>>@SGT | TO: @ALL.

[byhand]

I usually reserve these communications for private networks, but it seems necessity has hastened our meeting. For the safety of myself and my family, I would be of no uncertain gratefulness if you would refer to me as Sargent, and little else. Though I am sure, with time, some of you will come up with more colorful nicknames.

Pleasantries aside; welcome, new faces and old, and I must ask this with all seriousness and kindness: What have you done?

Things are moving at the wrong speed. The prognosticators were not expecting to compensate for such a load. Several droids have begun misfiring, our protochron readouts are gaining sentience, a prophet is missing, and the birds are growing increasingly agitated. This is not the series of events your ancestors knew, much less my progeny.

To put it simply: things are not moving apace. I cannot say for sure if this is your influence, or the influence of an outside power, or perhaps both. And yet:

Mary Wollstonecraft, who was not supposed to enter Paris until next month, is already here.

The King's Trial has not even been proposed by the revolutionary government.

Mirabeau sleeps still in a place of honor.

I will put more work into discovering the source of this snarl in history. But you must be warned: every action you have here changes the lives of untold million not yet born. Tread carefully, for as the poets say: you walk upon dreams.

Comments

[byhand]

I shall need you to infiltrate the former home of the late comte de Mirabeau. We believe some papers of his have been misplaced by history, rather important ones. They ought to have been public knowledge by now, and Mirabeau's body exhumed from its place of honor. A prognosticator has suggested that perhaps the papers were removed from where they were meant to be found, and lie sleeping around the man's home.

I'll send you the address. Do try not to make a fuss.

[mylawn]

Sure thing, boss. Anything I should expect?

[byhand]

By the Gods, I've not been called boss in eons.

I trust your service record, which is exemplary. If at all possible, attempt not to be noticed and not to kill anyone. If the notes aren't there, they must be somewhere. He was colluding with a foreign power, and the people of France must know.

[mylawn]

I can rescind that if you're not the boss.

[You sound like the boss, though, and this definitely has him wondering what his own dossier looks like. It's a sort of uncomfortable feeling, but he figures it's best to do what he's told and keep acting like all of this is okay.]

What should I do with the notes if I find them?

[byhand]

You are free to call me whatever you like; the Commander outranks me entirely. Regardless, I did not know words could so easily be retracted. You shall have to show me this technology.

They need to become public knowledge. I wonder if you could find a newspaper willing to publish them... of course you could; this is revolutionary Paris. If you find them, make copies, and make sure every Jacobin paper in Paris has them, preferably all at the same time. I leave you to gather whatever resources in manpower or available technology you find necessary for the second leg of the journey, so to speak.

[mylawn]

It was a joke, sir.

[Unless he is also joking? Oh, man, this deadpan is way too deep.]

I think i can manage that. They've invented the printing press by now, right?

[byhand]

I see they've not yet invented sarcasm in your time.

[Deep.]

Yes, of course. Though you'll want to have scriveners make the copies, for the sake of authenticity. And because I cannot imagine you will enjoy any experience shared with a printing press.

[mylawn]

Hard to parse, sometimes.

No, I don't think I'll enjoy a printing press. Scriveners, noted.

[byhand]

Another casualty of war.

You'll have to be able to pay them. I regret that they cannot provide you with currency; our coffers are rather shallow.

[mylawn]

[Okay, he gets it now. This guy is funny.]

I’m make it work somehow.

[byhand]

[just not 'ha ha funny'.]

Please let me know if you require my aid. I'm not sure how much I can provide, especially with several of the machines overheating, but I'll do my utmost. You must never feel abandoned in the field.

[mylawn]

I'll report back after I search the house.

[byhand]

I look forward to the report, Soldier.