09_the_final_nightmare-第10部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



Once　out　of　the　nebula；　past　the　point　of　greatest　proximity　to　the　enemy；　the　crewpeople　began　to　breathe　easier。　But　Emerson　grew　even　more　vigilant。


The　Robotech　Masters　gathered　vast　amounts　of　data　through　their　Protoculture　cap。　〃The　Humans　must　be　relieved　to　have　passed　their　zone　of　likeliest　bat　without　a　confrontation；〃　Shaizan　conjectured。

〃Prepare　to　destroy　them；〃　he　sent　out　the　mand。


〃What're　you　trying　now；　Louie？〃　Dana　asked　the　lanky　corporal　as　he　bent　over　the　training　simulator's　guts。

〃I'm　gonna　win　back　those　two　beers　I　owe　you；〃　Louie　said　smugly；　fooling　with　the　systemry　there；　changing　some　connections；　putting　in　a　special　adaptor。　〃You're　in　for　a　surprise。　〃

Dana　scoffed；　〃C'mon；　Louie！　You　can't　beat　a　born　warrior　like　me；　even　with　a　lot　of　mechie　tricks。〃

At　least　he　never　had　yet；　even　on　the　Kill　Those　Bioroids！　program　that　he　himself　had　designed　for　the　simulator。　She　was　happy　to　let　him　keep　trying　though；　hand…eye　training　never　hurt。　She　was　just　sorry　the　simulator；　in　the　canteen　at　the　local　Southern　Cross　service　club；　wasn't　set　up　more　like　a　Hovertank's　cockpit…turret；　or　that　she　hadn't　been　able　to　beg；　borrow；　or　steal　a　simulator　for　the　15th's　ready…room。

The　thinking　caps　did　the　bulk　of　the　controlling　for　Robotech　mecha；　but　the　tankers　inside　still　had　to　know　their　instrumentation　the　way　a　tongue　knew　the　roof　of　its　mouth。　At　the　15th；　as　in　TASC　and　other　units；　mock…ups　of　the　cockpit　layouts　of　the　particular　mecha　used　by　the　individual　outfit　were　pasted　up　in　the　interiors　of　lavatory　stalls　so　that　the　soldiers　sitting　there　could　refresh　their　memorization　of　their　instrumentation　during　what　the　brass　euphemistically　called　〃available　time。〃

Now　Louie；　making　a　final　adjustment　said；　〃That's　what　you　say。〃　He　climbed　into　the　simulator　and　shocked…　her　by　taking　off　the　big；　square；　dark　tech　goggles　that　he　wore　almost　constantly…even　in　the　shower　and　often　when　sleeping。　It　gave　his　face　an　open；　surprised　look。

Dana　wasn't　sure　what　to　think。　Louie　was　undoubtedly　a　maverick　technical　genius。　Word　was　that　he　had　passed　up　numerous　offers　for　advanced　study　or　research　assignments　because　he　liked　the　action　in　Hovertanks；　but　also　because　he　preferred　to　tinker　and　modify　without　somebody　breathing　down　his　neck。

Certainly；　he　had　been　responsible　for　one　of　the　major　victories　of　the　war　when　his　analysis　of　the　Masters'　flagship's　power　and　drive　systems　permitted　the　15th　to　disable　it　and　bring　it　down。　Even　though　the　other　ships　had　retrieved　it　and　guarded　against　any　recurrence；　nothing　was　taken　away　from　that　spectacular　success。　And　still；　Louie　had　refused　transfer　to　Research　and　Development　or　some　think　tank。

Now　he　put　aside　his　goggles　and　pulled　on　a　wraparound　visor；　a　black　and　glittering　V　shape；　like　something　a　sidewalk　cowboy　might　wear　downtown。

Two　jumpsuited　technical　officers　in　a　nearby　booth；　discussing　Emerson's　mission　in　low　tones；　suddenly　became　aware　of　a　furor　near　the　simulator；　with　TASC　pilots　and　ATAC　tankers　and　others　crowding　around；　exclaiming　and　cheering。　They　went　over　and　saw　a　tall；　skinny　corporal　in　black　shades　blowing　away　puter…modeled　Bioroids　with　a　speed　and　accuracy　unlike　anything　simulators…or　even　real　mecha…had　ever　approached。

As　the　two　officers　began　shouldering　their　way　through　the　crowd；　the　kid　was　waving　an　adapter　cartridge　around　and　explaining　that　it　was　puter…enhanced　targeting　linked　into　his　glasses；　a　step　up　from　even　the　thinking　caps。

〃I　call　it　my　Visual　Trace　Firing　System；　or　VTFS；〃　Louie　was　telling　them　all　proudly。　〃Or　if　you　prefer；　my　‘pupil　pistol。'　〃

〃Mind　if　I　see　it？〃　said　one　officer；　holding　out　a　hand　for　the　cartridge。　Louie　was　instantly　wary；　and　Dana　looked　the　two　over　as　well。

〃Major　Cromwell；　Robotech　R&D；〃　the　officer　said。　He　indicated　his　panion。　〃And　this　is　Major　Gervasi。　I　think　we　can　use　this　system　of　yours　in　our　simulation　training。　We'll　help　you　upgrade　it　and　give　you　advice；　assistance；　and　technical　resources。　Is　this　the　only　copy？〃

〃N…no；〃　Louie　admitted；　a　little　uncertain。

Cromwell　slipped　the　cartridge　into　the　shoulder　pocket　of　his　jumpsuit。　〃Fine。　If　you　don't　mind；　we'll　have　a　look　at　this　one；　then。　Can　you　be　in　my　office　tomorrow　at　thirteen　hundred　hours？〃

While　stuttering　that　he　could；　Louie　handed　over　the　visor　as　well。　Dana　decided　that　she　couldn't　pull　rank　on　two　majors；　especially　ones　who　worked　for　the　top…secret　R&D　division。

But　more　than　that；　she　was　experiencing　strange　sensations；　something　to　do　with　the　mention　of　research；　of　Robotechnology；　and　thus　of　Protoculture。　Something　about　Protoculture　and　experimentation。。。It　gave　her　a　queasy　feeling；　sent　a　jolt　of　fear　zapping　through　her；　brought　not…quite…perceived；　evil　memories。。。

But　she　shook　it　off　as　Cromwell　walked　away　telling　Louie；　〃We're　looking　forward　to　working　with　you。〃

Dana　smiled　affectionately　at　the　goofily　grinning　Louie。　〃My　brainy　boy！〃　she　said。

Outside　the　service　club；　Gervasi　said　to　Cromwell；　〃Good　work；　Joe。　Just　what　we　need；　out　of　nowhere！〃

Cromwell　nodded。　〃Send　word　up　the　back　channels　to　Leonard　and　Zand　right　away。　‘Rolling　Thunder'　is　about　to　get　the　green　light。〃


Emerson's　force　was　very　close　to　the　moon　when　the　Masters'　fleet　appeared　like　ghosts　all　around　them；　not　on　the　monitors　one　second；　hemming　them　in　the　next。

It　was　what　the　general　had　feared。　The　Masters　had　penetrated　Earth's　detection　systems　before；　measures　to　counter　that　capability　just　hadn't　worked；　and　the　invaders　had　bided　their　time　until　they　could　use　the　tactic　to　best　advantage。　That　time　was　now；　with　the　expedition　out　of　bat　formation　and　deployed　for　lunar　approach；　with　no　way　back　and　no　way　forward。

Emerson　was　reordering　the　disposition　of　his　units　even　as　the　alien　mother　ships　disgorged　scores　of　the　whisk　broom…shaped　assault　craft。　With　his　battlecruiser　Tristar　at　the　center；　Emerson　prepared　to　fight　his　way　through　to　ALUCE。

Blue　Bioroids　came　in　at　the　Humans　like　maddened　automaton　hornets。　The　call　went　out　for　the　A…JACs　to　scramble；　and　the　expedition's　ships　began　throwing　out　a　huge　volume　of　fire　to　clear　the　way　for　them　and　hold　the　Bioroids　off。

Once　more；　Marie　Crystal　led　her　Black　Lions　out　in　the　A…JACs。　She　was　all　bat　leader；　all　Robotech　warrior　now；　the　regret　and　hurt　from　Sean's　betrayal　savagely　thrust　aside。　Leave　love　for　fools；　and　let　Marie　Crystal　do　what　she　did　best！

The　Bioroids　and　the　A…JACs　swirled　and　struck；　lighting　an　unnamed　volume　of　space　with　thermonuclear　lightning　and　sunfire。　The　killing　began　at　once；　the　casualties　piled　up。

Marie　skeeted　a　Bioroid　right　off　its　Hovercraft；　so　that　the　circular　platform　went　on；　unguided；　heading　for　infinite　space。　She　went　to　Battloid　mode；　ordering　others　to　do　the　same；　changing　tactics　abruptly　and　taking　advantage　of　the　foe's　brief　confusion。

Assault　ships　swept　in；　to　hammer　away　at　the　larger　expeditionary　vessels　and　be　volleyed　at　in　reply。　Hulls　were　pierced　through　and　through；　blasts　claimed　Human　and　clone　alike。　Space　was　a　maelstrom　of　plasma…hot　beams　and　blowtorching　drives　and　the　ugly　flare　of　dying　ships。


Professor　Miles　Cochran　gathered　up　all　of　his　nerve　to　ask；　〃Dr。　Zand；　the　Invid　Nebula　is　so　appallingly　dangerous…it　might　even　take　hostile　action　against　Emerson's　force。　Are　you　certain　we　shouldn't　give　him　some　inkling　of　that？　Perhaps　it's　not　too　late。。。〃

There　had　been　a　tremor　in　his　voice；　he　couldn't　help　it。　Cochran　began　to　tremble　as　Zand　turned　that　eerie　stare　upon　him　there　in　the　grandiose；　forbidden　sanctuary　of　the　Kommandatura　in　a　Robotech…rococo　chamber　deep　in　the　Earth。　Zand's　eyes　were　all　pupil；　with　no　iris　or　white　at　all；　his　was　a　gaze　no　one　could　meet　for　long。

Even　more　unnerving　than　his　eyes　was　the　power　radiating　from　him；　which　intimidated　his　handpicked　disciples。　The　power　of　Protoculture。　The　outside　world　might　see　him　as　a　slightly　odd…looking　researcher；　the　UEG's　top　scientific　officer　and　adviser…a　man　of　normal　height　and　build　with　an　unruly　forelock；　who　dressed　in　a　somewhat　rumpled　uniform。　An　egghead。　But　the　seven　men　and　one　woman　seated　around　the　table　knew　differently。

The　group　met　in　a　vaulted　room　that　mixed　the　technological　with　the　mystical。　Side　by　side　with　the　latest　puter　equipment　and　with　Zand's　own　systemry　were　musty　copies　of　the　Necronomicon　and　The　Book　of　James；　along　with　talismans　and　gnostic　paraphernalia。　There　was　an　enlargement　of　a　satellite　photo　of　the　mound　in　which　the　wreckage　of　SDF…1　was　buried。　Zand　sat　at　the　head　of　the　black　obsidian　table　staring　at　Cochran。

He　said；　almost　delicately；　〃Do　you　think　I　expunged　all　mention　of　the　Invid；　the　Matrix；　and　the　Flower　of　Life　from　every　record　but　our　own　just　so　that　you　could　go　blurting　it　to　Leonard　and　his　military　imbeciles？　Or　the　fools　at　UEG？　Have　I　wasted　so　much　time　on　you？〃

Cochran　fought　against　a　years…long　habit　of　obedience　to　Zand；　of　self…sacrifice　to　the　transcendent　plan　the　scientist　had　enacted。　He　and　the　few　others　who　sat　there…Beckett；　Russo；　and　the　rest…were　the　only　ones　on　Earth　aside　from　the　man　himself　who　knew　just　how　much　Zand　had　altered　the　course　of　history。

〃Confrontation　is　the　whole　point　of　the　Shaping；　don't　you　see？〃　Zand　went　on。　〃War　is　the　whole　point。　Do　you　think　Dana　Sterling's　dormant　powers　will　be　released　by　anything　short　of　the　Apocalypse？〃

Data　on　the　Invid　and　the　Matrix　and　the　rest　of　it；　gathered　from　the　Zentraedi　leaders　Exedore　and　Breetai；　and　from　Captain　Gloval；　Miriya　Sterling；　and　a　few　others；　had　been　kept　under　tightest　restrictions。　Once　Lang；　Hunter；　and　the　rest　left　Earth　on　the　SDF…3　mission；　it　hadn't　taken　Zand　long　to　see　to　it　that　everyone　who　knew　about　that　information　either　joined　his　cabal；　or　died。

〃The　Protoculture's　Shaping　of　history　is　moving　toward　a　single　Moment；〃　Zand　reminded　them　all。　〃And　that　Moment　is　near；　I　can　feel　it。　I　shall　take　ultimate　advantage　of　that　Moment。　Nothing　will　be　allowed　to　stop　it。〃

Cochran；　a　thin…faced；　intense　redhead；　swallowed