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asteroid's existence, were sent in to provide security monitors in the system.
There were four other "keys" scattered around the universe, their location
known only to the Eternal Emperor. They all had the same purpose.
The coms were set to accept only the Eternal Emperor and contained every
screening device conceivable, from DNA pattern to pore prints, even to
include the specious Bertillon classification. If anyone else entered the
shelter, the coms would melt down into incomprehensible slag.
The coms were linked to a ship, somewhere in& another space& and to the
roboticized mining/factory ships around it. On signal, the recommendation
from the ship would be changed. Transshipment of AM2 would begin.
The long trains of robot "tankers" could also be controlled from the moonlet.
Under "normal" circumstances, such as The Eternal Emperor having died
accidentally, they might be routed to the conventional depot worlds. Or,
under differing circumstances elsewhere. To reward the faithful and punish
the heathens or vice versa, depending on what the Emperor decided was the
quickest, most expeditious way to regain control.
The Eternal Emperor crept into the system. He was in no hurry whatsoever.
He repeatedly consulted the elaborate pickups he had requested be installed
in the ship donated by the grateful Kenna. If any of the sensors showed any
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r r
intrusion into the system a lost mining ship, a drone, or even a wandering
yacht there was only one choice. Instantly abort and move to whichever
moonlet was convenient for a secondary command site.
There was nothing reported by any of the out-system sensors. The Emperor
chanced an arcing sweep over the system itself. Nothing. Emboldened, he
reentered the system and closed on the gaseous giant. All pickups were clean.
He came in on the moonlet on the hemisphere opposite the shelter and nap-
of-the-earthed to the dock. Its ports yawned again, pickups clean and he
landed.
The Emperor suited up, made sure the suit's support mechanisms were
loaded, and started for the shelter.
Halfway up that ridge, he muttered under his breath about being too
paranoid. It was not easy staying low on a nearly zero-gee world. He had no
desire to "pop up" into range if anyone was waiting at the dome, or to punt
himself into orbit. Not only would jetting back be embarrassing, but he would
be too easy to pick up if he was walking into a trap.
A few hundred meters from the shelter's entrance just another slide-blocked
cave he stopped. He waited a full six E-hours, watching. Nothing. The way
was clear.
The suit's environment system whined, trying to stabilize the temperature
and recycle the sweat pouring from the Emperor's body. His fingers
unconsciously touched his chest. Under suit, skin, and muscle the bomb
waited.
He unsealed his pistol's holster and took a tiny com from his belt. He slid a
wand-like probe out. In a rush, he went across the open space to the slide
area. The probe was inserted into a nearly invisible hole, and the Emperor
touched a button. After a moment, the slide opened. The Emperor could feel
the vibration under his boot heels.
He walked into the cavern. The door slid closed behind him. Lights glowed on.
He checked a panel. Again, no intrusion. The heaters were on full blast, and
atmosphere was being dumped into the shelter. Very good.
He walked to a door, palmed it, and the door slid away. Inside, there was a
small bedroom/kitchen/living suite. He closed the door behind him and
glanced at another panel. Atmosphere& ninety-five percent E-normal.
Temperature& acceptable. He unsealed his faceplate.
He felt hungry. The Emperor hoped that he had provided adequate rations.
He would eat, then activate the com. He walked to the com room entrance
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r r
and the world shattered! He was greeted not by gleaming, waiting readouts
and signal gear, but by cooled masses of molten metal.
Instantly the signal began, in his brain:
Exposure& Trap & Discovered& Self-destruct! Self-destruct!
Another part of his brain:
No. Wait. Trap not confirmed. Too much time. Cannot recommence program
without terminal damage to goal! Return to stand-by! Program override!
The bomb did not go off. Not even when the storeroom door opened and a
voice said, "My security operatives were not as sophisticated as they
believed."
The Emperor saw a space-suited figure, tall and gaunt. An arm reached up
and opened the suit's faceplate. It was Kyes.
Again, the order& and again, somehow, the command was overridden.
"I am the only being in this system besides yourself," Kyes said.
The Emperor found he could think once more. He said nothing, very sure that
his voice would crack if he spoke. Kyes waited, then continued.
"Your progression here and to return to your throne is clever. It reminds
me a bit of an Earth-legend I read. About a human named, I recall, Theseus."
"It could not have been that clever," the Emperor managed.
"Not true. For anyone to look for you, let alone find you, requires beginning
with an insane belief: that you did not die. And then incredible resources."
Kyes indicated the destroyed com sets.
"My apologies for the ineptitude of my personnel. Although I am sure other
stations besides this one exist. The resumption of the AM2 shipments can still
begin although that is meaningless to me."
The Emperor considered that. The situation was becoming& not familiar, but
it appeared to be within understanding and possible control. First [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]