"Richard Hatch - Battlestar Galactica 02 - Warhawk" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hatch Richard)

the gambling man had bet on Gar'Tokk to win this thing.

The Nomen were, like all humans, descended from the original home
planet, Parnassus. When it became clear that Parnassus was going to
destroy itself, most of the humans migrated to a planet called Kobol.
Later, the diverse tribes of Kobol would populate a dozen planets in a
single system of the Cyranus nebula, one of which was Caprica.

But the Nomen had arrived on Caprica millennia earlier, after the
initial exodus from Parnassus. When the Kobollian refugees arrived to set
up the Twelve Colonies, they found the Nomen there, already a
disappearing breed. With their faith in the teachings of their ancient
leader, Borellus, the Nomen eschewed technology and believed only in
nature and the innate abilities of their race, which had now diverged so
far from the human model that they could probably be considered a
human sub-species now.

And that was much of the problem.

They didn't believe they were human. In fact, the Nomen despised
humanity without reservation, and believed themselves to be far superior
in every way. The Nomen were incredible warriors to whom honor meant
everything. Apollo had thought that if he could best Gar'Tokk in battle, the
Nomen would have to realize that humans were not as inferior as they had
believed. That they would turn their intensity to more productive pursuits
that would, in the end, benefit themselves and the fleet as well.

Now, Apollo just wanted air.

He could feel the rage bubbling up inside him. It was uncontrollable:
Rage at himself for being drawn into something so foolishтАФhe had a duty
to the fleet, after all. Rage at Gar'Tokk for being so fracking intractable.
Rage at the voice of fear that whispered in his ear, though he, of all people,
knew that a certain peace awaited him beyond the veil of death.

But today was not going to be the day Apollo died.

He stopped trying to break Gar'Tokk's grip around his body. Instead, he
reached out and grabbed the matted mane on the Noman's head and
forced him to look up. Forced him to meet the eyes of the man he was
trying to crush to death.

And, staring into Gar'Tokk's eyes, Apollo shouted. Not with his mouth,
for he had no air. NoтАФApollo shouted in his mind.

LET ME GO!

Gar'Tokk roared in pain. Released his grip. Clapped his hands to the
sides of his head as if he'd come down with a sudden case of brain crystals.
Apollo saw that there was blood leaking from both of Gar'Tokk's nostrils,