Greg Bear Anvil of Stars

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of the Law,"
the mom said.
"I think we should assume Leviathan is not what it seems," Martin said.
"A reasonable beginning," Stonemaker said.
"Just to be cautious," Martin added.
"Agreed."
"Acting under such an assumption, we also should assume that the beings behind
the disguise are Killers& "
"Agreed," Stonemaker repeated.
"And the Killers probably have some knowledge, perhaps extensive knowledge, of
the civilizations in this vicinity, and what they're capable of," Martin said.
"You wish to design a ship that might come from such a civilization," the mom
said.
"Yes. A ship that couldn't be destroyed without interstellar repercussions,"
Martin said.
"You are assuming," Eye on Sky began, "that this disguise is meant for senses
other than we all our own. That the Killers of worlds assume they are under
scrutiny from others besides we all ourselves."
Martin nodded.
"He means yes," Paola said.
"It is remarkable insight," Stonemaker said. A faint smell of peppers and
baking bread:
interest, perhaps pleasure for one or more of the Brothers. "I we see this is
related to your literature, as a fiction or strategic lie. Would all this
joined Ship of the Law be part of play-act?"
"Hans and I believe the ship should divide into several parts," Martin said.
"One part will enter the system, disguised but essentially unarmed, to
investigate; the other two will orbit far outside. If a guilty verdict is
reached, weapons can be released by the ships outside. We can try to finish
the Job. If the Killers no longer live here "
"Or if we can't hurt them without hurting innocents," Ariel said. Martin
cringed inwardly.
Yes, but what if?
"Or if we can't find them or recognize them," Martin amended, "then we'll
rejoin and change our plans."
"That is feasible," the mom said. "Useful information will be made available.
Do you wish to design the vessel that enters the Leviathan system, or do you
wish us to design it for you?"
"We can do it, but I think we'll need assistance," Martin said. Ariel was
about to add something, but he looked at her dourly and she clenched her jaw.
"Your designers should think about these things," the mom said. "The ship to
enter
Leviathan's system must not appear overtly threatening, nor should it appear
to come from a weak civilization. It should not, however, appear to have
technology equal to that possessed by the Ships of the Law, specifically, the
ability to convert matter to anti-matter. Your crew must appear innocent of
all knowledge of killer probes."
Martin agreed.
"When will your groups make their decisions?" the mom asked.
"In a couple of days, maybe sooner," Martin said.
"Separation and super-deceleration will have to begin within a tenday," the
mom said.
"Is there anything else we'd find useful?" Martin asked.
"There is no possibility that the Killers, if they still exist around
Leviathan, have knowledge of humans," the mom continued. "No killer probes
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escaped Earth's system. There is a small possibility they have knowledge of
the Brothers. Transmissions by the killer probes from the
Brothers' system were monitored, information content unknown."
"We we would like to be part of the crew of any entry vessel," Eye on Sky
said. "This might be a difficulty?"
"It might," the mom concluded.
The snake mother arched and floated a few centimeters above the ground, a
purple ladder field faintly visible beneath. In this, too, they differed from
the moms; Martin had never seen a mom display its field. Its voice sounded
like a low wind interpreted by the string section in an
orchestra. "Brothers may play key roles in ships that stay outside the
system," it said.
"Is that something they will vote on?" Paola asked, brow wrinkling.
"It is something to be decided by the Brothers in private," the snake mother
said.
Eye on Sky and Stonemaker produced strong smells of salt sea air. "So is it,"
Stonemaker said. "There will be a Triple Merging for objectivity and decisions
will be made before next day comes."
"I have one more question," Martin said, feeling his chest constrict. "It
isn't an easy one, and I
hope for a straightforward answer."
Silence from the robots. Eye on Sky and Stonemaker rustled faintly.
"Some of us have been given the impression rather, we've observed that the
Brothers'
libraries are much more extensive than our own. Why are they more extensive?"
The mom said, "Each race is given the information necessary to carry out its
part of the Law."
"We feel the ships' minds may not think humans are as trustworthy as the
Brothers," Martin continued.
"Every race differs in its needs and capacities," the mom said. "Information
differs for that reason."
"Will we be denied any of the information contained in the Brothers'
libraries?" Martin asked.
"You will be denied nothing you need, as a group, to complete your Job."
The snake mother said, "Your Ship of the Law is older than the Brothers' ship.
There are design differences."
"I thought that might explain part of the& " Martin said, trailing off.
"Attitudes and designs change," the snake mother added.
"We have discussed this before," the mom said. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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