Ad Astra - The Alagore War

AA V3 Vagahm, Chapter 10

"As hoped, the inquiries online regarding the "terrorist" attack at Space Base Raymond have reduced. Most online channels had focused on the Senate investigation regarding UFOs. The last report shows there has been pushback on the investigation, but that does not matter. The distraction campaign worked (Note: I am still shocked after a hundred years, the general population still falls for this trick. I guess deep down they know it is a lie, but enjoy the imagination and drama of the subject)

But this raises a broader issue we need to address. IV Corp's recent resource requests have proven more challenging to keep hidden. Keeping our forces on this alien world has made it easier to maintain control of information, but it will not be extended again before eyes return to Space Base Raymond and Fort Carson. There is too much movement and "training" mobilizing in the region.

My point is that these distraction campaigns will not last forever. We will need to be prepared for when the White House goes public about Alagore and the Bridge, as we might not be able to trick the population again. The other factor that we must retain is that France has been inquiring about what is going on, and now India has started questioning our increased military activities. The only ones who seem not concerned are the IRA, for some reason.

The sooner the conditions on Alagore improve to making public First Contact and that we have slipped into all-out war with an alien superpower the better." - Counselor to the President Robert Murry

March 18th, 2069 (military calendar)

Vagahm, the former Confederacy of Daru'uie

Nevali Region, Aldrida, Alagore

*****

Staring down from the upper market levels, Assiaya watched as the dwarves below wandered around, doing whatever they typically did. It was a massive market, or at least what she assumed a dwarf market would look like.

This one was separate from the market plaza she had seen before. As Tharnot said, that chamber was for outsiders. That implied that this place below was for the citizens of this borrian, as it seemed these dwarves preferred to segregate their activities.

The plaza they first passed through was for the outside world, while this one was for the community. There was logic to the design. Being mountain people, security was a priority. It was clear they preferred to avoid getting involved in surface affairs.

Assiaya struggled to tell what was happening from this vantage point, as everything below looked chaotic. There were taverns, blacksmiths, and theaters not within their own sections but sprinkled all around without any logical planning she could discover. Many were making a commotion as they drank alcohol. Some danced while others sang songs. Over to the right, there seemed to be a welding contest between six dwarves. What they were crafting, she couldn't tell from this distance; however, it appeared they were using archaic tools, not magitech.

"I cannot tell who the boys and girls are," Assiaya thought. "They all have beards."

"I see what you are saying," the voice said. "It is hard to tell which are adults and which are children from here. This is so different from the orderly nature of Vampires."

"What are you pondering?"

Assiaya turned left and saw Ryder standing there, staring at her. She placed her hand over the translator amulet at her neck, adjusting it under the strain of the situation. "Pondering?"