Promised Land #01 31 декабря 2000

Игры

So be it - Computer story on the game LASER SQUAD.

               SO BE IT

       Computer innovation in game

          LASER SQUAD - part one



                 Chapter 1.


  It was a normal September morning, exactly the same as any 
other morning in September 2056. At least five dozen Police 
were standing in a cordon around the third seed sector in 
Chicago spaceport. At any moment was to arrive next vehicle 
with Rigel. 

  David Dzhonlan stood closest to the exit
from the spaceport. Outwardly impassive as
other policemen, he tensely looked deep into the building 
through kvaziplastikovye doors, secretly feeling: just about 
these doors swing open and gush outward flow

demonstrators, and they swept the cordon to
hell ... Come to think of it myself
would like to join the protesters.

  Thoughts David turned again to the crossbars.
Someone grandly styled the star -
Beta Orionis, but she Corporal Dzhonlana
as she was, and remains dirty crossbars.

  And in fact astonishing thing: in the moment
first contact with Earthlings rigeliantsami
were already aware of over a dozen
other alien races, but with any of the
their relationship did not add so hard.

  Rigel sector has the highest strategic importance to the 
Earth. Installation of gates giperperehoda at this point of the 
Galaxy pozvolila would increase the people available to them 
radius of the universe in 6 times! Rigeliantsy instantly 
realized this, as well as the fact that the Earth is not stand 
up for the price. And the price they are appointed ... David 
shuddered inwardly when remember a list of requirements of 162 
points! Basically it was about the distribution of influence of 
both races. Reluctantly, we could agree with all the 
requirements, except one ...


  At the end of 2043 in the constellation Scorpius,
near Antares, was discovered asteroid belt, the kind that is
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in our system. Pilots 
the ship to detect this Belt, immediately drew attention to the 
unusual shine asteroids. Soil samples confirmed

their guess: a 100% asteroids consisted
of pure gold! Mystery of its origin, 13 years, and has remained 
unsolved. However, this did not prevent hundreds of terrestrial 
companies immediately to begin gold-crafts ... 

  Now, under paragraph 154, Land had to pass under the control 
of Rigel Belt gold asteroids - all to the last

precious grains of sand!

  It was a blow below the belt. If you give rigeliantsam what 
they need, then there will be no funds for the construction of 
complex gipervorot. Now everything depended on its ability to 
explain whether it is greedy aliens ...


  To resolve the conflict has been created
Joint Commission. Rigeliantsy seemed
understand all the arguments of earthlings and promised to hand 
over all materials for consideration by the Government of 
Rigel. The final answer must be delivered to the ship, which 
everyone expected it at this moment. 

  As for David, he personally does not believe in
a positive result for the Earth. Before
he considered the most earthlings proud race in the galaxy, but 
now he knew that all we - the naive children compared with 
inhabitants fifth planet star Beta Orionis. 

  Unlike the inhabitants of our planet, for
rigeliantsev notion of genetic variation was unknown, and one 
resident of this cold and inhospitable planet was like

two drops of water like any other is not
only externally but also internally. And all of them
were cold and calculating pragmatists
to the bone. God forbid, these bastards
We moved to war! In the technological
terms they are far ahead of us, they even
is ...

  David thought interrupted a shrill squeal.
He looked up and saw that by closing
cold autumn sun, the surface on
incredible speed racing leviathan almost
cubic form.

  However, the clumsiness of the spacecraft
with Rigel was apparent. When the ground
had less than five feet, the unit
immediately pulled up and released a block of ground planting.

  Like many other policemen, David rigeliantsev seen only on 
screen megavizora. The young man involuntarily tensed when with 
a slight hiss opened the hatch and the planetary came the first 
alien ship. 

  In total there were five. As if not seeing any
police, no greeting banner, marched to the jib rigeliantsy 
spaceport, but not to the door, but to stop where they are 
expected flyer. 

  The first subject's caught up with Dzhonlanom,
who do not hesitate, watch the strangers, after all - all others
did the same thing.

  Suddenly there was a light cotton, and chest
one of the aliens has blossomed bright blue
rose. David has spent less than half a second,
diligently remembering everything he knew about
residents of Orion.
 Big flat eye, the complete absence
external reproductive organs, blood sinegolubogo color ... "Oh 
my God! Blood! 

  Krutnuvshis Heels, David turned his
look at the roof of the spaceport. Immediately before
he realized that the sound of cotton could mean
only one. And sure enough: among all designs Corporal learned 
the muzzle of a heavy laser. 

  Snatching one of the confused fellow sniper rifle, took aim, 
David and made only one shot. Explosion: it detonated ammunition

Laser Marsack. He threw his rifle, a pistol in the hands of a 
corporal rushed to the building. Dozen other policemen ran 
after him. 

  When Dzhonlan went outside, he saw
an eerie sight: a pathetic figure with a cry rushed to the 
roof. The blast tore off the attacker with both hands and his 
face turned into a puddle of blood. 

  Pointing the gun at the killer, a corporal shot him in the 
leg. Falling on plastobetonnoe coating, the desperate howl. 
Dzhonlan approached and asked:  - Who?


  Not followed by any credible
response. Then the corporal sent him a pistol
in the face.
 - Who told?

  Try to open what was left of the
mouth, the killer is something unintelligible muttered.

  The four cops who were standing next to David,
did not understand a word of what was said. But the corporal 
heard as much as he needed. Three times clicked the shutter 
gun, and the lifeless body of a ride on sloping roof plane, 
crashed in 50-meter-high ...


 ... In the office of Major Boehringer Corporal
David Dzhonlan report in detail on the events of this morning. 
Except for the major, there was also attended by several 
policemen who were standing in a cordon and senior technician. 
David knew all of them. But here officer, who was sitting next 
to his boss, he seen for the first time. In rank he was clearly 
not lower capital, but neither form nor signs

differences between the stranger, strangely enough, neither of
than the corporal did not speak.

  When David reached in his narrative
to the recognition of the killer, his interrupted techniques:
 - In addition to you, the ship met with only ordinary. That 
is, you're one might have with recorder itself. Whether he was 
included on the record this morning?


  After receiving an affirmative response, the technician went 
to the corporal and unhooked from his uniform miniature video 
camera. 

  When Dzhonlan finished report, and others
policemen confirmed his every word,
Major let all police officers, except
Cpl. Meanwhile, the technology is already all
was ready. Pressing it included
big screen, and it will again come to life events of the 
12-hour limitation.  - Stop! - Commanded the Major, when

Do you see a disfigured face killers. - Here, enlarge, and give 
the maximum volume! 

  The bloody mess has grown to the size of
screen, and four pairs of ears tocsin
thundered name - Sterner REGNIKS ...


  When the recording ended and the screen goes off,
a stranger in uniform suddenly came to life.
First of all, he stood up and introduced himself:
 - General Daytson. Department of BPO. - And again
sat down, pulled from the case folder with the logo of BPO
and pulled out a card with the heading "Limit
secrecy. "

  It's a lot in my head Dzhonlana set
in its place. You bet! In fact, any operation conducted by the 
Division to combat criminal organizations will immediately fell 
in all the military manuals as an example in terms of tactics 
and strategy. And this department simply had to come into 
effect once again floated the name of Regniksa ... 

  In 2024 the corporation Marsack been developed newest weapon 
- plasma missiles. The Corporation has taken all measures to 
ensure that the information about it remained under secrecy. 
Competing firms were willing to pay a huge sum

someone who will give them the secret plazmoraket.
But only the corporation could Metalliks
find such a man - this was Sterner
Regniks ...

  When the Board learned of Marsack
betrayal chief engineering department,
Squadron of military flyers were sent to housing Regniksa to 
raze it with the ground. Then the owner was not home. But in a 
plasma fire killed his wife and year-old son.


  Sterner asked for help from the Director
Metalliks, but was rudely rebuffed. Through
week, the military stores of both companies soared
on the air. And in both cases, witnesses
Regniksa identified, saying that along with
saw him a couple of dozen armed men.

  Since then, the account of former scientist and his
assistants have been more than a hundred murders,
arson, looting and other atrocities. AND
And never had the police could not catch any of the criminals 
... 


  ... Voice of Gen. David interrupted thoughts:
 - During the last three weeks our
department was conducted considerable exploration. Managed to 
establish the approximate location of the headquarters group 
Regniksa. Here, look! 

  Major and Cpl leaned to the map. Their
views presented itself a pseudo-three-dimensional imaging of 
multiple peaks of the Alps and the surrounding villages. One of 
the mountain passes was outlined by a bright red circle. David 
immediately figured on the scale of the diameter of the circle, 
came something about a mile.

 - I can not understand something - confusedly said the Major. 
- The site is small, why just do not comb his flyers and raze 
everything to the ground? 

  The general took from his breast pocket a couple of pictures 
and put it next to the card. One look was enough to Corporal in 
order to determine: flyer, shown in

images, not subject to any repair ...
 - Actually, that's what we did. AND
as if everything went perfectly. But at around
about 1600 meters from the center of this circle that's one of 
the leading flyer squadrons suddenly a stone crashed down. 
Wingman had enough sense to turn around, give a signal 
commanding the operation and photograph the remains of the 
deceased flyer. The pilot, of course, not survived.


  Hiding pictures General continued:
 - Our engineers have long struggled with the question: what 
the hell happened. And the only more or less intelligent option 
is as follows: there is established some magnetic force field 
blocking the work of all engines powered by the gravitational

cravings - including most flaernyh
engines. Approximate contours of the field was
compute fast enough. However, for
it had to burn half a dozen razvedrobotov ...
 - Sir ... - Said David .- As far as I
I understand you are now issued by the State
secret. Why?
 - Well, it's not quite - smiled Daytson. - What I've told you, 
it's a mystery not just the state, and personally presidential 
level. Actually, only the the president knows about this on my 
visit to your Academy. - The general paused to

enjoy the confused look on his face
Cpl.
 - You know what a thing ... Forcefield
this level of power eats an incredible
a lot of energy. - Now Daytson like
forgot about the presence of a major, explicitly addressing
to David personally. - A preparation for its inclusion is, in 
theory, no less than fourteen hours. Yes, if they had even a 
personal nuclear power plant, and if they do not could keep the 
field included more than five to seven minutes. All it can say

only one ...
 - The BPO wound up snitch - continued for him Beringer.
 - Exactly. The guys on the other side of the force field to 
know exactly the arrival time of our squadrons, down to seconds.


  Daytson stood up and began to walk about
cabinet, although this does not mean that he was silent, on the 
contrary:  - So, we summarize: we can say

know exactly where Regniks conducts
their attacks, and hence we need both
possible vrovnyat this place into the ground. Here are just 
done, we can not - the general emphasized the word "We" - as 
the enemy knows about every our step.

 - For all these reasons, the president has instructed me to 
form a brigade of soldiers who, under my personal control will 
take up gangsters Regniksa. While I believe

that would be sufficient to remove most Regniksa and the gang 
itself would collapse. Any of the squad will be subject to 
presidential control, but operational information will only 
come to me.  - You, Corporal - Daytson gave David

only a brief glance, but it was enough
to cause tremors throughout the body - I nominate the head unit 
and his deputy. Three days later, the Academy will issue, and 
I'll be there to attend. You select the three best graduates, 
and after the main ceremony will approach me and call them 
names and badge number ...  - Sir, I am ready to call them 
immediately. On This course I know most of the guys and

willing to vouch for everyone, but the best - as
Three times.
 - They are tokens? - Beringer said.
 - Rooms 18/35, 21/06 and ...
 - ...05/11?
 - "Yes, Major!
 - Well, what ... I approve of your choice. Until
that can go ...
 - But the day after tomorrow, be ready to join
on the new service - the general added.
 - Ready to serve and protect! - Salute
Dzhonlan and left the office. And out of the speakers 
throughout the educational building has boomed Voice Major:

 - The office of the chief of the Academy, Major
Beringer, called cadets:

  Private Phil Anderson, a token 5.11;

  Private Kevin Turner, a token 21/06;

  Private William Stone, a token 18/35 ...


  ... Four pairs of legs in the ultralight army boots quietly 
walked along the sand that Mother Nature has generously endowed 
the deserts of Australia. Far behind the left landing 
playground, but not a short path to the Citadel. Anderson, who 
walked behind everyone felt need to relax your brain - the best

way to protect from the heat he felt this one. And yet, half an 
ear, he heard both among themselves talking to each

team members:
 - Corporal and how do you know that we arrived at the scene? - 
Curious Stone. - Because scanner gives global coordinates. Well,

we got three hundred to three hundred square meters, and then 
what?  - Hmm ... Frankly, I do not know.

From the words of General could conclude
that it is not our concern to you: someone has to wait for us 
there.  - Aha, - has responded Turner - both now

I see: Pretty girl is sitting on Linda Harris
some cactus in a modest dress with
a pair of bouquets in each hand ...
 - My dear girl, you say? - Laugh
David. - That you give me, Kevin, tell me: how many
once you were outside our solar system?

  Humorous mood Turner instantly
disappeared in an unknown direction.
 - Yes I do still on the Mercury was
and then a tourist expedition ...
 - I knew it! But Ms. Harris svoito twenty years Flied our 
entire system up and down, carried out eight Negotiated and 
three galactic trip. Masterful any firearms, has the skills of 
martial arts, but and much more public. I think that even the 
most a new dossier on it quickly becomes obsolete: Linda 
constantly learning.  - You bet! What else is in this 
wilderness can do ... - Stone muttered, watching for flying in 
the sky mail frigate. For the march flew past them at least 
ten, and William is a great pleasure to watch how these 
multi-ton cans permeate the atmosphere.

 - And so you can be sure, the guys - added
Corporal - this girl should keep an ear
eyes open ... Stop! We are there!

  Faces of the soldiers took a neutral expression.
 - Anderson, after me! Stone, Turner - check out the north and 
west. 

  Divided into two parts, the group began
combing the area. Less than
five minutes the entire plot area was fully investigated, but 
nothing resembling a standard hatch or any other passage in an 
underground citadel not detect failed.


  The soldiers gathered together. From the landfill, are 
nearby, Anderson dragged some semblance of the bench on which 
the day before yesterday graduates sat together with his new 
boss. Actually, all four have long been familiar with, and 
attitudes in a team formed immediately relevant: friendship

and even a little familiarity.
 - What are the proposals, guys? - Asked Dzhonlan. All were 
silent, knowing what can not be disposed on the surface of the 
first-encountered the idea, first all you need to carefully 
consider. First decided to speak Anderson as an unquestioned 
authority on the part of physical force:  - I think we should 
wait. Errors in the scanner is not may be even theoretically. 
Hence, we did everything right, the rest - not ours

problems.
 - All agree? - Turner & Stone nodded,
endorsing the views expressed.
 - Ok .- Corporal, apparently, has long been all
decided. He got up, looked at the chronometer and
continued:
 - Then this: wait until noon local
time. If during this time nothing happens, then I'll get back 
to the general, and maybe ...


  And then David was silent: in the eyes of three children,
sitting on the contrary, blazed horror. Cpl.
turned around and saw ...

  What he saw, can hardly be described
words. Nevertheless, I will try. Thus,
twenty paces from him out of the sand rose big scaly thing in 
shape more resembles a dragon ancient myths, but only in form, 
because the colors of the Devil of hell were completely insane. 
The muzzle was like the color on pomegranate, while the sides 
were blue-black, of course - with bronze, and Front - white as 
mountain snow. 

  When the hulk rose to his full
growth, its mouth opened, and three-meter
strong metallic voice said:
 - Identify yourself!

  When the guys came up, that it is not
monster from hell, and only a machine, albeit a terrible kind, 
they immediately calmed down.


  David came a little closer and said:
 - Cpl Dzhonlan arrived to host a
squad-based Citadel. By order of General Daytsona. Waiting for 
further instructions.  - In that case ... Welcome

The Citadel!

  The soldiers immediately mouths gaped, and it was something
wonder: the first half of the phrase uttered his mechanical 
monster rumbling bass, and suddenly the voice changed to a 
gentle girl's Twitter!


  Then something clicked inside the machine, and
under the right ear and opened the door and from there to
the ground popped up stairs.
 - Damn! - Whispered Anderson .- A
because I was expecting to see some pull blonde in uniform or 
dressed as a ninja diversantku! And instead ... Damn me, damn 
it! 

  So, instead of going down stairs haired girl is very high
growth in ordinary T-shirt, short tight skirt and white 
sneakers. Approaching David, she provided:  - Series Linda 
Harris, the commandant of the Citadel, specialization - supply. 
 - Cpl David Dzhonlan, tactical planning. And this - my team: 
Private Phil Anderson, an expert on weapons and explosives, 
Private William Stone, communications, Private Kevin Turner, a 
commando operation. 

  Miss Harris shook hands with each of the men of the team - a 
real, masculine hands, does not tally with the appearance of 
this young girl. Clicking on one of the buttons on miniature 
remote control, mounted on a belt skirts, she opened wide the 
door in the belly of a monster:  - Please aboard, gentlemen!