12_symphony_of_light-第9部分

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Lancer　volunteered　to　take　the　APC　out　to　the　camp　and　bring　in　Rook　and　Lunk。　It　was　dark　by　the　time　he　returned；　and　in　addition　to　Rook　and　Lunk；　the　APC　carried　what　remained　of　Gabby's　body。　Lancer　explained　that　they　had　seen　flashes　of　annihilation　disc　fire　in　the　vicinity　of　the　broadcast　tower；　they　had　gone　in　when　the　fighting　stopped　and　discovered　the　flaming　wreck　that　was　Gabby's　jeep。　Close　by；　they　had　found　Gabby；　clad　in　the　battle　armor　he　had　retrieved　only　a　short　while　before。

They　had　the　man　laid　out　in　the　escort　hold　now；　Gabby's　fractured　helmet　sat　on　the　floor　next　to　him；　and　the　holo…locket　taken　from　his　burned　hand　lay　atop　the　sheet　Lunk　had　thrown　over　the　body。

〃He　was　a　brave　and　loyal　soldier；　all　the　way　and　then　some；〃　Frank　said　soberly。

Shorty　tugged　in　a　sob。　〃We're　gonna　miss　ya；　Gabby。〃

Marlene　stooped　to　place　a　flower　on　the　sheet；　she　gathered　up　the　holo…locket；　accidentally　activating　it　as　she　stood　up。　A　handsome；　uniformed　youth　appeared　in　an　egg…shaped　aura　of　purple　and　gold　light。　〃Hi；　Dad；〃　the　bolo…image　saluted。　〃Like　father；　like　son；　so　here　I　am　in　the　army　now；　and　I　just　hope　you'll　be　as　proud　of　me　as　I　am　of　you。〃　Marlene　thought　she　recognized　the　youth　but　said　nothing。

〃Poor　Gabby；〃　Jesse　said；　kneeling　down　to　lift　a　corner　of　the　sheet。

All　at　once　Frank　grabbed　Jesse　by　his　lapels　and　pulled　him　to　his　feet。

〃Are　we　gonna　jus'　sit　around　and　let　the　Invid　kill　us　off　one　by　one；　or　are　we　gonna　do　somethin'　about　it？！〃　He　shoved　his　friend　aside　and　drew　his　blaster。　〃I'm　gonna　finish　the　job　Gabby　started！〃

Lancer　came　up　behind　Frank　and　caught　him　up　in　a　full　nelson；　trying　to　reason　with　him。　〃You　can't　do　it　alone；　Frank。〃

The　old　man　told　Lancer　to　butt　out　but　ceased　his　struggling　as　a　second　transmission　began　to　flash　from　the　munications　console。　On　the　screen　was　the　face　they　had　seen　earlier；　and　the　young　man's　message　was　much　the　same：　The　Expeditionary　Force　was　preparing　for　an　offensive；　and　all　resistance　groups　were　urged　to　move　against　the　central　Invid　hive；　designated　Reflex　Point。

Marlene　reactivated　the　holo…locket　and　pared　the　two　images。

〃It's　him！〃　exclaimed　Jesse。　〃That's　Gabby's　boy　on　that　screen！〃

Lancer　let　go　of　Frank。　〃No　wonder　he　spent　so　much　time　trying　to　make　that　transceiver　work；〃　he　said；　turning　to　the　body。　〃With　it　he　could　stay　in　touch　with　the　one　person　he　loved　the　most。〃

Frank　hung　his　head。　〃It's　a　goldurn　pity。　Gabby　could　see　his　son；　but　the　boy　couldn't　see　him。　An'　he　never　told　us　nuthin'　'bout　it。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　everybody；〃　Scott　said　in　his　best　takecharge　voice。　〃I'm　going　to　get　that　broadcast　tower　if　it's　the　last　thing　I　do。　How　about　it…are　you　with　me　or　not？〃

The　team；　of　course；　rallied；　but　the　veterans　remained　unmoved。

〃What's　your　plan？〃　Rand　thought　to　ask　Scott　as　the　freedom　fighters　raced　toward　the　hatch。

〃We'll　decide　on　the　way！〃

Terrific；　Rand　said　to　himself。

〃But　what　about　the　old　cowboys？〃　Annie　wanted　to　know；　gesturing　to　Frank　and　his　men。

〃You　heard　them；　Annie；〃　Scott　told　her。　〃Their　fighting　days　are　over！〃


Frank　knew　what　he　had　to　do；　he　just　couldn't　seem　to　bring　his　body　to　understand。　It　was　as　if　the　young　lieutenant's　words　were　true　after　all：　The　fight　had　gone　out　of　him。　He　had；　however；　gotten　as　far　as　suiting　himself　up　in　his　rusting　armor　and　struggling　his　way　to　the　bridge　of　the　ship。　He　was　sitting　in　one　of　the　mand　chairs　now；　trying　to　bolster　his　courage　with　long　pulls　from　his　flask；　but　even　the　whiskey　was　failing　him。

〃This　ain't　no　help；〃　he　muttered；　giving　the　flask　a　toss　toward　the　rear　of　the　bridge。

〃Thank　ya；　Frank；　but　we　don't　need　it　either。〃

Frank　swiveled　in　the　chair　to　find　Jesse　grinning　at　him；　the　flask　gripped　in　his　right　hand。　Roy　and　Shorty　were　with　him；　all　three　of　them　squeezed　into　armor　that　barely　fit　them　anymore。

Jesse　laughed；　shutting　his　eyes。　〃You　ain't　goin'　nowhere　without　us；　Cap'n。〃

〃Reportin'　fer　duty；〃　saluted　cross…eyed　Shorty；　hand　to　the　helmet　he　was　rarely　without。

〃He's　correct；〃　said　Roy；　a　smile　playing　across　that　sagging　face　of　his；　his　bald　pate　gleaming　in　the　console　lights。

Frank　rose　out　of　the　chair；　suppressing　the　smile　he　wanted　to　return。　〃Well；　what're　ya　waitin'　for；　then？　Git　to　yer　battle　stations。〃

Jesse　tossed　the　flask　back　to　him　and　straightened　his　headband。　〃Aye；　aye；　sir！〃　he　said　smartly。

A　moment　later　the　aged　cruiser's　lift…off　thrusters　came　to　flaming　life。　Like　some　predatory　fish；　the　ship　began　to　rise；　disentangling　itself　from　the　techno…debris　that　had　ensnared　it　for　so　long。　And　in　response　the　devastated　city　rumbled　its　applause；　buildings　and　ruined　roadways　vibrating　in　sympathy。　At　an　altitude　of　five　hundred　feet；　the　ship's　Reflex　engines　kicked　in；　triplethrusters　blazing　like　newborn　suns；　to　direct　it　along　its　final　course；　straight　into　the　heart　of　the　Invid　domain。


The　blunt　top　of　the　broadcast　tower　resembled　the　glowing　hemispherical　hives　Scott　and　the　others　had　already　gone　up　against；　except　for　the　fact　that　it　was　set　atop　an　organic…looking　stalk　some　eight　hundred　feet　high。　As　the　three　Veritechs　closed　on　it…Scott's　Alpha　and　the　uncoupled　Betas…scores　of　rust…brown　Pincer　Ships　poured　out　to　engage　them。　And　the　odds　had　never　been　worse。

〃God；　there　are　too　many　of　them！〃　Scott　yelled　into　his　helmet　mike；　suddenly　questioning　the　impulsive　nature　of　their　attack。　Two　of　his　three　heat…seekers　found　their　targets；　but　the　skies　were　literally　dotted　with　alien　ships。　〃We'll　never　get　through　them！〃　As　a　storm　of　annihilation　discs　was　directed　against　him；　he　loosed　a　cluster　of　four　more　missiles。　Three　mote　Invid　ships　exploded；　sending　teeth…jarring　shock　waves　and　flashes　of　blinding　light　clear　into　the　VT's　cockpit。　Scott　zigzagged　through　a　second　salvo　of　enemy　fire　and　was　triggering　off　another　missile　flock　when　he　heard　Rand's　voice　cut　through　the　tac　net。

〃Scott；　look！　Those　crazy　old　men　have　actually　gotten　that　junk　heap　off　the　ground！〃

Scott　edged　himself　up　in　the　seat；　he　saw　the　cruiser　off　to　the　right　below　him；　barely　above　treetop　level。

〃Watch　your　mouth；　sonny；〃　Frank　was　telling　Rand。　〃This　ain't　no　junk　heap；　and　we're　gonna　prove　it　by　showin'　you　whippersnappers　what　a　real　bat　crew　looks　like！〃

Scott　wanted　to　take　back　all　the　things　he　had　said　to　them。　He　had　heard　those　words　of　newfound　courage　before；　and　the　ending　was　always　the　same。

〃Get　that　ship　out　of　here！〃　he　roared。


〃Jus'　like　the　good　ole　days！〃　Jesse　yelled　over　his　shoulder　to　Roy。　He　had　the　base　of　the　broadcast　tower　centered　in　the　console's　targeting　screen；　but　it　was　not　the　tower　he　was　after…not　yet。　First　there　were　all　those　ships　to　take　out。　So　he　flipped　the　weapon　selector　switch　to　maximum　burst　and　depressed　the　trigger　button。

A　fan　of　laser…array　energy　spewed　into　the　field；　annihilating　countless　ships。　But　the　bat　troops　were　quick　to　even　up　the　score。　Ignoring　the　Veritechs　for　the　moment；　they　massed　against　the　cruiser　and　refocused　the　might　of　their　collective　firepower。　Without　shields；　the　Robotech　ship　had　little　immunity　to　the　discs。　Fiery　explosions　erupted　across　the　cruiser's　bow　as　blast　after　blast　flayed　armor　and　superstructure　and　blew　away　gun　turrets。

On　the　bridge　Shorty　was　thrown　screaming　from　his　station　as　an　angry　white　flash　holed　the　ship。

〃Dadburn　it！〃　Jesse　cursed；　seeing　his　friend　go　down。　〃I'll　show　'em！〃

He　slammed　his　hands　against　the　trigger　button　again　and　again；　but　for　every　Invid　ship　that　flamed　out　there　were　two　more　returning　fire。　They　were　buzzing　around　the　cruiser　now；　slashing　at　its　damaged　areas　with　their　pincers　and　opening　irreparable　wounds　in　its　hull。　Discs　found　their　way　into　these；　and　soon　the　warship　was　a　flaming；　smoking　wreck　locked　in　a　new　struggle　with　gravity　itself。

Scott　watched　helplessly　as　the　cruiser　began　to　fall。　〃Use　your　escape　pods！〃　he　pleaded　with　them。　〃Abandon　ship　while　you've　got　time！〃　But　Frank　spoke　the　words　Scott　knew　he　would　hear：

〃No　way；　sonny。　This　crew　don't　give　up。〃

〃Don't　be　foolish；　old　man！　There's　nothing　more　you　can　do！〃

〃There's　still　a　job　to　be　done；〃　Frank　told　him　weakly。

Scott　was　alongside　the　ship　now；　trying　to　get　a　look　in　through　the　bridge　viewports。　〃You're　not　going　to　prove　anything　by　this！〃

〃We　can　prove　we　ain't　cowards；　Lieutenant。〃

Scott　realized　that　they　were　trying　to　pilot　the　cruiser　into　the　very　base　of　the　broadcast　tower。　He　would　have　given　anything　to　have　been　able　to　prevent　them；　and　yet　the　tower　had　to　be　taken　out；　and　it　was　doubtful　that　the　Veritechs　could　do　it　alone。　So　Scott　pulled　up　and　away　from　the　ship's　suicidal　plunge；　ordering　Rand　and　Rook　back　at　the　same　time。

The　cruiser　pierced　the　stalk　like　a　lance；　some　two　hundred　feet　below　the　hemispherical　cap。

On　the　bridge；　Roy　turned　a　knowing　look　to　Frank　at　the　adjacent　station。　〃I've　removed　the　safety　locks　from　all　the　missiles；　mander。〃

Frank　nodded。　〃Are　we　all　in　agreement　about　what　must　be　done？〃　he　asked　his　crew。　〃Shorty；　what　d'　ya　say？〃

Mortally　wounded；　Shorty　had　managed　to　struggle　back　into　his　seat。　His　head　was　resting　on　the　console。　〃mander；　how　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？　Don't　call　me　Shorty。〃

Scott's　voice　boomed　through　the　speakers。　〃There's　still　time。　Set　the　charges　and　get　yourselves　to　the　pods。　We'll　e　in　and　pick　you　up。〃

〃Sorry；　sir；〃　said　Frank。　〃Our　radio's　been　damaged；　an'　we　can't　hear　a　word　you're　saying。〃　Rand　tried　to　make　them　understand；　but　Frank　just　shook　his　head。　〃No；　it's　better　this　way。。。　Shorty；　you　ready？〃

Shorty　coughed　once。　〃It's　a　funny　thing；　mander；　but　I　just　remembered　what　it　really　is…my　name；　that　is。　It's…〃

Frank　brought　the　heel　of　his　fist　down　on　the　self…destruct　button。

The　tower　exploded；　a　stalk　in　a　firestorm。

The　three　Veritechs　swooped　in　for　a　flyby。

〃We　mustn't　let　the　world　forget　them。。。loyal；　courageous。。。soldiers。〃

〃They'll　be　awarded　medals　of　honor；〃　Scott　said　softly。

Down　below；　Lunk；　Annie；　Lancer；　and　Marlene