Introduction: Phobos

The marble walls gleamed, reflecting the torches arranged along the sides of the Great Hall. A lone figure sat on the throne, eyes closed, head cocked, listening intently to the martial music emanating from several hidden speakers. Footsteps echoed closer and closer, the steady staccato rhythm never varying until the footsteps stopped directly in front of the throne.

"Goddess?"

The Goddess straightened up and opened her eyes, transfixing her visitor. "Demi Athena," she purred with a grin, "how kind of you to come visit me. I get so bored sitting here all by my lonesome."

Demi-Goddess Athena stood in perfect attention, hands behind her back. "Demi Artemis sends her compliments and reports that Project Luna is slightly ahead of schedule. Current estimated completion is in 28 days. Level A testing has been completed. Level B testing to start today."

"Excellent. And yet you could have easily sent a courier to deliver that report. Admit it, you came here to revel in my glorious presence," she said while spreading her arms with a flourish, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

Demi-Goddess Athena refused to play along with The Goddess. There were more important things for her to do and besides, her job description didn't include catering to The Goddess' mind games.

"There have been fourteen sightings of Devil ships near Coon systems in the last month. This is the third consecutive month that sightings have increased by 50% Even accounting for our improved sensors, we can only detect perhaps a fourth of their ships, due to their stealth technology. Although I don't think that they have yet to discover Homeworld, it is only a matter of time. I estimate another month, two on the outside."

That sobered The Goddess. Her playful mien vanished. "What about our scouts?"

"Elements of four Devil fleets have been slowly disappearing from their normal patrol sectors. We are not exactly sure where they are going, but one scout encountered a squadron of Devil cruisers in the D'nai System, an uninhabited star system four light years from the Coon border."

"I suppose our agents don't have any cheerful news either."

"Based on HUMINT and SIGINT, the Devil War party will soon have majority control of the Senate. They have already started mobilizing six legions of troops. In my opinion, I think that the Devils are about to renew the war. And this time they will know where Homeworld is."

"No!" screeched The Goddess, a wild look in her eyes. "We are not ready! So close. So close."

Demi Athena paused, "there is Project Discord."

"Dangerous, too risky," murmured The Goddess, who was curling up into a ball on her throne. "We must not be discovered by the Devils. Mustn't let the Devils find us. Mustn't."

Demi-Goddess Athena spoke forcefully, trying to break through the fear and despair of her Goddess. "Project Discord is the *only* way to slow them down. We *need* time for Project Luna to complete. Goddess, you *must* give the go-ahead."

"I must? Are you sure it will work?" she asked in a small voice.

"You must."

"Ok. Do it."

"Thank you Goddess." Demi Athena saluted, then turned crisply and marched out of the Great Hall. It took almost an hour for The Goddess to calm down and start enjoying her music again.