"Keith Laumer - Bolos 9 - Bolo Strike" - читать интересную книгу автора (Laumer Keith)

complete control of local space.
"With total air-space superiority, we will be able to land the special
assault units without delay and without concern for counterattack or
unpleasant surprises from enemy spacecraft. We will follow Landing Plan
Brilliant Lightning. Targeting and LZ data is being downloaded to the
Bolo Strike Force as we speak.
"And so, ladies and gentlemen, we are on a mission of mercy . . . and
of rescue. Hundreds of millions of our human brothers and sisters are
enslaved on Caern, and we are going in to save them! And we'll prove to
the damned Trixies that they aren't gods, if we have to kick them all the
way back to heaven!"
The virtual audience around Streicher erupted in cheers and shouts.
Streicher exchanged a glance with Ramirez as she arched one perfect
eyebrow, then shrugged.
"Not all of them have seen combat before," he told her. "They don't
know . . ."
"They're going to find out," Ramirez replied. "We all are."
We certainly are. For Streicher, in fact, shared the major's doubts
about this mission. Things had come together so swiftly, with such
enthusiasm during the two months since the destruction of BTF-74. But
he wondered if anyone had thought about the real risks involved. . . .
"All personnel, report to your combat stations," the general told
them, shouting above the ongoing cheers. "We hit atmosphere in ninety-
three minutes!"
***
For the past eighty-one minutes, I have been receiving data feeds
through the ship network AI nexus, with constant updates as more
information becomes available. The invasion force has entered Disian
space. The cruisers, destroyers, and gunships have begun the planetary
bombardment, and the transports are now maneuvering for an approach
path that will place us on the necessary vectors for release and insertion.
So far, there is still no sign of the Enemy battlecarriers reported to be in
this system, and no serious opposition to our approach. I remain confident
that the initial phases of the battle plan have succeeded to a greater
degree than is often the case with operations as large and as complex as
this one. I calculate a probability in excess of 82 percent that we will be
able to establish a beachhead on the target planet with casualties of less
than five percent.
My regimental commander is not so sanguine about our chances for
immediate success, however. On our private comm channel, he warns me
to "stay on my toes," though the anatomical allusion baffles me for a full
0.0031 second, until I locate the appropriate phrase definition in my slang
dictionary files. Colonel Streicher, it seems, is concerned that the Enemy
may not be so unprepared as he seems and may have hidden reserves
that could seriously upset the projected timetable for deployment or battle
prosecution.
"The Enemy's best opportunity for blocking the invasion," I tell him, "is
during our approach to the objective. Once our heavy units have been
deployed and reached the surface, he will be unable to bring sufficient
firepower to bear to hinder our movements."