"Michael P. Kube - McDowell - Black Fleet 1" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kube-McDowell Michael P)

Moreover, nine of every ten workers on Black 15 were Yevetha. Paret
despised the gaudy-faced skeletons.

He would have liked to seal the ship in the interest of security, or to
draft additional work details in the interest of speed. But either act
would prematurely alert the Yevetha that the occupation force was
leaving N'zoth, threatening the withdrawal from the surface.

All Paret would do was call a surprise departure drill and wait out its
lengthy checks and countdowns, letting the normal work details continue
until the troop transports and the governor's shuttle had lifted off
and were en route. Then, and only then, could his crew
close the hatches, cut the moorings, and turn its back on N'zoth.

Nil Spaar knew of Commander Paret's dilemma.

He knew all that Paret knew, and much more. For more than five years
he had worked to position allies of the underground throughout the
conscript work-force.

Nothing of importance happened without Nil Spaar's swiftly hearing of
it. And he had taken the information he had collected and woven it
into an elegant scheme.

He had put an end to the rash of minor "mistakes" and "accidents,"
demanding that those who worked for the Empire show diligence and
strive for excellence---while learning everything they could about the
ships and their operation. He had seen to it that the Yevetha made
themselves indispensable to the Black Fleet's yard bosses and earned
the trust of its commanders.

It was that trust which had allowed the work slowdown in the months
since the Battle of Endor to go on unquestioned. It was that trust
which had given his Yevetha the run of both the yard and the ships
moored in the slips.

And it was the patient and calculating exploitation of that trust which
had brought Nil Spaar and those who followed him to this moment.

He knew that he no longer need fear the Harridan, the Victory-class
Star Destroyer that had been protecting the yard and patrolling the
system. The Harridan had been ordered to the front three weeks ago,
joining the Imperial force fighting a losing rear-guard action at
Notak.

He knew that Paret could not seal the Intimidator against his men, even
by ordering a battle-stations lockdown. More than a dozen external
hatches in Sections 17 and 21 had been rigged by Yevetha technicians to
report that they were secured when they were not, and to report that