Read Online Homefall: Book Four of the Last Legion Series by Chris Bunch - Free Book Online
Authors: Chris Bunch
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ladder.
Boursier reported, in rather shocked tones, the second system was even using some nuclear power.
“Obviously,” Njangu said, “there’s no point in stopping for help when somebody’s worse off than we are.”
“Nope,” Garvin agreed. “Besides, the next jump will be Grimaldi, full of fun, laughter, and life.
“I bleeding well hope.”
CHAPTER
6
Langnes 4567/Grimaldi
“This is Grimaldi Control,” a woman said. “Link to Channel five-five-four-point-eight-seven … you are cleared to land. You will descend vertically from present position, then take course Nan Eleven, as indicated on your Standard Instrument Screen for approximately twenty-two, that is two-two, kilometers. We have clear weather, so you should have visual contact with Joey Field at that point. Use Beam Eleven Teng to guide you to your landing spot.”
The voice paused, then said: “Be advised we are a peaceful world, and are welcoming you.
“If, however, you have other intentions, also be advised you are being tracked by various weapons systems we do not want to use. Over.”
“This is
Big Bertha
,” Liskeard said into a mike. “We are just what we claim to be … understand Course Nan Eleven for two-two kilometers, use standard Beam Eleven Teng and visual flight regulations to land on field. Monitoring Channel five-five-four-point-eight-seven. Over.”
“Assuming you know what the name of your ship means,” the voice said, “welcome home. Grimaldi Control, clear.”
Njangu glanced at Garvin, swore that the other man had tears in his eyes. He wondered what would be a home to him, one day, wondered not for the first time if there was one. Sure as hell not the corrupt sewer of Ross 248 that he’d been born on.
“Sir,” Liskeard said, “we’re bringing it in. Do you want to do the benediction?”
Garvin jolted back to the bridge of the ship.
“Yeh. Yeh, sorry.” He took a microphone.
“This is Gaffer Jaansma.” He’d decided to start using the title before they entered the Grimaldi system, figuring it was time to get the troops used to it.
“From here on out, all of you who aren’t civilians are now. For the love of Harriet’s Crucifixion, don’t go around in step or counting cadence.
“You’ve all been briefed on who we are … more or less amateur circus buffs who’ve fallen into money, and are trying to give peace a chance by making people happy and laughing, and maybe are curious about whatever happened to the Confederation.
“You don’t have to look moronic when you say that. The people we’ll encounter will already think you’re a skid short of an even landing for looking for what is obviously big trouble.
“From here on out, things should get interesting.”
He keyed the mike off and looked at Njangu, grinning broadly.
“
Damn
, but this is gonna be fun.”
• • •
Garvin might have been awash in sentiment, but that didn’t make him altogether a fool. The two
aksai
followed within
Big Bertha
’s radar shadow until the behemoth landed, then orbited closely overhead. The Nana boats were ready for an instant launch, and certain unobtrusive compartments, normally kept sealed, were now open and their 35mm chainguns, firing depleted uranium rounds at 6000rpm, and the smallish one meter long Shrikes, which could be launched at anything and guided by anyone, were ready.
But nothing warlike happened, and so Garvin, and an assemblage of his more impressive people, from Ben Dill to Njangu to Monique Lir went down the wide gangway after the lock opened.
Waiting were a dozen or more lifters, some circus-colored, others nondescript, two loudly claiming the holo stations they had been dispatched by.
About forty men and women waited, most as excited as Garvin. They were also somewhat unusual in appearance, Lir noticed. Three had elaborate tattoos showing on their bare arms, one was almost as big as Ben Dill, another woman had a rather remarkable beard, and two, including one journoh with a
Boursier reported, in rather shocked tones, the second system was even using some nuclear power.
“Obviously,” Njangu said, “there’s no point in stopping for help when somebody’s worse off than we are.”
“Nope,” Garvin agreed. “Besides, the next jump will be Grimaldi, full of fun, laughter, and life.
“I bleeding well hope.”
CHAPTER
6
Langnes 4567/Grimaldi
“This is Grimaldi Control,” a woman said. “Link to Channel five-five-four-point-eight-seven … you are cleared to land. You will descend vertically from present position, then take course Nan Eleven, as indicated on your Standard Instrument Screen for approximately twenty-two, that is two-two, kilometers. We have clear weather, so you should have visual contact with Joey Field at that point. Use Beam Eleven Teng to guide you to your landing spot.”
The voice paused, then said: “Be advised we are a peaceful world, and are welcoming you.
“If, however, you have other intentions, also be advised you are being tracked by various weapons systems we do not want to use. Over.”
“This is
Big Bertha
,” Liskeard said into a mike. “We are just what we claim to be … understand Course Nan Eleven for two-two kilometers, use standard Beam Eleven Teng and visual flight regulations to land on field. Monitoring Channel five-five-four-point-eight-seven. Over.”
“Assuming you know what the name of your ship means,” the voice said, “welcome home. Grimaldi Control, clear.”
Njangu glanced at Garvin, swore that the other man had tears in his eyes. He wondered what would be a home to him, one day, wondered not for the first time if there was one. Sure as hell not the corrupt sewer of Ross 248 that he’d been born on.
“Sir,” Liskeard said, “we’re bringing it in. Do you want to do the benediction?”
Garvin jolted back to the bridge of the ship.
“Yeh. Yeh, sorry.” He took a microphone.
“This is Gaffer Jaansma.” He’d decided to start using the title before they entered the Grimaldi system, figuring it was time to get the troops used to it.
“From here on out, all of you who aren’t civilians are now. For the love of Harriet’s Crucifixion, don’t go around in step or counting cadence.
“You’ve all been briefed on who we are … more or less amateur circus buffs who’ve fallen into money, and are trying to give peace a chance by making people happy and laughing, and maybe are curious about whatever happened to the Confederation.
“You don’t have to look moronic when you say that. The people we’ll encounter will already think you’re a skid short of an even landing for looking for what is obviously big trouble.
“From here on out, things should get interesting.”
He keyed the mike off and looked at Njangu, grinning broadly.
“
Damn
, but this is gonna be fun.”
• • •
Garvin might have been awash in sentiment, but that didn’t make him altogether a fool. The two
aksai
followed within
Big Bertha
’s radar shadow until the behemoth landed, then orbited closely overhead. The Nana boats were ready for an instant launch, and certain unobtrusive compartments, normally kept sealed, were now open and their 35mm chainguns, firing depleted uranium rounds at 6000rpm, and the smallish one meter long Shrikes, which could be launched at anything and guided by anyone, were ready.
But nothing warlike happened, and so Garvin, and an assemblage of his more impressive people, from Ben Dill to Njangu to Monique Lir went down the wide gangway after the lock opened.
Waiting were a dozen or more lifters, some circus-colored, others nondescript, two loudly claiming the holo stations they had been dispatched by.
About forty men and women waited, most as excited as Garvin. They were also somewhat unusual in appearance, Lir noticed. Three had elaborate tattoos showing on their bare arms, one was almost as big as Ben Dill, another woman had a rather remarkable beard, and two, including one journoh with a
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