"Cloak Of Deception (James Luceno)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Luceno James)

trade in the outlying star systems, the Trade Federation had pledged to the
Galactic Senate on Coruscant that it would content itself with remaining a
mercantile power, and refrain from becoming a naval power through the
accumulation of war machines. However, the further the giant ships traveled
from the Core, the more often they fell victim to attacks by pirates,
privateers, and terrorist groups like the Nebula Front, whose broad membership
had grievances not only with the Trade Federation, but also with distant
Coruscant itself.
As a result, the senate had granted permission for the freighters to be
equipped with weapons of defense, to safeguard them in the unpoliced systems
strewn between the major trade routes and hyperlanes. But that had only forced
the raiders to upgrade their armaments and, in turn, prepared the way for
periodic strengthenings of Trade Federation defenses.
Skirmishes in the Mid and Outer Rims--throughout the so - called free
trade zones--had since become commonplace. But Coruscant was a long way off,
even by lightspeed, and it was not always easy to ascertain who was at fault
and who had fired first. By the time matters reached the courts, it often came
down to the word of one party against the word of another, without resolution.
Things might have gone differently for the Trade Federation but for the
Neimoidians, who were as penurious as they were avaricious. When it had come
to fortifying the giant ships, they had sought out the most cut-rate
suppliers, and they had insisted that protecting the cargo was their paramount
concern.
Against all sound judgment, it was the Neimoidians who had dictated the
placement of quad laser batteries around the outer wall of the hangar arms.
While the equatorial arrangement was adequate for repelling lateral
attacks, it proved completely ineffective for countering attacks launched from
above or below, where nearly all the freighters' crucial systems were located:
tractor beam and deflector shield generators, hyperdrive reactors, and the
central control computer.
Thus the Trade Federation had been forced to invest in bigger and better
shield generators, thicker armor plating, and, ultimately, in squadrons of
starfighters. But starfighter allotments were subject to senate sanction, and
freighters like the Revenue frequently found themselves defenseless against
fighter craft piloted by seasoned raiders.
Well aware of these shortcomings, Daultay Dofine saw the ship and its
cargo of precious lommite rapidly slipping from his grasp.
"Shields holding at fifty percent," the Gran reported from across the
bridge, "but we are imperiled. A few more strikes and we'll be disa4." "Where
is the Acquisitor?" Dofine whined. "It should have arrived by now!" A volley
from the Nebula Front's gunship--Captain Gobi's personal gunship--rocked the
bridge. As Dofine had learned in previous engagements, sheer size was no
guarantee of protection, much less victory, and the freighter's three-
kilometer diameter only made it a target that couldn't be missed.
"Shields marginal at forty percent." "Quad lasers one through six are not
responding," the Sullustan added. "The starfighters are concentrating fire on
the deflector shield generator and drive reactors." Dofine firmed his fleshy
lips in anger.
"Instruct the central control computer to activate all droids, all ship
defenses, and prepare to repel boarders," he brayed. "Over my dead body will