15_death_dance-第30章

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；　littered　with　legless　or　pincerless　Invid　mecha；　bits　of　Hovertank　and　Veritech；　Bioroid　and　Inorganic。　An　entire　hillside　was　covered　base　to　summit　with　Hellcat　husks　and　Invid　and　Garudan　corpses。　Hundreds；　perhaps　thousands　had　died。　And　from　what　Max　was　hearing　over　the　net；　the　same　scene　had　played　at　each　and　every　Invid　farm　and　installation　throughout　the　planet's　equatorial　belt。　But　Garuda　had　freed　itself　from　the　offworlders'　yoke。

Good　news。。。bad　news。

Max　said　as　much　to　Miriya　as　the　VT　covered　the　fifty　or　so　miles　to　the　crater。　She　was　still　in　the　Beta　module　and　apparently　all　right；　in　spite　of　her　ordeal。　Max　was　cautiously　optimistic；　he　had　yet　to　quiz　her　about　how　her　fighter　had　been　brought　down　in　the　first　place。

The　crater　hive　was　for　the　most　part　intact；　but　Max　didn't　expect　it　to　last　much　longer。　Fires　encroaching　on　it　from　all　sides。　Skull　One　dropped　out　of　the　smoke　and　clouds　onto　a　battleground　much　like　the　one　they　had　just　left；　dead　and　wounded　strewn　across　the　field；　a　palpable　mingling　of　triumph　and　loss。　Those　Invid　who　had　survived　were　seeing　the　Garudan's　barbaric　side；　but　Max　didn't　suppose　he　could　fault　Kami's　people　for　the　day's　bloody　aftermath；　this　requisite　catharsis。

Masked　again；　Jack；　Gnea；　and　Bela　directed　Max　and　his　wingmen　in；　and　got　Rick　and　the　others　into　the　VTs　as　fast　as　they　could。　Lron；　Crysta；　and　Janice　were　keeping　Tesla　and　a　few　Invid　scientists　under　guard　inside　the　hive…protected　from　the　Garudans'　bloodlust　for　the　time　being。　Kami；　still　weak　but　ambulatory　now；　was　off　somewhere　sharing　the　bittersweet　taste　of　victory　with　Learna　and　their　fellow　warriors。　Mopping　up；　Max　ventured；　much　as　the　Wolff　Pack　was　doing　in　other　quarters。

Max　caught　a　brief　glimpse　of　Rick　as　he　was　being　lifted　into　the　cargo　space　of　Blue　Danube's　Beta　module。　The　transpirator　prevented　Max　from　being　able　to　see　his　friend's　face；　but　Rick　looked　as　though　the　Invid　had　robbed　him　of　his　bones。

The　three　VTs　raced　for　Kami's　village；　where　Jean's　team　took　over　and　carried　Rick　and　the　others　to　the　safety　of　the　geodesic　med　dome。　Max　couldn't　help　but　see　it　as　a　miniature　version　of　the　Invid　hives　they　had　just　destroyed。

He　and　Miriya　entered　on　Jack's　heels；　doffed　their　masks；　and　took　in　a　lungful　of　the　dome's　artificial　atmosphere。

〃Sweet；　isn't　it？〃　Max　said；　trying　to　sound　cheerful。　Miriya　gave　him　a　weak　smile；　but　said　nothing。　He　was　reaching　for　her　hand　when　she　suddenly　stumbled　and　collapsed　into　his　arms。


CHAPTER　THIRTEEN

Use　your　discretion；　but　try　to　have　your　men　hold　off　until　you're　certain　that　at　least　half　of　them　＇ed。　note：　the　Zentraedi＇　are　inside…that　includes　Breetai　and　that　kingsize　bitch；　Kazianna。　Instruct　the　demo　team　to　use　more　charges　than　they　think　necessary；　I　don't　want　any　of　them　ing　out　alive。　In　fact；　it　might　be　worthwhile　to　sabotage　as　many　of　their　environment　suits　as　possible　beforehand。　Neither　of　us　believe　in　accidents；　Adams；　but　we're　going　to　call　it　that　no　matter　what。
A　〃Code　Pyramid〃　muniqu？from　T。　R。　Edwards；　as　quoted　in　Wildman's　When　Evil　Had　Its　Day

A　tight　cluster　of　lights　was　descending　out　of　Fantoma's　perpetually　brooding　skies。　Breetai　watched　them　for　a　moment；　then　turned　away　from　the　mand　center's　blister　viewport　to　face　his　lieutenant。

〃They've　arrived；　my　lord。〃

〃So　I　see；〃　Breetai　said　soberly。　He　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder；　snapped　the　faceshield　that　sealed　his　pressurized　armor　closed；　and　moved　to　the　hut's　airlock。　The　lieutenant　and　two　armed　soldiers　followed　him　out　into　Fantoma's　night。

A　constant　debris…filled　wind　had　been　scouring　the　ringed　giant's　surface　for　the　past　three　days；　and　Breetai　instinctively　raised　an　arm　against　it　as　he　marched　in　lumbering　high　strides　toward　the　landing　zone's　illumination　grid。　Nearly　all　of　the　Zentraedi　cadre　had　turned　out　for　the　confrontation；　and　Breetai　spied　Kazianna　Hesh　among　them。　Nearby　were　a　dozen　or　so　Micronians　in　environment　suits…some　of　Lang's　Robotechs。　Edwards's　Ghost　Riders　were　reconfiguring　their　Veritechs　now；　imaging　over　from　Guardian　to　Battloid　as　they　touched　down。

〃He　apparently　has　more　on　his　mind　than　a　friendly　chat；〃　Breetai　said　to　his　lieutenant　while　the　last　of　the　squadron　was　snapping　into　upright　mode。　As　murmurs　of　discontent　reached　him　over　the　tactical　freq；　Breetai　instructed　his　first　officer　to　pass　the　word　along　that　he　wouldn't　tolerate　any　incidents；　no　matter　what　Edwards　said　or　did；　his　troops　were　to　keep　silent。

Edwards　stepped　his　Battloid　off　the　grid　and　began　to　move　across　the　field　in　Breetai's　direction。　The　Zentraedi　knew　better　than　to　regard　this　as　some　gesture　of　promise。　Four　of　the　Ghosts　flanked　Edwards；　with　a　kind　of　threatening　casualness　to　the　way　they　cradled　their　rifle/cannons。　Breetai　threw　his　lieutenant　a　knowing　glance。　The　show　of　force　came　as　no　surprise；　Dr。　Lang　had　already　given　him　an　idea　of　what　to　expect。

〃New　Zarkopolis　weles　General　Edwards；〃　Breetai　said　with　practiced　elaborateness。　〃We're　sorry　we　couldn't　provide　the　general　with　better　weather。〃　He　could　hear　a　few　Zentraedi　snicker。

〃Very　thoughtful　of　you；〃　Edwards　returned　over　the　mecha's　external　speakers；　mimicking　Breetai's　tone　of　voice。　〃And　I'm　sorry　I　can't　bring　you　better　news。〃

The　two　men　fell　into　an　uneasy　silence；　the　wind　came　up；　howling　and　pinging　gravel　against　Breetai's　armored　suit　and　the　Battloid's　alloy。　The　Zentraedi　mander　narrowed　his　eyes　and　grinned；　picturing　Edwards　in　the　mecha's　cockpit；　nervous　hands　on　the　controls。　When　one　of　the　VT's　gauntlets　came　up；　Breetai　almost　made　a　grab　for　it；　but　restrained　himself　at　the　last　moment。　Edwards　caught　the　gesture；　however。

〃A　bit　nervous　today；　are　we；　Breetai？〃

Breetai　snorted。　〃This　wind　has　put　me　in　a　foul　humor。〃

Edwards　inclined　the　ultratech　knight's　head。　〃Well　then；　maybe　this　won't　seem　like　bad　news　after　all。〃　The　mecha's　hand　held　out　an　outsize　audio　device　for　Breetai's　inspection。　〃You　and　your。。。crew　are　relieved；　mander。　New　Zarkopolis　is　now　under　REF　jurisdiction；　and　I'll　be　assuming　personal　control　of　this　facility。　Tomorrow's　cargo　run　will　be　your　last。　You　can　hear　it　straight　from　the　council；　if　you　wish。〃

The　Zentraedi　began　to　grumble　among　themselves；　and　Edwards's　sentries　took　a　step　forward。　Breetai　motioned　his　cadre　silent　with　a　downward　wave　of　his　massive　hand。　He　accepted　the　playback　device　and　regarded　it　for　a　moment。　〃No　need　for　that。　But　I　should　warn　you；　General；　that　you're　going　to　find　the　conditions　here　somewhat　harsh。　This　is；　after　all；　Zentraedi's　work。〃

Edwards's　short　laugh　issued　from　the　speakers。　〃We'll　manage　all　right。　Of　course；　you're　all　wele　to　stay　on…as　laborers；　you　understand。〃

〃I'll　consider　it；　General。〃

〃Good；　Breetai；　good；〃　Edwards　said；　pleased　with　the　oute。　〃I　like　a　man　who　can　follow　orders。　Could　be　that　you　and　I　will　see　eye　to　eye　yet。〃

Breetai　nodded；　tight…lipped。　Peripherally；　he　noticed　Kazianna　stepping　deliberately　into　his　restricted　field　of　view。

Edwards　went　on　to　inform　him　that　within　a　week's　time　several　hundred　men　and　women　would　begin　arriving　from　Tirol；　along　with　the　new　mecha　Lang's　teams　had　designed。　Until　then；　Edwards　was　leaving　behind　six　of　his　troops　to　oversee　the　transfer　of　mand。　Six　or　six　hundred；　Breetai　said　to　himself；　it　wouldn't　matter　now。

When　Edwards　and　most　of　his　squadron　had　lifted　off；　Breetai　swung　stiffly　into　the　wind　and　made　for　the　mining　colony's　Quonset…style　headquarters。　On　the　way；　he　asked　the　lieutenant　if　his　men　had　pleted　their　task。

〃Almost；　my　lord。〃

〃And　the　fool's　ore？〃

〃Loaded　for　tomorrow's　delivery。〃

Breetai　grunted。　〃See　to　it　that　the　last　of　the　monopole　is　placed　aboard　the　ship。　The　delivery　will　go　as　scheduled；　but　the　monopole　remains　our　property。〃

The　lieutenant　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃About　Edwards's　soldiers；　mander。。。〃

Breetai　came　to　a　halt　short　of　the　headquarters　hatchway。　〃Invite　them　along　to　'oversee'　the　delivery。　Afterward；　we'll　give　them　the　option　of　joining　us。〃

〃And　if　they　refuse？〃

〃I　leave　that　up　to　you；〃　Breetai　said；　stepping　inside。


〃Pregnant？〃　Max　asked；　as　Rhestad's　morning　rays　touched　the　med　team's　geodesic　shelter。

Vince　shrugged　his　huge　shoulders。　〃That's　what　Jean　says。　And　Cabell　concurs。〃

〃That's　right；　my　boy；〃　Cabell　affirmed。　〃It　is　most　remarkable；　but　true。〃　The　Tiresian　was　all　smiles　for　a　change；　his　concern　for　Rem　momentarily　eclipsed。　〃I　thought　her　first　pregnancy　the　exception　that　proved　the　rule。　But　this…this　is　nothing　short　of。。。〃

〃Remarkable；〃　Max　finished　for　him；　shaking　his　head　in　disbelief。　〃Yeah；　tell　me　about　it。〃

Vince　laughed。　〃What's　with　you？　It　takes　two；　if　I'm　not　mistaken。〃

Max　looked　up　into　Vince's　brown　face。　〃Yeah；　but　Vince；　you　don't　understand。　Remember；　Miriya's。。。different。〃

〃She　had　Dana；〃　Vince　started　to　say。

〃Yeah；　and　Dana's　different。〃

〃How　is　she　different？〃　Cabell　wanted　to　know。

Max　and　Vince　traded　looks；　but　left　the　question　unanswered。　〃Can　I　see　her？〃　Max　said　suddenly；　getting　up。

Vince　laughe