09_the_final_nightmare-第12章

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terate　itself；　and　all　life　on　the　planet；　in　a　Global　Civil　War。　There　was　an　alternative。　It　would　involve　great　hardship　and　suffering　for　the　Human　race；　but　at　least　it　offered　a　chance　for　racial　survival。

The　Vision　showed　Zor　a　possible　future；　wherein　a　great　cyclone　of　mindforce　a　hundred　miles　wide　rose　from　Earth　and；　high　above　the　planet；　transformed　itself　into　a　Phoenix　of　groupmind。　The　Phoenix　spread　wings　wider　than　Earth；　and　with　a　single　cry　so　magnificent　and　sad　that　it　wrenched　Zor's　mind　free　of　the　Masters'　domination；　the　bird　soared　away　to　another　plane　of　existence。

Zor　was　then　free　to　work　his　act　of　defiance。　He　dispatched　the　SDF…1　to　Earth；　hiding　it　from　the　Masters；　even　as　he　gave　up　his　life　to　an　Invid　attack　in　a　death　he　had　foreseen　in　his　Vision。　The　last　Matrix　by　which　new　Protoculture　could　be　produced　was　gone；　the　others　had　all　been　used　up　or　destroyed　in　the　course　of　the　war；　and　only　Zor　had　the　secret　of　their　creation。


The　Robotech　Masters；　regarding　with　arctic　dread　the　roving　Sensor　Nebula　that　was　one　of　the　Invid's　coursing　bloodhounds；　knew　little　about　the　original　Zor's　motives；　and　nothing　of　his　Vision。　They　only　knew　that　their　fanatic　enemies　would　find　them　bereft　of　Protoculture's　powers；　helpless；　unless　the　Masters　triumphed　soon　on　Earth。

And　that　demanded　as　a　first　step　the　quick　and　utter　destruction　of　Emerson's　expeditionary　force。


Aside　from　some　oddities　noted　in　the　peculiar　nebula　drifting　so　close　to　Earth；　there　was　nothing　to　report；　the　techs　said。　Emerson　worried　nevertheless。

The　enemy　fleet　still　hung　in　distant　orbit；　permitting　the　expedition　room　for　passage。　Emerson's　force　had　already　passed　the　enemy's　optimal　point　for　launching　assault　ships　to　intercept　and　engage　him。　Soon　the　Humans　would　be　past　their　closest　approach　to　the　invaders；　and　would　be　hightailing　for　Luna。　He　kept　his　escort　forces　deployed　and　ready　for　battle；　even　as　his　mand　passed　through　the　leading　edge　of　the　nebula。

Once　out　of　the　nebula；　past　the　point　of　greatest　proximity　to　the　enemy；　the　crewpeople　began　to　breathe　easier。　But　Emerson　grew　even　more　vigilant。


The　Robotech　Masters　gathered　vast　amounts　of　data　through　their　Protoculture　cap。　〃The　Humans　must　be　relieved　to　have　passed　their　zone　of　likeliest　bat　without　a　confrontation；〃　Shaizan　conjectured。

〃Prepare　to　destroy　them；〃　he　sent　out　the　mand。


〃What're　you　trying　now；　Louie？〃　Dana　asked　the　lanky　corporal　as　he　bent　over　the　training　simulator's　guts。

〃I'm　gonna　win　back　those　two　beers　I　owe　you；〃　Louie　said　smugly；　fooling　with　the　systemry　there；　changing　some　connections；　putting　in　a　special　adaptor。　〃You're　in　for　a　surprise。　〃

Dana　scoffed；　〃C'mon；　Louie！　You　can't　beat　a　born　warrior　like　me；　even　with　a　lot　of　mechie　tricks。〃

At　least　he　never　had　yet；　even　on　the　Kill　Those　Bioroids！　program　that　he　himself　had　designed　for　the　simulator。　She　was　happy　to　let　him　keep　trying　though；　hand…eye　training　never　hurt。　She　was　just　sorry　the　simulator；　in　the　canteen　at　the　local　Southern　Cross　service　club；　wasn't　set　up　more　like　a　Hovertank's　cockpit…turret；　or　that　she　hadn't　been　able　to　beg；　borrow；　or　steal　a　simulator　for　the　15th's　ready…room。

The　thinking　caps　did　the　bulk　of　the　controlling　for　Robotech　mecha；　but　the　tankers　inside　still　had　to　know　their　instrumentation　the　way　a　tongue　knew　the　roof　of　its　mouth。　At　the　15th；　as　in　TASC　and　other　units；　mock…ups　of　the　cockpit　layouts　of　the　particular　mecha　used　by　the　individual　outfit　were　pasted　up　in　the　interiors　of　lavatory　stalls　so　that　the　soldiers　sitting　there　could　refresh　their　memorization　of　their　instrumentation　during　what　the　brass　euphemistically　called　〃available　time。〃

Now　Louie；　making　a　final　adjustment　said；　〃That's　what　you　say。〃　He　climbed　into　the　simulator　and　shocked…　her　by　taking　off　the　big；　square；　dark　tech　goggles　that　he　wore　almost　constantly…even　in　the　shower　and　often　when　sleeping。　It　gave　his　face　an　open；　surprised　look。

Dana　wasn't　sure　what　to　think。　Louie　was　undoubtedly　a　maverick　technical　genius。　Word　was　that　he　had　passed　up　numerous　offers　for　advanced　study　or　research　assignments　because　he　liked　the　action　in　Hovertanks；　but　also　because　he　preferred　to　tinker　and　modify　without　somebody　breathing　down　his　neck。

Certainly；　he　had　been　responsible　for　one　of　the　major　victories　of　the　war　when　his　analysis　of　the　Masters'　flagship's　power　and　drive　systems　permitted　the　15th　to　disable　it　and　bring　it　down。　Even　though　the　other　ships　had　retrieved　it　and　guarded　against　any　recurrence；　nothing　was　taken　away　from　that　spectacular　success。　And　still；　Louie　had　refused　transfer　to　Research　and　Development　or　some　think　tank。

Now　he　put　aside　his　goggles　and　pulled　on　a　wraparound　visor；　a　black　and　glittering　V　shape；　like　something　a　sidewalk　cowboy　might　wear　downtown。

Two　jumpsuited　technical　officers　in　a　nearby　booth；　discussing　Emerson's　mission　in　low　tones；　suddenly　became　aware　of　a　furor　near　the　simulator；　with　TASC　pilots　and　ATAC　tankers　and　others　crowding　around；　exclaiming　and　cheering。　They　went　over　and　saw　a　tall；　skinny　corporal　in　black　shades　blowing　away　puter…modeled　Bioroids　with　a　speed　and　accuracy　unlike　anything　simulators…or　even　real　mecha…had　ever　approached。

As　the　two　officers　began　shouldering　their　way　through　the　crowd；　the　kid　was　waving　an　adapter　cartridge　around　and　explaining　that　it　was　puter…enhanced　targeting　linked　into　his　glasses；　a　step　up　from　even　the　thinking　caps。

〃I　call　it　my　Visual　Trace　Firing　System；　or　VTFS；〃　Louie　was　telling　them　all　proudly。　〃Or　if　you　prefer；　my　‘pupil　pistol。'　〃

〃Mind　if　I　see　it？〃　said　one　officer；　holding　out　a　hand　for　the　cartridge。　Louie　was　instantly　wary；　and　Dana　looked　the　two　over　as　well。

〃Major　Cromwell；　Robotech　R&D；〃　the　officer　said。　He　indicated　his　panion。　〃And　this　is　Major　Gervasi。　I　think　we　can　use　this　system　of　yours　in　our　simulation　training。　We'll　help　you　upgrade　it　and　give　you　advice；　assistance；　and　technical　resources。　Is　this　the　only　copy？〃

〃N…no；〃　Louie　admitted；　a　little　uncertain。

Cromwell　slipped　the　cartridge　into　the　shoulder　pocket　of　his　jumpsuit。　〃Fine。　If　you　don't　mind；　we'll　have　a　look　at　this　one；　then。　Can　you　be　in　my　office　tomorrow　at　thirteen　hundred　hours？〃

While　stuttering　that　he　could；　Louie　handed　over　the　visor　as　well。　Dana　decided　that　she　couldn't　pull　rank　on　two　majors；　especially　ones　who　worked　for　the　top…secret　R&D　division。

But　more　than　that；　she　was　experiencing　strange　sensations；　something　to　do　with　the　mention　of　research；　of　Robotechnology；　and　thus　of　Protoculture。　Something　about　Protoculture　and　experimentation。。。It　gave　her　a　queasy　feeling；　sent　a　jolt　of　fear　zapping　through　her；　brought　not…quite…perceived；　evil　memories。。。

But　she　shook　it　off　as　Cromwell　walked　away　telling　Louie；　〃We're　looking　forward　to　working　with　you。〃

Dana　smiled　affectionately　at　the　goofily　grinning　Louie。　〃My　brainy　boy！〃　she　said。

Outside　the　service　club；　Gervasi　said　to　Cromwell；　〃Good　work；　Joe。　Just　what　we　need；　out　of　nowhere！〃

Cromwell　nodded。　〃Send　word　up　the　back　channels　to　Leonard　and　Zand　right　away。　‘Rolling　Thunder'　is　about　to　get　the　green　light。〃


Emerson's　force　was　very　close　to　the　moon　when　the　Masters'　fleet　appeared　like　ghosts　all　around　them；　not　on　the　monitors　one　second；　hemming　them　in　the　next。

It　was　what　the　general　had　feared。　The　Masters　had　penetrated　Earth's　detection　systems　before；　measures　to　counter　that　capability　just　hadn't　worked；　and　the　invaders　had　bided　their　time　until　they　could　use　the　tactic　to　best　advantage。　That　time　was　now；　with　the　expedition　out　of　bat　formation　and　deployed　for　lunar　approach；　with　no　way　back　and　no　way　forward。

Emerson　was　reordering　the　disposition　of　his　units　even　as　the　alien　mother　ships　disgorged　scores　of　the　whisk　broom…shaped　assault　craft。　With　his　battlecruiser　Tristar　at　the　center；　Emerson　prepared　to　fight　his　way　through　to　ALUCE。

Blue　Bioroids　came　in　at　the　Humans　like　maddened　automaton　hornets。　The　call　went　out　for　the　A…JACs