Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [145]
Orli had a frantic thought and nothing to lose. She fumbled until her fingers instinctively found the Power tab on her synthesizer strips. Without thinking, she began to play one of her well-practised original melodies. The music suddenly rang out from the implanted speakers, the music rising unexpectedly into the pandemonium.
Hearing the strange tune, the Klikiss scout paused, swivelling its head and quivering as it searched for the source. Mr Steinman pointed his weapon and fired a blast. The projectile shattered the creature's head into greenish pulp, and the armoured body slumped twitching to the dirt.
In the aftermath, the escapees shuddered as they recovered themselves and helped UR back to her feet. DD appeared to be even more upset than the Governess compy, who seemed dazed and disoriented. DD's voice was thick with forced reassurance, both for the dismayed children and for the other compy. The damage is repairable. No memories or vital systems were harmed. I can stop these leaks and cap off the damaged circuits. You will be all right, UR.'
That was quick thinking, Orli,' Ruis said. He looked ready to vomit. 'A most unusual means of defence.'
She couldn't believe it herself. 'It seemed the right thing to do. Margaret gave me the suggestion.'
'I'm sorry to say this, all of you,' Steinman said, 'but we'll have to keep going now. Thanks to the scout, the breedex has seen us.'
That's fine. That's just fine,' said Crim, as he held up the Governess compy's severed arm. 'Let's get the hell out of here.'
Ninety-one
Chairman Basil Wenceslas
Despite Basil's careful control of information, the people had begun to make up their own stories, and some even rallied against the Hansa. The condemnation from King Peter had spread like wildfire across the breakaway colonies and even among a few pathetic dissident groups that were beginning to appear on Earth.
After everything the Chairman had done for them! Couldn't they see what was at stake? Basil felt like a man clutching at water with his outstretched fingers, trying to hold back the tide. Why did humanity refuse strong leadership and insist on self-destructive behaviour? They chased every distraction and believed every ridiculous rumour. It would serve them right if he threw up his hands, abandoned his post, and left these selfish idiots to careen headlong to their own downfall.
But he couldn't do that. He cared about humanity too much. Even if no one else could see what needed to be done, even if others refused to follow instructions, he had the vision to pull humanity back from the brink.
The Terran Hanseatic League was the greatest government ever formed, the strongest and most beneficial organization that humanity had ever known. Yet, all that went out the window the moment anybody felt the slightest discomfort. Fickle! They refused to make sacrifices or work hard. If only the people would '- all put in as much effort as be did! They were weak and easily influenced by liars and charlatans who didn't know their proper places - like King Peter. At times Basil felt hopeless, not sure how even he could turn this around. But he was the Hansa Chairman, and he intended to fix everything, whether the people wanted it fixed or not. He simply had to work harder.
When he first heard the outrageous accusations and the recorded confession from Patrick Fitzpatrick, Basil sent a summons directly to former Chairman Maureen Fitzpatrick's Rocky Mountain mansion, along with a handful of guards to make sure his invitation was accepted. Hansa priorities outweighed any prior commitments or meetings the old Battleaxe might have.
When the former Chairman arrived, she looked-impeccable wearing a dove-grey dress and a necklace of tasteful reef-pearls. Her skin was tight, her hair carrying a mature touch of grey, though nothing to suggest her true age. Maureen Fitzpatrick no doubt underwent the most expensive anti-aging and rejuvenation treatments using rare kelp extracts from Rhejak