The AI War Part 33

"The portal to Terra Two's still opened," continued D'Trelna. "There's a destroyer on station there, maintaining it with the device we recovered during our last set-to with you. Devastator Devastator will access the AIs universe using the device." will access the AIs universe using the device."

"And how do you propose to convince the destroyer crew of that?" said K'Tran.

D'Trelna shrugged. "R'Gal will be in command. He's wonderfully inventive-he'll think of something."

"And you?" said K'Tran.

"We'll be leaving for K'Ronar this watch. I'll submit myself to arrest, face trial and, with the Watchers' help, turn the Confederation against Combine T'Lan. We're paralyzed as long as that AI nest lives within us."

K'Tran rose, extending his hand. "See you in h.e.l.l, Commodore."

D'Trelna shook the mindslave's hand. "Is there any chance you'll, well . . . ever leave Alpha PrimeV Alpha PrimeV All expression, all humanity vanished from K'Tran's face. "None," said a dry, familiar whisper. "Captain K'Tran will be with us always."

"G.o.ds," whispered the commodore, staring into the empty blue pools of K'Tran's eyes.

Animation returned to K'Tran, like a light coming on. "Luck, D'Trelna," he smiled. Receiving no answer, K'Tran nodded, turned and left.

D'Trelna shuddered as the door hissed shut.

"And that's about it," said D'Trelna, picking up his wine gla.s.s. "We'll have messaged ahead, to friendly parties. They won't get away with blowing us up when we hit home s.p.a.ce. There'll be lots of commercial vid coverage of our landing and my arrest. And when I stand in that court dock, looking into all those lenses, I'm going to speak loud and long."

The four of them sat in D'Trelna's private dining room with its long sweep of armorgla.s.s, backdropped by two worlds, one natural, the other not: D'Lin and Devastator. Devastator. The remains of a tasty meal were scattered across the table. The remains of a tasty meal were scattered across the table.

"It's so fantastic," said Zahava as D'Trelna finished his wine. "Will anyone believe you?"

"They'll believe me," said L'Wrona, "testifying as both captain and margrave. And we have the s.h.i.+p's log, every scan neatly and unalterably recorded."

D'Trelna sighed. "I wish I were going with you," he said, looking at the Terrans. "The most daring thing anyone's done for centuries, and I have to sit it out."

"If it rums nasty on K'Ronar, J'Quel, you won't be sitting," said John, setting his napkin on the table. "And somehow, it always turns nasty."

The thought cheered the commodore. He refilled all their wine gla.s.ses.

"And the Trel Cache?" asked Zahava, lifting her gla.s.s. "Are you just going to leave it here?"

"For now," said L'Wrona. "After we settle with the AIs, a scientific expedition will be sent. The knowledge the Trel preserved could move us ahead centuries. Why, the secret of matter transport alone ..."

"So why not extract it now and use it in the war?" said John.

"Two reasons," said D'Trelna. "One, it would take too long-this will all be over in a few months. And two, with the Combine AIs infecting our government and military, anything we did extract from that satellite might be used against us. No, H'Nar's right-we let it sit for now."

"And what about the other recall device?" said John. "The one mentioned by the Trel?"

"The Lost Citadel?" D'Trelna stared at his wine. "I suppose we have to see if it has any what? historical validity?" He looked at L'Wrona. "H'Nar, I think that's something you might do, while I'm awaiting trial."

The captain shook his head. "S'Yal and the Machine Wars were a long time ago, J'Quel. The records will be fragmented and inaccurate."

"Still," said the commodore, "find out what you can. But let's hope N'Trol gets the Combine's prototype working." He poured himself the last of the wine.

"What are you going to do about Guan-Sharick?" said Zahava.

"Guan-Sharick will be accompanying Devastator Devastator back to his, or her, home universe. Incognito." back to his, or her, home universe. Incognito."

"You know who he is," said L'Wrona, staring at the commodore.

D'Trelna nodded and sipped his wine.

"Not going to tell me, are you?" said the captain.

The commodore set down his gla.s.s, shaking his head. "No. Yes, I know," he said, holding up a hand as L'Wrona started to speak, "Guan-Sharick's a ma.s.s murderer and totally ruthless."

"And I don't believe it's human," said L'Wrona.

"It's never said it was," said D'Trelna. "It's merely implied it."

"I'm convinced it's on our side-for now, and I'll tell you, H'Nar"-he leaned forward-"there may be no victory with Guan-Sharick's help, but there'll be none without it."

"Victory," said L'Wrona, easing back in his chair. "I don't believe in it anymore, J'Quel. We're climbing an endless mountain-each time we reach the top, we find it's just another plateau."

"We take out the AIs, H'Nar," said D'Trelna, wagging a finger at the captain, "we've reached the peak. Victory."

"Let's hope we live to enjoy it," said John, finis.h.i.+ng his wine.

"I'm going to miss them," said John. He and Zahava stood in Devastator's Devastator's Operations center, watching the main screen with its image of Operations center, watching the main screen with its image of Implacable. Implacable. The battle damage was gone, and humans wearing the duty brown of the Confederation now manned the consoles. The battle damage was gone, and humans wearing the duty brown of the Confederation now manned the consoles.

"We'll see them again," said Zahava, putting an arm around his waist.

"Will we? I wonder."

D'Trelna's face appeared on a comm screen. "We're about to jump for home." He cleared his throat. "Luck to you all, and G.o.ds ride with you."

There was a chorus of well wis.h.i.+ng, then the comm screen flicked off.

In a second, the main screen held only stars-Implacable was gone. John and Zahava turned to face their new captain. was gone. John and Zahava turned to face their new captain.

"A good, clever and determined man," said R'Gal, eyes on the blank comm screen. "If anyone can do it, he can. And he has the margrave and my people-that'll help."

He turned to the first officer. "Course plotted and laid in, Mr. K'Raoda?"

"Plotted and laid, sir," said K'Raoda.

"You may jump when ready," said R'Gal, then turned to the two Terrans. "When we get to Terra, if you want off, I'll understand. It's not your fight."

"Of course it's our fight," said Zahava, remembering Major L'Kor and the D'Linians. "It's everyone's fight."

"And you?" said R'Gal, looking at John.

"We're with you to the end, sir," he said, holding out his hand.

R'Gal took it, and Zahava's. "To the end," he said. Devastator Devastator jumped. jumped.