05_force_of_arms-第8章

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mulacrum　Battloid　had　bee　a　miniature　Quadrono。　Any　doubts　she　had　were　swept　away。

Max　was　thinking；　Boy；　is　she　beautiful！　as　he　played　his　best　at　the　machine。　Another　VT　pilot；　a　lady's　man；　might　have　lost　to　Miriya　on　purpose。　But　then；　another　VT　pilot　probably　couldn't　have　won。

People　were　whooping　and　cheering　on　the　sidelines。　In　her　mind's　eye；　Miriya　saw　the　apocalyptic　bat　in　the　streets　of　Macross；　as　her　own　powered　armor　smashed　through　buildings　and　wreaked　havoc；　backpack　thrusters　blaring。　She　also　saw　that　one…on…one　final　confrontation；　when　she　had　bolted　rather　than　die　in　a　point…blank　shootout。

And　just　as　his　autocannon　rounds　had　defeated　her　that　day；　Max's　VT　image　destroyed　hers。　The　red　VT　fragmented　and　flew　into　modeled；　spinning　bits；　then　de…rezzed　to　nothingness。

The　blue　hemisphere　faded　away；　leaving　her　openmouthed　and　blinking。　I　lost！　This　cannot　be！　I　will　not　be　humiliated　again！

The　victorious　Battloid　image's　head　turret　swung　back；　and　a　little　figure　that　looked　suspiciously　like　Rick　Hunter　appeared；　crying　the　word　〃STRONG！！〃　as　a　tiny　Minmei　raced　up　to　throw　her　arms　around　his　neck；　kissing　him　and　kicking　her　feet。　The　real　Rick　Hunter；　still　standing　on　the　staircase；　edged　back　in　order　to　be　more　inconspicuous　and　thought　dark　thoughts　about　the　sense　of　humor　of　video　game　designers。

An　onlooker　was　saying　to　Max；　〃I　dunno　how　you　pulled　that　off；　buddy。〃

〃Aw；　there　were　a　couple　of　tight　spots　in　the　middle　and　near　the　end；　but　all　in　all；　it　wasn't　too　tough。〃

〃Oh！〃　Miriya　breathed。　The　insult　of　it。　So　she'd　presented　him　with　little　challenge；　eh？　She　rose；　turning　on　one　booted　heel。

Max　forgot　his　warm　victory　feelings　and　plunged　after　her。　He　caught　her　wrist；　not　knowing　how　close　he　was　to　getting　a　fist　in　the　throat。　〃Wait；　I've　been　wanting　to　speak　to　you　for　a　long　time。　I　think　you're　wonderful；　and　I　want　to　get　to　know　you　better。　This　is　my　only　chance　to　get　your　name　and　phone　number。〃

His　grip　was　very　strong　but　not　painful；　his　palm　very　warm。　For　a　moment　Miriya　felt　as　though　her　wrist　were　burning。

〃My　name　is　Miriya；〃　she　said　coldly。　〃And　I　don't　currently　have　a　phone　number。〃　She　turned　to　go；　tugging　at　his　grip。　The　feel　of　his　skin　against　hers　made　her　feel　a　typical　Zentraedi　loathing　of　contact　between　the　sexes　but　stirred　something　else；　something　she　couldn't　put　a　name　to。

Now　that　she　had　met　her　archenemy；　Miriya　was　confused。　Killing　him　on　the　spot　was　out　of　the　question；　she　suddenly　didn't　know　how　to　cope　with　her　mission。　What　he　said　about　her　brought　back　the　strange；　blurry　feelings　that　the　Micronian　food　gave　her。

Max　kept　hold　of　her　wrist。　〃Then；　would　you　meet　me　in　the　park　this　evening？　By　the　Peace　Fountain；　at　nine　o'clock？〃

Fool！　You've　sealed　your　fate！　she　thought。　Somehow　the　thought　of　slaying　him　made　her　angry　rather　than　exultant。　〃Oh；　whatever　you　want！　Just　let　me　go！〃

His　fingers　loosened；　and　she　snatched　her　wrist　away；　saying　an　icy；　〃Thank　you。〃　Then　she　whirled　and　ran；　fleet　as　a　deer；　driven　by　a　storm　of　conflicting　emotions。

Max　watched　admiringly；　breathing；　〃Isn't　she　something？　Whew！〃

Looking　down　from　the　staircase；　Rick　silently　wished　Max　better　luck　than　he　was　having。


CHAPTER　SIX

When　you're　caught　up　in　a　war　and　thinking　mostly　about　the　enemy；　it's　easy　to　forget　that　there　are　other　fronts　on　which　you　should　at　least　attempt　to　strike　a　truce。
Lisa　Hays；　Recollections

In　a　corridor　deep　in　UEDC　Headquarters；　Lisa　Hayes　sat　fretfully；　shifting　and　fidgeting。　She　heard　footsteps　approaching　and　looked　up　to　see　her　father。　〃Well；　I　talked　to　them；〃　he　said。

Tension　twisted　her　middle。　〃Did　they　make　any　decisions？〃

〃You　can　never　be　certain　about　these　things；　but　I　think　they're　ready　to　accept　the　idea　of　peace　talks。〃

She　drew　an　excited　breath；　then　smiled　at　him　fondly。　〃I'm　so　proud　of　you　for　having　the　courage　to　take　on　this　fight！〃　She　stood　on　tiptoe　to　kiss　his　cheek。

Later；　as　they　sat　on　an　upholstered　bench　in　a　lift　car；　she　asked　him；　〃Is　anything　wrong；　Father？〃　He　had　been　staring　at　her　strangely　for　minutes。

〃I've　been　thinking　of　how　you　remind　me　of　your　mother。　And　how　proud　she'd　be。〃

Shy　blushed；　very　pleased。　〃Thank　you；　Father。〃

He　shocked　her　by　saying；　〃So；　tell　me　how　your　love　life's　going　these　days。　Are　you　going　out　with　anyone　special？　Anybody　I　should　know　about？〃

It　took　her　so　off　guard　that　she　found　herself　admitting；　〃Well；　there　is　a　young　man。。。〃

〃He's　military；　of　course？〃　her　father　said。

〃Yes；　he　is。　In　fact；　he's　the　one　who　rescued　me　from　the　alien　ship。〃

Admiral　Hayes　nodded　slowly。　〃Ah　yes。　Sounds　like　a　good　man。〃

They　walked　and　chatted　as　they　hadn't　done　in　more　than　three　years。　The　admiral　led　Lisa　through　the　enormous　base；　ing　at　last　to　a　vertical　shaft　nearly　a　mile　across。　It　was　lined　with　operations　ports；　energy　systems；　and　power　routing。　High　above；　at　ground　level；　a　faceted　dome　like　a　cyclopean　lens　covered　the　shaft。

〃Was　there　something　in　particular　you　wanted　to　show　me　out　here？〃　After　the　relative　confinement　of　the　base　passageways；　it　did　feel　like　being　outside。

Her　father　led　her　out　to　the　end　of　a　gantry　overlooking　the　cavernous　shaft。　They　could　see　down　for　miles；　see　up　almost　as　far。

He　waved　a　hand　at　it。　〃I　wanted　you　to　see　the　Grand　Cannon；　Lisa。　Before　we　enter　into　any　peace　negotiations　with　the　aliens；　we're　going　to　fire　it　at　them。〃

She　couldn't　believe　her　ears。　〃What？〃　The　cry　seemed　lost　in　the　abyss　that　was　the　cannon's　barrel。

Admiral　Hayes　wore　a　grim　look；　his　strong　jaw　set。　〃Even　though　the　satellite　reflector　system　isn't　in　place　yet；　we　expect　to　wipe　out　a　large　segment　of　the　enemy　fleet　by　pulling　off　a　surprise　attack　spearheaded　by　a　volley　from　the　Grand　Cannon。　Once　they've　seen　its　power；　we　think　they'll　enter　the　negotiations　in　good　faith。〃

The　original　plan　had　been　to　put　huge　orbiting　mirrors　in　place　to　direct　the　cannon's　bolts　as　needed；　otherwise；　its　field　of　fire　was　very　narrow　indeed。　But　with　the　alien　warships　so　numerous　and　so　close　to　Earth；　it　was　really　only　a　matter　of　time　before　part　of　their　fleet　drifted　into　range。

Lisa　spat；　〃This　Grand　Cannon　probably　couldn't　wipe　out　a　small　division　of　Battlepods；　much　less　one　of　their　nine…mile…long　mother　ships！　Don't　you　understand？　We　have　to　approach　them　without　trying　to　escalate　the　war！〃

〃Some　of　them　have　defected　to　us　already！　I'm　sure　the　Zentraedi　will　listen　to　our　peace　proposals　without　the　use　of　weapons。〃

The　admiral　looked　out　at　the　barrel　of　the　gun。　〃Lisa；　how　can　you　be　so　naive？〃　He　turned　to　her。　〃The　only　thing　a　warlike　power　understands　is　a　demonstration　of　greater　power！　We　can't　let　the　Zentraedi　mistake　our　peace　overtures　for　a　sign　of　weakness。　We　must　deal　from　strength！〃

He　paced　to　the　observation　platform　at　the　very　end　of　the　gantry；　hands　clasped　behind　him。　〃How　can　you　expect　peaceful　intentions　from　a　race　bred　and　trained　for　nothing　but　war？　Even　if　their　genetic　structure　is　identical　to　ours；　we　have　no　real　knowledge　of　what　factors　in　their　background　motivate　them；　or　how　strongly。〃

〃But　Father；〃　she　began　hopelessly。

He　forged　on。　〃No；　Lisa！　If　history　tells　us　anything；　it's　that　caution　and　strength　are　needed　when　dealing　with　an　unpredictable　foe。　We've　already　set　a　date　for　the　firing　of　the　cannon；　we'll　see　about　the　peace　talks　after　that。〃

She　stood　mutely；　hair　stirred　by　air　currents　in　the　yawning　shaft。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear；〃　he　told　her。　〃But　there's　nothing　more　to　discuss。〃

〃Yes。　So　I　see。〃


Even　with　strange　rumblings　of　unseen　events　on　the　war　front；　the　public　demanded　that　its　hunger　for　other　news　be　fed。　The　interest　in　celebrities　and　media　idols　was　never　satisfied　for　long。

A　press　conference　had　been　called　in　the　lobby　of　Macross　General　Hospital。　It　was　crowded　with　print　and　broadcast　journalists；　shoving　and　elbowing；　aiming　lights　and　lenses　and　microphones。　In　the　middle　of　it　all　was　Lynn…Minmei；　the　reigning　queen　of　Macross　and　the　SDF…1。

Not　even　nineteen　yet；　she　was　used　to　the　lights　and　attention；　a　gamine；　black…haired　lovely。　Her　tremendous　charm　and　vivacity　had　bolstered　the　ship's　morale　through　its　darkest　moments　and　won　the　heart　of　almost　everyone　on　board。

Next　to　her　sat　her　costar　and　third　cousin；　Lynn…Kyle；　a　saturnine；　sullen　young　man　with　flowing　black　hair　that　reached　down　past　his　shoulder　blades。　Kyle；　the　pacifist　who　was　nonetheless　an　unbeatable　martial…arts　expert；　wore　a　bandage　around　his　head。　He　was　pleting　his　convalescence　after　having　saved　Minmei　from　a　falling　spotlight　during　a　Zentraedi　attack　on　the　battle　fortress。

Lynn…Kyle　glared　at　the　reporters　and　the　camera　and　sound　people。　He　always　held　the　public　in　some　contempt；　scorning　them　for　their　willingness　to　let　the　military　prosecute　the　war。

〃Minmei；〃　one　man　was　saying；　waving　a　mike　at　her；　〃is　it　true　you've　been　helping　Kyle　recover；　remaining　right　beside　his　bed　for　the　whole　week？〃

Minmei　frowned　at　him；　and　Kyle　glowered；　but　they　were　used　to　that　kind　of　innuendo　by　now。　〃I　don't　think　I'd　put　it　quite　that　way；〃　she　replied。

A　woman　persisted。　〃Rumor　has　it　both　of　you　are　about　to　get　married。　Got　anything　to　say　about　that？〃

〃Absolutely　untrue！〃　she　fired　back。

That　didn't　keep　another　guy　from　asking；　〃Can　you　tell　us　how　your　ex…boyfriend　reacted　when　you　told　him　about　these　marriage　plans？〃

She　felt　like　blowing　her　stack；　then　saw　that　this　might　be　a　chance　to　divert　the　focus　of　the　interview。　〃Oh；　you　must　mean　Rick　Hunter。〃　She　gave　a　silvery；　laugh。　〃He　was　just　a　friend。〃


Sitting　up　on　his　bunk；　knees　clasped　to　himself；　watching　the　live　coverage；　Rick　made　a　sour　face；　shaking　his　head。　〃Yeah。　I　guess　that's　all　I　was。〃

He　felt　like　an　idiot；　a　plete　sucker。　Time　and　again　he　had　convinced　himself　that　Minmei　cared　for　him。

There　was　something　about　her；　something　flirtatious　and　impulsive。　It　was　something　that　didn't　want　to　release　anyone　who　had　fallen　under　her　spell　because；　he　supposed；　that　would　be　too　much　like　rejection。　So　every　time　he　had　e　close　to　getting　over　her；　she　had　shown　up　to　raise　his　hopes　all　over　again。

Well；　it　looked　like　that　wouldn't　be　a　problem　anymore。　A　little　trip　down　the　aisle　for　the　two　darlings　of　stage　and　screen　would　at　least　cut　Rick　free　once　and　for　all。

But　the　reporters　weren't　having　any　of　Minmei's　evasion。　〃Oh；　e　on；　now！　That's　not　what　we　heard！〃　〃You　used　to　be　pretty　close　to　him；　right？〃　〃You　mean　to　tell　us　you　and　Hunter　never　discussed　marriage　at　all。

Minmei　looked　vexed　but　didn't　answer。　Rick　thought　back　once　again　to　those　long　days　they　had　spent　together；　stranded　and　lost　in　a　remote　part　of　the　SDF…1；　when　they　first　met。　When　it　looked　like　they　weren't　going　to　make　it；　she　had　admitted　to　Rick　her　lifelong　desire　to　be　a　bride。

They　held　a　mock　ceremony；　marked　by　a　very　real　kiss；　only　to　be　interrupted　by　rescuers　before　they　could　say　their　vows。　Rick　wondered　if　any　of　that　was　passing　through　Minmei's　beautiful　head　or　if　she　had　dismi