Ib & Ob: A New Hope

Ob: ...do you remember that asteroid that flew through this system sixty rotations ago?

Ib: You mean one with the weird organic red coating that you said was nothing to worry about.

Ob: Well I am using the gravity drive to apply a gravity assisted course change.

Ib: Why exactly are you changing an asteroid's course?

Ob: Technically it is not an asteroid as such, more sort of a Seeder Ship.

Ib: Hence the organic coating although the Colony Commission has not used that technology in hundreds of cycles.  Your telling me you working for Colony Commission?

Ob: Not completely, only indirectly.

Ib: Hold on a panug, if you are here to change its course why did you say that we are here to investigate the third planet?

Ob: We are here to investigate the planet just for not all the reasons I stated.

Ib: Where exactly is this Seeder Ship going?

Ob: Now that I have made the course change, it should hit the fourth planet in this system in just under two cycles.

Ib: Correct if I am wrong here but Colony Commission rules states if life exists in a system then you cannot deploy a Seeder Ship.

Ob: That is completely true but have you noticed when was the last time the Colony Commission seeded a new planet?

Ib: Admittedly not for a few cycles, the galaxy is not as big as it used to be.

Ob: The last new planet seeded by the Commission was eighty one cycles ago, their rules are out of date.  We in the science club have decided...

Ib: By the Moons of Gugt your Rebels! I should have guessed considering the name of the club: The Enlightened Ones.

Ob: There are more of us than you think!

Ib: Really! So what did you do pick up an old out of date Seeder Ship add a quick spray paint job and launch it. Hold on, organic sprays were made illegal over two hundred cycles ago.

Ob: Only because they were too slow, however we in Science club have improved the Ship by adding two Bio Emitters which will speed up the flow of organics considerably.

Ib:  As I recall the last time two Bio Emitters were used together a Chaos Wave appeared and destroyed half the planet. Hence the big warning signs on them, your not even allowed to transport them together.

Ob: We have fixed that issue, besides it all really depends what we will find on this planet.

Ib: What you are saying  is if we cannot verify intelligent life on the third planet your going to deploy what is effectively a weapon of mass destruction on the fourth planet.

Ob: Yes, the Science club gave me the deciding vote.

Ib: You mean they gave you all the responsibility and gave themselves the ability to denied everything should anything go wrong.

Ob: I am sure it will be fine.

Ib: Is the escape pod on this ship equipped with a H-Jump system?

Ob: Why do you ask?

Ib & Ob: Trust me!

Ob: Trust me!

Ib: I stopped trusting you after the first day in our study room.

Ob: I do not remember anything particular about that day.

Ib: Really and they say our species never forgets a thing, that was the day you attempted to create antimatter without proper shielding and the Trilon hatchery next door exploded!

Ob: That was never proven to be my fault.

Ib: So it was a complete coincidence that your particle beam was in direct line of sight with the hatchery?

Ob: Your pet Plyth had knocked off the mirror prism.

Ib: You mean the one that could barely fly let alone crawl?

Ob: Yes, what happened to it?

Ib: Your pygmy Trilon stood on it after you attempted to connect it to the Synaptic Melder.

Ob: Well if I had a full grown Trilon there would not have been a problem!

Ib: A problem you created by blowing up the Trilon hatchery earlier in the week.

Ob: I was ill that week!

Ib: Yes because the pygmy Trilon exploded and your right orb got infected with Trilon blood.  It was the first recorded case in over two hundred cycles.

Ob: I thought we were friends?

Ib: We are, I just do not trust you as far as I can throw you!

Ob: Well you cannot throw me at all because I am wearing my new MagLock boots.

Ib: The green ones which you have set to stealth mode, so not only I cannot see the boots nor can I see your feet.

Ob: Amazing are not they!

Ib: And your wearing them in the ship.  Perhaps you can tell me why the gravity is stuck on the bottom of that Gas giant we passed on the way into this system?

Ob: Well...

Ib & Ob: Rite of Passage

Ob: The probes that came back are quite disturbing in the fact that the quadrupeds appear to commit ritual sacrifice.

Ib: Purple Monopods! Hardly an intelligent species then, killing their own.

Ob: Yes I know although it is a bit of mystery since the probes have been unable to capture the location of the temple that the sacrifice occurs in.

Ib: Then how do you know it is occurring? 

Ob: They found thousands of buildings where the subspecies consumes organic matter which they call: Hamburgers.

Ib: Odd name for food.

Ob: It is an odd food, upon analysis most of it appears to made up of chemicals that make the subspecies feel good very very briefly and then hungry again.

Ib: Sounds more like a drug, where do the quadrupeds come in?

Ob: Part of the organic component to the Hamburger contain quadruped parts.

Ib: Parts, what parts?

Ob: As far the biology probes can tell nothing that would be useful to the subspecies's nutrition.

Ib: Are you sure this is ritual sacrifice perhaps the quadrupeds are trying to kill off the weak members of subspecies.

Ob: Or maybe make them more subservient, we have a missing link in the chain.

Ib: I am curious how do they consume this food by injection?

Ob: Did you not notice that your lunch had a hole on a its head?

Ib: It had several holes as I recall however I assume you are talking about the large one.

Ob: Yes, they take their food in through that hole.

Ib: That is disgusting what about all the infections you can get from such things?

Ob: You seem to forget that thousands of cycles ago we too ingested food through our nasal passage.

Ib: Yes and I glad I was not around for that.  I remember Prof. Zi telling us about the diseases of the past before we started using the injectors.  Made my orbs spins, horrible days indeed.

Ob: Then you have not heard about the Anti-Injectors, Grey World does insulate you from some of the more extreme news.

Ib: What are you talking about?

Ob: Basically there is a movement that wants us to go back to using our nasal passage for food intake, they say it is more natural and satisfying.

Ib: You are pulling my Danuses, no Grey in their right orbs would do such thing.

Ob: I agree injectors have nearly wiped out all known diseases, why would anyone want to bring back a disease.

Ib: Let us get off this horrible tangent and return to our proper orbit.  I think the quadrupeds are practicing a form of population control we have seen it before in other cultures or maybe it is a voluntary sacrifice?!?

Ob: True, maybe they are giving parts of themselves to the subspecies to make them feel like they are the quadrupeds. Organic worship, interesting maybe my initial issues with the probes results were not ions in the grill after all.

Ib: Well if that is all sorted out, I will take the shuttle back out to get some lunch.

Ob: Okay but before you do we need to address the problem of the two holes on either side of their heads.

Ib: Are you trying to make me thinner than I already am?

Ib & Ob: Dividing by Zero

Ob: Well it appears that...

Ib: What is that flashing light on your console?

Ob: Probably nothing as I was about to...

Ib: Flashing lights are rarely nothing let me see. 

Ob: Fine, fine okay all yours and why do not you take over my reason for being here as well.

Ib: Cool your ions my friend, I knew it!  When exactly did you last use the teleport?

Ob: Not sure, probably when we picked up supplies on Ketr 3.

Ib: Really, well we just teleported my lunch 1160 units from the original position I found it in.

Ob: Well we can easily trace it to where it currently is.  There you go, it is inside that White building.

Ib: Is it still alive?

Ob: Yes and there are lots of its species surrounding it.

Ib: Okay for once you were right about the flashing light.

Ob: Fortunately for us the liquid the natives of Hij 3 eject gives most organic species short term memory loss.

Human Interlude #1

Science Adviser: What have you learned about the man that suddenly appeared in the office?

Agent #1: Sir, are you sure he appeared out of thin air and not perhaps jumped out from behind a piece of furniture?

Science Adviser: Yes he appeared out of thin air, our leader was so scared he hid in the nearest corner.

Agent #1: But Sir, there are no corners in the...

Science Adviser: This is what happens when you let politicians divide by zero.  What have you learned?

Agent #1: Well he's a white trapper from the south west.

Science Adviser: Really, what does he trap?

Agent #1: Rabbits, sir.

Science Adviser: What does he remember last?

Agent #1: He said he had shot a coyote and there was white light.

Science Adviser: I thought you said he hunts rabbits?

Agent #1: Yes sir, the coyotes have been eating the rabbits.

Science Adviser: Fine, anything else no matter how small.

Agent #1: He said he remembers having pins and needles in his err...

Science Adviser: Out with it, I'm scientist first and an adviser second.

Agent #1: He said "In all his holes" sir.  Might I ask where our leader is now?

Science Adviser: I sedated him.

Agent #1: You gave him drugs?!?

Science Adviser: Of course not, I sat him down in front daytime TV.  Should keep him happy for hours.  Now what else do we know about the Great White Hunter?

Agent #1: Well sir, he believes in God.

Science Adviser: Not another one! Does he has any terrorist affiliations aside from his out of date beliefs?

Agent #1: No sir! Can I ask is this perhaps related to the asteroid currently...

Science Adviser: That's classified, you should know better that.  What has the forensic team come up with?

Agent #1: Just an unknown blue substance found on his clothes and near all his err...holes sir.

Science Adviser: Very interesting indeed, well ship him off to Area 47 for now.

Agent #1: Yes sir!

End of Human Interlude #1

Ib & Ob: Cultural Misfeeds

Ib: I took it off the subspecies, it was pointing it at one of the smaller quadrupeds, at first I thought it was trying to feed it but there was a sudden flash and the quadruped exploded.

Ob: It exploded?

Ib: Yes, there was just blood and pieces of organic matter everywhere.  Then I realised it probably had teleported and left its waste product behind.

Ob: You mean like the Haxians on Phew 4 and I thought those hexipods were unique.

Ib: I think the smell was definitely unique, it took me ages to get rid of it from the ship.

Ob: I agree that is one planet I never intend to visit again, their waste product ate through three of my environment suits.

Ib: As far as I can tell this tube does not contain anything organic just metal parts.

Ob: Well put it in the relic room for now and when we get back it can be more thoroughly investigated.

Ib: Fine. I will just put my lunch into...

Ob: Hold on a moment we have not got enough evidence yet to say that your lunch is not intelligent.

Ib: What? You said the quadrupeds were the intelligent species, make your mind up.

Ob: I said it was a theory besides some of the probes have come back with some interesting results which suggest my theory might be need adjusting.

Ib: Really?

Ob: Less of the orb rolling please, I suggest you put your lunch back where you found it.  Ship's ration packs will have to suffice for now.

Ib: You did not look at the eat by h-jump of those ration packs did you, they are only good for nine hyper jumps.  It will be like eating Haxian leftovers.

Ob: Just get rid of the subspecies and I will tell what the probes have found.

Ib: Okay give me a panug to put it in the teleport.  I might point out that there are some scorch marks around the pads.

Ob: It will be fine what could possibly go wrong.

Ib:  Really what about the T'ra incident?

Ob:  I was absolved any wrong doing, it was not my fault that the locals were well...primitive.

Ib: So primitive in fact that they managed to enter your personal code into the your game slab without even getting it wrong at least once.

Ob: Chance happens in the strangest of places besides it do not impinge much on their society.

Ib: Much! The people of T'ra 9 were considered to be the greatest primitive architects and artists in four galactic sectors.  Their culture was unblemished by any space faring species until you joined the expedition.

Ob: I seemed to remember you asked me along on that trip so you are partly responsible.  I do not know why you asked me, I have never liked art.

Ib: I am curious as to why your game slab was set to expand so large in the first place?

Ob: Do not you not remember I had entered the Battle Sims for the next day on one of the larger moons, I was going to use the slab as a defensive wall.

Ib: A wall that reached all the way into space?

Ob: Well I had miscalculated a bit but as it turned out it was quite fortunate for the locals since the expedition had time to stop it from flattening their capital city.  Barely any harm done whatsoever.

Ib: Except for the part whereby the locals now worship the Great Black Rectangle and all their buildings are rectangular not a single curve in sight.  You wiped out the most artistic primitive culture in the galaxy.

Ob: Well it is all particles under the ion grill now. Set your coordinates and send it back.

Ib: Fine, tell me what the probes results were?

Ib & Ob: Communications Failure

Ob: What is that?

Ib: Lunch.

Ob: I see you are still thinking with your stomach, why does it look like that?

Ib: Like what?

Ob: Like it has been frozen in the middle of a horrifying thought?

Ib: Did you know that the shuttle was not packed with a complete set of communication probes?

Ob: That would be your responsibility, you used the equipment therefore you maintain it.

Ib: Fair point.  Still the shuttle was a mess, I could barely find anything.  It was like being back in our study room.

Ob: I remember that our study room was particle free.

Ib: That is because I kept it that way, if I had left it to you to tidy up we would have been kicked out for causing multiple bio hazards.

Ob: Wait a panug, the last time I am used the shuttle was on Hij 3 to speak to the tripod species.   Those were brand new probes how did you know how use it?

Ib: Well you remember what Prof. Zi used to say?

Ib & Ob: For Every Hole there is a Probe!

Ib: I admit they have a lot holes the subspecies, it took a while to find the right one.

Ob: Hold on the natives of Hij 3 only have one hole which is between their...

Ib: Yes it took some pushing, not to mention this subspecies seem to have multiple layers are skin.  I got there in the end though.

Ob: I left Hij 3 in a hurry, you did give the probe a clean?

Ib: You mean that blue substance was not part of the probe, it was very sticky indeed. By the way the ion grill will need a clean now.

Ob: Really and you say I am untidy. Oh!  I think I know why it looks like that.

Ib: Really?

Ob: The natives of Hij 3 consume their food while it is still alive, they use a paralytic liquid which is ejected from the same hole that houses their telepathic nodes.

Ib: That sounds disgusting, so the blue substance has frozen my lunch?

Ob: Yes, what is that your metal tube you are holding?

Ib & Ob: The 70th Anniversary

Ib: We have established orbit round the third planet in this system.

Ob: Good, now we...

Ib: Wait a panug, have not we been here before?

Ob: As I was about to explain before you interrupted, it has been seventy cycles of this planet since we were last here.  During your 'Everything is a joke phase.'

Ib: That was not a phase, everything is a joke.  Like your face that is a joke too.

Ob: Let us not start that again, your so called joke seventy cycles ago nearly got us throw out of the science club.

Ib: Like I ever wanted to be in the club in the first place!  Admit it your face is a joke, I mean who wears green with grey anymore?

Ob: I seem to remember you begging me to come along on this trip, said you were bored with Grey World.

Ib: Fine, fine. Carry on. Why are we here again?

Ob: To prove to those purple monopods in the club that my theories about the dominate species on this planet are correct.

Ib: Purple Monopods! Your language has taken a turn for the worst.

Ob: They think in circles, makes my orbs spin.  Please do not roll your orbs like that, remember we did eat well last time we were here.

Ib: True, I admit you had me with Purple Monopods.  What is your plan?

Ob: You take the shuttle down and record the northern hemisphere whilst I dropped some probes into key locations.

Ib: Why is it I am always the one in the shuttle and your up here safe from the locals?

Ob: You keep telling me that you are the best pilot in the galaxy, I thought would enjoy it.

Ib: Purple Monopods! How about you tell me your current theories then I will know what to look for when I down there?

Ob:That is a good idea.

Ib: You do realise it is rude to spin your orbs vertically?

Ob: Your the only one that thinks that.

Ib: That is because I know it is your expression of surprise.

Ob: Alright, I will not spin them again. Happy now?

Ib: Yes, tell me your theory.

Ob: I think the quadrupeds are the dominant species.

Ib: What! No! But we drained them on our last visit for cocktails.  Are you sure?

Ob: I seem to remember that you had four or was it five cocktails and you had the left over heads in a sandwich.

Ib: Your telling me I ate intelligent life forms, your talking about the ones with the mono-tonal language that you could not translate? This is a joke right?

Ob: Yes those are ones.  The others in the club think the bipedal life forms are the intelligent ones but I think not.

Ib: By the Moons of Gugt, I am hoping you are wrong.  What is your evidence?

Ob: The bipedal subspecies spend most of their time in metal boxes which have four spinning wheels, I am calling it my theory of four.  Catchy title right?

Ib: That is not evidence that is a leap to a completely different tangent.

Ob: There is more to the theory, I think the subspecies worship the quadrupeds because everything they build has four wheels.  Also the subspecies do all the work whilst the quadrupeds spent all their time at leisure in the open countryside and the subspecies bring them food.  It all works out.

Ib: If it all works out what are we doing here exactly?

Ob:  Well I need more evidence to present to the club.

Ib: Are you sure you have not been drinking Orion Moon Dust Particles again?

Ob: You said you would never mention that incident again?

Ib: Technically I do not mention the incident just the cause.  Fine I will take the shuttle down but if the subspecies are not intelligent does that mean I get take some for a snack on the way back. You know how Hyper jumps make me hungry.

Ob: Of course I would not expect anything less of you.

Ib: You turned away so I could not see your orbs?

TriChunking Phase II & The Chronicles of Redtail (164 to 221)

Flotsam - TriChunking Phase II 

For the last twenty five days I have been trying out an experiment in creative writing whereby I tweet nine times a day which is slowly telling the story of Redtail an unique fantasy character set in a frozen land which was originally inspired by Game of Thrones North of the Wall however as the the story has progressed it has become more of a world that is just before the end of an ice age perhaps an alternate Scotland with a giant wall glacier to the south.  I have called this method of creative writing TriChunking simply because I write three tweets morning, lunchtime and evening.

What I have found is despite the annoyance of the word "were" being turned into "we're" repeatedly by my auto correct, is that it is flowing very well indeed.  A back story has appeared without any effort and the continuing plot just seems to unfold on its own.  I have also created a plot device which switches between characters seamlessly, a sort of mini-chapter called: Spin.

I've never liked chapters which I why I have always loved Terry Pratchett's books.

As I am sure you have seen on this blog I have been posting the story in twenty seven (three days worth) tweets chunks but in their original tweet form with some minor editing. 

Phase II of my experiment is to post in them proper writing form so from now on all posts of The Chronicles of Redtail will be without gaps or three dots (except where needed) and perhaps I may write extra content to add depth and detail to the story.

Jetsam - The Chronicles of Redtail (164 to 221)

I thanked Limus for his time and decided the best thing to do was to get an accurate reading of the amount the spire was breathing.  You can breath it and take on a certain immunity however in large dosages it can kill you.  I went back to the spire, the center of town had turned into a mass of market stalls although the area in front of the ale house was quite empty, so I was free to work unimpeded.  From my saddle bags I took out a small bottle and a Heliumite meter which is just a small one brass tube with a very sensitive brass gauge meter at one end.  The bottle contains a catalyst that attracts Heliumite particles into the tube.  It can be a very delicate operation if the catalyst has any direct contact with the Heliumite rock then bad things tend to happen.

My mind was completely on the operation at hand when my horse walked through me in order to grab my attention of what was happening behind me.  Seeing in two different directions is always disconcerting especially when you are not expecting it.  Behind me one of giants had got into an argument with one of market sellers about twenty feet from me.  Greybeard Jank and the giantspawn girl that was carrying him earlier had intervened to try and settle the argument. When giants are angry they talk very loudly, I know this may seem a little obvious but the verb 'loud' does not really cover it.  I should of heard them first but sometimes I can be so focused upon my work I am as deaf as an Orion ground snake.

The seller picked up one his wares and threw it at the giant's head which bounced off and the giant deftly caught it.  Then threw it hard but away from the seller which unfortunately was directly towards me.  My reflexes kicked in and I became less solid forgetting about the bottle of catalyst I had in my hand which passed straight through my hand and smashed upon the base of the spire.  I would have held my breath if I had any.  Thinking that perhaps, maybe, nope, the ground below me started to emit an high pitched scream.  My horse turned her head to see Drom, Den and a few others come out of the ale house.  The scream dropped in pitch, movement drew my attention and I realised the spire was moving upwards.  The catalyst had triggered a reflex action well reaction.

Then came a scream that cut through everything else, it came from the giantspawn. My horse turned towards it and together we saw a scene of utter horror.  A second spire had burst out of the ground with such speed it had speared it's way through the giantspawn and also Greybeard Jank lifting them up into the air. The spire was quite thin, their lifeless bodies slid down it leaving behind only a red stain upon the spire as it continued its upward journey. 

Looking past this horrific tableau I could see other spires appearing out of the ground.  They did not appear to be slowing down only the one by me looked like it was having problems rising any further. Then it all stopped except for the sound of the adult giant crying his heart out for his lost daughter.

I counted nine spires including the one beside me.  They were all about thirty feet high, looking down at my feet where the Heliumite meter had fallen the gauge was alternating between zero and just below midway.  At that level the town will be dead in about six months to a year.  Assuming it remains constant, I bent down and picked up the meter. The giant was still crying, I touched my horse and

...Spin...

I looked at my worst half and knew as he touched me what he wanted.  Giants always do everything big especially their emotions, I'm not being funny.  Letting out my wings I jumped into the air, below me was an excited babble no surprise there I am after all very impressive.  No false modesty with me, my partner was quite right about the air pressure it makes flying so much easier.  Of course having control over one's solidity also helps its more like floating or surfing than flying.

I flew round and then directly through the giant's head, as I passed through I slowed my passage and connected on an emotional level and gave him a little perspective.  Too much perspective well lets just say his head would have exploded. He stopped crying and pulled both his daughter and old man from the spire.

The Chronicles of Redtail (166 to 193)

Day 20:

...story. Well about Dusk at least, the rising was stopped here by fire that reached the ends of the land and darkness was no more...

...Their words not mine, they also said that proceeding the Rising were three omens which no one remembers anymore except maybe..

...Limus the master of Runes at the Rune House. They gave me directions, I looked over at Drom and Den they were deep in...

...conversation so I bid the greybeards good day and left.  Outside my horse was not about, I whistled briefly.  She...

...appeared out of nowhere startling the locals somewhat, the Runes House was not far so I chose to walk with my horse following.

Master Limus was glad of my visit and quite eager to help with my questions. The house was effectively a library of scrolls and..

...maps.  The maps caught my eye straightaway laid on a table with two compressed Heliumite stones keeping them flat but judging..

...by their colour they no longer breathed. Upon arrival I gain basic knowledge, navigation and such but specifics require...

..actual travel. Limus showed me his oldest map which is but a copy of a previous one. The first ones arrived a thousand years...

Day 21:

...ago. The Rising occurred about two hundred years after according to Limus. The map on the table has been copied many times...

...it shows how the land was after the Rising. In an almost straight line from East to West there are a number of symbols which...

...represent Heliumite spires. Where the Sunken Men are now are nine spires. "They were giant statues once but as the spires...

...have sunk they pulled the statues down with them."
"How do you know the spires are sinking?"
Limus looked at the two rocks...

...on the table and said "My father chiseled those rocks from the spire here in Dusk at it's base. The gaps in the spire have...

...disappeared from sight what is odd the ground around spire has not moved at all."
"What do you know about the three omens...

...for the Rising?"
"That has been an difficult task by all previous masters of this house..." Limus stopped speaking lost in...

...thought.  I waited, he turned and looked at me with a gleam in his eye. "I have pieced together from many scrolls an ancient..

..verse I'm still not sure if it is correct or not:

Bright Day's Visitor
Shakes Mountains Down
Life's Spring Joins..." He stopped

Day 22:

...I thought he had finished I was about to say something and he continued.

 "Ancient Race Anew
Cometh the Rising." He looked...

...at me expecting me to say something, what I thought and said were two different things, "What does that mean? Is it in the...

...right order?" He looked at me with annoyance, "Well I, it's unclear at the moment I am the first master to work on this." ...

...spin...Yunk read the message from Dusk again. It did not make any more sense the second time round. What is Drom up to, who...

...is this stranger and why did the ground suddenly shake right across the land. All reports say it happened everywhere. He...

...reread the last part again,
"...I thought the tower would come down that stranger was by the spire and two giants were...

...spin...That's problem with seeing the future it never makes sense until you are there. Foresight is worst than hindsight...

...I thanked Limus for his time and decided the best thing to do was to get an accurate reading of the amount the spire was...

...breathing.  You can breath it and take on a certain immunity however in large dosages it can kill you. I went back to the...

Fictional Entanglements - A Thought Experiment

Flotsam

Ever wondered where our imagination comes from? It must come from somewhere otherwise we would pulling ideas from nothing.  Funny thing about nothing according science down at the smallest scale that we can understand the quantum level particles pop in and out of existence all the time. 

Science has also proved and tested a theory called Spooky Action at a Distance which was originally described by Albert Einstein.  Please excuse my layman's term I am not a physicist, this theory shows how two subatomic particles can instantaneously affect one other over long distances which effectively gets round the speed of light.

The Big Bang effectively came out of 'nothing' although the prevailing theory is that it was a subatomic particle and its opposite which is called anti-matter.  When the two collide there is a release of energy and wipe each other out.  Apparently this sort of thing is going on all the time at the quantum level.

All matter in the Universe was created out of the Big Bang and science has shown the Universe is expanding at an ever increasing rate.

Jetsam

Our consciousness is made of up atoms from the Big Bang what if there are other civilisations out in parallel dimensions or just trillions of light years away from us but the atoms in our brains are entangled with the atoms of other conscious brains.  Our imagination comes from them and their imagination comes from us.  That would mean all fiction is a reality elsewhere and that perhaps all imagination just entanglements bouncing ideas back and forth.

There are many problems with this idea least of which is the issue of translating an idea from the quantum level up to an actual conscious thought.  One atom probably would not be enough you would need a lot of atoms all sending similar data.

Perhaps we are not alone and our imagination proves it.

The Chronicles of Redtail (138 to 165)

Day 17:

...in the region...spin..."I can see a train coming in, that's master Drom he's early." What! Den is going to be happy, "Go down...

...and tell Den Drom's will be in Dusk by midmorning."
"Yes, Quill right away." At least someone is going to be happy tonight...

...whilst I will be stuck here for another day. Drom's lot will be gone by then. I think I will send a raven to Yunk, who's...

...that on the horse, Yunk will want to know that too. Aye aye he's brought the giants too, there's bound to be trouble tonight..

... perhaps it's best I'm stuck here, breaking up a fight with giants could be painful.  That horse sure is queer I can see...

...right thru it...spin...Who name's a village Dusk? Maybe it has some significance. My horse snorts and I look in the...

...direction indicated and there at the center of this village stands a spire of Heliumite probably why they built a village...

...round it.  Judging by the colour of it, it's been thru compression. Probably was inside a meteorite, that means its still...

...likely to be breathing Heliumite particles into the air. Have to speak to villagers about this and see if I can get close...

Day 18:

...enough to take samples without offending the locals. Heliumite is very common and compressed Heliumite suggests that it was...

...once organic in origin, one theory is that before there was men there were creatures much like trolls made from Heliumite...

...and they were the size of mountains or small planets however some cataclysmic event killed them all leaving behind their...

...dead bodies as debris spread across reality.  I see Drom not far ahead, my horse already knows what I want and speeds up...

...to catch Drom, moments later I am beside him.
"Drom why did you not tell me about the spire of Heliumite in this village?"...

..."Because it is not same colour as your rock, besides there are lots of those spires spread across the north." Lots! They are..

...rare everywhere I have been to have an entire land peppered with them suggests this world was close to heart of the...

...Heliumite civilization when the catacylsm occurred. During my musings my horse had carried us to the center of Dusk. I was...

...within a few feet of the spire. Drom had dismounted and spoke to a large red headed man. I descended to the ground also,..

Day 19:

...Drom begun to introduce me but was interrupted by the sounds of the giants catching up, greybeard Jank in the lead. The red...

...headed chap said "Drom they can't stay in the village you know what happened last time."
"But they,.." I interrupted "...Giants are...

...notoriously insecure, perhaps they can pitch their tents by one of the outer barns I saw on the way in?"
"Insecure you say,...

...alright Drom that's a good suggestion I'll get some of the boys to organise it. Who are you exactly?" Addressing his...

...question at me. Before I could speak Drom said "This is Redtail a traveler who is riding with us to the Blue Mountains."...

..."Well met, I am Den not Lord or Master just Den I don't hold with titles. I am also the owner of the Ale house behind me...

...once inside and sat down it became obvious Drom was intent on not letting me speak to Den about anything other than trivial...

...pursuits so instead of causing a scene I made my excuses and joined a table of greybeards who looked at me suspiciously until...

...I bought them all a round. Surely one of these could tell me about the spire. It did not take long before I had the full...

The Chronicles of Redtail (111 to 137)

Day 14:

...just glad speak to someone, young people don't like speaking to the old it reminds them of their own mortality. Better to...

...look young on the outside and be ancient on the inside. Although my memories tend to conflict, some appear as my past and some...

...as a possible future but most of the time my memory exists in the present only. Otherwise I am distracted from my destiny...

...,it is a tricky thing destiny especially when chaos is involved. Trust me! I don't know what I am doing!...spin... strength...

...will be valuable to us."
"Your talking about the Blue Spider Fights!" They are evil those creatures, master Drom expects me...

...to fight one of those things.
"If there is no other way master Drom?"
"It's the only reason the Irons travel to the Blue...

..,Mountains for the fights and the barter. Remember the champion's clan gets first choice of the swords and one of that old...

...one eyed master Yunk's daughters, that will give us first amongst the trading."  Champion, "But why are we going so early that...

...fight does not start for several weeks."
"Cause young lad, of Redtail and his mad ideas that chaos is coming."
"But it is...

Day 15:

... coming I've seen it master Drom."
"Really what have you seen exactly?"
"What I thought were dragons in the sky breathing...

...fire but after what happened in your tent the day Redtail came out of that stone. I realised they must be man made." Drom...

...looked troubled. "Did you see any landmarks lad?"
"Yes, I was standing here looking up and three of the Sunken Men were...

... lying on their backs."
"Were the flying machines attacking something?"
"They were facing towards the north, fire raining...

...down upon darkness master Drom."
"Darkness on the ground?'
"I think so, it was coming from the north. It's the rising...

... isn't it master Drom?"
"Keep this to yourself for time being, no need to panic just yet. If we don't build Redtail's flying...

...machines then your vision cannot come to pass, at least not by us."
"Why are we going early again?"
"Your job Kron is to...

...keep Redtail occupied and away from Yank before you have to fight, after that Grum and Bull...

...can take over. Yank and Redtail can never meet."
"That's going to difficult master Drom, isn't the reason we are going is...

Day 16:

...to barter with the Irons for that green rock?"
"That riverbed is a day's walk from the Blue Mountains, should keep them...

...spin...Jank's information on the Rising was useful but other members of Drom's clan has provided some interesting...

...aspects of clan life and the big bartering event at the Blue Mountains. It seems the concept of secrets is unknown, lying...

...is taboo.  This event includes a fighting competition the winner's clan becomes first trading partners with the Irons and...

...married to Yunk's daughter.  No one can lie to me, I would say master Drom has a knack for omissions then. Seems like Drom...

...is playing both sides against the middle. Oddly enough the clan wouldn't tell me what the fights entailed exactly, said it...

...was going to be a surprise for me. I do not like surprises.  Master Yunk appears to be the man to meet perhaps I can charm...

...his daughter. Its a nine day journey to the Blue Mountains and its only day three what will I do with my time.  Tomorrow we...

...are passing through a village, most clans are nomadic however according to my distorted memories there are some villages...

The Chronicles of Redtail (83 to 110) - The Sunken Men

Day 11:

...in the tent Redtail put it on his hand and then took his hand away, it just floated there. Everyone stared it then it...

...spurted fire and everyone jumped."
"Fire!" Bull went on but I had stopped listening, I must speak to Drom alone. The move...

...will take up most my time, maybe when we stop.  He does walk the line hopefully Redtail won't be with him. "Can Grum get...

...I mean can you get Grum, I want to see Drom alone without Redtail"
"I will ask for you...spin...
I am not sure about this...

...plan of Redtail's. "Grum where is greybeard Jank?"
"He's is riding with the giants master Drom."
"Walking slow as usual...

...then, you would think they would walk faster than us."
"Yes master Drom."
Best wait til we stop then less Redtail thinks...

...I am not serious about his plan to invade the south. The Irons wont be interested and without them, there will not be any...

...airships.  Must speak to Kron without Redtail knowing.
"Grum this is important, do not tell anyone you hear?"
"Yes master...

...Drom"
"Good boy, find Kron tell him to meet me on the second day by the Sunken Men and to come alone. "
"Yes master Drom."...

Day 12:

...spin...You know when it is all coming apart when everybody tells you exactly what you want hear. Drom was saying all the...

...right words but his heart was not in it. A nine day march to the Blue mountains where the Irons are, they make swords and...

...according to one of Drom's greybeards a dried riverbed of Helliumite. A deposit so large that it would carve out several...

...empires. Yet I feel like I am being led up the garden to path to my doom. A greybeard comes up beside me being carried by a...

...giantspawn a girl think, hard to tell much like dwarves all beard.
"Lord Redtail I believe."
"Just Redtail sir, not a lord"...

"What is your name sir?"
"I am Jank, care for some company?"
"Why not, perhaps you can tell me what those stones are?"
"The...

...Sunken Men you mean."
"Yes, do you know who built them?"
"They were here before the first ones, some say they stopped...

...the last rising with their lives and there they stand."
"The rising?"
"You do not know of the rising, I thought everyone...

...knew about the rising, where did you grow up?"
"A long way from this lands master Jank, tell me of the rising?"
Perhaps...

Day 13:

...this is the Chaos to get Drom to believe...spin...Kron had never been so close to the Sunken Men before. People say...

... getting too close could disturb their vigil and the rising will come again. The last rays of the sun hit the men at just the...

...right angle to make their eyes shine deep red. An awesome inspiring sight.
"I can tell you've never been this close." Kron jumped...

... almost out of his skin. Master Drom appeared out of the shadows. "Is this a good place,"
"Masters have been coming here...

...for thousands of years, I think we are safe.  Besides I would be more annoyed with the ravens shitting on me than us." He...

...laughed although not too loudly.
"Master Drom I think Redtail is..."
"Not telling us everything, yes lad. I don't trust him...

...either but he has offered us something very useful."
"Things that flies?"
"You heard about that, but no the Irons keep their..

...secrets about making swords. Redtail's tricks will put us in a better bargaining position with the Irons.  Also I am going to...

...have to ask a favour from you, your...spin...Greybeard Jank had happily filled me on the story of the Rising. I think he was..

The Chronicles of Redtail (55 to 82)

Day 7: 

I had a hiatus.

Day 8:

...however smoke likes chaos and chaos likes me so we sat in a smoke filled tent. Not for the first time or the last.
"You...

...heard what Kron said?"
"Yes but what does that mean?"
"It means you head south before you all die."
"Impossible, there is a...

...solid wall of ice which has never been climbed."
"Then how did you get to this land?"
"The first ones arrived in ships west...

...of here and then thru a maze of mountains. It is guarded also."
"Well then perhaps we should just fly over."
"Is your horse...

...going fly us over one by one or can it split apart?"
"She does not carry anyone when she flies, no I was thinking of build...

...ing airships. They fly on the air instead of on water."
"Impossible, you are mad."
"With chaos all things are possible, only..

...order limits your options."
"Explain to me how you would do this."
"I will do better than explain I will show you but first...

...I need my pack from my horse. No don't bother getting up." I whistled briefly and moments later my horse walked thru...

...the tent almost see through, when I touched my heavy pack it became solid.  Removing it I set it upon the ground in front of..

Day 9:

...me. I pulled out a couple of leather bags and ornate wooden box. From one of the leather bags I took out a green rock and...

...passed it to Drom Drubane the camp's leader. "What is this?"
"Its called Heliumite its very common in all the lands I have...

...traveled. Has many uses, have you seen it anywhere in your lands?"
"Perhaps, do you mind if we show it around?"
"Fine, I...

...have a whole bag full." I took a nearby wooden three legged stool and placed my box upon it. Opening it carefully since its...

...contents can be deadly. I removed a thin glass cylinder and two small bottles. Open one bottle and place one end of the...

...cylinder into the open bottle. Then poured the contents of the second bottle carefully into the cylinder. "What are you...

...doing?"
"Not too close, this stuff is deadly. Its called Mercury a liquid metal, it will tell us how much Heliumite we need."

..."Not much as I thought, the air is thin here." I removed the Mercury from the cylinder and put it all back in the pack. At the...

...bottom of the pack I pulled out a larger heavier box and placed it on the stool.
"This Drom Drubane is but a model of what we...

Day 10:

...spin...I am strong, I just punched a Giantspawn she fell right over no man can match me. I am scared of nothing except..

...what I saw in those three days when Redtail's blood swirled in me. I have never seen a dragon but that must be what they...

...were. Fire from the sky.
"Kron we are moving and you are strong enough carry everything now." My friend Bull said smiling...

...Bull is small for his age but it did not stop him from knocking out a bull with a single blow from his fist.
"Where are we...

...heading?"
"North West, the Blue Mountains."
"But this time of year the Irons are there, they don't like us much."
"Aye...

...something to do with that green rock they showed us. I heard something flew in Drom's tent. Your friend Redtail,"
"He's not...

...my friend he killed my brother."
"The brother you hated so much that you shot him with an arrow?"
"I barely grazed him."...

"Only because you are a lousy shot."
That is true, why didn't Redtail take his blow against me?
"What flew in Drom's tent then?

"A model ship."
"You mean a boat on water?"
"No, it was long like a sausage with metal bits."
"How do know this?"
"Grum told me, he was...

The Chronicles of Redtail (28 to 54)

The story continues...twenty seven tweets split by day:

Day 4:

...my horse and didn't even hesitate by plunging his sword directly into my chest slicing through my lungs, he twisted it...

...and pull his blade slowly out twisting it all the time. "Not exactly one..." Blood started to fill my mouth no point in...

...wasting it, I spat straight into my attacker's face where it burnt it's way into the skin leaving behind swirled marks.

I felt the healing stone encompassing my body before I was completely enclosed I said "See you in three days lad."...spin...

...I turned to Kron but before I could speak Redtail's horse landed down between us, its wings vanished. It turned towards...

...the red standing stone that was Redtail and walked into it, before it vanished completely it kicked out with its back legs...

...hitting young Kron in the chest sending him flying back a good thirty feet through the tents and cooking fires...spin...

I saw the horse's hooves an instant too late I felt the light tap of them, felt myself fly backwards more taps to my back but no pain.

I landed hard against one of the posts the giants knock in, still no pain. The wood had split at the bottom but I was fine. How?

Day 5:

A greybeard gave me a hand up "You should be dead, there's not a scratch on you." I looked back through the path of...

...destruction at the end stood a ten foot red stone. "You have been marked by a demon lad, here look at yourself." He passed...

...me a shiny pot. My face is covered in red swirling patterns. Gods! They are moving, I can feel them crawling across my skin..

..spin..."How is young Kron?"
"His body is fine except for the demon's mark is spreading across his body, its the nightmares that's

...driving him mad. For two days..."
"What does he dream of?"
"Wars, terrible wars, bodies piled high.  Destroy the stone I say"

..."We have tried that, it is not always solid.  It moves as well, it must be connected to Kron."
"Kron thinks what he sees are..

...spin...a red misty realm a voice echoes out 'your blood is not meant for him.'
"Perhaps not but you keep telling me..."

...everything happens for a reason."
'it is the WRONG link.'
"Wrong maybe but strong if he survives, some memories create...

...wisdom"
'the blood is chaos.'
"Rather it be in the lad than on the land I think."
'this game is reckless'
"Your one to talk...

Day 6:

...spin...Upon my horse again waiting for the stone to release me. Kron is outside glaring at the stone no hint of madness in...

...his eyes. My blood centered upon his forehead in spinning swirls. Ah ha! Time has come. Fresh air again, "What have you...

...learned lad?"
"That Chaos is coming and vengeance holds no meaning."
"Ready for my blow?"
"Yes"
Holding out my hand palm up...

...the blood upon Kron's forehead swirled out of him in a double-helix and landed upon my palm in a tight twisting ball which...

...slowly sank into my palm. Welcome back missed you. Speaking to Kron I said
"Because you survived my blood your body will...

...retain the increased strength and be almost impervious to attack. I must warn you however not all attacks use a sword."
I...

...turned towards the camp's leader and said "Where were we?"
"Who the Hell are you?"
"Tricky question, perhaps it would be...

...better if we spoke in a more private setting?"
I dismounted and followed the leader to one of the larger tents in the camp...

...I noticed that Kron did not follow but stayed behind. The tent was open in the middle in an attempt to let the smoke out...

TriChunking Writing Experiment

In an attempt to get my creative juices flowing again I starting writing on a story using Twitter by doing nine tweets a day made up of three tweets with two replies.  Three in the morning, lunchtime and evening.

I am using someone else's universe or maybe its a clone of theirs but have created my own unique character for the story.  Perhaps you can figure out whose universe I'm using as a base.

Obviously with a hundred forty character limit which includes the hashtag #amwriting it is cliff hanger city. I think of them as mini chapters, I started on Wednesday 13th September so only three days so far.  I have decided to call it:

The Chronicles of Redtail

Note: I shall remove the #amwriting from the original tweets but leave the formatting in and some minor editing.  It is a bit disjointed at first as I am exploring this style of writing.

Day 1

The air was cold, you could see the air as I and the horse breathed out. A man running towards me thru snow with sword in hand...

...the horse sidestepped, my hand swept of its own accord. The blade dripped with blood, I saw my face reflected in deep red...

... snowing harder now the body is turning white, dropped a fire brand upon it. Best to let it burn. Moving on towards...

The violent death had brought my memories into sharp focus I knew my destiny but not the destination...

...the huts spread out across a snow covered plain made of sticks and cloth, nothing permanent they would be moving soon...

..their scouts had tried to intercept me but a simple jump forward kept them away.  They had signaled ahead I could see...

At the edge of the encampment were 5 men with swords drawn, I chose to ignore them and adjusted my solidity to suit. No need to..

antagonize them further. They thought I was going to stop, it did not matter they suffered minor cuts as I passed through them..

..my passage through created a stir and several futile attempts to attack me resulted in almost laughable results. One man ahead..

Day 2

The man was covered in white and grey furs perfect camouflage for this land. His face deeply lined with a...

... permanent frown yet there was humour in his eyes. Jet black hair upon his head, a wise man but driven. 

No awe yet.  My colours are dark blue and deep dirty red and the horse a pale dirty white. The horse and I are separate but...

We are one. I twisted as if to dismount but we both merged together in an eye bending...spin...

...spin...what is it this man-horse before me? I see but colours of blue,red and white.  Just makes me dizzy to watch...spin...

I see awe now, I am taller than the man but adjusting will waste further energy. I lean forward and offer my hand...

Up close I could see his aura, a pale blue. A good colour for the first link in the chain. He stared at my hand for a bit then...

clasped my hand, his touch was light as if he was not sure that I was real but once merged we are as solid as diamond. Swords...

will bend, break, bounce or all three. "I am called Redtail." A question passed across his face, I smiled and shook my head.

Day 3

He opened his mouth to speak but I raised my hand "I know who you are and what drives you." Before he could reply an upset man ran up..

He spat his words "I saw you kill my brother!" "The man on the plain?"
"Yes, damn you yes!"
"Then you saw he attacked without...

... provocation"
"You barstard you killed him with a single blow!"
"Quick deaths are best, you want vengeance?"
"Damn you..."

...Yes"
"I will trade you a single blow, undefended, deal?"
The man's anger seem to drain out of him at my offer. 
"You...

...won't defend against my sword?"
"One blow, if you do not kill me then I will have single blow against you, deal?"

His leader did not intercede, "Yes it is a deal!" I held up my hand "One moment." Coming apart is always more difficult...

...spin...a single to blow to his lungs a slow death is true vengeance...what the... Oh! My Gods!  What have I agreed to... 

...spin....the dead man's brother face just went pale at the sight of us dismerging.  I admit it is not a pretty.  My horse...

...leapt into the air sprouted wings and spiraled upwards. I stood open armed "Your blow sir."  The man tore his gaze away from..

Remove zero Twonk

Okay enough is enough you want to get rid of Trump the strategy is very simple.  He's a vain bully that loves attention and he does not care what type of attention.  Every tweet he does is designed to do one thing only create more attention on him.

Every time you respond to one of his tweets or re-tweet him you are giving him what he wants.  This latest tweet about the DNC server and the FBI, complete fiction but everybody on Twitter is talking about it whilst he spends quality time with Putin.  He's not stupid he's creating his own reality and pulling everyone else in.

DO NOT respond to his tweets. DO NOT re-tweet him. UN-Follow him, follow POTUS if you must. (although most of his followers are bots anyway).

Tweet at him constantly about current events: Healthcare Plan, Economy, Russia, Global Warming etc.  ONLY GIVE HIM FACTS!!!

Organize people, use his tool against him and don't just tweet at him. Tweet at his Republican power base. Make his only tool impotent!

The Free Press, you know who you are!  Put a black out of on his tweets.  Don't bother with them at all! DO NOT report them they are a waste of your time and most of the time 18 months out of date re-purposed fiction.  Remove him from office by not talking about him at all, refer him as potus or the Whitehouse Republican Administration. DENY HIM PERSONALLY ALL PRESS!  MAKE IT ABOUT the Republicans! They made him a puppet dictator!

Time to Rebrand the troll!

Remove his support mechanism!

Resistance only works when you are organized! 

DO NOT FEED THE TROLL!

The Cow's Thunder

Just to begin with I am reading the Koran (Penguin's translation) from an objective point of view, I am not religious or spiritual in anyway whatsoever.  If you are offended by what I say here then your in the wrong religion or universe.

I have not read very much so far only eight percent not even got through the first chapter which is called The Cow.  The reasons behind this name I could not tell you but it is fairly big, the chapter that is.

Basically what I have got so far is that it reads like a summary of the old testament.

Satan did not want to bow down to the humans so he fell, but stayed in paradise long enough to tempt Adam to the 'tree' so god banishes Adam and Eve to the Earth, funny it said earlier that god knew all things maybe he is only good at present and past.  Or perhaps the order is wrong.  The preface and forward to this book tells us that the Koran's chapters are out of order chronically which seems to be a clever method of telling the story differently.  What is more curious is that right at the beginning there is this passage:

"..beneath a dark storm-cloud charged with thunder and lightning, thrust their fingers into their ears at the sound every thunder-clap for fear of death (God thus encompasses the unbelievers).  The lightning almost snatches away their sight: whenever it flashes upon them they walk on, but as soon as it darkens they stand still.  Indeed, if God pleased, He could take away their hearing and their sight..."

That reads like the end of my short story Thunder Road so perhaps if god knows the future he has stole my ideas.  There are many logical reasons against this though.

Moving on their god's convenant should you accept it, so that means we have a choice on whether to believe in god or not?!?  Apparently no choice if you deny or reject off you go to the 'fire' which is made of humans and stones, you will abide there for ever.  Stones are not known for their properties of burning well except in volcano like temperatures something of a curious choice by the author.

It repeats several times about the alms levy which upon researching this is to do with a charity tax which is given to the poor.  Also repeated is the phrase:

"He is the Relenting One, the Compassionate."

Apparently god is unhappy that his flock wanted: "green herbs, cucumber, corn, lentils and onions" which is hardly the fast food or bad for you.  What were they eating before?

Their is a cow sacrifice (reason for chapter maybe) which had to be a "rich yellow, pleasing to those that see it." I have seen brown, white and black cows never a yellow one, I can only assume it was suffering from liver disease.

Then there is this wonderful passage which effectively allows for any interpretation of the Koran:

"[2:106] Any verse We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, We will replace by a better one or one similar."

The operative word here is 'similar', changing one word can change the entire meaning of a sentence.

According verse [2:115] god belongs only to the East and West, did they not have a concept of North and South back then?  The same verse states that god is omnipresent and all-knowing but not in the North or South or knows of it!

[2:122] God's convenant does not apply to wrongdoers so there is a choice?

[2:126] ..."I shall let them live awhile, and then shall drag them to the scourge of the Fire..." That sounds like torture from the Compassionate god.

[2:155] "We shall test your steadfastness with fear and famine..." More torture, more excuses for why bad things happen.  Its god's fault!

[2:178] Apparently god allows slaves.

[2:185] Time to go hungry but god desires your "well-being" not "discomfort", not eating for a whole month is going to be a slow yet fast killing.

[2:187] Multiple wives time during your fast, Compassionate god remember.

[2:190] My favourite verse so far, you allowed to fight but you cannot be the aggressors because god does not love them.  Basically you are allowed to defend yourself however you can attack the wrongdoers who is anybody that does not believe in god.  Murder is allowed by the Compassionate god.

[2:190] Update 3/6/17: Nowhere in the verse does it say kill, fight and attack only.  If they attacked with swords the likelihood of death during those days would have been high due to the lack drugs to fight off infection.  My above statement about Murder is not certain.

Thought Experiment in Summary (Creative Ideas)

It seems to me that so far there is a lot of giving by us humans to the Compassionate god and not a lot given in return.  This god is happy that we fight which would suggest that this god is perhaps maybe a devil or an entity that feeds off the energy created by violence.  Taken to its logical conclusion perhaps all religious texts are written by this dark entity.  Maybe there is another entity that feeds on love and peace maybe it does not need much to maintain itself and faces away from us.  Whereas the dark one's face is always towards us hence all the contradictory religious texts and the constant need for violence.  There is a symbiotic balance between the two, the dark one would starve if we all killed one other or there was only peace.

Th above paragraph is somewhat rambling, welcome to my mind.

The Town Called Dinosaur

Story by Oneyearmuse

Title by Captain Awesome

Jetsam

Ky watched the Outsiders a curious bipedal design he wondered idly who had come up with such an outlandish design, their internal organs are even in more peculiar.  Ky had long since given up on politics and external exploration outside of the home planet but it would appear that the rumours about some of the early trade missions were indeed true.  They had arrive eight cycles ago no wait that's eight days according to the Outsiders terminology, for the conspiracy to work we must always live inside the Outsiders mindset otherwise errors and holes will creep in.

Technically the conspiracy was an open conspiracy in that everybody in town knew about it, it was Ky's responsibility to maintain and refine every aspect of the conspiracy.  The outer markers signaled the implementation of Phase I eight days ago, this time it was not a drill.  The first phase was always going to go smoothly purely because it had been practiced so many times.  It was three days before the Outsiders arrived in orbit and sent down their landing parties.  Phase II was always going to be the more difficult part of the conspiracy since the Outsiders are inherently suspicious.

Of course the first problem for them was one of communications, it took several days for them to discover the radio frequencies.  The Outsiders had incorrectly assumed all language would be written or spoken.  They had observed the inhabitants of the town and discovered that either it was a very primitive species or that they were missing something important.

Phase II was to allow a limited form of communication enough to keep the Outsiders interested and off guard.  Always more questions than answers, phase III would begin on the ninth day.

Flotsam

Ship's Log of the S.S. Grapple Captain Roy T Thompson Commanding:

Sol Day 108

The cosmic storm designated CS/918 has caused severe damage to life support and the main drive unit.  Auxiliaries have given us limited facilities enough to give us a fix on our position unfortunately the communications array is completely shot. Which means we are currently on our own however we have had some good fortunate in that we have located a life supporting planet just in range of us.  We can achieve orbit in 3 days.

Sol Day 112

The planet has inhabitants based in one town on the northern continent, the planet's temperature is inconsistent with its distance from the star in this solar system however we have been unable to determine any form of advanced technology.  Ensign Wallace has dubbed the town Dinosaur because from the air it looks a little like a velociraptor.  Wallace's personnel jacket shows his birth place as Artesia, Colorado, the name has stuck much to the annoyance of some of the scientists.

Sol Day 114

Ensign Wallace was the first notice that the 3 legged inhabitants of the town caused an interference on the radio.  It was then spotted that the rod like protrusions from the tops (heads) of the aliens waved/moved about when the interference occurred.  Their bodies are tube like ending in 3 legs of similar length to the main body, on average they are about metre in height.  Their feet have adjustable suckers, no mouth, ears or eyes in evidence and yet they respond to our presence.

Sol Day 115

Major breakthrough in communications with the Tripods it would appear that they use a radio frequency of 27 Mhz to communicate on.  The computer is slowly creating a basic lexicon, however it has become obvious that the Tripods are perhaps just a primitive animal species and are not the original inhabitants of the town.

Sol Day 117

The Geological survey team to the west are currently overdue, they were sent out to discover the source of a heat bloom that appeared on the ships sensors at 12:42.

Ship's Log of the S.S. GreyStar Captain Wilma Jones Commanding:

Sol Day 109

The S.S. Grapple has been found drifting between the La Grange point between Io and Jupiter, it would appear there has been several explosive decompressions throughout the ship.  None of the ship's crew has been found.

The ship's log is fragmentary and much of the data banks have been exposed to heavy radiation giving us barely any indication as to what happen to the ship and its crew.  Sol Day 108 is the last ship's log that has any useful information:

"The cosmic storm designated CS/918 has caused severe damage to life support and the main drive unit.  Auxiliaries have given us limited.... enough.... position unfortunately the communications arra....   Which means.... own... life...  in range of us.  We can achieve...."

No cosmic storms have been recorded around Jupiter at least not at the magnitude to cause this much damage.  The ship will be towed to Ganymede station where the Space Patrol will have to solve its mysteries.

Jetsam

Ky looked down into the chamber containing the Outsiders stored in stasis, their discovery of Ky's home planet was always possibility which why the plan had been created.  Whilst these particular Outsiders had evolved beyond war others have not and there are always world destroyers out there.  Any sufficiently intelligent species never advertise their presence, it is a miracle of chance that the Outsider's planet has not been attacked and plundered yet.  Of course our own trade mission to that part of space may have something to do with its continued survival.

Oy was pleased with Ky's implementation of Phase III, the Outsiders were caught completely by surprise.  The ones on the planet never knew what hit them since the gas is completely odourless although the ones on the ship attempted to defend themselves which caused some useful damage. Once the Outsiders had been removed from the ship, its systems were mostly wiped and then towed into a minus nine cycle position.  Our secret is maintained.

The three legged Trilon followed its two legged grey masters from the viewing gallery.