12_symphony_of_light-第14部分

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of　scanning　perimeter　indicates　possible　presence　of　Robotech　mecha　within　control　zone　even　now。　All　scanning　systems　on　full　alert。〃


On　foot；　Rook；　Rand；　and　the　others　joined　Scott　and　Lancer　at　the　top　of　the　ridge；　where　the　two　had　concealed　themselves　among　some　rocks。　The　VTs　had　been　shut　down　and　left　on　the　roadbed。

〃I　don't　like　the　looks　of　all　this　activity；〃　Lancer　was　telling　Scott　when　the　rest　of　the　team　approached。　He　had　a　pair　of　high…powered　scanning　binoculars　trained　on　the　hive　dome。　Shock　Troopers　and　Scouts　were　buzzing　in　and　out　of　the　hemisphere；　and　several　Pincer　units　were　in　assembly　on　the　ground；　as　though　receiving　orders　from　some　unseen　mander。　〃I　think　they're　expecting　us。〃

〃But　they　weren't　expecting　us　to　spot　them　first；〃　Scott　said　gruffly。

〃How　does　it　look？〃　Rand　called　out　behind　them。

Lancer　lowered　the　binoculars　and　stepped　away　from　the　outcropping。　〃In　a　word…bad。〃

〃We've　got　to　double　back；〃　Scott　told　them。　〃There's　a　high　road　that　keeps　to　the　ridgeline　above　this　valley。　We　might　be　able　to　get　through　before　their　sensors　pick　us　up。　It's　going　to　be　slow　going；　but　I　don't　see　that　we　have　any　choice。〃

The　refrain；　Rand　said　to　himself　as　he　trudged　back　to　his　mecha。


Scott；　Rook；　and　Lancer　led　the　slow；　silent　uphill　procession；　relying　once　more　on　the　battery…operated　thrusters　that　had　seen　the　Guardian…configured　Veritechs　over　many　a　northern　pass。　But　once　over　the　ridge；　they　risked　increasing　the　pace　somewhat　and　brought　the　Protoculture　systems　back　into　play。　They　kept　to　the　road　nevertheless　but　were　now　hovering　fifteen　or　so　feet　above　its　rough　surface。　But　this　still　wasn't　fast　enough　for　Annie。

〃Some　birthday；〃　she　griped　to　Rand。　〃No　party；　no　presents；　and　no　fun。〃

He　had　been　hearing　this　for　the　better　part　of　three　hours　now　and　was　beginning　to　tire　of　it。　〃Count　your　blessings；〃　he　told　her。　〃We're　lucky　to　be　alive。　Isn't　that　right；　Marlene？〃　he　added；　hoping　to　gain　some　support。

But　Marlene　didn't　have　much　to　say　beyond　a　soft　〃Uh…huh〃　from　the　front　seat　of　the　APC。　Her　head　felt　as　though　it　was　splitting　open；　but　she　was　determined　not　to　let　the　others　see　how　much　pain　she　was　in。

The　three　pilots　became　more　brazen　on　the　downhill　stretches　and　were　soon　winging　the　fighters　along　at　a　good　clip。　Encouraged　（and　seeing　an　opportunity　to　raise　the　noise　level　of　the　mecha　above　that　of　Annie's　nonstop　plaining）；　Rand　began　to　feed　the　Cyclone　more　throttle。

〃Mint；　what　d'　ya　say　we　goose　this　thing　a　little。　That　sound　good　to　you？〃

Annie　hammered　her　fist　against　his　shoulder。　〃Don't　call　me　Mint…Whoa！〃

With　a　turn　of　his　wrist；　Rand　saw　to　it　that　her　words　were　left　behind。　The　three　Veritechs　had　disappeared　around　the　bend；　but　with　a　bit　of　fancy　weaving　under　the　foot　thrusters；　Rand　thought　he　could　not　only　catch　up　but　pull　out　into　the　lead。　As　soon　as　he　made　his　first　move；　however；　the　first　Invid　ship　appeared　on　the　scene。　It　elevated　into　view　from　the　trees　at　the　base　of　the　slope　and　skimmed　two　streams　of　annihilation　discs　straight　into　Rand's　path。　Consequently；　he　had　to　bring　that　fancy　maneuvering　into　play　sooner　than　planned；　but　he　did　succeed　in　dodging　the　energy　Frisbees　of　the　enemy's　first　volley。

Of　course；　it　meant　leaving　the　road　entirely　to　do　so。

But　at　least　we're　alive！　he　screamed　to　himself　as　the　Cyclone　was　bounding　down　the　steep　slope　toward　the　trees；　Annie　hanging　on　for　dear　life；　in　and　out　of　the　pillion　seat　half　a　dozen　times　before　they　hit　the　flat　ground　at　the　base　of　the　cliff。　Rand　risked　a　look　over　his　shoulder　and　saw　that　the　APC　had　also　left　the　ledge　roadbed。

What　he；　didn't　see；　however；　was　that　Lunk's　landing　was　far　from　smooth。　A　second　discharge　of　disc　fire　had　forced　Lunk　to　swerve　at　the　last　moment；　the　nose　of　the　vehicle　connected　with　some　large　rocks　and　overturned；　sending　Marlene　sprawling　while　Lunk　rode　out　the　roll。　The　same　Invid　ship　swooped　down　for　a　close　pass　over　the　fleeing　Cycloners；　loosing　a　barrage　as　it　fell；　but　Lancer's　Alpha　was　on　the　thing　now　and　holed　it　before　it　could　manage　a　follow…up　burst。　Rand；　meanwhile；　was　closing　on　the　trees　at　top　speed；　heartened　when　he　heard　the　Pincer　unit　explode　behind　him；　but　panicked　when　he　saw　two　more　rise　unexpectedly　out　of　the　forest。

〃They're　everywhere！〃　he　shouted。

〃Rand！　Get　into　your　battle　armor！〃　he　heard　Scott　say　over　the　mecha's　tac　net。　〃I'll　keep　you　covered。〃

Rand　halted　the　Cyclone　and　began　to　snatch　sections　of　armor　from　one　of　the　storage　partments。　Off　to　his　right　he　saw　Lunk　leading　a　dazed　Marlene　to　shelter　among　the　rocks　at　the　base　of　the　slope　and　told　Annie　to　join　them　there。　She　ran　off；　holding　her　cap　on　her　head　with　one　hand。

Rand　struggled　into　the　〃thinking　cap〃　and　launched　for　reconfiguration。　A　moment　later　he　was　back　on　the　ground　in　Battle　Armor　mode；　squaring　off　with　one　of　the　ships。　The　thing　tried　an　overhand　pincer　swipe　that　missed；　then　a；　quick　spray　of　disc　fire　after　Rand　had　aggravated　it　with　two　Scorpions　from　the　Cyclone's　forearm　launchers。　The　discs　tore　into　the　earth　at　Rand's　feet　and　threw　him　flat　on　his　back；　but　he　countered　with　three　missiles　that　found　their　way　into　seams　in　the　ship's　alloy。　The　Invid　had　enough　life　left　in　it　to　attempt　a　second　pincer　crush；　but　Rand　rolled　out　from　under　it　and　watched　as　the　ship　collapsed　onto　its　face　and　exploded。

Elsewhere；　Rook　was　in　pursuit　of　the　second　new　arrival；　Scott　was　several　lengths　behind　her　as　she　chased　the　ship　across　wooded　valleys　and　dry　fingers　of　foothills。　The　lieutenant's　face　came　up　on　the　red　VT's　cockpit　mo　screen。

〃That's　enough；　Rook…let　it　go。〃

〃But　we　can't　let　this　one　report　that　it　found　us；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃We've　gotta　finish　it。〃

〃Forget　it；〃　Scott　told　her　more　strongly。　〃They're　on　to　us　already；　or　we　wouldn't　have　had　that　little　skirmish　back　there。　Swing　around。〃

Rook　glared　at　Scott's　screen　image；　then　began　to　ease　the　VT　off　its　pursuit　heading。　She　couldn't　help　but　notice　how　beautiful　the　land　was　below　her…green　hills　and　meadows；　in　startling　contrast　to　the　barrenness　of　the　high　ground。　She　saw　a　town　and　alerted　Scott　to　her　find。

〃It　doesn't　look　like　anybody's　home；〃　she　mented　as　the　two　fighters　pleted　a　quick　flyby。

Scott　was　silent　for　a　moment；　then　said：　〃That'll　be　perfect。〃

〃Perfect　for　what？〃　she　asked　him。　But　he　had　nothing　further　to　say。


They　all　agreed　that　the　village　must　have　been　a　delightful　place　when　it　was　alive。　Now　it　was　just　a　motley　collection　of　buildings　and　houses　（spanning　several　hundred　years　of　architectural　styles）；　but　nothing　could　diminish　the　tranquillity　of　the　valley　itself　or　the　beauty　of　the　surrounding　mountains。

Scott　ordered　the　Veritechs　in　and　instructed　Rand　to　assist　Lunk　with　whatever　repairs　the　APC　required；　afterward　the　two　men　were　to　join　the　others　in　town；　but　Marlene　and　Annie　were　to　wait　until　they　received　an　all　clear　before　ing　down　from　the　hills。

A　building…to…building　search　of　the　place　revealed　little　in　the　way　of　supplies；　but　Lancer　stumbled　across　one　item　that　prompted　a　scheme　to　turn　the　tables　on　the　Invid　Troopers　in　the　nearby　hive…as　well　as　carry　out　the　more　prosaic　surprise　Scott　had　in　mind　for　Annie。　What　he　had　found…hidden　in　a　barn　on　the　outskirts　of　town…was　a　device　known　as　a　bio…emulator；　a　Protoculture…powered　instrument　that　was　capable　of　mimicking　the　energy　emanations　of　a　supply…sized　cache　of　the　pure　stuff。　It　had　been　developed　not　by　the　resistance　but　by　the　black　market　racketeers　at　the　close　of　the　Second　Robotech　War；　for　luring　Southern　Cross　personnel　to　their　deaths。

Given　top　billing　in　Scott's　reworked　plan　was　an　unusual　building　that　dominated　the　town；　a　circular　structure　with　a　columned　cupola　adorning　its　domed　roof　that　had　once　served　as　an　armory。　Installation　of　the　bio…emulator　setup　required　a　certain　amount　of　group　effort　to　conceal　wiring　and　such；　but　the　original　plan；　the　prosaic　one；　called　for　little　more　than　setting　up　several　strategically　placed　rocket　launchers　and　breaking　out　some　of　the　supplies　the　team　had　brought　with　it　from　the　Rocky　Mountains　underground　plex。　The　freedom　fighters　split　up　into　two　teams；　with　Rook　and　Rand　handling　the　indoor　chores　while　Lunk　and　Lancer　worked　together　rigging　the　armory　building　with　charges。　Scott　did　what　he　did　best：　he　supervised。

Then　Rand　was　sent　to　fetch　the　two　women。


The　sun　was　setting；　huge　and　golden；　and。　Annie　and　Marlene　were　still　waiting　in　the　mountains；　sitting　side　by　side　on　the　rock　with　a　western　view。

〃I　guess　birthdays　are　very　special　days；〃　Marlene　was　saying　consolingly。　〃I　wish　I　could　remember　if　I　ever　had　one。〃

〃Oh；　you've　had　one；〃　said　Annie。　〃I　don't　think　there's　any　way　around　that。〃

〃Do　they　always　make　you　unhappy？〃

Annie　brought　her　knees　to　her　chest　and　put　her　head　in　her　hands。　〃Let's　just　say　that　it's　hard　to　be　happy　when　every　single　one　of　your　birthdays　is　a　disaster。〃

〃But　Annie；　were　they　all　bad？〃

The　young　girl　was　sniffling　now；　her　eyes　closed。

There　was　a　time；　she　recalled；　when　things　could　have　been　pleasant　but　weren't。　A　time　before　the　Invid　invasion；　when　her　parents　and　Mr。　Widget　were　still　alive；　when　the　Northlands　were　embroiled　in　war　with　the　Robotech　Masters；　and　the　Southlands　prospered。　Before　the　bombs。。。when　she　still　had　a　home。

She　could　see　herself　in　that　simple　shingled　house；　dressed　in　her　yellow　pants　and　blouse；　reading　the　card　they　had　given　her　and　gazing　at　the　cake　her　mom　had　bought　at　the　market；　left　alone　to　puzzle　out　why　they　couldn't　stay　to　enjoy　it　with　her；　why　they　always　seemed　to　have　more　important　things　to　do。　She　could　hear　her　mother's　voice　still：　Your　father　and　I　won't　be　back　till　late；　Annie；　so　when　you've　finished　your　little　party；　be　sure　to　clean　up　all　the　dishes　and　put　yourself　to　bed　at　a　decent　hour；　all　right？　Well；　good…bye；　honey；　and；　oh　yes；　happy　birthday。。。

〃I　don't　know　how　many　times　I　prayed　that　just　once　I　could　have　a　real　birthday　party　with　friends　and　family　like　e