Cassandra Kresnov 5: Operation Shield Read Free Page A

explained, slotting the grenade mag, chambering a round.
    “Why are we going there?”
    “Because if someone drops artillery on us, that will be the safest place.”
    “But it's not deeper underground than the other basements,” Kiril said doubtfully. “I looked at it on my glasses, and I think the other basements are safer.”
    Six years old or not, there was no coddling Kiril about nasty possibilities. Which was something of a relief, because she wasn't good at it anyway and had no idea how to take care of children beyond what she'd seen third-hand from others.
    “I don't think they'll want to damage the GI factory if they can avoid it,” she said. “The people who ran Chancelry are hiding over with the other corporations, and they want their headquarters back. The GI factory is one of the most valuable bits.”
    “Wow, did you know there are big power cables running down the wall here?” He was pointing at things only he could see with his glasses.
    On tacnet, Sandy could see the other corporations firing up to full mobilisation. Exactly how tacnet knew, given their limited resources here, she wasn't sure. Had Kiet deployed new intel assets?
    “Why won't Kiet listen to you?” The elevator was nearly at the top now, above the ferrocrete ceiling that would perhaps stop a couple of armour-piercing AMLORA rounds, but no more than that.
    “Kiet thinks all the other corporations’ GIs should be freed right now,” said Sandy. “I was trying to be patient.”
    “You mean he was being im patient,” said Kiril with wise emphasis. “Danya tells me all the time, me and Svetlana, don't be impatient. He says we can get hurt if we're impatient. Is Kiet going to get hurt?”
    “Worse,” Sandy said grimly. “Everyone else will.”
    “Sandy, when are we going to rescue Danya and Svetlana?” Looking up at her with those big, serious eyes.
    Sandy looked at him for a moment. There was probably some kind of adult-to-child moment to be had here, that she'd know how to do if she'd had some practise. But with her head full of tacnet and combat reflex, it wasn't her thing.
    “I don't think they need rescuing, Kiril. They're in Rimtown and they've lived in Rimtown all their lives, like you. I'm sure they're much safer there than here.”
    Probably shouldn't have said that either, but it was true.
    “But I want them here!”
    “I know.” There was a dull, unpleasant feeling as she said it. Something twisting deep in her gut. “But the corporations have us surrounded and outgunned, and I couldn't bring them here if I wanted to.”
    “We have flyers in the bay,” Kiril retorted, pointing back that way. “We could fly to them.”
    “We'd be shot down.” The elevator reached ground level, A-5 building of Chancelry HQ, wide aprons and heavy, triple-layer security doors leading to the outside. “Besides, we don't know where they are and if we tried to contact them, that contact could be traced and lead the corporations straight to them. Come on.”
    She bent for him, but he went on his own. “I don't need to be carried,” he muttered, walking fast.
    “Well, then you need to run,” said Sandy. “Can you run?”
    “I can get there on my own.” Kiril walked across the apron to new secure doors that Sandy was already opening with a mental uplink. Within lay a long internal corridor. Out on the courtyard space between buildings, another AMLORA was positioning, missile launcher angling skyward.
    Sandy kept up. “I promised Danya and Svetlana I'd look after you. You don't want me to break my promise to Danya, do you?”
    Kiril said nothing for a moment. Then held out his arms. Sandy picked him up and resumed running, slower this time, as the low ceiling would not allow bounding. She opened doors in their path with uplinks, patched directly into the local network. Building 5-A became the much larger 7-A, which remained a mess after the uprising, externals shot to hell, all windows gone and much of the outer facing walls