ZX Review #11-12 26 ноября 1997

Computer novella - Warriors Stars (the game Shadowfire).

     COMPUTER NOVELLA



Music by ZET

(C) I. Komandin, Kaluga


          WARRIORS OF STARS


         Part One.

     Operation "Fire in the shadows"

     (On the game "SHADOWFIRE")


               1


   For a huge round table
covered with dark red cloth,
sat alone Admiral Payts -
Commander of the Armed
Earth Alliance forces. On
first glance, it was completely
calm, but after looking closely, you could see big drops of 
sweat on his whitened face.


   Just had a conversation with President Paytsa in which they 
discussed the uprising at Bizerte, and the President ordered it 
to him, Paytsu, to exert all their efforts, but in

that whatever was to appease
belligerent planet. Bizerte
for over two years collecting space fleet and threatened the 
Commonwealth War. Land sent three ambassadors to a meeting

with the government of the planet, but
three attempts have failed. Two
Ambassadors were killed by armed
residents of Bizerte, despite
protection of terrestrial soldiers, while the third returned 
with nothing. 

   Payts decided to send to the world's best diplomat Bizerte -
Ambassador Krikosisa. The admiral knew that if the ambassador 
did not be able to fulfill its mission, the

it can be removed from his post as Commander in Chief. 
Therefore Krikosisu requires a very powerful protection.

Payts turned sharply and ran his fingers over the keyboard on 
the table of the computer. The screen glowed a soft blue light. 

   - What can I do? -
mechanical voice asked.

   - I need information about the most distinguished in the past
five-year officer - said the admiral. Computer for a
Time stopped, and the only quiet
steady hum and soft light display talked about how it works.

   Less than a minute, as the metallic voice spoke
again:

   - Work completed. Required
object is found.

   - Name? - Asked Payts.

   - Ernuell Zoff.

   - The title?

   - General.

   Commander turned
computer and turned to the intercom:

   - Locate and call me
General Zoffa.

   Payts closed his eyes wearily
leaned back in his chair. But
he could not relax.
A loud knock on the door made
its start. Admiral sharply
straightened and business-like tone he said:

   - Sign.

   Entered the room, General
Zoff - an expert on extraterrestrial
civilizations, and war fighting in a confined space. Recently, 
he successfully completed an operation to capture

the insurgent military base on the planet Thibideau.

   - General Zoff on your order arrives, - a studied rapped it.

   - Come in, General - Payts said, motioning ordering him
sit.

   By that time, as Zoff villages
comfortably in an armchair admiral had mentally thought about 
his speech, and slowly began to explain

Zoffu crux of the matter:

   - General, you, of course,
well-known situation in
Bizerte. Three sent to us
Ambassadors could not appease
this planet, and the president asked me personally to do it this
question. According to our scouts, Bizerte can begin
military campaign after two
weeks. So I decided to send
Bizerte on the best available
our diplomats - Ambassador Krikosisa. Of course, the ambassador 
needs to be reliable and organized protection. For this role 
the computer recommend you as a specialist in this kind of 
action. Your task will be to

to ensure that Krikosisu
powerful protection and to organize it
meeting with the government of the planet. If local residents 
will be you are too annoying, you can take refuge in the 
fortress of the First Bizertskogo Division. The results of the 
mission you will have to report to me exactly ten

days! Home - tomorrow at noon.
You can take as many people and
weapons, as you will need. I personally notified the Ministry 
of the Armed Forces of your credentials. You can go, General.


   - Yes, sir! - Voice Zoffa
shaking. Payts understood
him. After all, if Krikosisa killed
it necessarily demote Zoffa,
before the president will lift it
from his post as Commander.

   Zoff went out and plunged into Payts unpleasant thoughts. He
did everything he could, and now
could only pray
to selected people coped with this task.


     2. (Ten days later)


   Admiral Payts, hands
behind his back, quickly went from side to side in his office.
Day was already late in the evening, and
Posts by Zoffa did not come.
In the excited brain Commander raced all sorts of
picture of the failure of the operation. Fearfully trembling at 
every rustle, Payts now and then glanced at the display 
messages giperfaksu.


   And then, finally, the indicator lights up in red 
long-awaited light and gives off an unpleasant squeak.

The Admiral immediately rushed over to console
Management giperfaksom and pressed
admission button.

   Wall cabinet, covered with soft leather wallpaper, gently 
moved aside, revealing view Paytsa matte white screen 
giperfaksa. Some time nothing has changed, but then

screen was slowly manifest image. Admiral sighed with relief 
when he began to distinguish between on-screen features of the 
swarthy, framed with thick black hair, face and general Zoffa

has once again scored in the lungs with air to gush
battle over whether a
hell it took so long to come out on
communication. But this image is finally cleared, and Payts
I saw it, because of what all the curses immediately took off 
his from the head.


   A little behind Zoffa tied to a chair, gagged,
sitting ambassador Krikosis, and next to
These were two soldiers of General
in full combat gear. Before the Commander could not come
in itself, Zoff said himself:

   - Do not say a word, the admiral, and listen to me. As you 
can see - Zoff smiled - I invited the ambassador to visit, and 
he gladly agreed to live in fortress, until satisfied, some of 
my conditions. Through Three days ambassador must be present at 
a meeting with government Bizerte. Krikosis able to find a

common language, and now, if
Of course, he gets to the meeting,
problem with Bizerte, possibly
will be solved. But the ambassador gets
to meet only when
perform all I have to say.
Well, now, the most important - of
my claims.

   I give you three days to ensure that the Senate has chosen 
me by the President. If you follow my condition, then the 
answer to the question of whether or not be a war will depend

only from the ambassador, but if not -
that war is inevitable, since I
personally will release Krikosisu intestine. At these words, a 
person Paytsa red with anger, but

Zoff just smiled maliciously and
continued:

   - And, Admiral, do not try to rob Krikosisa me.
Most given to me for
operations soldiers went over to my
side, and nepovinovavshiesya were killed. You can not get close 
to me, not a splash. So that any attempt to save your 
ambassador will only be completed by that he would die before 
my time. Y you and the Senate has only three

of the day, the admiral to determine that
more importantly: Do not give me the opportunity to
live in happiness and contentment, or
save the Commonwealth from the war. I
I hope that you will be reasonable and
make the right choice.

   Screen giperfaksa quickly dimmed and took his usual
form. Admiral Payts, which for
all this time did not utter
words sank in heavy thought. "All is lost - I think
he said. - Do not
prevent Zoffa for the presidency. His reign will kill more
lives than any
war. But the ambassador must go to a meeting with the 
Government of Bizerte, if it is, of course, do not bluff Zoffa. 
It is a pity that can not check it ... God!

What should I do? That's really a mystery of mysteries! 
"Suddenly some shustraya idea turned round in the brain of the 
Admiral. But was not he would command if it were not for

was able to catch the ever elusive idea by the tail and, despite
for all her buck, cause her
in-readable form in his brain.
The idea was developed, signed in print, published, bound in a 
booklet and disclosed on the first page of Paytsa in the head. 
"You say you can not get close without the noise - he thought. 
- Well Well, look, look. "


   Admiral spun sharply to
chair and turned on the computer.

   - What can I do?

   - I need information on subversive group "Enigma" -
Payts said.

   At this time the pause was longer, but, then, finally, he 
spoke again:


   - Work completed. Information is found.

   - Give me all the information -
trembling voice stress
Payts said.

   - Sabotage group "Enigma." Ingredients: Six soldiers - 
Specialists in military action and, in particular, the 
diversion: Silk - insectoid from the planet Orrera - an expert 
on combat operations in the numerical superiority of the enemy; 
Sevrina - dug - an expert on mechanics; Maul - battle droid 
with a biological brain - the incomparable fighter; Manto - a 
humanoid race from the sobakoobraznyh - Specialist

electronics; Zarqa Montour - commander of the group - Earthling 
- a specialist in sabotage, an excellent pilot; Torik - a 
humanoid race from the biradlike - Specialist

exploration. On account of "Enigma" more than one hundred and 
fifty of successful operations, and four failed. During the 
work the group did not die either one of its members.


   "Excellent!" These are the guys that I need! " - Payts 
excitedly thought, but then same willpower to suppress all 
emotions and dispassionate voice: 

   - As soon as possible find
and send me a group of "Enigma."

   - Yes, sir, - said the computer and the monitor goes off.


    3. (Next morning)


   It was eight o'clock in the morning. Admiral Payts, resting 
his head on his hands, sleeping, sitting at the table. Big red 
circles around the eyes eloquently that the full

That night he had spent without sleep, waiting for the group 
Enigma. Of course, expectation was in vain, but for

during a sleepless night Payts could
a more or less detailed
rescue plan Krikosisa, which at the proper level of preparation 
of its artists could easily succeed. A "Enigma" this level of 
training possessed. 

   On the desk rang insistently
buzzer. This is the sound tore Paytsa
of his darkest dreams. Before the Admiral was able to completely
get over it, his hand automatically found the computer keyboard 
and press reception. 

   - Admiral Payts, your
orders came commando
group "Enigma" - metallic voice rang computer.

   - Excellent! - Answered Payts,
finally waking up -
let me pass Zarqa Montour - their commander.

   Barely a couple of seconds, as
the office door opened, and
entered the room hefty stocky man of thirty-five. It looked 
very strange. Clean-shaven head gave

his resemblance to the ancient Chinese monk, a huge metal suit 
of armor - a medieval knight. If you meet a man in the street,

you would think that he escaped from
any psychiatric hospital, but the stern gray eyes the stranger 
at once discourages talk about it in his presence.


   - Sit down, Mr. Montour -
friendly tone said,
Payts. Zarqa Montour said nothing, but it was evident that he
gratefully accepted the offer. The commander of the "Enigma" 
stared at the Commander in Chief. From this view of Admiral 
chill ran down his back. 

   For a while they continued to look at each other, then
Payts said:

   - Mr. Montour, I know that
You and your team does not submit to anyone and work solely for 
money. 

   So I want to offer you
a very attractive job - Admiral stopped and looked at Zarqa. 
Anyone with a straight face continued to look at in-Chief. 
Payts a deep breath, to gather his thoughts and continued.


   - I am willing to pay you big money for holding the commando 
operation to rescue the world's ambassador to the world of 
Bizerte. The ambassador was captured by his own guards, who did 
not stop my order and deserted. Under his command, there is a 
large group of heavily armed fighters, so the operation will be 
very difficult. I do not I can arrange a large-scale

attack: ambassador will be immediately
destroyed.

   His life is very important for
the entire Commonwealth, and therefore I
believe that the more acceptable
there will be a sabotage operation. According to my 
information, you are one of the best raiding parties of the 
Commonwealth, so I decided to offer the job to you. Besides, as 
far as I I know you've been sitting around,

and you have some financial difficulties. So, I think
This work will get you very
way.

   Zarqa Montour and eyebrow are not led by listening to the 
last words Paytsa, although he did not like when someone talked 
about their the problem with money. They are very

needed a job, and he therefore
tried not to antagonize
themselves who they would this work
give. At this point, Admiral
yet summoned the courage to
said something that, in fact,
and conducted the whole speech:

   - Mr. Montour, if you agree, tell them your price.

   - Two hundred thousand every creed, regardless of the 
outcome of the operation - the voice of the commander of 
"Enigma" was no less cool than his

look.

   Payts whistled. This was
huge sum. But at the same time the Commander knew
that bargaining is not appropriate.

   - Well, - he said - I
agree. Now I would like
acquaint you with the developed
I plan the operation.

   Paytsa plan was quite
simple and based mostly
on the operational work of its artists. "Enigma" has been
get to Bizerte on a speedboat of invisibility, and with the 
help of an electron gun directed action set on-board 
communications system damage in the fortress. Then begins the 
main part of the operation, whose mandate was to: Salvation 
Krikosisa, Zoffa seizure and destruction of the fortress, along 
with all the remaining soldiers there. To destroy the fortress 
can be had from using the self-destruct device, located in one 
of its parts.


   - The bad news is - ended his
Payts speech - that the card passes necessary to enable the 
device was at Zoffa, and you can not even imagine where he 
keeps it. - Here Admiral briefly interrupted when a continuous 
half-hour speech. Zarqa Montour listened

him, trying not to miss
words.

   - So, summed up the chief, - according to my calculations,
You will have exactly two hours before Zoff learns that his 
conditions are not met, and kill Krikosisa. Starting today, an 
hour of the day, ie - Payts looked at

hours - four and a quarter
hours. The ship will be
at a military warehouse "Frents" on
eighth runway landing.

   Once finished, Admiral
his speech, the commander of "Enigma" nodded his head, and
without saying a word, walked out of the office. Commander in 
chief in surprise shrugged, trying to recall whether he had 
seen ever such strange people, and in Eventually, he came to 
the conclusion I did not see. But at the Paytsu

moment did not care about the strange behavior of Montour. Much 
more important was that the "Enigma" took up the proposed work

and now he has had good
chances out of this alteration
unharmed. At least he
it was hoped.


    4. (Same day. 12:55)


   The atmosphere in the cab taxi
was intense. Usually cheerful
driver feel extremely
uncomfortable in a campaign of five severe humanoids, only two 
of were earthlings. Be on

his will, he would never stop in front of them to stop 
violating, although this property professional duty, but when

road blocked by huge spherical droid, he perforce had to take 
this strange group on board. Here and now damn robot glides on 
antigravah over the roadway, rear of the trailer to low-flying 
taxi. But here, Finally, the taxi stopped near the entrance to 
the warehouse "Frents. The driver started,

when a heavy hand down
on his shoulder, but then sighed with relief when he saw the 
second, armor-clad hand and gave him a few notes.

Strange group rather hastily left the taxi cab and headed for 
the huge building warehouse.


   At the entrance, impatiently shifting from foot to foot, 
standing Admiral Payts, decided sobstvennolichno meet the 
"Enigma" in avoid any overlap.

"Follow me" - briefly
threw it and came up Montour
quickly entered the building. Shrugged his shoulders, commander 
of the raiders looked at your group and followed in Chief.


   After a short way to a dazzling white underground corridor 
group, headed by Admiral Paytsom got into a huge hall

launch pad. Right in the middle room on a giant steel
dais stood a small refluent silver ship. Smooth,
surprisingly graceful curves of the ship, however, produced
impression of immense power. Housing Intelligence boats all 
colors of the rainbow in bright beams of searchlights. Payts

surprise turned to involuntarily
escaped from someone sigh, the whole
Guppies "Enigma" froze, staring with admiration at the boat. One
Only Maul, busily rustling antigravami, slowly moved towards the
ladder. Payts smiled with satisfaction: he assumed that the form
Boats will make an impression on the saboteurs, but not 
expecting it to be so strong. "So - he said, after waiting a 
long pause - this ship is named "Warrior" is given entirely at 
your disposal. In the wheelhouse folded hand weapons. The 
electron gun mounted on the nose, a guide to introduced the use 
of onboard computer, so you have to It will not be problems. 
Well, in the Overall, that's all.


   All the necessary information
associated with the surgery itself, you
will find in my note. "Payts
drew from his pocket a small tightly packed envelope, gave
its Montour and krutanuvshis sharply on his heel and headed for 
the exit.


   The room was quiet. Hardened by numerous battles Warriors 
could not recover from the magnificence of what he saw. Stupor 
brought all impatient Maula whistle: completely unemotional 
droid got tired of waiting their friends.


   Soon the entire group is Enigma sank the ship, and
All took their places in mitigating the gravity chairs. Zarqa
Montour sitting comfortably in front
management console, located next to Manto.

   From the nozzle ship broke
jet of hot air. Over
head, like petals of a giant flower, sold in
by ceiling warehouse. Painfully slow, and then all
faster and faster, "Warrior" was
away from the Earth. For warehouse turned into a brilliant
point on a gray background. At this point, Montour included 
hyperdrive. On the main screen has started the countdown: 

   - Ten ... nine ... eight.
Zarqa instinctively shivered in
chair, ready to pounce.

   - Two ... one ... start! Stars
merged into a continuous line, a huge force pressing the push 
fighters chair, Earth immediately dissolved into the black 
abyss of space. 

   Giant power vzhavshaya Zarqa in the chair, gradually 
disappeared. "Well, - he thought - the beginning

it should be. Now we have to
Two days of flight, and then the operation which was not yet in 
our practice. But the game is worth it!

That kind of money we have never
received. "joyful smile lit up the face of the commander of" 
Enigma " when he took off belts, stood up and turned to the 
others. 

   - Well, guys, - said solemnly Montour - we have
There are two more days. Let's try for this time to empty
most of the stocks of this beautiful ship! Hopefully, the 
designers did not forget to equip his bar.


   Response to it was the roar of enthusiastic voices.


      5. (Two days)


   Advancing one of the most
unpleasant moments of flight - out of hyperspace. This
moment is always mate with a certain risk, since
the slightest mistake navigation
computer could be
knows where, in millions of parsecs from civilization, or that
Even worse, out of giperperehoda inside a planet or star. In
this case, nothing could
to save the ship from immediate
destruction.

   All took their seats in a chair and stared intensely at
monitor. And finally, there was a long-awaited words 
"Giperperehod completed, and on screen Steel output current 
coordinates of the ship. A sharp jerk, and Solid white lines 
again became calm the fixed stars. All sighed with relief: 
front, right in the middle monitor slowly rotated a little 
green ball Bizetty. Zarqa at full capacity included

interplanetary engines, and the planet is beginning to approach 
fast. 

   When the planet have already taken all the
screen and could distinguish the individual parts of the 
landscape, the commander of "Enigma" gradually slowed down to 
zero. Everyone jumped to the places and began to disassemble 
weapons, Manto has conjured over the gun. Time for talk is not 
was, in stressful situations Group has always operated as a

single well-oiled machine.

   At this point, the horizon appeared a little gray
spot, which was the aim of
operation. At the same moment your fingers
Manto ran for administering
console, something whistled, and out of
nose ship struck a bright blue beam. Gray dot illuminated
a soft blue light, and Manto
exclaimed: "Done!" The gun did not work more than a second, the 
blue glow vanished, but this was enough to permanently disable 
the communication system in Fortress.


   Manto has jumped to the other,
taken with large-caliber revolver weapons rack "magnum" and
slung on the back of a bulky portable teleport. Almost
instantly in his hand was the control panel teleport,
and all the saboteurs, one after another, were sent to the 
fortress. 


               6


   The soldiers were in a small
room, surrounded on all
sides by thick stone walls. In one of the walls was firmly 
built the massive steel door, besides still locked.

Zarqa listened - through the door
no sound. Turned around to his comrades, the commander
"Enigma" pulled from the breast
pocket of his armor envelope
Paytsa final instructions.
In the envelope was a small
leaf, flecked mekim handwriting admiral. The message
described the possible whereabouts of Zoffa, Krikosisa and 
self-destruct device. 

   But with the greatest enthusiasm
warriors met a postscript, in
stating that the operation is completed successfully, "Enigma" 
could sit on his return to the warehouse does not ship on Earth 
and the military orbital station "Laos."


   While reading the Zarqa
friends message Sevrina already
worked on the door lock. AND
Now, finally, there was a quiet click and the door silently
opened, revealing gaze of soldiers ... exactly the same, 
unremarkable room. 

   During the next fifteen minutes the men were still several 
of the same room and came out, finally, into a huge hall, in 
the the far end of which could be seen

entrance to the corridor, but the side - still
a closed door.

   Briefly conferred, friends
decided to send Torik exploration, and the rest of the open door
and wait for his return. Widely
spread her wings and fluffy
making them a couple of strokes, Torik
rose into the air and thrusting
in front of a miniature gas
spray, suitable except for
etching flies darted forward.
The rest of the dense group
quickly moved toward the door.

   Torik returned much faster than expected. Quickly sat
on the floor, he folded his wings and turned to the commander.

   - So what? Is there anything interesting? - Asked Zarqa.

   - Yes, I think, is - eagerly spoke Torik. - Sam corridor is 
not of itself nothing special and leads to a room similar to 
that in which I really saw one guard, but he is, thank God, I 
do not noticed. But in the center of the corridor

are a few shelves, and
One of them - two hand-held rocket launchers, are very powerful 
in form.


   - For example, Silk, give me your gun and go with Maulen for
rocket launchers. We are so
time open the door and we
waiting for you.

   Silently, without even thinking contrary, Silk gave his heavy
machine gun commander, and took
Automatic Zarqa, he went to the corridor. Maul slowly followed 
him. 


               7


   Sevrina already finished work on the door, when suddenly 
there was a shout from the hallway, immediately muffled sounds 
of gunfire. In the next moment out flew a man in silver body 
armor and fell to the floor. 

   That is, his suit before
was silver. Now he
was mostly black, and the
breast and not at all.
Following the dead security guard from
corridor went Silk and Maul. On
insectoid face shone with a joyful smile.

   - Not a bad gun, - he stated, going to friends.

   - Minus one - rather Montour said, opening the door
a powerful kick. Outside the door
was a large room, sharply
turn left, so that
friends could not see what is around the corner. Gathered
tight bunch, the soldiers marched
forward. Precaution was not in vain: coming out of the corner
they were face to face with the guard, who immediately grabbed 
the belt hanging on the radio. Zorko relieved seeing the 
puzzled soldier - portable radio inactive. 

   Immediately came the volley of the most
various types of weapons,
starting with a gas pistol
Sevriny and ending rocket
Silk plants and Maula. But
Contrary to expectations, the soldiers stayed on his feet. 
Powerful armored suit to help him resist and even to put the 
muzzle on the warriors your machine. A bitter exchange of fire, 
which true, very quickly ended when the smoking remains of the

guard fell to the floor.

   Still, the security guard had fired several shots, and 
although exploding bullets, which he strenuously watered 
attackers, not were able to penetrate spacesuits saboteurs, 
feeling they were not pleasant. When automatic fire dug into 
the shoulder Zarqa, he felt that someone hit him with a solid 
steel hammer, which is used in

backward worlds to forge iron
but certainly not to
check the strength of the human
bones. Zarqa spun on the spot. Shoulder ached horribly.

   More than anyone else in a shootout
got Torik. His broneskafandr was very easy to avoid
interfere with the flight, and accurate automatic fire hit in 
the chest his legs. If you fall Torik

heavily damaged a wing. All with
sadly realized that he no longer
can be swift-winged scout, who so often saved
them in dangerous situations.

   Saboteurs little poohali,
trying to rub bolevshie places
which successfully resisted their own suits, but Maul as
always in his abrupt manner,
quickly interrupted them, saying that
if they do not hurry now,
then after half an hour there will be no need to rush anywhere.
Quickly realized it straight
hint Maula, fighters, all as
one, raised their arms and
finally, sadly, sighing
moved on.

   Room, which was
Montour and his team gradually narrowed and becomes
long, narrow corridor, at the end
it there were two doors.

   It was some time before the saboteurs reached
these doors. Zarqa in turn looked at each of them and, realizing
that they have nothing to each other
no different, mentally sorry
that did not take a dime or
dice. But Montour was
not one of those people who likes to reflect and philosophize
even on the most simple things. So he ordered Sevrine open the 
left door. Sevrina nodded silently, and at the same moment in 
her hands were the tools. 

   Soon the work was finished.
The door opened with a slight creak, and saboteurs dumbfounded
stared at the standing directly
they face an enemy soldier.
Facial expression to convey a soldier
was even harder. First, as
always came to his senses Maul, beautifully
sending the enemy a knockout shot
from his bazooka. However, a guard, too, was not frail ten.
He recovered quickly, and powerful
blaster in his hands earned by
full capacity. Rays one by one
another bite on the breastplate of Maula,
but at this point in the shootout
joined the rest of the men (except Sevriny, which at this time 
carefully dissected the second door).


   When the battle was over, and
when ambient gas, abundantly Torik released from a container,
it turned out that he is Torik
unconscious on the floor. Hit
laser beam to the head dropped him to the wall, where he lay
before the end of the shooting.

   Montour took several minutes to bring Torik
in a sense, but then it turned out,
that intelligence can not walk.

   - Leave me here - he suggested. - Give me a weapon and I can 
hold out here until your return. 

   - If we do that, - said the Zarqa - the first guard will 
make of you a steak. You will not be able to use the powerful

weapons, and that such gas
spray or gun against
heavy machine gun.

   No, Torik, we are left with
you until you can not go.
Maul, as we have time?

   - One hour eight minutes.

   - Well, I declare a halt to
twenty minutes. Silk and Maul,
watch out for the left door. Sevrina, Manto and I will follow
Right.


           *


   Meanwhile, General Zoff
angrily pacing his
room. Next to him, bound hand and foot to a chair,
sitting ambassador Krikosis now and then
ezhivshiysya a wicked views
Zoffa. At the head of the General's swarming is not a pleasant 
thought. "They stayed just one hour -

he thought - but the Senate still
there is no answer. An hour later I
have to kill Krikosisa, but if I do this, can Payts
just kill me with it
fortress. But if I do not kill
ambassador, the Senate will realize that I did not
going to do, and will play for time until they
figure out how to get Krikosisa here, but ... "Sight Zoffa
slid on standing in the far
the room, a steel table.
He lay quite powerful
hand blaster. General adopted
solution: an hour later ambassador will
killed.


               8


   It took no less than an hour,
before Torik could rise
feet. Without losing a second,
Zarqa has announced that it is time
move on. Saboteurs here
also jumped to his feet and took the gun at the ready, opened 
the two door in search of passage. Right

was deadlocked, but the soldiers quickly gave way to 
disappointment joy when they saw a rifle pyramid top to bottom 
stuffed with a lightweight ultrasound machines construction and 
a gas pistol. Sevrina Manto and took them on machines and Torik 
picked up a gas gun instead of the order of the empty cans. 

   Behind the left door begins
one long corridor, devoid
every branch. To the door,
is in the opposite
end of the corridor, the first reached
Sevrina. And, when it overtook
Zarco, she smugly smiling, with a loud screeching rusty hinges 
pushed aside the obstacle. Right outside the door, apparently 
waiting for them, there was a huge bruiser in battle suit, with 
armor-piercing laser in his hand. 

   - Bah! Whom do I see? Is a
We conferred with the Zarqa Montour
your team? - Smiling broadly, he said.

   - And now, it appears, and he
Marshal Ksator lives! Zoff also promised you two tons of gold? 
- In the tone he said Montour and quietly swallowed, noticing

as tense on the trigger
finger marshal.

   Marshal Ksator became famous
all the Earth Alliance during the
the recent war with civilization
Bronx. He moved on to the enemy side for promised him two
tons of pure gold. But the reward Ksator never received, so
as the Bronx were completely routed. And now a deserter, a 
loser in some way was in the service of Zoffa.


   At this point, and came Torik
Manto. Ksator realized that linger no longer, and dropped
trigger. Zarqa jumped to the side,
having time with the lodge in Ksatora turn from his machine gun.
Began firing. Space suit
Marshal was impenetrable,
as a rock. Even weapons Montour
could not cause him much
harm. But then arrived with Silk
Maula, and the rock began to succumb. A few minutes later
saboteurs have stepped over the remains of the marshal, and 
entered into room, which, apparently, was the personal 
apartments Ksatora. Out of this room There were two out, but 
something told Zarka (most likely They were instructed Paytsa)

that go to just to the left.
Sevrina immediately began working on the door. A few minutes 
later she is still unable to open very complex, according to 
her, lock and open the door. First in lies behind this door room

Manto walked.


               9


   General Zoff was deep in thought, right in the middle of the 
room and slowly shifted his gaze from the Ambassador Krikosisa 
to blaster and back again. At this moment the door behind him 
opened and Zoff heard someone did. Made a wry face contempt 
mine, General turned to rid the newcomer. What was his

surprise when instead of a guard, he saw demihuman - 
polusobaku, clearly sending a barrel of his gun. Looking Zoffa 
rushed to the lying on the table blaster, but that Immediately 
accurate automatic fire turned into a pile of weapons scrap.


   Here animal instinct prevailed over reason the general, and
he rushed with all haste to the exit, toward intruders. Manto a 
wry smile - only that he was waiting for - as

Zoff just caught up with him,
teleported him to the ship's
prison, specially prepared for the occasion.

   Nearby, a face whiter
snow, sat and looked at Manto
Ambassador Krikosis frightened eyes. Saboteurs who have already
entered the room, a dense ring
surrounded the ambassador. Time to think there was (a meeting 
with the government of the planet began less than half an 
hour), so After a brief explanation of joy, but have not yet 
come into Ambassador himself was teleported

where he should be.

   - So, - has summed up the commander of "Enigma" - two tasks 
of three, we have already done. Left

recently.

   - And the hardest part - added
Manto. We do not know where
there is a card needed
To lock the device self-destruct.

   - Do not worry, Zoff to us
significantly easier - said Zarco, triumphantly raising
from the table with a notorious card
image of Jolly Roger.

   Smiling and a little
relaxed, saboteurs came
from the office Zoffa. But their joy
just as quickly disappeared, as
came when they faced
face to face with withdrawing from the corridor by eight 
soldiers. 

   Skirmish was long and very productive.
Everybody has got nice. It
they lost Torik. In the heat of battle no one noticed how the 
enemy miniraketa cut a helmet reconnaissance and 
precision-machine turn awfully abruptly and unexpectedly cut 
short his life. 

   In my day, the soldiers saw
many deaths, but this loss
left nobody indifferent.
All stood over the body of the deceased with
sadly drooping heads.
Manto crying - it was Torik
best friend. Only Maul
continued to flit from one
end of the room to another, trying to
keep at gunpoint once all
door. Nobody guessed
that his brain polukibernetichesky
wanted only one thing: destroy,
crush and kill enemies -
avenge Torik.

   After about half an hour, when grief has receded a bit, 
Manto teleported died on the ship, and the detachment moved on. 
No more the joy of victory, the desire to quickly

return to the ship and relax. There remained only a goal
front and frenzied pain, which is not soon destined to be
disappear. No one knew how
long they were and how many enemies
killed. But now, finally, in one room of their eyes appeared a 
huge machine, which stood at niche in the wall. Did not need to 
be rocket scientist to understand - this is the machine 
self-destruct. 

   "I'll include it," - said
Manto, and before anyone could argue teleported
all back to the ship. Pulling the card, which gave him the 
Zarqa still in office Zoffa, Manto walked to his car. At this 
moment the door creaked, and the saboteur heard quiet 
footsteps. Sharply Turning, he saw all of an armored enemy 
soldier, send it to his muzzle plazmometov.


   Plazmometov! Unusually powerful
and heavy sidearm, firing blobs of plasma, which could burn 
through even thick steel sheets. Is that armor

Maula able to withstand falling
from it without significant losses.

   Manto heard a low whistle and
felt a sharp pain. Surprise, and he stared blankly at a round 
hole with charred edges, ziyavshuyu in his chest. After 
collecting the remains of strength, he thrust card into the 
slot in the machine and pulled located near the red button. And 
then the world for him was gone. The last thing he heard was

metallic voice of the apparatus,
uttered: "Turn on the self-destruct. Disable
impossible. Begin to count four minutes before the start of a 
thermonuclear reaction. "



           *


   Meanwhile, aboard the "Warrior" the whole group gathered in 
front of the review screen, with a wonderful view of the 
Fortress Zoffa. Zarqa Montour staring intently into the black 
silhouette of the fortress, as if trying to pierce the eyes of 
the whole thickness walls. His thoughts at this moment

were fixed on Manta. Suddenly
in place of the fortress has blossomed huge fiery flower. Black 
smoke and bright prominences flame flowed on its surface. 
Unable to take opinion on this at the same time grand and 
terrible spectacle, Zarqa touch found on the dashboard button 
giperperehoda and forcefully pushed her. Wait there was no 
sense - not Manto destined to return to this

ill-fated planet.

   At this time, said the mechanical voice of the computer: 
"Prepare to giperperehodu. Take antigravity chair. The 
transition will be accomplished within ten seconds. "In the 
upper left corner of the overview screen has begun the 
countdown. Suddenly the ship shook strongly. 

   - What is it? - Cried
Zarqa.

   - From the ship departed rescue boat, - answered the 
computer. 

   - Oh, hell! This Zoff! Cancel
giperperehod!

   But it was too late. Powerful
jerk threw all on the floor, the screen has changed:
stars became bright lines, Bizerte immediately went off into 
the distance and disappeared. "Warrior" went into hyperspace.


   Zarqa Montour hung his head.
This mission was too
unsuccessful: they not only lost two fighters but still missed 
Zoffa. True, something told Zarco, that they Zoffom have yet to 
meet ...