05_force_of_arms-第20章

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und　him。

〃Anyplace　else　in　the　universe　but　here；〃　Khyron　brooded；　staring　off　angrily　at　nothing。　There　was　no　response　from　Grel；　and　Khyron　snarled；　〃Didn't　you　hear　me？〃

Grel　calculated　his　next　words　carefully。　〃But　sir；　we　can't　run。〃

Khyron　barked　a　galling　laugh。　〃You　think　not？　Watch；　then！〃　He　signaled；　and　the　engines　of　his　flagship　came　up　to　power；　as　did　those　of　all　the　Botoru　ships　under　his　mand。

Grel　licked　his　lips；　wondering　how　best　to　tell　Khyron　that　he　hadn't　been　speaking　figuratively。　Khyron　cherished　the　practice　of　beheading　the　messenger　who　bore　bad　tidings。


Breetai　paid　little　attention　to　the　maneuvers　of　the　Botorus。　He　considered　the　nearby　fabric　of　space；　where　the　first　perturbations　of　the　Cosmic　String　heralded　the　Grand　Fleet。

Once　he　had　been　Dolza's　most　valued　subordinate…had　saved　Dolza's　life　from　the　very　Invid　attack　that　had　killed　Zor。　Now　he　contemplated　the　stirrings　of　the　universe　in　advance　of　the　attack　and　reflected　on　the　incredible　way　things　had　turned　out　there　in　the　Micronian　star　system。

Hear　my　thoughts；　Lord　Dolza！　To　go　down　in　battle　is　all　we　seek；　from　the　highest　to　the　lowest。　Mark　me　well；　for　this　is　the　final　battle　of　Breetai！


In　the　hearing　chamber；　people　were　exhausted；　but　the　marathon　went　on。　puters　and　analysts　were　hooked　in；　G…staff　members　and　evaluation　teams　were　ready。

〃Dolza　will　assume　you're　too　weak　to　fight；〃　Exedore　was　saying；　still　animated　and　prim　in　the　midst　of　the　most　tiring　activity。　〃He　will　divide　his　fleet　and　attack　from　every　side；　sealing　off　any　avenue　of　escape。　But　this　maneuvering　will　give　you　your　only　chance。〃

〃Enough　background；　kindly　be　specific；〃　Gloval　snapped。

Exedore　turned　to　a　luminous　tactical　projection　he　had　constructed　with　the　help　of　the　SDF…1　puters。

〃Their　flagships　will　be　here；　here；　here；　and　here；　and　Dolza's　mobile　base　will　appear　here；　these　are　my　best　projections。

〃If　you　can　destroy　these　vessels；　it　will　throw　the　entire　Grand　Fleet　into　chaos。〃

〃Simple　military　strategy；〃　someone　muttered。

〃No；　simple　military　strategy…of　all…out；　straightforward　attack　and　overwhelming　numbers…is　what　has　allowed　our　tactics　to　remain　the　same　for　so　long；〃　Exedore　countered。　〃That　and　the　fact　that　the　Zentraedi　have　never　lost　a　war。〃

Colonel　Maistroff　rubbed　his　face　with　his　hand；　as　if　he　were　washing。　〃So；　in　short；　we　crush　the　head　of　the　snake！〃

Exedore　nodded。　He　stepped　away　from　the　tactical　display；　pacing　toward　the　place　where　Gloval　sat。

〃With　their　attack　forces　in　disarray；　our　only　chance　for　survival　is　to　utilize　the　bined　forces　of　the　SDF…1　and　our　battlefleet。　We　are　already　aware　of　the　crude　Robotech　cannon　in　your　planet's　northern　hemisphere　but　consider　it　a　minor　element　at　best。〃

Gloval　came　to　his　feet。　〃I'm　glad　that　we're　now　fighting　on　the　same　side。〃　He　clasped　hands　with　the　gnomish　little　man。

〃Yes；　so　am　I。〃　Exedore　turned　to　Minmei；　who　was　watching　it　all　unbelievingly。　〃And　without　your　singing；　this　alliance　between　our　peoples　would　not　have　been　possible。〃

Kyle　had　assumed　a　hard　expression；　eyes　closed；　chin　sunk　on　chest；　lip　curled。　But　Minmei　was　in　a　sort　of　dream　state。　〃Who；　me？　Really？〃

Exedore　nodded　his　head　slowly。　〃While　I　don't　profess　to　understand　Micronians；　I　now　realize　the　importance　of　your　singing。　It　touches　emotional　resources　to　which　we　Zentraedi　did　not　have　access　before…a　courage　that　is　beyond　mere　courage　in　battle。〃

He　seemed　to　blush　a　little；　nothing　could　have　surprised　them　more。　Even　Kyle　was　shocked。

〃Will。。。will　you　sing　for　us？〃　Exedore　got　out；　face　coloring　furiously。　〃So　that　we　may　hope　for　victory？　Please；　Miss　Minmei。〃

〃Of　course。〃

She　stood　up；　in　that　room　where　the　plans　were　ing　together　that　would　spell　the　death　or　life　of　worlds；　the　survival　or　slaughter　of　billions。　She　drew　a　breath　and　sang　in　a　voice　as　clear　as　polished　diamond。

She　sang　〃To　Be　in　Love；〃　one　of　her　first　positions；　still　one　of　her　favorites。　It　was　a　simple　song；　and　there　was　nothing　in　it　of　armies　or　battles。　It　was　about　a　closeness　between　two　lovers。

Exedore　and　the　three　former　spies　were　mesmerized。　Kyle；　eyes　closed；　was　cold　and　indifferent。　Gloval；　Max　and　Miriya；　and　the　rest　watched　and　listened；　immersed。　Her　voice　soared　to　rebound　from　the　domed　ceiling。

Rick　was　transfixed；　too；　at　first。　The　fact　that　he'd　lost　her　didn't　make　her　any　less　desirable；　especially　now。

But　then　a　new　sound　came　to　him；　a　sound　he　recognized　even　through　the　intervening　decks　and　bulkheads。

On　the　hangar　decks；　the　elevators　were　at　work；　lifting　Veritechs　for　cat　launch。　For　the　final　battle。


The　finder　beams　had　done　their　work。　Now　there　was　a　brutal　application　of　force；　and　the　warp　and　woof　of　the　universe　were　ripped　apart。

The　Zentraedi　had　refined　their　targeting。　This　time；　there　was　no　cosmic　bow　wave　of　incandescent　fire。　Instead；　a　green　cloud　of　some　kind　seemed　to　appear…until　it　became　clear　that　every　last　mote　in　the　cloud　was　a　warship。

Another　cloud　appeared　nearby；　and　another。　Then　two　at　once；　then　three。　And　soon　the　stars　were　blotted　out。　It　was　as　if　handfuls　of　sand　had　suddenly　bee　ugly　battlecraft。　More　appeared；　and　more；　in　dense；　well…ordered　formations；　thicker　than　any　hive　swarm。


〃There　are　too　many　for　sensors　to　count；〃　Vanessa　said；　sweating；　blinking　behind　her　glasses。　〃Too　many。。。〃


〃I　have　to　go；〃　Admiral　Hayes　told　his　daughter　gruffly。　〃We'll　talk　about　this　later…〃

The　PA　interrupted。　〃Sensors　register　immeasurable　defold　activity。　Estimated　enemy　strength　one　million；　three　hundred…correction；　two　million；　one　hundred　thousand…stand　by！　Stand　by！　More　enemy　units　arriving！〃

Some　other；　less　hysterical　voice　cut　in。　〃Battle　stations。　Repeat；　battle　stations。〃　Alarms　and　sirens　sounded；　and　nobody　had　to　say　that　it　wasn't　a　drill　this　time。

Admiral　Hayes　swallowed；　going　pale。


Earth　was　engulfed　in　a　net　of　enemy　warships。　They　blotted　out　the　sun's　light；　appearing　in　their　hundreds　of　thousands；　taking　up　position　for　the　ultimate　confrontation。


Claudia's　face　appeared　in　the　hearing　chamber　on　a　display　the　size　of　a　movie　screen。　〃Captain　Gloval；　monitor　three　shows　enemy　positions　over　the　western　hemisphere。〃

The　view　came　up。　Still　the　sinister　warcraft　poured　into　Earth　orbit　from　nothingness。　The　drifting　clouds　of　them　stretched；　established　intervals；　deployed　for　total　coverage。　Great　blotches　of　green；　whole　clustered　space　navies；　were　painted　into　the　picture。

〃Well；　I'm　afraid　this　is　it；〃　Exedore　said。　It　looked；　like　the　planet　was　falling；　in　time…lapse　photography；　under　a　leprous　infection　of　Zentraedi　bat　green。

Minmei　could　only　stare；　her　song　forgotten。　Max　and　Miriya　took　each　other's　hands；　and　he　was　grateful　that　he　had　been　granted　the　time　they　had　had　together。

Even　Kyle　was　aghast。　If　there　was　one　there　who　was　in　the　mood　for　the　scene；　it　was　Rick　Hunter。　He　watched　the　Grand　Fleet　spread　and　grow。　Nothing　left　to　lose。　Okay：　A　fight　it　would　be。


Breetai；　staring　up　at　the　displays　that　were　still　functioning　on　his　bridge；　watched　in　awe。　It　was。　the　greatest　single　bat　fold　jump　operation　in　history；　and　it　came　off　meticulously。　Dolza　was　doing　everything　right　so　far。

Breetai's　clifflike　jaw　set。　Opening　moves　and　endgame　were　two　different　things。


The　night　sky　over　the　Alaska　Base　was　lighter；　with　the　reflections　of　sunlight　from　the　light　underbellies　of　the　warships　taking　up　orbit。　The　stars　were　obscured；　hundreds　at　a　time。

Watching　the　screens；　Lisa　heard　her　father　moan。　She　turned　and　saw　by　his　expression　that　he　realized；　far　too　late；　that　the　reports　of　the　aliens'　strength　were　accurate　and　that　five　million　ships　were　so　many　more　than　he　had　ever　envisioned。


CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

And　so　the　Great　Mandala　spun；　Two　halves　had　learned　They　both　were　one
Mingtao；　Protoculture：　Journey　Beyond　Mecha

Among　all　the　announcements　of　the　loading　of　Decamissiles；　the　manning　of　gun　turrets；　the　frantic　coordinating　of　target…acquisition　and　threat…priority　puters；　there　came　word　that　Skull　Team　was　to　report　to　its　fighters。

〃Well。　That's　us；〃　Max　said；　looking　at　the　deck　and　then　up　at　his　wife。　He　was　really　at　a　loss。　Some　traditionalism　said　that　he　should　shield　her　from　harm；　but　Miriya　was　a　better　flier　than　anyone　else　aboard　except　relax；　and　there　was　no　safety；　anywhere。

More　to　the　point；　she　would　never　have　allowed　him　to　leave　her　behind。

〃Yes；　Maxmillian；〃　she　said；　watching　him。　Rick　noticed　that　in　an　amazingly　short　time；　they　had　both　learned　to　smile　exactly　the　same　slow　smile　at　each　other　at　exactly　the　same　moment。　He　did　his　best　to　suppress　his　envy。

Max　put　his　arm　around　his　wife's　slim　waist　and　gave　Rick　a　wave。　〃See　you　out　there；　boss。〃

〃Count　on　it。〃　Rick　waved　at　them　with　phony　cheer；　watching　them　go　off　to　suit　up。

Others　were　finding　their　way　out　of　the　hearing　chamber；　Gloval　and　Exedore　and　the　other　heavy…hitters　were　already　gone。　The　recording　techs　were　wrapping　things　up　quickly；　preparing　to　double　in　brass　on　bat　assignments。

Only　Kyle　and　Minmei　were　left；　uncertain；　with　no　place　to　go。　Rick　looked　up　at　them　and　thought　about　what　was　happening　out　there　where　the　void　met　Earth's　atmosphere。　Millions　of　ships　were　forming　up　for　a　greater　battle　than　even　the　Zentraedi　had　ever　seen　before。

Which　meant　the　future　looked　very　dim　for　one　little　VT　leader　who　had　e　late　into　the　business　of　war。　Rick　decided　in　an　instant　and　sprinted　off　to　where　Minmei　stood。

She　was　at　the　top　of　the　steps　leading　to　the　table　podium；　he　stopped　a　few　steps　below。　〃Minmei！〃

She　looked　at　him　oddly。　〃Yes；　Rick？〃　He　couldn't　read　her；　couldn't　understand　what　was　going　on　behind　the　startling　blue　eyes。　Kyle　was　at　her　shoulder；　cold　and　angry；　glaring　down　at　him。

Not　that　Kyle　mattered　anymore；　very　little　did。

Rick　fumbled　for　words；　not　ing　up　with　any　that　would　express　what　he　wanted　to　say；　not　even　managing　to　get　started。　At　last　he　got　out；　〃You　know　I'm　not　good　at　this　sort　of　thing。〃

She　did；　knew　it　from　the　long　days　and　nights　they　had　spent　stranded　together；　knew　it　from　more　recent　times；　when　he　had　been　all　but　inarticulate。

〃But　I　might　not　see　you　again；〃　he　went　ahead。　〃I　want　to　say　that…that　I　love　you。〃

Her　hands　flew　to　her　mouth　like　frightened　birds。　She　mouthed　words　that　made　no　sound。

〃Had　to　tell　you。〃　He　smiled　bitter…sweetly。　〃Take　care。〃

Then　he　left　to　suit　up；　already　late　in　the　massive　launch　schedule　of　the　apocalypse；　heels　clicking　emptily　on　the　deck。

She　was　frozen　by　his　words；　she　could　move　again　only　when　he　was　out　of　the　hatch；　out　of　sight。　Minmei　hurried　down　the　steps　to　catch　up。

Kyle　was　next　to　her　in　an　instant；　catching　her　arm；　bringing　her　up　short。　〃Don't　try　to　stop　him！〃　The　doings　of　the　warmakers　were　their　own　concern；　Kyle　had　loved　Minmei　too　long　to　lose　her　to　them　now。

She　struggled　hopelessly　to　free　her　arm；　the　black　hair　whipping。　〃Let　go！　I'　have　to　tell　him！　Kyle；　let　me　go　or　I'll　hate　you　forever！〃

Fingers　that　co