Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [25]
Conrad was interested in practical business. 'Do you have news about the Hansa? What has happened since the hydrogues were defeated? We've heard some stories--'
'A lot of conflicting stories,'Robb cut in.
Wynn leaned back in his chair, frowning. 'By the Guiding Star, nobody knows exactly what happened. I hear the drogues are not going to be a problem anymore, and we can start sky-mining in earnest again. That means the clans will need Plumas water shipments like never before - and this place is a wreck!'
'Skymining, sure, but who knows what'll become of the Roamers now with the big government shake-up?' Caleb added. 'I'll stay here and clean house until it all gets sorted out.'
'What government shake-up?' Tasia said.
Conrad turned quickly to his son. 'We need to get back to Earth.'
'Oh, not to Earth,' Torin said. Theroc's the centre of government now, a new Confederation. King Peter and Queen Estarra moved the capital there so Roamer clans, Hansa colonies, and Therons could all form a unified government.'
'About time we did something right,' Wynn added.
'But what about General Lanyan? Chairman Wenceslas?' Conrad asked.
'Nobody's heard much from Earth recently,' Torin said. 'It's been marginalized since all authority moved to Theroc'
'Meanwhile, we're just here sorting out the pieces. It's only the three of us patching things up until we can afford to bring work crews back.' Caleb raised his eyebrows. 'But if you'd like to stick around, we can find a whole lot of work for you to do - major construction, reinstalling our pumps, repairing our lift shafts. Think of the job security.'
Tasia was sorely tempted, and Robb seemed to want to stay as well, but Conrad stiffened. 'We are still members of the Earth Defence Forces. All three of us. We need to deliver our report and receive new orders.'
Tasia nodded apologetically to her uncles. 'He's right.' She didn't give Robb's father the opportunity to challenge her. 'We'd better head for Theroc to brief King Peter. Go straight to the top, that's what I say.'
Thirteen
Patrick Fitzpatrick III
The Gypsy wandered among the stars, while its pilot chased any clue he could find. Since the 'borrowed' space yacht's fuel tanks were running low on ekti, Patrick Fitzpatrick hoped he would find Zhett soon.
He needed to see her, needed to apologize, and prove he wasn't the cretin she must think him. That was certainly going to be a challenge! He had tricked her so that he and his comrades could escape, and in doing so he had exposed the clan Kellum shipyards, nearly causing their destruction. Zhett wasn't going to brush something like that aside. And she didn't even know the half of it. There were plenty of other things she could blame him for.
Patrick had already been to the most obvious spots - the ruins of Rendezvous, the empty Kellum shipyards at Osquivel, the gas giant Golgen - and now, based on a vague tip, he closed in on a stormy planet called Constantine III. The greenish-grey world did not look promising, certainly no place that a member of the wealthy Fitzpatrick family would choose to visit. The unpleasant environment wouldn't deter Roamers, however. They seemed to thrive on hardship.
Fed up with the EDF after watching the Hansa use Roamers as scapegoats, Patrick had taken a ship that belonged to his grandmother. Technically, he might be considered a deserter, but Patrick didn't see it that way. His duty to the EDF had been fulfilled, and he would not serve the corrupt Hansa again, a government that lied and trampled rights to get what it wanted, protected itself at the expense of its people, and diverted blame onto the innocent. Patrick owed a debt to the Roamers, and he was honour-bound to