Earth Afire (The First Formic War 2)

"Wherever I go I get assaulted by paparazzi," said Lem. "It's annoying. I figured you didn't want cameras shoved in your faces."

"Yes, you're a big hero now," said Victor. "We watched some of your interviews this afternoon. You were so brave to abandon those free miners. Wherever did you find the courage?"

Lem rolled his eyes. "Is this why you asked to see me? To insult me? Because I really don't have the time." He started to get up.

"No," said Imala. "That's not why." She shot Victor a look, and Victor put his hands up in a show of surrender.

Lem settled back on the bench. "Look," he said, "whatever your agenda is, let me begin by saying that this company has the finest legal team in the world. If your intent is to blackmail me, you're making a mistake. It won't work. My father would never allow that to happen. If you go to the press, they'll ignore you. If you go the nets, it will be removed, and you'll be slapped with a lawsuit that would pretty much guarantee a very dismal financial future for yourselves. Trust me. I know how my father works. I know you're not wearing listening devices because I had the gardener sweep you when you came in, but if this is your intent, let me save you a lot of heartache and end the conversation right now before you say something you'll regret. Because whatever it is, my father will hear of it, and it would not bode well for you."

"You see, Imala?" said Victor. "All he has for us is threats."

"I'm not threatening you," said Lem. "I'm warning you. I'm doing you a favor. You don't want to make a spectacle of what happened in the Kuiper Belt. You'd lose. There are other ways to do this. I'm willing to settle with the family of the man who died. We would do it privately. In a way that is untraceable back to me. But I will gladly do that. No lawyers. No documents. If the wife and children are still alive, I'll happily set up an account and see that they're taken care of."

Victor was so angry it took everything not to shout the words out. "You think you can buy my family? You think my uncle Marco can be paid for?" He turned to Imala. "This was a mistake. He's not going to help us."

"Help you do what?" said Lem.

"We didn't come here to blackmail you," said Imala. "We came here because we think we've found a way to get inside the Formic ship."

"And why would you want to do that?" asked Lem.

"There's a war on," said Victor. "Maybe you didn't notice."

Lem narrowed his eyes. "Your family was far more charming than you are, Victor. I find it hard to believe you're even related."

Victor stood up. "That's it. We're out of here, Imala."

"Sit down, Victor." Imala's voice was sharp as a whip. "Both of you are acting like children. There are people dying. Millions of people. I would like to do something about that. I thought the both of you did as well. If I'm wrong, tell me now, and I'll look elsewhere."

Reluctantly, Victor sat down again.

Imala looked at Lem, who sat back and put his hands up, acquiescing. "I'm listening. What's your plan?"

She told him.

When she finished Lem was quiet a moment. "How do you get inside the Formic ship once you reach it? I've seen it up close. There are no doors. No windows. No entry points anywhere."

"I'll go in where the guns emerge," said Victor. "On our way to the ship, I'll stop at one of the bigger chunks of debris, I'll attach a propellant to it. A small engine of sorts. It wouldn't take much. Then when I reach the Formic ship, I'll initiate the propellant and fly the hunk of debris directly at the Formic ship as fast as it can go. The guns will emerge to blast it to smithereens, and I'll slip in through the hole."

Imala regarded him. "That's actually a good idea. Why didn't you mention it before?"

"Because I just thought of it," said Victor.

"How would you get back out again?" said Lem. "Once the gun retracts, you're stuck inside."

"I'll take braces with me, made of the strongest reinforced steel available. I'll prop open the crevice enough to squeeze back out."

"What if there's no entry point inside the hole?" asked Lem. "The gun could sit in a recessed space without any access to the interior of the ship."

"Then I'll use the opportunity to disable the gun," said Victor. "I'll cripple the ship as much as I can. I'll make the most of my time. I'll do reconnaissance. I'll learn as much as I can."

"And what will you do if you do get inside the ship?"

"Find the helm and plant an explosive," said Victor. "Whoever is leading the army will likely be there. Kill him, and you put the army in chaos."

"How would you know where the helm is located?" asked Lem.

"It'll be in the center of the ship," said Victor