Nimisha's Ship
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Nimisha's Ship». Краткое содержание книги:
When Nimisha takes an experimental ship on a solo test flight, something goes horribly awry, marooning her light-years from home on a planet as deadly as it is beautiful. Now the ruthless members of a rival branch of the Rondymense family are given the chance they've been waiting for: to reclaim the Ship Yards by any means necessary.
Only Nimisha's ingenious child, Cuiva, stands in their way. But for how long? For just when her daughter needs her most, Nimisha is in a precarious situation herself--and unable to help. But Nimisha has never given up in her life--and she's not about to start now . . .
The captain could see no more than the pilot area, so Nimisha grinned.
"I'm on watch, Captain, but not at all alone on this planet." She had one ear listening for the babies who, for once, were all asleep at the same time. "In my initial survey of this world, I discovered four other crashed ships. Two groups survived. The most recent, the FSPS Poolbeg, has four survivors-" She named them. "And the other group has been here even longer, and we owe much to them for their survival skills."
"How fortunate for you."
"Indeed, Captain, especially since the second group are aliens." Nimisha managed not to laugh at the stunned surprise on the captain's face. She heard a male voice excitedly asking for more details.
"That was Lieutenant Commander Globan Escorias, my XO, Lady Nimisha." The captain's voice had an edge that suggested she did not appreciate the interruption. But the screen widened to include the dark-visaged officer, bouncing about in the seat beside her in his urgency to know more.
"Aliens, Lady Nimisha?" he asked. "Sentient aliens? Humanoid?"
"They are not merely sentient, but we consider them sapient, too." Noting the dismay on the captain's face, she added quickly, "From a space-faring, colonising species, so we have not compromised their evolution. They are our friends and valued allies," she said as firmly as she could.
"Yes, yes, of course," the XO put in hastily. "Sapient aliens. This will astound the civilised worlds."
"Erehwon may now be included in that number, Commander."
"Oh, yes, decidedly, yes, of course it would. My congratulations, Lady Nimisha."
"And our thanks for your design," Captain Meterios said, firmly taking over the contact. "The Acclarke is the model Four, my lady, from your Ship Yard, with some alterations and upgrades for naval use. Truly, without an independent AI Helm we would not have survived the journey through that appalling wormhole."
"No, you would not. The Poolbeg and the other three ships, who had no such AI reflexes, were badly damaged by their passage."
"We were also able to rescue the survivors of the space station," the captain said.
"Space station?" Nimisha repeated, confused.
"A space station, the Wormhunter," Meterios explained with a vacuous smile, "was set up to monitor such phenomena and located ten thousand kilometres from your Mayday marker, Lady Nimisha"-Nimisha grimaced at this constant use of her title; she had become far too accustomed to Erehwon informality, although Lady Rezalla would not approve-"safe enough, we thought, but the wormhole opened just in front of it. I ordered them into escape pods and to net up tightly."
"No space station exists that could survive a trip through that wormhole," Nimisha said, shaking her head.
"Exactly, Lady Nimisha. It broke up very quickly by the force exerted on it and went through as a twisted mass. It and the escape pods were drawn in well ahead of the Acclarke. Powerful as the engines are, my lady, we were unable to reverse out of danger."
"I thought you were supposed to enter the wormhole and find me," Nimisha said.
"Yes, but we would have preferred to enter on our terms, my lady," the captain said crisply.
"Yes, of course. How many pods were there?" Nimisha asked.
"Twelve, but only eleven exited. Those who had fastened the netting securely came through in much better shape. Some did not respond quickly enough to the order to abandon the station. They tried to bring things with them." The captain evidently expected instant obedience. Dangerous as it had been to stop and collect equipment or personal effects, scientists operated on different standards. "That's why the group's leader, Dr. Qualta, was so badly injured. She is now recovering satisfactorily."
"Another one of my units, no doubt," Doc said rather smugly at that point.
Jon with Casper close behind him arrived at that moment, so Nimisha introduced the two Poolbeg officers.
"Captain Meterios has informed me that Caleb Rustin is bringing Cuiva on the Five B, the long way round," Nimisha said, clinging to Jon's hand. He pressed back, giving her a quick encouraging smile.
"Your arrival is eagerly anticipated, Captain," Jon said. "Helm, have you given the Acclarke our exact coordinates?"
"Yes, it has," Captain Meterios replied so smartly that Nimisha wondered if the woman disliked using AI units. "We shall touch down in approximately eight hours and twenty minutes, Lady Nimisha, Captain Svangel."
"Be prepared to celebrate, Captain," Jon said warningly. "Our allies, the Sh'im, enjoy every opportunity to do so, and this is certainly a special event. My compliments, Captain Meterios, to you and your crew."
Nimisha nodded once again in farewell; what little energy she had was depleted by the exchange and the knowledge that Cuiva was on her way here. Then a thought struck her forcibly.
"Oh, shaggit, whatever is Cuiva going to say about having five siblings?" she exclaimed.
"She's your daughter, Nimi. She'll handle it just fine," Jon said, beaming.
"Oh dear heart, there won't be any news for you and Syrie and Casper."
He hugged her. "That's a very small concern, believe me. Career naval personnel learn to think of their shipmates as all the family they need. And I believe that's true enough. Even though we were very close as children, I don't think I saw my twin sister but once after I graduated from the Academy. She was killed in a highspeed rail accident on the Cross-Orient express." He gave a sigh and a little shake of his head. "A long time ago, love."
"What's happened?" Syrona cried from the open hatch, hurrying in with Tim, who was leading Hope by the hand.
Jon recited the tale as he acquired a restorative from Cater and brought it to an exhausted Nimisha.
"Your daughter is on her way?" Syrona cried, slipping into the seat on the other side of Nimisha. "Doc, does Nimi need some help?"
"For once I think the only problem with her is intense joy and relief," Doc replied. "If she would deign to lie upon the couch. I'll check her over."
"I'll be all right, really, I will," Nimisha said, waving her hand in an aimless fashion and then starting on the warm drink Jon had brought her.
He took the cup and hauled her to her feet. "One can have a bit too much joy all at once, you know, and I'd rather the incoming didn't see you looking quite so pale, as if you'd seen a ghost."
"Which I have, in a way," Nimisha said, and even as Jon swung her feet up on the medical couch, she started to weep quietly.
Jon smiled and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "It's all right, love. It's all right."
She didn't even protest when she felt several hyposprays penetrate her arms.
"Bed rest for you, Nimi," Doc said at his gentlest. "Syrona, who's available to manage the babies?"
"I'll go see," Syrona said, but she paused by the medical unit on her way out the door and kissed Nimisha's cheek. "I am so happy for you, Nimi."
"I'm rather happy for myself, really, in spite of my tears. Tim, where are Perria and Sven right now?"
Tim chuckled. "Getting dirty, Nimi. Don't worry about them. You listen to Doc."
"He sounds so grown-up," Nimisha murmured to]on.
"You wouldn't think so if you heard him with the Sh'im younglings," Jon said with a disparaging snort. He slipped his arms under her body and carried her to their cabin, despite her protests. "He's the ringleader of most of the trouble the pack gets into."
"I guess I won't worry about them," she said, sniffing back her tears, but they seemed to keep coming despite her best attempts to cease snivelling.
Jon threw back the top fur, lovingly created by Sh'im female hands, and settled her on the bed, tucking it around her flaccid body. Then, he sat down beside her, taking her hands in his and caressing them, speaking in soft, soothing tones.