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

thirty hours to the nearest warp point.

Khardanish beckoned, and Johansen crossed to his side. He leaned close to her, speaking
softly.

"Either those ships truly are Terran, however and wherever they have come from, or they are
not. In either case, we cannot outrun them. If they attack, we will undoubtedly be destroyed, and
the consequences to the Alliance may prove disastrous.тАЬ

"I understand, sir,тАЬ the lieutenant said when he paused.

"But perhaps we can avoid that eventuality. So far we have used only our own com techs, and
they are TheeerlikouтАЩvalkhannaieee. You are Human. You must speak for us and convince them
of the true state of affairs.тАЬ

"IтАЩll try, sir.тАЬ

"I know you will, Saahmaantha.тАЬ He waved her back to her console, then turned to his com
officer. "Patch the lieutenant into your link.тАЬ

"At once, sir.тАЬ The communications officer touched a key, then flicked his ears to Johansen, and
she drew a deep breath.

"Kepler,тАЬ she said slowly and distinctly, "this is Lieutenant Samantha Johansen, Terran
Federation Navy, aboard the Orion destroyer Znamae. You are not in Terran space. This system
was ceded to the Khanate under the Treaty of Tycho. The Federation is not - I repeat, not - at
war with the Khanate. We are allies. I say again, the Terran Federation and the Khanate of Orion
are allies. Please acknowledge my transmission.тАЬ

Lieutenant JohansenтАЩs words winged across space to the cruiser Kepler, and a stunned com
officer relayed them to the superdreadnought Saint-Just.

"What did she say?!тАЬ The admiral commanding Task Force One stared at his flag captain in
disbelief.

"That the Federation and the Orions are allies,тАЬ the captain repeated shakenly.

тАШHoly Terra!тАЬ the admiral murmured. "ItтАЩs worse than we feared possible!тАЬ

The captain nodded silently, trying to grapple with the blasphemous possibility, then shook
himself.

"Shall we reply, sir?тАЬ

"Wait,тАЬ his admiral commanded, nibbing his prominent nose as he thought. He was silent for
several seconds, then looked back up with cold eyes. "Instruct Kepler to reply, Captain.
Emphasize that weтАЩve been out of contact for many years. Tell this Lieutenant Jo-hansenтАЬ - the
name was an epithet in his mouth - тАЩwe must investigate her claims. Request, politely, that the
Orion ships halt and permit the screen to close with them.тАЬ