"Richard Allen Stotts - Empire 1 - Midshipman" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stotts Richard Allen)

craftтАЩs propulsion spaces and neatly punched itтАЩs way
through the mass converter before exiting the craftтАЩs
opposite side as a streak of vaporized titanium alloy. The
mass converter did as expected and quit converting
anything at all, power was lost save for the emergency
storage unit (battery). On board the landing craft were
RapierтАЩs commanding officer, one Captain Richard
Fredericks, along with his intelligence officer, two
midshipman and two enlisted ratings. The pilot was Ensign
Waters. The craft would not survive an unbaked powerless
reentry, if the friction of the atmosphere didnтАЩt fry all aboard,
the full bore impact with the surface would finish them for
certain.
If you are of even the most modest intelligence you can
guess who was close enough to save their bacon.


тАЬMay day, may day (the ancient call was still used).
This is Rapier auxiliary craft Alpha. Any vessel, any craft,
we are unpowered and descending at critical speed.тАЭ The
guy seemed pretty calm in DanielтАЩs estimation.
тАЬRapier Alpha, this is Gryphon cargo shuttle number
four, I have your beacon and can close on you from astern.тАЭ




16
Daniel tried to keep it as calm and professional as he could
manage.
тАЬThank God, Gryphon! Say craft type please!тАЭ The
guy was a tad more excited this time.
тАЬCraft is a Heron class cargo shuttle, Rapier. With
your permission I will attach my grapples and move you to a
safe orbit.тАЭ
тАЬPermission gladly granted! We estimate atmosphere
in six minutes, can you handle that?тАЭ Not much time.
тАЬI believe so, there wonтАЩt be time for delicate
maneuvering, it may get a bit rough for you.тАЭ Daniel was
more worried about denting his captainтАЩs (fatherтАЩs) shuttle
than anything else.


During the three minutes it took to close with the
damaged naval craft Daniel contacted Gryphon and told
them what they already knew, all craft constantly monitored
the emergency channels, dinner was put on hold. The
Rapier was likewise in contact with their wounded bird, they
were too far away to do more than watch and wait. Rapier
did launch a tow craft and a pair of fighters to do recon and