Automatic Assassin

  Chapter 18

  The universe finally agreed that the Space Dragon Katana was in orbit around the planet Earth, and so the invasion began. His mouth full of nausea spit, but not paying it any mind, Admiral Woo looked down at the troublesome blue droplet.

  “When is the next ship due?”

  “5 minutes, sir!”

  “We're too exposed. Fly evasively in a low orbit; get in the atmosphere if you can. Make them think twice about raining shrapnel on the Terrans.”

  The long silver flanks of the space dragon rippled and bulged and the photon engines deployed, pushing the ship down. Then they flipped around and started to work to keep it up. Gravity felt teased. The ship looped around earth, scudding across thin particles. A hundred gunmen in blisters on the dragon's skin looked all around for the ambush they dreaded.

  Of course it didn't come.

  Other dragons buckled nothingness and came to be.

  The fleet assembled. The tough soldiers inside shivered silently with guilt, as killers usually did when they came back from nowhere.

  Within a couple of hours they were all there and had splashed water in their faces and what have you. The scanners scanned the planet. They were looking for a signal from Xolo's brain but it did not come. Then they scanned for the ship. That also was a bust.

  Woo and his top scanner guy met by the viewing window. Earth was below. Earth was not THE most beautiful planet in the galaxy, but it was the cradle of beauty or at least of the brains that depended on it. It distracted even hardened spacers, made them talk like fancy poets by a famous old river. Woo even cracked open a bottle of wine.

  “So what's our next move, Alexandrov? Do we put a few querybots in the headnet? Send them fishing around for you-know-who?”

  Alexandrov visibly chewed on the thought.

  “Could be consequences. Not recommended.”

  “What kind of consequences?”

  “Negative consequences.”

  “Is there any other kind?”

  Woo knew that he was not going to get an unprompted suggestion from Alexandrov so he outright asked for a recommendation.

  “I recommend watching for energy flares. Earth is very low energy. If Boa Morte is down there, eventually he will do something energy demanding, you know.”

  “Magrega didn't send me here to hang out. I want to be home by tomorrow. Go away and come up with something better. Quickly. Have one great cup of tea and then come back with a fucking classic for me. I want a head in the freezer by bedtime.”

  Alexandrov left. Woo dealt with a few little things. Woo also sketched out a plan to raze the Earth. He was drawn to the Mediterranean as a place he would like to start his kill frenzy at.

  Alexandrov came back.

  “I don't have another idea but we are getting power surges already. Shall we investigate?”

  “Where?”

  “Just north of the Mediterranean.”

  “That big puddle?”

  “Yes.”

  “Send down the paracopters force. Try and bring him alive or at least with his brain still in his skull.”

  “Are you talking to me, sir?”

  “I was hoping you would go and tell someone what I wanted.”

  “Yes, sir. Paracopters it is, sir.”

  Woo stayed by the window until he saw paracopters drip onto the planet.