ByteMe: you promised me. he knew what he was doing. believe me, if I saw a way out I’d take it, but I can’t change this, and you promised me you wouldn’t get yourself killed too. you can’t.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: promises are just words. they don’t mean a thing

ByteMe: words don’t mean anything?

ByteMe: are you fucking kidding me?

ByteMe: words are all we have right now. you’re all I have. you can’t leave him, but you can leave me?

ByteMe: what about when you said you loved me? when you said you wanted the best for me? all that was just crap, was it? doesn’t mean anything as soon as there’s something that matters more?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Kady i DO love you.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: god

Mason, E, LT 2nd: you’re all i think about. Every time I close my eyes, i see you. Every time I dream, you’re there. I think about us and how i messed it up and it’s like someone is tearing my insides out.

ByteMe: then don’t get yourself killed.

ByteMe: i’m hurting for him because you are, even if I don’t know him, but he chose to stay there. he knew what it meant. he’d never forgive you if you got yourself sick, or shot, not if he’s any kind of friend. what you do when shit like this happens is you LIVE, you survive it, that’s how you honor the ones you lost

Mason, E, LT 2nd: he’s not lost yet. I can’t just sit here and do nothing

ByteMe: you give me one thing you can actually do, one thing that might have a chance of saving his life, and we’ll talk. making demands based on info you shouldn’t have gets you nowhere. maybe gets you shot. and who says they’re doing nothing?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: i do. What’s one more drone or bruiser or commtech to these people? we’re just statistics to command. just numbers

ByteMe: that doesn’t answer my question, Ez. I’m not saying don’t care about him. I’m saying don’t get killed for no reason. Please. I won’t be okay.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: what does that even mean?

ByteMe: it means

ByteMe: it means screw you for making me get into this when i don’t want to

ByteMe: but i fucking love you too

ByteMe: and I won’t be okay if you get yourself shot

ByteMe: so please, please just don’t. please don’t make me sit over here freaking out about what you might be doing.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: whoa, back up about three paras there, cowgirl

ByteMe: please, Ez.

ByteMe: Ez?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ok

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ok, i won’t do anything stupid

ByteMe: i’m so sorry. truly.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: …

Mason, E, LT 2nd: god, i wish you were here

ByteMe: me too

ByteMe: but we’re way past 7 mins. i’m so sorry but I have to go.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: yeah

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ok

ByteMe: stay safe. please. for me.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I will.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: for you

ByteMe: you promise?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: i promise.

David,

I’ve done everything you’ve asked. I’ve tested and trained civilians and sent them across for conscription. I’ve stripped my ship to re-equip the Alexander. I’ve passed on what I believe to be misinformation to my crew and the refugees aboard the Hypatia, advising them the Lincoln was responsible for the destruction of the Copernicus, and the deaths of their friends and families.

To say I am uneasy with this would be an understatement. I had friends and colleagues aboard that ship. I’ve cooperated at every turn. At this stage I cannot operate in the dark any further.

Our long-range scopes are now picking up the Lincoln in pursuit of our fleet. If we’re seeing her now, I assume you’ve known she’s closing on us for some time. We burned our lead when we stopped to resupply. It’s not a matter of if Lincoln will catch us anymore. It’s when. And when she catches us, we need to be able to fight her.

We estimate she’ll close to within weapons range in just under three days—seventy hours, to be precise. We need your defense grid. Your rail guns. Your nukes. You need to bring your artificial intelligence back online, David. And if something’s preventing you from doing that, you need to let us help. I’ve still got my skeleton crew here, and they’re damn good at what they do. Give us access to your systems and let us help you.

We’re in this together. A quarter of your ship’s crew is conscripted civilians right now. Don’t discount our help just because my crew are civilians too.

I look forward to your earliest response.

Ann Chau

Ann,

I’ve arranged log-ins and a secure channel for your tech crew, which will allow them to work with mine in running scenarios.

No other crewmembers are to use the secure channel—it is available for designated personnel only. Be advised the secure channel is considered a military asset, and while they’re assisting on this project, your people are subject to military law.

If I catch any of them in even the slightest infraction, from checking in on their buddies to bitching about the situation, I won’t hesitate to court martial them.

Don’t lose your nerve. This is a long way from over, and we’re not done yet.

David

Log-in details:

1/2 Zhang/Byron:

Log-in: Alexander/Core/Full/ZhangB

Password: skjh45mh2

2/2 Nestor/Consuela:

Log-in: Alexander/Core/Full/NestorC

Password: 24rkdga9s

COUNTDOWN TO
LINCOLN INTERCEPTION