10_invid_invasion-第3章

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　Gardner　wished　for　a　moment　he　could　have　showed　her　the　Earth　of　forty　years　ago；　teeming　with　life；　wild　and　wonderful　and　blissfully　unaware　of　the　ing　tide。。。

〃What　does　it　matter？〃　the　tech's　male　console　mate　answered　her。　〃One　planet's　the　same　as　another　to　me。　Robotech　ships　are　all　I've　known…all　I　want　to　know。〃

〃Don't　you　have　any　interest　in　setting　foot　on　your　homeworld？　Our　parents　were　born　here。　And　their　parents；　right　on　back　to　the　first　ancestors。〃

Gardner　could　almost　hear　the　copilot's　shrug　of　indifference　clear　across　the　bridge。

〃Just　another　Invid　colony；　color　it　what　you　will。　So　this　place　is　blue　and　Spheris　was　brown。　It　doesn't　do　anything　for　me。〃

〃Spoken　like　a　true　romantic。〃

The　copilot　snorted。　〃You　get　romantic　thinking　about　the　Invid　grubbing　around　the　old　homestead　looking　for　Protoculture？〃

mander　Gardner　was　hanging　on　the　answer　when　the　door　to　the　bridge　hissed　open　suddenly　and　Lieutenant　Bernard　entered。

〃Alpha　Group　is　just　about　ready　for　launch；〃　Bernard　reported。

Gardner　muttered；　〃Good；〃　and　rose　from　the　contoured　seat；　signaling　one　of　the　techs　to　turn　on　the　ship's　PA　system。

〃Most　of　you　know　what　I'm　about　to　say；〃　he　began。　〃But　for　those　who　don't　know　what　this　mission　is　all　about；　it's　simply　this：　Several　months　ago　we　became　aware　that　the　Invid　Sensor　Nebulae　had　located　some　new　and　apparently　enormous　supply　of　the　Flowers　of　Life。　The　source　of　the　transmissions　turned　out　to　be　the　Earth　itself。

〃The　Regis　moved　quickly　to　secure　the　Flowers；　with　the　same　murderous　intent　she　demonstrated　on　Spheris　and　Haydon　IV　and　a　dozen　other　worlds　I　don't　have　to　remind　you　about。　Nor　should　I　have　to　remind　you　about　what　we're　going　to　face　on　Earth。　It　seems　probable　that　the　Invid　decimated　Wolff's　forces；　but　we　number　more　than　four　times　the　units　under　his　mand。〃

Scott　noticed　that　the　bridge　techs；　eyes　locked　on　Gardner　and　grim　faces　set；　were　giving　silent　support　to　the　mander's　words。　Marlene　entered　the　bridge　in　the　midst　of　the　briefing；　whispering　her　apologies　and　seating　herself　at　her　duty　station。

〃Admiral　Hunter　has　entrusted　us　to　spearhead　a　vast　military　operation　to　invade　and　reclaim　our　homeworld；〃　said　Gardner。　〃And　I　know　that　I　can　count　on　every　one　of　you　to　stand　firm　behind　the　admiral's　conviction　that　we　can　lay　the　foundations　for　his　second　wave。〃　He　inclined　his　head。　〃May　God　have　mercy　on　our　souls。〃

A　brief　silence　was　broken　by　the　navigator's　update：

〃Earth　orbit　in　three　minutes；　mander。　Placing　visual　display　on　the　monitor；　sir。〃

Everyone　turned　to　face　the　forward　screen。　Orbital　schematics　de…rezzed　and　were　replaced　by　a　full　view　of　the　Earth。　They　had　all　seen　photos　and　video　images　galore；　but　the　sight　inspired　awe　nevertheless。

〃It's　beautiful；〃　someone　said。　And　pared　to　Fantoma　or　Tirol；　it　most　certainly　was：　snow…white　pole；　blue　oceans；　and　variegated　land　masses；　the　whole　of　it　patterned　by　swirling　clouds。

A　puter…generated　grid　assembled　itself　over　the　image　as　the　mand　ship　continued　to　close。　At　her　station；　Marlene　said；　〃So　that's　what　Earth　looks　like。。。I'd　almost　forgotten。〃

The　mander　called　for　scanning　to　be　initiated；　and　in　a　moment　the　grid　was　highlighting　an　area　located　in　one　of　the　northern　continents。　Data　readouts　scrolled　across　an　adjacent　display　screen。

〃Full　magnification　and　color　enhancement；〃　Gardner　barked。

Marlene　leaned　in　to　study　her　screen。　The　forward　monitor　was　displaying　an　angry　red　image；　not　softened　in　the　least　by　Earth's　inviting　cloud　cover。　She　knew　what　this　was　but　asked　the　puter　to　pare　the　present　readings　with　those　logged　in　its　memory　banks。　She　sensed　that　Scott　was　peering　over　the　top　of　her　high…backed　chair。

〃That's　it；　sir；〃　she　said　all　at　once；　her　screen　strobing　encouragement。　〃The　central　hive。　Designation。。。Reflex　Point；〃　Marlene　read　from　the　data　scroll。　〃Picking　up　energy　flux　readings　and　multiple　radar　contacts。。。waiting　for　signature。〃

Gardner　glanced　over　at　her　briefly；　then　turned　his　attention　forward　once　again。　〃I　want　visuals　as　soon　as　possible；〃　he　instructed　one　of　the　techs。

〃Shock　Trooper　transport；〃　Marlene　said　at　the　same　time。

Gardner's　nostrils　flared。　〃Prepare　to　repel。〃

Techs　were　already　bending　over　the　consoles　tapping　in　mands；　the　bridge　a　veritable　light　show　of　flashing　screens。

〃Two　minutes　to　contact；〃　the　navigator　informed　Gardner。

〃All　sections　standing　by。。。〃

〃Auto…astrogator　is　off。。。Ship's　shields　raised。。。〃

Marlene　flipped　a　series　of　switches。　〃Net　is　open。。。〃

〃All　right；〃　Gardner　said　decisively。　〃Issue　the　go　signal　to　all　Veritechs。〃

〃One　minute　and　counting；　sir。〃

The　mander　turned　to　Scott。

〃It's　up　to　your　squads　now；　Lieutenant。　We've　got　to　get　through　their　lines　and　set　these　ships　down。〃　Scott　saluted；　and　Gardner　returned　it。　〃Good　luck；〃　he　added。

〃You　can　count　on　us。〃

Marlene　had　turned　from　her　station；　waiting　for　him　to　walk　past。　As　he　leaned　down　to　kiss　her；　she　smiled　and　surprised　him　by　placing　a　heart…shaped　holo…locket　into　his　hand。

〃Take　this　with　you；〃　she　said　while　he　was　regarding　the　thing。　〃It's　my　way　of　saying　‘good　luck。'〃

Scott　thanked　her　and　leaned　in　to　collect　that　kiss　after　all。　Resurfaced；　he　found　Gardner　and　the　techs　smiling　at　him；　he　gave　another　crisp　salute　and　rushed　from　the　bridge。

〃‘Good…bye；　sweetheart；'〃　one　of　the　techs　stationed　behind　Marlene　mimicked　not　a　moment　after　Scott　left。　〃‘And　here's　a　token　of　my　undying　love。'〃

Marlene　poked　her　head　around　the　side　of　the　chair。　Marf　and　one　who　liked　to　be　called　Red　were　laughing。　〃Knock　it　off；〃　she　told　them。　She　was　used　to　the　razzing…personal　time　was　hard　to　e　by　aboard　ship；　and　Scott's　open　displays　of　affection　only　added　fuel　to　the　fire…but　in　no　mood　for　it　right　now。

〃What's　the　matter；　Marlene？〃　Red　said　over　his　shoulder。　〃Don't　you　know　that　absence　makes　the　heart　grow　fonder？〃

She　swiveled　about　in　the　cushioned　seat　and　hid　her　face　in　her　hands。　〃I　don't　know　how　it　could；〃　she　managed；　suddenly　on　the　verge　of　tears。

〃Don't　let　them　get　to　you；　Marlene；〃　one　of　her　supporters　at　the　forward　stations　called　out　while　Red　laughed。

e　back；　Scott；　she　prayed。　I'd　give　my　life　to　keep　you　safe。


Gardner's　mand　ship　was　actually　one　of　the　fleet's　many　transport　vessels…delicate…looking　ships　that　resembled　swans　in　flight；　with　long；　tapering　necks　and　thin　swept…back　wings　under　each　of　which　was　affixed　a　boxcarlike　Veritech　carrier。

Scott；　his　body　sheathed　in　lime…green　armor；　was　strapping　himself　into　one　of　the　Veritechs　now。　Fifteen　years　had　seen　only　minor　changes　in　armor　and　craft。　Lang's　Robotech　design　team　had　maintained　the　〃thinking　caps〃　and　sensor…studded　mitts　and　boots　that　were　so　characteristic　of　the　first…generation　VT　pilots。　Armor　itself　had　bee　somewhat　bulky　due　to　the　fact　that　these　third…generation　warriors　were　involved　in　ground…assault　missions　as　often　as　they　were　in　space　strikes；　but　there　was　none　of　the　gladiatorial　styling　favored　by　Lang's　counterparts　in　the　Army　of　the　Southern　Cross。

〃The　main　engine　and　boosters　are　in　top　shape；　sir；〃　a　launch　tech　perched　on　the　rim　of　the　Veritech　bin　told　Scott　before　he　lowered　the　canopy。　〃Good　luck　and　good　hunting。〃

Scott　flashed　him　a　thumbs…up　as　the　canopy　sealed　itself。　〃Thanks；　pal；〃　he　said　over　the　externals。　〃I'll　be　seein'　you　Earthside。〃

Flashes　of　green　and　red　light　from　the　cockpit　displays　played　across　the　tinted　faceshield　of　Scott's　helmet　as　he　activated　and　engaged　one　after　another　of　the　Veritech's　plex　systems。　〃This　is　mander　Bernard　of　the　Twenty…first　Armored　Tactical　Assault　Squadron；　Mars　Division；〃　he　announced　over　the　　net。　〃Condition　is　green；　and　we　are　go　for　launch。〃

〃The　flight　bay　is　open；〃　control　radioed　back　to　him。　〃You　are　cleared　for　launch；　mander。〃

Scott　gave　a　start　as　bay　doors　throughout　the　carrier　retracted。　The　cloud…studded　deep…blue　oceans　of　Earth　filled　his　entire　field　of　vision。　The　sight　elicited　a　sense　of　vertigo　he　had　never　experienced　before；　it　was　difficult　for　him　to　preh