Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [38]
The insect warriors lunged forward, shrieking and chittering. Robots and Soldier compies scrambled to mount a defence. Two insect warriors with bright red badges marking their wings and carapaces crashed down upon one robot. It fought back furiously, but the warriors ripped off its back casings and discarded them with a clatter of metal and polymer, before uprooting the winglike solar panels. The black robots could withstand the hostile environment of a hydrogue gas giant, but the Klikiss knew full well how to dismantle their own creations.
As the robot thrashed and stabbed with its articulated limbs, the warriors tunnelled into the body core, tore out its processors, and smashed the stored memory. Wrenching off its geometric head, they flung it far away.
The returning Klikiss had sophisticated weaponry, if they desired to use it. But the breedex controlling them seemed interested not only in defeating the robots, but in crushing them. It reminded Sirix of the ancient battles - destruction and slaughter for the sheer satisfaction that came from it.
A second domate arrived, accompanied by even more Klikiss. Sirix and his robots signalled each other to form a temporary blockade to cover their retreat to the EDF ships. They could get aboard the shuttles, troop transports, and Mantas, and fly away from Wollamor. But they needed time.
Sirix had one last defence to use: the Soldier compies. Now, with the original race coming after them, Sirix decided that the human-built robots were expendable. It was necessary for the survival of their superiors. When he summoned them, ranks of the EDF military compies marched forward double-time to form a wall. They crashed into the emerging Klikiss, using construction tools as makeshift weapons.
Fortunately, the Soldier compies had no sense of self-preservation. They would buy the time Sirix needed.
Insect warriors flew forward, and Soldier compies rushed to meet them, four of them against a single Klikiss warrior. At first, they tore the monsters to pieces, but the Klikiss, in turn, used praying-mantis limbs to eviscerate the compies, ripping through synthetic skins, chopping metal heads off with a backhanded slash. Still more Soldier compies filed out of the EDF ships, carrying projectile weapons, many of which had been pried from the dead hands of human soldiers.
While Soldier compies blasted away at the vengeful Klikiss, for a moment - just a moment--Sirix thought they could hold back the numbers.
Another wave of Klikiss poured through the transportal.
PD and QT ran in panic, and Sirix sent them a command burst. 'Follow me.'
Soldier compies struggled to hold the line while the black robots retreated to the dubious safety of the EDF ships. And the marauding Klikiss kept coming.
Twenty-one
Tasia Tamblyn
Tasia had never been to Theroc, though she'd heard a lot about the forested world. It was as important to the Therons as Rendezvous had been to Roamers. According to her uncles, this was the seat of a new, inclusive government, Confederation of diverse peoples. However, as Conrad Brindle entered orbit, he received a decidedly cool reception. 'EDF ship, ate you armed?'
'We have a standard complement of defensive weapons, as do all ships of this model. Those weapons came in very handy when we recently fought against the drogues.'
Tasia leaned over and added, 'In fact, your giant treeships helped us to escape at Qronha 3. We're here to report to King Peter. We understand this is the centre of government these days?'
After a long pause, the voice answered, All right, permission to land. But be warned that we will respond accordingly to any hostile act.'
When their transport landed in a clearing that had obviously been used by many other ships, she spotted four small Roamer vessels, with people near them decked out in clan attire. Grinning, Tasia bounded down the ramp, hoping she would recognize some faces after such a long time.
'You Eddies have a lot of nerve coming here, after all that you've done to us.' One of the Roamers