Of Fire and Night - Kevin J. Anderson [77]
Zan'nh turned away in disappointment. The Solar Navy needed something entirely unexpected, and for that he could not look to unimaginative researchers.
Finally, he pushed aside his reluctance. The Mage-Imperator had told him to try anything, and Zan'nh would solicit ideas from an unlikely source.
The balding administrator of the Hansa cloud harvester faced him indignantly. "You've got to be kidding. After all this, you want us to help you?" He rolled his eyes, looking at his sharp-featured engineering chief, Tabitha Huck.
"That's a switch!" she said. "I've been bored silly."
Zan'nh had first met Sullivan Gold when his warliners encountered the trespassing cloud harvester at Qronha 3. Typically oblivious, the Hansa manager had been surprised that Ildirans would take offense just because humans had placed an industrial facility on a planet that did not belong to them.
He crossed his arms and regarded them both. "Like your Terran Hanseatic League, our Ildiran Empire faces imminent destruction from the hydrogues. The Mage-Imperator has commanded our Solar Navy to develop innovative weapons against them. We have made only minor progress, and time is running out. Therefore, I request your assistance. My people cannot do this alone."
"The terms ‘Ildiran' and ‘innovation' aren't usually used in the same sentence." Tabitha's voice dripped with sarcasm.
Zan'nh allowed a small smile. "That is exactly the point. Our civilization reached the pinnacle of achievement centuries ago. Our people no longer develop radical new concepts. Culturally, such things are frowned upon."
Tabitha clearly had little respect for her Ildiran counterparts. "And now that you need a new idea, nobody can come up with one to save his life."
"To save all our lives," Zan'nh pointed out. "My people have never been trained to think along unorthodox lines. Humans, however, are well versed in this."
"Damn right," Tabitha said.
Sullivan's voice was like iron. "Before we do anything for you, I need you to tell us what's going on. What was your mysterious mission to Qronha 3 with that little girl and her diving bell chamber? What's the real story behind all those warglobes that appeared over Ildira?"
The Adar considered his instructions and the new leeway the Mage-Imperator had given him. No more secrets! Conceding, Zan'nh explained the situation, including the looming hydrogue threat and why Jora'h had needed to keep the humans isolated.
"What the hell!" Tabitha cried. Sullivan looked dizzy.
"Unless you help us find a way to defeat the hydrogues, we will have no choice but to give in to their ultimatum. We have no wish to see humans exterminated. Therefore, it is in your best interests to help us. I want--" He caught himself. "Sullivan Gold, I would very much appreciate it if you and your human workers assisted us."
Sullivan's anguish was clear. "Why didn't you just ask in the first place?"
Zan'nh lowered his head. "Previously, our priorities were . . . incorrect."
Tabitha's eyes went wide. "Did you just admit you were wrong?" She tossed her light brown hair. "You don't have to twist my arm to cause heartburn for the drogues. I'm tired of staring out the windows all day long. Remember, I used to be an EDF weapons designer before I came to work on the cloud harvester. I helped create the initial fraks and carbon-carbon slammers. I still have a lot of basic designs in my head, but our weapons weren't terribly effective against the warglobes either." She paced restlessly. "The question is, what can I do that hasn't been done before?"
"Precisely," Zan'nh said. "We are searching for innovation."
Sullivan laced his big-knuckled fingers together and faced the Adar. "If we agree to help you, there's got to be some measure of trust. And afterward, you have to let us go home."
"Sullivan Gold, if we do not defeat the hydrogues now, none of us will have a home to return to."
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ENGINEERING SPECIALIST SWENDSEN