03_homecoming-第8部分

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The　Skulls　in　Roy's　jeep　didn't　seemed　very　thrilled　about　the　encounter　either；　but　they　knew　better　than　to　say　anything　to　their　hotheaded　leader。

〃What'd　you　say？〃　Rick　asked　mildly。

Roy　hollered；　〃I　said；　where　d'　you　think　you're　going？〃

Max　leaned　forward。　〃The　PA　system　said　for　all　military　personnel　to　report　for　duty！〃　he　said。　Ben　Dixon　began　sweating　bullets　as　the　far　bulkhead　got　closer　and　closer。

〃You　had　orders　to　stay　behind；　you　nitwit！　That　announcement　doesn't　apply　to　you　guys！〃　Roy　was　shaking　his　fists　in　the　air；　the　guy　riding　shotgun　grabbed　the　wheel　while　one　of　the　others　in　the　back　seat　began　crossing　himself　and　the　other　spun　a　tiny　prayer　wheel。　Roy　ignored　them；　keeping　the　accelerator　floored。

〃But　that　wasn't　an　order。。。specifically；〃　Rick　pointed　out。

Roy　had　his　hands　back　on　the　wheel。　〃Well；　I'm　making　it　an　order！　Specifically！　Return　to　quarters；　and　make　it　fast！〃

Ben　eased　back；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief。　Roy's　jeep　took　the　lead　as　Rick　yelled；　〃Gonna　take　on　the　enemy　alone；　huh？〃

Roy　turned　and　rose；　his　front　seat　passenger　diving　for　the　wheel　again。　Roy　shook　his　fists　at　the　heroic　escapees。　〃Maybe　you'd　rather　report　to　the　brig　for　insubordination？〃

Ben　began　braking。　He　and　his　friends　chanted　in　perfect　unison；　〃Not　really；　sir！　No　thank　you；　sir！〃　a　bootcamp　response　used　here　to　mock　Roy　by　implying　that　he　was　as　dumb　as　a　drill　sergeant。

Roy　cracked　an　unwilling　smile；　then　turned　to　take　the　wheel　back　from　his　ashen…faced　front　seat　passenger。　〃I'm　glad　you　understand；〃　he　called　back；　voice　growing　fainter。　〃Nobody　likes　a　smart　aleck！〃

Ben　stopped　just　short　of　the　bulkhead；　and　Roy's　jeep　shot　through　the　hatch；　speeding　toward　the　fighter　bays。

〃There　goes　a　wonderful　guy；〃　Ben　said；　letting　out　his　breath。


The　Zentraedi　had　a　saying　that　in　Earthly　terms　would　translate　to：　〃Even　wolves　may　be　prey　to　the　tiger。〃

So　the　huge　armada　kept　its　distance　from　SDF…1；　pacing　it　on　its　homing　journey。　Ironclad　orders　stated　clearly　that　Zor's　fortress　was　to　be　captured　with　all　its　Protoculture　secrets　intact。　From　the　perspective　of　the　fleet's　manders；　the　more　important　point　at　the　moment　was　that　the　SDF…1's　main　gun　had　proved　itself　operational；　even　though　the　Micronians　had　used　it　very　sparingly。

The　Zentraedi　couldn't　figure　out　why…one　of　the　mysteries　that　prompted　the　placement　of　Bron；　Rico；　and　Konda　aboard　SDF…1。　What　the　Zentraedi　didn't　know　was　how　little　the　human　race　understood　about　the　giant　ship　and　how　vulnerable　the　SDF…1　really　was。

All　the　Zentraedi　knew　for　certain　was　that　the　ship　contained　enough　power　to　destroy　whole　star　systems　and　rip　the　very　fabric　of　space　and　time。　So　the　armada　paced　the　battle　fortress；　watching　and　waiting。

A　report　was　being　delivered　by　a　technician　in　a　fleet　mand　vessel。　〃mander　Azonia；　the　super　dimensional　fortress　had　started　to　increase　its　velocity。〃

Azonia　looked　up　sharply　at　her　intelligence　analyst。　Azonia　sat　in　the　control　seat　amid　a　vast　array　of　machinery　and　consoles　and　holographic　data　displays　that　stretched　away　in　every　direction。

〃What　are　your　orders？〃　the　analyst　asked。　Azonia　glanced　at　the　various　maps；　readouts；　and　tactical　projections。

〃Dolza　has　given　me　no　authority　to　destroy　it；〃　the　armada's　mander　replied；　running　a　hand　through　her　close…cropped　blue…black　hair。　〃So　we'll　just　follow　it　and　see　what　happens。〃　Azonia　had　replaced　the　legendary　Breetai　as　mander　when　he'd　made　one　mistake　too　many；　and　she　had　no　intention　of　suffering　similar　humiliation。

The　analyst　bowed　obediently；　and　withdrew　from　the　mand　center。　Azonia　pulled　her　campaign　cloak　tighter　around　her　and　adjusted　the　high　collar；　she　was　having　doubts　she　would　never　betray　to　a　subordinate。

The　Micronians'　homeworld　was　close；　what　would　happen　there？　The　original　Zentraedi　invasion　force　had　smashed　all　Terran　opposition　until　it　encountered　those　thrice…damned　Robotech　mecha…the　Veritechs。　And　after　ail　these　months；　who　knew　what　new　defenses　the　perversely　ingenious　humans　might　have　developed？

Allowing　the　super　dimensional　fortress　to　reach　its　destination　was　a　risky　game　at　best；　a　disastrous　one；　perhaps。　Yet　Azonia　couldn't　see　any　new　orders　ing　from　her　superiors；　nor　could　she　e　up　with　an　alternative　course　of　action　to　offer　them　that　didn't　risk　the　loss　of　the　all…important　secrets　of　Protoculture。

Azonia　forced　down　those　thoughts。　There　was　still　time　to　win；　and　victory　in　this　campaign　would　bring　the　most　precious　prize　in　all　the　universe。


The　SDF…1　was　in　its　cruiser　mode；　which　meant　that　the　great　main　gun　couldn't　be　fired。　This　was　unavoidable；　however；　since　the　giant　weapon　would　function　only　in　Attack　mode…a　formation　that　rendered　Macross　City　virtually　uninhabitable。

In　its　present　configuration　it　looked　like　a　conventional　spacecraft　or　even　a　naval　vessel。　The　Thor…class　suppercarriers　Daedalus　and　Promethus　were　swung　back　flush　against　it；　and　the　two　great　booms　of　the　main　gun　were　mated　together　to　form　a　prow。　The　bridge　and　its　attendant　structures　rose　above　the　main　deck　but　still　sat　rather　low。

As　its　gargantuan　thrusters　flared　blue　fire；　the　ultimate　warcraft　approached　the　orbit　of　pockmarked　Luna。

Claudia　studied　Earth's　moon　in　her　displays。　〃We　are　proceeding　at　maximum　speed；　Captain；〃　she　reported。　〃Beginning　Earth…approach　maneuver。。。now！〃

Gloval　appeared　to　be　asleep：　The　polished　visor　of　his　cap　was　pulled　low　down　on　the　bridge　of　his　nose；　and　his　arms　were　folded　across　his　chest。　But　he　said　quite　clearly；　〃Vanessa；　how　has　the　enemy　fleet　reacted？〃

Vanessa　pushed　her　glasses　up；　made　a　final　sweep　of　her　instruments　to　be　sure；　and　then　turned　to　Gloval　〃They're　still　all　around　us；　Captain；　but　they're　maintaining　distance。　It's　strange…they're　still　matching　our　speed　exactly。〃

Gloval　rubbed　his　cheek　and　realized　he　needed　a　shave。　He　didn't　even　want　to　think　about　how　tired　he　was。　〃It　would　appear　they　still　don't　want　to　risk　firing　on　the　SDF…1。　This　would　seem　to　bear　out　your　theory；　Lisa。〃

Lisa　broke　her　intense　concentration　on　her　instruments　to　say；　〃I　certainly　hope　so；　sir。〃　If　she　was　wrong；　the　battle　fortress　wouldn't　last　another　hour。

〃We　are　approaching　the　orbit　of　Luna；　Captain；〃　Vanessa　said　tensely。

〃Keep　monitoring　the　enemy　closely。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

Lisa　chimed　in；　〃Fighter　ops　reports　Vermilion　and　Ghost　teams　ready　for　takeoff；　Captain。〃　She　did　her　best　to　sound　businesslike　and　not　think　about　one　of　those　Vermilion　Team　Veritechs。　Especially　its　pilot。。。

Gloval　nodded　and　hoped　he　wouldn't　be　forced　to　use　them。　They　were　some　of　his　very　best　pilots；　but　they'd　been　chewed　up　badly　in　the　latest　installment　of　the　running　battle　the　SDF…1　had　been　fighting　for　months　in　the　remote；　dark　places　of　the　solar　system。

Earth　was　so　close。　Gloval　would　have　given　his　own　life　without　an　instant's　hesitation　if　it　would　have　meant　repatriating　all　the　refugees　who'd　survived　the　brutal　voyage。　But　that　wasn't　how　things　worked。


In　a　Zentraedi　mand　center；　a　finger　the　size　of　a　log　stabbed　at　a　tactical　display　screen　representation　of　the　SDF…1　and　the　armada　around　it。

Khyron　could　barely　keep　his　voice　from　breaking　in　rage。　〃The　Micronian　ship　is　here；　and　the　ships　under　my　mand　are　here；　behind　it。　Now；　at　maximum　speed；　their　vessel　stands　a　good　chance　of　penetrating　the　net　around　it　and　escaping！〃

He　stared　angrily　at　his　second　in　mand；　Grel；　and　his　trusted　subordinate；　Gerao。　〃Are　we　to　sit　here　with　our　arms　folded　while　these　creatures　get　away　and　not　raise　a　finger　to　stop　it？〃

〃But　Azonia　has　forbidden　us　to　act；〃　Grel　pointed　out。　〃What　can　we　do？〃

Khyron　slammed　his　palms　down　on　the　display　console。　〃We　will　crush　them！〃

Khyron；　handsome　and　fiendish　mander　of　the　Zentraedi　Seventh　Fleet　and　its　mecha　strike　arm；　the　Botoru　Battalion；　had　a　reputation　that　gave　even　the　giant　warriors　pause。　He　had　earned　the　nickname　〃Backstabber〃：　He　had　a　reputation　for　savage　ferocity；　a　total　lack　of　feeling　for　his　own　men；　and　an　unquenchable　thirst　for　bloodshed　and　triumph。

Grel　knew　better　than　to　contradict　his　superior　when　the　killing　rage　was　upon　him。　There　was　a　persistent　rumor　that　Khyron's　secret　vice　was　the　essence　of　the　Flower　of　Life；　a　forbidden　addiction；　if　that　were　so；　he　used　it　in　some　form　that　made　it　a　flower　of　death。　In　this　mood；　he　was　capable　of　anything。

〃Order　the　lead　ships　in　the　squadron　to　increase　speed　and　attack！〃　he　roared；　holding　his　hand　high　in　a　salute　and　gesture　of　mand。　〃For　the　glory　of　the　Zentraedi。。。and　of　Khyron！〃


Vanessa　stared　intently　at　her　screens；　calling　out；　〃A　squadron　of　enemy　battle　cruisers　has　broken　away　from　the　rest　of　the　fleet　and　is　moving　in　on　us；　Captain。　Approximately　ten　of　them。〃

Gloval　stared　out　the　forward　viewport　morosely。　〃Scramble　fighters。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃　Lisa　drew　a　deep　breath；　opening　the　PA　mike。　〃Vermilion　and　Ghost　Teams；　scramble；　scramble！


Down　in　the　hangar　decks　of　the　supercarrier　Daedalus；　there　was　the　controlled　chaos　of　a　〃hot〃　scramble；　one　that　everybody　knew　was　no　drill。　The　huge　elevators　began　raising　the　Veritechs　to　the　flight　deck　port　and　starboard；　two　to　a　lift。

Roy　Fokker　pulled　on　his　flight　helmet　and　checked　his　controls　as　his　ship　was　moved　out　for　lift　by　a　tow　driver。　Roy　was　Skull　Leader；　but　experienced　pilots　were　in　such　terribly　short　supply　and　Rick　and　the　others　were　on　enforced　R&R；　so　he　had　to　help　fill　the　ranks　of　the　depleted　Vermilions；　especially　at　a　critical　time　like　this。

The　Veritechs'　stabilizers　and　wings　began　sliding　into　flight　position。　Cat　crews　rushed　to　hook　up　and　launch　the　fighters；　The　Veritechs　went　into　a　vigilant　holding　pattern；　ready　to　fend　off　any　attack　against　the　VTs　that　were　still　vulnerable；　awaiting　launch。

The　cats　slung　the　fighters　out　into　space；　the　blue　Robotech　drives　flared；　and　the　Vermilions　and　Ghosts　formed　up　to　do　battle　yet　again。


Gloval　had　hoped　to　avoid　it；　but　he　gave　the　order　nevertheless。　〃Engage　SDF…1　transformation　and　activate　pin…point　defensive　barri