Fallout (Expeditionary Force #13)

by Craig Alanson

“Your secret is safe with me. How can we help you, Captain Bonsu?” “Well, it’s-” “We can help, right? Please? Ooh, can we kill something? Please? That’s what we do, you know?” “Yeah, I- Uh. Surely you understand that when you kill an enemy ship, it’s not good for you?” “Yes. And don’t call me Shirley. I’m Kevin,” it insisted. “I didn’t-” “She is Shirley,” Kevin said. “Hello,” another weapon lit up. “I’m Shirley.” “And I’m Betty!” A third missile glowed. “Uh,” Derek sputtered. “This is all a little-” “When do we get to kill something? Huh? Huh?” Kevin’s nosecone light pulsed excitedly. “Soon. Maybe. Hopefully. It-” “Sir, how can we get from ‘Maybe’ to ‘Yes’?” Kevin demanded, the smarmy way a car salesman would ask ‘How can I get you into a new car today’? “It’s complicated. I need to know whether you can do something. You, all of you, are able to network during an attack, correct? One of you can pop out of stealth, to go active and act as a controller?”