Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [13]
With a smirk at the traditional datascreens, she commented to no one in particular, 'This Ildiran technology is so primitive, it's like working with stone knives and bearskins.' She wiped sweat from her forehead and heaved a long sigh before she turned to Zan'nh. 'We need more workers, Adar. We need more processed metals. We need to have more components manufactured. We need--'
'You will have everything you need.' This seemed to mollify her somewhat.
'Good, because I don't see how you expect me to get this job done any other way.'
A haggard Sullivan Gold arrived in the command nucleus. Giving a cursory nod to Zan'nh, he hurried to Tabitha. 'Did you solve the supply chain?'
'Which supply chain? I'm dealing with seventy-five of them right now.'
Zan'nh interrupted, 'State how we may assist you, and I will make it happen.'
'Well, Adar, for starters, your people could take a bit more initiative.' Tabitha gave a little snort. 'Sure, they follow instructions and work hard - no question about that - but I have to tell them everything. Sometimes a leader needs people to come up with creative solutions to problems.'
'That is why we brought you here.'
And that's why you better be paying me the big bucks. By the way, we never did discuss my salary for doing all this.'
The Adar was familiar with the notion of payment, but did not entirely understand it. The need for profit, the desire for more possessions, were simply not Ildiran concepts. When a thing needed to be done, would not the people do it? 'Name your own price. I am certain the Mage-Imperator will authorize it.'
Tabitha blinked. 'I can think of a pretty large number.'
'Then do so.'
Sullivan chuckled. 'You're really willing to stick around, Tabitha? Now that the hydrogue war is over, the Mage-Imperator said we could go home.'
'Am I going to find a better job than this? Look at me here. I'm queen of the Solar Navy, and I'm going to be paid well. I don't hear anything urgent calling me to Earth.'
Sullivan self-consciously rubbed the razor stubble on his cheeks. 'Suit yourself. As for me, I want to see my wife and family again.'
'I am confident these activities are in good hands,' Zan'nh said.
Tabitha was already turning back to her work as the Adar left. 'And be sure you tell the Mage-Imperator what a good job we're doing. One of these days I might ask him for a letter of reference.'
Six
Prime Designate Daro'h
The smell of burned flesh hung in the air, and heat rippled like a sentient thing, singeing Designate Daro'h's skin. But he could not move away from the blazing faeros fireballs that hovered directly before him. Six more of the flaming elementals circled above the partially rebuilt Dobro town, throbbing with light.
The fireballs had unexpectedly arrived here, hovering above the building that held Udru'h under house arrest. The former Designate had been helpless when the faeros vented their anger, incinerating him. Only a flash of escaping flame rose to the crackling ship.
Daro'h stared at the glassy footprints and blackened stain in the dirt two metres away - all that remained of Udru'h, the previous master of this Ildiran colony. But Daro'h had not felt the horrific death through his , as he should have. When the faeros consumed Udru'h with their fire, they had somehow cut him off from the interconnected thought network that joined all Ildirans. The former Designate had died isolated and alone, a fate as awful as the flames themselves.
As if in a fit of pique, an arm of fire arced out of the lowest fireball and touched the dwelling that had housed Udru'h. The structure shattered into dazzling hot cinders, and tentacles of smoke spread in all directions. Waiting for the wrathful elemental beings to burn the rest of the buildings to the ground, Daro'h finally gathered the courage to shout, 'Why are you here? We have no