Tides of Light (Galactic Center) by Gregory Benford

Author:Gregory Benford [Benford, Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi
ISBN: 9780446565516
Publisher: Aspect
Published: 2009-09-25T16:00:00+00:00

EIGHT

His Supremacy’s tent was sultry with sweet incense and tangy sweat. The fifteen Cap’ns arrayed in a crescent before the broad black desk stood stiffly at attention, as ordered. A layer of blue smoke hung over their heads. The cloying smell caught in Killeen’s throat, making him cough. His Supremacy frowned at the sound and repeated his command.

“All Families will commit the same strength in this attack. We strike simultaneously. We all risk, we all triumph.”

Killeen thought, And if we lose, nobody’ll be positioned for rear guard, nobody’ll cover our ass. But he did not dare say it.

“We shall follow our same, victorious tactics—the way of right action that has brought us so far. Following the assault, we must destroy as many of the Cyber buildings as we can.”

Killeen said, before caution could intervene, “I am most sorry, but I do not know the proper tactic.”

His Supremacy turned almost lazily to gaze directly into Killeen’ s eyes. Until now the swarthy, compact man had delivered his speech with his eyes fixed on the blue haze, as though secrets lurked high in the tent.

“I had imagined that you would have learned the revolutionary developments in battle I have brought about.”

“I’ve seen your weapons. Quite extensive, some I’ve never heard about, but—”

“Cap’n of the Bishops—a Suit unfamiliar to me as yet, but one I am willing to allow into my company of the devout—I understand your ignorance. When I foretold the arrival of your Family, I said the help which would fall from heaven would demand shaping. I and my officers are willing to fashion you to my higher ends, rest assured.”

“Well, sir, I appreciate that. My Family will need—”

“Perhaps you have not noticed that no one, in addressing me, uses the slight and paltry honorific ’sir.”’

Killeen made the gesture he had seen the other Cap’ns use—a bow, while stepping back and casting his hands down at the floor. It seemed to imply total acceptance.

His Supremacy nodded, looking almost bored. “You practiced the frontal assault, on whatever world sent you?”

“On Snowglade, yeasay—but hardly ever, ’cause mechplexes got their perimeters bracketed. Pick you off fast…” It took an effort to conclude, “Your Supremacy.”

“I devised a devastating new way to use the frontal attack. It involves designating one Family as prime warriors, those who expose themselves early, to draw fire. A second party then surprises the enemy by springing forth from concealment. Then the main body assaults the nest.”

“That second party—how do they stay hidden…Supremacy?”

“By slipping into the tunnels of the vile Cyber nests.”

Killeen frowned and said nothing. But the short man in his brilliant uniform looked reproachfully at him and said, “You have much to learn here, Cap’n. My revelation, which yielded this splendid method, assured me of our victories. It is not as though we proceed forward in shadow and uncertainty.”

Killeen nodded, not knowing what he could say.

“I foresee our triumph, carried on the wings of God, and my shoulders. You see, Cap’n of the Bishops, I have ascended to the panoply of Gods.

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