The door to the cargo section finally began to yield. The drill worked properly, biting into the carbon-ceramic surface. And then there was a whistle of outgoing air. Witt froze, immediately realizing that there was a vacuum on the other side. For her, in general, it was not dangerous. I wonder where then is the captain and Angela? They could not leave the cargo section. Retreat, simply, there was nowhere to go. So, put on space suits and are still inside. I wonder what they are counting on. Does the captain really think that the airless environment will hinder the keyboard and she will not get to the girl?

It was not necessary to break through the entire door, it was enough to damage the locking system.

Witta opened the doors and at the same time activated gravitational compensators in her feet. Now, the absence of gravity will not prevent her from moving quietly in a vacuum. The air left the navigation compartment and, of course, it was not here - in the cargo section. The double hatch at the opposite end of the room was open. Some of the boxes and containers that were not fixed were thrown into space, some floated under the ceiling.

Witt noticed Angela standing near the open hatch. The girl was wearing a spacesuit and holding the side rail with one hand. Through the glass of the helmet was visible her pale face and eyes full of fear. Witta grinned. Run - do not run, but the outcome is obvious. The girl will have to accept his fate. In her right hand, she still squeezed the auger. Im, she was going to punch Angela's spacesuit.

So, well, where is the captain?

Witta took a couple of steps forward and looked around. Radimtsev is nowhere to be seen. Had he been thrown into space when he opened the hatch? Well, no, it’s impossible for something like that to happen with such an experienced spaceship. Most likely he got to the external case of the module. But why? However, it does not matter. It is even for the best that it is not. Now, you should quickly kill the girl and after that find the captain. Yes, he will not be delighted - of course, but he will have to put up with the inevitable.

Witt moved toward Angela. Outer space could not kill her, but it turned out, strongly constrained in the movements. Since the outer covers of the chifta imitated human flesh, they needed to circulate nutrients. The conductors were organic solutions. In open space, all subcutaneous fluids began to freeze, which led to general body stiffness. Witta moved to her victim purposefully, but slowly. Clothes, hands and face and faces were covered with an icy crust. With each step, individual pieces of this crust began to fall off with the skin, exposing the steel luster of the chrome-plated skull.

Five or six steps remained to Angela, frozen in horror, when suddenly Radimtsev jumped on top of Witt. It turns out that all this time he was hiding behind a pile of containers that dangled from the ceiling.

At another time, the Chifta would react instantly, even to such a sudden attack, but now her own, sprawling, heavy flesh braked her. Andrei fastened a repulse pack to her shoulders and sharply pushed Witt toward the open hatch. She screamed silently, causing her mouth to burst at the edges, and at the last moment tried to grab Angela, but the girl pulled back. Witt fell out into the open space. Andrew hastily raised the remote control and activated the repulsive pack. A greenish flame escaped from the discoid nozzles and Witt swiftly carried away from the module.She had to be cast aside because she lost her flesh and remained in the form of a steel skeleton. Witt would regain her inherent mobility and speed. God forbid that her then for something to catch on the surface of the module. Vacuum and cold will certainly destroy it, but not immediately. And Witta will have time to get inside again. Having flown away for several kilometers, it will inevitably get lost among asteroids and cosmic dust. His plan worked and Radimtsev breathed a sigh of relief when the blinking green light disappeared into the sea of ​​boulders floating around. Pressing another button, Andrew closed the hatch door. Then, he restored the supply of oxygen from the reserve tanks and when the desired level was reached he took off his helmet. Angela followed suit.

- Oh my God! She cried. - I was so freaked out! You should have seen her face!

Andrei hugged the girl, as far as the spacesuit allowed.

“All right, now we are safe.” From her, at least.

And then a hissing voice erupted from the communicator built into the helmet, then Witta’s voice was heard distorted by noise:

- Captain, why are you so with me? I after all love you. You know, for you, I would give my whole life without a trace.

There was a heavy silence, interrupted only by hissing and crashing from the communication device. Finally, Andrew said:

- I know Witt. You were my best ... friend. But I couldn't let you kill a girl. The life of the whole human race now depends on it! Do you understand? Could not!

“I suffered serious damage here in the asteroids, Captain.” I leave, I disconnect ... I die, - in the voice of the chifty sounded heavy and deep melancholy. - How quickly ended a second life. How fast.

- Witt!

“But finally, remember what I tell you, my captain,” an ominous whisper was now coming from the communicator. - The time will come and you will regret what choice you made today. People will regret that they refused us, such obedient, such understanding, such executive and faithful. The time will come and you will remember your Witt, remember my words. Goodbye

Hissing, crackling, hissing, crackling. And no more sound.

An incredible burden fell on Radimtsev's heart. He lost his Witt again. Again! Only now, killed her myself. Maybe it was worth finding another way out? Any other solution?

From the communicator, Alpha's voice suddenly rang out:

“I observe the arrival of thirty ships of the Republic of Italy.” In the sector of space 5-670 deployed forces of the colonies of the British Union.

“Let's go to the navigation, it’s better to watch from there,” said Radimtsev.

Yes, now is not the time to attach to anguish and doubt. Now we need all the strength, all his will, to fight for the sake of what he killed his favorite favorite.

They left the cargo section and got rid of the spacesuits. Remained in overalls, because to change into something else there was no need, no time. Especially in a hurry to take a chair in front of the Radimtsev control panel. He was impatient to find out what was happening on the periphery of the system. Around the holo-screens turned on, along with text information. The captain activated the system to intercept communications. The ether just boiled. From the side of the flotilla arrivals to each other, questions, demands, threats came: “why did you come”, “by what right are your ships here”, “free sector”, “get the hell out!” ! ”,“ Our interests! ”,“ The whole system under our military jurisdiction ”,“ fail or we open fire! ”.

From the side of the Floterland flotilla, two squadrons suddenly separated and rushed towards the asteroid cluster, where the rescue module drifted. Immediately, the Italian fighters and interceptors of the Yamoto Imperium rushed to intercept them. From the communicator came:

- Sector 2-6-7, rescue module, we see you on the radar screens. The Commander of the Faterland Border Patrol No. 488 turns to you. Stay where you are and get ready for docking.

But then, a rough stream of abuse broke on the air and then:

“The Flandland patrol is the imperial forces of Yamoto!” If you get close to the module, we open fire to kill!

Vaterlandians said it was tantamount to a declaration of war. The Italians demanded that both should be removed.

The ships of the 7th Cluster were already approaching the scene of the conflict.

- Guild of Free Soldiers appeals to all arrivals! The operation in this sector was originally conducted by us. Only we have the right to choose a module. On board is our ...