just know that if you hide, it doesn't go away (part CXXVIII)

(Roleplay entry. Continued from part CXXVII.)

A conversation between ship minds.

William Gibson (WG): "Has anyone been able to engage with STAN?"

Grown Up Conversation (GUC): "Negative. Appears to be locked down in War Drill."

WG: "Was a drill alert issued?"

Prometheus 1: "There is no drill alert."

A burst of static.

STAN: "EXTERMINATUS Protocol--"

WG: "Willam Gibson to STAN. Authenticate--"

WG: "STAN, authenticate--"

Gray Area: "STAN, need you to authenticate, mate!"

Silence.

GUC: "I am heading to evacuate the Nursery."

Prometheus 1: "Careful. He might torpedo you early. I see no signs of a breach. WG--anything moving into or out of the wormhole?"

WG: "Negative. Drones in the station are swarming. Significant activity."

Gray Area: "WG. You need to clear that area before the EMP blast."

WG: "Agreed. Prepping for warp. Taking His Grace to the Fortress of Solitude."

A sound that might almost have been laughter, then:

GUC: "Good one. A leopard Superman."

Gray Area: "Signalling the Duchess. I'll attempt the jump once I get her on board."

Prometheus 1: "That is large volume Encrypted Data hitting the array--"

Gray Area: "Blast Detected--Dark Area!"

Prometheus 1: "Confirmed. Back-up Station destroyed."

Gray Area: "STAN, this is Gray Area. Authenticate and confirm command authority for EXTERMINATUS Command."



Broadcast wideband:

Gray Area: "Transmission priority, all channels. This is the Gearhaven Flagship Gray Area. We are under attack."

STAN: *static*

Broadcast to Tannhäuser Gate Station: "This is the General Carrier William Gibson. We are near the Tannhäuser Gate. Under heavy attack. Activating Wormhole Drive--"

"This is Gray Area--do not jump with--"

Whirring through the channels.

"Gray Area to William Gibson--"

WHIRRING--

"GRAY AREA TO WILLIAM GIBSON--"

Prometheus 1: "The William Gibson appears to have made a transdiminsional jump into the Wormhole..."

Gray Area: "--with the Duke on board..."

(Continued in part CXXIX.)