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Smart Weapon [MultiFormat]
eBook by Paul Levinson
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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: In the distant future, a desperate war rages across the stars--where all actual combat is by robot proxies. As the decisive battle nears, one side contemplates using the ultimate weapon--so dangerous and unpredictable in the destruction it can wield, it has been banned for millennia....
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Guardsmen of Tomorrow, ed. Martin H. Greenberg and Larry Segriff, 2000
Fictionwise Release Date: November 2002
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [72 KB], eReader (PDB) [29 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [16 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [15 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [67 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [86 KB], hiebook (KML) [68 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [47 KB], iSilo (PDB) [13 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [17 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [45 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [25 KB]
Words: 4763
Reading time: 13-19 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
The driving sleet lashed Treena's face like a whip. She showed no sign of it as she surveyed what was left of the planet we were about to abandon. "Time for the weapon," I said through the cold. I beckoned her to take the seat beside me in the hopper. "No." She shook her head slowly, eyes still fixed on the terrain. "We can't risk it." "Let's continue this conversation upship," I said, and motioned her again to join me. She took one last look at the sleet on Eridani 2. "It's not even snow," she said. "Snow would have at least had the decency to cover the dead." * * * *The 36-hour trip back to Mu Cassiopeaie was no joy. Our latest stardrive made a light-year an hour. But it was still too long when your only companion didn't feel like talking. "The scenario you outlined is still valid," I tried again over breakfast on the last day of our voyage. "And we're running out of other options." "I know that!" She smashed her fist on the table. Two cups of tea, one mug of juice, and one glass of water from the fourth planet of Chi Ceti all shimmered precariously. "I know that," she said a bit more calmly. "What about the cc-20s?" Good. The cc-20s were marginal in this, and we both knew it. "They're having trouble with the light bursts. Throws off their highsight. Best estimates now are that they'll be little if any help to us." She frowned. She was pretty in a blonde sort of way, but that meant nothing to me. "It's not only a question of winning the war," she said slowly. "It's a question of what kind of universe we'll have after that. We've respected the ban for so long--both sides. To break it now could be worse than losing." "Losing means death," I replied. "Like those bodies on Eridani 2. More than that. The death of our culture. Our way of life. What could be worse than that?" She looked at me with her deep, brown eyes. "Don't you see that breaking the ban would also kill our culture? It's the one thing that keeps us--and them--human. She shuddered. "No. We're not at that point yet. Inspect the troops after we dock, and give me a full report tomorrow morning." "As you wish, General."
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