Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [246]
"I'm sorry. I did not want to do this." Margaret's voice was hollow and devastated. "Everything will change now . . . everything."
Behind her dozens of multilegged creatures emerged from the trapezoidal wall, swarming through. The tall beetlelike shapes held sharp and sophisticated-looking weapons. Their leathery exoskeletons were black and segmented. Their smooth eyes burned with a strange intelligence. Behind the first ranks came another twenty creatures, then another rank, and another.
The EDF soldiers scrambled backward, shouting to each other. Panicked, they drew their weapons, fell back, and took aim.
"Don't shoot!" one of the men cried. "We're outnumbered a hundred to one!"
Mr. Steinman held on to Orli's arm as if she might be able to protect him.
Margaret Colicos stood close to DD, as if in a daze. "After thousands of years of breeding and recovery, the Klikiss are ready to swarm again. They want their planets back."
Waves of Klikiss creatures exhibiting several different shapes or breeds continued to flow through the transportal. The giant insects seemed numberless. Already, hundreds had marched through the trapezoidal gateway, sweeping out into the Llaro colony.
Margaret continued: "The Klikiss have returned with a vendetta against their treacherous robots, who brought about the end of their civilization ten thousand years ago."
As the alarm spread, Llaro settlers ran about, shouting, trying to find ways to defend themselves. But the Klikiss had not attacked, Orli realized. Not yet.
Margaret turned to look behind her. "At this moment, Klikiss are swarming through every transportal on every one of their worlds. They will reclaim their sovereign territory."
Orli saw a larger shape emerge through the transportal, a giant Klikiss covered with enormous spines, curved spikes, and mottled armor. Its head crests were jagged and threatening, vastly more powerful than the rest of the Klikiss.
In a clicking and chittering language that was oddly musical, with notes that rose and fell in an alien melody, the giant Klikiss spoke to Margaret. The little compy DD translated, the brightness of his tone belying the dire message. "The breedex is angered to see such widespread human habitation on these worlds."
Margaret's unfocused gaze swept across the established colony on Llaro. "Leave. Or the Klikiss will exterminate you all."
* * *
GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS AND TERMINOLOGY
Adam, Prince--predecessor to Raymond Aguerra, considered an unacceptable candidate.
Adar--highest military rank in the Ildiran Solar Navy.
Aguerra, Raymond--streetwise young man from Earth, former identity of King Peter.
Aladdia, Sofia--transportal technician on Rheindic Co, reassigned to study the hydrogue derelict on Earth.
Alexa, Mother--interim ruler of Theroc, wife of Father Idriss, mother of Reynald, Beneto, Sarein, Estarra, and Celli.
Andez, Shelia--EDF soldier, held captive by Roamers at the Osquivel shipyards.
Aquarius --wental distribution ship flown by Nikko Chan Tylar, damaged by Klikiss robots on Jonah 12.
Archfather--symbolic head of the Unison religion on Earth.
Avila--Roamer clan.
Battleaxe--nickname for former Hansa Chairman Maureen Fitzpatrick.
BeBob--Rlinda Kett's pet name for Branson Roberts.
Ben--third Great King of the Terran Hanseatic League.
Beneto--green priest, second son of Father Idriss and Mother Alexa, killed by hydrogues on Corvus Landing, but returned to the worldforest as a wooden golem.
Big Goose--Roamer derogatory term for the Terran Hanseatic League.
blazer--Ildiran illumination source.
Blind Faith --trading ship owned by Branson Roberts. Destroyed along with Davlin Lotze during EDF pursuit.
Blue Sky Mine—skymine facility at Golgen, operated by Ross Tamblyn, destroyed by hydrogues.
Bria'nh, Tal—legendary Ildiran commander who fought against the Shana Rei.
Briggs, Sergeant James—security chief aboard the Juggernaut Eldorado.
Brindle, Conrad—Robb Brindle's father, former military officer.
Brindle, Natalie—Robb Brindle's mother, former military officer.
Brindle, Robb—young EDF recruit,