The Tower and the Hive by Anne McCaffrey

And it has to be an odor-free adhesive!
    Can do, Clancy said. Just hang in there a few minutes, if you can.
    We can, Semirame blithely assured him.
    On their way, Clancy said.
    To get it really stuck proper in position, I’m going to have to stand on your shoulders, I think, Thian. You’re good for something now and then, you know. Semirame gave him a picture of her, patting his head. Only she was on stilts and he was much, much shorter.
    Suddenly Thian heard a mechanical whirring and air was blowing against him.
    That’s odd, Semirame said.
    Thian felt Grm tug at his sleeve and he leaned down:
    THEY SMELL US, the ’Dini murmured in his ear.
    Grm seems to think we smell, Thian said.
    I don’t doubt that in the least, Semirame said. They gotta have clean air.
    If they smell us, why don’t they see us? Thian asked.
    I dunno, and I’m as happy they can’t. Hurry up with that spy-eye, will ya? If they’re cleansing the air, they might look for ... Thanks. A package landed against Rame’s chest and she clutched it firmly to her.
    Good catch, Clancy said.
    Now Semirame pushed Thian to the back wall, gestured for him to make his hands into a footrest. He shook his head, grinning, spread his legs slightly and ’ported her to his shoulders. Wincing, he also lightened her not insubstantial weight before her heavy boots could dig welts into his shoulders. Instinctively, he put his hands up on her muscular calves to steady her. He could feel her smear on the adhesive with quick movements, then the pressure as she stuck the surveillance unit into the goo.
    Can you see, Clancy? She asked.
    Ah ... yes, coming through... as clear as it’ll get, I guess.
    Now’s the time to know, Clancy, she said, in her best have-you-done-as-I-told-you commander manner.
    We’ll fiddle with resolution up here. Admiral says get out of there before you do stink up the place enough for them to start looking for you.
    Right.
    Thian ’ported her back to the floor, and she gave a curt flick of her fingers to indicate they should leave. Grm tried to resist Thian pulling it along, but with the air circulation blowing across his face, Thian really did think it was high time to leave.
    We got lots of pictures, Thian. Landing party’s recording all over the facility. Clancy sent each of the teams night-vision remotes, Semirame said, and the group at the entrance now stepped back to allow them to leave the queen’s quarters. As soon as she was a ways down the passageway, Semirame gave low-voiced orders to reassemble in the main chamber.
    There was a substantial breeze flowing across the chamber when they got there.
    â€œAll units here?” she asked, scanning the figures in front of her.
    â€œAll present and accounted for,” said the squad sergeant. “Let’s get outta here before they try to find who’s making their house smell,” Semirame said, and raising her arm in forward sweep, trotted up out of the collection point. Pushing up her visor, she ran backward as she checked again that all who had entered were coming out. Then she turned forward again and kept up the trot the short distance to the shuttle. She stood by the door, with the sergeant, checking once more. In minutes, everyone was seated, ready for the ’port back to the Washington.
    We’re ready, Thian told Clancy.
    Steady as you go, Clancy answered.
    â€œSir.” Having got the commander’s attention, Wixell pointed through the window.
    They just had time to see low-slung creatures flowing up out of the collection facility, waving antennae about.
    â€œTrying to find out where the smell comes from,” Semirame said, chuckling. “Have to remember to neutralize us stinking types the next time we do a reconnaissance.”
    Thian chuckled. “I wasn’t sweating. Were you?”
    â€œNaw,” Semirame replied. “Might be our boots.” She looked down at her dirt-stained footwear.