"William R. Forstchen - Wing Commander 06 - Action Stations" - читать интересную книгу автора (Forstchen William R)

I must frankly confess that we are in the dark. Those few vessels we've been able to get data on, I
suspect are antiquated models that were already in service during their war with the Varni and are now
assigned to patrol their side of the border so that we will not know their current capability. Sir, my
attached report will go into greater detail regarding all these aspects, but there is something the report can
not present as hard fact. Just call it the gut feeling of an old Intel officer who's been watching the "Cats"
ever since we first bumped into themтАж There will be War. They are a predatory society; their definition
of existence, both individually and societally, is predicated upon conquest, upon the clear establishment of
superior and inferior. The stasis of peace, without the clear resolution of who is superior, is anathema to
them. Those who believe otherwise live in a dream world, but this report is not the place to discuss that
point.

I believe, as well, that there is a fear that drives them. We have seen the one intel report from Remote
Deep Probe Twelve, which was launched in towards the galactic core over thirty years ago. The one
report back before its mysterious disappearance five years ago indicates that there is a warlike empire of
almost unimagined strength ten thousand light-years inward and heading in our direction. If this report is
indeed true, the Kilrathi must make a choice; to confront that greater enemy and leave their flank towards
us open, or create a buffer zone in our direction before facing this other enemy. We must realize a
fundamental point here, sir. We must learn to stop thinking as humans, and learn to think as "Cats." Our
instinct would be to form an alliance, but the question is, do they think that way? I believe not. Sir, I hope
that the enclosed report is of some help. On a very personal level, sir, I must state here as well that
current thinking in both political and military circles, that the Kilrathi are technologically inferior to us and
lack the societal flexibility for a sustained fight, is madness. A "merchant," who deals in the gray area of
commerce beyond the Landreich, recently told me about an ancient Kilrathi word, that dates to the time
when they were predatory hunters.Jak-tu , which roughly means to spring from concealment upon a
larger but unsuspecting prey, killing them with one blow. If they come after us, as I am certain they will, it
will be aJak-tu . Respectfully submitted, Rear Admiral Joshua Speedwell Confederation Fleet Intelligence

REPORT ENCLOSEDтАФHARD COPY IS TO BE FILED ACCORDING TO CONFEDFLT
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IMPERIALPALACEтАФKILRAH

"I have spoken and thus I have decided!"

A rumbling growl of approval erupted from most of the eight clan leaders of the Empire and from behind
his translucent curtain the Emperor carefully studied the reaction of each of the eight, and those who sat
arrayed behind them.

"Vakka, you do not approve." The Emperor made the comment as a question, carefully using the soft
tonal inflection for speaking to a blood member of one's own clan, rather than as a direct statement of
fact, which would have been an issue of blood challenge between an inferior and superior.

Vakka looked around the room, saw the subtle blinks of approval from at least two other clan leaders
who were leery of the Emperor's proposal for war, and the cool unfocused stares of the others, who
disagreed and now waited to see how far he would push the issue. He knew more than one of them
would relish the chance for a blood challenge, for when the Baron of a clan did so and died, there were
always rewards, titles, and worlds stripped away from the fallen for those who stood by the throne.