Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [122]
“No, sir. The witnesses claim the attack was carried out by EDF battleships: five Mantas and one Juggernaut. They saw no humans or military officers, only Soldier compies that were apparently commanded by Klikiss robots.” The silence was long and uncomfortable. “Did you hear me? Klikiss robots and Soldier compies.”
“Acknowledged, Blind Faith. Please continue your approach. These are the vector coordinates.”
“I should arrive within the hour. You’d best let General Lanyan know.”
“The General has expressed an interest in your arrival, Blind Faith. He will be waiting for you in person.”
BeBob grinned at his passengers and switched off his transmission as a squadron of battle-ready Remoras flew out to escort the Faith. “See, I told you I could get results. Looks like we’re getting the royal treatment.” It made him uneasy, though, that the Remoras kept all their weapons systems powered and ready to fire.
“Royal treatment?” Steinman muttered. “If you say so.”
The Faith landed inside a crater dome that had been converted into a military base. BeBob shut down his engines and turned to look at Orli, brushing hair away from her eyes. The old uniform he’d given the girl was four sizes too large, but it was the best he could do. “They’ll take care of you here, missy. Don’t you doubt it.”
“I’ll watch over her, too,” Steinman said.
As soon as the crater dome sealed over them, he opened the Faith ’s hatch. BeBob took the girl’s hand, and all three of them emerged into the bright lights. Medical crews rushed forward, and Orli seemed embarrassed by all the attention.
BeBob smiled with relief as he saw General Lanyan march in from the main corridor, flanked by four silver berets. An unexpected number of armed EDF soldiers stood at every entrance to the base, watching BeBob with narrowed eyes.
He stepped forward, breathless. “General! You’re not going to believe this! I’ve compiled the images as well as the statements from these two, but you’ll still want to debrief them. Other colonies might be in danger. I’ve never encountered such a—”
Lanyan crossed his arms over his broad chest, scowling at BeBob as if he were no more than a noxious weed. “Captain Branson Roberts, you have a lot of nerve coming back here after abandoning your duty.”
BeBob gave an embarrassed laugh. “That’s not important right now, General. You have to dispatch a team to Corribus, and be on the lookout for—”
Lanyan gestured the silver berets forward as if he hadn’t heard a word of the emergency. “I’ve been hoping to catch one of you deserters, and here you fall right into my lap. Very few things these days turn out to be easier than I anticipate.” The silver berets grabbed BeBob by the arms, and the EDF guards leveled their weapons, as if he might bolt and try to escape again. “I am placing you under arrest.”
BeBob could only stand with his mouth open in astonishment. “You’ve got to be kidding. After all this? Didn’t you understand my report?”
Lanyan looked both smug and relieved. “I intend to make you face a formal court-martial for the crime of desertion during wartime.”
Chapter 58—ORLI COVITZ
While EDF personnel pampered and pestered Orli, she demanded to know what was going to happen to Captain Roberts. Maybe the base soldiers didn’t know anything. They insisted that the young survivor didn’t need to worry. Stonewalled, she eventually gave up, but still simmered with concern.
They made sure Orli was given fresh clothes, food, a soft bunk in a warm chamber, and an hour to herself—though solitude and the chance to wallow in all the bad memories was the last thing she wanted. As she lay back in her guest quarters, waiting to be called to meet with the General, Orli supposed they were reviewing all the images of the devastation.
Now that she was safe, her fears returned. She stared at the ceiling, studying the rough patterns in the sealed lunar rock.