"Steve Perry - Aliens 03 - The Female War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Perry Steven)

Wilks shrugged. "Not everyone has cause," he said. Too bad, though. He had run into Falk a few
times on the station. Tall and heavily muscled, he was one of those guys whose loud voice and laugh
could be heard in the midst of every card game. Not a real social adept, maybe, but he had the feel of
somebody who'd be good to have covering your ass in a firefight.

They sat in Ripley's room, going over possible crew members. McQuade, Brewster, Dunston, and
Jones so far. Jon Jones was a young medic who seemed too serious for his age. Ripley had seemed tense
when Wilks had mentioned the black doctor, but had not objected. A medtech would be a necessity,
they both knew that.

Billie had stopped by earlier to say that Adcox wouldn't be going. She had seemed unhappy about
it and hadn't stayed to discuss the trip. Wilks guessed that she was at the 'casting room looking for Amy;
it had become an obsession of hers, looking for Amy. He understood why.

"What about Carvey? And Moto, she's had experienceтАФ"

Wilks returned his attention to the screen. A light flashed in the upper corner, accompanied by a
muted tone, signaling a call.

Ripley tapped the receiver. It was Billie.

"Ripley, Wilks," she said, her voice strained, "tune in military channel, ten-vee, quick!" She
discommed before either of them had a chance to reply.

Ripley hit the controls that would switch them to vid.

The image on the screen was confused, jumbled; Wilks recognized the inside of an armored
personnel carrier. A pair of legs from the knees down ran by, then another set; apparently, the camera
was on the floor. There were shouts and gunfire in the background. A man's voice, near hysteria, called
out orders that were barely audible above the din.

"Broillet, Reiter, fall back! Hornoff, Anders, Sites, respond! Respond! Fuck! There's noтАФ" the
voice was cut off.
 Wilks started. Hornoff was one of the men listed in the psych files....

There was nothing on the screen now except a dim shot of a storage compartment. The picture
jerked slightly, as if the APC were being hit. Occasional bursts of gunfire could be heard in the distance,
but no more voices.

"WhatтАФ?" Ripley glanced at Wilks and looked back to the picture. Her expression was part dread
and part anger; she knew what she was watching, if not the circumstances.

"Earth mission," said Wilks tightly. His knuckles were white. Bako had said there was going to be
another.

"Old 'cast?"

"I don't think so. I was going to look up Hornoff tomorrow." He watched realization flood Ripley's
face. She chewed at her lower lip. There was no reason for this to be on, unlessтАФ