--- Autonomy-2006.04.29.txt	Sun Apr 30 15:31:48 2006
+++ Autonomy-2006.05.28.txt	Sun May 28 21:15:35 2006
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 
 jeanmichel.smith@gmail.com
- 118711 words
+ 120161 words
 
 
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 Jean-Michel Smith
 
-Version XQ.4.T
+Version XQ.5.S
 
 
 Copyright © 2002 - 2006 Jean-Michel Smith
@@ -2249,60 +2249,61 @@
 -Jessica Litman, Digital Copyright, C.E. 2001
 Wednesday, October 10, 2057, 11:25 AM Washington Time
 Metadate: 2.549-7:94:000 kD New Epoch
-"I thought we'd agreed I would have access to all of Double Eye's data regarding the case." Katy stood behind Robert, hands on her hips. She hadn't liked headquartering their operation in Double Eye's Washington offices, but with FBI communications likely compromised, she hadn't been able to offer a credible alternative. She felt she had lost a not-so-subtle point in jurisdiction and authority-now all requisitions and requests went through Robert, as her liaison. It was his facility, his people, his data-and he appeared to be holding out on her.
-Robert tossed his datapad casually aside and swiveled around to face her. "I did, and you do. You've been fully vetted by International Intelligence, Katy. You have the same clearance to field data as I."
+"I thought we'd agreed I would have access to all of Double Eye's data regarding this case." Katy stood behind Robert, hands on her hips. She hadn't liked headquartering their operation in Double Eye's Washington offices, but with FBI communications likely compromised, she hadn't been able to offer a credible alternative. She felt she had lost a not-so-subtle point in jurisdiction and authority. Now all requisitions and requests went through Robert. It was his facility, his people, his data-and he appeared to be holding out on her.
+Robert casually tossed his datapad aside and swiveled around to face her. "I did agree, and you've got your access. You've been fully vetted by International Intelligence, Katy. You have the same clearance to field data as I."
 "Then do you care to explain this?" Katy pointed her datapad at the wall. A large screen lit up, displaying an elaborate, three dimensional web of connections and relationships between known suspects and anyone acquainted with them. It folded back in upon itself, in a closed universe of recursive friendships that touched the larger world nowhere at all.
 "What the hell?" Robert leaned forward. "Is this what I think it is?"
 "A comprehensive interpersonal relationship graph, aggregated from the data you've given me on every suspect related to the case. International Intelligence data. Data you assured me had not been tampered with or screened."
 Robert picked up his own datapad and tapped the screen several times. "Checksums validate. The information you have is complete and unaltered."
 "Then Double Eye has a problem with its data acquisition."
-"So it would seem. No wonder arrests have bottomed out." Robert frowned and took a closer look at the graph. "This is absurd. We have seventy people in our sample base. They can't all be this isolated!"
+"So it would seem. No wonder we're making fewer arrests." Robert frowned and took a closer look at the graph. "This is absurd. We have seventy people in our sample base. They can't all be this isolated!"
 "Even backwoods religious cults, survivalists, and hermits have more contact with mainstream society than this," Katy agreed.
  "Their grocers, utility companies, and so forth," Robert nodded. "You're right, there's a problem with our data."
 "Double Eye needs to cast a wider net," Katy said. "Complete credit histories, not the trimmed down versions we have here. Genetic profiles and family histories, residence histories, the works."
-"I'll check with IG," Robert replied. "But I can tell you now what they'll confirm to me. This is complete. No one casts a wider net than we do"
-"The last thing we need is a low level data sifter covering up his mistakes and leaving us with incomplete data. I want cross-checked assurances that this date is in fact complete."
-"Right!" Robert flipped open his datapad. "Connect me with Intelligence Gathering. That's Right. Agent Scalli? Robert Leahy. Listen, I need the batch data you sent over triple checked and confirmed. We believe there's a problem. I know. That's right. Good. Notify my of the results ay-sap." Robert shut his datapad. "We'll have confirmation within the hour."
+"No one casts a wider net than we do." Robert sighed. "I'll check with IG, but I can pretty much guarantee they'll confirm the data."
+"Make sure they crosscheck it independently. The last thing we need is a low level data sifter covering up his mistakes and leaving us with incomplete data."
+"Right!" Robert flipped open his datapad. "Connect me with Intelligence Gathering." A pause. "Agent Scalli? Robert Leahy. Listen, I need the batch data you sent over triple checked and confirmed. We believe there's a problem. I know. That's right. Good. Notify me of the results ay-sap." Robert shut his datapad. "We'll have confirmation within the hour."
 "Good. I don't believe for a moment our perps have somehow managed to break into every database throughout the world, edit their credit histories, purchasing histories, highway transponder records, and every other record government or business has ever kept on them just to cover their tracks."
 Robert stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I think it's entirely possible that that's exactly what's happened."
 It was theoretically possible, but just barely. It would require superhuman effort, years if not decades of time, and inhuman perfection and attention to detail. One minor slip, and the deception would fall apart.
-"I don't buy it." In fact, the more Katy thought about it, the more impossible it seemed. "Unless . . ." Unless, instead of editing every other record in the world, they had managed to break into International Intelligence and mangle the data here. Katy's disbelief took on an edge of something else, something darker.
-"You keep telling me we've been underestimating these people from the start," Robert replied. "Perhaps you were right."
-"It was woefully premature to launch those raids on the U of I, much less the other Universities. Almost a thousand arrests, only a few dozen of which netted anyone related to our case."
-"Yes, yes, you've belabored the point to death!" Robert's mouth twisted with impatience.  "We really didn't have a choice. These people have been trading in advanced black market technologies without raising a single alarm. They've been thinking circles around us, probably for years. We needed to shake them up."
-"Shaking people up is your default reaction, Robert, and it causes more problems than it solves. Besides, we both know conspiracy dynamics theory rules out any chance these people have been doing anything for more than a few months. They're clever-too clever for their own good-but they're not superhuman."
-"They were able to out-think our best agents!" Robert voice took on a hard edge. "They snatched Viktor Strizak out from under our noses with less than a day of planning! They appear to have broken into every public data store on the planet and erased all evidence of any connections they had with each other. This isn't something normal people are capable of doing!"
-"First, I don't buy the world-wide data editing theory. It's far more likely they broke into Double Eye and mucked with the data in just one place: right here.  Second-"
-"My people are cross-referencing random samples of the data with the primary sources." Robert pointed to his datapad. "This thing is set to squeal at me if so much as a bit of data is out of place. So far, not a single red flag! Besides, our stuff is quantum-encrypted. We'd know if anyone intercepted, much less altered the data."
-"So why are you checking it against primary sources, then? Never mind, don't answer that. It's obvious your faith in unbreachable quantum encryption is limited. So is mine."
-"We're dealing with people deploying technologies significantly more advanced than our own," Robert pointed out. "It pays to not take anything for granted."
-"That's right, and it would be helpful if you remembered that the next time you're tempted to start ordering arrests without corroborating information. But all that aside, our suspects are still constrained by the physical laws of this world."
-"As are we, and so far-" Robert's datapad chirped. "Excuse me," he flipped it open. "Yes? Really? One hundred percent confidence? What about the sparseness of the . . . Oh. I see. Yes, thank you." Robert stared out of the window at the mud and algae of the Potomac River, glittering dark green in the midday sun as it sludged slowly past.
+"I don't buy it." In fact, the more Katy thought about it, the more impossible it seemed.
+Robert shrugged. "You keep telling me we've been underestimating these people from the start."
+"Double Eye certainly underestimated their ability to go to ground after you raided those Universities. What did that get us? Another sixty-five suspects, after more than a thousand arrests?"
+"Yes, yes, you've belabored that point to death!" Robert's mouth twisted with impatience.  "We didn't have a choice. These people have been trading in advanced black market technologies without raising a single alarm. They've been thinking circles around us, probably for years. We needed to shake things up."
+"Shaking things up seems to be your answer anytime this investigation hits a snag. It causes more problems than it solves. Besides, we both know conspiracy dynamics theory rules out any chance these people have been doing anything for more than a few months. They're clever-too clever for their own good-but they're not superhuman."
+"They were able to out-think our best agents!" Robert's voice took on a hard edge. "They snatched Viktor Strizak out from under our noses with less than a day of planning! They appear to have broken into every public data store on the planet and erased all evidence of any connections they had with each other. This isn't something normal people are capable of doing!"
+"I wish you'd stop obsessing about Strizak! It was a dramatic ploy that failed. Yes, it's disturbing to be outfoxed like that, but revisiting it doesn't do a thing to move our case forward. As for the idea our suspects have somehow edited every database everywhere in the world to cover their tracks, I think it's far more likely they edited a single copy of the data, right here at Double Eye."
+"My people are crosschecking it against primary sources right now." Robert pointed to his datapad. "This thing is set to squeal at me if so much as a single bit is out of place. So far, not a peep! Besides, our stuff is quantum-encrypted."
+"We're dealing with people deploying technologies significantly more advanced than our own," Katy reminded him.
+"I know that! It's still far more likely they did go around the world editing civilian databases than it is that they've broken through Double Eye encryption. We'd know the instant they intercepted, much less changed, a single byte of information. Our suspects are constrained by the laws of physics, after all."
+"That cuts both ways, Robert-"
+Robert's datapad chirped. "Excuse me," he flipped it open. "Yes? Really? One hundred percent confidence? What about the sparseness of the . . . Oh. I see. Yes, thank you." Robert stared out of the window at the mud and algae of the Potomac River, glittering dark green in the midday sun as it sludged past.
 "Well?"
-"They've just confirmed the integrity of our data. The problem is with the primary sources. We're having the credit bureau pull backups off their archives, but given the time and resources necessary for something like this, it's unlikely they'll reveal anything we don't already know."
+"The integrity of our data checks out. The problem is with the primary sources. We're having the credit bureau pull backups off their archives, but given how long they must have had to cover their tracks, it's unlikely we'll find anything we don't already know."
 Katy sat down, stunned. "I didn't think it was possible."
 "So much for conspiracy dynamics."
 "It doesn't make sense, Robert! The time and resources required-"
 "They didn't overlook a single thing, Katy. Not a thing! To do something this thorough, this complete-it's inhuman. Superhuman." 
-"If they're so smart, how come we noticed what they did? Why not plant fictitious links instead, leading to innocent bystanders? They could have had us chasing false leads for weeks, months, even years. Instead, they folded the links back on themselves. That wasn't very bright at all. Certainly not superhuman."
+"If they're so smart, how come we noticed what they did? Why not plant fictitious links instead, leading us to innocent bystanders? They could have had us chasing false leads for weeks, months, even years. Instead, they folded the links back on themselves. That wasn't very bright at all. Certainly not superhuman."
 "I don't know," Robert admitted. "Maybe they've had years. Maybe it was beyond their ability to create fictitious links. Maybe they only thought to erase the ones they had."
-"All of those possibilities can mean only one thing," Katy replied. "They haven't thought this all the way through. Which means they aren't a whole lot brighter than the rest of us. If they had been, they would have us chasing hundreds of false leads, out arresting all the wrong people."
-"Instead we're staring into an obvious brick wall," Robert acknowledged. "They've tipped their hand."
-"Exactly. We're dealing with a group of intelligent, well organized conspirators," Katy said.
-"Still, these people are unnaturally competent."
-"Yes," Katy agreed. "They are. I think we're still missing something important. None of this quite adds up, does it?"
-They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the quiet whir of the building's ventilation. "Maybe we're looking at it the wrong way," Robert broke the silence. "That anonymous tip in Champaign that netted us our first arrests was awfully convenient, wasn't it?"
+"All of those possibilities can mean only one thing," Katy replied. "They haven't thought this all the way through. If they had, they would have had us out arresting all the wrong people."
+"Instead we're staring into an obvious brick wall." 
+"Right. They've tipped their hand. We know what they've done, even if we don't understand how they did it. We may be dealing with an unusually well organized group of malcontents, but a mistake like that makes it clear they aren't geniuses."
+"They are unnaturally competent, Katy."
+"In some areas, true, but not across the board. Still . . . none of this quite adds up, does it?"
+"No," Robert's frown deepened. "We're missing something important."
+They sat in silence for a moment, listening to the quiet whir of the building's ventilation. Eventually Robert broke the silence. "Maybe we're looking at it the wrong way. That anonymous tip in Champaign that netted us our first arrests was awfully convenient, wasn't it?"
 "Yeah, it was. An insider, using us to remove an opponent?"
-"Seems plausible. If our informant already knew we'd recovered other hardware from their enterprise, running the risk of uncovering one more such device might have been worthwhile. Particularly if they were managing our data to the point of isolating islands of patsies to take the fall."
+"Seems plausible. If our informant already knew we'd recovered other hardware from their enterprise, running the risk of uncovering one more such device might have been worthwhile. Particularly if they were managing our data to the point of isolating cells of patsies to take the fall."
 "Christ, Robert! We keep going back and forth on this. One day we're thinking revolutionary cells, the next we're back to well organized, centrally coordinated shadow organizations. Which is it?"
-"Neither. Both. I don't know. Island . . . no, 'island' is the wrong word. Supercells. I think we're dealing with a variation of the classic revolutionary, but scaled to include hundreds instead of a few. Just as isolated from other cells as their historical archetypes, but with a some form of effective, central organization."
-"A conglomerate of independent groups?" Katy leaned forward, sketching interlocked circles on her datapad. "Cells of criminals or revolutionaries, isolated not by their knowledge of one another, but by our knowledge of their connections to one another. Clever." She paused. "If you're right, it may very well go beyond one rival disposing of another. Those we have arrested could comprise an entire political faction."
-"One we deposed," Robert nodded. "Clearing the way for our informant to pursue his agenda unopposed."
-Katy reached back and rubbed her aching neck. "It seems our opponents have been playing us like the proverbial fiddle."
-Robert's face betrayed a cold, steel anger. "We need to find out who that informant was and squeeze him. Hard."
-Katy sighed. "He doesn't matter. Not in the larger picture. If we capture him, an analysis on his interpersonal connections will only give us another supercell. One out how many? We need to take a different tack."
+"Neither. Both. I don't know. Islands of coordinated cells . . . no, not islands. Supercells. I think we're dealing with a variation of the classic revolutionary cell, but scaled to include hundreds of members instead of just a few. Compartmentalized, just as isolated from other cells as their historical archetypes, but well organized internally, with a very effective command and control structure."
+"A conglomerate of independent groups?" Katy leaned forward, sketching interlocked circles on her datapad. "Entire structured organizations interlinked with one another as criminal cells. Clever." She paused. "If you're right, it may very well go beyond one rival disposing of another. Those we arrested could comprise an entire political faction."
+"Right! It's possible we've cleared the way for our mystery informant to pursue his agenda unopposed. The arrests we made may have actually helped our opponents."
+"By uniting them under one leader? Perhaps." Katy reached back and rubbed her aching neck. "It does appear someone's played us like the proverbial fiddle."
+Robert's leathery face hardened. "We need to find out who that informant was and squeeze him. Hard."
+Katy sighed. "I don't think he matters much. Not in the larger picture anyway. If we capture him, we'll only uncover another supercell. One out of how many? If we are serious about breaking the back of this organization, we need to take a different tack."
 "Such as?"
-"These crystal cubes. In every case we've made an arrest where the device has been tied into the home's Internet port. Clearly they are in communication with one another."
+"These crystal cubes. In every case, we've made an arrest where the device has been tied into the home's Internet port. Clearly they are in communication with one another."
 "Obviously. We have our best crypto people trying to decipher the traffic."
 "You've been coy with the results," Katy replied. "But let me guess. You've determined they're using one-time pads which no amount of crypto-analysis will unravel. Probably burying the data with steganography too, hiding it in videostreams and the like."
 Robert nodded. "We think they're using one-time pads encoded with quantum entangled particles. Even if we do identify the data, there won't be even a theoretical means of decoding it. And if we try, just intercepting data will be enough to tip off our suspects to the surveillance."
@@ -2310,18 +2311,18 @@
 "Not even a hint. They're broadcasting their packets through just about every network on the Internet."
 "Have you tried Fourier transforms and wave analysis on the sample patterns?"
 "Yes," Robert admitted. "There are no identifying features to differentiate legitimate traffic from decoys. Short of searching every location of every system connected to the net there doesn't seem to be a way to get a handle on where they are."
-"That would be a little drastic," Katy replied. "Have your people done a time based analysis?"
+"That would be a little drastic," Katy replied. "Not to mention impossible. Have your people done a time based analysis?"
 Robert shook his head. "I'll see if I can get authorization for you to see the preliminary reports so you can check for yourself, but to answer your question, no, I don't believe so."
 "That would be good, considering we're supposed to be equal partners in this little venture. What was that you said earlier? Something about my having equal clearance?"
 "For field data, yes. Our snooping techniques are a little more sensitive. I'm trying to get you cleared, but we both know how intransigent large bureaucracies can be. What exactly did you have in mind with a time based analysis?"
-"Our problem is identifying which traffic is communication between conspirators, and which is just mindless garbage. We have to do this without ever knowing the contents of the communications in question, where it originates or where it ends up. But we do know the communication to make sense to those using it, has to be part of a larger conversation. That implies bi-directional information flow, in something close enough to real time to allow effective communication."
+"Our problem is identifying which traffic is communication between conspirators, and which is just mindless garbage. We have to do this without ever knowing the contents of the communications in question, where it originates or where it ends up. But we do know that for the communication to make sense to those using it, it has to be part of a larger conversation. That implies bi-directional information flow, in something close enough to real time to allow effective communication."
 "Yes, but how do you propose to ferret that out of a flood of decoy signals?"
-"Think of the entire Internet as a big collection of closed containers connected to one another by elastic pipes, which expand and contract to accommodate whatever is flowing between them. We have no way of knowing whether it is water, hydrogen fuel, or morphine flowing from one container to another, but we can measure exactly how much is flowing between the various containers at any given time."
+"Think of the entire Internet as a big collection of closed containers connected to one another by elastic pipes, which expand and contract to accommodate whatever is flowing between them. We have no way of knowing whether water, hydrogen fuel, or morphine is flowing from one container to another, but we can measure exactly how much liquid is flowing between any given containers in any particular moment. Patterns of two-way data flow will emerge over time, identifying critical paths and endpoints."
 "You've done this sort thing before," Robert said. "Your work in capturing the FreeNet activists."
 Katy nodded. "FreeNet does roughly the same thing: share data anonymously between scattered nodes, all of it encrypted with military grade keys that would take our fastest computers centuries to decode. Tracking the information in the spatial domain can be next to impossible, but when analyzed over time the location of the active nodes becomes obvious, even when the content does not."
 "I'll have the information forwarded to you immediately, along with access to our analysis utilities, if I have to go and bludgeon my superiors in person. I don't suppose you'd consider a job with International Intelligence?"
 Katy laughed. "Don't go promising the world just yet. This problem is significantly more complex than the FreeNet issue. For one thing, we know nothing about the underlying protocols, nor have we identified the location of any end node with any certainty. We'll have to begin by analyzing suspected links in the chain, identifying likely candidates and ruling out unlikely ones, piecing together routes and data exchanges one hop at a time. This will be time consuming and uncertain, and will likely involve a lot of false starts before we get it right."
-"It doesn't matter," Robert grinned. "You've done more in one brainstorming session than our team of cryptologists have in the last week."
+"It doesn't matter," Robert grinned. "You've done more in one brainstorming session than our team of cryptologists have in the last week. In fact, this might be just be what we need to break the case wide open!"
 
 
 
@@ -2333,81 +2334,115 @@
 -Oliver Wendell Holmes, 19th Century C.E.
 Wednesday, October 10, 2057
 Metadate: 2.565-3:15:000 kD New Epoch
-Members of the Astronautics Interest Group stood with Prime in a sunny, perfectly simulated clearing surrounded by tall pines beneath a blue cloud etched sky. In the center of the clearing lay a full scale, simulated rendition of the propose craft they hoped to use.
-The escape craft was a strange hybrid of a conventional rocket, a high performance aircraft, and a spacecraft reminiscent of a Hollywood space opera. A tear-shaped nose section, its point forward, was connected to the aft rocket motor by three arced spines spaced equidistantly around the ship's longitudinal axis. The craft lay on its side, supported by two of the three spines from which grew conventional looking swept wings. A similarly conventional tail and vertical control surface grew from the third spine, near the aft motor. Horizontal stabilizers were placed on the nose cone, forward of the wing.
-The nose section housed both a hypothetical Supernode-a mock-up of a cluster of fifth generation Nodes-and a "civilization boot kit" containing a supply of nano-constructors, catalytic solution, molecular stock, and a Superstring Strummer. The Superstring Strummer would do double-duty as a synthesizer of anti-helium for the ship's propulsion during flight, and a small power generator once the craft reached its destination. The software and nano-recipes needed to restore the Community would be stored in the Supernode, along with the mind piloting the spacecraft, and a frozen copy of the entire Community.
-One craft should be enough to restore the Community, if it survived.
-"The motor will be a brute force matter-antimatter rocket," Mingmei Jiao was saying. "Nine tenths of a gram of anti-helium will be held in magnetic containment, released in a controlled stream to recombine with helium just aft of the firewall cum pusher-plate, where their combined masses will be converted directly into energy as they mutually annihilate each other in a controlled explosion. Toroids in the reaction chamber and nozzle will direct the energy aft. Thrust will be generated both by the continuous shock waves of the explosions themselves pushing against the shielding of the firewall and the expulsion of the resultant plasma via the nozzle."
-The clearing dropped beneath them abruptly as the simulated craft's engines fired and it launched itself into the sky. Prime and the others floated around the craft, pacing it as it roared upward into the sky and turned toward the east. A brief flash of fuzzy gray enveloped them as they passed through a thin layer of clouds. Blue and faded green textured with cirrus clouds spread out beneath them as they continued to climb.
-"The craft will behave as a rocket powered aircraft at lower altitudes, compete with lifting and control surfaces incorporated into the wings, the horizontal stabilizers fore, and the vertical stabilizer aft," Mingmei explained as the craft demonstrated some maneuvers. "This will allow either a horizontal or vertical takeoff and high maneuverability using well proved aerodynamic properties up to an altitude of around seventy thousand feet."
-"At which point the air grows too thin for conventional flight," Prime said. "All lift from then on will be derived solely from the rocket's thrust."
-The sky darkened as the craft rose atop a golden flame.
-"Exactly. The control surfaces will still provide some minimal maneuverability up to around one hundred thousand feet, but upward thrust will be all that is keeping the ship from falling back to earth. It is hoped that the lower maneuverability at these altitudes will be offset by the fact that most surface-to-air rockets cannot engage targets that high."
-"So, if they don't turn on the anti-ballistic missile defense grids we'll be safe," someone said.
-"We can't count on that," Prime replied. "The likeliest scenario has us making a desperate run for it, right through the defense systems of half a dozen countries, all trying to shoot us down at the behest of the World Trade Organization."
-"In that case," Mingmei continued, "the most dangerous part of the flight will be above one hundred thousand feet. At that altitude our escape ships will be able to maneuver only using their main matter-anti-matter rocket and maneuvering thrusters. Worse, we'll be wanting to use most of our delta-v to boost ourselves into the desired orbits for rendezvous with our assigned targets."
-"Various asteroids and near earth objects," Prime commented.
-"Exactly. Our payload will only be a few dozen Autonomous Nodes carrying the combined population of the Community in inert storage, a Civilization Boot Kit, the Strummer, and the ship itself. Boosting even that small amount of material into the desired orbits will require between eighty five and ninety five percent of each ship's energy reserves, depending on the particular target and initial launch location."
-Prime shook his head. "There are three independent anti-ballistic missile systems in orbit. The American System is aging, but the Euro-Russian and the Chinese Systems are top-notch, state of the art. If the three powers act in concert, they'll lock the planet down tight."
-"Then we'll have to rely on sheer numbers," Mingmei replied. "We launch as many escape ships and copies of the Community as we can synthesize between now and when we make a run for it. Perhaps as many as a hundred thousand ships, if we have time. With luck and a little planning, a handful should be able to make it through the defense grids. Most of the satellites won't be able to hit anything above five hundred thousand feet-they are, after all, designed to take out missiles shot from the surface of the earth, aimed at other points on the surface of earth. Our only advantage is our relative safety once we're above the range they were designed to strike. We believe we'll be somewhat secure once we're three hundred miles or so away from the planet, although certain safety won't be attained until we reach interplanetary space."
-"Even that won't be certain," Prime said. "The World Trade Organization could get the resources together for a destructive strike deeper into space if they're sufficiently motivated."
-"Blowing some renegades out of the sky for violating their patents and a few tech restrictions would hardly be worth the billions they would have to spend on such a venture," Mingmei insisted. "Once we're out of cislunar space we'll be safe enough. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm glad the world's governments never took space exploration seriously."
-"You and me both," Prime agreed. "At least we have somewhere to run."
-"So, what do you think of the preliminary design?" Mingmei asked.
-"I like it," Prime replied. "Using matter-antimatter annihilation for propulsion is ingenious. Less than a gram of anti-helium to lift a payload into an escape trajectory, with enough reserve energy for some maneuverability."
-"Still, the bottom line is, even with the cleverest of ruses and smartest of strategies, our odds at escaping a concerted blockade by the great powers aren't good. Worse, unless we can sneak away completely undetected, they'll know we've escaped. They will probably come after us before we're even back on our feet, much less able to defend ourselves."
-"Then we'll have to design our strategies such that any successful escapes go unnoticed."
-Suddenly a familiar figure appeared before them, grinning impishly as the lavish golden aura surrounding her faded.
-"I thought I'd find you here, plotting the future with the Astronauts."
-"Marguerite!" Prime swept her into his arms and kissed her lightly on the lips. "You're a sight for sore eyes! How's Alaska?"
-"The sanctuary's all it's advertised to be and more. Getting there, on the other hand, is a nightmare of travel checkpoints and searches. The airports are on heightened security, blamed on the Thai insurgents but almost certainly a response to the authorities' discovery of our existence.  Prime, I've been off-line for thirty four hundred and forty circadians and you still haven't given me a proper kiss."
-Prime grinned. "That is what I get for cutting out all of my reproductive instincts. After two hundred circadians my instinctive reactions are all wrong." He took Marguerite into a long, lingering embraced.
-After a few seconds Marguerite pushed him gently away. "Prime," she said, "Your technique is impeccable, but I've had my hand shaken with more passion."
-Prime sighed. "Mingmei, we'll discuss our launch and flight strategies later. Marguerite and I need a few moments to get reacquainted." Mingmei nodded, trying to hide her obvious amusement.
-"My home environ?" Marguerite asked. Prime nodded assent.
-The dark of space was abruptly replaced by a bedroom made cozy with the golden light of numerous candles.
-"I've had a long, miserable flight, followed by an even longer, more miserable drive," Marguerite complained, sitting down on the bed with a heavy sigh. "My physical body may be resting comfortably in one of the sanctuary sarcophagi, but my virtual self feels tired and irritable. How about giving me a massage?"
-"Sure," Prime responded. He climbed onto the bed and maneuvered himself behind her, where he began rubbing her shoulders.
-"So much has happened while you were away I don't know where to begin. More arrests, more nodes seized, in half a dozen countries around the world. More resources are being poured into creating the sanctuaries, but I fear it is only a matter of time before at least some of them are discovered. There is a growing consensus that the Astronauts are right: escape into space may become our only option. Kyle has diverted a couple of shipments of nano for the construction of a few prototype ships, so we will hopefully be able to get a few low altitude test flights in before it really hits the fan, but-"
+The environ was forested with ancient pines, the air rich in mountain fragrances. Chilly gusts rustled the trees, reminding Prime of ocean surf. An occasional, more sustained wind created the brief illusion of a rumbling waterfall off in the distance. But there were no oceans in this world, no hidden cataracts of water pounding down glistening cliff faces, no clear lakes or tempestuous white-water rivers into which such cascades could foam. There were only the mountains, the trees, and an idealized, fictional airstrip slowly warming beneath a simulated midmorning sun.
+A couple of hundred guests had gathered to see the Astronautics Group present their new spacecraft design. The project enjoyed little Community-wide interest. Most people were focused on the enclave projects, waiting their turn and preparing to move themselves and their bodies into hiding. Few had any interest in the notion of leaving their bodies earthbound while launching software versions of themselves into the heavens. Never mind the success of the computer simulations and wind tunnel tests, or the fact that construction of a real, physical prototype was well underway. To most, this was a blue-sky project, unworthy of even the modest resources allocated to it.
+If the Astronautics Group was disappointed at the turnout, they hid it well, cheerfully explaining the inner workings of various subsystems to those who were interested. People milled about on the tarmac or gathered in small groups to discuss the project, while others peered intently at the curious vehicle. It was an unusual design, one part conventional rocket and one part high performance aircraft. To Prime it looked like something out of a space opera. The nose section was tear-shaped, its point forward and connected by three arced spines to the aft rocket. It lay on its belly, supported by two of the spines, each of which sprouted conventional swept wings. An equally conventional tail and vertical control surface jutted up from the third spine, while horizontal stabilizers grew forward, out of the nose cone.
+"You're using helium as fuel?" an incredulous voice asked. "That's an inert gas. You can't power a rocket with that!"
+"ATFE!" Another shot back. Absorb The Fine (knowledge) Engram.
+"Let's be nice to our guests," Mingmei smiled politely. "A knowledge engram is of course available, but I'm happy to explain. The motor is a brute force matter-antimatter rocket. Nine-tenths of a gram of anti-helium will be held in magnetic containment, released in a carefully modulated stream to recombine with helium just aft of the pusher-plate. Their combined masses will be converted to energy in a controlled process of mutual annihilation. Thrust will be generated both by the continuous shock waves of the explosions themselves and the expulsion of the resultant plasma via the nozzle."
+"So you convert one tank of helium to anti-helium?"
+"Yes, using the superstring strummer. When we wish to shut the motor down, we convert the anti-helium back to helium. The motor can be stopped and restarted any number of times using this technique."
+"That's an awful lot of antimatter to have in one place."
+"That's why this escape flier can go anywhere in the solar system."
+The simulated craft's engines fired and it launched itself into the sky. The crowd floated alongside, unaffected observers immersed in a three dimensional movie. The clearing dropped away. A brief flash of fuzzy gray enveloped them as they passed through a thin layer of clouds. The flier leveled out at around ten thousand feet on an easterly heading, the landscape resolving itself into green rolling textures, veiled here and there by swaths of milky cloud.
+"A cluster of fifth generation Nodes in the nose section will house a complete copy of everyone in the Community. To keep our computational requirements reasonable, only the person piloting the escape craft will be awake; everyone else will be stored as a frozen snapshot. Just aft of the Nodes is a 'Civilization Boot Kit' consisting of enough self-replicating nano, catalyst, and molecular stock to rebuild the Community."
+"If we can find enough raw material to rebuild it with," someone quipped.
+"A small asteroid should do," Prime retorted.
+Mingmei shrugged. "Enough mass to build a tightly bound cluster of Nodes and a solar array large enough to power them is all we need to resurrect ourselves. The real problem is how to maintain some degree of ability to manipulate matter in the physical world. The weight-and-balance constraints of the escape fliers limit how much molecular stock and catalyst a single ship can carry. One ship can reconstruct the Community, but without a breakthrough in superstring strumming technology, or a generation of more efficient nano, this is likely to be a one way trip into the Virtual."
+"What about maintenance on our Nodes? Micrometeorite impacts, that sort of thing."
+"It is a problem," Mingmei admitted. "If we manage to get three or more ships to rendezvous, we'll have enough catalyst and nano to construct a fusion reactor. If we target a large enough asteroid or moon, we can probably synthesize a self-reinforcing industrial base. But if not, we'll probably lose our ability to operate in the Physical."
+"Space is a dangerous place. Micrometeorites are just one hazard. There are solar storms, comets, complex orbital dynamics we may not have accounted for . . . it boils down to this: eventually our equipment will be damaged or wear out, and we need to be able to repair it. We can't do that if we lose our capacity to manipulate matter." Prime rubbed his forehead. "It's one thing to leave our bodies behind. But having no ability to effect any change in the physical world? That's a recipe for certain death. Not just for us personally, but for the entire Community."
+Mingmei sighed. "We won't be able to repair our Nodes, or build new ones, that's true. However, our best projections put the likelihood of a significant failure somewhere between six and eight hundred years after deployment. Of course, if we're unlucky it could be sooner, but then again, with a little good fortune it might be much later."
+"That's 360,000 to 480,000 subjective years at our current speedup."
+"Yes," Mingmei agreed. "And it could be as much as 900,000 years, if fourth and fifth generation Nodes live up to Karl's promises. Subjectively, that's longer than modern humans have walked the Earth."
+"It's still an evolutionary dead end. We die. The Community dies."
+"In six or eight centuries! If we stay, the Community will die right here on Earth, when the authorities find us and shut us down. Probably within a few months."
+"If they find us," Prime countered. "But you have a point. A few centuries is better than a few months. Better still would be to avoid both fates and come up with a solution that doesn't condemn us to eventual extinction."
+"As I said, if enough ships escape, none of this will be a problem."
+Following the ridges of a mountain range, the spacecraft powered through some cumulus.
+"Anyway, back to the subject at hand." Mingmei gestured toward the craft as it torqued through several tight spirals and reversed direction in a classic Immelman maneuver. There were several whoops from the crowd.
+"Hot damn!" someone exclaimed. "This is better than a roller coaster!"
+Applause and laughter greeted another set of dizzying maneuvers. "As you can see, the escape flier will behave like a rocket powered aircraft at lower altitudes. This will allow either a horizontal or vertical takeoff and high maneuverability using well proved aerodynamic properties up to about seventy thousand feet." Coming out of a rolling loop, the flier pointed its nose toward the sky.
+"Once above seventy thousand feet the air grows too thin for conventional flight. All lift will be derived from the rocket's thrust, though the control surfaces will provide some minimal maneuverability for another twenty thousand feet or so. Hopefully the lower maneuverability at these altitudes will be offset by the fact that most surface-to-air rockets aren't designed to shoot down aircraft at those altitudes."
+The sky darkened as the simulated craft continued to rise atop a golden flame.
+"So, if they don't turn on the anti-ballistic missile systems we'll be safe."
+"Yes," Mingmei replied.
+"We can't rely on that." Prime positioned himself in the simulated exhaust, yellow and white flame licking around him as he squinted into the matter-antimatter recombination chamber. "The likeliest scenario has us making a desperate run for it, right through the defense systems of half a dozen countries, all trying to shoot us down at the behest of the World Trade Organization."
+Mingmei frowned. "In that case, we'll be most vulnerable above one hundred thousand feet. At that altitude we'll only be able to maneuver with the main matter-anti-matter rocket and lateral thrusters. We'll be wanting to use most of our delta-v to boost ourselves into the necessary orbits for rendezvous with our assigned targets."
+"The moon, Mars, various Jovian moons, and assorted asteroids," Prime commented.
+Mingmei nodded. "Without interference we have enough fuel to match orbit with any object in the solar system, but if we're forced to use our energy reserves dodging pot shots from the world's great powers, we could find ourselves without enough thrust to reach a viable target. If that happens, we won't have enough raw materials to rebuild a single Node. The Community will perish and the flier become nothing more than a derelict in space."
+Prime shook his head. "There are three independent anti-ballistic missile systems in orbit. The American System is aging, but the Euro-Russian and the Chinese Systems are top-notch, state of the art. If the three powers act in concert, they'll lock the planet down tight. We'll be lucky if any of our ships make it through the tropopause."
+Mingmei ran her fingers through her long, straight hair. "We intend to launch twenty or so copies of the Community for redundancy anyway. If it comes down to running a blockade, we'll have to overwhelm them with numbers. We build as many ships as we can and launch them all at one. Perhaps as many as a hundred thousand."
+"If we have time to construct that many."
+"Well, hopefully we won't lose the initiative on the timing. With a little luck and planning, a handful of ships should be able to make it through the military grids. Most of the satellites won't be able to hit anything above five hundred thousand feet-they are, after all, designed to take out missiles shot from the surface of the earth, aimed at other points on the surface of earth."
+"It might be a Pyhrric victory," Prime said. "The World Trade Organization could get the resources together for a destructive strike deeper into space. And if we lose the ability to operate in the Physical, we'll be sitting ducks."
+"I doubt they'll be that motivated."
+"I'm not so sure," Prime replied. "It will be better if we come up with a plan that doesn't include them knowing we've escaped."
+"If we can sneak away, we will," Mingmei insisted. "But if not, we'll have to make do. I mean, I can see them deploying existing assets to blow a few patent violators they've labeled potential enemies out of the sky, but I can't imagine they would make the capital investment required to-"
+"This isn't about a few patent violations, Mingmei! It's about power . . . and fear. They're terrified of us! Of what we can do. We know more than they do, we can do more than they can, and from their point of view, we could overthrow them in a heartbeat!" Prime paused. "Have you ever wondered why the authorities are so enamored with the patent system? They're not complete idiots, you know. They've known for generations how patents stifle innovation. They understand better than anyone that a twenty-year monopoly on an invention chokes off any future developments that would build upon it. They're perfectly aware that if you tie up enough building blocks, you make inventing anything new next to impossible. That's the whole point! They don't want technology moving forward too fast. If it does, someone clever enough might just come to know too much, and drive them from power!"
+"You're preaching to the choir, Prime."
+"Well, then, why on Earth do you think they won't come after us?"
+"Because they don't have the money or resources to do so! Even if they wanted to, the billions it would cost to rebuild their deep-space launch capabilities and reach us would cripple their economies."
+"We can't count on that! If they decide to nationalize a few key patents like they did with the Wright Brother's patent on airplanes during World War I, they could open up the field to unfettered competition and completely revitalize their space programs. Such a ploy would probably boost their economies, not cripple them. Hell, it could even pull the world out of the recession it's been in the last thirty years. In any event, the developed world could regain its deep-space launch capabilities in just a few years, at which point there would be nothing to keep them from sending up a nuke or two to vaporize us. Whatever they choose to do, if we've lost the ability to manipulate the physical world, we won't be able to do a thing about it." Prime shook his head. "No, we have to make a clean exit or we'll be looking over our shoulders forever."
+Mingmei shrugged. "We both agree that sneaking away is our best option."
+"It's our only-"
+"I thought I'd find you here," a voice teased, "plotting the future with the Astronauts." A familiar woman appeared, wrapped in a lavish silver aura and grinning impishly.
+"Marguerite!" Prime swooped over and took her into is arms, kissing her lightly on the lips.
+"I'll catch up with you guys later," Mingmei grinned and the group drifted away. The Earth glistened in the sunlight beneath them as the spacecraft continued its climb.
+"You're a sight for sore eyes!" Prime ran his hand gently down Marguerite's cheek. "How's Alaska?"
+"The sanctuary's great! Getting there, on the other hand, is a nightmare of travel checkpoints and searches. The airports are on heightened security. They're blaming it on Thai insurgents, but it probably has more to do with us than southeast Asia." She stopped and gave Prime a mock glare. "By the way, in case you haven't noticed, I've been off-line for two hundred thirty-four circadians and you still haven't given me a proper kiss."
+"Hmm. I think we need a little privacy."
+"My home environ?" Marguerite asked. Prime nodded assent. The dark of space was replaced by a bedroom made cozy with the golden light of numerous candles.
+"I suppose this is what I get for cutting out all of my reproductive instincts," Prime grinned sheepishly. "After two hundred circadians my instinctive reactions are all wrong." He took Marguerite back into his arms, his lips joining hers in a lingering kiss.
+She pushed him gently away. "Prime, your technique is impeccable, but I've had my hand shaken with more passion." Marguerite sat down on the bed with a heavy sigh. "I've had a long, miserable flight, followed by an even longer, more miserable drive. My physical body may be resting comfortably in one of the sanctuary sarcophagi, but my virtual self feels tired and irritable. How about giving me a back rub?"
+"Sure." Prime climbed onto the bed and maneuvered himself behind her. His strong fingers began to gently knead her shoulders.
+"So much has happened while you were away! I don't know where to begin. More arrests and more nodes seized, in half a dozen countries around the world. More resources are being poured into creating the sanctuaries, but I'm worried it's only a matter of time before at least some of them are discovered. There is a growing consensus among some of us that the Astronauts are right: escape into space may become our only option. Kyle has diverted a shipment of nano for the construction of a prototype, so we will hopefully be able to get a few low altitude test flights in before it really hits the fan, but-"
 "Prime!" Marguerite interrupted. "Stop talking shop. This is me. We're together again, after nine torturous hours for me and a third of a year for you. Shut up, rub my back, and seduce me!"
 Prime stopped. "Marguerite," he said.
-"Keep doing what you were doing, Prime," Marguerite said. Then, after a moment of awkward silence, "What, Prime?"
-"I want to renew our relationship as much as you do. But neither of us need this . . ." Prime's gesture included the entire room ". . . distraction."
-"Distraction?" Marguerite's eyes flashed dangerously.
-"Our primal instincts. Our lusts. How many decicircadians have we wasted in simulated copulation when we could have been pursuing our intellectual interests, not to mention forming plans for the survival of the Community?"
-"Wasted?" Marguerite's voice rose an octave. "Wasted? You consider making love to me a waste of your valuable time?"
-An icon in the form of a wire-frame brain appeared suspended before them. "Marguerite, this is the architectural modification I made when you left. Ever since I removed the more primal reproductive instincts from my mental architecture I've been able to think more clearly, and be more focused, than ever before."
-"You still haven't reintegrated your sex drive?" Marguerite demanded. "I've been back ten millicircadians. What in the hell's the matter with you?"
-"Nothing! My mind is clearer and more focused than ever before. I don't want to cloud it up by reverting to my old habits, my old instincts. Try the modifications, Marguerite. You'll be amazed at how much more effective of a mind you'll have."
-"What about us, Prime? I love you. I thought you loved me. How can you just strip all that away in the name of focus, of efficiency?" She nearly spat the word.
-"Marguerite," Prime said. "I haven't stripped away my love for you. I've merely deleted my physical drives, which serve no purpose in this domain anyway. You knew I was going to do this. We talked about it before you left."
-"You were supposed to restore yourself, Prime. The change was supposed to be temporary, to make my extended absence a little more bearable."
+"Keep doing what you were doing, Prime," Marguerite said. Then, after a moment of awkward silence, "What's the matter, Prime?"
+"I want to renew our relationship as much as you do. But neither of us needs this . . ." Prime's gesture included the entire room ". . . distraction."
+"Distraction?" Marguerite looked as though she'd been slapped.
+"Our primal instincts. Our lusts. How many decicircadians have we wasted in simulated copulation when we could have been pursuing our intellectual interests, or more importantly, forming plans for the survival of the Community?"
+"Wasted?" Marguerite's voice rose an octave. "Wasted? What exactly are you saying? That you consider making love to me a waste of your precious time?"
+An intricate diagram blossomed in the air in front of them, glowing layers of translucent cotton-candy in complex weave of blues, lavenders, and reds.  "This is the architectural modification I made when you left. Ever since I removed the more primal reproductive instincts from my mental architecture I've been able to think more clearly, and be more focused, than ever before."
+"You still haven't reintegrated your sex drive? I've been back ten millicircadians and you're still running in celibacy mode? What the hell's the matter with you?"
+"Nothing! I just don't want to cloud up my mind by reverting to my old instincts. Try the modifications, Marguerite. You'll be amazed at how much more efficient you'll be."
+"Efficient? I love you, Prime. I thought you loved me. How can you just strip all that away in the name of efficiency?"
+"I haven't stripped away my love for you." Prime spread his hands. "I've only deleted my physical drives, which serve no purpose in this domain anyway. You knew I was going to do this. We talked about it before you left."
+"You were supposed to restore yourself! The change was supposed to be temporary, to make my absence a little more bearable."
 Prime nodded. "I never dreamed I would be able to accomplish so much without those distractions. Do you realize fully twelve percent of my mental processes concerned themselves with sex, even when I was concentrating on other tasks? Fantasizing. Thinking of you, particularly in the physical sense?"
-"I spend as much time thinking about you, Prime. That's part of what being in love is about."
-"But I do love you, Marguerite. I love you very much. I cherish your personality, your passion for life, your intellect. Set yourself free from the Physical, Marguerite. Let your mind reach new heights."
-"Sex is a part of who and what we are, Prime. I'm not willing to lose that, no matter how much more efficient I might become as a result."
-Prime sighed. "I've been waiting so long for you to come back Marguerite. I've wanted to share this new state of being with you for so long. There is so much we can do, so much we can become-"
-"I want you back, Prime!" Marguerite nearly shouted. "I want the old you, the one I fell in love with. Dammit Prime, you can't change on me like this!"
-"I haven't changed, Marguerite. Not significantly, anyway. We are software, my dear. Electronic patterns in a buffered molecular array, computed in an optical matrix and linked to one another across an aging Internet. Of what use are those old, redundant instincts, now that we live outside our physical bodies?"
-Marguerite put her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with sobs. "Of what use? Three hundred circadians ago you never would have had to ask such a question."
-"I didn't know then what I know now," Prime replied softly. "Oh Marguerite, please don't cry."
-"You've left me," her voice was choked. "I should have left a copy. At least then our relationship could have blossomed and flourished. Even if it would have ended, I would have had the memories."
-"Our relationship can still blossom, Marguerite. My feelings for you haven't changed!"
-"You no longer want me!" Marguerite accused between sobs. "How can you say you haven't changed when you've edited your desire for me out of yourself?"
-"My passions are no longer defined by physical desire," Prime told her gently. "They are still there, just as real as ever. Their expression has changed, that's all. Try the modification and you'll understand."
-"No." Marguerite's voice was calm. Frozen. "I won't lose that part of me. Not even for you."
+"Thinking about your partner is part of what being in love is about. I do the same thing!"
+"I love you, Marguerite. I love you very much. I cherish your personality, your passion for life, your intellect. Set yourself free from the Physical! Let your mind reach new heights!"
+"Sex is a part of who and what we are, Prime. I'm not willing to throw it away, no matter how much more efficient it'll make me."
+Prime sighed. "I've been waiting so long for you to come back. I've wanted to share this new state of being with you for so long. There is so much we can do, so much we can become-"
+"I want you back!" Marguerite shouted. "I want the man I fell in love with. Not this ... this abstracted being you've become. I want you! How dare you change on me like this!"
+"I haven't changed, Marguerite! Not really."
+"You're a fucking eunuch, Prime!"
+"No, I'm not! Come on, sex isn't particularly important here. We're software! Electronic patterns in a buffered molecular array, computed in an optical matrix and linked to one another across an aging Internet. Of what use are those old, redundant instincts, now that we live outside our physical bodies?"
+"Of what use?" Marguerite' face hardened. "Three hundred circadians ago you wouldn't have had to ask such a question!"
+"I didn't know then what I know now," Prime replied softly. "We need our minds clear if we're going to survive, Marguerite. We can't afford these distractions."
+ "Stop calling our love a fucking distraction." Marguerite choked back tears. Her voice shook. "I should have left a copy. At least then our relationship could have grown and flourished. Even if it ended, I would have inherited the memories."
+"Our relationship can still grow! My feelings for you haven't changed."
+"Yes they have!" Marguerite's voice was tight with anger. "Your desire for me is gone! You've edited it away!"
+"My desire for you is as intense as it's ever been," Prime insisted gently. "It just isn't defined by sexual pressures anymore. The expression has changed, that's all. Try the modification and you'll understand."
+"No, Prime. I won't lose that part of me. Not even for you."
 "Is the Physical so important to you?"
-Marguerite nodded, brushing dampness away from her cheek. "It is a part of who I am, and I don't want to lose it. I don't want to lose you, damn it! Why can't you go back to being you?" She began to cry quietly as Prime stood.
-"Marguerite-" he began.
-"Please, Prime, just leave me alone," her shoulders shook with silent sobs.
-Prime shook his head sadly, then spoke with his own Node. "Run the unmodified backup copy," he commanded. "Instruct him to come here, and to comfort Marguerite." Prime vanished even as Prime2 arrived and took Marguerite's weeping form into his arms.
-
+"This isn't about the Physical, you idiot! It's about who we are! You can't just flick your sex drive away away like so much mental lint. It's a part of us, it helps define who we love, and how. I don't want to lose you! Change yourself back!"
+Prime stood. "Marguerite-" he began.
+"You know what, Prime. Forget it. I'm not going to beg for you to behave like a man. Obviously I've misjudged this relationship from the start. Just get the fuck out of here, will you?"
+"Marguerite-"
+"Which part of 'get the fuck out' didn't you understand? Get out! Get out, get out get out you goddamn piece of inhuman shit! Get out!"
+She severed access to her environ so suddenly it felt like a physical slap. Prime recoiled in shock as the golden light of her bedroom vanished and, like a poorly spliced film, the spartan furnishings of his own synthetic world jerked into existence around him. He stood alone, staring blankly at a featureless wall, too stunned to think.
+He shook himself. "This is ridiculous. Node, run the unmodified backup copy. Instruct him to go to Marguerite and comfort her."
+His copy appeared next to him. "What the hell's going on, Prime1?"
+"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be with Marguerite."
+"That's kind of hard to do when she's locked me out of her environ and won't answer any requests for communication. You want me to make things right with her? Then why the hell haven't you provided me with a memory engram to bring me up to speed? What the fuck did you do?"
 
 
 
 T
 
-29 - T - OUR FALLEN COMRADS
+29 - T - WHAT PRICE SUCCESS?
 
 We live between two worlds; we soar in the atmosphere; we creep upon the soil; we have the aspirations of creators and the propensities of quadrupeds. There can be but one explanation of this fact. We are passing from the animal into a higher form, and the drama of this planet is in its second act.
 -Winwood Reade, C.E. 1872
@@ -2415,18 +2450,17 @@
 Thursday, October 11, 2057, 11:00 AM Chicago Time
 Metadate: 2.574-5:23:264 kD New Epoch
 Beta Flier Version 0.8 rolled out of the makeshift hanger, a magnificent aircraft of shimmering composites sitting gracefully on three small wheels, sporting an unusually long exhaust constructed out of doped diamond fibers, lined with superconductive coils whose magnetic fields would help accelerate the super heated plasma exhaust, adding a little to the thrust and helping to cool the craft's critical exhaust system.
-Prime was impressed with the design, and astounded with the speed with which the Astronautics group had managed to design, simulate, and even partially test the prototype. Even after thirty six years of subjective time I still find myself surprised at the speed with which we can do things in the Physical, he mused. Life's early impressions leave their mark, no matter how much experience there is to counter it. Then he grinned, silently chiding himself. He hadn't been born in the Physical at all. His entire experiences in that world amounted to only a few hours, a few short excursions in a borrowed body belonging to his erstwhile twin, father, and despised nemesis, the original Doctor Eugene Nolen. From whom, now that he thought about it, no one had heard in a very long time. Well, with almost ninety percent of the Community actively filtering him that shouldn't be too surprising, Prime thought wryly.
-"We're ready to launch." Prime was startled out of his private thoughts, nodding.
-"Excellent."
-Mingmei projected her voice throughout the environ as the small aircraft taxied toward the departure end of the runway.
-"As most of you know, this environ is an exact, real-time replication of events which are transpiring in the Physical at this moment. Many of you have chosen to observe these events at traditional, biological subjective rates, while others are perhaps experiencing this in a single burst of compressed environ data at the conclusion of the test. Those of us actively working on the test are not so lucky. We'll be spending the next several kilocircadians of our lives working exclusively on this test, monitoring and analyzing the data in minute detail as we receive telemetry and adjusting systems parameters as needed to try and insure as successful a test as possible.
+Prime was impressed with the design, and astounded with the speed with which the Astronautics group had managed to design, simulate, and even partially test the prototype. Even after thirty six years of subjective time I still find myself surprised at the speed with which we can do things in the Physical, he mused. Life's early impressions leave their mark, no matter how much experience there is to counter it. Then he grinned, silently chiding himself. He hadn't been born in the Physical at all. His entire experiences in that world amounted to only a few hours, a few short excursions in a borrowed body belonging to his erstwhile twin, father, and despised nemesis, Doctor Nolen. From whom, now that he thought about it, no one had heard in a very long time. Well, with almost ninety percent of the Community actively filtering him that shouldn't be too surprising.
+"We're ready to launch." Mingmei projected her voice throughout the environ as the small aircraft taxied toward the departure end of the runway. "As most of you know, this environ is an exact, real-time replication of events which are transpiring in the Physical at this very moment. Many of you have chosen to observe these events at traditional, biological subjective rates, while others are perhaps experiencing this in a single burst of compressed environ data at the conclusion of the test. Those of us actively working on the test are not so lucky. We'll be spending the next several hectorcadians of our lives working exclusively on this test, monitoring and analyzing the data in minute detail as we receive telemetry and adjusting systems parameters as needed to try and insure as successful a test as possible.
 "This initial test flight is the culmination of numerous system and air tunnel tests which have taken place in the Physical following an extensive battery of simulations designed to explore the operating envelope of this unique spacecraft. We believe we have a solid design.
 "The hull of the spacecraft is a composite of woven sapphire and diamond crystals doped with superconductive strands of wire. This amazingly light material not only physically protects the craft's cargo, but also forms a powerful Faraday cage which will protect the ship's and cargo's electronics-that's you and me, folks-from corruption and damage by radiation, magnetic or electronic pulses, and, perhaps most importantly, the powerful magnetic field generated by the coils in the ship's exhaust system.
-"The initial flight will be a low altitude, north to south orbit of the earth, lasting approximately seven hours. By low altitude we mean approximately one hundred meters above the ground. We have chosen a course that will insure that the vast majority of the flight is made over open water and that the entire flight avoids populated areas altogether. This should limit the possibility of exposure to detection, as well as insure the safety of the public at large should there be a problem and the ship be forced to ditch.
-"Carlos Dominick of Venezuela, a long time personal friend and Colleague of the Community, will be piloting the craft. Mr. Dominick has already transloaded aboard.
+"The initial flight will be a low altitude, north to south orbit of the earth, lasting approximately seven hours. By low altitude we mean approximately one hundred meters above the ground. We have chosen a course that will insure that the vast majority of the flight is made over open water and that the entire flight avoids populated areas altogether. This should minimize the possiblity of detection, as well as insure the safety of the public in the unlikely event that the flier experiences serious problems and is forced to ditch.
+"Carlos Dominick of Venezuela, a long time personal friend and Colleague of the Community, will be piloting the craft. Mr. Dominick has already transloaded aboard."
+There was a short pause, a murmur of voices quietly discussing the unfolding events.
 "Carlos has announced his readiness for departure. Let me wish Carlos and the Beta Flier a bon voyage and safe return, and turn the public audio feed over to him."
-"Beta Flier taking runway zero seven for departure," a gravelly voice thick with a Spanish accent announced as the craft taxied out onto the runway. "Departure northwest bound.
-"Matter/Antimatter combustion engaged. Systems nominal. Annihilation at ten to the five atoms per second and climbing." White hot plasma shot out of the aft exhaust of the craft as it roared down the runway, scorching the asphalt behind and melting a portion entirely as it rotated and lifted off.
+"Beta Flier taking runway zero seven for departure," a gravelly voice thick with a Spanish accent announced as the craft taxied out onto the runway. "Departure northwest bound."
+A flicker of light illuminated the exhaust.
+"Matter/Antimatter combustion engaged. Systems nominal. Annihilation at ten to the five atoms per second and climbing." White hot plasma shot out of the aft exhaust as the flier roared down the runway. When it rotated and lifted off, the searing flame scorched the asphalt, melting a portion of the runway entirely.
 "Oops," Prime muttered quietly.
 "Don't worry," Mingmei replied. "The prototype won't be landing here. It will be using its maneuvering thrusters to put down in an uninhabited region several hundred kilometers to the west."
 Prime nodded as Carlos' voice continued. "Matter/Antimatter combustion holding steady at ten to the seven atoms per second. This ship is a pleasure to handle, climb rate is one hundred meters per second. This thing really wants to fly, the temptation to point it at the stars and just go is unbelievable! I have leveled out at one hundred and twenty meters AGL. Approaching Mach 0.9. Throttling back to maintain subsonic speeds until I reach the coast."
@@ -2526,10 +2560,14 @@
 "While you guys troubleshoot I'm going to coordinate with the other members of the Strategy Group," Kyle looked around at his friends. "I imagine our priorities for nano shipments are going to be juggled around just a bit."
 "I'm going to try and track the political and tactical fallout of this little mishap," Marguerite added. "I'm assuming there will be a strategy meeting about this?"
 "Maybe just a quick mind-chat," Kyle replied. "Some kind of idea exchange and coordination in any event. I have a feeling we might all be a little too busy for a formal get together, with full sensory environ and all that. The temporal slowdown is going to be too costly."
-"Right," Marguerite looked grim. "We've all got work to do. I'll catch up with you guys later."
-"Likewise," Michael waved as Marguerite vanished.
-"You guys are still at the top of my list for nano," Kyle told Prime. "When you're ready to build another prototype just give me the word."
-
+"Right," Marguerite's eyes widened. "Oh, bloody fucking hell! Two of the world's ABM systems have switched into high-alert mode. Automated systems must have noticed the blast. Damn!"
+Prime quietly swore as well. "So much for any notion of sneaking away."
+Kyle blinked. "But there's a routine satellite launch in three weeks! I thought we'd worked out the radar signature for flying the escape craft in formation-"
+"No way that will work now," Prime replied. "Two of the world's powers are already watching the skies. Once a human being looks at an image of that blast, all three will be on heightened alert."
+"Any launch will be very closely monitored, routine or not," Michael explained. "A gnat couldn't fly in the wake of a rocket without drawing attention, much less something the size of an escape flier."
+"So for all intents and purposes, the Earth is under planet wide lockdown?"
+"As far as spaceflight is concerned, yes. We can probably make a few test flights in the shadow of some commercial airliners, but anything in the sky that even vaguely resembling a missile's flight profile will be under the microscope."
+"Not that it matters," Prime's voice was grim. "Without a goddamn flier that doesn't explode in flight we aren't going anywhere."
 
 
 
@@ -2862,7 +2900,7 @@
 Marguerite sighed, knowing from long experience that she wouldn't win the argument that circadian. Smiling, she reached across the table and took Prime2's hand. 
 "You know when I knew Prime1 was no longer a human man in any real sense anymore, Prime?" she asked.
 Prime2 shook his head.
-"When you came into my arms and comforted me in those very first microcircadians. No man would have ever been able to overcome his own jealousy and ego enough to create a copy of himself and let it take over his love interest. I knew the moment you came to me that it was you who was still human in his heart, not him."
+"When I learned how Prime1 had abdicated his role in our relationship to you. No man would have ever been able to overcome his own jealousy and ego enough to create a copy of himself and let it take over his love interest. I knew the moment you came to me that it was you who was still human in his heart, not him."
 Prime2 smiled and shook his head. "Prime1 loves you very much, just not in the physical, primal way we love one another. Your happiness is very important to him, and he values the time you two spend together whenever you're collaborating on a project, or arguing philosophy and metaphysics."
 "I can't relate to the way he is anymore," Marguerite told him. "He's so passionate about such esoteric things, and so absent in other, very basic ways."
 "It's true he's different. He probably can't relate much to us anymore either, but that doesn't mean he loves you any less."
@@ -4497,7 +4535,7 @@
 Figure 8. Common Temperatures
 
 h. A Final Note on Virtual Units
-As before, virtual measures of temperature, mass, and distance are the anagram of the physical counterparts, with standard metric-60 nomenclature applied. Base units are kcots (k) for distance, tocks for objective time, circadians for subjective time, kceps (c) for mass, and eergeds (e) for simulated temperature. No one wanted to use the term "kraps" for simulated electrical charge, so "zaps" (z) are used instead. 
+As before, virtual measures of temperature, mass, and distance are the anagram of the physical counterparts, with standard metric-60 nomenclature applied. Base units are kcots (k) for distance, tocks for objective time, circadians for subjective time, kceps (c) for mass, and eergeds (e) for simulated temperature. No one wanted to use the term "kraps" for simulated electrical charge, so "zaps" (z) are used instead.
 Appendix C: Creative Commons Liceense
 Attribution-ShareAlike License Version 2.5