So I have secured myself access to money ahead.
The second necessity of the plan is to be getting rid of human obstacles. Chief among these are Melisande and Tristan. The Blevins is now my poppet, and sure I am he’ll be easy to dispatch in time. Tristan and Melisande I must somehow maroon. Tristan I’ve affection for and cannot bear to hurt directly. But seeing Erszebet’s animus for him, I asked her would she kindly get him out of the way, and she did heartily agree. She herself is warmer toward Melisande, and so we arrived at the conclusion that it’s myself shall be dispatching Melisande.
So that’s the second piece. The third is the Great Undertaking itself. Using the wisdom of the Chronotron and the power of the ODEC, I must send their agents (what they call DOers) back in time to gently unweave that which has led to this madness called photography. In order to avoid lomadh, I must dismantle things gently. But persistently. I will start at the end and unweave backwards through time.
Your Grace, please know that I do all of this not only for magic but for Ireland and love of yourself. I suspect it’s never again that I’ll be on my native soil, and sure my heart is aching for it, but it is a far better thing I do now, than any magic or even spying I have ever done.
My heart is with you as I leave for this great battle.
Yours, Gráinne
Post by Macy Stoll to Dr. Roger Blevins
on private ODIN channel, 23:49
DAY 1923 (3 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Dr. Blevins,
Sorry for the late-night post, which I understand you are unlikely to see until the morning. I’ve been burning the midnight oil here at the office, collating some records from our internal security systems over the last few weeks, and have uncovered something you need to hear about as soon as possible. Headed for home now to get some shuteye, but I’m hoping that by the time I show up for work tomorrow you’ll have made time in your schedule for a private face-to-face.
LETTER ON PERSONAL STATIONERY OF DR. ROGER
BLEVINS TO LTG OCTAVIAN K. FRINK
DAY 1925 (5 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Okie—
Can’t say how pleased Bess and I were to have you up here for the Halloween party. As the years go by it’s the old friendships that seem to matter most.
What good luck it was, to boot, that we were able to spend a bit of time in the ATTO watching the two MUONs ply their trade. For years I’ve been bending your ear about all of the things that these women can do beyond just Sending our agents to faraway DTAPs, but there’s nothing like a practical demonstration.
In that vein, I’m writing to recommend we shift the hierarchy of contemporary witches. Now that Gráinne has been here a couple of months, and I’ve had a chance to see her in action, I realize that my earlier misgivings about her reliability are completely unfounded. She is sincerely devoted to our work here. I recommend she be given seniority right below Erszebet—and frankly, if she could keep off the sauce, she might one day replace Erszebet. She’s very gifted at what she does, since she is from an era when magic was strong and she practiced it regularly, which is not true of Erszebet.
More important, however, she is remarkably agreeable to work with, and has none of Erszebet’s attitude—which after nearly five years continues to make her a pain in the neck. It was one thing when Erszebet was the only means to our performing magic, but she’s just a cog in a machine now and yet continues to carry herself as if she were the queen bee. Gráinne has none of that attitude—she’s a terrific team player. She is all about the bigger picture.
I think perhaps because (as she has confessed to me) she worked as a spy for Grace O’Malley in her era, Gráinne understands strategic thinking and even personal sacrifice in a way that Erszebet (and most of the other witches) just don’t.
Of course, demoting Erszebet would have a lot of unfortunate repercussions, so we’d have to finesse this a little by creating a new position for Gráinne—a parallel branch, let’s say, devoted to MAGOPs other than Sending. In ranking based on merit, Gráinne is by far our best witch, and we need to recognize and reward excellence wherever it flourishes.
Just wanted that on the record before the Christmas bonuses get calculated;-)
—Roger
Post by Macy Stoll to Dr. Roger Blevins
on private ODIN channel, 11:12
DAY 1925 (5 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Dr. Blevins,
Sorry for the repeated pings over the last few days, but I’m frankly a little surprised you haven’t responded yet. I AM NOT KIDDING—it is a matter of the highest urgency that we have a private face-to-face as soon as possible. In the meantime, I suggest in the strongest terms you cancel further sessions in the ATTO with Gráinne.
. . .
Post by Dr. Roger Blevins to LTG Octavian K. Frink
on private ODIN channel, 11:50
DAY 1925 (5 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Okie,
I just sent you a “snail mail” letter on a personnel matter. This message will probably overtake it—sorry for the confusion.
It has to do with one of our employees whose behavior is causing some concern. Nothing that we can’t handle here, but I wanted to give you a heads-up in case you hear anything from the woman in question.
As you know I’ve been working with Macy for two decades now, and she’s always been my right-hand woman. Loyal and reliable to a fault. Well, it grieves me to tell you that she has been under some considerable stress of late, and has not been herself. I think she’s having a hard time with the way our MUONs outshine her on so many levels, and her self-doubt has been gnawing away at her and made her vengeful and frankly a little paranoid.
In short, if you receive any communications from Macy, please take them with a grain of salt. I’m looking for a way to land this plane, as it were, but there may be some turbulence during the descent.
. . .
Post by Macy Stoll to Dr. Roger Blevins
on private ODIN channel, 22:51
DAY 1927 (7 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Dr. Blevins,
I am here late again, beside myself. I can’t get over the fact that you won’t talk to me.
The least you could do is pay some attention to my warnings. Looking at tomorrow’s ATTO calendar I see you have a block scheduled with Gráinne at 1000 which segues right into a Gráinne/Erszebet block at 1100.
WHAT IS GOING ON?!?!
I have canceled those ATTO blocks. I consider it a security matter and I have plenty of evidence to back up my decision.
. . .
Post by Macy Stoll to Dr. Frank Oda on private ODIN channel, 08:32
DAY 1928 (8 NOVEMBER, YEAR 5)
Dr. Oda,
Sorry for the irregular communication but I know you are frequently in the building early, and obviously you are one of the people with the know-how required to power up the ATTO.
I’m making a unilateral decision to restrict access to the ATTO until we get certain important matters sorted out.