6 Mar 6829
Nestle, Syriph XX, 1730L
Boarding School 80 KM north of Nestle

      The Tri-Dee projector was the center of attention in the small common
room.  The residents of the dormatory sat captivated  by the display.  They
were teenage girls who didn't hold their tongue for no one.  All came from
families to this exclusive school and none had ever known the trama of war.
      "Citizens are to be reminded to remain in doors and cooperate with any
military forces."  The news announcer said. "Terran Overlord Government
forces continue to arrive at locations about the island of Falcon. 
Commonwealth Legions are being dispatched with all available speed."  The Tri-
Dee projector was the center of attention in the small common room. 
Resident
      "I wonder how she keeps her hair so neat." A voice in the crowd said.
      "What do you mean?"
      Ashley Flanagan looked around to see who would disturb the room.  Tina
Krow, the vainest of the vain.  "I mean, like, who can keep their hair so
lively.  She's been on Tri-Dee for hours." Said Tina with a whine.
      "She probably has make-up people to keep her up to standards." Said
Nega Keefer.  "Personally, I think the blue streak is a little much though."
      Ashley stared at the moody teen for a second.  Nega was always
talking against the Terran government.  She wouldnþt listen to reason from
the teachers at the school.  Nega had even revealed once that she hoped to
join the Naram Special Forces.   A dream that had led to many months of
hazing from everyone.  She now sat on the edge of her seat, staring at the
Tri-Dee.  Ashley was sure she didn't want to know what the teen was thinking.
      The announcer's voice said "Once again, the Terran Overlord Government
has launched a major offensive against the planet Syriph XX.  Legion sized
forces have been detected on the island continent of Falcon, near the cities
of Nestle and Falconton.
      "All militia members are to report to their rally stations and civilians
are asked to stay indoor for their own safety."
      Ashley stretched her arms.  All of the residents in the boarding school
had been huddled in the common room since the news broke of the invasion. 
The news had been repeating itself since the beginning with only a trickle of
new information every hour.  The tension was thick in the room of twenty
young women.  The city of Nestle was only one hour away by ground car.
      Some of the girls had tried to call home.  The back of the room held
the ones who's families didn't answer.  A few sobs could be heard from them. 
She herself was too afraid to call.  
      The beep from Ashley's perscomp broke the attention away from the Tri-
Dee.  She tapped the receive button while enduring stares from about the
room.  A recorded voice told her to report to the secretary's office
immediately.  
      Ashley carefully stepped around the girls on the floor to get to the
door.  Even before she left the room, another girl was sliding into her
comfortable chair.  She left the dormitory and quickly moved across the
courtyard.  Young women at the school were not supposed to run but walk
proudly.  Ashley even tried to suppress the shudders that came with the
sound of sonic booms from overhead.  Calmer heads said the booms were only
from grav tanks entering the atmosphere but she wasn't totally sure. 
Besides, the thought of more enemy grav tanks on her planet didn't make her
feel any better.
      Standing in the office was her grandfather Pipes and the secretary
Carol. Grandpa Pipes was a big surprise.  She had not seen him in years. 
Mother always said her father had lost his marbles while he was in the army.
He was always the subject of jokes within the family.  Ashley always enjoyed
being her Grandpa Pipes because so entertaining.  He always had a bright
smile and said crazy things.  No one took him seriously.  
      "Ashley, your grandfather is here to take you home.  I realize that it
isn't time for family visits but do to the circumstances...þ  Carol said.  She
was looking particularly nervous.  She kept staring at Grandpa Pipes.  Rumor
had it that most of the faculty had already left.  "Just sign here, sir."  
      Grandpa Pipes signed the paper and told the secretary to have a nice
day with a big smile.  The secretary snatched the paper and shrunk back. 
Grandpa smiled again and grabbed Ashley by the arm.  As they moved outside,
Ashley looked for the family grav car.  Her grandfather pulled her along to a
small ground car in dire need of a wash.  
      "Where's the grav car?" she asked.
      "This is less conspicuous."  He answered while opening the passenger
door.  Ashley quickly got into the car.  Her grandfather got in and started
the car.  The teen noticed the car was a manual transmission.  Where did
grandpa get such a piece of junk?  No Flanagan would drive a ground car let
alone one without an automatic transmission.  She had only seen a 'stick' in
pictures in driving class.
      "My stuff is in the dormatory over there."  She announced, expecting
the old man to act as a valet but her grandfather left the parking lot,
ignoring her comment.  The car sputtered down the road with it's little engine
humming faster.  Ashley grabbed the dash as it swung around a corner to
hard.  
      "Buckle up."  Her grandfather said.  She quickly seized the shoulder
strap before she was thrown completely out of the car.  
      Silence settled in the car as they drove on the deserted road.  Ashley
noticed grandpa didn't have on his usual smile.  "How did you get Carol to
release me?  I thought only immediate family could sign someone out."  She
asked to break the silence.  
      "I told her either to call you or I would blow her damn head off and
call you myself."  He said.
      "Grandfather!"  
      "Well I did and it worked. You will find that is what is most important." 
      Ashley did not know what to say.  Her grandfather was acting so
strange.  Maybe the invasion had finally caused him to snap.  This thought of
riding in a car with a mad man was not very comfortable.
      "So how is everything at home?"  She asked carefully.  The little car
was up to over 140 km per hour.  Faster than it's designers ever thought it
would go, she was sure.  They were on the motorway towards Nestle.  Traffic
was heavy away from town but few cars were going towards it.
      "Oh, everyone is running around scared stupid.  They have no idea what
is going to happen."  He said with a hint of contempt.  
      Ashley stared out the side window.  She watched the lights continueing
to fall from the sky.  She didn't know what they ment or what was happening.
Some fell straight down while others appeared to streak across the sky.
      After nearly an hour in silence, the little car turned off the motorway
and into a suburb of Nestle.  Darkness was falling, throwing shadows and
increasing the sense of doom.  The car pulled into a parking lot and stopped.
      "Where are we?"  Asked Ashley.  She had difted off to sleep watching
the sky.
      "We are going to a friend's house."
      "Not home?"
      "No, it's not safe.  My friend will shelter us for a while."
      "Grandfather, THIS is not a safe neighborhood!  I want to go home." 
The teen looked at the graffiti covered buildings, expecting to see looters
any momemnt.
      Grandpa Pipes let out a sigh as he pulled into a small store parking
lot.  "Ashley, listen to me very carefully.  From now on, I want you to do
what I exactly what I say and keep absolutely quiet.  Your world has changed
forever now and the best you can hope for is to move on and get away from
this mess.  Take this."  He handed a mem chip to her.  "Its a disposible chip
with a bank account on it.  If there is threat of capture, crush it.  The
chemicals will destroy the information.  Just memorize the bank's name and go
to one of their branches.  They will still give the money, it will just take
longer.
      "Use the money to start a new life far from here.  Go deep in the
Commonwealth where theyþve never heard a shot fired in anger."  He said.  The
old man reached over and rubbed his granddaughter's head.  "Just remember, no
matter what happens.  I always love you."
      Ashley stared at the chip in her hand.  "Grandpa, what is going on?" she
said through forming tears.
      A firm hand fell on her shoulder.  "Ashley, listen very carefully.  You
need to grow up very quickly.  I wish you could stay young forever but your
childhood is over.  Start being observant and use the gray matter between
your ears for more then stopping the wind from whistling.  Now, what did you
see on the way here?"
      "I don't know." she answered.  This was coming too fast.  "I want to go
home."
      "That's not going to happen for now.  Now, think about the traffic on
the highway.  It was very heavy away from Nestle, we saw few military
vehicles.  The Toggies are landing south of the city.  Think of the terrain,
flat farm land with few natural barriers.  Nestle is going to fall anytime
now.  You need to grow up and deal with this like an adult."
      "What do I do?" she said.
      "Well, I'm going to take you to my friend's and other friends going to
take you way from here." her grandfather said.  "Its dark enough.  There's a
jacket and hat in the back seat for you.  Let's go."
      Ashley got out of the car.  She quickly put on the old leather jacket.
After making her hide her hair under the cap and adjusting something under
his jacket, Grandpa Pipes led the way down the street.  The bums across the
street hardly noticed the two.
      The pair kept to the shadows as much as possible while dodging police
cars.  "They may ask too many questions." Said her grandfather.  After the
forth block, her grandfather stopped infront of a dingy apartment door.  He
rapped twice, paused then knocked hard again.
      An older woman opened the door and asked what they wanted.  Grandpa
Pipes pushed the door open and pulled Ashley inside.  
      "Michael Pipes, what is the meaning of barging into my home like this?" 
the old woman demanded, closing the door quickly.  
      "I need to speak with the Cee Em, Martha." Grandpa Pipes said.
      "What is it, Pipes." a voice said behind her.  Ashley turned to see to
see a normal looking man.  Ashley did not notice anything except the big
pistol he was carefully pointing at the floor.  "Your risking a lot coming
here."
      "I've already risked a lot, Cee Em.  I need a favor." Grandpa Pipes
started.  "I want you to smuggle my granddaughter back behind the lines."
      The new man chuckled and holstered his pistol.  "Impossible, we are not
the 'railroad' and we are not in the smuggling business."  
      Ashley noticed a second man in the next room.  He was carrying a rifle
and wearing body armor.  Was Grandpa Pipes in with outlaws?
      "Listen, Wiems" Grandpa Pipes said, getting close to 'Cee Em' "You owe
me, you owe me a lot already.  I know you will be leaving soon and I know you
can take passengers.  Remember, I've been playing The Game for a long time."  
The old man locked eye contact with the younger man and said quietly "Don't
make all of my family live under The Heel."
      "How old are you girl?" the man quickly asked Ashley.
      "I'm going to be eighteen in three months." she announced.  Ashley had
no idea what was going on.  Grandpa Pipes could be making a deal with
mobsters and what was this Game?
      "Can you keep your mouth shut and do as your told?"  He asked.
      "She's my relative," Grandpa Pipes interrupted before Ashley could give
a sharp reply.  "We look after our own,"
      "Because no one else will." he finished the quote.  The man sighed.
"Alright, Michael.  Your timing was perfect as always.  Jeff and I are leaving
in a couple hours." he said. "Martha, take ...  Um, what's your name?"  
      "Ashley"  she said proudly. "Ashley Flanagan."  She did not know who
these people were but everyone on the continant of Falcon knew who the
Flanagans were.
      "Right, Martha, would you take Ashley for a change of clothes.  I don't
think a school uniform would be good attire on a run."
      "Of course, Robert.  Follow me, honey."  The old woman said.
      "Grandpa?"
      Her grandfather hugged her one last time to say good bye then quickly
moved for the front door.  She watched him  quickly pass through the door
and it close behind him.  The two men went back to the other room leaving
Ashley with the old woman named Martha.
      "What's going on?"  the girl asked.
      "Your grandfather has just left you in the care of the best Naram
battalion commander on the planet.  If anyone can get you out of here, he
can."  Martha said.

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