"L. E. Modesitt - Adiamante" - читать интересную книгу автора (Modesitt L E)

"That was then; this is now. They're coasting on the glory of a technology and
power that's long since faded. The asteroid cities are dead, and the
atmosphere of Mars is leaking back into space. No society has ever maintained
its power for that long."

"Not even us." No one owned to the thought that crossed the net.

"We've regained our heritage," the commander added, "and we've avoided them
for too long, just because of something that happened millennia ago." The
commander flicked his order at the comm officer. "Send the signal."

The same message went out in multiple forms--beginning with complex variwave,
then comm laser, UHF, VHF--all using the old protocols from the days preceding
The Flight.

It was a simple message.

"The Exploration Fleet of the Vereal Union greets you. We request the
opportunity to meet with the appropriate authority to discuss resumption of
contact between our peoples. Please respond."

Less than a stan passed before the variwave response came.

"This is Old Earth, Deseret station. . ."

As the transmission echoed along the net, the cybcomm and MYL-ERA ran the
analysis.

"A high power, tight beam transmission," observed MYL-ERA, her net projections
cool and sharp-edged, without emotional overtones.

"They know where we are."

"Not that difficult."

"In less than a standard hour--to receive, analyze, discover, find us, and
frame a logical response?" asked the comm officer.

"A high degree of efficiency," agreed MYL-ERA.

"Too high," muttered the comm officer offline and under her breath. "Far too
high."

"Still the same old demis, as arrogant in their knowledge as draffs are
immobile in their ignorance," added Gibreal.

Neither MYL-ERA nor the comm officer responded.