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

communication outside of the system?" said Wren.
"Mitterand said with the entire fleet there we'd have
nothing to fear," said North hollowly. Even he didn't pretend
to believe what he was saying.
"Mitterand is a traitor!" said Wren savagely.
"Commander-"
"Or at least a dupe," said Dulin. "It doesn't matter
which. What are we going to do?"
"Do, Captain?" North raised his eyebrows. "Our orders
are to go to Hunt's world and stay put."
"We've got to stop them," said Dulin. "They'll ambush
the fleet."
North frowned. "Assuming you're right, how do you
propose we stop them? Admiral Peterson is leaving even as we
speak, and the bulk of the fleet is already on its way to
Vitalics."
"We could catch up to them at top speed before they get
there," said Wren.
"And then what?" said North. "Tell them they're going
into an ambush, of which I have no proof of? And when the
admirals and civilian leaders who are traveling with them
tell them to disregard my orders, what then?"
"Tell them not to obey their admirals, if necessary,"
said Wren. "War Admiral, you've saved us countless times. We
all owe you for Trajinar. The fleet will follow you."
North self consciously fingered the silver eagles on
the collar of his light blue uniform. "So you're telling me
to stage a coup, to overthrow the elected leaders of the
League and their military leadership. Do you realize what
you're saying?"
"If it has to be done to save us, yes!" cried Wren.
North turned to Dulin. "And you, Captain? What are your
views on this?"
"I... I think the fleet will listen to you, sir," said
Dulin.
"You realize you're talking about mutiny," said North.
"The penalty for which is still capital punishment." He
paused, as if he were also fighting a battle with himself.
"All right. Let's take your thought experiment a step
further. What if we make our big announcement and some ships
don't go along? Do we fire on them?"
Dulin was silent.
"Do we shoot at our own sailors? For that matter, what
if the majority of the fleet doesn't go along? We'll be
vastly outnumbered and outgunned. Are you prepared to be
vaporized for mutiny, along with all the other ship captains
and senior officers in this fleet?" North asked.
Dulin, choked up, tried to make a sound but nothing
came out.
North slowly paced back and forth on the carpeting.