Indeks
 
Konkwista
 
GD0600 TE
 
English I
 
sartrenause

Odnośniki

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

"Doing so."
"Good work, everyone," said Keith, leaning forward in his chair, fingers
steepled in front of his face.
"JESUS!" shouted Thor. A tiny explosion was blossoming in the display.
"They've shot our watson out of the sky."
"Jag, analyze the weapon used," said Keith. "At least we can figure out
what their armament is."
Jag glanced at a square monitor screen. "Standard Waldahud police
lasers," he said. But then he rose from his station and gestured toward
Melondent, who had been serving as physics officer during delta shift.
Jag touched a few keys. "Transferring physical sciences to dolphin
station one," he said. He turned to Keith. "Perhaps . . .
perhaps it would be best if I did not further participate. Gawst did
not invoke the name of Queen Trath, so I assume that he and his
associates are acting without royal approval--an attempt to garner
considerable glory. Still, they are Waldahudin. Perhaps I should
return to my apartment."
"Not so bloody fast, Jag," Keith said, rising to his feet. He glanced
at Lianne. "Time to launch?"
"Ten, maybe eleven minutes."
Keith turned back to Jag. "You had me move Starplex so that we wouldn't
be able to see the Waldahud forces massing on the green star's far
side."
"I deny that," said Jag, both sets of arms crossed behind his back.
"Your loyalties don't lie with the Waldahudin?"
"My loyalty is to Queen Trath, but there is no evidence that she
authorized the attempt to seize this ship.."
"Lianne,' how many watsons did Jag receive in the last two days?"
"Checking. Three. Two were from CHAT--"
"Which is located just outside the Waldahud home system--" said Keith.
"And the third was a commercial unit from a telecommunications utility
on Rehbollo."
"It contained personal news," said Jag, "related to an illness in my
family."
"Examine those watsons, Lianne," said Keith. "I want to check the
messages that they carried."
"Once I had downloaded the data that I wanted," said Jag, "I released
the watsons for reuse--wiping the data first, of
COUrSe."
"We should be able to recover something," Keith said.
"Lianne?"
"Checking," she said, then a moment later. "Okay, the watsons that came
for Jag are still on board. We carry over a hundred of them, and those
three are still in the queue for reuse." She pressed some keys.
"I've interfaced with all three; they're blank."
"Nothing at all to unerase?"
"No. The data area has been wiped, then filled with a random pattern.
There's nothing left."
"I routinely use a level-seven wipe," said Jag.
"That's two levels above Earth military standards," said Keith.
"It leaves things more tidy," said Jag. "You have often remarked on my
predilection for neatness."
"This is all crap," said Keith. "I don't believe that it was
coincidence that you asked me to move the ship; the Waldahudin couldn't
have attacked en masse if we'd been there to see them popping out of the
shortcut one by one."
"I tell you, it is coincidence," said Jag.
Keith turned to face the InOps station. "Lianne, immediately delist all
command authorities for Jag Kandaro em-Pelsh.
And terminate all jobs he has running."
Bleeps as keys were touched. "Doing so," said Lianne.
"You do not have the authority to do this," said Jag.
"So sue me," said Keith. He looked at the Waldahud. "I was one of
those who argued against basing any part of Starplex on human military
structures, but if we had done so, at least we'd have a brig to throw
you in." He faced a set of glowing camera eyes floating above the
seating gallery behind the workstations. "PHANTOM, record new protocol.
Name: 'house arrest." Authorizing authority, Lansing, G. K.
Parameters: Individuals under house arrest are denied access to all work
areas; PHANTOM will not open doors for them to such. areas. They are
also forbidden to use external communication equipment and to give
PHANTOM
commands above level-four housekeeping. Understand?"
"Yes. Protocol established."
"Record the following: As of this moment--0752 hours-- and effective
until terminated personally by me, Jag Kanclaro em-Pelsh is under house
arrest."
"Acknowledged."
Keith's voice was controlled. "Now you may leave the bridge."
Jag folded both sets of arms behind his back again. "I don't believe
you have the right to bar me from this room."
"A moment ago, you wanted to leave," said Keith. "Of course, that was
back when you had the authority to launch a shuttle, and escape to the
armada."
Rhombus had left the External-Ops station and had rolled near to the
director's console. Lights played over his sensor web, and the web's
strands had turned yellow, the color of rage. "I support Keith," said
the cool British voice. "You have undermined everything we have worked
for. Leave the bridge voluntarily, Jag, or I will eject you."
"You can't do that. It is against the operating code to assault a
fellow sentient."
Rhombus began rolling toward Jag, a living steamroller.
"Just watch me," he said.
Jag stood defiarit a moment longer. Rhombus closed more of the distance
between them, his quartz-rimmed wheels glinting in the starlight of the
all-encompassing hologram. The Ib's ropelike tentacles were lifted from
their usual bundle, darting in the air like angry snakes. Jag finally
turned on his heel. The starfield in front of him split open, and he
marched out. The door closed.
Keith nodded thanks to Rhombus, then: "Thor, status of the Waldahud
ships?"
Thoraid Magnor looked over his shoulder at Keith. "Assuming they've got
nothing better than standard police lasers, they will be within
effective range in three minutes."
"How long until our own ships are ready for launch?"
Rhombus's lights blinked out a reply as he rolled back to his [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
  • zanotowane.pl
  • doc.pisz.pl
  • pdf.pisz.pl
  • brzydula.pev.pl
    		•
    Sitedesign by AltusUmbrae.