09_the_final_nightmare-第6部分

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Supreme　mander　Leonard　let　Marie　make　her　brief　report。　Leonard　was　more　pleased　with　the　battle　as　a　propaganda　victory　and　a　bolster　to　his　influence　with　the　UEG　council　than　he　was　with　it　as　a　military　success。　But　he　was　pleased　with　that　aspect　of　it；　too…his　loathing　of　aliens　bordered　on　the　psychotic。

After　she　was　dismissed；　Marie　stepped　back　into　the　corridor　only　to　discover　Dana；　Angelo　Dante；　and　Sean　Phillips　ing　toward　her。

Marie　was　still　dressed　in　smudged　battle　armor；　dirty　and　weary；　but　she　didn't　let　that　stop　her　from　crying　out　his　name　and　running　toward　him；　as　he　hurried　to　embrace　her。　〃Oh；　Sean；　Sean；　you　came！〃

He　was　the　same　as　she　had　pictured　him　a　thousand　times　since　leaving　Earth；　the　smiling；　roguish　ladykiller　of　the　15th。　Sean　had　been　its　manding　officer　not　too　long　ago；　with　Dana　his　untried　executive　officer　fresh　out　of　the　Academy。　But　a　certain　scandal　concerning　a　colonel's　daughter　had　gotten　Sean　busted　to　deuce　private　in　the　Hovertank　outfit　he　had　formerly　manded。

The　romance　started　when　he　saved　her　life　during　a　firefight。　Marie　had　been　very　wary　of　his　advances　at　first；　refusing　to　be　one　more　notch　on　his　bedpost。　They　had　fought　like　alley　cats。　But　in　time　she　had　e　to　believe　his　declarations　of　love；　and　let　herself　admit　that　although　she　had　never　been　in　love　before；　she　was　now。

〃Darlin'；　I　thought　maybe　we'd　lost　you；〃　he　grinned；　to　hide　all　the　worrying　he　had　been　doing。　Sean　was　used　to　being　the　reckless　swashbuckler；　going　into　danger　while　a　woman　kept　the　light　in　the　window；　not　vice　versa。

Then　he　held　her　at　arm's　length　again；　and　saw　her　eyes　brimming。　〃Marie；　what's　wrong？〃

She　didn't　let　herself　surrender　to　tears。　But　after　the　long；　exhausting　mission；　the　death　and　the　killing；　shouldering　all　burdens　and　enduring　sleeplessness　while　sustaining　the　morale　of　all　around　her；　she　laid　her　head　against　his　chest　and　let　her　breath　go；　running　her　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Oh；　Sean；　I…I　wasn't　sure　you　really。。。really　cared〃

He　hugged　her　and　rubbed　her　alloy…clad　back；　while　the　others　cleared　their　throats　and　turned　to　look　at　something　else；　anything　else。　Then　he　held　her　face　in　his　hands　to　gaze　into　her　eyes。　〃It's　you　and　me；　Marie　Crystal。　From　now　on。　Always。〃


In　the　conference　room；　Supreme　mander　Leonard　turned　to　his　subordinates。

〃The　relief　force　has　the　materials　and　know…how　to　turn　ALUCE　into　a　strategic　military　base。　With　it；　we　will　be　able　to　attack　the　enemy　on　two　fronts。〃

But　Leonard　knew　he　couldn't　afford　to　fight　a　two…front　war；　one　against　those　obscene　alien　invaders　and　one　against　the　damned　meddling　council。　However；　he　had　e　up　with　what　he　considered　a　brilliant　strategy　for　solidifying　his　place　as　Supreme　mander：　eliminate　the　one　man　who　could　conceivably　be　tapped　to　replace　him；　and　whose　military　genius　threatened　to　eclipse　his。

He　turned　to　Major　General　Emerson　with　a　fulsome　smile。　〃And　Rolf；　I　have　a　great　little　surprise　for　you。〃

Emerson；　already　three　steps　ahead　of　Leonard；　resigned　himself。　He's　got　my　range　and　coordinates　this　time。


The　15th　was　on　stand…down；　relaxing　in　the　ready…room；　when　Louie　Nichols　charged　in　with　his　news。

Bowie　Grant　sat　at　the　piano；　playing　sadly　and　brooding　over　Musica；　as　he　had　since　he　first　met　her。　He　had　thought　of　and　discarded　a　hundred　plans　for　getting　back　to　her　somehow；　for　being　with　her；　for　finding　some　kind　of　life　together　with　the　Mistress　of　the　Cosmic　Harp。　She　had　enthralled　him…magicked　an　enchanted　ring　round　his　heart；　so　that　he　could　think　of　nothing　and　no　one　else。　If　he　had　taught　her　what　love　was；　she　was　also　teaching　him；　even…especially…in　their　separation。

Louie　Nichols　burst　in；　babbling　and　running　around　in　such　a　lather　that　Dana；　Angelo；　and　the　rest　thought　they　were　going　to　have　to　kneel　on　his　chest　to　get　him　to　spill　out　what　he　knew。　It　sounded　as　if　he　was　about　to　begin　blubbering；　but　it　was　hard　to　tell　with　Louie　because　he　always　wore　big；　square；　tinted　tech　goggles；　day　and　night。

〃Well；〃　he　managed　at　last；　〃they've　appointed　a　new　mander　to　take　charge　of　ALUCE　and　open　the　second　front。〃

Sean　stared　at　him。　〃Yeah；　so？　Who　is　it？〃

Louie　worked　himself　up　to　answer。　〃Leonard's　sending　General　Emerson！〃

Bowie　had　been　playing　softly。　Now　he　brought　his　fingers　down　hard　in　discord。　The　Robotech　Masters　seemed　to　have　some　kind　of　pipeline　into　Southern　Cross　plans；　and　everyone　knew　how　high　the　casualties　would　probably　run　at　ALUCE。


Emerson　was　supervising　the　organization　of　a　new　expedition　to　ALUCE。　With　the　original　reinforcing　group　fortifying　the　lunar　base；　it　was　time　to　get　more　personnel；　bat　units；　and　equipment　up　there；　to　expand　preparations　for　the　second　front。

He　heard　a　scuffle　behind　him；　and　his　name　being　called。　He　turned　from　his　contemplation　of　the　intense　activity　all　across　Fokker　Base；　the　readying　of　the　strikeforce　he　now　manded。　His　adjutant；　Lieutenant　Colonel　Rochelle；　was　struggling　to　hold　back　Lieutenant　Dennis　Brown；　a　TASC　Veritech　pilot　who　had　once　served　as　aide　to　Emerson。

〃Brown；　we've　heard　enough　out　of　you！〃　Rochelle　was　yelling。

Brown　thrashed；　trying　to　break　loose。　〃But　it's　a　suicide　mission；　General　Emerson！　They're　trying　to　get　rid　of　you！〃

〃As　you　were！〃　Emerson　hollered；　and　Brown　and　Rochelle　subsided。　Emerson　went　on；　〃It's　not　for　me　to　second…guess　my　orders；　Lieutenant；　nor　is　it　for　you。　We　give　orders　and　see　that　they're　obeyed；　we　obey　the　orders　that　are　given　us。　We　see　to　it　that　we　don't　violate　the　oath　we've　sworn；　not　for　any　personal　loyalty　or　preference。　There's　no　other　way　an　army　can　function。　Thank　you　for　your　concern；　but　if　you　don't　return　to　your　post　at　once；　I'll　have　no　choice　but　to　have　you　placed　under　arrest。〃

Rochelle　and　Brown　had　released　one　another。　The　lieutenant　saluted。　〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃One　more　thing；〃　Emerson　snapped。　〃No　operation　under　my　mand　has　ever　been　or　will　ever　be　a　suicide　mission。　I'd　have　thought　you　knew　me　better　than　that。　Dismissed。〃


Dana　found　that　Bowie　simply　refused　to　talk　about　his　godfather　being　posted　to　ALUCE。　Bowie　seemed　determined　to　have　the　world　think　he　cared　nothing　about　General　Emerson。

It　was　Emerson　who　had　insisted　Bowie　serve　time　in　the　Southern　Cross　Army；　as　Bowie's　parents　had　wished　it；　Emerson　claiming　that　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　personal　feelings　or　his　affection　for　Bowie。　Now　it　was　Bowie's　chance　to　hide　behind　a　soldier's　code；　and　the　rest　of　it；　to　shield　his　sorrow。　Dana；　with　little　choice；　let　it　be　so。


At　the　Global　Military　Police　headquarters；　a　round…the…clock　screening　program　consumed　everyone's　time；　especially　Nova's。　The　high　mand　was　determined　to　plug　the　leak　in　its　system。　Endless　puter　reviews　and　field　reports　were　the　order　of　the　day。　Anyone　who　had　access　to　classified　information　and　particularly　those　had　access　to　long…range　munications　gear　were　being　scrutinized。

After　all；　how　else　could　an　espionage　agent　get　the　word　across　tens　of　thousands　of　miles　of　empty　space？


Zor　got　off　the　shuttle　bus　across　the　street　from　GMP　headquarters　only　to　find　Angelo　Dante　standing　next　to　a　jeep；　waiting　for　him。

〃I　keep　asking　myself；　‘Now；　why's　ole　Zor…O　so　eager　to　see　Nova？〃'　Angelo　said；　blocking　his　way。　〃And　what　d'you　think　crossed　my　mind？　Why；　Nova's　with　GMP！　Maybe　that's　why　you're　bringing　her　a　present；　hey？〃

Angelo　reached　to　grab　the　object　Zor　had　tucked　under　one　arm。　It　turned　out　to　be　a　classified　looseleaf　binder　whose　title　sent　Angelo's　eyebrows　high。　〃An　Intelligence　Overview　on　the　ALUCE　Base？〃

Angelo　grabbed　Zor's　torso　harness　again；　just　as　he　heard　a　Hovercycle　flare　to　a　stop　at　curbside　behind　him。　He　heard　Dana　yell；　〃Sergeant　Dante！　Let　him　go！〃

Angelo　did；　as　she　stalked　over　to　him。　〃Now　hold　on　a　minute；　Lieutenant…〃

She　yanked　the　binder　out　of　his　hands。　〃You　will　stop　harassing　this　trooper；　Sergeant！　Grow　up　and　quit　playing　GMP　spy！　Now；　get　lost！〃

Angelo's　face　was　a　purple…red。　He　cared　passionately　about　his　world　and　its　people　and　their　survival；　of　course；　and　his　duty。　But　there　was　more　to　it　than　that。

Why　should　I　care　if　this　guy　uses　Dana　and　wrecks　her　life？　It's　her　own　fault　and　she's　just　a　snotty；　pushy　teenage　know…it…all　anyway！　Okay；　so　she's　proved　she's　got　what　it　takes　to　lead　the　15th；　but　why　should　I　care　if　she　gets　what　she's　got　in'　for　getting　this　weird　crush　on　Zor…O？

He　thought　all　that　looking　down　into　the　pug…nosed；　freckled　face　and　regretted　making　such　a　jackass　of　himself　at　the　movie。　Without　warning；　he　found　himself　wondering　what　it　would　feel　like　to　hold　her　tenderly；　the　way　Sean　had　embraced　Marie　Crystal　the　other　day。　Then　Angelo　Dante　violently　suppressed　the　thought。

〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　said　through　clenched　teeth。　He　saluted；　about…faced　and　marched　to　the　jeep。　Tires　chirped　as　he　accelerated　away　from　the　curb。

Dana　handed　the　binder　back　to　Zor　without　even　looking　at　the　cover。　〃Here。　Sorry　about　that；　but　Angie's　such　a…〃

〃Thank　you。〃　Zor　took　the　classified　book；　turned　and　went　up　the　steps　toward　the　main　entrance；　barely　having　registered　her　presence。

〃Hey！〃　She　started　after　him；　but　just　then　a　hand　closed　around　her　elbow。

If　she　had　been　only　a　little　hotter　under　her　high　military　collar；　she　would　have　turned　around　swinging。　But　she　reconnoitered　first；　and　saw　who　it　was。　〃Captain　Komodo！〃　she　said　in　bewilderment。　〃What's　the　matter；　sir？〃

Komodo　was　a　man　of　about　five…ten；　with　a　powerful　build；　of　Nisei　descent。　Just　now；　he　was　sweating　and　a　little　wild…eyed。　〃Lieutenant；　I　need　a　favor！〃

Most　people　in　the　Southern　Cross　knew　who　Komodo　was。　After　the　Robotech　Masters'　first　attack　on　Moon　Base　One；　Komodo　had　violated　Emerson's　ironclad　wait…and…see　orders　to　launch　missiles　at　them；　ending　Emerson's　hopes　for　negotiations。

Emerson　had　wanted　him　court…martialed　for　firing　the　goading　shot　in　a　war　nobody　wanted；　but　Leonard；　ever　the　alien…hater；　had　had　Komodo　decorated　for　prompt　and　brave　use　of　personal　initiative；　and　transferred　to　fire　control　on　a　battlecruiser。　Stil