02_battle_cry-第14部分

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ngry；　confused；　depressed。。。the　list　went　on　and　on。　It　was　almost　as　long　as　the　list　of　possible　gifts　he'd　formulated。　But　none　of　the　items　seemed　quite　right；　not　one　of　them　was　perfect；　and　that　was　what　he　was　shooting　for。　Something　that　would　say　what　he　couldn't　confess。

And　just　what　was　that？　he　asked　himself。　He　wanted　to　tell　her　how　special　she　was…how　beautiful；　and　sexy；　and　charming。　How　flirtatious　and　conceited　and　spoiled　and…

All　this　was　getting　him　nowhere…fast。　He　collapsed　onto　the　bed；　put　his　hands　under　his　head；　and　stared　at　the　ceiling。　When　he　closed　his　eyes　and　tried　to　think　things　through　once　more；　something　unexpected　happened：　The　face　of　Lisa　Hayes　filled　his　mind。　This　wasn't　something　new；　but　it　continued　to　take　him　by　surprise。　The　truth　was；　it　had　been　happening　a　lot　since　Sara　Base。

Was　he　really　such　an　idiot　that　he　was　going　to　invite　yet　another　woman　to　run　roughshod　over　him？　An　older　woman　at　that；　a　superior　officer　who　gave　every　indication　of　despising　him　in　spite　of　his　rescue　efforts　on　her　behalf？　A　cold　and　distant　plain…looking　woman　who　seemed　more　a　part　of　the　SDF…1　than　a　part　of　the　crew？　So　why　was　he　suddenly　feeling　that　she　too　needed　protection　and　affection？…his　protection；　his　affection。　But　Lisa　occupied　a　different　place　in　his　heart　than　Minmei；　someplace　he　couldn't　reach　with　thoughts　alone。

Rick　was　rescued　from　this　by　a　call　announced　through　the　intrabarracks　m　system。

〃Attention　the　following　personnel：　report　to　headquarters：　third　lieutenants　Justin　Black　and　James　Ralton；　second　lieutenants　Xian　Lu；　Carroll　James；　and　Marcus　Miller；　first　lieutenants　Thomas　Lawson　and　Adam　Olsen。。。〃

Rick　listened　for　a　moment；　lost　interest；　and　was　about　to　rehash　his　dilemma；　when　he　heard　his　own　name　called。

He　made　himself　presentable　and　left　the　barracks；　walking　listlessly　toward　headquarters　and　wondering　just　what　he　might　have　done　to　get　himself　called　on　the　carpet　this　time。　He　ran　through　a　mental　list　of　the　possibilities　as　he　rode　the　elevator　to　the　mand　level　of　the　ship。

It　was　a　day　for　lists；　that　was　for　sure。

A　female　lieutenant　led　him　into　a　briefing　room　where　the　others　whose　names　had　been　called　were　already　gathered。　Rick　fell　into　an　end　position　and　looked　down　the　line：　Black；　Ralton；　Olsen。。。these　guys　were　all　square　shooters。　No　one　needed　to　read　them　the　riot　act；　and　not　one　of　them　seemed　the　slightest　bit　concerned；　just　the　opposite；　in　fact：　confidence　and　pride　radiated　from　each　face。

When　a　captain　called　attention；　Rick　squared　his　shoulders　and　feigned　unconcern。　Colonel　Maistroff　and　some　of　the　top　brass　entered　the　room。　The　colonel　seated　himself　at　a　long　table　and　glanced　through　the　files　piled　in　front　of　him；　then　he　cleared　his　throat　and　addressed　the　line。

〃Since　the　battle　for　Sara　Base　on　Mars；　the　men　assembled　here　have　established　for　themselves　records　of　bravery　under　fire。　Therefore；　I　am　pleased　to　award　them　the　titanium　Medal　of　Valor　for　their　distinguished　service。　Gentlemen：　We　proudly　acknowledge　your　achievements！〃

The　female　lieutenant　had　carried　over　a　flat　unlidded　box；　and　from　this　Maistroff　lifted　out　the　medals；　pinning　one　to　each　breast　in　the　line　and　offering　his　hand　in　congratulations。　Rick　wanted　to　pinch　himself　to　make　certain　he　wasn't　dreaming。　He　craned　his　neck　to　try　to　get　a　good　look　at　the　medal　after　Maistroff　had　decorated　him。

When　the　brief　ceremony　ended；　Rick　left　the　room。　He　found　Roy　Fokker　waiting　for　him；　all　smiles　and　beaming　like　a　proud　older　brother。

〃Nice　going；　Rick。〃

They　shook　hands　and　embraced。　Rick　said；　〃I　still　can't　believe　it。〃

〃Amateur　civilian　ace　for　eight　years　running　and　you're　not　used　to　awards　by　now？〃　Roy　laughed。　〃e　on　down　to　my　office　for　a　minute。〃

They　caught　up　on　the　events　of　the　past　few　days　as　they　walked。　At　the　office；　Roy　motioned　Rick　to　a　chair　and　positioned　himself　behind　the　desk　opposite　him。　He　opened　a　drawer；　retrieved　something；　and　tossed　it　to　Rick。

It　was　a　small；　flat　leather　case。　Rick　hefted　it　and　asked；　〃What　is　it？〃

Roy's　smile　was　enigmatic。　〃Go　on；　open　it。〃

Rick　snapped　open　the　lid：　Lieutenant's　bars　rested　on　green　velvet　beds。

〃You've　been　promoted；　Rick。〃


Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter。

Rick　asked　Roy　to　say　it　so　he　could　get　used　to　the　sound　of　it。

〃Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter。〃

Rick　signaled　his　approval　with　a　nod。　It　sounded　fine。　Next　he　turned　his　attention　to　the　information　contained　in　the　dossiers　Roy　had　given　him。

I'm　assigning　two　subordinates　to　your　mand。

Some　of　the　dossier　material　flashed　across　the　monitor　screen　on　Roy's　desk：　CORPORAL　BEN　DIXON；　378　HOURS　IN　FLIGHT　SIMULATION　AND　66　ACTUAL　HOURS。　CLASS　A。　MAXIMILLIAN　STERLING；　320　HOURS　IN　FLIGHT　SIMULATION　AND　SO　ACTUAL　HOURS。　CLASS　A。

While　he　listened；　Rick　absently　fingered　the　medal　of　valor　pinned　to　his　jacket。

〃These　guys　are　novices；　Roy。〃

Roy　stuck　out　his　jaw。　〃You're　the　old　veteran　now？〃

〃Well；　I've　flown　more　missions　than　these　two。〃

〃To　me　you're　not　a　lot　different　from　them；　Little　Brother。　You've　flown　more　than　some　but　a　lot　less　than　most　of　us。　It's　too　early　for　you　to　get　cocky。〃

Rick　considered　this　sullenly。　He　removed　the　medal　and　regarded　it。　What　is　it　really？　Just　something　to　make　me　feel　better　about　going　out　as　cannon　fodder　again。

Roy　had　gotten　up　to　answer　a　knock　at　the　door；　and　when　Rick　looked　up；　he　found　his　two　new　subordinates　stepping　forward　in　formal　salute　to　introduce　themselves。

Dixon；　the　larger　of　the　two　by　almost　a　foot；　was　muscular　and　aggressive。　He　had　a　crop　of　undisciplined　brown　hair　that　rose　from　his　head　like　flames　caught　in　freeze　frame。　There　was　a　note　of　arrogance　about　him；　but　this　was　softened　somewhat　by　his　husky　self…mocking　laughter。　Sterling；　in　contrast；　was　mild…mannered　and　soft　of　voice。　And　yet　there　was　something　almost　false　about　his　humility。　He　wore　his　hair　long；　with　uneven　bangs　that　kept　falling　in　front　of　his　aviator　glasses。　It　was　unusual　to　meet　a　pilot　with　impaired　vision；　and　Rick　reasoned　that　Sterling's　talents　had　to　outweigh　the　disadvantages　presented　by　less…than…perfect　eyesight。

Rick　acknowledged　their　salutes；　and　Roy　made　the　informal　introductions。　But　after　a　few　minutes　of　pleasantries；　Rick　was　beginning　to　feel　unfortable　with　his　two　new　dependents　and　took　advantage　of　a　lapse　in　the　conversation　to　excuse　himself。　Minmei's　party　would　be　kicking　off　soon；　and　he　wanted　to　catch　her　alone　for　at　least　a　few　minutes。　However；　when　Ben　and　Max　suddenly　expressed　an　interest　in　acpanying　him；　Rick　reconsidered　his　options：　Showing　up　at　Minmei's　with　new　lieutenant's　bars　and　two　subordinates　in　tow　would　surely　gain　him　some　points。　At　least　it　would　show　her　that　his　superiors　viewed　him　as　responsible　and　serious；　even　if　she　chose　not　to。

So　the　three　of　them　left　Fokker's　together；　already　exchanging…　stories　and　searching　out　mon　ground。　They　tubed　into　Macross　City；　hitting　a　few　spots　on　the　way；　and　it　wasn't　long　before　they　were　fast　friends。

Macross　was　a　different　experience　each　time　Rick　visited　it。　Resident　old…timers…people　born　back　in　the　'forties　and　'fifties…claimed　that　it　would　have　taken　generations　to　construct　what　Robotech　engineers　and　crews　managed　in　a　week。　All　of　this　was　due　to　technological　advances　brought　about　with　the　arrival　of　the　SDF…1。　Some　of　the　city　had　been　〃created〃　through　the　use　of　Enhanced　Video　Emulation…the　people　were　fed　illusions　as　in　some　turn…of…the　century　film…but　most　of　it　was　a　real；　pulsing　metropolis　now。　Certainly　no　city　on　Earth　could　boast　of　a　park　with　views　to　match　those　from　Macross　Central。　You　were　not　just　staring　up　at　the　stars　from　the　benches　there；　you　were　among　them。

The　three　VT　pilots　were　a　few　blocks　from　the　White　Dragon；　when　several　〃death…beds〃　rumbled　by…huge　flatbed　vehicles　carting　off　the　battle…damaged　remains　of　Veritech　fighters　to　recycling。　Without　raw　material；　the　SDF…1　techs　had　to　reuse　everything。

Rick　looked　over　at　his　new　rades　and　studied　their　reaction　to　the　passing　wrecks。　His　jubilant　mood　had　vanished。　Fighter　pilots　were　similarly　recycled；　he　told　himself。

〃There's　the　whole　truth　about　war；〃　Rick　said；　gesturing　to　the　death…beds。

〃I　don't　want　to　end　up　like　that；〃　said　Max。

Ben　bellowed　his　laugh。　〃While　I'm　around　you've　got　nothing　to　worry　about。〃

Lieutenant　Rick　had　an　impromptu　speech　on　the　tip　of　his　tongue；　but　he　decided　to　let　Dixon's　remark　slide。　Ben　would　find　out　for　himself　soon　enough。

The　war　machine　would　chew　them　up　and　spit　them　out。　You　could　only　give　it　your　best　shot　and　hope　the　odds　were　in　your　favor。


〃Luck〃　was　a　term　the　Zentraedi　were　unfamiliar　with；　their　language　contained　no　words　for　it；　and　their　psychological　makeup　embraced　no　such　concept。

Khyron　had　suffered　a　setback。　It　had　nothing　to　do　with　chance　or　odds。　He　had　failed　because　he　had　listened　to　Breetai　and　disregarded　his　own　instincts。　This　would　not　happen　again。　This　enemy　was　unpredictable。　Where　it　would　be　advantageous　to　press　an　attack；　they　would　retreat；　where　it　would　have　been　wise　to　use　the　massive　firepower　of　Zor's　ship；　they　instead　relied　on　small　fighters。　And　the　worst　of　it　was　that　they　seemed　to　value　life　above　all　else。　Sooner　or　later　Khyron　would　have　to　play　on　that　fear　of　death　they　carried　around。

He　had　appointed　a　new　second…in…mand　to　replace　Gerao；　who　was　now　in　solitary　confinement　for　having　failed　to　detect　the　Micronians'　countermeasures　at　the　abandoned　base。　The　blank　faceplated　visage　of　this　second　was　currently　on　the　monitor　screen　in　Kyron's　quarters。

〃But；　my　lord；〃　the　second　was　saying；　〃what　about　mander　Breetai's　reaction　to　our　continued　attacks？　He　has　made　it　clear…〃

〃Forget　about　him！　Do　you　dare　question　my　authority？〃

〃My　lord！〃　The　second　saluted。

〃We'll　deal　with　that　ship　in　our　own　way。　Now　pay　close　attention：　Breetai　has　prescribed　war　games　for　us。　This　is　his　way　of　humiliating　me　for　our　failures。　But　we're　going　to　turn　this　opportunity　to　our　advantage。　We're　going　to　take　that　s