05_force_of_arms-第15节

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ai　relied　upon　heavily。

Exedore's　bulging；　lidless；　pinpoint…pupilled　eyes　were　fixed　on　the　projecbeam　image　of　the　wedding；　too。　〃Your　Excellency；　if　I　am　not　mistaken；　she　is　getting　‘married。'〃

They　were　standing　in　Breetai's　mand　station；　overlooking　the　vast　bridge　of　his　colossal　flagship。　The　flagship；　nine　solid　miles　of　weapons；　shields；　and　armor；　was　in　a　state　of　disrepair　after　its　furious　engagements　with　the　SDF…1　and　the　RDF　mecha。　The　transparent　bubble　surrounding　the　mand　station　had　been　shattered；　only　jagged　pieces　of　it　remained　around　the　frame。

Zentraedi　were　warriors；　not　slaves　or　drudges；　they　had　little　taste　for　anything　that　smacked　of　mon　toil；　and　even　less　talent　for　it。　Those　predjudices　were　approved　of　and　reinforced　by　their　Robotech　Masters；　without　the　Masters；　the　Zentraedi　would　sooner　or　later　find　themselves　without　functioning　tools　of　war。

Exedore　explained；　〃According　to　my　research；　it　is　a　condition　in　which　male　and　female　Micronians　live　together。〃

Breetai　was　stunned。　His　harsh；　guttural　bass　voice　filled　the　mand　station。　〃Live　together？　Miriya　Parino　and　this　puny　Micronian　male？〃

〃Correct；　m'lord。〃

But　for　what　reason？　The　towering　Zentraedi　warlord；　master　of　a　cloned　race　that　didn't　know　love；　family；　or　sex；　tried　to　imagine　what　the　purpose　could　be；　why　male　and　female　might　conceivably　desire　such　intimacy。　But　when　he　tried；　he　was　assailed　by　waves　of　distaste　and　confusion；　by　nameless　half…seen　visions　that　made　him　physically　ill。　He　shunted　the　images　aside。

Breetai　lowered　himself　into　his　enormous　mand　chair；　still　considering　the　import　of　the　wedding。　〃It　seems　she's　taking　this　spying　mission　of　hers　very　seriously。　Perhaps　more　seriously　than　she　should。〃

His　first　conclusion　was　that　Miriya　the　dedicated　fighter　was　simply　undergoing　the　tremendous　torment　of　such　behavior　to　infiltrate　the　enemy　and　learn　the　perverse　secrets　of　their　obscene　social　practices。　But　Breetai　saw　something　in　Miriya's　face；　something　that　made　the　towering　mander　doubt　this　analysis。

It　was　like　the　three　spies；　Konda；　Rico；　and　Bron；　all　over　again。　Breetai　felt　a　certain　dread。　〃Unless　my　senses　deceive　me；　it　would　seem　she's　enjoying　herself　in　some　peculiar　fashion。　Could　it　be　that　she　too　has　found　the　Micronian　way　of　life　too　enjoyable　to　resist？〃

Exedore　answered；　〃It　would　appear；　sir；　that　she　cannot　resist　the　charm　of　that　Micronian　pilot。〃

Breetai　had　seen　kissing　demonstrated　when　he　captured　Rick　Hunter　and　Lisa　Hayes。　He　shuddered；　recalling　the　disgusting　display；　and　wondered　how　any　intelligent　creature　could　bring　itself　to　indulge　in　such　baseness。

But　the　lure　of　the　humans　was　undeniable；　scores　of　Zentraedi　soldiers　had　secretly　conspired　to　undergo　micronization　and　had　gone　to　live　among　their　former　foes。　It　was　the　first　such　mutiny　ever　to　have　taken　place　in　the　history　of　the　warrior　race。　Part　of　the　madness　had　to　do　with　the　young　human　female　Minmei　and　the　oddly　hypnotic　power　called　〃singing〃　that　she　exercised。

〃Our　forces　may　be　in　more　jeopardy　than　we　believed；〃　Exedore　said。　〃What　if　the　traitors　who　went　over　to　the　human　side　were　not　merely　mental　defectives；　as　we　thought；　but　rather　the　first　wave　in　a　sea　of　such　deserters？〃

Breetai　rubbed　his　huge　jaw；　the　one　giant　black　eyebrow　lowering。　〃It　appears　this　‘love'　business　is　a　very　powerful　thing。〃

Exedore　replied；　〃I'm　afraid　I　agree　with　you；　sir。　It's　an　emotional　factor　against　which　we　Zentraedi　have　no　defense。　This　‘love'　could　be　used　as　a　powerful　weapon　against　us。〃

Breetai　scowled　at　the　image　of　laughing；　joyous　humans；　of　the　radiantly　happy　Miriya　and　proud；　smiling　Max。　〃Weapon；　eh？〃

〃Yes。　We　must　beware。〃

The　intercepted　coverage　of　the　wedding　showed　them　flashbulbs　popping　and　people　applauding　as　Max　and　Miriya　cut　their　cake。　The　wedding　cake　was　a　tenfoot…high　model　of　the　SDF…1　in　its　knightlike　Attack　mode。

Breetai；　growling　in　his　rumbling　bass；　watched　the　proceedings　angrily。　What　was　there　about　the　blissful　looks　of　Miriya　and　the　Micronian　that　exerted　such　a　fascination；　such　a　deep　pull；　on　him？　He　told　himself　that　it　was　only　a　mander's　need　to　study　a　dangerous　enemy；　refusing　to　believe　that　he　could　feel　such　a　thing　as　envy　for　the　puny　foe。


At　the　reception；　the　master　of　ceremonies　was　calling　for　quiet。

〃Ladies　and　gentlemen；　today　is　a　very　special　day。　It's　more　than　just　a　wedding　celebration；　it's　the　bonding　of　two　souls　dedicated　to　the　protection　of　our　Robotech　colony。　I'd　like　to　introduce　the　man　who's　done　so　much　to　make　this　a　unique　occasion；　the　mander　of　the　SDF…1；　Captain　Henry　Gloval！〃

There　was　plenty　of　applause　even　though　people　were　still　passing　around　cake　and　freshening　up　their　champagne　after　the　several　toasts　that　had　been　drunk。

Gloval　stood　up；　decked　out　in　his　dress　uniform；　laden　with　medals；　braid；　and　campaign　ribbons　galore。　Rick；　who　knew　the　captain　a　little　better　than　most　people　there；　got　the　impression　that　they　were　going　to　find　out　why　he　had　spared　nothing　to　turn　the　wedding　into　a　major　occasion。

Gloval　spoke。　〃Well；　to　begin　with；　I　extend　heartfelt　congratulations　to　Max　and　Miriya。　This　wedding　carries　with　it　a　great　historical　significance。

〃As　you　all　know；　Miriya　was　a　Zentraedi　warrior　who　destroyed　many　of　our　ships。　She　es　from　a　culture　that　we　have　grown　to　fear　and　hate。〃

Oh；　no！　Rick　thought。　What　could　Gloval　be　thinking　of？　Miriya　sat　rigid　as　a　statue；　staring　down　at　her　plate。　Max　was　white。　The　gathered　guests　were　listening　in　stunned　silence。

〃It　is　the　Zentraedi　who　have　caused　our　present　situation；〃　Gloval　pressed　on。　〃They　alone　prevent　our　return　to　Earth…our　homes　and　our　beloved　families。〃　One　hand　was　balled　into　a　fist　now。　〃It　is　they　who　have　caused　injury；　destruction；　and　endless　suffering！〃

〃Captain；　please！〃　Max　burst　out；　just　at　the　same　moment　that　Rick　yelled；　〃Captain！〃

Gloval　forged　ahead。　〃Now；　I　know　what　you're　thinking：　‘Why　is　he　choosing　this　time　to　remind　us　of　these　terrible　things？'　I　remind　you　of　them；　ladies　and　gentlemen；　because　we　must　learn　to　forgive　our　enemies。〃

His　image　and　his　voice　went　out　over　screens　throughout　the　fortress…in　the　barracks；　the　lounges；　the　giant　monitors　in　the　public　squares　of　Macross　City。　〃Not　blindly；　not　out　of　ignorance；　but　because　we　are　a　strong　and　willing　nation。　We　cannot　blame　the　Zentraedi　for　their　inexplicable　lust　for　war。　They　have　never　known　another　way　of　life；　and　it　has　been　their　only　means　of　survival。〃

All　through　the　battle　fortress；　people　gazed　up　at　the　screens　in　amazement…some　with　burgeoning　hope；　others　with　growing　antagonism。

〃Nor　can　we　condemn　individuals　of　that　society　for　the　mass　insanity　of　their　leaders。　Instead；　we　must　look　to　their　good　nature。　As　you　may　know；　dozens　of　Zentraedi　defectors　are　now　aboard　the　SDF…1；　having　been　reduced　to　human　size。　They　have　made　a　request　to　stop　the　fighting；　and　I　believe　it　is　a　genuine　request。〃

He　turned　to　indicate　the　newlyweds。　〃The　blood　of　these　young　people　was　tested　before　the　ceremony。　Zentraedi　blood　was　found　to　be　the　same　as　human　blood。〃

That　started　murmurs　and　whispers　in　the　reception　hall；　in　the　ship　and　the　city　at　large；　it　ignited　a　thousand　arguments　and　marked　a　turning　point　in　human　thinking。

In　the　White　Dragon；　the　Chinese　restaurant　belonging　to　Minmei's　uncle　Max　and　aunt　Lena；　Mayor　Tommy　Luan　and　some　others　had　e　over　to　watch　the　ceremonies　on　television。　They　heard　Gloval　say；　〃There　is　no　reason　why　we　cannot　coexist　in　peace。　Let　this　occasion　represent　a　future　where　all　people　live　in　harmony。〃

Cheers　and　applause　were　rising；　evidence　of　the　general　hunger　for　an　end　to　war。　Gloval　held　his　hands　up　to　silence　it。　〃Please；　let　me　speak　a　moment　longer。〃

Voices　in　the　background　were　heard；　saluting　Gloval　for　his　leadership；　courage；　and　convictions。　In　the　restaurant；　Mayor　Tommy　Luan　nodded　his　head　and　wiped　at　a　tear。　〃Captain　Gloval　is　truly　a　man　of　peace。　A　great　man。〃

There　were　others　in　the　ship　who　didn't　feel　the　same　way；　others　who　smashed　bottles　in　the　street　or　shook　a　fist　at　Gloval's　image。　There　had　been　so　many　losses；　so　many　deaths；　and　so　much　suffering　since　the　aliens'　first　attack　that　the　hunger　for　revenge　would　not　die　easily。

Gloval　had　anticipated　that；　of　course。　〃All　of　us　have　lost　loved　ones；　and　it　will　be　difficult　not　to　harbor　ill　feelings　toward　the　Zentraedi。　But　somehow　we　must　overe　these　feelings！　We　must　stop　this　senseless　destruction。〃


Far　beneath　the　surface　of　the　bleak　Alaskan　tundra；　in　the　lowest　levels　of　the　United　Earth　Defense　Council's　headquarters　base；　Admiral　Hayes　pointed　a　remote　unit　at　the　TV；　and　it　went　dark。

He　turned　to　his　daughter　and　spat；　〃He's　crazy！　I　don't　understand　Gloval　talking　about　peace　at　a　time　like　this！〃

Lisa　was　quick　to　spring　to　Gloval's　defense；　both　because　he　was　her　former　manding　officer　and　because　he　was　inarguably　right。　〃Father；　it's　the　only　way　to　avoid　our　own　destruction！　If　we　don't　start　talking　peace；　it　will　mean　the　end　of　this　planet；　and　not