Starquake.pdf

Electromagnetic-Maker/55 tapped his control console, and his 20,736 robots each started emitting
long-wavelength infrared radiation from their bodies. The robots were arranged in a 144 by 144 array,
and their infrared output was phased so that it focused down into a narrow waist just as it entered the
optical fiber in the cut end of the communications cable.
"Modulation detected," Electromagnetic-Maker/32 reported.
"Good," said Electromagnetic-Manager/1. He was now sure that the cheela could find a method of
getting information on and off the human electrical wires and optical fibers. He contacted
Graviton-Maker/321.
"Turn laser toward St. George ..." said Electromagnetic-Manager/ 1.
No reply was needed. Graviton-Maker/321 proceeded to manipulate his crew of robots by treading
touch-blocks on the sides of his touch-taste screen.
"... and ..." continued Electromagnetic-Manager/1.
"... and?" queried Graviton-Maker/321, puzzled by the verbosity.
"Don't ..." started Electromagnetic-Manager/1.
". . . touch!" rumbled Graviton-Maker/321, greatly amused.
St. George was far away from the dangerous neutron star in a 100,000-kilometer orbit a third of a
light-second away, so it took three turns before Electromagnetic-Manager/1 established contact with the
computer on St. George using the laser communicator taken from Dragon Slayer. Once the computer
realized that it was communicating directly with cheela instead of the slow-thinking humans, it rapidly
repeated the message that it had been sending. The image was that of a female human with yellow hair
bound into a single long braid over one shoulder. It reminded Electromagnetic-Manager/I of a ridiculous
type of inbred pet Slink that had hair so long that the pet needed a robot attendant to hold its hair up, out
from under its tread when it wanted to move. His console computer link identified the human as Carole
Swenson, the Commander of the Dragon's Egg expedition.
"Dragon Slayer! Your last laser communicator is dead. Switch to alternate links!Dra .. ."
Electromagnetic-Manager/1 thought for a while about answering the anxious human in order to reassure
her that the crew was in no immediate danger. But by the time she had finished saying the word "Dragon
Slayer," he would have obtained permission to proceed with the rest of the mission and he could tell her
the better news that the cheela were going to try to return the crew to the command ship, St. George. He
erased the image of the human from his screen
and set up a call to the Administrator of the Slow One Transport Project.
Two turns later, Electromagnetic-Manager/1 received an in-person visit by the administrator of the Slow
One Transport Project. Electromagnetic-Manager/1 didn't like working with the Ancient One, who
insisted on being addressed by his archaic egg-name, instead of his position.
"I am Lovely-Eyes," said the administrator. The wrinkled hide and erratic eye-stub motion contrasted
with the intense gleam from the dark red eyes.