"Wen Spencer - Endless Blue" - читать интересную книгу автора (Spencer Wen)

electrical engine." Said electrical engine must be connected to the propeller now drifting several feet off
the floor of the docking bay. "Look at the armory timestamp."

Mihkail frowned at the date that followed the release data. "Have you verified that?"

"Yes. TheSwordfish picked up this torpedo from the Fort Armstrong Armory ten months ago."

The name on the boat did not bode well for the fate of theSwordfish . Still, Mikhail asked, "Where is
thisSwordfish ?"

"TheSwordfish was a torpedo ship. It disappeared a week after picking up this torpedo. We assumed it
was destroyed by enemy fire."

"So, two ships, both lost, both in the same place."

"Yes." Heward said.

"This is obviously the work of humans." Mikhail pointed to the boat. "It follows maritime conventions
started on Earth. Based on the name, I suspect the crew of theSwordfish. "

"That's true. Come."

A second guideline ran up the side of Fenrir's warp engine. It lifted them up the steep side and guided
them down to a safe landing on the top of the housing. The access hatch was open. Plymouth Station had
run a string of work lights into the cramped, dark interior.

Mikhail had never worked with an engine this large, but four years of warp field theory at the academy
had taught him the fundamentals. What had been attached toтАФand in some places replacedтАФthe
standard equipment was a collection of bizarre . . .things. He hesitated in calling them machines, although
that was what they seemed to be. One looked more like cotton candy than anything mechanical.

"They were modifying the engine," Heward said. "It's not clear if the modifications were completed.
We've analyzed as much as we can without removing anything. Obviously the engine still creates a warp
field. What they were modifying it to do is still unclear."

Mikhail could think of two uses. "Have you considered that this may be a trap? That it might warp
Plymouth Station to Fenrir's location? Or destroy it?"

"We're taken out the power core and scanned for secondary power sources. We've also checked it for
all known explosives."

The warp engine, the alien devices, and theSwordfish all seemed like pieces from different puzzles.
Heward obviously wanted Mikhail's help in solving them all.

"You want me to recreate theFenrir's misjump," Mikhail said. "You want me to find her."

"I'm basically committing political suicide tapping the Tsar of Novaya Rus's only child for a mission like
this. Believe me; I considered every option before settling on you."

"Why me?"