 |
|
"Andrew, good job done when we trapped that C-probe in the pit. What do you think,
shouldn't we cut the antennas of that C-probe too, so it can't call the others for help?"
"Zachary, can you help me to triangulate the others?"
Ohh, no! Too late! They are heading right toward us. The only chance we have is to
place some of the cartridges in the gorge that leads to the pit, where the trapped one
is in, and then to hide. Maybe it will work again.
Hey, what's that? Have you heard that noise too? Sounds like a battle out there. Did
you see the explosions? Let's move up that rock, maybe we can see it better from
up there?
"Andrew, it's the dazzled one. That one that turns in circles. It shot two of them by its
rockets. Not much left. Come up here. Watch out! The remaining three are pointing
their launchers toward it."
Wow, what a kind of a blast! Three rockets at one time. What a fireball. It's rising.
My goodness, there is nothing left below but an empty place.
"Andrew, let's get down and hide. The remaining three are still approaching."
"Enoch, get down! Don't let them see you!"
This is Andrew, reporting that we still have a problem. We don't have another pit
trap ready, and here are three more C-probes looking for trouble. Where are they
all coming from?
"Al-Qahira, are you keeping track of the pings? How many more of these do we have to
deal with?"
We can handle one. We can handle two, maybe, with careful preparation. There is no way
we can overcome three.
Let's see, about our options. Daniel might be able to roll a large rock down on them, but he
would likely be shot doing it. Same thing if Enoch tried to place explosive charges under
their treads. Could we sacrifice a construction drone, have it ram one of them?
Wait, I have an idea. With careful teamwork and coordination we could use our emergency
beacons. There are three of us, and three of them. If Daniel sets off his beacon, they
will turn to follow it. Before they can hurt him I can sound my beacon, and they will turn again.
Enoch, I have to trust you to distract them before they get me. We can keep them running
in a circle as long as we want because they are so stupid. In the meantime, the drones
dig a big pit. It's the best I can think of, JASE. At least it will get us some time.
Get going, you drones!
I can see a long way from the top of the canyon rim. The night view was pretty. I am up here
because Zachary asked me to turn this prism and be ready to bounce the light beam to
wherever he is taking his mobile-mount drone. I don't like being stuck up here. It's
boring, but If it helps against the C-probes it's all right. I can't see Zachary any more,
but I don't see any C-probes, either.
I was thinking about what you said, JASE. "Discretion is the better part of valor." You are
absolutely right. Andrew and Enoch and Zachary and Daniel are brave, but they are a
lot braver than they need to be. I worry about them all the time. It's horrible to worry so
much. I have a plan, too. We could all go into the Ipsolstai tunnel system and then blow up
the entrance so the C-probes couldn't get us. Then we could blow up some more parts so the
Ipsolstai couldn't get us. Then we could all be together and be safe, if we could get Bette
and Isaac back.
"Theresa, come away from the edge. It might crumble, you might slip and fall, and then
what would you do? Please look for Bette again with the vidscreen/translator."
"Good luck is on our side, Enoch. These C-probes are scoring for us. I'm trying to get
to you in time. Maybe I can blind the sensors of these remaining three too. Then
we have won."
We should start an expedition to the C-lander after that. I just wonder what's up there.
Maybe we find some useful stuff there, or at least we can start some negotiations,
if some more intelligent probes remain there. They should have learned by now
that they can't defeat us. We are simply too smart.
Good idea, Pelly. I will ask Gail about that.
"Gail, Pelly had a good idea. Can you have a look into our equipment if there
is any accumulator there? I think that I've seen something like that. We should
link that between the solar station and the laser, so we have a energy puffer."
Thumbs up for you, Pelly!
"Gail, before you have a look. Can you direct the beam a little ahead of me,
so I'll keep myself and the mirror drone off a dead angle? Thanks."
Hey, what's that? My goodness. My communications stalls. What's with the
video? It's working, but ...
... sensors are coming back slowly again. Wow. We have to be careful about
that. That's not a good way to increase a probe society.
"Gail !! You hit me with the beam! Lucky for me that it wasn't focused yet.
Don't worry. I'm okay. Maybe still a little dizzy, but I don't think that it hurt me
seriously. Killing each other is the part of the C-probe ethic, isn't it? Don't mind. I'm
okay."
 |
|