05_force_of_arms- 第8节

Hayes　pressed　against　his　big；　solid　oak　desk　with　both　hands；　pushing　himself　to　his　feet。　〃Yes；　that　would　be　fine。〃

The　headquarters　of　the　United　Earth　Defense　Council　was　a　vast　base　beneath　the　Alaskan　wilderness。　Very　little　of　it　was　aboveground…surveillance　and　munications　equipment；　aircraft　control　tower…but　the　surface　was　guarded　by　the　few　remaining　Battloids　on　Earth。

Years　before；　when　the　SDF…1　made　its　miscalculated　spacefold　jump　out　to　the　rim　of　the　solar　system；　it　took　with　it　most　of　its　Robotech　secrets　and　all　the　fabricating　equipment　humanity　had　discovered　in　the　huge　vessel　when　it　originally　crash…landed　on　Earth。　Earth　had　turned　back　to　largely　conventional　weapons　for　its　defense　with　the　exception　of　one　gargantuan　project　that　was　already　under　way：　the　Grand　Cannon。

The　Grand　Cannon　took　up　most　of　the　sprawling；　miles…deep　base；　a　doomsday　weapon　that　let　the　UEDC　live　the　fantasy　that　it　could　defend　itself　against　an　all…out　Zentraedi　onslaught。　Admiral　Hayes　had　been　largely　responsible　for　the　Grand　Cannon's　construction；　Gloval's　simple　disdain　for　such　a　massive；　immobile　weapon　system　was　one　of　the　major　stresses　that　had　ended　their　friendship。

Waiting　by　the　landing　strip；　the　brutally　cold　arctic　wind　whipping　at　his　greatcoat；　Hayes　recalled　those　days；　recalled　the　bitter　words。　His　once…warm　bond　with　Gloval；　solidified　during　their　service　together　in　the　Global　Civil　War；　had　shattered　as　Hayes　accused　the　Russian　of　timid　thinking　and　Gloval　sneered　at　the　〃hidebound；　Maginot…Line　mindset〃　of　the　Cannon's　proponents。

Hayes's　thoughts　were　interrupted　by　the　aide。　〃Admiral；　we've　just　received　word　that　the　shuttle's　ETA　has　been　moved　back　by　twenty　minutes。　Nothing　serious；　they're　just　ing　around　for　a　better　approach　window。　If　you　like；　I'll　drive　you　back　to　the　control　tower；　it's　warmer　there。〃

The　admiral　said　distractedly；　〃No；　I'll　wait　here。　It's　not　that　cold；　anyway。〃　Then　he　turned　back　to　watch　the　sky；　barely　aware　of　the　biting　wind。

The　aide　sat　back　down　in　the　open　jeep；　shivering　and　buttoning　up　his　collar　all　the　way；　burrowing　his　chin　down　and　tucking　gloved　hands　under　armpits。　He　always　thought　of　his　mander　as　rather　a　fort…loving　man；　certainly；　Hayes's　living　quarters　and　offices　gave　that　impression。

But　here　was　the　Old　Man；　indifferent　to　an　arctic　blast　that　would　send　an　unprotected　man　into　hypothermia　in　seconds。　None　of　the　base　personnel　knew　much　about　this　daughter；　her　last　visit　to　the　base　had　been　rushed　and　very　hush…hush。　Hayes　rarely　mentioned　her；　but　he　had　been　remote　most　of　the　time　since　he　had　received　word　she　was　ing。　The　aide　shrugged　to　himself；　swearing　at　the　shuttle；　wishing　it　would　hurry　up。


In　an　officers'　mess　onboard　the　SDF…1；　Max　sat　toying　with　his　coffee　cup；　glancing　over　at　the　table　a　few　yards　away　where　Rick　Hunter　sat　immersed　in　thought；　an　almost　palpable　cloud　of　gloom　surrounding　him。

He's　been　sitting　there　by　himself　for　half　an　hour　twiddling　his　spoon；　and　it's　like　his　food　isn't　even　there；　Max　reflected。　He　made　a　quick　decision；　rose；　and　went　to　approach　his　team　leader。

〃Lieutenant；　it's　too　early　to　be　depressed　about　this；〃　Max　jumped　right　in。　〃I'm　sure　mander　Hayes　will　get　back　here　somehow。〃

Rick　turned　away　from　him；　chin　still　resting　on　his　hand。　〃First　of　all；　I'm　not　thinking　about　her；　and　secondly；　what　makes　you　think　I'm　depressed？〃

Rick　decided　it　was　all；　far　too　plicated　to　explain　to　Max　Sterling；　the　bright…eyed　boy　wonder　of　the　VTs；　the　cheerful；　unassuming　ace　of　aces。　A　man　who　never　seemed　unhappy；　at　a　loss；　or　in　doubt　of　what　he　was　doing。　Eager　beaver！　Rick　thought　huffily。

〃Maybe　you　need　a　little　excitement…some　distraction；〃　Max　persisted。　〃How　about　a　game？　I　know　just　the　place！　Let's　go！〃

Before　Rick　could　object　or　even　consider　pulling　rank；　Max　had　him　by　the　arm　and　yanked　him　to　his　feet；　tugging　him　toward　the　door。　It　seemed　easier　to　give　in　than　to　start　a　tug…of…war　in　the　middle　of　the　officers'　mess；　Rick　went　along　pliantly。

It　didn't　take　long　to　get　there；　Max　even　paid　for　the　cab。　The　Close　Encounters　game　arcade　was　alive　with　noise　and　lights；　like　some　Robotech　fun　house。

Max's　eyes　were　shining。　〃Great　place；　huh？　You're　gonna　love　it！〃

More　war　games？　Rick　groaned　to　himself。　〃I　don't　know。　Maybe　I'll　just　head　home…〃

But　Max　had　him　by　the　elbow　again。　〃A　coupla　games'll　make　you　feel　like　a　new　man；　boss。〃

〃Max；　I　don't　think…〃

〃Look；　I've　been　here　before；　I　know　what　I'm　talking　about！〃　He　dragged　Rick　through　the　entrance。

As　they　moved　deeper　into　the　arcade；　Rick　recognized　a　face。　Jason；　Lynn…Minmei's　little　cousin；　had　stopped　to　watch　a　young　woman　playing　a　game。　Rick　went　past　without　saying　anything　to　attract　the　child's　attention；　talking　to　Jason　would　only　remind　him　of　his　feelings　for　Minmei　and　pound　his　doubts　and　gloom。

In　passing；　he　did　notice　the　young　woman：　a　very　intense　player　with　green…dyed　hair　and　an　expression　like　some　beautiful　lioness　ready　for　the　kill。


The　shuttle　had　barely　rolled　to　a　stop　when　Hayes　reached　it；　running。　His　aide　watched　him　in　astonishment。

By　the　time　the　ground　crew　got　the　mobile　stairs　in　position；　Lisa　was　waiting　in　the　open　hatch。　The　wind　tugged　at　her　long；　heavy　locks　of　brown…blond　hair　and　her　too…light　trench　coat。　She　was　wearing　fur…trimmed　boots　she　had　borrowed；　but　the　cold　sent　ice　picks　through　her　and　numbed　her　skin　instantly。

She　halted；　shocked　to　see　her　father　waiting　for　her。　Their　previous　meeting　and　parting　had　been　anything　but　cordial；　with　the　admiral　doggedly　taking　the　UEDC　line　against　Gloval's　mon　sense　and　passion。　Coldly　formal　to　her　in　the　meetings；　her　father　had　later　sought　to　get　her　reassigned　to　headquarters　base；　to　get　her　out　of　the　danger　of　her　SDF…1　assignment。　Lisa　had　torn　up　the　conciliatory　note　he　had　sent　her　and　returned　to　the　dimensional　fortress　with　Gloval。　She　was　unaware　of　how　that　tormented　her　father。

Now；　looking　up　at　her；　he　said；　〃Lisa！　Thank　goodness　you're　here　at　last！〃　She　came　down　the　stairs　carefully；　holding　the　railing　with　one　hand　as　the　wind　buffetted　her；　clutching　a　dispatch　case。

〃You're　finally　off　that　cursed　alien　Flying　Dutchman。〃　He　was　smiling；　tears　forming。　〃We've　got　a　lot　of　talking　to　do！〃

But　when　she　reached　the　bottom　of　the　stairs；　she　came　to　attention　and　snapped　him　an　exacting　salute。　〃Admiral；　mander　Lisa　Hayes　reporting；　sir。　I'm　carrying　a　special　dispatch　from　the　captain　of　the　SDF…1　to　the　United　Earth　Defense　Council。〃

He　was　taken　aback；　the　smile　wiped　from　his　face。　It　was　her　turn　to　be　formal　and　distant　now；　her　right；　as　it　had　been　his　the　last　time。

If　she　was　giving　him　back　his　own；　he　was　willing　to　accept　it。　Nothing　was　as　important　to　him　as　the　fact　that　his　daughter；　his　only　family；　was　with　him　again。　He　returned　her　salute　crisply；　straight…faced。

〃Wele　home。〃


Dante's　Inferno　was　one　of　the　more　popular　games　there；　but　Rick　just　didn't　feel　like　following　old　Virgil　down　through　the　nine　circles　to　the　demanding　Ultimate　Player　level。　Dragonbane；　with　its　swirling　nightmare　reptile　attackers　and　Nordic　swordsman；　seemed　a　little　too　much　like　his　own　duel　with　inner　demons。

Nor　was　he　inclined　toward　Psycho　Highway　Chainsaw　Bloodbath。　Eventually；　though；　Max　convinced　him　to　take　on　a　pair　of　side…by…side　Aesop's　Gauntlet　machines；　mostly　because　the　easy　chairs　before　them　were　thickly　upholstered　and　fortable。

Down　below；　on　the　main　level；　Miriya　sharpened　her　skills　at　the　Veritechs！　game：　She　found　grim　amusement　in　being　a　simulated　Micronian　pilot；　blowing　Zentraedi　Battlepods　to　whirling　fragments。　She　was　disappointed　that　there　were　no　Quadrono　powered…armor　opponents　in　the　game；　her　own　unit　was　by　far　the　elite　of　the　alien　armada。

She　also　approved　of　the　training　machine…as　she　thought　of　it…for　not　introducing　trainees　to　the　realities　of　warfare　at　this　early　phase　of　their　instruction。　It　was　clear　that　the　gamesters　would　need　a　little　hardening　and　proper　military　discipline　before　they　could　deal　with　the　horro