"Michael Sweeney - Virtual Threat" - читать интересную книгу автора (Sweeney Michael)

Virtual Threat By Michael SweeneyVirtual Threat by Michael Sweeney
The small craft sped through the void of space. Brilliant flares lit up the
the eternal night. Energy beams flashed, licking out hungrily. The knobby
merchant vessel swerved from side to side. Occasionally, an energy bolt would
collide with the craft and the darkness would explode into light.
The pursuing ship was a massive green goliath, compared to the David sized
merchant vessel. Sleeker in its design, tongues of explosive energy leapt from
its directive cannons.
Propulsive forces spewed out the back end of the small craft. With each
successive shot from the attacker, the driving fury paled. Its generators
crippled, the merchant ships shields were slowly failing. As the ships speed
decreased, the accuracy of the attackers increased. Shots rained down on the
falling prey. Shield generators overloaded, adding more light to the rainbow
of brilliance. The small craft spun on its axis, hiding its wound. Engines
dying, the merchant craft gave a final burst of speed. More destructive force
beams caressed the small crafts shields. Suddenly uncontrolled explosions
erupted from the propulsion section of the merchant craft. The undirected
frenzy of destruction billowed outward.
The demolition was soon brought under control by the vacuum of space. However,
large gaping holes were evident in the rear hull. The engines had died.
However, this did not make taking the small craft any easier for the green
attacker. The large ship cut its engines and began breaking maneuvers. It
brought itself to the same velocity as the small ship. Red tractor beams
reached out and grabbed hold of the small craft. It slowly pulled the merchant
craft toward the green giant.
The two ships were still traveling at extreme speeds. Any mistakes could send
the small craft tumbling away, necessitating another chase, wasting precious
fuel. Or more seriously, it could under compensate and ram into the small
ship, destroying both. It was a delicate operation. A second beam latched onto
the small craft. It slowly worked the ship in toward the belly of the goliath.
Large hanger doors slid open exposing the insides. Light flooded out with
wisps of fugitive gases.
As the tractor beams pulled the ship inside, it passed through the force
field, holding back most of the precious atmosphere.
There was barely enough room for the craft in the hanger bay. The small ship's
hull ground against the hanger walls. Screaming metal rang throughout the
hanger. The hanger doors slid back into place and the merchant craft was
released from the tractor control. Jammed into a tight box the craft made
small groaning and squealing noises. Finally resting on the hanger doors, the
craft fell silent.

Pierce knew he had failed. It had been a simple journey from success to
failure. He squeezed the plasma rifle in his hands. The cold metal of the
weapon cooled his sweaty palms. He stood by the emergency escape hatch and
silently shivered. The environment suit hung loosely on his sagging body.
His muscles trembled. His mind raced.
Pierce figured that his captures would not take his imposition lightly. They
would most likely terminate him. The captain of this large vessel wouldreceive
the small craft and its cargo as a token of thanks from his government. Like
pirate booty, space crafts were quite valuable. Especially ones you don't have