[Cyberia] Cyberia:The Undiscovered Country

[Cyberia GM]

"The routine I have you for containing the sample has a callback function
embedded in it," Asha explained.  "It will notify me the moment that you
have completed the mission, and I'll assume to call you back.  You can do a
direct post to me if you want to change the parameters for some reason," she
continued.

"As far as the Ether," she began, then paused for a moment to collect her
thoughts. "It is a lot like shadow- your imagination will be your motive
force. Use the scan routines- they have already been programmed with the
parameters of your target, though you may have to tweak them a bit.  Once
you have a lock, then imagine yourself there.  As you need to change your
direction, you will need to think about that also."  She was silent for a
moment again, biting her lower lip.  "I've toyed around with the idea of...
well."  Again she was silent, thinking.  "The Deep Ether is very much like
deep space, but it is also not in the real.  There may be- things- that try
to bring you back to this paradigm by affecting your thoughts. Stay
focussed, no matter what you encounter." 

She seemed anxious, and her anxiety seemed to be for Dot.  "Be careful.
Don't try to take this head on."  She chuckled nervously, and a tentative
smile crossed her face.  "You know, Rook sent me on a mission very much like
this- except in my case the threat was more physical.  It was necessary, but
it wasn't pleasant-  for either of us."  She looked at Dot fondly.  "I think
I understand a bit more of what he went through."

"I'm sure I'll be fine," Dot responded.

A screen appeared in mid-air, showing the interior of the Merlin, and
Shirow's inscrutable features.  "We're in range," he said without preamble,
his tone flat. "Any changes in mission parameters?"

"No," Asha said, shaking her head.  "Just notify me if you see the slightest
sign of any visitors."  She cut the connection, looking back to Dot.
"Ready?"

Dot nodded vigorously, "more for this than anything else I've done in the
recent past... can I change my avatar on the fly?"