05_force_of_arms-第23章

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　blast。

Brute　servos　tilted　the　lens；　angling　the　beam。　No　one　had　been　sure　whether　or　not　a　shot　like　that　would　violate　all　the　mathematics　of　the　Grand　Cannon　and　blow　the　installation　to　kingdom　e；　but　it　turned　out　that　somehow　everything　held。

Like　a　flashlight　of　plete　and　all…enpassing　destruction；　the　Grand　Cannon's　volley　swiveled　through　the　blockading　fleet。

Ships　were　simply　there　and　then　not。　Left　behind　were　only　ponent　particles　and　the　furious　forces　of　destruction。　In　that　single　attack；　the　human　race　destroyed　more　warcraft　than　the　Zentraedi　had　lost　in　any　war　in　their　entire　history。


〃The　enemy　ships　are　just　disappearing；　sir；〃　Vanessa　said。

Gloval　and　Exedore　stared　at　the　screen；　watching　the　angling　and　swinging　of　the　Grand　Cannon。　〃Alaska　Base　survived！〃　Gloval　exulted。　The　Terrible　Trio　let　out　whoops　and　laughter。

〃Lisa；〃　Claudia　whispered。


CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN

Well；　that　was　when　I　decided　that　ol'　Vance　needed　to　ease　out　of　being　Minmei's　manager　and　into　a　new　setup。　I　mean；　hey：　what　does　twenty…five　percent　of　Armageddon　amount　to　in　real　money？
Vance　Hasslewood；　Those　Were　the　Days

Minmei's　backup　band　and　roadies　（if　that　was　the　proper　name　for　them；　they　played　only　one　town；　but　they　clocked　more　miles　than　any　other　act　in　history）　were　used　to　taking　their　time　setting　up；　running　sound　checks；　getting　mentally　prepared　for　a　concert　or　recording　session。　None　of　that　today；　though。

RDF　techs　and　other　personnel　threw　the　setup　together　in　a　few　minutes　flat；　a　briefing　officer　making　it　clear　to　the　musicians　just　how　important　this　concert　would　be。　The　only　one　to　object；　a　keyboard　man　who　wasn't　happy　with　the　way　his　stacks　had　been　arranged；　was　menaced　into　silence　not　by　the　military　people　but　by　the　other　band　members。　Everyone　knew　what　would　happen　if　the　Grand　Fleet　carried　the　day。

In　her　dressing　room；　Minmei　tried　to　keep　her　mind　off　the　greater　issues　and　simply　concentrate　on　her　performance。　Humming；　she　leaned　toward　her　brightly　lit　makeup　mirror；　examining　one　eyelash　critically。　It　wasn't　that　she　was　unaware　of　the　horrifying　events　taking　place　all　around　the　SDF…1；　it　was　just　that　she　could　do　nothing　about　them　except　clear　her　mind　and　sing　her　very　best。

There　was　a　timid　knock　at　her　door；　and　three　visitors　entered。　〃Hi；　Minmei；〃　said　a　rough　but　friendly　voice。

Minmei　smiled　into　her　mirror　at　the　reflection　of　Bron　and　the　other　two　Zentraedi　spies。

〃We　understand　the　pressure　you're　under；　Minmei；〃　Rico　began。

〃Going　into　battle　can　be　very；　um；　taxing；〃　Konda　added　helpfully。

〃We　just　wanted　you　to　know　we're　with　you　100　percent　and　we　know　you　can　do　it；〃　Bron　told　her；　blushing。　The　other　two　nodded　energetically。

〃Oh！〃　She　turned　to　them　and　came　to　her　feet。　She　had　spoken　to　them　only　a　few　times；　even　including　the　official　hearings　and　meetings。

But　she　felt　a　kinship　to　them；　a　bond　of　empathy。　Song　had　made　them　leave　behind　everything　they　knew；　made　them　risk　the　unknown　and　mit　themselves　to　a　new　life；　even　though　that　life　held　dangers　and　frightening　enigmas。　In　that；　they　were　very　much　like　Minmei　herself。

She　put　her　hands　out　to　them；　palm　to　palm。　〃Thank　you；　Konda…Bron；　Rico。　You're　very　kind。〃

Konda　cupped　his　hands　around　hers；　and　the　other　two　stacked　theirs　gently　on　top。　〃You　three　are　such　wonderful　men。〃

〃Minmei；〃　came　the　stage　manager's　voice。　〃Two　minutes。〃

She　kissed　each　of　them　on　the　cheek；　then　she　was　gone　in　a　swirl　of　long；　raven　hair。


Instead　of　the　seats　of　the　Star　Bowl　amphitheater　or　a　glass　wall　that　looked　on　a　recording　studio's　engineering　booth；　Minmei　and　her　band　gazed　at　a　great；　concave　sweep　of　viewport。　The　enemy　warfleet　was　deployed　before　them。　Below　were　the　battle　fortress's　upper　works；　and　beyond　the　bow；　the　curve　of　the　blasted　Earth。

bat　craft　were　swarming　from　the　super　dimensional　fortress；　the　warships　of　Breetai's　armada　were　forming　up　around　and　behind　it；　battlewagons　and　flagships　at　the　lead　for　a　do…or…die　first　impact。

The　cameras　and　pickups　focused　on　Minmei　as　she　found　her　mark　on　the　stage。　She　had　decided　to　wear　a　simple　full　skirt　and　blouse；　with　a　golden　ribbon　bowed　at　her　throat。

〃Wh。。。what's　your　opener　gonna　be？〃　laughed　her　manager；　Vance　Hasslewood；　nervously；　mopping　his　brow　with　his　handkerchief。

〃How　'bout　‘My　Boyfriend's　a　Pilot'？〃　the　bass　man　joked　weakly。

〃No；〃　she　said　firmly。　〃We'll　do　the　new　one。〃

They　had　barely　rehearsed　it；　she　had　pleted　it　only　two　days　before。　There　was　a　chorus　of　objections　from　just　about　everyone；　but　she　held　up　her　mike　and　spoke　into　it　firmly。

〃This　is　the　time　for　it。〃

Now　or　never。


Tactical　corps　and　civil　defense　mecha　had　been　brought　out　on　the　decks　of　the　battle　fortress　and　the　suppercarriers。　With　their　massed　weapons　added　to　the　turrets　and　tubes　of　the　SDF…1；　short…range　defensive　firepower　was　more　than　tripled。

Out　where　the　VTs　were　forming；　as　the　cats　slung　more　and　more　of　them　into　space；　the　RDF　fliers　listened　over　the　mand　net　as　Gloval's　voice　came　up。

〃Attention；　all　fighter　pilots。　Once　we　enter　the　zone　of　engagement；　there　will　be　plete　radio　silence　under　all　circumstances。　Miss　Minmei's　song；　and　only　that；　will　be　broadcast　on　all　frequencies。　As　you　have　been　briefed；　we　hope　that　will　distract　the　enemy　and　give　us　the　advantage。

〃We　must　make　maximum　use　of　this　element　of　surprise。　Good　luck　to　you　all。〃


Rick　heard　Gloval　out；　lowering　his　helmet　visor。　Skull　Team　was　flying　the　few　armored　VTs　the　fabrication　and　tech　people　had　managed　to　get　operational。　That　meant　that　Rick；　Max；　Miriya；　and　the　rest　would　be　out　at　the　very　spearhead　of　the　attack。　Not　something　to　dwell　on。

In　his　heart；　he　wished　Minmei　well；　and　then　he　led　Skull　Team　out。


She　looked　up　to　the　camera　and　raised　her　mike　on　cue　as　the　cone　of　spotlight　shone　down　on　her。　In　the　control　room；　her　image　was　on　all　the　screens　from　many　angles。

Life　is　only　what　we　choose　to　make　it；
Let　us　take　it；
Let　us　be　free


Rick　hit　his　ship's　boosters。　The　blue　vortices　of　its　drives　burned　and　shrieked。　The　armored　VTs　left　trails　of　light；　leaping　into　the　dark。　Conventional　VT　teams　came　after。

Breetai's　tri…thrusters；　pods；　and　other　mecha　prepared　to　follow。　Gloval　and　the　Zentraedi　had　wisely　agreed　not　to　mingle　their　forces；　in　the　heat　of　battle；　human　pilots　would　have　a　difficult　time　reading　alien　unit　markings　and　telling　friend　from　foe。　Even　the　hastily　added　RDF　insignia　on　the　tri's　and　pods　might　not　be　spotted　in　time。

In　the　mand　station　of　his　flagship；　Breetai　stood　with　arms　folded　across　his　broad　chest；　a　characteristic　pose；　staring　up　at　a　projecbeam。　As　he　had　admitted　so　long　ago；　hers　was　a　voice　to　wring　emotion　from　any　heart。　Perhaps　the　course　to　this　moment　had　been　set　when　he　first　heard　it。

A　tech　relayed　word。　〃My　lord；　this　transmission　is　being　picked　up　by　Dolza's　ships。〃

He　nodded；　watching　and　listening　to　Minmei。

We　can　find　the　glory　we　all　dream　of；
and　with　our　love；
We　can　win！


His　flagship　trembled　as　its　engines　came　up　to　full　power。　The　front　ranks　of　the　armada　moved　forward　at　half　speed；　picking　up　velocity　slowly。　The　SDF…1；　in　Attack　mode；　was　accelerating　along　in　the　thick　of　them；　its　back　thrusters　blazing；　a　fantastic　armored　marionette　of　war。

Still　engulfing　Earth；　below　them；　the　Grand　Fleet　lay　in　orbit；　seemingly　paralyzed。

The　human…Zentraedi　alliance　swooped　down　at　it。


〃What's　that　on　our　monitors？〃　growled　one　of　Dolza's　munications　officers；　his　voice　harsh　and　guttural。

His　subordinate　could　barely　tear　his　attention　away　from　the　song　to　answer。　Such　distraction　when　a　superior　was　asking　questions　would　have　drawn　quick；　terrible　punishment　at　any　other　time；　but　they　were　both　hypnotized　by　Minmei。

If　we　must　fight　or　face　defeat；
We　must　stand　tall　and　not　retreat。


The　subordinate　shook　himself　a　little　and　answered。　〃I　don't　know；　sir；　but　we're　receiving　it　on　all　frequencies。〃

Then　they　both　watched　in　fascination；　ignoring　the　flashing　of　indicators　and　the　beeps　of　tones。


〃We're　within　firing　range；〃　Vanessa　said　tightly。　〃No　counterattack　detected。〃

〃It's　working！〃　Exedore　cried；　watching　the　battle　at　Gloval's　side。

〃This　is　it；〃　Gloval　said　calmly。　〃All　ships；　open　fire。〃


In　that　first　gargantuan　volley；　the　attacking　force's　main　problem　was　not　to　hit　its　own　fightercraft　or　have　its　cannon　salvos　destroy　its　own　missiles　in　flight。　But　the　Zentraedi　were　used　to　that　sort　of　problem；　and　fire　control　had　been　carefully　integrated　with　the　SDF…1's　systems。

It　was　an　impact　almost　as　damaging　as　the　Grand　Cannon's；　millions　of　Zentraedi；　gaping　at　Minmei's　performance；　died　in　moments。

Alarms　were　going　off。　The　few　Grand　Fleet　officers　who　could　force　their　attention　away　from　the　screens　could　get　no　response　from　their　troops　short　of　physically　attacking　them。

As　many　of　the　Grand　Fleet　crews　were　beginning　to　notice　the　alarms；　though；　Minmei　paused　in　her　song；　the　band　vamped　in　the　background。　A　tall；　dark　figure　stepped　out　into　the　spotlight　with　her。

Lynn…Kyle　wore　a　look　of　burning　intensity；　his　long；　straight　black　hair　swirling　around　him；　taking　her　hand。　〃Minmei…〃

〃Yes；　Kyle；　I　know；〃　she　recited　her　line。　〃You've　e　to　say　good…bye。〃

〃Yes。〃

Minmei　wasn't　exactly　sure　where　the　lines　had　e　from；　everything　was　so　hurried；　so　improvised。　Weren't　they　from　one　of　the　movies　the　two　had　done　together？　But　Kyle　was　putting　more　into　them　than　he　had　ever　managed　on　screen。　He　had　seen　her　run　off　after　Rick。　What　was　going　through　his　mind？

No　matter。　He　took　her　into　his　arms。　She　turned　her　face　up　to　his。　The　camera　cut　from　a　two…shot　of　their　bodies　pressed　against　each　other　to　a　close…up　of　along；　passionate　kiss；　Kyle　no　longer　acting。


In　the　Grand　Fleet；　alien　warriors　groaned　and　made　nauseated　sounds。

〃How　can　they　do　that？〃　〃Most　disgusting　thing　I　ever…〃

And　yet　there　was　something　about　it　that　kept　them　from　looking　away；　an　appalled　captivation。　It　should　be　added　that　among　the　female　units　like　the　Quadronos；　there　was　more　absorption　and　less　repulsion　than　among　the　males。

But　all　through　the　orbiting　fleet；　moans　and　growls　and　other　reactions　to　the　kiss　turned　into　shrieks　of　dismay　and　pain　as　the　alliance's　volley　cut　through　the　enemy　ships；　holing　them；　blowing　them　to　nothingness。


Rick　watched　the　kiss　on　a　display　screen　and　thought；　not　unkindly；　Farewell　Minmei。

Then；　〃Let's　get　'em！〃　he　snarled　over　the　tac　net。

Someone　must　have　managed　to　cut　off　the　Minmei　transmission　from　at　least　some　of　the　Grand　Fleet's　mecha。　There　were　plenty　of　effective　ships；　more　than　plenty。

The　Skull　Team's　armored　VTs　bore　in　at　the　enemy；　releasing　barrages　of　missiles；　fighting　their　way　through　Grand　Fleet　pod　and　tri…thruster　defensive　screens。　Quadrono　powered　armor　came　at　the　VTs；　too；　less　effective　now　that　Miriya　no　longer　led　them。　Miriya　avoided　engaging　those。

VTs　shifted　configuration　according　to　the　needs　of　the　moment；　Battloid　and　Guardian　and　Veritech　mode