"John Ringo - Council War 4 - East of the Sun, West of the Moon" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ringo John)

"Kill point," the judge said. "Break."

"Kill point?" Herzer protested, looking down at the blue mark. The axeman had first pulled his shield
outward then used his own energy to hammer the reverse point of the training axe into his armor. He
supposed it would have punctured the armor and given him a wound. But he'd had, and fought with, far
worse.

"In space," Colonel Carson said, pulling off his helmet, "that would have opened up your armor and
vented your atmosphere. It's a kill. Trust me."

"Well, it's a good thing I'm not going along on your mission, then," Herzer said, grinning. "On the other
hand, I can think of two or three counters to that move. All of which would leave you disarmed, or dead,
or both. How many do you have in your bag of tricks?"

"Hopefully enough,"Carson said with a grin. "We've been training for this mission for two years and from
what Miss Travante tells us, New Destiny had yet to even begin to plan when she...errr..."

"Megan generally uses the term 'escaped,'" Herzer said with a grin. "I generally say something like 'blew
that popsicle stand.' Sometimes she doesn't get the humor."

"I see," Colonel Carson said, somewhat uneasily. While it was true that he outranked Major Herrick,
there was no one in the army of the United Free States, with the possible exception of Duke Edmund
Talbot, who was more famous. And with his engagement to the new Key Holder, Countess Megan
Travante, Herrick's career was presumably unlimited.Carson was well aware that he was probably
dueling with a future boss and certainly someone with the ear of some very important people so he chose
his words carefully. "I don't say it will be a cakewalk, unless they intend to just let us steal all the fuel and
do nothing about it. But we should be able to handle anything they throw at us."

Herzer grimaced despite the careful phrasing and shrugged.

"Colonel, with all due respect," he said, carefully, "I would strongly suggest that you not even think that.
New Destiny is, in many ways, better at this war than us. They are better at intelligence gathering, they
are better at...call it 'special systems' development and they are not stupid when it comes to tactics. I've
taken that attitude before and it bit me in the ass. So has Duke Edmund and it bithim in the ass. I would
strongly suggest that you assume New Destiny is going to throw something you've never seen at you, that
is game winning, and plan for it. Otherwise, it's going to bite you in the ass. And there won't be a second
shot at this mission, sir."

"So I'm aware,"Carson sighed.

"Big pressure, sir," Herzer said, nodding. "Welcome to the world saver's club. Admission is hard.
Staying in is harder," he added with a grin, holding up one arm that terminated in a complex prosthetic.

"You haven't had that replaced, I notice,"Carson said, walking over to the racks and putting up his
armor and weapons.

"Well, Megan has access to the power," Herzer admitted. "And Mistress Daneh, or even her daughter