按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ch at the giant； who at first had openly feared him； then cursed and ridiculed him for not having the will to blast him away。 The laughter of that alien still rang in his ears； followed by his guilt and confusion。
But most of all the memory of the giant's fiery death。
How could one ever forget？
Two Battlepods were suddenly behind him； looking for laser lock。 Rick executed a double rollover and dive to lose them。 Peripherally； he saw the Blue Team leader swoop in and take them out。
〃Way to go Blue Leader！〃 Rick shouted into the tac net。
〃Just do the same for me sometime； buddy；〃 came the reply。
〃You got it。〃
Rick and the Blue Leader； wing to wing； led a frontal assault on yet another enemy wave。 They launched themselves into the thick of it； dispatching several of the enemy。 Lateral thrusters took them out of the arena momentarily； and the SDF…1 came into view； her main batteries； Phalanx guns； and Gladiator mecha issuing steady fire。 The fortress； enveloped by a swarm of pods； looked as though it had somehow wandered into a fireworks display。
mander Hayes was calling for an assist in Fifth Quadrant； and Skull and Blue Teams were ordered to respond。 Rick and Blue Leader were initiating course corrections when five pods appeared on Rick's radar screen。 Three of them were quickly dispatched by Roy Fokker in Skull One； but the remaining two were hounding Blue Leader's VT with a vengeance。 The enemy unleashed a massive volley of rockets that caught the mecha broadside。 For a moment Blue Leader seemed to hang in space； then the fighter exploded and disintegrated； its parts scattered； its pilot a memory。
Rick turned his face away from the wreckage。 I could be next； he thought。
How could one ever forget？
The pods continued to press their attack。
Death had a free hand。
Then； as suddenly as they had appeared they were gone。 The fighting was over and recall orders came in from the bridge。
Rick followed Roy Fokker's lead into the docking bays of the Prometheus。
Roy caught up with him in the hangar and slapped him on the shoulder。
〃You looked good up there； Rick。 Keep it up。〃
Rick grunted； removed his helmet； and kept walking； increasing his pace。
Roy caught up with him again。 〃You can't let it get you down； kid。 We sent them home； didn't we？〃
Rick turned and confronted his friend。 〃If you believe that； you're a bigger idiot than I am； Roy。〃
Roy draped his arm around Rick's shoulders and leaned in。 〃Listen to me。 You're beat。 We all are。 Get yourself into town after the debriefing。 I'm sure Minmei would like to see you。〃
〃That would be a surprise；〃 Rick said； and stormed off。
Monorail lines now ran from the Prometheus and Daedalus arms into Macross。 A central monorail line ran through the body of the fortress； through enormous interior holds originally meant for creatures ten times human scale…a vast forbidden zone only a portion of which was understood by Dr。 Lang's teams of scientists…and through that area where Rick and Minmei had passed two weeks together deep beneath the present streets of the city。
Each passing day brought changes here。 There was even talk of using EVE； enhanced video emulation； to bring sunrise and sunset； blue skies and clouds； to the place。 Already there was a grid of streets； carefully arranged according to the dictates of the modular transformation schematic； multiple…storied dwellings； shops and restaurants； a central marketplace； even a few banks and a post office。
The city went on living through the war； almost oblivious to it except when energy drains through diversion led to power shortages or when the enemy fighters and Battlepods scored direct hits。 Even the ubiquitous uniforms didn't signal war…uniforms were worn by everyone to denote job and detail； a carryover from the island where most of these same people had been connected in one way or another to the reconstruction of the SDF…1。 A public address system kept the residents of the city informed about the ship's course through the solar system but was seldom used to report accurate battle results。 In fact； it was speaking to the population now； as Rick meandered in vague fashion toward the Chinese restaurant； hoping for an accidental encounter with Minmei。 Passersby paid the message little mind； but it caught him off guard。
〃News from the bridge： We have been attacked by one hundred twenty enemy pods； but our first； fourth； and seventh fighter squadrons have succeeded in pletely destroying them。 Our casualties have been light； and our astrogational system has not been affected。 That is all。〃
Incredible！ Rick thought。 He was looking around for someone to talk to； someone he could grab by the lapels and awaken with the truth； when an arm caught hold of his。 He turned and found himself looking into Minmei's blue eyes。
〃Hello； stranger；〃 she said。 〃I've been worried about you。〃
She embraced him like a brother。
He had rehearsed how he was going to play this； but standing here with her now； the half…truths from the bridge echoing inside him； he just wanted to hold and protect her。 But he managed to keep some distance； and she caught his mood。
He explained about the announcement。 〃It wasn't true； Minmei。 They're misleading everyone。 We didn't hit half of them； and our losses were…〃
She put a finger to his lips and looked around。 〃I don't think it's a good idea to talk about this here； Rick。〃
He broke from her hold。 〃Listen； Minmei…〃
〃Besides； everyone's doing all they can for the war effort； and I don't think you'll acplish anything by getting them…or me…depressed。 Especially with my birthday right around the corner。〃
He could only stare at her and wonder where her mind was； but she was way ahead of him already。 She smiled and took hold of his arm。
〃e on； Rick。 Let's get something to eat。 Please？〃
He gave in。 How could he make her understand how it was out there？ In here she was doing what they all were： going on with life as if nothing had happened； as if this were home； as if there were a wonderfully blue ocean just over that rise。 As if there were no war out there。
On the bridge of the SDF…1 there was little else but war to talk or think about。
Captain Gloval removed his cap and ran a hand through his salt…and…pepper hair。 What were the aliens planning now？ Obviously their constant attacks were not meant to turn the tide but to wear him down； perhaps in the hope that the SDF…1 would be surrendered。 The attacks were like sparring matches； it was as if the enemy was feeling him out； trying to gain some insight into his tactics。 Psychological warfare conducted with an inexhaustible supply of ships and no regard for the pilots who flew them。 Gloval wondered what his counterpart might look like； what kind of being he was。 He recalled the video warning the fortress had broadcast to his small band of explorers some ten years ago。。。One thing was being clear： The aliens did not want to damage the SDF…1。 They hoped to recapture it intact。
The attacks had thrown them drastically off course； and although closing in on Earth's orbit； they had months of travel ahead of them。
Gloval asked for information about the aliens' retreat。 The only thing Claudia