Part 7 (1/2)
”Imperial,” nodded L'Wrona. ”Seventh Dynasty-about the time they built this old hulk.” The two turned back to the little egg.
”Something the margravate keeps to itself?” asked D'Trelna.
”And uses sparingly,” smiled L'Wrona. The smile vanished. ”Don't use it, J'Quel! It wreaks havoc with the programming overlay-taps those six thousand year old Imperial systems.”
”No, no. Never,” swore D'Trelna. Sighting again on the egg, he pulled the trigger, bathing the spheroid in a soft, red light.
Nothing happened for a moment. Then, as the blaster continued its shrilling, the egg started to glow-a golden s.h.i.+mmering that grew brighter as the spheroid began to swell. The two men stepped back as the slaver computer grew to fill the s.p.a.ce in front of the warheads.
The golden s.h.i.+mmering dimmed, then vanished. The commodore ceased firing and holstered his weapon. The egg lay across the deck, inert.
”Well, that should have done it,” said D'Trelna, frowning. ”According to s.h.i.+p's archives, you just feed it a steady, low grade dose of energy.” He shook his head. ”We better get back to the bridge.”
”And do what?” asked L'Wrona. ”Lead the crew in prayer? No.” He nodded toward the slaver machine. ”There's got to be a simple activation command, common to the era.” He stood staring at the golden orb, fingers softly drumming his holster.
”I'm going,” said D'Trelna after a moment, stepping toward the door.
”Wait,” said L'Wrona, eyes never leaving the egg. ”I'm thinking.”
”Think faster,” said the commodore, halting reluctantly. ”Or we're all going to be processed by that s.p.a.ceborne abattoir out there.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
”T'Nil was one of the most expansionist emperors- ever,” said L'Wrona. ”And this”-he pointed at the egg-”a vital component of his premier war machine. If it came out of the Fleet Fabrication Center on D'Kor, there'd be a generic activation command.”
”H'Nar, please, try something.”
The captain walked over to where the machine lay. ”Computer,” he said, looking down at it, ”Destiny and Empire.”
Silently, the egg righted itself and rose, hovering just above the deck. ”Destiny and Empire,” it said in a perfect tenor. ”How may I serve?”
D'Trelna slapped L'Wrona on the back. ”Well done, H'Nar!”
”T'Nil's battle cry, J'Quel,” said the captain. ”And the motto of all successive emperors.”
”It should have been blood and empire,” said the commodore, watching the computer. ”Identify,” he said to the machine.
”Symbiotechnic Control Unit Seven-Four-Three-Eight, replicant,” said the machine. ”a.s.signed symbiotechnic dreadnought T'Nil's Revenge.” T'Nil's Revenge.”
”Computer,” said D'Trelna, ”we need-”
”I am addressed as either Seven-Four-Three-Eight-R, or Egg,” said the machine.
D'Trelna closed his eyes as if in pain, then opened them. ”Egg,” he said carefully, ”we are in need of tactical data. How would a L'Aal-cla.s.s cruiser defeat a mindsla-symbiotechnic dreadnought?''
”I'm not familiar with the nomenclature 'L'Aal,' ” said Egg.
”You are on such a vessel now,” said L'Wrona.
”Then I must have access to this s.h.i.+p's central computer,” said the machine.
Captain and commodore exchanged glances. ”What've we got to lose?” said L'Wrona.
”Very well, Egg,” said D'Trelna. ”Access s.h.i.+p's computer through the commpanel beside the door. If you need exchange protocols, we'll have our engineering--”
Stylus-thin, a beam of soft green light shot from the top of the spheroid to the commpanel. The connection lasted only an instant, then the beam snapped off. ”This L'Aal-cla.s.s cruiser is almost identical to S'Htul-cla.s.s police cruisers of the S'Yal dynasty. If you wish to know how it can defeat the mindslaver now confronting it . . .”
”Yes?” said the two officers.
”It cannot. Your tactical situation is hopeless.”
”For this, I left the bridge?” said D'Trelna, drawing his blaster.
”However,” said Egg as the commodore twisted the muzzle back to combat setting. ”What?” said D'Trelna.
”In theory, two wars.h.i.+ps of this approximate cla.s.s have a slight chance against a dreadnought-that is Alpha Prime Alpha Prime out there?” out there?”
”Yes,” said L'Wrona.
”Good. She was the first of her type, without the advanced weapons systems of later s.h.i.+ps. With myself coordinating an attack, your s.h.i.+ps-''
”This is our only s.h.i.+p,” said D'Trelna.
”Your crudely inhibited sensors show a second vessel, slightly smaller than this one, but heavily armed, standing off your port, poorly disguised as a rock. As Alpha Prime Alpha Prime has undoubtedly detected her presence, a joint operation would serve you both.” has undoubtedly detected her presence, a joint operation would serve you both.”
L'Wrona was out the door, running for the bridge before Egg had finished.
”Come with me . . . please,” said the commodore.
The commando sergeant watched, bemused, as two similar shapes, one golden and metal, the other human and uniformed, moved down the corridor toward the lift.
Unable to communicate its urgent report about Egg to any station, Implacable'% Implacable'% computer kept trying to bypa.s.s the blockage. With increasing alarm, it found the restraints on its operations to be firm-and spreading. computer kept trying to bypa.s.s the blockage. With increasing alarm, it found the restraints on its operations to be firm-and spreading.
”Why haven't I been here before?” asked Zahava.
”No need,” said R'Gal as the door closed behind them. ”Not unless you're abandoning s.h.i.+p.”
They stood at one end of a brightly lit corridor. It looked like any other of Implacable Implacable's long gray miles, save for the ten widely inters.p.a.ced doors that ran its length, five to each side. The door to Zahava and R'Gal's right read Lifepod 1. R'Gal thumbed the entry tab.
”Shall we?” said the K'Ronarin as the double doors of the airlock slid open. Zahava stepped into the lifepod.
It was a big, round room. Rows of red flight couches took up most of the floor s.p.a.ce, broken by three aisles and a central spiral stairway. Across the cabin from the airlock, beneath a blank main screen, two flight couches fronted a darkened double console.
”Looks more like a bus than a pod,” said the Israeli.
”Long before even Implacable Implacable was built,” said R'Gal as the door hissed shut, ”survival vessels were one-man craft. Time went by, they grew to this.” His hand swept the cabin. ”Three levels, a hundred and fifty seats, maximum capacity over two hundred. Jump drive, n-gravs, automatic homers, sanitation and recreation facilities. The whole unit can be broken down to form the nucleus of a rough colony-power plant, forcefield, sanitation and shelter-just in case.” He walked across the cabin as he spoke, heading for the double console. was built,” said R'Gal as the door hissed shut, ”survival vessels were one-man craft. Time went by, they grew to this.” His hand swept the cabin. ”Three levels, a hundred and fifty seats, maximum capacity over two hundred. Jump drive, n-gravs, automatic homers, sanitation and recreation facilities. The whole unit can be broken down to form the nucleus of a rough colony-power plant, forcefield, sanitation and shelter-just in case.” He walked across the cabin as he spoke, heading for the double console.
”In case of what?”
”In case the automatic homers don't find a close-in planet emitting technology's telltale spores.” Reaching the far side of the pod, the colonel dropped into the left chair and busied himself with the instruments.