16_world_killers-第10章
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Over the preceding weeks； Karen had dreamed or hallucinated many times。 Now she had finally awakened。 This time； what she saw made her sob a bit； with relief。
Lieutenant mander Miriya Sterling sat at her bedside； holding Karen's hand。 Once the battle queen of the Zentraedi's feared Quadrono Battalion； now wife to Max Sterling； leader of the Skull Squadron； Miriya had fought for the Human race and the Sentinels as hard as she had ever fought for the Robotech Masters…or even harder； love had shown her the way。
Miriya gave Karen a tender smile that seemed out of character with the ferocity of a Quadrono。 She smoothed a lock of Karen's hair。 〃Wele back。〃
Karen tried to speak； not even sure what she would say； but Miriya hushed her。 〃You'll still be weak for a little while； the rest of us were； too。 Just rest。〃
Miriya turned and spoke softly over her shoulder。 〃Dr。 Grant？ She's awake。〃
Another face came into view over Miriya's shoulder； a heart…shaped face with big black eyes and skin the color of dark honey。 〃Take it slow；〃 Dr。 Jean Grant said。 〃You're gonna be just fine； Karen。〃
Karen concluded that she wasn't in a Sentinels' sick bay； that much was apparent from what she could see of her surroundings。 The apparatus all around her…what she took to be med equipment…had the look of geometrical sculptures in crystal and precious metals； and abstract shapes of neon and laser light。 She recalled seeing the same design technology in the Haydonites' module of the starship Farrago。 She reached an understandable conclusion。
〃Haydon IV？〃 Jean and Miriya both nodded their heads slowly。 〃Then； we've done it？ We've liberated another planet from the Invid？〃
〃No； Lieutenant。〃 Lisa Hayes Hunter stepped into Karen's line of sight； Rick following a step behind。
〃Garuda was freed；〃 Lisa went on； 〃but several of us were stricken by the planet's biosphere。 Our only chance was Haydonite science； so Vince and Jean and several others brought us here； under a flag of surrender。〃
〃Not surrender；〃 Rick rasped。 〃I never surrendered to the Invid； and neither did you！ Besides； they don't rule Haydon IV； at least not officially； so a surrender's null and void。〃
Karen was startled to see how hateful his expression was； not just in mentioning the Invid but toward everything that had brought him to this moment。 She figured the Hunters had already done battle in private。
〃I'm never surrendering！〃 he swore。
Lisa looked like she was about to say something but then thought better of it。 To cover the awkward silence； Jean got Karen to sit up。 There were assorted Haydonites hovering at a polite distance； and through the windows of the Hall of Healing Karen could see the wonderland of Glike； with its flying carpets and fairy…tale architecture。
〃Vince； Colonel Wolff； and Max are trying to find Sarna and get an update on what's going on；〃 Miriya said。 〃And Cabell and Veidt have an audience with the Regent。〃
Karen Penn tried to phrase her next question carefully。 Everything was a blur concerning the disastrous raid on the Invid base on Garuda； but she felt a sudden fear。 〃Did we suffer…many casualties？ On Garuda？〃
That seemed to lessen the tension a little。 Jean smiled slightly。 〃It could've been a lot worse。 Jack's just fine； Karen。〃
Karen blushed and stammered； 〃I…I didn't mean…that is…〃 The last thing she wanted was for anybody to think she had a soft spot for that salivating show…off； Jack Baker！
One of the Haydonite healers glided closer。 〃You will pardon the interruption； one hopes； but time draws near for another treatment for you； Miriya Sterling。〃
〃But…〃 Karen felt a sudden misgiving。 〃I thought we were all healed？〃
Miriya's expression was mournful。 〃You are…and so am I； I hope。 But there's been a plication in my case。〃
She rose and patted Karen's shoulder。 〃You see； I'm pregnant； and we don't know how the Garudan exposure may have affected that。〃 She squared her shoulders and set off in military style； chin high； surrounded by hovering Haydonites。
〃That's all the more reason we've got to get out of here；〃 Rick said。 〃I say we make a break as soon as we can。〃
〃Not until we're sure Miriya's all right；〃 Lisa contradicted firmly。
〃What good'll it do to have her healthy in an Invid dungeon？〃 he snapped。 〃Everybody knows that what the Invid want around here； they get sooner or later！ And I'm not about to let myself be…〃
Lisa whirled on him again。 〃Then go…go on； save yourself！ But we're not abandoning Miriya； or Rem！〃
They held the tableau for a moment； and Karen was stunned by the realization that they were very close to striking one another。
Just then another Haydonite drifted up to them； cloak billowing。 〃We've just received word for you all to hold yourselves in readiness。 The Regent has manded that you appear before him to answer the charges against you。〃
As Breetai watched the Ghost Riders rush in to finish off his Battlepods and the Valivarre； he spoke a single name。
〃Kazianna！〃
Her face appeared in a small inset on the master screen。 〃Your orders； great Breetai？〃
At another time he would have gazed upon Kazianna Hesh with fondness： the Zentraedi warrior…woman who had somehow e to understand the meaning of Human love and lovemaking； and taught those things to her battle lord。 But this was bat； and Breetai was focused pletely。
〃Strike now； Quadronos！〃
Kazianna gave a hungry smile behind her tinted face…bowl。 〃We strike； my lord！〃
From the locks and launch bays of Valivarre； new mecha swept forth on brilliant plumes of thruster fire； as a score of Quadronos entered the fray。 The Ghost Riders； most of them too young to have served in the Robotech War； were bewildered； not understanding what these highspeed； extremely maneuverable new opponents were。
Kazianna led the way； as swift and agile as a hornet； unleashing the tremendous firepower of her armored suit。 On her first attack pass； she flamed a Logan； and moments later a second。 Behind her； Robotech harpies poured into the opening she had made in the Ghosts' formation； unleashing missiles and high…energy beams。 The giant female warriors of the Quadronos； primed for battle and having the advantage of surprise； began rolling up a fearsome kill score at once。
Aboard his flagship； modore Renquist couldn't understand what was going on at first。 All he knew for sure was that there were frantic cries over the Ghosts' tactical mo net； and that the puter displays showed the REF fliers taking terrible losses。
After some moments； databanks matched up these new antagonists with file information： Quadrono…powered armor suits containing forty…five and fifty…foot…tall giantesses； clearly veterans of one of the Zentraedi's most feared units。
〃Impossible！〃 Renquist bit out。 Those powered armor suits that were left after the war had been adapted for mining； and all intelligence evaluations agreed that the Zentraedi lacked the technical skill to refit them for bat…at least； without Human help。
What Renquist didn't know…what the Zentraedi had chosen to keep to themselves…was that a return to Fantoma and their former way of life had resulted in a resurgence of their memories； the ones the Robotech Masters were supposed to have submerged forever。 The grueling mining operations forced a reflowering of the Zentraedi innovative genius。
The Ghost Riders found themselves dogfighting with a swarm of fire…breathing viragoes whose powered armor gave them a distinct edge。 The REF mecha were driven back； or simply blown out of existence。 The Battlepods； bringing up the rear； mopped up for the Quadronos and flew cover。
Male Zentraedi had a good deal to ponder； Breetai saw with some satisfaction。
He had a mo channel opened to Renquist once again。 〃modore； I'll offer you the chance to withdraw your forces and let us go our way in peace。 You can't win； you see。〃
Renquist was visibly shaken； all color gone from his face。 The Ghost Riders had been nearly wiped out； and he wasn't at all sure that the remaining fliers would obey his orders。
But he knew what he could expect from Edwards if he went home in defeat。 〃You alien monster！ I'll see you in hell first！〃
〃Eventually； perhaps；〃 Breetai conceded； and transmitted a signal to Kazianna。
She darted right through the enemy interceptors and AA fire； as nimble as the legendary Miriya herself； to close in on the cruiser's bridge。 Too late； Renquist realized what was happening。 Before he could even give the order to clear the bridge； Kazianna let go a tremendous blast at point…blank range； penetrating the shields and bursting the vast curve of viewpane there。
Renquist and his trusted Ghost staff； and Edwards's personal security men； were scorched and blackened； whirled headlong by the outrushing atmosphere； the air flooding from their lungs in a mist despite their every effort to hold it in。
Kazianna had already flung herself away from the cruiser rather than follow up on her advantage。 Breetai had no wish to inflict more casualties than he had to。 Even as she did so； word came that the few surviving Ghost Riders were breaking contact。
Valivarre and the two cruisers stood motionless； at a face…off； while REF officers struggled with damage control and tried to reestabli
