Free Starbound by Dave Bara Page A

volley from just three of them destroyed both of our shuttles as we exited the landing deck. It was devastating,” I finished. In addition to our regular armor, the new marine EVA suits also had a static energy field that pulsed at variable frequencies as a protection against energy weapons fire. It hadn’t made a bit of difference in the firefight.
    Maclintock looked to Serosian. “Are these robots an Imperial design?” The Historian shook his head.
    â€œUnlikely,” he said.
    â€œAnd of course there’s the fact that we discovered hundreds ofdead Imperial Marine bodies, enough to nearly fill a massive lifter shaft,” I interjected.
    â€œSo if not Imperial,” said Dobrina, looking at Serosian. “Then what is this station?”
    The Earth Historian clasped his hands in front of him, looking pensive. He clearly didn’t
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to answer the question, but his duty to us demanded that he did. We all watched him, waiting for an answer.
    â€œThere are stories, myths really, that at the end of their cycle of time, the Founders created an advanced group of machines to conduct much of their menial labor, deep-space exploration, even military missions. It is also said of these myths that these machines had much to do with the Founders’ downfall. We have never encountered functioning machines of this kind before, and what we do have is just bits and pieces of technology. It’s almost as if when the machines turned on their creators, the Founders had some sort of self-destruct they activated as a fail-safe. This has left very little trace of the technology of these machines,” he said.
    â€œAnd you think these robots could be an active remnant of those machines?” asked Maclintock.
    â€œThe description fits. It seems likely,” admitted the Historian.
    â€œYou know, I don’t care about any of this. I just care that I lost thirty-three marines, and I want that station destroyed to keep that from ever happening again,” I said, rather pointedly.
    â€œYou need to keep your emotions in check here, mister,” said Maclintock. “Those marines were under your command. I’m not blaming you directly for their deaths, but their lives were your responsibility. You’d do well to set your emotions aside for the time being and try to think and behave rationally, like a senior officer should.”
    That stung. I took a deep breath. “Aye, sir.”
    â€œThis station could become a very valuable artifact for our research into the Founders and what destroyed them,” said Serosian.“Clearly at some point in the past the First Empire tried to take over the station.”
    â€œAnd failed,” said Dobrina. She tilted her head toward me just slightly, a show of support in her body language, then looked past me to the captain. “I’m inclined to agree with Commander Cochrane, sir. We should destroy this station,” she said to Maclintock.
    â€œBut it could be invaluable,” said Serosian in an argumentative tone. It was as emotional as I’d ever seen him. “We could learn how to avoid the mistakes the Founders made, critical mistakes.” Dobrina was about to respond when Maclintock raised his hand to interrupt the debate.
    â€œI appreciate your position, Mr. Serosian. But the fact is that we have thirty-three dead here. That station is a menace, and I’m ordering its destruction. The only question is how,” said Maclintock.
    â€œIt’s quite a massive thing,” said Dobrina.
    â€œAnd likely hardened against atomic attack or energy weapons,” added Serosian. I could see he was upset about losing the station, but that he also understood that this was Maclintock’s decision.
    The captain looked at me. “Suggestions, Commander?” he said, giving me another chance. I appreciated the act. He didn’t have to consult me, as I was the lowest ranking officer present.
    â€œWe could tow it