Inside Scoop page 1

MORNING MADNESS

by Kalandra and Zardoz

Now we all have had one of THOSE mornings. Well, recently I had one. I woke up, turned the computer on, then the coffee pot, and sat bleary eyed waiting for the drip to start when I realized the pot wasn't under the maker and now it was going to be full of those tiny little granules of coffee. But I need the caffeine so bad that I didn't care, and told myself it's "fiber" and moved on. After waiting 10 agonizing minutes I finally had my coffee cup in hand and shuffled back to the computer room only to find that when I thought I was turning the computer on, I had really turned it off. As I tried to guzzle my coffee without burning myself, I waited for the computer to boot. Life slowly oozed into my veins. Finally, the moment I had been waiting for all arrived.

I click the button, and Fed2 begins to load. Ever since "THE BIG ONE" last year I click the connect button with some hesitation. Will it or won't it? Will it be there for me? Will all my friends be waiting there or will asynchronous socket error be the greeting today?

... the micro seconds ticked by. Success! Fed2 connected and everyone was there! >COM Hiya Fed! .....nothing.... everyone is asleep. Ten minutes pass, and I finished the first cup of coffee and felt a bit more normal.

>COM Good Morning Fed!
....nothing....

Then, feeling bored, I started a new player, just for fun I tell myself. I'll never do much more than just play around with it, and it's something to do while I'm bored. I repeated my mantra of, "This is the last alt," and got to work. First, I had to find a name. Nothing too obviously altish, but different, and most important, not too hard to type. A quick trip to a baby name web site lasts an hour, but finally success!

I check back into my original window and lo and behold the scroll across the screen showed Life exists in the Fed Universe... It was my chance to connect!

>COM Hi Guys!
.........nothing.............

I uttered a small curse, and figured I might as well do some hauling... I got my permit, bought my ship and looked around my cluttered desk dug through printouts and maps seeking the cheat sheets that got me through the ranks before. Two hours later, sweaty but triumphant I found the binder and shuffled back to the computer where a blistering scroll showed that everyone has been busy talking on the COMMS. Finally, someone to socialize with so I

>COM Hi everyone
....nothing....

I shrug, a bit frustrated but, hey it happens. I haul the work board for a while, realized that I am out of coffee. I made another trip into the kitchen for more. As I mused over my coffee, it occurred to me. No more will I be left out of the flurry of conversation. No more will conversation be allowed to die. A fiendish idea occurred to me. I, Kalandra would unleash upon Fed the dominatrix of dialogue. A character so wordy, so bubbly, and so lively, that conversation will continue unceasing for weeks at a time.

I gave an evil laugh and returned to my desk. When I returned to the screen, and focused my bleary eyes, I was excited to see an fresh scroll of activity. Everyone had been chatting away again saying their morning hellos and how have you beens. So I

>COM hello :)
....nothing....

This time, I was not discouraged. A couple of refinements, and adjustment in character detail, and of course clothing, and I was ready. I said a silent prayer for mercy upon my poor soul for what I was about to do to Fed... and I unleashed my creation.

Your comm unit crackles with a message from Trilleth "Hello Federation. *Snugs*"

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