<div class="floatleft"><div align="center">(https://www.mediafire.com/convkey/fd78/8ci8pyy2minpb9izg.jpg)<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Shadow</span></span><br/>   ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾   </div></div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">Where: Deep under the very center of a 5 sided building in Arlington<br/>‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾</span></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>We move the table aside and utter the words that opens the portal. The candles around us lose their light as a shadow arises on a pedestal from the portal. We cannot look at it even though it is hidden in smoke and shadow and repels light. We wait. From the shadow, a disembodied voice wheezes.</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">  <strong>“The witches repel you because you continue your stupid, frontal attacks. You fools!”</strong></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>We wait. The darkness at the center deepens and seems to pulse deep int the ultraviolet.</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">  <strong>“You will continue your pursuits in social media. Keep it varied. Support them as long as your supporters are offended. Support our supporters as long as theirs are offended.”</strong></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>It pauses, as though speaking is great exertion and it must regain the breath and strength to move it’s vocal structures.</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">  <strong>“The topic doesn’t matter. You know that. Your associates elsewhere are to be encouraged and paid lavishly. Keep the targets of your armies random. Keep the budgets high by consuming bombs and more bombs and redirecting this silly cyber funding to opening back doors to your opponents information. Keep your opponents fighting among themselves. They are their own best enemy.”</strong></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>With a final wheeze, the shadow enshrouded smoke recedes back into the floor and the floor closes over it. We reposition the table.</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">  “The head failed to command us to attack the witches. It expects us to take initiative without such direction.”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>We squabble for a while, as we are wont. I must finally point to the 4 stars on my own uniform and rise.</em></span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;">  “I hold the 5<sup>th</sup> star. Ready the new forces among our minions. The witches are on the move again and rallying. Ready our anti-aircraft batteries in Europe. Malaysia 17 was successful and we can use that once if not twice again.”</span></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 10pt;"><em>None grumble, though some would if the penalty were less. I stay armed against the several who would replace me. We depart singly, each ensuring enough space to avoid opportunity for others to take their place.</em></span></span><br/>