Much shorter segment. After being sick last week, I’m a bit behind. We get back into the war side of the story. After this intro, it will revert to how I wanted this next book to flow: as a war diary of Graf to his children and their mother.

It is very, very odd for me to even type something such as that.

“Why central former Ohio?” Graf asked, as they sped north on Caper.

“Very old imperial history.  Hartmann imperial history,” she corrected herself.  “The first empress’ father met her mother at a disused prototype fission reactor in the midst of the Breakup.  They were there to scavenge parts for Knoxville; he, Leslie, ended up with a wife, mother to Empress Faustina.”

“And,” trying to get back to the point as he felt the deceleration, “we are going there why?  The kids cried when we left this morning.  I am not at all happy about that, my amazing wife.”

“We have chosen to be tools of Aurelia.  We can stop whenever we want.”  Pai looked left and let her eyes flare gold.  “But the work we do now is, I think, important.  If you want, I can leave you.”

“Dammit,” Graf muttered, arm about her.  “I know you will outlast me by a thousand years.  Give me what time I have!”

“Of course, Beloved Husband.  Shall we return to the children after this jaunt?  Oh, we’re here.”

He felt their sudden descent.  Not being stealthy this time?  His wife stood.

“Kit for combat.  I do not know what is going on in this area,” she ordered.

Graf looked out.  Four large buildings in a square; all two stories tall except the one in the northeast corner, a bit more than three.  Signs of fire damage and equipment scattered everywhere between them.  Their ship stopped just a meter over the ground.

“And mask and gloves,” his wife added.  “There are rotting bodies out there.”

Graf looked back from standing to go get changed.  “Perimeter?”

“Clear for at least a klick in all directions,” she replied, following him.  “I’ll wear something I can burn later, as I don’t want to carry anything potentially contaminated back on board.”

“Then what about my – ”

“I’ll know more once we’re out there.”