05_force_of_arms-第23部分

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The　set　birred　for　her　attention。　She　picked　up　the　handset。　In　seconds　she　had　word　of　the　New　Portland　raid　from　Vanessa　and　was　hurrying　for　the　door。


Sunset　had　e；　and　a　freezing　rain；　as　the　Zentraedi　ransacked　New　Portland。　They　had　cut　a　swath　of　destruction　from　the　diminished　Lake　Oswego　to　the　once　great　Columbia　River。

The　pods　fired　and　devastated　without　mercy。　Local　militia　and　police　were　victims　just　like　the　civilians；　in　the　first　hours　of　their　rampage；　the　alien　malcontents　slew　over　four　hundred　men　and　women　of　assorted　constabularies；　police　departments；　and　guard　units。

They　set　buildings　afire　with　a　mere　brush　of　their　plastron　cannon；　they　trod　houses　and　people　flat　underneath　their　pods'　huge；　hooflike　feet。

Now　they　loomed；　three　abreast；　in　the　center　of　New　Portland　as　black　smoke　roiled　around　them　and　the　screams　of　the　dying　echoed　through　the　rain…washed　streets。　Blood　ran　in　the　gutters。

Down　from　the　night　swooped　the　VTs　of　Skull　Team　under　Ransom's　mand。　Robotechnology　made　them　all…weather　fighters；　as　dangerous　in　blackness　as　they　were　in　light。

〃Nobody　fires　unless　they　have　a　confirmed　target；　there're　civilians　down　there；〃　Ransom　said。

Just　then　New　Portland　came　into　view；　burning　like　a　skillet　of　molten　metal；　smoke　funneling　up　from　it　to　form　thickening　layers　that　threw　back　red　light。

Bobby　Bell　began；　〃My　God！　This　is　horrible…〃

〃Shut　up；　Sergeant；〃　Ransom　cut　him　off。　〃All　VTs　form　up　on　me。　Let's　get　down　there　and　stop　this　thing。　And　watch　your　fare！〃


Jeanette　LeClair　and　her　best　friend；　Sonya　Poulson；　ran　through　the　rain…slick　streets　of　New　Portland　hand　in　hand；　shivering　in　the　frigid　rain；　crying　for　the　loved　ones　who　had　died；　pulses　hammering　because　death　was　at　their　heels。　Jeanette's　birthday　a　month　before　had　made　her　eight　years　old；　Sonya's；　four　days　later；　had　brought　them　even。

Behind　them；　a　Zentraedi　Battlepod　stumped　around　the　corner；　kicking　a　traffic　light　through　a　brick　wall　and　snapping　power　lines；　then　turned　its　guns　on　them。

Jeanette　fell；　and　Sonya　wanted　to　keep　running　but　found　that　she　couldn't。　She　dashed　back　to　her　friend；　trying　to　help　her　up；　but　she　fell　instead；　and　the　two　of　them　sprawled　on　the　rain…washed　cobblestone　street　as　a　huge　round　metal　hoof　came　down　at　them。　They　wept；　held　each　other　close；　and　waited　to　die。

The　pod　paused　in　the　act　of　trampling　yet　more　victims。　The　armored；　lightbulb…shaped　torso　turned；　as　if　listening　to　something。　Jeanette　and　Sonya　could　hardly　know　that　it　was　receiving　an　urgent　message　from　one　of　its　fellows。

〃Warning！　Warning！　Enemy　fightercraft　approaching！　Form　up　to　take　defensive　action！〃

The　two　little　girls　looked　up　at　the　ridges　and　features　of　the　huge　hoof　and　realized　it　was　pulling　away。　In　moments；　the　pod　had　turned　and　grasshoppered　off　for　some　destination　they　couldn't　even　guess　at；　riding　its　foot　thrusters。

Moments　later；　thunder　came　down　through　the　sky　as　Skull　Team　VTs　arrived　at　full　throttle。　The　two　girls　helped　each　other　up。　Buildings　shook　and　windows　broke　to　the　sonic　boom　as　the　RDF　fighters　swept　in　vengefully。

The　girls'　voices　were　very　small　in　the　middle　of　all　that；　but　they　cheered　nonetheless。

The　pods　chose　straightforward　battle；　charging　out　in　a　group；　firing　the　primary　and　secondary　cannon　mounted　on　their　armored　chest　plastrons。

That　suited　Skull　Team　just　fine；　they　flew　down　through　the　intense　ground　fire　in　Guardian　mode；　like　eagles　for　the　kill；　gripping　their　chain…guns。

〃Let's　hit　'em；〃　Ransom　said。

〃Sure；　but　we've　gotta　lead　'em　away　from　the　city！〃　Bobby　Bell　yelled。

He　was　right；　and　the　formation　split　even　while　it　exchanged　fire　with　the　rampaging　pods。　The　Guardians　turned　back；　and　the　pods；　firing　with　every　gun；　rocketed　and　kangaroo…hopped　after。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…FIVE

For　the　Zentraedi；　peaceful　life　and　a　disengagement　from　their　warlike　culture　was；　after　all；　a　profound　struggle；　a　sort　of　sublimating　battle　into；　which　they　could　hurl　themselves。　For　a　time　they　were　content　with　it；　as　they　were　content　with　any　other　conflict。
Is　it　any　wonder；　though；　that　with　the　battle　won；　so　many　of　them　began　to　fall　prey　to　a　frustrated　restlessness？　The　fight　for　peace　can　be　a　noble　one；　but　as　history　and　legend　tell　us；　the　warrior…born　should　beware　the　disaster　of　total　victory。
And　so　should　those　about　him。
Zeitgeist；　Alien　Psychology

In　the　foothills　at　the　outskirts　of　New　Portland；　the　VTs　stopped　running　and　the　mecha　clashed　in　earnest。

Almost　by　instinct；　the　pods　came　abreast　to　set　up　a　firing　line。　The　Guardians　dove　at　them；　and　the　bluewhite　lances　of　energy　beams　jousted　against　streams　of　high…density　slugs　lit　by　tracers。

A　concentrated　salvo　of　alien　cannon　fire　took　off　the　left　arm　of　Ransom's　Guardian。　〃These　dudes　really　wanna　fight；〃　he　said　grimly。　He　looped；　trying　to　manage　the　damage；　and　unleashed　a　spread　of　Stilettos　at　them。

No　more　tromping　on　little　girls；　bozos！　Let's　see　you　pick　on　somebody　your　own　size！


〃This　could　be　defined　as　dereliction　of　duty；　mander；〃　Lisa's　voice　said　in　Rick's　ear。

〃What're　you　talking　about？〃

〃Where　were　you？〃　she　said　icily。

〃Uh；　on　recon。〃　Guilt　made　him　snappish。　〃It's　within　mission　guidelines。　Why；　any　objections？〃

Back　in　the　mand　center；　she　looked　down　at　the　latest　satnet　locater　profiles　of　military　aircraft。　He　had　been　grounded　at　the　edge　of。　Granite　City。　No　surprise。

〃I　object　when　you　jeopardize　the　lives　of　the　men　under　your　mand；　Hunter。〃

He　couldn't　help　it；　the　accumulated　experiences　of　the　day　just　made　him　lose　control　as　no　cool；　petent　bat　flier　is　supposed　to。　〃What's　your　goddamn　problem；　Lisa？〃

〃Your　men　are　in　bat；　and　you're　supposed　to　be　leading　them；　you　unutterable　moron！〃　she　yelled　into　the　mike；　then　snapped　it　off。

Well；　there。　They　had　had　a　grand　argument　over　a　mand　mo　net　about　everything　except　what　was　really　driving　them　apart。　What　satisfaction。

She　stalked　away　from　the　mo　console。　〃Oh；　that　man。〃


〃Take　cover；　take　cover；〃　chanted　Vanessa　in　a　whisper　to　the　rest　of　the　Terrible　Trio。

〃I　wonder　what　mander　Hunter　did　to　cause　the　blowup　this　time。〃　Sammie　blinked。

〃Whatever　it　was；　it　looks　like　he'll　be　on　a　steady　diet　of　cold　shoulder　when　he　gets　back；〃　Vanessa　replied。

Kim　took　off　her　headset　and　turned　to　them。　〃I　dunno；　d'you　think　she　really　loves　him？〃

〃D'you　mean　to　say　you　haven't　heard　the　latest　gossip？〃　Sammie　almost　squirmed　in　her　eagerness　to　tell　it。　〃They　say　she　cleans　his　quarters。　Yeah；　yeah；　cleans！　While　he's　away　on　patrol。　And　he　doesn't　even　take　her　out　or　anything。〃

The　Terrible　Trio　thought　poisonous　thoughts　about　the　male　gender。

Kim　fanned　herself　gently　with　her　hand。　〃It's　hard　to　believe　Lisa　would　get　herself　roped　into　something　like　that。　She's　too　smart！〃

Sammie　caught　her　arm。　〃But　wait；　that　isn't　all！〃

〃Ixnay；〃　Kim　murmured；　turning　a　sidelong　glance。　〃We're　being　watched。〃

〃Uh…oh。〃　Sammie　hastened　to　put　her　earphones　back　on。

Lisa　looked　at　them　resignedly。　Go　ahead；　girls；　I　don't　blame　you。　I　guess　it　is　funny。


The　pod's　cannon　hosed　concentrated　fire　into　the　storm…wracked　night　sky。　The　Guardian　sideslipped　and　counterfired　with　its　autocannon。

〃Won't　these　characters　ever　give　up？〃　Bobby　Bell　gritted。

But　there　was　a　certain　fear　to　it。　Zentraedi　who　had　returned　to　their　warrior　code；　their　death…before…defeat　belief　system；　were　enemies　to　be　reckoned　with。

And　then　there　was　a　familiar　face　on　an　instrument　panel　display　screen。　〃How　you　guys　doin'？〃　Rick　Hunter　asked　with　elaborate　casualness。　It　was　the　heritage；　he　was　flying　into　the　middle　of　a　red…hot　firefight；　and　he　looked　like　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　stay　awake。

〃Boss；　look　sharp；〃　Bobby　shot　back。　〃These　boys　are　murder。〃

Rick's　VT　dove　down　through　the　rain　in　Guardian　configuration　like　a　rocket…powered　falcon。　〃It's　okay。　I'll　take　over　now。　Ransom；　Bobby；　all　of　you　drop　back　and　stay　out　of　sight。〃

He　went　in　at　them　as　he　had　gone　in　at　hundreds　of　pods…thousands…since　the　day　he　first　stepped　into　a　VT　cockpit。　He　wove　through　their　fire；　rebounded　from　the　ground；　and　sprang　high　overhead　on　Robotech　legs。

The　energy　blasts　skewed　all　around　him。　〃Last　chance；〃　he　transmitted　over　the　Zentraedi　tac　frequency。　〃Cease　fire　and　lay　down　your　arms。〃

If　they　had；　they　would　have　been　the　first　of　the　malcontents　to　do　so。　But　instead；　like　all　the　rest；　they　fired　that　much　more　furiously。

He　wondered　what　he　would　have　felt　like　if　their　positions　had　been　reversed。　The　human　race　was　lost　and　struggling　in　its　own　ashes；　but　how　much　more　so　the　Zentraedi　defectors？

He　wondered　only　for　an　instant；　though；　lives　were　at　stake。

Skull　Leader　came　in　behind　a　sustained　burst　from　its　autocannon；　the　tracers　lighting　the　night；　blowing　one　pod　leg　to　metallic　splinters。　As　the　pod　collapsed；　Rick　banked　and　came　to　ground　behind　an　upcropping　of　rock；　going　to　Battloid　mode。

He　reared　up　from　behind　the　rock；　an　armored　ultratech　warrior　sixty　feet　tall　with　a　belt…fed　autocannon　gripped　in　his　fist。　〃For　the　last　time；　I　order　you　to　drop　your　weapons！〃

He　saw　the　plastron　cannon　muzzles　swinging　at　him；　and　hit　the　dirt　behind　the　rock。　Energy　bolts　blazed　through　the　air　where　he　had　been　standing。

When　the　volley　was　over；　he　came　up　again　shooting。　The　high…density　slugs　blew　another　pod　leg　in　half　at　its　rear…articulated　knee；　toppling　it。　The　third　one　ran；　zigzagging；　evading　his　fire。　Suddenly　there　was　only　the　drumming　of　the　rain　on　the　field　of　battle。

The　Zentraedi　malcontents　emerged　from　their　disabled　mecha　slowly。　He　could　see　that　they　carried　no　personal　weapons　and　knew　that　the　New　Portland　police　and　militia　would　be　able　to　deal　with　them。　The　rest　of　Skull　Team　went　to　mop　up　and　make　sure　the　armored　Zentraedi　on　foot　were　taken　prisoner。　The　malcontents　would　pay　with　their　lives　for　the　lives　they'd　taken。

Tonight　we　won。　What　about　tomorrow？


He　was　the　last　one　to　deplane；　Ransom；　Bobby；　and　Greer　were　already　far　from　the　hangars　and　revetments　when　Rick　dragged　himself　from　his　VT；　feeling　dogtired。　How　could　peace　be　so　terrible？　Peace　was　all　he　or　Roy　or　any　of　the　rest　had　ever　wanted。　He　wondered　if　there　would　ever　be　an　end　to　the　fighting。

Then　he　saw　Lisa　standing　by　the　fighter　ops　door。　No　peace　in　my　lifetime；　he　decided。　Look　at　that　warcloud。

〃Why　do　I　feel　like　I　should　ask　for　a　blindfold　and　a　last　cigarette；　mander？〃

〃Not　very　funny；　Rick。〃

〃No；　I　suppose　not。〃　He　groped　for　a　way　to　tell　her　all　the　things　he　had　thought　and　been　through　in　the　last　few　days。

But　she　was　saying；　〃You're　ordered　to　report　to　Captain　Gloval　at　once。〃

He　considered　that；　brows　knit；　turning　toward　the　SDF…1。　〃Wonder　what　he　wants。〃

She　couldn't　hold　back　what　she　was　thinking。　〃How　was　your　visit　with　Minmei？〃　she　called　after　him。

He　stopped。　〃I　enjoyed　her　broadcast　from　Granite　City　yesterday；〃　she　said　softly。

He　drew　a　breath；　let　it　out；　looked　down　at　the　hardtop　beneath　his　feet。　〃Well；　I　didn't　actually　visit　with　Minmei。〃

He　started　off　again。　She　caught　up；　walking　right　behind。　She　made　it　sound　as　spiteful　as　she　could；　hating　herself　for　it　the　whole　time。　〃Was　that　because　she　was　so　surrounded　by　adoring　fans　that　you　couldn't　get　close　to　her；　Rick？〃

〃No。〃

〃Anything　happen？〃　Why　am　I　putting　us　both　through　this？　she　wondered；　and　the　answer　came　back　at　once：　Because　I　love　him！

〃What　could　happen？〃　he　growled。

〃I　don't　know！〃　She　raced　to　catch　up　with　him；　taking　a　pale　blue　envelope　from　her　uniform　pocket。　She　dashed　around　in　front　of　him；　bringing　him　up　short；　pressing　it　into　the　palm　of　one　flightsuit　glove。　She　turned　and　walked　away　from　him。

〃Lisa；　what　is　this？〃

〃Just　something　to　remember　me　by；〃　she　threw　back　over　her　shoulder；　not　trusting　herself　to　look　at　his　face　once　more。　Her　heels　clicked　away　across　the　hardtop。

The　envelope　held　photographs…Lisa　with　a　niece；　on　a　vacation；　Lisa　as　an　adorable　teenager　with　a　kitten　perched　on　her　head；　Lisa　on　the　day　of　her　graduation　from　the　Academy。

〃What　on　Earth？〃　he　mumbled；　but　he　knew。　The　album；　all　the　rest　of　it：　What　had　happened　came　to　him　in　a　flash。　He　had　left　New　Portland　feeling　like　there　was　some　good　that　he　could　do　in　the　world；　feeling　that　no　matter　how　bad　things　looked；　there　was　always　hope；　and　feeling　that　he　was　on　the　side　of　the　angels。

But　now；　holding　the　photographs　at　his　side　and　watching　her　disappear　among　the　parked　bat　mecha；　he　tried　to　ride　out　a　tide　of　regret　that　threatened　to　wash　him　away；　and　he　was　suddenly　sorry　he　had　ever　been　born。


〃mander　Hunter　reporting　as　ordered；　sir。〃

Gloval　sat　looking　out　the　sweeping　forward　viewport　of　the　SDF…1；　at　a　blue　sky　flecked　with　white　clouds。　〃Please　e　in；　Rick；〃　he　said　without　turning。

〃Thank　you；　sir。〃　Rick　came　in　warily；　Gloval　did　not　often　use　his　subordinates'　first　names。

〃I'll　get　right　to　the　point。〃　Gloval　swung　around　to　face　him　and　came　to　his　feet。　〃The　aliens　among　us　are　reverting　to　their　former　ways。〃

Rick　considered　that。　He　had　friends　among　the　Zentraedi…Rico；　Bron；　and　Konda；　Karita　and　others。　〃The　New　Portland　rebels　won't　give　us　any　more　trouble；　sir。〃

〃That　incident　was　only　a　symptom；　Lieutenant　mander。〃　There　was　something　about　the　way　Gloval　pronounced　your　rank　that　let　you　know　you　were　a　part　of　a　thing　greater　than　yourself。

〃We　cannot　afford　to　have　this　occur　again；〃　Gloval　went　on；　〃or　we'll　be　risking　plete　social　breakdown。　I've　decided　to　have　some　of　the　aliens　reassigned　to　new　locations　where　we　can　keep　an　eye　on　them。〃

None　of　the　importance　of　that　was　lost　on　Rick。　We　promised　them　freedom！　It　was　all　ing　apart；　everything　that　had　seemed　so　bright　two　years　before。

The　rest　didn't　really　have　to　be　said。　Gloval　was　counting　on　Rick　to　enforce　his　directives　and　letting　him　know　what　he　would　be　in　for。

Rick　Hunter　looked　at　the　old　man　who'd　been　through　so　much　for　Earth；　and　for　the　Zentraedi；　too；　in　truth。　The　younger　man　snapped　off　a　brisk　salute。　〃Whatever　you　decide；　you　have　my　support；　you　know　that；　sir。　And　you　have　the　support　of　everyone　on　the　SDF…1。〃

〃Thank　you；　Lieutenant。〃　Gloval　acknowledged　the　salute　precisely　but　rather　tiredly。　He　didn't　look　like　he　had　gotten　any　real　sleep　in　a　long　time。

They　met　each　other's　gaze。　〃I　understand；〃　Rick　said。


Minmei　shivered　under　her　jacket；　leaning　against　a　pylon　of　Zentraedi　wreckage　and　staring　into　the　sky　as　night　came　on　Granite　City。

So　much　desolation。　And　so　much　bitterness；　even　between　people　who　should　have　learned　to　love　one　another　a　long　time　ago！

She　looked　to　the　few　lights　of　the　town。　Kyle　had　gone　off　that　way；　and　she　had　no　idea　whether　he　intended　to　stop　or　keep　on　going；　had　no　idea　whether　she　would　ever　see　him　again　and　no　clear　conviction　as　to　whether　she　wanted　to　or　not。

She　looked　up　as　the　stars　appeared。　Oh；　Rick。　Where　are　you？


THE　END