Читать книгу To The Stars - Назар Валерьевич Валеев - Страница 6

«And one more thing, Abuun», the commanding voice from the comm-screen continued, «we know you have sent someone from your team down to Fraal. We do not know what goals you intend to pursue, or whether it was an accident, but in light of recent events, his presence on that planet is utterly unacceptable.»

After a brief pause, the voice pressed on. «If you do not follow the latest directives to the letter, we cannot guarantee his safety. The stakes are far too high for us to take such risks!»

There was no mistaking the raw menace in those words, in the merciless undertone of the speaker – it left no room for double meaning. Though every fiber of his being bristled with indignation and Abuun longed to hurl something at the screen, he forced himself to nod and salute. A moment later, the transmission ended.

«The military somehow managed to turn the tide, seize the initiative, and, imposing their will on the Senate, began to act», he said, pacing across the comm room, the lines of his face drawn tight with anger. He stopped abruptly and turned to Draam, whom he had urgently summoned. «Nothing good has ever come at the mere mention of the head of the Caste of Warriors, and I just had a direct conversation with him!»

He slammed a heavy hand down on the console, making the instruments quiver. «Together with someone from the leadership of the Caste of Scholars, they ‘found’ a so-called compromise solution – they released a Genemode on Fraal.»

Abuun drew in a sharp breath, then jabbed a finger toward the viewport as if pointing straight to the planet itself. «We must locate Maarv immediately before he is harmed. Soon the military’s agents, hunter-drones, and worse will be prowling there. And that leaves him with extremely slim chances of survival.»

«I’ll start by breaking every bone in him myself», Draam grunted, though beneath the roughness he was genuinely anxious for Maarv’s safety. «Finding him wouldn’t be hard, but we can’t do it openly – those warhawks are already on our tail. If they know Maarv is on Fraal, then they’re watching our every move. I reckon Maarv will contact us himself soon», he went on, voice hardening. «He has enough equipment to detect the Genemode, and he understands better than any of us what that means for the Fraalians.»

He paused for a moment, then snapped to his feet, shaking his shoulders. « My friend, we’ve been through so many tight spots already – we’ll get out of this one too!»

«True», Abuun replied, his voice grim. “But this time we must think carefully about how to outplay the Senate and the Caste of Warriors, or this scrape could be our last.”

«Clear as day», Draam agreed. «They won’t leave us alone now. So we must act, and act decisively!»