"Michael P. Kube - McDowell - Black Fleet 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kube-McDowell Michael P)

Three people stand out above all others in deserving my gratitude and
appreciation, though my poor words are hardly the equal of their gifts
to me. Those three are Gwendolyn Zak, my best friend, SO, and POSSLQ,
for her unwavering love, patience, support, and faith; Tom Dupree, my
editor, for believing in me and giving me a chance; and Russ Galen, my
agent, for going out on a limb and trusting me not to saw it off behind
him. This book would not exist without them and their contributions.

I also want to thank Gwen, Matt, and Arlyn, for being such helpful
("Didn't you blow up this ship in the last chapter?") and encouraging
("All right--where's the rest of it? What? Go write more!") first
readers. Sue Rostoni at Lucasfilm saw to it that I had all the
references and resources I asked for, and then applied her extensive
knowledge of the Star Wars universe to keep me from violating the
historical record as often as I tried to. Fellow SW novelists Vonda
Mcintyre, Roger MacBride Allen, and Kevin J. Anderson generously shared
their insights and their maps of the minefields. Also pitching in with
SW trivia and general encouragement were Rich Mason, Timothy O'Brien,
Matt Hart, Skip Shayotovich, and the rest of the Star Wars fan
communities on GEnie and CompuServe.
The writing of Before the Storm bracketed a long-awaited move and the
even longer-awaited birth of a daughter. Generous gifts of time and
perspiration from Rod and Marion Zak, Tracy Holland, Greg Cronau, Arlyn
Wilson, Mary Ellen Wessels, Faye Wessels, Mike Thelan, Roberta Kennedy,
and other friends and family members allowed us to survive those
transitions and me to keep working.

Finally, I'd like to thank George Lucas, for his blessing to tell this
story in his wonderful universe--which I first visited nearly twenty
years ago in a theater in Mishawaka, Indiana. If someone had told me
then that someday I'd have a chance to add a few chapters to the life
stories of Luke, Han, Leia, and their friends and enemies, I'd have
just laughed.

As it is, I'm still smiling.

--Michael P. Kube-McDowell September 12, 1995

Okemos, Michigan
Prologue

Eight months after the Battle of Endor The Empire's orbiting repair
yard at N'zoth, code-named Black 15, was of standard Imperial design,
with nine great shipways arrayed in a square. On the morning of the
retreat from N'zoth, all nine slips were occupied by Imperial
warships.

Under most circumstances, nine Star Destroyers together would have been
an intimidating sight to any who might come under their guns.