Empress of Eternity by L. E. Modesitt

Author:L. E. Modesitt [Modesitt, L. E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Literature & Fiction, United States, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Science Fiction, Space Opera
Amazon: B003P8QSCI
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2010-11-09T00:00:00+00:00

32

32 Quad 2471 R.E.

Eltyn spent another two hours working on the power modifications to Faelyna’s projector…until his eyes burned. Since no more missiles had arrived, he decided to take a break and replace the main exterior scanning antenna with the remaining spare.

Heading out. Antenna replacement.

Attackers in the locale?

Negative. Local antennae = limited range.

Be careful3!

As possible. [grateful appreciation]

Eltyn left the antenna inside while he carried the collapsible ladder out and set it up just outside the door on the south side of the station. He positioned it so that he could climb right up to the flat top of the second level and replace the damaged antenna. Then he ducked back inside to get the antenna.

Rhyana stood there, projectile rifle in hand. “You need some cover?”

“There’s no one out there right now. The only thing that could happen is another missile, and the rifle wouldn’t help much in that case. I’m going to replace the scanning antenna before they let loose again.”

“You sure you don’t want help?”

“Not right now.” Eltyn stepped outside, grasped the replacement antenna, and clambered up the ladder, the waist tool bag banging against the ladder. Once he was onto the flat surface of the top of the station, he moved quickly to the antenna assembly…or what was left of it. He laid down the new assembly, pulled out the pliers from the tool bag, and twisted away the first release clip. The second one caught, and it took him several attempts to wrench it free. Then he had to reset the base and replace another clip, before he could begin to slide the new antenna into place. The first of the new clips went into position easily, but the second, predictably, stuck, and he had to slowly wiggle it into place.

Then he wiped his steaming forehead with the back of his sleeve, trying to get the dampness out of the corners of his eyes because the combination of sweat and fine grit still in the hot air burned and blurred his vision.

FLASH! Urgent! Incoming missiles! flared the local system warning.

Retract and shield! Eltyn snapped as he grabbed the broken assembly and scrambled for the ladder. Report status.

All shields in place.

Eltyn tossed the broken assembly off the top of the station, then started down the ladder, half-sliding and half-climbing. He made it down and halfway inside the station doorway when the first missile exploded, just southwest of the station, by the sound, which was cut off by the stone closing behind him.

Status? [concern] pulsed immediately from Faelyna.

Fine…barely. He was touched by the warmth behind her inquiry. If only…

Riffies must have minidrone overhead somewhere.

Or control of the local geosat, he pulsed back.

“You all right, sir?” Rhyana’s question was almost a demand. “Cutting it a little close, if you ask me.”

“I’m fine. In a few minutes, I’d like to see if we can reclaim the ladder.”

“You think they’ll drop more bombs?”

“Missiles,” corrected Eltyn, “they’re using some sort of drone to target us. But there’s a delay between observation and when the missile hits.

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