Virtually Real Part 29: Spies

Returning Characters"

Prowl-Ar/Kyle/Shock/Frost

Tank/Tuft

Fallow Base Commander

Corporal

Badlands

Paradise
Skyfall

Drone

Spielberg

Slider/Lee

Violet

Captain Mærik

Inari

Frost stomped into the living room. "Dad, how much longer before you return to the game?"

I checked the time. "About an hour and then another hour before we get back to the base."

"That's like forever." He whined.

"Can you tell me what's wrong without telling me what's happening in the game?"

"Everyone is treating me like a dumb kid. When we got back to base they told me to give my suit to an experience pilot and when I refused to give them the codes they confined me to my quarters. I'm so sick of doing nothing. I couldn't tell you what's going on because nobody will tell me anything."

"You could have exited the game earlier."

"I- I didn't want you to think I couldn't handle it and make me quit playing."

I mentally slapped myself. "You've already proved you can handle just about anything VR can throw at you. If you're not playing a significant role in the plot you can step out and do other things. Do you really think Tank is playing through the trip to Earth and back? No he's spending his time with Tuft. If you're not sure whether you can leave or not pause the game and ask one of us. I wasn't going to mention it until we're back in game, but I'm proud of the way you acted during that whole mission."

"Really?" Frost asked in surprise.

"Yeah, you covered Tuft and I like a professional when we were ambushed. You remained calm when you were being targeted, and you didn't complain when you were ordered to return to base instead of staying with us. You were even going to fight Tuft when you thought he was going to shoot me. When I get back to base, if the story will allow it, I'm going to request that you be given full pilot status."

Frost got up and hugged me. "Dad, I love you. You always try to explain instead of telling me what or how I should do things. I've heard you say you don't really know how to be a parent, but I think you're doing a really good job."

I was tempted to ask what he wanted, however I decided not to let my old cynical self, interfere with this moment.

***

"Um, not to break this brooding silence we've been maintaining, but how much longer before we're within communication's range?" Lee asked as we continued our march back to base.

"I'm more concerned about how long we've been away." Tuft said.

"You worried Tank will have replaced you?"

"No, because if he did do something so stupid I'd tear the replacement apart and lodge my lucky foot right up Tank's-"

"I'm not worried. Since our transformation my mates and I have been linked. I know they are both alive so they know that I'm still alive. Besides even if I'm listed KIA everything I own goes to Fox and Drake so I can pick up where I left off."

I heard Lee sigh. "I don't have anyone left. I bounced from foster home to foster home until I was drafted, so my personal effects will probably go to some military store house before being recycled."

"No one? I've read your file, you know." I said.

"Most of it is a work of fiction. I did a favor for the recruiter when my paperwork was being written up, so he made up a better background for me."

"Lee, you have family now. My parents wanted to meet you even before I was able to tell you how I feel about you." Slider interrupted.

"They know about us?" Lee asked in surprise.

"Of course they know about us. Like I'm not going to tell them about the man I want to bring home to meet them. I just hope you can deal with the fact they'll smother you with attention." There was a moment of silence. "God I hope we haven't been gone very long. If we were listed as killed in action . . ." Slider trailed off.

"As soon as we get back you can place a direct call to them using my hyperspace transmitter. It's only right since I'm the one that caused this mess." I pointed out.

"It is not your fault. It's the fault of whoever authorized the use of a zero point generator on an in system shuttle." Tuft insisted.

"We should be close enough by now. Fallow Base, this is Tiger and combat unit two, do you read?"

"Tiger? You live?"

"Cold Snap, it's good to hear your voice. Tuft has taken significant damage. However the suits have only very minor damage and we have no injuries or losses. This may be a strange question, but how long have we been gone?"

"Not strange, Drake figure out zero point generator. Explain time dilation effect. It only 18 days lost. Fox convince Commander, hold off declaring you missing for month. Try year, but fail."

"Can you give us a base situational update?" Lee asked.

"Report directly to Commander. Violet relay you alive. He command all four come directly to command."

"Understood, Tiger out."

"That sounds ominous." Lee commented.

"Tuft, you're a civilian as soon as we reach the base perimeter see if Tank is still here."

"He is. I'm already in direct communication with the Bad Luck. He's coming out to pick me up. Frost informed him of my condition and with Drake's authorization he made the trip to Earth and back with a new body. He says we'll return the suit when everything is settled, whatever that means."

"You were just doing me a favor, so technically I can't stop you as long as that suit gets returned." We looked up, as we were suddenly in shadow, into the open cargo bay of the Bad Luck. Somehow Tank was keeping the ship tilted at a 90 degree angle with the nose pointed directly at the ground. Several cargo cables unspooled from the bay and Tuft carefully attached them to the suit's hard points.

"See you later, maybe." Tuft radioed before the cargo doors closed, the ship tilted and blasted away, presumably into orbit.

"I didn't know a maneuver like that was possible." Slider mumbled.

"Neither did I; and it was my company that built it. Of course Tank designed and oversaw the construction so no one would know its capabilities better than he would."

"The way he pulled Tuft out of here makes me think we're not going to receive a hero's welcome." Slider added.

"Listen, no matter what happens, what you're told, or asked you were following my orders."

"Even without your hand signs I would-" Slider started.

"Have done nothing. You two won't betray each other. They have to know that, so they'll try to convince you I'm against you. I'm telling you, no matter what, you were only following my orders. I'm not going to sell you out simply because no matter what they try to hit me with I have connections and resources that they cannot risk losing. The military machine assigned Fox, Drake, and myself here without even realizing that we're mates, imagine what else they don't know. We supply the Exploration Team with equipment, we created the control system for the MAS suits, and we created Tuft. We built the Lawless, Bad Luck, and Indigo Flame yet no one has bothered to wonder 'could they have a battleship hidden somewhere?'"

"Um, do you?" Lee asked.

"That's something you'll just have to continue to wonder about. Just remember, never turn on each other and you were only following my orders and everything will work out."

"Yeah, with you standing in front of a firing squad." Slider mumbled.

Lee laughed, "And every one of them knowing that if anyone pulls the trigger Drake, Frost, and Fox will kill every last one of them in gruesome ways. No, we're going to be threatened, bribed, badgered, and possibly humiliated but when it is all over the most they'll do is demoted Tiger, but that's probably the only punishment they'll risk.

***

As soon as we reported to the command building we were taken to separate interrogation rooms. Fortunately they didn't restrain me. A mistake considering I could open the door with a voice command. Still, no need to provoke them. It seemed like they were busy with Slider and Lee so I stretched out on the table for a cat nap.

Sometime later I woke to a voice yelling, "What do you think you're doing?"

I rolled on my back and stretched. "I'm here for the autopsy. Are you the coroner?"

The look of confusion and anger on the bureaucrat's puffy red face was priceless. Still I groaned inwardly. He had to be about five foot nine, balding, slightly overweight, wearing a sweat stained suit that likely held perfect creases in a controlled environment.

"I'm Colonel Slager, Military internal Affairs. I'm here to investigate the charges against you." He entered and his security detail closed the door behind him. Likely standing guard in the hall.

I gracefully rolled off the table and spun into one of the seats. "If you don't mind I'd like to ask you a couple of questions. Please sit, this may take a while."

He quickly sat down and then his face got even redder as he realized I'd told him what to do.

"Now listen here." He yelled.

"What are the charges against the accused?" I asked.

"Countermanding a superior officer, disobeying orders, wanton destruction of military property, desertion, treason, and murder."

"Countermanding a superior officer? I was placed in charge of the base mobile armor teams. Therefore, as soon as I arrived on scene, it was my duty to assess the situation and re-deploy my troops as required for maximum defensibility. The only time I gave orders to anyone not under my command was when I ordered the shuttle crew to board the Bad Luck for evacuation. I issued that order when it became obvious that our position was about to be over run. I also realized we wouldn't have enough time to salvage the last shuttle."

"So you admit to destroying a valuable piece of military property?"

"Yes, in accordance with military protocol, 'if an item of value cannot be salvaged it is to be destroyed'. We were under threat of imminent enemy attack so I rigged an explosive charge to the shuttle's coolant system. I'm familiar enough with starship engines to know that the explosive release of coolant would decimate the enemy forces and that the reactor explosion would take out the remaining forces. It would also guarantee that the shuttle was destroyed. It wasn't until after the core imploded that I discovered the shuttle was equipped with an illegal zero point reactor."

"Do you have any proof of this?"

"Besides the video logs from my suit? For the record they are automatically backed up to Shadow Tech servers for suit analyses. How would you explain a six hour hike taking eighteen days? Don't try to level that desertion charge at me or my troops. Fallow, with its giant ass dinosaurs isn't a place to hang out and sing campfire songs."

"You still haven't explained the charges of treason and murder."

"You're right and I completely agree with you about Colonel Brand committing treason. He turned the shuttle's guns on one of my pilots, also putting the injured and a member of the Exploration Team in the line of fire. When he refused to desist I gave my sniper the signal to neutralize the threat."

"In point of fact the one Colonel Brand was pointing his weapon at was a civilian child in a stolen infantry suit, and your son correct?"

"Incorrect. Frost is my son, but the suit was a gift given to him by Captain Shades. He was placed under my command as a rookie trainee by the Fallow Base Commander. So while he is technically a civilian he is also a soldier under my command. He also has more kills to his credit than most of the men on this base."

"Colonel Brand is only the latest officer that you've killed, isn't he? What about the trained pilots that were sent to this base? You killed them quite viciously according to reports."

"Those men were killed in an animal attack." I said coldly.

"Yes, but you were the animal, a tiger, I believe the report stated. Then there was the mark 35 terraforming bomb incident, were your negligence nearly wiped out the population of this installation."

I glared at the little windbag. The only people that knew the bomb remains had been from a mark 35 terraformer were myself, Breakdown, Lee and Badlands. Seeing as we'd cleared away the debris and Tank had hauled it all back to Earth for analyses before the attack, the only way Slager could know was if he had been involved. "Lockdown protocol. Colonel, you just made a fatal error."

"Guards! Restrain the prisoner!" Slager yelled. There was banging on the door, but it didn't open.

"You seemed to know everything, weren't you informed that this entire tower is assembled using Shadow Tech pre-fabricated components? I can control everything from automated defenses to door locks with voice commands. You just thought you could walk into the tiger's den and tell me that either you or someone you work for tried to destroy this base and kill everyone I love?"

"That right just go ahead and rip my head off." Slager yelled at the top of his lungs.

"I don't need to. You see, this little conversation is also being recorded and you just messed up big time. The only ones that know the bomb was a mark 35 terraforming weapon happen to be myself, the man that defused it, and his commanding officer. That is information I haven't even shared with my mates."

"The Commanding Officer put it in his report." Slager sneered.

"You know, I can tell when a person lies to me. However, I don't need special abilities to know you're lying. The Exploration Team reports directly to special operations not to military command. Plus Badlands wouldn't reveal such critical information in the middle of an investigation."

"You're even dumber than you look. You think you'll get away with killing me?" He slapped his neck really hard and then looked at his hand in confusion before doing it again.

I laughed, "You've been on planet since before this last mission, haven't you? Observation room, call Hardline, it seems Colonel Slippery Shit has a malfunctioning explosive device in his neck. While you're at it you may want to put his security detail in the brig so they can't sabotage anything on the base." I smirked at the Colonel as he desperately pushed on his neck. "Colonel, this has been a most informative interrogation. I'm sure our professionals will enjoy pumping you for more. The location of your hidden base for starters."

"What?" He croaked.

"Stop trying to blow your own head off. It might have worked, if I hadn't ordered an EMP burst before the mission started. Obviously you were already on the planet and your little suicide gizmo was shorted out."

I heard a scuffle outside the door and then a light knock. I stood up and leaned against the back wall ready to spring if the wrong people entered. "System unlock."

The door swung open and the Commander was standing there looking even more angry than usual. "Men, take this traitor down to the brig. The guards looked at each other in confusion.

"You heard him, put this animal in a cage." I said.

"Make sure he is under constant surveillance. He's already proven he's a suicide risk. He isn't even allowed privacy when he takes a piss. He might try to drown himself before we get him to talk."

The guards grinned and dragged the Colonel out of the room.

"I've got to admit, the last three weeks weren't much of a vacation, but you've only been back," he glanced at his watch, "four hours and already you're causing trouble. At least I'm going to finally get to release some pent up frustration at that little shit by interrogating the runt."

"Commander, if you can get him to reveal a name or two behind that bomb I'd greatly appreciate knowing them."

"Yeah, you and Shades both. She's been questioning everyone on base about that thing. It seems she's really pissed off she was used to transport it. Speaking of questioning, is it true you and your mates can tell when someone is lying?"

"Well, I can, though it is easier when I'm in my anthropomorphic form. I'm not sure if Drake, Fox, and Frost have really developed the ability yet."

"Check with them. We have spies on this base and I want them weeded out."

"Sir?" I asked.

"I reported that the men you dealt with had been eradicated by the orbital attack, not an animal attack, no mention of your ability to shift has been in any communications. That means a spy or spies have been passing information to the hidden base you found out about. For now go get some rest. You've been on constant duty for three weeks without a break. That is an order, not a suggestion."

I saluted, "Yes Sir! Just one thing more Sir."

"Now what?"

"Can you lift the order confining Frost to his quarters? I heard one of the guards mention it when Colonel Slager mentioned Frost."

"How?" The Commander asked.

"Feline hearing remember? What he said was 'so that's why he confined the kid to his quarters.'"

"That's why he hasn't been getting into everything? I thought he was just depressed about you taking so long to get back. I reviewed his mission data and he certainly doesn't deserve to be treated like a criminal."

“You reviewed his mission data? Would it be possible to upgrade him to full pilot status?"

“I'm rescinding the confinement order, go tell him he free to move about the base. Dismissed."

"Sir!" I saluted again and headed for the barracks. From the look on the commander's face Colonel Slager was going to learn what drawn out pain really felt like. I knew getting Frost's status upgraded would take a bit longer.

***

I sat up and looked at my clock. It was early, really early. I was four days into a mandatory eight day rest and relaxation cycle. As I told the investigator, Fallow wasn't a place to find either those things. I quietly got up and dressed, slipping out without disturbing Kyle or Shock.

I walked across the bridge to my hanger only to find it lit up with the legs of my armor removed and partially disassembled. There was a loud bang and then swearing in Japanese.

I considered yelling, but instead I sat on the edge of the catwalk and watched the individual work. At first I thought it was a boy, but I soon changed my mind and decided it was a girl not much older than Frost. She seemed to know what she was doing even though everyone on the base knew I was the only one to work on my suit.

"Why do you even have this panel in here?" She seemed to ask the suit.

I bit my tongue as the panel with the sheared off bolt came flying out and landed with a clang.

"Oh! I see what he did. Such an inelegant fix. When I'm done you'll feel much better. Now where would he put the plasma torch? Here torchy, torchy, torchy."

"Back left corner, second level in the red tool box." I replied. I had really work not to laugh considering how she'd jumped when I answered her.

"Sir! I- I'm sorry. I-"

"I understand Japanese if you are more comfortable."

"No! I mean, I have an exam coming up and I need to practice my English anyway."

"You're not an NPC then?" I asked in surprise.

"No, I'm Hatori Rin."

"Well, Rin, mind telling me how you ended up on this base? I locked this server to player characters outside the VR chamber network."

"Oh, I didn't realize that. Then I really don't know. When I logged in I went through the profile page, of course Fallow was my first choice but instead of being taken to the boot camp I found myself here."

"Do you have your own suit?" I asked.

"Of course not. I'm not a pilot I'm a model builder. I'm playing the game as a mechanic."

"I am such an idiot." I mumbled.

"Sensei, I'm sure that's not true."

"When I did the coding to take the game live I assumed everyone would want to be pilots. Since that's not the experience you were looking for, and because this is currently the only populated base the system generated your avatar here."

"I'm not complaining. This way I get to work on the best suits in the game." Rin said looking up at my customized suit.

I got up and took the lift to the ground floor office. Rin swung over the edge of the first floor catwalk and dropped to the ground floor.

"Don't do that." I ordered.

"Why not? This is VR so it's not like I can get hurt."

"Maybe you can't, but those of us actually here certainly can. I don't want my son to copy a stunt like that. Though I suppose if it was only one floor he wouldn't have any problem sticking the landing."

"Wait, you mean you're actually in this world?" Rin asked.

"Haven't you been watching the videos?"

"Of course I've been watching the show, but I didn't realize . . . You're telling me you actually could have been eaten by that T-Rex?"

"Well, no. If the game determines that I will die I'm removed from this game before I'm seriously injured, as long as the level setting isn't raised. With this game, that has no respawn, I can't play as myself anymore, which is the same as dying." I entered the office and sat at the computer.

"What are you doing now?"

"Adjusting the game so this doesn't happen again."

"So you're kicking me out?" Rin asked, in a sad voice.

"Do you want to keep playing on this server?"

"Of course I want to keep playing on this server! I mean, like I said this base has the best suits to work on, I'll even get to make appearances on the show, and I'll be here with the only real furrys in existence."

"So you're a furry as well?"

"Um, kind of. I mean I like the art and some of the stories, but I've never really thought of myself as a kemono."

"That's fine, but we need a back story for you. Let's see, you arrived aboard the Indigo Flame just before the last mission. You're a suit specialist sent by Shadow Tech to help maintain our, now heavily modified, suits. While you will work on all the base's suits you are technically a civilian contractor working for Shadow Tech and therefore only subject to either my mates or my orders. For the last few weeks you've kept a low profile, an easy thing to do with the chaos caused by all the evacuees that came in. Anything else you'd like to add?"

"Can you make it so that the NPC's don't think I'm weird when I start talking to the suits in Japanese while I'm working? My class mates in the modeling club say I shouldn't do that when I'm building, but I just can't help it."

"Sorry no, however I doubt you'll have any trouble over it. If you do let me know and I'll deal with the problem. Now one last thing. I need you to come over and fill out a couple of forms."

Rin walked over and looked at the computer. "These are the forms for the space station school."

"Then you've already applied?" I asked.

"No, I wasn't allowed. Only the honors students were allowed to apply."

"Would you like to attend?"

"I would, but . . ."

"You need to speak with your parents first."

"Yes."

"I'm sending the forms to your computer. Just fill them out and you will be accepted. I probably should mention, because I'm making this offer, your place will not be forcing anyone out of the open slots so don't let anyone try to blame you for taking a slot that they believe should have been theirs."

"Oh, I was worried about that. Just one more question. Can I get back to work on your suit? Several of the gears need to be replaced and there is fur everywhere."

I laughed, "That's what happens when a rabbit android is making battlefield repairs."

"Don't do that again, he doesn't like it." Rin winked and headed back to work.

I shook my head and proceeded to the mess hall. I figured I'd be the only one there but I found Slider and Lee having coffee.

"You couldn't sleep either, Tiger?"

"No." I walked over to the beverage machine and got a cup of hot water. I added a packet of citrus powder and a teaspoon of sugar. "I know I'm supposed to be resting, but I can't do that with so many unanswered questions." I looked at the two of them and then shifted to my anthro form. "We have a problem and the Commander needs my help resolving it."

"You're not going to kill us are you?" Lee asked.

I could hear that his question was meant as a joke but I could also smell that he was afraid it might be true.

"Lee, that isn't funny. I have an idea what's going on, so go ahead and ask." Slider said.

"Lee, are you a spy?"

"Uh, no"

"Slider are you a spy?

"No."

"The Commander asked you to interrogate us?" Slider asked.

"Have either of you done anything that could be considered detrimental to the base?"

"Of course not." Lee answered.

"Yes." Slider said.

"Slider, what are you saying?"

“I'm just answering truthfully. When we became a couple you decided to be exclusive. I'm not faulting you, in fact I love you even more, but in effect it was detrimental to moral."

"Lee, you lied. Please don't do that. Were either of you involved with the plot involving the bombing of this base?"

"No."

"Sorta, I tried to defuse the thing, but I didn't have anything to do with it being here." Lee replied truthfully.

"One last question, do you trust me?"

"More than anyone else on this base except Lee." Slider replied.

"I'd like to say yes, but I'm not sure now." Lee said, cautiously.

I shifted back to human form. "Sorry, but I had to do that. I had no doubt that you were both trustworthy."

"So spies have infiltrated our ranks. I wondered if that was a possibility considering the accuracy of the orbital bombardment." Slider said.

"Did you report your suspicions?" I asked.

"I told Kicker, but he may have brushed it off as paranoia."

"I still have to question him. So far I spoken with my mates, Frost, and Tank."

"What about Tuft?" Lee asked.

"My ability to hear and smell if someone is lying doesn't work on him, however he did allow me to check his code, and it hasn't been altered or tampered with by anyone other than Tuft himself so he can be trusted as well."

"Wow, isn't that like the ultimate show of trust for someone like Tuft?" Lee asked.

"Like you can't imagine, but I suppose I'm just a special case since I wrote most of his code. That's why he occasionally refers to me as God, well, that and the fact he knows how much it irritates me."

"So who's next on your list?" Slider asked.

"The next the next person to walk through the door I suppose.

"I told you I'm not interested." Violet said, as she entered followed closely by Breakdown holding a large bouquet of likely poisonous plants.

"Come on beautiful, they're just flowers."

"I told you I hate flowers, now go home. I don't want anything to do with you."

I shifted again and stood up. "Breakdown, you heard the lady, get back to your own base before you have another harassment charge against you."

"Wildside! You're alive. Badlands is going to be so happy." He immediately headed for the door.

Violet sighed as she came up beside me. "He really isn't such a bad guy, and he is kind of cute, but . . ."

"He's relentless in his pursuit."

"Yeah, it's just too bad most of the other guys on this base, that I find attractive, have other interests."

"Violet, I need to ask you some questions."

"Oh, usually I'm the one asking the questions. This might be fun."

We sat at an unoccupied table.

"Violet, are you a spy?"

"No. Then again I guess I am considering I send daily reports to the news agency.

"Have you done anything detrimental to this base?"

"Not intentionally. Again, I don't exactly have control over my reports once they become public domain." 

"Were you involved in the attempted bombing or in the plot to do so?"

"Hell no." She said, angrily.

"Are you intentionally giving information to any organization other than your news agency?"

"Are you accusing me of something or is this some sort of witch hunt?"

"One last question, do you trust me?"

"I thought I did, but I can't say that I do right now."

I shifted back again. "Thank you, I can now cross you off the list."

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Violet, I'm giving you a direct order. You are not to report any of this conversation. We have at least one spy on the base. He or she has been reporting our every action to an as yet unknown faction in the military. I can hear and smell when a person is lying so the Commander asked me to question everyone."

"That's why you remained in your anthro form."

"I have the ability in this form as well, it's just easier in my anthro form."

"And you questioned me like this because information is my job?"

"No, I'm questioning the people I rely on first. I started with my mates and son, then the crew of the Bad Luck since they work for me. Now I'm starting on my suit teams. Damn, I should have questioned Rin."

"Rin? Who's that?" Lee asked, as he and Slider joined us.

"You've already questioned them?" Violet asked.

"Yes, just before you arrived. Rin is a civilian contractor sent by Shadow Tech to help maintain our heavily modified suits. You probably won't see her very often since she prefers to work alone and in the middle of the night. I'm pretty sure she can be trusted, but I'd better go make sure before she reassembles my suit." As soon as I was out the door I paused the game.

"Rin, I need to speak with you for a moment."

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to break the game."

"Huh? Oh no, you didn't break anything, I paused the game. When we restart you just return to the position your avatar is currently in." I pointed at the ladder where a ghostly image of Rin remained.

"Thank goodness, I thought I'd broken it for sure."

I laughed, "No such luck. Listen, when we were talking earlier there was a lot of world breaking dialog so it will be cut from the video."

"I figured that would happen."

I nodded, "Listen the current storyline requires me to question everyone to find out if they are a spy."

She smiled, "Since my arrival is rather suspicious you need to question me as soon as possible. Oh, before I can do something like build a bomb into your suit!" Rin said, as she glanced at the disassembled components. “Don't worry I'd never do that to you. I even removed that nasty self-destruct mechanism."

I shook my head, Rin was the last person to ever risk “her" suits. "The truth is I'm sure you can be trusted because of the way you really got here. The first thing I need to ask is are you good with Rin or do you want to use an alias?"

"I don't know, I mean you use a fake name."

"Technically Prowl-Ar Nightiger is my actual name. The name I was given when I was born died a long time ago. Kyle also uses his human name, except when we're on duty."

"I see, still I think I'll stick with Rin. When I do make my debut I want my classmates to know it's really me. I mean, it's not like I have a suit of my own so I don't need a call sign."

I nodded but couldn't help noticing the note of regret in her voice. We restarted the game and she answered the questions truthfully until the last one.

"Do I trust you? No, not yet anyway. We just met and trust is something that takes time to build."

"You're now on the cleared list, not that I had any doubt. You made it past all the Shadow Tech tests, obviously with high marks considering your youth. It means our suits will be receiving the care they deserve. You like that, right?" I said looking up at my suit.

I winked at Rin and she giggled, "I'll do my best sensei."

I nodded and paused the game again. "I think that is a good place for an episode cut. Mahan, how long before it is ready for release?"

"I can post it an hour before Rin goes to class if that is good for her. If she wants it to be released earlier I can only push it up an extra twenty-nine minutes."

"You mean, that was my debut? An hour should be plenty of time for everyone to watch it. I can't wait to see their reactions."

"Rin, remember the things we discuss when the game is paused always need to remain private."

"Yes sensei, I'll remember. Oh! I'd better go for tonight I'm going to need plenty of rest for tomorrow. Yes, I know the reactions probably won't be all good. Good night."

"G'night, Rin." I yawned, "Maybe I should go and try to get a bit more sleep as well."

***

I stood at attention in the Commander's office. I'd just carefully listed everyone I'd interviewed. I'd gotten through all seven suit teams, Bad Luck's crew, Rin and Frost.

"You are supposed to be resting." The Commander said in disgust.

"I am Sir. However, since we live in the same barracks, it is natural to talk with each other. When someone is on their own I question them."

"Did you really question your son and mates, or did you list them because you trust them?"

"Sir, are you a spy?" I asked.

"Are you out of your fucking mind?"

"No, you said I have to question everybody, now answer the questions."

"No, I'm not a spy"

"Have you done anything detrimental to the operation of this base?"

He glared at me. "Yes, on a daily basis, considering how much leeway I give my troops."

"Were you involved in the plot to bomb this base?"

"No, I'd have been killed like everyone else."

"The people behind this don't seem to have any problem killing themselves to accomplish their goals. Do you trust me?"

"I don't fully trust anybody, but I trust you a little more than most."

"Then trust me when I say I've questioned everybody I've listed. So far, no spy. My team has patrol duty tomorrow so I figured I'd come back by way of the Exploration Team base. I can't officially question them, but with your permission I'd like to loop Badlands in on what is going on. If he agrees to allow it I'll question his team, the crew of the Indigo Flame, and the medical staff. I'd like to question the maintenance staff, but the team leader isn't a fan so I'll probably have to sit in while you question them."

"Do you think Badlands will agree?" The Commander asked.

"He's given me similar orders in the past so he will likely be amenable."

"How are you going to handle Captain Mærik and his crew?"

"They are under contract to Shadow Tech, which gives me authority to question them, though they can refuse to answer."

"Next, who is this Rin person?"

"She's a Shadow Tech employee sent here, after the bomb incident, to help maintain our suits. She's a brilliant engineer, roughly Frost's age, a civilian, and answers directly to me. She arrived just before the rescue mission and got lost in the scramble. She also prefers to work at night so if anyone is out to sabotage our suits she'll be able to report them. Think of her as our counter agent."

"I called you in here to dress you down for disobeying orders, but it is a relief knowing that my pilots are all loyal. In fact if you are so eager how about we work on the control tower staff?"

"I'll need my pad, just a moment, Sir." I clicked on my comlink, "Drake, are you busy"

"The hip joints on my suit keep jamming and I'm sort of up to my neck here. Is it important?"

"No, I'll try Fox." I clicked the link again, "Fox are you busy?"

"Um, yeah."

"What are you doing?"

"I'd rather not say."

I heard a voice in the back ground. "Are you in or not?"

"Was that Skyfall?" I asked.

"Um, yeah."

"Never mind." I glanced at the commander and tried again, "Frost, what are you doing?"

"Nothing!" He yelled a little too loudly.

"That is the guiltiest 'nothing' I've ever heard."

"I wasn't needed and Mahan sorta showed me your customs collection, so I thought maybe I'd try making my own creations."

"Pause game. In virtual reality or the real world?"

"You have a real room like this on the ship?" Frost asked in surprise.

"Yes, but I do my customizing in VR. I need you to log in and run an errand for me. Then you can return to the toy room. Computer, give Frost full access to the program 'toy customization'. Resume Game. I need you to get the data pad on my desk and bring it to me in the Commander's office."

"I'm on my way." He replied.

"He's on his way Sir."

"Do I want to know what the other two are doing?" The Commander asked.

"Drake is working on his suit and Fox is at the Exploration Team Base gambling." I sighed, "I guess it isn't really gambling when he is doing it. I need to inform Badlands of this before Fox wins too much."

"Wait, are you telling me that he's cheating? I've gotten complaints but I've been telling those complaining if they don't like it don't play with him."

"It isn't so much cheating as always knowing when his opponent is bluffing. A person, with practice can be an expert at bluffing but can't do much to control their heart rate when they have a good hand."

"Of course, the hearing thing."

"Yes, I don't like people lying to me, so I put my attention there. Fox likes to win, sure he purposely loses the odd hand, just to keep appearances."

"And Drake?"

"He keeps it to himself and I haven't figured it out, yet."

The intercom on the Commander's desk buzzed. "Sir, Frost is here with Lt. Colonel Prowl-Ar's data pad."

"Wait, that can't be right." I said.

"Oh right, Command finally got around to reinstating your Exploration Team rank as well as back pay for regular military service, while you were trapped in the time bubble. We weren't sure when or if you would return in our lifetime so we held a ceremony and Drake stood in for you. That was before military intelligence showed up and started leveling charges against you. I guess we forgot to inform you."

I groaned, "Now I know where Fox got the funds to gamble with." I switched my comlink to Badlands private line. "Sir, this is Wildside."

“Not now I'm busy! Foxes have hearing like tigers, Sir."

"Damn it! I fold. Oh, and thank you for the update."

I imagined the Punk with a large fox tail hanging from the antenna. I switched back to the team channel. "Fox, if you want to keep your tail you might want to lose all but what you started with and then get out fast. I informed Badlands about what you're doing so that he could keep them from skinning you. I didn't realize he was in the game as well." I heard two taps on the com signaling that he got the message. I was going to catch hell about that later, I just knew it.

"The Commander checked to see if I had finished, and then yelled, "Let him in, and come in with him."

They entered and Frost quickly handed me my pad before standing at attention. "You can return to your duty's pilot Frost, dismissed."

I'd almost swear the Commander had used his gentlest voice when speaking to Frost. It seemed he was winning over everyone on the base. We'd have to be careful or he'd become more popular than Shock. Then it hit me the Commander had just upgraded Frost to full pilot instead of rookie.

"I have a few questions I need to ask you." The Commander said turning to the Corporal and I realized in the excitement I'd forgotten the Corporal was now a pilot as well.

The rest of the day continued with the commander calling in personnel, questioning them, and the sending them back to work. He wanted to stop, when we finally found a spy, and interrogate him on the spot. I pointed out where there is one there could be more. He reluctantly turned the spy over to two members of security that we'd already cleared and we continued. By the end of the day we'd cleared the command staff and support staff for both the barracks and the tower. We found a total of three spies, the most concerning one was the company cook. I wondered if we weren't limited to dino-burger and survival bars if we'd have all been poisoned. Worse yet we needed to find a new cook and I wasn't about to subject Kyle to that hell. Fortunately that was up to the Commander.

All that was left, other than those I already planned to interview on my own, were the guards, cutters, maintenance and general personnel vital to keeping the base running but had no set designation I groaned as I realized we also needed to interview all of the refugees.

"Sir, I've been a bit out of touch, what happened at the other base that caused so many to come here?" I asked.

"The second base was overrun. Between the CyBees, the Bug infantry, and base incompetence it was rather inevitable. It's amazing, what with how I let everyone play fast and loose with regulation, we have a better fighting force than the other base had with their strict reliance on regulations and command structure."

"Your method inspires confidence and loyalty. There's nothing more to it."

"Anyway, they've requested that we send our forces to recapture the base, however I pointed out we don't have the resources for such an operation. I told them to destroy the base from orbit and establish a new base. However many of them are requesting reassignment to my command."

"If they prove loyal, after answering our questions, it might be a good idea to bolster our ranks."

"I'll consider it. That's enough for today, Go try to get a bit of rest."

"Is that an order, Sir? I only ask because I need to finish the maintenance on my suit."

"Considering working on your suit is how you relax, yes that's an order. Dismissed."

***

As I entered my hangar I found my suit completely reassembled and a sticky note on the foot. "No class today so I finished him. Try not to break him again." I sighed and headed for Drake's hangar. I found him touching up the paint. "You finished fixing the hip joints?"

"Yeah, that new genius mechanic you added helped a lot."

"Tiger! First you try to get me killed and then you don't trust me to maintain my own armor? Worse yet when I get back I find a kid swapped the lower arms and legs from your first totaled suit onto mine. Worse yet when I caught her cutting off part of the face plate she had the nerve to tell me it's what my suit wanted. I tried to argue and she told me 'you'll like it better when I'm done. If you don't like it go complain to your mate.' So here I am. I'm telling you the game must be glitching again because she isn't acting like a NPC." Fox yelled.

"First, I wasn't trying to get you killed, I was trying to save your tail. Call me strange, but I do like stroking it especially the sounds you make when I do. It would just feel awkward doing that if it was attached to the Punk's antenna. Besides, I know where you got your gambling money."

"Oh." Fox and Drake shared a scared look.

"You know what, I don't care that you spent it. It's just money and that doesn't matter. What matters is the Exploration Team all know that I'm a living lie detector. When they caught me doing that Hardline drugged me and they shaved me. I know what you're thinking, shift to human and then shift back and the problem is solved. That isn't how it worked. The computer edited out my fur until it had time to grow back naturally. Not just on that game but all of them. If they had cut your tail off the computer would permanently display you as a pitiful tailless fox. That's not to say I'd love you any less, I'm just saying your tail is an extra sexy bonus."

"I'm sorry I lost it like that. I'm still mad that you added a new NPC just to maintain our suits. I know it's really not because you don't trust us, but I think it's strange that an NPC can just go modifying my suit without getting permission. Worse yet she's only been here a couple of days and she's trending higher than I am in Japan."

"I'm trending? That's so cool!" Rin yelled.

"Wait, how can she react to a statement like that?" Drake asked.

"Because I'm not and NPC of course. Shock, I've finished with your armor. Would you like to see it now?

"Huh?"

"Follow me." Rin said, excitedly.

We entered Fox's hangar and I had to admit the suit was more fox like with the black "socks" and "gloves".

"Your suit was really bad off. It's not something the average mechanic would notice, but it was in a lot of pain. Nearly every joint was suffering from micro cracks in the metal. I didn't have new parts to work with, but most of the inner frame and joints on your wrecked Elite armor could be salvaged. When I was digging through the scrap I found the black arms and legs. I decided the suit would match you better with the right fox markings. As for the faceplate, the big mustache fin just didn't suit you, so I removed it. I've also tweaked the control systems so it's now 20 percent faster. That might not seem like much, but I'm sure you'll notice the difference once in the field."

"Who are you, really?" Drake asked.

"Hatori Rin, middle school student and member of the gunpla modeling club of Akihabara middle school."

"Tiger, what is she doing here? Shouldn't she be at boot camp still?"

"The boot camp program had a flaw, I have since fixed, in existing to train pilots. Rin wanted to fix suits instead of piloting them. Without alternatives the game generated her avatar here. Rather than penalize her for my mistake I gave her the choice of transferring to another server or remaining here."

"Why would I want to transfer when I can make cameo appearances with a superstar like the great Shock Fox? Oh, that's my alarm. My play time is up for the night and I have to study tomorrow so it'll be a couple days before I'll have any time to play again. Try not to break your suits while I'm gone. Laters." Rin's avatar paused for a moment and then walked out of the hangar before disappearing."

"Tiger, this isn't a criticism or anything, but what is it about you and strays? When I ask that I do include myself as one of those strays." Fox asked.

"It's probably because I know what it's like to be surrounded by people and feel unwanted, unnoticed, and utterly alone. When I see others suffering that way I can't help but try and help them."

"You may not want to admit it, Tiger, but you really do have a soft caring core. Maybe one day we'll have sanded off that course exterior to the point where you won't be afraid to show it to others." Drake said, pulling me into a hug which Fox quickly joined.

I clicked my com, "Frost, are you busy?"

"Not really."

"Good, log out. We're going to have a family dinner and watch a movie."

"What movie?" He asked.

"I don't know. I thought I'd ask Shock to surprise us with something modern."

"Cool, logging out now."

"Really?" Shock asked.

"Yeah, I just want to spend some quality time as a family and I realized that everything we've been watching is from my era."

***

We slowly slogged through the mud and rain. An hour into our patrol it started to sprinkle, ten minutes later and, if it wasn't for the suit's array of camera options, we'd have been completely blind. Now half an hour from completion it had tapered off to a gentle rain but the path was a slippery mess.

"Dad, is this normal?" Frost asked.

"I know it isn't all that exciting, but yes this is pretty much normal. We have to check the fence continually to make sure nothing gets in."

"I'm not talking about the patrol."

I turned to see what Frost was talking about. He was pointing at a section of the fence and I immediately realized what he'd noticed and we'd overlooked. The trench was filled with rushing water, one of the good things about the rain it kept the trench clear. At least, most of the trench was filled with water Frost was pointing at a four foot wide section that was completely dry. I watched a branch wash into one side, disappear, and a second later reappear on the other.

"That's a holographic cloak, but what's it hiding?" Fox asked.

"It's too small to be of Bug construction." Drake added.

I quickly wrote down the coordinates. "Ignore it, we're in no position to deal with this right now. We complete the patrol as scheduled, then we come back and deal with this." Drake and Fox nodded. Frost glanced at the anomaly and shrugged.

"That was a good catch. You'll see some game tokens for that. Come on let's move." I ordered.

We trudged into the Exploration Team outpost an hour later. "Right, you three can take a break. I need to ask the Exploration Team some questions." All three of them acknowledged. Showing they knew exactly what I was referring to. I entered their command building and quickly found Badland's ready room. It looked like a tomb raider's trophy room. The maps spread on the table were of Pre-Columbian South America, Alexander's Egypt, Augustus Caesar's Rome, Cydonia region of Mars, and the dark side of the moon. The largest Map was of Earth during the Cretaceous with the know species of dinosaurs stenciled in.

"I can't tell you how many paleontological archives I've had to dig through to assemble that map. Of course it really doesn't tell us much about what we're dealing with here. The information is just to lacking to know how these animals will react."

"Herbivores eat plants and carnivores eat herbivores, and anything else they want to take a bite of." I joked.

"You're not kidding. That hunter had a guy with a marine suit who was all gung-ho to get in the water. Riptide convinced him to send out and ROV probe first. Thirty seconds later the pilot was calling for Shades to take him home. Riptide said he didn't even take the time to wash the shit out of his unders."

"What about Riptide?"

"He caught a ride back home on the Indigo Flame. He said 'I'm useless here if you get in the water you're dead.' I can't really fault him after seeing the video the drone sent back, all ten seconds of it. It's fine though, he sent the twins back in his place."

"Twins? They must be after my time."

"Yeah, they're a bit raw but extremely useful. Demo is good with explosives and loves to blow things up, while his sister D'Fuse is the opposite. The scary part is Demo is the calm quiet one and Dee has an explosive personality."

I sighed, "Sir, we have a problem."

"It must be bad if you're coming into my sanctum and referring to me as 'Sir'"

"It is, we've got spies on the base working for some shadow organization. Worse yet they're not mine and I'm fairly certain they're not yours. In fact I think they're the ones that sent me that bomb."

"Does your CO know about this?"

"Yes and he asked me to 'interview' everyone on the base to find these people. We've already caught a few in sensitive locations."

"So he knows about your talents?"

"Yes, and unlike your people he hasn't learned how to keep secrets from me.

"Did you question your husbands?"

"They were the first ones I questioned, immediately followed by my son."

"Then you'll question every member of my team, starting with me."

"Sure, but you know how to defeat my skills."

"True, but only if I'm concentrating on it and you could always tell I was actively refusing to answer. This is important enough that I'll answer whatever you ask."

We immediately started. Badlands passed as I expected as did Hardline, Breakdown, and Skyfall. I was concerned about questioning Paradise, but Badlands grilled her on a few other topics as well. Demo and D-Fuse were overly excited to test my lie detecting abilities but they also cleared the questions. Drone and Spielberg were out doing field work so I agreed to return and question them after checking on the Indigo Flame and the hospital.

***

Inari met me on the ramp and took me directly to the Captain's office.

"Mr. Nightiger, I don't want you to think I'm complaining, since you are paying for us to just sit here. However, we do have other clients."

"Captain Mærik, I'm sorry to say the reason you haven't been allowed to leave is because of a military power struggle. We have spies on the base from a previously unknown military faction. I'm here to question you and your crew to ascertain if any of you-"

"How dare you-"

"Please, let me finish. I need to ascertain if any of you are spies. I want you to know that I'm following orders and I've already questioned my mates. I'm telling you this because I have no doubt that every member of your crew, except maybe Mr. Fireshadow is loyal if not directly to me then to Shendria. Again, I'm only here because of orders and once I've cleared you, you can immediately lift off."

"You've questioned the crew of the Bad Luck then?"

"Yes, and I checked Tuft's code for unauthorized modifications. The only reason he had dispensation to lift while I was gone is due to the fact that I inadvertently destroyed eighty percent of Tuft's body before the time dilation and I left orders with Drake to send the Bad Luck to Earth to retrieve a new body directly from Shadow Tech."

"So they didn't receive special treatment?"

"Well, yes and no, yes he was allowed to leave, but that was only because of my orders preceding the base going into full lockdown."

"Yet he lifted yesterday."

"Yes, as quickly as I'm trying to get to everyone, I'm only one man. Seeing as I'm paying for your time and I'm certain you're not a security risk, I felt it best to question those that I have to trust, but can't be as sure about."

"Yes, I can see the logic. I suppose you plan on questioning me first?"

I cleared my throat, "Well no, I questioned Inari as he was escorting me here. I'm trying to get this done in as short a time as possible. However, if you don't mind, you can go next."

***

I was headed for the hospital as the Indigo Flame lifted off. I made a quick turn when I noticed Drone packing away one of his fliers. "Drone, is Spielberg with you?"

"No, he's on about the unique plants around here. He's constantly wandering off on his own."

I nodded, "Are you about done?"

"No, I need to present today's sweep to Commander Badlands."

"Sound's interesting, mind if I tag along?"

"If you want, but I got to tell you there isn't much to see. Badlands has me running thermal sweeps around the perimeter. I think he's trying to get an idea of the number of smaller creatures in the jungle area. So far everything is about the size and temperature of a Lenny, or as is now the case Velociraptor Lennious."

"And what's he calling the Rex?"

"Tyrannosaurus Deus Rex."

"The god king, huh? Let's hope there isn't an equivalent to the Giganotosaurus out there."

We entered the building where Badlands was waiting. We cleared Drone and he was explaining the data when Spielberg strolled in.

"Sir, would you look at this?"

"It looks like a common snail." I said.

"That's exactly what it is. A common snail, on a world where nearly everything is titantically out of proportion."

"Are you a spy?" I asked.

"What? No, I'm a paleontologist with a minor in paleo botany, not a spy. Commander what is going on?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Wildside is here investigating the possibility that there may be spies in our ranks. Now, have you done anything detrimental to his base or to ours?"

"No Sir, and I really don't see a reason for you to even suggest I would."

"Were you involved or have knowledge of the plotted bombing that took place?"

"No, I most certainly did not."

"Sorry, but I'm under orders to question everyone from my husbands to the men who dig the latrines."

"That's all well and good but the last time I checked the Exploration Team doesn't answer to you, or your Commander." Spielberg sneered.

"True enough, but you answer to me and I happen to agree that if there are any spies to be found they need to be rooted out, wouldn't you agree?" Badlands asked.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Good, now go fill out your report on that snail. I look forward to your hypothesis on why some creatures are massively oversized while others are what we would consider normal."

Spielberg nodded and walked out looking completely absorbed in his snail.

"That was, intense. Why didn't you ask him if he trusts you, Sir?" Drone asked.

"He's a spy. I don't bother asking that question if I've already been lied to." I pointed out.

"Yeah, I figured as much and I didn't even need your special abilities." Badlands said.

"Drone, I need you to pull up any scans you have of the area around these coordinates." I handed him the video we'd taken earlier."

They rolled the video and Drone whistled. "That's a rather complex set up, stupid, but complex. If you're going to build a tunnel, dig it so that it goes under the damn trench, not right through the center. Hiding it with holographic projectors in a habitat such as this is just stupid. I don't have any scans of that area yet, but I'll set up to start in that general area."

"Once you find the opening do you think you can hide cameras so that we can see who's coming and going? I'm sure even if we catch all of their current spies they'll try and sneak more into the base. The longer they think their entrance is safe the more of them we can catch."

"No problem."

"Once we have a good idea of their security and travel times I'll have Demo wire it up, just in case we need to destroy it in a hurry." Badlands said as we started watching the video again, "I think this mission is big enough it calls for a second paleontologist. No need to overwork Spielberg. I'll let you know when Bone-bed arrives."

"Yes, Sir." I turned and immediately left the building. I hated letting Spielberg walk around free, but I knew once he was no longer useful Badlands would deal with him. Paradise and Skyfall were leaning against the wall just outside the entrance, watching Drake and Fox spar.

"Fifty credits on the red one beating the orange." Paradise said.

I clicked on my com unit so Drake and Fox could listen in.

"Fifty? You're on, sure he's bigger but any minute now he's going to redline his suit. All those foot thrusters have to be overheating."

I smirked as Drake jumped and then hit his thrusters turning it into a double jump landing behind Fox and then rolling forward to avoid a roundhouse kick.

"I will admit the orange one is a real spitfire but he's an idiot. All those high speed maneuvers have to be stressing the suit's joints. Even if the red one's thrusters give out he'll still be able to fight. The orange one doesn't have a chance."

"You might want to move." Fox informed me.

I ducked back inside, knowing what was likely about to happen. A second later I heard two angry shouts.

I stepped back outside when I heard both of my mates laughing. A slash of mud was dripping from the wall except for Paradise and Skyfall's silhouettes. The two mud caked soldiers were marching toward the suits. I ran after the two of them. "Just what are you two mud monsters up too?" I asked.

"I'm going to drag that little shit out of his suit and teach him a lesson." Paradise yelled.

I stopped as they continued forward. Paradise and Skyfall, I order you to stand down. You are to return to your base and get yourselves cleaned up. Drake and Fox, disembark your suits and go clean the mud off the wall of the Exploration Team headquarters."

"You don't have-"

"Skyfall, drop it. Lt. Colonel Wildside is still a reserve member of the team, as such he does indeed have the authority to give us orders." Paradise sighed, "Considering he's punishing his mates, just realize we're getting off easy and let it go."

They slogged back toward the base as Drake and Fox descended.

"So then, we get punished?" Fox asked.

"You're the ones that got the wall dirty, so it is only right that you clean it off. Go to maintenance and get the tools you need plus three cans of spray paint in red orange and black. And one last thing, that was some impressive choreography getting that mud to hit perfectly like that. Now get going."

I walked back to the wall and wiped some of the dripping mud from the silhouettes.

"What the hell is going on out here?" Badlands yelled, as he barged out.

"Oh, just a bit of training. Don't worry I've got my guys getting supplies to clean it off."

"You know, I can always tell when you're up to something."

"Me, Sir? I'm not up to anything, I'm just admiring the art."

He glared at me, then at the wall, and then back at me. He groaned, "Hardline had better watch his ass."

"I warned them I always get even, no matter if it takes a life time. As for Paradise, she made the mistake of calling one of my mates an 'idiot' right in front of me. So unless she plans some sort of retaliation what I have planned will make us even. Leaving Hardline as the last one on my list. Oh and just to keep him on his toes remind him that the others I could rationalize as getting carried away, however he is the one that tranqed me."

Badlands shook his head and went back inside. I stenciled a message through the mud "Paradise lost and Skyfall crashed, let all witness their muddy defeat." I signed it "Wildside" Just as Drake and Fox arrived with the supplies.

"What did you write in the mud?" Drake asked.

"You'll see shortly, I need you to use your finger to sign just below my name as Redzone. Fox, you need to do the same as Foxfire."

"Redzone, instead of redline?" Drake asked.

"Let them think they gave you your Exploration Team codenames? I don't think so. Now start cleaning at the far corner leaving this section for last so that the paint can dry."

Fox smirked as he figured out what I intended. "That's mean, they think they're getting off without punishment while we have to clean off the mud."

"However, by the time they've scrubbed away the evidence of their humiliation everyone will know about it." Drake laughed, "I love it."

I quickly sprayed the relatively clean silhouettes, the writing and my signature with the black pain, Drake's with red and Fox's with orange. "Now I have to go and interview the hospital staff. I expect this to be completed by the time I'm done."

"What if somebody comes out?" Fox asked.

"Hopefully they'll be so interested in watching you 'suffer' that they won't even notice my little gift until we've left."

After finishing at the hospital we returned to base where the Commander had me interview the cutting crews. I'd expected to find several spies in their ranks, considering they had the best chance of passing information. However like the hospital they all proved loyal. That left the maintenance crews and the refugees.

"Would someone give me an update on what happened?"

"Huh?" Drake asked, sticking his head into my office.

"With everything going on I still haven't been fully briefed on why the other base was abandoned."

"Oh, for all their military standards and such it came down to mismanagement. Of course my information is second hand, but it seems they followed a standard patrol pattern. The base was set up in a mountainous region with the main base in a sheltered valley and a lookout tower at the top of the mountain. They doubled the perimeter fences on all the side valleys but the maintenance crews could only check one or two a day. On the day of the attack they were first assaulted by a cyber enhanced dino. They claim it was the size of a mountain with multiple mortar launchers. Their suits and pilots had no chance. Following the dino were legions of Bugs. It was obvious they were going to lose the base, so they ran. They had eight shuttles three didn't make it off the ground. Once they were in the air the CyBees swarmed them overtaking the slowest two. If it wasn't for the EMP and Shadow's team it would have been a total loss. Most of them left with the last two shuttles headed for the orbiting Federation cruiser. Those still here were either too injured to make the lift, couldn't fit aboard, or requested to join this base."

"There wasn't any wounded in the hospital."

"It's been nearly three weeks."

"Oh, right."

"So what happens after the interviews are completed?" Fox asked as he joined us.

"That's the Commander's problem. The only thing we have to do is relay information from the Exploration Team to the Commander about who is using that tunnel Frost found."

"Dads, I hate to interrupt, but that maintenance girl is hiding in the hangar and seems really upset."

I looked at Drake and Fox, "Come on, let's go see what's wrong."

***