"Jack McKinney - Robotech 14 - Dark Powers" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

the Masters' empire-the outer marches, as your ancient Romans might put it.
But you must understand, Mrs. Hunter-um, Captain!-that we cannot trust our own
memories in matters like these."
Breetai's chin had come up again. "Still, we'll tell you what we know.
Praxis, Peryton, Karbarra, and the other planets whose technology you see
mingled there-they were all valued parts of the Masters' empire. Planets of
the local star group, easily reached, they were allowed to keep a large
measure of their self-determination so long as they subordinated themselves to
the Robotech Masters' ambitions. They survived, in their fashion, in the eye
of the storm."
"So-they would be the last to fall to the Invid," Lisa said slowly.
Exedore nodded. "The last, except for Tirol. And worlds upon which the
Invid Regis and Regent might wish to vent their anger, or as much of it as
they can mount, now that both sides have been so reduced in numbers."
It was true that the Invid were victorious in the long war against the
Masters, but in many cases what they ruled was an empire of ash. Planets, even
suns, had died. What was left in that region of the galaxy seemed scarcely
worth taking.
Rick's face appeared on the main screen. "Landing party standing by,
Cap'n." He saluted his wife. He showed nothing but an unerring precision,
aware that his demeanor and expression would be studied on a thousand other
screens throughout the SDF-3. Behind him were the two heavily armed landing
craft that would fly down with the expedition's envoys to greet the Sentinels.
Max's Skulls were forming up to fly escort and cover. The GMU had already
churned into position, its titanic cannon trained on the grounded space-
battleship.
Lisa returned Rick's salute. They cut their hands away from their brows
smartly, just like the manual said. She wondered if anyone who was witnessing
the exchange could tell how happy he was, now that he was once more venturing
into danger. She wondered if he knew it himself.

The Sentinels' ship had chosen a big patch of ground that would serve as
its landing pad. VTs and ground units came in to cover; fearsome armored
vehicles clanked and wheeled on their tracks. The descent of the landing craft
kicked up clouds of sand and dust that settled quickly.
The protocol had been argued a bit, but nobody on the council wanted to
be the one to go up and knock on the Sentinels' door. So it was Lisa and Rick,
flanked by Breetai and Exedore and Lang, who approached the ship unarmed. The
group walked under Fantoma's light and the glare of a hundred of the two-
legged Tiresian Ambler spotlights, to what appeared to be the main hatch of
the Sentinels' starship.
But when the main hatch of the ship rolled open, there were none of the
dramatics Lisa had unconsciously braced herself for. Instead, a robed figure
stood there, at the top of a ramp extended like an impudent tongue from the
side of the Sentinels' ship.
Actually, the figure floated there; the hem of its robe billowed gently
an inch or two above the ramp.
Lang had been elected to speak for the REF. He coughed a bit in the
swirling dust, one foot on the ramp where it met the sand. "If you come in
friendship, I offer you my hand, on behalf of all of us, in friendship."