02_battle_cry-第17部分

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utralized　the　weapon　system　of　the　pod。　This　fortunate　Micronian　pilot　would　live　to　fight　another　day；　Khyron　said　to　himself　as　the　Officer's　Pod　rose　involuntarily　from　the　skin　of　Zor's　ship。　He　could　see　the　Battloid　lift　its　head　in　some　gesture　of　wonder　or　amazement　and　could　only　guess　how　the　pilot　inside　was　reacting

Rick　would　recall　his　feelings　later；　too　stunned　at　the　moment　to　analyze　his　reactions。

In　the　aftermission　debriefing　room　they　would　all　report　the　same　thing：　that　the　pods　had　suddenly　abandoned　their　attack　and　lifted　off；　as　though　they　had　been　given　some　sort　of　recall　signal。

While　Dr。　Lang　tried　to　postulate　the　cause　of　the　strange　readings　he　had　received　and　Gloval　asked　himself　why　the　enemy　had　called　off　its　attack；　Lieutenant　Hunter　had　a　private　session　with　his　two　new　charges　in　the　mess　hall　of　the　Prometheus。

Ben's　head　was　bandaged。　On　the　positive　side；　it　seemed　that　one　of　those　blasts　had　finally　gotten　it　through　the　corporal's　thick　skull　that　discretion　was　the　better　part　of　valor。　Max；　on　the　other　hand；　credited　with　at　least　nine　kills；　was　basking　in　self…adulation；　wondering　only　half　in　jest　whether　the　brass　might　not　end　up　promoting　him　from　corporal　to　general　overnight。

Still　amazed　by　what　he　had　seen　Max　acplish　during　the　battle；　Rick　found　that　his　respect　for　his　fellow　pilot　was　marred　by　feelings　of　jealousy。　But　he　was　too　exhausted　to　dwell　on　it；　he　had　just　enough　residual　energy　to　carry　him　to　his　quarters。　He　was　already　thinking　about　crawling　into　his　bunk　and　courting　sleep。

An　hour　later　he　was　standing　in　the　doorway　to　his　room；　reaching　in　to　hit　the　light　switch。　One　step　inside　and　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　bed　and　the　invitation　laying　there；　paste…on　red　heart　seal　still　unbroken。　He　groaned：　Minmei's　birthday　present！　It　was　like　a　bad　dream；　like　being　up　in　your　Veritech　and　suddenly　realizing　you'd　forgotten　to　ammo　up。

Rick　started　pacing　the　room；　trying　to　recall　the　mental　list　of　gift　possibilities　he'd　posed　earlier。　What　was　it…shoes；　jewelry；　clothes？　He　checked　his　watch：　twenty…two　thirty。　He　knew　he　didn't　stand　a　chance；　but　he　had　to　give　it　a　go。

He　rode　an　empty　tube　into　Macross　City　and　ran　up　and　down　the　streets　searching　for　an　open　store；　cursing　EVE　with　every　step；　because　before　these　artificial　sunrises　and　sunsets　the　city　had　rocked　twenty…four　hours　a　day。　Now　you　were　lucky　if　you　stumbled　on　a　place　that　served　hamburgers　past　midnight。　Then　he　spied　a　robo…vending　machine　on　one　corner　and　called　to　it；　he　would　swear　that　the　thing　turned　and　looked　at　him　before　streaking　away。　Why　did　they　do　this？　Rick　asked　himself　as　he　gave　chase。　Human　and　animated　robo…vendor　ran　for　several　blocks　through　the　late…night　deserted　streets　of　Macross；　Rick　calling　out　to　it；　pleading　with　it；　and　ultimately　cursing　it。　But　the　device　managed　to　outrun　him。

He　caught　his　breath　and　began　heading　in　the　general　direction　of　Minmei's　apartment　above　the　White　Dragon。　He　was　going　to　have　to　tell　her　something…anything　but　the　truth：　that　he'd　been　too　busy　doing　battle　with　the　enemy　to　get　her　a　gift。　Of　course；　there　was　a　chance　that　she　was　already　asleep。　Maybe　he　would　just　sort　of　lurk　around　underneath　the　balcony　of　her　apartment；　see　if　there　were　any　lights　on　up　there。。。

As　if　on　cue；　though；　she　came　to　the　window；　saw　him　out　there　under　the　streetlight；　and　threw　open　the　balcony　doors；　calling　to　him。

〃Rick；　I　knew　you　wouldn't　forget。〃　She　was　checking　her　wristwatch。　〃Five　minutes　to　go。　What　did　you　bring　me？〃

He　started　to　trip　over　his　words。　〃Well；　look；　Minmei；　about　your　present；　you　see；　I　was　planning。。。er；　that　is；　what　I　meant　to　tell　you　before。。。〃

She　laughed。　〃e　on；　Rick；　don't　be　a　jerk。　I　don't　care　what　you　brought　me。　It's　the　thought　that　counts。　Now；　throw　it　up　here。　e　on。〃

Rick's　arms　fell　to　his　sides　in　a　gesture　of　plete　helplessness。　But　his　right　hand　had　found　the　boxed　Medal　of　Valor　in　his　trousers　pocket。　He　pulled　it　out　and　regarded　it　in　the　streetlight。　The　brass　had　given　him　this　to　single　him　out；　it　said：　Listen；　you　are　something　special；　you've　been　of　extraordinary　service　to　all　of　us　in　this　war　we're　waging；　wear　this　and　be　proud；　wear　this　and　be　recognized　by　your　fellow　rades。

So　why　couldn't　it　say　the　same　thing　to　her：　By　giving　it　to　her　he　was　saying　that　she　was　really　the　special　one；　that　his　bravery　and　valor　were　in　her　honor；　that　she　was　his　inspiration；　the　person　he　returned　to…the　reason　he　returned。

He　snapped　the　lid　closed　and　gave　the　box　an　underhand　toss　toward　her　outstretched　hands。　He　couldn't　see　her　face　well　enough　to　judge　her　reaction；　and　for　a　moment　the　silence　unnerved　him。　But　when　she　spoke；　he　was　certain　there　was　no　insincerity　in　her　voice。

〃Rick；　I　don't　know　if　I　can　accept　this。　Really。。。〃

〃I　want　you　to　have　it；　Minmei。　It…it　says　what　I　can't　say　to　you。　Please；　keep　it。〃

She　held　the　box　to　her　cheek。　〃It's　beautiful；　and　I　love　it。〃

Rick　smiled。　〃Happy　birthday。〃

She　blew　him　a　kiss　and　waved　good　night。

Rick　waited　until　the　lights　went　out；　then　walked　the　quiet　streets　of　Macross　City。　It　was　peaceful　and　pleasant。　Dogs　barked　in　the　distance　and　laughter　filtered　out　of　open　doorways。　It　was　almost　like　real　life。


CHAPTER　NINE

There　are　so　many　wonderful　things　going　on　in　my　life；　it's　sometimes　hard　to　believe　it　can　continue　like　this。　But　what　would　the　people　of　Macross　City　think　of　me　if　I　announced　to　them　that　getting　stuck　in　the　fold　and　landing　out　here　in　deep　space　was　one　of　the　greatest　things　that　ever　happened　to　me？　Aunt　Lena　and　Uncle　Max's　restaurant　is　really　happening；　even　the　mayor　es　to　eat　there。　I　have　three　plete　songs　written：　〃My　Boyfriend's　a　Pilot；〃　〃Stagefright；〃　and　〃To　Love。〃　My　dance　instructor　and　my　voice　coach　tell　me　that　I'm　making　excellent　progress；　and　I'm　actually　even　thinking　of　sending　in　an　application　for　the　Miss　Macross　pageant。　But　I　know　that　I　could　never　be　accepted！　That　is　just　too　wild　a　dream　to　e　true…even　for　me！。。。The　only　rough　spot　in　my　life　right　now　is　Rick；　and　I　can't　figure　out　what　to　do　about　him。　I　owe　him　my　life；　for　real；　but　he　wants　me　to　be　something　I　can　never　be：　a　loyal　girlfriend；　maybe　someone　who　would　be　content　to　live　in　his　shadow。　But　I　have　shadows　of　my　own　to　cast！
From　the　diary　of　Lynn…Minmei

As　the　mayor　of　Macross　City；　Tommy　Luan　had　a　lot　to　deal　with。　For　a　long　time　after　the　spacefold　he　harbored　a　fear　that　the　population　was　one　day　going　to　wake　from　the　collective　shock　of　the　experience　and　he'd　have　a　mass　riot　on　his　hands。　But　that　never　came　about。　It　was　probably　an　indication　of　how　inured　the　human　race　had　bee　to　tragedy；　ten　years　of　global　war　had　started　it；　and　the　arrival　of　the　SDF…1　from　deep　space；　carrying　with　it　evidence　of　extraterrestrial　life　forms；　had　sealed　it。　But　in　any　case　the　residents　of　Macross　City　were　a　breed　apart　from　the　start。

Tommy　Luan　had　been　part　of　the　second　wave　of　newers　to　arrive　on　Macross　Island。　The　first　consisted　mainly　of　scientific　and　military　representatives　from　the　newly　formed　World　Unification　Alliance；　Dr。　Lang　and　his　group；　Gloval；　Fokker；　Colonel　Edwards；　and　others　from　the　supercarrier　Kenosha。　Then　there　followed　the　decision　to　attempt　a　construction　of　the　ship…　〃the　Visitor；〃　as　it　was　called…and　this　brought　in　the　numerous　tech　teams　who　were　really　Macross　City's　founding　fathers。　Luan　was　one　of　these。　His　background　was　construction…immense　projects：　bridges；　skyscrapers；　hospitals…no　job　was　too　large。　But　the　Global　Civil　War　had　put　an　end　to　an　unprecedented　period　of　growth　in　the　building　trades；　and　like　far　too　many　others　Luan　was　on　the　skids　and　looking　for　a　job。　He　applied　for　a　position　on　the　Macross　project　and　was　accepted。　He　received　a　security　clearance　and　once　on　the　island　found　himself　placed　in　charge　of　housing　construction　for　the　tech　and　support　groups。

As　the　SDF…1　began　to　take　shape；　so　did　Macross　City。　The　ongoing　project　to　decipher　and　apply　the　principles　of　Robotechnology　became　the　one　to　try　for；　Macross　Island　became　a　haven　for　scientists　from　every　discipline；　pacifists　and　idealists　disheartened　by　continued　war　fare；　Senator　Russo's　military　teams；　and　the　support　network　that　grew　up　to　house；　feed；　and　entertain　these　various　groups。

Tommy　Luan　built　Macross　City；　no　one　would　have　taken　issue　with　that；　so　when　it　came　time　to　call　Macross　City　what　it　was　and　elect　officials；　Tommy　Luan　won　hands　down。　And　four　years　later；　when　the　city　had　grown　to　a　population　of　over　100；000；　Tommy　Luan　would　still　be　on　top。

And　now；　months　after　the　fold；　here　was　Tommy　Luan　still　in　charge。　The　fact　that　the　city　and；　most　of　its　inhabitants　had　been　rescued　was　miraculous；　what　had　been　done　to　the　city　since　was　equally　so。　For　a　time　it　had　been　like　living　in　a　giant's　cellar；　enormous　conduits　and　pipes　overhead；　bulkheads　for　horizons；　the　eerie　sounds　of　the　ship　permeating　the　city。　There　was　room　enough　for　the　50；000　survivors；　but　a　kind　of　collective　claustrophobia　prevailed。

Then　there　was　the　disaster　that　befell　them　during　the　first　modular　transformation　and　the　continued　attacks　on　the　SDF…1　by　their　unseen　enemy。　But　Macross　City　had　weathered　it　all；　and　the　new　city　was　a　marvel　to　behold。　Constructed　on　three　levels　that　ascended　to　the　massive　starport　dome；　the　city　had　everything　it　had　had　on　Earth…and　then　some。　There　were　streets　（even　hills）；　shopping　malls；　electric　cars　and　trucks；　a　monorail；　tube　and　lift　systems；　several　movie　theaters；　arcades；　an　amphitheater；　even　a　radio　station。　The　engineers　who　had　e　up　with　Eve…Enhanced　Video　Emulation…were　experimenting　with　the　blue　skies；　sunrises；　and　sunsets。　And　soon　the　Macross　Broadcasting　System　would　be　inaugurated。

But　there　was　an　important　something　missing：　There　was　no　news。

Except；　of　course；　what　they　were　permitted　to　broadcast　to　the　population　concerning　the　war。　Births　and　deaths；　no　crime　to　speak　of；　no　traffic　accidents；　no　corruption。　There　was　no　real　life　sense　to　the　place；　some　fear　and　paranoia；　b