05_force_of_arms-第15部分

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tical　about　it。　Rick　saw　moisture　on　Claudia's　cheek。

Rick　looked　out　the　viewport　to　the　emptiness　of　space。　Roy；　his　best　friend；　was　gone…and　Ben　Dixon　and　how　many　hundreds；　how　many　thousands　upon　thousands　of　others？　The　losses　had　been　terrible。

Deep　under　the　frozen　Alaskan　ground；　Lisa　had　turned　the　ceremonies　back　on。　She　watched　Minmei　work　her　magic　and　despaired　of　ever　being　able　to　pete；　of　ever　being　able　to　win　Rick's　love。　How　can　I？　She's　so　beautiful；　her　singing…it's　like　a　kind　of　miracle。


The　broadcast　was　also　intercepted　by　the　armada　as　it　swam　like　a　school　of　a　million　bloodthirsty　deep…sea　creatures　in　the　depths　of　space。　The　great　warships；　bristling　with　weapons；　spiny　with　their　detection　and　munication　gear；　prowled　hungrily。

In　his　mand　station；　Breetai　looked　up　at　the　image　and　heard　the　music。　〃This　woman　has　a　voice　that。。。can　make　a　man　feel　sorrow；〃　he　said　slowly；　heavily。　Exedore　looked　at　him　worriedly。

Just　as　Minmei　was　about　to　start　another　song；　a　priority　signal　replaced　Minmei's　image。　One　of　Dolza's　staff　officers　looked　down　at　him。

〃mander　Breetai；　forgive　this　interruption；　but　I　bring　you　top…secret　orders　from　mander　in　Chief　Dolza。〃

Breetai　shot　to　his　feet；　hand　outflung。　〃Hail；　Dolza！〃　He　shook　off　the　effects　of　Minmei's　siren　song。

〃You　are　ordered　to　begin　a　full…scale　assault　on　the　SDF…1；〃　the　officer　informed　him。　〃There　are　to　be　no　survivors　whatsoever；　no　matter　what　the　cost。　That　is　all。〃

He　disappeared；　and　Minmei　was　singing　once　more。　〃Well；　Your　Excellency？〃　Exedore　asked　softly。

Breetai　stared　up　sadly　at　Minmei's　image。　〃It　grieves　me　that　the　time　has　finally　e。　I　do　not　look　forward　to　this　task　at　all；　Exedore。　That　may　sound　strange；　but　it's　true。〃

And　the　haunting　beauty　of　Minmei's　voice　put　that　same　heavy　sorrow　in　him　once　more；　until　he　willed　himself　to　reach　out　and　shut　it　off。

Loyal；　insightful　Exedore　looked　at　his　lord　with　concern。　Half　a　dozen　times　he　almost　spoke　of　the　fear　and　apprehension　that　those　words；　ing　from　Breetai；　put　into　him。　But　in　the　end　the　small；　slight　giant　held　his　peace。


But　Breetai　did　not　have　the　only　receiving　equipment　in　the　fleet。　Everywhere　in　the　teeming　warships　it　was　the　same：　Clusters　of　huge；　hulking　warriors　had　gathered　around　to　watch　and　listen　to　Minmei…and　had　heard　Gloval　as　well。　The　first　sounding　of　the　alert　signals；　the　call　to　arms　and　to　glorious　Zentraedi　warfare；　had　touched　off　more　dissent　than　they　had　ever　experienced　before。

〃I　don't　want　to　fight；〃　growled　a　much…decorated　pod　mander。　He　was　staring　at　something　tiny　that　lay　in　the　palm　of　his　hand　as　though　examining　his　own　heart　line。　Another　PC；　standing　near；　tried　to　get　a　look　at　whatever　it　was；　but　the　first　closed　his　fist。

He　did　it　carefully；　he　didn't　want　to　damage　the　tiny　Minmei　doll　that　lay　there。　Bron　had　given　it　to　him　before　he　and　the　others　defected；　seeking　shelter　and　an　uncertain　future　among　the　humans。　The　PC　had　listened　to　the　doll　sing　until　the　batteries　were　all　but　exhausted。　He　couldn't　explain　its　appeal。。。or　the　power　of　Minmei's　music　over　him。。。or　why　he　was　unwilling　to　go　out　and　destroy　the　SDF…1　when　his　former　rades　in　arms　were　aboard。

The　harsh　Zentraedi　language　had　few　or　no　words　for　these　concepts；　but　that　didn't　change　the　PC's　feelings。

All　around　them；　colossal　warriors　raced　to　don　bat　armor；　seize　weapons　from　the　racks；　grab　gear；　and　get　ready　for　the　great　assault。　The　decks　thrummed　under　their　massive　iron…shod　feet。

The　second　PC　opened　his　palm　to　the　first　for　an　instant。　They　had　been　thinking　the　same　thing；　for　he　held　another　of　the　tiny　souvenir　Minmei　dolls。　He　closed　his　fist　again。　Opposing　the　war　felt　much　different；　sparked　a　higher　flame　of　hope；　when　each　realized　that　the　man　facing　him　felt　the　same。

〃It's　as　though　I'm　going　to　be　fighting　against　my　own　people；〃　the　second　PC　said；　struggling　to　put　his　thoughts　into　the　limited　Zentraedi　battle　tongue。

NCOs　and　officers　were　yelling　at　various　scurrying　units　to　move　it；　move　it；　move　it。　Go！　Go！　The　deckplates　thundered。

But　one　body…armored　NCO；　having　caught　a　bit　of　the　exchange；　skidded　to　a　halt；　his　disrupter　rifle　gripped　in　one　hand。

〃D'　you　realize　what　the　penalty　is　for　disobeying　orders　in　bat？〃

Others　had　been　listening　to　the　two　pod　manders；　half　swayed　by　what　they　were　saying；　recalling　Gloval's　words　and　Minmei's　song。　But　all　of　them　knew　the　dreadful　punishment　the　NCO　was　talking　about。　Death　would　be　preferable。

One　of　the　bystanders　declared；　〃He's　right！　We　will　have　to　fight！〃

〃Let's　move！〃　someone　else　cried；　and　with　that　they　were　in　motion；　scrambling　to　prepare　and　race　to　their　battle　stations。　Everyone；　that　is；　but　the　first　PC。　He　watched　the　others　go　as　he　reclined　back　on　his　bunk；　hands　behind　his　head；　brooding。　At　last　he　brought　his　hand　forth　and　spent　a　long　time　looking　at　the　tiny　Minmei　doll。

The　vast　armada　began　shifting　formation；　spreading　and　realigning　for　the　attack。


At　the　wedding　reception；　alert　sirens　began　sounding　at　just　about　the　same　time　Gloval　took　the　call　on　a　mobile　　handset　and　got　the　crowd's　attention。　With　the　banshee　song　of　the　sirens　behind　him；　he　announced；　〃Ladies　and　gentlemen！　It　grieves　me　to　say　this；　but　we　are　now　on　red　alert。〃

He　had　to　raise　his　voice　to　speak　over　the　confusion　and　outcries　of　the　crowd。　〃All　military　personnel　report　to　battle　stations　at　once。　Civilians　proceed　to　emergency　duties　or　to　designated　shelters。　The　SDF…1　is　about　to　e　under　full…scale　attack。〃

He　swallowed　once；　with　effort。　It　was　the　first　time　the　enemy　had　thrown　its　massed　strength　at　the　fortress；　and　there　was　little　question　as　to　what　the　final　oute　would　be。

〃God　be　with　you　all。　Now；　move　quickly！〃

Only　a　few　actually　lost　their　heads　and　bolted；　everyone　aboard　had　been　through　the　fire　of　battle；　and　most　moved　swiftly　but　with　a　deliberate　calm。

The　Terrible　Trio　finished　what　they　were　eating　and　swapped　hugs　with　the　Zentraedi　spies　before　dashing　off　to　the　bridge。　Striding　for　the　door；　Rick　Hunter　exchanged　a　brief　glance　with　Minmei　but　had　no　time　to　stop　and　talk　to　her；　though　he　wanted　to　do　that　more　than　anything　in　the　world。

A　VT　duty　officer　halted　amid　the　flow　of　people　and　looked　back　to　the　wedding　party's　table　as　Max　came　to　his　feet；　unable　to　believe　what　was　happening。

〃Max；　you're　excused　from　duty。　Captain's　orders！　You　sit　this　one　out！〃　Then　he　was　on　his　way。

Max　slowly　tugged　his　bow　tie；　opening　his　collar。　He　sighed　deeply；　feeling　Miriya's　eyes　on　him；　and　turned　to　her。　〃I　can't　let　them　down　when　they　need　me　the　most；　love。〃

She　drew　off　her　wedding　veil。　〃Of　course　not；　Max。　I'll　go　with　you。〃

He　stared　at　her。　〃Huh？〃

Miriya　came　to　her　feet。　〃I've　seen　your　Veritechs；　even　flew　yours　for　a　bit；　remember？　I　can　handle　one　was　well　as　any　of　your　pilots。〃

〃No…〃

〃I　promised　in　our　vows　that　I　would　stay　by　your　side；　and　I　will。　From　now　on；　we　fight　together。〃

And　a　brief　fight　it　might　be；　he　knew。　The　RDF　needed　every　hand　it　could　get；　and　Miriya's　battle　skill　might　be　a　critical　plus。　He　took　her　hand；　and　they　managed　an　even　more　loving　look　than　they　had　exchanged　during　their　vows。

〃Then　I　guess　I　have　no　choice；〃　he　said。　〃Even　though　we　may　die　together。〃

〃Oh；　but　Maximillian！　I　would　accept　no　other　death！〃

〃Me；　either。〃　He　kissed　her　quickly；　then　they　raced　off　hand　in　hand。　〃There　goes　the　honeymoon；〃　he　said　as　they　ran。

〃I　don't　think　you　understand　true　Zentraedi　determination。〃　She　smiled。

Alone　in　the　ballroom；　the　master　of　ceremonies　had　no　more　strength　to　seek　shelter　or　follow　the　war　over　the　screens。　The　wedding　had　been　the　best　thing　that　had　happened　to　him　in　two　years　aboard　the　SDF…1；　the　thing　he　was　suited　to；　that　he　did　best。

Now　he　sank　to　his　knees；　head　lowered　to　the　forearm　he　rested　on　the　shambles　of　the　wedding　party's　abandoned　table。　The　fortress　model；　symbol　of　Max　and　Miriya's　wedding；　looked　down　at　him。　He　sobbed　what　everyone　in　the　ship　was　thinking；　as　the　Zentraedi　dreadnoughts　moved　in　in　their　hundreds　of　thousands。　〃Please；　save　us　all。〃


CHAPTER　ELEVEN

Dolza；　my　old　friend；　old　watchdog；　the　naive　straightforwardness　of　the　Zentraedi　could　be　your　downfall　some　day。
All　things　are　so　simple　to　you：　The　eye　sees　the　target；　the　hands　aim　the　weapon；　a　finger　pulls　the　trigger；　an　energy　bolt　slays　the　enemy。　You　therefore　conclude　that　if　the　eye　sees　clearly；　the　hand　is　steady；　and　the　weapon　functions　properly；　all　will　be　well。
You　never　see　the　subtlety　of　the　myriad　little　events　in　that　train　of　action。　What　of　the　brain　that　directs　the　eye　and　the　aim？　What　of　the　nerves　that　steady　the　hand？　Of　the　very　decision　to　shoot？　What　of　the　motives　that　make　the　Zentraedi　obey　their　military　Imperative？
Ah；　you　call　all　of　this　sophistry！　But　I　tell　you：　There　are　vulnerabilities　to　which　you　are　blind。
Remark　made　by　Zor　to　Dolza　shortly　before　Zor's　death…known　only　to　Dolza；　Exedore；　and　Breetai

Again　the　bays　opened；　the　elevators　lifted　the　fighters　to　the　flight　decks。　The　SDF…1　and　the　Daedalus　and　Prometheus　catapult　crews　labored　frantically　to　launch　the　all…important　fighters　as　fast　as　possible。　On　the　flatdecks；　waist　and　bow　cats　were　in　constant　operation；　and　the　crews'　lives　were　in　constant　danger；　it　was　very　easy　for　something　as　small　and　frail　as　a　human　being　to　meet　death　during　launch　ops；　especially　in　the　airlessness　of　space。

The　Veritechs　rose　to　the　flight　decks；　deploying　ailerons　and　wings　that　had　been　folded　or　swept　back　to　save　space　on　the　hangar　decks。　Their　engines　screamed　like　demons；　and　they　hurtled　into　space　in　a　meticulously　timed　ballet；　avoiding　collisions　with　one　another　and　forming　up　for　bat　with　the　sureness　of　long　experience。


Gloval　watched　from　a　tall　viewport　as　Rick　Hunter　went　out；　leading　Skull　Team。　And　the　rest；　scores　of　them；　fell　in　behind　to　do　battle　against　the　aliens'　total　attack。

〃May　every　one　of　you　make　it　home　safely；〃　Gloval　murmured；　the　old　briar　pipe　gripped　in　his　teeth。　But　he　k