Im playing a waiting game, Joshua said, and datavised an order into the console processor. The holoscreen switched to an image from an external sensor cluster, showing a very dark expanse of crinkled rock. Scale was impossible to gauge. See that? Thats the largest ring particle I could find at such short notice, near-solid stone about two hundred and fifty metres in diameter. Its twenty-five kilometres inward from the northern surface. Were keeping station directly underneath it, and I do mean directly; Lady Mac s forward hull is about three metres away. Right now Warlow and Ashly are outside drilling load pins into the rock so we can tether Lady Mac in place with silicon fibre. That way I wont have to use the thrusters to hold our position. Maranta and Gramine would be able to spot any ion plumes easily when the rings calm down. Our on-board electronic systems are designed for minimal emission anyway, but with that rock as a shield well make absolutely sure were undetectable to their sensors. It can also absorb our thermal output as well; Ive deployed the thermo-dump panels so that theyre radiating all our excess heat directly at the rock, it will take months to seep through. All the drive tubes and the five main fusion generators have been powered down, so our magnetic flux is negligible. Were operating on one auxiliary fusion generator which is well screened by the hull. All in all, its a very reasonable position. As long as Maranta and Gramine stay north of the ring well be invisible to them.
And if one of them moves to a southern inclination?
There is fifty-five kilometres worth of particles between us and the southern surface. Its a risk Im prepared to take, especially with the ring so electrically and thermally active right now.
I see. How long do you think well be here?
Joshua pulled a face. Hard to say. Right now were only a hundred and seventy thousand kilometres above Murora, Lady Mac needs to be at least two hundred thousand out before she can jump. So if we want to leave, we either wait until Maranta and Gramine decide to call it a day and quit, or hang on until their search pattern carries them far enough away to allow us to make a dash for a jump coordinate. Whichever one it is, I think well be here for some time. Weeks at least.
I understand. Do you have enough fuel and supplies to last that long?
Yes, fuels down to forty-seven per cent, those high-gee manoeuvres use up cryogenics at a hell of a rate, but whats left can supply our present consumption rate for years. So thats no problem. But well have to monitor our environmental systems closely given theres thirty-six of you. The limiting factor is going to be food; thatll have to be rationed pretty carefully. All of which means I really dont want you to take your children out of zero-tau just yet.
Of course. They will be much better off in the pods anyway. But what about your mercenary scout team?
Joshua exchanged a significant glance with Sarha. Not a damn thing we can do about that. Theyre tough and theyre mean. If anyone can survive down there, they can.
I see. Well if the opportunity arises to go back, then please do not hesitate on our account.
Well see. It would be difficult jumping to Lalonde with Maranta and Gramine following us. Ideally Id like to hang on until they leave Murora. Our major problem is going to be tracking them. When you came in we were discussing mounting a sensor cluster on the other side of the rock. Before we started hiding we caught a glimpse of their ion thrusters, so we know theyre still out there. But we have the same problem as them, this ring is pure hell to see through. Without reliable data were at a nasty disadvantage.
Ah, Gaura smiled happily. I think I may be able to help there. Aethra? Can you see the two starships which attacked us?
Yes,the habitat replied. They are orbiting slightly above the rings northern surface.
An image formed in his mind, the dusky plain of the ring slicing across Murora, blanched of most colour. The habitats external sensitive cells could just sense a broad zone agitated by heat and electricity. Two dull specks were poised slightly above it, ion thrusters firing intermittent tattoos to maintain their attitude.
Excellent.aethra can see them.
Joshua brightened. Jesus, thats great news. Theyre both still here, then?
Yes.
How is Aethra? he asked belatedly.
The shell was extensively damaged. However, there is no catastrophic internal injury, its main organs remain functional. It is going to require a considerable amount of repair work before it can resume its growth. My colleagues, the ones who were killed in the attack, their memories have been stored by the personality.
Thats something, then.
Yes.
Can Aethra work out the exact spacial locations of the other starships for me? If we can keep updated Ill know when we can risk breaking cover and flying for a jump coordinate.
I can go one better than that. Gaura slipped a processor block from his breast pocket. The slim palm-sized plastic rectangle had produced a spectacular gold and blue bruise on his pectoral muscle during the flight. Aethra can communicate through the bitek processor, and if you can interface this with your flight computer youll be able to receive the images directly. And the starships hunting us will never know, affinity is undetectable.
Wonderful. Joshua accepted the block. It was slightly smaller than the Kulu Corporation model he used. Sarha, get to work on an interface. I want Aethra tied in to our navigation processor array pronto.
Consider it done. She plucked it from his fingers and datavised her systems memory core for appropriate electronic module specifications and adaptor programs.
Joshua thought the Edenist station chief still looked wrecked. You know, we come from Tranquillity, he said. Its Lady Mac s home port.
Gaura looked at him, a surprised light showing in his worn eyes. Yes?
Yeah. Ive lived there all my life, I was born there, so I know how beautiful habitats are, and I dont just mean their physical structure either. So I suppose I can empathize with what youre feeling more than most Adamists. Dont worry. Well get out of this and bring help back for Aethra, and Lalonde too. All we need now is time, and were home free. Fortunately time is one thing we have plenty of.
So youre not Confederation Navy marines then? Horst asked, trying to hide his disappointment.
No, Im sorry, Father, Reza said. The LDC hired us to scout round the Quallheim Counties and find out what was going on down here. I believe you can say weve certainly done that.
I see. Horst looked round the simplicity of the Tyrathcan tower houses hall, its smooth curves illuminated by the light stick, solid shadows blending seamlessly with dark-grey arches. The red light outside was kept at bay, silhouetting the hole sliced into the doorway. In spite of the warmth he felt chilled.
How did you know we were here? Pat asked.
I didnt, not that you were in this particular tower. We saw the starships arrive yesterday morning, of course. Then in the afternoon there was an explosion on the river.
The kroclion, Ariadne said.
Could be, Reza said. Go on.
Young Russ saw it, Horst said. I thought it best that we keep a watch on the savannah; that morning was the first time the red cloud appeared, and with the starships as wellit seemed sensible. By the time I got my optical intensifier band on there was only the smoke left. But it didnt look like anything the possessed do, so I rode out to see. I thoughtI prayedthat it might have been the marines. Then that bedamned kroclion was skulking about in the grass. I just kept going up the river to keep ahead of it. And here we are. Delivered up to you by Gods hand. He lifted his lips in a tired victorious smile. Mysterious ways His wonders to perform.