Despite the Tygran’s attempt to withdraw, the Roug vessel kept pace with it, and cut the port wing down to a deformed remnant. Next were the thruster-tubes, blasted into useless wreckage, then the hyperspace nodes, then the remaining weapon batteries. By now Becker’s ship was a battered, powerless hulk adrift in space but the Roug did not stop there. With pencil-thin beams it proceeded to scar and burn the hull, even as it seized it with force grapples and towed it back towards Base Wolf.
‘Well, gentlemen,’ said Gideon. ‘I think we can assume that it’s safe to respin the
Starfire
’s systems, eh?’
In the hours that followed, Theo couldn’t stop thinking about the Roug’s wholesale demolition of the Tygran ship. It must have been humiliating for Becker, he thought, and thoroughly deserved. Now, he and Gideon were aboard the Roug ship – called the
Vyrk
– and actually standing on that broad, roomy bridge. They had been personally greeted by the
Vyrk
’s commander, Mandator Reen, and were now waiting to meet representatives of the ‘Human Sept of V’Hrant’.
One entire wall of the
Vyrk
’s bridge was an immense viewport from which they could look out at the vicinity of the Tygran asteroid base. The
Starfire
hung off to upper port, with fixer mobiles hovering around it, while some way out to starboard the wrecked, wretched-looking Tygran vessel was being towed back to Base Wolf by automatic drones. It seemed that Mandator Reen had only permitted this retrieval after inflicting upon Becker and his crew an extensive detailed remonstrance (excerpts of which were circulating among the troops and crew of the
Starfire
).
‘With Becker and his men alive,’ Theo said, ‘I imagine that the news of this humiliation will reach the ears of all Tygrans, yes?’
‘It’s inevitable,’ Gideon said sombrely, his eyes fixed on the slow-moving hulk. ‘I’m not sure what consequences will follow, however. Becker’s scope of action is determined by Hegemony interests – he wouldn’t have seized the Human Sept leaders unless it was what Hegemony planners wanted, so it is unlikely that he’ll make independent retaliatory moves against the Roug.’ He glanced at Theo. ‘But the Hegemony might, if they felt that the Roug presented a threat to their interests and plan.’
He broke off at the sound of approaching footsteps. Three were heading their way across the bridge’s shiny deck, a Human of Asiatic cast, a dark-hued, spindly Roug, and a short bow-legged being which to Theo looked uncannily like an orang-utan. Except that, unlike those he’d seen in those books of Earth natural history he had read, this one wore odd, corrugated leggings and several layers of upper garments. These were the occupants of the shuttle that had escaped Becker’s ship.
The Roug spoke first.
‘Our meeting is tinged with irony, although I am glad to be here …’
‘Too jelking polite, that’s your problem,’ said the shortest of the three. ‘Maybe you should thank them for not blowing us to pieces …’
The Asiatic Human smiled brightly. ‘Our friend Yash’s viewpoint only sounds scathing and cynical – really, he is the most amiable and supportive of travelling companions …’
‘Well, jelk you, Human!’
‘I am remiss with introductions,’ said the Roug. ‘I am Assessor Ajegil; this Human is Kao Chih, gravity-tug pilot of the formerly indentured Human Sept of V’Hrant; and this is Yash of the Voth species, whose cloud-harvester I am informed burned up in the atmosphere of Darien, seemingly an untimely demise.’
‘You’ve been to Darien?’ said Theo. ‘Oh, sorry, I am Major Theodor Karlsson, Darien Volunteer Forces, retired.’
Kao Chih’s eyes widened. ‘You are Gregory’s uncle!’ He laughed and the two men shook hands.
‘Indeed, that I am,’ said Theo, grinning. ‘So you’ve been on Darien, too. What’s my nephew been getting up to?’
‘I was there several days ago,’ said Kao Chih. ‘Greg is very busy, many responsibilities. He is in charge of the resistance in the mountains …’
‘In charge?’ Theo said, stunned. ‘How, and when … you know, we should sit down and talk later, eh? Tell each other some amazing stories …’
‘There will be no time for exchanges,’ said the Roug Ajegil. ‘The
Vyrk
’s commander wishes to return to V’Hrant with great dispatch. I persuaded him to allow this meeting so that we may ascertain the intentions of your three colonies as this crisis develops. First, Major Karlsson, please complete the introductions.’
‘Of course. My comrade-in-arms is Franklyn Gideon, Captain of the Stormlions commandery, and of the scoutship
Starfire
.’
Gideon gave an amused nod in Theo’s direction before his expression grew serious.
‘I’m afraid that I am in no position to speak on behalf of my people – due to political intrigue I and many of my officers and men are now considered outlaws. I can tell you, however, that the great majority of Tygrans will stay loyal to their leaders and to the pact with the Sendrukan Hegemony.’
‘A people convinced of absurdities is capable of terrible things,’ said Ajegil. ‘What do you and your men believe in, Captain?’
‘In the principles of the founders and in the defence of our world. We may be outcast for now, but we shall uphold these principles and demonstrate our worth by going to Darien and fighting for the freedom of our brothers and sisters there. In any case, who can tell what the future has in store for the likes of Becker and his cronies?’
Ajegil nodded and looked at Theo.
‘Major Karlsson, what will Dariens do?’
‘Argue, I should think.’ He smiled. ‘Even in the face of disaster, my fellow Dariens usually find time for a good disagreement on fundamentals. Then afterwards we’ll fight as one, throw stones and empty beer bottles if we have to. But we’ll fight – no one strikes at us with impunity.’
‘Brave words, Major,’ said Ajegil.
Theo shook his head. ‘When someone’s trying to take away your home, my Roug friend, you don’t stop to wonder what’s the brave thing to do, you do the right thing and fight.’
Last, the Roug faced the Pyrean.
‘I am well acquainted with the tragic situation of your people, Kao Chih, but tell our new colleagues of your purpose.’
‘Free our people on Pyre, firstly and most urgently,’ Kao Chih said. ‘Free them from dust and death and bring them eventually to somewhere like Darien, to be reunited with their dislocated relatives, my own folk from Human Sept. Gregory approved of this, as did Mr Vashutkin …’
‘That would be a damn fine idea,’ Theo said. ‘Once we’ve got this little local difficulty cleared up.’
‘When I look at you,’ said the Assessor Ajegil, ‘I see three quite distinct Human variants yet there is a basic bond and a common quality that motivates and unites you. In the light of your species’ widely differing cognitive and cultural heterogeneity, it is interesting to see this concord.’
‘One of our devotional texts is called the
Celestial Litany
,’ said Gideon. ‘And there are a few lines from it that you might find interesting:
Humanity’s Fire enfolds us all,
Its light can bring forth truth,
Its heat can forge great souls,
Yet that light can also blind,
And that heat can devour,
Humanity’s Fire can burn us all.’
‘An intriguing viewpoint,’ Ajegil said. ‘I would like to learn more but Mandator Reen tells me that our time together is at an end.’
Farewells were made, and even Yash, the Voth, said formal words of departure, which clearly amazed Kao Chih. The effect was slightly spoiled when he then said:
‘Just wanted to prove that I’ve got some jelking manners!’
Parting company with them, Theo and Gideon were swiftly ushered by a pair of Roug attendants to a small-craft berth where the
Starfire
’s skiff was moored. Ten minutes later they were aboard, strapped in and heading back to the scoutship.
‘So, next port of call – Darien,’ said Gideon.
‘That is the truth,’ Theo said, considering the few details that he had learned from Kao Chih. ‘I’m just hoping that there’s something to come home to.’
The journey back up to normal space followed an erratic route through a succession of tiers and eye-challenging scenes. Ring orbitals braceleted together in an immense, extravagant world-girdling chain. Hourglass-shaped structures, their hexagon-patterned outer surfaces missing sections, the hollow interiors lined with curved spines. Hundreds of domed asteroids, some containing desiccated gardens, others with clusters of buildings, and all linked by a lattice of walkway conduits, which time and neglect had tangled together. Huge spheres of opaque ice hanging in orbit around a barren rocky world, all clasped by metallic grids which in places had burst or snapped. When their ship, the
Evidence of Absence
, came near enough, magnified shots revealed the foggy shapes of creatures inside them. And no sign of life anywhere – everything was deserted, the abandoned relics of dead civilisations.
The last spectacle they encountered before arriving back in normal space was a massive world lit by the dull glow of three slow-orbiting suns. In the shadow of low, rounded mountains stretched vast stony plains scarred and gouged by immense mechanical behemoths, gigantic mobile mounds of compacted technology. Rusting armour sections, cut and shaped ship hulls, hammered vehicle shells, roof sections, and a multitude of other fabricated materials formed the huge carapace from which pipes and girders poked, chains and cables trailed, and oily effluent trickled. The upper slopes bore solar panels to catch the suns’ feeble rays while at the crumbling, corroded base scores of mammoth caterpillar track assemblies groaned and rasped as they bore that stupendous burden across the stony plain.
According to Rosa, these were the last remnants of huge mechanised armies that had escaped the control of their creators. Fortunately, their programming, while ingeniously self-perpetuating, carried a fundamental flaw that prevented it from improving themselves to true artificial sentience. The Construct, she said, was confident that these shambling, hill-sized hulks would in a century or so weaken and degrade and grind at last to an exhausted halt, never to move again.
‘An interestingly long-term perspective,’ Robert said. ‘What if some outside agency meddled with this setup and, for example, gave some of these ramshackle monsters a serious upgrade? How would that affect the Construct’s assessment?’
She regarded him for a moment. ‘This tier and several others in the Upper region are being continuously monitored. Any atypical behaviour would trigger surveillance and analysis, with units of the Aggression on standby. Does that answer your question, Father?’
They were both sitting on blue-padded benches in the bridge of the
Evidence of Absence
, an oblong, pale green chamber. Other than the benches there were almost no other furnishings, consoles or displays, apart from the big viewscreen that curved across an entire wall. And an interaction node, a kind of floating holocon-sole with a rounded base, hovering on suspensors next to Rosa. The ship had somehow omitted to assign one to Robert.
‘Yes, it answers my curiosity which, as you know, is considerable, especially about worlds I’ve never visited before. Like this one …’ He indicated the screen, currently showing images from a probe flight. ‘I mean, does it have a name? What were the inhabitants like? What are those war-factory mountains called … ?’
‘I see, I understand.’ Smiling, Rosa stood. ‘The world was known as Ulorthagandin, the inhabitants called themselves the Phovada, and the mech-amalgams were the Zoanry …’
‘And what about … ?’
She silenced him with a raised hand and said, ‘Ship, would you please provide my father with an interaction node?’
‘Certainly, Sim-Rosa.’
A niche opened in the wall next to the screen and a second holoconsole glided smoothly over to stop at arm’s length from Robert. Pleased, he gave Rosa a small bow of the head.
‘I appreciate it, thank you.’
‘I hope you make good use of it.’ Rosa headed for the door, which opened. ‘We’ll be arriving in the Omet deepzone in an hour, right inside the Achorga star system, and an hour after that we’ll be in orbit around the hiveworld, known as Purliss Two.’
Robert nodded. ‘I am sure that this will keep me occupied till then.’
After she was gone, he sat looking at the door for a few moments, smiling.
I always wondered what my daughter would be like as a grown woman, and even if the Construct’s version of her is only partly right, she is still impressive
.
Then he turned to the floating console, configured the holofield for keypad and fingertipping, then started an infosearch. And paused, frowning.
‘Ship, can you put this node’s display up on the big screen?’
‘Yes, Robert.’
At once, half the screen was occupied by Robert’s workfield, embellished with the Canyon interface he’d learned to use back on the
Plausible Response
.
‘Excellent. Now let’s see what your databanks have under the heading “Achorga”.’
There was a pause, and then canyons of data rushed by in a dizzying blur.
Two and a half hours later, Robert and Rosa were gearing up in the
Evidence of Absence
’s armoury while the Ship carried out a stealthy approach to the Achorga hiveworld. It also delivered a running commentary on the inbound vector, interspersed with odd factoids on the hives, the worlds, and the invasions of territories adjacent to the Omet.
Rosa, he realised, was actually slightly taller than he was, prompting him to wonder if she had chosen to be so. Like him, she had dressed in dark blue form-fitting body armour but Robert had insisted on a heavier, knee-high boot, keeping in mind what he’d read about the types of parasites that infested Achorga hives.
‘Twenty-two minutes until orbital insertion around Purliss Two,’ said the Ship. ‘Atmosphere-capable pinnace seventy-two per cent partitioned.’
Moving to the weapon racks, Rosa picked out a flechette carbine plus grenade attachment, with a hand beamer for backup. Robert chose a heavy-calibre slug gun with a variety of different ammo; the weapon had a cold, solid weight that was oddly reassuring to his senses, to his recently implanted skill-instincts. He had never fired a weapon in combat or training, yet this new part of him knew this gun intimately and was looking forward to using it. And when he thought about the historical associations, the Swarm invasion 150 years ago, the siege of Earth, he knew that the rest of him was too.