"Mike Moscoe - The Price of Peace" - читать интересную книгу автора (Moscoe Mike)

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen
property. It was reported as "unsold and destroyed" to the publisher, and neither the author
nor the publisher has received any payment for this "stripped book."
THE PRICE OF PEACE
This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents
are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously,
and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business
establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / January 2000
All rights reserved. Copyright ┬й 2000 by Mike Moscoe.
Cover art by Duane O. Myers.
This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part,
by mimeograph or any other means, without permission.
For information address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Putnam, Inc. 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
The Penguin Putnam Inc. World Wide Web site address is http://www.penguinputnam.com
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Club PPI!
ISBN: 0-441-00695-7
ACE*
Ace Books are published
by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Putnam Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ACE and the "A" design are trademarks
belonging to Penguin Putnam Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 10 98765432
To the Men and Women
Who put on the uniform every morning
When the victory parades are over and there's still work to
be done
Who pay the Price of Peace with their sweat and pain, loneliness and fear
and to Trudy Moscoe
and all the wives and kids, and now husbands, like her "They also serve who only stand and
wait."
THE PRICE OF PEACE
WHITES CRISPLY STARCHED and gig line perfect, Com-mander Izzy Umboto, captain of
the Society of Humanity cruiser Patton, started her day as she stepped from her cabin onto
the darkened bridge. The stink of tense sweat washed over her, just about wilting her
uniform where she stood.
"Captain on the bridge," the Officer of the Deck's voice cracked.
"As you were," she overspoke the lieutenant. "Any change in our unknown?" she asked as
she had every hour through the ship's night. Izzy studied the main screen; it answered her
before the OOD could.
"No change, ma'am," the OOD shot back. The young man's Adam's apple bobbed
nervously. Recently qualified, this was his first time to sweat out a possible hostile approach
with the entire ship his responsibility. Izzy had accepted the risk, wanting her best team well
rested for today. She gave the young officer an affirming smile as she again measured the