Meetings Squared (part 16)
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Mr Zoat
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18th May 2284
15:44 GMT -6
Governor Rusk nods when he sees me. "I don't know shit. You?"
I shake my head as we follow the crowd into the main hall. The people around me are some of the most senior politicians and military officers in our alliance, and-.
I check to make sure that my people are maintaining vigilance.
**Yes, Chief Krono.**
Good. Because it would be very bad if anything happened to this room.
"High-altitude nuclear detonation is my best guess."
"Weel shyt. Any idea who?"
I didn't ask anyone in Britain if they still had Polaris or Trident, but I'd have thought that if they did they'd have fired it when the European countries fought each other. And I don't know if Trident's missiles have the fuel capacity for a high-altitude detonation.
"Most likely a pre-War facility. American, Chinese or Russian would be my guess, but that doesn't narrow it down much."
"Weren't us, I'll tell yah that fer nothin'. Weren't those Alamo kooks, neither. Tlaloc?"
"Contrary to his core programming. And I don't want to assume this was deliberate. There were times during the Cold War where the Russians nearly fired their arsenal because their launch detection system mistook a normal cloud or a flock of birds for an American nuclear launch. If some Emperor-class A.I. got its knickers in a twist…"
Rusk nods. "Or some fool broke inta some facility they had no business being inside and pressed the wrong button. I'll try an' keep a cool-"
"Chief Krono?"
"-head."
We look up as a N.C.R. Ranger corporal hustles up to us.
"Yes?"
"General wants you, sir."
"Ah-."
Rusk nods. "Oh, you get on, son. With alla this panicking and carrying-on, I reckon the bar's probably free."
"Right. See you when I see you. Lead on, Corporal."
"Sir."
We pick our way through the not-quite panicking crowd, confirming with one another that they're all equally ignorant. Douglas and his mother are getting a few odd looks; former Enclave and person who blew up the Enclave not being a natural pair in most people's minds. And one of my brother-in-laws is talking to a priestess from Heaven's Gate.
"…er teams in the Oregon, but they're mostly keeping tabs on the Washington Brotherhood."
Ranger General Mossman is standing in front of a world map which has been affixed to an easel. Mossman is in overall command of the N.C.R. Rangers, as well as effectively being in command of N.C.R. Intelligence. He's also the reason why Chief Hanlon got to retire honourably rather than being put in front of a firing squad, so I'm tentatively willing to assume that he's a good man as well. Grant's standing next to him, nodding twitchily and occasionally glancing around the room. One nice thing about Vegas is that House got all of his anti-missile systems up and running again, so we're in just about the safest place we could be if missiles are in the air.
Another ranger dashes in and writes a time on the map before heading out again, Mossman staring at it before turning to his boss.
"I think that about-." He catches sight of me. "Mister Krono."
"General. Governor. Do you know something?"
Mossman nods. "I've been having my people contact our outposts across California and record the time when their electronics stopped working. Not everyone's reported in yet, but as far as we can tell so far, the effect hit the north first. I don't suppose you've got eyes on the Immortal, have you?"
I shake my head. "I'm afraid not. I don't have that many operatives, and he hasn't been a priority."
Another nod. "It could have been a Russian missile fired over the pole, or something someone left up there for two hundred years. As far as we can tell, all the satellites in that area have either been destroyed or disabled."
Hayes sighs. "We don't even know for certain that there haven't been other attacks all across America. Can you do something about that?"
"Yes, but not quickly. I'll need to contact the choir in Area Fifty-One, and they'll need to reach out-."
"Do it. With the satellites down, we don't have anything better. And it's not like someone can just fly up and replaced the satellites' vacuum tubes, so I think we're going to have to accelerate-."
"No, we can."
Hayes frowns at me. "You told me your saucers weren't designed for space walks."
"They're not, but the Mothership can handle that, no prob-. Ah, assuming that they've got the trained personnel, but we can send someone up if they haven't."
That prompts an eyebrow-raise. "Where did you find trained astronauts?"
"Houston, hopefully. If they've got a few pre-War ghouls around, they should remember the skills required. If not, my people have telekinesis. It should make spacewalks a lot easier than trying to manage it with a thruster pack."
"Okay, that's a start. And I've got to get soldiers mobilised. Do you think your Canadian friends will help out?"
"They might, but you'd be better off talking to-" I turn and nod at the nun. "-our steam-loving friends."
Hayes nods. "Alright. You make your calls, I'll talk to her. Mossman, keep up the good work and holla if you learn anything new."
"Right." / "Mister-. Governor."
I could reach out while standing here, but it's easier if I'm somewhere quiet, if only because people won't try talking to me. This is a little further than a casual chat, so…
**[Picture the site]**
In my mind's eye I see the focus station, and the projective and receptive telepaths currently on duty. Several look around, and I can **[feel them looking back]**.
**Krono to Station.**
**We hear you, Chief.**
**Someone just used a weapon which destroys vacuum tubes. Contact our embedded agents and get reports on what's happening where they are, how far the effect has spread and if there have been any other attacks. Report back to me when ready.**
**At once, Chief.**
**And send a message to Albert, on the Mothership. Ask him to radio me in New Vegas as soon as possible.**
**That could take a while. I don't think he's in range.**
Can't blame a man for having fun in a spaceship.
**Whenever you can. Krono out.**
I withdraw my awareness, blinking as I refocus on my physical location. I'd best head to the market and purchase some warm clothing, because I expect that a trip to Washington State is in my future.
15:44 GMT -6
Governor Rusk nods when he sees me. "I don't know shit. You?"
I shake my head as we follow the crowd into the main hall. The people around me are some of the most senior politicians and military officers in our alliance, and-.
I check to make sure that my people are maintaining vigilance.
**Yes, Chief Krono.**
Good. Because it would be very bad if anything happened to this room.
"High-altitude nuclear detonation is my best guess."
"Weel shyt. Any idea who?"
I didn't ask anyone in Britain if they still had Polaris or Trident, but I'd have thought that if they did they'd have fired it when the European countries fought each other. And I don't know if Trident's missiles have the fuel capacity for a high-altitude detonation.
"Most likely a pre-War facility. American, Chinese or Russian would be my guess, but that doesn't narrow it down much."
"Weren't us, I'll tell yah that fer nothin'. Weren't those Alamo kooks, neither. Tlaloc?"
"Contrary to his core programming. And I don't want to assume this was deliberate. There were times during the Cold War where the Russians nearly fired their arsenal because their launch detection system mistook a normal cloud or a flock of birds for an American nuclear launch. If some Emperor-class A.I. got its knickers in a twist…"
Rusk nods. "Or some fool broke inta some facility they had no business being inside and pressed the wrong button. I'll try an' keep a cool-"
"Chief Krono?"
"-head."
We look up as a N.C.R. Ranger corporal hustles up to us.
"Yes?"
"General wants you, sir."
"Ah-."
Rusk nods. "Oh, you get on, son. With alla this panicking and carrying-on, I reckon the bar's probably free."
"Right. See you when I see you. Lead on, Corporal."
"Sir."
We pick our way through the not-quite panicking crowd, confirming with one another that they're all equally ignorant. Douglas and his mother are getting a few odd looks; former Enclave and person who blew up the Enclave not being a natural pair in most people's minds. And one of my brother-in-laws is talking to a priestess from Heaven's Gate.
"…er teams in the Oregon, but they're mostly keeping tabs on the Washington Brotherhood."
Ranger General Mossman is standing in front of a world map which has been affixed to an easel. Mossman is in overall command of the N.C.R. Rangers, as well as effectively being in command of N.C.R. Intelligence. He's also the reason why Chief Hanlon got to retire honourably rather than being put in front of a firing squad, so I'm tentatively willing to assume that he's a good man as well. Grant's standing next to him, nodding twitchily and occasionally glancing around the room. One nice thing about Vegas is that House got all of his anti-missile systems up and running again, so we're in just about the safest place we could be if missiles are in the air.
Another ranger dashes in and writes a time on the map before heading out again, Mossman staring at it before turning to his boss.
"I think that about-." He catches sight of me. "Mister Krono."
"General. Governor. Do you know something?"
Mossman nods. "I've been having my people contact our outposts across California and record the time when their electronics stopped working. Not everyone's reported in yet, but as far as we can tell so far, the effect hit the north first. I don't suppose you've got eyes on the Immortal, have you?"
I shake my head. "I'm afraid not. I don't have that many operatives, and he hasn't been a priority."
Another nod. "It could have been a Russian missile fired over the pole, or something someone left up there for two hundred years. As far as we can tell, all the satellites in that area have either been destroyed or disabled."
Hayes sighs. "We don't even know for certain that there haven't been other attacks all across America. Can you do something about that?"
"Yes, but not quickly. I'll need to contact the choir in Area Fifty-One, and they'll need to reach out-."
"Do it. With the satellites down, we don't have anything better. And it's not like someone can just fly up and replaced the satellites' vacuum tubes, so I think we're going to have to accelerate-."
"No, we can."
Hayes frowns at me. "You told me your saucers weren't designed for space walks."
"They're not, but the Mothership can handle that, no prob-. Ah, assuming that they've got the trained personnel, but we can send someone up if they haven't."
That prompts an eyebrow-raise. "Where did you find trained astronauts?"
"Houston, hopefully. If they've got a few pre-War ghouls around, they should remember the skills required. If not, my people have telekinesis. It should make spacewalks a lot easier than trying to manage it with a thruster pack."
"Okay, that's a start. And I've got to get soldiers mobilised. Do you think your Canadian friends will help out?"
"They might, but you'd be better off talking to-" I turn and nod at the nun. "-our steam-loving friends."
Hayes nods. "Alright. You make your calls, I'll talk to her. Mossman, keep up the good work and holla if you learn anything new."
"Right." / "Mister-. Governor."
I could reach out while standing here, but it's easier if I'm somewhere quiet, if only because people won't try talking to me. This is a little further than a casual chat, so…
**[Picture the site]**
In my mind's eye I see the focus station, and the projective and receptive telepaths currently on duty. Several look around, and I can **[feel them looking back]**.
**Krono to Station.**
**We hear you, Chief.**
**Someone just used a weapon which destroys vacuum tubes. Contact our embedded agents and get reports on what's happening where they are, how far the effect has spread and if there have been any other attacks. Report back to me when ready.**
**At once, Chief.**
**And send a message to Albert, on the Mothership. Ask him to radio me in New Vegas as soon as possible.**
**That could take a while. I don't think he's in range.**
Can't blame a man for having fun in a spaceship.
**Whenever you can. Krono out.**
I withdraw my awareness, blinking as I refocus on my physical location. I'd best head to the market and purchase some warm clothing, because I expect that a trip to Washington State is in my future.
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