Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [197]
'Amen to that,' Willis said. 'But please clean it up.'
Lanyan's face returned to the screen, smiling now. 'We sent that on an open channel, Admiral. Make sure that everyone has an opportunity to view it before I arrive. The Chairman believes we may be required to make a similar example of Rhejak. He was not amused by the bill you sent for materials you were ordered to acquire on behalf of the Earth Defence Forces. I could cite numerous irregularities sufficiently serious to relieve you of command.'
'The hell you could,' she said under her breath, but maintained a stony expression. ;
Lanyan continued, 'I'm on my way down there right now. Round up any ringleaders on Rhejak. Let me see the head of the Company Works, the planetary spokesman, if they have one, and anyone else you feel is important enough to take responsibility.'
She couldn't contain her objections any longer. 'General Lanyan, this is not proper. These people legitimately formed a new government. You have no authority here.'
'Ten Mantas and one Juggernaut give us all the authority we need. Begin making your contacts, Admiral. When I arrive, we'll have ourselves a town meeting.'
Terminating the transmission, Willis shouted aloud, not caring who might hear. 'This is bullshit!' She turned to the sick-looking ensign. 'Transmit on a tight channel to my Mantas. Tell Lieutenant Commander Brindle to run a battle stations drill. Let him think we're just keeping things snappy for the General.'
'What are you going to do, Admiral?'
'I haven't a clue, but I want to be ready for anything. Escort Hakim Allahu and Drew Vardian over here as the General requested - then bring out all of our soldiers so we can form a welcoming committee.' Still weaving, the young ensign turned to rush off, but Willis called him back. 'Clean up that puke first.'
One hundred and twenty
Tasia Tamblyn
They had retrieved enough standard fuel from Davlin's cache, and the desperate Roamer refugees had salvaged the Osquivel, declaring it ready for take-off. There was no reason to wait. No long goodbyes. No sentimental send-offs. Just leave. Now.
Over the past two days, Tasia had worked with Robb, Nikko, and Davlin to seal the ruptured fuel tank, using brute force to hammer and patch it into spaceworthy condition. They had to get the hell off of Llaro before Klikiss from the newly expanded subhive tracked down their crash site.
The refugees back at the bluffs were anxious to go. They knew their supplies could not last long, and with over seventy of them crowded in the primitive caves and overhangs, conditions were deteriorating rapidly. Tasia was sure that somebody would make a mistake soon, and the Klikiss patrols would spot them.
Out at the isolated arroyo, Davlin Lotze used a makeshift hand-pump to transfer the fuel from the barrels into the engine reservoirs, he even siphoned off the last fumes that remained in the lone EDF Remora. Altogether, they had enough to take off and get the refugees away from Llaro.
Nikko ran around the outside hull to check the Osquivel's numerous seals one last time, while Robb climbed into the cockpit to do his final diagnostics. DD and Orli, who rarely left the Friendly compy's side, followed him in. Tasia sat in the seat beside Robb as he sent a test burst through the engines, they responded with an extremely loud and gratifying roar. Pebbles and dust sprayed from the exhaust cylinders, and the ship lurched and jerked, like an impatient animal, anxious to bound away.
Covered with dust, Nikko dived inside, grinning. 'It works! It works!'
'Seal the damn hatch so we can test the pressurization,' Tasia said. 'Once we hit orbit, yo,u don't want to be using tape and putty to fill pinholes.'
'I can help run diagnostics,' DD said. 'Please tell me how I can be of assistance.' The Friendly compy had been invaluable in reprogramming the engine control systems.