16_world_killers-第4部分

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　people；　that　she　had　been　kidnapped。　Minutes　later；　news　reached　him　of　the　chase　after　the　armored　Alpha。

Apparently　the　pilot；　whoever　he　was；　was　neither　a　Ghost　Rider　nor　some　rogue　Skull；　but　rather　one　of　the　detached…duty　fliers　serving　the　R&D　people　and　council…liaison　offices。　That　hadn't　kept　him　from　knocking　out　several　crewmembers　and　stealing　a　VT。　Edwards　looked　forward　to　exacting　a　fearsome　revenge。

But　he　had　no　time　to　waste　monitoring　the　pursuit　of　the　Alpha。　There　was　his　flotilla　to　put　into　motion；　and　every　second　counted；　since　Breetai　was　already　under　way。　The　ore　the　Zentraedi　had　taken　with　them　was　the　key　to　a　fleet　that　would　let　Edwards　return　to　Earth　in　glory　and　conquer　it。

Once　the　Zentraedi　had　been　eliminated；　it　would　be　time　to　do　away　with　the　bothersome　Sentinels。　And　soon；　Minmei　would　be　his　wife　and　rule　at　his　side；　an　empress　over　whole　planets　but　his　own　obedient　chattel。


CHAPTER　THREE

The　place　was　called　Haydon　IV；　but　nobody　was　able　to　explain　why。　It　was　the　third　planet　out　from　its　primary；　so　that　explanation　was　null　and　void。　There　was　no　record　or　myth　that　gave　a　clue。
Odd；　though；　it　was　the　fourth　planet　the　Sentinels　were　to　fight　on…Tirol　being　an　REF　show。
Oh　well。　Coincidences　were　for　the　scientists；　we　troopies　were　just　there　to　shoot　V　salute。
Susan　Graham；　from　the　narration　to　her　documentary　film；　Protoculture's　Privateers：　SDF…3；　Farrago；　Ark　Angel；　Sentinels；　and　the　REF

Like　schools　of　deadly　fish；　the　fiery　defensive　vortices　of　Haydon　IV　plastered　themselves　to　the　Veri…tech；　glowing　brighter　and　brighter；　burning　fiercely　at　the　fighter's　shields。

〃They　mean　to　roast　us　alive！〃　Bela　said　grimly；　Jack　knew　that　tone　in　her　voice；　the　one　she　took　when　she　had　her　hand　on　her　sword　hilt。

He　doubted　that　the　energy　defenses　would　actually　do　that；　though；　once　the　shields　went　down；　the　end　would　be　rather　swift　and　spectacular。　Even　now；　the　VTs　were　beginning　to　lose　power；　the　final　fall　would　be　soon。

〃Jan；　can　you　spot　any　large　bodies　of　water　downstairs？〃　Maybe　a　swan　dive　into　a　lake　or　ocean　would　short…circuit　the　vortices；　or　something。

But　she　was　replying；　〃Negative。　Jack；　I'm　losing　flight　control。　My　instruments　say　these　things　are　melding　with　the　shields；　being　part　of　them　and　making　them　rigid。　Control　surfaces　are　being　immovable。〃

It　was　happening　to　him；　too；　and　to　Learna's　ship。　The　energy　was　forming　a　shell；　and　unless　they　could　break　it。。。

Then　he　yelped　as　a　last；　desperate　solution　occurred　to　him。　〃Listen　up；　everybody！　Separate　fighters　and　go　to　Guardian…correction！　Go　to　Battloid　mode；　I　say　again；　separate　fighters　and　go　to　Battloid　mode！　Maybe　we　can　hatch　outta　these　energy　shells！〃

The　fighters　were　beginning　to　tumble　and　wobble；　the　mere　act　of　separating　them　under　these　conditions　bordered　on　the　suicidal。　But　Kami　followed　Jack's　countdown　from　her　place　in　the　Beta's　pilot…seat　and　at　his　mark　they　disengaged。　The　drubbing　they　got　from　the　atmosphere　almost　smashed　the　two　ships　into　each　other；　but　Jack　and　Kami　fought　their　controls；　imaged　through　their　thinking　caps；　and　managed　to　get　clear。

The　fighters　fought　a　terrible　battle　against　the　cocooning　energy　fields…like　chicks　trying　to　break　through　their　shells。　The　ships　strained　to　mechamorphose；　to　follow　that　central　and　perhaps　most　amazing　trait　of　Robotechnology。

e　on；　e　on；　Jack　urged　his　mecha　silently。　And　at　last　there　was　the　sliding　of　ponents　as　the　Alpha　began　folding　and　reconfiguring；　its　shields　following　suit。

All　at　once　the　blazing　inferno　burst　away　from　the　Alpha　in　all　directions　like　an　outlashing　nova。　The　VT　had　bee　a　Battloid；　Humaniform；　like　a　knight　in　armor；　fists　cocked；　riding　ribbons　of　thruster　fire。

Jack　gasped；　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　He　checked　around　and　saw　Kami's　Beta；　and　Janice's　Alpha；　with　Lron's　Beta　close…by。　All　were　in　Battloid；　shimmering　with　heat　waves　but　still　intact　and　under　control。

Jack　spotted　Learna…a　little　rocky　but　apparently　getting　things　under　control。　But。。。

〃Crysta！〃

He　heard　the　ursine　growling　of　the　female　Karbarran；　more　angry　than　afraid；　as　her　Beta　whirled　and　tumbled　groundward。　It　was　still　in　fighter　mode；　its　power　failing。　Jack　imaged　his　systemry　and　went　after　her　like　a　high…diver。

Something　came　into　his　field　of　vision　and　he　realized　that　Janice　Em　was　nearby；　her　Alpha　in　Battloid；　too；　plummeting　alongside　him　for　the　seemingly　doomed　effort　to　save　the　falling　Beta。

〃Don't　touch　it　unless　your　shields　are　up！〃　Jack　yelled；　Crysta's　mecha　was　still　aglow　with　the　energy　〃antibodies。〃　He　took　a　deep　breath；　and　imaged　his　mand　to　his　Battloid。　It　reached　out　and　seized　the　Beta。

It　was　like　trying　to　bulldog　a　whirlwind。　The　heavier　Beta　spun　and　tumbled；　nearly　shaking　the　Alpha　loose；　the　Alpha's　amazing　Robotech　strength　notwithstanding。

But　Jack　clung　and；　bracing　his　feet　against　the　fuselage；　began　prying　at　the　wings；　straining　to　help　it　go　into　mechamorphosis。　At　least；　to　his　relief；　the　Haydon　antibodies　that　were　infused　with　the　Beta's　protective　mantle　didn't　attack　him　or　slide　from　Crysta's　shields　over　to　his　own。

Then　Janice　grabbed　the　Beta　from　the　other　side；　and　together　they　fought　to　save　their　panions。　〃Crysta；　try　for　Guardian；　do　you　copy？〃　Jack　had　to　strain　to　get　out　his　words　as　he　was　thrown　around　against　his　harness。　〃Guardian！〃

Jack　figured　that　the　Beta　might　be　able　to　achieve　the　intermediate　mode　between　Fighter　and　Battloid；　and　perhaps　it　would　be　enough　to　save　those　within。　Crysta　had　only　recently　pleted　her　pilot　training；　but　she　kept　her　cool　with　bearish　Karbarran　fatalism；　and　did　her　best　to　obey。

The　attempt　to　mechamorphose　didn't　appear　to　be　having　any　effect；　though　the　Beta's　ponents　were　straining　against　one　another　and　seemed　ready　to　fly　apart。　The　efforts　of　the　two　Battloids　had　slowed　its　fall；　though；　and　Crysta　had　a　bit　more　control。

Lron；　who　had　been　pacing　the　others　in　a　steep　dive；　along　with　Kami　and　Learna；　called　out；　〃Jack；　I　see　water；　a　large　body　of　it！〃　There　was　panic　in　his　voice；　but　he　was　calming　himself　because　that　was　the　only　possible　way　to　help　his　mate。

There　might　be　hope　yet。　〃Where？〃　Jack　barked。

〃Over　in　the　opening　in　the　terrain；　where　those　energy　things　came　from。〃

Jack　swore：　salvation　in　the　lion's　den？　Not　likely。　〃Crysta；　you're　gonna　have　to　try　to　eject。　Right　now！〃

She　growled；　〃I　cannot；　Jack；　ejection　mechanism　won't　respond。〃　There　was　a　kind　of　abject　keening　noise　in　the　background　of　her　transmission…the　Invid　scientist　she　was　carrying；　no　doubt。

Though　the　two　Battloids　had　slowed　the　Beta's　fall；　they　couldn't　stop　it。　〃Okay　then：　we　shoot　craps。　It's　bath　time；　Crysta！　Brace　for　a　splashdown！〃

Lron；　Learna；　and　Kami　closed　in；　too；　applying　all　thrusters　to　help　slow　Crysta's　fall　and　shove　her　ship　into　position　over　the　large　underground　lake　or　sea　that　Learna　had　spied。　The　distant　sparkle　of　the　water　pinwheeled　up　and　up　at　them　with　frightening　speed。　In　the　last　seconds；　they　were　able　to　reduce　the　speed　of　their　fall…then　the　water　smashed　into　them。

Jack　felt　as　if　his　neck　had　been　snapped；　and　he　was　aware　of　water　bubbling　and　surging　against　his　canopy。　Any　conventional　aerospace　craft　would　have　broken　or　sprung　a　thousand　leaks；　but　somehow　the　Alpha　held。　Jack　broke　the　surface　to　see　Lron's　Beta　still　fighting　desperately　to　keep　Crysta's　afloat。

Jack　hit　his　burners　and　lifted　clear　of　the　water　on　trails　of　blue　flame。　Crysta's　ship　was　no　longer　encased　in　the　energy　antibodies；　but　its　fuselage　looked　broken；　and　it　was　no　doubt　taking　on　water。　Janice　Em's　Alpha　appeared　next　to　it；　helping　Lron　try　to　keep　it　from　sinking；　the　water　boiling　and　hissing　from　the　blast　of　their　thrusters；　but　it　was　a　losing　battle。

〃Just　hold　on　a　second　more！〃　Jack　yelled。　〃Crysta；　I'm　getting　you　out　of　there！〃


His　Alpha　extruded　the　special　manipulator　tentacles　that　were　built　into　all　VTs。　In　another　moment；　they　had　stretched　forth　to　open　access　plates　on　one　of　the　damaged　Beta's　nacelles。　It　only　took　a　moment　for　them　to　work　the　manual　controls　for　the　emergency…rescue　system。

The　entire　cockpit　module　of　Crysta's　Beta　slid　free　from　the　rest　of　the　ship；　Jack　took　it　up　in　his　Battloid's　armored　hands　even　while　his　manipulators　were　retracting。　〃Okay；　get　clear！　I've　got　her！〃

Lron　and　Janice　released　their　hold　on　the　Beta；　and　it　sank　from　sight　in　a　fountain　of　bubbles　and　froth；　steam　rising　from　the　water。　Jack　had　risen　clear　and　was　sliding　the　cockpit　module　into　a　special　fitting　on　the　underside　of　his　Battloid's　right　forearm。

〃Just　relax　and　enjoy　the　ride。〃　Jack　tried　to　sound　light…hearted；　but　he　was　scanning　his　new　surroundings　and　checking　out　his　sensors；　expecting　another　attack。　He　wasn't　so　sure　the　VTs　could　survive　another　fight。

〃I　cannot　fathom　it；〃　Bela　was　saying。　〃Why　would　this　Haydon　IV　of　Veidt's　have　an　underground　sea？　Is　it　not；　as　he　and　Sarna　have　told　us；　a…what　was　their　phrase？…　an　artificial　world！〃

〃That's　what　they　said；　all　right；〃　Janice　Em　added。　〃Only；　personally；　this　wasn't　what　I　pictured。〃

Nor　had　Jack。　He　had　imagined　a　more　elaborate　kind　of　O'Neill　colony；　perhaps；　or　even　a　miniature　Dyson　sphere；　but　not　something　truly　planet…size。

But　it　was　indisputably　an　artifact　of　some　kind。　Beginning　at　the　shores　of　the　lake；　fantastic　underground　mountains　reared；　looking　to　Jack　like　living　instrumentality…inorganic　versions　of　living　forms　and　ecosystems。

Veidt　and　Sarna　and　the　few　other　Haydonites　among　the　Sentinels　had　been　either　unable　or　unwilling　to　give　exact　explanations　as　to　how　things　worked　here；　and　Jack　began　to　curse　them　for　it　now。

Jan　was　continuing；　〃If　the　whole　place　really　is　an　artifact；　one　of　their　biggest　problems　would　be　managing　atmosphere　and　climate。　It　makes　sense　that　they'd　have　huge　reservoirs　of　water　and　ways　of　moving　it　around…under　the　surface　and　on　it　and　even　over　it；　as　precipitation　and　clouds…〃

〃What　we　should　be　giving　thought　to　is　whether　any　of　those　fire…demons　still　lurk　down　here；〃　Bel