Free Of Fire and Night by Kevin J. Anderson Page B

remind you that they hardly gave up the derelict voluntarily. In fact, they had the thing in their possession for some time without ever mentioning it, even though our Hansa scientists could certainly have done a far superior job of analysis than their own primitive engineers did.”
    Patrick huddled deeper in his chair and focused on the distant peaks, his stomach as cold as a glacier. Roamers were exceptionally good at hiding. When the first EDF expedition came hunting hydrogues at Osquivel, Del Kellum had managed to cover up his huge shipyard operations. Patrick wondered how he would ever find the Roamers now, and Zhett, if they
really
wanted to hide.
    His time with the dark-haired beauty had changed him, against his will. Now he no longer fit in with his blueblood family. “Grandmother, I want you to do something for me. Make whatever excuses you need to make—I don’t really care. I’m going to resign from the EDF.”
    She looked startled, but her expression was a reflection of surprise, not disappointment. “Of course, Patrick. The family never intended for you to have a lengthy military career. We can transition you into a corporate position, or even an ambassadorship, if you prefer.”
    “Not that. Too many others are letting themselves become propaganda puppets for a cause we know is false. So, I’m going to speak out, and some of the other refugees are bound to join me. What the Hansa is doing to the Roamers is completely unfair.”
    That surprised her. “You can’t be serious! You know what the clans have done, what they
are
.”
    He tucked his chin into the collar of his jacket. He had been just as prejudiced himself when he first joined the EDF. He’d been merciless to the Roamer recruit Tasia Tamblyn, treating her like dung—but she had gotten the best of him more than once. He was good at picking fights.
    “I know more than that, Grandmother. All their accusations are true, regardless of what you choose to believe. The clans have perfectly legitimate reasons for cutting us off. We deserve it.”
    Now truly shocked, Maureen looked as if her mind was already spinning through possibilities, assessing and discarding ways to mitigate this disaster. “That’s ridiculous and rash, Patrick. Come inside, and I’ll make you some tea.”
    “Grandmother, you never make your own tea. And stop patronizing me.”
    “No need to jump to conclusions. You can’t possibly understand all the reasons behind—”
    “Of course I understand.” He finally stood up. “I was
there
. I caused it myself. I was with General Lanyan when we encountered a Roamer vessel filled with ekti. We seized it, stole the stardrive fuel, and then blew the ship out of space. Never gave the captain a chance.
I
pushed the button myself.
I
fired the jazers that disintegrated a Roamer ship.”
    He was gratified to see her stunned into silence. “Later, when somebody found the wreckage, the Roamers knew the EDF was to blame. That was why they broke off all trade with us. That’s what started this whole mess.”

15
    ENGINEERING SPECIALIST SWENDSEN
    T he hydrogue derelict was marvelous beyond Swendsen’s wildest expectations. “I can’t remember the last time I was so excited. I don’t think I’ve slept in days.”
    “You need your sleep, Dr. Swendsen,” said his lead materials tech. “Tired researchers make mistakes.”
    “No worries, Norman. I’ve had coffee. Lots of it.” He kept moving as he talked, bumping into team members, checking on their progress. The alien walls were set at disorienting angles; no one could quite tell what the hydrogues considered up or down.
    He ducked through the low hatch and came upon two men standing over a deck of crystalline . . . controls? Decorations? The nodules were connected to no circuitry that anyone could find. He propped his hands on his hips, nodding absently. “Just don’t push any big red buttons. We don’t know how to read ‘self-destruct’ in the hydrogue language.”
    “The