Read Online The Trilisk Supersedure by Michael McCloskey - Free Book Online Page A

them, sir,” Caicedo said,
focusing his attention on some virtual display. Caicedo was a calm, strong
officer. His expansive forehead displayed bulging arteries, even though his
skin was dark. “But the ship is huge. There are robots crawling around that
quarter of the city. Looks like about a dozen small scout robots. I’m thinking
they’re looking for something—same as us.”
    That
idea bolstered Holtzclaw’s resolve. If someone else was willing to expend a
huge amount of resources to come here, then maybe, just maybe, there was
something worth finding. Alien artifacts had turned the tide of the war
once—against the UED—and finding more artifacts might turn the tide again. Or
so the ragged band of soldiers hoped. But they had lost so many, and their
ships were dwindling. It was a hope that diminished every day.
    Holtzclaw
waited for more officers. Major Kowalewski, Major Silvarre,
Captain Arakaki, and First Lieutenant Racca walked in within two minutes.
Holtzclaw took a peek outside.
    “Where’s
Schimke?” he asked.
    “I
think he’s too far into the tunnels,” Racca offered. Holtzclaw shrugged and
decided to start.
    “We don’t
see that many of our guests. We can take that fat ship for ourselves,” Holtzclaw
declared.
    “What
if there’s a lot more of them inside?”
    “If it
had been a drop ship filled with a battalion of space force marines or frontal
assault robotics, we’d already be dying,” Major
Kowalewski said. “You can rule that one out.”
    “So if
it’s not a military ship, it has to be either a big settlement going down or a
scientific expedition,” said Racca. “The fact they landed here at the edge of
the Konuan city indicates the latter.”
    “Not
necessarily. Settlers might make use of the shelter in the Konuan buildings or
tunnels,” Silvarre said.
    Holtzclaw
dismissed the idea. He shook his head. “If they came prepared, they have their
own more advanced shelters in mind. It would only be a bunch of refugees, a
group that was out on their luck, that would think like that.”
    This
could be the best thing that could have happened to us, Holtzclaw thought. If they’re scientists in a ship that big, they have all
the equipment we need to get the Trilisk machines and get out. One step closer
to being able to fight the UNSF on even terms again.
    “No
matter who they are, they have things we can use. And this planet is just
hospitable enough they’ll be able to survive even if we take some of the best
for ourselves. We won’t be sentencing them to death.”
    “Except
by the monster,” Arakaki said.
    She’s
the only one who would say that , Holtzclaw thought, but he
wasn’t angry.
    “They
have to deal with the monster one way or another, now that they’re here, same
as we have. Unless you can kill it before we take off. In fact, they may have
something we can use to finish it off.”
    Arakaki
nodded. Holtzclaw wanted to try and use the Hellrakers on the thing, but given
they could barely detect it, he didn’t know if it would work, and he couldn’t
afford to use the supplies or the wear and tear on their smart artillery
machines. Besides, most of the time if it appeared on their scans, it was
because it was right on top of their camp.
    Still…with
a Hellraker it only takes one good shot. And we’re about to that level of
desperation.
    “We
should use the whole unit, show them how outnumbered they are in a fast strike,
and force a quick surrender. No need to let this get bloody,” Silvarre
suggested.
    “I
agree, but I think the Hellraker is all the leverage we need,” Holtzclaw said. “However,
time is important here. We’ll jam their communications and make our move. Take
their equipment and use it to find what we want, then get out of here before
any other ship could show up.”
    “Should
we approach by ground or by air?”
    “Ground,
in case they have assets in orbit we don’t know about,” Racca said.
    No one
dissented. Holtzclaw agreed.
    “T
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