## First Mate's Log ##

[Zampano]

## ZionOS ccc9 (2.4.20-13.7smp #1 SMP "Onesimus" )
## Public encryption
## Author:Zampano
## Rank: First Mate, Chief Medical Officer

I've taken a break from my near constant watch within the matrix. There has still been no word from Ozzin or any sightings of the devestator by the fleet. I would be worried if I knew Ozzin wasn't probably sitting in some bar somewhere chatting up red heads.

Doctor Crowes proposal's for the Air filtration system look promising. they work by inhaling the Dark cloud particulates from the lower atmosphere and passing them through both physical and chemical filtration units before exhaling them again as a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen and various other components (theoretically at least). This may work, though I believe Crowe has overlooked one thing; The Clouds contain a mix of chemicals that react with nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. This reaction causes the nitrogen to revert back to its darkened state, in essence creating a self replicating Dark Cloud. Putting more Nitrogen into the atmosphere could in fact worsen matters, but again, this is theoretical. A test must be conducted before we can truly gleen any information from the Filtration process.

In other news, I have just been training with the captain on the new Combat protocols. I'm glad that she is picking them up again, though I will recommend she attempt the Grandmaster construct once more.

Zampano
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[Zampano]

## ZionOS ccc9 (2.4.20-13.7smp #1 SMP "Onesimus" )
## Public encryption
## Author:Zampano
## Rank: First Mate, Chief Medical Officer

Busy few weeks. We recovered Ozz, thankfully. Not without a bit of action either. We're going to need quite a lot of repairs, but I'm sure Ozzin can help us with that *grins* He'd better after the stunt he pulled. Almost got us all killed...But then it was only Almost.

Injury Report:
Cpt Leelia sustained a laceration to her right forearm. Luckily it missed the nerves that are connected to her plug, but she lost a lot of blood and almost lost conciousness at the time. Thankfully it only took a few stitches and a bandage to take care of. Should heal before it becomes any real worry.

Cpt Ozzin...where to begin. He wouldn't allow me to do a full analysis, but from the x-rays that I took he suffered severe damage to many of the vertebrae. If the damage is this extensive along the spine, I dread to think what it is like elsewhere. Again, he has recovered quickly from whatever trauma caused these injuries, but still needs plenty of rest and recuperation.

No other major injuries, some cuts, scrapes and bruises, but nothing major. Marcus reported migraines to me last night, but I fear it was merely alcohol deprivation that caused them. *laughs* Thats a joke by the way..he ain't that bad.

I just received a signal from a friend. I may be taking the scout craft to assist should the need arise. But we shall see *sighs*

Zampano,
Over and Out
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[Zampano]

## ZionOS ccc9 (2.4.20-13.7smp #1 SMP "Onesimus" )
## Public encryption
## Author:Zampano
## Rank: First Mate, Fleet Medical Officer

We picked up the Sapientia on our sensors last night but as of yet we have had no further signs. If Trey is risking an entrance to the matrix them I fear we have reached a finale, an end to his devious schemes...the culmination of all he has worked for, all that I strive against.

And Yet, he has never revealed his goal, only his deceit. It is imperative I...we find out what he intends. Most of the others are not ready for him, naive of his treacherous tongue they could easily fall foul of his ploys...but they have to be ready, Trey has to be stopped.

He will come for me before his game ends, that much I know. He will come...I trust, however, that his strength has not grown...that I am still able to tackle the Councillor...but...what then?

Zion, most of Zion, are unaware of his treachery. If we stop him, if we kill him, then we will be hunted down by Zion....forever. Or worse, we could reignite the flames of war whose embers currently glow beneath the pyre, just waiting for a gust to give them life. A consequence that would cost more than our own lives.

We have to find him, before it is too late...enough words

*the recorder still running, the door slams violently, footsteps echoing upon the walkway of the onesimus*
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[Zampano]

## ZionOS ccc9 (2.4.20-13.7smp #1 SMP "Onesimus" )
## Secure encryption: Password Protection Enabled
## Author:Zampano
## Rank: Fleet Medical Officer

There have been no further sightings of Trey or the Sapientia, be they in the real or within the world of the Matrix. I fear that the silence, however, is a greater danger than any noise. Somewhere out there he is plotting, he is planning, and I know that there is little left to stand in his way. We forced his hand, earlier than he wanted, now..let us hope, we have the strength to counter that hand.

Leelia has arranged for Fluke to join us. Can't say I'm particularly happy about that. Both Fluke and Mesa are good men, men I considered friends...still consider friends, though my trust for each of them has waned. A man that choses to hide beneath a mask, to defer his dedication to a goal, to sacrifice his self to anothers whim...is not a man that can ever wholly be trusted. He chose, Chose, to follow the Cypherites, and no matter the peaceful intention, that group swears fealty to dangerous men, terrorists, if you will.

I have asked Epimetheas to monitor Fluke's communications, outbound and inbound, when he arrives on the Onesimus. Of course, Leelia can't know about that, she'd think it unjustified, would probably toss me in the brig *laughs*.
If she trusts Fluke, more than she trusts my judgement, then so be it but I will not stand idle until I know I can trust the former Oriens crewmen once more, and I will not accept the risk because of an unconditional trust based on nothing more than the past.

My doubts could well prove unjustified, but I would rather be a man that took precaution against the possibilities, than a man that allowed the worst to happen in negligence.

*pauses as he takes a sip of distilled degreaser from the cup, a brief cough before he speaks again*

Well it's better than the shit Marcus drinks *laughs* I took some of the degreaser into the lab, made an attempt at creating something actually drinkable. Well, I guess I succeeded in those terms, though it's hardly perfection....maybe it needs something else.

The Angels *he mutters softly* That's still bothering me, and Lokion has not found anything in reference. I cannot help but fear the worst.

The Sins of the Past, Haunt the Present.

I guess I had better pick up on Milton once more. The words of the past are, after all, the base of the present. Perhaps I shall find something that they cannot.

*recorder clicks off*
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[Zampano]

~Construct 93881/Zampano

Beneath the clouded sky nothing moved, the darkness and silence filling the air with a coldness that could not be undone. Yet in the darkness, where no other could see, the world was a clear as crystal to the aging doctor. A motion in the distance, silent yet louder than a thunderstorm to his ear. The brush of fabric against grass, the caress of a finger across cold metal...He turned, his eyes closed, aware of everything around him like never before. He had come so far since he had first coded the construct, his senses were now heightened to such a degree that the blackness was full of light..full of life. The first time he had struggled, lost in the midst of silence, and had been taken by the stealthy foes in the forest, yet this time...he already knew his victory was at hand. His victory, not over coded foes, but over his own weakness..

The weakness had become his strength, the darkness had become light.

Suddenly he turned his neck, a sliver of dark metal flying past where his head had just been, striking the wooden bough before him. He turned quickly, his senses tracing the echoes of the almost noiseless bolt, and smiled as he caught the shadow of a figure in his mind. With barely a breath he leapt into the air...landing with a whisper onto the soft grass. A swift movement of his hand...a grab at black cloth

"Not this time, Monsieur" He grinned, pulling back with all his strength and tossing the robed figure back towards the trunk of a great oak tree. As the figure crumpled against the bough, Zampano jumped forward, delivering a lethal kick to his chest. He heard the ribs crack, the splintering, splitting sound reverberating between his ears...yet interrupted...

"Zamp! Stop p*ssing about in there and get up here now" The harsh sound of Marcus came like an unpleasant visitor into his world "You're needed in the Matrix"

Zampano sighed, flicking off his headset. He had not ventured into the Matrix for weeks, at least not for any great amount of time, yet he did not miss it. Perhaps it was age, perhaps it was a growing cynicism, but he felt there was little that could be achieved in the world of code anymore. Yet with all his reluctance he was still bound to his fate, to its fate. With a flick of his wrist and a cutting smirk he flicked the headset on again, just as the world around began to fade to white.

"Be right there Marcus" He laughed slightly "After all, what is the Matrix without ol' Zamp"
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