"Babylon 5 - The Nautilus Coil - J Gregory Keyes (txt)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Babylon 5)

to get a ship fitted. The question is, given their current situation -- how
long did that take?" He rubbed his chin.

"Let's jump closer," he said.

"Risky, Mr. Garibaldi."

"Not as risky as letting them find whatever is down there while we cruise in
at sub-light speeds. Jump again."

***

This time it was the discernible disk of a planet that greeted them as the
black-and-white of real space replaced the red nightmare of what lay under
it.

Garibaldi crinkled his brow at the sight of the planet. Like most
habitable worlds, what he saw was mostly white. The poles were huge, and
equatorial regions were quilted in clouds -- ribbons and veils, swirls and
checkerboards. Glimpses of topaz oceans came through near the equator, and
the yellow brown of arid regions. He saw very little green.

"Well?" he asked, impatiently. "What have we got?"

"Earth-like," Firth said. "Larger, but with fewer heavy elements, so about
the same mass. Sir, it's been banged up. A lot, and recently."

"What with?"

"There are two large continents. Both of them have been bombed to bedrock,
in some places. There's still dust in the air -- that planet seems to be in
the grips of a nuclear winter. No signs of energy or industrial production.
Not on this side, anyway."

"Any ships around?"

"Not yet. There is a moon -- small, with a few metal structures." She looked
up excitedly. "There's a jumpgate, sir. Or what's left of one!"

"Whose design?"

"Unknown, but it looks more like a Vorlon gate than anything else."

"It's Vorlon."

Garibaldi turned. Lyta had just come on the bridge.

"Can you feel them, Lyta? Are they out there?"

"I've been trying. There is -- something -- on the planet. It might be