"David Weber & Steve White - Starfire 2 - Crusade" - читать интересную книгу автора (Weber David)

communication protocols.тАЬ

Khardanish looked up sharply. Pre-Alliance? That would make them at least fifty Terran years
out of date!

"Com Central confirms, sir. Their protocols match those used by the Terran Federation Navy at
the time of the First War of Shame.тАЬ

"Lieutenant?тАЬ Khardanish looked at his liaison officer, and Johansen raised her palms in the
Human gesture of helpless ignorance. Which, he thought sourly, was a great deal of help just
now.

"Can you unscramble, Communications?тАЬ

"Affirmative, sir. We have no visual, but audio is coming up now.тАЬ

The com link was none too clear, and there was a hiss of static under the voice, but the distorted
words were recognizable.

"Unknown vessels, this is the Terran cruiser Kepler. Identify yourselves.тАЬ

"Khhepaahlaar?тАЬ KhardanishтАЩs tongue twisted on the word and he frowned at Johansen. тАШ1 do
not recognize the name, Lieutenant. Do you?тАЬ
"No, sir.тАЬ She punched keys at her console, calling up the TFN navy list. "No ship of that name is
listed in my files, either, sir.тАЬ

"I see.тАЬ Khardanish combed his whiskers for a moment. There might, of course, be one
explanation, for one could never be certain one had located all the warp points in any system.
"ClosedтАЬ warp points were unde-tectable; they could be located only by passing through from a
normal warp point at the far end. It was possible a Federation survey flotilla had done just that -
that they were coming not from CharonтАЩs Ferry but from a newfound closed point on the same
approximate bearing. But that would not explain unknown drive frequencies or archaic
communication codes. Or why this Kepler was not in JohansenтАЩs data base.

He pondered a moment longer, but there was only one way to find out.

"Identify us and ask if we can render any assistance, Communications.тАЬ

"Aye, sir.тАЬ

"Maneuvering, slow to thirty percent.тАЬ There was no point closing too rapidly. The range was
less than two light-minutes now, and his old destroyers were slow; if he should have to run he
wanted all the start he could get. There was another frustrating wait as the signals crossed, and
then -

"You are in Terran space, ZnamaelтАЬ the voice from the speaker snapped, and Khardanish
growled under his breath. This was becoming ridiculous!

"Sir!тАЬ Observer First HinarouтАЩs voice was sharper. "Additional drive sources detected. Two new
formations. Designate them Groups Two and Three. Group Two bears one-six-four by oh-three-