18_the_end_of_the_circle-第10部分

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〃Granted；　Veidt；〃　Miriya　said。　〃We　were　brought　down　here　for　our　own　good；　we've　accepted　that　much。　But　does　that　mean　we'll　be　released　when　we　reach　wherever　it　is　we're　going？〃

Veidt's　forehead　pulsed　with　subdued　light。　〃Not　exactly。　You　see；　it　is　important　that　you　not　be　permitted　to　interfere　with　the　successful　pletion　of　the　secondary　and　tertiary　stages。　Therefore；　you　are　to　remain　in　protective　custody　until　all　post…Event　phases　have　been　carried　out。〃

〃But　how　long　are　we　talking　about？〃　Dana　managed。

〃As　long　as　the　operation　requires；〃　Veidt　sent。

Max　and　Miriya　stared　at　each　other　aghast。　Exedore　and　Aurora　assimilated　the　disclosure　silently。　Dana　considered　lunging　for　the　hardwood　war　club　she　had　stashed　behind　the　couch。

〃Violence　should　not　be　considered　an　option；〃　the　Haydonite　said　without　facing　anyone　directly。　〃I　should　add　that　I　have　sought　audience　with　Vowad。〃

Father　of　a　sort　to　Sarna；　Vowad　was　a　high…ranking　member　of　Haydon　IV's　Elite。

〃And？〃　Exedore　asked。

〃He　can　do　nothing。　Offworlder　contact　has　mitigated　the　impact　of　the　pulsion　on　Vowad　as　an　entity；　but　he　is　still　obliged　to　answer　to　the　Elite；　who　have　thus　far　remained　fully　responsive　to　the　programming。〃

Dana　felt　her　anger　rising　again。

〃Perhaps　I　should　remind　you　that　one　incident　of　violence　has　already　been　answered　in　kind；〃　Veidt　sent　in　her　direction。

〃The　Karbarran　vessel；〃　Exedore　said。

〃Vessels；　unfortunately。　One　Spherisian　ship　did；　however；　escape　the　acceleration　unscathed。〃

〃Has　Karbarra　been　informed　of　the　incident？〃　Max　asked　out　of　genuine　concern。

〃Yes；　by　the　Spherisians　themselves；〃　Veidt　sent。　〃In　fact；　there　is　some　reason　to　believe　that　a　Karbarran　battle　group　is　en　route　to　Haydon　IV　at　this　very　moment。〃

Max　shot　to　his　feet。　〃But　you　just　said　that　interference　couldn't　be　permitted！　You've　got　to　see　that　they're　warned　away。

Veidt　grew　quiet；　as　though　accessing　some　remote　mainframe。　〃I'm　sorry；　all　of　you。　But　it　is　apparently　too　late　for　that　now。〃


At　Admiral…Elect　Lron's　urgings；　the　Karbarran　dreadnought　had　been　named　N'trpriz　in　honor　of　some　Terran　ship　of　primitive　design。　And　while　mander　K'rrk　had　not　been　against　the　idea　at　the　time；　he　would　have　preferred　a　different　vessel　to　call　his　own；　a　Sekiton…powered　ship…of　the…line　with　a　proper　Karbarran　name。　The　Tracialle；　if　he　bad　had　a　choice　or；　failing　that；　the　battlewagon　Yirrbisst。

K'rrk　sat　in　the　mand　chair　of　the　N'trpriz；　shaking　out　the　lingering　effects　of　spacefold　as　his　bridge　crew　fed　him　updates　on　the　ship's　position　and　readiness。

〃Haydon　IV　ing　into　view；　mander；〃　Mav　reported　from　one　of　the　forward　duty　stations。　〃All　cruisers　accounted　for。　Establishing　matching　velocity　with　the　planet　three　point　seven　units；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mav；〃　K'rrk　said　from　the　helm　chair。　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　it。〃

The　artificial　planet　resolved　on　the　bridge's　forward　screen；　variegated；　rotating；　but　atmosphereless。　A　celestial　wanderer　no　longer；　but　more　the　starship　it　was。　Parsecs　distant　from　that　which　it　had　called　its　home　star　for　a　time；　and　still　accelerating。

K'rrk　cupped　a　paw　around　his　muzzle　in　a　contemplative　gesture。　Off　to　one　side　of　the　helm　chair　stood　an　enormous　wooden　wheel；　a　vestigial　adornment　overruled　by　Tiresian　made　astrogational　puters　buried　deep　in　the　ship's　heart　but　left　in　place　out　of　respect　for　the　Sentinels'　〃steam　ship；〃　Farrago。

K'rrk　turned　to　regard　his　science　officer。　〃Could　they　be　preparing　to　fold；　Lorek？〃

〃A　distinct　possibility；　mander。〃　〃What　do　scanners　show？〃

〃Areas　of　extensive　surface　damage；〃　Lorek　responded　after　a　moment。　By　Karbarran　standards；　he　was　tall　and　lean；　with　mottled　fur　and　a　curious　cant　to　the　diminutive；　mushroom…shaped　horns　set　between　his　ears。　〃Glike　appears　to　be　pletely　deserted；　sir；　although　bio…indicators　are　registering　life　signs　in　several　subsurface　chambers。〃

〃Do　we　have　a　fix　on　whatever's　powering　the　thing？〃　Kirk　asked。

〃Affirmative。　All　drive　systems　are　controlled　from　a　central　AI　nexus　concealed　under　what　used　to　be　a　system　of　reservoirs　and　interlinked　canals。　It　has　apparently　been　given　the　name　Awareness；　mander。〃

〃Defenses；　Lorek。　Shields？　Antiparticle　fields？〃

〃None　that　scanners　can　discern；　mander。〃

K'rrk　growled　with　pleasure　as　he　turned　to　the　ship's　munications　officer。　〃Reeza；　inform　all　battle　group　manders　to　hold　their　positions。〃

〃Done；　mander；〃　she　responded　almost　immediately。

K'rrk　made　an　approving　sound。　〃Open　up　a　hailing　frequency；　Lieutenant。　〃

〃Frequency　opened　to　all　traffic；〃　Reeza　told　him。

K'rrk　cleared　his　throat　and　slapped　a　paw　down　on　the　chair's　translator　stud。　〃This　is　the　Karbarran　starship　N'trpriz。　We　wish　to　make　contact　with　whomever　is　presently　in　control　of　Haydon　IV。〃　He　repeated　the　request　twice　more。

〃Ining；　sir；〃　Reeza　said　as　a　synthesized　voice　speaking　formal　Karbarran　began　to　issue　from　the　bridge's　munication　ports。

〃Attention；　N'trpriz；〃　the　voice　began。　〃Your　vessel　is　being　scanned。　Do　not；　repeat；　do　not　attempt　to　arm　or　deploy　any　weapons。　〃

K'rrk　flashed　his　weapons　officer　a　paw　signal　for　restraint　and　patience。　〃Understood；　Haydon　IV；〃　he　directed　toward　overhead　audio　pickups。　〃With　whom　are　we　speaking？〃

〃You　are　in　munication　with　Haydon　IV's　Awareness。　State　your　purpose；　N'trpriz。〃

K'rrk　glanced　at　his　crew；　then　said；　〃We　must　be　permitted　to　establish　a　docking　orbit　around　Haydon　IV　for　the　purpose　of　extracting　our　citizens；〃

Ursine　eyes　fixed　on　the　forward　screen　and　speakers。　〃That　cannot　be　permitted；〃　the　Awareness　replied　at　last。　〃Your　citizens　are　in　no　danger。　Do　not；　repeat；　do　not　attempt　an　approach　or　your　vessel　will　have　to　be　destroyed。〃　K'rrk　bared　his　fangs　in　a　twisted　smile。　If　the　normally　dour　Karbarrans　had　learned　anything　from　the　Sentinels'　victorious　campaigns；　it　was　that　fate；　destiny；　could　be　grasped　as　one　would　a　prize　piece　of　fruit。　And　just　now　Haydon　IV　was　that　prize；　a　conquest　that　would　consolidate　Karbarra's　power　among　the　worlds　of　the　Local　Group　and　reward　a　certain　mander　with　the　dreadnought　of　his　choosing　for　all　subsequent　sorties。

〃Nonsense；〃　K'rrk　told　the　Awareness　with　a　gurgling　snarl。　〃Release　your　prisoners　at　once　or　suffer　the　consequences。〃　He　hit　the　…interrupt　stud　and　swung　to　Lorek。　〃Do　we　still　have　a　fix　on　the　nerve　center？〃

〃Affirmative；　mander。〃

K'rrk　struck　the　arm　of　the　mand　chair　with　a　huge　fist；　nonretractable　claws　finding　their　usual　grooves。　〃Activate　all　electronic　countermeasures　and　prepare　for　evasive　action。　Mav；　prepare　to　secure　us　a　counterrotational　orbit　at　my　mand。　Cano：　target　primary　torpedoes　ground　zero　on　nerve　center　coordinates。〃

〃We're　being　warned　away；　sir；〃　Reeza　said。

〃Engineering；〃　K'rrk　growled　across　the　…line　as　the　N'trpriz　began　to　close　on　the　accelerating　sphere　that　was　Haydon　IV。

〃Engineering　here；　mander；〃　a　thickly　accented　Highlander's　voice　returned。

〃We're　going　to　try　a　hit…and…run；　Rash。　Will　your　engines　back　us　up？〃

〃By　Firrbisst；　you　know　they　will；　mander。〃　K'rrk　grinned。　〃All　right；　Cano；　on　my…〃

A　blare　of　two…note　warning　horns　overpowered　his　words。　〃mander；〃　Lorek　reported　in　an　astonished　voice。　〃Ship's　auto…destruct　has　been　armed　and　is　counting　down！〃

K'rrk　rose　halfway　out　of　the　helm　chair。　〃What？〃

〃Auto…destruct　set　for　thirty　units；　sir。〃

K'rrk　spit　a　curse　at　Haydon　IV's　on…screen　image。　〃Toy　with　us；　you　will　not！　Mav；　plot　a　course　directly　for　the　surface。　I　want　us　in　this　ship　sitting　right　over　the　Awareness！〃

〃Twenty　units；　sir。　〃

K'rrk　slammed　a　paw　down　on　the　chair's　control　panel。　〃Ship's　puter；〃　he　said；　catching　a　whiff　of　his　own　muskiness。　〃Abort　auto…destruct　sequence。　Priority　override；　K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one；　cancel。〃

Lorek　entered　a　similar　verbal　code；　and　the　warning　horns　were　silenced。　〃Auto…destruct　sequence　aborted；〃　Lorek　up　dated。

K'rrk　grinned　knowingly。　〃All　engines　full　reverse；　Mav。〃　The　navigator　tapped　a　flurry　of　mands　into　his　console；　then　threw　a　wide…eyed　look　over　his　shoulder。　〃Sir；　the　ship　isn't　responding！〃

〃Rash！〃　K'rrk　barked　over　the　…line。　〃Get　your　engines　on…line！〃

The　chief　engineer's　reply　was　panicked。　〃By　the　UrFlower；　we're　trying；　sir！〃

K'rrk　heard　Lorek's　sharp　intake　of　breath　under　the　blare　of　reactivated　warning　horns。　〃Auto…destruct　reinitiated；　mander。　Counting　down　from　thirty　units。〃

〃Haydon！〃　K'rrk　bellowed。　〃Mav：　Return　to　previous　course　heading；　all　ahead　full！〃

〃Twenty　units；　mander。〃

〃We've　got　full　reverse；　sir；〃　Rash　said　proudly　from　engineering。

K'rrk's　muzzle　fell　open　at　the　sight　of　Haydon　IV　dwindling　on…screen。　〃Full　ahead！　Full　ahead！〃

〃No　response；　sir！〃　Mav　said。　〃Ten　units；　mander。〃

〃Ship's　puter；〃　K'rrk　sputtered。　〃Abort　auto…destruct　sequence。　K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one。　〃

〃You　forget　to　say　‘priority　override'！〃　every　officer　on　the　bridge　cried　at　the　same　time。

〃Five　units；　mander。〃

〃Ship's　puter；〃　K'rrk　started　again。　〃Priority　override…No！　I　mean　Abort　K'rrk…two…　No；　I…〃

〃Four　units；　mander！〃

〃Ship's　K'rrk　puter　sequence…〃

Mav　and　Cano　had　abandoned　their　duty　stations　and　were　approaching　him　with　murder　in　their　eyes。

〃Abort；　K'rrk！　Abort？

〃Three　units。〃

〃Cancel　priority…〃

〃Two　units。〃

Even　Reeza　had　joined　the　mutiny；　the　claws　of　her　hands　poised　over　the　helm　chair。

〃Arrrggggg！〃

〃One　unit。〃

K'rrk　was　still　butchering　mands　when　the　N'trpriz　added　its　brief　fireball　to　the　heavenly　sweep。


CHAPTER　TEN

One　of　the　things　I　liked　about　having　＇Sean＇　Phillips　around　was　that　his　relationship　with　Marie　Crystal　was　even　more　confused　than　mine　was　with　Karen　＇Penn＇。　But　we　were　petitors　from　almost　the　first　moment　he　set　foot　on　Tirol。　I　had　it　figured　then　that　the　15th　thought　they'd　done　the　job　the　REF　had　been　sent　to　do…cut　the　Robotech　Masters　down　to　size。　After　all；　none　of　us　＇in　the　REF＇　had　dealings　with　the　Masters。　As　far　as　the　Invid　were　concerned；　the　15th　had　left　Earth　before　their　arrival　and　docked　on　Tirol　after　the　Invid　had　already　left。　So　of　course　I　made　a　thing　about　talking　up　the　Sentinels　and　what　we'd　been　through　on　Praxis　and　the　rest。　But　who　could　blame　me　when　the　15th　had　gotten　a　bigger　reception　in　Tiresia　than　the　Sentinels　had　gotten　when　we'd　returned　victorious　from　Optera。
Jack　Baker；　Upwardly　Mobile

Jack　was　first　out　of　the　launch　bay；　nine　Veritechs　formed　up　on　his　tail。　Newspace　veteran　Jack　in　his　scarlet　Alpha；　out　into　the　fog　that　was　not。

That　was　the　real　kicker；　he　told　himself。　That　newspace；　as　Lang's　Robotechs　were　calling　it；　felt　more　like　a　state　of　mind　than　a　state　of　matter。　Extravehicular；　immersed　in　vaporless　white　light；　you　got　the　feeling　you　were　not　so　much　〃out　there〃　as　you　were；　well；　inside　something。

Against　the　black　star…strewn　backdrop　everyone　was　used　to；　you　were　occasionally　overe　by　the　magnitude　of　it　all。　You　could　sense　just　how　insignificant　you　were　in　the　grand　scheme；　and　it　made　for　easy　bat　when　one　figured　your　single　ship　didn't　amount　to　squat。　（But　jeez；　how　it　could　bring　on　the　night；　terrors　afterward！　That　amoebalike　sense　of　immersion；　the　loss　of　self　。　。　。）

That　was　where　newspace　was　something　else。　Because　in　there…he　might　not　say　it；　but　he　could　not　help　but　think　it…one　started　to　feel　just　too　significant；　as　though　every　action　one　took　set　into　motion　a　chain　of　immutable　reactions。

The　〃fireflies〃　found　by　the　fortress's　bio…sensors　were　on…screen　and　closing　on　all　sides。　They　winked　light　just　like　the　real　things；　here　one　moment；　gone　the　next；　vaguely　blue　against　the　colorless；　ambient　glow　of　newspace。

〃mand　to　Red　Team　leader。　Do　you　copy；　Red　leader？　Repeat；　do　you　copy？〃

The　SDF…3　was　a　black　slash　at　nine　o'clock；　the　mecha　constituting　Red　and　Blue　Teams　circumferentially　deployed　like　widely　scattered　paint　flecks　chipped　from　the　ship's　hull。

Jack　chinned　into　the　mand　frequency；　opening　a　line　to　the　Tactical　Information　Center。　〃Red　One　receiving　you　loud　and　clear；　mand。　What　have　you　got　for　us？〃

A　video　image　of　Colonel　Vallenskiy's　head　and　shoulders　appeared　on　one　of　the　Alpha　heads…up　display　screens；　strobing　harsh　light　into　the　cockpit。　〃Nothing　yet；　Captain。　Bio…scanners　are　still　showing　hot　signatures　but　no　profiles。〃

〃Copy　and　confirm；　mand；〃　Baker　said。　〃Sorry　to　disappoint；　Colonel；　but　our　view　doesn't　seem　to　be　any　better　than　yours。〃

〃Roger　that；　Red　leader。　TIC　requests　you　maintain　present　position。　Let's　see　if　they're　willing　to　e　into　the　playground。〃

Terrific；　Jack　thought。　Just　hang　us　out　here　like　fresh　meat。　〃This　is　Baker；〃　he　directed　into　the　tactical　net　helmet　pickup。　〃Maintain　position。　Lights　alive　at　two　thousand　meters；　all　points　and　closing。〃

He　could　see　them　overhead；　given　false　color　and　solidity　by　the　cockpit　canopy's　polarized　tint。　Only　now　he　saw　that　the　bogies　were　not　spherical　at　all　but　the　rounded；　light　emitting　tips　of　tendrillike　forms。　He　flashed　on　the　Sentinels'　encounter　with　Haydon　IV's　antibody　defenses；　thinking：　But　so。　。　。　No　one　at　the　briefing　had　been　interested　in　hearing　about　that　episode。

〃They're　onto　me；〃　one　of　Marie　Crystal's　wingmen　blurted。　〃It's　like　I'm　looking　at　tentacles。　B…but　they're　not　attached　to　anything！〃

〃Hold　your　position；　〃　Jack　heard　Marie　tell　the　pilot。　〃Christ；　Captain；　they're　practically　all　over　me！〃

〃Blue　Six；　you　are　not　to　engage　unless　provoked；　〃　Vallenskiy　ordered　over　the　　net。　〃Maintain　position。　〃　Jack　felt　something　graze　the　Alpha's　radome　and　cockpit　and　realized　that　the　VT　was　being　probed　and　explored。　Reflexively；　he　crouched　down　in　his　seat；　suddenly　feeling　as　though　he　were　about　to　enter　an　old…fashioned　car　wash。　But　what　would　have　been　brush　tips　were　flickering　lights。　Blue　Six　gave　a　panicked　cry。　〃Holy　shit；　they　passed　right　through　me；　Captain！　The　things　just　shot　right　through　me！〃　Jack　shuddered；　chilled　to　his　center；　as　one　of　the　light　tips　pierced　the　hull　and　thudded　wormlike　against　his　〃thinking　cap。〃　It　was　incredible：　The　tendrils　were　not　puncturing　the　hull　but　simply　penetrating　it！　Some　tore　right　through　it；　while　others　were　whizzing　lightning…quick　recons　around　the　cockpit。　A　few　seemed　to　enter　his　body　and　course　up　and　down　his　arms　and　legs；　one　even　took　a　fast　tour　of　his　mind；　leaving　him　dizzy　and　momentarily　nauseated。

The　tac　net　was　filled　with　the　sound　of　gasps　and　near　exultation　as　the　lights　penetrated　one　Veritech　after　another。　No　one　was　capable　of　responding　to　mand's　urgent　requests　for　updates。

Jack　braced　himself　for　the　lights'　return　the　way　one　tightened　up　at　the　crest　of　a　roller　coaster　drop。　But　at　the　last　instant　the　tendrils　that　were　headed　for　the　Alpha　divided　and　joined　separate　groups　closing　on　Jack's　two　wingmen。　This　time；　however；　they　did　not　pierce　the　VTs　but　danced　around　them；　forming　dazzling　nimbi　of　light。　Then；　almost　simultaneously；　the　two　fighters　winked　out　of　existence。

Jack　could　not　get　his　voice　to　work。　When　he　did；　he　had　difficulty　reporting　what　he　had　just　witnessed。　mand；　however；　had　apparently　seen　the　two　Veritechs　disappear