18_the_end_of_the_circle-第33部分

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　an　Invid　hive。

It　was　like　being　inside　a　cathedral　of　dark　stained　glass。　Most　of　the　space　enclosed　under　the　dome　was　occupied　by　a　veined　bronze　sphere　that　shone　dimly。　There　was　room　for　even　the　tallest　Zentraedi　to　stand　erect。　The　contingent　from　the　SDF…3　ranged　themselves　along　the　wall；　waiting　to　see　what　would　e　next。

Rick　felt　sweat　trickling　down　his　uniform　collar　and　soaking　his　shirt。　He　had　faced　Zentraedi　and　the　Regent；　but　he　had　never　felt　the　misgiving　he　felt　there　in　the　shrine　of　an　entity　that　was　close　enough　to　a　deity　as　to　make　no　difference。

The　children　looked　at　one　another　with　their　lambent　eyes；　then　stepped　closer　to　the　sphere；　joining　hands…the　Zentraedi　sitting　in　lotus　position　so　that　the　humans　could　reach　them；　Aurora　stood　in　the　middle　of　their　line；　a　nimbus　of　whirling　scintillas　welling　up　from　her。

Without　warning；　a　zigzag　bolt　of　incandescence　broke　from　somewhere　overhead　to　smite　the　bronze　globe；　turning　it　into　a　ball　of　deep　amber　light。　Shadows　moved　within　it；　and　then　they　saw　the　face　of　the　Regis；　exalted　and　endowed　with　a　terrible　beauty；　gazing　back　at　them。

They　heard　her　voice　in　their　minds：　AT　LAST；　THROUGH　YOUR　EVOLVED　CHILDREN；　YOU　HAVE　TOUCHED　THE　PLANE　UPON　WHICH　WE　CAN　MUNICATE。　KNOW　THEN　THAT　THE　CUSP　IS　NEARING　IN　WHICH　ALL　THAT　EXISTS　WILL　E　TOGETHER　IN　THIS；　MY　CREATION；　MY　NEWSPACE。

Rick　realized　that　he　had　been　waiting　for　Aurora　to　speak；　after　all；　the　children　were　the　ones　in　contact　with　the　higher　mental　realms　where　the　Regis　moved。　He　saw　his　mistake：　The　children　might　have　powers　of　munication　and　perception；　but　they　lacked　their　elders'　experience　and　training；　their　grasp　of　the　situation　and　ability　to　deal　with　it。　Despite　the　kids'　astounding　powers；　the　oute　of　the　crisis　would　still　hinge　on　the　adults'　actions。

He　was　the　leader　of　the　ground　unit；　and　it　was　his　place　to　speak　up；　but　before　he　could；　Lang's　voice　broke　the　silence。

〃Mother　of　the　Invid　race！　Why　have　you　brought　us　here？　Why　is　the　universe　we　know　being　drawn　into　this　one？　Haven't　the　Shapings　been　fulfilled？〃

Rick　saw　that　Lang　was　not　addressing　what　was　to　him　a　critical　point：　getting　the　fold　drives　back　and　getting　the　SDF…3　and　Peter　Pan　out　of　newspace。　But　before　he　could　interject　that　matter；　the　Regis　answered。

KNOW　THEN　THAT　I　WHO　AM　THE　REGIS　AND　ALL　OF　THE　INVID　RACE　IN　ONE　ENTITY　BROUGHT　YOUR　VESSEL　HERE　IN　MY　TRANSUBSTANTIATION　BY　MY　DOMINION　OVER　THE　PROTOCULTURE。　YOUR　SDF…3　WAS　SELECTED　BECAUSE　ITS　ENGINES　WERE　BEST　SUITED　TO　SUCH　A　CONTINUUM　FOLD。　YOU　MADE　THE　FIRST　TINY　PUNCTURE　THAT　HAS　BEE　A　MIGHTY　RIFT　IN　THE　BARRIERS　BETWEEN　THE　REAL　UNIVERSE　AND　NEWSPACE　BUT　MORE　IMPORTANTLY　YOU　ARE　HERE　BECAUSE　YOU　NUMBER　AMONG　YOU　SO　MANY　WHO　LED　THE　WAR　ON　THE　INVID　AND　WHO　HAVE　STRONG　TIES　TO　THE　PROTOCULTURE　AND　THE　SHAPINGS…THE　GREAT；　INELUCTABLE　CYCLE　OF　COSMIC　EVENTS。

Looking　about　her；　Lisa　thought　how　true　that　was。　Oh；　a　few　like　Exedore　and　Cabell　were　absent；　but　of　the　survivors　of　the　Robotech　Wars；　most　of　the　principals　had　been　snatched　is　the　dimensional　fortress　or　drawn　hither　in　Peter　Pan。

And　if　the　Regis　could　assert　her　will　so　thoroughly　over　events；　what　hope　could　mortals　have　of　prevailing　against　her？

AS　ONCE　UPON　EARTH　I　SOUGHT　TO　FIND；　THROUGH　EXPERIMENTS　IN　MY　GENESIS　PITS；　THE　IDEAL　FORM　THAT　MY　RACE　WOULD　ASSUME　FOR　ITS　EXISTENCE　ON　THAT　PLANET；　SO　I　HAVE　BROUGHT　YOU　HERE　FOR　MY　STUDY。　BY　SIFTING　THROUGH　YOUR　PSYCHES　AND　WHAT　SOME　OF　YOU　CALL　YOUR　SOULS；　I　WILL　DECIDE　THE　NEW　MENTAL　AND　EMOTIONAL　CLIMATE　OF　THIS　CREATION　OF　MINE；　THIS　MALLEABLE　DOMAIN；　THIS　NEWSPACE。

Lang　seemed　to　have　assumed　the　role　of　speaker；　and　he　showed　a　pronounced　vexation　when　Louie　Nichols　butted　in。

〃Hey；　retro　back　a　second！　You　mated　with　the　Protoculture；　you　went　through　your　transcendence。　What　more　d'　you　want？〃

TRANSUBSTANTIATION　IS　A　MOCKERY；　A　PRISON！　I　WAS　DRIVEN　TO　SEEK　IT　BY　YOU　HUMANS！　THE　SHAPINGS　ARE　A　HOLLOW　JOKE；　A　CELL　WITH　NO　EXIT。

The　Karbarrans　were　growling　as　if　they　might　utter　some　defiant　roar；　and　so　Rick　hastened　to　say；　〃But　what　do　you　want？〃

A　harsh　beam　of　light　sprang　from　some　unseen　source　to　pin　Rem　squarely。　It　was　not　a　weapon；　and　yet　he　cried　out；　throwing　an　arm　across　his　face。

I　WISH　ONLY　A　RETURN　TO　THAT　STATE　MY　INVID　AND　I　ENJOYED　WHEN　ZOR　CAME　LIKE　A　THIEF　IN　THE　NIGHT。　I　WISH　OPTERA　TO　BE　AS　IT　WAS　AGAIN　AND　FOR　THE　INVID　TO　REVERT　TO　THE　FORM　WE　KNEW　THEN。

〃Then　why　don't　you　do　it？〃　Louie　shouted。　〃You　have　total　control　over　newspace。〃

BUT　NOT　CONTROL　OF　THE　SHAPINGS！　AND　BECAUSE　THE　INVID　LEFT　THEIR　FORMER　STATE　BEHIND　TO　WAGE　WAR　AND　STRIVE　AGAINST　THE　SHAPINGS；　CLOSING　CERTAIN　CONFIGURATIONS　BEHIND　THEM；　A　REVERSION　TO　OUR　ORIGINAL　STATE　IS　THE　ONE　THING　I　CANNOT　DO；　EVEN　HERE。

NEITHER　DO　I　WISH　TO　LIVE　IN　THE　CHAOTIC　NOT璍AWS　THAT　ARE　THE　NATURAL　STATE　OF　NEWSPACE。　THEREFORE；　I　WILL　PERMIT　THE　REAL　UNIVERSE　TO　BLEED　INTO　THIS　SPACETIME；　AND　WHEN　ALL　MY　RAW　MATERIALS　ARE　AT　HAND；　I　SHALL　REFASHION　ALL　THE　COSMOS　IN　THE　IMAGE　I　DEEM　FIT。

〃No！〃　With　help　from　Minmei；　Rem　was　struggling　to　rise。　〃It's　not　their　fault！　You　can't　banish　away　their　entire　existence！〃

AND　WAS　IT　MY　FAULT　WHEN　THE　FIRST　OF　YOUR　BLOOD；　ZOR；　CAME　LIKE　A　POISONOUS　VIPER　TO　OPTERA？　WAS　IT　MY　FAULT　THAT　YOUR　ROBOTECH　MASTERS　DECREED　THE　RAZING　OF　OPTERA？　THE　UNIVERSE　CARES　NOTHING　FOR　JUSTICE　。。。　NOR　DO　THE　SHAPINGS。

It　was　Learna；　mate　to　Kami　and　at　one　with　the　hin；　who　spoke　then。　She　stood　erect；　and　even　though　she　was　of　smaller　stature　than　anyone　else　there　but　the　children；　her　foxlike　appearance　gave　her　a　certain　nobility　that　struck　the　others　with　an　undeniable　poignancy。

〃Then　why　spare　us？　Why　not　obliterate　us　and　make　a　clean　beginning？〃

No　one　else　had　been　brave　enough　to　call　out　the　question。　The　Regis　hesitated　long　seconds　before　replying。　BECAUSE　I　NEED　TO　STUDY　YOU。　I　MUST　DECIDE　WHETHER　THERE　SHALL　BE　IN　THIS　NEWSPACE　THE　ONLY　THING　YOU　MORTAL　RACES　HAVE　DEVELOPED　THAT　IS　OF　ANY　SIGNIFICANCE：　LOVE。

〃In　spite　of　what　it　did　to　her；〃　Lisa　heard　Rick　murmur；　she　had　been　thinking　the　same　thing。

Louie　Nichols's　voice　cracked。　〃‘Only'？〃　he　cried。　〃What　about　intelligence？〃

A　MERE　COPING　MECHANISM。　AN　INEVITABLE　OUT璆ROWTH　OF　EVOLUTION。

〃Art；　literature；〃　Rick　heard　Dr。　Penn　say。

CONCEITS；　DEVISED　TO　FILL　THE　WAIT　BETWEEN　SUCCESSIVE　FEEDINGS　AND　SLEEPS。

〃Music…〃　Bowie　started　to　protest；　but　the　word　was　drowned　out。

ENOUGH！　YOU　ARE　NOT　HERE　TO　IMPORTUNE　ME！

〃Yeah；　here　it　es；〃　Dana　heard　Louie　Nichols　mutter。　Louder；　he　added；　〃Why'd　you　have　the　kids　bring　us　here？〃

MY　EXPANDED　SENSES　INFORM　ME　THAT　THE　RE瑼WAKENED　HAYDON；　IN　COLLABORATION　WITH　THE　ROBOTECH　ELDERS；　EVEN　NOW　LAUNCHES　AN　ATTACK　ON　TIROL　IN　AN　EFFORT　TO　RECOVER　THE　FACSIMILE　PROTOCULTURE　MATRIX。　SHOULD　HAYDON　WIN　HE　WILL　ENTER　NEWSPACE　BY　MEANS　OF　THE　SHIPS　BUILT　BY　HIS　ARTIFICIAL　PLANET　AND　HIS　ARTIFICIAL　RACE。　WITH　THE　POWER　OF　THE　MATRIX　AT　HIS　DISPOSAL；　HE　MAY　BE　IMPOSSIBLE　TO　STOP。　HE　WOULD　CONTROL　THIS　PLACE　THEN；　AND　HAYDON　WILL　HAVE　LITTLE　TOLERANCE　FOR　THE　CONVENTIONAL　SPACETIME　BODIES；　LAWS；　AND　ENTITIES　THAT　HE　HAS　BEEN　TRYING　SO　LONG　TO　PUT　BEHIND　HIM。

〃Why　are　you　telling　us　this？〃　Lisa　demanded。

TO　PREPARE　YOU　FOR　WHAT　IS　TO　E。　IF　AND　WHEN　I　MUST　E　TO　GRIPS　WITH　HAYDON；　IT　WILL　BE　A　BATTLE　OF　MENTAL　FORCE　AND　PSI…ENERGIES璒F　IMAGES　AND　POSSIBILITIES；　SINCE　I　HAVE　BEEN　MONITORING　YOUR　PSYCHES；　THE　THINGS　I　HAVE　SEEN　WITHIN　YOU　WILL　BE　IMPORTANT　WEAPONS。　YOU　ARE　ABOUT　TO　BE　CAUGHT　UP　IN　AN　APOCALYPSE。

〃No！〃　That　was　Minmei；　tears　in　her　voice；　she　and　Rem　supporting　each　other　and　looking　as　if　they　were　at　the　end　of　their　strength。

〃You　can't！　We…we　have　innocent　children　with　us。　At　least　spare　them！〃

WAR　SPARES　NO　ONE；　YOU　KNOW　THAT　AS　WELL　AS　I。

There　were　roars　from　the　Karbarrans；　baying　from　the　Garudans；　Gnea's　angry　Valkyrie　war　cry；　and　more；　all　mixed　in　a　general　howl　of　outrage。　The　Regis　took　no　notice；　however。

Her　voice　thundered　in　their　heads。　PREPARE　YOURSELVES。


Within　the　blazing　sphere；　her　countenance　faded　out；　replaced　by　brighter　and　brighter　glory。　Once　more　they　had　to　shield　their　eyes。

。。。　RESIGN　YOURSELVES。

When　they　opened　their　eyes　again；　the　hive　was　gone　and　they　were　standing　in　a　field　of　waving　grass　under　the　calm　sky　of　Omphalos。


CHAPTER　THIRTY…TWO

You　humans　should　cavil　less　about　our　tempers。　I　have　observed　your　own　behavior。　With　better　fangs　and　claws；　you　might　go　far。
Lron；　as　quoted　in　Noki　Rammas's　Karbarra

The　Local　Group　captains；　following　Hodel's　example；　had　spoken　boldly　and　resolutely　in　exhorting　their　crews。　When　they　initiated　their　attack　on　the　hulking　worldlet…size　Robotech　warrior；　though；　it　was　with　considerable　caution。

The　first　strike　brought　improvised　strategic　missiles　to　bear：　subluminal　spacecraft　packed　with　thermonuclear　explosives　set　to　run　by　remote　control。　Drones　and　robot　probes　went　in　ahead　of　them；　firing　with　hastily　installed　weapons；　to　draw　fire　and　test　the　megacosm…mecha's　defenses。

The　remotes'　visual　pickups　gave　their　controllers　a　strange　view　of　a　reconfigured　Haydon　IV；　which　looked　less　and　less　like　a　humanoid　figure　as　the　kamikaze　sortie　closed　on　it。　Model　found　himself　expecting　the　action　to　start　once　the　remotes　flew　in　between　the　extended　arms；　physically　impossible　as　it　was　for　structures　that　size　to　move　with　any　speed；　he　could　not　help　feeling　that　one　of　them　would　lash　out　at　any　moment　to　swipe　the　jury…rigged　ships　out　of　existence。

That　did　not　happen；　though；　and　Hodel　dismissed　the　notion　as　the　natural　expectation　of　the　Karbarrans；　whose　bearish　fighting　style　relied　so　much　on　their　awesomely　powerful　arms。　He　bent　closer　to　peer　over　a　remote　operator's　shoulder　and　follow　the　attack。

That　particular　ship　was　a　Tirolian　courier　craft；　small　but　very　fast　and　agile。　It　dove　in　at　Haydon　IV　as　the　planet's　plasma　guns　started　firing　at　extreme　range。　As　the　intel　staffs　had　projected；　there　was　no　repeat　of　the　Awareness's　taking　over　of　automated　systemry。　Because　of　damage　suffered　in　Louie　Nichols's　cyberburn　or　the　battle　near　Ranaath's　Star；　or　perhaps　even　as　a　result　of　this　final　mechamorphosis；　Haydon　IV's　guiding　AI　seemed　no　longer　capable　of　that　sort　of　hostile　action。

The　courier　was　preceded　by　probes　that　had　been　mounted　with　additional　booster　thrusters　for　the　suicide　mission。　The　long…range　flaring　of　the　plasma　batteries　hosed　annihilation　discs　across　the　night　of　space；　their　accuracy　not　very　impressive　at　that　range。

The　probes　and　drones　bore　in；　their　onboard　puters　and　sensors　augmenting　the　guidance　from　their　shipboard　operators。

〃Clumsy；〃　Hodel　said　in　a　low　guttural　voice；　meaning　Haydon　IV's　defensive　fire。　〃Slow。〃

He　looked　over　to　Ntor。　〃It's　been　weakened。　We've　got　them　now。〃

She　growled　loyally。　〃Aye；　sir。　But？　Her　sense　of　duty　made　her　add；　〃I　still　detect　subsurface　activity。　There　appear　to　be　immense　servos；　energized　and　functional。〃

〃Do　they　have　mechamorphosis　capability？〃

Ntor　wuffed　to　herself；　studying　her　instruments。　〃Negative；　from　what　I　can　see。〃

Hodel　flipped　a　fearsome　paw。　〃Then　servos　will　do　them　no　good。　I'm　more　concerned　about　those　sphere　ships；　keep　a　careful　watch。〃

But　the　remotes　plunged　down　toward　the　immense　torso　of　Haydon　IV　without　meeting　opposing　vessels。　〃They　couldn't　get　'em　powered　up；〃　Hodel　concluded。

Prah；　Spherisian　captain　of　the　Quartzstar；　came　up　on　the　mand　net。　〃Captain；　may　I　suggest　that　we　preserve　some　of　our　lead　element　drones　for　recon。〃

〃Agreed；〃　Hodel　said。　He　had　not　really　expected　the　decoys　to　survive　the　approach；　but　things　were　going　better　than　he　had　hoped。

A　half　score　of　the　decoys；　most　of　them　bulkier　mining　probes；　had　been　lost　to　the　close…in　plasma　guns。　As　many　more　swooped　in　to　take　up　strafing　attacks　on　the　defensive　batteries　in　twisting；　dodging　flak…supression　runs。

The　artifact　planet's　guns　now　divided　between　the　attacking　drones　and　the　oning　remote…controlled　vessels；　along　with　the　additional　drones　escorting　them。　The　courier　ship　began　its　dive　into　the　guns'　close　range。　The　target　zone　was　crisscrossed　by　geysers　of　annihilation　discs；　one　right　on　top　of　the　next；　at　such　a　high　rate　of　fire　that　they　were　practically　touching。

The　probes'　firepower　was　not　sufficient　to　penetrate　the　armor　of　the　massive　gun　turrets；　but　their　attacks　helped　spoil　the　plasma　cannons'　aim　and　did　do　at　least　some　damage　to　the　targeting　sensors。　Nevertheless；　one　by　one　the　drones　and　probes　were　potted　out　of　the　air　by　the　sheer　volume　of　firepower　down　near　the　planet's　surface。
But　by　then　the　courier　was　juking　its　way　down　through　the　AA　fire；　homing　in　on　a　large　fire…control　plex　in　the　general　vicinity　of　the　megacosm…mecha's　solar　plexus。

On　the　bridge；　Ntor　reported；　〃Sir；　we're　detecting　a　power　influx　to　those　servos　again。〃

Hodel　tore　himself　away　from　the　main　action　long　enough　to　snap；　〃Any　movement？〃

〃Not　yet；　sir。〃

〃Keep　me　informed。〃

Then　he　was　back　watching　the　main　screen　as　the　courier　swooped　like　a　hawk　at　Haydon　IV。　There　was　a　moment　of　utter　disappointment　as　a　glancing　hit　by　a　disc　damaged　one　of　the　steering　thrusters；　but　the　operator　had　sufficient　auxiliaries　to　pensate。

Spread　out　back　in　the　courier's　wake；　more　kamikazes　took　up　their　approaches。

Ntor　spoke　up　again。　〃Sir？　Servos　activated。　The　arm　booms　are　moving。〃

Hodel　checked　the　readouts。　The　arms　were　moving　so　slowly　that　they　presented　no　credible　threat。　Still；　moving　like　that梩hey　reminded　him　of　something；　some　Robotech　legend　。。。

〃Missile　one：　thirty　seconds　to　impact；〃　someone　remarked；　and　Hodel　broke　off　his　musings。

〃Make　sure　surviving　drones　are　clear　of　ground　zero；〃　Hodel　ordered。　〃Get…uurrrr！…numbers　five；　seven；　eight；　and　ten　on　recon　sweeps　of　the　far　side。〃

〃Fifteen　seconds。〃

The　courier　craft　had　slipped　down　under　the　AA　guns'　lowermost　angle　of　fire；　too　low　for　most　defenses　to　target。　Streaming　smoke　and　flame；　it　wobbled　and　rattled　across　the　last　miles；　the　fire…control　plex　looming　up　like　a　Robotech　scarp。

〃What　was　that？〃　Difficult　to　make　out　either　on　visuals　or；　thanks　to　the　alchemist's　mix　of　energies　down　below；　by　sensor；　something　seemed　to　go　flashing　across　the　corpus　terrain　of　Haydon　IV。　Like　a　skimming　blue　shadow；　it　flickered　straight　for　the　target　area。

The　courier's　visual　pickup　cut　out　at　impact；　of　course；　but　other　instruments　showed　the　abrupt　outwelling　of　the　explosion：　the　nearly　magical　appearance　of　a　superfireball　that　put　many　watching　it　in　mind　of　the　big　bang。

〃Damage　report！〃　Hodel　was　grunting　excitedly　even　while　the　fireball　expanded。　If　there　was　anything　left　of　the　plex；　he　would　target　a　second　mop…up　missile　ship　at　it；　if　not；　he　would　accelerate　the　other　kamikazes　to　their　assigned　targets。　The　proof　that　the　attack　weapons　could　strike　home　on　Haydon　IV　had　him　exulting。

But　then　came　Prah's　voice　from　Quartzstar。　〃Attention；　Tracialle！　Our　instruments　show　failure　to　impact。　Something　shielded　the　target　area　from　the　blast。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Hodel　bellowed　so　loudly　that　even　his　fello