Hidden Empire - Kevin J. Anderson [50]
Sirix, the ostensible leader, moved forward. "The assigned labor has been finished, Margaret Colicos. Your camp is prepared." Sirix drew his six main manipulator limbs back into his body core and closed the openings with protective plates.
Over by the drilling apparatus, Arcas let out a shout as a geyser of cool, clear water sprayed upward. The shower ran over DD's silvery metal skin.
The priest came to stand near Margaret, his smooth green skin glistening from the spray. "Chemical analysis shows it's pure drinking water." He licked his lips. "And it tastes delicious." Margaret was glad to see the quiet man so excited. Thus far, Arcas had not seemed enthusiastic about being here with two archaeologists, but he had volunteered for the job. "Now that I have water, I can plant my twenty treelings. Enough to make a respectable grove here on this desert world."
"Go ahead and plant them," Louis said. They would eventually need the telink ability to send regular reports back to the Hansa.
"DD, would you help him, please?" Margaret said. She had hoped DD would be able to interact with the Klikiss robots, but so far the little compy seemed intimidated by the giant ancient machines. She decided not to rush things.
The compy hurried over like an eager child. "I have never planted treelings before, but I am glad I can assist. Arcas and I are sure to become great friends." The green priest looked a bit uncertain about the idea, but accepted the offer of help with good grace.
"He's a Friendly model," Louis said. "Don't let his enthusiasm bother you. It's just his way."
As Arcas and DD dug holes for the potted treelings behind the green priest's tent, the three Klikiss robots stood motionless, like mechanical statues, staring at the orange-colored sky as it faded into dusk.
In the canyons and in the shade of the mountains, night shadows fell like guillotine blades as the sun passed over the horizon. Initial surveys had found that temperatures could drop by as much as forty degrees within an hour, but the archaeological team had brought batteries, warm clothes, heated shelters, and exothermic blankets. The archaeologists would be comfortable here in camp, though they would have difficulty sleeping on the first night for entirely different reasons.
They were both eager for the great adventure ahead of them. Why had the Klikiss abandoned this and so many of their worlds? A mass migration? A war? A terrible plague?
Tomorrow, Margaret and Louis would get to work.
23 ADAR KORI'NH
From space, the Ildiran splinter world of Crenna looked beautiful and green, dotted with lakes, inland seas, and fertile land. But Adar Kori'nh knew that the settlement festered with a terrible disease that first blinded its victims, then killed them. The entire colony must be abandoned, and perhaps burned, before the plague could spread farther.
Let the humans deal with the aftermath, if they wanted the cursed place.
The magnificent cohort of the Solar Navy—seven full maniples, or 343 ships—approached with great fanfare. The bright vessels resembled disklike fish cruising in a precise formation that had been practiced and tested in numerous military parades.
Due to politics and the structure of the Solar Navy, Adar Kori'nh was ensconced in the command nucleus of the ornate lead warliner. He made few decisions, allowing the aged cohort leader, Tal Aro'nh, to maneuver his ships as he saw fit. This mission would require little risk or innovation, and the stodgy Tal would follow each step precisely according to protocol. Kori'nh had accompanied the evacuation mission only because the Mage-Imperator had commanded it.
During the journey to Crenna, the Solar Navy's best tacticians and troop-movement specialists had developed the evacuation plan. Once Tal Aro'nh assured himself that every step had been specified and written down, he relaxed. The dutiful subcommander would follow the plan without deviation. Aro'nh was a perfect example of the Ildiran Solar Navy, wearing