The stolen EDF battle group arrived at the first target colony. The five Mantas and one Juggernaut still bore the chain-of-stars symbol of the Earth Defense Forces, but Klikiss robots commanded them. The Corribus colonists had only recently arrived and were still establishing a basic settlement in the blistered ruins. They suspected nothing.
DD stood on the bridge of the renegade Juggernaut as Sirix unfolded his articulated limbs and issued detailed orders for the massacre to proceed. “Power up jazer weapons. All Mantas prepare for first assault. This Juggernaut will complete the annihilation.”
“You don’t have to do this,” DD said. “Please reconsider.”
“It is necessary. We annihilated our creator race, and now we must do the same to humans. Corribus will be sterile again when we depart.”
A cheerful transmission came from the colony’s communications tower. “Hello up there? This is Corribus Central calling the new ships. Welcome to our cozy little home. Is this the EDF? Did you bring us any supplies?”
Sirix swiveled his flat, angular head to the Soldier compies on the bridge. “Do not reply.”
“They mean no harm,” DD said. “They are no threat to you.”
“Hello? Is anybody listening?” the man continued. “This is Jan Covitz, the . . . uh, chief communications operator for Corribus. Please identify yourself.”
The EDF warships continued their silent, ominous approach.
“Begin descent,” Sirix ordered.
In the vanguard, the Manta cruisers sliced like sharp knives through the upper clouds, and the heavy Juggernaut came afterward.
“Is this thing on?” A thumping sound came over the communications channel. “We, uh, weren’t expecting any shipments for another week, but we need just about everything. In fact, we’d even eat spampax if you want to get rid of any. I’m sure your soldiers wouldn’t mind.” Jan Covitz’s voice fell silent as he waited for a reply.
“Do all humans talk so much?” Sirix asked.
“Only the friendly ones,” DD said. “Everyone down there is probably friendly. You do not have to kill them.”
He could not think of a way to prevent this treachery. The optimistic human colonists had no reason to fear EDF vessels, since the Earth military was supposed to defend Hansa colonies. The people down there were doomed.
DD remembered when he’d tried to protect Margaret and Louis Colicos against the Klikiss robots on Rheindic Co. Margaret had instructed him to fight, but the little compy could not effectively perform such service. He was incapable.
Now, again, DD couldn’t do a thing to stop the tragedy.
The commandeered warships finally broke through the cloud cover, and the landscape of Corribus spread out like a painting beneath them. The military vessels accelerated toward the high-walled canyon that held the main human settlement.
As the descending battleships powered up their jazers for an immediate devastating strike, Sirix scanned the terrain below. He spoke to DD. “Down there, many millennia ago, this place was a great citadel for the hated Klikiss overlords. It was destroyed in a final battle after the Klikiss survivors used their Torch to strike back against the hydrogues.”
“They were just defending themselves,” DD said.
“The Klikiss should never have survived the initial purge. Those survivors on Corribus were merely a loose end to be tied up. They were the last.” Sirix turned his beetlelike body. “Just as we will eliminate the humans who have come here, and eventually all humans on any inhabited world in the Spiral Arm.”
Jan Covitz transmitted again. “Hey, you’re starting to make me ner-vous here. Is something wrong with your comm systems? According to my written formal procedures, I’m supposed to sound an alarm if something like this happens, and you don’t want me to do that. Come on, can you give me some sign that you’re hearing this?”
“At least give them a chance,” DD pleaded. “Send them a message.”
“They will understand our message well enough.” Sirix turned to the Soldier compies at the Juggernaut’s tactical stations. The battleships soared forward; the first colony buildings were visible up ahead, clearly centered in the crosshairs of the EDF targeting systems.
“Open fire. Begin total bombardment.”