Cobra Gamble Read Online Free PDF

Perhaps."
    Lorne had picked up on it, too. "Something wrong?" he asked.
    Furtively, Croi's eyes flicked to Zoshak, flicked away again. "I don't know yet," he said. "I hope not."
    Lorne glanced at his father. "Meaning?"
    Croi's jaw tightened again. "It's just that Isis was never meant to be taken off Aventine," he said reluctantly. "It was certainly never meant to be a secret installation."
    "We could throw a blanket over it," Lorne suggested.
    "This isn't a joke," Croi bit out, glaring at him. "It turns out there's a substantial and highly distinctive radio leakage signal that comes from the assembly coordination computer."
    Paul felt Jin stir in the chair beside him. "Distinctive how?" she asked.
    "Distinctive enough to show it's coming from a manufacturing computer," Croi said.
    "Surely there are other manufacturing computers on Qasama," Paul said, frowning. His wife's reaction had been small, but still stronger than it should have been.
    "You're missing the point," Jin said. "The Trofts monitor all radio usage here. Their antipersonnel missiles automatically target any transmissions within range."
    "We believe they also had some of their shipboard missiles programmed for larger-scale attacks," Zoshak said. "Jin Moreau is right. Dr. Croi. Any radio signal on Qasama, distinctive or otherwise, will be an invitation to death."
    "So we'll just have to make sure it's well shielded," Paul said, a lump forming in his throat. No wonder Jin had reacted to Croi's news. Lugging Isis all the way here just to have it blown up would pretty much end it for all of them. "How do we do that?"
    "Well, that's the question, isn't it?" Croi said heavily. "And the answer is, I don't know." He waved a hand vaguely aft. "Ingidi-inhiliziyo and I have spent the past five days working on it. The problem we keep coming up with is that even if we shield the main computer, there's still leakage around the cable connections and from the intersect planes. I have a bad feeling that if the invaders return before we've finished equipping the new Cobras we're going to have serious trouble on our hands."
    "I see," Jin said. She turned to Zoshak. "Djinni Zoshak? May I?"
    Paul looked at the young Qasaman warrior. His expression was tight, but he nodded. "Under the circumstances," he said, "I think it acceptable that you tell them."
    "Perhaps we should consult Ifrit Akim first," Jin suggested.
    "No need," Zoshak said, more firmly. "We're allies now." He gestured. "Go ahead."
    Jin nodded and looked back at Croi. "There shouldn't be any problem with leakage," she said. "The Qasamans have underground chambers deep beneath their cities. Between the steel, ceramic, and native rock, there should be enough material to block any signals from getting out."
    "Really," Croi said, his voice a mixture of relief and chagrin. "You couldn't have told me all this five days ago?"
    "I didn't know what you were working on," Jin reminded him. "Besides, the subcities are as much a military secret as Isis."
    Croi took a deep breath. "Yes, of course. My apologies."
    There was a ping from the intercom system. [Jasmine Jin Moreau Broom, she will come immediately to the bridge,] a tight Troft voice called.
    Jin and Paul exchanged looks. "That doesn't sound good," Paul said as Jin got to her feet.
    "No, it didn't," Jin agreed. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
    "If you think you're going anywhere without us, you're nuts," Lorne said, tapping Zoshak's arm and standing up. He looked at Croi and crooked a finger. "You, too, Doc—come on."
    "But they only asked for her," Croi objected.
    "I must have heard it wrong." Lorne looked at Paul. "You staying here?"
    "Not a chance," Paul said firmly, getting a grip on the arms of his chair and using his arm servos to lever himself upright. "Go—I'm right behind you."
    Jin had already disappeared through the forward door, with Zoshak close behind her. Lorne looked in that direction, then turned and rounded the table to his father's side. "I said you