03_homecoming-第25部分

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Khyron　was　distracted　by　two　lumbering　Excaliburs　that　were　closing　in　on　him；　their　power　low；　missile　racks　exhausted。　He　blew　them　both　away　in　the　same　moment　with　the　tremendous　derringerlike　cannon　that　were　arms　of　the　Officer's　Pod。

The　VTs　were　making　another　pass；　and　the　enemy　mecha　were　being　outrageously　stubborn…but　the　final　conclusion　should　only　take　another　minute　or　so。

But　just　then　Khyron　heard　an　alarm　signal　on　his　instrument　panel。　He　read　his　indicators；　turned；　and　craned　to　look　up　into　the　distant　sky。　〃What's　this？　No！　Impossible！〃


Grimly；　without　looking　up　from　her　data　displays；　Claudia　said；　〃Captain；　a　second　enemy　attack　force　is　on　the　way　down　now；　from　another　ship。　They　appear　to　be　a　new　type　of　mecha。〃


Leading　her　bat　drop；　Miriya　looked　approvingly　at　the　bitter　struggle　raging　all　around　the　dimensional　fortress。　Behind　her　came　a　full　battalion　of　her　Quadrono　Battalion's　powered　armor　mecha。

Azonia　was　still　reiterating　instructions　over　the　　net；　a　rather　offensive　bit　of　interference；　Miriya　thought。　〃Miriya；　the　purpose　of　your　operation　is　to　thwart　Khyron's　plan。　Therefore；　do　not　fire　at　the　enemy　or　damage　the　dimensional　fortress。〃

Azonia　had　done　some　thinking　in　the　interim　and　had　consulted　several　of　her　personal　informants。　It　seemed　Khyron　was　playing　a　game　truly　his　own；　everything　pointed　to　his　intention　to　take　the　SDF…1　for　himself。

And　Azonia　would　win　no　approval　from　her　superiors　or　the　Robotech　Masters　if　that　were　to　happen；　quite　the　opposite；　in　fact。　Thus：　Miriya　and　her　Quadrono　Battalion　were　launched　to　stop　him。

So　a　Zentraedi　warrior　is　expected　not　to　fire　at　the　enemy；　eh？　Miriya　smiled　to　herself　maliciously。　〃Well　now；　it's　too　bad　I　never　heard　that　order　because　my　munications　gear　is　malfunctioning；　Azonia！〃

Her　own　personal　mecha…suit　was　the　one　that　had　so　dazzled　the　RDF　during　her　insertion　of　the　three　spies。　It　was　supercharged；　more　maneuverable　and　powerful　than　any　other　in　the　Zentraedi　fleet。　Now　she　zoomed　down　like　a　lightning　bolt；　blowing　an　unsuspecting　VT　out　of　the　air　with　a　double　stream　of　the　annhilation　discs；　destroying　another　a　split　second　later。

〃I　love　it　when　a　good　plan　works　out　well；〃　she　said　languidly。　And　the　good　plan　in　this　case　was　her　own…the　one　that　had　gotten　her　another　crack　at　the　enemy　and；　if　she　was　lucky；　a　little　scuffle　with　Khyron's　inpetents　as　well。

The　Quadrono　armor　hit　thrusters；　rocketing　for　the　deck。


Azonia　ranted　at　the　　pickup　in　her　flagship　bridge　mand　center。　〃Khyron；　e　in　immediately！　Can　you　hear　me？　You　are　in　violation　of　your　orders！　Therefore；　stop　this　attack　at　once！〃

Perhaps　he　would　claim　that　his　equipment　wasn't　working　properly。　That　was　the　damnable　thing　about　the　Zentraedi　armada；　and　for　that　matter　their　whole　instrumentality。　With　a　few　exceptions　like　that　bitch　Miriya's；　Zentraedi　war　machinery　had　a　far　from　flawless　operational　record。

It　was　only　right　that　warriors　care　only　for　war；　maintenance　and　mechanics　were　work　for　slaves。　But　there　never　seemed　to　be　nearly　enough　of　those；　at　least　ones　of　any　use。

Azonia　swore　under　her　breath　and　waited　to　see　what　would　happen。


But　Khyron　wasn't　opposed　to　answering　her。　He　was　merely　pleting　his　latest　maneuver；　having　leapt　his　pod　high　to　e　down　directly　over　two　of　the　last　enemy　attack　mecha；　a　pair　of　Raider　Xs；　blowing　them　to　bits　with　the　derringer　cannon。

〃Violation　of　my　orders？〃　he　mocked　her。　〃But　I　haven't　done　anything　to　these　despicable　Micronians；　at　least　not　yet！〃　He　was　firing　to　all　sides。　〃But　in　the　centuries　to　e；　if　any　of　them　are　left　alive；　they　will　speak　the　name　of　Khyron　with　terror！〃

〃Don't　play　games　with　me！〃　Azonia　shouted。　〃Turn　back　at　once　or　I'll　have　you　shot！〃

The　last　of　the　enemy　mecha　were　down；　and　Khyron　was　about　to　lead　his　forces　to　the　ultimate　plunder；　when　the　odds　suddenly　changed。　Aircraft　elevator　platforms　ground　up　into　view　to　either　side　despite　the　fact　that　the　last　of　the　SDF…1　bat　aircraft　had　long　since　taken　off。

They　were　loaded；　instead；　with　every　MAC　II　Destroid　cannon　the　desperate　defenders　had　managed　to　get　to　the　trouble　spot；　arriving　in　time　only　because　of　the　attack　mecha's　courageous　last　stand　and　Vermilion's　skillful　flying。　Six　of　the　stumpy；　waddling　gun　turrets　were　on　either　elevator；　port　and　starboard。

Mounting　six　pulsed　laser…array　cannon　and　four　supervelocity　electromagnetic　rail…guns　apiece；　the　MACS　had　the　pods　in　a　perfect　cross　fire…and　opened　up。

What　had　been　imminent　victory　for　the　pods　became　instead　a　disastrous　firestorm。

The　rail…guns　fired　solid　slugs　at　a　velocity　that　delivered　incredible　kinetic　energy　on　impact；　velocities　so　high　that　making　the　slugs　explosive　would　have　been　redundant。　Zentraedi　bat　armor　was　no　protection；　and　Battlepods　collapsed　in　on　themselves　like　crushed　eggs　or　came　apart　in　fragments；　only　to　explode　instants　later。

The　MACS'　pulsed　lasers　swept　back　and　forth　at　the　massed　alien　war　mecha；　quartering　the　sky　with　grazing　fire　that　raked　the　flight　deck；　and　caught　them　as　they　leapt　or　while　still　on　their　feet。　Pods　went　up　like　exploding　oil…well　rigs　or　expanding　spheres　of　shrapnel　and　flame。

Khyron　had　instantly　leapt　his　pod　away　to　parative　safety　upon　seeing　the　MACs　appear。　He　would　have　gone　truly　berserk　with　frustration　and　wrath　at　that　point；　but　his　own　life　was　now　at　stake。

There　would　be　no　quick　taking　of　the　objective；　and　SDF…1's　deck　was　being　swept　clear　of　his　troops。　More；　Miriya's　hated　Quadronos　were　hovering　above；　out　of　range　but　capable　of　intervening　at　any　moment。　But　on　whose　side？　In　some　ways　she　was　as　capable　of　duplicity　as　Khyron　himself。

And　then；　of　course；　there　was　Azonia's　promise　to　have　him　shot。

He　gave　a　low；　bestial　growl　as　he　landed　his　Battlepod　on　a　safer　area　of　the　deck；　opening　his　mand　channel。　〃All　right；　men！　Cease　firing！　We're　returning　to　the　fleet！〃

His　mission　exec；　Gerao；　came　up　over　the　net；　sounding　shocked。　〃Ex…excuse　me；　mighty　Khyron；　would　you　please　repeat　that？　We're　going　back　now？〃

Khyron　could　see　from　his　instruments　that　Gerao　was　fairly　well　in　the　clear　and　could　reach　the　cruiser　quickly。　The　cruiser　was　exactly　where　he'd　directed　that　it　be：　submerged　in　the　ocean　not　far　from　SDF…1。

〃Yes。〃　Khyron　sneered。　〃I　have　just　received　a　direct　order　from　mander　Azonia。　〃But　don't　forget　to　get　your　souvenir；　my　friend。〃

〃My　souvenir？〃　Gerao's　tone　said　he'd　understood　Khyron's　hidden　meaning。　〃Why；　no；　sir。　I　certainly　won't　forget　that！〃

Khyron　began　regrouping　his　forces　for　the　shameful　withdrawal。　But　part　of　him　burned　fusion…bright。

If　Khyron　couldn't　have　his　victory；　he　would　at　least　have　his　revenge！


CHAPTER　EIGHTEEN

No　one；　gunner　or　VT　jock　or　attack…mecha　crewmember；　could　recall　a　more　intense　fight。　Certainly　they　all　earned　their　pay　that　day；　and　a　lot　more　than　money　besides。　Many　paid　the　final　price　of　freedom。
It　is　interesting　to　note；　however；　that　although　everyone　on　the　VT　teams　had　seen　intense　bat；　it　was　the　men　and　woman　of　the　air…sea　rescue　teams　＇whose　units　had　also　suffered　heavy　casualties＇　who；　upon　entering　the　various　pilots'　hangouts；　found　that　they　would　not　be　allowed　to　pay　for　their　own　drinks；　period。
Zachary　Fox；　Jr。；　VT：　the　Men　and　the　Mecha

The　giant　saucer　shapes　that　were　Zentraedi　amphibious…assault　ships　dropped　from　Miriya's　cruiser　to　retrieve　Khyron's　surviving　Battlepods。

At　Khyron's　order；　the　first　of　his　retreating　units　kangaroo…hopped　from　the　SDF…1's　deck　into　the　sea　to　get　well　clear　of　the　fortress's　guns　and　fighters　before　making　their　rendezvous。　He'd　lost　enough　of　his　vaunted　strike　force　without　having　them　and　their　pickup　ships　shot　out　of　the　sky。

Now　it　was　Zentraedi　mecha　that　fought　the　holding　action　as　RDF　attack　machines　and　VTs　pressed　them　ever　harder　and　turned　the　kill　ratios　around。　Battlepods　bobbed　and　churned　through　the　waves　as　the　great　saucers　descended　for　the　rendezvous　point。

Overhead；　the　fighters　were　still　going　at　it　with　the　Botoru　tri…thruster　pursuit　ships　while　the　SDF…1's　gun　batteries　took　more　and　more　enemy　ships　out　of　the　fight　as　the　tactical　and　civil　defense　attack　mecha　took　over　mop…up　operations　on　deck。

Elsewhere；　Gerao　reached　Khyron's　cruiser　as　it　rose　from　its　submerged　position。　He　gave　quick　orders　as　his　pod　was　being　brought　aboard；　preparing　to　take　mand　and　wreak　Khyron's　vengeance　on　the　Micronians。


Vanessa　called　out；　〃Captain；　that　first　enemy　cruiser　has　reappeared！　It's　on　a　collision　course　with　us！〃

Gloval　thumbed　the　bowl　of　his　empty　pipe　absentmindedly。　〃It　looks　like　a　suicide　maneuver。　Lisa；　Claudia！　Prepare　the　Daedalus　for　its　Attack　mode；　immediately！'。'


Up　on　deck；　Vermilion　Team　had　its　Veritechs　in　Battloid　mode。

Rick　concentrated　on　control；　letting　his　helmet's　receptors　pick　up　his　thought…mands　and　translate　them　into　the　Battloid's　instant；　fluid　movements。　The　Battloid　traversed　its　autocannon　from　one　target　to　the　next；　firing　depleted　transuranic　slugs　that　had　awesome；　armor…piercing　capabilities。　The　powered　gatling　consumed　ammunition　at　an　amazing　rate；　and　the　Battloid　had　to　transfer　fresh　boxed　belts　of　rounds　to　it　frequently　from　integral　reserve　modules　built　into　various　parts　of　its　body。

The　reloading　took　only　moments；　but　in　the　middle　of　a　firelight　that　could　be　a　long　time。　Rick　found　himself　on　empty　as　a　pod　dashed　at　him。　He　hit　the　thrusters　built　into　the　Battloid's　feet　and　launched　himself　at　it；　just　as　its　cannonade　blew　up　the　deck　where　he'd　been　standing。

He　had　no　choice　but　to　attack　it　hand　to　hand　before　it　could　get　a　bead　on　him。　All　around　him；　Battloids　were　locked　in　similar　close…quarters　fighting　against　the　pods；　up　and　down　the　SDF…1's　decks。

But　the　alien　Battlepod　crewman　was　shrewd　and　quick。　The　pod　lashed　out　with　one　foot　and　sent　Rick's　Battloid　flying　backward　with　a　tooth…rattling　jolt。　The　Battloid　crashed　to　the　deck；　its　pilot　dazed。

He　shook　his　head　clear　just　in　time　to　send　the　Battloid　rolling　to　the　side。　He　avoided　the　pod's　next　f