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Robotech：　Homeing
Book　Three　of　the　Robotech　series
Copyright　1987　by　Jack　McKinney

arranged　by　dayuan　＇　robotech　zone　＇



CHAPTER　ONE

The　enemy　armada；　so　vastly　superior　to　us　in　numbers　of　fighting　mecha　and　aggregate　firepower；　continues　to　harry　and　harass　us。　But　time　and　again　the　Zentraedi　stop　short　of　all…out　attack。　They　impede　our　long　voyage　back　to　Earth；　but　they　cannot　stop　us。　I　am　still　uncertain　as　to　what　good　fortune　is　working　in　the　SDF…1's　favor。
I　do　not　point　out　any　of　this　to　the　crew　or　refugees；　however。　It　does　no　good　to　tell　grieving　friends　and　loved　ones　that　casualties　could　have　been　far　worse。
From　the　log　of　Captain　Henry　Gloval

Blue　lines　of　enemy　cannon　fire　streaked　by　Roy　Fokker's　cockpit；　scorching　one　of　his　Veritech　fighter's　tail　stabilizers；　ranging　in　for　a　final　volley。

〃Flying　sense〃　the　aviators　called　it；　jargon　that　came　from　the　twentieth…century　term　〃air　sense〃：　honed　and　superior　high…speed　piloting　instincts。　It　was　something　a　raw　beginner　took　a　while　to　develop；　something　that　separated　the　novices　from　the　vets。

And　it　was　something　Lieutenant　mander　Roy　Fokker；　Skull　Team　leader　and　Veritech　squadron　mander；　had　in　abundance；　even　in　the　airlessness　of　a　deep…space　dogfight。

Responding　to　his　deft　touch　at　the　controls　and　his　very　will…passed　along　to　it　by　Robotech　sensors　in　his　flight　helmet…Roy's　Veritech　fighter　did　a　wingover　and　veered　onto　a　new　vector　with　tooth…snapping　force。

Thrusters　blaring　full…bore；　the　maneuver　forces　pressed　him　into　his　seat；　just　as　the　enemy　was　concentrating　more　on　his　aim　than　on　his　flying。

The　Zentraedi　in　the　Battlepod　on　Roy's　tail；　trying　so　diligently　to　kill　him　and　destroy　his　Robotech　fighter；　was　a　good　pilot；　steady　and　cool　like　all　of　them；　but　he　lacked　Roy's　flying　abilities。

While　the　giant　alien　gaped；　astounded；　at　his　suddenly　empty　gunsight　reticle；　the　Skull　Team　leader　was　already　ing　around　behind　the　pod　into　the　kill　position。

Around　that　fragment　of　the　battle；　an　enormous　dogfight　raged　as　Zentraedi　pods　and　their　Cyclops　recon　ships　mixed　it　up　ferociously　with　the　grimly　determined　human　defenders　in　their　Veritechs。　The　bright　spherical　explosions　characteristic　of　zero…g　battle　blossomed　all　around；　dozens　at　a　time。　Blue　Zentraedi　radiation　blasts　were　matched　by　the　Veritechs'　autocannons；　which　flung　torrents　of　high…density　armor…piercers　at　the　enemy。

Roy　was　relieved　to　see　that　the　SDF…1　was　unharmed。　Most　of　the　fighting　seemed　to　be　going　on　at　some　distance　from　it；　although　it　was　clear　that　the　enemy　fleet　had　all　the　odds　on　its　side。　The　Zentraedi　armada　easily　numbered　over　a　million　warships。

Roy　located　his　wingman；　Captain　Kramer；　in　the　furious　engagement；　forming　up　for　mutual　security；　he　looked　around　again　for　the　fantastic　Zentraedi　mecha　that　had　done　so　much　damage　a　few　minutes　before。　It　had　flown　rings　around　the　Veritechs　that　had　gone　after　it；　taking　Roy　and　the　Skulls　by　surprise　and　smashing　their　formation　after　cutting　a　swath　through　Vermilion　Team。

Whatever　it　was；　it　was　unlike　any　Zentraedi　weapon　the　humans　had　seen　so　far。　Unlike　the　pods；　which　resembled　towering　metal　ostriches　bristling　with　guns；　the　newer　was　more　human…shaped…a　bigger；　more　hulking；　and　heavily　armed　and　armored　version　of　the　Veritechs'　own　Battloid　mode。　And　fast…frightfully　fast　and　impossible　to　stop；　eluding　even　the　SDF…1's　massive　defensive　barrages。

Roy　had　expected　to　see　the　battle　fortress　under　intense　attack；　instead；　the　super　dimensional　fortress　was　cruising　along　unbothered　and　alone。　Moreover；　transmissions　over　the　tac　net　indicated　that　the　Zentraedi　pods　and　Cyclopses　were　withdrawing。　Roy　couldn't　figure　that　out。

He　switched　from　the　tac　net　to　SDF…1's　mand　net。　There　was　word　of　the　new　Zentraedi　mecha。　The　thing　had　made　it　as　far　as　SDF…1…getting　in　beneath　the　fields　of　fire　of　most　of　the　ship's　batteries…then　had　suddenly　withdrawn　at　blinding　speed；　outmaneuvering　gunfire　and　outracing　pursuit。　The　ship　had　suffered　only　minor　damage；　and　the　operations　and　intelligence　people　had　concluded　that　the　whole　thing　had　been　a　probing　attack　of　some　kind；　a　test　of　a　new　machine　and　new　tactics。

Roy　didn't　care　as　long　as　the　battle　fortress　was　still　safe。　He　gathered　the　Veritechs；　ready　to　head　home。

〃Enemy　pod；〃　Skull　Five　called　over　the　tac　net。　〃Bearing　one…niner…four…seven。〃

Roy　already　had　the　puter　reference　on　one　of　his　situation　screens。　A　pod；　all　right；　but　evidently　damaged　and　drifting；　none　of　its　weapons　firing；　it　was　leaking　atmosphere。

〃Could　be　a　trick；〃　Skull　Seven　said。　〃What　d'　ya　think；　skipper？　Do　we　blast　it　out　of　the　sky？〃

〃Negative；　somebody　may　still　be　alive　in　there；　and　a　live　captive　is　what　the　intelligence　staff's　been　praying　for。〃　The　incredible　savagery　of　this　deep…space　war　was　such　that　few　survived　as　casualties。　Alien　or　human；　a　fighter　almost　always　either　triumphed　or　died；　a　simple　formula。　The　humans　had　never　recovered　a　living　enemy。

Besides；　for　very　personal　reasons；　Roy　was　especially　eager　to　see　a　Zentraedi　undergo　interrogation。

〃We're　getting　signals　from　it；　nothing　we　can　unscramble；〃　a　munications　officer　reported　over　the　mand　net。

Whatever　was　going　on；　none　of　the　Zentraedi　forces　seemed　to　be　turning　back　for　a　rescue。　Veritech　fly…bys　drew　no　fire；　eyeball　inspection　and　instruments　indicated　that　the　damaged　pod's　main　power　source　had　been　knocked　out　but　that　some　of　its　weapons　were　still　functioning。　Nevertheless；　it　passed　up　several　opportunities　to　blast　away　at　nearby　VTs。

〃This　is　too　good　an　opportunity　to　pass　up；〃　Gloval　finally　announced　over　the　main　mand　net。　〃If　there　is　a　survivor　aboard；　we　must　get　him　into　the　SDF…1　immediately。〃

〃That　thing　could　be　booby…trapped…or　its　occupant　could　be！〃　a　security　staff　officer　protested　from　one　of　Roy's　display　screens。

Gloval　replied；　〃That　is　why　we　will　push　the　pod　closer　to　SDF…1…but　not　too　close…and　connect　a　boarding　tube　to　it。　An　EVA　team　will　make　a　thorough　examination　before　we　permit　it　any　closer。〃

〃But…〃　the　officer　began。

Roy　cut　in　over　the　mand　net；　〃You　heard　the　captain；　so　put　a　sock　in　it；　mac！〃　Roy　was　elated　with　Gloval's　decision；　it　was　only　a　slim　hope；　but　now　there　was　hope　of　finding　out　what　had　happened　to　Roy's　closest　friend　in　the　world；　Rick　Hunter　and　Lisa　Hayes　and　the　others　who'd　disappeared　on　their　desperate　mission　to　guide　the　SDF…1　through　danger。

Roy　began　swinging　into　place；　shifting　his　ship　to　Battloid　mode。　〃Okay；　Skull　Team；　time　to　play　a　little　bumper　cars。〃

Two　more　Skulls　went　to　Battloid；　their　Robotech　ships　transforming　and　reconfiguring。　When　the　shift　was　plete；　the　war　machines　looked　like　enormous　armored　ultramech　knights。

They　joined　Roy　in　pushing　the　inert　pod　back　toward　the　battle　fortress。


The　men　and　women　of　the　EVA…Extra　Vehicular　Activity…crews　were　efficient　and　careful。　They're　also　gutsy　as　hell；　Roy　reflected；　his　Battloid　towering　over　them　in　the　boarding　tube　lock。　But　of　course；　everybody　knew　and　honored　the　legendary　dedication　and　tenacity　of　the　EVA　crews。

Crowded　into　the　boarding　tube　lock　with　two　other　Battloids　behind　him；　Roy　watched　expectantly。　The　huge　lock；　extending　from　the　SDF…1　at　the　end　of　nearly　a　mile　of　large…diameter　tube；　was　a　yawning　dome　on　a　heavy　base；　equipped　with　every　sort　of　contingency　gear　imaginable。　The　captured　pod　and　EVA　crew　and　Roy's　security　detail　took　up　only　a　small　part　of　its　floor　space。

〃Not　beat　up　too　bad；〃　the　EVA　crew　chief　observed　over　the　　net。　〃But　I　dunno　how　much　air　it　lost。　What　d'　ya　say；　Fokker？　Do　we　open　'er　up？〃　She　was　holding　a　thermotorch　ready。　She'd　turned　to　gaze　up　at　Roy's　cockpit。

As　ranking　officer　on　the　scene；　Lt。　dr。　Roy　Fokker　had　the　responsibility　of　advising　Gloval。　Tampering　with　the　pod　was　very　risky；　they　could　trigger　some　kind　of　booby　trap　humans　couldn't　even　imagine；　destroying　everyone　there　and　perhaps　even　damaging　the　SDF…1。

But　we　can't　go　on　fighting　war　this　way！　Roy　thought。　Knowing　next　to　nothing　about　these　creatures　we're　up　against　or　even　why　we're　fighting…we　can't　go　on　like　this　much　longer！

〃Cap'n　Gloval；　sir；　I　say　we　take　a　shot。〃

〃Very　well。　Good　luck　to　you；〃　Gloval　answered。　〃Proceed。〃

Roy　reached　down　and　put　a　giant　hand　in　front　of　the　EVA　crew　chief；　blocking　her　way　as　she　approached　the　enemy　mecha。　〃Sorry；　Pietra；　this　is　my　party。〃

His　Battloid　stood　upright　again　and　walked　to　the　pod；　shouldering　its　autocannon；　its　footsteps　shaking　the　deck。　〃Cover　me；〃　he　told　his　teammates；　and　they　fanned　out；　muzzles　leveled；　for　clear　fields　of　fire。　The　Battloid's　forearms　extruded　metal　tentacles；　plicated　waldos　and　manipulators；　and　thermotorches。

〃Just　try　not　to　break　anything　unnecessarily；〃　Pietra　warned；　and　led　her　crew　to　the　shelter　of　a　blast　shield。

Roy　looked　the　pod　over；　trying　a　few　external　controls　tentatively。　Nothing　happened。　He　moved　closer　still；　examining　the　pressure　seals　that　ran　around　the　great　hatch　at　the　rear　top　of　the　pod's　bulbous　torso。　Being　this　close　to　a　pod's　guns　had　him　sweating　under　his　VT　helmet。

〃Careful；　Roy；〃　Kramer　said　quietly。

He　didn't　want　to　use　the　torch　for　fear　of　fire　or　explosion。　He　decided　to　try　simply　pulling　the　pod's　hatch　open　with　the　Battloid's　huge；　strong　hands。　He　ran　his　ship's　fingers　along　the　seams；　feeling　for　a　place　to　grab　hold。。。

The　pod　shook；　rattled；　and　began　to　open。

Roy's　Battloid　leapt　back；　weapon　aimed；　as　the　hatch　lifted　up。　Battloid　forefingers　tightened　on　triggers；　but　there　was　no　occupant　immediately　to　be　seen。

However；　the　Battloids'　external　sound　sensors　relayed　a　remarkable　exchange；　muffled　and　a　little　resonant；　ing　from　the　pod。

〃Well；　finally！　Thank　goodness！　When　you　start　bragging　to　your　fighter　pilot　buddies　about　this　mission；　boys；　don't　forget　it　took　you　just　about　forever　to　get　a　simple　hatch　open！〃

That　voice　was　womanly　and　very　pleasant；　if　a　little　arch　and　teasing。　Another；　a　young　male's；　sounding　highly　insulted；　answered；　〃You　weren't　so　hot　at　getting　in　touch　wit