Conquest of Earth (Stellar Conquest Series) by David VanDyke Page B

humans. They lacked the memories of life as a Meme, and hopefully, their amoral attitudes.
    “Io Base, this is Conquest ,” came Michelle’s smooth tones after a few moments. “Drop your ICE for cyber verification.”
    “Done,” Leslie replied after inputting a code and waiting for the signal to make its round trip. Repeth knew Conquest was probably swooping toward their position now that the Weapon was out of commission, but doubted they’d use the TacDrive. In normal space, the boat would take at least an hour to arrive.
    Moments later, all the boards lit up and froze, with one icon blinking. Leslie looked to Repeth for permission, and then reached out a manicured finger to tap it. A male voice then spoke.
    “How’s everyone there? The captain would like a SITREP, ASAP. We’ll be there in fifty-seven minutes, over.” Commander Rick Johnstone’s tones betrayed his strain. Repeth realized that of course her husband would be worried, especially as the most Absen would know at this point was a brief summary of the mission results, with its horrendous casualty report.
    “Patch this data through,” Repeth said to Leslie, and dumped her suit’s mission record raw and unencrypted into the ether. Not only would it provide what Absen needed, but would reassure Rick.
    “Retransmitted…they should have it shortly,” Leslie reported. “What now?”
    “Now we wait,” Bull said.
    “I have one question,” Repeth said. “Where do the Meme flush tubes go?”
    Leslie replied, “To the backup control center at the Weapon. The laser.”
    Repeth glanced at Bull and half-shrugged. “Damn. They’re vapor now.” Then she looked more closely at her commander. “Boss, you okay? Bull?” She was glad of her armor as she grabbed him before he toppled heavily to the floor.
     

Chapter 10
    Travel in normal space seemed unbearably slow after the speed of TacDrive, Captain Absen thought. He remembered buying his first car in San Diego as a teenager, and how walking or even riding his bike had suddenly seemed plodding and boring. That’s how he felt now. Getting spoiled , he chuckled to himself, shifting in the Chair.
    Eventually Conquest arrived to hover on its jets high above the captured Io base and the smoking hole where the Weapon had been. Reports had flooded in as the gargantuan boat had neared the swift-moving moon of Jupiter. As the comm lag diminished, pinnaces descended full of Michelle’s telefactors, which quickly began to clear the rubble.
    “How long until the base will be usable?” Absen asked the AI.
    “Less than a day to reconnect systems to the armored command sections. A few more to make it permanently livable, as long as I stay near enough to coordinate all my bots. May I remind you that we still have the armed orbital bases to deal with?”
    “That’s my first concern. Is Bannum down there yet?”
    “She was on the first pinnace, and should be at the command section soon. In fact…” The comm crackled, and then a picture of the Sekoi female popped onto the main screen. Absen could see several figures in yellow behind her, and the elbow of a battlesuit at the edge of the display.
    “Bannum, have you verified Leslie Denham’s identity?” Absen asked.
    “I have, Captain. I am certain she is who she claims.”
    “Thank you. Johnstone, I assume you and Michelle have control of the base computer systems?”
    “Piece of cake, sir,” Rick replied. “Doesn’t look like there has been much advancement in cybernetics since the Meme took over.”
    “Meme like stability and order, not progress,” Bannum replied. “Here.” She gestured for a yellow-clad human woman, who stepped forward. “Your Blend.”
    “Leslie Denham, I presume?” Absen asked.
    “In the flesh, Captain Absen. You can’t imagine how good it is to see you.”
    Absen could see the woman’s eyes fill with tears and emotion. She reminded him of her mother. “You’re right, I can’t imagine, and it’s good to be back, but we