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

of Dominaria broke upon them. Spiky rams led their prows,
and behind them were rank on rank of scabrous ribs. Black
shadows became black realities. The central hulls of the
ships seemed cancerous carbuncles piled atop each other.
Next came flaring spines, razor wings, and clouds of oil
soot. They were huge ships, the size of floating cities.
Swarming antlike across them were Phyrexians.
"Evasive action?" Sisay asked.



9
 Invasion

"Take us to them, Sisay. Battle stations," Gerrard
responded. He repeated the order into the tube. "Battle
stations!"
Tahngarth yanked back the forward hatch and
descended amidships on his way to the forecastle guns.
Sisay meanwhile hauled hard on the wheel. Weatherlight
banked and climbed. Behind her, Hanna nearly bit a stylus
in two as she worked out new calibrations. She spared a
moment to swat Squee out from under her desk. The goblin
retreated toward the poop deck door and huddled there.
"Get to the aft gun. You're not as craven as all that,"
Gerrard said.
"Who? Squee?" whimpered the little green man.
"Yes, Squee. You're the one who shot Volrath out of
the sky, right?"
A glad light came to the goblin's eyes, and he hurried
out the aft door.
"What, if I might ask, is your plan, Commander
Gerrard?" Sisay shot over one shoulder.
He smiled winningly, "To fight Phyrexians."
Then he too swung down through the hatch. It was his
last chance for bravado. The ships were closing fast.
Gerrard sprinted across the amidships planks, vaulted up
the forecastle stairs, and rushed to his gunner's rig. Even as
he fastened straps about him, he pumped the foot pedal
that charged the gun. A moan began in the metal. It
shivered and grew warm. The powerstone arrays in the
center of the gun's housing glowed to life.
Across the forecastle, Tahngarth swung the massive
barrel of his ray cannon about. He spat on the shaft,
watching the white glob hiss away on impact.
"Fore starboard gun ready!" he shouted.
Gerrard likewise spun his weapon to fore and spat on it.
"Fore port gun ready!"