Robotech: Dark Powers by Jack McKinney

Author:Jack McKinney [McKinney, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-82392-2
Publisher: A Del Rey Book
Published: 2014-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

Consider the sentient “Tiresiod” brain—Praxian, Terran, Karbarran or what have you. Roughly one hundred billion-plus neurons. The potential number of connections these neurons can make with one another, according to some calculations, exceeds the total number of atoms in the Universe.

One sets mere machinery against such a creation only at some risk of unlooked-for results.

Cabell, A Pedagogue Abroad: Notes on the Sentinels’ Campaign

Bela saw the Hellcats, too. Rem wondered why their presence hadn’t registered on the much-touted sensors of the winged horse. Perhaps Gnea’s flying lessons had distracted it.

The Hellcats, their slitted eyes glowing like coals, stalked closer. They were a form of four-legged Inorganic mecha, so jet black that they shone with blue highlights, and much bigger than the biggest saber-tooth that ever lived. The Hellcats were armed with razor-sharp claws, sword-edged shoulder horns and tail, and gleaming fangs.

Rem had kept an Owens Mark IX mob gun nearby in case of trouble, but not near enough; the short, heavy two-handed weapon and its shoulder-strap-equipped power pack were lying near the inner side of the hatch beyond reach as the two Inorganics moved toward him.

That left only the pistols he and Gnea were wearing—and from what Rem had seen on Tirol, it took more stopping power than the heavy handguns had to put down a ’Cat. Rem backed up slowly, step by step, the Hellcats padding after; they were gaining a little each second but savoring the moment, not quite ready to pounce.

Then he recalled the saddle scabbard Bela had mounted on Halidarre, with its Wolverine rifle. “Gnea, do you have—”

Somehow, his voice triggered the Robotech beasts, and they both slunk forward, segmented tails lashing, preparing to spring. Rem tugged at his pistol, doubting he had time to get a single shot off, doubting that Gnea could take accurate aim from a banking winged horse even if she did have the Wolverine.

The Hellcats sprang just as something brushed past him and he felt himself struck from above and behind. Or at least, that was what he thought. The next thing he knew, he was being hoisted aloft, held against Halidarre’s saddle, by the Robohorse’s lifting fields and beating wings, and by Gnea’s firm grip on his torso harness.

The lead ’Cat almost got him, its wicked claws sliding along Halidarre’s flank but leaving no mark. The horse banked, eluding the second ’Cat’s aim, and gained altitude. A sizzling bolt from Gnea’s pistol missed both felines.

“Your jostling spoiled my aim!” she scolded Rem, as he kicked and grabbed wildly for purchase. Then, between her hauling and his struggling, she had him up and draped over the saddle bow, belly-down.

Rem thought the horse’s power of flight would save them from the surface-bound Hellcats, but he could see he was wrong. One was already leaping up a small hill of discarded equipment and stacked crates with astonishing speed, giving chase. His field of vision was severely limited by Halidarre’s neck, body, and wing, and by Gnea; he couldn’t see where the second ’Cat had gotten to.

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