05_force_of_arms-第29部分

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〃But　in　the　wake　of　the　jump；〃　Lang　went　on；　〃the　spacefold　apparatus　just。。。disappeared。　Utterly！　Simply　faded　from　view　and　was　never　seen　again。　And　in　its　place　were　those。〃

Lang　meant　the　lights：　darting；　glowing　sparks；　fireflies　and　tiny　ets　that　swarmed　and　drifted　through　the　space　where　the　spacefold　apparatus　had　once　been。　Exedore　turned　to　him。　〃May　I　borrow　some　of　those　instruments　you've　brought；　Doctor？〃

It　took　only　a　little　time　to　prove　his　suspicions。　〃Ah；　yes：　definite　residual　Protoculture　signature　here；　but　the　Matrix　is　gone。　And　I　detect　no　other　great　manufacturing　mass；　only　the　lesser　animating　charges　of　your　weapons　and　the　reflex　furnaces。〃

Exedore　lowered　the　detector　numbly。　〃The　secrets　of　Zor；　gone！　This　long　war　fought　for　nothing！〃

Lang　patted　Exedore's　shoulder　miseratingly。　〃Perhaps　someday　we　will　find　it　again；　who　can　say？〃

Gloval　was　shocked　to　see　how　quickly　the　two　had　bee　easy　in　each　other's　pany。　〃I　think　we'd　better　get　back　to　the　hearing　room；〃　the　captain　said。　〃We　still　have　a　great　deal　to　talk　about。〃


Deep　within　the　sealed　fastness　of　the　mighty　reflex　engines；　something　stirred　and　then　was　quiet　again。　It　could　not　be　detected　by　Lang's　relatively　primitive　instruments；　was　capable　of　hiding　itself　even　from　the　Zentraedi's　scanners　at　this　range。

As　Zor　had　provided；　the　last　Protoculture　Matrix　was　safe；　biding　its　time；　waiting　until　his　great　Vision　should　e　to　pass。


〃It　does　appear　we've　made　a　great　mistake；〃　Exedore　confessed　when　they　were　all　back　in　their　places。　〃But！　You　cannot　possibly　deny　the　power　of　the　female's　singing！〃

〃I　wouldn't　dream　of　it；〃　Gloval　responded　simply；　drawing　a　doubtful　look　from　Colonel　Maistroff。

But　Bron　was　on　his　feet。　〃He　won't　deny　it　because　it's　true！〃

〃Minmei's　song　has　incredible　power！〃　Rico　added；　jumping　up　too。

Minmei；　for　her　part；　gave　a　shy　smile　that　seemed　to　have　some　secret　wisdom　behind　it。

〃This　is　not　the　first　time　the　Zentraedi　have　encountered　something　like　this；〃　Exedore　told　them　all。　〃A　very　long　time　ago　we　were　exposed　to　a　culture　like　yours；　and　it　nearly　destroyed　us。〃

〃How　do　you　mean　that？〃　Gloval　was　quick　to　ask。

Exedore's　protruding；　pinpoint　eyes　roamed　the　room。　〃To　a　Zentraedi；　fighting　is　a　way　of　life。　Our　entire　history　is　made　up　of　nothing　but　battle　after　glorious　battle。　However；　exposure　to　an　emotionally　open　society　like　yours　made　our　soldiers　refuse　to　fight。

〃This；　of　course；　could　not　be　tolerated；　and　the　infection　had　to　be　cleansed。　Loyal　soldiers　and　the　Robotech　Masters　themselves　came　in　to　exterminate　all　those　who　had　been　exposed　to　the　source　of　the　contagion。〃

The　three　spies　in　particular　were　pale　and　silent。　The　rest　looked　at　one　another。　Exedore　went　on。　〃Dolza；　our　supreme　mander；　will　do　everything　in　his　power　to　avoid　making　the　mistake　our　ancestors　did。　When　and　if　he　reads　my　report；　he　will　certainly　launch　an　all…out　attack　on　Earth；　especially　in　light　of　the　fact　that　the　Protoculture　Matrix　is　no　longer　on　the　SDF…1。〃

Gloval's　eyes　shifted　to　Rick。　〃That's　the　same　one　mentioned　in　your　report？〃

Rick　licked　his　lips。　〃Yes；　sir。〃　Almost　five　million　warships！

Exedore　nodded。　〃I　know　what　you're　thinking。　But　you　see；　these　new　developments…the　defections；　the　Minmei　cult；　the　mating　of　our　greatest　warrior　with　one　of　your　pilots…change　the　entire　picture。〃

He　looked　around　at　them；　the　center　of　their　riveted　attention。　〃For；　you　see；〃　Exedore　said；　〃unless　some　solution　can　be　found；　we…Breetai's　forces…are　in　as　great　a　danger　from　Dolza　and　the　Grand　Fleet　as　you。〃


Breetai　sat　in　his　chair　in　the　mand　station　overlooking　his　flagship's　bridge。

A　projecbeam　drew　a　two…dimensional　image　of　Azonia　in　the　air；　the　woman　who　had　replaced　him　in　the　war　against　the　humans；　failed　to　bring　it　to　a　successful　conclusion；　and　been　replaced　in　turn　by　Breetai。

〃mander！〃　she　began。　〃How　long　do　you　intend　to　allow　this　situation　to　continue？〃　She　was　a　mediumsize；　intense　Zentraedi　female　with　a　quick　mind　and　high　aspirations。　Her　short；　frizzy　hairstyle　puffed　within　the　confinement　of　her　high；　rolled　collar。

Breetai；　arms　folded　on　his　great　chest；　answered　in　his　rumbling；　echoing　bass；　〃Any　continuation　of　hostilities　would　be　unwise　in　light　of　recent　events。〃

She　sneered　at　him。　〃Well；　I　expect　a　different　solution　when　the　Grand　Fleet　arrives！〃

He　leapt　to　his　feet。　〃Grand　Fleet？　What　have　you　done？〃

She　gave　him　a　smug　smile。　〃I've　reported　my　findings　to　the　supreme　mander。　And　his　Excellency　Dolza　has　decided　to　set　the　fleet　into　motion。〃

〃So　Dolza　has　decided　the　Micronians　are　a　threat；　has　he？〃

〃He　has；〃　she　said　triumphantly。

Breetai's　anger　welled　up　like　a　volcano；　but　suddenly　he　found　himself　laughing　like　a　grim　god　at　the　end　of　all　worlds。　It　was　the　last　thing　Azonia　expected；　she　watched　him；　his　head　thrown　back；　roaring；　light　flashing　off　his　metallic　skullpiece　and　the　crystal　eye；　and　she　felt　a　sudden　sinking　sensation　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach。

〃You　imbecile！〃　he　managed　when　he　could　talk　again。　〃You　know　nothing　of　history；　do　you？　No；　no　self…respecting　Zentraedi　cares！　Well；　know　this；　my　scheming　friend：　We're　doomed　along　with　the　humans！　We　have　been　infected；　and　all　of　us…all…are　now　considered　plague　carriers。〃


〃You're　certain　of　this？〃　Exedore　asked　quietly；　holding　the　handset　tightly　in　trembling　fist。

The　munications　patch　had　been　set　up　hastily；　with　no　chance　for　the　aliens　to　encrypt　their　exchange。　Exedore　would　certainly　know　that　human　techs　had　monitored　whatever　Breetai　had　said。　Therefore；　the　captain　bent　forward；　certain　that　he　would　hear　whatever　it　was　at　once。

〃You　know　what　this　means；　then；〃　Exedore　said。　〃I　understand。〃　He　returned　the　handset　to　its　cradle　and　looked　at　Gloval。

〃Captain；　you　must　prepare　yourselves　to　escape　this　star　system。　We　will　help　you。〃

Gloval's　face　hardened。　〃And　leave　the　Earth　defenseless？〃

〃Yes。〃

Gloval　squared　his　shoulders。　〃Out　of　the　question！　We　are　sworn　to　defend　our　planet。〃

Exedore　was　nodding　wearily。　〃Yes；　I　understand。　We　Zentraedi　would　not　act　any　differently。　What's　more；　without　your　help；　escape　for　us　would　be　all　but　hopeless。　The　Protoculture　Matrix　was　our　great　hope　for　success；　the　armada's　supplies　are　all　but　exhausted。〃

He　sighed。　〃It　seems　we　shall　soon　be　fighting　a　mon　enemy。〃

Maistroff　exploded。　〃What　did　you　say？〃

Exedore　looked　to　him。　〃My　Lord　Breetai　has　just　informed　me　that　the　Grand　Fleet　is　headed　for　this　star　system。　That　means　four　million　eight　hundred　thousand　ships　with　the　destructive　force　of　a　supernova。〃

〃All　right；　then；〃　Gloval　said　matter…of…factly。　〃A　fight　it　shall　be。〃

〃You're　crazy！〃　Lynn…Kyle　was　on　his　feet。　〃There's　no　way　you　can　beat　a　fleet　like　that！　We're　finished！〃

Max　had　taken　Miriya's　hand　in　his。　He　told　her　gently；　〃I'm　so　afraid　that　this　might　be　the　end　for　us。　Just　when　we've　found　each　other。〃

She　squeezed　his　hand。　〃I　don't　care；　my　love；　as　long　as　I'm　at　your　side　in　battle。〃

Rick；　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　U…shaped　table；　looked　ac