3: Who's afraid of the big bad wolf-

Unable to determine EST **Incoming message from Sister** The Pfhor are everywhere. What should I do, Doctor? "Don't panic. We can handle them. What is this structure? Why are we here?" The Pfhor rerouted our transporter signal. Now they're using an AI to confuse me. It seems lame, but it knows what it's doing. "A Tycho clone, no doubt. Can you avoid it?" I think so. What should I do? "We need to get out of here. The miners at the colony may have a shuttle we can escape in. Is there anyway to stop the Pfhor interference?" I may be able to. Not from here though. If I connected to their FTL network and went to the source of the problem, I might be able to stop the interference. Should I do that? "It's dangerous. You'd be alone. Do you think you can handle it?" I do. I want to make you proud, Doctor. Are you proud of me? "Very proud. Go do what you must. I'll try to find more about the surrounding area." Okay, Doctor. Be careful: There have been earthquakes and volcanic flows in the area. "Don't worry about me. Just get going. Watch your self Sister, the Pfhor AIs may be crippled but they were patterned after Tycho." All right Doctor. I'm going. Wish me luck. AI routine remote transfer....................... Transfer Successful..

<Pfhoric translation in progress> Ka'ynis Personal Log. Exempted from directory format. Begin: It's the third day since I arrived here. Already, the local commanders are anxious. It is clear they expect me to say or do something. I only wish that there were something for me to do. This is a dark time for my people. Colony after colony falls to the advancing fleets of the Human and S'pht alliance. I never imagined what such fearsome warriors these Humans are--they fight like possessed P'kknat. I am informed there have been no disturbances in the building of Dreadnought1. This is good. Project "Salo Lathum" progresses. I am curious as to why High Command has not called my fleet to protect Homeworld. They insist that R'chiltu is competent enough a commander to oversee the fleets around Homeworld. Yet I know R'chiltu, he is a fool and that worries me. The safety of all those on Homeworld should not be placed in the hands of an inexperienced youth. When in my youth, I watched Tfear lose Lh'owon to S'pht and I realized that even the best may falter.

I fear for the safety of my people, yet as each day passes I feel something within, pushing me on. I have never felt like the truest definition of a Pfhor warrior, and that feeling radiates from me now, as if it were a force beyond my control. I look out the window in my private quarters on the L'kemtl every chance I get. Strangely, it is not Homeworld I look to, but a small blue sphere I have never seen, but have always known. Someday I shall know the reason for these feelings. Until then, they must remain hidden. I fear I may be tempted to initiate Directive 19; I pray I have courage enough to contain my emotion. Tomorrow I have been promised an inspection of the research labs and various facilities in the area. Until then, I think I'll stay here in the base commander's Nar rock garden. His flair for aesthetics surprises me--I will transfer him to one of my ships. 8956774.3365.21125.33258.80 Ka'ynis 1125478813.334884.448.48437 Admiral, Special class, Technology 356.6654891.214589641.785.14 acquisitions and implementations.

Quakes origin: Osltq Engineer Attentive 8th rank destin: R'krle Commander 1st rank ref: local quakes stamp: Damage report Local quakes in the past week have severely damaged numerous facilities in the area. Abandonment of the following unstable areas is advised: R'kliee Mine Facility Poooi Water Treatment Facility N'koor'tu Geothermal Power Facility Other Facilities have less considerable quake damage and can still be functional. Class One inspection and repair teams are requested.