| 9: Formicus Ascendant for-mic a-cid n. A chemical useful in the manufacture of several corroding/corrupting agents and explosives (der. from Latin formicus, "ant"; the compound was made in Roman times by crushing ants and distilling the juice of their blood) *** "Good evening," the news anchor said, "you're watching WTFU Channel Sixty-Nine's News at Nine. Here's the latest from the front lines-our fearless leader Generalissimo Eterniu has acknowledged the temporary fall of Chestira Ward to the hordes of the Corruptor. He states that allowing that neighborhood of Generatoph fall to the enemy is part of a tactical maneuver meant to extend their supply lines, and that details beyond that are, for obvious reasons, classified. "Meanwhile, on the side of the Loyalist Coalition, Vanana gave a battlefield commission to the Corruptor's right-hand man, Nosferatu. He took over command in the battle of Gettinchatt Post, when Colonel David went missing-in-action on the field. Vanana gave him the rank of General without consulting the Corruptor first, a move that we can hope will create friction between the two factions of the Loyalists. "Also, in the-" "I ARE OWN," cut in Timotheus. "Just. Don't. Talk. Gah... such BULLSH-" "As I was saying before the signal was hacked, our Generalissimo has managed to secure the services of an Earther to block the pirate transmissions of the international fugitive Timotheus of the Ander-Brethed. It is now expected that unscheduled broadcasts from the enemy will be magically intercepted within five seconds. And personally, I must agree wholeheartedly with Eterniu's decision-why SHOULD we have to hear out those who disagree with us, especially when we KNOW we are right by our convictions in the Four? There is no reason to allow those broadcasts to get through-it is good that Eterniu has elected to close our ears to them!" *** "They just shut down Timotheus," noted Chronos from the war room in Vanana's palace. He turned off the television set, and threw down the remote in disgust. "What!?" demanded Vanana, rushing over from the table with her new right-hand-man, Nosferatu. Her retainer, Lieutenant Colajoi, followed her as well. "I thought his broadcasts were ironclad." "Apparently Eterniu hired an Earther mage to block the broadcasts," explained Chronos. "Just try and guess what that means." "Oh my Four..." mouthed Vanana. "The-they've hired the Corruptor." "And that means we're in for the fight of our life." *** "Have there been any more broadcasts by that damnable Timotheus?" demanded Eterniu of the grey man in front of him. "But of course not, Fearless Leader," the grey one denied. "They have not bothered since I destroyed their hack." "I have another mission for you, if you are willing to continue your employment," Eterniu offered. "And what would that be?" "Subvert the peace movement. Turn them to our side-that will make us look good to posterity after we win. Plus, we could use the popular support that the peace movement has been attracting recently." "Very well... however, this is no simple undertaking. I must win the support of the leaders of the movement, and that will take time and psychological magics-the hardest to wield." "Ten million dollars Pendinmortican," offered Eterniu. "You have a deal." *** However, not EVERYONE was in for the fight of their life. Angelique, rumored to have been the love interest of the Corruptor, was now spearheading a peace movement in the city. She was trying to end the fractious, wasteful, deadly civil war that had already claimed the lives of so many Columnians. Most called her a good if slightly misguided soul, a few called her a liberal peacenik trying to sell out the nation to the other side, but to very many she was the sole voice of reason. Tonight, though, she was tired. She still had plenty to do, however-she had to make calls to organize the protest at the palace tomorrow. The first one on her list was someone called Ant. It was common, after all, to leave pseudonyms instead of one's actual name on the protest lists-in case either side decided to jail the protesters, one didn't want to be registered as a protester. She looked at the name again-Ant. It was so small, so simple-yet the creature was wise. It worked hard to provide for a communal colony's welfare, one of many. Perhaps this guy was a Communist... but anyone was welcome in the fight for peace. Angelique dialed the number. "Hello? Is this Ant?" she asked. "This is Ant. Is this Angelique?" he inquired. "How did you know my name?" she demanded. "I... am a well-connected individual;" he offered. "My dad owns a chemical plant where they make formic acid." "It's good to see that all classes of society oppose this war," Angelique agreed. "Okay, well, we're planning on marching on the palace at eleven o'clock tomorrow." "Perhaps we could meet and protest together," offered Ant. "I confess, you are something of a personal hero to my family-they'd be thrilled to hear that I got to meet the Angelique, in person." She blushed then, and decided that this Ant guy was all right. "Sure thing-you know the tree in Formarula Square with the broken limb? I'll be standing in front of it." "I'll see you there, tomorrow at eleven o'clock." "Bye." "Bye." She hit the 'end' button on her cell, and felt reassured that she was doing the right thing. |