"E. E. Doc Smith - D' Alembert 9 - The Omicron Invasion" - читать интересную книгу автора (Smith E. E. Doc)

human town or a possible enemy base. By comparing the landscape below with the maps of Omicron
already in the ship's computer, they could find any new settlements that might be alien in origin. It was
unlikely the aliens would have built any large bases in the week since they'd taken over, but if even a large
part of their fleet had landed in one given area it would be noticeable to the orbiting observers.

Tatiana was given the sensitive task of checking the monitors and comparing everything to the
original maps. At this altitude, and with the wide angle field of view, it would take about twenty hours to
fly over all the land areas at least once. They considered it most unlikely they'd be given twenty hours
before the enemy spotted them and gave chase, but there was also a chance they might get lucky and spot
the enemy base more quickly. At least this aerial reconnaissance was worth a try.

The landscape below, as shown on the screen, left a depressing effect on all of them. Several
times they passed over large cities, and even from this altitude it was clear they'd been reduced to rubble.
Imagining the thousands, if not millions, of people who must have died in that attack, it was all too
obvious that this enemy threat must be stopped, or else this devastation would be repeated on planet after
planet throughout the Empire as the enemy made its advance. Jules and Yvette could see now why Lady A
was as eager to stop this menace as the Empire was—her own interest was very much at stake.

"Unknowns approaching." Fortier's level voice broke the heavy silence of the bridge. He read off
their course coordinates from his computer screen, then added, "They're bearing in fast; we'd best assume
they're hostile."

Even before he'd finished speaking, Lady A had set the ship into accelerated motion once again.
Her hands fairly flew over the control panel in front of her, so fast they were little more than a blur.
Although Jules had most of his attention focused on his artillery controls, he was able to watch her out of
the corner of his eye, and had to admit he was impressed. Even with his DesPlainian reflexes he would not
have been able to react so quickly to the situation at hand. Much as he hated to admit it, she'd been indeed
the perfect choice to pilot this vessel.

The H-16 blasted out of its stable orbit and began an elaborate series of evasive maneuvers, and
the crew inside felt the pull of acceleration from different directions and different magnitudes. They were
all strapped tightly into their couches, so the changes did not send them flying about the cabin; even so,
the continual jolting made it difficult for them all to concentrate on their respective tasks, particularly the
three team members working the gun controls.

Without taking her eyes from her own console, Lady A gave the order, "Fire at will." At the
gunnery controls, Jules, Yvette, and Ivanov all acknowledged the command. That had been assumed all
along. Their only chance of landing safely would be to shoot the instant anything came within their
scopes. An enemy who bombed defenseless cities neither gave nor deserved quarter.

The enemy fighters came on fast and hard. Unlike the H-16, these were built for speed and
maneuverability, and they came zipping in with one goal in mind—the destruction of the offending vessel.
By comparison, the H-16 was a behemoth—slow to turn, slow to change course, but also possessed of
heavier weaponry. As the enemy fighters closed in, the H-16 got its chance to show what it could do.
 Gunnery in space was a particularly exacting skill mastered by very few. Imagine: You have a
target capable of moving swiftly through three dimensions, and of accelerating or decelerating from
moment to moment. This target is likely to take evasive action to avoid being shot by you. At the same
time, your own craft is undergoing other directional and accelerational changes of its own. The same
effect could roughly be achieved by letting the air out of a balloon and then trying to shoot at it from the
back of a bucking horse. The results were generally more frustrating than gratifying.