09_the_final_nightmare-第7章

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〃And　that　is？〃　Bowkaz　demanded；　looking　down　at　him。

〃Taking　Musica　as　an　example；〃　Jeddar　responded；　〃we　are　seeing　an　upsurge　in　emotionality　and　counterproductive　behavior　similar　to　what　we　now　know　happened　to　the　Zentraedi　giants　when　they　tried　to　recover　the　Protoculture　Matrix。〃

Shaizan　declared　to　the　other　Masters；　〃It　seems　to　me　that　the　time　has　e　to　begin　all…out　production　of　our　Invid　Fighters。〃

The　Masters'　Invid　Fighters　were　different　from　the　mecha　of　the　same　designation　once　used　by　the　Zentraedi　giants。　But　like　the　Zentraedi's；　the　Masters'　Invid　Fighters…more　monly　referred　to　as　the　Triumviroid…were　the　most　powerful　mecha　in　the　Masters'　inventory。　The　clone/fighting　machine　system　had　been　developed　rather　recently　by　their　stagnated　standards…and　incorporated　certain　characteristics　of　the　savage　Invid　with　whom　the　Masters　had　fought　a　long　and　unrelenting　war。

The　reason　there　were　not　more　Triumviroids　in　the　Masters'　forces　was　because　their　production　was　so　costly。　But　the　Masters　now　faced　the　choice　of　either　losing　the　war　or　launching　a　crash　program　to　create　a　fighting　force　of　Invid　Fighters…even　if　it　meant　cannibalizing　their　conventional　blues；　bat　vessels；　and　their　own　instrumentality。

The　Robotech　Masters　were　also　constantly　aware　that　their　own　masters；　the　Triumvirate　of　the　Elders；　waited　far　across　the　dark　lightyears；　expecting　results。　Nearly　all　of　Tirol's　remaining　resources　had　been　thrown　into　this　expedition　to　obtain　the　last　Matrix；　the　Elders；　who　were　left　in　the　shambles　of　their　empire　with　a　mere　handful　of　clones；　expected　results…and　were　impatient。

The　decision　didn't　take　the　Masters　long；　they　lusted　for　the　power　of　the　Protoculture　Matrix　more　than　any　vampire　ever　thirsted　for　lifeblood。　They　desired　immortality　and　feared　death　with　a　terror　greater　than　any　short…lived　Human　or　clone　could　ever　imagine。

The　Robotech　Masters　turned　to　their　slaves　and　nodded　as　one。


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　determin