Владислав Казанцев - Dangerous wars

– Pythons, how's the pre-flight mood? Everything is fine? – Tomaka asked.

– Everything is fine, commander! – the assistant exclaimed, ironically.

Tomaka understood the joke, but did not answer, only smiled slightly, understanding the humor of the Python. His jokes were dry and not very understandable to the people around him, but Tomaka always understood or tried to understand. In fact, he let him get away with a lot, referring it to the ever-increasing age of respect. After all, approaching old age, no one is happy and thoughts about it, more and more distract from reality. It is good to be young, when you do not notice time and life, it seems to you beautiful, which you mostly spend on useless things and thoughts.

– Dr. Vella, he's holding up for now, – he continued, his voice already full of concern. We need to fly, and we can't leave without a doctor until we find it.

– Well, that's your recommendation, and the rest of the crew's agreement, – the chief said. – But I think, soon to appear, it is a pity that the communication at the spaceport, only internal, does not contact her.

– Here is this, well justified measures, not like, to under takeoff, computer failed, – Pithons unwittingly imagined in his mind, as they fall together with the ship, then explode and on his skin, ran goosebumps.

Each unit, on the "Flying Ferix" spacecraft, is separated by electronic hatches, controlled both by the main computer brain and manually, using magnetic cards, by the crew. In the recreation room, there are several such, on the sides of the center.

Now, such a hatch opened and a panting healer flew into the room. Her hair was tousled and hung down in a mess. Her eyes were bright, her face red, with a guilty smile. The girl stood and tried, not noticeably to catch her breath, but it did not work out, which was even more, it was not pleasant, since everyone was looking at her.

Her clothes, too, were untidy, and in some places, unbuttoned, and Vella's beauty could not excuse her for that. She stood up on one foot, trying to adjust her left shoe, which was caught on something and did not want to put it on her foot.

– I'm sorry, I'm a little late, but it's not my fault. This morning, a friend called, her child fell and severely damaged the kneecap, and the insurance is overdue. I had to go to her, provide medical assistance to the victim… – the girl would have continued to speak incessantly, but Tomaka interrupted her.

Finally, the mischievous shoe was still dressed, and Vella straightened up straight and sighed lightly, but as if heavily. She caught her breath and shifted from one foot to the other.

– Why you were late, I appreciated, tell me, and the patient is now normal? – Tomaka asked, his eyes accusing her of all her sins.

– Of course it's all right, my friend, she'll list the insurance money in the evening … – but before Vella could finish, he interrupted: – Does that mean we can fly safely?

The girl realized that she had talked too much and calmed down her adrenaline in her blood, she answered briefly: – Yes.

Tomaka, in bewilderment, spread his hands to the sides and inviting everyone to their work places, said:: – Well, great, get down to your business, place the equipment and tools, in the medical center and infirmary, we will fly out soon. He politely waved everyone out of the room, but remained standing in the break room. Pythons ignored Tomaki's words and stayed with him, in the room, apparently he wanted to say something. Tomaka didn't answer him at all.

– That's it, I'm running, – Vella said, and walked quickly to the hatch. It opened, the girl turned to the commander and smiled sweetly at him, then went out into the corridor compartment and the door closed behind her.

– Yes, we got a good, chatty brunette in a white coat! Tomaka exclaimed, more to himself than to the Python.

– I hope the doctor is at least normal? – Pythons asked, wary of his own health.

Tomaka and Pithons, after these words, began to discuss flight plans. It wasn't long before their conversation ended and they went to the command room in front of the cockpit.

There was no one in the command center, but they were sitting at a computer panel that glowed with all the colors of neon lights. It was the main brain of the spaceship, the Flying Ferix. All any electronic items that depended on this device and any breakage, also, here was recorded by the computer and reported to the team or in special cases to its commander.

The instruments made various subtle sounds, showing their work. The monitors displayed all system processes, incoming and outgoing data. The main computer brain, not only monitors the system memory itself, but also displays it on the main monitor, which is now, first of all, checked by Tomak, so that it does not hang and the flight does not break.

– Well, the main thing is checked, it's time to assemble a team! – Tomaka said.

– Yes, I agree, it's time, – said Pythons and on the intercom, notified the crew into the microphone.

Soon, the hatch opened and flight engineer Trimon entered the room. A middle-aged man, a cheerful but calm man. He didn't seem to be interested in anything but the screwdriver, just to twist something. True, he has a good recommendation, he knows a lot about his business.

– I finished the panel, the wiring was heated, now it's normal. I changed a couple of wires, I allow you to fly, – said flight engineer Trimon, holding two flight logs in his hands.

– All right, we're waiting for the others, – Tomak's commander said.

– Trimon, are you ready to give me the preflight report? – Pythons asked.

– Yes, I have prepared everything and indicated it in these accounting documents, – said Trimon, and handed them to Pythons. Who, began to carefully review the notes, and Trimon turned his attention to the door.

The hatch opened, Vella passed, followed by the copilot, who gave way to the woman, and the passage closed.

Before that, they had met in the hallway, where he had said to Vella, perhaps with a little more than ordinary propriety, a compliment. This is evident from the way she entered the command post, was a little confused and her face was glowing, not a constant shade of pink. Timba, on the other hand, was like a heroic, pompous male flirting with a female.

The crew, gathered in the command room, completely, five people, now had to hold, who is more convenient to call, a briefing or briefing, they are closer to the preflight divorce. From the words "dilute" in theory, the staff to their official places. Explain to people their work responsibilities, as well as, in case of unforeseen and emergency circumstances, what actions they will have to perform.

In a developed, intelligent civilization, there is usually a "meeting room and a table". On the Ribonne, this is also there, but the shape is more like a star and the number of rays in it depends on the number of participants in the conversation. When they sit, between them, on a flying soft disk, the distance approaches and it turns out to conduct a convenient dialogue, improving its result.

A table in the command center of the Flying Ferix spacecraft, with ten beams, designed half for the flight crew, and the rest for possible negotiators. The star table is located in the center of the room. At the heart of it, a powerful laser projector is installed, controlled by a computer brain.

Sitting at the "round table", you get to a business conversation and you have access to the universal information that has spread like a web throughout the entire space of space, built into the general information system, the space library. Although the distances are large, code signs instantly flash between computers, helping people, both in business and in their rest.

You can say, sitting at home, order a romantic dinner, on some planet Zigi-Zigi, in another galaxy. Then, immediately pay and get a "green ticket" by downloading it to the card and using it in the calculation.

– So, the team, all assembled, we can start a general divorce, – said Tomaka, taking the main place of the "round table". The rest of the crew settled down to their jobs, according to the "name", working plates.

To Tomaki's right, Pithons sat, his side of the table closest to the commander, and further away from him, Timba, Trimon, and Vella sat. All were on the same right side of the "round table". Tomaka looked at the small monitor embedded in his right sleeve, calculating in his mind the remaining time before departure.

– You are every expert in your work, have any notes and suggestions, please let us know now. Then you will have to cope with the forces at hand, in the sky! – Halliford warned, eyeing the crew carefully.

Everyone was a little animated, although no one had said a word yet, just the silence and cheerful atmosphere hanging in the air. But soon after the eyes turned to Pythons, he began to report to the commander and the others.

– Timba and Trimon have reported that the ship is ready to fly, – Pythons said, looking Tomake in the eye and immediately directing his gaze to Timba and Trimon, waiting for a sign of confirmation, his words just spoken.

Tomaka turned his questioning gaze to Dr. Vella, asking in his mind, – What about you? What did you do? Can you, with such beauty, do anything at all, except make up your eyes and lips?

Vella understood him without words, a little confused, but cheerfully replied: – Oh, I have, everything is fine, pills and potions on the shelf, everything is sterile and clean!

– Well, I wish you to conduct the flight without incident, we absolutely do not need them. I signed a contract with you, for a good percentage, so I do not advise you to get sick. We are leaving in five, and I hope that we will return together. That's all, did you have time to do your personal business, on the Ribonne? I see happy faces and a cheerful mood, let it remain so. The crew is prepared, please take the take-off seats, – the commander said in a commanding tone, emphasizing the words.

– The main thing is that there will be a place to sleep and eat in the near future, – the co-pilot said in half a voice, ironically, leaning slightly to Trimon's left ear. But he either did not hear or did not want to hear, just got up and went to his box, where he intended to continue, to prepare for takeoff.

Timba wanted to make a joke in front of the commander, but he realized that the business conversation between Tomaki and Pithons was more important than his jokes, and he decided it was better to catch up with Vella, who was already in the corridor. He really wanted to please her and of course, continue their previous, personal conversation, which no one heard, but everyone guessed what it was about. Dr. Vella, was against the harassment and courtship of Timba, who persistently tried to please her, than even more, pushed it away from himself. In the short time they'd been aboard the "Flying Ferix", she'd grown so tired of him that she'd even wanted to ask Commander Tomake for help, but something had always stopped her, and Timba's antics had gone unpunished.

Under the law, on the planet Raibonne, she could hold Timba responsible for harassment, but her character would not allow her to do so, it was easier to deal with him herself. And now, she did, but she was still a girl, and if Timba crossed the boundaries of what was allowed, then she would definitely have to turn to Tomake or Pitons for help.

– Wait, Vella, – the pilot shouted loudly, almost running to her.

Vella slowed her pace and, in the process, turned her head toward him. Her smile flashed against her fair face and bright black hair, so that he even slowed down a little.