Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [152]
Field workers tended the genetically engineered crops, harvesting fast-growing grains and vegetables while planting others for a constant turnover. These Roamers were used to intensive farming techniques, where every drop of water and fertilizer had to be reused. Compared with austere deep-space conditions, this planet was truly a child's playground.
Davlin was no slouch at either survival or at helping people survive. He had helped save the colonists from Crenna, and he had also rescued Rlinda Kett and Captain Roberts from a sham court-martial. While the two escaped in Kett's ship, Davlin had modified Roberts's Blind Faith to be flown remotely. By mapping provocative transmissions onto a hologram of Roberts, he had convinced witnesses that Roberts perished with the Blind Faith during an attack by EDF Remoras. So far, everything seemed to have gone smoothly.
He doubted anyone in the EDF knew of his involvement in the escape, especially Chairman Wenceslas, but he still preferred to keep a low profile. For years he had followed the Chairman's instructions and done everything to accomplish the Hansa's aims. But the Chairman made too many poor decisions, and Davlin had given enough of his life to the Terran Hanseatic League.
Human civilization seemed to be spiraling into a bottomless pit. Neither an optimist nor a pessimist, Davlin was at least pragmatic, and he could see deep trouble for the Hansa. How long, he wondered, would a galactic-scale dark age last? If time was short and the future bleak, then he wanted to spend the rest of his days with these people, among whom he felt at home.
"You're thinking pretty hard there, Alexander." Clarin interrupted his thoughts. "I hope you've figured out how to install a new filtration system and water recirculators so we can irrigate without losing significant flow."
Davlin tapped his head. "It's all right in here. I've double-checked with the storehouse, and we do have the components we need. We can get it done by tomorrow--if we finish digging this trench today."
"You're pretty handy to have around."
"For a Roamer to acknowledge my ingenuity, that's a compliment indeed."
From the distant EDF barracks station near the Klikiss ruins, loud alarms began to ring. Soldiers in rumpled uniforms scrambled to their stations. A third Remora took off into the sky. The first two patrol ships on practice maneuvers circled around, obviously on high alert.
"Don't they ever get tired of those stupid drills?" Clarin growled.
Davlin scanned the skies, concerned. "I don't think this is a drill."
"What do you mean? How can it not be?"
Davlin watched as the third Remora joined the first two, and the trio streaked off to the south. Tracking them, he saw four intense spots like falling suns dropping through the sky. Ellipsoidal fireballs curled silently ahead, leaving a streak of singed sky behind them. They were huge.
"By the Guiding Star, what are those things?"
The fireballs streaked downward, and their immense size became more and more apparent. Davlin had to shield his eyes. "Those are faeros."
"Terrific. What do they want?"
Davlin glanced at him. "They didn't send me a memo."
One of the Remoras, flown by a cocky pilot, approached the nearest ellipsoid and launched a volley of jazer fire. Davlin uttered a curse. What did the idiot think he was doing?
Like a rippling solar flare, an arc of fire curled from the faeros ship and incinerated the Remora. The other two scout pilots, more intelligent (or at least less brave) than the first, spun about and raced out of the fireballs' range.
The faeros paid no further attention to the Remoras. The blazing ellipsoids cruised across Llaro's sky as if on a reconnaissance flight. Davlin thought he could feel a wave of heat as the fireballs rumbled above him. The faeros continued over the colony, then--apparently finished with whatever they had come for--accelerated in blinding fingers of fire toward the horizon.
"But what did they want?" Clarin asked. "They didn't attack."
Davlin shook his head. He had witnessed the awesome conflagration