AMP Colossus Read Online Free Page B
have a knack for sniffing out suspicious behavior, and you reek of suspicion!"
When Feldew began to reply, I held up my hand. "No more questions from you. Are you familiar with the uniforms with the blue stripe on the shoulder?"
Feldew replied, "Yes. They are the Frexa. They are like the investigators of anything unusual for the Colossus. Are you... are you with the Frexa?"
I leaned in as I spoke quietly. "We are the Defiants; we investigate the Frexa!"
Feldew moved back in his chair as his eyes widened. I wondered how far I could take Feldew before he began to wise up. We were suddenly interrupted by a call over his radio.
A voice spoke. "Hoffis? Are you OK? The monitor shows that your door has been open for several minutes."
Hoffis looked at me for direction as Duane closed the open door. "Reply that you were just getting fresh air or something similar. If you in any way reveal our presence, you will pay dearly for that move."
Feldew Hoffis slowly turned and keyed his mic. "I am OK, Saffi. I sometimes like the smell of freshly mined Gunta ore. A full train just passed by."
The radio was quiet for a moment. "Feldew... you are a strange one. Gunta ore... hahahahaha!"
Feldew replied, "Thank you for your concern, Saffi. I shall see you after the shift."
Saffi replied, "Late as usual, I suppose."
A third voice then came over the radio. "Cut the chatter. The airwaves are for official use only. If I hear such conversations again, you will both be reported."
Two "yes, sirs" could be heard, followed by silence. Feldew turned back towards me.
I continued, "What do you know of the Colossus weapons?"
Again Feldew looked confused as he replied, "They are pulsers."
I again leaned in. "Explain to me your interpretation of a pulser. How does it work? What does it do?"
Feldew hesitated and then responded, "I have only heard stories, Sir, but I believe it fires what they call a condensed gravity pulse. When it strikes, it rapidly expands and then contracts before disappearing. I have not seen it used, but I have heard that you would be ripped apart if you were struck."
I continued, "And what of the sand-colored suits the soldiers are wearing? What is your knowledge of those?"
Feldew replied, "They are combat suits, Sir. We are not allowed to discuss them or the weapons. I should not have spoken about the pulser, should I? Oh, I knew this would be a bad day when that air lock closed. My father always said it would bring nothing but trouble."
I leaned against a counter and spoke. "Your father—was he an air lock operator like you?"
Feldew answered, "Yes. As was his father and my great-grandfather. Lock 12-16 has been our responsibility for four generations. This is the first time the lock has closed during our time monitoring it. There was a small compression leak on panel 32C. I fear that I will be held responsible for its flawed operation."
I continued, "What can you tell me about Embry Central? How far is it, and how do you normally get there from here?"
Feldew replied, "It is the hub of the Embry Mine. There are fourteen tunnels that extend out into the planet from it. It is an older, dying city. Only mines 12 and 14 remain in operation. Before my lifetime ends, it may be closed completely. My son, Moka, may never get to monitor 12-16."
I replied, "Tell me about Embry Central. How many Grell live there? And how many cities are on Ponik? Are they all mines?"
Feldew tilted his head as he replied, "Embry Central was once a thriving city. Three million Grell worked the mines at their peak during my grandfather’s time at this lock. There are now only 220,000 who are left to support the mines, and more than half of them work in the mines themselves. Mine 11 was the last to close. The workers who remained from 11 were taken away by the Colossuns.
"I have heard there are other cities, with Grand Ponik being the largest. The ore from each of the mining cities is taken there. The Colossuns tell us of great cities being
When Feldew began to reply, I held up my hand. "No more questions from you. Are you familiar with the uniforms with the blue stripe on the shoulder?"
Feldew replied, "Yes. They are the Frexa. They are like the investigators of anything unusual for the Colossus. Are you... are you with the Frexa?"
I leaned in as I spoke quietly. "We are the Defiants; we investigate the Frexa!"
Feldew moved back in his chair as his eyes widened. I wondered how far I could take Feldew before he began to wise up. We were suddenly interrupted by a call over his radio.
A voice spoke. "Hoffis? Are you OK? The monitor shows that your door has been open for several minutes."
Hoffis looked at me for direction as Duane closed the open door. "Reply that you were just getting fresh air or something similar. If you in any way reveal our presence, you will pay dearly for that move."
Feldew Hoffis slowly turned and keyed his mic. "I am OK, Saffi. I sometimes like the smell of freshly mined Gunta ore. A full train just passed by."
The radio was quiet for a moment. "Feldew... you are a strange one. Gunta ore... hahahahaha!"
Feldew replied, "Thank you for your concern, Saffi. I shall see you after the shift."
Saffi replied, "Late as usual, I suppose."
A third voice then came over the radio. "Cut the chatter. The airwaves are for official use only. If I hear such conversations again, you will both be reported."
Two "yes, sirs" could be heard, followed by silence. Feldew turned back towards me.
I continued, "What do you know of the Colossus weapons?"
Again Feldew looked confused as he replied, "They are pulsers."
I again leaned in. "Explain to me your interpretation of a pulser. How does it work? What does it do?"
Feldew hesitated and then responded, "I have only heard stories, Sir, but I believe it fires what they call a condensed gravity pulse. When it strikes, it rapidly expands and then contracts before disappearing. I have not seen it used, but I have heard that you would be ripped apart if you were struck."
I continued, "And what of the sand-colored suits the soldiers are wearing? What is your knowledge of those?"
Feldew replied, "They are combat suits, Sir. We are not allowed to discuss them or the weapons. I should not have spoken about the pulser, should I? Oh, I knew this would be a bad day when that air lock closed. My father always said it would bring nothing but trouble."
I leaned against a counter and spoke. "Your father—was he an air lock operator like you?"
Feldew answered, "Yes. As was his father and my great-grandfather. Lock 12-16 has been our responsibility for four generations. This is the first time the lock has closed during our time monitoring it. There was a small compression leak on panel 32C. I fear that I will be held responsible for its flawed operation."
I continued, "What can you tell me about Embry Central? How far is it, and how do you normally get there from here?"
Feldew replied, "It is the hub of the Embry Mine. There are fourteen tunnels that extend out into the planet from it. It is an older, dying city. Only mines 12 and 14 remain in operation. Before my lifetime ends, it may be closed completely. My son, Moka, may never get to monitor 12-16."
I replied, "Tell me about Embry Central. How many Grell live there? And how many cities are on Ponik? Are they all mines?"
Feldew tilted his head as he replied, "Embry Central was once a thriving city. Three million Grell worked the mines at their peak during my grandfather’s time at this lock. There are now only 220,000 who are left to support the mines, and more than half of them work in the mines themselves. Mine 11 was the last to close. The workers who remained from 11 were taken away by the Colossuns.
"I have heard there are other cities, with Grand Ponik being the largest. The ore from each of the mining cities is taken there. The Colossuns tell us of great cities being
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