"Lee Edgar - The Andromeda Burn" - читать интересную книгу автора (Edgar Lee)

NUMBER OF PLANETS - 10
DISTANCE - 41.39AU >
She pressed the button marked TANNOY. тАШCommander Duncan to the flight deck,
please.тАЩ
After a few seconds, a manтАЩs voice came from a speaker on the console. тАШWhat
is it, Cassi?тАЩ
тАШIris has Sol on the screen, Commander.тАЩ
She could almost hear his smile. тАШVery good. Prepare the reactor for reverse
thrust. IтАЩm on my way up.тАЩ
Cassi turned to her right and moved her long, white fingers over the red
keyboard. тАШACTIVATE MAIN REACTORтАЩ
тАШAre you sure? (Y/N) >тАЩ replied the amber characters on the screen of the
drive computer which then waited patiently for her answer.
She pressed тАШYтАЩ. Yes, she was sure.
тАШMain reactor activated > 10 minutes to critical mass >тАЩ
Cassi relaxed. There was nothing more she could do but wait. During the long
haul across the void, the drive had been locked into stand-by mode and the
auxiliary drive had taken care of all minor course adjustments. The bulkhead
door opened with a slight pressure hiss and in walked a tall man who appeared
to be around fifty earth years.
He laid his clipboard on the console and looked over the girlтАЩs shoulder.
тАШGood work, Cassi. WeтАЩre coming home at last.тАЩ
Cassi glanced up at him. His blue-grey eyes still sparkled despite the
crinkles in the skin at each side. The teeth were still his own though the
once-fair hair and beard were now turning grey. All she knew was that she
loved him and that she could sense his enthusiasm which was infectious as a
tingle of excitement ran through her own body.
He sensed her observations and smiled. тАШHow long to critical mass?тАЩ
Cassi glanced at the red screen. тАШSeven minutes.тАЩ
He stood up straight. тАШOkay. WeтАЩd better strap ourselves in. ItтАЩs been a
long time since IтАЩve done this. Warn the others, would you?тАЩ
Cassi nodded and pressed the tannoy button. тАШAttention all crew. Reverse
thrust in approximately seven minutes. Repeat, reverse thrust in seven
minutes.тАЩ
The Commander sat in his swivel chair and connected the straps across his
lap while Cassi returned to Iris.
тАШIs the deceleration bad?тАЩ she asked.
He shook his head. тАШNot normally. Just a sudden slowing to sub-light speed.
We canтАЩt go tearing across a stellar system in Proton Drive. If we run into
Miranda or Phoebe at this speed, they will do more that scratch WayfarerтАЩs
paintwork.тАЩ
Cassi glanced at the red terminal and pressed the tannoy button once more.
тАШReverse thrust in four minutes and counting.тАЩ
James Duncan grinned. тАШYouтАЩre enjoying this, arenтАЩt you?тАЩ
CassiтАЩs deep blue eyes flicked to him briefly as she set up the retros for
possible course adjustment. тАШIt runs in the family.тАЩ
He threw back his head and laughed. тАШThatтАЩs my girl.тАЩ
Blushing a little, Cassi concentrated on scanning for any other nearby
stellar bodies that could impede their progress. There were none within range.
тАШThree minutes to reverse thrust,тАЩ she said over the tannoy. тАШSecure any