16_world_killers-第4部分

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s　of　warped；　prismatic　light　that　on　closer　inspection　turned　out　to　be　mountains　of　contoured　instrumentality。

As　their　route　opened　up　into　a　kind　of　open　countryside；　they　began　to　lose　the　oppressive　feeling　of　being　underground。　That　is；　until　Jan's　voice　came　over　the　net。

〃I'm　picking　up　readings。　I　think　these　immunosystems；　or　whatever　they　are；　are　beginning　to　detect　and　respond　to　us　again。〃

〃What？　Where？〃　Jack　was　punching　buttons；　searching　frantically。　〃I　don't　see　anything。〃　Don't　tell　me　she's　a　sensor　wizard；　too！

〃Trust　me；　Jack。〃　Her　voice　was　so　steady　that　he　believed　her。　〃There's　something　big　ahead；　something　very　big。　Perhaps　the　nexus　of　everything　that　Haydon　is；　and　now　that　we've　stumbled　so　close　to　it；　whatever　it　is；　it's　got　a　line　on　us　again。〃

Jack　didn't　have　time　to　ask　her　what　she　was　jabbering　about；　because　just　then　Kami　yelled；　〃Snakes；　snakes！　Millions　of　em！〃

Jack　whirled　even　as　Kami　fired；　forgetting　the　lessons　about　short；　accurate　bursts；　the　Garudan's　Battloid　hosing　its　rifle/cannon　back　and　forth　like　a　Robotech　fireman。

The　others　were　blazing　away；　too。　Jack　could　see　that　whatever　Kami　spotted　wasn't　really　snakes；　but　the　undulating；　crackling　flows　of　green　and　yellow　streaming　toward　the　VTs　would　put　that　image　in　the　mind　of　almost　anybody…especially　a　Garudan　in　the　hin…altered　reality。

Not　that　Jack　had　much　time　to　think；　Janice　Em　was　right。　Whatever　it　is　we're　getting　close　to；　it's　got　a　line　on　us。

Like　all　the　other　Battloids；　he　brought　his　rifle/cannon　up；　hoping　the　stress　on　Crysta　and　the　captive　Invid　in　the　backseat　of　her　cockpit　hadn't　harmed　them。

〃Security　wheel！〃　he　bellowed　over　the　din　of　their　cannonfire。

The　vast　space　under　Haydon　IV　was　lit　by　stroboscopic　bursts　brighter　than　all　the　pulses　of　its　power　routing；　as　the　Battloids　formed　a　security　wheel；　backing　up　until　their　mighty　shoulders　grazed　one　another；　firing　outward　to　all　points　of　the　pass。

A　sustained　burst　usually　blew　one　of　the　energy　snakes　to　dispersing　sparks；　and　the　Battloids　soon　cleared　a　ring　of　death　around　them。　But　more　serpentines　of　energy　were　pouring　from　every　crevice。　The　things　massed；　too　numerous　for　even　Robotech　weapons　to　deal　with；　and　closed　in　from　every　quarter　like　a　worldscape　of　angry　vipers。


CHAPTER　FOUR

It　would　be　fair　to　say　that　I　have　been　less　than　sensitive　to　the　plight　of　the　soldier　in　the　past…have　held　military　types　in　utmost　contempt。　I　had　my　reasons；　which　I　have　set　down　elsewhere　in　these　pages。
But　it's　just　as　fair　to　point　out　that　since　I　have　bee　one　of　them…shared　their　privations　and　sufferings　and　rare　moments　of　success；　seen　their　despicable　vices　and　their　noble　virtues　up　close…I　am　a　man　chastened。
From　the　journals　of　Flight　Officer　Isle；　L。；　REF　Service　#　666…60…937

Minmei　had　been　to　REF　Base　Tirol　many　times；　but　never　via　dark　alleys　and　elevated　roadway　foundations　like　some　escaped　convict。

She　would　have　been　curious　about　this　flight　officer…Isle；　his　nametag　said…except　that　she　was　feeling　sick　again　and　was　exhausted　after　the　harrowing　flight　from　SDF…3。

They　had　abandoned　the　Alpha　three　miles　back　under　the　shattered　remains　of　a　bridge　in　Old　Tiresia。　Isle　was　successful　in　dodging　his　pursuers…they　had　gone　rocket…big　off　in　all　directions　trying　to　find　him。

But　why　wouldn't　he　take　off　that　flight　helmet？　Robotech　fighter　jocks　sometimes　felt　a　superstitious　link　to　their　thinking　caps；　but　really；　this　was　a　bit　eerie。

Lang's　R&D。　research　plex　was　just　ahead。　Isle　seemed　to　regard　it　as　safe　ground；　but　Minmei　wasn't　so　sure。　Nor　would　her　savior　explain　why　he　couldn't　simply　land　the　VT　at　Lang's　bailiwick。

According　to　the　transmissions　they　had　heard　during　the　descent　from　the　superdimensional　fortress；　Edwards　was　stripping　much　of　his　REF　mand　for　forces　to　pursue　Breetai　and　the　Valivarre。　But　Minmei　knew　that　Edwards　would　never　let　her　go；　no　matter　what　the　circumstances。

Nevertheless；　her　small　hand　was　in　Isle's　gloved　one　as　he　led　her　into　an　alley　across　a　huge　plaza　from　a　rear　gate　of　Lang's　domain。　But　in　front　of　the　gate　a　quarter…mile　away；　mechanized　troops　from　Edwards's　ground　forces　were　confronting　Lang's　security　people。　Obviously；　Edwards　had　moved　quickly　to　bottle　Lang　up　and　seal　him　off。　Quite　probably；　Lang　hadn't　even　the　vaguest　idea　why。

Isle　was　unshaken；　reversing　field　and　pressing　her　back　into　the　darkness。　Just　then　two　patrolling　infantry　went　by　across　the　plaza　and　one　almost　idly　shone　his　light　into　it；　picking　out　Isle　and　Minmei。

Isle　turned　with　iron　calm　and　led　her　back　the　way　they　had　e；　but　by　then　there　was　a　sound　of　pursuit：　sirens　and　Hoverbikes　and　jeeps；　tracked　vehicles；　yelling　and　crackling　static　on　portable　sets。

A　searchlight　stabbed　down　from　somewhere　high　overhead；　and　then　several　more　lit　the　area。　Isle　pressed　himself　and　Minmei　up　against　a　wall　when　one　ranged　close；　then　it　moved　on。

But；　with　a　blaring　of　engines；　a　Hovertank　pulled　to　a　squealing　stop　at　the　far　end　of　a　back　street；　right　in　then…path。　Two　squads　of　infantry　rushed　to　block　the　opposite　end；　trapping　the　two　between　rows　of　blank　buildings。

Isle　pushed　Minmei　against　a　wall　and　produced　a　huge　magnum　machine　pistol；　the　kind　she　had　heard　the　soldiers　call　Badgers；　non…Robotech；　but　murderously　effective。

REF　troopers　were　closing　in　from　both　sides；　men　and　women　alike。　Probably；　a　lot　of　them　were　people　who　had　listened　to　her　songs　at　the　service　club。　Minmei　put　her　hand　on　the　barrel　of　the　Badger　and　pressed　it　down　toward　the　ground。　It　didn't　move。

〃I　can　get　you　away　from　here。〃　Still　that　flat；　tinny　sound　from　Isle's　helmet　speaker。　〃Minmei；　I　can　save　you。〃　It　sounded　like　he　was　offering　redemption。

She　was　shaking　her　head。　〃By　killing　people？　If　you　do；　then　god　damn　you！　Because　if　one　more　person　dies　because　of　me；　I'll　kill　myself。〃

She　said　that　last　sentence　showing　her　teeth　to　him；　then　turned　as　the　spotlights　were　being　lugged　into　place　at　the　nearer　end　of　the　street。　Minmei　walked　toward　them　as　they　converged。　She　had　her　hands　out　like　a　penitent　saint。

〃Hold　your　fire！　We'll　surrender！　But　I　want　you　to　let　this　man　go　free；　here　where　I　can　see　it！　If　you　don't　release　him；　you　won't　have　either　of　us　alive！〃

She　swooned　a　bit；　leaning　against　a　hard　evercrete　wall；　and　an　indeterminate　time　passed。　There　were　people　around　her；　flashlight　and　handspot　beams　on　her；　people　trying　to　peel　her　eyelid　back　as　she　screamed　and　spit　and　fought　and　slapped　them　away；　bit　at　them；　and　shrieked　the　most　obscene　things　she　could　think　of。

Then　she　calmed　down。　〃Let　him　go；〃　she　wept。　〃Let　him　go。〃

Then　that　most　reviled　of　all　voices　was　near　her；　Edwards's。　〃Let　who　go？　Who　was　here；　Minmei？　Who　kidnapped　you？〃

Edwards　was　still　some　distance　from　her…his　weren't　the　restraining　hands　gripping　her。　She　gulped　air　and　blinked　away　her　tears　and　saw　that　Edwards's　troops　had　secured　the　area；　but　Isle　wasn't　there。　He　was　nowhere　to　be　seen。

She　looked　to　the　blank　evercrete　wall　where　she　had　last　seen　him。　Maybe　there　were　slight　punctures　in　it；　the　light　was　too　dim　to　tell；　especially　with　men　and　women　holding　her　down。　But　anyway；　there　was　only　one　person　she　could　think　of　who　could…

Edwards　had　been　about　to　inflict　new　fear　upon　Minmei；　some　threat　to　scare　her　back　into　line。　But　Minmei's　sudden；　maniacal　laugh　put　fear　into　him　instead。　〃You　know　what　you've　finally　done？〃　she　screamed；　frothing。　〃You've　awakened　the　dead！　And　now　your　life　is　finished！〃

Minmei；　gamine　though　she　was；　almost　pounced　on　him　with　fingers　extended　like　claws；　it　took　several　groundpounders　to　hold　her　back。

〃Straitjacket；〃　Edwards　said　harshly；　watching　the　struggle　on　the　wet　pavement。

Rain　ran　from　his　alloy　cowl　and　glistening　eye…lens；　and　from　the　pale　fury　of　his　face。　〃Put　her　in　a　straitjacket　and　get　her　over　to　my　headquarters。〃

After　the　rest　had　gone；　he　looked　at　the　wall　to　which　Minmei　had　looked。　In　the　dim　light　it　was　difficult　to　tell；　those　punctures　were　random…products　of　material　defects　and　pitting　and　so　forth；　weren't　they？

And　yet；　someone　had　flown　the　Alpha　that　no　one　seemed　to　be　able　to　find。　Someone　had　been　standing　next　to　her　in　a　flight　suit。

But　Edwards　didn't　think　Minmei　would　reveal　the　culprit's　identity　soon；　he　could　hear　her　mad　laughter　and　weeping　as　his　security　police　bore　her　away。


〃mander！　Faster…than…light　craft　appearing　before　us；　screening　our　course。　Two　SDF…escort　class；　and　they're　sending　challenges。〃

Breetai　looked　up　from　the　private　calculations　he　was　making。　〃Patch　it　through。〃

He　rose　from　the　captain's　chair　on　the　bridge　of　the　Valivarre。　He　unhurriedly　squared　away　his　Zentraedi　longcoat；　which　was　heavy　with　braid　and　decorations；　all　of　them　paid　for　in　strife　and　blood。　His　skullpiece；　all　crystal　and　resplendent　alloy；　reflected　the　light。

〃Attention；　Valivarre！〃　came　the　Human　voice。　A　face　appeared　on　a　screen　above　Breetai；　a　middle…age　Human　male's。　The　man　was　round…faced　and　florid；　wearing　a　braided　officer's　cap。

〃This　is　modore　Renquist　of　the　REF　cruiser　Toku…gawa。　On　behalf　of　the　Plenipotentiary　Council；　I　order　you　to　heave　to　and　surrender　yourself；　your　ship　and　crew；　and　the　monopole　ore。〃

The　two　cruisers　were　both　of　the　latest　type；　designed　and　built　by　Lang's　people。　Breetai　was　a　bit　surprised；　he　would　have　thought　Edwards　was　too　unsure　of　his　own　position　on　Tirol　to　send　so　many　of　his　faithful　off　on　the　mission　to　bring　back　the　Valivarre。

As　for　Renquist；　Breetai　recognized　the　man's　name。　A　lickspittle　who　had　bee　one　of　Edwards's　servants　and　been　promoted　over　far　more　capable　officers。　Breetai　had　half　expected　Adams　or　Benson　or　one　of　the　others　from　Edwards's　inner　circle　to　be　in　charge　of　any　force　sent　against　him；　but　Edwards　must　have　realized　that　those　traitorous　vermin　were　nothing　to　send　against　the　Valivarre　and　its　hundred…strong　Zentraedi　warriors。

〃You　are　guilty　of　piracy　and　mutiny　as　well　as　treason；〃　Renquist　was　saying；　voice　shaking　a　little。　〃I　will　remind　you　of　your　oath；　and　give　you　one　and　only　one　chance　to　surrender。〃

〃My　oath　and　loyalty　were　given　to　the　duly　constituted　Earth　government；　and　to　Admiral　Hunter；〃　Breetai　boomed。　〃Not　to　your　stinking　General　Edwards；　or　to　you　either；　coward！〃

Renquist's　face　took　on　the　pallor　and　distortions　of　molten　candlewax。　Sweat　started　from　his　brow。　〃You　misbegotten　freak！　I'll　have　you　blown　to　atoms！〃

Too　bad　the　Valivarre　hadn't　gotten　more　of　a　head　start；　Breetai　reflected。　His　chances　of　ducking　the　cruisers　would　have　been　good；　and　he　thought　it　unlikely　that　Edwards　would　let　half　of　his　main　line　of　defense　roam　far　from　Tirol；　or　be　gone　for　too　long。

Of　course；　Breetai　could　try　to　evade　them；　but　the　faster　SDF　escort　ships　would　dog　his　track　easily。　Furthermore；　fighting　a　deepspace　battle　at　superluminal　speeds　was　tricky；　and　the　advantage　would　lie　with　Renquist　and　his　cruisers　and　Lang's　new　generation　of　weapons。　It　would　be　better　to　settle　things　here。

Breetai　crossed　his　arms　on　his　enormous　chest。　〃I　hardly　think　that's　likely；　since　you　would　destroy　all　the　monopole　ore　left　in　this　region。　And　none　of　you　will　ever　get　home　to　Earth；　will　you？　Nevertheless；　if　battle　is　what　you　seek；　the　Zentraedi　will　gladly　acmodate　you。　Breetai　has　never　run　from　a　fight。　e；　then！〃

Renquist's　throat　worked　as　he　swallowed　laboriously；　the　bluff　had　failed；　and　both　manders　knew　it。　In　destroying　the　ore；　Renquist　would　be　sealing　his　own　fate。　He　tried　to　show　determination；　but　it　only　came　out　as　a　weak　bluster。　〃By　god；　we　beat　you　devils　once；　and　we'll　beat　you　again！　If　you　don't　surrender　instantly；　I'll　give　the　order　to　launch！〃

Breetai　nodded　gravely。　〃Let　us　not　keep　our　pilots　waiting；　modore。〃

What　Renquist　had　said　was　undeniable：　the　Humans　had　defeated　the　giant　warriors　years　before。　But　this　time　Minmei　wasn't　there　with　her　songs　to　turn　Zentraedi　against　Zentraedi；　and　this　time　there　was　no　SDF…1　with　its　final　Barrier　Shield　explosion。

Breetai　thought　of　an　expression　he　had　heard　Max　Sterling　use：　We've　got　'em　over　a　barrel；　and　soon　we'll　have　'em　in　the　barrel！　Only；　who　would　be　thus　vanquished　this　time？

〃He's　launching　mecha；　my　lord；〃　a　bridge　tech　said。

But　not　many　of　them…certainly　not　as　many　as　the　cruisers　carried。　Perhaps　it　was　a　probe；　or　it　might　be　that　Edwards　hadn't　really　spared　as　many　of　his　Ghost　Riders　as　it　seemed　at　first。　And　maybe　there　was　another　element　in　this　situation。

〃Order　forth　our　Battlepods；〃　Breetai　said　in　his　super…basso　voice。　〃And　order　the　gunners　to　fire　at　will　at　the　mecha；　but　not　at　the　cruisers；　is　that　clear？〃

Alphas；　Betas；　and　Logans　rode　trails　of　blue　thruster　fire　across　the　eternal　night；　bearing　down　on　the　Valivarre。　The　huge　Battlepods　of　the　Zentraedi　came　out　to　meet　them。

The　giants'　mecha　were　like　gargantuan　headless　ostriches…torsos　suggesting　alloy　light　bulbs　mounted　on　two　long　reverse…articulated　legs。　The　chest　plastrons　were　bristled　with　cannon　and　missile　racks。　Officers'　pods　had；　in　addition；　extra　two…barrel　gun　mounts　that　they　brandished　as　if　they　were　huge　derringers。

The　Human　fliers　were　Ghost　Riders；　loyal　only　to　Edwards；　more　than　willing　to　slay　the　giants　who　had　been　Humanity's　staunch　allies　not　so　long　ago。　They　had　been　briefed　on　the　pods'　vulnerable　spots　and　performance　profiles；　they　swept　in　confidently。

One　of　the　tactics　that　had　given　the　Humans　the　upper　hand　in　the　Robotech　War　was　developed　when　Miriya　Sterling　revealed　a　weakness　in　the　pods'　design。　Concentrated　fire　on　a　spot　just　aft　the　junction　of　the　legs　would　disable　the　pods　and　leave　them　drifting　and　helpless。

The　first　surprise　the　Ghosts　got　was　in　discovering　that　the　pods　had　been　retrofitted　to　overe　the　Achilles'　heel；　and　the　second　was　that　the　pods'　own　weapons　and　accuracy　were　deadlier　than　ever。　Furthermore；　Breetai's　pilots　had　plenty　of　experience　in　fighting　VTs；　while　the　young　Ghost　fliers　had　been　trained　after　the　end　of　the　Robotech　War。　And　these　Zentraedi　were　among　the　very　best。

The　end　result　was　that　the　first　few　moments　of　bat　saw　Ghosts　exploding　in　fireballs　and　erupting　in　white…hot　wreckage；　as　the　outnumbered　Battlepods　took　an　immediate　upper　hand。　Once　again；　missiles　lit　the　blackness；　and　beams　of　raging　energy　bickered　back　and　forth。

Breetai　watched　a　Logan　e　apart　at　the　seams　like　a　bursting　melon；　light　and　explosive　force　gushing　from　it。　〃We　vowed　to　be　your　allies；〃　he　muttered；　〃but　never　your　slaves　or　your　victims。〃

On　the　bridge　of　the　Tokugawa；　Renquist　watched；　mortified；　as　the　Zentraedi　drove　off　his　first　attack　wave　with　heavy　casualties；　though　the　giants　had　taken　a　few　hits　themselves。　Operations　and　intel　officers　and　their　puters　had　a　dozen　poor　excuses　and　supposed　analyses；　but　he　brushed　them　aside。　The　Ghosts　were　simply　being　outflown。

A　face　appeared　on　one　of　the　side　screens；　a　young　flying　officer。　〃modore；　with　all　due　respect；　I　must　protest！　We　were　given　definite　orders　by　the　council　to　negoti