03_homecoming-第29部分

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t　planet　d'　you　e　from；　anyway？〃

Bron　went；　〃Duly〃　and　almost　fainted。　Konda　blurted；　〃We　e　from　right　around　here！〃　and　Rico　did　the　best　he　could；　although　he　was　sure　they　were　about　to　be　apprehended　and　tortured。　〃Yeah；　we　work　right　across　the　street。〃　He'd　heard　somebody　say　it　a　day　or　two　before；　and　it　seemed　to　be　some　kind　of　verification　or　identity…establishing　phrase。

The　spies　had　learned　about　〃work；〃　a　nonbat　function　considered　demeaning　and　suitable　only　for　slaves　among　the　Zentraedi　yet　somehow　desirable　and　even　admirable　among　the　deviate　Micronians。

The　Terrible　Trio　looked　where　he　was　pointing。　It　was　one　of　the　loudest；　most　garish　spots　in　Macross　City；　ablaze　with　lights　and　raucous　music。　The　sign　over　it　said；　Disco　BAMBOO　HOUSE。

Kim　clapped　her　hands。　〃You　mean　you　work　at　the　disco？　We　go　to　the　Bamboo　House　all　the　time！〃

Sammie　gave　them　an　even　closer　look。　〃I　wonder　why　we've　never　seen　any　of　you　there？〃

Bron　began；　〃Uh；　what　is　a　dis…〃　before　Rico　got　an　elbow　into　his　middle　and　he　subsided。

Sammie　grabbed　Rico's　wrist。　These　three　guys　might　be　slightly　strange；　but　what　the　heck？　Weird　as　they　were；　they　worked　at　the　disco；　and　that　would　at　least　mean　that　they　could　dance。

〃I've　got　an　idea；〃　she　said；　batting　her　eyelashes。　〃Why　don't　we　all　check　it　out　together？〃

〃What　a　wonderful　idea！〃　Kim　threw　a　fist　in　the　air　in　elation。

Vanessa　figured　it　was　better　than　another　few　hours　of　trudging　around　town。　〃I　want　the　big；　handsome　one；〃　she　said；　winking　at　Bron。　All　the　color　left　his　face；　and　his　knees　knocked。

Sammie　was　towing　Rico　into　the　street；　he　didn't　dare　to　resist　too　much　or　put　up　a　fight。

〃e　with　me；〃　she　pouted。

〃Can't　we　talk　this　over？〃　Rico　bleated。

Was　this　as　innocent　as　the　females　were　making　it　out　to　be；　or　were　they　superlatively　well　trained　counterespionage　agents　with　a　clever　plan　to　drive　the　Zentraedi　spies　into　paranoid　madness　and　thus　make　them　easier　to　interrogate？

Bron　whispered　to　Konda；　〃D'　you　suppose　this　disco　thing　is　some　Micronian　method　of　torture？〃

Kim　and　Vanessa　were　looking　at　them　expectantly。　Konda　hissed；　〃We　must　perform　our　duty　as　Zentraedi！〃

Their　chins　came　up；　and　their　mouths　became　ruled　lines；　they　advanced　bravely　to　endure　whatever　sadistic；　ultimate　torment　the　experience　called　〃disco〃　might　hold　in　store。


The　cruiser　that　had　been　pletely　destroyed　was　only　a　minor　part　of　Khyron's　titanic　flagship；　a　part　that　was　now　slowly　being　replaced　by　the　organic　growth　characteristics　of　Protoculture。

In　the　mand　post　bubble　overlooking　the　flagship's　bridge；　Khyron　stood　alone；　raging　at　the　figure　on　the　projecbeam　screen。　He'd　driven　out　all　his　subordinates；　even　the　faithful　Grel；　determined　that　they　would　not　witness　his　helpless　fury　before　the　mockery　of　the　woman　warrior　Miriya。

〃How　dare　you　question　my　leadership　abilities？〃　he　railed　at　her。　〃Just　who　do　you　think　you　are？〃

She　stood　projected　before　him；　erect　and　lithe；　a　tall　woman　with　a　flowing　mane　of　green…black　hair。　She　drew　herself　up　even　taller。　〃I　am　the　backbone　of　the　Quadrono　Battalion；　and　the　finest　bat　pilot　in　all　the　Zentraedi　forces。〃

Khryon　snarled；　〃Your　ego　will　one　day　cause　your　destruction；　Miriya。〃

One　corner　of　her　mouth　tugged　upward。　〃Just　as　yours　caused　you　to　be　defeated　by　the　Micronians　yet　again　and　made　you　an　object　of　ridicule　to　all　those　whom　you　mand；　Backstabber？〃

He　pointed　a　finger　at　her。　〃Because　you　have　never　faced　a　capable　opponent；　you　believe　you're　something　special。　But　take　care；　little　Miriya！　For　there　is　one　aboard　the　alien　ship　whom　you　cannot　best！〃

She　heard　the　would…be　taunt　with　calm　interest。　〃So！　A　superior　pilot；　a　super…ace；　aboard　the　SDF…1？　Interesting！〃

She　smiled　just　the　slightest　bit；　dimples　appearing　at　the　sides　of　her　mouth；　giving　her　a　beautifully　hungry；　dangerously　feline　look。　〃I'd　like　to　meet　him！〃


Huh！　Everything's　phony！　Roy　thought；　looking　around　the　movie　set。　Somehow　he'd　never　believed　it　even　though　that　was　what　people　had　always　said。　But　the　little　Shao…lin　temple　and　its　shrine　and　the　trees；　plants；　and　grass　were　all　a　variety　of　cunningly　fabricated　plastic　and　other　synthetics　from　the　ship's　protean　Robotech　minifactories。

People　were　running　around　yelling；　mostly　being　rude　to　one　another。　You　could　tell　who　was　more　important；　because　the　other　person　would　just　have　to　stand　there　and　take　it。　Roy　heard　things　that　would　have　started　major　fistfights　in　a　barracks；　differences　in　rank　notwithstanding。

A　man　he　recognized　as　Vance　Hasslewood；　Minmei's　personal　manager　and　now　codirector　of　her　movie；　was　running　around　being　important。　〃Let's　set　up　for　the　next　shot！〃　〃Minmei；　Kyle：　Relax　for　a　few　minutes！〃　〃Wardrobe？　Listen；　sweetie；　those　blouses　are　awful！〃

Roy　tuned　him　out；　strolling　around　a　phony　corner　and　glancing　up　a　phony　staircase。　〃Well；　hey！〃

Minmei　squealed。　〃mander　Fokker！〃　and　came　racing　down　the　steps　to　him。　She　wore　a　Chinese　peasant…style　tunic　and　trousers　bination；　her　hair　gathered　tightly　and　done　up　in　a　long　braid　in　back。

He　looked　down　on　her　fondly　from　his　rangy　height。　〃How's　everybody's　favorite　recording　star？〃

She　gestured　around　at　the　lights　and　all　the　other　equipment。　〃Trying　to　be　an　actress。　I　get　to　play　the　cute　little　heroine。〃

〃Sounds　like　fun；〃　Roy　lied；　it　looked　like　appalling　drudgery；　but　then；　it　was　probably　tolerable　to　people　who　couldn't　fly。

〃Oh；　it　is！〃　she　enthused。　〃But…where's　Rick？　Is　he　hiding？〃　She　glanced　around。

〃'Fraid　Rick　couldn't　make　it　this　time。〃

Her　hand　flew　to　her　mouth。　〃He's　not　hurt；　is　he？〃

〃Not　seriously；　but　he's　gonna　have　to　spend　some　time　in　the　hospital；　and　I　thought　you　might　like　to　stop　in　and　see　him。〃

Roy's　voice　took　on　a　slightly　harder　edge。　〃That　is；　if　you　can　spare　time　from　all　this。〃　He　indicated　the　overturned　anthill　confusion　of　the　movie　set　with　a　disdainful　toss　of　his　shaggy　blond　head。　〃I'm　convinced　a　visit　from　you　would　be　worth　more　than　all　the　medicine　in　the　world。〃

Minmei　had　discovered　that　life　on　a　movie　set　was　a　lot　less　exciting　than　she'd　pictured　it…tedious　and　time…consuming　and　endlessly　repetitive；　just　the　opposite　of　what　she'd　envisioned。　She　still　aspired　to　superstardom；　but　the　movies'　hold　over　her　was　less　now。

Besides；　even　though　she　was　flighty；　she　wasn't　blind　to　the　things　she　owed　Rick　Hunter。　The　news　that　he　had　been　wounded　brought　out　the　very　best　in　her…so　winning　that　few　people　could　resist　it…and　perhaps　a　sense　of　real　drama。

〃Of　course　I　will！　If　it　weren't　for　Rick　Hunter；　I　wouldn't　even　be　alive！〃

Roy　gave　her　a　broad　conspiratorial　smile。　〃Atta　girl！〃

〃mander！〃

Roy　and　Minmei　turned　together　to　see　Lynn…Kyle　striding　their　way。　He　glowered　at　them；　an　angry　young　man　in　a　black；　white…trimmed　jacket　and　trouser　costume。　〃If　you're　through　wasting　Minmei's　time；　I　wonder　if　we　could　get　back　to　work？〃

Roy　took　his　time　staring　down　his　nose　at　Kyle。　He'd　heard　all　the　stories　about　the　fight　at　the　White　Dragon；　He　wondered　if　Kyle　had　heard　the　adage　that　a　good　big　man　will　beat　a　good　little　man　every　time。。。

But　Roy　knew　even　more　about　women　than　he　knew　about　martial　arts　and；　it　is　a　verifiable　fact；　preferred　the　former。　Kyle　was　playing　the　heavy　without　even　being　coaxed；　let　it　be　so。

〃Of　course。〃　He　smiled　blandly　at　Lynn…Kyle。

A　little　frown　had　crossed　Minmei's　face　at　her　cousin's　boorishness。　Then　Vance　Hasslewood　was　yelling　for　his　stars…the　first　team；　as　he　called　them。

Minmei's　mood　appeared　to　brighten；　but　Roy　wasn't　sure；　and　neither　was　Kyle。　She　went　running　toward　the　set；　Kyle　spared　Roy　a　steely　look　and　turned　to　follow。

Roy　left　the　sound　stage　whistling　happily。　He　was　still　feeling　pretty　smug　when　the　　unit　in　his　jeep　toned　for　his　attention。　〃What　is　it？〃

It　was　Lisa's　voice。　〃mander　Fokker；　one　enemy　ship　has　broken　out　of　the　fleet　and　is　heading　this　way；　closing　fast。　Two　Vermilion　Veritechs　are　on　scramble；　and　Captain　Gloval　directs　you　to　take　mand　of　the　flight　and　intercept。〃

〃Who's　on？〃

〃Sterling　and　Dixon；〃　Lisa　answered。　〃Captain　Kramer　will　have　your　Skull　Team　standing　by　for　backup　as　needed。〃

〃Good；〃　Roy　told　her。　〃If　things　begin　to　boil；　I　always　like　those　Jolly　Rogers　around。〃

The　EVE　system　was　off；　and　the　distant　reaches　of　the　stupendous　hold　were　above　him。　Roy　Fokker　roared　his　jeep　down　through　a　quiet　Macross；　wondering　what　the　fight　was　going　to　be　like　this　time。


CHAPTER　TWENTY…ONE

There　are　few　more　indicative　incidents　in　the　Robotech　War；　from　my　viewpoint；　than　this　sudden　transference　of　impulse　and　disobedience　from　Khyron　to　Miriya。　The　evidence　of　what　was　happening　was　all　around　them；　but　still　the　Zentraedi　High　mand　was；　in　any　meaningful　sense；　blind　to　it。
Zeitgeist；　Alien　Psychology

〃Sound　general　quarters；〃　Gloval　said；　his　calm；　level　voice　enveloping　the　bridge。　〃Prepare　pin…point　defense　shields。　Tell　fighter　ops　to　scramble　Vermilions。〃

The　new　attack　had　e；　as　Gloval　had　feared；　right　in　the　middle　of　his　own　political　offensive…his　effort　to　make　an　end　run　around　the　Council。

If　anybody　aboard　the　dimensional　fortress　was　curious　about　his　encrypted　〃back…channel〃　calls　to　unnamed　addressees　since　his　return　from　the　Alaskan　fiasco　and　his　silence　on　the　issue　of　the　Council's　insane　mandates；　they'd　kept　it　to　themselves。　Good　crew！　No　one　could　ask　for　better。

The　single　enemy　ship　was　drawing　nearer。　The　exhausted　and　heroic　logistics　people；　straining　to　do　an　impossible　job　of　taking　on　the　endless　rations；　ordnance；　equipment；　life　support　consumables；　and　the　rest；　had　secured　themselves；　the　ship　was　battening　down。

The　turnaround　time　for　a　supercarrier　in　pre…Global　Civil　War　days；　included　shipyard　overhaul　and　the　rest；　ran　as　much　as　six　months；　the　United　States　Navy　was　doing　well　if　it　had　half　its　carrier　groups　at　sea　at　any　one　time。　The　SDF…1　had　had　less　than　a　week　to　lick　its　wounds；　and　unless　Gloval's　plan　worked；　it　would　get　no　more；　but　be　driven　out　into　space　once　again。


In　the　Disco　Bamboo　Ho