02_battle_cry-第31部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ral　corridor。　They　had　made　good　progress　for　several　hours；　until　Max　had　inadvertently　tripped　a　scanner　alarm　reset　to　detect　movement　along　the　floor　of　the　passageway。

They　had　three　shock　troopers　on　their　tail　now　and　a　deadly　flock　of　projectiles　overhead。　The　soldiers　were　herding　them　toward　a　waiting　elevator；　hoping　to　corner　them　inside。　But　perhaps　the　enemy　hadn't　identified　the　weapon　one　of　the　Micronians　carried；　or　perhaps　they　hadn't　even　seen　it？　In　any　case；　no　sooner　did　the　two　enter　the　car　than　Max　swung　himself　about　face；　trained　his　laser　rifle　on　the　elevator　controls；　and　fired。　The　intense　beam　soldered　the　proper　circuits；　the　doors　slid　closed；　and　the　car　began　to　descend。。。


In　that　liquid　dream；　Minmei　was　leaving　him　and　Rick　was　calling　out　to　her；　over　and　over　again。。。

Then　Lisa's　face　floated　into　focus；　and　the　dream　faded。　She　helped　him　sit　up　and　asked　if　he　was　all　right。

He　began　to　take　stock　of　himself　and　these　new　dark　and　wet　surroundings。　They　were　in　an　area　of　huge　pipes；　containment　chambers；　baffles；　valves；　and　regulating　devices；　seated　near　the　edge　of　a　system　of　channels　and　reservoirs　that　stretched　out　into　the　darkness。　Shafts　of　light　filtered　down　from　far　above　them；　and　the　thick　air　was　filled　with　the　sounds　of　mechanized　pumps　and　filtration　units；　running　water；　and　the　clank　and　hiss　of　fluid　control　conduits。

They　were　both　soaked　to　the　skin；　Lisa's　uncoiled　long　brown　hair　hung　in　wet　waves　halfway　down　her　back。

She　said；　〃We　must　be　in　the　water…recycling　chamber。　It's　in　terrible　disrepair。〃　She　laughed　at　her　words。　〃Great　time　to　be　judgmental；　huh？　This　pool　saved　our　lives。　We　must　have　fallen　a　hundred　feet。〃

With　effort；　Rick　got　to　his　feet。　〃Maybe　the　water　broke　our　fall；　but　something　else　saved　me　from　drowning。〃

Lisa　averted　his　gaze。　〃I　wasn't　about　to　have　you　die　on　me；　Hunter。〃　Then　she　looked　directly　at　him。　〃Let's　just　call　it　even。〃

Rick's　vision　was　adapting　itself　to　the　dark；　he　began　to　take　notice　of　the　refuse　and　debris　all　around　them。

Nearby　there　were　hatchways　and　elevator　platforms；　and　somewhere　in　the　distance；　faint　light。

〃They　do　let　things　get　run…down；　don't　they？〃

〃I've　been　thinking　about　it；　Lieutenant。　Even　with　all　their　technical　knowledge；　maybe　they　only　know　how　to　use　the　equipment　but　not　how　to　repair　it。　No　techs；　no　maintenance　personnel。　Just　soldier　clones；　every　last　one　of　them。〃

〃All　this　destructive　power。。。I　wonder　how　many　worlds　they've　ended；　how　many　lives　they've　taken。　It's　sickening　to　think　about：　an　entire　civilization　dedicated　to　war。〃

〃I　guess　I　should　feel　right　at　home。〃

〃What　d'　ya　mean？〃

〃My　father　had　a　favorite　saying：　‘Only　where　there　is　battle　being　waged　is　there　life　being　lived。〃'　She　sighed。　〃My　family　has　been　connected　with　the　military　for　the　past　century。。。The　only　life　I've　ever　known　is　the　Defense　Forces。　‘The　mission；'　that's　all　I　can　think　about。〃　She　gestured。　〃You　heard　me　up　there。〃

〃Yeah；　but；　that's　why　you're　an　officer。　You're　a　leader。　Head　of　the　class　and　all　that。〃

Lisa's　eyebrows　knitted。　〃How　did　you　find　that　out？〃

〃It's　mon　knowledge。〃　Rick　laughed。　〃Some　of　the　VT　pilots　call　you　Supergirl。〃

〃Wonderful。。。〃　She　looked　hard　at　Rick。　〃You　know；　I　don't　mean　to　intimidate　anyone。　It's　just　that。。。〃　A　sly　smile　replaced　her　grim　expression。　〃Forget　it。　But　I'll　bet　Miss　Macross　isn't　a　bit　intimidating；　is　she？〃

Rick　was　taken　off　guard。　〃Minmei？　What　makes　you　think…〃

〃You　were　calling　her　name：　'Minmei！　Minmei！〃'　Lisa　playfully　mocked　him。

〃All　right；　all　right。　What　of　it？〃

〃You　tell　me。〃

〃Nothing　to　tell。　We're　friends；　that's　all。　You　know　how　it　is。　She's　a　celebrity。　Public　property。　We　don't　have　time　for　each　other　anymore。〃

〃A　major　talent；　I'm　sure。〃

Rick　gave　her　a　look　that　signaled　she'd　gone　too　far。

〃Listen；　Lieutenant；　I'm　only　kidding。　At　least　you　have　someone　to　return　to。　All　I　have　is　another　mission　to　look　forward　to。〃

〃There's　no　one　in　your　life？〃

〃Just　call　me　Miss　SDF…1。〃

〃That's　just　a　matter　of　time。　You're　a　beautiful　woman。　Most　guys　would　give。。。〃

〃Yeah？〃

〃What　I　mean　is；　you're　a　brilliant　officer；　and。。。〃

Lisa　didn't　say　anything　for　a　minute；　then　she　cleared　her　throat　and　stood　up。　〃Well；　I'm　not　going　to　meet　anyone　sitting　around　here；　am　I？〃

She　took　hold　of　Rick's　hand。　〃Let's　get　out　of　here；　Lieutenant。〃

They　walked　toward　the　light。

Engine　rooms；　storage　rooms；　empty　holds；　a　second　recycling　plant；　more　storage　areas…all　in　the　same　shabby；　unwashed；　and　unmaintained　state。　But　something　had　changed：　The　air　had　begun　to　lose　that　overpoweringly　dank　smell　and　thickness。　A　slight　breeze　played　through　Lisa's　long　hair。

They　moved　toward　the　source　of　the　wind。

At　the　far　end　of　a　supply　room　filled　with　Battlepods　and　ordnance　of　every　conceivable　type；　they　found　their　exit：　a　rectangular　port　in　the　hull　of　the　ship。　They　ran　toward　this；　the　wind　no　longer　gentle　but　chilled　and　full　of　sound；　and　stopped　short　of　the　edge；　awestruck。

So　wrapped　up　in　finding　a　way　out；　they　had　forgotten　that　they　were　actually　onboard　a　ship　within　a　ship！

If　you　could　call　it　a　ship。

Beyond　the　portal　was　a　sight　their　senses　were　unprepared　for：　hundreds　of　Zentraedi　ships　anchored　weightless　in　the　seemingly　sky…blue　docking　chamber　of　the　mand　center。　Overe　by　a　sudden　wave　of　vertigo；　Lisa　took　a　step　back。　Was　it　possible？　Dolza's　ship　would　have　to　be　the　best　kept　secret　in　the　universe…a　thousand　miles　long…to　acmodate　all　these　vessels！　Her　mind　wrestled　with　it；　her　thoughts　spinning　out　of　control。

Rick　had　taken　hold　of　her　arm。　〃Someone's　ing！〃　he　told　her。

They　concealed　themselves　behind　some　crates　near　the　portal。　Rick　tuned　in　to　the　sounds　he　had　heard　and　realized　at　once　that　no　Zentraedi　was　capable　of　making　so　little　noise。　It　had　to　be。。。

〃Ben！　Max！〃　Lisa　yelled。

The　four　of　them　reunited　in　a　group　embrace；　and　capsule　summaries　of　their　respective　adventures　and　ordeals　were　rapidly　exchanged。　Max　plimented　Lisa　on　how　lovely　she　looked　with　her　hair　down；　and　she　congratulated　him　on　having　been　able　to　hang　on　to　his　〃thinking　cap〃　all　this　time。　Ben　was　in　his　usual　good　humor。

〃So　what's　next　on　the　agenda；　friends？〃

The　intrusion　of　reality　cooled　their　warm　reunion　somewhat；　what　was　next；　indeed？　From　the　edge　of　the　portal　they　could　see　a　cruiser　taking　on　supplies　through　a　transfer　tube　at　a　neighboring　port　in　the　flagship。

〃We　could　get　aboard　easy　enough；〃　said　Max；　〃but　where　do　you　think　she's　bound？〃

〃Does　it　matter？〃　Ben　asked。　〃Let's　go。〃

〃Hold　on　a　minute；　Ben；〃　said　Lisa。　〃We　were　brought　here　on　this　ship。　I　think　we'd　stand　a　better　chance　of　getting　back　to　the　SDF…1　by　remaining　aboard。〃

Max　didn't　like　the　idea。　〃Not　if　the　Zentraedi　capture　us。　We've　seen　too　much　by　now。　They　won't　take　any　chances　with　us。〃

〃He's　right；〃　Rick　agreed。　〃You're　in　charge；　Lisa；　but　I　vote　for　the　cruiser。〃

Lisa　crossed　her　arms；　then　relaxed　and　smiled　at　them。

〃All　right；　let's　do　it。〃

They　set　off　at　once。

Finding　their　way　to　the　adjacent　port　was　more　difficult　than　they'd　imagined；　but　once　there　it　was　a　simple　matter　to　conceal　themselves　from　the　guards　and　at　the　right　moment　jump　aboard　the　cargo　conveyer。　Rick　thought　about　mice　and　rats　again　as　the　team　was　carried　out　of　Breetai's　flagship　and　into　the　purple…armored　cruiser。


Azonia　was　the　mander　of　the　cruiser　and　her　all…female　crew。　Highly　skilled；　respected；　and　powerful；　she　had　earned　a　reputation　for　succeeding　where　others　had　failed。　Her　attractiveness　and　magnetism　had　helped　secure　a　brilliant　career；　but　her　soft　eyes　and　small　features　belied　the　arrogant；　self…absorbed　megalomaniac　many　knew　her　to　be。　Here　was　one　who　would　sacrifice　half　her　fleet　to　fulfill　that　all…consuming　passion　for　victory…a　fact　that　had　endeared　her　to　the　Zentraedi　mand　but　one　that　instilled　fear　in　the　hearts　of　anyone　of　lesser　station。　In　fact；　among　all　the　Zentraedi　there　was　only　one　who　would　have　defended　her　to　the　finish　and　whose　respect　for　her　some　said　was　tainted　by　an　atavistic　lust　for　sensual　experience。　That　one　was　Khyron；　the　so…called　Backstabber。

Azonia　was　joined　on　the　bridge　of　the　cruiser　by　the　ace　pilot　Dolza　had　promised　her　to　carry　out　the　infiltration…Miriya　Parino　of　the　Quadrono　Battalion。

If　Miriya　was　not　as　ambitious　as　her　superior；　she　was　certainly　as　respected。　Where　Azonia　lived　for　self…glorification；　Miriya　fought　for　personal　perfection：　to　rank　first　in　this　game　called　war　the　Zentraedi　had　been　born　into。　Ever　on　the　alert　for　new　challenges；　new　tasks　to　master；　new　worlds　to　conquer；　she　was　possessed　of　an　intensely　curious　nature　well　suited　to　the　extraordinary　level　of　her　talents；　a　trait　that　set　her　apart　from　the　other　pilots。　But　she　was　loyal　to　a　fault　and　never　failed　to　carry　out　her　orders　to　the　fullest。　In　this　way　she　was　much　like　her　mander；　but　where　Azonia　would　seek　out　ways　to　promote　herself；　only　Miriya　could　rightfully　judge　Miriya。　She　had　earned　her　own　mand　a　dozen　times　over　but　had　rejected　it　on　each　occasion。　Promotion　would　have　placed　her　too　far　from　the　action；　and　it　was　hands…on　action　that　she　craved…contest；　confrontation；　challenge。　She　had　little　patience　for　the　relative　ease　of　a　mander's　life；　having　always　to　be　ready　to　accept　blame　or　praise　based　on　how　well　the　troops　had　carried　out　their　mission。　No；　it　was　far　easier　to　accept　the　orders　of　those　unskilled　superiors　and　bask　in　the　freedom　that　a　secondary　position　allowed。

She　was　eager　to　mix　it　up　with　these　Micronians。　They　were　making　fools　of　the　pilots　under　Breetai's　mand。　And　even　the　great　Khyron　had　not　fared　well　with　this　new　enemy。

It　was　time　to　let　the　female　Zentraedi　take　over。

Anyone　unaware　of　the　motivational　differences　between　Azonia　and　Miriya　might　have　been　inclined　to　read　rivalry　into　their　relationship；　and　in　fact　many　of　the　female　soldiers　on　the　bridge　did　just　that；　even　though　no　such　condition　existed。

Azonia　swirled　the　gray　mander's　cloak　over　her　c