Ninefox Gambit (The Machineries of Empire, #1)

by Yoon Ha Lee

“They’ll see us coming, sir.” “They’ll see you coming,” Isaure said. “I’ll provide covering fire. I just want you to lob as many of the grenades as you can at that machine, get some explosions going.” “We could pick off a few of them first, sir –” “Soldier,” Isaure said crushingly, “did I give you permission to think? Charge straight in, throw grenades, get the hell out. I’ve given you instructions. Acknowledge.” “Acknowledged, sir,” Niaad said, despite a sincere desire to tell her to fuck a jackhammer. “Go,” Isaure said, gesturing with her scorch rifle. Niaad was already having trouble with his peripheral vision. He kept having to swing his head from side to side to check his surroundings. It wasn’t until Isaure shook his shoulder that he realized his hearing was half-gone, too. The stress effects wouldn’t have set in so early in a properly tuned Kel. “There’s the gauntlet,” Isaure said. “Sloppy guards, no one’s facing our way. Their misfortune, our gain. Get in, lob the grenades, get out. I’ll cover you. Simple.” “Yes, sir,” he whispered. Stupid plan, but he had to obey. “Good man. We’ll make a Kel of you yet. Go!” Niaad shuffled at first because he couldn’t get his legs to cooperate. The noise alerted them. He primed one grenade and threw poorly, well short of the machine. It was hard not to be hypnotized by its red glow and wires and strange gears. The heretics’ guards may have been careless, but they weren’t fools. One of them kicked the grenade down the corridor. The...