[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
to be reckoned with no matter what the council's ultimate decisions might be.
No sooner did Lang step from the shuttle that had ferried his party to
the surface of the ringed giant than Breetai insisted on escorting him through
a tour of the mining complex. It, was obvious that the Zentraedi was taking
some pride in his accomplishments, so Lang didn't offer any resistance. But
the opportunity to discuss the pressing issues that had brought him here
didn't present itself until much later on, and by then Lang was nearly
feverish. Breetai had led them to a massive Quonset-style structure that
served as the colony's command and control center-the only such building in
New Zarkopolis designed to accommodate both giants and Humans in relative
comfort. There, Lang reviewed what had been said during the so-called truce
talks, and what reported statements had been exchanged between Edwards and the
Regent during the subsequent one-on-one sessions. Breetai said little,
preferring instead to listen or grunt an occasional exclamation of anger or
surprise. But when Lang finished-with an audible sigh-the Zentraedi collapsed
his steepled fingers and leaned forward in his chair, gazing intently into the
Humans' balcony area.
"One part of me wants to blame Admiral Hunter for allowing things to
come to this," he told Lang. "But if anyone can appreciate the unpredictable
nature of these things, I can." Lang didn't have to be reminded of the bizarre
reversals the Zentraedi commander had witnessed and suffered through; and in
this the scientist and warrior were brothers of a sort. "I suggest we take
steps to secure our position against Edwards."
"Yes, but how?" Lang asked.
"Just as you have begun," Breetai said, motioning to where Carpenter and
his exec were seated. "And you must arrange for additional mecha to be sent
here..."
"Disguised as mining devices perhaps."
"Exactly. We have our own ship, our own mecha, but we must have our own
weapons. New Zarkopolis could become our base of operation. And of course we
possess something even more important than firepower..."
"The ore," Lang completed.
Breetai nodded. He had his mouth opened to say something more when a
Human at the comm console interrupted him. "Report from the fortress," the
tech announced, straining to hear the communiqué. "A ship has entered the
system. Colonel Wolff and some of the Sentinels are said to be aboard."
"Thank God," Lang said, throwing his head back.
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Breetai wore an enigmatic look. He touched his faceplate in an absent
manner and rose from the chair to tower over the "Micronian" balcony.
"The Protoculture is at work again. We call out and it answers."
"Yes," Lang directed up to him. "And would that we could always predict
its response."
Word of the drive module's approach spread to all stations and was
relayed down to Tirol's surface. In her canteen in Tiresia, Minmei swooned
upon receiving the news. She had returned to the surface only hours before,
and now she tried to collect her thoughts before hastening back to the city's
shuttle staging area.
At the same time in his quarters aboard the SDF-3, T. R. Edwards was in
the midst of a session with the false Regent.
"It seems you were a bit premature in reporting the destruction of the
Farrago" he said with a maleovent grin. Even the Invid's black, unreadable
eyes failed to conceal a sense of shock; but the simulagent quickly rallied.
"And perhaps the data you supplied was in error," he countered angrily.
The Invid imposter had taken it upon himself to have one more go at
winning Edwards over, despite the Regent's orders to the contrary. He had
given careful thought to the Regent's harsh criticisms and was convinced that
a follow-up discussion was in order. He now thought he had a clear
understanding of the concept of sublety; but like Tesla he was not big on
surprises, and the sudden appearance of the Spherisian module had completely
undermined his efforts.
Edwards was waving a forefinger at him. "There, there, Your Highness, no
call for insults, is there? Just when we were getting along so famously." Then
Edwards's face grew serious, his one eye cold. "Besides, it's just a couple of
our people and one of yours. There were bound to be survivors."
"One of mine?" the simulagent asked, alarmed.
"Tesla-isn't that his name? Or didn't you know he was aboard?"
The Invid curled one his sensors. "You failed to mention that."
Edwards shrugged. "What's the difference? He's alive." And so is Wolff,
Edwards thought. He glanced across the desk at the Invid, beginning to tire of
the game. Would this Tesla be able to confirm his suspicions? he wondered,
making a note to have the returnees monitored at all times. "Now, what was it
you were saying before?"
The simulagent tore himself from concerns about the possible
consequences of encountering Tesla. "I-I was about to make you an offer, I
think."
Edwards waited for him to continue, then laughed. "Well, go ahead-let's
lay our cards on the table."
The simulagent held up a hand. "Three planets-yours for the choosing.
Free access to all the other worlds I control-a limited partnership-and last,
my help in realizing your, dreams, shall we say."
Edwards felt his jaw. "In exchange for the brain..."
"And Tesla..."
"And Tesla."
"And one thing more."
Edwards's brow went up.
"I want Minmei." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl ocenkijessi.opx.pl
to be reckoned with no matter what the council's ultimate decisions might be.
No sooner did Lang step from the shuttle that had ferried his party to
the surface of the ringed giant than Breetai insisted on escorting him through
a tour of the mining complex. It, was obvious that the Zentraedi was taking
some pride in his accomplishments, so Lang didn't offer any resistance. But
the opportunity to discuss the pressing issues that had brought him here
didn't present itself until much later on, and by then Lang was nearly
feverish. Breetai had led them to a massive Quonset-style structure that
served as the colony's command and control center-the only such building in
New Zarkopolis designed to accommodate both giants and Humans in relative
comfort. There, Lang reviewed what had been said during the so-called truce
talks, and what reported statements had been exchanged between Edwards and the
Regent during the subsequent one-on-one sessions. Breetai said little,
preferring instead to listen or grunt an occasional exclamation of anger or
surprise. But when Lang finished-with an audible sigh-the Zentraedi collapsed
his steepled fingers and leaned forward in his chair, gazing intently into the
Humans' balcony area.
"One part of me wants to blame Admiral Hunter for allowing things to
come to this," he told Lang. "But if anyone can appreciate the unpredictable
nature of these things, I can." Lang didn't have to be reminded of the bizarre
reversals the Zentraedi commander had witnessed and suffered through; and in
this the scientist and warrior were brothers of a sort. "I suggest we take
steps to secure our position against Edwards."
"Yes, but how?" Lang asked.
"Just as you have begun," Breetai said, motioning to where Carpenter and
his exec were seated. "And you must arrange for additional mecha to be sent
here..."
"Disguised as mining devices perhaps."
"Exactly. We have our own ship, our own mecha, but we must have our own
weapons. New Zarkopolis could become our base of operation. And of course we
possess something even more important than firepower..."
"The ore," Lang completed.
Breetai nodded. He had his mouth opened to say something more when a
Human at the comm console interrupted him. "Report from the fortress," the
tech announced, straining to hear the communiqué. "A ship has entered the
system. Colonel Wolff and some of the Sentinels are said to be aboard."
"Thank God," Lang said, throwing his head back.
Page 26
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Breetai wore an enigmatic look. He touched his faceplate in an absent
manner and rose from the chair to tower over the "Micronian" balcony.
"The Protoculture is at work again. We call out and it answers."
"Yes," Lang directed up to him. "And would that we could always predict
its response."
Word of the drive module's approach spread to all stations and was
relayed down to Tirol's surface. In her canteen in Tiresia, Minmei swooned
upon receiving the news. She had returned to the surface only hours before,
and now she tried to collect her thoughts before hastening back to the city's
shuttle staging area.
At the same time in his quarters aboard the SDF-3, T. R. Edwards was in
the midst of a session with the false Regent.
"It seems you were a bit premature in reporting the destruction of the
Farrago" he said with a maleovent grin. Even the Invid's black, unreadable
eyes failed to conceal a sense of shock; but the simulagent quickly rallied.
"And perhaps the data you supplied was in error," he countered angrily.
The Invid imposter had taken it upon himself to have one more go at
winning Edwards over, despite the Regent's orders to the contrary. He had
given careful thought to the Regent's harsh criticisms and was convinced that
a follow-up discussion was in order. He now thought he had a clear
understanding of the concept of sublety; but like Tesla he was not big on
surprises, and the sudden appearance of the Spherisian module had completely
undermined his efforts.
Edwards was waving a forefinger at him. "There, there, Your Highness, no
call for insults, is there? Just when we were getting along so famously." Then
Edwards's face grew serious, his one eye cold. "Besides, it's just a couple of
our people and one of yours. There were bound to be survivors."
"One of mine?" the simulagent asked, alarmed.
"Tesla-isn't that his name? Or didn't you know he was aboard?"
The Invid curled one his sensors. "You failed to mention that."
Edwards shrugged. "What's the difference? He's alive." And so is Wolff,
Edwards thought. He glanced across the desk at the Invid, beginning to tire of
the game. Would this Tesla be able to confirm his suspicions? he wondered,
making a note to have the returnees monitored at all times. "Now, what was it
you were saying before?"
The simulagent tore himself from concerns about the possible
consequences of encountering Tesla. "I-I was about to make you an offer, I
think."
Edwards waited for him to continue, then laughed. "Well, go ahead-let's
lay our cards on the table."
The simulagent held up a hand. "Three planets-yours for the choosing.
Free access to all the other worlds I control-a limited partnership-and last,
my help in realizing your, dreams, shall we say."
Edwards felt his jaw. "In exchange for the brain..."
"And Tesla..."
"And Tesla."
"And one thing more."
Edwards's brow went up.
"I want Minmei." [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]