The Ovemind Blows Rome's Mind, Part 1 of 4

Yesterday, Rome made up her mind that the only way to track down Aason, her parents and Ursay was to contact the Overmind of Earth. This was a dangerous act in that Rome and Rei were banished from Earth but Rome was desperate. However, what the Overmind says turns out to be truly surprising:

     For Rome, it was like she had to go to another world. She closed her eyes and blocked out the very knowledge that Rei and Bonnie were standing by. The same went for MINIMCOM and Junior. To put herself into the proper mental state, Rome struggled to slow her breathing down, trying to get her beating heart from feeling like it was going to jump out of her chest. This was the biggest risk she would ever take in her life yet it was the only way. Finally, she was ready.
     “Hello,” was all she said.
     “Hello, Rome,” the Overmind of Earth replied, its voice nearly overpowering in its intensity. “It has been a long time.”
     “Are you going to have me arrested?” she asked, figuring she had to get that out of the way.
     “No,” the Overmind answered.
     “Really?”
     “Really. You and Rei were completely pardoned over two years ago.”
     “We were?” Rome asked. Her face echoed her surprise.
     “Yes. After Commander Ursay related to me what you had done to save our people from the virus weapon, I decided it was time to forgive you.”
     “Well, thank you for that,” Rome said, slightly flustered. She quickly regained her composure. “Enough pleasantries. Do you know why we are here?”
     “No, I do not,” replied the Overmind. “In fact, I am somewhat perplexed as to how you were able to reconnect to me.”
     Rome quickly summarized the events leading up to MINIMCOM’s reactivation of her PPT receivers. She explained that she had sent her son and parents to hide out on Earth until the crisis on Deucado had passed and Sussen’s role in the chaos surrounding her.
     “Sussen, the one with the mismatched eyes?” the Overmind asked with some disgust.
     “Yes,” Rome answered.
     “Then I understand your urgency and I will cooperate fully in helping you find your son. However there are some things you must know.”
     “Please just tell me where Commander Ursay is and we can chat about whatever along the way.”
     “Ursay is currently disconnected,” the Overmind replied. “He was able to connect just long enough to tell me that there were people storming his farmhouse and then he was cut off.”
     This sent another chill down Rome’s spine. “Did he disconnect of his own free will?”
     “There is no way to know but I suspect not,” replied the Overmind.
     “Then where do we start?” Rome asked dishearteningly.
     “Again, please allow me to give you some information and it may guide you in your search.”

Tomorrow, the Overmind tells Rome that it has known about the Onsiras for way longer than anyone realized and what it was doing to combat the threat.