"John Dalmas - The Three-Cornered War" - читать интересную книгу автора (Dalmas John)

John Dalmas - The Three-Cornered War


"Let's go see Emry, and we'll uncross it."
She led him into a large reception area where security personnel were conspicuous. The
couple was not stopped; apparently Lotta was known to them. A wide main corridor
took them to a glass-domed rotunda, some eighty yards across and fifty high. There,
small groups of trees were surrounded by lawns, fountains, shrubs, and bright, many-
colored flowerbeds. There was a fragrance of blossoms. Birds darted, twittered, sang.
Apparently, Artus thought, tailored repellent fields kept them inside.
Lotta grinned at him. "Nice, eh?"
"My driver said he was taking me to Kristal's residence."
It was an inside joke, she explained. The building offlced OSP headquarters and labs.
As His Majesty's Governor of Special Projects, and a widower, Kristal lived there in a
penthouse apartment.
So the OSP rates a governor now, Romlar thought. It's risen on either the importance
scale or the PR scale. Or both.
They rode a lift tube to the top floor, where Lotta led him to a large reception room
with offices on two sides. Its windows extended from floor to ceiling.
The receptionist looked up smiling. "His lordship is expecting you," she said. "Just a
moment." She spoke quietly into a commset, then motioned toward a door. "Go right
in."
The old man was on his feet to greet them. Taking one of Romlar's thick hard hands in
both of his thin ones, he shook it. "Artus, it's good to have you back. It's spring where
you've come from, right?"
"Going on summer."
"Well. And here you find summer half used up." His deep bright eyes examined
Romlar's. "I have a new assignment for you. A new and different assignment, to start
after you've had your leave. A short leave, I'm afraid, a few days."
He paused. "I take it your regiment came home in good mental and spiritual condition?"
"Most of them better than I did."
Kristal nodded as if he knew what Romlar alluded to. "The regiment will not be
contracted out again," he said. "The Confederation has its own need for it. An imperial
invasion armada is on its way, little more than two years distant. You'll help develop
strategies and tactics to counter the invasion. Which will mean turning over regimental
command to someone else—whomever you consider best suited."
Romlar wasn't smiling now, but his face was relaxed, his answer casual. "Coyn
Carrmak," he said. "He's my best officer, the best leader, and the smartest man in the

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John Dalmas - The Three-Cornered War


regiment. And the men know how good he is. Beyond that, he's also the luckiest person
I've ever seen." He glanced at Lotta. "With the exception of your brother.
Jeiym's come through more than anyone else in the outfit, unscratched."
He turned back to Kristal. "I'm not surprised. What specifically do you have in mind for
it?"
"More training. Partly in techniques and tactics no one's invented yet. That's where you
come in. Are you willing?"