Part 22 (1/2)
Joe Hartlet came in and saluted. The captain returned his salute and pointed him at a chair.
”Are you ready to join the action, lieutenant?”
”Yes sir. We're making an incursion on the alien base?” Joe asked.
”We're conducting a probe. To gather information, learn more about the base. Ideally we'll find the alien, and perhaps the smugglers, and bring all of them aboard the Seeker.”
”I have reason to believe it'll be very dangerous. In my reporta””
”Yes. It may be dangerous, but this is vital to our future. These aliens may have technology that we need to learn more about. Having the first live alien ever, would of course come in handy as well.”
Relachik watched Joe consider objecting further.
”I can guess what you're thinking. But given that the base is not responding to our efforts to communicate, and appears largely inactive, we think it may be deserted. And you've already come under hostile fire in the installation.”
”But that could have been from some other alien culture,” Joe said. ”I don't know who it was that destroyed my escort. Also, given the programming of the robots, it could have been a misunderstanding.”
Relachik steepled his fingers and leaned back.
”It's a moot point. The order has been given. The UNSF is prepared to accept the risks to this s.h.i.+p and the marines in order to learn more about an advanced technology in the hands of a race that could still be in existence.”
”I see, sir. Then I hope we can find some valuable items or information.”
”You've been a.s.signed to Major Franks' personal squad. They've targeted a sector of the base that looks particularly promising,” Relachik said. He sent Joe's link a pointer, indicating the area on their electronic master map of the outpost.
”Will I have any responsibilities with regard to the... combat effectiveness of the unit?”
”No. Which isn't to say you won't be armed... but the a.s.sault robots bring to bear more than ninety percent of a squad's firepower. Your primary task is to lend us any additional thoughts your particular perspective may offer on the base, since you have been in this creature's environment before. a.s.suming, of course, that the theories you put forth in your report prove correct.”
”Of course I welcome the opportunity to accompany the probe.”
”There'll be more than one boarding party. Someone'll come up with something.”
Telisa and Magnus found s.h.i.+ny sitting still in a twisty cavern . Telisa thought it looked like the alien was thinking or busy with a mental interface. The familiar leg twitch revealed the gold and silver statue of an alien as alive.
”Hi s.h.i.+ny. We managed to load your robot into the bay. Thanks for letting us study it.”
s.h.i.+ny responded through their links.
No problem. You're welcome. You owe me one.
Telisa laughed. ”Yes we do. Can we ask you some questions about what attacked your base? We'd like to take some samples of the technology but we're afraid it might be dangerous.”
No time. Collection not feasible. Others in proximity.
”What? Others of your race?”
Humans. Companions. Allies.
”Other humans are here?”
UNSF Seeker, transmitted s.h.i.+ny. Leave. Rejoin.
”Holy s.h.i.+t! The Seeker?” Telisa asked.
”You know the s.h.i.+p?” asked Magnus.
”That's my father's s.h.i.+p. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d is probably here to exterminate s.h.i.+ny and anything vaguely alien.” She took a deep breath. ”Then he'll throw us in the brig and bring us back to Earth in chains.”
Telisa. Magnus. Rejoin humans. s.h.i.+ny, leave. Separate.
”Now wait just a minute,” Magnus said, raising his voice slightly. ”Those guys are after us because we took off with you. If not for us, you'd be their prisoner by now.”
”Well, mostly for that reason,” added Telisa, thinking about her father. What would happen if she were captured by her father's s.h.i.+p?
Corrective action. Abscond. Retreat. Flee.
Telisa's link received an external pointer. She accessed it and saw a scanner interface from the Iridar. She saw that the Seeker had arrived as s.h.i.+ny claimed. a.s.sault shuttles were disembarking a.s.sault robots and electronic warfare teams from the scout and forcing their way into the base at several points. A message came through to Iridar from the Seeker.
”This is the UNSF transmitting to suspected smugglers aboard unknown vessel. You are to surrender immediately. All contraband will be annexed by the UNSF and you will be held pending charges. Repeat, surrender to UNSF personnel or risk being killed.”
”Holy s.h.i.+t! They're going to be swarming in here in a matter of minutes!” Magnus said. Telisa realized that he was examining the same data that s.h.i.+ny had sent to her link.
The pointer continued to feed more data. Telisa saw hundreds of red points indicated in the three spheres of the base.
Defenses. Weapons. Resistance, s.h.i.+ny said. A path lit up in green in Telisa's mental image of the base. Retreat.
”The path leads back to the Iridar,” Magnus said. ”But what I don't get is, are those defenses going to be gunning for us, too?”
Telisa. Magnus. Access allowed. Flee.
s.h.i.+ny turned away and scuttled down one of the side pa.s.sages.
”Where are you going?” Telisa called out, but no answer came.
”The map says we need to go this way,” Magnus said.
”Should we go? What's going to happen to him?”
”I don't know. Y'know what, we can't make his decisions for him. This is our chance to leave. And we still have s.h.i.+tloads of artifacts. If we can get the h.e.l.l out of here we might still make it.”
Telisa shrugged. ”Okay. Let's get outta here!”