make sense of Saru's display. He was no slouch when it came to the science aboard the ship, but the data he was looking at was entirely unfamiliar.

Saru considered how to explain. "If you'll forgive me for 'dumbing this down,' captain, imagine if someone were sending us the message 'hello.' In the five minutes since our arrival at this position, we are still in the process of receiving the letter h."

"Oh my god," said Stamets over the comms. "We're stuck in time."

They called a meeting of senior science staff in astrometrics. Saru, Stamets, Mischkelovitz, and two scientists in charge of other projects aboard the ship: Egorova and Kumar, an astrophysicist and systems engineer respectively. For some reason, Groves had come, too.

Stuck in time was not completely accurate. It was more that they were out of sync with time in the rest of the universe. Events on the Discovery were unfolding at what seemed like normal speed for them, but outside of the ship, everything was moving so slowly it appeared almost completely still. In fact, they were still in visual range of the pretty red-orange nebula, but because they were receiving fewer photons, everything looked dimmer.

Furthermore, the mycelial field they used to delineate the ship and its contents for transport through the mycelial network had not dispersed. The spores were similarly frozen, unmoving.

The fact that they were receiving photons and an ongoing bit of a transmission indicated they had not somehow fallen out of time completely. They were simply operating at such a speed that time outside had become meaningless.

"It's like the spore field has become a temporal stasis field," concluded Stamets. "Or maybe not stasis, more like..."

Groves spoke. "Technically-speaking, the most accurate term would be 'temporal retardation,' but good luck getting that past a jury. 'Temporal reduction' works."

"A jury?" echoed Stamets. "I'm sorry, who are you again?"

"Impediment?" wondered Mischkelovitz aloud.

"Deceleration," offered Saru.

"I've got it. You know null space? This is null time," said Groves.

"What?" went Stamets, shaking his head rapidly as if to knock that idea loose from his brain. "That's a math concept! It doesn't mean space as in"—he waved his hands towards the window—"space!"

"No, but it's catchy," countered Groves. Between that and "radical recyclers," Lorca rather got the impression Groves fancied himself a wordsmith. That instinct probably served him well in courtrooms. Slightly less so in this context.

"I like it," said Egorova.

They were getting distracted, as scientists and civilians so often did. "Terminology aside, analysis?" prompted Lorca.

"We cannot leave the field," said Saru. "If we attempt to, I believe we will incur another collision as we did upon exiting the mycelial plane, and we may damage the ship irreparably."

"Do we have to leave?" asked Mischkelovitz. "I mean, if time's passing super-slow on the outside, think how much work we could get done in here."

"Your work, you mean," said Stamets. "Mine would be stuck. Literally. In time."

Egorova touched a finger to her lips. "The spores aren't entirely frozen themselves, are they? They're moving at the same rate as we're receiving information from the outside world. Meaning, eventually, we might just drop out of whatever it is we're experiencing naturally when the field collapses."

"Then it's a question of the rate," said Groves. "How fast is data entering? And is the rate constant, or is it decaying or accelerating?" He looked at Saru for the answer.

"I have detected no discernible change in the rate as far. Computer, based on the time it takes the mycelial field to dissipate and the current rate time is passing aboard the ship, how long until the field naturally decays?"

"Insufficient data," said the computer.

"We don't know exactly how long the mycelial field persists after a jump," said Stamets. It was something they were still crunching numbers on from the various drive tests. "Individual spores can survive anywhere between a fraction of a second to several seconds, and that's just the ones that actually do get expended by the process. Some persist and have to be flushed out manually before the next jump. Then there's also the question of the threshold at which the field itself collapses. So far, we've seen fields persisting post-displacement even at a density of thirty-five percent."

Saru rephrased. "Computer, using the averages observed so far for post-displacement spore persistence, what is the minimum amount of time required for field density to reach forty percent?"

"Six hundred and forty-five years," said the computer.

That was the optimistic estimate. There was one person on the ship who could live long enough to survive that. She was not in the room.

"Well our ship won't last even half that long," said Kumar. "Our systems will decay well before then and we'll run out of power, not to mention food and everything else we need to survive."

"So we need to find a way out," said Groves.

Stamets had been thinking about the passage of time. "Actually, this could be a good thing. If we're not going anywhere, I could fill that cultivation bay with mushrooms. We could get a whole forest growing, ensure a steady supply of spores at a quantity that would let us make multiple test jumps in a day. We would have way more left over for ourselves after supplying the Glenn." It was no secret that, between Straal and Stamets, Stamets was the better gardener, but because Straal's drive jumps were going more successfully, they were getting the lion's share of the spore supply Discovery produced.

"I want us out of here sooner rather than later," said Lorca. As appealing as Stamets and Mischkelovitz might find the idea of unlimited time for various reasons, Lorca had no interest in aging while the rest of the universe passed them by. "Everyone, get your teams together and start working on potential solutions. I want proposals in three hours. Give me everything, no matter how out there, using the resources we have on Discovery."

Three hours later, they were back, along with the addition of Cadet Tilly.

"'Null time' got me thinking," said Tilly. Stamets had disliked the term and repeated it to his engineering crew derisively, but Tilly had turned it into a positive. "This is really a math problem, and it's a spore field problem. Now, when we're talking about the universe on the scale of the mycelial spore network, we lose the distinction between physics and biology. So, my idea..."

Stamets looked genuinely proud of Tilly for a change as she outlined her proposal to counterbalance the spores with spores modified to be something akin to an anti-spore.

"And we can do this?" asked Lorca. "An anti-spore?"

"Theoretically," stressed Stamets, "but maybe? I mean, it's within the realm of possibility, sir. And having run the math, it looks like it would be perfectly safe to try, so I think Tilly's proposal is worth exploring. It doesn't put the ship in danger."

The same could not be said of every suggestion. Kumar's proposal involved hitting the temporal field with a charged tachyon pulse which would potentially create new, temporally-charged particles sufficient to disrupt the field or cut a hole in it.

As Kumar relayed this, Mischkelovitz began to tug at Groves' arm. Lorca noticed the motion. "Something you want to share, doctor?"

"We're in a chroniton field."

"Chroniton?" repeated Egorova.

"I think the mycelial spores developed a charge that attracted chronitons, coating them in the particles, and the chronitons are holding them suspended in time. In essence, they can't move because they're bogged down by the excess chroniton weight. Not weight or mass in the way we understand it in this physical realm, but in a similar way all the same."

"Chronitons are only theoretical, doctor," said Saru, "but I think the idea has merit, captain. I would trust Dr. Mischkelovitz's expertise in this area. It was her husband's primary field of interest."

"I thought he was a weapons engineer," said Kumar, sounding dismissive. He had always felt the Mischkelovitz name overrated. Hearing Kumar's assessment of the deceased scientist, the surviving Mischkelovitz shrank back behind Groves.

Egorova said, "He rarely published in physics, but what he did was remarkable. I didn't know he was involved in temporal research but I wouldn't be surprised."

"And what do you think we should do, Mischka?" said Lorca, drawing her back in.

"The cadet's plan," she said. "If we negate the spores, the chronitons should disperse because they'll have nothing to adhere to. That would release the field. But if we charge the field with tachyons, as the lieutenant commander suggests, we risk causing a casmaclysic cascanade... No. Casme—no. Casmaclysic... No. Casma—no."

"Cataclys—" both Lorca and Groves began.

"—mic cascade," finished Groves, narrowing his eyes at Lorca. Lorca shrugged in response and made a face as if to say, "It was obvious, you think you're the only one can do that?" If the look in Groves' eyes meant anything, it was probably that he felt he was indeed the only person allowed to do that, and Lorca had just violated some sort of unspoken boundary.

"What would make the spores develop a temporal charge in the first place?" asked Stamets, disliking the implication his spores were to blame.

"Residual temporal radiation!" exclaimed Tilly. "We cleared the spores from the chamber when the first module wasn't working, but radiation could have lingered in the chamber. Then, when we put in the next batch of spores, they were contaminated. And because the spores act in concert with one another, it caused a chain reaction! Like a virus!"

Stamets' eyes widened. "Physics as biology!" he exclaimed. "Of course! It wasn't the spores, it was the chamber! As we went through the mycelial plane, the infection spread across the ship, until it dropped us out because we were too heavy with—chronitons!"

Tilly was over the moon. "Yes!"

"How were the spores exposed to temporal radiation in the first place?" said Groves. He seemed to have no trouble following any of the science. Mischkelovitz stood deep in thought, saying nothing in response to this question.

"Perhaps Dr. Mischkelovitz and I could investigate this question while Lieutenant Stamets and the cadet devise a way to create an 'anti-spore,'" said Saru.

"If we're right about this, we could prove chronitons exist!" exclaimed Tilly.

"That's already proven," said Mischkelovitz.

Egorova shook her head. "I'd have heard if chronitons were proven. If anything, we're just gonna prove that mushroom spores are unpredictable, or we got a bad batch, or the mycelial plane we've been traveling through has some temporal mechanics we haven't properly accounted for yet."

"My spores are not the issue," said Stamets defensively.

"Are we all on board with Tilly's plan?" asked Lorca, looking to head off a fight between the scientists.

"I'd like my team to continue research into the field mechanics area," said Egorova.

"Granted," said Lorca. "And Kumar, as a backup, draw up schematics for as many devices as you like, but focus on resource rationing. Just in case our plan A is no good. Everyone know what they're doing?" The assembled scientists responded with nods and words of assent. Lorca clapped his hands and then spread them, palms up. "Then go."

Part 51