05_force_of_arms- 第18节

〃There　is　a　chance　for　a　peaceful　solution；　and　we　must　make　it　e　to　pass。　As　Max　and　Miriya；　here；　have　done。〃

〃The　Zentraedi　are　a　strong　and　intelligent　people。　Let　this　ceremony　stand　as　a　symbol　of　our　desire　for　peace。　We　must　emulate　Max　and　Miriya：　They　are　the　heroes　of　today　and　our　hope　for　tomorrow。〃

It　took　a　moment　to　realize　he　was　finished；　as　Gloval　turned　to　let　the　newlyweds　retake　the　spotlight。　Then　all　at　once　the　cheers　and　applause　were　deafening。　Streamers　and　confetti　showered　around　the　SDF…1　cake；　and　everybody　was　hailing　Max　and　Miriya　and　blessing　their　union。

The　crowd　hailed　Gloval　as　well；　and　friendship　between　human　and　Zentraedi。　The　Terrible　Trio　threw　themselves　into　the　arms　of　the　three　onetime　Zentraedi　spies…Vanessa　to　the　husky　Bron；　little　Sammie　with　Rico；　and　Kim　embraced　by　purple…haired　Konda。　The　joyous　crowd　called　out　toasts　and　salutes　to　peace。

Gloval　hoped　that　it　had　been　enough…hoped　that　the　mitment　and　the　determination　would　still　be　there　when　the　cheering　had　stopped。


The　headquarters　of　the　Zentraedi　supreme　mander；　Dolza；　hung　like　some　titanic　hive　in　the　blackness　of　space。　It　was　the　size　of　a　planetoid；　an　armored　moonlet　so　immense　that　Breetai's　flagship　and　hundreds　of　thousands　more　like　it　could　fit　within。　Around　it；　the　Zentraedi　Grand　Fleet　was　assembling；　a　force　so　incredibly　vast　as　to　dwarf　even　Breetai's　armada。

Dolza；　the　Old　One；　largest　of　his　race；　paced　within　his　headquarters。　Standing　at　attention　before　him　were　his　assembled　subordinates。　Dolza　stopped　pacing　and　looked　down　at　them。

〃We　can　no　longer　permit　this　condition　to　exist。　It's　being　a　significant　threat　to　Zentraedi　power。　It　seems　that　we　have　underestimated　the　powers　of　these　Micronian　vermin。〃

In　the　end；　it　seemed　Breetai's　trusted　adviser　Exedore　was　right：　The　ancient　Zentraedi　warnings　against　any　contact　with　Micronians　had　been　handed　down　for　good　reasons；　though　the　reasons　had　been　unknown　until　now。

A　race　that　could　subvert　the　Zentraedi；　make　them　violate　their　warrior　code…a　race　that　could　weaken　them　so　with　talk　of　love　and　peace！　Dolza　had　seen　that　it　was　a　threat　infinitely　more　dangerous　than　the　ravaging　Invid；　that　it　was　something　that　could　end　Zentraedi　greatness　forever；　at　a　single　stroke；　unless　something　was　done　immediately。

〃The　battle　fortress　has　bee　too　dangerous　to　continue　to　exist。　Even　though　it　means　destroying　so　many　of　Zor's　secrets　and　losing　valuable　knowledge；　you　are　ordered　to　totally　annihilate　the　SDF…1。　The　Grand　Fleet　will　soon　be　mustered　and　prepared　to　set　forth。〃

The　subordinates　smote　their　chests　with　their　right　fasts；　roaring　in　unison。　〃Ho！〃

Then；　Dolza　thought　grimly；　we　shall　incinerate　the　planet　Earth　and　end　this　threat　once　and　for　all。


At　the　reception；　there　was　the　roll　of　a　snare　drum；　and　the　master　of　ceremonies　brought　out　Lynn…Minmei。　Rick　Hunter　sat　with　his　arms　folded　across　his　chest　and　didn't　know　what　to　feel。

She　was　even　more　beautiful　than　the　first　time　he　had　met　her…a　black…haired；　blue…eyed　stunner　with　a　naturally　winning　stage　presence。　She　wore　a　gold　lamb　gown　cut　high　on　her　left　hip。

She　took　the　microphone；　the　crowd　was　eating　out　of　her　hand　before　she　even　opened　her　mouth。　Minmei　paid　lavish　pliments　to　the　newlyweds；　then　broke　into　one　of　her　biggest　hits；　〃To　Be　in　Love。〃

Rick　recalled　the　first　time　he　had　heard　it；　marooned　with　Minmei　in　a　deserted　portion　of　the　SDF…1；　lost　and　seemingly　doomed。　He　had　fallen　in　love　with　her　there　and　had　thought　she　felt　the　same。

Her　wonderful　voice　took　the　notes　with　a　sure；　sheer　beauty；　caressing　the　words；　taking　the　crowd　under　her　spell。

Rick　saw　Miriya　take　Max's　hand　shyly。　The　three　alien　ex…spies　were　hugging　the　bridge　bunnies。　Konda　and　Bron　and　Rico　had　initially　been　won　over　to　the　human　side　by　that　same　voice；　that　same　face。

Claudia　was　trying　not　to　cry；　she　had　done　a　good　job　controlling　it　since　Roy　was　killed；　but　Minmei's　voice　had　something　mystical　about　it。　Rick　saw　moisture　on　Claudia's　cheek。

Rick　looked　out　the　viewport　to　the　emptiness　of　space。　Roy；　his　best　friend；　was　gone…and　Ben　Dixon　and　how　many　hundreds；　how　many　thousands　upon　thousands　of　others？　The　losses　had　been　terrible。

Deep　under　the　frozen　Alaskan　ground；　Lisa　had　turned　the　ceremonies　back　on。　She　watched　Minmei　work　her　magic　and　despaired　of　ever　being　able　to　pete；　of　ever　being　able　to　win　Rick's　love。　How　can　I？　She's　so　beautiful；　her　singing…it's　like　a　kind　of　miracle。


The　broadcast　was　also　intercepted　by　the　armada　as　it　swam　like　a　school　of　a　million　bloodthirsty　deep…sea　creatures　in　the　depths　of　space。　The　great　warships；　bristling　with　weapons；　spiny　with　their　detection　and　munication　gear；　prowled　hungrily。

In　his　mand　station；　Breetai　looked　up　at　the　image　and　heard　the　music。　〃This　woman　has　a　voice　that。。。can　make　a　man　feel　sorrow；〃　he　said　slowly；　heavily。　Exedore　looked　at　him　worriedly。

Just　as　Minmei　was　about　to　start　another　song；　a　priority　signal　replaced　Minmei's　image。　One　of　Dolza's　staff　officers　looked　down　at　him。

〃mander　Breetai；　forgive　this　interruption；　but　I　bring　you　top…secret　orders　from　mander　in　Chief　Dolza。〃

Breetai　shot　to　his　feet；　hand　outflung。　〃Hail；　Dolza！〃　He　shook　off　the　effects　of　Minmei's　siren　song。

〃You　are　ordered　to　begin　a　full…scale　assault　on　the　SDF…1；〃　the　officer　informed　him。　〃There　are　to　be　no　survivors　whatsoever；　no　matter　what　the　cost。　That　is　all。〃

He　disappeared；　and　Minmei　was　singing　once　more。　〃Well；　Your　Excellency？〃　Exedore　asked　softly。

Breetai　stared　up　sadly　at　Minmei's　image。　〃It　grieves　me　that　the　time　has　finally　e。　I　do　not　look　forward　to　this　task　at　all；　Exedore。　That　may　sound　strange；　but　it's　true。〃

And　the　haunting　beauty　of　Minmei's　voice　put　that　same　heavy　sorrow　in　him　once　more；　until　he　willed　himself　to　reach　out　and　shut　it　off。

Loyal；　insightful　Exedore　looked　at　his　lord　with　concern。　Half　a　dozen　times　he　almost　spoke　of　the　fear　and　apprehension　that　those　words；　ing　from　Breetai；　put　into　him。　But　in　the　end　the　small；　slight　giant　held　his　peace。


But　Breetai　did　not　have　the　only　receiving　equipment　in　the　fleet。　Everywhere　in　the　teeming　warships　it　was　the　same：　Clusters　of　huge；　hulking　warriors　had　gathered　around　to　watch　and　listen　to　Minmei…and　had　heard　Gloval　as　well。　The　first　sounding　of　the　alert　signals；　the　call　to　arms　and　to　glorious　Zentraedi　warfare；　had　touched　off　more　dissent　than　they　had　ever　experienced　before。

〃I　don't　want　to　fight；〃　growled　a　much…decorated　pod　mander。　He　was　staring　at　something　tiny　that　lay　in　the　palm　of　his　hand　as　though　examining　his　own　heart　line。　Another　PC；　standing　near；　tried　to　get　a　look　at　whatever　it　was；　but　the　first　closed　his　fist。

He　did　it　carefully；　he　didn't　want　to　damage　the　tiny　Minmei　doll　that　lay　there。　Bron　had　given　it　to　him　before　he　and　the　others　defected；　seeking　shelter　and　an　uncertain　future　among　the　humans。　The　PC　had　listened　to　the　doll　sing　until　the　batteries　were　all　but　exhausted。　He　couldn't　explain　its　appeal。。。or　the　power　of　Minmei's　music　over　him。。。or　why　he　was　unwilling　to　go　out　and　destroy　the　SDF…1　when　his　former　rades　in　arms　were　aboard。

The　harsh　Zentraedi　language　had　few　or　no　words　for　these　concepts；　but　that　didn't　change　the　PC's　feelings。

All　around　them；　colossal　warriors　raced　to　don　bat　armor；　seize　weapons　from　the　racks；　grab　gear；　and　get　ready　for　the　great　assault。　The　decks　thrummed　under　their　massive　iron…shod　feet。

The　second　PC　opened　his　palm　to　the　first　for　an　instant。　They　had　been　thinking　the　same　thing；　for　he　held　another　of　the　tiny　souvenir　Minmei　dolls。　He　closed　his　fist　again。　Opposing　the　war　felt　much　different；　sparked　a　higher　flame　of　hope；　when　each　realized　that　the　man　facing　him　felt　the　same。

〃It's　as　though　I'm　going　to　be　fighting　against　my　own　people；〃　the　second　PC　said；　struggling　to　put　his　thoughts　into　the　limited　Zentraedi　battle　tongue。

NCOs　and　officers　were　yelling　at　various　scurrying　units　to　move　it；　move　it；　move　it。　Go！　Go！　The　deckplates　th