Metal Swarm - Kevin J. Anderson [57]
He answered honestly. 'Of course I've got a few regrets. I hardly know where I am anymore, or where I'll be tomorrow.'
'You're feeling like a true Roamer then. Want to go back to Earth, after all, and make up with your parents?'
'And leave you?'
'Well, don't expect me to go back to the Hansa!'
'Then I'm staying here. Guiding Stars and all that.'
She kissed him. 'You're sweet, Brindle.'
'That's what my commanding officers always say.'
She playfully punched him. 'Come on, let's go see if these workers know what they're doing.'
Sooner or later, somebody would design a logo for the Confederation militia, and Tasia would embroider it on her pockets (and Robb's). But right now, their authority was implicit. She was delighted to be among Roamers again. Even if she didn't know the clan members personally - it had been a lot of years, alter all - the ribbons and zippers and embroidered pockets reminded her of her childhood when she'd tagged along with Ross or Jess to Rendezvous. Now, she was here to boss the workers around and turn any available vessels into defensive ships.
The two took a small transport pod over to a central gathering station where they joined the dusty, sweaty members of a returning shift in the mess hall. Robb studied the bustle, listened to the loud voices, tried to identify the different uniforms, clan markings, crewmembers separating to join friends or relatives at other tables. To him, the whole Roamer culture was madcap and noisy, his parents had been coolly efficient, buttoned-down military personnel. 'How do they get anything done in all this craziness?'
'Practice, I suppose. Everybody wants to make a profit, to survive and thrive, so any intractable ones get taken care of internally. Somehow it works - sort of like you and me.'
In the mess hall, they found Kotto Okiah sitting at a table, oblivious to the clamour around him. The eccentric engineer stared at a design screen, absentmindedly picking at a tray of food, spilling crumbs on his screen and brushing them aside. Kotto had no official position at the shipyards, but he redesigned equipment and vessels whenever he saw a flaw. He was like a child playing in a toy store, coming up with wild ideas, changing processes to see what worked and what could work better. All the Roamers had faith in him, regardless of how strange his schemes sounded.
Tasia approached him, peering over his shoulder. 'Have you heard about the new job we have for you, Kotto?'
He was not at all self-conscious to be watched at his work. 'Denn sent me a message, but I haven't accessed it yet.' He glanced up from his screen at Tasia and Robb. He didn't seem to recognize either of them, but apparently considered that more his problem than theirs. He brightened. 'Did the little hydrogue derelict come back from Theroc? I wanted to work on that again--'
'We need you to help us add weapons and shielding to our Roamer ships.'
Kotto was startled out of his concentration. 'Never needed them before. The drogues are defeated.' He looked around as if he had missed something. 'Aren't they?'
'We're not worried about the hydrogues,' Tasia said. 'In case you didn't get the memo, Kotto, the Spiral Arm has changed. Marauders, pirates, and even the Eddies want a piece of anything we bring to market. We've got to defend ourselves.'
'There was a memo?'
'I was exaggerating.'
Robb added, 'We understand that you're the man who can help us put together a full-blown military. And we need it as fast as humanly possible.'
'They always do.' On screen Kotto called up a clean diagram of a modified trade hauler. Brow furrowed, he began tapping zones, thinking, then highlighting areas. 'I can add additional hull armour here. We can manufacture traditional guns to be installed here and here.' His eyes had a distant look, and then he began to smile. There are