"William Forstchen - Wing Commander 3 - Fleet Action" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

"I think, my comrades," he said smoothly, "that is why you can also
understand why my clan alone took full responsibility for the construction
of these ships. We had to maintain the tightest of security. The knowledge
of this leaking to our enemies would give them time to analyze our new
ships and perhaps find a counter."

He stared defiantly at Jukaga.

"That is why my clan placed such security around the project and kept
it hidden for so long."

Jukaga wanted to reply with a challenge, that it also insured the power
of the Imperial throne with such ships solely in its hands, but realized that
now was not the time, even though the subtle insult to the other clans had
not gone unnoticed.

"Then commit it now and block this human offensive," Buktag'ka said,
pounding the table excitedly.

Jukaga looked at Buktag'ka and wanted to laugh at the bootlicker's
enthusiasm.

"That is not the way to win war," Thrakhath replied, an edge of
sarcasm in his voice revealing his sense that though Buktag'ka was a
family leader, he was still of a lower cast. Buktag'ka quickly looked around
the room, hoping for some sign of support and saw nothing but mocking
stares and he swallowed his rage.

"In eighty and forty days four more carriers of the Hakaga class will be
ready for their operational tests, in three eighty and forty days, we will
have a full fleet of eight and four Hakaga carriers fully operational.

"That means we will have a need for over forty eighties of fighter and
strike craft pilots. In spite of what the Baron might think, that is why I
had fully intended to reveal this information to you today. The first ship's
fighter crews were drawn from my clan, but as new ships come on line we
will need to draw the best pilots from all clans out of the training
academies and off existing fleet ships. All of your hrai, your clans, are to
share in the glory of this new fleet."

He looked over at the Baron and suppressed a scornful laugh. Though
indeed the Baron had pressured him into revealing the project too soon, it
was amusing to not let him think so.

"Only then will I release them, when the entire fleet is ready, using
them to cleave straight through the human defenses. Our war simulations
have gone over the plan repeatedly and our projection is that at least half
of these new ships will survive to reach Earth, while in the process
smashing the Confederation Fleet in one final climatic battle. Within one
hour after gaining orbit above their home planet either the Terran