16_world_killers-第6部分

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Jack　had　gathered　up　his　own　gear；　but　now　he　threw　aside　his　Wolverine　and　his　Shiva　energy　handgun　as　well。　All　around　him；　the　others　were　doing　the　same。　As　each　discarded　weapon　landed；　snakes　piled　onto　it；　striking　at　it　with　bites　that　sent　up　fireworks　and　scoria。

The　party　moved　away　from　the　capsules　carefully；　picking　their　way　among　snakes　that　only　seemed　interested　in　getting　at　the　ejection　modules。　There　were　detonations　from　the　besieged　Battloids　as　they　toppled　or　erupted　from　the　effect　of　the　snakebites。

Jack's　little　mand　took　shelter　behind　a　bank　of　cognizance　relays；　ducking　away　from　the　final；　bright　explosions　that　obliterated　the　mecha。　At　Jack's　mand；　those　who　weren't　wearing　flight　helmets　kept　their　hands　over　their　ears　and　their　mouths　wide　open；　so　that　they　wouldn't　be　deafened。　Wreckage　whirled　and　debris　ricocheted　off　the　walls　of　the　machine…cavern。

Jack　was　already　taking　stock　of　his　situation；　and　there　was　nothing　about　it　that　made　him　want　to　do　victory　rolls。　True；　they　still　had　conventional　firearms　and　the　Praxian；　Garudan；　and　Karbarran　weapons。　And　the　handheld　inertial　trackers　would　give　them　a　direction　of　sorts。　But　there　were　only　the　limited　emergency　rations　of　food　and　water　in　the　ejection　packs；　and　no　viable　hope　of　raising　Vince　Grant　or　the　others　up　on　the　surface　with　the　flight…helmet　municators。

Most　of　the　equipment　the　team　had　brought　along　had　been　destroyed　with　the　VTs。　They　were　more　like　a　bunch　of　marooned　survivors　than　a　raiding　party。

But　there　was　one　critical　thing　in　their　favor：　the　snakes　were　ignoring　them。　Now　that　the　Battloids　were　smoking　wreckage；　the　snakes　seemed　to　be　dissolving　away；　perhaps　returning　to　whatever　fabrication　matrices　had　given　them　form。　Powerful　blasts　of　fire…fighting　gas　belched　from　fixtures　all　around　the　remains　of　the　Battloids；　extinguishing　the　fires；　and　tremendous　ventilators　created　a　minor　windstorm；　drawing　away　the　fumes。

〃Walking　is　good　healthy　exercise　anyway；　so　my　mom　used　to　tell　me；〃　Bela　said　cheerfully；　getting　to　her　feet。　She　was　checking　over　her　crossbow　and　resettling　the　two…handed　shortsword　she　carried。　Clearly；　her　skintight　REF　flightsuit　was　less　fortable　to　her　than　the　rather　daring　fighting　costume　she　usually　wore。

Gnea；　looking　like　a　giant；　lissome　seventeen…year…old；　went　to　join　her　friend　and　mentor。　Gnea　held　one　of　the　naginatalike　Praxian　halberds；　a　polearm　with　a　curved；　glittering　head　and　a　wicked　spike　set　at　the　opposite　end。　Jack　had　seen　the　two　use　their　weapons　in　bat；　and　had　learned　the　foolishness　of　underestimating　primitive　arms。

He　checked　his　inertial　locator；　there　was　no　use　going　back；　and　so　Glike　was　their　only　hope　now。　But　then　he　noticed　Janice；　standing　to　one　side；　distracted。　She　looked　as　if　she　were　listening　to　some　distant　siren　song　to　which　the　rest　of　them　were　deaf。

〃It's　near；〃　she　whispered。　〃Somewhere　close；　and　it's　aware　of　us。〃　Burak；　horned　like　an　auroch；　who　had　ridden　with　her；　looked　at　her　strangely。

〃What　is？〃　Crysta　asked。　She　was　pumping　up　the　globlar　reservoir　of　her　long　Karbarran　pneumatic　rifle　with　its　hinged　forestock　lever。　〃Janice；　what　is　it　you　perceive？〃

〃Haydon　IV　the　artificial　world　has　a　mind；　an　Awareness；〃　Janice　said；　as　if　in　a　dream。　〃And　the　seat　of　that　Awareness；　its　nexus；　is　not　far　away。〃

She　knew　it　was　true；　but　couldn't　understand　how　the　knowledge　had　been　given　to　her。　She　turned　to　them。　〃We　must　go　to　it！〃

〃Huh…uh。〃　Jack　was　shrugging　into　his　packstraps。　〃They'll　be　waiting　for　us　up　there　in　Glike；　remember？　Admiral　Hunter；　and　Karen　and　the　rest？　People　we're　supposed　to　rescue？　I　admit　things　haven't　exactly　been　beer　and　skittles　so　far；　but　we're　not　gonna　let　'em　down。　We　stick　to　the　plan。〃

Janice　Em　found　that　she　couldn't　answer。　She　felt　like　a　double　image　on　a　monitor　screen；　ghostly　twins　standing　side　by　side。　The　whirlpool　of　thoughts　and　sensory　impulses　that　spun　within　her　had　stolen　her　voice；　immobilized　her。　Vast　forces　were　vying　within　her。

She　had　a　sudden　sense　of　Lang…not　of　the　Robotech　genius's　physical　presence；　but　rather　of　his　voice；　his　intellect。　Intentionally　submerged　memories　had　surfaced　in　this　moment　of　crisis。　Changes　were　triggered　in　the　being　the　REF　and　the　Sentinels…and　even　Minmei…knew　as　Janice　Em。

As　she　transformed　her　panions　drew　away　from　her。


CHAPTER　SIX

Anybody　who　says　million…to…one　odds　are　unbeatable　never　had　Breetai　standing　on　their　side　of　the　scales　at　the　weigh…in。
Lisa　Hayes　Hunter；　Recollections

There　was　no　reality；　no　orderly　flow　of　time；　no　ground　underfoot　or　substantial　object　that　she　could　touch。　She　was　in　a　void；　without　form；　as　she　had　been　for　so　long。

Then　things　began　to　impinge　upon　her。　It　came　to　her　that　her　name　was　Karen　Penn。　Other　facts　and　memories　and　realizations　coalesced。

She　was　a　member　of　the　Sentinels　by　way　of　the　Robotech　Expeditionary　Force。　Her　mother　had　died　in　childbirth；　and　her　father　held　that　against　Karen　to　this　day。　There　was　another　young　officer；　Jack　Baker；　whom　she…

She　blocked　that　thought　out。　But　there　were　more…the　memory　of　how　she　had　been　poisoned　by　the　atmosphere　of　Garuda；　swept　up　in　the　hallucinatory　expanded　mind…state　the　Garudans　called　hin；　a　state　for　which　the　human　mind　had　never　been　intended。　Then　there　were　the　nightmares；　the　visions；　the　visitations　of　the　endless　mindstorm　of　the　hin。　Some　had　been　horrible；　some　of　terrible　beauty；　but　all　had　strained　her　grip　on　her　sanity　and　the　very　functions　of　her　autonomic　nervous　system。

The　flickering　spark　of　her　life　had　been　all　but　out　when　without　warning　something　seemed　to　be　fanning　it；　encouraging　it　to　glow　and　grow　brighter。　Then　there　was　an　almost　physical　feeling；　as　if　she　were　being　flushed　out　with　snowmelt　water　from　a　mountain　river…as　if　she　were　wired　up　with　electrodes。

And　a　chorus　of　somehow　silent　voices；　singing　words　she　never　quite　understood；　drew　her　up　and　up　from　the　verge　of　death。

Over　the　preceding　weeks；　Karen　had　dreamed　or　hallucinated　many　times。　Now　she　had　finally　awakened。　This　time；　what　she　saw　made　her　sob　a　bit；　with　relief。

Lieutenant　mander　Miriya　Sterling　sat　at　her　bedside；　holding　Karen's　hand。　Once　the　battle　queen　of　the　Zentraedi's　feared　Quadrono　Battalion；　now　wife　to　Max　Sterling；　leader　of　the　Skull　Squadron；　Miriya　had　fought　for　the　Human　race　and　the　Sentinels　as　hard　as　she　had　ever　fought　for　the　Robotech　Masters…or　even　harder；　love　had　shown　her　the　way。

Miriya　gave　Karen　a　tender　smile　that　seemed　out　of　character　with　the　ferocity　of　a　Quadrono。　She　smoothed　a　lock　of　Karen's　hair。　〃Wele　back。〃

Karen　tried　to　speak；　not　even　sure　what　she　would　say；　but　Miriya　hushed　her。　〃You'll　still　be　weak　for　a　little　while；　the　rest　of　us　were；　too。　Just　rest。〃

Miriya　turned　and　spoke　softly　over　her　shoulder。　〃Dr。　Grant？　She's　awake。〃

Another　face　came　into　view　over　Miriya's　shoulder；　a　heart…shaped　face　with　big　black　eyes　and　skin　the　color　of　dark　honey。　〃Take　it　slow；〃　Dr。　Jean　Grant　said。　〃You're　gonna　be　just　fine；　Karen。〃

Karen　concluded　that　she　wasn't　in　a　Sentinels'　sick　bay；　that　much　was　apparent　from　what　she　could　see　of　her　surroundings。　The　apparatus　all　around　her…what　she　took　to　be　med　equipment…had　the　look　of　geometrical　sculptures　in　crystal　and　precious　metals；　and　abstract　shapes　of　neon　and　laser　light。　She　recalled　seeing　the　same　design　technology　in　the　Haydonites'　module　of　the　starship　Farrago。　She　reached　an　understandable　conclusion。

〃Haydon　IV？〃　Jean　and　Miriya　both　nodded　their　heads　slowly。　〃Then；　we've　done　it？　We've　liberated　another　planet　from　the　Invid？〃

〃No；　Lieutenant。〃　Lisa　Hayes　Hunter　stepped　into　Karen's　line　of　sight；　Rick　following　a　step　behind。

〃Garuda　was　freed；〃　Lisa　went　on；　〃but　several　of　us　were　stricken　by　the　planet's　biosphere。　Our　only　chance　was　Haydonite　science；　so　Vince　and　Jean　and　several　others　brought　us　here；　under　a　flag　of　surrender。〃

〃Not　surrender；〃　Rick　rasped。　〃I　never　surrendered　to　the　Invid；　and　neither　did　you！　Besides；　they　don't　rule　Haydon　IV；　at　least　not　officially；　so　a　surrender's　null　and　void。〃

Karen　was　startled　to　see　how　hateful　his　expression　was；　not　just　in　mentioning　the　Invid　but　toward　everything　that　had　brought　him　to　this　moment。　She　figured　the　Hunters　had　already　done　battle　in　private。

〃I'm　never　surrendering！〃　he　swore。

Lisa　looked　like　she　was　about　to　say　something　but　then　thought　better　of　it。　To　cover　the　awkward　silence；　Jean　got　Karen　to　sit　up。　There　were　assorted　Haydonites　hovering　at　a　polite　distance；　and　through　the　windows　of　the　Hall　of　Healing　Karen　could　see　the　wonderland　of　Glike；　with　its　flying　carpets　and　fairy…tale　architecture。

〃Vince；　Colonel　Wolff；　and　Max　are　trying　to　find　Sarna　and　get　an　update　on　what's　going　on；〃　Miriya　said。　〃And　Cabell　and　Veidt　have　an　audience　with　the　Regent。〃

Karen　Penn　tried　to　phrase　her　next　question　carefully。　Everything　was　a　blur　concerning　the　disastrous　raid　on　the　Invid　base　on　Garuda；　but　she　felt　a　sudden　fear。　〃Did　we　suffer…many　casualties？　On　Garuda？〃

That　seemed　to　lessen　the　tension　a　little。　Jean　smiled　slightly。　〃It　could've　been　a　lot　worse。　Jack's　just　fine；　Karen。〃

Karen　blushed　and　stammered；　〃I…I　didn't　mean…that　is…〃　The　last　thing　she　wanted　was　for　anybody　to　think　she　had　a　soft　spot　for　that　salivating　show…off；　Jack　Baker！

One　of　the　Haydonite　healers　glided　closer。　〃You　will　pardon　the　interruption；　one　hopes；　but　time　draws　near　for　another　treatment　for　you；　Miriya　Sterling。〃

〃But…〃　Karen　felt　a　sudden　misgiving。　〃I　thought　we　were　all　healed？〃

Miriya's　expression　was　mournful。　〃You　are…and　so　am　I；　I　hope。　But　there's　been　a　plication　in　my　case。〃

She　rose　and　patted　Karen's　shoulder。　〃You　see；　I'm　pregnant；　and　we　don't　know　how　the　Garudan　exposure　may　have　affected　that。〃　She　squared　her　shoulders　and　set　off　in　military　style；　chin　high；　surrounded　by　hovering　Haydonites。

〃That's　all　the　more　reason　we've　got　to　get　out　of　here；〃　Rick　said。　〃I　say　we　make　a　break　as　soon　as　we　can。〃

〃Not　until　we're　sure　Miriya's　all　right；〃　Lisa　contradicted　firmly。

〃What　good'll　it　do　to　have　her　healthy　in　an　Invid　dungeon？〃　he　snapped。　〃Everybody　knows　that　what　the　Invid　want　around　here；　they　get　sooner　or　later！　And　I'm　not　about　to　let　myself　be…〃

Lisa　whirled　on　him　again。　〃Then　go…go　on；　save　yourself！　But　we're　not　abandoning　Miriya；　or　Rem！〃

They　held　the　tableau　for　a　moment；　and　Karen　was　stunned　by　the　realization　that　they　were　very　close　to　striking　one　another。

Just　then　another　Haydonite　drifted　up　to　them；　cloak　billowing。　〃We've　just　received　word　for　you　all　to　hold　yourselves　in　readiness。　The　Regent　has　manded　that　you　appear　before　him　to　answer　the　charges　against　you。〃


As　Breetai　watched　the　Ghost　Riders　rush　in　to　finish　off　his　Battlepods　and　the　Valivarre；　he　spoke　a　single　name。

〃Kazianna！〃

Her　face　appeared　in　a　small　inset　on　the　master　screen。　〃Your　orders；　great　Breetai？〃

At　another　time　he　would　have　gazed　upon　Kazianna　Hesh　with　fondness：　the　Zentraedi　warrior…woman　who　had　somehow　e　to　understand　the　meaning　of　Human　love　and　lovemaking；　and　taught　those　things　to　her　battle　lord。　But　this　was　bat；　and　Breetai　was　focused　pletely。

〃Strike　now；　Quadronos！〃

Kazianna　gave　a　hungry　smile　behind　her　tinted　face…bowl。　〃We　strike；　my　lord！〃

From　the　locks　and　launch　bays　of　Valivarre；　new　mecha　swept　forth　on　brilliant　plumes　of　thruster　fire；　as　a　score　of　Quadronos　entered　the　fray。　The　Ghost　Riders；　most　of　them　too　young　to　have　served　in　the　Robotech　War；　were　bewildered；　not　understanding　what　these　highspeed；　extremely　maneuverable　new　opponents　were。

Kazianna　led　the　way；　as　swift　and　agile　as　a　hornet；　unleashing　the　tremendous　firepower　of　her　armored　suit。　On　her　first　attack　pass；　she　flamed　a　Logan；　and　moments　later　a　second。　Behind　her；　Robotech　harpies　poured　into　the　opening　she　had　made　in　the　Ghosts'　formation；　unleashing　missiles　and　high…energy　beams。　The　giant　female　warriors　of　the　Quadronos；　primed　for　battle　and　having　the　advantage　of　surprise；　began　rolling　up　a　fearsome　kill　score　at　once。

Aboard　his　flagship；　modore　Renquist　couldn't　understand　what　was　going　on　at　first。　All　he　knew　for　sure　was　that　there　were　frantic　cries　over　the　Ghosts'　tactical　mo　net；　and　that　the　puter　displays　showed　the　REF　fliers　taking　terrible　losses。

After　some　moments；　databanks　matched　up　these　new　antagonists　with　file　information：　Quadrono…powered　armor　suits　containing　forty…five　and　fifty…foot…tall　giantesses；　clearly　veterans　of　one　of　the　Zentraedi's　most　feared　units。

〃Impossible！〃　Renquist　bit　out。　Those　powered　armor　suits　that　were　left　after　the　war　had　been　adapted　for　mining；　and　all　intelligence　evaluations　agreed　that　the　Zentraedi　lacked　the　technical　skill　to　refit　them　for　bat…at　least；　without　Human　help。

What　Renquist　didn't　know…what　the　Zentraedi　had　chosen　to　keep　to　themselves…was　that　a　return　to　Fantoma　and　their　former　way　of　life　had　resulted　in　a　resurgence　of　their　memories；　the　ones　the　Robotech　Masters　were　supposed　to　have　submerged　forever。　The　grueling　mining　operations　forced　a　reflowering　of　the　Zentraedi　innovative　genius。

The　Ghost　Riders　found　themselves　dogfighting　with　a　swarm　of　fire…breathing　viragoes　whose　powered　armor　gave　them　a　distinct　edge。　The　REF　mecha　were　driven　back；　or　simply　blown　out　of　existence。　The　Battlepods；　bringing　up　the　rear；　mopped　up　for　the　Quadronos　and　flew　cover。

Male　Zentraedi　had　a　good　deal　to　ponder；　Breetai　saw　with　some　satisfaction。

He　had　a　mo　channel　opened　to　Renquist　once　again。　〃modore；　I'll　offer　you　the　chance　to　withdraw　your　forces　and　let　us　go　our　way　in　peace。　You　can't　win；　you　see。〃

Renquist　was　visibly　shaken；　all　color　gone　from　his　face。　The　Ghost　Riders　had　been　nearly　wiped　out；　and　he　wasn't　at　all　sure　that　the　remaining　fliers　would　obey　his　orders。

But　he　knew　what　he　could　expect　from　Edwards　if　he　went　home　in　defeat。　〃You　alien　monster！　I'll　see　you　in　hell　first！〃

〃Eventually；　perhaps；〃　Breetai　conceded；　and　transmitted　a　signal　to　Kazianna。

She　darted　right　through　the　enemy　interceptors　and　AA　fire；　as　nimble　as　the　legendary　Miriya　herself；　to　close　in　on　the　cruiser's　bridge。　Too　late；　Renquist　realized　what　was　happening。　Before　he　could　even　give　the　order　to　clear　the　bridge；　Kazianna　let　go　a　tremendous　blast　at　point…blank　range；　penetrating　the　shields　and　bursting　the　vast　curve　of　viewpane　there。

Renquist　and　his　trusted　Ghost　staff；　and　Edwards's　personal　security　men；　were　scorched　and　blackened；　whirled　headlong　by　the　outrushing　atmosphere；　the　air　flooding　from　their　lungs　in　a　mist　despite　their　every　effort　to　hold　it　in。

Kazianna　had　already　flung　herself　away　from　the　cruiser　rather　than　follow　up　on　her　advantage。　Breetai　had　no　wish　to　inflict　more　casualties　than　he　had　to。　Even　as　she　did　so；　word　came　that　the　few　surviving　Ghost　Riders　were　breaking　contact。


Valivarre　and　the　two　cruisers　stood　motionless；　at　a　face…off；　while　REF　officers　struggled　with　damage　control　and　tried　to　reestablish　a　chain