"Edward M. Lerner - Part III of IV - A New Order of Things" - читать интересную книгу автора (Lerner Edward M)

between them. Two groups of peers consulting, K'choi Gwu ka thought. We will be equally dead if we
overlook anything.

A hologram floated above a corner of the printout. As air currents gently vibrated a slightly curled edge,
the ephemeral orb morphed from planet to planet. Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn she knew immediately; the
names of the other worlds eluded her. The same United Planets logo glimmered from the two shiny
cylinders that stood behind the K'vithians.

They contained human-supplied antimatter.

Mashkith's eyes were heavy upon her, impatient. Gwu's experts continued speaking inconclusively among
themselves, their words muffled by breathing masks. "Biocomputers are unfamiliar to us, Foremost." You
kept us ignorant lest we meddle with the new networks grafted throughout the ship. "We must be certain
the control approach is entirely compatible with the shipboard systems."

"Nature of concern?"

One of the crew-kindred experts spoke up. "The merest instant of instability during the transfer would be
catastrophic."

"Concern for possible transient control states within the interface?" Keffah asked. "Exhaustive review by
my staff. Second review by me. No problems."

Exhaustive? Hardly. The crew-kindred were unfamiliar with biocomps, and the K'vithians had, until
recently, disdained to study photonics. Advanced species used biocomp.

But photonics controlled the main antimatter-containment chamber which filled half the room. Photonics
controlled the interstellar drive powered by matter/antimatter annihilation. Reassuring myself with
thoughts of the Unity's technical superiority. Sadly, Gwu once more acknowledged her own pride.
I'm not so different from them. "The Foremost requested our opinion. I thought it best to evaluate the
design independently."

The answering growl ended abruptly at a glance from Mashkith, but not before that rumble deep in
Keffah's throat rebutted all Gwu's fanciful notions of a meeting between equals.

"Any specific technical reason for delay?" Mashkith asked. "Any explicit unambiguous risk? Your
experts' response within three watches, ka."

Which meant antimatter fueling was planned to commence soon after. Reluctantly, Gwu conceded the
shrewdness of a deadline. Humans had designed the transfer interface, and they knew photonics,
biocomps, and antimatter containment. It was prudent to have given the crew-kindred an opportunity to
spot anything humans and K'vithians might have overlooked. It was astute to disbelieve any purported
problems not accompanied by specifics.

Nothing Gwu had so far heard from her experts rose above musing aloud. Refueling was going to
happen. Either that, or a very big explosion that would end all their worries. "I understand, Foremost.
You will have our response by then." She rolled up the scroll. "For reference as we complete our
review."

Returning under escort to their quarters, Gwu decided: We must send our message immediately. Before