05_force_of_arms-第16部分

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〃May　every　one　of　you　make　it　home　safely；〃　Gloval　murmured；　the　old　briar　pipe　gripped　in　his　teeth。　But　he　knew　it　was　too　much　to　hope　for。


Rick　was　running　the　fighter　wing　now；　even　though　there　were　those　who　outranked　him；　there　was　no　one　with　more　expertise。

〃Remain　in　Fighter　mode　until　I　give　the　word；〃　he　told　them。　〃We　are　now　approaching　intercept　zone。〃

Flying　at　his　wing　was　Max；　with　Miriya　in　the　seat　behind　wearing　an　RDF　flight　suit　and　〃thinking　cap。〃

The　pods　were　ing　in　droves　to　soften　up　the　target　and　eliminate　and　suppress　as　much　counterfire　as　they　could　before　the　Zentraedi　heavyweights　came　in　for　the　kill。

Rick's　autocannon　sounded　like　a　buzz　saw　multiplied　a　thousand　times；　high…density　slugs　went　out　in　a　stream　fit　by　tracers　to　pierce　an　oval　armored　body　through　and　through。　The　enemy　disappeared　in　an　expanding　sphere　of　red…hot　gas　and　flying　shrapnel　an　instant　later。

The　Veritechs　peeled　off；　wingmen　trying　their　best　to　stick　together；　and　threw　themselves　into　swirling；　pouncing　dogfights　against　the　enemy。　The　pods　advanced　in　an　unstoppable　cloud；　as　the　desperate　VTs　twisted　and　swooped。

Gloval　agonized　over　the　fact　that　ongoing　repairs　and　retrofitting　made　it　impossible　to　fire　the　ship's　main　gun。　But　the　ship's　primary　and　secondary　batteries　opened　up；　turrets　swinging；　barrels　traversing；　hammering　away。

A　pod　was　hit　dead　center　by　an　armor…piercing　discarding…sabot　round　and　blew　to　incandescent　bits。　Another　was　riddled　by　kinetic…energy　rounds　from　an　electromagnetic　rail…gun；　projectiles　accelerated　to　hundreds　of　thousands　of　g's；　hitting　at　such　high　speed　that　explosives　would　have　been　redundant。　A　VT　in　Guardian　mode　spun　and　tumbled；　chopped　to　fragments　by　the　energy　blasts　of　a　pod's　plastron　cannon。

But　more　and　more　pods　came　at　the　humans　in　vast　waves；　pushing　them　back。　The　SDF…1　was　surrounded　by　the　globular　explosions　of　space　battle；　hundreds　of　them　every　second。

Max　had　a　pod　square　in　his　gunsight　reticle；　thumb　on　his　stick's　trigger；　when　Miriya　cried；　〃No！　Wait！　Don't　shoot！〃

〃Huh？　But　they　were　right　in　my　sights。〃

She　took　over；　maneuvering　until　the　puter…aided　sights　were　centered　on　a　structure　behind　the　articulation　apparatus　that　joined　the　pod's　legs。　Whatever　it　was；　it　wasn't　on　the　VT　pilots'　menu　of　sure…kill　shots。

But　Miriya　told　her　husband；　〃Now！〃　Max　zoomed　in　on　a　close　pass；　letting　a　short　burst　fly。　The　target　structure　disappeared　in　a　burst　of　flame。

The　Zentraedi　wobbled　and　careened　out　of　control；　its　main　thrusters　sputtering　and　coughing　every　which　way；　guns　going　silent　after　a　moment。　Trailing　fire；　it　drifted　away；　limping　toward　safety　with　feeble　gusts　from　its　attitude　thrusters。

VT　pilots　were　taught　to　go　for　the　sure…kill　shots　at　areas　of　the　enemy　mecha　most　likely　to　expose　themselves　to　fire。　He　felt　like　he　had　just　been　taught　a　secret　Shao…lin　pressure　point。

〃But　we　could've　lost　him　while　we　were　trying　for　that　shot；〃　he　pointed　out；　craning　around　to　look　over　his　seat　at　his　bride　of　less　than　an　hour。

〃I　don't　want　anybody　else　to　be　hurt　in　this　war；〃　she　told　him。

〃But　Miriya；　we　don't　want　to　jeopardize　our　own　lives；　right？　Or　the　ships？〃

She　looked　him　in　the　eye。　〃Remember　what　the　captain　said？　Max；　it's　time　to　do　more　than　just　talk。　We　must　act。　And　now　I've　given　you　the　key。〃

〃Oh；　boy。　You're　right。　We'll　just　have　to　give　this　a　try。〃

〃Thank　you；　Maximillian。〃

Max　took　out　two　more　to　make　sure　it　really　worked。

〃What　in　heaven's　name　is　going　on　in　that　plane？〃　Rick　yelled　over　the　tac　net。

He　saw　Max's　face　on　one　of　his　display　screens。　〃Boss；　I'm　sorry　those　last　few　weren't　kills。〃

〃Don't　bull　me；　Max。〃　Rick　could　see　what　was　going　on。　〃I　think　I　understand。〃

He　dove　at　a　pod；　his　forward　lasers　vaporizing　the　vulnerable　ponent　that　Miriya　had　revealed。　〃We'll　stop　this　war　without　bloodshed！〃

Captain　Gloval　was　right。　〃The　time　has　e　for　peace；〃　Rick　muttered。

The　secret　of　popping　the　enemy　pods　without　killing　anyone　within　was　made　easier　to　share　because　the　small；　vulnerable　ponent　was　located　behind　and　slightly　below　the　leg　juncture。　This　made　it　easy　and　even　fun　for　the　VT　fighter　jocks　to　tell　each　other　where　to　shoot　and　to　vie　with　each　other　at　making　perfect　shots。

The　structures　were　also　located　in　a　spot　difficult　for　the　pods　to　defend。　The　VTs　had　never　concentrated　on　that　place　before　because　most　of　that　area　was　heavily　armored　and　the　target　in　question　was　so　small。

But　once　they　knew　what　they　were　after；　the　VT　pilots　began　enthusiastic；　almost　crazed　disabling　runs。　Pods　got　their　fundaments　blown　out　from　under　them　by　VTs　on　long　passes；　predatory　banks；　high　deflection　shots。　One　guy　on　Ghost　Team　got　three　in　one　pass。

But　the　pods　had　closed　in　tightly　around　the　SDF…1　as　the　alien　battlewagons　came　up　behind。　The　dimensional　fortress　shook　to　a　ferocious　blast　of　concentrated　fire。

〃Captain；　our　number　two　thruster's　been　damaged；〃　Vanessa　said。

Gloval　gritted　his　teeth；　saying　nothing；　he　knew　it　was　going　to　get　worse。


The　Zentraedi　officer　dashed　angrily　into　the　ready…room　hatchway；　furious　when　he　saw　that　the　crew　there　had　not　even　so　much　as　donned　their　armor。

〃Lord　Breetai　mands　that　you　prepare　to　attack！〃　he　roared。

One　crewmember　was　standing　by　a　viewport；　looking　out　at　the　starlit　darkness；　holding　a　tiny　Minmei　doll　in　his　palm；　small　as　a　pea　in　his　giant　hand。

〃So　beautiful　yet　so　small；〃　he　whispered　to　himself　in　his　rumbling　voice　as　the　others　looked　over　his　shoulder。　He　thought　of　her　songs　again；　and　the　memory　filled　him　with　longings　no　Zentraedi　career　could　ever　answer。　He　closed　his　enormous　fingers　gently　around　the　doll。

The　officer　bawled；　〃You're　all　in　direct　violation　of　Lord　Dolza's　orders！　Report　to　battle　stations　at　once；　or　I'll　have　you　all　court…martialed！〃

They　were　Zentraedi　beguiled　by　the　songs　and　peace　talk　of　humans；　but　they　were　still　Zentraedi；　with　the　pent…up　fury　of　their　race。　One　whirled　on　the　officer；　bringing　up　an　assault　rifle；　clacking　off　its　safety。

〃What　did　you　say？〃

Others　turned；　weapons　clacking；　and　the　officer　found　himself　staring　into　a　half　dozen　rifle　muzzles　and　then　a　dozen。　〃Don't　be　insane！〃　he　screamed。　〃Think　of　what　you're　doing！〃

〃It　doesn't　matter　what　you　say；〃　one　of　them　told　him　icily。　〃We　aren't　fighting　anymore。　We　have　friends　on　that　ship。　We　have　vows　we've　sworn　with　those　friends；　sacred　warrior　oaths。　We　won't　attack　them；　that's　where　we　draw　the　line。　Now；　leave！〃

He　threw　the　rifle　to　his　shoulder；　bracketing　the　officer　in　his　sights；　finger　tightening　on　the　trigger。　The　officer　gave　a　yowl　and　disappeared　from　the　partment　hatchway；　boots　echoing　on　the　deck。

The　warriors　stood　listening；　lowering　their　weapons。　〃Look　at　him　run；　like　a　trog　with　his　tail　between　his　ears；〃　one　said；　laughing。


Breetai　spun　on　Exedore。　〃What？　It's　mutiny！〃

〃Your　Excellency；　a　large　number　of　our　best　pilots　will　not　leave　the　mother　craft。　They　refuse　to　acknowledge　that　the　order　was　given！　Mutiny　in　time　of　battle　is　a　thing　that　has　never　happened　before　in　Zentraedi　history。〃

Although；　he　added　to　himself；　those　warnings　from　the　ancients　must　have　had　a　basis。　If　they're　right；　we　face　disaster！

〃But…with　all　respect…they　have　some　justification；〃　Exedore　went　on。

Breetai　glowered　down　at　him。　〃There　is　no　rationale　for　mutiny！〃

〃But　you　know　there　are　Zentraedi　on　the　battle　fortress。　And　now　they　know；　too。　To　attack　their　own　is　a　direct　violation　of　the　laws　that　bind　us　together　as　rades　in　arms…〃

〃Enough！〃

〃And　then　there　is　this　baffling　new　tactic　of　the　enemy；　disabling　our　pods　rather　than　destroying　them；　sparing　our　warriors　when　they　could　more　easily　have　killed　them。　Some　pod　manders　in　the　attack　force　are　preparing　to　turn　on　their　fellows　if　the　attack　isn't　broken　off…〃

Breetai　turned　and　strode　away。　〃Exedore…〃

Exedore　hurried　his　shorter　strides　to　catch　up。　〃And　the　transmissions　from　the　wedding…〃

Breetai　stopped　and　pivoted　instantly。　〃I　said　enough！〃　His　boulderlike　fist　hung　near　Exedore's　face；　clenched　so　tight　that　the　huge　knuckles　and　tendons　creaked　loudly；　trembling　with　Breetai's　anger。　Exedore　fell　silent。

After　several　long　seconds；　Breetai　retracted　the　fist　almost　unwillingly　but　regained　control　of　himself。　He　started　walling　again；　the　overhead　lights　gleaming　off　his　polished　skullplate　and　crystal　eye；　Exedore　followed　meekly。

〃Stop　your　blathering；〃　Breetai　rumbled。　〃I'm　aware　of　the　situation。　Issue　the　order　to　withdraw　immediately！　Recall　all　Zentraedi　mecha。〃

Exedore　halted；　mouth　agape。　〃Yes；　sir；　but　that　is　in　direct　disobedience　of　the　Zentraedi　High　mand…of　Dolza's　own　orders！〃

Breetai　stormed　on　his　way；　neither　looking　back　nor　answering。


On　the　SDF…1's　bridge；　no　one　quite　knew　how　to　take　it。

〃It's　a　miracle；〃　was　all　Sammie　could　say。

〃Yes；　we're　very　lucky；〃　Gloval　said　softly；　sitting　in　his　mand　chair。　Could　it　have　to　do　with　the　wedding？　Did　it　work？

Claudia　began　calling　the　Veritechs　home。


The　newlyweds　had　received　generous　offers　of　living　quarters　in　crowded　Macross　City；　even　from　some　who　could　ill　afford　the　space。　But　there　was　no　question　of　staying　so　far　from　the　fighter　bays　while　the　current　emergency　remained。

Ship's　engineers　had　hurriedly　taken　out　the　partition　between　two　adjoining　partments　to　give　the　Sterlings　a　small　connubial　bower：　a　living　room…kitchenette　and　a　tiny　bedroom。　There　hadn't；　however；　been　time　to　soundproof　it；　that　would　have　to　wait　until　the　next　work　shift。

So　Rick　Hunter　lay　in　his　bunk；　head　pillowed　on　hands；　listening　to　the　muffled　turmoil　in　the　kitchenette　on　the　other　side　of　the　bulkhead。

〃Max；　why　is　it　on　fire？〃　came　Miriya's　voice。　〃Is　this　another　weird　human　recipe？〃

〃Uh；　honey；　get　out　of　the　way；　I'll　put　it　out；〃　Max　yelped；　and　there　was　the　gush　of　a　small　fire　extinguisher。　Rick　didn't　hear　the　ship's　main　fire…fighting　systems　cut　in　and　concluded　that　Max　had　gotten　it。

〃Strange；　strange　day；〃　Rick　sighed。

He　caught　snatc