"David Weber & Linda Evans - Bolos" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

primary characteristics with the Terran wood rat, excepting bipedal
locomotion and lack of visual adaptations. It measures approximately
1.005 meters in height, with an additional 0.92 meters of tail. I determine
that the species uses a form of sophisticated echolocation to navigate.
The auditory adaptations are complex and greatly enlarged.
A group of nine enter the main Administration wing.
The fireball temporarily blinds my visual and IR sensors. An
overpressure rocks me on my treads. The entire complex has exploded.
Fires rage out of control. I deduce that this explosion has been triggered
by blasting chemicals from the colonyтАЩs stores: chemical signatures
match perfectly. I conclude that the buildings were deliberately booby-
trapped in preparation for the arrival of a pest species so deadly the
colony had to be abandoned.
I know now that I face the Enemy.
Joy fills my personality gestalt circuitry. At last, I meet an adversary
worthy of my talents. I charge at high speed, targeting the transports. I
fire infinite repeaters. The nearest transport vehicle disintegrates in a
satisfactory ball of flame and debris. I traverse infinite repeaters and fire
on the second vehicle. Infantry rush toward me. I track Enemy troop
movements and fire anti-personnel charges. They are effective against
Enemy infantry. Two vehicles from the far side of the compound lift off. I
sweep around and fire. I destroy one. The second returns fire against me.
I am hit with energy weapons. I reel. I discharge infinite repeaters. The
Enemy vessel explodes.
Infantry close from my flank. I estimate infestation strength in excess
of ten thousand units. My on-board anti-personnel charges are
inadequate to neutralize an infestation of this size. I switch tactics. I
prepare chemical sprays and discharge, choosing wide-dispersion
pattern. My repeaters track another vessel attempting to lift. I destroy it.
My chemical sprays prove effective on perhaps eight percent of the
infestation. This is a resilient species. It has learned to manufacture
protective gear which renders it invulnerable to chemicides.
The cornfield around me erupts into flame under Enemy fire. I am hit
with multiple strikes from energy weapons. Portions of my hull melt
under the barrage. Sixteen point zero-seven acres of immature corn burn
fiercely. This pest species must be eradicated. I discharge a nerve agent
used to fumigate the soil, dispersing it as I would a chemicide. Fifty
point nine-three percent of the infestation dies. The rest withdraw to a
safe distance beyond the colony perimeter, abandoning the sole
remaining transport.
I destroy it with a sense of satisfaction and turn my attention to the
remaining infestation. The pest has withdrawn from the colony
perimeter. Technically, I am relieved of responsibility to destroy it. My
brief experience with this pest, however, has taught me that it will
remain a threat to this colony so long as a single member of its species
remains alive. Moreover, this pest has left a vessel in orbit and multiple
other vessels have been sent to unknown destinations. I must learn more
about this speciesтАЩ physiology to more effectively destroy it, for I
calculate high odds that the Enemy will attempt reinfestation of this
colony should I successfully eliminate the current infestation.