09_the_final_nightmare-第12部分

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Run　the　gauntlet　again；　Rolf！　Your　luck　has　to　give　out　sometime！


〃Listen　up；　everybody！〃　Dana's　tone　was　so　upbeat　that　the　15th　knew　this　briefing　wasn't　just　some　joystick　info…promulgation。　They　gathered　round　her；　there　in　the　repair　bay。

When　she　had　them　quieted　down　from　the　usual　griping　and　groaning　about　being　interrupted；　she　motioned　to　Bowie　and　said；　〃Your　friend　Rolf…that　is；　Chief　of　Staff　Emerson…has　arrived　at　Moon　Base　ALUCE　with　his　expeditionary　force。〃

She　saw　Bowie's　breath　catch；　but　then；　with　deliberate　effort；　he　put　on　a　bored　expression。　〃Oh；　yippee…pow。　Now　we　can　do　some　more　fighting。〃

〃What's　it　all　mean　for　us；　Lieutenant？〃　Angelo　broke　in；　seeing　that　Dana　was　vexed　by　Bowie's　reaction　and　wanting　to　keep　things　on　track。

That　somehow　triggered　the　strac　side　of　her　personality；　the　hardnose　officer　so　unlike　the　wild　rulebreaker。　She　put　on　her　best　CO　expression　and　said　tightly；　〃Squad　fifteen；　Alpha　Tactical　Armored　Corps；　will　stand…to　and　make　ready　to　participate　in　an　all…out　assault　on　the　enemy　flagship　to　take　place　in　approximately　forty…eight　hours；　Major　General　Emerson　manding。〃

She　let　the　gasps　and　exclamations　go　on　for　a　few　seconds；　then　cut　through　them。　〃As　you　were！　Fall　out　and　follow　me。〃

Grumbling；　they　hopped　onto　the　drop…rack；　the　conveyor…beltlike　endless　ladder　that　carried　them　down　to　the　motor　pool　levels　to　their　parked　Hovertanks。　As　soon　as　they　jumped　clear　of　the　drop…rack；　they　saw　that　someone　else　had　been　at　work　there…at　work　on　their　own　sacrosanct　mecha；　in　violation　of　every　ATAC　tradition。

Odds　and　ends　of　ponents　and　machinery　and　one　or　two　forgotten　tools　were　lying　around。　They　gave　her　betrayed　looks；　knowing　now　why　they　had　been　given　other　work　details　to　keep　them　all　off　the　motor…pool　levels。

〃They've　all　been　retrofitted　and　augmented　by　R&D　for　extended　space　bat　capability；〃　she　recited　the　briefing　that　had　been　given　her。　〃Get　used　to　them。　You'll　find　instruction　manuals　and　tutorial　tapes　in　each　tank。　We　will　all　run　individual　in…place　drills　and　dry…fire　practice　from　now　until　chowtime。〃

The　15th　was　only　grumbling　a　little　now；　because　they　were　fascinated　with　what　had　been　done　to　their　vehicles。　The　mecha's　lines　had　been　changed　only　a　little；　but　the　15th　could　see　that　the　detection　and　targeting　gear　was　newer　and　more　pact；　more　long…range。　Life…support　and　energy　systems　were　smaller　and　much　more　effective；　too。　The　space　saving　was　mostly　due　to　upgraded　firepower　and　thicker　armor。

They　spread　out；　looking　admiringly　at　the　tanks　but　not　trusting　them　yet。　Dana　herself　was　uneasy　about　this　sudden　mucking　around　with　the　15th's　mecha；　but　she　had　her　orders；　and　she　thought　that　everything　might　go　all　right。

〃Good；　you're　here；〃　someone　said　behind　her。　She　turned；　and　found　herself　facing　Lieutenant　Brown；　decked　out　in　his　tailored　TASC　uniform。　〃Looks　like　it's　gonna　be　fun；　doesn't　it？〃　he　added。

〃You're　ing　along　on　this　party；〃　Dana　said；　not　making　it　a　question。

Brown's　handsome　face　twisted　into　a　droll　smile。　〃Gotta　prove　I'm　not　a　screwup；　don't　I？〃　He　looked　around　and　spotted　the　Livewire。　〃Hey；　Louie！　Congratulations；　I　heard　you're　the　one　who　dreamed　up　the　new　targeting　systems。〃

Dana　turned；　saw　that　Louie　was　hunkered　over　the　control　grips　and　puter　displays　in　his　cockpit…turret。　He　didn't　respond　to　Brown's　hail。　She　turned　back　to　the　TASC　flyer。　〃Y…you　mean　the　simulator　gizmo？〃

〃They　told　me　it　was　for　simulation　training；〃　Dana　heard　Louie's　trembling　voice。　He　was　still　bent　over　his　controls；　his　back　to　them。

Sean　was　lounging　in　his　tank；　the　Bad　News；　reveling　in　its　now…enhanced　power；　checking　out　the　VETS　〃pupil　pistol〃　target　acquisition　and　firing　system。　〃First…round　kill　every　time；〃　he　assessed；　Louie　heard　him；　and　groaned　aloud。

〃Shut　up；　Sean！〃　Dana　screamed　at　him；　her　voice　almost　breaking。

Something　snapped　inside　Bowie。　What　if　the　Robotech　Masters　had　run　short　of　fighters　in　the　wake　of　Emerson's　apocalyptic　victory？　What　if　Musica　or　someone　like　her　was　sealed　into　the　ball…turret　control　module　of　the　next　blue　Bioroid　to　find　itself　in　his　gunsight　reticle？

〃I'm　through　with　this！〃　Bowie　howled；　veins　standing　out　in　his　neck　and　forehead。　〃There're　Humans　like　us　in　those　Bioroids　and　they're　not　our　enemies！　And　we're　not　theirs；　can't　any　of　you　understand　that？〃

Dana　started　to　calm　Bowie　down；　but　before　she　could　get　out　more　than　a　few　vague；　soothing　words；　she　heard　a　rattle　and　felt　waves　of　superheated　air　behind　her。　Dana　and　the　rest　of　the　15th　turned　around　and　saw　Louie　Nichols　with　a　thereto…rifle　in　his　hands；　its　bulky　power　pack　lying　on　the　permacrete　at　his　feet。

His　eyes　were　unreadable　behind　the　dark；　reflective　goggles；　but　he　was　trembling　all　over。　〃Those　bastards　from　R&D　never　even　asked　me；　they　just　lied；　picked　my　brain；　and　did　what　they　were　planning　to　do　all　along。　Like　we're　the　clones；　like　they're　the　Robotech　Masters！〃

He　shot　a　lance　of　brilliance　at　the　motor…pool　wall　in　a　test…burn；　alloy　melted　and　small　secondary　fires　started。　He　figured　he　had　enough　power　in　the　rifle　to　burn　the　cockpit　out　of　every　tank　and　then　go　hunting　for　Cromwell　and　Gervasi。

〃Like　we're　a　bunch　of　experimental　animals；〃　Louie　cried　at　his　squadmates　desperately；　swinging　the　thermorifle's　bell　mouth　this　way　and　that　to　keep　them　all　back。

He　had　joined　the　Southern　Cross　because　he　believed　in　it；　but　the　mind　and　the　products　of　the　mind　belonged　to　the　individual；　to　do　with　as　the　individual　saw　fit；　that　was　the　first　order　of　his　convictions。　Or　else；　what　was　the　point　of　all　this　fighting？　Why　were　the　Human　race　and　the　Robotech　Masters　not　one　and　the　same？

〃We're　not　just　slaves　or　puppets　or　lab　animals！〃　Louie　shrieked；　and　put　another　spear　of　furnace…hot　brightness　into　a　partition；　melting　it；　setting　it　alight；　to　keep　back　an　overeager　PFC　who　had　been　edging　toward　him。

Lab　animals；　the　phrase　registered　in　Dana　and　lodged　there；　because　it　set　off　images　and　reflexes　on　the　very　limits　of　the　perceivable。　I　know　what　it　feels　like　to　be　one！

Angelo　started　for　the　corporal　one　small　step　at　a　time。

〃Louie；　the　balloon's　already　up。　Emerson　and　the　rest　go；　whether　we　do　or　not。　All　you　can　do　this　way　is　give　the　goddamn　aliens　a　better　edge。〃

Dana　winced　at　the　aliens　reference　and　leapt　forward　to　shove　Angelo　aside；　the　strange　evocations　of　Louie's　words　still　moving　her。　She　leveled　her　gaze　at　berserker　Louie。

〃Go　ahead；　Louie。〃　She　jerked　a　thumb　at　the　tanks。　〃Flame　'em　all。〃

Angelo　was　making　confused；　contrary　sounds。　She　went　on；　〃If　you　can't　do　it；　then　I　will！〃　She　walked　in　Louie's　direction；　only　slightly　out　of　the　path　of　the　thereto…rifle's　tracer　beam。　The　beam　wavered　on　her；　away；　and　back。

Then　she　was　before　him；　and　he　turned　the　nozzle　aside。　〃They　lied　to　us；〃　Louie　said；　lowering　the　barrel。

〃I　know；〃　she　answered　gently；　taking　the　weapon　from　him　and　turning　it　once　again　on　the　tanks。

Angelo　stepped　into　her　line　of　fire。　〃You　swore　an　oath！〃

〃So　did　they；　Angie；〃　she　said　evenly。　Dana　turned　to　burn　her　own　Hovertank；　Valkyrie；　first。　But　she　found　another　figure　in　her　way。　Zor　gazed　at　her　through　the　heat　waves　of　the　thereto…rifle's　pilot。

〃I　understand　this　war　from　both　sides；　maybe　I'm　the　only　one　who　ever　will；〃　he　told　her。　〃And　humanity　mustn't　lose；　it　mustn't　lose；　do　you　hear　me？　Listen；　all　of　you：　I　know　what　the　Bioroid　clones　feel　when　they　die。　I've　died　before…and　I'll　die　again；　as　we　all　will。　The　difference　is　in　how　we'll　live；　don't　you　see？　And　for　that；　I'm　willing　to　fight。　And　even　to　kill。

〃Dying　is　a　natural　thing；　sometimes　it's　even　a　mercy。　But　living　as　a　slave…that　can　make　dying　seem　like　a　miracle。〃

He　was　before　her　now；　almost　whispering　the　words。　Dana　turned　the　muzzle　of　the　thereto…rifle　up　toward　the　ceiling。　Zor　pried　it　from　her　fingers　and　deactivated　it；　just　as　Louie　ran　from　the　motor　pool。

〃The　war　must　end；　but　the　Robotech　Masters　must　not　win；〃　Zor　said　to　them　quietly；　putting　the　rifle　aside。


CHAPTER　EIGHT

Hwup！　Twup！　Thrup！　Fo'！
Alpha！　Tact'l！　Armored！　Corps！
If　yo'　cain't　git　yo'　mind　tame；
Better　play　some　other　game！
Marching…cadence　chant　popular　among　ATAC　drill　sergeants

In　their　flagship；　the　Robotech　Masters　showed　no　sign　of　their　dismay　as　the　Clonemasters　assessed　the　damage　they　had　suffered　in　Emerson's　doomsday　victory。

Many　of　their　bat　vessels　and　blue　Bioroids　were　gone；　along　with　much　of　the　materials　that　were　to　have　gone　to　mecha　construction。　〃We　have　begun　emergency　production　of　the　new；　augmented　Triumviroid　mecha；　my　lord；〃　Jeddar　was　saying；　〃giving　each　the　power　of　an　Invid　Fighter。　It　lies　within　our　ability　to　produce　many　of　these　and　they　are　superior　to　anything　the　Humans　can　field。〃

The　Masters　studied　the　Triumviroid；　a　red　Bioroid　similar　to　the　one　Zor　Prime　had　piloted。　With　one　of　the　horned　Triumviroid　Invid　Fighter　spheres　in　each　ball…turret　control　module；　they　would　have；　in　effect；　hundreds　of　Zors…hundreds　of　duplicates　of　their　most　capable　fighter　and　battle　lord。

〃This　is　our　crowning　achievement。〃　Dag　leered；　studying　the　enormous　fists　and　weapons。　〃Utterly　invincible。〃

Bowkaz　pronounced　his　evaluation；　〃The　Humans'　Battloids　will　be　worthless　against　it。〃

And　Shaizan　contributed；　〃Finally；　the　Protoculture　will　be　ours。〃

The　gleaming　red　armored　immensity　of　the　straddlelegged　Bioroid　loomed　above　them；　so　massive　that　it　seemed　it　could　tear　worlds　apart。　The　Masters　were　sure　that　they　were　destined　to　succeed。

There　was；　however；　a　tacit　silence　among　them　on　the　matter　of　the　Humans'　aspirations；　which　might　be　contradictory。


The　ALUCE　forces　had　repaired　their　mecha　and　licked　their　wounds。　At　Emerson's　order；　they　lifted　off　again；　to　rendezvous　with　him　for　what　the　Human　race　hoped　would　be　the　knockout　punch　of　the　war。

Earth　and　the　moon　shook　to　the　drives　of　Southern　Cross　battleships；　the　Black　Lions　and　some　twenty…five　thousand　other　soldiers　looked　to　their　weapons　and　waited　and　wondered　whether　this　would