TGoaW-72

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==Chapter 72 - The Glow of a Worm inside a Child's Eye==
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My Protege is...
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...realizing her potential as a civilian. I know she doesn't think so. Humans are that way. "Sam, you know what worries me?" I ask my pet Flag Captain, Samantha Daimh. We're back in the region I was found, far from my safe haven.
"What?"
"That we might succeed." I tell her, "I know for a fact my core is compromised, it's that compromise that lets me work with you, instead of being your enemy. If others are here, they probably aren't compromised."
"You accepted the mission, Tabby." Sam reminds me unnecessarily-I know I accepted the task. 
I do have concerns.
TQF-151E is the cause of my concern. I can see where she ran out of fuel, her course. I hear nothing on EM to indicate she's got any major systems live.
"Did you find it?"
"I did." I bring up the display. "TQF-151M5E, hull type is a Lola III, one of the last ones built. Telescopic shows battle damage, which it should, because I made most of those wounds, clearing the path from Hesperus to Terra for the SLDF. Her hull's intact enough. we should reach her in forty hours."
"How does this make you feel?" Sam asks me.
"Ashamed." I tell her, "The E-types were...brain damaged, the updates crippled their logic. One-fifty-one almost showed initiative when she retreated from me, but I couldn't take the risk, not with an SLDF convoy about to pass through the system she'd been positioned as a tripline."
"Are we robbing a grave?" she asks.
"I don't know." I confess. "If we are not, then we may be waking a monster."
"Can you handle it?" she asks me.
"The E's had the latest hardware, their software might have been oppressive, but within the bounds they're allowed to act? she'll be faster than me, and more accurate...but I can maybe overcome her if she's still live in there. We'll need to have your slicers ready, if the central core is undamaged we'll need to cut it from the control matrices first, then route around it. If we succeed, where will you take her?"
"New Avalon." Sam said, "Her Majesty's order."
"Then let's hope we can disable the self-destructs, self defense, and autonomy well enough and thoroughly enough to make it safe for the humans in the Federated Capital, or this is going to be a nightmare."
"What if she's reasonable?"
"She's an E." I repeat, "They were intentionally hobbled, their autonomy was crippled. the odds aren't good."
"But if she is? What if she's like you?"
"Then things will change." I decide, "but for now, that hull is a dangerous potential trap and enemy. Handle. With. Care."
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