"GRAF, L. A - STAR TREK ROUGH TRAILS" - читать интересную книгу автора (Graf L A)

STAR TREK: ROUGH TRAILS
by
L. A . GRAF


ROUGH TRAILS

BY L. A. GRAF

Chapter One

"SHE'S AWAY!"

Without benefit of an anti grave the crate tipped gracelessly over the
lip of the shuttle's hatch and fell free. Chekov leaned to the extent
of his safety cable and watched the container tumble toward the ocean
of airborne dust below, wondering how much chance they had of it
landing anywhere near the drop target. The high-pitched shriek of its
sonic beacon was swallowed up so quickly by the howl of Liano Verde's
winds that he suspected if it went too far astray, it would never be
found again.

Behind him, Plotter's voice, muffled by a filtration mask already
several wearings too old, intoned blandly, and three and two and one ..
."

The crate's parachute ripped into existence with a whhuf! Chekov could
imagine but couldn't actually hear over the roar of the dust storm
outside. Fluores cent orange billowed into violent bloom, snapping the
crate out of reach of the maelstrom only briefly before relaxing back
into its descent. Almost lnu-mediately, wind tipped the parachute
sideways and began dragging the crate sharply lateral of its original
drop path. Storm-blown dust and sand swarmed the crate, the lines, the
'chute like famished ants. Once the air sealed behind the drop, Chekov
couldn't even tell where the supplies had torn their way through.
Swallowed by this wounded and angry planet, just like the sonic beacon.
Just like everything else.

"Heads up, C.C "

Kevin Baldwindidn't have to give a jerk on Chekov's safety line to get
his attention, but he did it anyway. The sudden assault on Chekov's
balance while hovering ten klicks above Belle Terre's surface launched
his heart up into his throat. He grabbed at the sides of the hatch
with both hands, but clenched his teeth before gasping aloud. That
instinct let him preserve at least a modicum of dignity. Backing
calmly away from the opening, he tried hard to ignore Baldwin's
laughter as he disconnected the lifeline and shouldered out of its
harness.