Chapter 19: A Snake That Eats Its Own Tail

Several days have gone by, with both the historical fighters re-teaching Norzal's Elite Fighter group the basics of engagement, and the Terrain Armada inside the edge of the Orion Nebula retrofitting the Wraith. Much work has been completed on both sides.

The damage done in the past has all but destroyed the Time-travel project at Kiasha Corp. A new staff is needed in order to continue where this one had left off. That search came in the form of several individuals, including one Tabitha Mustidae.

But the destruction of the Time Portal has left some interesting side effects. First, the Brunner Effect is no longer an item of concern since the increasing energies needed to open the next portal is now being fed by an Orion's Rift somewhere near the spatial and temporal radius of Earth and its star- Sol. Secondly, the damage done to the invading Orion Fighting Force at the time was total. But damage to the Orion Portal remains unknown. In the very least, the Orions did not tried another attack on Earth for another four hundred and seventy something years, and when they did- it was not through another Time Portal.

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"Wozingen, status?", a voice says from a nearby communications panel.

"Computer's reprogrammed, reactors on full, backups on full, all systems retrofitted with terrain technologies. Weapons are minimal but fully operational, this ship is almost ready to go.", a black kangaroo says as he puts his paw onto a button next to the panel.

"When are we going be ready? This damn cloud is getting to me already.", the voice says.

"We are ready now, but not tested. I don't want to take an untested ship into an unknown situation and have everything fail on us.", Wozingen says.

"When do you think things will be ready?", the voice says.

"Another day...", Wozingen replies.

"You got 3 hours.", the voice says.

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"Weren't you a bit harsh on him, Captain Lasivelle, sir?", a voice asks from behind.

The command chair spins around to the science section, "What was that comment?"

"Permission to speak freely, sir.", the officer in the science station stated.

"Permission denied.", Captain Lasivelle replied.

"But sir...", the science officer stated.

"No buts. If I wanted your input, I would have asked for it. Now back to your station or be relieved of duty.", Captain Lasivelle orders.

"Yes sir.", a much meeker reply was stated from the science officer.

"There can only be one alpha on this ship, and I am that alpha.", Captain Lasivelle says to herself as she spins back to the main view panel.

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Talks with Siruian Ambassador having went well, The Casion goes home, taking Uniessya and Hepzedah back home on 3IO.

Since the intruder's arrival and subsequent death, Hepzedah has been hesitant to sit back on the commander's seat of the Casion, taking company with Uniessya at the ship's medical facility. There she stands over her temporal clone, looking at it through inside the status field.

"What are you thinking?", Uniessya asks.

"Its hard to say.", Hepzedah answers.

"Well, try to say it.", Uniessya tries to coach her into words.

"Its like having part of yourself die.", looking at the body, Hepzedah stated with a sigh.

"She's not you.", Uniessya stated.

"She was me. From another timeline... I don't expect you to understand temporal mechanics...", Hepzedah stated.

"I understand some of it... but I know that the fur that is in this chamber is not you.", Uniessya said.

"What if there was another Uniessya out there in the universe, and she was in deep trouble. In finding out, wouldn't you do something to help her?", Hepzedah asks.

"I would not know what to do. I don't have the resources you have.", Uniessya stated.

"The resources I have is not enough. If the Orions were able to pick up temporal clones of us, who's to say that we're all safe now?", Hepzedah asks.

"I think there is more to it than just that, Hep.", Uniessya said.

"There maybe, but consider this- like stepping into a pair of parallel mirrors and watching yourself in the infinite number of reflections, if one of those reflection were to be removed, and placed next to you...", Hepzedah stated.

"One minus infinity is still infinity.", Uniessya interrupts her friend.

"One minus infinity is still one less than infinity. There is a paradox in play there and the extend of that paradox will not be determined until all the pieces are accounted for.", Hepzedah explains.

"Milady, if I can so interrupt your discussion.", a voice comes out from a nearby communications panel.

"What is it, ship?", Hepzedah replies.

"Paradoxes be damned, but said temporal clone was an intruder, programmed to input a set of coordinates into the heart of the Orion Nebula- the furnace of the stellar birthing zone. I only took actions to protect myself and the crew inside my hull, Milady.", the voice from the communications panel stated.

"And I thank you for saving our lives, ship. Without you, where would we be?", Hepzedah stated.

"Without your crew to supply me the needed maintenance, where would I be?", the ship replies in question.

"Sometimes I swear ship.", Hepzedah says.

"The ship was listening to us all this time?", Uniessya asked.

"The ship is totally aware of everything that goes on inside it, even in the privacy of the personnel quarters. It makes security much easier to do...", Hepzedah stated.

"But what about flying this thing?", Uniessya asks.

"The Casion is more than capable of taking on multiple complex tasks simultaneously. Plus its awareness preprocessors can take over for me and the crew if we were to be incapacitated.", Hepzedah explains.

"Then why does it need you to be plugged in?", Uniessya asks.

"Ship?", Hepzedah asks.

"To answer the question Miss Felinidae, I need to know where we are going, what problems might be found along the way, and be able to solve those problems in unique ways. You see Miss Felinidae, for all my processing power, though I have awareness, I still lack imagination. Miss Hepzedah supplies me with that and much more.", the ship answers.

"So you and this ship...", Uniessya started to say.

"Are one when connected.", both Hepzedah and the Casion stated together and simultaneously. Uniessya stands there staring at her friend, in awe and disbelief.

"Right now, there is a Casion out there in the universe without its Hepzedah.", Hepzedah said.

"Milady, I concluded that from the information stored in the temporal clone's hypothalamus, her Casion was destroyed on 10-16-2784 when it was brought to this temporal dimension by the Orions. All hands are considered lost with her.", the ship stated.

"Then how did she survived?", Hepzedah asked.

"She was teleported off the bridge in mid-battle, milady.", the ship answers.

"Where was this battle occurred?", Hepzedah asked.

"Last known set of coordinates: -12,351,82.4, 1/2 parsec off the Orion's Homeworld.", the ship answered.

"What was she doing there, no wait, what was the temporal clone Casion's last mission?", Hepzedah asks.

"Last mission for the other Casion was to send and receive medical supplies to the Orion Homeworld. In her timeline, Terrains and Orions were at peace. The other Casion was without weapons of defense and easy pickings to our Orions to destroy it.", the Ship answers.

"Are you absolutely sure that the other Casion was destroyed?", Uniessya asked.

"Temporal Clone memory engrams shows a view of the other Casion being destroyed by several anti-ship missiles.", the ship answers.

"Damn them... when this mission is over, we're going back in time and stop that other Casion from being captured and destroyed.", Hepzedah stated.

"Mission Success Probability 89% with over 25% over acceptable casualties.", the ship replies.

"Don't remind me of the numbers, ship.", Hepzedah stated.

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Two tall and proud furs stand with their groups behind them, shaking hands.

"Take what you learn here and share it with the others.", the pure-breed wolf says to the mixed breed one.

"Sharing is one thing, whether they want to accept it is another.", the mix-breed one says.

"As commander of your men, they will have to accept, if not, send them here to us. We'll take care of them.", the pure-breed says.

"That would be a sight to see.", the mix-breed says.

"Se'Gar, it would be a pleasure to fight along your side...", the pure-breed says.

"Look Manfred, I don't like long good-byes, so until we meet again...", Se'Gar stated.

"Definitely... Until we meet again.", Manfred stated, followed by a manly embrace and pounding on the backs of one another. After a short while, they separate, and Se'Gar's group walk to their waiting transport ship.

The Historical fighter group stand to watch the Se'Gar and his men fly off into their destination with the Terrain Armada in the edge of the Orion Nebula.

"You think they will take their lessons to heart?", James McCudden asks.

"In the beginning, I would have to have said no. But these last few days have been with its own challenges and successes.", Manfred said.

"Who would think that one day we would be all in the same room together as friends.", a voice says from behind, belonging to that of Frank Luke.

"Its best that we remain as friends, for being far away from our time, we only have but ourselves to keep us company.", Fritz Rumey stated.

"Speak for yourself... I'm looking towards another night with the ladies.", Max Immelmann says loud enough to keep it from himself.

"Ah yes... there is much celebrating until our leader arrives from her mission and imposes another task for us to follow.", Georges Guynemer says.

"Where to? That bar with the lovely serving wenches?", Albert Ball asks.

"We can start there...", Edward Mannock said.

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