02_battle_cry-第30部分

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hich　was　a　sealed　elevator。　They　were　still　taking　rear　fire　when　the　elevator　doors　parted。　A　surprised　Zentraedi　soldier　saw　them　ing　and　leaped　out　into　the　corridor；　narrowly　escaping　impalement　on　the　radome　of　the　VT。

Once　inside　the　cubicle；　Max　blew　the　canopy　and　clambered　out　onto　the　arm　of　the　craft；　clutching　his　laser　rifle。

〃The　circuits　are　fried！　This　thing's　gonna　blow！〃

Rick　left　the　pocket　and　catwalked　the　extended　arm　of　the　Guardian　to　the　elevator　closure　lever。　He　jumped　up　and　grabbed　hold　of　it；　riding　it　down　as　the　doors　closed。　The　fighter　was　temporarily　sealed　off　from　enemy　fire；　and　the　elevator　began　to　descend。

One；　two；　three；　four；　five　levels　and　they　were　still　going　down；　the　Guardian　giving　off　predestruct　noises　and　smoke　now；　Max　and　the　others　offering　up　silent　prayers　for　the　doors　to　open。

At　level　six　the　elevator　stopped。　The　doors　parted；　and　the　four　defenders　were　off　and　running。　But　out　of　nowhere　a　Zentraedi　shock　trooper　made　an　airborne　grab　for　them；　landing　facedown　and　miraculously　empty…handed　in　front　of　the　elevator。　The　soldier　got　to　his　feet；　his　quarry　long　gone；　and　stared　at　the　smoldering　uniformed　thing　inside。

He　had　perhaps　a　second　to　contemplate　its　crouched　birdlike　form　before　the　ensuing　explosion　blew　him　away。


If　the　soldier's　last　grasp　failed　to　capture　the　four；　it　had　at　least　succeeded　in　dividing　them。

Rick　and　Lisa　ran　for　quite　a　while　before　realizing　that　Ben　and　Max　were　no　longer　with　them。　They　searched　for　a　while；　but　the　explosion　of　the　VT　had　drawn　more　Zentraedi　to　the　scene；　and　it　seemed　a　wiser　move　to　push　on。

They　entered　an　area　where　several　corridors　converged。　It　was　a　vast；　domed　chamber　crowded　with　generators；　puter　terminals；　conduits；　and　ductwork。　There　was　an　overpowering　smell　to　the　place；　as　alien　as　anything　their　senses　had　yet　encountered；　and　a　sonic　roar　that　reminded　them　of　pressure…cooker　sounds；　amplified　and　low…frequency…enhanced。　They　secreted　themselves　behind　a　long　console　covered　with　switches　and　control　knobs。　Then；　cautiously；　they　peered　over　the　top。

What　they　saw　was　a　cluster　of　thirty…meter…high　vessels；　like　medicinal　capsules　stood　on　end；　transparent　and　filled　with　a　purple　viscous；　churning　fluid。　In　at　least　six　of　these　vessels　were　half…formed；　featureless　Zentraedi。　Rick　was　totally　bewildered　and　vaguely　upset　by　the　sight；　but　Lisa's　sharp　intake　of　breath　told　him　that　she　recognized　something　here。

〃So　that's　why　so　many　of　the　Zentraedi　soldiers　look　alike…they're　all　clones！〃

Lisa　risked　a　better　view：　Now　she　could　see　a　second　cluster　of　human…size　capsules　positioned　in　front　of　the　larger　ones；　also　churning；　also　containing　some　half…formed　shape。　It　took　her　a　moment　to　make　sense　of　this；　and　when　she　turned　to　Rick　with　an　explanation；　she　scarcely　believed　her　own　words：　The　Zentraedi　were　reducing　their　soldiers　to　human　size。

Rick　looked　at　her　like　she　was　crazy；　and　she　didn't　blame　him。　But　there　it　was；　happening　right　before　their　eyes；　and　no　other　explanation　was　forthing。

They　pulled　back　as　more　soldiers　entered　the　chamber　searching　for　them　and　resumed　their　conversation　some　distance　away　in　a　dimly　lit　weapons　room。

〃You　remember　how　Dolza　kept　asking　us　how　we　became　Micronians？〃

〃Yeah；　so？〃

〃They're　wondering　if　we　have　similar　clone　chambers　and　reduction　devices。　That's　why　they　can't　understand　any　closeness　between　the　sexes；　because；　well；　love　and　sex　wouldn't　be　necessary　in　a　society　of　clones。〃

〃Incredible。〃

〃You're　not　kidding；　incredible。　And　it　wouldn't　surprise　me　to　learn　that　Zentraedi　and　humans　are　genetically　related。　In　the　beginning　they　were　probably　the　same　size　as　us！〃

〃So　what　are　they；　human　giants　or　giant　humans？〃

She　looked　at　him　blankly。　〃I　guess　it's　too　early　to　say。　Maybe　after　we　analyze　the　videos　we'll　know。　But　right　now；　I'd　say　they　can　go　either　way。　They've　found　some　way　of　rearranging　their　molecular　structure…big　for　hostile　environments；　small　for。。。〃　Lisa　shrugged。

〃Yeah；〃　said　Rick。　〃Small　for　what？　Why　are　they　reducing　some　of　their　troops？　And　how　are　they　doing　it？〃

〃Protoculture；〃　Lisa　said　evenly。

The　word　had　scarcely　left　her　lips　when　Rick　heard　the　growl。　Suddenly　a　giant　hand　reached　into　the　room　and　took　hold　of　Lisa。　She　screamed。　Rick　yelled　and　gave　chase；　mindless　of　the　consequences。

The　giant　had　straightened　from　his　crouch　by　the　time　Rick　hit　the　corridor；　he　was　holding　Lisa　near　his　face；　growling　at　her。　As　Rick　ran　into　view；　the　Zentraedi　soldier　simply　extended　his　foot…not　a　kick；　really；　but　more　than　enough　to　lift　Rick　off　the　floor　and　send　him　careening　into　a　rack　of　upright　laser　rifles。　Why　every　bone　in　his　body　wasn't　broken；　he　had　no　idea　（adrenaline；　he'd　tell　himself　later）；　but　at　the　moment　all　he　knew　was　that　he　was　buried　under　the　weapons；　stunned　and　crushed　but　alive　and　angrier　than　ever。

Rick　allowed　the　fear　and　anger　to　get　hold　of　him；　he　positioned　himself　on　one　knee　and　heaved　one　of　the　rifles　over　his　shoulder　like　a　bazooka…a　five…meter…long　bazooka。　Putting　all　his　meager　weight　to　the　trigger；　he　managed　to　yank　off　three　rapid　blasts。　The　Zentraedi　caught　all　of　them…one　through　the　fish　eye　faceshield　and　two　through　the　pectoral　armor…and　went　down　like　an　oak。　Rick　dropped　the　weapon　and　rushed　in　to　find　Lisa　still　in　the　soldier's　hand；　crying。

He　stopped　in　his　tracks；　then　moved　in　slowly；　afraid　to　touch　or　move　her。

〃Jeez；　Lisa。。。how　bad　are　you　hurt？〃

〃I　dropped　the　camera；　I…I。。。it　shattered。〃

〃Forget　the　camera！　You　mean　you're　not　hurt？〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　so。　But　the　mission。。。〃

〃Unbelievable；〃　Rick　muttered　as　he　helped　her　from　the　slack　hand。　〃Sometimes　women　just　don't　make　any　sense；　even　when　they're　officers。〃

It　wasn't　in　any　way　meant　to　bring　her　around；　but　it　surely　did：　She　threw　him　off　and　ran　a　hand　over　her　wet　eyes。　〃Don't　start　with　me；　Hunter。〃

Rick　felt　the　footsteps　ing。　He　grabbed　her　hand；　and　the　chase　was　on　again。　This　has　got　to　be　the　way　mice　feel；　he　told　himself　while　they　were　running。

The　Zentraedi　soldiers　were　right　on　top　of　them；　forcing　them　into　left　and　right　turns　indiscriminately。　Ultimately　they　found　themselves　in　a　dark　and　deteriorated　corridor；　with　stress　fissures　in　the　walls　and　great　gaping　holes　in　the　floor。　Explosive　bolts　of　energy　threw　light　and　short…lived　shadows　all　around　them　as　they　ran。　And　suddenly　the　world　dropped　out　from　under　them；　light　and　sound　beginning　to　fade　as　they　plunged　toward　emptiness　together。。。


CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN

The　list　of　players　was　still　inplete　when　Miriya　took　to　the　stage；　but　was　there　ever　a　harder　act　to　follow？
The　Collected　Journals　of　Admiral　Rick　Hunter

The　best　they　could　do　was　clean　up　the　mess。

Breetai　looked　on　as　two　lower…echelon　soldiers　carted　fragments　of　the　broken　viewscreen　from　the　bridge。　The　front　shield　of　the　observation　bubble　was　also　in　ruin。　Much　as　Breetai's　career。

Dolza；　Breetai；　and　Exedore　had　been　on　the　bridge　when　the　Micronians'　mecha　had　punched　through　the　wall。　Only　seconds　before；　they　had　been　informed　of　the　prisoners'　escape；　and　Breetai　was　promising　their　speedy　recapture。　Then；　suddenly；　the　transformed　Battloid　had　exploded　into　their　midst　and　soared　belligerently　out　across　the　astrogation　hold。　Breetai　had　glimpsed　the　look　on　Dolza's　face　then；　and　now　that　look　was　being　leveled　against　him。

〃So；　Breetai；　have　the　Micronians　been　recaptured？〃

〃I'm　sorry　to　report　that　they　haven't。　Their　size　presents　difficulties。〃

The　Zentraedi　mander…in…chief　cocked　his　head　to　one　side。　〃Indeed。　And　further　difficulties　are　the　last　thing　we　need　at　the　moment。　Do　you　understand？〃

〃M'lord。〃

〃The　responsibility　was　yours；　and　this　failure　will　have　to　be　entered　into　the　record。〃　Dolza　turned　his　back　to　Breetai。　〃I　am　relieving　you　of　active　duty　for　the　time　being；　mander。〃

He　turned　around　and　motioned　to　the　shattered　observation　bubble。　〃You　can　hardly　continue　to　operate　in　this。。ndition；　in　any　case。〃

It　was　even　worse　than　Breetai　had　expected。　But　he　thought　there　might　still　be　a　way　out。　Exedore　stepped　forward　to　speak　for　him。

〃But　sir；　the　infiltration…who　will　assume　responsibility　for　the　operation？〃

Dolza　considered　this。　〃Breetai's　knowledge　of　Zor's　ship　has　been　an　invaluable　aid　to　us　in　this　matter。　It　will　be　duly　noted。　However；　Azonia　will　now　be　in　charge　of　our　three　agents。〃

〃Azonia？！〃　Breetai　and　Exedore　exclaimed。

〃But　Azonia　isn't　briefed…〃

Dolza　held　up　his　hand　to　silence　Exedore。　〃mander　Azonia　is　a　loyal　subject　who　has　never　failed　me。　Once　more；　I　am　assigning　our　finest　pilot　to　her　charge。〃

Just　then　two　soldiers　requested　entry　and　conveyed　the　hover…table　onto　the　bridge。　Grouped　together　on　the　tabletop　and　clothed　in　the　only　suitable　garments　available…sleeveless　sackcloths　cinched　at　the　waist　by　rough　cords…were　the　three　now　〃micronized〃　operatives；　Rico；　Konda；　and　Bron。

Dolza　looked　down　on　them　soberly。

〃You　understand　the　gravity　of　your　mission？〃

〃Sir！〃　three　small　voices　shouted　in　unison。

〃Miriya　will　oversee　your　insertion　into　the　dimensional　fortress。〃

The　agents　exchanged　looks　and　expressions　of　excitement。

〃Succeed　and　you　will　each　have　a　cruiser　to　mand　upon　your　return。〃

Three　arms　were　raised　in　salute：　〃For　the　glory　of　the　Zentraedi！〃

Dolza　returned　the　salute　and　turned　to　Breetai　as　the　hover…table　was　taken　from　the　bridge。

〃This　time　we　will　not　fail。〃


Ben　remembered　having　hurdled　the　giant　alien's　spread　fingers；　but　Max　assured　him　that　he'd　done　nothing　of　the　sort。　They'd　both　taken　a　dive　off　to　one　side　of　the　corridor　when　the　Zentraedi　pounced　and　found　cover　behind　an　open　hatch　just　as　the　VT　exploded。　They　saw　Rick　and　the　mander　make　their　escape；　but　neither　Max　nor　Ben　was　able　to　pick　up　the　trail。　While　enemy　soldiers　poured　into　the　area；　the　two　corporals　had　moved　swiftly　through　a　serviceway　that　ran　parallel　to　the　ship's　central　corridor。　They　had　made　good　progress　for　several　hours；　until　Max　had　inadvertently　tripped　a　s