03_homecoming-第18部分

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〃It's　impossible！〃　Zukav　threw　in。　〃The　government　would　be　overthrown！〃

Are　they　crazy　or　am　I？　Gloval　asked　himself。

For　ten　years；　throughout　the　rebuilding　of　SDF…1；　the　world　government　had　used　the　threat　of　alien　invasion　to　justify　their　staggering　defense　budgets　and　its　own　ever…expanding　influence。

But　when　the　Zentraedi　finally　appeared　with　power　so　far　beyond　anything　humans　had　envisioned　（except　for　a　few　hardheaded　realists　like　Gloval）；　the　Council　had；　in　effect；　bee　pletely　paranoid：　They　lied　to　the　populace；　hid　in　a　hole　in　the　ground；　and　simply　prayed　the　menace　would　go　away。

All　for　the　sake　of　their　political　power　base；　all　so　that　they　could　rule　a　little　longer。

Gloval's　voice　rose　a　few　decibels。　〃We're　going　to　have　a　riot　on　our　hands　if　we　don't　allow　those　people　to　get　off　the　ship！　They've　been　through　a　lot　and　endured　it　gallantly；　but　now　they're　safely　back　home　and　their　patience　is　wearing　thin！〃

Herbert　answered　that。　〃Keeping　them　under　control　is　your　responsibility。　And　anyway；　if；　as　you　stated　in　your　report；　the　aliens　are　so　curious　about　our　customs；　then　carrying　an　entire　city　within　the　SDF…1　should　ensure　that　their　attention　is　focused　on　it；　don't　you　think？〃

〃It's　crucial　that　you　draw　the　enemy　forces　away　from　this　planet！〃　Kinsolving；　a　bloodless…looking　man　with　eyes　like　glass　pellets；　said　from　one　side。

〃At　what　price？〃　Gloval　roared。

He　felt　very　close　to　surrendering　to　his　rage…perhaps　going　back　to　the　SDF…1　and　launching　a　little　revolution　of　his　own。

But　he　knew　he　wouldn't；　knew　he　couldn't　fire　on　innocent　men　and　women　who　believed　the　Council's　lies　and　who　would　rise　to　oppose　him…knew　he　couldn't　break　the　oath　of　allegiance　he'd　sworn。

He'd　seen　enough　civil　war；　he　knew　he　couldn't　start　another。

Admiral　Hayes　was　saying；　〃Captain；　we're　not　insensitive　to　your　situation；　but　we　must　have　time　to　strengthen　our　defenses　and　increase　our　knowledge　of　Robotechnology。　And　you're　the　only　one　who　can　give　it　to　us。〃

Lisa　cried；　〃Father；　this　is　too　much　to　ask　of　all　those　civilians！〃

Hayes's　huge　projected　face　glared　down　at　her　icily。　〃mander　Hayes；　we　may　be　father　and　daughter；　but　during　these　proceedings　I　expect　to　be　addressed　by　my　rank；　is　that　understood？〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　spit　out　the　words。

〃And　what　if　the　aliens　decide　not　to　follow　the　battle　fortress？〃　Gloval　posed　the　question。　〃What　if　they　at　tack　the　Earth　instead？　You　can　fire　your　Grand　Cannon　until　you　broil　away　the　planet's　atmosphere　and　make　the　surrounding　land　mass　run　molten；　but　you　still　won't　be　able　to　destroy　all　those　ships！〃

Hayes　answered；　〃Your　own　analysis　indicates　that　that's　highly　unlikely；　the　invaders　are　interested　in　your　ship。　You　will　receive　your　sailing　orders　in　the　morning。　That　is　all。〃

Again　the　screens　went　blank。

Gloval　picked　up　his　hat　tiredly。　I　guess　that's　the　end　of　that。

〃Captain；　how　are　we　ever　going　to　be　able　to　explain　this　to　the　people　on　the　ship？　Not　just　the　survivors；　the　crew…they've　been　in　constant　bat　for　more　than　a　year！〃

Gloval　had　no　answer。　In　the　corridor　outside；　he　asked；　〃Lisa；　wouldn't　you　like　to　spend　some　time　with　your　father　while　you're　here？　As　family；　I　mean？　I　can　authorize　a　brief　leave。。。〃

They　came　to　an　elevator　to　begin　the　long　trip　back　to　the　surface。　Lisa　kept　her　eyes　lowered　to　the　floor。　〃No；　sir。　I　have　no　particular　interest　in　seeing　him　right　now。〃

〃I　understand；　my　dear；〃　said　Gloval　as　the　elevator　doors　closed。


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

The　patterns　of　behavior　observed　so　far　indicate　that　either　all　these　humans　are　demented　or　else　the　three　of　us　suffered　head　injuries　upon　first　landing　here。
Preliminary　observation　of　the　Zentraedi　spies　Rico；　Bron；　and　Konda

〃I　really　don't　think　this　is　getting　us　anywhere；〃　Lynn…Kyle　said　in　his　soft；　reasonable　voice。

Hours　of　argument　had　gone　by；　but　the　five…Minmei　and　her　parents；　Rick；　and　Lynn…Kyle…were　still　gathered　around　the　table。　〃Minmei's　made　her　decision；〃　Kyle　went　on；　〃so　why　don't　you　let　her　go？〃

Minmei　clapped　her　hands；　eyes　dancing。　〃Oh；　Kyle；　you're　wonderful！　I　knew　you'd　say　that！〃

〃Just　a　minute！〃　Minmei's　father　said　angrily。

His　wife　was　quick　to　head　off　the　brewing　confrontation　with　Kyle　and　keep　the　debate　on　track。　〃You're　the　last　one　we'd　expect　to　send　Minmei　away　from　her　home；　Kyle。〃

〃Especially　with　no　one　to　watch　over　her；〃　the　father　added。　Rick　almost　said　something　about　that：　Listen；　I　saved　her　from　fifty…foot…tall　aliens　and　death　by　starvation　and　thirst！　What　d'　ya　call　that；　a　passing　interest？

But　it　didn't　seem　like　the　time。

〃I　thought　I　would　go　with　her；〃　Kyle　said　casually；　〃and　live　with　my　folks。〃

Minmei　was　ecstatic。　〃Hurray；　Lynn…Kyle！　I　knew　you'd　find　some　way　to　e　to　my　rescue！〃

Rick　made　a　bored　sound。

〃Well；　I　guess　that's　all　right；〃　Lynn…Jan　said　slowly；　deciding　it　might　be　for　the　best　to　let　his　daughter　get　this　foolishness　out　of　her　system。　His　wife；　Lynn…Xian；　looked　relieved；　saying；　〃It　would　make　me　feel　a　lot　better。〃

〃No　problem；〃　Kyle　said　with　a　charming　smile。　〃It's　just　temporary；　anyway。〃


The　transport　hurtled　through　the　frigid　night　air；　bound　for　the　SDF…1。　A　full　squadron　of　fighters　was　flying　escort　around　it。

Gloval　knew　now　that　it　was　no　longer　a　matter　of　honor；　he　wouldn't　be　given　the　chance　to　divert　or　disobey　orders　now　that　the　Council　had　made　its　decision。

Lisa；　sitting。　in　the　window　seat；　opened　an　envelope　that　one　of　her　father's　aides　had　given　to　her。　She　read：

My　dearest　Lisa；

I　know　that　you're　angry　about　my　decision　regarding　the　SDF…1；　but　it　was　unavoidable　under
the　circumstances。　I　want　you　to　try　to　understand　and　realize　I'm　concerned　about　your　welfare。　The　battle　fortress　is　a　very　dangerous　place；　and　I'm　working　on　getting　you　reassigned　to　another　ship；　or　possibly　here　to　headquarters；　before　it's　ordered　to　move　out　into　space　once　more…


Without　finishing　the　note；　she　tore　it　into　tiny　tittle　pieces。


From　another　direction；　the　speedy　little　fanliner　cut　the　sky；　bound　for　the　ship。　It　was　handling　a　little　less　nimbly　than　before；　Lynn…Kyle　was　seated　in　the　back　with　Minmei　in　his　lap。

〃You　mean　to　say　you　don't　have　any　girlfriends？〃　she　was　asking　him　coquettishly；　batting　those　big　blue　eyes。

He　looked　at　her　fondly；　but　he　seemed　to　be　one　of　the　few　people　immune　to　her　manipulation。　〃Well；　I've　been　traveling　around　so　much；　I　haven't　had　time。〃

〃If　you　did　have　a　girlfriend；　I'd　probably　be　jealous。〃

He　chuckled。　〃What　d'　you　have　in　mind？　You　want　me　to　stay　single　forever？〃

〃Well；　not　exactly；〃　she　said　slyly。

It　sounded　like　a　game　they'd　played　often；　Rick　thought。　〃Then　what　do　you　want？〃　Kyle　coaxed。

She　knuckled　his　shoulders；　giggling。　〃Oh；　nothing；　I'm　just　teasing。〃

Rick　lost　patience　with　all　the　cuteness；　he　couldn't　take　any　more　of　it。　〃Hey！　It's　hard　enough　to　fly　this　crate；　overloaded　like　this；　without　all　that　jabbering　back　there！　How　about　buttoning　up　until　we　land？〃

He　was　also　bothered　by　the　idea　that　he　might　have　exceeded　orders。　There　were　no　provisions　for　him　to　bring　an　outsider　aboard　the　SDF…1；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　the　briefing　officers　were　very　emphatic　that　Minmei　was　important　to　the　war　effort　and　must　be　returned；　and　Minmei　couldn't　e　back　without　Kyle；　so。。。

Minmei　was　giggling　again。　〃That　boy's　always　kidding；〃　she　confided　to　Kyle。

That　tears　it！　〃Guess　again；〃　he　told　her。　〃It's　no　joke！〃

He　banked　sharply；　Minmei　let　out　a　squeal　and　clung　closer　to　Kyle。　Rick　poured　on　the　speed；　impatient　to　be　rid　of　the　two　of　them。

Lynn…Kyle　held　his　cousin　close　and　smiled　triumphantly。


〃That's　not　fair！〃　Kim　Young　cried；　hearing　Gloval's　heartbreaking　news。

〃It's　like　we're　prisoners　here！〃　Sammie　added。

Gloval　stood　his　ground；　unmoving；　betraying　no　emotion。　He'd　thought　it　best　to　let　his　trusted　bridge　crew　in　on　the　news　first；　in　the　privacy　of　the　bridge；　they　were　the　ones　who　would　form　the　core　of　what　he　was　ing　to　think　of　as　his　crisis…management　team；　helping　him　ensure　that　things　didn't　fall　apart　aboard　SDF…1。　They　had　to　be　given　time　to　get　over　the　shock　before　they　could　help　the　entire　ship's　population　cope　with　it。

Claudia　was　the　first　one　to　get　things　in　perspective。　〃Orders　are　orders；　even　if　there　are　a　lot　of　idiots　at　central　headquarters　who　have　no　idea　what　they're　doing！〃

Lisa　nodded　to　herself；　she　knew　that　was　the　kind　of　woman　and　officer　Claudia　was。

Still；　Sammie　insisted；　〃But　there　must　be　something　you　can　do；　Captain。　Please　tell　us　you're　not　going　to　accept　this　quietly。　You　will　change　their　minds；　won't　you？〃

〃Won't　you；　Captain？〃　Kim　added　pleadingly。

Gloval　cleared　his　throat　in　the　way　he　did　when　he'd　heard　enough　and　expected　to　be　obeyed。　〃Your　lack　of　discipline　is　only　pounding　the　problem；　so　get　back　to　your　duty　stations　immediately。　I　appreciate　your　concern；　but　right　now　I　have　to　begin　deciding　how　to　break　the　news　to　the　Macross　survivors　and　the　rest　of　the　crew。〃

He　stood　up　from　his　chair；　brushing　past　them。　〃You　will　excuse　me。〃

Shifting　her　glasses　nervously；　Vanessa　couldn't　help　calling　a　last　desperate　objection　after　him。　〃Captain；　can't　you…〃

Gloval　cut　her　off　stiffly。　〃That　will　be　all；　Vanessa。〃

〃Yes；　sir；〃　she　said　contritely。

〃Try　to　understand；〃　Gloval　said　softly　over　his　shoulder　to　them　just　before　the　hatch　closed。

Vanessa　removed　her　glasses　to　wipe　away　a　tear　of　anger。　〃But…it's　not　fair！〃

〃That's　absolutely　true；〃　Lisa　said；　speaking　up　for　the　first　time。　〃But　you　can't　blame　the　captain　for　something　headquarters　did。　Everybody　has　a　right　to　gripe；　but　you　should　at　least　be　mad　at　the　right　people。〃

〃Okay；　okay…the　captain　needs　our　support；　right？〃　Claudia　said　soberly。

〃Yes。　He　knows　he　can't　possibly　succeed　without　it；〃　Lisa　answered。

The　bridge　hatch　opened；　and　the　relief　watch　started　filing　in。　Kim　let　her　breath　go　with　a　rasp。　〃All　this　talk　isn't　going　to　change　anything；　and　I'm　hungry；〃　she　declared；　careful　to　mention　nothing　specific　in　the　outsiders'