15_death_dance-第13章

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ugh；　and　in　this　the　scientist　and　warrior　were　brothers　of　a　sort。　〃I　suggest　we　take　steps　to　secure　our　position　against　Edwards。〃

〃Yes；　but　how？〃　Lang　asked。

〃Just　as　you　have　begun；〃　Breetai　said；　motioning　to　where　Carpenter　and　his　exec　were　seated。　〃And　you　must　arrange　for　additional　mecha　to　be　sent　here。。。〃

〃Disguised　as　mining　devices　perhaps。〃

〃Exactly。　We　have　our　own　ship；　our　own　mecha；　but　we　must　have　our　own　weapons。　New　Zarkopolis　could　bee　our　base　of　operation。　And　of　course　we　possess　something　even　more　important　than　firepower。。。〃

〃The　ore；〃　Lang　pleted。

Breetai　nodded。　He　had　his　mouth　opened　to　say　something　more　when　a　Human　at　the　m　console　interrupted　him。　〃Report　from　the　fortress；〃　the　tech　announced；　straining　to　hear　the　muniqu？　〃A　ship　has　entered　the　system。　Colonel　Wolff　and　some　of　the　Sentinels　are　said　to　be　aboard。〃

〃Thank　God；〃　Lang　said；　throwing　his　head　back。

Breetai　wore　an　enigmatic　look。　He　touched　his　faceplate　in　an　absent　manner　and　rose　from　the　chair　to　tower　over　the　〃Micronian〃　balcony。

〃The　Protoculture　is　at　work　again。　We　call　out　and　it　answers。〃

〃Yes；〃　Lang　directed　up　to　him。　〃And　would　that　we　could　always　predict　its　response。〃


Word　of　the　drive　module's　approach　spread　to　all　stations　and　was　relayed　down　to　Tirol's　surface。　In　her　canteen　in　Tiresia；　Minmei　swooned　upon　receiving　the　news。　She　had　returned　to　the　surface　only　hours　before；　and　now　she　tried　to　collect　her　thoughts　before　hastening　back　to　the　city's　shuttle　staging　area。

At　the　same　time　in　his　quarters　aboard　the　SDF…3；　T。　R。　Edwards　was　in　the　midst　of　a　session　with　the　false　Regent。

〃It　seems　you　were　a　bit　premature　in　reporting　the　destruction　of　the　Farrago〃　he　said　with　a　maleovent　grin。　Even　the　Invid's　black；　unreadable　eyes　failed　to　conceal　a　sense　of　shock；　but　the　simulagent　quickly　rallied。

〃And　perhaps　the　data　you　supplied　was　in　error；〃　he　countered　angrily。

The　Invid　imposter　had　taken　it　upon　himself　to　have　one　more　go　at　winning　Edwards　over；　despite　the　Regent's　orders　to　the　contrary。　He　had　given　careful　thought　to　the　Regent's　harsh　criticisms　and　was　convinced　that　a　follow…up　discussion　was　in　order。　He　now　thought　he　had　a　clear　understanding　of　the　concept　of　sublety；　but　like　Tesla　he　was　not　big　on　surprises；　and　the　sudden　appearance　of　the　Spherisian　module　had　pletely　undermined　his　efforts。

Edwards　was　waving　a　forefinger　at　him。　〃There；　there；　Your　Highness；　no　call　for　insults；　is　there？　Just　when　we　were　getting　along　so　famously。〃　Then　Edwards's　face　grew　serious；　his　one　eye　cold。　〃Besides；　it's　just　a　couple　of　our　people　and　one　of　yours。　There　were　bound　to　be　survivors。〃

〃One　of　mine？〃　the　simulagent　asked；　alarmed。

〃Tesla…isn't　that　his　name？　Or　didn't　you　know　he　was　aboard？〃

The　Invid　curled　one　his　sensors。　〃You　failed　to　mention　that。〃

Edwards　shrugged。　〃What's　the　difference？　He's　alive。〃　And　so　is　Wolff；　Edwards　thought。　He　glanced　across　the　desk　at　the　Invid；　beginning　to　tire　of　the　game。　Would　this　Tesla　be　able　to　confirm　his　suspicions？　he　wondered；　making　a　note　to　have　the　returnees　monitored　at　all　times。　〃Now；　what　was　it　you　were　saying　before？〃

The　simulagent　tore　himself　from　concerns　about　the　possible　consequences　of　encountering　Tesla。　〃I…I　was　about　to　make　you　an　offer；　I　think。〃

Edwards　waited　for　him　to　continue；　then　laughed。　〃Well；　go　ahead…let's　lay　our　cards　on　the　table。〃

The　simulagent　held　up　a　hand。　〃Three　planets…yours　for　the　choosing。　Free　access　to　all　the　other　worlds　I　control…a　limited　partnership…and　last；　my　help　in　realizing　your；　dreams；　shall　we　say。〃

Edwards　felt　his　jaw。　〃In　exchange　for　the　brain。。。〃

〃And　Tesla。。。〃

〃And　Tesla。〃

〃And　one　thing　more。〃

Edwards's　brow　went　up。

〃I　want　Minmei。〃


Wolff　and　pany　stepped　out　of　the　module　and　onto　the　deck　of　the　SDF…3　docking　bay　to　the　sound　of　cheers…a　few；　at　any　rate；　from　a　section　led　on　by　Emil　Lang；　Lord　Exedore；　and　several　staff　officers。　And　it　was　Lang　who　clasped　Wolff's　hand　and　wrist；　as　if　he　had　never　been　so　happy　to　see　someone。　Behind　him；　Janice　was　getting　the　same　treatment；　Sarna；　Burak；　and　Tesla　were　all　but　ignored。

〃What　the　hell's　going　on？〃　Wolff　asked　the　scientist　straightaway。　〃You've　got　half　the　Invid　fleet　out　there！〃

〃There's　much　to　discuss；〃　Lang　shouted　as　press　and　officers　jostled　one　another　to　get　close。　〃But　tell　me…the　others…Rick　and　Lisa…〃

〃They're　alive；〃　Wolff　returned；　buffeted　about　by　the　crowd。　〃But　they　won't　be　much　longer　if　we　don't　get　a　rescue　ship　to　Praxis。〃

Lang　frowned。　〃Well；　we　have　to　see　about　that。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　'see　about　that'？〃　Wolff　gestured　back　to　the　module。　〃We　didn't　have　enough　fuel　to　jump　back；　but　Praxis…〃

〃Things　have　changed；〃　Lang　told　him；　just　loud　enough　to　be　heard。　〃We　have　to　talk。〃

Wolff　felt　something　acidic　wash　through　him。　All　the　while　he　had　been　answering　Lang's　questions；　his　eyes　had　been　darting　around　the　hold；　searching　for　some　sign　of　Minmei。　Now；　after　seeing　a　hundred　Invid　ships　anchored　in　Fantomaspace；　and　with　Lang's　portentous　whisperings　in　his　ear；　he　found　her；　and　the　sight　only　served　to　double　his　dread。　She　was　standing　alongside　Edwards；　among　that　unresponsive　group；　offering　him　a　weak　and　pathetic　smile。

〃e；　Colonel；〃　Lang　was　saying；　one　hand　at　Wolff's　elbow；　〃we　must　hurry。〃

Wolff　pulled　away　and　craned　his　neck　to　catch　another　sight　of　Minmei；　but　Edwards's　contingent　was　already　leaving　the　bay；　and　she　was　lost　in　the　crowd。

〃Listen；　Lang；　I　need　a　minute；〃　Wolff　said；　up　on　his　toes　now。

Lang　turned　around　to　track　Wolff's　gaze；　then　he　took　hold　of　him　more　firmly；　more　urgently。　〃The　council　is　ready　to　hear　you。　Everything　hinges　on　this。〃

〃Look；　I　just　wanted　to…〃

〃I　know。　I　understand；〃　Lang　added　after　a　moment。　〃But　things　have　changed；　man。　Aren't　you　listening　to　me？　Think　about　your　friends。〃

Wolff　started　to　say　something　rash；　but　checked　himself；　slicking　back　his　hair　in　a　gesture　of　exhaustion。　〃I'm　sorry；　Lang。〃　He　turned　and　motioned　Janice　and　Sarna　forward；　then　pointed　to　Burak　and　Tesla。　〃I　want　these　two　placed　in　lockup。〃　Peripherally；　Wolff　caught　Lang's　look。　〃I'll　explain；〃　he　told　him。

As　everyone　began　to　move　off；　Lang　mentioned　that　the　Regent　had　e　to　Tirol　of　his　own　volition；　that　he　was　in　fact　on　the　fortress　at　that　very　moment。

Wolff　made　a　surprised　sound…but　not　half　the　one　Tesla　uttered　at　overhearing　the　statement。　Wolff　was　too　wrapped　up　in　Lang's　subsequent　remarks　to　hear　it；　however；　but　had　he　turned；　he　would　have　seen　the　look　of　near　rapture　on　the　Invid's　suffused　face。


The　Plenipotentiary　Council　convened　in　extraordinary　session　to　listen　to　Colonel　Wolff's　report　and　hear　out　his　requests。　Because　both　Janice　and　Sarna　were　〃civilians〃　according　to　the　council's　guidelines；　Wolff　had　to　face　the　twelve　alone。　The　session　was　held　in　the　council's　private　chambers　aboard　the　fortress；　with　the　usual　secretaries　and　officials　in　attendance。　Representing　the　RDF　were　Generals　Reinhardt　and　Edwards。　Wolff　had　yet　to　learn　about　Edwards's　relationship　with　Minmei；　but　he　loathed　the　man　nonetheless。　Lang　had　instructed　Wolff　before　the　session　convened　to　meet　with　him　afterward　in　the　scientist's　quarters。　〃No　matter　what　the　oute；〃　Lang　had　said。　And　those　words　were　repeating　themselves　now　as　Wolff　stood　before　the　council　recapping　the　events　of　the　past　four　months。

〃。。。But　it　appears　that　the　Praxians　abandoned　their　world　for　good　reason；〃　Wolff　was　concluding　a　short　time　later。　〃Praxis　is　unstable。　Admiral　Hunter…〃

〃I　would　caution　Mr。　Wolff　from　using　any　honorifics；〃　one　of　the　council　members　said。　〃The　council　no　longer　recognizes　you　as　members　of　the　Robotech　Defense　Force。〃

〃Some　of　the　council；〃　Niles　Obstat　objected。

〃Most　of　us。〃

Wolff　scowled　at　the　woman。　〃Then　why　aren't　Janice　and　Sarna　here；　if　we're　all　civilians？〃

〃Mr。　Wolff；〃　Senator　Longchamps　cut　in；　〃we　are　just　trying　to　set　things　straight　for　the　record。　You　and　the　Hunters；　Sterlings；　and　Grants　are　understood　to　be　a　part　of　the　Expediti