Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [119]
His Soldier compies blasted the first Klikiss before they could emerge. More ominous silhouettes appeared in the transportal, and the warriors pushed through, ready to attack.
Sirix was ready for them. As a precaution, he had already implanted EDF demolitions around the base. 'Destroy this side of the transportal.'
A quick explosion, and the trapezoidal sheet cracked and collapsed, shutting down the gateway and blocking off the Klikiss swarm. He swivelled his head toward PD and QT and all the black robots.
'Now we know the location, of another Klikiss infestation we must destroy. A planet called Llaro.'
Seventy-three
Tasia Tamblyn
After Admiral Willis had been sent packing from Theroc with her tail between her legs, more and more Roamer vessels stopped in at the Osquivel shipyards, requesting modifications and armaments. Many traders, preparing for any future attack, formed a well-armed vigilante force in the hope that they could not be taken advantage of again.
Nikko Chan Tylar's hybrid vessel caused quite a stir when it arrived at the shipyards. After being shot down by Klikiss robots on Jonah 12, Nikko's Aquarius had been absorbed by Jess Tamblyn's water-and-pearl vessel, and the wentals had regrown its components. The young man brought his exotic ship into one of the docking circles, carrying a lo?d of much-needed flame-resistant gaskets, filtration mats, and durable fabrics from Constantine III.
As the Confederation's 'military' representatives, Tasia and Robb met Nikko in the small crowded cafeteria on the admin station. Tasia ran her fingers across the metal tabletop, smearing a layer of brown dust. When workers came through here at the end of every shift from the asteroid crushers and metal smelters, they brought residue with them.
Denn Peroni joined them, scanning down the Aquarius's manifest and mumbling appreciatively. 'We can use all of this. Vital components for starship engine cores. Good haul, Nikko. Your parents would be quite pleased.'
Nikko slurped from a bowl of noodles, added some hot oil, then slurped again. 'My parents are missing.'
Denn nodded sympathetically. 'Everything's been a mess since the Eddies wrecked Rendezvous. We're trying to compile a database, though. Now that we've got access to green priests on various colonies, we can document who's missing and try to track them down, but it's a brain-bender.'
'I already know what happened to them,' Nikko blurted. 'The damned Eddies attacked the Chan greenhouse asteroids, took them prisoner, then destroyed a lot of the domes. I barely escaped, myself.'
Denn shook his head. 'But nobody knows where the Roamer detainees were taken. There's probably hundreds from Hurricane Depot and Rendezvous, in addition to your greenhouse asteroids.'
'I bet they have a horrific slave camp somewhere.'
Tasia leaned back in her chair. 'Relax, Nikko. It's not as bad as all that. They're on a very nice colony world - an abandoned Klikiss planet called Llaro.'
Nikko's almond eyes widened. 'How do you know this?'
'One of my duties with the EDF was to shuttle the detainees there. It's not a hell-hole prison planet. I should have thought about it before, but so many crazy things have been going on. There's no green priest on Llaro, and we didn't have the time or the ships to send an expedition.'
Nikko leapt to his feet, sloshing some of the spicy broth from his noodle bowl. Then I'll go! I'll take the Aquarius. Can you help me find Llaro?'
'Hang on a minute - it's not that simple,' Tasia said. 'There are hundreds of Roamer detainees on Llaro, and I'm sure they all want to go home. You'd cause a riot if you tried to take just your parents.'
'At least I can see them!'
'About that? There's another big catch. An EDF contingent is stationed there to watch the detainees. Who knows what's gone on since the end of the Hansa?'
'They might not even know about the big change,' Robb said.
'Well, we can't just leave them there!' Denn said. 'Imagine what wonderful PR this would be: Instead of Nikko's Aquarius, we outfit a larger ship and send an expedition to liberate