05_force_of_arms-第14部分

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he　huge　reflex　engines　that　were　the　ship's　power　plant。

They　were　in　a　large　partment　that　had　once　held　the　ship's　spacefold　apparatus。　Now　there　was　some　leftover　machinery　from　the　pin…point　barrier　system　that　had　been　the　ship's　main　defensive　weapon　on　its　precarious　trip　across　the　solar　system。　As　there　had　been　for　years；　there　were　also　the　lights。

〃When　the　Zentraedi　first　attacked　Earth；　we　made　our　spacefold　jump　to　get　to　safety；〃　Lang　was　explaining。　〃We　had　no　time　to　experiment；　no　time　to　test。　A　jump　that　was　meant　to　take　us　beyond　our　moon's　orbit　took　us　instead　to　the　orbit　of　Pluto。〃

〃I　remember　well；〃　Exedore　said；　scratching　his　cheek；　staring　at　the　giant；　almost…empty　partment。

〃You　made　the　jump　too　close　to　the　planetary　surface；　we　were　convinced　that　you　were　suicidal。〃

〃You　gave　us　no　choice；〃　Gloval　said　in　a　low　voice；　thinking　back　to　the　appalling　devastation　and　loss　of　life　that　day。　He　did　his　best　to　put　it　from　his　mind。

〃But　in　the　wake　of　the　jump；〃　Lang　went　on；　〃the　spacefold　apparatus　just。。。disappeared。　Utterly！　Simply　faded　from　view　and　was　never　seen　again。　And　in　its　place　were　those。〃

Lang　meant　the　lights：　darting；　glowing　sparks；　fireflies　and　tiny　ets　that　swarmed　and　drifted　through　the　space　where　the　spacefold　apparatus　had　once　been。　Exedore　turned　to　him。　〃May　I　borrow　some　of　those　instruments　you've　brought；　Doctor？〃

It　took　only　a　little　time　to　prove　his　suspicions。　〃Ah；　yes：　definite　residual　Protoculture　signature　here；　but　the　Matrix　is　gone。　And　I　detect　no　other　great　manufacturing　mass；　only　the　lesser　animating　charges　of　your　weapons　and　the　reflex　furnaces。〃

Exedore　lowered　the　detector　numbly。　〃The　secrets　of　Zor；　gone！　This　long　war　fought　for　nothing！〃

Lang　patted　Exedore's　shoulder　miseratingly。　〃Perhaps　someday　we　will　find　it　again；　who　can　say？〃

Gloval　was　shocked　to　see　how　quickly　the　two　had　bee　easy　in　each　other's　pany。　〃I　think　we'd　better　get　back　to　the　hearing　room；〃　the　captain　said。　〃We　still　have　a　great　deal　to　talk　about。〃


Deep　within　the　sealed　fastness　of　the　mighty　reflex　engines；　something　stirred　and　then　was　quiet　again。　It　could　not　be　detected　by　Lang's　relatively　primitive　instruments；　was　capable　of　hiding　itself　even　from　the　Zentraedi's　scanners　at　this　range。

As　Zor　had　provided；　the　last　Protoculture　Matrix　was　safe；　biding　its　time；　waiting　until　his　great　Vision　should　e　to　pass。


〃It　does　appear　we've　made　a　great　mistake；〃　Exedore　confessed　when　they　were　all　back　in　their　places。　〃But！　You　cannot　possibly　deny　the　power　of　the　female's　singing！〃

〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　it；〃　Gloval　responded　simply；　drawing　a　doubtful　look　from　Colonel　Maistroff。

But　Bron　was　on　his　feet。　〃He　won't　deny　it　because　it's　true！〃

〃Minmei's　song　has　incredible　power！〃　Rico　added；　jumping　up　too。

Minmei；　for　her　part；　gave　a　shy　smile　that　seemed　to　have　some　secret　wisdom　behind　it。

〃This　is　not　the　first　time　the　Zentraedi　have　encountered　something　like　this；〃　Exedore　told　them　all。　〃A　very　long　time　ago　we　were　exposed　to　a　culture　like　yours；　and　it　nearly　destroyed　us。〃

〃How　do　you　mean　that？〃　Gloval　was　quick　to　ask。

Exedore's　protruding；　pinpoint　eyes　roamed　the　room。　〃To　a　Zentraedi；　fighting　is　a　way　of　life。　Our　entire　history　is　made　up　of　nothing　but　battle　after　glorious　battle。　However；　exposure　to　an　emotionally　open　society　like　yours　made　our　soldiers　refuse　to　fight。

〃This；　of　course；　could　not　be　tolerated；　and　the　infection　had　to　be　cleansed。　Loyal　soldiers　and　the　Robotech　Masters　themselves　came　in　to　exterminate　all　those　who　had　been　exposed　to　the　source　of　the　contagion。〃

The　three　spies　in　particular　were　pale　and　silent。　The　rest　looked　at　one　another。　Exedore　went　on。　〃Dolza；　our　supreme　mander；　will　do　everything　in　his　power　to　avoid　making　the　mistake　our　ancestors　did。　When　and　if　he　reads　my　report；　he　will　certainly　launch　an　all…out　attack　on　Earth；　especially　in　light　of　the　fact　that　the　Protoculture　Matrix　is　no　longer　on　the　SDF…1。〃

Gloval's　eyes　shifted　to　Rick。　〃That's　the　same　one　mentioned　in　your　report？〃

Rick　licked　his　lips。　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Almost　five　million　warships！

Exedore　nodded。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。　But　you　see；　these　new　developments…the　defections；　the　Minmei　cult；　the　mating　of　our　greatest　warrior　with　one　of　your　pilots…change　the　entire　picture。〃

He　looked　around　at　them；　the　center　of　their　riveted　attention。　〃For；　you　see；〃　Exedore　said；　〃unless　some　solution　can　be　found；　we…Breetai's　forces…are　in　as　great　a　danger　from　Dolza　and　the　Grand　Fleet　as　you。〃


Breetai　sat　in　his　chair　in　the　mand　station　overlooking　his　flagship's　bridge。

A　projecbeam　drew　a　two…dimensional　image　of　Azonia　in　the　air；　the　woman　who　had　replaced　him　in　the　war　against　the　humans；　failed　to　bring　it　to　a　successful　conclusion；　and　been　replaced　in　turn　by　Breetai。

〃mander！〃　she　began。　〃How　long　do　you　intend　to　allow　this　situation　to　continue？〃　She　was　a　mediumsize；　intense　Zentraedi　female　with　a　quick　mind　and　high　aspirations。　Her　short；　frizzy　hairstyle　puffed　within　the　confinement　of　her　high；　rolled　collar。

Breetai；　arms　folded　on　his　great　chest；　answered　in　his　rumbling；　echoing　bass；　〃Any　continuation　of　hostilities　would　be　unwise　in　light　of　recent　events。〃

She　sneered　at　him。　〃Well；　I　expect　a　different　solution　when　the　Grand　Fleet　arrives！〃

He　leapt　to　his　feet。　〃Grand　Fleet？　What　have　you　done？〃

She　gave　him　a　smug　smile。　〃I've　reported　my　findings　to　the　supreme　mander。　And　his　Excellency　Dolza　has　decided　to　set　the　fleet　into　motion。〃

〃So　Dolza　has　decided　the　Micronians　are　a　threat；　has　he？〃

〃He　has；〃　she　said　triumphantly。

Breetai's　anger　welled　up　like　a　volcano；　but　suddenly　he　found　himself　laughing　like　a　grim　god　at　the　end　of　all　worlds。　It　was　the　last　thing　Azonia　expected；　she　watched　him；　his　head　thrown　back；　roaring；　light　flashing　off　his　metallic　skullpiece　and　the　crystal　eye；　and　she　felt　a　sudden　sinking　sensation　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。

〃You　imbecile！〃　he　managed　when　he　could　talk　again。　〃You　know　nothing　of　history；　do　you？　No；　no　self…respecting　Zentraedi　cares！　Well；　know　this；　my　scheming　friend：　We're　doomed　along　with　the　humans！　We　have　been　infected；　and　all　of　us…all…are　now　considered　plague　carriers。〃


〃You're　certain　of　this？〃　Exedore　asked　quietly；　holding　the　handset　tightly　in　trembling　fist。

The　munications　patch　had　been　set　up　hastily；　with　no　chance　for　the　aliens　to　encrypt　their　exchange。　Exedore　would　certainly　know　that　human　techs　had　monitored　whatever　Breetai　had　said。　Therefore；　the　captain　bent　forward；　certain　that　he　would　hear　whatever　it　was　at　once。

〃You　know　what　this　means；　then；〃　Exedore　said。　〃I　understand。〃　He　returned　the　handset　to　its　cradle　and　looked　at　Gloval。

〃Captain；　you　must　prepare　yourselves　to　escape　this　star　system。　We　will　help　you。〃

Gloval's　face　hardened。　〃And　leave　the　Earth　defenseless？〃

〃Yes。〃

Gloval　squared　his　shoulders。　〃Out　of　the　question！　We　are　sworn　to　defend　our　planet。〃

Exedore　was　nodding　wearily。　〃Yes；　I　understand。　We　Zentraedi　would　not　act　any　differently。　What's　more；　without　your　help；　escape　for　us　would　be　all　but　hopeless。　The　Protoculture　Matrix　was　our　great　hope　for　success；　the　armada's　supplies　are　all　but　exhausted。〃

He　sighed。　〃It　seems　we　shall　soon　be　fighting　a　mon　enemy。〃

Maistroff　exploded。　〃What　did　you　say？〃

Exedore　looked　to　him。　〃My　Lord　Breetai　has　just　informed　me　that　the　Grand　Fleet　is　headed　for　this　star　system。　That　means　four　million　eight　hundred　thousand　ships　with　the　destructive　force　of　a　supernova。〃

〃All　right；　then；〃　Gloval　said　matter…of…factly。　〃A　fight　it　shall　be。〃

〃You're　crazy！〃　Lynn…Kyle　was　on　his　feet。　〃There's　no　way　you　can　beat　a　fleet　like　that！　We're　finished！〃

Max　had　taken　Miriya's　hand　in　his。　He　told　her　gently；　〃I'm　so　afraid　that　this　might　be　the　end　for　us。　Just　when　we've　found　each　other。〃

She　squeezed　his　hand。　〃I　don't　care；　my　love；　as　long　as　I'm　at　your　side　in　battle。〃

Rick；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　U…shaped　table；　looked　across　at　them　with　envy。　〃Together；〃　he　said　under　his　breath。

Exedore　had　been　watching　the　various　reactions　carefully　and　was　satisfied。　He　could　tell　mighty　Breetai　that　among　the　military；　at　least；　there　were　worthy　allies。

Now　he　raised　his　voice　to　say；　〃It's　not　over　yet！　There　might　still　be　a　way！〃

〃Explain；〃　Gloval　bade　him；　stone…faced。

〃Thus　far；　this　vessel　has　proved　itself　unbeatable。　I　will　need　more　information　before　I　can　be　sure；　but　I　believe　there　is　a　way　that　we　can　win。〃


CHAPTER　FIFTEEN

I　have　therefore　concluded　that　Breetai　and　his　subordinates　and　all　those　under　their　mand　now　entertain　such　primitive　behavioral　quirks　and　abstruse　thought　processes　as　to　set　them　pletely　outside　the　Zentraedi　species　and　make　them　a　threat　to　us　all。
Every　available　unit　will　therefore　be　mustered　in　the　Grand　Fleet　to　take　the　action　dictated　by　our　ancient　lore。
From　Dolza's　personal　log

〃Repeating　this　announcement；　all　military　personnel　are　to　report　for　duty　at　once。　All　leaves　are　canceled。　All　reservists　are　to　contact　their　units　for　immediate　mobilization。　Civilians　are　directed　to　stand　by　for　further　directives；　we　will　be　making　announcements　as　soon　as　further　information　is　available。〃

Lisa　wheeled　her　jeep　into　the　headquarters　cavernous　parking　lot　on　two　wheels；　snapping　off　the　radio。　She　hadn't　been　able　to　get　anything　on　the　military　freqs；　and　the　civvie　bands　just　kept　repeating　the　same　thing。

She　dashed　into　the　HQ；　flashing　her　security　badge；　and；　in　the　situation　room；　heard　the　classified　announcements。

〃Sensors　are　still　picking　up　extremely　high　energy　levels　from　lunar　and　near…Earth　regions。　This　activity　is　characteristic　of　enemy　spacefold　operations。　However；　they　are　of　a　magnitude　never　before　encountered。〃

She　spotted　her　father　and　ran　toward　him。　In　her　mind's　eye　was　the　Grand　Fleet　as　she　had　last　seen　it；　or　at　least　part　of　it；　in　and　around　the　moonlet…size　hive　that　was　Dolza's　headquarters　base。

〃It　doesn't　look　good；〃　Admiral　Hayes　was　saying　to　a　G3　staff　modore。

〃Admiral！〃

Her　father　looked　at　her；　traded　salutes　with　the　staffer；　and　came　over　to　her。　He　took　her　by　the　arm；　leading　her　to　a　conference　room。　He　sounded　brusque　as　the　door　slid　shut。　〃Well？　What　is　it？〃

She　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃Father；　what's　going　to　happen　to　the　SDF…1？〃

He　didn't　reprimand　her　for　the　lapse　in　formality；　as　he　once　would　have。　But　there　was　no　sympathy　in　his　voice。　〃It　will　be　destroyed。　We're　mitting　it　to　drawing　the　enemy　fire　away　from　Earth　and　the　rest　of　our　forces。〃

〃You　can't！〃

〃I'm　sorry；　Lisa。〃　He　didn't　sound　sorry　at　all。　〃There's　no　other　choice。〃

She　accepted　that；　she'd　been　around　headquarters　long　enough　now　to　realize　that　her　father　was　no　longer　a　leader。　He　was　an　apologist；　an　errand　boy；　for　the　real　rulers　of　the　planet。

She　gathered　her　self…control。　〃Father；　I　want　to　ask　you　a　personal　favor。　I　want　you　to　send　me　back　to　the　battle　fortress。〃

〃No！　That's　pletely　out　of　the　question！〃

Now　it　was　her　turn　to　flare。　〃My　place　is　with　my　crew；　my　captain！〃　She　waved　her　hand　around　to　indicate　the　scurrying　futility　of　the　UEDC　base。　〃It's　not　here；　in　a　hole　in　the　ground；　when　the　people　I　fought　beside　need　me。〃

He　knew　then　that　he'd　lost　her。　For　a　moment；　he　saw　the　place　through　her　eyes　and　wondered　how　he　could　ever　have　been　so　deluded。　The　Grand　Cannon　was　a　sham；　and　the　UEDC　were　frightened　men　who　had　brought　the　world　down　around　them　rather　than　admit　that　they　were　wrong。

He　shook　it　off；　his　oath　to　his　duty　ing　to　the　fore　again。　But　there　was　real　pain　in　his　voice　as　he　told　her；　〃I'm　sorry；　but…〃

〃But　you　won't。〃

〃I　can't　allow　you　to　throw　your　life　away　up　there。　Lisa；　Lisa。。。you're　my　daughter。〃

〃I'm　an　officer　in　the　RDF！〃

He　said　it　very　quietly；　〃I　know　that。〃

〃Then　reassign　me！〃

He　looked　at　her　angrily　now。　〃Father　or　no；　I　promise　you　this：　If　you　try　to　leave；　I'll　have　you　thrown　in　the　brig。〃

She　was　only　partly　successful　at　keeping　the　tears　out　of　her　eyes；　but　her　voice　was　steady。　〃Yes；　sir。〃

Admiral　Hayes　despaired　of　ever　winning　the　battle；　he　saw　that　he　had　lost　the　last　of　his　family。


Breetai　looked　up　at　the　projecbeam　image。　〃What　now；　Azonia？〃

She　didn't　mince　words；　he　had　expected　no　less。　〃There　are　no　options；　great　Breetai。　Dolza　will　try　to　exterminate　us　now　that　we　have　been　exposed　to　the　Micronians。　I　will　stay　and　face　the　Grand　Fleet。　It　will　be　an　honor　to　go　into　battle　with　you；　my　lord！〃

Some　part　of　him　knew　what　she　meant。　Wasn't　this　the　battle　any　Zentraedi　dreamed　of；　a　hopeless　fight　against　overwhelming　odds　in　the　clash　of　dreadnoughts　as　numerous　as　the　stars？　Wasn't　this　the　apocalypse　to　which　the　Zentraedi　looked　for　their　version　of　immortality？

〃mendable；〃　he　said。　〃May　you　win　every　fight。〃

She　drew　a　breath　at　the　high　pliment　he　had　paid　her。　〃And　you　too；　Breetai！〃

Her　face　dissolved　as　the　projecbeam　image　did；　and　he　turned　to　another。　〃Khyron？　Your　intentions？〃

Khyron；　languid　and　condescending；　smoothed　his　beautiful　blue　hair。　〃You　know　my　answer。　The　odds　are　too　great。　Why　fight　if　you　can't　win；　Breetai？〃

〃Why　be　Zentraedi　if　you　don't　know　the　answer　to　that；　Khyron？　But　this　is　as　I　expected；　I　wasn't　depending　on　you；　anyway。〃

And　so　it　was　all　out　in　the　light　at　this　eleventh　hour。　Khyron　had　substituted　the　ruthlessness　and　savagery　that　were　all　he　had　for　courage。　The　difference　came　forth　only　in　moments　like　these；　but　it　was　plain。

Now　Khyron's　facade　broke；　and　he　screamed　at　Breetai；　froth　leaping　from　his　lips。　〃You　will　be　destroyed！〃　The　projecbeam　image　vanished。


On　his　own　flagship；　Khyron　sat　slouched　in　his　mand　chair　like　a　wounded　toad。　〃All　right；　let's　go。〃　He　threw　the　mand　over　his　shoulder　to　his　subordinate；　Grel。

〃What　coordinates？〃　Grel　asked　carefully。　In　such　a　rage；　Khyron　was　easily　capable　of　lashing　out　and　killing　any　around　him。

〃Anyplace　else　in　the　universe　but　here；〃　Khyron　brooded；　staring　off　angrily　at　nothing。　There　was　no　response　from　Grel；　and　Khyron　snarled；　〃Didn't　you　hear　me？〃

Grel　calculated　his　next　words　carefully。　〃But　sir；　we　can't　run。〃

Khyron　barked　a　galling　laugh。　〃You　think　not？　Watch；　then！〃　He　signaled；　and　the　engines　of　his　flagship　came　up　to　power；　as　did　those　of　all　the　Botoru　ships　under　his　mand。

Grel　licked　his　lips；　wondering　how　best　to　tell　Khyron　that　he　hadn't　been　speaking　figuratively。　Khyron　cherished　the　practice　of　beheading　the　messenger　who　bore　bad　tidings。


Breetai　paid　little　attention　to　the　maneuvers　of　the　Botorus。　He　considered　the　nearby　fabric　of　space；　where　the　first　perturbations　of　the　Cosmic　String　heralded　the　Grand　Fleet。

Once　he　had　been　Dolza's　most　valued　subordinate…had　saved　Dolza's　life　from　the　very　Invid　attack　that　had　killed　Zor。　Now　he　contemplated　the　stirrings　of　the　universe　in　advance　of　the　attack　and　reflected　on　the　incredible　way　things　had　turned　out　there　in　the　Micronian　star　system。

Hear　my　thoughts；　Lord　Dolza！　To　g