02_battle_cry-第22部分

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eetai　refused　to　have　any　further　direct　dealings　with　Khyron。　Grel　relayed　the　information　to　his　mander。

Khyron　received　him　in　his　quarters　onboard　the　battle　cruiser。　He　had　been　using　the　dried　leaves　again；　a　habit　he　turned　to　in　tranquil　times；　and　ingested　one　as　Grel　spoke。

〃They've　changed　course？〃

〃Yes；　my　lord。　Already　they　have　recrossed　the　orbit　of　the　fourth　planet；　and　our　course　projections　show　them　closing　on　the　system's　planetoid　belt。〃

〃Hmm；　yes；　they　seem　to　fear　deep　space。　Go　on。〃

〃While　the　Noshiran　and　Harmesta　assault　groups　are　engaging　the　enemy；　we　are　to　choose　a　planetoid　of　suitable　makeup　and　sufficient　size　and　destroy　it。　It　is　mander　Breetai's　belief　that　the　Micronians　will　raise　their　shields　against　the　resultant　debris…〃

〃Shunting　power　for　the　shields　from　their　main　battery　weapons　system。〃

〃Such　is　Breetai's　belief。　With　their　main　gun　inoperable　and　their　Battloids　engaged；　Zor's　ship　will　be　rendered　helpless。〃

Khyron　slapped　the　table。　〃Then　we　move　in　for　the　kill！〃

〃No；　mander。〃

〃What　then？〃

〃Warning　shots　across　the　bow　of　the　ship。〃

〃What！…without　hitting　them？〃

〃mander　Breetai　will　then　demand　a　surrender。〃

A　look　of　disbelief　flashed　across　the　Khyron's　face。　He　threw　back　his　head　and　laughed。　〃This　reeks　of　Exedore's　hand。　What　can　he　be　thinking　of？　We've　chased　these　Micronians　through　this　entire　star　system。　They　know　we　won't　destroy　the　ship；　so　why　expect　a　surrender　now？〃　Khyron's　gestures　punctuated　his　words。　〃A　demand　must　be　backed　up　with　the　threat　of　annihilation。〃

〃I　agree；　mander。　The　Micronians　have　demonstrated　a　remarkable　tenacity。　They　will　continue　to　fight。〃

Khyron　thought　for　a　moment。　〃Suppose　they　had　to　fight　blindfolded；　Grel。　Say；　without　their　radar。。。〃

〃But　mander；　our　orders…〃

〃To　hell　with　our　orders！　I'm　not　afraid　of　Breetai。〃

Khyron　stood　up　and　approached　his　underling　conspiratorily。

〃What　we　need　now　is　someone　to　toss　to　Central　mand。　Someone　willing　to　admit　to　a　tactical　blunder…a　misdirected　laser　bolt。〃

〃I　understand；　my　lord。〃

〃Good。　If　no　one　volunteers；　then　use　your　discretion　and　choose　one。。。We　must　take　care　to　cover　our　tracks；　my　dear　Grel。〃


Had　Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter　been　privy　to　Captain　Gloval's　decision　to　alter　the　SDF…1's　course　（or　had　he　been　able　to　read　the　stars）；　he　might　not　have　been　feeling　so　desperate；　sitting　there　on　a　bench　in　Macross　Central　Park　waiting　for　Minmei　to　show。　But　the　way　Rick　had　figured　it；　Earth　was　only　a　few　months　away；　and　he　had　to　win　Minmei　before　they　arrived。　For　all　its　50；000　inhabitants；　Macross　still　felt　like　a　small　town；　he　stood　a　chance　here。　Once　they　were　home　it　would　be　a　different　story。

Rick　was　not　in　the　best　of　moods　in　any　case。　He　was　still　burning　from　his　most　recent　confrontation　with　Flight　Officer　Lisa　Hayes；　and　now　Minmei　had　kept　him　waiting　for　over　an　hour。　He　checked　his　wristwatch　against　Macross　City's　new　midday　sun。　A　little　more　magic　from　the　EVE　engineers　and　no　one　was　going　to　care　about　returning　to　Earth；　he　said　to　himself。

Since　the　Miss　Macross　pageant；　Minmei　had　been　all　but　inaccessible；　seeing　her　practically　required　a　formal　appointment；　and　on　those　rare　occasions　when　Rick　managed　to　cut　through　the　red　tape；　their　time　together　had　been　brief　and　awkward。　She　hadn't　even　bothered　to　visit　him　in　sick　bay　after　the　recon　encounter。　Still；　the　field　was　clear；　she　wasn't　dating　anyone。　Her　picture　adorned　the　radomes　of　many　of　the　Veritechs；　but　only　Rick　Hunter　had　access　to　the　real　thing。

He　checked　his　watch　again　and　looked　around　the　park。　The　three　bridge　bunnies　were　approaching　him。　Kim；　Vanessa；　and。。。he　couldn't　remember　the　young　one's　name。　He　didn't　feel　up　to　making　small　talk　with　them；　but　there　was　nowhere　to　hide。

They　started　right　in　on　him：

〃Well；　hello　there；　Lieutenant　Hunter。〃

〃Who　are　you　waiting　for？〃

〃Do　you　have　a　date？〃

〃Been　waiting　long？〃

〃Is　she　really　beautiful？〃

〃Prettier　than　we　are？〃　the　young　one　asked。

Rick　took　a　good　look　at　them　as　they　struck　mock　poses　for　his　benefit。　They　were　all　attractive；　especially　the　brunette　in　shorts。　But　in　his　eyes　Minmei　had　them　beat。　He　gracefully　sidestepped　their　further　questions　and　a　moment　later　was　rescued　by　a　robo…phone　that　was　cruising　around　the　park　paging　him。　The　persistent　machine　was　arguing　with　someone　on　a　neighboring　bench　when　Rick　called　out　to　it。　Once；　then　again　and　again；　adding　volume　to　each　shout。

Finally　the　phone　homed　in　on　him；　insulting　some　innocent　as　it　left　the　nearby　bench。　Rick　deposited　a　coin；　Minmei's　face　appeared　in　the　viewscreen。　The　three　women　moved　behind　him　to　get　a　better　look。　Rick　didn't　hear　their　surprised　reactions　at　seeing　Miss　Macross　on　the　screen　and　barely　acknowledged　their　good…byes　when　they　wandered　off。

Minmei　was　apologizing。　〃。。。It's　just　that　my　singing　lesson　was　set　back　an　hour　and　I'm　afraid　I'm　not　going　to　make　it　now。〃

〃That's　great；　Minmei。　The　one　afternoon　I'm　not　on　flight　duty　and　you've　got　singing　lessons。〃

〃Listen；　Rick；　they've　decided　to　do　a　recording　session…〃

〃Another　new　career　for　the　‘Queen'？〃

Minmei's　response　was　interrupted。　She　turned　away　from　the　camera　to　respond　to　someone　seated　at　a　piano。　The　guy　was　summoning　her　back　to　practice。

Minmei　said；　〃Rick；　I've　got　to　go；〃　and　broke　the　line。

The　robophone　moved　off。　Rick　took　a　walk　through　the　park；　not　sure　if　he　was　feeling　anger　or　self…pity。　He　was　standing　by　the　central　fountain　when　the　city's　warning　sirens　sounded。　A　general　alert；　but　conditional；　not　confrontational…an　environmental　threat　as　opposed　to　an　enemy　attack。　People　were　heading　toward　shelters；　but　with　such　unconcern　that　Rick　was　tempted　to　ride　it　out　where　he　stood。

But　just　then　the　fortress　was　struck。

Rick　was　knocked　off　his　feet　and　thrown　into　the　fountain…that　fountain　that　figured　all　too　frequently　in　his　thoughts　of　fond　moments　and　better　times。　But　he　had　no　time　to　bathe　in　waves　of　memory　or　irony。　The　ship　was　sustaining　impact　after　impact；　shaking　Macross　City　to　its　foundations；　and　the　mood　was　now　one　of　panic。　The　〃sun〃　disappeared；　and　through　the　overhead　starlight；　Rick　could　see　an　enormous　hunk　of　planetary　debris　on　a　collision　course　with　the　ship。


〃Sound　general　quarters！〃　ordered　Gloval　as　he　stooped　to　retrieve　his　cap。　〃Give　me　course　correction　options　based　on　the　current　data；　and　alert…〃

The　bridge　quaked　with　such　force　that　Gloval　was　thrown　from　his　chair。　Fragments　of　the　exploded　asteroid　Pamir　continued　their　rain　of　death　against　the　ship。　Klaxons　blared；　and　damage　reports　poured　in。

〃Our　port　side　is　taking　the　brunt　of　it；　sir；〃　said　Lisa。　〃Macross　is　being　badly　shaken。〃

〃All　right；〃　Gloval　said；　picking　himself　up。　〃Concentrate　the　shield　energy　there。　Divert　weapons　power　to　the　pin…point　barrier　system。　And　get　me　the　air　wing　mander。〃

〃I　have　Skull　Leader　on　the　horn；〃　said　Claudia。　〃He　reports　heavy　fighting　in　the　Third　Quadrant。　He's　requesting　backup；　mander。〃

〃Negative。　Give　him　the　situation　here。　Tell　him　to　stand　by　for　recall。　In　a　minute　we're　going　to　be　defenseless。〃

Vanessa；　Sammie；　and　Kim　stumbled　onto　the　bridge　as　Gloval　was　issuing　course　correction　coordinates。　The　three　women　strapped　in　and　began　to　monitor　ship　systems　status。

It　was　Vanessa's　threat　board　that　revealed　the　enemy　ships。

〃Enemy　destroyers！　They're　moving　into　firing　position。〃

〃Those　bastards！〃　yelled　Gloval。　〃Reroute　power　to　the　main　gun。〃

〃Sir；　Macross　City　will　be　destroyed　if　we　lower　the　shields；〃　said　Sammie。

〃You　have　your　orders；〃　Claudia　reminded　the　young　tech。　〃Without　defenses　there　won't　be　any　Macross　City！〃

〃Confirm　enemy　fire…laser…bolt　signatures！〃

〃Brace　yourselves！〃　said　Gloval。

But　no　shock　came。　The　SDF…1　was　fenced　in　by　blue　lightning　but　left　unstruck。　And　Gloval　didn't　know　what　to　make　of　it。　All　at　once；　however；　it　became　a　moot　point：　The　ship　sustained　a　terrible　direct　hit。　All　systems　failed　on　the　bride。　Presently　auxiliary　power　brought　some　of　them　back　to　life。　Gloval　requested　damage　assessment　from　all　stations。

Lisa　reported　the　worst　news：　The　conning　tower　had　been　hit。　The　entire　radar　control　crew　had　been　wiped　out。

Gloval　ordered　all　engines　stopped。

The　dimensional　fortress　shut　down。　The　enemy　had　ceased　their　fire；　but　chunks　of　rock　continued　to　impact　against　it。　Debris　from　the　conning　tower　drifted　by　the　front　and　side　bays。　Lisa　averted　her　gaze　from　the　sight　of　a　human　body　hanging　lifeless　in　the　void；　a　redtrimmed　Battloid。。。

〃Can　we　raise　Skull　Leader？〃

〃Negative；　sir；〃　said　Claudia。

〃Do　we　have　any　radar　functioning…wide…range；　perhaps？〃

〃The　report　from　the　technical　repair　unit　is　ing　in　now；〃　said　Lisa。　She　listened　a　moment。　〃Estimates　of　ten　hours　to　effect　minimal　repairs。〃

Gloval　said　nothing；　his　silence　was　unnerving　to　the　rest　of　them。

Ining　data　to　Sammie's　station　broke　the　stalemate。　It　registered　as　code；　but　unlike　any　encrypted　transmissions　they　were　familiar　with。　Gloval　ordered　her　to　patch　it　through　the　speakers。　The　ever…present　static　of　deep　space　infiltrated　the　bridge；　then；　a　voice：　deep；　resonant；　menacing。

〃In　the　name　of　the　Zentraedi　forces；　I　order　you　to　surrender。　The　last　attack　on　your　ship　was　a　warning　of　what　we　will　do。　You　cannot　escape。　If　you　wish　to　save　the　lives　of　your　crew；　you　must　surrender　at　once。〃

〃My　God；〃　said　Claudia。　〃It's　the　aliens！〃

〃We　repeat；〃　the　voice　continued；　〃in　the　name　of　the　Zentraedi　forces；　I　order　you　to　surrender。　The　last　attack　on　your　ship。。。〃

Gloval　listened　carefully　to　the　message。　The　Zentraedi；　he　said　to　himself。

Now　at　least　he　knew　what　to　call　them。


CHAPTER　TWELVE

It　was　only　during　the　final　stages　of　the　＇Global＇　War　that　women　were　assigned　to　active　military　operations。　Up　until　that　time　most　women　held　rear…echelon　positions；　but　as　casualties　increased　among　the　men　unilaterally；　these　positions　came　to　be　of　paramount　importance。　Indeed；　by　the　time　of　the　First　Robotech　War　those　positions　could　only　be　filled　b