The Ashes of Worlds

By now, Admiral Willis and King Peter should have made it to the Whisper Palace, but there had been no word from the King. or from Chairman Wenceslas since he’d disappeared into the gigantic Klikiss vessel.

“Anybody bring a deck of cards?” Rlinda finally said, breaking the silence.

Suddenly, perhaps responding to some kind of silent, simultaneous transmission, the eleven conglomerate ships began to move. Though Robb saw no engines, or any means of acceleration, the insect vessels lumbered through space like small asteroids, picking up speed and heading straight toward them.

Robb shouted orders. “Evasive action! Don’t let those things roll over us.”

His helmsman was already scrambling at his controls, but the swarmships plowed past on a course directly for Earth, barely missing the Confederation vessels. The bugs took no notice of them.

“Something’s sure got the breedex riled up,” Robb commented.

“Probably something the Chairman said,” Estarra added.

Sarein’s face was hard. “Basil can be irritating.”

Robb’s father spoke across the priority comm channel from theGoliath. “I am going to withdraw to Earth to set up a defensive line in case those swarmships attack.”

Leaving the channel open, Robb called out, “You all heard General Brindle. Let’s not have him fight this battle alone.”

The Confederation vessels drew back into formation and sped after theGoliath and the EDF fleet, who were already on the move. The Klikiss seemed to ignore them altogether as the swarmships plunged forward, hell-bent on reaching Earth.

Two of the swarmships split from the others and shot off to pursue a specific target. Robb called for long-range scans and saw the exotic angular vessels constructed by the black robots. Their engines blazed as the robots headed away from Earth, rising up out of the plane of the solar system, and a group of newly repaired EDF ships flew with them.

“They’re sure in a hurry to get out of here,” Captain Roberts said. “With good reason, I suppose.”

When the two swarmships veered off toward the robot ships, Robb realized that the breedex must have discovered the Chairman’s bargain with Sirix. “That’ll make the bugs really unhappy.” Countless component vessels were already shooting energy weapons at the fleeing robots, but Robb couldn’t say he was sorry.

More important, the other nine swarmships were still headed toward Earth. Smaller craft began to split off and bombard the ship-repair docks around the planet. “Should we open fire?” Queen Estarra asked. “Do we have enough combined weapons to damage those alien clusters?”

Robb knew how difficult the swarmships had been to fight at Pym, and this insect force was hundreds of times larger. “It would be like pricking an elephant with a needle.”

“But we have a lot of needles, don’t we?” Captain Kett said. “We’ll fly theBlind Faith out there to take potshots, if it will do any good.”

“I’ll thank you not to go volunteering my ship,” Roberts said. “You already crashed your own.”

The EDF battle group, though, did not show restraint. Robb’s father ordered a barrage to delay the giant clustered vessels before they could take up their positions above the Earth. Each blast destroyed at least one component ship, but there were millions. Robb directed his ships to help his father. The concentrated shots peeled off the clusters’ external components, but all signs of damage were simply absorbed and erased.

Swifter, smaller human vessels passed the swarmships and turned about to form a crowded defensive line, theJupiter next to theGoliath. It seemed an impossible stance, but they did it nevertheless.

Robb swallowed hard and sat straighter in his command chair. “It’s showtime.”

The nine swarmships closed around Earth — and then stopped in front of the blockade of EDF and Confederation vessels. They just hung there.

144

Admiral Sheila Willis

Though no one had asked him to, King Rory stepped away from the massive throne and now sat on the stone steps of the dais, looking pale. In a way, he seemed almost relieved.

Admiral Willis’s troops had secured the throne room, and Peter was clearly in charge. Within the first twenty minutes, she set up holo-imagers and newsnet recorders, then transmitted a live feed of King Peter on his throne. He hoped it would quell some of the riots.

“People of the Hansa, I am ready to resume my responsibilities as your King. Chairman Wenceslas has been relieved of his duties, and Rory has surrendered the throne. The Confederation and I will do everything in our power to repair the recent damage to Earth, unify humanity, ensure the rights of every citizen, and strengthen the human race.”

Outside in the streets, the demonstrations had grown in size and fervor, swelling with a giddy, celebratory mood despite the looming Klikiss threat.

Shortly after they had solidified their hold on the Whisper Palace, Deputy Cain reappeared. Even with the Hansa, and perhaps the human race itself, on the verge of total destruction, he looked as if this were any other day and he was simply attending a conference. Willis told her guards to let the man pass, and Cain approached the throne with a polite bow. “King Peter, I’m pleased to see I could count on you. Sarein obviously delivered our message. She is safe?”

Peter nodded. “She’s with Queen Estarra up on the flagship. I’m grateful for what you did. You took quite a risk.”

“It was necessary. The worst I’d anticipated for today was being murdered by the Chairman becausee Sarein and I undermined his authority. Unfortunately, the arrival of the Klikiss demonstrates that there are even worse things. Our priorities have obviously changed. We’ll have to adapt our approach to finishing this.”

Patrick and Zhett, having seen the Confederation Manta hovering in the Palace District, also arrived to offer their assistance. Peter welcomed them. “I’m relieved to see you safe, and free, Mr. Fitzpatrick. You cleared the way for my return, just as I had hoped your grandmother would.”

Patrick smiled. “As you can see on the newsnets, you have a lot of support on Earth, sire. It’s good to have you back.”

Willis was obviously pleased to see him. “You always did excel in causing trouble, Mr. Fitzpatrick. Glad to see you using your talents in a productive way.”

Patrick straightened. “News has already spread of King Peter’s return, but I’d like to broadcast my own message from here. Freedom’s Sword is waiting for confirmation — they’ll believe this isn’t one of the Chairman’s tricks if it comes from me.”

Deputy Cain nodded politely. “The central communications nexus is located on a sublevel of the Whisper Palace. If you transmit from there, using the governmental overrides, everyone on the planet will hear your broadcast.”