05_force_of_arms-第25章

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〃Lisa！　Lisa；　it's　me！〃

〃Rick？〃　She　said　it　low；　like　a　prayer。　Then；　wildly；　〃Rick；　is　it　really　you？〃

〃Yes！　Are　you　all　right？〃

She　suddenly　sounded　downcast。　〃Yes；　but　I　think　I'm　the　only　one。〃

〃Lisa；　give　me　your　coordinates。　Send　me　a　homing　signal。〃

She　waited　a　beat　before　answering。　〃No；　Rick；　it's　far　too　dangerous　here。　But　thanks。〃

〃Damn　your　eyes！　I've　got　a　fix　on　your　signal；　and　I'm　ing！　Now；　will　you　help　me　or　not？〃　She　didn't　say　no；　but　she　didn't　say　yes。

〃Besides；〃　he　said　jauntily；　〃what's　a　little　danger　to　us？　I'll　get　you　out　of　there　in　no　time。〃　He　wished　he　had　his　long　white　flying　scarf　so　he　could　fling　it　back　over　his　shoulder　rakishly。

Suddenly；　there　was　a　homing　signal。　〃Rick；　I'm　so　glad　it's　you；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　as　intimate　as　a　quiet　serenade。　〃Be　careful；　all　right？〃

Soon　after；　the　VT　dove　straight　down　the　shaft　of　the　onetime　Grand　Cannon。　It　went　from　Fighter　to　Guardian　mode；　battered　by　rising　heat　waves　and　running　a　gauntlet　of　radiation　that　would　have　broiled　an　unprotected　human　being　instantly。

We　shall　live　the　day　we　dream　of　winning
And　beginning　a　new　life
We　will　win！
We　must　win！


She　had　sung　it　through；　taking　longer　because　of　the　scene　played　with　Lynn…Kyle；　and　yet　it　hadn't　been　very　many　minutes　since　Minmei　had　begun　her　song。　Nevertheless；　Khyron　the　Backstabber　knew；　the　universe　and　war　in　particular　turned　upon　such　minutes。

He　stood　in　his　flagship；　well　out　of　the　battle　but　within　striking　distance；　watching　the　fight。　Lack　of　sufficient　Protoculture　to　make　his　escape　from　the　solar　system　had　forced　him　to　e　up　with　a　new　plan；　and　the　plan　seemed　more　promising　every　moment。

Grel；　his　second　in　mand；　watched　Khyron　worriedly。　Khyron　had　shown　no　aversion　to　the　singing；　the　kissing。　His　handsome　face　shone；　his　eyes　alight　with　the　gleam　Grel　had　seen　there　when　Khyron　used　the　forbidden　leaves　of　the　Flower　of　Life。

〃What　is　your　plan　now；　my　lord？〃　Grel　ventured。

Khyron　was　still　watching　Minmei。　〃Mm。　Pretty　little　thing。〃

Grel　couldn't　help　bursting　out；　〃What？〃

Khyron　looked　at　him　coldly。　〃Get　me　the　position　of　Breetai's　flagship。〃　Then　he　was　smiling　up　dreamily　at　Minmei's　projecbeam　image　once　more。

Grel　didn't　know　what　to　say　and；　moreover；　knew　that　saying　the　wrong　thing　to　the　Backstabber　had　cut　short　quite　a　number　of　otherwise　promising　careers。　He　couldn't　help　blurting；　though；　〃But　my　lord！　Breetai　is　one　of　us！　You　cannot　do　th…〃

Khyron　whirled　on　him　in　a　murderous　rage。　〃How　dare　you？　You　will　follow　my　orders　or　else！〃

Grel　turned　very　pale　and　hurried　to　obey。　Khyron　turned　back　to　his　enjoyment　of　the　song。

But　his　enjoyment　was　sinister。　He　felt　a　physical；　languorous　pleasure　as　he　concluded　that　he　was　at　last　ing　to　a　clear　understanding　of　a　pure　true　definition　of　conquest；　something　more　pleasure…giving；　if　he　was　right；　than　all　the　victories；　booty；　and　worlds　the　Zentraedi　had　ever　taken。

In　seconds；　Khyron's　flagship　was　underway；　followed　by　the　tiny　flotilla　of　those　still　loyal　to　him。


People　in　the　control　booth　and　even　members　of　the　band　had　sent　the　inquiry　up　the　line：　Shouldn't　Minmei　go　to　another　song？

In　the　midst　of　the　most　important　battle　of　his　career；　Gloval　had　taken　time　to　give　the　order　personally：　no！　This　song；　this　song　was　the　one！

Now；　with　Minmei's　voice　ringing　through　it　everywhere　that　battle　damage　hadn't　silenced　the　PA　system；　the　SDF…1　waded　deeper　and　deeper　into　the　massed　Grand　Fleet。　Out　on　the　decks　and　outerworks；　enemy　fire　was　taking　a　vicious　toll　of　the　exposed　attack　mecha；　but　the　crews　of　the　war　machines　still　kept　up　intense　fire。


Breetai's　armada　had　suffered　badly；　too；　but　hadn't　slowed。

〃Keep　all　power　levels　at　maximum！〃　he　bellowed　as　systemry　and　power　conduits　blew　all　about　him。

His　flagship　and　its　escort；　the　SDF…1　side　by　side　with　them；　pressed　on；　their　volume　of　fire　enormous；　the　rest　of　the　armada　striking　after　in　a　wedge；　probing　their　way　through　the　disorganized　foe。

Many　of　the　smaller　fightercraft　and　mecha　on　both　sides　had　been　snuffed　out　of　existence　by　the　overwhelming　volleys　being　traded；　most　of　the　rest　had　quit　the　battle's　fairway。

〃Hell　or　glory！〃　cried　Azonia；　holding　her　fist　aloft；　ing　in　to　shore　up　the　alliance's　badly　crumpling　left　flank。　Her　forces　threw　themselves　into　the　engagement　with　fanatic　zeal。

Dolza's　faithful　leapt　at　them　with　an　equal　thirst　for　death　and　triumph。


Inside　the　SDF…1；　a　direct　hit　pierced　the　hold　in　which　Macross　City　lay。　Atmosphere　roared　out　at　once　like　a　great　river；　and　more　missiles　penetrated　the　hold　to　score　direct　hits　on　the　streets　of　the　city。　Armored　curtains　and　sealing　sections　swung　into　place　at　once；　but　still　there　was　grievous　damage　to　the　city。　Rebuilt　a　half　dozen　times；　it　was　fast　being　rubble　again。　Loss　of　life　was　relatively　low　because　most　of　the　inhabitants　were　on　emergency　duty　elsewhere　and　practically　all　the　rest　were　in　shelters。

Just　before　the　last　curtain　rolled　into　place　to　seal　the　partment　and　allow　it　to　be　repressurized；　a　last　heavy　enemy　missile　somehow　sizzled　through　the　gap。　By　chance；　it　found　a　shelter　in　a　direct　hit；　and　the　carnage　was　nothing　that　belonged　in　a　sane　universe。

Repair　and　rescue　crews　and　medical　teams　wanted　the　ship　to　drop　back　to　give　them　time　to　do　their　work。　Gloval　bit　his　lower　lip　but　refused；　perhaps　all　that　was　left　of　humanity　was　aboard　the　SDF…1；　and　if　Dolza　wasn't　smashed　now；　in　this　moment；　none　of　them　would　survive。

The　request　was　denied。　The　battle　raged　on。　It　was　not　the　first　agonizing　time　Gloval　had　felt　himself　something　of　a　villain。


CHAPTER　TWENTY

Aside　from　Gloval；　very　few　of　our　senior　military　people　seem　to　be　able　to　grasp　the　simple　truth：　The　Zentraedi　do　not　truly　understand　Robotechnology。　They　use　it　without　prehending　how　it　works；　as　many　humans　use　television；　laser　devices；　or　aircraft　without　the　slightest　idea　what　makes　those　technologies　function。　The　Zentraedi　were　given　their　weapons　and　equipment　by　the　enigmatic　Robotech　Masters。　Their　control　over　the　Zentraedi　is　due；　in　part；　to　the　giants'　own　ignorance。
This　means　that　the　Zentraedi　are　vulnerable　in　ways　of　which　they　are　unaware。
Dr。　Emil　Lang；　Technical　Recordings　and　Notes

More　disturbances　shook　the　underground　corridors　of　Alaska　Base　as　a　terrier　might　shake　a　rat　in　its　teeth。　The　titanic　supports　plained；　and　the　ceilings　showered　rock　dust。

Through　it　flew　the　Skull　Guardian；　maneuvering　in　very　confining　space　to　avoid　exploding　power　ducts　and　ruptured　energy　mains。　Rick　brought　the　ship　to　an　abrupt　halt；　hitting　the　foot　thrusters　hard　so　as　not　to　collide　with　a　thick　shield　door　that　dead…ended　the　cyclopean　corridor。

But　he　was　in　no　mood　to　be　stopped。　He　lowered　a　phased…array　laser　turret　and　aimed　with　his　gunsight　reticle。　The　fearsome　power　of　the　quad…mount　sent　armor　flowing　in　rivulets；　but　not　as　quickly　as　he　hoped。　He　cut　back　his　ambitions　and　tried　for　a　man…size　opening　instead　of　a　VT…size　one。

In　a　few　moments　a　circular　plug　of　armor　two　feet　thick　fell　back　from　the　shield　door；　leaving　a　makeshift　hatch。　Rick　gave　mands　with　his　controls　and　with　mental　images；　the　Guardian　bowed；　its　nose　touching　the　corridor　floor　so　that　he　could　disembark。

He　was　barely　at　the　smoking；　red…hot　opening　when　he　heard　her。　〃Rick！〃　Lisa　was　waiting　for　him　patiently　at　the　far　end　of　the　short；　small　connecting　passageway。

He　felt　like　sinking　to　his　knees　with　relief　and…something　else。　But　there　was　no　time　for　it；　and　so　he　tossed　his　thick；　unruly　black　hair　out　of　his　eyes　and　flickered　his　eyebrows　at　her。

〃You　the　lady　who　called　for　the　cab？　I'm　your　man。〃

She　laughed　fondly；　nodding。　〃It's　about　time。〃　She　ran　to　him；　laughing；　and　he　caught　her　up　in　his　arms；　whirling　her。

In　another　few　seconds　they　were　in　the　Guardian's　cockpit；　Lisa　seated　across　his　lap；　Rick　trying　to　concentrate　on　his　flying。　Strange　energy　phenomena　coruscated　and　spat　all　around；　a　poltergeist　zoo　of　deadly　short…term　exotica。　Purple　lightning　grasped　for　them；　and　green　rays　ricocheted　from　surface　to　surface。　Walls　blew　out　into　the　corridor；　sending　pieces　of　shredded　armor　plate　whirling　like　leaf　fragments。

〃The　reactor's　overloading！〃　she　yelled　over　the　din。

Rick　somehow　ran　the　dimly　lit　obstacle　course；　Lisa's　head　buried　against　his　chest　in　case　the　canopy　shattered。　After　several　centuries'　time　juking　and　sideslipping　through　the　maze　of　Alaska　Base；　the　Guardian　was　back　into　the　vertical　shaft　of　what　had　been　Earth's　greatest　weapon　less　than　an　hour　before。


The　last　layer　of　defensive　ships　was　riven　apart　by　the　irresistible　wedge　of　the　allied　force。　Before　them　hung　Dolza's　headquarters　like　some　lumpy；　dangling　overripe　fruit。

But　Dolza　didn't　run；　that　wasn't　the　way　of　the　true　Zentraedi　warrior；　and　Dolza　embodied　the　Zentraedi　warrior　code。　It　was　as　Breetai　had　known　it　would　be。　Instead；　the　moonlet…size　headquarters　came　straight　at　its　enemies；　surrounded　by　such　escort　vessels　as　it　could　gather　around　it。

〃Objective　now　approaching；〃　Vanessa　reported。

〃All　units　in　position；〃　Kim　sang　out。

〃Target　within　range。　Stand　by；　all　batteries；〃　Sammie　said　into　her　mike。

〃All　escort　fighters；　break　contact　and　attack　objective　immediately；〃　Claudia　ordered。　She　paused　for　a　quick　glance　at　the　headquarters。　Its　shape　and　lines　and　apparent　texture　reminded　her　so　much　of　a　mountain　in　space；　falling　straight　at　the　SDF…1。　Ready　to　crush　them　and　the　Zentraedi　who　had　bee　humanity's　friends；　ready　to　crush　everything　in　its　path；　as　had　always　been　the　Zentraedi　way。

Claudia's　face　hardened　along　grim；　angry　lines。　Not　this　time。　She　thought　of　her　slain　lover；　Roy　Fokker；　and　of　all　the　others　who　had　died　in　the　pointless　war。　But　not　this　time！

Exedore；　still　at　Gloval's　shoulder；　said　softly；　〃Now；　Captain。〃

It　was　as　if　someone　had　run　a　high　current　through　Gloval。　〃Open　fire！〃　he　barked。

The　SDF…1　fired　again；　in　every　direction；　her　carefully　hoarded　power　being　used　at　a　fearsome　rate　now；　at　a　moment　that　was　late　in　the　battle　even　though　only　minutes　had　elapsed。

The　armada　ships　of　Breetai　fell　away　to　all　sides　to　engage　the　enemy　or　lend　support　as　they　could。　The　final　mission　was　the　dimensional　fortress's　alone；　and　no　other　vessel　in　existence　could　perform　it　or　acpany　the　ship。

The　giant　warrior　shape's　thrusters　blared；　adjusting　attitude；　and　now　the　SDF…1　came　at　Dolza's　stronghold　headfirst。

〃Brace　for　ramming！〃　Gloval　bellowed；　and　the　orders　went　forth。　The　engines　shook　the　great　ship　and　drove　it　in　a　death　dive。

The　two　great　booms　that　reared　above　the　ship's　head　like　wings　were　now　aligned　directly　at　the　space　mountain　that　was　Dolza's　headquarters；　the　nerve　center　of　the　Grand　Fleet。　The　booms　were　separate　parts　of　the　main　gun；　reinforced　structures　that　were；　with　the　exception　of　the　mammoth　engines；　the　strongest　parts　of　the　ship。　And　around　their　tips　glowed　the　green…white　fields　of　a　limited　barrier　defense；　making　them　all　but　indestructible。

The　SDF…1