Conversation · Soona, the Programmer

"Fortunately, we have a more-than-adequate transceiver, so I do not believe it is causing any problems..."

"And we're also unlikely to change our local entroponetic conditions. So the next step is to thoroughly inspect our connections."

"Our transceiver is perfectly capable, so there is no problem there..."

"How am I supposed to inspect the connections?"

"You need to climb up there and look at them for yourself." She stares at you as though it were obvious. Her hand gestures to the colourful cables dangling from the horse's forehooves.

But you don't have the technical expertise...

"... someone has been maintaining it..."

No problem at all. You've already teleported up way greater heights.

Come on, son. This isn't anything but a common high bar! Just get a solid overhand grip and hoist yourself up!

Images of your body smashed against the pavement flood your mind -- this is dangerous.

Something about this set-up seems dimly familiar, but you'll be damned if you know what you're supposed to do about it.

"Okay, let's do this." (Climb the monument.)

Your gloves give you a solid grip on the metal bar. This feels pleasingly familiar...

Keep it together, champ! You've got this.

... and before you know it, you're safely perched atop the monument.

"That was pretty bad. I hope nobody saw it."

"Yes, you're a natural gymnast, detective. Now would you like to do what you got up there to do?"

"I didn't see anything. I was focussed on my work. Have you checked the connections yet, or no?"

Examine the connections.

The connection itself is nothing more than a little braid of exposed wire wrapped about the hoof of the horse, a copper fetter it cannot slip.

The whole monument is covered in a thin but durable layer of oil and grime. It's obvious no one has cleaned it in years.

The programmer mentioned ammonia, but anything alcoholic should dissolve the oils, creating a cleaner (and clearer) connection.

Clean the connections with the ammonia.

Almost immediately, the ammonia begins breaking down the oils around the copper wiring.

"Glad that stuff came in handy after all..."

"Ah. Very good, officer."

Once the oils have been dissolved, you wipe off the connections with your sleeve and reattach the cable.

"Did that help?"

"Hmm, I had hoped that between the signal purifier and cleaning the connections that we would have it, but perhaps I overestimated."

"... unser einziges Kind. Er kann doch auch nächstes Jahr zur Akademie gehen..."

"Short of changing the shape of the antenna, I'm not sure what else we can do from here. And the lorries are all jammed together, so that's unlikely to happen."

"What would changing the shape of the antenna do?"

"Ideally, narrow the receiving mode, so that we can isolate the warship's signal and eliminate the crosstalk. But if you don't know what you're doing of course you could just make it worse."

She sighs. "I'm afraid we're out of alternatives. You're just going to have to go for it."

She's right. The responsibility is yours and yours alone. There's no turning back now.

Look at the horse.

This faithful steed cuts a dashing figure with the replica sabre between its teeth.

This faithful steed is in nearly as poor a condition as its rider.

Attempt to narrow the receiving mode manually.

Your grip is firm, yet controlled. The swelling in your headset guides your hands as much as your hands guide the bronze horse head. It's almost like you're hearing through the horse itself...

"That's very good. Just a bit more to the left..."

"... Nein, Liebling!"

The signal is clear, the storm has passed. This is another voice, a live voice, on the other end of this invisible bridge you've established...

"Try it now, officer."

"Coalition Warship Archer. This is RCM Officer Firewalker. Please acknowledge."

...

"Firewalker, this is Coalition Warship Archer. We are acknowledging and accepting you."

"Aha, excellent! You are connected. Now be quick, I don't know how long I'll be able to preserve the signal."

This is it... you're finally getting to speak with those who hold real power.

And by that, they mean the ones with the guns and the warships...

There is so much you wish you could ask. Your efforts have bought you some time, but you can't forget what you're really here for...

"Please be advised that you are speaking on the public frequency. What is your request?"

"It's been a long winter... Long and cold."

A loud sigh comes through the headphones. "Be advised, officer. The signal is liable to fail any moment now..."

"... Firewalker? Are you there?"

"Officer, I've held the signal open as long as I can. Whatever you came here to ask, ask it now."

"Is everything alright?"

"Liebling, bitte... Er ist unser einziges Kind..."

"Time is running short, officer. I estimate you have time for maybe two more questions..."

"Come again? We are picking up more interference..."