"Timothy Zahn - Hero of Cartao 3" - читать интересную книгу автора (Zahn Timothy)

you understand that there are many other worlds and systems out there in
equally desperate situations."
He looked at Tories. "Unless there are other forces available that I
don't know about?"
Tories frowned. "What do you mean?"
For a moment, Doriana gazed at him as if trying to read something hidden.
Then, almost too casually, he shrugged.
"Nothing," he said. "I just thought you might have a line to-never mind."
He gestured to the trap door above them. "I'd suggest the three of you go
back up and get some sleep," he said. "I need to stay down here for awhile and
get this contingency deployment decrypted."
Binalie looked at Tories, his eyebrows lifted slightly. Tories shrugged


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microscopically in return. He could sense an air of secretive-ness surrounding
Doriana's mind, but that could be nothing more than the natural caution of a
man dealing with high-level military security. "All right," Binalie said. "Let
us know when you're ready to come back up."
"I will," Doriana promised, turning off the light so the others could
open the trap door without giving their presence away.
"Good-night. And don't worry," he added, his tone suddenly thoughtful in
the dark. "I have a feeling that by tomorrow night this will all be over."



There had been seven possible rendezvous points listed on the contingency
deployment datacard, ranked in descending order of preference. The first, one
of the hangars at the spaceport, was already occupied by Separatist forces
busily working on damaged vehicles. The second, a warehouse on the northern
edge of the city, had been effectively demolished in the night's battle. At
the third, an automated hydroelectric plant straddling the Quatreen River,
Tories and Binalie found the Republic forces.
"This is all rather irregular," their commanding officer, a young-looking
lieutenant, said as he handed back the introductory datacard Doriana had given
them. "But it does seem to be in order." He gave a hand signal, and the ring
of clone troopers that had suddenly appeared on their third step through the
door lowered their blasters. "I'm Lieutenant Laytron. What's this all about?"
"What it's about is a couple hundred Republic troops and a thousand
Republic techs trapped inside the Spaarti Creations plant," Tories told him.
"Yes; Commander Roshton's group," Laytron said. "We've been in brief
contact with him. It sounds like they're making good progress on whatever the
project is they're working on in there."
"That's nice to know," Binalie said sourly. "Did he happen to mention
food or water or other irrelevant subjects?"
Laytron regarded him coolly. "For the moment, he seems to be doing all
right."
"Which is a complete illusion," Tories pointed out. "And you know it."