05_force_of_arms-第16章

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Gloval　gave　the　order　but　forcing　herself　to　be　calm。　She　was　unaware　that　everyone　else　there；　captain　and　enlisted　ratings　alike；　was　glad　that　Claudia…whom　they　saw　as　a　tower　of　strength…was　trigger　man　that　day。

Gloval　let　the　flagship　e　at　him；　e　at　him。　Sammie's　Trojan　horse　remark　was　much　in　his　mind。　He　wondered　about　this　Breetai；　whom　Lisa　and　Rick　had　described　to　him。　The　three　Zentraedi　spies　and　the　deserters　who　had　e　after　them　had　contributed　more；　as　had　Miriya。　Gloval　wondered　and　hoped　the　vagaries　of　war　would　let　him　meet　Breetai　face　to　face；　he　suspected　that　the　alien　mander　felt　the　same。

The　flagship　slowed　to　a　stop；　a　sitting　duck　of　a　target；　reassuring　him。　But　abruptly　there　were　dozens　of　streamers　of　light　swirling　from　behind　it；　bearing　in　on　the　fortress　at　high　speed。　Gloval　didn't　have　to　look　at　the　puter　displays；　he　had　seen　these　performance　profiles　before。

Vanessa　yelled；　〃Picking　up　large　strike　force　of　tri…thruster　pursuit　ships；　closing　rapidly！〃

The　tri…thrusters　were　right　in　the　line　of　fire；　Claudia's　forefinger　hovered　by　the　trigger。

What　are　they　up　to　now？　Gloval　thought　with　dismay。　Peace　had　seemed　so　suddenly；　tantalizingly　close。　But　what　could　this　be　except　betrayal？

The　tri's　were　out　in　front　of　the　flagship；　closing　in　on　the　SDF…1；　their　drives　leaving　bright　swirling　ribbons　of　light　behind　them。　The　mand　to　fire　was　on　Gloval's　lips。

But　all　at　once　a　hundred　batteries　in　the　enemy　flagship's　forward　section　opened　up；　and　the　tri…thrusters　were　blown　into　fragments；　dozens　disappearing　per　second　in　ballooning　clouds　of　total　annihilation。　The　bluewhite　lines　of　energy　from　the　enemy　dreadnought；　thread…fine　against　its　enormous　bulk；　redirected　immediately　upon　destruction　of　a　target；　to　the　next。　In　moments；　the　massive　sortie　fell　apart　and　space　was　full　of　briefly　flaming　junk。


Gloval　swallowed。　〃Secure　the　trigger　but　stand　by；〃　he　said。

Claudia　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment；　breathing　a　prayer；　thumbing　the　safety　cover　over　the　trigger。　But　as　he　had　ordered；　her　thumb　rested　on　it　still。


Breetai　stood　at　his　mand　station；　hands　clasped　at　the　small　of　his　back。　As　he　expected；　Khyron　the　Backstabber　didn't　take　long　to　appear　by　projecbeam　image。

〃Breetai；　have　you　gone　mad？〃

Breetai　studied　him　coldly。　〃Your　ships　were　interfering　with　a　diplomatic　mission；　as　you　well　know。　And　so　I　disposed　of　them。　Henceforth　you　will　address　me　by　my　proper　rank。〃

Khyron　fought　a　fierce　internal　battle；　then　managed；　〃mander；　what　happens　now？　I　refuse　to　spare　the　Micronians！　We　all　know　Dolza's　orders！〃

〃You　know　nothing；　Khyron！　And　I　will　hear　no　further　word　from　you　on　the　subject。　Just　consider　yourself　lucky　you　didn't　choose　to　lead　your　troops　this　day！〃

〃Ridiculous！〃

Breetai　swung　his　mand　chair　away　from　the　screen；　cutting　the　munications　circuit；　muttering；　〃Hardly。〃

Like　some　immense　killer　whale；　the　flagship　came　to　a　stop　directly　in　front　of　the　SDF…1's　most　powerful　weapon。


〃They're　just　sitting　out　there；　Captain；　I　guess　they're　waiting　for　us　to　make　a　move。〃　Claudia's　thumbnail　stood　under　the　edge　of　the　trigger's　cover。

If　they　don't　want　peace；　why　would　they　destroy　their　own　fighters？　Why　would　they　not　overwhelm　us；　as　they　so　easily　could？

〃They　wish　to　send　an　emissary。　Very　well；〃　he　decided。　〃So　be　it。〃


The　Veritechs　flew　forth　acpanied　by　other　mecha；　like　the　cat's…eye　intel　ships；　detector…loaded　and　studying　everything　about　the　emissary　pod。

The　pod　was　standard　except　that　it　mounted　only　auxiliary　mo　gear：　no　weapons。　The　cat's…eyes　and　other　emissions…intelligence　detectors　said　that　it　wasn't　the　Trojan　horse　of　Sammie's　nightmares。

Rick　Hunter　quieted　his　Skull　Team；　telling　them　he　knew　it　was　weird　and　getting　weirder　all　the　time　but　reminding　them　the　team　hadn't　suffered　any　casualties　in　a　while。

That　strangest　of　all　convoys　came　to　rest　in　an　SDF…1　bay；　the　VTs　now　in　Battloid　mode　with　their　chain…guns　leveled　at　the　pod。

Things　moved　quickly　to　the　hangar　deck；　while　PA　voices　went　on　about　the　normal　checklist　procedures　and　the　extraordinary　precautions　surrounding　the　emissary's　arrival。　No　one　wanted　to　take　any　chances　on　a　double…cross　or；　perhaps　worse；　on　a　vengeful　human's　violent　act　robbing　the　SDF…1　of　this　chance　for　peace。　Security　was…in　some　ways　literally…airtight。

The　enemy　mecha　knelt；　its　prow　touching　the　deck　as　the　rear…articulated　legs　folded　back。　A　rear　hatch　swung　open；　a　Brobdingnagian　enemy　trooper　stomped　forth　to　glare　around。

〃Aren't　you　forgetting　something？〃　called　a　reedy；　highly　miffed　voice　from　within　the　pod。

The　mountainous　trooper　was　immediately　contrite；　almost　afraid。　〃Oh；　please　forgive　me；　your　Eminence！　My　humblest　apologies！〃

The　trooper　reached　carefully　into　the　pod　and　came　out　with　a　small　figure；　which　he　set　down　with　exaggerated；　painstaking　care。　It　had　been　explained　exactly　what　would　happen　to　him　if　he　allowed　his　micronized　passenger　to　e　to　any　harm。

Exedore；　dressed　in　the　blue　sackcloth　robe　that　was　all　the　Zentraedi　had　to　give　their　micronized　warriors；　stepped　off　the　warrior's　armored　palm。

His　toes　clenched；　and　his　arches　arched　a　bit　higher　against　the　cold　deck。　〃Hmph！　How　do　these　Micronians　survive　with　such　frail　little　bodies？〃

He　turned　to　regard　the　huge　flight　deck；　but　it　made　little　impression　because　its　size　would　have　been　imposing　for　human　or　Zentraedi。

Exedore's　pilot　was　another　matter；　staring　eye　to　eye　with　a　chain…gun…wielding　Battloid。　〃Rather　an　imposing　sight；　aren't　we；　hah？〃　he　said；　rubbing　his　jaw。

Still；　he　was　one　among　the　Zentraedi　to　know　that　size　didn't　count　for　everything…counted　for　nothing；　in　some　cases。

〃Ten…HUT！〃　the　PA　said　as　a　line　of　military　vehicles　came　screeching　up。　The　Battloids　snapped　to　presentarms；　and　to　Exedore's　great　pride；　the　Zentraedi　pilot　stood　at　perfect　attention。　Exedore　abruptly　noticed　that　there　were　Micronian　personnel；　ground　crew　and　whatnot；　scattered　around　the　partment　as　they；　too；　came　to　attention。

Men　leapt　from　the　cars　to　form　ranks　smartly；　and　a　man　in　a　uniform　not　so　different　from　the　Zentraedi's　own　came　toward　Exedore；　hand　extended。

〃Colonel　Maistroff；　Robotech　Defense　Forces；　sir。　I　bring　you　greetings　from　the　super　dimensional　fortress　mander；　Captain　Gloval。〃

Exedore　sighed　a　bit　to　see　that　Maistroff　was　taller　than　he；　to　see　that　all　of　them　were。　Perhaps　there　was　something　in　the　micronization　process　that　dictated　that；　or　perhaps　it　was　just　something　about　destiny。

Anyway；　Maistroff's　open　hand　was　out　to　him。　Exedore　blinked　at　it　in　bewilderment。　〃This　is　how　we　greet　friends；〃　the　human　said。

Ah；　yes！　The　barbarian　custom　of　showing　that　there　was　no　weapon！　Exedore　put　his　dark　mauve　hand　into　the　other's　pale　pink　one；　trading　the　grip　of　friendship。

〃I　am　Exedore；　Minister　of　Affairs。〃

Maistroff；　a　former　martinet　and　xenophobe　who　had　been　salted　and　wisened　up　a　bit　in　the　course　of　the　Robotech　War；　looked　him　over。　〃That　sounds　rather　important；　sir。〃

Exedore　shrugged　blithely。　〃Not　really。〃　He　smiled；　and　Maistroff　found　himself　smiling　back。

The　colonel　indicated　his　staff　car。　〃If　you're　ready；　we'll　get　you　some　more　fortable　clothes　and　then　take　you　to　the　captain。　Have　you　eaten？〃

Exedore　sorted　that　out；　recalling　the　wedding　transmissions　and　dreading　a　lot　of　ceremonies　stalling　the　beginning　of　the　peace　talks。　〃Ah；　yes；　yes。〃

As　they　walked；　ground…shaking　impacts　began　on　the　deck　behind　them；　jostling　them　as　they　moved。　They　turned　to　see　that　the　Zentraedi　pilot　had　naturally　fallen　in　to　follow　his　lord。　The　Battloids　hadn't　quite　brought　their　chain…gun　muzzles　back　up。

Exedore　was　quick　to　see　the　problem　and　also　to　understand　some　of　the　humans'　apprehension。

Maistroff　kept　his　posure。　〃Excuse　me；　Minister　Exedore；　but…could　you　ask　him　to　wait　here　on　the　hangar　deck？〃

〃Oh！〃　It　didn't　take　a　genius　of　Exedore's　caliber　to　see　that　those　little　hatches　wouldn't　allow　for　much　fullsize　Zentraedi　wandering。　Clever！

He　turned　to　look　up　at　his　pilot。　〃Stay　here　and　guard　the　pod。〃　It　did　irritate　him　how　much　higher　and　less　forceful　the　transformation　had　made　his　voice。

The　pilot　pulled　a　brace；　biting　out；　〃Yes；　sir！〃

Maistroff　turned　and　jerked　a　thumb　at　two　aides。　〃You　men　find　him　something　to　eat。〃

They　saluted　as　one；　〃Yes；　sir！〃　under　the　eyes　of　the　Zentraedi　warrior；　just　as　precise　as　he。　Then　they　watched　as　Maistroff　cordially　aided　Exedore　in　boarding　the　staff　car；　just　about　as　unlikely　a　sight　as　anything　yet　in　the　war。　Motorcycle　outriders　led　the　way；　and　the　motorcade　moved　off。

The　two　staff　officers　relaxed；　looked　up　at　the　Zentraedi；　then　looked　back　at　each　other。　〃Something　to　eat？〃　the　first　one　exclaimed。　〃He's　got　to　be　kidding！〃

〃Maistroff　never　kids；〃　his　panion　answered。　They　both　had　rigs　in　their　jeeps；　and　the　second　staff　officer　reached　over　now　to　get　a　handset；　telling　his　friend；　〃You　call　ration　distribution　and　break　the　bad　news。〃

Then　he　turned　to　his　own　mission。　〃Hello；　transportation　control？　Listen；　I'm　gonna　need　a　coupla　flatbeds。。。〃


The　thoroughfares　of　Macross　City　were　as　confusing　to　Exedore　as　they　had　been　to　the　spies。　So　much　undisiplined；　disorganized　activity！　So　much　aimless　milling　about！　There　seemed　to　be　no　point　to　a　lot　of　it…all　this　gaping　through　display　windows　and　strolling　haphazardly。　He　wondered　if　it　was　some　deceptive　show　that　had　been　mounted　for　his　visit。

And；　of　course；　he　averted　his　eyes　from　the　males　and　females　wandering　the　city　holding　hands　or　with　arms　around　each　other's　waists。　Of　the　tiny…model　Micronians；　the　noisy；　poorly　regimented　smallscales　that　the　human　called　〃children；〃　Exedore　could　make　neither　head　nor　tail。　Just　seeing　them　gave　him　a　shuddery　feeling。

But　he　had　to　admit　the　ship　was　in　a　good　state　of　repair；　especially　after　two　years　of　running　battles　with　the　warrior　race。　There　would　have　been　no　hiding　the　damage　in　a　Zentraedi　ship；　no　fixing　it。　Intelligence　reports　had　already　indicated　what　Exedore　saw　evidence　of　all　around　him：　The　Micronians　knew　how　to　rebuild…perhaps　how　to　create。　It　was　an　awesome　advantage；　a　critical　part　of　the　war's　equation。

Very　few　Micronians　were　in　uniform；　none　of　them　appeared　to　be　under　close　supervision。

〃Why；　this　is　our　shopping　district；〃　Maistroff　explained　when　Exedore　asked。

〃Ah；　yes！　I　believe　this　is　where　you　use　something　called　money　to　requisition　goods。〃

Maistroff　scratched　his　neck　a　bit。　〃Um。　That's　not　too　far　off；　Minister。〃

They　cruised　along　a　broad　boulevard；　and　Exedore　suddenly　broke　out　into　a　cold　sweat　and　began　to　shudder。　Maistroff　sat　up　straight；　wondering　if　something　about　the　ship's　life　support　was　inpatible；　but　that　was　impossible。

Then　he　saw　that　Exedore；　teeth　clenched；　was　staring　up　at　a　billboard。　The　billboard　advertised　the　Velvet　Suntan　Clinics；　with　a　photo　of　the　languorous　Miss　Velvet；　a　voluptuous；　browned；　barely　clad；　supremely　athletic　looking　young　woman　whose　poster　popularity　in　Macross　City　was　second　only　to　Minm