15_death_dance-第30部分

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tera　itself：　fields　of　Flowers　and　rows　of　Fruit…bearing　trees；　all　sterile　to　be　sure；　but　so　faultless；　so　exquisite　in　appearance。

And　yet　nowhere　a　hint　of　instrumentality。

He　understood；　though；　why　the　Regis　would　leave：　there　was　no　warmth　to　the　world；　no　taste　of　life　to　its　clear　skies　and　reflective　waters。　No；　she　would　not　have　been　at　home　here；　he　told　himself。　It　was　a　real　world　she　required；　one　like　the　Optera　of　their　past。　He　refused　to　believe　that　his　arrival　could　have　forced　her　hand…certainly　not　after　the　gift　he　had　sent　her。　This；　however；　didn't　stop　him　from　plaining　to　his　lieutenant　once　they　had　reached　the　tall　spire's　uppermost　rooms　and　his　throne　had　been　positioned。

〃Decamped！〃　he　sneered；　hands　stroking　the　gem…collared　necks　of　his　Hellcat　pets。　〃She　expects　me　to　win　the　war　while　she's　off　flitting　around　the　cosmos　preening　her　tubercles　and　hatching　plots　against　me…〃

〃M'lord；〃　a　servant　interrupted；　bowing　from　the　doorway。　〃We　have　the　prisoner。〃

The　Regent　smiled　as　Rem　was　dragged　in。　A　lieutenant　〃persuaded〃　the　Tiresian　to　assume　a　groveling　posture。　But　the　Regent's　smile　began　to　fade　as　he　studied　Rem。　Great　suns！　he　thought。　He　does　wear　the　face　of　the　seducer！

Two　scientists　had　entered　on　the　heels　of　the　Zor…Clone；　and　the　'Cats　were　suddenly　snarling；　pacing；　and　sniffing　the　air。　〃What　did　she　think　of　him？〃　the　Regent　asked；　rising　from　his　chair。

One　of　the　scientists　made　a　coughing　sound。　〃Uh；　she　was。。。amused；　Your　Highness。〃

〃Yes；　I　can　well　imagine。　Did　you　record　their　sessions　together？〃

The　two　Invid　traded　quick　glances。　〃We　did；　my　lord。〃

He　turned　to　gaze　at　Rem。　〃I　wish　to　view　the　results　of　their　reunion。　I　want　to　see　her　guilt；　the　sadness　in　her　heart；　before　I　grant　her　forgiveness。〃

〃But；　Regent…〃

The　Regent　slammed　a　massive　fist　down　on　the　throne's　contoured　seat。　〃Bring　me　the　recordings…now！〃


There　was　silence　on　the　bridge　of　the　SDF…7　while　Wolff　and　Vince　waited　for　the　ship's　identification　library　to　display　its　assessment。　Wolff　folded　his　arms　and　leaned　away　from　the　console　when　the　data　appeared。

〃Well？〃

〃Signatures　confirmed；〃　Wolff　said　flatly。　〃Invid　troop　carriers　the　Regent's　flagship。　We're　too　late。〃

〃Are　they　scanning　us？〃

Wolff　exhaled　loudly　and　swung　to　a　peripheral　monitor。　〃Affirmative。　But　it's　low…level；　cursory。　Could　be　we're　an　unknown　quantity。　God　knows　there　are　enough　other　ships　docked　out　here。〃

Vince　had　to　agree；　he　had　never　seen　so　many　different　types　and　classes　of　starship。　Haydon　IV　was　obviously　all　that　Veidt　and　Sarna　had　been　telling　everyone。

〃So　what　do　we　do；　Captain…open　a　hailing　frequency；　tell　them　we're　just　in　for　liberty；　a　little　R　'n'　R？〃

Vince　frowned　and　put　a　hand　on　the　ship's　address…system　stud。。。

〃Haydon　IV　is　an　open　world；〃　Veidt　was　explaining　in　the　briefing　room　ten　minutes　later。　〃I　thought　I　had　already　made　myself　clear　on　this　point。　The　planet　has　never　been　taken　by　force；　its　defenses　are　legendary。　There　are；　in　the　central　records；　references　to　an　attempted　invasion　some　two　thousand　Earth…standard　years　ago。　Several　hundred　vessels　were　destroyed　in　a　matter　of　moments。〃

〃But　the　Invid…〃　Jack　started　to　say。

〃The　Invid　did　not　engage　Haydon　IV's　defenses；〃　Sarna　picked　up。　〃Any　who　e　in　peace　are　free　to　stay　and　trade。　The　Invid　came　and　insinuated　themselves　into　positions　of　political　authority；　but　they　are　quite　tame　here。　We　may　land　in　safety；　but　we　will　surely　be　taken　into　custody。〃

〃Then　we　can't　go　in　under　arms；〃　Crysta　said。

Jack　grunted。　〃Maybe　you　don't　have　the　courage　to　try；　but　I　do。〃

Lron　glared　at　him　from　across　the　table。　〃You　dare　impugn　her　courage？　Perhaps　you…〃

〃Stop　this！〃　Jean　interrupted。　〃Both　of　you。〃

〃Exactly　what　are　these　'defenses；'　Veidt？〃　Vince　wanted　to　know。

〃I　have　never　seen　them。　As　I　stated；　they　have　not　been　put　to　the　test　in　two　thousand　of　your　years。〃

〃e　on；〃　Jack　said；　looking　around。　〃Then　how　do　we　know　they're　still　functioning？〃

〃Do　you　hunger　to　challenge　them？〃　Sarna　asked。

Jack　returned　a　sullen　stare。

Jean　shook　her　head　and　snorted。　〃So　to　utilize　the　medical　facilities；　we　have　to　go　in　with　our　hands　raised。〃

〃Yes；　straight　into　an　Invid　stronghold；〃　Bela　said。

〃We　are　given　no　choice；〃　Gnea　added。　〃Our　rades　will　have　to　be　surrendered。　But　who　among　us　will　escort　them　down？〃　The　Praxian　glanced　around　the　table。

〃I'll　go；〃　Wolff　volunteered。

Jean　caught　her　husband's　eye。　〃I　will；　too。〃

〃Wait　a　minute；　wait　a　minute；〃　Jack　said；　standing　up。　〃I'm　as　concerned　about　Karen　and　Rick　and　Lisa　as　any　of　you。　But　just　suppose　the　Invid　deny　the　request　for　medical　help。　Then　they've　not　only　got　Karen；　they've　got　you　and　you　and　whoever　else　is　crazy　enough　to　volunteer。〃　He　shook　his　head。　〃Uh；　uh。　We　need　to　find　some　way　around　this。〃

〃The　Invid　cannot　deny　that　which　is　promised　by　the　planet　to　all；〃　Veidt　said；　loud　enough　to　cut　through　all　the　separate　arguments　Jack's　objection　had　raised。　Everyone　heard　the　Haydonite's　remark；　but　the　bickering　continued。

〃All　right；　simmer　down；〃　Vince　told　the　table。　〃Max　has　an　idea。〃

〃Two　landing　parties；〃　the　Skull　ace　began　when　everyone　was　quiet。　He　was　exhausted；　having　spent　every　minute　by　Miriya's　side。　Her　condition　had　deteriorated　after　the　fold　to　Haydon　IV；　and　it　was　Jean's　thought　to　number　her　among　the　patients。　〃Some　of　us　take　the　four　of　them　down；　the　rest　of　you　go　in　unannounced　to　keep　an　eye　on　us。〃

〃It　will　not　work；　mander；〃　Veidt　said；　but　Jack；　Lron；　Bella；　and　Gnea　were　already　enthusiastic。　Even　Burak　added　his　voice　to　the　group　as　a　show　of　support。

〃The'　planet's　defenses　will　detect　you；〃　Sarna　tried　to　warn　them。　〃We'll　have　to　risk　it；〃　Vince　answered　her。

And　the　plan　was　put　to　a　vote。

Jean　and　Wolff　had　already　volunteered；　and　now　Max　and　Vince　and　Cabell　joined　them。　Veidt　and　Sarna　would　escort　them。　Jack；　however；　insisted　that　Karen's　cause　would　be　better　served　by　his　doing　something　more　than　crying　by　her　bedside；　so　he　opted　for　the　second　team。　Burak；　Kami　and　Learna；　Bela；　Gnea；　Lron；　and　Crysta　threw　in　with　him。　Janice　was　undecided　until　the　last　minute；　then　she　allied　herself　with　Jack's　group…on　one　condition：　that　they　take　Tesla　and　the　two　Invid　scientists　along　with　them。

〃He　did　help　out　back　on　Garuda；〃　Jack　was　willing　to　concede。　〃But　I　still　don't　trust　him。〃

〃I　don't　either；〃　Janice　said。　〃I'd　just　like　to　see　what　would　happen　if　Tesla　and　the　Regent　came　snout…to…snout。〃

Only　Wolff　heard　Burak's　gasp；　but　he　didn't　think　anything　of　it。


〃Breetai　and　his　Zentraedi　are　traitors　and　criminals；〃　T。　R。　Edwards　told　the　council；　positioning　himself　where　he　was　certain　the　cameras　would　close　in　on　his　polished　skullplate　and　furious　expression。　〃They've　stolen　the　very　thing　we　need　to　return　to　Earth；　and　thereby　condemned　our　world　to　defeat　at　the　hands　of　the　Robotech　Masters。〃　He　swung　around　and　walked　angrily　back　to　his　seat；　facing　the　audience　now。　〃Some　of　you　are　probably　thinking　that　this　is　the　Zentraedi's　way　of　avenging　themselves　on　the　RDF。　But　I　suspect　they　have　an　even　darker　purpose　in　mind。　It's　my　belief　that　Breetai　means　to　band　together　with　the　Sentinels　and　form　a　cartel　to　take　control　of　the　spaceways。

〃And　with　the　Invid　Regent　dead　and　our　own　forces　stranded；　there　will　be　little　to　stop　them　from　putting　their　plans　in　motion…unless　we　take　quick　and　decisive　action　against　them。　For　this　reason；　I'm　asking　for　the　council　approval　of　my　request　for　the　four　ships　that　prise　our　new　flotilla。　The　Zentraedi　must　be　hunted　down　and　destroyed！〃

There　were　conflicting　reactions　from　the　crowd；　all　of　which　Senator　Longchamps　silenced　with　three　determined　gavel　blows。　〃The　council　will　not　tolerate　these　continued　outbursts；〃　he　warned　the　audience。　〃If　this　occurs　again；　I'm　going　to　order　the　room　cleared。　Now；〃　he　said；　turning　to　Edwards；　〃the　council　appreciates　the　generals's　concern；　but　there　are　a　few　issues　that　need　to　be　addressed。〃　He　consulted　his　notes；　then　said；　〃Mr。　Obstat？〃

〃Isn't　it　true；　General；　that　action　of　the　sort　you　propose　could　quite　possibly　jeopardize　the　very　ore　we're　so　desperately　in　need　of？〃

Edwards　stood　up。　〃Do　you　propose　to　let　them　have　it；　then？〃　he　asked　evenly。

〃We　don't　know　why　they　took　it　in　the　first　place；〃　Justine　Huxley　argued。　〃I　for　one　am　not　convinced　that　they　mean　to　do　as　you　suggest…band　together　with　the　Sentinels　and　embark　on　some　sort　of　transgalactic　campaign。　Can't　we　simply　continue　to　mine　ore　until　the　Zentraedi　make　their　demands　known　to　us？〃

Dr。　Lang　spoke　to　that。　〃I'm　afraid　that　Fantoma　has　yielded　up　the　last　of　its　monopole　ores。　Only　trace　quantities　remain；　and　further　mining　is　hardly　justified　at　this　stage。〃

〃What　about　our　reserves；　Doctor；　here　and　on　Tirol；〃　Harry　Penn　asked。　〃Don't　we　have　enough　to　repair　the　fortress's　fold　systems？〃

〃Unfortunately　not；〃　Exedore　asserted。　〃The。。。stolen　ore　represented　more　than　three　months　of　mining。　It　is　crucial　to　our　goals。〃

Edwards　waited　for　the　gasps　and　buzzing　in　the　room　to　subside。　〃With　the　council's　indulgence；　I　have　reason　to　question　Dr。　Lang　and　Ambassador　Exedore's　assessment　of　the　situation。　It's　no　secret　to　the　RDF　that　both　of　them　have　special　interests　in　furthering　the　Sentinels'　cause…〃

Longchamps　banged　his　gavel。　〃General；　I　must　caution　you　to　refrain　from　using　this　session　to　cast　aspersions　on　any　members　of　this　council。　Is　that　understood？〃

The　cameras　tracked　in　to　catch　Edwards's　stiff　and　silent　nod。

In　Edwards's　chambers　aboard　the　SDF…3；　where　she　was　watching　the　proceedings；　Minmei　got　up　to　fix　herself　another　drink。　Lang's　face　was　on…screen　when　she　returned　to　the　edge　of　the　bed。

〃That's　true；　Senator；〃　the　Robo…wiz　was　saying。　〃Exedore　and　I　were　the　first　to　discover　that　the　material　offloaded　from　the　Valivarre　was　a　type　of　'fool's　ore；'　if　you　will。　We　immediately　reported　this　to　General　Edwards…〃

〃After　that　ship　had　folded　out　of　Tirolspace；　Doctor；〃　Edwards　barked。

〃General　Edwards；〃　Longchamps　cut　in；　〃