"Simon R. Green - Deathstalker - 1 - Deathstalker" - читать интересную книгу автора (Green Simon R)

Green, Simon R. - Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker (v1.0) (html)


something; he could feel it in his bones. He glanced at the Investigator beside him
and saw that she was scowling intently at the viewscreen, too.

"Pirate ship's speed increasing, Captain," said his comm officer suddenly.
"Accelerating steadily toward us."

"He's trying to ram us," said Frost. "The force shields will stop him."

"But he must know that," said Silence slowly. "So why is he doing it?"

"Captain!" The comm officer's voice was sharp and concerned. "Our shields are
dropping! They don't answer the control panels!"

"Odin!" said Silence. "What's happening?"

"The pirate ship has infected my systems with a virus," said the starcruiser's AI.
"Which is supposed to be impossible. It's bypassing all my safeguards. I've never
encountered anything quite like this. Systems are crashing faster than I can isolate
them. Our force shields are down, and I am unable to raise them again. The pirate
ship will impact with us in six minutes and fourteen seconds."

"Recommendations?" said Frost.

"Abandon ship," the AI said flatly. "If you leave now, most of the escape craft will
survive the ensuing blast and should make a safe landing on Virimonde. Go now.
Captain. It's the only chance you have."

Silence looked at Frost and then round his magnificent bridge. So many systems,
so many highly trained personnel, and still there was nothing he could do to save
his ship. He look a deep breath and let it out slowly. He patched into the shipwide
address channel, and then paused a moment longer to be sure his voice would be
calm and steady when he spoke.

"Attention all hands. This is the Captain. Abandon ship. I say again, abandon ship.
This is not a drill. Remember your training and make your way to the nearest
escape craft. We'll reassemble on Virimonde. Good luck, everyone. Captain out."

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Green, Simon R. - Deathstalker 01 - Deathstalker (v1.0) (html)




He looked around him and clapped his hands briskly. "All right, that's it. Clear the
bridge. Everyone out."

His people rose quickly to their feet and left the bridge with a professional