05_force_of_arms-第4部分

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traedi　mecha　to　smithereens　and　going　on　to　take　out　another　while　the　first　two　explosions　were　still　ballooning。

Suddenly；　the　pods　were　like　so　many　fat　pigeons　before　the　attack　of　a　rocket…driven　hawk。


Rick's　initial　success　was　so　overwhelming；　so　pronounced　and　irresistible；　that　he　got　careless。

After　seeing　a　dozen　and　more　of　the　ambushers　go　up　in　flames；　he　began　the　switch　to　Guardian　mode。　But　he'd　forgotten　what　a　hot　ride　he　had；　and　the　ship's　sudden　retro　thrust　almost　put　his　head　through　the　instrument　panel　and　split　his　thinking　cap　down　the　middle。

He　barely　recovered；　shaking　his　head；　the　breath　knocked　from　him　by　the　strain　of　the　safety　harness　across　his　torso。　Trembling；　he　got　control　of　himself　and　his　ship　and　pressed　the　fight　again。

And　once　more　the　Zentraedi　pods　were　fat　targets　at　his　mercy。　He　went　swooping　in　at　them；　the　VT　laying　out　a　staggering　volume　of　fire；　skeeting　pods　as　if　they　were　clay　targets。


Khyron　had　seen　enough；　he　had　no　desire　to　go　up　against　this　bewilderingly　fast；　fearsomely　armed　intruder。　He　made　sure　his　own　withdrawal　was　well　under
way　before　he　ordered　his　troops　back。

It　didn't　mean　his　thirst　for　revenge　was　slaked；　of　course；　if　anything；　it　was　worse。　It　was　a　constant　torment　now；　it　would　be　until　he　destroyed　the　enemy　insects　once　and　for　all。


Max's　report　came　over　the　bridge　speakers。　〃The　enemy　has　broken　contact　and　withdrawn。　The　shuttle　has　sustained　minimal　damage　and　is　continuing　on。

〃With　your　permission；　I　am　returning　to　the　SDF…1　with　the　remaining　escort　ships；　due　to　damage　suffered　during　the　attack。　Lieutenant　Hunter　will　escort　the　shuttle　to　Earth。〃


Gloval　granted　permission。　To　Claudia's　doubtful　look；　he　responded；　〃That　armored　Veritech　has　so　much　speed　and　firepower；　it's　the　equal　of　ten　regular　fighters。〃

And　a　thousand　more　like　it　wouldn't　put　us　on　an　equal　footing　with　our　foe；　he　thought　to　himself。　Still；　we　must　have　as　many　as　we　can；　as　fast　as　we　can！

Sammie　stretched　and　yawned。　〃I'm　exhausted！　I　wish　mander　Hayes　was　back。〃

Claudia　glared　at　her。　〃We　almost　lost　her　permanently　with　that　code　snafu　of　yours！〃

Sammie　looked　dismayed；　young　and　tearful；　she　was　even　more　upset　by　the　danger　to　Lisa　than　by　Claudia's　temper；　which　could　lead　to　very　serious　problems　for　anyone　who　angered　the　bridge　officer。

But　Claudia　softened　after　a　moment。　After　all；　Sammie　had　pulled　things　out　of　the　fire。

〃That's　okay；　kiddo；〃　Claudia　said；　turning　back　to　her　console。　〃Everybody　learns　from　mistakes。〃


Gloval　thought　about　that；　silently　gazing　through　the　forward　viewport。　Did　that　apply　to　the　Zentraedi；　too？　And　the　UEDC　rulers？

Could　they　all　be　convinced　the　war　was　a　catastrophic　mistake？


The　protective　shielding　swung　back　to　show　Lisa　a　passenger　partment　that　seemed　unaffected　by　the　battle。　She　was　still　a　little　winded　and　bruised　from　the　tossing　around　she　had　taken　in　the　padded；　armored　cocoon。

The　shuttle　pilot　had　kept　her　abreast　of　the　battle　and　she　felt　a　bit　limp　with　relief。　It　was　so　vital　that　she　get　to　Earth；　that　she　speak　for　peace…long　ago　she　had　resigned　herself　to　the　likelihood　that　she　would　die　in　war；　but　to　have　died　at　that　moment　was　a　tragedy　too　vast　to　contemplate。

〃mander　Hayes；〃　the　pilot's　voice　came　over　the　inter。　〃We　have　a　mo　call　for　you　from　Lieutenant　Hunter；　who's　now　flying　escort　for　us。　I've　patched　it　through。〃

So　Rick　was　the　one　who　had　ridden　to　the　rescue　in　the　armored　VT；　she　had　hoped　it　was　and　yet　had　feared　for　his　life　all　through　the　fight。　She　picked　up　the　handset。

Armored　panels　were　sliding　back　from　all　the　viewports。　She　was　looking　out　at　the　humpbacked　new…generation　Veritech。　〃Lisa；　are　you　all　right？〃　she　heard　him　say。

〃Yes。　Because　you　came　to　help。〃　She　saw　him　through　the　VT's　canopy；　looking　at　her　worriedly。

I　was　never　cut　out　for　emotional　drama；　she　thought。　I　should　have　known　I　couldn't　get　away　with　a　rehearsed　exit　speech。

〃No　problem；〃　he　was　saying。　〃Now；　what's　all　this　about　you　not　ing　back？〃

〃There　are　reasons；　Rick。〃

〃Even　though　your　father's　on　the　UEDC？〃

〃Especially　because　of　that。　Besides；　they　aren't　going　to　like　what　I'm　going　to　tell　them。〃

There　was　a　choppy　sensation　as　the　shuttle　entered　the　Earth's　atmosphere。　He　fumbled　for　something　appropriate　to　say；　knowing　he　had　to　turn　back　in　seconds。　〃I　hope　you'll　be　safe〃　was　all　he　could　e　up　with。

〃Thanks。　I'm　sure　I'll　be　fine。〃

〃Um。〃　He　knew　the　call　was　patched　through　the　shuttle's　　system；　accessible　to　the　pilots…presuming　they　weren't　busy　with　their　atmospheric　entry　maneuver。　There's　something　else…sorta　private。　Here；　look。〃

He　had　fallen　back；　out　of　the　pilots'　line　of　vision；　up　close　to　the　shuttle。　She　could　see　him　clearly；　watching　her。　She　was　confused。　〃What　is　it？〃

〃Prosigns。〃　He　began　flashing　his　VT's　running　lights　in　prosigns…brief　dot…dash　binations　that　represented　whole　words；　for　quick　manual　Morse　code　munications。　Lisa　was　a　little　rusty　but　found　that　she　could　read　it。

LIKE　YOU　MUCH。　PLAIN　SOMETIMES　BUT　BELIEVE　IN　YOU。　MISS　YOU　MUCH　IF　YOU　DON'T　RETURN。　PLEASE　RETURN　SOONEST。

He　could　read　her　lips；　so　close　were　VT　and　shuttle。

I'll　try。　So　long；　Rick。

He　threw　her　a　salute…a　joke　between　them；　given　his　lack　of　military　discipline　when　they　had　first　met　and　clashed。

The　armored　VT　peeled　off　and　vectored　for　the　SDF…1；　the　blue　vortices　of　its　thrusters　shrinking　to　match　flames；　then　disappearing。　The　shuttle　jostled　more　as　it　hit　the　denser　atmosphere。


CHAPTER　FOUR

I　have　familiarized　myself　with　the　enemy's　culture；　to　better　carry　out　my　espionage　mission。　What　a　repulsive；　contemptible　thing　it　is！
All　seems　to　revolve　around　their　grueseome；　sadistic　method　of　reproduction；　and　it　obsesses　them　constantly。　The　humans…Micronians…even　make　up　false　legends　about　it！　They　immerse　themselves　in　stories　where　males　and　females　poison　one　another　or　stab　themselves　or　simply　expire　from　some　unexplained　thing　called　〃pining　away。〃　Or　else　the　imaginary　couples　go　off　together　and　spend　all　their　time　in　revolting；　pointless　intimacies。
Our　enemies　languish　in　these　falsehoods　the　way　we　might　enjoy　a　hot　soak　at　the　end　of　a　long　campaign。
What　perversion！　Truly；　this　is　a　species　that　must　be　exterminated！
Miriya　Parino；　from　her　interim　notes　for　an　Intel　report　to　the　Zentraedi　High　mand

She　was　striking　enough　to　draw　stares　even　in　the　crowded　Macross　plaza；　where　people　were　usually　in　a　hurry　and　some　of　the　more　attractive　women　in　the　dimensional　fortress　were　to　be　seen。

Boots　clicking　on　the　swirling　mosaics　of　the　plaza；　the　green…dyed　hair　flowing　with　the　speed　of　her　walk　and　the　light　air　currents　of　the　ship's　circulation　blowers；　she　looked　neither　right　nor　left。　People　made　way　for　her；　she　was　barely　aware　of　their　existence；　even　that　of　the　men　who　looked　at　her　so　admiringly。

Miriya；　greatest　bat　pilot　of　her　race；　exulted　a　bit。　I've　finally　discovered　one　of　the　reasons　these　Micronians　have　developed　such　amazing　skill　in　handling　their　mecha！　It　wasn't　the　reason　she　had　e　to　the　SDF…1　as　a　spy；　but　it　was　a　step　in　understanding　her　quarry；　and　that　was　elating。　The　intelligence　data　would　also　be　of　interest　to　the　Zentraedi　High　mand；　another　coup　to　her　credit。

Not　that　Miriya　needed　one。　As　a　demigoddess　of　battle；　she　was　without　equal；　her　kills　and　victories　far　outnumbering　her　nearest　rival's。　She　had　lost　only　once　in　her　life；　and　had　submitted　to　micronization　and　e　to　the　SDF…1　to　make　amends　for　that。

Miriya　left　the　street　and　its　EVE　noonday；　entering　the　dark　and　blinking　world　she　had　only　recently　discovered。　All　through　the　media…game　arcade；　people　stood　or　sat　hunched　toward　the　glowing　screens；　playing　against　the　machines。

The　screen…lit　faces　of　the　players　were　so　intent；　their　movements　so　deft　and　quick…what　could　account　for　it　other　than　military　indoctrination　and　the　hunger　for　bat？　What　other　motive　could　there　be　for　the　Micronians'　relentless　practice？　They　were　so　highly　motivated　that　they　even　subsidized　their　own　training；　feeding　money　into　the　machines。

The　young　ones　were　the　best　and　most　diligent；　of　course。　By　the　time　they　reach　maturity；　they　wild　be　superb　warriors！　she　thought。　This；　even　though　the　very　concept　of　human　reproduction；　the　parents…child…adult　cycle；　made　her　feel　queasy　and　dizzy。　The　discovery　of　that　vileness；　as　she　thought　of　it；　had　rendered　her　inert　and　dazed　when　she　first　stumbled　on　the　truth　of　it。　But　in　time；　bravely；　she　had　shaken　off　the　horror　of　human　reproduction　and　resumed　her　search。

Miriya　came　to　the　most　significant　machine；　though　they　were　all　cunning　and　instructive。　She　vaulted　into　the　little　cockpit；　inserting　a　coin　in　the　slot。　One　hand　went　to　the　stick；　the　other　to　the　throttle；　as　she　watched　the　screen。　Her　feet　settled　on　the　foot　pedals。

Her　finger　hovered　near　the　weapons　trigger　as　she　waited　for　the　game　to　begin。　Miriya　looked　around　quickly　to　see　if　her　nemesis　was　there。

She　couldn't　spy　anyone　who　might　be　that　greatest　of　Micronian　pilots　and　therefore　assumed　he　wasn't　present。　Surely　a　pilot　who　was　good　enough　to　have　defeated　Miriya　Parino；　the　indisputable　champion　of　the　Zentraedi；　would　draw　great　attention　and　recognition。

She　would　know　him　when　he　came　or　when　someone　mentioned　him。　She　would　find　him　eventually。

And　then　she　would　kill　him。


The　face　in　the　family　portrait　was　pale；　thin…but　open　and　kind；　the　mother's　features　very　much　like　the　daughter's。　Admiral　Hayes　glanced　down　at　the　framed　photo；　not　realizing　that　many　minutes　had　gone　by　while　he　sat；　thinking　and　remembering。

He　was　looking　at　himself；　years　ago；　only　a　lieutenant　mander　then。　Next　to　him　in　the　photo　was　his　wife；　and　in　front　of　them　a　shy…looking　little　girl　wearing　a　sun　hat　and　sun　dress　with　a　Band…Aid　on　one　knee。

Whenever　I　look　at　this　picture；　I　wish　Andrea　were　still　here　to　see　how　her　little　girl　turned　out…to　see　what　an　extraordinary　soldier　Lisa's　made　of　herself。

A　tone　from　his　desk　terminal　broke　his　contemplation。　〃Pardon　me　for　interrupting；　sir；〃　an　aide　said。　〃But　you　left　word　that　you　be　informed　when　the　shuttle　made　final　approach。〃

Hayes　shook　himself；　there　had　been　that　last；　terrible　fear　when　the　shuttle　was　attacked　and　not　even　he　could　countermand　UEDC　orders　and　send　help。　More　to　the　point；　there　was　no　help　that　Earth　could　send　that　would　be　of　any　use；　the　SDF…1　and　its　Veritechs；　were　the　only　effective　weapons　against　Zentraedi　pods。　Hayes　could　only　wait　and　hope。

When　the　shuttle　survived　its　gauntlet；　he　had　nearly　collapsed　into　his　chair；　staring　at　the　photograph　of　the　past。　There　was　so　much　to　heal　between　himself　and　his　daughter；　so　much　to　put　behind　them。

Now；　he　looked　to　the　aide's　image　on　his　display　screen。　〃Thank　you。〃

〃The　craft　should　be　landing　very　shortly。　Shall　I　meet　you　at　the　elevators；　sir？〃

Hayes　pressed　against　his　big；　solid　oak　desk　with　both　hands；　pushing　himself　to　his　feet。　〃Yes；　that　would　be　fine。〃

The　headquarters　of　the　United　Earth　Defense　Council　was　a　vast　base　beneath　the　Alaskan　wilderness。　Very　little　of　it　was　aboveground…surveillance　and　munications　equipment；　aircraft　control　tower…but　the　surface　was　guarded　by　the　few　remaining　Battloids　on　Earth。

Years　before；　when　the　SDF…1　made　its　miscalculated　spacefold　jump　out　to　the　rim　of　the　solar　system；　it　took　with　it　most　of　its　Robotech　secrets　and　all　the　fabricating　equipment　humanity　had　discovered　in　the　huge　vessel　when　it　originally　crash…landed　on　Earth。　Earth　had　turned　back　to　largely　conventional　weapons　for　its　defense　with　the　exception　of　one　gargantuan　project　that　was　already　under　way：　the　Grand　Cannon。

The　Grand　Cannon　took　up　most　of　the　sprawling；　miles…deep　base；　a　doomsday　weapon　that　let　the　UEDC　live　the　fantasy　that　it　could　defend　itself　against　an　all…out　Zentraedi　onslaught。　Admiral　Hayes　had　been　largely　responsible　for　the　Grand　Cannon's　construction；　Gloval's　simple　disdain　for　such　a　massive；　immobile　weapon　system　was　one　of　the　major　stresses　that　had　ended　their　friendship。

Waiting　by　the　landing　strip；　the　brutally　cold　arctic　wind　whipping　at　his　greatcoat；　Hayes　recalled　those　days；　recalled　the　bitter　words。　His　once…warm　bond　with　Gloval；　solidified　during　their　service　together　in　the　Global　Civil　War；　had　shattered　as　Hayes　accused　the　Russian　of　timid　thinking　and　Gloval　sneered　at　the　〃hidebound；　Maginot…Line　mindset〃　of　the　Cannon's　proponents。

Hayes's　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　the　aide。　〃Admiral；　we've　just　received　word　that　the　shuttle's　ETA　has　been　moved　back　by　twenty　minutes。　Nothing　serious；　they're　just　ing　around　for　a　better　approach　window。　If　you　like；　I'll　drive　you　back　to　the　control　tower；　it's　warmer　there。〃

The　admiral　said　distractedly；　〃No；　I'll　wait　here。　It's　not　that　cold；　anyway。〃　Then　he　turned　back　to　watch　the　sky；　barely　aware　of　the　biting　wind。

The　aide　sat　back　down　in　the　open　jeep；　shivering　and　buttoning　up　his　collar　all　the　way；　burrowing　his　chin　down　and　tucking　gloved　hands　under　armpits。　He　always　thought　of　his　mander　as　rather　a　fort…loving　man；　certainly；　Hayes's　living　quarters　and　offices　gave　that　impression。

But　here　was　the　Old　Man；　indifferent　to　an　arctic　blast　that　would　send　an　unprotected　man　into　hypothermia　in　seconds。　None　of　the　base　personnel　knew　much　about　this　daughter；　her　last　visit　to　the　base　had　been　rushed　and　very　hush…hush。　Hayes　rarely　mentioned　her；　but　he　had　been　remote　most　of　the　time　since　he　had　received　word　she　was　ing。　The　aide　shrugged　to　himself；　swearing　at　the　shuttle；　wishing　it　would　hurry　up。


In　an　officers'　mess　onboard　the　SDF…1；　Max　sat　toying　with　his　coffee　cup；　glancing　over　at　the　table　a　few　yards　away　where　Rick　Hunter　sat　immersed　in　thought；　an　almost　palpable　cloud　of　gloom　surrounding　him。

He's　been　sitting　there　by　himself　for　half　an　hour　twiddling　his　spoon；　and　it's　like　his　food　isn't　even　there；　Max　reflected。　He　made　a　quick　decision；　rose；　and　went　to　approach　his　team　leader。

〃Lieutenant；　it's　too　early　to　be　depressed　about　this；〃　Max　jumped　right　in。　〃I'm　sure　mander　Hayes　will　get　back　here　somehow。〃

Rick　turned　away　from　him；　chin　still　resting　on　his　hand。　〃First　of　all；　I'm　not　thinking　about　her；　and　secondly；　what　makes　you　think　I'm　depressed？〃

Rick　decided　it　was　all；　far　too　plicated　to　explain　to　Max　Sterling；　the　bright…eyed　boy　wonder　of　the　VTs；　the　cheerful；　unassuming　ace　of　aces。　A　man　who　never　seemed　unhappy；　at　a　loss；　or　in　doubt　of　what　he　was　doing。　Eager　beaver！　Rick　thought　huffily。

〃Maybe　you　need　a　little　excitement…some　distraction；〃　Max　persisted。　〃How　about　a　game？　I　know　just　the　place！　Let's　go！〃

Before　Rick　could　object　or　even　consider　pulling　rank；　Max　had　him　by　the　arm　and　yanked　him　to　his　feet；　tugging　him　toward　the　door。　It　seemed　easier　to　give　in　than　to　start　a　tug…of…war　in　the　middle　of　the　officers'　mess；　Rick　went　along　pliantly。

It　didn't　take　long　to　get　there；　Max　even　paid　for　the　cab。　The　Close　Encounters　game　arcade　was　alive　with　nois