"Mike Moscoe - Society of Humanity 03 - They Also Serve" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moscoe Mike)

"Here, take the other end of the box. I'll take the heavy end. We'll be going downhill.
It'll be easier."

Nikki shook her head. This was not a good idea. This was no fun adventure. Still, under
Daga's eyes, she picked up her end of the box and began carrying it downhill. At least the
missing mountain was far away. None of the grown-ups ever came this far from the
village; maybe they'd never notice it was gone. Maybe she and Emma and Willow could
talk sense into Daga.


Ray Longknife observed the activity on Matt's bridge, his face a placid mask, doing
nothing to disturb those with a job to do. Matt swam with the easy grace of an
experienced spacer, glided from ceiling handhold to stationhold, or even held steady
above a workstation that had his attention at the moment.

"Coming up on point of interest," the helm announced.
Ray eyed the small continent that held their attention. If he remembered his old Earth
geography correctly, this area was much like Australia. The smallest of the planet's
landmasses, it, however, lay just off the southeastern edge of the largest landmass,
separated by a large archipelago of islands, with two or three wide channels. If Ray had to
choose a home for a pitiful remnant of humanity, this would be it, small enough to give
them safety, big enough for growth, close enough to bigger things to let them spread out
when their children were ready.

"Any more pruned mountains?" Matt asked, sailing back to his chair beside Ray. Matt
had moved Second Chance into a much higher orbit, officially for a broader view.
Everyone breathed easier as they put distance between themselves and whatever could
shave mountains.

"No, sir," Kat replied before Sandy could. "There's agricultural and urban areas.
Nothing on the electromagnetic spectrum but low-level static from electric motors."
Ray studied the map on the main view. Farmland showed as a brown swath along the
small south continent's eastern coast. Rivers lead it inland to wash up on the mountain
range that had captured their attention so rudely. Black dots of various sizes denoted
urban areas, most along rivers or coastal inlets. The map filled in as more data was
processed, evaluated, and judged credible. Ray glanced at Matt the same moment the
captain turned to Ray. "Suggestions?" Matt said.
 "Get some unmanned recon assets down there," Ray said.

"Exec, put a communication satellite in lower geo-orbit that'll keep that continent
covered."
"Yes, sir." The XO turned to her board and got busy.

Matt leaned closer to Ray. "Boss, I need some help." Ray smiled, glad for the skipper's
asking. "I got some ideas about how to get home, but it's hunt-and-peck time. A ship's
chances of staying in space increase if it's got a base to fall back on if things break."

Ray chuckled. "Captain, you looking for an ambassador to some dirtside chums that
can make mountains vanish?"
"Got it in one, Colonel."