"Scott G. Gier - Genellan 02 - In the Shadow of the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gier Scott G)

and true citizens of the Hegemony. King Ollant would never have lived to
end the perfidious Rule of Generals had it not been forтАФ"

"Of course, of course!" Tar Fell snapped. "The exploits of Citizen Sharl
andтАж othersтАж are legend." The general's malevolent glance climbed to rest
on Kateos. "And the scars of Gorruk's rape may never heal. That
notwithstanding, remember your vows." The chamber echoed with
emotional seconds and passionate shibboleths.

"Your Excellency," Tar Fell continued, leaning on his hands. "How many
aliens are on Genellan, and, truly, how many more come? Will new settlers
also have this licenseтАФthis citizenship?"

"No," Et Kalass replied, growing stern, "though I submit the planet
Genellan is the exclusive domain of the Hegemony. King Ollant may please
his own desires. Please push not overly hard, Chancellor-General."

"Gravity drags down the greatest king," Tar Fell replied. "Ollant will not
rule forever. Alien settlement transcends his reign. The germ, once
established, may never be eradicated, or should I say cured?"

"Your words are worrisome," Et Kalass replied. "Be advised that
limitations and waystones have been set."

"Such as?" the chancellor rudely persisted.
 Tar Fell was relentless, his truculence far exceeding his station. Using a
covert interrogation algorithm, Kateos lined up the Thullolian's signal
vectors. Tar Fell's staff was receiving and transmitting with nearly every
southern delegation, particularly those which were not noble-governed. A
grand alliance or a conspiracy? She downlinked her findings.

"There are fewer than one hundred humans on Genellan." Et Kalass
sighed, lifting a finger to acknowledge receipt of her message. "Citizen
Sharl's cadreтАФthe SurvivorsтАФand children number less than twenty. The
others are security and science personnel left behind when the human fleet
returned to Earth for battle repairs."

"How many more come? HowтАФ" Tar Fell rudely interrupted.

"The first stage of settlement," Et Kalass nearly shouted, "has been
restricted to a maximum of one thousand aliens. This will provide Citizen
Sharl's Survivors with enough kindred souls for safety and society. No
additional settlement will be permitted without progress toward the transfer
of hyperlight technologies."

"Progress? Progress?" Tar Fell said. "What does that mean?"

"Your point, General?" Et Kalass snapped.

"Simply put," Tar Fell said, huffing hugely, "the Thullol-Ransa Compact