"J. Robert King - Invasion Cycle 01 - Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (King Robert J)

neither shelter nor rest. There were only patient ranks of
troops and penned beasts to feed them. No campfires,
eitherтАФPhyrexians did not need heat and preferred their
meals raw, indeed live. There was not a stick of furniture
and no provision for comfortтАФunless gladiatorial circles
could be called comfort. There was only order and slavish
obedience and savagery.
"Waiting to board troop ships, you think, Sisay?"
Gerrard conjectured.
"Waiting for something but not troop ships. There're
too many soldiers."
"Gun's fixed," Hanna announced triumphantly. She
repositioned the split panel and staggered to her feet.
Sisay let out a hiss. "Incoming!"
A plague bomb dropped from a sentry craft overhead. It
fell straight toward Weatherlight. The ship jagged out from
beneath it, but the bomb burst in midair. Shrapnel hailed
across Weatherlight's amidships. Shards bounded briefly
against the planks before being ripped away on the winds.
"Everybody all right?" Gerrard shouted.
"Just a little scratch," Hanna answered. She gripped her
stomach and smiled bravely. "Makes me want to fire this
gun."
"The job's yours. See Orim about that scratch as soon as
we're out of here."
"Look sharp," Sisay shouted. "There's the next armada."
Beyond the dipping prow of Weatherlight, a vast black
cloud appeared. It swelled quickly outward until it filled
the whole horizon. Instead of mist, though, this cloud was
made of shipsтАФ Phyrexian warships.
There were dragon engines, cruisers, and plague ships
but also hundreds of others. Many had been specified on
the plans Hanna had stolen from the Mercadian hangar.
Solid-hulled ram ships hovered like barracudas. Fat barges


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provided floating laboratories for Phyrexian vat priests.
Bombers bore payloads of plague on bat-like wings.
Helioslicers held themselves aloft with whirling blades that
could mince whole armies. Icthus ships seemed winged
spiders, with eight articulated lances for spearing merfolk.
There were ship types for slaying every creature in land and
water and air. They lined up to soar through the pincers of
the portal ship.
"Let's not give them time to fire," Gerrard commanded.
"Karn, keep the wings folded and the engines roaring."