"Steve Gordon - Ensectoid 01 - The Ensectoid Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Gordon Steve)

system."
"We're just leaving?" said an aide, stunned.
"Follow my orders!" Zarat barked.
"Where will we set course?" the aide asked.
Zarat considered for a moment. Kalin had told him to
set course for deep space. And yet... War Admiral North's
League fleet was at Hunt's World. That was only a stone's
throw from June. Suddenly, it all made sense. Zarat had
wondered why North had stationed the fleet at Hunt;
strategically, it made no sense. But now he realized why;
Hunt was the League world nearest to June! North had intended
to join forces all along. If he survived whatever the
Insectoids had planned for him, Zarat was sure he would send
his ships to June. In fact, he might even be on the way there
now.
Zarat checked the long range comm. The Insectoids were
jamming all frequencies. But it all made sense.
"Once we get clear we'll set a course for Hunt." Once
they linked up with North's forces, then they would head out
into deep space.
The Insectoid fleet, 70 ships strong, came blazing into
the June system. The June orbital defense stations opened
fire, and the Directorate Fleet raced out to engage the
Insectoid fleet. But after a few brief seconds of laser fire,
the Directorate fleet whipped right past them! The Insectoids
braked and turned in a leisurely fashion, confident that the
Directorate Fleet would turn back and meet them.
But the Directorate fleet kept going... all was going
according to plan, until they reached the edge of the June
system, where they ran into the rearguard, 22 Insectoid heavy
cruisers.

The command chamber on the Insectoid flagship was
filled with holographic displays showing the movements of the
Insectoid fleet across League and Directorate space. Hive
Queen Zsst watched the screens with satisfaction, flexing her
many arms and tendrils as she chittered softly to herself.
She was so distracted that she almost didn't notice the
hooded creature enter her chambers. Almost. It was
impossible not to notice the curtain of fear that descended
everywhere the went.
"All goes well," says Zsst. "The human fleet at
Vitalics was completely wiped out."
"I know," said the hooded creature. "But what of Norman
North's fleet, or the Directorate fleet?"
"Mere mopping up operations," said Zsst dismissively,
waving one of her arms. "Their fleets are small and
inconsequential."
"Then how did Norman North's 'small and
inconsequential' fleet defeat the much larger one you sent