determine the origin of a multiphone transmission ... omnidirectional ... uhhh."
âWe've got to slow down. You could be bleeding again."
She suddenly pointed. âThere!"
Gene looked ahead. An inverted hexagonal umbrella, looking very like an advanced communications dish, was jutting above the crest of the next hill.
âIsn't this the first place they'll look?â he asked.
âNot if the lander's decoy drones succeed in convincing the Irregulars that I came down on the other side of the planet,â she said. âThey won't search here until they realize they've been hoodwinked."
âAnother obvious question,â Gene said as he helped her up the steep rise. âWhy do they want you?"
She was silent.
âJust thought I'd ask,â he said.
âHow do I know you're not an Irregular agent?"
âWould I be helping you?"
âYou could be leading me into a trap while trying to get me to divulge information without resorting to either torture or mind probe. Not that either would yield anything of value."
âI concede the point."
She gave him an analytical look. âBut I don't think you are an Irregular. You're a bit of mystery. You haven't even mentioned your ship. If you have one, that is the first place they would have lookedâunless your ship is in a stealth mode that is beyond their capacities to defeat. In which case, you might just be a freebooter."
He said, âIn which case I might be tempted to turn you over to your pursuers for any reward they might offer. Are they offering a reward?"
âNone that I know of,â she replied. âThe Supreme Command of the Irregular Forces of the Liberation would probably thank you for contributing to the cause of bringing down the central government of the Dominion of Worlds. And then they would likely kill you to cover up any traces of their actions here."
âOh."
âBut you are free to take the gamble that they might just impress you into service. They do that, you know."
âI'm not impressed,â Gene said. âBut don't worry, I'm not about to meddle in affairs I know nothing about. All I know is that you're hurt, you're in trouble, and you're the shapeliest shuttle pilot I've ever seen. I just want to prevent further harm from befalling you."
âYou are a strange one. Where is your ship?"
âDon't have one, sorry."
âThen...â She fell silent as they neared the tall silo-shaped building, prickly with numerous antennae, that stood on the slope of the next hill. Behind it stood other functional structures. The silo was buff-colored with a yellow door at its base. The door's only feature was a square shiny plate.
She slumped to the ground in front of the door, exhausted. Gene bent to inspect the plate.
âSome kind of electronic lock, I guess."
When she caught her breath she said, âNo doubt the security system has already scanned us and decided we're unlikely candidates for admission."
âHow did you plan on getting in?"
She unzipped a pouch on her pressure suit and withdrew a small black box with dials and readouts on it. âThis.â She fiddled with the settings, then handed it to him.
He took it and examined it. The markings were indecipherable, but somehow he tumbled to the thing's function. There was an adhesive strip on the back.
âTimed charge?"
She nodded. âIt's powerful enough to take out the side of the building, so it must be set back a distance. Put it about...â She sized up the building. âHere.â She pointed.
He walked to the spot. âRight here?"
âYes. Butâ"
âWhat?"
âThere is one flaw to my plan,â she said glumly, âsuch as it is. They'll readily detect any major energy discharge."
âNow, that's a problem."
âYes.â She crossed her legs and let out a breath. âI didn't have much time to think this through. But I suppose the only thing to do is rush for the communications room
âWe've got to slow down. You could be bleeding again."
She suddenly pointed. âThere!"
Gene looked ahead. An inverted hexagonal umbrella, looking very like an advanced communications dish, was jutting above the crest of the next hill.
âIsn't this the first place they'll look?â he asked.
âNot if the lander's decoy drones succeed in convincing the Irregulars that I came down on the other side of the planet,â she said. âThey won't search here until they realize they've been hoodwinked."
âAnother obvious question,â Gene said as he helped her up the steep rise. âWhy do they want you?"
She was silent.
âJust thought I'd ask,â he said.
âHow do I know you're not an Irregular agent?"
âWould I be helping you?"
âYou could be leading me into a trap while trying to get me to divulge information without resorting to either torture or mind probe. Not that either would yield anything of value."
âI concede the point."
She gave him an analytical look. âBut I don't think you are an Irregular. You're a bit of mystery. You haven't even mentioned your ship. If you have one, that is the first place they would have lookedâunless your ship is in a stealth mode that is beyond their capacities to defeat. In which case, you might just be a freebooter."
He said, âIn which case I might be tempted to turn you over to your pursuers for any reward they might offer. Are they offering a reward?"
âNone that I know of,â she replied. âThe Supreme Command of the Irregular Forces of the Liberation would probably thank you for contributing to the cause of bringing down the central government of the Dominion of Worlds. And then they would likely kill you to cover up any traces of their actions here."
âOh."
âBut you are free to take the gamble that they might just impress you into service. They do that, you know."
âI'm not impressed,â Gene said. âBut don't worry, I'm not about to meddle in affairs I know nothing about. All I know is that you're hurt, you're in trouble, and you're the shapeliest shuttle pilot I've ever seen. I just want to prevent further harm from befalling you."
âYou are a strange one. Where is your ship?"
âDon't have one, sorry."
âThen...â She fell silent as they neared the tall silo-shaped building, prickly with numerous antennae, that stood on the slope of the next hill. Behind it stood other functional structures. The silo was buff-colored with a yellow door at its base. The door's only feature was a square shiny plate.
She slumped to the ground in front of the door, exhausted. Gene bent to inspect the plate.
âSome kind of electronic lock, I guess."
When she caught her breath she said, âNo doubt the security system has already scanned us and decided we're unlikely candidates for admission."
âHow did you plan on getting in?"
She unzipped a pouch on her pressure suit and withdrew a small black box with dials and readouts on it. âThis.â She fiddled with the settings, then handed it to him.
He took it and examined it. The markings were indecipherable, but somehow he tumbled to the thing's function. There was an adhesive strip on the back.
âTimed charge?"
She nodded. âIt's powerful enough to take out the side of the building, so it must be set back a distance. Put it about...â She sized up the building. âHere.â She pointed.
He walked to the spot. âRight here?"
âYes. Butâ"
âWhat?"
âThere is one flaw to my plan,â she said glumly, âsuch as it is. They'll readily detect any major energy discharge."
âNow, that's a problem."
âYes.â She crossed her legs and let out a breath. âI didn't have much time to think this through. But I suppose the only thing to do is rush for the communications room
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