Taisgeal Mac Balgair is wandering around the Mess. Among other things, he carries a
lorica, a breastplate with an embedded computer. The security interface on it would require exaflops of processing to crack. Unfortunately for Taisgeal, in the Mess that's last year's technology. Should someone be nosy, here's a few choice entries from his personal log, translated from Neo-Ogham.
13-Anagantios, 4974/Riastarth
- It has been one year and a day since the Battle of the Geadneamh when I first earned my torc. I am the only Balgair in living memory to rise to the rank of Champion. While I know my grandfathers would like to see me rise to the role of Lord, I feel I owe it to the honor of my clan to rise to the rank of my greatest capability and not my hubris. It is in this regard that I have sought to avoid the rank-and-file and to work as a Tergiversator. While this occupation is not as honorable as fighting and dying for our lords, it is duty where I can best serve the agencies of law. While the official sanction has yet to arrive, my captain has all but confirmed my new assignment is writing.
22-Anagantios, 4974/Riastarth
- I have been told that my temper would come back to haunt me, and today I have what I can only suspect is proof of that. My first assignment is one that fills me with great trepidation. Violations of the Turing Laws are a serious offense, and breaking the Von Neumann codes even greater. Normally, it is the work of renegade techies who have the indiscretion of youth, which would be small cause for worry. However, I have been told that nobles among our own demesne have consorted with the dread [Lord Sluth of Unfner Mass]?. To send someone as green as I am against a Fomorian scoff-law is tantamount to a death sentence. It shames me to confess that I had a moment of weakness, but I am ready to pursue my cause and to die well.
3-Ogronios, 4974/Riastarth
- I was pleased that my ship, though of the Carbantia class, was up to modern specifications. In the time spent traversing non-linear space, I familiarized myself with the weapons at my disposal. The shillelagh is more powerful than I had ever seen – in addition to a lance of light simulated by radiation, there is also magnetic-bottle containment of a jet of fusion, a fire worthy of the suns. I was warned that such massive doses of radiation could prove harmful, but if I am to encounter Von Neumann scoff-laws, such weapons will be necessary, as radiation is one of the few weapons they will respect. I have been given special dispensation to gird myself with Gormglong, and despite all the books to the contrary, I still do not trust it and hope only to use it as a final resort.
- The landing was not without incident. The scofflaws made a very basic mistake, leaving zephyrs behind. I can already surmise the excuse will be that they had forgotten to reclaim their old machines; no matter, all was cataloged adequately. The attack, while brief and summarily dealt with, quickened my blood. The zephyrs themselves were more useful than the site. The installation had been razed, plowed under, and salted, but the zephyrs themselves had cameras. Their memories were protected, but perseverance and skill prevailed. My footage reveals the presence of techno-wizards, one of whom matched the visage of Shen Mi. Something happened here, and the results were feared so much that an installation worth billions of cumalai was destroyed in the process, then hidden from creation. Just what have I been sent to do?
28-Elembiulos, 4974/Riastarth
- I had misjudged my superiors. My comrades, who bite their shields in snarling anticipation to fight and to die, would be hopelessly lost in the environs that I have made my home. My greatest danger is not to my life and limb, but in self-censorship of my own report. I have performed acts that carry little pride, some not even worthy of a fool.
- I have sent a messenger to my superiors. My target has a name: “Xin Jin Meng”, the New Gold Dream. From the tales, falsehoods, and half-remembered incidents I have pieced together, I have discovered that the techno-wizards have played one another false. Such is the fate of personal ambition without duty or discipline. Shen Mi, Lord Sluth of Unfner Mass, and others must have consorted with Riastarth citizens to acquire the materials, but their creation has apparently escaped them, wreaking terrible havoc in the process. While this would be a matter for the great fleets to solve, such a violation of Turing and Von Neumann would be a great embarrassment to my Kings.
- That such a machine could flout the great Lord Sluth makes it a danger to be reckoned with. That such a machine exists through Riastarth hands makes it an abomination. I will await further instructions. I hope my training can resist the compulsions of the underworld, though. The whiskey is strong and the songs have melodies that carry long.
2-Edrinios, 4974/Riastarth
- I am weak. I have prayed to my grandfathers to forgive me.
- I was dragged out of my stupefaction by the arrival of a messenger from my lords. The orders are quite clear. I am to seek out and to destroy the New Gold Dream.