Read Online Dark Foundations by Chris Walley - Free Book Online Page B

wondering if she would object to the contraction but she didn’t—“I looked no further than the encounter with the ship. I rather hoped, I suppose, that whatever happened there would sort things out.”
    Perena shrugged. “What else could you have done? No one knew what we would find.”
    â€œThanks for that reassurance. But now there’s a new threat. And we have to produce an expanded Defense Force f-for an attack that might come any day. I don’t know where to begin. Well, I do, but it’s s-staggering.”
    Perena nodded slightly, her eyes never leaving the road.
    Funny to be driven around town at forty kilometers an hour by a spaceship pilot more used to speeds a thousand times that .
    â€œI face a similar problem,” Perena said, in her quiet, understated way.
    Does she ever lose her temper? ever panic? She must be very soothing to live with. “How so?” he asked.
    â€œCorradon promised a defense capacity with a ‘range out to the system’s edge.’ It was a great line. Very reassuring. But I don’t think the representative had thought it through. A planetary system is 3-D, not flat like the maps on walls. And the volumes get horrendous when you have what is effectively a sphere with a radius of six billion kilometers.”
    â€œAh. You mean we’re wide open to attack?”
    â€œNear enough. We can’t defend Farholme with the dozen deep-space vessels we have.”
    So there is no real protection. That makes things a whole lot harder.
    â€œIs that why you play chess the old way?” he asked.
    â€œRather than the 3-D versions? That’s a part of it. The mind can just about handle five moves ahead on a flat board. But if you add an extra dimension, it gets too overwhelming.”
    Vero stared out of the window. “There’s so much to think about. Vehicles, accommodation, structure, communications, and a dozen other things. I have tons of ideas, but they all need to be thought through.”
    â€œYou can’t do it all on your own, you know.”
    He smiled at the concern in her voice. “I know I can’t, P. I just have to try to set up a system that will enable us to get started on building Farholme’s defenses. Get the ball rolling. I am making a list of what I need. Of course, the basis will be the existing Farholme Defense Unit.”
    Perena pulled through gates into broad rolling parkland studded with copses and avenues of trees. Despite the sunny afternoon, it appeared largely empty. There were small knots of people, some deep in conversation, and a few families, but otherwise the park had a deserted air.
    â€œThere is too much news to digest,” Perena said as they overtook a bus with just three passengers on board.
    She stopped the vehicle under some large, spreading trees. Vero waited until she climbed out, then indicated a direction in which to walk.
    â€œI find the sun bright these days, P. But this is fine.” He looked around. “Nice trees. Merral would know what these are.”
    â€œYou can always read the labels,” Perena said, pointing to one nearby with a slight smile.
    â€œI’d be no wiser.” Vero sat down heavily under the tree and sighed. “So, the FDU becomes the FDF: the Farholme Defense Force. Where do we begin? Communications, I suppose . ”
    Perena sat silently next to him.
    â€œMaria Dalphey was working on a secure system. I must contact her.”
    â€œYes. There wasn’t time to develop it before the battle.”
    â€œWas it really just the day before yesterday? It seems like months ago.”
    â€œIn a way, it was years ago,” she said softly. “It was another time, Vero. It occurred in another world.”
    A couple with a young child between them walked past, wariness in their faces. Each parent had tight hold of a tiny hand.
    â€œThey watch their children now,” Vero said.
    â€œThis used to be a carefree world.