按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Hmm； interesting；〃 Cabell allowed。
The cages were lowered without further mishap； and Sisters of Praxis crowded one another； stepping free。 Arla…Non clapped Lisa and Jean on the shoulders。 〃Thanks to you； Sisters！ And to your male subordinates as well！〃 She clasped forearms with Miriya。
Rick looked a little startled； but Vince gave a casual chuckle and Max muttered； 〃Oh； we were just along for pany。〃
Those who had been freed were only a small fraction of the amazons being held in the center； and that in turn was only a part of the total number of Praxian slaves on Haydon IV。 Arla…Non dispatched her warriors to the other cellblocks； to continue the liberation。 Miriya and Lisa handed over their pistols； so the rescuers wouldn't have to go unarmed。
Just then Veidt came floating back。 〃Sarna will be here soon； but I fear the other news isn't good。 The Regent is mustering his troops for an attack on the Central Slavepen。 And。。。there is some other intellect in contact with the Awareness of Haydon IV。 I cannot discern it well； a synthetic mentality； I believe。〃
〃No time for that now；〃 Rick said。 〃We've got to make sure Wolff and Karen don't get overrun up above； and we gotta get the Praxians armed。 This thing's just begun。〃
Lisa conceded the sense of that。 Once Arla…Non understood the situation she organized her women immediately； as capable as any field mander the REF fighters had ever seen。 She gave orders by squads and platoons； and her warriors jumped to obey； some racing off to help in freeing the rest of the Praxians； the rest forming up to carry the battle back aboveground。
〃What about patrols down here？〃 Lisa asked。
〃We know the schedules of the regular patrols； believe me；〃 Arla…Non said； 〃and we should be able to deal with them； at least for now。〃
The group set out； and Arla…Non was as good as her word。 They ambushed the one skeleton crew of Enforcers that came their way； a pair walking guard。 The newly acquired weapons were quickly distributed。
But as they were heading toward the surface； Karen Penn came loping tiredly from that direction。 She had obviously been through some heavy fighting。 At her back came a squad of the women from Zibyl's group； somewhat the worse for bat。
〃That bunch from the armory got to us；〃 she explained breathlessly to Rick。 〃We have most of the ground level secured。 But a mob of Enforcers and Officers showed up and set up a crossfire at the entrance。 Nobody can get in or out； and we think they're bringing up Inorganics。〃
〃Other escape routes？〃 Rick asked。
Karen shook her head。 〃All covered； and the crossfire's murder。〃
More and more Praxians were showing up now； liberated from other cellblocks。 Although there were thousands in the place； Rick knew that didn't mean much unless they were armed。 〃All right； let's get upstairs and see what we can…〃
The entire plex trembled and shook as distant impact made the building rumble。
〃Something heavy；〃 Max remarked。
There were more voices； and streams of Praxians began ing from the direction of the surface。 Many were wounded； some looking like they wouldn't make it。 From among them came Wolff； supporting…practically carrying…Zibyl； whose head lolled。
〃Inorganics got some licks in；〃 Wolff explained。 〃Scrim and Odeons； mostly。 We blew the slavepen entranceway and brought the roof down on 'em as they charged； no other option。 But that won't stop those demons for long。〃
So much for improvised rescue plans； Rick thought。
〃A good try anyway；〃 Arla…Non judged grimly。 〃We prefer dying free to living in cages； and at least we can do that。〃
She was right。 Zibyl's troops were weighted down with armaments； some carrying two of the heavy Invid rifles； or enormous makeshift packs loaded with ammunition and explosives。 The other amazons surrounded them； grabbing weapons； preparing to make the Invid pay。
As the Praxians rushed to set up fields of fire and prepare ambushes； Lisa got Veidt's attention。 〃What about Sarna？〃
He shook his head slowly。 〃The streets are filled with Inorganics； and there's no way she can land there。〃
Lisa was curious about Veidt's expanding powers now that he was back on Haydon IV； but she had no time to ponder it。
Moments later there was a tremendous explosion from the distance； and Wolff said aloud to himself； 〃The Inorganics。〃
The few portable crew…served guns the Praxians had were set for a crossfire。 Further back； down in the warren of the slavepens； fallback positions were being set up。 The only thing left to do was insure that the Invid victory was costly。
After a few minutes； they heard the sound of heavy footfalls…marching mecha； advancing on their prey without fear or hesitation。
A pair of colossal Odeons rounded a corner； filling the corridor。 The amazon gunners waited until the optimal moment； then opened fire。 The Odeons seemed to experience a rictus of agony as fire splashed over them and ripped them apart； then they collapsed in on themselves。
More Odeons appeared； moving more cautiously。 The Sentinels and the Praxians held their fire until the right moment； then blasted away。 One； its skull turret aflame； whirled and convulsed； then； trying to hold itself erect； went reeling toward a giant column。
A camouflaged panel at the base of the column slid open and Jack Baker was standing there； wide…eyed； as he watched a burning twenty…five…foot…tall mecha stagger directly toward him。
CHAPTER TWELVE
Well； naturally I wanted a war！ But I didn't want a war I might lose！
The Regent； quoted by Lemuel Thicka in Temple of Flames： A History of the Invid Regent。
Sarna circled the central slavepen with her enormous flying carpet； peering down at the turmoil below。 The streets were crowded with Scrim and Crann and Odeon； and even a few Hellcats； but no more fire seemed to be ing from within。
Still； she could not set down in the nearby plaza； as she had planned。 The Invid had not yet started firing at Haydonites； but they would attack her if she dropped down among them。 And； more to the point； the slaves wouldn't be ing out that way now。
The city was in turmoil； with Praxian slaves abandoning their work assignments； tearing off the inert headba