Breaking the Long Fog (Semi-Closed, Attn. ROUS)

[Frenequesta]

Dr. Jupin, patiently listening to the conversations but unsure how to join in without seeming ignorant. He almost wished Dr. Winsett were by his side again so she could explain what the Starkindler Empress meant by the "laws of robotics". He knew it had something to do with some classic science fiction writer-- and that seemed to be part of the problem. Then again, a Pony did win a Popular Legislature seat last election.

He had almost forgotten about the hologram displayer in back of him. It finally began to flicker and buzz with static growing from faint to clear, with the shape of an overweight, balding man almost a head shorter than Dr. Jupin emerging from the energy port seemingly suspended in mid-air-- no less because the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Economy happened to be on his recliner watching the latest cricket match between the Neue Bayreuth Robos and the Unirove Hixbers, popping an unseen chip into the air and catching it in his mouth.

And finally, he noticed too.

"Gah! What's this? Can't you see I'm watching a game? You made me miss Snodgrass' dismissal!"

"Apparently not," Dr. Jupin joked, turning to Secretary Smalls. "And don't make such a fuss, we've got royalty around."

"Oh," said Secretary Smalls, getting up and turning to the Starkindler Empress and next the Emperor de Sadev. "Beg Pardon," he bowed, gulping down a cheese snack, then eying Dr. Jupin. "But seriously, Dr. Jupin, do notify me in advance before you call me up. I'll tolerate this one, but consider yourself warned." While Dr. Jupin was wondering what exactly he meant by that, Secretary Smalls started to take the center stage. "Oh yes, so anyways, I'm sorry I had to show up so late in the ball game, so to speak, huh? I'm Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Economy Vishton Smalls of the Social Republic and Scientific Collectives of Frenequesta, and as far as I understand the briefing I have before me I understand that this is a meeting to reforge ties with old allies. I'm certainly glad to be here on behalf of the Freneq people, as I am sure that our relations are in a great need of an update. I deeply apologize for interrupting any current talks the honorable delegates were having, but this is the one time I would say it's appropriate to blame the messenger," he said, eying Dr. Jupin again with a mischievous smile, but not without panting a couple of times for what was now a long speech.

Dr. Quine simply shook his head. Whatever happened to you, Dr. Jupin? You used to be good at having some sense and decorum.

[Warhaven]

"Any idea as to what the Fog is, or perhaps was?" Tajen asked.

[Frenequesta]

"I asked the same question when we were coming here, and apparently they don't know," said Dr. Quine, finally finding a good opportunity to make conversation.

"I've been wondering that too," added Dr. Jupin. "But I think there might be some odd explanation. Ever since we lost communications with New Amerik, our planet, Aprioriposteriori in Universe 2, slowed down on its axis and orbit, so it looks like we've only been gone five years."

"I thought the time discrepancy was merely relativistic effects," said Dr. Quine.

"No, not at all; you very well know the time delay for NanoWire Communications is only a day at most, especially for a close universe such as New Amerik's. Otherwise who knows, de Sadev might be long gone by the time we even heard from him," Dr. Jupin chuckled, perfectly masking his contempt for his inferior's oversight. "It's the sole reason why in 2217 geriatricians were reporting that their patients were aging 2.4 times faster than normal. Of course, I reported on The Multiversal Constant once that the day/night cycle was getting longer and affecting the migrating patterns of Trumpor alavrans, but since so little of Freneq human life has anything to do with the difference between day and night no one really paid much attention." He caught his breath for a minute, waiting for someone to comment. He would go on, but decided to let Smalls ask the seemingly obvious question.

"Has anyone else experienced planet slowdowns?"

[Warhaven]

"No. Ultimus returned to Aquamarinia, but that's all for us." Tajen said.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Not Us" Sir Nigel said "Time is running normally to SMT limits. As it always has."

[Frenequesta]

"No. Ultimus returned to Aquamarinia, but that's all for us." Tajen said.

"Was that move expected?" asked Dr. Jupin.

[Warhaven]

"Impossible to tell. Trying to pry secrets out of an Aquamarinian is the very definition of impossible." Tajen grumbled.

[New Amerik]

Though the mask remained inexpressive, Vasquail's voice took on a slight tone of regret, or possibly shame.

"Indeed, we...do not know why the Long Fog appeared. We may perhaps glean some answers now that we are free, but for twelve years all we have been able to ascertain is...that attempts to send any sort of signal or energy outside the universe have all failed. While we are certainly only a very small part, and it may be due to another species somewhere out in the void..."

He sat up, taking a glass in one hand and grasping the empty bottle with the other. Raising the bottle, he gripped the black metal attachment in palm and squeezed tightly around it while concentrating. There was nothing for a few seconds, until with a light hiss and a brief flash of light a bottle-shaped mass of dark red liquid existed into the bottle. He nodded, then poured himself a glass.

"Of course, I do suppose one reason for the Fog happening was our discovery and subsequent exploitation of Gehn's Instability Theorums, but the doktors have assured me they can find no correlation between Amerikverse Earth technological developments and it."

He offered them a glass. "Are you sure you would not have some Martian Canal-Wine? Very delicious, vintage 2165 Amerikverse. And we do have a few minutes or so still to arrive at the Spire...traffic."

[The Floor Kippers]

"Alright Vasquail" Sir Nigel said "I'll try some. Its been a while since I had wine from mars. Not since we fell out with the Ice Warriors"

[Frenequesta]

"Not me, of course, I can't drink through the interface, not unless the wine is somehow integrated within the system," said Secretary Smalls with a smile.

"I'll take some though, thank you" said Dr. Jupin.

"Me too," said Pervis.

"I'll have a glass too," replied Dr. Quine. "Still feel a little tense from the bending."

[Warhaven]

"I'll have some." Tajen relented.

[Starkindler]

As the vessel launched from the Earth of Amerikverse, all of the Imperials began following it closely in a V-shaped pattern, homing on the constant subspace signal which the Empress emitted, however, showing no signs of aggression, leaving both weapons and shields offline, except a temporal stabilization field against subspace distortions happening in warp speed or above. Upon the entry of the shadow, the cadet stated coldly, and clearly:
"Computer, end program."

When the shadow finally vanished, she started a monologue.
"Your Majesty, I beg your pardon but I must point out that the holographic character of the servant was rendered incorrectly. The character body wasn't appearing, the containers did not follow a plausible realization pattern, and even the projection of the shadow was inconsistent with the laws of elementary optics. That might have been caused by severe malfunctions of the rendering system, often the graphics and physical processing units' overloading, or running out of operative memory. If you insist, I could try to repair the systems."

At the appearance of the Freneq Secretary, the Empress just bowed her head slightly, while the Cadet bowed with her full upper body, while remaining seated. The Empress understood the importance of the match, as she would have a similar reaction in his place, if accidentally, a copy of her - while watching the Imperial Cup of Ballroom Dancing finals - were switched to a hologram emitter.

To the Warhavenian diplomat, the Empress replied:
"No. All planetary orbits in the Empire are stable. Losses and increases in orbital velocity range in the nanoseconds, and are perfectly explained by the import and export of mass to said planets, their star systems or stars. Time itself, according to the latest timestream measurement is running at a normal speed in our dimension."

The Empress then took a glass of wine, and sipped into it. She restricted herself, so she wouldn't drink more than a typical human, even through, for her size, she could drink the entire bottle in one sip. Then she spoke again, turning to the Emperor.
"Your majesty. So you suggest it was another faction from the Multiverse, who invented interdimensional travel recently and either deliberately or accidentally impeded upon all communication to and from your universe, suspected by abusing Gehn's Instability Theorems. We did not detect any unusual interdimensional activity recently, but our sensors might have flawed, or such data was thrown away as irrelevant. Do you have a clue? And that device which replicated the wine. Is it a full-blown replicator, or just the remote controller of one? And it it is the former, then is the antimatter plant inside the device or inside you?"

[The Floor Kippers]

"It certainly is possible another party did it. There are thousands of civilizations out there who thing we should all keep to our own Universes, and then there's the remnants of collapsed universes that drift around the Exo-Space continuum" Sir Nigel suggested thoughtfully "Plenty of those could have a grudge against Multiverse Travel. Hell! The Fog could have come from another civilization within the Amerikverse"

[Warhaven]

"Are there remnants of the Fog lingering somewhere we might study directly?" Tajen asked.

[New Amerik]

"I am dreadfully sorry, my dear...cadet?, but that is no program. My personal servant, Thomas, actually. It's a good shade, never takes up too much space, knows when to leave one alone, and a very good listener. I'd hired it on as caretaker for the children, and in ten years it hasn't disappointed me once. No fancy computers or anything like that here, just the freedom of a genuine artificial wood and stone house built two hundred feet off the growing in a universe where life, at least on Earth, never got past plants, trees, fish, and insects." The Emperor spoke, waving around the room. "As for the device, Empress, it is in fact neither: we developed it only, say...two, three years ago? It's a time travel device. Using Gehn's Theorum of Paradox Closure, I can send out a signal across purely fourth-dimensional 'lengths' to the desired and preset marker to send some truly delicious wine from 2208 Home 'verse Mars back to here in 2042. Think we get it from one of our descendants, Mars Prima or whatever that hive mind's known as."

He took the bottle and focused again, gripping the time travel device tightly and sending a constant stream of the future liquid into five glasses. Passing them around to everyone who had asked, he placed the bottle back on the tray. As the familiar darkness of the shade started to approach again, Vasquail waved it off. "Wait for now, Thomas, I'll let you know when."

As he watched the others drink up, he told them of what he knew. "It could have originated from outside or inside - we know of very little beyond our own solar system, let alone the local galaxy and the universe at large. There could easily be a civilization half a google lightyears away that caused it, and we could never know. As for whether the Fog had any physical substance, that I cannot say. We never experienced anything - it was like...well, it would be like going fishing, and having your line suddenly hit thin air part way through casting and bounce back. If anyone would know, it'd be anyone who tried to get to us before directly through the Thread membrane, rather than just 'verse to 'verse. Unfortunately, the only one I know of who for sure would do that is currently unavailable...Jack, I think, the one with the biplane."

[Warhaven]

"Hmm, no physical remnants, I'm betting there are no energy based traces lingering around either. What a mysterious fog." Tajen commented.

[The Floor Kippers]

"Hmm, no physical remnants, I'm betting there are no energy based traces lingering around either. What a mysterious fog." Tajen commented.

"If it was indeed caused by another party they will have covered their tracks to avoid reprisals" Sir Nigel said "If it was natural however, we will need to find out more about it, it could strike any of our universes!"

[Warhaven]

"This is true, but with no traces in any fashion, it'll be a more difficult study, and I don't know where a good starting point would be. Although, I suppose I could use the impressive sensors on The Anomally to perform a series of scans at all ranges to see if there's anything within this particular Galaxy that would be a likely cause, or lead to the cause." Tajen said.

[Frenequesta]

"Hmm, no physical remnants, I'm betting there are no energy based traces lingering around either. What a mysterious fog." Tajen commented.

"If it was indeed caused by another party they will have covered their tracks to avoid reprisals" Sir Nigel said "If it was natural however, we will need to find out more about it, it could strike any of our universes!"

"That the lack of data to avoid reprisals could just as easily have been a move on a part of New Amerik than another party, considering the political situation in the country!" expressed Pervis, sipping his wine.

"Now, Pervis, we are in Amerikan jurisdiction," Dr. Jupin reprimanded. "Besides, you can't make such sweeping assumptions about the popularity of the dictatorship."

"He's right you know," said Secretary Smalls.

"Pah, you know how violent minority factions can get if they have a peeve about the regime 'confirmed' relative to their ideology."

"Fair point," conceded Secretary Smalls. "But as Dr. Jupin said, it's bad form to ruffle feathers too early."

[New Amerik]

"As is said in our nation: Power is something that must be inflicted, not earned. If we, the official government, should have had any data on it, it would be regulated out to only those that were sane or mad enough to handle the responsibility of the knowledge gleaned. And if there was a minority faction responsible, then all they have to do on their part is to peacefully engage in open debate with the leadership and win. Those who have learned this lesson and won are, even now, often the very members of the government they argued against. Those that fail to learn to this lesson don't end up making it again," the Emperor responded, before briefly looking to the clock.

"We should arrive at the Spire very soon now, maybe a few minutes. I can get you in contact with Gehn and he'll tell you of what we know, should you be interested in more than just glorfied chatter."

[The Floor Kippers]

"Oh Vasquail. You can learn so much from Glorified Chit Chat" Sir Nigel said "But I understand your point and I am curious to learn more about this Fog"

[Frenequesta]

Dr. Jupin nodded, glancing towards Pervis. "See, Pervis, the Pride Party's got it all wrong."

"Fine, I'll shut up. But mark my word, there's something fishy about this whole setup--"

Dr. Jupin shook his head along with Secretary Smalls. He thought for a minute. "I'd be sure excited to meet Gehn. It sounds like Amerikan science has come a long way since I last reported on it."

[The Floor Kippers]

Dr. Jupin nodded, glancing towards Pervis. "See, Pervis, the Pride Party's got it all wrong."

"Fine, I'll shut up. But mark my word, there's something fishy about this whole setup--"

Dr. Jupin shook his head along with Secretary Smalls. He thought for a minute. "I'd be sure excited to meet Gehn. It sounds like Amerikan science has come a long way since I last reported on it."

"Pervis...You realise my use of the word Party wasn't reffering to anything Political, Merely a possible group of unknown persons?" Sir Nigel asked

[Frenequesta]

Dr. Jupin nodded, glancing towards Pervis. "See, Pervis, the Pride Party's got it all wrong."

"Fine, I'll shut up. But mark my word, there's something fishy about this whole setup--"

Dr. Jupin shook his head along with Secretary Smalls. He thought for a minute. "I'd be sure excited to meet Gehn. It sounds like Amerikan science has come a long way since I last reported on it."

"Pervis...You realise my use of the word Party wasn't reffering to anything Political, Merely a possible group of unknown persons?" Sir Nigel asked

"I certainly don't deny that," said Dr. Jupin. "I was not referring to the possibility of some unknown group as who would cover up the traces. You see, in Frenequesta we have four major parties, the smallest of them being the Pride Party, which runs on a platform of protectionism and drug prohibition, and are especially known for wanting to cut off diplomatic and trade relations with any politically authoritarian nation, whether they're good to they're people or not. They suffer severe cognitive dissonance whenever New Amerik is brought into the discussion, so I'm not surprised that Pervis would feel that way."

[The Floor Kippers]

"Oh, I was talking about before that, when I mentioned whoever caused the fog covering their tracks to avoid reprisals," Sir Nigel said "I was wonderng why Politics suddenly lurched into the conversation and I thought my choice of words theorising on the situation was the cause. On the Political front I feel that the Pride Party should wake up and smell reality. There are Bad Democracies, Why the hell shouldn't there be a Good authoritarian nations?"