16_world_killers-第16部分

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There　would　be　plenty　to　do　tomorrow；　but　for　the　time　being；　everyone　needed　an　adjournment。

When　all　the　others　were　dispersed　and　they　were　strolling　under　strange　constellations；　Kazianna　Hesh　took　Breetai's　hand。　〃It's　not　the　oute　you　looked　for；　I　know；　my　love；　but　still　I　think　it's　not　an　unfair　one。〃

〃Perhaps。　But　I　tell　you　this：　Edwards　will　be　stopped；　even　if　I　have　to　do　it　alone。〃

She　kissed　his　cheek。　〃Breetai；　you　will　never　face　any　danger　alone　again…not　while　I　draw　breath。〃


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

The　military　scholars　missed　the　point　entirely。　Max　and　Miriya；　indisputably　the　greatest　Robotech　warriors　of　all；　were　serving　the　source　of　their　prowess　by　laying　down　their　arms　for　a　time。　Life　made　them　do　it…the　life　growing　within　the　onetime　Quadrono　mander；　fathered　by　her　erstwhile　enemy。
Life；　triumphing　over　death。
Theresa　Duvall；　Wingmates：　the　Story　of　Max　and　Miriya　Sterling

The　work　to　rebuild　Glike　and　repair　damage　done　to　other　parts　of　the　planet　during　the　terrible　clash　between　Inorganics　and　antibodies　had　begun　literally　while　the　dust　was　still　settling。

If　Haydon　IV's　world…size　instrumentality　had　been　intact；　it　could　have　acplished　the　rebuilding　at　a　miraculous　rate。　But　much　of　that　instrumentality　was　either　disabled　or　obliterated　or　pletely　exhausted。　The　Haydonites　threw　themselves　into　the　job　with　a　religious　fervor；　though；　and　they　had　help。

The　tens　of　thousands　of　freed　Praxians　were　among　the　most　willing　to　help。　The　warrior　women　were　a　homeless　race　now　that　their　own　planet　had　been　destroyed　in　the　upheavals　following　the　Invid　conquest　and　Genesis　Pit　experiments。　Many　thought　sparsely　populated　Haydon　IV　might　offer　them　a　fresh　start。

It　was　plain　that　Arla…Non　longed　to　lead　her　amazons　on　a　holy　war　against　the　Invid；　but　since　only　a　few　could　go　along　on　Ark　Angel；　it　was　the　queen's　duty　to　stay　with　the　majority　of　her　subjects；　to　guide　and　govern　them。　Arla…Non　expressed　every　faith　in　Bela；　though；　and　confirmed　that　in　rituals　that　the　Praxians　barred　all　outsiders　from　attending。

The　contingent　that　would　return　to　face　Edwards's　charges　before　the　council　was　led　by　Breetai；　along　with　Vince　Grant　and　Jonathan　Wolff。　While　many　of　the　Diamondback　and　Joker　REF　fighters　wanted　to　volunteer　for　service　to　fill　the　depleted　ranks　of　the　Sentinels　fliers；　that　was　voted　down。　If　Edwards　made　his　power　play；　it　might　require　every　loyal　pilot　in　the　REF　to　put　down　a　coup。

Jean　Grant；　like　Max　Sterling；　refused　to　leave　the　planet　as　long　as　Miriya　was　still　in　a　a　and　unable　to　be　moved。　Miriya　had　stabilized；　but　the　outlook　was　still　bleak。　Nevertheless；　Jean　had　immersed　herself　in　learning　the　healing　arts　of　the　Haydonites；　blending　them　with　her　own　in　the　hope　of　curing　Miriya。

Cabell　had　wavered；　thinking　that　he　could　be　of　some　help　if　he　stayed；　but　the　others　said　his　insights　to　the　functioning　of　Protoculture　and　Robotechnology　might　be　more　important　than　ever　in　the　battles　ahead。　He　spent　a　night　closeted　alone　with　his　thoughts；　and　announced　in　the　morning　that　he　would　be　remaining　behind。　Rick　thought　that　the　old　sage　had　sensed　something　important　about　Miriya's　situation；　but　Cabell　refused　to　talk　about　his　motives。

As　for　Max；　he　decided　that　rather　than　simply　sitting　and　waiting；　he　would　devote　himself　to　the　effort　to　rebuild　the　planet。

〃I'm　sure　Jean　and　Cabell　and　the　Haydonites　can　make　her　well　again；〃　Max　told　Rick　as　the　Sentinels　prepared　to　depart　for　Spheris。　〃You'll　see。　By　the　time　we're　set　for　the　final　assault　on　Optera；　I'll　be　back　in　a　VT　and　so　will　Miriya。〃

〃I　know　you　will；〃　Rick　said　with　conviction　he　didn't　really　feel。　〃We　can't　have　you　guys　missing　out　on　the　grand　finale。〃

The　two　shook　hands　and　Lisa　kissed　Max's　cheek。　Soon；　the　SDF…7　class　cruiser　was　lifting　off。　Gaps　in　the　rank　and　file　of　their　fighters　had　been　filled　by　several　hundred　amazon　volunteers；　but　in　Rick's　opinion　the　force　was　still　woefully　inadequate　in　terms　of　media。

Originally；　production　facilities　on　Karbarra　and…it　had　been　hoped…Haydon　IV　were　to　have　kept　the　Sentinels'　plement　of　war　machines　at　full　strength。　But　production　problems　had　arisen　on　Karbarra：　a　fundamental　inability　of　the　Invid…designed　manufacturing　equipment　to　turn　out　satisfactory　Earth…style　mecha；　no　matter　what　adjustments　the　Karbarrans　tried。　As　for　Haydon　IV；　it　simply　wouldn't　have　media…production　capability　soon　enough　to　be　of　any　use。

But　Sentinels'　mecha　had　played　very　little　part　in　freeing　Haydon　IV　and；　from　all　reports；　would　be　even　less　useful　on　Spheris。　Time　would　tell：　Rick　and　Lisa　were　anxious　to　survey　the　situation　on　Spheris；　at　the　very　least；　as　soon　as　possible。　Like　many　of　their　panions；　they　now　grew　frustrated　and　ill　at　ease　in　between　blows　against　the　Invid　empire。


T。R。　Edwards　knew　a　particular　triumph　as　the　special　council　meeting　convened。　There　was　only　one　item　on　the　agenda：　Edwards's　renewed　request　for　martial　law　and　what　amounted　to　emergency　dictatorial　powers。　To　the　general's　vast　satisfaction；　Lang　and　the　other　opposition　had　been　either　unable　or　unwilling　to　block　the　meeting。

At　Edwards's　urging；　the　entire　session　was　being　transmitted　over　the　Base　Tirol　public…information　channel。　He　was　gambling　that；　in　addition　to　winning　over　the　council；　he　could　get　the　subordinate　officers　and　nons　and　enlisted　ratings　of　the　REF　to　hail　him　as　well；　paving　the　way　for　his　eventual　takeover。

Now　Edwards　made　his　case　again；　plete　with　charts　and　display…screen　aids。　The　excuse　this　time　was　that　Edwards　promised　he　could　squeeze　more　monopole　ore　from　Fantoma　if　the　military　was　given　plete　run　of　the　operation；　up　to　and　including　drafting　Tiresian　laborers。　Lang　and　Dr。　Penn　didn't　even　seem　to　be　inclined　to　dispute　the　facts　and　figures　Edwards's　people　trumped　up；　and　Exedore　had　not　even　deigned　to　attend。

All　was　going　well　when　the　wrist　municator　on　Lang's　forearm　toned。　He　sent　an　acknowledging　signal　through　it　and　waited　politely　for　Edwards　to　finish。　But　before　the　vote　could　be　called；　Lang　got　the　floor。　〃My　colleague；　Lord　Exedore；　informs　me　that　my　munications　center　has　received　a　signal　that　is　of　central　importance　in　this　issue。〃

With　that；　Exedore's　face　appeared　in　the　central　screen；　a　billboard…size　panel　that　dominated　one　end　of　the　council　chambers。　〃Here　is　the　transmission　received　just　a　short　time　ago。〃

Before　Edwards　could　object；　a　familiar　and；　to　Edwards；　despised　face…as　handsome　as　a　media　star's…appeared。　〃This　is　Colonel　Jonathan　Wolff；　transmitting　from　the　bridge　of　the　REF　vessel　Valivarre。　With　me　are　mander　Vince　Grant　and　Lord　Breetai。　We　have　with　us　all　the　monopole　ore　that　was　mined　on　Fantoma。

〃Escorting　us　are　the　SDF　cruisers　Tokugawa　and　Jutland；　which　acpanied　us　on　operations　involved　in　the　liberation　of　the　planet　Haydon　IV　from　Invid　domination。　It　is　our　intention　to　turn　over　the　monopole　ore　to　Dr。　Lang's　production　facility　and　to　answer　the　charges　being　made　against　us　and　other　Sentinels。

〃All　we　ask　is　that　the　council　now；　by　public　vote；　insure　us　the　fair　hearing　to　which　we　are　entitled　by　the　REF　Code　of　Military　Justice　and　by　United　Earth　Government　law。　Members　of　the　council；　we　await　your　word。〃

Wolff's　expression　softened　a　bit。　〃You're　our　friends；　our　rades　in　arms…some　of　you　are　our　loved　ones。　We　haven't　played　you　false。〃　He　showed　just　a　touch　of　that　debonair　smile　of　his。

Lang　was　back　on　his　feet　as　the　message　ended。　〃They　won't　have　to　wait　long　for　my　decision！　I　say　yes；　let　these　people　have　their　fair　and　public　hearing！〃

When　the　question　was　called；　Justine　Huxley；　Obstat；　Rheinehardt；　and　others　opposed　to　Edwards　were　quick　and　loud　in　their　vote　of　support。　Edwards's　faction　on　the　council　did　some　grumbling；　but　most　either　abstained　or　went　with　the　momentum　of　the　opposition。　Few　were　inclined　to　deny　the　Sentinels　due　process　in　a　role…call　vote。　Also；　they　all　knew　how　critical　the　monopole　ore　was。

Edwards　had　gone　white　with　anger。　That　blithering　idiot；　the　Regent！　Why　hadn't　he　warned　me　that　this　might　happen？

For　that　matter；　why　hadn't　Edwards's　own　munications…intercept　people　discovered　this　plot？　It　pointed　to　the　possibility　that　Lang　was　aware　of　the　technical　eavesdropping　Edwards's　organization　was　doing；　and　had　exploited　it　to　his；　Lang's；　advantage；　lulling　Edwards　and　then　using　some　unknown　〃back　channel〃　of　contact　with　Breetai。

This　was　a　major　setback；　and　one　piped　through　the　orbiting　SDF…3　as　well　as　all　of　the　REF　installations　on　Tirol…Edwards　was　rocked　physically　by　a　sudden　realization。　Wolff's　face　and　voice　had　gone　out　over　the　PI　channel！


Minmei's　jailers　had　turned　some　switch　that　activated　the　telescreen　built　into　the　wall　of　her　cell　just　as　T。R。　Edwards　made　his　triumphant　entry　to　the　council　chambers。　The　screen；　installed　in　the　cells　for　interrogation；　agitprop；　and　〃motivational〃　purposes；　had　always　been　dark　before。

Minmei　watched　Edwards's　performance　with　a　trapped　animal's　dumb　despair。　The　appearance　of　Jonathan　Wolff　convinced　her　that　she　had　at　last　lost　every　shred　of　sanity。

But　it　was　too　real；　too　vivid；　to　be　a　dream　or　hallucination。　She　slowly　rose　from　her　narrow　bunk；　crossing　the　little　cell；　and　touched　her　fingertips　to　the　screen。　Tears　washed　her　cheeks。

She　heard　his　words；　〃You're。。。our　loved　ones。　We　haven't　played　you　false。〃　Minmei　closed　her　eyes　and　pressed　her　lips　to　Wolff's　lips　on　the　screen；　sobbing。


She　had　been　shut　away　in　her　quarters　on　the　Ark　Angel　all　through　the　Haydon　IV　campaign；　unable　to　break　away　from　her　own　private　struggle。

At　her　request；　the　ship's　techs　and　artisans　had　made　the　partment　as　much　an　imitation　of　her　crystal　world　as　they　could　with　mirrors；　prisms；　and　fanciful　formations　that　suggested　underground　strata。　There；　Teal　of　Spheris　labored　over　the　brilliant；　multifaceted　form　that　was　all　that　remained　of　her　fellow　Spherisian；　Baldan。

Teal　had　refused　to　touch　or　even　look　at　it　at　first；　after　Baldan　was　trapped　in　his　merging　with　the　geological　substance　of　Praxis。　Baldan　had　been　a　fellow　prisoner　of　hers；　in　the　clutches　of　the　Invid；　nothing　more！　To　touch　the　thing　that　had　looked　like　a　football…size　crystal　meant　taking　on　responsibility　for　it；　and　meant　entering　a　rapport　with　Baldan's　essence　that　would　make　them　mates。

It　wasn't　fair！　Teal　had　no　desire　to　be　responsible　for　a　child　or　be　in　rapport　with　Baldan。　She　had　never　asked　to　be　involved　in　this　mad　Sentinels　crusade！　Teal　had　her　own　plans；　her　own　life　to　live。

And　yet；　when　she　had　stood　looking　down　at　it；　Teal　had　known　that　if　she　failed　to　carry　out　the　rite　of　Shaping；　Baldan　would　pass　away　forever　and　the　egg　would　lose　the　forces　of　life　it　carried。　With　strange　tears　in　her　transparent　eyes；　she　took　up　her　ceremonial　blade　and　began　Shaping。

And　she　stayed　at　it　all　through　the　voyage；　and　the　battle　on　Haydon　IV；　when　the　SDF…7　flagship　could　do　little　but　hold　its　station。　Teal　laboriously　calculated　each　cut　and　guided　the　newly…carved　Spherisian　in　its　growth。　It　was　a　trial　as　taxing　as　any　gestation　period　or　rite　of　passage。　But　at　last；　near　the　end　of　her　strength；　Teal　looked　upon　a　healthy　adolescent　male　who　was　the　image　of　Baldan　and　still　growing　quickly。

She　wasn't　surprised　when　Bela；　returning　from　Praxis；　requested　entry　to　her　partment。　It　was　Bela；　along　with　Miriya　Sterling；　who　had　returned　to　the　Praxian　caverns　to　retrieve　the　egg　when　Teal　refused　to。　Bela　who；　absurdly；　had　threatened　to　raise　the　child　herself；　when　the　amazon　hadn't　the　first　idea　about　Humanoid　children；　much　less　creatures　of　living　mineral。

Teal　granted　permission　to　enter。　Bela；　usually　rowdy　and　often　gruff；　was　subdued　and　tentative。　But　when　she　looked　down　on　the　child；　she　was　aglow。　〃But…why　are　his　eyes　closed？　Why　does　he　not　move？〃

〃He　has　been　regaining　the　knowledge　that　Baldan　left　behind　in　him；〃　Teal　explained。　〃And　preparing　himself　for　true　birth。　I　waited；　hoping　you　and　Miriya　could　both　be　here。〃

Teal　explained　what　must　be　done。　Each　took　one　of　the　statuelike　figure's　cold　hands；　kneeling　by　him。　Where　a　Spherisian　parent　would　ordinarily　have　done　so　alone；　Teal　had　the　Praxian　lean　close；　their　heads　together；　so　that　they　could　both　breathe　upon　the　child's　mouth　together。

Once；　twice…and　on　the　third；　a　strange　aura　of　blue　radiance　leapt　from　Teal's　mouth　to　the　infant's。　Bela　felt　the　odd　sensation　of　Spherisian　life…force　stirring　about　and　through　her。

The　cold　hands　tingled　now；　not　with　heat　so　much　as　with　animating　force。　Some　eldritch　piezoelectric　effect；　Bela　wondered？　The　fingers　were　no　longer　stiff；　but　supple　in　the　manner　of　living　crystal。　Bela's　Praxian　eyes；　like　those　of　a　bird　of　prey；　grew　wide；　watching　the　boy's　eyes　flutter　open。

〃Wh…what　have　you　called　him？〃

Teal　held　her　son's　hand　in　her　own。　〃I　call　him　Baldan。　Baldan　II。　I　couldn't　bear　to　name　him　anything　else。〃

She　sighed。　〃Love　is　so　inconvenient。〃


Veidt　had　also　insisted　on　ing　along　on　the　continuation　of　the　mission；　saying　that　Haydon　IV　held　too　many　sad　memories。　No　one　had　any　objections；　but　every　other　Haydonite　had　elected　to　stay　behind　and　rebuild　the　planet。　Rick　suspected　Veidt　preferred　it　that　way。

Getting　the　new　Praxian　recruits　squared　away　was　something　the　Hunters　felt　safe　in　delegating　to　Gnea；　Bela；　and　the　other　amazon　veterans；　plus　ship's　officers。　The　couple　managed　to　get　free　of　other　official　responsibilities　after　the　initial　confusion　and　returned　at　long　last　to　the　quarters　they　shared。

Rick　leaned　his　head　back　against　the　hatch　once　it　closed。　〃A　lo…oong　day　at　the　beach；　babe。〃　Lisa　chortled　tiredly　and　nodded。

They　hadn't　been　there　since　the　start　of　the　Garudan　mission；　it　was　odd　to　be　back　in　the　quiet；　by　the　bed　they　had　shared　too　long　a　time　ago。

A　change　was　apparent　in　Lisa。　Though　she　still　wore　the　body…suit　uniform　of　the　REF；　her　damaged　government…issue　boots　had　been　replaced　with　a　pair　of　Praxian　footgear；　like　over…the…knee　moccasin　wrappings；　of　soft　hide　resembling　chamois。　Her　long　hair　was　held　back　with　a　knotted　band　of　crimson；　satiny　fabric　Bela　had　given　her。

She　also　wore　a　weapons　belt　around　her　hips；　with　a　pistol　tied　down　to　one　thigh　and　a　long　Praxian　fighting　knife　to　the　other。　Many　Sentinels　wore　sidearms　as　a　matter　of　course；　but　this　was　something　new　in　Lisa。

In　fact；　Rick　was　packing；　too。　〃We're　a　little　overdressed；　aren't　we？〃　he　asked；　unbuckling　his　gunbelt。

His　piratical…looking　wife　gave　him　a　heavy…lidded　gaze。　〃Well；　surely　some　up…and…ing　young　Robotech　admiral　can　figure　out　an　appropriate　plan　of　action　to　solve　that　problem；　can't　he？〃

He　smiled。　〃Haven't　you　heard？　Night　maneuvers　are　a　Hunter　specialty。〃


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

He　had　his　own　personal　bestiary　of　unacceptable　words；　and　chief　among　them　was　〃defeat。〃
Constance　Wildman；　When　Evil　Had　its　Day：　A　Biography　of　T。R。　Edwards

Spheris　presented　a　plicated　skein　of　problems　unlike　those　of　any　other　Invid…held　planet　on　the　Sentinels'　hit　list。

〃We　can't　take　any　Protocultur