16_world_killers-第37章
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Tesla raised a single； Human…looking forefinger dramatically。 〃The Invid were a peaceful race； since time out of mind； we didn't know the meaning of war until our Flower of Life was stolen from us。
〃We can go back to our peaceful ways again！ For us； it would be like the Humans returning to the Garden of Eden。 But for that to happen； the old leaders must pass away。〃
He pressed on before anybody could raise an objection。 〃Self…actuated changes lie at the heart of the Invid psyche； this is well known。 That is the form of existence the Flower decreed for us。 Now； I am already more highly evolved than the Regent himself。 I therefore intend to go to the garrison on Spheris and mand the officers and Inorganics there to lay down their arms。〃
〃Just like that；〃 Lisa heard Janice Em mutter。 The Artificial Person wore the aspect of a human female just about constantly nowadays； yet something of the cold android logic bestowed on her by Lang had informed her persona。
Tesla had caught it。 〃Yes； Miss Em； just like that。 Think of the lives saved and the suffering and damage that world will be spared！〃
〃What if it doesn't work？〃 Kami of Garuda said； inhaling through his special breathing mask。 〃What if you fail？〃
Tesla's wax…museum face turned toward him。 〃Then； proceed with the battle plan that Teal and Baldan II are prosecuting。 And remember me with what passion you can spare； for I shall be dead。〃
That had people talking to each other； and Crysta； banging the gavel she manned as current chairbeing of the leadership； was some time in silencing it。
〃I don't trust 'im；' Rick said out of the side of his mouth to his wife。 He was looking at Burak and Gnea and Jack Baker； who stood behind Tesla and gave every indication of rooting for him。
〃Whatever Baker and the rest've caught； I hope it's not contagious；〃 Lisa agreed。
〃And what are the alternatives？〃 Tesla forged on。 〃Fighting the battle and suffering the casualties you'd planned on anyway？ Give me a chance to make up for what my people have done！ That's all I ask of you！ This can still be a galaxy of peace and mutual understanding！〃
Not a dry eye in the house； Rick thought sourly； with a feeling he knew which way the voting was going to go。
As for Tesla； he felt a spreading warmth within him as he sensed victory。 How did the line from that Human story go？ Don't throw me into dot briar patch！
Or in this case； into the midst of an Inorganic garrison he could mandeer。 Into a Protoculture garden where new varieties of the Fruit of the Flower of Life waited to speed Tesla's unprecedented evolution。 Into a power base from which he would launch his campaign to dominate the entire universe。
Once； an age ago； realizing that his star was on the ascendent； the Regis had asked him； 〃Tesla； why are you so wicked？？
And he had answered with a bored mental yawn； 〃Mistress； only mediocre intellects can endure the tedium of being good。〃
Contacted deep within Spheris； Baldan II and his people agreed to try Tesla's plan。 The carnage that had acpanied previous battles with the Invid was well known now； and any idea that might prevent such ruin on Spheris was worth a try。
Teal was wary of it； though； once reassured that others would take up the fight for them； the Spherisians might be difficult or impossible to work into a fighting mood once more。
The Odeon's hornlike energy projectors gushed fiery bolts at him； but Wolff's Hovertank slewed aside； firing a close…in salvo from its own massive main gun。
The Inorganic went up like a roman candle as the rest of the Wolff Pack followed their mander； battling their way through the determined Invid resistance toward the REF HQ building。
The Hovertanks were making only the slowest progress； the Inorganics were being incredibly obstinate。 Something to do with Edwards's control over them and the man's military zeal； Wolff supposed。 The Inorganics had seemed paralyzed for a few moments a while back； and Wolff thought for a few seconds that the general was dead； but the alien mecha had shaken themselves awake and plunged into battle once again。
When the Invid onslaught began； Wolff's first impulse had been to get his Hovers down into the catabs under the Royal Hall； where the Brain that activated them floated in its vat。 But even before the Wolff Pack could get organized for the assault； the Inorganics had established almost…unassailable defensive positions in the catabs。 Detectors said that something big； involving a lot for Protoculture； was going on down there； but nobody could figure out what。
Since Edwards couldn't leave the Living puter behind without losing the bulk of his fighting strength； Wolff deduced that preparations were being made to move it。 But whatever was being done； it was no impediment to the bat capabilities of the Inorganics。
Edwards and a major part of his force had made their break for the HQ building。 Jonathan Wolff and most of his available mecha pursued。 In the meantime word came of the hijacking of the SDF…7 cruiser； Wolff knew time was short。
Much of the Hovertanks' success was due； pure and simple； to the colonel's single…minded determination to get through to the headquarters。 There could only be one reason that Edwards would delay his escape and divert his troops in the way he was doing： Minmei。 Though Edwards had declared to the council that he had no idea of her whereabouts； Jonathan Wolff never believed it for an instant。
Assuming Tank； Battloid； and Gladiator configuration in pliance with his instructions and his deployment of them； his armored forces slugged their way closer and closer to the HQ。 The Inorganics were making them pay for every yard of ground they gained along the elevated highways and wide； straight boulevards。 Luckily； fully three quarters of the awakened enemy mecha were tied up in the fight by the Royal Hall or had been engaged by other REF and Human Sentinels fighters。
Reinforcements from SDF…3 and elsewhere on Tirol would be some time in arriving； however； and the Inorganics would have the numerical advantage for another critical half hour or so yet。 Wolff was undaunted； though： the key to victory lay not in the sheer attrition of set…piece battle； but rather in striking the head from the monster…literally。 By killing Edwards。
But Wolff's timetable was changed as Exedore's voice came up over the tactical munications net。 〃Colonel！ We have Invid Terror Weapons rising from the Royal Hall！ Some are heading for immediate rendezvous with the SDF…7； but others are ing your way！〃
So； that was Edwards's other ace in the hole。 The Regent had left more than just troops and the Living puter behind in his haste to abandon Tirol。 The Invid Brain was no doubt on its way to safety already。
Even as Wolff was getting the bad news； the Inorganics began disengaging； pulling back to defensive positions； awaiting evacuation。 Soon； the way to the HQ was clear； but the building itself was alive with alien biped mecha putting out murderous； concentrated fire。
Within a minute； two of the bizarre…looking Invid drop…ships were descending toward the roof； acpanied by skirmish fliers。 With their increased fire superiority； the enemy craft drove back the few VTs the Humans still had in the air。 Inorganics were soon embarking for their escape。
Wolff saw that there was no way his force could stop them。 He switched to Edwards's mand frequency and broadcast in cleartext。 〃This doesn't end it； General！ I'm ing after you！ D'you hear me？〃
Unexpectedly； the static of on…line encrypted traffic broke； and Edwards's face appeared on a display screen on the tank's instrument panel。 He looked like he had been in a fistfight； but had apparently e out the winner； because he still radiated that cynical； superior air of his。 Wolff could see from the background that Edwards was already aboard a Terror ship。
〃That's fine with me； Colonel。 You were lucky I was too rushed to finish you back there in the Royal Hall。 I still have a score to settle with you。？
〃But until we meet again； here's someone else you might want to say good…bye to。〃 The camera pulled back； and Wolff swore helplessly。
Minmei stood there； eyes glazed…looking catatonic。 Wolff breathed her name。
〃Why； Minmei！〃 Edwards smiled at her。 〃Aren't you going to tell the big； bad Wolff how much you love him？ He's e home at long last to rescue you； after all。〃
She looked up at the screen in the dropship that displayed Wolff's face。 〃Love？ The man I love is dead。〃
〃Minmei； don't say that！ Just hang on； I'll save you； I swear it…〃
〃I don't want anything you have to offer； Jonathan。 The man I'll love forever is dead。〃
She wanted to be with Edwards so she could kill him as soon as she got the chance； not thrown back into the pany of the colonel who had abandoned her…as she regarded his going off with the Sentinels now…after she had begged him not to leave。 There was nothing Jonathan Wolff could do for her ever again。
But there was one thing she could do； to take some of the weight off her conscience and vent the bitterness she felt toward the whole world in the wake of Lynn…Kyle's death。 She could make the break clear and final。
〃Why don't you go back to your Sentinels buddies； Colonel？〃 she said； n
