Author's note: well that took longer than normal. But now I've finished, hope you enjoy it!

Turgenev and the hunter stepped forward to the bar casually, next to Ticonderoga, and waited for the bartender to attend to themselves.

Though now Diamond spoke to Ticonderoga over comms, so as to keep things quiet.

I don't like the look of these guys, Ticonderoga. We should get out of here as soon as possible

yeah, I don't too, but we can't leave now. It'll look suspicious if we leave right after they enter. Though they give me bad vibes

Ticonderoga took a few short glances at the two, as they were next to him. Though this drew the attention of the hunter who looked turned to look at the two, before he looked back at the bartender who came back over.

"Here's your two beers, y'all" he said to Ticonderoga and Diamond, as he put two glasses of beer in front of them. Then he went over to the hunter and Turgenev. "Now, how can I help ya two gentlemen?"

The hunter didn't speak and just looked at Turgenev, as Diamond wearily sipped her beer, while Ticonderoga calmly did so.

"Well apparently two mental models are running around, after their ships got sunk to the north" Turgenev said calmly

Now Turgenev has both Ticonderoga's and Diamond's attention, he also had the attention of everyone in earshot.

"Mental models, eh?" The bartender chuckled "guess you're with the military aren't ya?"

Turgenev didn't answer the bartender's question and just stared blankly at him.

Then the bartender sighed "ah, then what do you want with me, since ya are looking for the Fog?"

"Well I'm wondering if any new travelers passed by? Specifically ones that you've never seen before?"

The bartender paused for a moment then looked at Ticonderoga, and Diamond "Well the two of them there are new here, but they said they are hikers. And isn't it, from what we know, that mental models are all female?"

"From what we know..." Turgenev said as he looked over at Ticonderoga "What's your name?"

Diamond quickly looked over at Turgenev and did a quick scan to see if he had anything on his body that was a weapon, then she said to Ticonderoga over comms be careful. He has a handgun on his left side

I know, to be careful. These guys aren't good. We need to leave as soon as possible Ticonderoga responded over comms before he responded to Turgenev "my name is Jonathan Fischer"

"Where are you from Jonathan?" Turgenev asked.

"Idaho"

Turgenev nodded his head a bit in acknowledgment "I see, I see. What about her?" He gestured at Diamond "who is she?"

"I'm Samantha Nowak" Diamond responds.

"Nowak…" Turgenev says alone "that's polish. Hmm interesting. So then what is your story, again? Just making sure, you know?"

"Y-Yeah, it is polish" Diamond says wearily.

"We're hikers. We got lost in the forest and ended up here" Ticonderoga responds.

"Did you perhaps see the battle up north of here?"

Ticonderoga shook his head "no"

"Where did you start out your hike?"

This is where Ticonderoga faltered slightly "uh, Forge point"

Now Turgenev leaned his elbows on the counter and turned to look at the hunter. He spoke Russian to him. They did this for a few seconds, since Ticonderoga and Diamond were still hybrids they couldn't understand what they were talking about.

Then the hunter spoke in a cool and calm voice, with a hint of Russian in his accent "where is this Forge Point? I know the different locations around here for hiking and hunting, and I know no place called that"

get ready to run when I tell you to Diamond Ticonderoga says over comms "well… it's going to be hard to show you without a map…"

Ticonderoga trailed off as Turgenev pulled out a black smartphone, and slid it over to Ticonderoga, while still holding part of it so it'd be hard to steal. The smart phone had a map on it.

"Here use this," Turgenev said calmly.

Ticonderoga briefly looks at the phone before looking back up at Turgenev.

run! Now! Ticonderoga yelled over comms as he grabbed his glass of beer and tossed at Turgenev to disorient him. At the same time Diamond flew off of her barstool towards the exit, she was soon followed by Ticonderoga.

The tossed beer only worked for a second before Turgenev yelled "they must be the mental models, don't let them escape!" They both ran to catch Ticonderoga and Diamond, now with weapons in hand.

The rest of the people in the bar were silent for a moment before one asked "wait… mental models?"

Then another who suddenly got riled up, yelled "what are we waiting for you, idiots? Let's get them Fog bastards!"

Now by the time Ticonderoga and Diamond were both running down the path to try and get to the forest, they already had a decent sized mob after them.

fuck! We need help now! Ticonderoga said as he started to catch up to Diamond, but dared not look behind himself.

ya, think?! I can hear all of them behind us! I'm gonna change the distress signal now! Diamond responded.

Level three distress signal activated: Diamond, Des Moines class heavy cruiser (H)

Then the sharp crack of a gun going off could be heard, and the back of Ticonderoga's Klein field lit up.

damn! They're using their weapons now! Quick let's try to lose them in the forest! Ticonderoga ordered.

Diamond didn't respond as she just focused on running. Soon they made it into the forest and started to run through it, making sure to leave obstacles behind themselves. They could hear a few more gunshots, but all of them just flew past.

Over some time they started to lose some of the people who were chasing them, till it appeared that they had lost them all.

"I think we lost them, but just in case let's run a little longer," Ticonderoga said frantically.

"Yeah… yeah, let's do that" Diamond responded tiredly. Now she was the one following behind Ticonderoga, who seemed to not be as tired.

Soon they stopped and Diamond rested for a moment by leaning against a tree.

"Hah, that was close" Diamond said tiredly "any longer and I don't think I could've made it"

"We aren't out of it yet, Diamond. We need to get to a spot where we can get help, and right here is the worst place possible. The carriers can't provide support, and any ship that tries to help us will have trouble getting to us"

"Yeah… Yeah, I know. Just let me rest for a second..." Diamond responded.

"Alright let's just go soon" Ticonderoga said as he looked around in the direction of where they came from. He scanned it and spoke over comms so he didn't alert what he saw we need to go now. I see a life signature, and it's getting closer. It looks human

Diamond stopped panting for a moment and looked around then at Ticonderoga for a second, as he offered a hand to her. She took his hand and was lifted up to her feet.

She gulped then said alright I'm ready. I'm sure one of the suppression vessels is sending aircraft to help us

Ticonderoga nodded alright let's go. I'll watch that life form that is near us

Now they started to move west, this time at a slower speed than before. Ticonderoga looked around occasionally to see if the life form was following them, and sure enough he could see the life form following them at a distance normal humans wouldn't notice.

Then he could see it stopping and it seemed to stay motionless for a moment. Then a high pitch whistling could be heard for a moment, before something pinged off of his Klein field.

He momentarily stopped to look down at what hit his Klein field and could see a small dart with a needle, it was a tranquilizer dart. Even if they were half, Fog and Phantom, they could still be affected by darts if they actually punctured their skin. Though now Ticonderoga started moving again, urging Diamond ahead, using both their Klein fields together to protect each other.

come on, let's move faster, keep your Klein field up. They're using Tranquilizers. I think I see an opening further ahead Ticonderoga said.

Diamond just nodded as both of them picked up the pace, and started to move to a place that appeared to be an opening out of the forest. Ticonderoga did notice the life form still following them after a while, and now knew it was a human because of the tranquilizer darts.

Now as they approached the opening they could hear the sound of a car engine. Ticonderoga quickly pulled Diamond to the ground, and motioned for them to crawl and see what was there.

They soon peered through the bushes and could see a black pickup truck parked next to the beach. They couldn't see anyone through just looking around, but once Ticonderoga looked for life forms he could tell there was someone waiting in the truck. Seemed like they were hiding.

Diamond groaned a bit in frustration ugh, we can't fight them because we don't have weapons, so what do we do now?

hmm, if we can't fight them, then we need to somehow evade them while staying in a place where we can be picked up by the fleet Ticonderoga said as he pondered what to do next, taking in account the life form slowly approaching them from behind.

Then they received a message from the fleet.

Two attack helicopters, eight dive bombers, and one V-22 Osprey, coming to your current position for immediate retrieval. ETA 50 minutes.

Ticonderoga sighed a bit at least we know they're sending help. Now we just need survive that lo-

Now he was interrupted by the truck door opening and slamming shut. The life form then walked in front of the bushes, about thirty feet away. Then they could hear Turgenev's voice.

"Surrender now mental models, and I shall ensure no harm comes to either of you"

The two stayed quiet, not responding to his demand. They instead tried moving to the north, behind any bushes they could use to hide their movement. But they weren't completely quiet, and the person behind them was able to track where they went.

Now after about fifteen minutes they were only a few hundred feet away from where they had been before. The coast where they were looked clear, but if they went out they'd be in clear view of anyone nearby.

Diamond sighed as she looked at the black pickup truck to the south, but Turgenev wasn't in sight, even checking for life signs, Turgenev wasn't there.

Diamond sighed a bit and spoke quietly "we can't keep hiding like this for long. They're going to get violent"

"I know" Ticonderoga said quietly. Then he sighed as well "if only I had a rifle, I'd be able to take them down"

Then Diamond heard a twig snapping behind themselves and turned around. Her eyes went wide, and she gently nudged Ticonderoga's side, which made him turn around. When he did so he could see Turgenev, pistol in hand. He looked dead serious as he stared at the two.

"Stand up, with your hands up" he said calmly.

Ticonderoga calmly did so and stood to full height with his hands up. He was soon followed by Diamond who did the same thing. Ticonderoga looked calm and cool, while Diamond looked slightly nervous, but still acted calm.

"Turn around and walk onto the beach" Turgenev ordered.

Ticonderoga looked at Turgenev and thought for a moment if he could disarm him from this distance, they were about eight feet apart from each other.

"Do it now" Turgenev ordered as he aimed at Ticonderoga.

Ticonderoga quickly formed a plan and spoke to Diamond over comms can you form panels you can walk on, Diamond?

yes. Why? Diamond answered.

when I act run towards the ocean and form panels that you can walk on. I'm gonna try and disarm him

but-

just do it, at least one of us will be able to make it out alive

fine Diamond finally said begrudgingly.

Now Ticonderoga suddenly lunged at Turgenev to grab his pistol and move it out of the way. At the same time Diamond spun around and ran towards the ocean as fast as she could. The Hunter, who was hidden in the forest, shot at Diamond but his shells were blocked by her Klein field. Soon she made it to the water and summoned panels just above the water, with the panels appearing just before she steps onto them and disappearing behind her when she steps off.

When Ticonderoga lunged at Turgenev, Turgenev fired as fast as he could from the sudden attack, but the shot was blocked by a Ticonderoga's Klein field. Ticonderoga grabbed Turgenev's pistol and tried to take it away. Turgenev expected this and soon a struggle happened for the gun. Since Ticonderoga was only a hybrid he wasn't as strong as a mental model, so the struggle wasn't one sided. Their struggle soon moved to them on the ground, first with Ticonderoga on top, then to Turgenev. Now the Hunter seeing Diamond clearly went to a place he can't follow, and that Turgenev was in a struggle, he decided to come out of his hiding and went to where Ticonderoga and Turgenev were struggling.

The Hunter tried aiming his gun at Ticonderoga, but found it impossible to fire and not hit Turgenev. So instead he tried helping Turgenev get the gun back, so he joined in the struggle. This made it much harder on Ticonderoga as he was now fighting two strong men, all he could hope for now was to keep them occupied till the help came.

The Hunter now seemed to reach into one of his pockets to get something. When he pulled out, Ticonderoga could clearly see that it was a tranquilizer dart. The Hunter then tried to stab the tranquilizer into Ticonderoga's leg, the first time he failed, but the next time he succeeded and Ticonderoga winced as he felt the needle pierce his leg. But it didn't instantly make Ticonderoga stop struggling, it just made it so that if Ticonderoga was able to get away he'd soon find himself incapable of moving.

The struggle continued, but now was one sided in Turgenev's and the Hunter's favor, as over time Ticonderoga could feel as he lost his strength.

Now after a while Turgenev and the Hunter got off of Ticonderoga, who was now paralyzed though he was still conscious. Turgenev and the Hunter sighed now as Ticonderoga wasn't a threat.

"Bring the truck here, and we'll load him into it" Turgenev said.

"What about the girl?"

"Forget about her, she is long gone by now"

The Hunter just nodded and sprinted off towards where the truck was.

Turgenev looked down now at Ticonderoga and knelt beside him, exhausted from the struggle.

He shook his head a bit and said "you really gave a fight. I'm surprised, from what I heard Mental models are supposed to be stronger than humans"

Ticonderoga moved his eyes to look at Turgenev but couldn't move besides that.

"You know I heard a story? One of your little friends apparently ripped a tank open. But I think they are exaggerating it. From what I've seen, you have human strength"

Now Turgenev stood up as he saw the truck pulling up several feet away.

"Open the back door so we can load this guy in" Turgenev yelled to the Hunter.

The Hunter did so, with Turgenev dragging him to the truck and putting him in the back seat, on the floor. Though he also gagged Ticonderoga so he couldn't yell.

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Now Ticonderoga found that the flight of aircraft came too late to rescue him, so he found himself now tied to a chair. He was alone in a room, with dark green walls, and the only exit was a steel door. The room was dimly lit with a yellow light bulb just above Ticonderoga's head. There was a table right in front of him, along with another chair across from him.

He groaned slightly as he could find he could finally start moving his body, even if it was barely. He inhaled and let out a heavy sigh as he looked around for any possible escape route, but he only found an air vent, a light switch, and a camera behind him that was keeping an eye on him. The whole room looked like an Interrogation room, which Ticonderoga didn't like too much.

He let out a heavy sigh, and spoke to himself "Ah, this is really bad. Hopefully the fleet knows where I'm at"

Ticonderoga well just sat there tied to the chair for what felt like forever, but what was in reality about 13 minutes. Then the steel door opened with a creaking sound, and Ticonderoga could see two men carrying assault rifles entered the room, with them stepping aside for another man, this time unarmed, to enter.

The unarmed man was tall, with jet black hair slicked back. He wore a neat black suit, with a blue tie. He looked to be of Russian descent, and around fifty years old. He was carrying a briefcase, in his right hand. He spoke, though it was actually an American accent that he spoke in.

"Sorry we kept you waiting, Mr. mental model, but we had some business to do. But now we'll start off"

The man took a seat at the chair across from Ticonderoga, and opened up the briefcase and seemed to set up a laptop then he set up a recorder. After a few moments he spoke again, but this time for the recorder.

"The interrogation of mental model zero-one shall now begin. The date is January 26, 2056. It is done by Nathanael Azarov"

He was typing on the laptop as he spoke, though now he momentarily looked up at Ticonderoga and said.

"What is your name, and ship class?"

Ticonderoga stayed quiet for a moment till he said calmly "Ticonderoga, Mark I variant of the Strike cruiser class"

"What is your fleet, and where are you ranked in it?"

"Eastern Pacific, papa hotel zero-one foxtrot. Fourth command ship"

"So the Fog use the Phonetic alphabet as well"

"Yeah… they do"

"That fleet name sounds like it has much more meaning than just arbitrary letters. Care to elaborate?"

Now Ticonderoga didn't respond and just stayed quiet, as he looked at the man across the table.

"Mental model zero-one is unwilling to answer the question" the man said for the recorder "you said that you were the fourth command ship, who are your three superiors?"

Again Ticonderoga stayed quiet as he calmly stared at the man.

"Mental model zero-one is again unwilling to answer the question" the man said again for the recorder.

The man sighed and paused for a moment as he typed something into the laptop.

"Is there a reason why you are a modern ship, rather than a ship of the early 1900s? We know most other Fog ships are of that era, but not you"

Ticonderoga inhaled and stayed quiet for a moment as he thought if he was allowed to tell them.

"Because I'm not a Fog" Ticonderoga said.

"Huh? Please explain"

"I'm not a Fog. I'm a Phantom"

"Explain what a Phantom is"

"Basically just a Fog, but we're modern warships"

"Interesting, interesting…" the man said. "So are Phantoms a part of the Fleet of Fog, or are they perhaps an entirely different fleet?"

Now Ticonderoga stayed silent like before, as he decided he divulged enough information.

The man sighed heavily "you know things would be so much easier if you just cooperated with us?"

Ticonderoga didn't speak, and just leaned his head back a bit to rest. Closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.

The man sighed again "mental model zero-one is again unwilling to answer the question" now the man took the recorder and turned it off. "Alright, I think that is enough questions for now" now the man put the recorder into the briefcase, and after closing a few things on the laptop, put it in as well.

Then the man stood up taking the briefcase in hand. He was just about to exit the room when he turned around and spoke.

"Ticonderoga, I suggest cooperating with what is going to happen next. Madam, always gets what she wants, and I can't say what she'll do to you if you disobey… be ready. In about two or three hours I'd say, she'll call on you personally. Despite us being on different sides, it was a pleasure meeting you"

Now the man exited the room, soon followed by the armed men, who closed the steel door behind themselves. Leaving Ticonderoga all alone in the room, with nothing to do.

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Soon after the man left, Ticonderoga had fallen asleep, but now after two hours the door opened up again. The two armed men entered the room again, but now they went up to Ticonderoga and untied him from the chair, though they kept his hands tied up.

The act of them untying him woke him up. He groaned as he moved his head slightly up.

"Ugh, What time is it?" He asked groggily.

"It is time for you to meet the Madam" one of the men said.

"Who is she?" Ticonderoga asked still a bit groggily.

"You'll see" the same man said as he and the other man dragged Ticonderoga by the armpits for a while, till he could finally walk on his own.

As they walked Ticonderoga, he could see that they were walking in a hallway that looked mundane. The walls were green, and the floors were a brown floor. There weren't any decorations on the walls or the floors. There were a few doors, but they walked past all of them until they turned a corner and reached a black door.

When it was opened, and Ticonderoga crossed the threshold he could see a well furnished room that looked very different from the room that Ticonderoga was in previously.

The walls were a brilliant white, that had ornate markings on them. There were a few paintings that looked like they should be in an art gallery or museum. The floor was a brilliant red wood. There was a low lying glass table, with several white square couches around it. Tucked at one corner of the room there was a bar set up, though currently there wasn't anyone there. The room was completely devoid of windows.

Though now Ticonderoga could see there were four other armed men that looked like guards, guarding two other exits. One exit was behind the bar counter, the other was to his left side.

He was soon shoved into the room by the men behind him, and he could see them now standing guard at the door they had just come through.

He entered a bit farther into the room and could finally see a woman stand up and turn around to greet him. It was the woman that Turgenev had discussed with before, though now she wore a black business dress that nicely complemented her curvy body shape. Though he could see in her eyes that she meant business.

"Ah welcome Mr. Ticonderoga, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Annika Orlova, though for the purpose of this meeting you may just call me Ann. Please sit here"

She gestured to him to sit across from her. He hesitated for a moment before complying as he walked to sit where he was directed, though it was a little uncomfortable to sit down as his hands were tied behind him.

Annika sat down, and did see him in a bit of discomfort. She gestured to one of her guards.

"Guard, untie his hands"

One of them responds "yes, Madam" the guard soon approached Ticonderoga and untied his hands, so he could move them around freely. Though Ticonderoga's wrists had rope burn on them which didn't feel all that good.

Though Ticonderoga knew that it wasn't a good idea to try and escape at the moment, since there were six armed guards there at the moment. And who knows how many more that were unseen.

As soon as Ticonderoga's hands were free Annika spoke "now onto business" she leaned in a bit and looked at him with a serious face "I'll get right to what I'm interested in, what I want you to do. I've come into possession of a certain device that was being developed by the navy. But it is incomplete, and my men are incapable of finishing it. That is why you're here. A mental model, is currently the only thing that can finish the device"

Ticonderoga waited for a moment before responding in a calm voice "and what if I refuse to complete it?"

"I'm sure we can find a way to motivate you to work" she said in a sadistic tone "oh! And if you try to mess it up or aren't doing a good enough job I'm sure we can find a way to remedy that too"

Ticonderoga gulped a bit nervously knowing what she meant with what she said. But he knew he could take most whatever was thrown at him. Since he was trained in the military, but also that the device was probably a weapon to counter the Fog and the Phantoms.

"Umm alright, let's say I do as I'm told by you and your men, without causing trouble. What will happen to me?"

"Well, if you do a good job and don't cause any trouble, then I'll make sure to keep you alive, since you would've done such a good job… but, if you don't act good then I can't promise anything"

Ticonderoga turned his head away for a moment to think about what she said and what he should do. He inhaled and sighed heavily. He was about to speak, but was cut off when the door, the other one that he hadn't come in by, opened up and a younger Russian looking man in a suit and tie, and wore glasses walked in.

He bowed respectfully towards Annika and said "Sorry for interrupting your meeting Madam, but we must evacuate you and all important personnel to a safe location"

Now four more armed men entered the room, but they looked like actual legit soldiers, but they didn't look like soldiers of any known country.

Annika looked at the man, and the soldiers that entered in.

"What is it?" She said as she stood up.

"We shall inform you of the full information once you're in a safe location, but one of our allies in the navy has informed us that they're sending someone here, after a distress signal was detected in the area. It is possible that it is the navy's mental model"

"A distress signal? How is that possible?" Annika asked, as she grew ready to leave.

"From what they said it is of 'Phantom' origin"

Now she suddenly turned to look at Ticonderoga, and said to herself slowly "Phantom origin?"

"Yes, Madam. The cars are ready for your immediate evacuation"

Annika was thinking for a moment as she eyed Ticonderoga, who at the moment had his hands on the couch and seemed ready to get up at any moment. Though he also has a serious look on his face.

"I see… let's go then" she said as she turned to look back at the man.

"What about the mental model, Madam?"

"Return him to his room, but don't tie him up. I want my personal guard at my side, every essential person evacuated to a secure location, along with the device. The rest are to stay behind and protect this location, by any means necessary"

Now Annika walked so that she was between the four soldiers, who turned towards her and stood at attention. Then the man with glasses started to bark orders.

"You heard her, men! Take him back to his room!"

Now Ticonderoga immediately stood up. At first he was thinking about resisting, but decided against it, as they had the weapons and he didn't.

Now Annika went through the threshold of the door and disappeared as the two armed men followed behind her. At the same time the two armed men that originally escorted him there, approached him, and went behind him nudging him forward. He complied and walked towards where they came from.

Soon without a word Ticonderoga was back in his room, though now he at least wasn't tied up.

Once the metal door was shut Ticonderoga sighed and walked around for a moment frustrated, before he decided to rest on the floor against the wall.

After a few minutes of him just thinking about things, he suddenly heard a voice speak to him.

Ticonderoga, what is your current status?

The voice was that of Frunze' and it took him only a second to realize that he could communicate on comms.

I'm alright, Sir. Though I'm stuck in a room with no exits besides a metal door, and an air vent that is too small for me to get through

that is good. Nitze, along with Princeton, and Seydlitz are on their way to you, along with a full flight of bombers and attack aircraft from Manfred and Kearsarge. They'll be there in under an hour

roger that. Though, Sir I overheard that the navy is sending someone here. They somehow could sense my distress signal

Frunze was quiet for a few seconds before speaking again.

that must be Ohio then. I'll inform The rescue team of that

who's Ohio?

a Phantom Fleet submarine that defected almost as soon as she was awakened. She was supposed to join up with my fleet after she woke up, but for whatever reason, she decided to defect to the humans

I see Ticonderoga said slowly.

they might have sent her to recover you. If she reaches your location before the rescue team, be careful, her core is powerful despite being a mere submarine

alright I'll do so, Sir

Now Frunze disconnected, leaving Ticonderoga completely alone again. He rested his head against the wall and tried to rest for as long as he could, soon he fell asleep against the wall.