Read Online A Taste Of Despair (The Humal Sequence) by Robert Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

become flying missiles under our command. Those ships we didn’t control would meet untimely ends at the hands of our own ships, of which we have a large number now. All very much advanced compared to anything you have. Your worlds would die a horrible death at the hands of various bio-warfare agents we’ve hidden on all of them. Stations would have power core overloads, outposts would be systematically eliminated. Those who fled in ships would be hunted down methodically and exterminated. Our best projections indicate effective extinction of your species in as little as ten days.”
    There were mutterings and curses from the assembled onlookers.
    “Shocking, I know.” Walsh continued. “But that’s the reality of the situation. By contrast the Humals kept us busy for at least a year.”
    “If it’s so easy, why not do it, then?” Klane asked.
    Walsh smiled. “As I said, until we learn what happened in the war against the Humals, we’re hedging our bets.”
    “Afraid you lost the war to the Humals? Is that it?” Hamilton suggested. “Afraid they might come back and finish the job if they found out you were active again?”
    It wasn’t much, but there was the slightest hesitation in Walsh’s answer. “A prudent individual always uses caution. The war ended. We all know that. How it ended is another matter. If we had wiped the Humals out then we, not you, would now be the dominant species in this part of the galaxy. Conversely, if the Humals won, why has nearly all trace of them vanished? Surely they would have gone on to greatness? It’s a mystery. Until it’s solved, I will exercise caution. Unless, of course, you’d prefer me to have your entire civilization destroyed at this time?”
    Silence again.
    “I thought not.”
    “So, anyway.” Hamilton said at length. “Apart from catching up for old time’s sake, why bother talking to us? You could just have us exterminated. What’s your game this time?”
    Walsh’s smile deepened. “No game. I was just curious as to why you hadn’t said anything to the authorities. About why you tried to sneak in quietly.”
    “So what happens now?”
    “Now? Why now I continue my business and you go about whatever it is you think you should be doing.”
    “Just like that?” Hamilton’s tone was skeptical.
    “Well, not quite.” Walsh admitted. “You see, if I have you all killed there’ll be questions. If I just let you go then you’ll no doubt come up with some ridiculous concept for tracking me down and cause trouble. I’m a very busy man. I can’t be wondering what you are doing every second of the day. Since I can’t dispose of you and I can’t let you go, I have taken steps to make sure you won’t be causing any mischief for a very long time.”
    “And what steps might those be?” Hamilton frowned. Now they were getting down to it.
    Walsh smiled and reached out of shot to retrieve a data-pane. The thin plastic sheet was alive with images and words. Walsh held it up in front of the camera at his end.
    Hamilton looked at the data scrolling across the pane. It was his history and service record.
    “Very impressive reading.” Walsh told him.
    “I’m glad you like it.”
    Walsh grinned. “Actually, I’m being facetious. It’s dull and boring, like all your species. But I think I can make it a bit more impressive for you.” He made a wizard like spell-casting gesture at the pane and then examined it happily. “There! Much better, don’t you think?”
    Walsh turned the panel to the screen and Hamilton felt a chill run down his spine. There was now a flashing red ‘Warning’ alert at the top of his record. He read it with a certain amount of resignation.
    “What do you think?” Walsh asked.
    “It’ll never stick.” Rames told him. “Personnel data files have secure backups. There are comparative systems in place to detect obvious tampering like that.”
    Walsh smiled. “Possibly you are forgetting what we are? Data can be changed,