Карантин класса «Т» / Class T quarantine: Глава 1

Chapter 1
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Camrad_RIP 24.12.25 в 18:51

The 22nd day of the year 529 of the space era

Camrad_RIP 24.12.25 в 18:51

Closed star system Khlo, Ninth sector of the Earth Union

Camrad_RIP 24.12.25 в 18:52

Planet Freya, polis Nans
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Camrad_RIP 24.12.25 в 18:52

"Hey, Cleanie, get out of here before it hits you! We're digging here!" someone shouted menacingly as soon as I stepped onto the intersection of Grace and Twenty-fifth.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:19

The cry came so unexpectedly and so close to me that I almost made the unforgivable mistake of a sudden jerk, followed by a roll and a raised muzzle. But I was lucky. I was lucky to refrain from making any sudden movements. Otherwise, I could have really gotten into trouble... Searchers, due to the nature of their chosen profession, are increasingly nervous, and their reaction to a pointed gun is quite typical: shoot first, and figure things out later.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:19

\\"Damn it! I almost got in trouble through my own stupidity, getting so caught up in the incredible discoveries that awaited me and forgetting to keep an eye out!" I cursed to myself, stopping dead in my tracks and carefully turning my head to the right.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:52

A quick glance at the ruins of a collapsed building located fifty meters down the street was enough to realize that I had indeed narrowly escaped trouble. In plain sight, on a large piece of snow-white polymerized concrete protruding from the rubble above the road like a balcony, stood a sentry. A fourteen-year-old boy in rather worn clothes, wearing round sunglasses, with a scarf pulled high over his nose, and armed with a cut-down pump-action shotgun. Not much of a threat, really, considering the weapons available to the likely enemy and the distance between us, yeah. But for those who think so and ignore the brand-new red and white neckerchief that the guy so demonstratively and carelessly adjusts, which signifies his membership in the “Tade” squad, which, as everyone in the area knows, has nearly two hundred fighters, there is a more serious argument. A little further beyond the ruins, which protrude into the street like a tongue of construction debris and almost reach the damaged buildings on the opposite side, a squat armored vehicle lurks. A “Flea,” covered in unassuming gray technogenic camouflage with black and blue lines. In a raider version. And the machine gun barrel from the hump on its sloping back looks straight at the intersection... So that some comrades, among those who are completely out of place here, do not misunderstand, obviously.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:57

“I was just passing by,” I muttered awkwardly, shifting the thin filter mask covering the lower part of my face to calm everyone present, addressing, first of all, those in the “flea.”

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:58

Having replaced the disposable paper respirator, I hurried to fulfill the orders of the young patrolman I'd previously given. Simply put, I got away from the ill-fated intersection as fast as I could. Pretty fast, in fact. Because the Tade squad, of course, had never been caught committing any outrageous acts before, but... But, as they say, there's a first time for everything. Besides, who knows what they'd dug up here? If it were something worth serious money, then God himself would have ordered them to bury a useless witness right here.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:01

Having passed the intersection and hidden behind the corner building from the eyes of the sentry who was vigilantly watching my movements, I breathed a sigh of relief:

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 09:58

"Phooh."

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:27

But then he added critically to himself: \\"Well, if I had gotten involved, it would have been entirely my own fault. I saw the Taid scouts hanging around here yesterday. But no, I was too lazy to walk around this block on Twenty-Sixth or Twenty-Seventh Street today. And in the end, I almost got caught, breaking the most important rule of any searcher — don't go near other people's digs."

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:27

Lightly slapping my left wrist with my right hand, I took a couple of sips of water from the tube I pulled out of the suit's integrated water bottle, and that was it. What was past was past; I had to move on. It was only good that one of the serious search teams was stationed nearby. It was less likely that anyone else would show up and disturb me.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:30

Adjusting the straps of the heavy backpack pressing down on my shoulders, which, incidentally, was the reason I chose the shortest but, as it turned out, not the safest route to my destination, I quickened my pace. I was eager to get there as quickly as possible and get down to business. Maybe I'd get really lucky and find something really valuable. Hell, even the surviving crew equipment would more than cover all my expenses, let alone anything else! I didn't even bother much there! I just cleared out the auxiliary tunnel under the collapsed building a little so that I could not only crawl through myself, but also drag the cutter through!

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:32

With some difficulty, I forced myself to calm down and took a deep breath. Once, twice. And I glanced around furtively. Twice, too, after a short interval. Just in case. Although, of course, it was unlikely that any of the Taid guys would follow me when they were all busy with their work, it didn't hurt to be cautious. Yes, it wouldn't hurt... After all, if they sense that under that huge pile lies either a heavy flyer or an atmospheric bot, even a rapid-fire automatic cannon with a full ammunition load won't help me defend my find. Not to mention my short-barreled automatic “Cort” model 30 - chambered for 9mm pistol cartridges, with four loaded 40-round magazines, and a six-shot .38 caliber revolver of the unknown brand “Wulf” with only five loaded chambers.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:34

I should have behaved more discreetly and made my way to the right place without announcing my presence to the whole world. But how can you do that in these circumstances? The sidewalks, hidden behind islands of lush greenery that had grown rampant without proper care, were practically covered with sparkling shards of safety glass. Walking on it was not the best pleasure. And the crunching sound was so loud that it could be heard on the neighboring streets. So you have to walk right in the middle of a wide, sun-drenched street, between the gaping, mirrored walls of all these faceless, monotonous twelve-story buildings with panoramic windows, which so magnificently reflect the bright green vegetation that looks like a real jungle.

Camrad_RIP 25.12.25 в 10:38

After walking another two blocks, I stopped at a silver-white mountain of rubble reaching six stories high, formed where the collapsed building had once stood. I glanced at this impressive pile of assorted pieces of polymerized concrete, twisted metal structures, and shards of mirrored glass. Then I slowly looked around, activating the water supply with a characteristic gesture and adjusting the straps of my backpack. It was as if I had simply gotten tired of carrying my heavy load and decided to take a little break. After standing there for a minute and not noticing anyone else nearby, I picked myself up and quickly darted into the gap between the vegetation on the opposite side of the ruins. And then I moved on along the sidewalk. Not far, though, just to the fourth building. I entered there through the main entrance.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:29

Once I got off the open street, I immediately felt the tension that had been tormenting me for the last day and making me jump at every suspicious rustle melt away. And why? Because I had stumbled upon something too valuable. With something like this, you can either get seriously burned or rise to the top... Even in the worst case scenario, if absolutely everything on that flyer or boat was destroyed in the crash, it would still be enough for some kind of equipment. For the same “flea,” not completely wrecked. But that's a whole other story. On foot, you won't get anywhere, and you won't be able to carry much. Wheels are indispensable for any searcher! Even if you don't find anything worthwhile, you can still haul a couple of tons of metal junk, good only for recycling, and come out with a profit from the trip. Maybe a small one, but a profit nonetheless.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:31

Reaching the staircase leading to the underground levels near the entrance, I abandoned my daydream and listened for the sound of someone snoring in the darkness, waiting for me. A searcher — he's not a bad catch either. You could take his suit, his gun, and a few other bits and pieces. And I could sell him to those same Farmers for good money as a laborer. If I could ambush him in some dark, deserted corner and take him alive.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:33

After standing there for a moment, I still didn't hear any suspicious sounds. However, I didn't let it bother me. I shifted from foot to foot, breaking the silence, and, lowering my hand to my right hip, pulled one of the three transparent blue plastic rods from the pouch attached to it with a strap system. I broke the chemical light stick and secured the oblong cylinder, which began to emit a pale blue glow, to my left forearm with Velcro tape. I took off the filter mask I no longer needed, removed my polarized safety glasses, folded them neatly, and put them in an empty pocket on my belt. Finally, taking a couple of deep breaths, enjoying the real atmospheric air, even if it smelled a bit nasty, I touched the collar of my jumpsuit. Responding to the activation point, the five-segment helmet visor slid down with a quiet rustle, sealing my suit of basic chemical and biological protection used by technical services when working in moderately aggressive environments. All odors disappeared almost immediately, absorbed by the filters of the built-in air regeneration system, and I, tucking my good old “Сort” under my arm, calmly walked downstairs.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:38

Carefully stepping down the chipped steps, barely illuminated by my lamp, which was just beginning to brighten, I descended to the second underground level. The one that, before the Exodus, had been a parking lot for the mobile phones belonging to the building's residents, now stood empty. Of course, after all these years, there was no sign of any equipment, even the most useless ones—everything had probably been carted away before the exit gates were jammed shut by a slanted wall.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:42

As I approached this vast, empty chamber, I involuntarily slowed, straining my senses for trouble. But I felt nothing out of the ordinary — no vague unease, no obvious reluctance to venture into this place. My soul was filled with peace and quiet. And the slow, slow movement of the dull, silvery dust-flakes, seemingly suspended in the air, which grew more numerous the further I went underground, gave me further confidence that no enemy was lurking ahead. Clearly, many hours had passed since the atmosphere here had last been disturbed.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 11:44

Holding my main weapon at the ready, I stepped out into the open space of the parking lot, which even a dozen flashlights would not have been able to illuminate completely, causing the slightly silvery mist to swirl around me in rapid whirlwinds. And I felt extremely uncomfortable in such a dangerous place. Even an inexperienced shooter standing in the darkness by the wall or behind one of the supporting columns would be able to take down a person walking with such illumination.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 14:09

\\“The only consolation is that if someone has set up an ambush for me here, they will most likely shoot with traumatic rubber bullets,” I thought. "So as not to puncture the suit. Because in our times, it's easier to find a new protective suit than to patch up a damaged one. Restoring the integrity of metallized synthetic fabric is no easy task: you can't get by with just a needle, thread, and a patch of the right size. That means I have a chance. After all, hardly anyone would guess that under my suit I am wearing a lightweight breastplate made of reinforced plastic, and not just any breastplate, but one with a compensatory layer. This protective vest, which was once issued to law enforcement units during public events, perfectly absorbs the kinetic energy of traumatic bullets. Tested and proven.\\

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 18:57

Trying to step softly, rather than stomping like the six-legged warehouse forklift robot that old man Ivan and I had finally managed to restore, I reached the far wall and moved along it to the right. Toward the utility rooms located on this level, intended for the distribution units of the power plant that supplied the building.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 14:10

In one of the empty rooms, from which all the equipment and power cables had long since disappeared, I stopped and put my backpack down on the floor. I straightened my shoulders with relief and spread my arms out to the sides several times, stretching in this simple way. Good... Which definitely meant that I had gone a little overboard with the amount of junk I had brought with me. I could have taken ten fewer magnesium rods for the cutter, and a couple of replacement cartridges for the regeneration system would have been enough. After all, I'm not going to have to cut the hull of a heavy cruiser to stock up on everything I need for two full days of work, am I?

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 16:35

After stretching a bit, I approached the well, which extended deep into the well, toward the utility lines, and sat down next to its half-removed grate. I carefully slipped my hand under it and, involuntarily holding my breath, checked to make sure the tiny pebble I'd slipped in there earlier was still there. I smiled contentedly, satisfied that no one had been rummaging around in my absence.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 17:21

The descent didn't take long. The only hassle was with the backpack, which had to be lowered on a ten-meter cord made of thin, woven synthetic fiber. This was because it was impossible to squeeze through the technical well with such a bulky load on my back. Although perhaps its designers simply assumed that only repair robots would climb down it, and that people would never venture there. This is quite possible, considering that the communication tunnels are not particularly large either. But then it is unclear why steps were carved into the wall of the well, as robots have no use for them...

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 20:33

Finding myself in a tunnel whose bare walls were devoid of even the fastenings that held the armored cables of the power plant that once ran here, I picked up my backpack and cautiously moved forward through the swaying haze of metallized snowflakes. Cautiously, because the builders had screwed up something while laying these underground utilities, and as a result, their work was of poor quality. The porcelain stoneware pipe of the utility tunnel, which, in theory, should have lasted for hundreds of years, had already begun to crack and crumble. Here and there, chunks of moisture-resistant artificial stone were held together only by the reinforcing steel strands of the sheathing. Another ten or twenty years, and the whole thing would collapse completely.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 20:34

After covering about fifty meters, I stopped at a small branch of the tunnel, definitely not intended for human maintenance, as it was unlikely that the city services trained a special unit of scout technicians to crawl to the power plant's distribution units. Having tied the free end of the cord to my belt, I climbed onto a sizable pile of broken porcelain stoneware I'd scooped out the day before from a narrow opening in a secondary utility line, intending to crawl through the rubble there. The "Cort" went behind me, and the chemical lamp, finally reaching full brightness, shifted position on my left arm. Having climbed into the circular tunnel, I set out to explore it. On all fours, as the passage was small. My bulky backpack dragged me along.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:14

It was not easy, and that's putting it mildly! I simply don't have the skill for this method of movement, especially with a load that I have to drag behind me. That's why the distance, which was actually less than three hundred meters, turned out to be incredibly exhausting. Although I did manage to cover it, I couldn't stop praising myself for having the foresight to leave the cutter there yesterday. Otherwise, I would have had to drag around three extra kilos of weight today.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:29

Having reached a shapeless rubble that seemed to completely block my progress, I took a breather. I drank some water. And then I began dismantling the hastily constructed barrier I'd just yesterday, using heavy chunks of porcelain stoneware torn from the dilapidated body of the tunnel. Under these fragments of artificial stone, carefully pulled aside and laid along the walls to the right and left, I soon discovered the cutter. No one had stolen it, though I was deeply worried about its fate. And after another ten minutes of intense work due to the cramped space, a dirty-white piece of ceramic heat-shielding scales—an essential component of the hull protection of high-speed atmospheric spacecraft—became visible.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:30

I'd already chipped the outline of the future hole with considerable skill the day before, so I started cutting right away. I started right from the hole I'd burned yesterday to estimate the plating thickness. It was quite a tedious job, and the portable cutter barely copes with the refractory metal; after all, it wasn't designed for such loads. That's why I basically collected as many magnesium rods as I could carry.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:36

Nevertheless, things started moving. Slowly, but I was making progress toward my goal. At forty centimeters an hour. But all I had to do was cut about a meter and a half to complete the circle. However, after just a couple of hours, my hands began to shake a little from fatigue, and after a rest, I slowed down a bit. I had no reason to rush anyway. It was the desire to quickly determine the value of the find that was driving me. Otherwise, I'd cut out an opening, only to find that the equipment beneath the rubble had been completely cleared out, leaving only a useless hull…

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:41

By the end of the cut, the passive chemical analyzer on my left wrist had predictably changed its unchanging deep green color to a pale yellow, and the round piece of plating, as expected, had fallen out, nearly crushing my hands and almost ruining the cutter. But that was a minor detail, considering the prospects that had opened up. Taking a canister of liquefied carbon dioxide from my backpack, I sprayed the hot edge of the plating with coolant and, barely containing my impatience, carefully reached inside my find.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:42

To get a good look around, I had to break another light stick — the third one. But I don't regret it at all! After all, just taking one look at my surroundings, I could hardly resist rubbing my hands together in glee. This isn't a heavy flyer, after all, but an atmospheric ship! Everything was badly damaged in the crash, of course, but there's no doubt that what I saw before me, exposed to the lower deck, was the engine compartment of a common airship!

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:52

Once the excitement of this magnificent find had subsided somewhat, I carefully examined the compartment and regretfully concluded that little remained intact. The four small Lockh-16M maneuvering engines, their nozzles facing downward, had been mangled and torn from their positions during the impact. The rigid fuel lines had also been torn apart by the displacement. And the main engine, a Lockh-04R, didn't look so good, with its outer casing cracked along its entire length. Although perhaps things aren't as dire as they seem. Without technical documentation on Lockheen products, it's hard to figure things out right away.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:53

Shaking my head in time with my thoughts, I grinned. What was I even thinking about? These engines would bring in six or seven thousand credits right off the bat, even if they were wasted! The platinum fuel catalysts alone are worth something! And the control circuits are packed with precious metals, too! And there's so much more I could salvage and hoard as spare parts!

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 09:58

Unable to resist the temptation of such a rich prize, I immediately attempted to dismantle the most valuable part of my loot—the control circuits, which, like spiders, had woven a web of sensors around the elongated bodies of the thrusters. The small, blackened blocks had been easily accessible from the start, so reaching the first one presented no difficulty. Having quickly unlatched all the fasteners, I pulled the control circuit from the nearest maneuvering thruster. It looked remarkably like an octopus, with its rounded body and long, tentacle-like cords with sensor caps.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 10:00

After turning the seemingly undamaged prize, covered in a thin layer of dust, over my hands, I pulled my backpack toward me, which I'd forgotten to even untie from my belt. Taking out a multi-fingered puller, I began applying it to the cover of the main control circuit block, where golden icons, each depicting a bold arrow enclosed in a circle, stood out against the matte black background. Having secured all eight internal magnetic lock indicators with the claws of the unsightly spider-puller, I gave a sharp twist to the handle of the miniature dynamo, the heart of my homemade master key.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 10:02

There was a soft click, and the main unit's cover slid off, hanging by the puller. I froze, staring into the revealed interior of the control circuit.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 10:03

“Wow…” I said incredulously after a rather long silence, staring at the completely intact electronic components.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 10:04

Not only did it not melt into a hideous lump, but it was also completely undamaged! The distinctively green mineral glass board shows no stains or clouding caused by the internal structure burning out! Only the perfectly clear, golden-glow, fine pattern of the interconnecting tracks around the microcircuits is visible!

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 18:54

Still not believing in my luck, I carefully placed my now-super-valuable prize on the floor and, grabbing the puller, rushed to the main engine to remove the cover from the control circuit on it.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 18:48

"So, did this ship crash before the massive attack from orbit began?" I asked out loud to God knows who when I couldn't find any signs of burnout in the electronic unit's interior.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 18:48

However, I didn't need anyone's answer to my guess. It was exactly as I thought, and obviously so. The ship definitely crashed during the Exodus, in that moment of general panic and confusion, when the impossible task of completely evacuating Freya's nearly three billion population was underway. Back then, there was no time for such trivial matters as rescue operations and searching for one or two survivors of the aircraft crash. And the massive building that stood there, having collapsed and buried the fallen ship beneath its ruins, subsequently protected its equipment from the electromagnetic impact inflicted by the Orbital Group.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 17:43

With great difficulty, I regained my composure and carefully replaced the cover of the control unit. I didn't want to break anything by accident. After all, live electronics cost an order of magnitude, or even two, more than a lump of precious metals. The only thing is, it's harder to sell. For the simple reason that it will raise a lot of unnecessary questions — where and how did you get it? And then it won't be long before you get some unambiguous offers to share. It would be a fat payday for a lone searcher, but other people want to eat too. Even if they don't live hand-to-mouth and all their earnings are spent on fun, reckless pastimes with booze and girls in the “D” sector.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 17:33

Biting my lip, I sighed with frustration. It's bad enough without loot, and it's no picnic with it. Although, of course, I could quietly sell some of it through Ivan. Maybe I could even buy some decent transport. And the rest I could stash away and offload a little later. So as not to tempt anyone with unexpected riches.

Camrad_RIP 26.12.25 в 17:30

After scurrying around the compartment some more and finding nothing else particularly noteworthy, I climbed onto the ship's second level. I used a hydraulic jack to pry open the jammed door and made my way into the cargo hold, where I stood transfixed, staring at the robotics frozen in their individual compartments. I wanted to rub my eyes to make sure I wasn't imagining this wealth, but I remembered just in time that the suit was sealed, and the only thing I'd accomplish by doing so would be to smear the thin polymer glass with dirty gloves, making my vision even worse.

Camrad_RIP 27.12.25 в 10:07