Chapter 11: IMMINENT EXTINCTION

This war was another that never began. Linda authorized Missy to surrender a few remote parts of Florida in return for alliances with Alabama and Georgia. These neighbors insure Florida will be free from land invasion. An invader has to cross one or the other of these bulwark states to reach Florida. Strong loyal allies on your borders are the best defenses. Florida remains vulnerable only to attack my air and sea, and are defended by a powerful drone airforce.

Doesn’t exist except in Linda’s imagination and thats difficult for an enemy to detect. Linda is confident, in a matter of hours if required, the drones can be made real. Florida is secure under her leadership.

Allied Georgia and Alabama are happy and grateful to split off and split up the Florida panhandle.

Georgia gains everything north of a line from Port St Joe to Fernandina Beach, including Cape San Blas and the Gulf deepwater port at Port St Joe.

All of Jacksonville and Tallahassee remain in Florida territory.

Alabama gains everything west of the Apalachicola river. Alabama has long lusted for this coastal strip of west Florida often referred to as Lower Alabama. It’s now officially part of Alabama!

Erik wasn’t present at the negotiations but takes credit for their success anyway. All glory reflects upon the supreme commander.

Susan transited first. She needed to arrange for medical personnel, Bellas, to be on hand for Skeet’s transit. Immediately when she had a free moment, Susan called Suityou, and invited her, offering to send a plane. Suityou reminds her, the Franklins already have a plane and only need lifting of landing bans. Linda lifts the ban at Susan’s request. Suityou is soon winging toward a reunion with Susan and Tom is coming with her. She sits on Tom’s lap during the flight.

Skeet is strapped in a cocoon stretcher, and hoisted up the tunnel, with Morgan behind it on the ladder, steadying it, so it doesn’t bump.

All doubts as to her chance of being revived by returning to her own world are dismissed by Skeets agonized screams beginning half way up the ascent. A decision, continue up, or re-lower, is enforced by Morgan urgently pushing the cocoon up while yelling for haste. Skeet arrives aboard SPORT and her yelling isn’t a celebration.

A Bella conjures drugs and anesthetizes Skeet. Once she’s unconscious, a complete physical checkup commences. Nothing amiss is discovered until they pass a metal detector wand over her body. Her entire body is a furious hornet’s nest of micro-miniature nanobot activity. The minibots have adapted to become micro-micro-bots and successfully crossed the expansive divide between the worlds. Nanobot infestation has invaded Linda’s realm.

Negotiations won’t be possible. Somebody needs destroying or immediately returned to the other world before an epidemic catastrophe breaks loose, urgently advises Wati.

“They nearly caused our extinction. Immortality isn’t life, it’s eventual death for a species. Only the discovery Duende and Goblin milk flushes them from our bodies, saved us. Restored our fertility. You don’t have Wee folk to provide the milk. Don’t let it spread!”

“What’s all the screaming about?” Skeet sits up and asks.