10_invid_invasion-第20部分

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Scott；　already　searching　for　familiar　faces；　was　perhaps　a　bit　more　hopeful　than　the　others　if　no　less　puzzled。　There　were　indeed　soldiers　all　over　the　place；　but　they　were　hardly　the　strac　troops　Scott　had　convinced　himself　he　would　find。　Nor　were　they　Mars　Division。　Their　high…collared；　belted　jumpsuits　were　the　same　iceblue　color　as　Scott's　own；　but　the　unit　patches　were　unlike　any　he　had　seen。　Scott　glanced　around　some　more；　certain　he　would　find　what　he　was　after。　Here　were　three　soldiers　stumbling　out　of　a　bar；　there；　three　more　drinking　on　a　street　corner。　Other　troops　in　jeeps　and　personnel　carriers　were　joyriding　through　the　narrow　streets；　trash　and　empty　liquor　bottles　in　their　wake。　Even　Annie　was　stunned。

〃What's　with　this　place？〃　she　asked　from　the　van。　She　was　standing　on　the　seat　in　the　open　back；　her　arms　draped　over　the　vehicle's　roll　bar。

〃There's　no　shortage　of　'Culture；　that's　for　sure；〃　Rand　observed；　motioning　to　the　cruising　jeeps。

Scott　tuned　in　to　a　nearby　conversation…soldiers；　new　arrivals　by　the　sound　of　them：　〃This　town's　a　gas！〃　one　of　them　said。　〃Unbelievable；〃　said　another。　〃I　didn't　think　I　could　ever　feel　this　way　again。〃

Scott　heard　tires　squeal　behind　him　and　turned　around。　A　jeep　was　accelerating　drunkenly　from　the　main　gate；　slaloming　its　way　up　the　street；　four　soldiers　laughing　it　up　inside。　It　pulled　up　shortly　next　to　Scott；　one　of　the　soldiers　offering　a　bottle　out　of　the　top。

When　Scott　refused；　the　man　said：　〃What's　your　problem；　pal？〃　His　glazed　eyes　took　in　the　rest　of　the　group。　〃You　guys　look　like　a　war's　going　on。〃

〃What　about　the　Invid；　soldier？〃　Scott　snarled。　〃A　couple　hits　of　that　stuff　and　you　forget；　huh？〃

The　soldiers　looked　at　one　another；　speechless　for　a　moment；　then　laughed。　〃Where　you　been；　Colonel？〃　asked　the　driver。　〃They're　history。　We've　been　kickin'　ass　and　takin'　names　all　over　this　sector。〃

〃It's　no　lie；〃　said　another。　〃Long　as　ya　stick　'round　here；　ya　got　nothin'　to　worry　'bout。　So；　enjoy。　The　man's　got　it　covered。〃

〃You　can　get　anything　you　want　here；　get　me？〃

〃What　man？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃　Scott　yelled　as　the　jeep　screeched　off。

〃At　ease；　Colonel！〃　one　of　them　yelled；　eliciting　laughter　from　the　others。

It　was　the　same　scene　wherever　they　went：　everyone　talking　up　the　town　like　it　was　paradise。　Drunken　soldiers；　hookers；　scammers；　Foragers；　rogues；　and　hustlers；　all　thrown　together　in　the　same　pot；　reveling　and　lifting　their　glasses　in　toasts　to　the　mystery　man　who　secured　all　this　for　them。　The　search　for　food　and　drink　led　the　team　into　one　of　the　many　bars　along　the　strip。　Annie's　attempt　to　flirt　with　the　sideburned　bartender　ended　with　his　walking　off　just　as　Lunk　was　about　to　order。　Lunk　was　looking　around　for　something　to　throw　at　the　guy；　when　a　soldier　burst　in　through　the　bar's　swinging　doors。

〃Wolff's　back！〃　he　yelled　to　the　crowd　at　the　top　of　his　lungs。

Almost　everyone　got　the　message…out　of　sheer　volume　or　at　mention　of　the　name　itself…and　many　started　for　the　door。　Others；　too　drunk　to　move；　got　as　far　as　lifting　their　heads　from　various　tabletops。　Scott　took　hold　of　a　soldier　within　reach　and　spun　him　around。

〃Who's　Wolff？〃　he　demanded　of　the　man。

〃The　Wolff；　bro；〃　the　man　slurred。　〃The　Wolff。〃

〃Jonathan　Wolff？〃　said　Scott。

The　man　snapped　his　fingers；　pointed；　and　winked　at　Scott；　then　shuffled　off　toward　the　door。

Rand　saw　the　look　of　disbelief　surface　on　Scott's　face；　but　before　he　could　ask　about　it；　Scott　was　shoving　his　way　through　the　exiting　crowd　and　making　for　the　street。

Rand　and　the　others　followed　Scott　out　and　found　him　amid　a　mob　that　had　gathered　around　a　jeep。　Scott　was　standing　rigidly　by　the　curb；　mouth　half…open　in　amazement；　staring　at　the　man　who　was　climbing　out　from　the　driver's　side　of　the　vehicle。　A　celebrity；　Rand　thought。　Either　that　or　a　Robo　officer　who　fancied　himself　one。　The　man　was　of　medium　build　but　square…shouldered　and　muscular。　He　had　brown　hair；　thick　and　bed　straight　back；　well…defined　eyebrows；　and　a　mustache；　clipped　clear　in　the　center。　He　was　wearing　dark　glasses　and　a　gray　uniform　offset　by　a　wide　black　belt　and　a　red　ascot。　There　was；　however；　something　stern　and　humorless　about　him　that　made　Rand　wonder　at　the　reception　he　was　getting。

People　in　the　crowd　were　firing　questions　left　and　right；　some　of　which　Wolff　took　the　time　to　answer　and　others　he　ignored。　At　the　same　time；　a　wounded　soldier　in　the　rear　of　the　jeep　was　singing　Wolff's　praises。　〃He　saved　my　life；〃　the　man　bit　out。　〃Picked　me　up　and　carried　me　on　his　back　through　the　Invid　fines。。。then　went　back　for　the　Protoculture　canisters　he　knew　we　needed。。。〃

〃Celebration　time！〃　yelled　a　black　man　behind　Rand。　〃Drinks　on　the　house！〃

But　Rand　heard　someone　else　mutter：　〃Wolff's　a　damn　hero　every　time　he　es　back。　How　d'　ya　figure　it？〃

Scott　swung　around　at　the　ment；　his　face　dark　and　angry；　but　said　nothing。　Until　he　turned　back　to　Jonathan　Wolff。　Then　Rand　heard　him　say：　〃I　can't　believe　he's　alive…alive！〃


Colonel　Jonathan　Wolff。。。Graduated　first　in　his　class　from　the　Robotech　Academy　on　Macross　Island　but　missed　the　SDF…1's　inadvertent　jump　to　Pluto　and　the　two…year　odyssey　that　followed。　Nevertheless；　he　had　distinguished　himself　during　that　period　by　openly　criticizing　the　Council's　decision　to　turn　its　back　on　the　fortress's　crew　and　unwitting　civilian　population　and　was　resolute　in　his　opposition　to　Russo；　Hayes；　and　Edwards　and　their　plan　to　use　the　Grand　Cannon　against　the　Zentraedi。　He　rose　to　the　fore　again　during　the　planet's　two…year　period　of　reconstruction　and　was　finally　handpicked　by　Admiral　Hunter　to　head　up　the　ground…base　division　of　the　Robotech　Expeditionary　Force。

But　it　was　on　Tirol　that　Wolff's　name　became　legend　and　his　special　forces…known　by　then　as　the　Wolff　Pack…rode　to　glory。　Throughout　the　Tirolian　campaign　against　the　Invid；　it　was　Wolff's　forces　who　turned　the　tide　of　battle　time　and　time　again。　And　it　was　Wolff　who　came　to　play　a　crucial　part　in　the　schism　that　all　but　destroyed　the　Pioneer　Mission。

Even　that　wasn't　enough　for　the　man。　Leaving　Dr。　Lang　and　his　Saturn　group　in　charge　of　things　on　Tirol；　Wolff　had　gone　off　with　Hunter　and　that　group　of　galactic　freedom　fighters　who　called　themselves　the　Sentinels。　To　Spheris；　Garuda；　Haydon　IV；　to　every　world　that　had　fallen　to　the　Invid；　to　every　world　reduced　to　slave　colonies　by　the　Regent　and　his　limitless　army　of　Inorganics。

Then；　for　reasons　few　understood；　he　had　volunteered　for　a　more　hazardous　assignment：　to　follow　in　the　tracks　of　Major　John　Carpenter　in　attempting　to　return　a　warship　to　the　Earth　all　of　them　had　left　behind。　An　Earth　that　had　been　ravaged　by　the　very　Tirolian　Masters　the　Pioneer　Mission　had　aimed　to　disempower　and　now　faced　an　even　greater　threat　from　the　race　those　same　Masters　had　turned　savage　and　indomitable。

Wolff　left　Tirol；　but　not　before　he　had　saved　the　life　of　a　young　man　who　idolized　him　from　afar。。。an　assistant　to　the　celebrated　Dr。　Lang　named　Scott　Bernard。。。

Silently；　Scott　ran　over　the　facts　and　memories　while　waiting　for　a　chance　to　speak　with　Wolff。　It　was　incredible　enough　that　the　man　had　made　it　back　from　Tirol；　given　the　then　primitive　state　of　the　hyperdrive　units；　but　for　Scott　to　find　him　now；　after　all　these　years；　was　nothing　less　than　miraculous。

From　what　he　had　managed　to　piece　together　since　first　seeing　Wolff　earlier　in　the　day；　Scott　learned　that　Wolff　had　arrived　on　Earth　shortly　after　the　destruction　of　the　Robotech　Masters'　fleet；　approximately　two　years　before　the　arrival　of　the　Invid。　His　Wolff　Pack　had　led　the　counteroffensive　but　had　been　decimated　along　with　most　of　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross。　But　Wolff　himself　had　survived。　Driven　underground；　he　had　spearheaded　the　resistance　and　ever　since　had　been　on　the　go　continually；　moving　from　place　to　place　to　recruit　and　reconnoiter；　waiting　for　the　moment　when　the　rest　of　the　Expeditionary　Force　returned　to　wage　the　final　battle。

Still；　the　boisterous　atmosphere　of　the　town　disturbed　Scott。　Where　was　the　discipline　that　had　made　the　Pack　such　a　respected　outfit？　And　why　weren't　the　troops　being　organized　for　a　coordinated　assault　against　Reflex　Point？　Why；　in　fact；　was　Wolff　here；　so　far　south　of　the　central　hive；　and　where　were　the　survivors　of　Mars　Division？

Scott　had　all　these　things　on　his　mind　when　he　stepped　into　Wolff's　personal　quarters　that　night　and　offered　salute。

〃Lieutenant　mander　Scott　Bernard；　Robotech　Expeditionary　Force；　Mars　Division。〃

Wolff　was　on　the　bed；　his　shirt…sleeves　rolled　up。　〃Mars　Division？〃　he　said；　reaching　for　his　dark　glasses；　then　he　laughed　shortly：　〃Well；　one　of　you　made　it　through　after　all。〃

Scott　lowered　his　hand　from　his　forehead；　somewhat　stunned。　〃Then　you　haven't　rendezvoused　with　any　of　the　survivors；　sir？〃

Wolff　got　off　the　bed　and　walked　over　to　the　bureau。　〃Lieutenant…Bernard；　you　said？…you're　the　first　I've　seen。〃　When　he　saw　Scott　agape；　he　laughed　again。　〃Wele　to　Earth；　Lieutenant。　Care　for　a　drink？〃

Scott　declined　and　watched　Wolff　pour　a　tall　one　for　himself。　The　small　room　reeked　of　stale　sweat　and　liquor　and　was　littered　with　the　remains　of　half…eaten　meals　and　empty　bottles。　Scott　noticed　that　Wolff's　hand　shook　as　he　downed　the　drink。

〃Well；　let's　not　stand　on　ceremony；　Bernard；〃　Wolff　said　exuberantly。　〃Have　a　seat。　You　can　tell　me　about　your　ill…fated　offensive　and　I'll　tell　you　about　mine。〃

〃Sir；　I'm　not　really　here　to　socialize。。。〃

〃Oh；　I　see；〃　Wolff　said　from　the　couch；　with　mock　seriousness。　〃What's　this　about；　then？〃

Scott　stared　at　the　man　before　replying；　fighting　an　impulse　to　turn　around　and　leave　the　room　before　matters　got　worse。　〃You　don't　remember　me；　do　you；　sir？　I　knew　you　on　Tirol。　I　was　part　of　the　Saturn　group；　an　assistant　to　Dr。　Lang。〃

Wolff's　grin　straightened；　he　turned　his　face　away　from　Scott。　〃That　was　a　long　time　ago；　Bernard。　And　a　lot　of　miles　from　here。〃　He　put　the　drink　glass　aside。　〃I'm　sorry　about　this；　Bernard。　We　lost　quite　a　few　good　men　today。　And　there's　damn　few　left。〃

〃Sir；　about　this　town。。。The　Wolff　Pack…〃

〃This　isn't　the　Wolff　Pack；　Lieutenant！〃　Wolff　barked。

〃The　Wolff　Pack　is　dead；　every　last　one　of　them。〃　He　got　up　and　returned　to　the　bottle。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking；　Bernard。　That　the　noble　Jonathan　Wolff　is　but　a　ghost　of　his　former　self　and　that　he　can't　even　control　his　troops。　But　you　don't　know　the　full　story；　Bernard。　Not　the　half　of　it！〃

Wolff　scowled　and　set　the　drink　aside　without　tasting　it。　〃These　men　aren't　soldiers…they're　rogues　and　thieves　and　Foragers　and　every　other　kind　of　riffraff　this　planet　has　spawned　during　the　past　fifteen　years。　I　do　what　I　can　with　the　few　real　soldiers　I　cross　paths　with。　But　this　is　Earth；　not　Tirol。　And　our　enemy　behaves　differently　here。。。As　we　all　do。〃

Scott　wasn't　sure　what　to　say；　so　he　simply　came　to　the　point。　〃I'd　like　to　be　part　of　your　team；　sir。〃

Now　it　was　Wolff's　turn　to　stare。　〃You　obviously　know　what　you're　in　for；　Bernard。〃

〃I've　fought　my　way　through　a　thousand　miles；　if　that's　what　you　mean。〃

Wolff's　eyebrows　went　up　behind　the　dark　glasses。　〃Impressive。〃

〃In　fact；〃　Scott　said　excitedly；　〃if　it's　good　troops　you're　looking　for…〃

〃No；〃　Wolff　cut　him　off　firmly。　〃I　don't　care　how　good　they　are。　If　they're　not　Robotech…trained；　I　don't　want　them。〃　He　turned　his　back　to　Scott　to　stare　out　the　window。

〃But；　sir…〃

〃That　will　be　all　for　now；　Bernard。〃

Scott　buttoned　his　lip　and　saluted。　〃Your　orders？〃

〃Oh…five…hundred　sharp　at　the　main　gate；〃　Wolff　said　without　turning　around。


Four　Cyclone　riders　suited　up　in　battle　armor　left　the　basin　base　at　sunrise；　ascended　the　escarpment；　and　headed　into　the　lush　forests　an　hour's　ride　east。　Wolff；　Todd；　Wilson；　and　Bernard。　Scott　had　made　no　mention　of　his　meeting　with　Wolff　to　Rand　or　the　others。　He　had　gone　as　far　as　bunking　with　them　in　a　room　they　had　managed　to　secure　in　one　of　the　base's　barracks　turned　hotels　and　had　crept　out　under　the　cover　of　darkness　after　leaving　a　scrawled　note　of　explanation　on　his　bedroll。　He　had　to　admit　that　it　felt　strange　and　disforting　to　be　without　them；　his　surrogate　family　and　personal　〃wolf　pack。〃　But　he　told　himself　it　was　time　to　begin　distancing　himself　from　them；　his　new　loyalties　would　have　to　lie　with　Wolff　and　whatever　missions　lay　ahead　of　them。

The　four　men　left　their　Cyclones　in　the　woods　and　followed　Wolff's　lead　along　a　faint　trail　that　coursed　over　low　hills　to　an　enormous　clearing。　Through　the　foliage；　Scott　caught　glimpses　of　a　massive　red　hemisphere　of　some　sort。　It　troubled　him　that　they　had　left　the　Cyclones　behind　and　were　closing　on　the　Invid　Protoculture　farm　armed　only　with　hand　weapons。　Wolff's　explanation　made　sense…that　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　get　near　the　place　on　Protoculture…fueled　mocha…but　even　so；　it　was　hard　to　imagine　that　simple　H…90's　could　effect　much　damage。

It　was　only　when　they　reached　the　edge　of　the　clearing　that　Wolff　made　the　rest　of　the　plan　clear：　It　was　imperative　that　they　make　off　with　enough　Protoculture　to　fuel　the　massive　rescue　operation　Wolff　was　planning。　Each　previous　mission　had　brought　him　closer　to　this　goal；　and　today's　could　plete　the　rescue　team's　requirements。　Beyond　that；　the　four　of　them　simply　had　to　keep　themselves　from　being　fried　by　annihilation　discs。　Scott　had　a　clear　view　of　the　farm　now　and　understood　why　Wolff　hadn't　attempted　to　describe　the　place　earlier…it　had　to　be　seen　to　be　believed。　It　was　a　hemisphere；　all　right；　but　one　that　stood　more　than　three　hundred　feet　high　and　was　nearly　a　mile　in　circumference。　It　was　a　kind　of　blood…red；　organic…looking　geodesic　dome；　lit　from　within　by　a　pulsing　light。　And　from　its　techno…system　base　extended　ten　tentaclelike　projections；　each　a　good　fifty　feet　around。　Scott　imagined　that　it　must　have　resembled　a　jellyfish　creature　from　above。

Wolff　whispered　a　warning　to　his　men。　〃Don't　be　fooled　just　because　you　don't　see　any　Invid。　They're　around；　you　can　be　sure　of　it。〃　Wolff　had　the　faceshield　of　his　Cyclone　helmet　raised；　he　had　his　dark　glasses　on。

Scott　had　to　admit　that　the　man　was　cool　and　alert；　not　the　boozing；　self…pitying　Wolff　he　had　seen　the　night　before　but　the　Wolff　who　had　led　the　Pack　up　the　glory　road。

〃There　are　two　entry　points　above　the　foundation。　The　Protoculture　is　stored　just　inside　these；〃　Wolff　said；　gesturing　to　two　arched　portals　in　the　membranous　portion　of　the　hemisphere　wall。　He　told　Todd　and　Wilson　to　take　the　south　one。　〃Bernard　and　I　will　take　the　other　one。〃

The　three　men　nodded。

〃Don't　overburden　yourselves；〃　Wolff　added。　〃Just　take　what　you　can　carry　without　weighing　yourselves　down。　Remember；　you　might　need　a　free　hand　for　those　blasters。〃　Wolff　grinned。　〃But　I　hope　it　won't　e　to　that。〃

Wilson　and　Todd　moved　off；　using　one　of　the　tentacles　for　cover。　Wolff　waved　Scott　forward　a　moment　later。

Halfway　along　one　of　the　segmented　tentacles；　Wolff　and　Scott　stopped；　huddling　down　with　their　backs　against　the　thing；　waiting　for　Wilson　and　Todd　to　reach　the　south　portal。

But　something　unexpected　occurred　just　as　Wilson　was　stepping　through。

〃Wolff！〃　Scott　heard　Todd　shout　over　the　suit's　tac　net。　〃There's　a　force　field　of　some　kind！〃　He　and　Wolff　turned　at　the　same　moment：　Wi