of the Samarkand Runcible. Ending Those who are confused by the ending can find a more detailed account in the "Gridlinked" entry on the author's website, under "The alternative scooby ending can be found here." Technology AI: machine intelligence responsible for planetary management Runcible: an interstellar teleporter, comparable to the Ramsbotham Jump in Robert A. Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky contra-terrene device or CTD: an anti-matter bomb AGC: antigravity carrier anti-gravity vehicle Antiphoton Weapon: A proton beam weapon (APW). Aug: A brain augmentation device, allowing gridlink-like access to local networks. Proton Gun Pulse-gun Golem: sophisticated androids, named in numbered series Sparkind: elite human(oid) soldiers Chainglass armor and cutting blades: "A glass formed of silicon chain molecules. Depending on heat treatments and various doping techniques, this glass has a range of properties covering just about every material that has preceded it. Chainglass blades can be as hard as diamond and maintain an edge sharper than that of freshly sheared flint, whilst having a tensile strength somewhere above that of chrome steel. Chainglass also lacks the brittleness of its namesake. The substance was the invention of Algin Tenkian, and it made him filthy rich." -Gridlinked: Asher, pg. 142. Planets Earth Cheyne III, home world of the Separatist movement. Huma Minostra Samarkand II, way station between more important worlds, 173 light years from Viridian. Colony destroyed after Runcible exploded. Viridian, 173 light years from Samarkand II, in the Mendax planetary system of the Chirat star cluster. Spaceships The Hubris - AI controlled Polity Science Vessel. This ship was used to transport a new stage one Runcible to Samarkand. The Lyric - A smuggling ship that transports Arian Pelter and his crew to the planets Huma and Viridian. Characters Horace Blegg - immortal Japanese mastermind said to have survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The highest ranking human in ECS, capable of many feats thought impossible. 400 years old. Ian Cormac - the protagonist, an agent the Earth Central AI or Prime Cause Arian Pelter - the chief villain, a Separatist/Terrorist Angelina Pelter - a Separatist, sister of the chief villain and the victim of a state sanctioned exta-judicial killing by Cormac Hubris - AI controlling mind of the research vessel Hubris. John Stanton - a criminal underling of Pelter, who begins questioning his leadership. Jarvellis - Stanton's pregnant love interest and spaceship pilot/smuggler Maker - an energy-based life form. Dragon - a