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！
our failures。 But we're going to turn this opportunity to our advantage。 We're going to take that ship； if it takes every last piece of mecha in the Zentraedi armada！〃
Things were quiet on the bridge of the SDF…1； a little too quiet to suit Claudia Grant。 The ship had been in a deep…space orbit around Mars for scarcely a week； but that week felt like an eternity。 And it had been that long since Lisa had exchanged more than three words with Claudia or any of the others on the bridge。 Something had happened to Lisa down there； but even Claudia couldn't pry any of the details from her。 To be sure； it had something to do with Karl Riber。 Claudia figured that he must have been quite a man to keep Lisa in limbo for eight years。 For most of the ship's crew and the population of Macross City the red planet afforded some sense of stability and center； but for Lisa it was a constant reminder of loss； an orbit of pain。
The enemy had been hammering away at them for the past week； determined to keep them from making any progress toward Earth。 But the launch window for a return to Earth was still two weeks away； so they would have remained here regardless。 Conserving fuel； making repairs； and using Mars's gravity to throw them toward Earth when the right moment came。 Nevertheless； they had attempted to keep the planet between themselves and the enemy； until yesterday； when long…range recon units had reported that a sizable contingent of enemy ships had dropped to an inner orbit near the Martian moon Phobos。 The enemy was sandwiching the fortress between their forces。 Claudia was worried； and Lisa's continued silence and sulking were not helping at all。
Claudia held something in her hand she thought might break her friend's distracted mood： It was a dispatch from Maistroff's office listing the new field promotions。 Rick Hunter's name was on the list。 Claudia tapped the dispatch against the palm of her left hand。 Maybe anger was just what the doctor ordered。
She sidled over to Lisa； suppressing a grin as she handed over the dispatch。
Lisa accepted it disinterestedly and scanned the short column。 Claudia watched her expression change as the name registered。 Lisa crumpled up the paper and slammed both her palms down on the radar indicator board。
〃I can't believe it！ I just。。。I can't believe this！ It's unbelievable！〃
〃What is it； Lisa？〃 Claudia was still playing dumb； and not very effectively。
〃Don't be coy with me； Claudia。 You've seen this list。 How does Hunter rate a promotion to group leader？〃
Claudia stroked her chin。 〃Uh； let's see； I think he was involved in some sort of rescue operation…〃
〃That's a matter of opinion； Claudia。 Oh oh。。。〃
Lisa was staring at the radar screen and fiddling with the control knobs。 Claudia went over to her。
〃What's up？〃
She was working the dials； trying to tune something in。 〃I guess I shouldn't have slapped this thing so hard…it's all static。〃
〃Try switching over to the backup overrides；〃 Claudia suggested。
She did； but the static remained。
〃I'm going to run this through puter analysis；〃 said Lisa。
The two women waited for the system to display its diagnosis。 They sucked in their breath when it appeared： It was a jamming pattern。
〃Put us on yellow alert；〃 Lisa said with newfound enthusiasm。 〃Notify all VT teams to report to their fighters and stand by。〃
Things at Minmei's party had gone from bad to worse； and for Rick； the yellow alert siren blaring in the streets of Macross City felt like a reprieve。
By the time he and his new cohorts had arrived at the party； the restaurant was already packed。 In addition to scores of Veritech defenders and a few of Minmei's show business friends； the mayor and his cronies were circulating around； pressing the flesh。 At times it seemed to Rick that Mayor Luan harbored some secret plan for Minmei； as if she was some pet project or secret weapon he was going to unleash on the world。 Minmei； dressed to kill in her purple mandarin tunic was at her butterfly best flitting from table to table； center stage no matter where she was in the room。 She was hard on Rick for arriving late。 Moreover； he had forgotten to pick up a present。 She was duly impressed with the new lieutenant's bars but an instant later had taken an immediate shine to shy Max and was at that very moment singing harmony with him to guitar acpaniment。 And the mayor hadn't helped matters any when he came over to Rick and in a conspiratorial whisper warned him about letting Minmei get too far out of sight…〃She seems quite taken with your new corporal； Rick〃…as if Rick could influence what she did and where she went。
Rick had quickly bee withdrawn and moody； non…municative even when Minmei's orbit took her past his table or her wink from across the room was meant to single him out as some sort of acplice in her performance。 Rick stayed close to the mildly intoxicating punch and kept his eyes down for most of the afternoon。
But then the alert had been sounded。
And now all the flyboys were gulping down their drinks and racing for the door； leaving Minmei standing alone； her song left unfinished； center stage stolen from her by the war。 And even though Rick couldn't approve of her petulance and spoiled behavior； he couldn't help being moved by her innocence and naivet？ He wanted to run to her and promise her that this war would go away soon and that all her dreams would e true。 But the best he could promise was his return later with the gift he had for her。 He gave her his kerchief to wipe the tears from her face； and she put her arms around his neck and thanked him with a hug。
〃What would I do without you； Rick？〃
He pulled away from her embrace； Max and Ben were calling to him from the hexagonal doorway； motioning for him to get himself in gear…after all； there was a battle to be fought； a war to be waged！
〃e on； Lieutenant； we don't want to keep the enemy waiting； do we？〃
Rick looked at Ben and felt a sudden urge to strangle him。 No； he thought； we mustn't keep them waiting。
CHAPTER EIGHT
One must now address the reasons for Khyron's failures。 Was he defeated on each occasion by the Earth forces； or was he in fact defeated by his own manders？ So often recalled from the very brink of success； so often within reach of victory。 Why wasn't he allowed full rein？ Again； there is wide disagreement among the mentators we have been discussing throughout。 Gordon （along with several of his psychohistorian disciples） wants to convince us that Dolza and Breetai had so misread Gloval's tactics as to believe that he would have destroyed the ship rather than allow it to fall into Zentraedi hands。 And yet； Exedore himself has stated that： 〃。。。rivalry had pletely splintered the Zentraedi high mand。 Continued contact with Human self…initiative had by this time fostered unrecognized and certainly inprehensible petitive drives in the manders themselves。 Dolza； Breetai； and even Azonia （who had reasons of her own to behave otherwise） were unconsciously mimicking an emotion they had never experienced。 ‘For the greater glory of the Zentraedi' had already bee an archaic phrase。〃
Rawlins； Zentraedi Triumvirate： Dolza； Breetai； Khyron
Rick； Ben； and Max…