"Come in! Come in! Is anyone there?" the crackling voice shouted from the radio speaker. Its electronic tune echoed in the empty bridge. The view from the forward window ran across the deck of the large cargo ship. Ice hung off the rails and covered the deck. Instead of the deep blue of the ocean, beyond the hull lay a wasteland of white. The ship was incased in a prison of thick ice. Inside, the radio still called out with no one replying.

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Paris, France

Adem Different stood on the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower. He looked out over the City of Lights. {Adem, Paragon has put out the notification.} The AI broke the silence and serenity of the moment. Adem turned his arm and looked at the forming screen on his wrist. {Vanguard Europe's first client is scheduled for a meeting tomorrow afternoon. He wants everyone there for debriefing. I have taken the liberty of booking you on the next train to Munich.}

The alien turned his arm back around and continued to look out over the city scene. After a moment, he turned and began to decend the stairs.