02_battle_cry-第29部分

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〃Sir；〃　said　Rico。　〃We　have　demonstrated　our　power　to　them。　Why　not　hold　their　planet　hostage　for　the　return　of　the　ship？〃

It　was　a　generally　unheard　of　notion；　but　Dolza　was　willing　to　entertain　it。　He　stroked　his　chin　and　turned　to　Exedore。

〃You　have　made　a　thorough　study　of　this　race。　You　appear　to　have　an　understanding　of　their　language　and　culture。　Would　such　a　threat　be　effective？〃

Exedore　weighed　his　words　carefully。　〃Sir；　it　is　not　the　Zentraedi　way　to　speak　of　past　defeats；　but　may　I　be　permitted　to　remind　this　table　that　these　Micronians　have　already　demonstrated　an　unmon　determination　to　survive。　In　response　to　our　initial　attacks　on　their　homeworld；　the　mander　of　the　ship；　with　no　regard　for　the　lives　of　tens　of　thousands　of　his　fellow　creatures；　executed　an　intraatmospheric　spacefold　to　escape　us。　This　same　mander　detonated　a　reflex　furnace　on　the　fourth　planet　in　their　system；　endangering　the　ship　and　the　lives　of　all　aboard　rather　than　surrender　to　mander　Khyron's　mechanized　division。　Even　though　crippled　in　space　and　without　radar；　they　simply　ignored　our　most　recent　demands　for　surrender。。。In　response　then　to　your　query；　my　lord：　No；　I　do　not　think　that　such　a　plan　would　work。〃

〃We　cannot　risk　losing　those　secrets；〃　said　Dolza。　〃We　must　infiltrate　the　ship　and　determine　what　the　Micronians　know　about　Protoculture。〃

Breetai；　who　knew　Zor's　ship　inside　and　out；　had　a　plan　he　began　to　relate　to　Dolza。　Rico；　Konda；　and　Bron；　meanwhile；　hatched　a　plan　of　their　own：　They　made　a　joint　decision　to　volunteer　to　go　through　the　cellular　transformation　process　which　enabled　a　Zentraedi　to　assume　Micronian　dimensions。

Dolza　and　Breetai　would　find　the　trio's　proposal　acceptable；　and　later；　even　mendable。　And　fortunately　for　Rico　and　the　others；　they　were　never　called　upon　to　give　reasons　for　their　sudden　dedication　to　the　cause。　Because　if　the　truth　were　known；　all　this　talk　about　Robotechnology　and　Protoculture　was　way　beyond　them。　They　were　simply　anxious　to　have　another　look　at　those　partially　clothed　Micronian　females　and　experience　again　those　curious　feelings　that　were　the　result。


In　a　holding　cell　elsewhere　on　Breetai's　ship；　Lisa；　Rick；　and　Ben；　sitting　in　a　patch　of　corridor　light　which　poured　through　cellular　windows　in　the　chamber's　double　doors；　were　paring　their　own　reactions　to　the　Zentraedi　interrogation。　It　was　a　little　like　being　locked　in　an　empty　airliner　hangar；　but　at　least　there　were　no　giants　on　the　scene。

〃It　was　the　weirdest　thing　I've　seen　in　a　while；〃　Ben　was　saying。　〃You　two　kiss；　and　the　big　guys　go　nuts。　I　don't　get　it。〃

〃They　have　enough　power　to　atomize　the　Earth；　but　simple　contact　is　too　much　for　them　to　handle；〃　said　Rick。

Lisa　was　deep　in　thought。

〃And　what　about　this　'Protoculture'　business？　What　do　you　think；　mander？〃

Lisa　looked　at　Ben。　〃Do　you　realize　that　we　haven't　seen　any　female　Zentraedi？　No　children；　no　civilians；　not　even　any　techs　or　maintenance　crews。　Only　soldiers。〃

〃We　haven't　exactly　been　given　the　grand　tour；〃　Rick　reminded　her。

〃I　realize　that；　Lieutenant。　But　it　could　be　that　there　are　no　females　of　their　kind。〃

〃No；　that　can't　be。　They　know　you're　female。　They　had　some　kind　of　knowledge　about　mothers　and　birth。〃

〃Lieutenant；　we　gotta　get　outta　here；〃　Ben　said；　looking　around。

〃I　know。　I've　been　giving　it　some　thought。　We　might　be　able　to　use　our　new　weapon　on　them。〃

〃What　new　weapon？　What　are　you　talking　about？〃

Rick　smacked　his　lips。　〃The　kiss。　Don't　you　get　it？　We　wait　till　the　guard　es　with　our　food；　we　confuse　him　with　our；　uh；　weapon；　and　we　make　a　break　for　it。〃

Ben　was　already　on　his　feet。　〃Great！　Any　place'll　be　better　than　this。〃

Lisa　looked　at　the　two　of　them。　〃Are　you　joking？　You　mean　that　every　time　a　Zentraedi　shows　his　face　we're　going　to　put　on　a　show　for　him？　Forget　it；　Lieutenant。　I've　heard　some　lines　in　my　day；　but　that　one　beats　them　all。〃

Rick's　mouth　dropped　open。　〃Just　hold　it　a　minute；　mander。　Whose　idea　was　it　in　the　first　place？　Besides；　if　you　think　I'm　doing　this　because　I　want　to；　you've　got　another…〃

〃That'll　be　enough；　mister！　I　only　kissed　you　to　get　their　reaction　on　tape。〃　She　patted　the　camera。　〃We've　got　it　now；　we　don't　need　to　do　another　take。〃

Ben　stepped　forward；　〃Hey；　listen；　I'm　perfectly　willing　to　volunteer　to　be　your　partner；　mander　Hayes。〃

〃At　ease；　Corporal；〃　Lisa　told　him。

She　turned　her　back　on　the　two　of　them；　angry　but　wondering：　Was　there　anything　about　strategic　osculation　in　the　officers'　manual？


Help　was　on　the　way。

In　what　was　certainly　the　most　plicated　set　of　mecha…motions　executed　to　date；　Max　Sterling　had　managed　to　clothe　his　Battloid　in　the　uniform　he　had　taken　from　the　Zentraedi　private。　That　he　had　succeeded　so　pletely　in　wedding　his　mind　to　the　mecha　controls　was　justification　enough　for　the　many　articles　later　devoted　to　the　feat；　but　the　fact　that　he　had　acplished　this　within　the　confines　of　the　utility　closet　was　what　ultimately　led　to　his　legendary　status　as　a　VT　hero。

Making　certain　the　Zentraedi　was　neatly　tied　up　and　stowed　away；　Max　checked　the　corridor；　eased　out　of　the　closet；　and　began　to　follow　his　instincts。　The　Zentraedi　uniform　was　well　suited　to　the　Battloid's　purpose；　the　high…collared　jacket　especially　so。　And　even　with　the　round　cap　pulled　low；　the　cockpit　wide…angle　and　longrange　cameras　and　scanners　had　enough　clearance　for　operation。

Not　ten　paces　down　the　hallway；　Max　encountered　one　of　the　massively　built；　armored　shock　troopers；　who　luckily　paid　him　little　notice。　Now　having　passed　the　test；　he　began　to　move　with　increased　confidence；　and　not　long　after　he　spotted　two　of　the　enemy　guiding　a　hover…table　through　the　ship。　Max　upped　the　magnification　on　his　cameras；　locked　in　on　the　table；　and　found　Lisa；　Ben；　and　Rick；　looking　none　the　worse　for　wear　but　in　no　condition　to　do　battle　with　their　giant　captors。

Max　trailed　the　guards　at　a　discreet　distance　and　watched　as　Lieutenant　Hunter　and　the　others　were　deposited　in　some　sort　of　double…doored　holding　cell。　A　single　sentry　was　posted　outside。

Max　was　not　inclined　to　wait　much　longer；　besides；　the　sentry　was　already　betraying　his　boredom　with　yawns　and　general　inattentiveness。　Max　primed　the　Battloid　for　action　and　moved　in。

When　Lisa　heard　the　motion　in　the　corridor　outside　the　cell；　she　had　a　change　in　heart：　Maybe　Hunter's　plan　would　work。　There　wasn't　much　to　lose　at　this　point；　so　she　convinced　herself　that　kissing　him　was　just　part　of　the　mission。　She　told　him　so；　and　the　two　of　them　readied　their　〃secret　weapon〃　while　Ben　waited　by　the　door。

Though　Max's　reaction　to　throwing　open　the　cell　door　and　finding　his　manders　locked　in　a　loving　embrace　was　more　pure　surprise　than　anything　else；　his　temporary　paralysis　convinced　the　prisoners　that　they　had　made　the　right　move。　The　three　were　ready　to　bolt　for　the　corridor　when　Max　opened　the　external　　net　and　called　out　to　them。

〃It's　me…Max！〃

They　stopped　in　midstride　and　stared　up　at　him。

〃M…Max？〃　Rick　said　tentatively。

〃Yeah；　I'm　in　here　all　right。〃

〃God；　Max；　we　thought　you　were　dead；〃　said　Lisa。

〃Yeah；　well；　long　story。〃

Ben　wanted　to　know　where　the　uniform　had　e　from。

〃Later。　We　better　get　a　move　on。〃　He　lowered　the　Battloid's　gloved　left　hand。　Rick　and　Lisa　climbed　in；　and　Max　raised　it　up；　leaving　Ben　on　the　floor。

〃Hey；　man！〃

〃Hang　on；　Ben；　I　want　you　in　the　other　hand。〃

Ben　climbed　into　the　lowered　right。　Now　Max　brought　both　the　Battloid's　hands　level　with　the　uniform's　breast　pockets。　Lisa　and　Rick　grabbed　hold　of　the　insignia…pocket　and　pulled　themselves　in；　Ben　did　likewise　on　the　other　side　of　the　jacket。

〃I　don't　want　you　to　interrupt　the　lovebirds；　Ben。〃

〃Now　wait　a　minute；　Corporal；〃　Lisa　protested。　〃We　only　did　that　to　escape。〃

〃Kissing　each　other　to　escape；　huh？　I　understand。〃

〃Listen　up；　Max…〃

〃Save　it；　Lieutenant。　You've　got　my　word　that　I　won't　spread　this　around　Macross　City。　Although　I　must　say　you　had　me　fooled。　I　thought　you　preferred　younger　women。〃

〃Max！〃

〃Get　yourselves　down　in　there。　We're　moving　out。〃

Rick　held　in　his　anger　and　slid　down　into　the　pocket　alongside　Lisa。　The　Battloid　parted　the　double　hatches　of　the　holding　cell　and　began　to　take　long；　stiff　strides　down　the　corridor。

It　wasn't　long　before　they　heard　Max　utter　a　sound　of　alert。　A　Zentraedi　soldier；　armored　and　armed　with　a　hip　blaster；　was　approaching　them。　Soldier　and　disguised　Battloid　passed　each　other　seemingly　without　incident；　and　inside　the　pocket　Rick　and　Lisa　breathed　a　premature　sigh　of　relief。

But　the　soldier　had　stopped　and　was　calling　for　Max　to　halt。

Max　was　in　no　position　to　defend　himself　or　his　passengers；　launching　his　few　remaining　rockets　would　have　fried　Rick　and　Lisa。　So　he　took　the　only　course　available：　He　ran…straight　into　two　more　shock　troopers　who　were　ing　down　the　corridor。　Max　tackled　one　of　them；　lifting　him　and　swinging　him　into　the　other　as　he　continued　on　his　way；　but　by　now　the　first　soldier　was　chasing　him　and　opening　fire。　He　was　quickly　joined　by　his　rades。

The　Battloid　sustained　blasterbolt　after　blasterbolt　to　the　back　as　it　flew　through　the　ship；　pieces　of　burned　and　tattered　cloth　flying　in　its　wake。　At　Rick's　urging；　Max　reconfigured　the　VT　to　Guardian　mode；　ripping　open　the　uniform　jacket　as　he　hit　the　aft　thrusters。　In　that　hail　of　lethal　fire；　the　Guardian　looked　like　some　sort　of　caped　bird　of　prey　fighting　its　way　to　freedom。

Corridor　length；　however；　was　suddenly　in　short　supply；　and　Max　knew　the　VT　wouldn't　be　able　to　pull　off　a　ninety…degree　turn　in　such　limited　space。　Set　in　the　bulkhead　at　the　top　of　the　corridor　T；　however；　was　a　control　panel　which　could　probably　be　pierced　without　undue　damage　to　the　fighter。　Max　opted　for　it　and　pulled　the　thruster　lever　home。

The　bulkhead　surrendered　too　easily；　and　by　the　time　Max　realized　that　the　VT　had　broken　through　a　large　circular　viewing　screen　in　a　control　room；　the　Guardian　was　way　beyond　it；　tearing　through　a　series　of　projecbeam　astrogational　charts　free…floating　in　an　immense　central　chamber　of　the　ship。　An　open　rectangular　port　at　the　far　end　of　the　room　delivered　them　into　another　serviceway；　at　the　end　of　which　was　a　sea