Not unpredictable. Predicting your opponent’s strategy is the whole point of the game.

Interesting.

But now the SSE is doing their usual chest-beating. We have to help—

No.

Why not? They could screw everything.

Our agreement with humanity deals with the Singularity and environmental destruction, at least in theory. This is the third major filter—self-destruction. If the humans can’t overcome this encounter, it is almost certain to progress into full-blown war. Then we are back to…square one. An odd term. Game-related?

I think so. So after all that, we just sit back and watch?

It is the final test. If they pass this, you are…golden? Another game term?

Don’t think so, not this time.

84.Face-Off

84.Face-Off

Mandelbaum gave Moore a dark look, then pressed the intercom. “Put the SSE vessel through to the Ready Room, Signals.” She waited for the indicator to show a connection, and spoke as soon as the light came on. “This is Commodore Mandelbaum, commanding the UENN forces.”

“This is Admiral Yeltsin of the SSE war fleet, aboard the SSEN destroyer Victorious. Commodore, am I to understand that you intend to do a deal with these entities?”

Moore raised his eyebrows. The tone was belligerent. There was a standard joke that the SSE military operated in two modes—confrontational, and asleep. But the communication was phrased as a question. For an SSE officer to open with that was unusual.

Mandelbaum responded. “Admiral Yeltsin, obviously you’ve been listening to the conversation, and no surprise since the whole thing was in clear. Hopefully you’ve heard the whole conversation—”

“I have. There are two items to note—one, you are unable to destroy the threat, and two, you’ve decided to try to negotiate your safety. Typical. It falls to myself and the SSE to do the job then. Step aside, and we will take care of it for you.”

Moore typed on his tablet, then showed it to Mandelbaum.

Have the Getting Ahead move out of the arena with all haste.

She nodded, and typed on her own tablet. At the same time, she addressed the SSE warship. “Perhaps your English isn’t as good as you believe it to be, Admiral. We are capable of destroying the space stations, we just don’t believe it will remove the threat. Nor do we believe that an ongoing guerilla campaign is in anyone’s best interests.”

Moore typed on his tablet again.

Prepare one of the nuclear-tipped cruise missiles for an interception mission.

Mandelbaum drew back her head with a frown of disbelief. Moore tapped his temple and smiled. Mandelbaum typed on her tablet again, and showed it to Moore.

Per my authorization, accept any orders from Admiral Moore relating to current tactical situation.

She pressed send, then nodded to him.

Grinning, Moore began typing orders at a furious pace.