"J. Robert King - Invasion Cycle 02 - Planeshift" - читать интересную книгу автора (King Robert J)

speaking tube.
His voice spilled out beside the aft gun. There, a much
smaller figure clutched the fire controls. Squee was an
unlikely tail gunnerтАФgreen and warty, with long, pointed
ears, a crooked-toothed grin, and a reputation for
cowardice. Still, he had downed Volrath's own gunship and
had assisted in countless cruiser kills during the opening
war. At the tail gun, Squee fought with fury.
This occasion was no exception. Squee loosed a triple
blast. The first shot smashed aside the Phyrexian beam.
The second ripped a clear way through the treetops. The
third soared down the enemy barrel and peeled it back as if
it were a banana.
"Nice shooting, Squee!" yelled Gerrard. "That's four
guns down! How many do you think they've got?"
As if in answer, a wall of scarlet energy jutted skyward
ahead of them. Helionauts and jump ships hurtled away to
either side of the red wall. Weatherlight was too big for
such quick maneuvers. She soared toward destruction.
Sisay dragged the helm hard to port. Weatherlight
banked sharply away from the raking fire. Her keel cut a
deep groove through the air. She rose on angry engines.


19
 Planeshift

The Phyrexian cannons followed her with fire.
Sisay braced her legs and hauled hard on the wheel.
The ship climbed almost straight up. Engines belched blue
flame. Weatherlight rocketed heavenward, enwrapped in
killing rays. She rose up past the curtain of fire and skipped
away among shielding clouds. The light rays dissipated
among drops of water.
"It'd be nice to have a little help!" Sisay shouted.
"I've given up expecting it," Gerrard answered. "At
least we've got our fleet. Take us back down to them,
Captain."
"Aye, Commander," Sisay said.
Weatherlight dived through the clouds. Vapor rolled
from her gunwales.
The isle appeared below. Phyrexian cannon fire clawed
the treetops away. One blast snatched a helionaut from the
air. Another grazed a jump ship. Though outgunned, the
smaller craft sent exploding quarrels down into the
Phyrexian armies. It would not be enough. Phyrexians
swarmed the land.
"Get the helionauts out of there," Gerrard ordered.
"Signal them to hover high and watch for airships. They're
no good against ground troops."