"W. Michael Gear - Forbidden Borders 1 - Requiem for The Conqueror" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gear W Michael)

"That's far more than is required at this time."
He could ee the grim smile in her eyes. "Credit our account . . . any way you
see fit, Colonel. We just want to make sure there are no problems with our
departure."
Andropolous smiled and slid three of the coins across the desk before palming
them. He punched the comm button again, calling, "Theodora, please send two of
your security staff up. They're to go on assignment immediately."
Alexia looked at her two companions, both of whom had begun to grin through
their scarves in a most predatory way.
"So you really think it will come to war?" Andropolous asked as he leaned back
in his chair again.
Dharmon shrugged and rearranged the scarf that covered her mouth. "It would be
a shame if it did. The merchants would just as soon see that Myklene remained
sovereign. Trade's better that way. If the empire absorbs you, it'll take time
to rebuild the economy. After that, you're just like
everyone else. We'll only make money from haul fee, not from trade."
Andropolous snorted and shook his head. "Tell that to your God-Emperor."
"We did," one of the men growled. "Maybe our likes aren't sacred enough for
his tastes."
Andropolous shared the joke as his two security men entered the room. Each
carried his inventory computer and scanner as well as a side arm, stun rod,
and binders.
"Thank you for coming so swiftly, gentlemen. I'd like you to meet ..."
A loud pop sounded followed by a hissтАФand the security officers dropped.
"What the ..." Andropolous started forward, reaching for the comm alert, only
to have Alexia grab his wrist and push him back into the squeaky chair. Wispy
tendrils of gas choked him, and his strength began to drain away.
"Don't worry Colonel. The gas won't hurt you," she told him as her competent
fingers ran over his comm control. "It just paralyzes the neuro-musculature.
You'll still be able to think, and, after a bit, to speak if we need you to."
Andropolous could see past her to where the two men had kicked the door shut
and now bent over his security team to pull the weapons from their belts. His
horror grew as security systems fell one by one under Alexia Dharmon's
commands.
Dharmon glanced at a wrist monitor. "All clear. The gas has dissipated." She
pulled the red scarf from her face, and with it, the small conforming gas
mask.
"Wha . . ." Andropolous croaked.
"Wing Commander?" one of the men asked.
She stepped back, motioning at the wall that separated his office from the
computer room. "Go for it."
In the edge of his vision, Andropolous could see the two men attack the wall
with small vibraknives they pulled from their pouchesтАФknives too small to have
triggered the security detectors, but big enough to slice through wall panels.
"Who ..." Andropolous croaked.
The blonde woman leaned over him, checking the security readouts on his comm
system. He could see the scar running across her cheek, hardly diminishing her
startling beauty.
To the men, she called, "No alarm, Ryman. So far, so good."
"Who .. are .. ."