Horizon Storms - Kevin J. Anderson [31]
The deep-core aliens, flowing masses of quicksilver, shimmered as they moved through the chaotic sculptures that made up their metropolis. The geometric buildings shifted and changed like three-dimensional jeweled mosaics locking into place in preparation for a large-scale evacuation. Colors flared brighter.
Though the Friendly compy did not comprehend what the impossibly alien hydrogues did or said, he could see that the creatures were agitated. What was the emergency? The black Klikiss robots—whom DD found to be somewhat more comprehensible, but just as monstrous—scuttled about with a clear urgency of their own. Finally, he intercepted one of the beetlelike robots. “Please tell me what is happening.”
The robot swiveled his angular head and skewered the Friendly compy with his blazing optical sensors. “The Earth military has arrived at Ptoro. Upper-layer scouts are observing them even now. They have already deployed the preparatory apparatus for the Torch weapon designed by my cursed progenitors. Some of the hydrogues will mount a defense while the cityspheres open transgates and evacuate this world. We robots will also depart immediately in our ships.”
The thrumming emergency tone made the metal and polymer components of DD’s artificial body vibrate. “What about me? Am I to escape as well?”
“Sirix will deal with that matter. We have crucial preparations to make. Do not interfere.” The big robot lurched off through the dense atmosphere and vanished through a segmented crystalline wall. The facets rearranged themselves, and the other machine was gone.
DD looked through the bubble-domed skies and saw dozens of warglobes rising out of the citysphere. The diamond-hulled battleships rocketed upward, like spined cannonballs shot into the clouds.
The brave EDF soldiers out there would soon face an overwhelming force.
When his masters Margaret and Louis Colicos had ignited the first Klikiss Torch, they had never intended to harm anyone and had not even known of the hydrogues’ existence. This time, though, the EDF was deploying the Klikiss Torch as an outright act of war. Hansa diplomats and military officers had repeatedly attempted to discuss a peace, but the hydrogues would not negotiate. The liquid-crystal creatures considered humans somewhat interesting as playthings in their unusual tests and experiments, but ultimately irrelevant now that they had far more powerful enemies abroad in the Spiral Arm.
DD, on the other hand, could think of nothing more important than to push his way into the environment chambers where Robb Brindle and his fellow human prisoners were being held. As the emergency continued to build, no one hindered the little compy’s movements, ignoring him entirely. All the hydrogues and Klikiss robots were too preoccupied with their frantic evacuation.
Inside the chamber, the haggard-looking prisoners lurched to their feet. “DD!” Brindle said. “Tell me you’re bringing us good news, man.”
“Unfortunately, I am not. Are you aware of the turmoil occurring in the hydrogue citysphere?”
Several captives pressed against the curved gelatinous walls to peer outside through the translucent membranes. “We can tell they’ve got their underwear in a twist,” Brindle said. “But who can understand those blobs?”
“The Earth Defense Forces have arrived, and they have already launched an anchor point for a wormhole. They intend to ignite Ptoro with a second Klikiss Torch.”
A few of the captives raised their fists and hooted. “‘Bout time they got serious!”
“Another Torch!”
“The drogues can’t fight it, can they?”
Anjea was the loudest. “That’ll show the bastards, give them a hot-foot. Mess with the EDF and you get burned.”
“Uh, I don’t want to rain on your parade, folks,” Brindle said, “but we’re all sitting at ground zero here.”
Some prisoners moaned with dismay; others looked as if they didn’t care.
“Is there a chance we can evacuate?” Brindle said, looking quickly around. “Anything