Welcome to the Journal of Now and Forever. This Journal is a collection of my Star Control and Star Control 2 fiction. Note: Some of this material is, by necessity, extrapolation from the slim information provided by canon sources.

New fiction is posted first at My Livejournal before it appears here. This story is in response to 15 Minute Ficlets' Challenge #1.

[recording begins] It's me again. I suppose you know about the probe the Micromanager shot up. Damn, but I would've loved to be on that ship. I know, only one person, well, one ship can be the first in combat. Would've liked to be there, though. But there'll be others, I'm sure.

Actually, that's what's got everyone all hyper now. I mean, someone had to make that probe. And it had to come from somewhere. And whoever made it has access to Anglic, but it's not quite the same, or something, 'cause the recordings got spread out already among the spacers. Word came down that they wanted everyone to know what the thing looked and sounded like, so if we find another one, we'll know what's what.

Downside is they're still trying to find out who made the thing. Heard the 'Manager blew it to bits. Well, rammed it, actually, but same thing. They don't know if the thing has a black box or what, but it must have something if its purpose was to collect data. It's not Earthling made, we know that, but after that, who knows?

'Course, if we can figure out its black box – assuming one survived – then maybe we can see what other data it picked up. That would be a big help. Even if it's just info about the rest of the galaxy it's seen, y'know? And then if it had alien data, data about other aliens, that would be... well, priceless. 'Cause who the hell is out there? That knows Anglic and can build probes like that?

I'm sure it's got the Powers That Be in a real upset. Bad enough when we had to worry about Earthlings, but they're cowering on their planet still, they won't bother us for a while yet. No, this is someone else. And I heard that it's said the probe had been in combat before us, which means that's Someone Else Number Two to worry about.

I know I should be scared about all this, Lynn, but damn, it's exciting! Knowing there's someone else out there, I dunno, maybe I'm supposed to be scared but it's all channeling into Go-get-'em mode instead. I wanna be the one who finds out. Who captures one of these sonsabitches alive. Or, well, I don't think we can capture a probe, but if we can find the probe's owners, capture one of them, y'know?

Actually, if we could capture one of those things intact, maybe we could replicate it and make some for ourselves. That'd be a help. Guess we'll see if the boys and girls back home can figure it out from the crunchy bits left behind.

Sorry to hear about the belyaev incident. I think you were in the right, if it helps. Whoever warmed up those embryos should've known it was gonna happen. Hey, did they let you keep the pelt? [laughter] If you got it, maybe you can do something with it. Don't know what, though, they're kinda small, aren't they? I bet especially after you were done, har!

Gotta go, they're already working up simulations of the probe fight so the rest of us can practice against it. I wanna see if plain gunnery will take it down without having to go comet. This is the best thing that could've happened in a long time. We should be back at EV2 soon enough, I'll see you then.

[disconnect]

Comments? Email me: laridian at aol dot com