05_force_of_arms-第16部分

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Except　the　Zentraedi　weren't　making　deals　today；　and　Armageddon　was　apparently　the　only　item　on　the　agenda。

〃We're　trying；　Admiral；　but　so　far　it's　a　no…go；〃　a　　officer　called　up　to　him。

Hayes　himself　felt　betrayed　and　a　fool。　His　daughter　and　Gloval　had　been　correct　all　along；　right　down　the　line。　The　prestige　and　honor　of　his　rank　had　fallen　away　to　nothing；　and　he　saw　that　he　had；　very　simply；　wound　up　an　otherwise　honorable　career　by　being　the　instrument　of　craven　and　greedy　men。

〃Then　there's　nothing　left　to　do　but　fight；〃　Hayes　said。

Under　other　circumstances　it　might　have　been　one　of　those　lines　flag…rank　officers　could　hope　to　have　show　up　in　history　books。　The　fact　was　that　Hayes　knew　he　been　duped　again　and　again　by　the　politicians。　Besides；　it　was　unlikely　that　there　would　ever　be　any　more　history　books。

And　the　only　reason　to　fight　was　that　the　enemy　offered　no　alternative…it　meant　to　wipe　the　human　race　out　of　existence。


The　Grand　Cannon　prepared　to　fire；　and　the　futile　squadrons　of　Earth　fighters　went　out　to　do　their　jobs　as　best　they　could。　Lisa　Hayes　stared　down　at　her　screens　and　instruments　and　fought　off　the　urge　to　weep　for　the　men　and　women　who　were　doing　their　jobs　in　all　good　faith　and　were　kept；　by　the　omnipresent　UEDC　propaganda　and　disinformation；　from　knowing　that　they　were　doomed。

During　a　few　moments　lag　time；　she　paused　to　regard　a　close　pickup　shot　of　the　SDF…1　and　to　think　of　Claudia；　of　Gloval；　and　of　Rick。　She　found；　as　her　father　had　told　her　when　she　was　a　little　girl；　that　there　were　only　a　few　really　important　questions　in　life　and　that　bat　would　make　anybody　ask　them。

Why　are　we　here？　Where　do　we　e　from？　What　happens　to　us　when　we　die？　And　when　I　do；　will　I　be　with　Rick；　at　last；　or　will　I　be　alone　forever？

An　update　on　the　cannon's　targeting　status　came　in　just　then；　and　Lisa　had　to　let　those　thoughts　go。


Rick　Hunter　sealed　up　his　flightsuit　and　made　sure　his　gloves　were　firmly　connected　to　his　instrumented　cuff　rings。　They　fit　smoothly；　allowing　him　maximum　dexterity。

The　hatch　to　his　quarters　signaled；　and　he　thought　it　was　just　another　messenger　with　a　mission　update；　all　　channels　being　overloaded。　Until　the　hatch　slid　back。

〃Rick？〃

He　pivoted　and　saw　her　standing　in　the　hatch；　outlined　against　the　harsh　glare　of　the　passageway　lights。　She　came　a　step　into　his　quarters　demurely　but　looking　him　in　the　eye。

The　hatch　rolled　shut　behind　Minmei。


They　were　there　in　every　size　and　shape；　those　wargreen　vessels　of　the　Zentraedi　Grand　Fleet。　Never　in　their　entire　history　had　they　been　assembled　for　bat　in　such　a　formation。

From　his　mand　station；　Dolza；　supreme　mander　of　the　Zentraedi　race；　considered　his　target；　Earth。

Space　was　filled　with　his　ships；　there　had　never　been　a　marshaling　like　this　in　the　infamous　annals　of　the　Zentraedi。

And　yet　he　felt　misgivings。　Dolza　knew　the　ancient　lore　of　his　race　from　Exedore's　endless　teachings。　Against　the　forces　that　those　records　mentioned；　the　Grand　Fleet　itself　might　not　be　enough。

Perhaps　nothing　would。

Inside　the　boulderlike　base　that　was　Dolza's　headquarters；　a　thousand　miles　through　its　long　axis；　the　supreme　mander　received　word　that　the　fleet　was　at　last　all　present。

He　was　enormous；　the　largest　and；　but　for　Exedore；　the　oldest　of　his　race。　Dolza's　shaven　skull　and　heavy　brow　made　him　look　like　a　granite　sculpture。

〃My　first　attack　shall　be　the　Micronians'　mother　planet；〃　he　said。　〃Let　all　ships　stand　prepared。〃

All　through　the　fleet；　final　preparations　for　battle　were　carried　out。　On　the　colossal　bombardment　vessels；　the　bows　opened　like　giant　crocodile　jaws；　exposing　the　heavy　guns。

Targeting　puters　accepted　their　assignments　from　Dolza's　base；　ranging　their　sights　across　the　surface　of　the　world；　fixing　their　aim。　The　Grand　Fleet's　engines　howled　like　demons；　supercharging　the　weapons　pointed　at　the　helpless　Earth。


〃I　want　to　apologize　to　you；　Rick；〃　she　said。　〃I　mean；　about　Kyle。〃

〃It's　not　really　your　fault；〃　he　told　her。　〃I　should　have　let　you　know　what　my　feelings　were。　I　should　have　tried　harder；　I　guess。〃

〃But；　I…〃

〃Oh；　Minmei；　it's　all　right！〃　he　yelled；　frightening　her　a　little。　He　got　control　of　himself　and　went　to　get　his　flying　helmet。　How　do　I　tell　her？

He　went　to　pick　up　the　helmet　but　saw　her　reflection　in　the　visor。　She　was　standing　silently；　watching　him。

〃I'm　a　pilot；　and　you're　a　superstar　now；〃　he　said　tiredly。　〃You　know　it　wouldn't　have　worked　for　us；　anyway。　Too　much　has　changed；　Minmei。〃

He　went　to　the　viewport；　looking　down　at　Earth。　〃It's　strange　to　think　how　small　our　world　is；〃　he　said；　almost　distractedly。　〃It's　a　pity　how　much　time　we　wasted；　isn't　it？〃

She　flinched　as　if　he　had　hit　her。　She　could　see　that　he　was　being　cruel　on　purpose；　hurting　himself　and　her；　to　make　the　love　stop。　She　opened　her　mouth　to　say　something　that　would　make　him　honest　again；　would　clear　the　air　between　them。

But　at　that　exact　moment　the　universe　lit　up。　The　Zentraedi　attack　had　begun。


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

Once　I　wrote　here…a　younger　Minmei　did…that　I　needed　to　be　my　own　person；　that　I　had　my　own　shadows　to　cast。
But；　oh。。。I　didn't　realize　how　terrible　that　darkness　would　be。
From　the　diary　of　Lynn…Minmei

Millions　of　blindingly　bright　beams　of　pure　energy　rained　down　on　the　blue…white　world。

First　to　go　were　the　orbital　defenses；　the　surveillance　satellites　and　the　〃armors〃…the　big　conventional…technology　space　cruisers。　They　were　obliterated　instantly；　vanishing　in　clouds　of　expanding　gas。

The　incredible　volley　pierced　the　atmosphere；　boiling　away　clouds　and　moisture；　striking　through　to　the　surface。　Buildings　and　trees　and　people　were　vaporized；　everything　flammable　exploded。　The　hellish　rays　set　off　tremendous　detonations　and　superheated　the　air　like　thermonuclear　weapons。

Everywhere　it　was　the　same。　Soldiers　and　civilians；　adults　and　children；　and　the　unborn　as　well…the　Grand　Fleet　favored　none　and　spared　none。　In　the　middle　of　a　humdrum　day　marked　only　by　some　sort　of　alert　the　UEDC　wasn't　explaining；　nearly　the　entire　population　of　the　planet　was　put　to　the　sword。

For　most；　there　wasn't　even　time　to　scream；　only　a　hideous　moment　when　light　and　heat　beyond　any　description　engulfed　them；　making　their　bodies　as　transparent　as　x…ray　images；　then　consuming　them。

Cities　toppled；　and　blowtorch　winds　scoured　the　world。　Seas　were　given　no　mercy；　either；　Dolza　had　decreed　a　carpet…volley　pattern　to　get　ships　and　aquafarming　and　aquamining　installations　and　the　like。　Untold　cubic　miles　of　water　turned　into　steam。

The　beams　came　like　a　fusion…hot　monsoon　all　across　the　defenseless　world。


In　UEDC　headquarters；　the　ground　rumbled　but　miles　of　earth　and　rock　saved　the　occupants　from　immediate　death。

Lisa　gaped　at　an　illuminated　situation　map。　The　strikes　were　so　numerous　that　the　display　puters　couldn't　discriminate　anymore。　The　face　of　the　world　glowed。

〃They　can't　be　doing　this！〃　she　screamed。　〃They　can't！〃

But　she　knew　she　was　wrong。　They　were。

〃Annihilation。〃


Gloval　stood　helplessly；　shoulders　bowed；　looking　out　the　forward　viewport。　Exedore　stood　mute　at　his　shoulder。　The　alien　decided　that　he　must；　in　fact；　have　fallen　victim　to　the　contagious　human　emotions；　because　he　felt　them　very　strongly　at　that　moment：　rage　that　this　should　happen；　a　soul…wrenching　sorrow；　and　an　utter；　utter　shame。

Reading　her　instruments；　a　female　enlisted…rating　tech　said　in　monotone；　〃They're　gone。　They're　all　gone。〃


In　his　headquarters　base；　the　immense　Dolza　looked　upon　his　handiwork　and　found　it　good。　His　guttural　laugh　echoed　in　the　deep；　eerily　resonant　tones　of　the　Zentraedi。

The　Micronian　interlude　would　be　expunged　from　history；　he　had　decided。　And　any　similar　race　encountered　by　the　Zentraedi　would　be　subject　to　instant　and　total　termination。

Then；　events　could　be　put　back　on　their　proper　track。

Dolza　had　to　admit　that　even　he；　the　supreme　mander；　hadn't　had　a　true　idea　of　Zentraedi　power　until　the　moment　the　Grand　Fleet　opened　fire。　The　irresistible　might　of　it！　It　filled　him　with　new　aspirations；　new　resolve。

When　the　humans　were　finished　and　the　rebellious　Breetai　and　his　followers　destroyed　pletely；　it　would　be　time　to　deal　with　the　Robotech　Masters。

For　too　long　now；　the　Masters　had　treated　their　warrior　servants；　the　Zentraedi；　with　the　contempt　one　showed　a　slave。　For　too　long；　that　had　seared　the　Zentraedi　pride。　Moreover；　it　had　e　to　light　that　the　Masters　had　told　the　Zentraedi　a　colossal　lie　all　along…they　had　deceived　them　about　the　giants'　very　origins。

The　Protoculture　secrets　hidden　in　Zor's　ship　had　been　an　important　part　of　Dolza's　master　plan　to　overthrow　the　Robotech　Masters　and　let　the　Zentraedi　take　their　rightful　place　at　the　pinnacle　of　the　universe。

The　accursed　Zor　had　been　aware　of　that　and　had　dispatched　his　ship　to　keep　it　from　Masters　and　Zentraedi　alike。　The　plan　had　ultimately　worked；　but　in　so　doing　it　had　brought　this　day。　As　Dolza　looked　out　at　nearly　five　million　warships；　all　raining　down　destruction　on　Earth；　he　realized　that　he　didn't　need　Zor's　secrets；　didn't　need　the　SDF…1。　All　he　needed　was　the　might　of　the　Zentraedi　hordes。

He　laughed　again；　a　bass　rumble　that　made　the　bulkheads　ring。　Today　humanity　died。　Tomorrow　the　war　against　the　Robotech　Masters　would　begin。


Rick　Hunter　clutched　the　ledge　of　his　viewport。　As　he　watched；　the　night　side　of　Earth；　partly　obscured　by　the　enemy　fleet；　lit　up　with　a　myriad　of　red…hot　specks；　the　work　of　that　first　terrible　salvo。

〃The　whole　planet；〃　he　said　numbly。

Minmei　came　up　behind　him；　walking　like　a　robot；　in　deep　shock。　〃Are　they　all。。。are　they　all　dead；　Rick？〃

He　watched　the　night　turn　red。　〃Yes；　Minmei。〃

She　tore　her　eyes　away　from　the　sight。　〃Mother。　Father。〃

〃Lisa；〃　he　said　very　softly。　His　cheeks　were　suddenly　slick　with　tears。

She　started　to　sing　in　a　lullably　voice；　crooning　a　little　love　song　to　life　and　to　the　planet　that　was　dying。　But　it　didn't　last　long；　and　soon　her　head　was　buried　in　her　hands。

〃So　this　is　how　we　end；〃　she　sobbed。　〃First　the　Earth　and　then　the　rest　of　us。〃

He　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder。　〃No；　Minmei。　This　is　not　the　end；　do　you　hear　me？〃

He　wished　he　could　sound　more　convincing。　But　she　wasn't　blind；　she　could　see　the　overwhelming　might　preparing　to　turn　its　guns　on　the　SDF…1　and　its　Zentraedi　allies。

〃We　still　have　our　lives；〃　he　said；　shaking　her　shoulder　a　bit　roughly　to　make　her　listen　to　him。

It　was　all　so　unfair；　so　hopeless。　He　hadn't　felt　so　angry　and　powerless　since　that　day　in　Dolza's　base　when　he　and　Lisa　and　Ben　were　helpless　prisoners…

THAT'S　IT！！！

He　shook　her　shoulder　again　with　a　sudden　new　conviction。　〃It's　not　over　yet！　Listen；　Minmei；　I　want　you　to　go　now　and　sing　for　everyone！〃

She　wiped　tears　from　her　lashes。　〃Sing？〃

〃Yes。　I've　got　an　idea。〃


The　smoke　clouds　were　already　rising　from　the　Earth；　rolling　to　envelop　it　and　bring　on　a　winter　that　even　the　puters　couldn't　analyze　reliably。

In　the　UEDC　base's　main　control　room；　Admiral　Hayes　heard　the　report。

〃There's　been　no　word　from　any　other　Council　member；　sir。　Marshal　Zukav　is　still　unconscious；　and　the　doctors　think　they'll　probably　have　to　operate。　What　are　your　orders？〃

In　this　election　year；　most　of　the　UEDC　members　had　been　caught　by　surprise　by　the　alien　attack；　out　mending　fences　and　fixing　political　support。　Of　them　all；　only　Hayes　and　Zukav　had　been　present　at　the　base　when　the　attack　came；　and　Zukav　had　suffered　a　coronary　on　the　spot。

Now　the　reins　were　in　Hayes's　hands；　but　they　were　the　reins　to　a　planet　that　was　more　cinder　than　soil。

〃Damage　estimate　to　all　sectors　exceeds　any　known　scale；〃　a　voice　was　saying　quietly　to　one　side。　〃We　have　indications　that　a　few　scattered　groups　survived　the　first　attack。〃

The　first　attack；　yes。　But　now　the　enemy　was　no　doubt　preparing　a　second　and　a　third…as　many　volleys　as　it　took　to　turn　Earth　into　a　molten　ball。

And　so　the　world　would　end。

〃Did　the　Grand　Cannon　survive　the　attack？〃　he　asked。

An　aide　was　quick　to　answer。　〃Yes；　sir。　It　will　still　function。〃

Hayes　turned　to　him。　〃Very　good。　Then　we'll　begin　the　countdown　at　once；　Lieutenant。〃

The　aide　hurried　off　to　relay　the　order。　In　moments；　the　vast　base　thrummed　with　power。


Gloval　looked　into　the　face　of　his　onetime　enemy。　Breetai　stared　back；　and　it　would　have　been　a　historic　moment　if　everyone　had　not　been　in　such　a　hurry。

Breetai　gazed　down　at　the　mustached；　almost　disheveled…looking　little　creature　who　had　outfought　and　outthought　the　best　warriors　in　the　galaxy；　Gloval　looked　up　at　a　frighteningly　massive　fellow　with　a　chest　as　thick　as　an　ancient　oak　and　a　metal　and　crystal　cowl　covering　half　his　skull。

They　spoke　with　virtually　no　preamble；　they　felt　they　knew　each　other　well。

〃mander　Breetai；　I　want　you　to　please　broadcast　a　simultaneous　transmission　of　Minmei's　song　on　all　of　your　military　frequencies。〃

Breetai's　single　eye　fixed　on　Gloval　intently。　〃I　have　no　objection；　but　what　is　your　plan？〃

Exedore　stepped　into　the　picture　to　explain。　〃As　yet；　the　soldiers　in　Dolza's　fleet　have　had　no　contact　with　Micronian　culture；　m'lord！　When　exposed　to　the　song；　they　will　be　thrown　into　confusion。　And　it　will　also　boost　the　Micronians'　morale。〃

Breetai　rubbed　his　massive　jaw。　Gloval　stared　in　fascination　at　the　giant　mauve　hand；　the　dense　black　hairs　on　its　back　thick　as　wires。　〃That　could　provide　us　with　the　chance　we　need　to　catch　them　off　guard。〃

Gloval　was　a　bit…breathless　with　this　alien's　audacity。　He　himself　had　been　thinking　more　along　the　lines　of　a　selective　strike。　〃But…the　Grand　Fleet　is　not　a　force　we　can　attack　head…on；　mander！〃

Breetai　gave　him　a　surprisingly　winning　smile；　ing　as　it　did　from　a　cloned　XT　soldier　whose　head　was　half　hidden　by　a　metal　and　crystal　sheath。　Breetai　plainly　savored　every　word。　〃Precisely；　Captain　Gloval。　They　would　never　expect　us　to　mount　a　surprise　attack　against　them。〃

The　main　bridge　hatchway　slid　open；　and　a　slender　figure　stepped　in。　Minmei　looked　around　nervously　at　the　mysterious　landscape　of　dials；　lights；　screens；　and　controls。

〃Um；　you　wanted　to　see　me；　Captain？〃

He　went　to　her；　Exedore　trotting　alongside。　〃Yes；　Miss　Minmei。　Lieutenant　Hunter　has　told　me　his　plan。　We're　going　to　use　it　for　our　counterattack。〃

Minmei　glanced　nervously　at　the　munications　screen；　then　quickly　averted　her　eyes　from　the　metalskulled　alien　who　was　staring　at　her　with　frank　interest。

〃You　will　be　able　to　sing　a　song　for　us；　won't　you；　Minmei？〃　Exedore　said　anxiously。

She　forced　a　smile。　How　could　you　go　on　with　life　when　the　world　had　just　died？　Simple：　You　used　your　acting　instincts；　keeping　introspection　and　sorrow　damped　well　down。

〃Yes；　of　course。　Anything　to　help　out。〃

Gloval　nodded　in　approval。　She　had　barely　exchanged　two　words　with　him　at　the　wedding；　but　there　was　something　about　his　old…world　formality；　a　kind　of　lovable　stuffiness；　that　put　her　at　ease　somehow。

〃I　have　one　special　request；　Minmei；〃　Exedore　put　in。　〃Could　you　do　that；　er；　that　is；　that　thing　that　you　do　in　all　your　movies？　I　believe　it　is　referred　to　as　a　kiss。〃

He　couldn't　have　surprised　her　much　more　if　he　had　done　his　Minmei　imitation　for　her。　〃I…I　suppose　I　c