I felt the rumbling in my ears... It was early in the lab, and I knew how alone I felt. Since the death of my husband Angus Sinclair there was little that consoled me except work. That went lagging lately. It was dark out still, and despite having the best weather control system in the quadrant, there was the occasional outburst of funky. It looked like it was going to pour cats and dogs today. I pulled a shawl over my shoulders as I hunched over my desk.

     No one was due in for hours, and my godson Saul wasn't going to have a class starting for at least another hour. No, I was alone, staring at the floater A.I. and wondering what I was going to churn out today... The way it looked I probably would end up with a list of wants from our fearless leader Chairman Garrison. I hated him, and I believe he knew it all along and cared less. No, he was sleeping with my best friend, and despite my warnings about the uncouth man there was no stopping her.

     How Lauren stooped so low as to be with a man that had to be at least partially responsible for the death of her husband. It was all beyond me. I felt the heat of anger thrusting itself at me until I was reminded to stop... The twinges in my fingers stopped me from banging them on the desk.  "Charis draw up the list of specifications on Minos Bataan. I am thinking about what the minion from Antares said about his needs listing."

      <Done Professor Sinclair. It looks like he is on the edge of needing more A.I. placed at four sectors. Do you wish a print out for later, or shall I send on these spec's for Willoughby?>

       "No, that won't be necessary. I am just curious."   That was it I at least had curiousity in the midst of my anguish... I rubbed the not so limber fingers as I danced them across the air, pointing to a map that the A.I. had brought up.  "It looks a little too big for recreational purposes Charis... I am sorely tempted to call in Naldren Andrac and the Omegan council and consult their opinions. If he is attempting to put up a platform that could be used for warships, then he is breaking not more than a few dozen major acts from the ComFederation compact. I am sure that we could even get Earth Congress agitated over this one."\

   <It is upon your own judgement of course Professor.>   Charis was never the light weight when it came to the artificials I had designed here over the decade or so I had been on University One... I had to give her the credit she was do... There I go again being more familial with my machines than ever I was with my own family.

    "Charis, do I have an open channel to earth?  "  She paused for me, as I was visibly shaking now.  <No Professor... We have a block on earth communications for the next fifteen hours.>  "Damn and shatz, I just need to talk to my brother Graeme. What's so bloody hard about that?"   <We don't have the clearance at this time... Willoughby is timing our clearances due to security risks over this side of the quadrant. There is still this war to consider. At least that is what I am given professor.>