18_the_end_of_the_circle-第34部分

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elded　the　target　area　from　the　blast。〃

〃Impossible！〃　Hodel　bellowed　so　loudly　that　even　his　fellow　Karbarrans　winced。

Ntor　spoke　up。　〃Negative；　sir。　Look。〃　She　had　split　the　main　screen。　Next　to　the　real…time　image　of　the　expanding　nuke　strike；　she　was　projecting　the　flicker　that　had　raced　across　the　surface　of　the　megacosm…mecha。

It　was　a　large　blue　circle；　like　the　image　of　a　spotlight　on　the　surface　of　Haydon　IV。　It　streaked　straight　for　the　impact　point；　a　dot　of　light　some　hundred　miles　across　and　yet　small　in　parison　to　the　gargantuan　torso。

The　Tracialle's　techs　were　confirming　what　Quartzstar's　had　found：　The　nuke　hit　had　been　deflected。　〃And　see；　two　more　of　those　strange　energy　loci；〃　Ntor　added。　Hodel　yowled　angrily　at　the　three　blue　circles；　drifting　here　and　there　across　the　modules　of　the　reconfigured　planet　like　buzzing　insects。

Without　warning；　Exedore　appeared　on　the　main　screen。　〃Captain　Hodel；　I　have　seen　this　phenomenon　before。　It's　a　pinpoint　barrier　system；　though　how　Haydon　learned　of　it；　I　don't　know。　There's　no　time　to　explain；　you　must　withdraw　your　fleet。　〃

Hodel's　paw　smashed　his　mand　chair's　arm。　〃There　are　only　three　of　those　miserable　little　dots。　We'll　hit　them　with　everything　we　have；　all　at　once…and　wipe　them　out！〃

Waysee；　manding　the　two…ship　Garudan　contingent；　came　up　on　the　net。　〃There's　no　guarantee　we'll　be　able　to　concentrate　our　strike　precisely　enough。〃

Hodel　shot　back；　〃There　is　if　you　all　listen　to　orders！　Now；　link　your　operators　to　my　controllers；　who　will　coordinate　all　strikes。　We'll　soften　them　up　with　the　suicide　ships；　then　blow　them　away！〃

〃More　readings　from　the　forearm　booms；〃　Ntor　said　to　him。

Hodel　whirled。　〃Any　sign　of　offensive　capability？〃

〃No；　Captain；　just　power　buildup。〃

Hodel　barked　a　laugh。　〃Much　good　it　will　do　them　when　ten　ships　punch　in　at　once。　Controllers！　Prepare　for　a　unified　strike　operation…simultaneous　hits　all　across　that　empty　suit　of　tin　out　there。〃

As　the　fleet　re…formed　and　moved　in　again；　all　decoys　and　kamikaze　ships　leaping　ahead　for　the　coordinated　attack；　Exedore　checked　and　collated　data　back　in　the　Royal　Hall。

〃I　don't　know　how　they　did　it；　Cabell。　Perhaps　the　Haydonites　learned　something　when　they　were　holding　us　captive；　or　perhaps　it's　something　uncovered　back　when　the　Regent　had　the　Sentinels　captive　on　Haydon　IV。〃

〃It　may　be　much　simpler；　something　implicit　in　Robotechnology　that　Haydon　discovered　just　as　the　Micronians　did。　〃

Exedore　shrugged　helplessly。　〃Just　so。　In　any　case　it　proves　do　we　don't　know　what　we're　up　against。　We　must　get　Hodel　and　the　others　to　break　off　the　attack。〃

〃Retreat：　something　Karbarrans　have　never　been　good　at；〃　Cabell　observed。


At　least　Hodel　had　the　caution　to　stay　well　back　while　launching　his　attack　wave。

Fire　from　the　plasma　batteries　was　less　effective　now　that　the　drones　were　down　and　strafing　the　planet's　surface；　those　that　had　been　dispatched　to　scout　the　far　side　were　brought　back　and　hurled　into　the　assault。　As　Hodel　had　observed；　the　racing　pinpoint　barrier　shield　circles　could　not　be　everywhere　at　once。

But　just　as　it　had　served　SDF…1　so　well　decades　before；　the　defense　cut　into　the　attackers'　advantage　dramatically。　Nevertheless；　the　decoy　craft　wreaked　havoc　all　over　the　near　side　of　Haydon　IV。

Of　the　ten　nuke…primed　ships　sent　ahead　to　smash　resistance；　two　were　destroyed　by　fire　while　still　far　above　the　artificial　world；　and　another　two　on　approach；　even　though　by　then　the　decoys　had　put　many　gun　emplacements　out　of　action。

Hodel；　howling　in　battle　lust；　ignored　Exedore's　attempts　to　reach　him　by　mo。　Ntor　watched　the　buildup　of　the　energy　in　the　booms　but　dared　not　bring　them　up　again。

The　surviving　ships　streaked　down　to　strike　as　planned；　dispersed　across　Haydon　IV。　Three　were　met　by　pinpoint　barriers；　but　the　other　three　struck　in　the　chest；　neck；　and　lower　abdomen　of　the　Robotech　figure　that　was　the　artifact　world。　This　time　the　planet　shook　from　superbombs　so　massive　that　even　a　continent　of　armor　was　not　proof　against　them。

Haydon　IV　was　ripped　open　in　three　places；　energy　and　vaporized　systemry　fountaining　from　it。　Secondary　explosions　rattled　the　megacosm…figure　and　vented　themselves　in　the　vicinity　of　the　right　shoulder；　blasting　it　open。　The　streams　of　annihilation　discs　died　away。

The　Karbarrans　on　the　Tracialle's　bridge；　growling　their　war　chants；　led　the　way　in　to　the　attack。　The　rest　of　the　Local　Group　ships　raced　after；　some　of　the　other　races　even　taking　up　the　Karbarrans'　chant。

Haydon　IV　loomed　near；　and　the　fleet　primed　its　weapons　for　a　last　decisive　assault。　At　last　Exedore　managed　to　override　the　fleet's　munications　and　put　his　image　on　their　screens。

〃Reverse　course；　you　fools！　Retreat！　The　booms　the　booms　are　weapons　too！〃

The　precise　nature　of　the　threat　had　worked　at　his　mind　even　as　it　eluded　him；　until　he　chanced　to　glance　over　at　a　schematic　in　the　munications　center　there　in　the　Royal　Hall。　On　it；　the　figure　of　Haydon　IV　was　represented　as　a　sort　of　crude　outline；　and　he　saw　things　for　what　they　were。

Instead　of　the　articulated　Robotech　waldos　and　forearms；　the　planet's　limbs　might　have　been　clubs；　or　the　arms　of　a　horseshoe　magnet；　or　a　tuning　fork　。。。

Or　the　bows　of　the　SDF…1。

〃Get　out；　get　out　before　it's　too　late！〃　Exedore　screamed；　but　few　were　listening。

One　was　Prah　in　the　Quartzstar。　〃Attention；　Hodel！　Urgently　advise　you　break　off　attack　until　considering　Exedore's　advice。　Energy　buildup　along　forearm　booms　has　intensified。〃

Hodel　wasn't　having　any；　and　neither　was　anybody　else　aboard　the　Tracialle。　Around　the　booms；　bubbles　of　snapping；　coruscating　energy　were　forming　and　bursting　in　brilliant　effervescence；　but　that　did　not　deter　the　rest　of　the　fleet　for　a　moment。　Prah；　however；　began　to　deviate　from　course；　shearing　away　from　the　attack　run　and　demanding　that　Hodel　and　the　rest　do　the　same；　heeding　Exedore；　before　it　was　too　late。　The　Valivarre　emulated　her；　largely　because　of　the　Tirolian　clones'　respect　for　Exedore　and　Cabell。　The　bulky　mining　vessel　fell　in　behind　the　glittering；　glassy　bauble　that　was　Quartzstar　even　as　Hobel　growled　his　contempt　for　them　and　returned　to　his　assault。

Haydon　IV　was　being　shaken　by　massive　internal　quakes　and　eruptions。　The　pinpoint　loci　were　gone。　The　fleet's　sensors　marked　a　hundred　great　exposed；　defenseless　targets　and　too　many　smaller　ones　to　count。　In　its　eagerness；　the　Tracialle　outran　the　rest　of　the　Local　Group　ships；　hot　to　draw　blood。

Tongues　of　orange　starflame　were　slithering　and　looping　around　the　booms　and　writhing　up　and　down　them；　seemingly　eager　to　be　set　free。　Hodel　thought　the　booms　not　worth　bothering　about　but　fired　a　bow　sweep　of　missiles　at　them　as　he　neared；　just　to　be　sure。

Flashing　along　at　attack　speed；　the　Karbarran　was　nearly　past　the　booms　when　his　missiles　struck；　and　doomsday　fell。　All　at　once　the　energies　in　the　booms　surged；　unleashed；　just　as　the　SDF…1's　bows　had　configured　into　a　main　gun　and　fired　on　her　launch　day　so　many　years　ago。　Hodel's　missiles　were　vaporized。

A　cloud　of　swirling　energy　appeared　between　the　booms；　and　a　raving　torrent　of　utter　destruction　shot　out　from　it。　The　superbolt；　miles　in　diameter；　lanced　out　and　washed　across　the　oning　Local　Group　ships；　where　it　had　played；　nothing　was　left　behind　but　elementary　particles。

Valivarre　and　Quartzstar；　both　damaged　by　the　mere　peripheral　wash　of　the　volley；　braced　for　another。　But　none　came。　Indeed；　the　booms　were　blackened　and　leaking　power　fluxes。　The　volley　had　damaged　Haydon　IV　as　well　as　wiping　out　most　of　the　flotilla。

〃We…we'll　pull　back　and　wait；〃　Prah　said　in　a　subdued　voice；　the　clones　on　the　converted　Zentraedi　ore　ship　concurred。

The　Tracialle；　damaged　by　the　abrupt　appearance　of　the　power　storm　between　the　booms　behind　it；　somehow　escaped　annihilation　by　a　split　second。　Shuddering　and　breached；　its　mo　systems　fried　and　others　threatening　to　fail；　it　dived　for　the　planet。

〃I　don't　think　any　of　the　others　made　it；　sir；〃　Ntor　reported。　〃At　least；　I　have　no　visuals　on　them。　Most　other　sensors　were　knocked　out。〃

〃Then　it's　up　to　us；〃　Hodel　said　calmly。　〃Aim　for　the　heart。〃

They　all　saw　what　he　meant；　an　exposed　control　nexus　as　big　as　a　floodplain　on　the　mecha　figure's　upper　right　chest。　What　little　data　they　had　indicated　that　it　was　a　vulnerable　point。

They　also　knew　that　there　was　no　going　back；　even　if　the　booms　were　inoperative。　The　Tracialle's　engines　were　going　fast…they　would　overload　in　moments。　Like　most　of　the　others；　Hodel　and　Ntor　felt　that　they　had　already　witnessed　this　death　once；　in　their　augury　chants。

The　few　cannonades　of　discs　the　plasma　guns　could　manage　were　a　pale　imitation　of　their　former　selves；　hopelessly　low…power　and　inaccurate。　The　far　greater　danger　was　that　the　Sekiton…fueled　ship　would　shake　apart；　but　somehow　it　held　together。　By　some　fluke　of　technology　or　caprice　of　the　Shapings；　the　Karbarrans'　mo　began　functioning　again　just　at　the　end；　and　the　survivors　heard　their　roars　as　the　Tracialle's　crew　went　to　sink　their　fangs　into　their　enemy's　heart。　Down　and　down　their　ship　plummeted；　into　the　breast　of　Haydon　IV　like　an　avenging　et。　The　detonations　it　set　off　sent　the　artifact　worldlet　into　lethal　convulsions。

Quartzstar　and　Valivarre；　carrying　out　repairs　to　restore　life　support　and　some　measure　of　maneuvering　power；　were　lit　by　the　distant　nova　of　Haydon　IV's　death　blow。　Prah　watched　sadly　and　was　about　to　turn　away；　when　someone　said；　〃I'm　scanning　spacecraft…many　of　them！〃

Prah　rapped；　〃Origin？〃

〃They　are　sphere　ships；　I　believe　they　emerged　from　the　far　side；　just　before　the　end。〃

For　a　moment　Prah　thought　that　it　was　to　be　the　end　of　her　vessel；　after　all。　But　the　swarm　of　sphere　ships；　a　hundred　and　more；　formed　up　and　set　off　without　paying　Quartzstar　or　Valivarre　any　heed。

Their　course　pointed　straight　for　Tirol。


CHAPTER　THIRTY…THREE

This　cadet…graduate　will　make　either　a　passable　officer　or　a　very　troublesome　convict。
Final　evaluation　from　the　file　of　Southern　Cross　Lieutenant　Dana　Sterling　

There　was　nothing　for　the　ground　party　to　do　but　return　to　the　landing　zone；　the　Regis　ignored　their　demands　that　she　e　back；　listen　to　reason；　answer　their　questions；　show　some　mercy。

The　quietest　among　them　were　the　children；　who　seemed　distracted　and　unmunicative。　Scott　noticed　that　Marlene　was　very　much　like　them。　He　realized　he　had　been　holding　his　breath；　dreading　the　moment　when　arcane　forces　would　suck　her　soul　and　body　into　the　oneness　of　the　Invid　race　that　was　the　Regis。

But　apparently　the　trauma　she　had　undergone　had　insulated　her　from　that　for　good。　She　really　was　herself。　He　was　grateful　for　that　but　furious　at　the　trick　of　fate　that　had　put　them　back　together　at　last　only　to　schedule　Armageddon　a　few　days　or　hours　away。

Still；　when　he　reached　tentatively　for　her　hand　and　she　smiled　bittersweetly；　taking　his　hand　fondly；　there　was　a　lightness　to　his　soul　that　had　not　been　there　since　the　death　of　Marlene　Rush　on　a　day　long　gone。

There　wasn't　much　vigilance　to　their　withdrawal　in　spite　of　Rick　and　Lisa's　disspirited　promptings。　What　good　to　keep　your　guard　up　when　all　of　newspace　might　well　attack　at　any　moment？

Rick　thought　twice　before　approaching　Louie　Nichols；　the　Regis　might　be　listening　in。　But　then；　the　same　could　be　said　about　the　deepest　security　vault　on　the　SDF…3。

〃Louie？　What　about　the　Peter　Pan？　Can　we　make　a　run　for　it　if　we　have　to？〃

Louie　worked　his　shoulders；　adjusted　his　goggles；　and　went　through　some　more　of　his　repertoire　as　they　walked　along。　〃I　doubt　it。　It　turns　out　that　the　sphere　ships　aren't　exactly　like　I　thought　they　were。　Not　really　built　with　a　return　trip　in　mind。

〃Think　of　'em　as　bobsleds；　created　for　a　single　voyage　along　a　particular　flow　of　force…down　a　snowy　hill；　if　you　see　what　I　mean。　The　Peter　P。　might　be　forced　up　the　hill；　but　I　wouldn't　bet　on　it。〃

He　looked　so　downcast　that　Rick　figured　Louie　was　regretting　that　he　had　ever　gotten　involved　in　the　rescue　attempt。　He　patted　one　skinny　shoulder。　〃I　don't　know　if　I　ever　said　thanks；　Louie。　I'm　grateful　for　your　being　here　to　help；　grateful　as　an　officer　and　grateful　as　a　man　with　a　family　in　danger。〃

That　seemed　to　take　Louie　by　surprise；　but　he　mumbled　some　acknowledgment。　Then　he　picked　up　his　pace；　head　bent　in　thought。

Max　Sterling　had　to　restrain　himself　from　grabbing　Aurora　and　clasping　her　to　him；　shielding　her　with　his　body。　That　way；　the　Black　Knight　mecha…or　whatever　it　was　that　his　bat　skills　had　brought　into　existence　in　newspace…would　have　to　e　through　him　to　get　her。　But　she　was　so　fragile；　so　ethereal　that　he　didn't　want　to　frighten　her。　And　so　he　hung　near　her　like　a　shadow；　peering　and　glaring　in　all　directions；　sweat　running　down　his　face。

He　was　a　fighter　jock；　a　mecha　warrior；　his　talents　lay　elsewhere；　and　he　always；　felt　insufficient　to　cope　with　the　expanded　powers　and　perceptions　of　his　youngest。　And　now　he　had　sensed　some　terrible　peril；　bee　its　focus；　and　there　was　little；　perhaps　nothing；　he　could　do　to　help。　Nothing　but　protect　my　daughter　with　my　life。

At　least　one　person　in　the　group　had　kept　her　training　in　mind　and　was　maintaining　a　high　level　of　alertness　as　she　went；　though。　Dana　was　carrying　a　Wolverine　rifle　at　the　ready；　more　than　willing　to　open　up　if　a　target　presented　itself；　wishing　for　one；　if　the　truth　be　known。

She　had　fallen　far　back　to　walk　rear　guard；　relieving　Lron。　The　sight　of　Minmei　and　Rem　leaning　on　each　other　had　abraded　her　nerve　endings　and　left　her　in　an　empty；　murderous　mood。　Even　in　the　worst　of　those　days　after　her　parents　had　left　on　the　SDF…3…times　when　she　had　found　herself　in　some　agency…sponsored　home　or　care　institution…she　hadn't　felt　quite　so　resentful　and　drained。

That　was　because　she　hadn't　met　Zor　Prime　yet；　no　doubt。　And　once　in　a　while　she　got　a　visit　from　a　friend　who　loved　her　unconditionally。

She　heard　the　chirping　yip　faintly。　The　person　ahead　of　her…Dr。　Penn；　his　mind　apparently　a　million　parsecs　away　did　not　seem　to　notice　it。　But　Dana　recognized　it　at　once。

〃Polly！　〃　She　said　it　softly；　not　wanting　the　others　to　e　barging　back　to　her。　The　Pollinator　was　her　pet；　her　lifelong　friend。

Only；　how　had　Polly　gotten　there？　He　had　disappeared　let's　see…back　on　Tirol；　just　before　she'd　lifted　for　Haydon　IV。　Well；　if　walls　and　doors　were　no　barrier　to　him　or　his　kin；　why　should　space　be？

Manifestly；　it　wasn't；　because　there　he　sat；　like　an　animated　mophead；　thirty　feet　back　the　way　she　had　just　e。　His　head　was　tilted　to　one　side；　and　he　gazed　at　her　bemusedly；　as　if　she　were　the　one　who'd　disappeared　without　warning　and　he　was　the　aggrieved　party。

SOP　said　that　she　should　signal　for　a　halt　and　request　permission　and　backup　before　fetching　him；　but　by　that　time　Polly　might　take　it　into　that　cute　knob…horned　head　of　his　to　vanish　again。　Dana　glanced　to　make　sure　Harry　Penn　hadn't　noticed…he　was　still　going　his　way　deep　in　thought…and　turned　back　to　make　the　pickup　on　the　Pollinator。

〃Don't　give　me　that　innocent　look；　you　little　deserter！〃　She　knelt　by　him；　shifting　her　rifle　so　that　she　had　a　free　hand　to　scoop　him　up。　〃Maybe　I　oughta　tie　a　bell　to　your　collar。　Or　better　yet；　get　a　spacefold　leash…he…eeyy！〃

Wait　a