Estarra couldnt tear her eyes from the enormous alien vessels that had swept into the system. But isnt this the worst possible time to throw Earth into more instability? Weve got a common enemy now.
These Klikiss ships might well be the worst threat to humanity since the hydrogue war, OX observed.
Peter agreed with the assessment logically, but he made a bitter noise. The Chairman will never set aside our differences and work together. How can I leave the fate of humanity in the hands ofBasil Wenceslas? Given his track record, it would be irresponsible.
Sareins dark eyes flashed. Peter, well never have a better chance! The Whisper Palace is wide open.
Admiral Willis rested her chin on her knuckles. Im as worried about the Klikiss as anybody, but we know for damn sure that the Chairman is a threat. Theres nothing you can do for Earth up here, sire.
Peter felt a steely resolve. I can make a difference if I take my throne back. Humanity needs a strong visionary leader, now more than ever. With all their blatant signs of unrest, he knew the people were ready. One way or another, the angry people would soon overthrow the Chairman and depose his sham King Rory, and they were likely to turn the kid into a scapegoat. A fate the poor patsy didnt deserve. He turned to Admiral Willis. Do you see any way to avoid a shooting war? We cant have our ships blasting at the EDF.
Excitement flushed Williss face. Right now, whos watching? Everybodys hypnotized by the Klikiss. I could easily slip one Manta away from the back ranks and take a roundabout path toward Earth. Go in quick and clean, establish a foothold, plant our flag in the Palace District, and have you sitting back on your throne by the end of the day. Well be all settled in if, or when, the Chairman comes back. A bloodless coup.
It is not technically a coup, OX pointed out. King Peter never abdicated his throne. I can cite numerous precedents in Hansa law, as well as historical comparisons.
Its true, Peter, Estarra said. The people need you.
It felt good to be making clear decisions again, moving forward on a plan. Peter kissed her. Ill take OX with me, but you should stay here with Sarein. If anything happens to me, the Confederation will need its Queen. He could see that she was torn by this, but understood the political necessity.
Im leading this operation personally, Willis said, leaving no room for argument. Commodore Brindle can hold down the fort.
Peter followed her to the lift, glancing one last time at the looming swarmships on the main screen. For everyones sake, I hope this isnt the shortest comeback in human history.
140
Sirix
The eleven swarmships had halted outside the rubble zone of the broken Moon. Sirix could not understand why the Klikiss simply didnt open fire upon the pathetic-looking group of EDF and Confederation vessels; it was not like a breedex to show any sort of restraint.
The hive mind was meeting with the treacherous Hansa Chairman almost certainly planning the annihilation of the black robots. Sirix needed to take advantage of every second of delay to launch his retreat.
After receiving his command burst, the black robots swiftly accomplished the massacre on all fourteen flightworthy EDF ships. Every Hansa engineer, quality-control inspector, tactical expert, and ship designer had been hunted down and killed. Only one man managed to reach a transmitting station in time. In a squawking voice he called out to warn the rest of the EDF. The robots are turning on us again! Theyre killing And then nothing more. The robots had crushed his larynx before he could continue. In the fear and confusion caused by the Klikiss arrival, Sirix hoped the human military would not respond swiftly to the alarm.
Nevertheless, he and his black robots had to move.
Meanwhile, commandeering the construction pods that had been used by the human inspectors, robots raced to their open-framed battleships. More than ten thousand robots mostly new arrivals from the compy factories went to their posts and fired up the starship engines. All together, the black robots prepared for a mass exodus.
Sirix swiveled his angular head to PD and QT, who waited with him on the Mantas bridge. The two compies had wet red smears on their polymer skins from helping to haul away the mangled bodies of the two dead human inspectors. Both of you, stand ready at our weapons stations.
Yes, Sirix, they said in unison.
While the eleven swarmships made no overt moves either toward Earth or toward the robot ships, Sirixs sensors did detect a flurry of smaller component ships spreading out. Klikiss scout vessels had separated from the primary masses to scan the activity in space, studying the numerous vessels that still combed the Earth-Moon neighborhood in search of deadly lunar fragments.
Three of the Klikiss scouts streaked toward the highly distinctive open-framework vessels in the orbital repair docks. They would easily recognize the fundamental design and conclude that the black robots were here. They would know. He shouted orders to PD and QT. Destroy those ships.
The two compies, well practiced in using EDF weapons, opened fire using jazer blasts, but now he feared it was already too late. The scouts would have immediately noted the black robot infestation and what they knew, the breedex knew.
Sirix sent his command for an immediate and complete withdrawal, and the entire group of ships under his control forty-two robot ships and fourteen stolen EDF vessels accelerated away. He would leave the humans to face the Klikiss alone.
However, the breedex must have seen through the eyes of the scoutship pilots. The enormous swarmships began to move.
141
Chairman Basil Wenceslas
Once swallowed up by the incredible swarmship, the diplomatic shuttle jolted, then began to accelerate toward the core a large, organic-looking lump of convolutions composed both of metals and glistening polymer secretions. The central mass reminded Basil of an electrified, resin-coated brain.
The pilot lifted his hands from the controls, helpless. A tractor beam is pulling us along. Theres nothing I can do.
Obviously, that is where were supposed to go. Basil stared forward, trying to glean any sort of information. Your advice would be most helpful right now, Dr. Colicos.
At the moment, my best advice is to wait. The breedex will make the first move, and Ive given you as much preparation as I can.
The tractor beam drew them into a cavernous opening within the core mass of the swarmship. The shuttle dropped heavily onto the floor inside a vaulted, slick-walled landing bay, and more than a hundred Klikiss warriors marched out to meet them.