10_invid_invasion-第4部分

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nd　fried；　but　not　enough　to　matter。　For　every　one　taken　out　there　were　three　that　survived；　and　those　which　broke　through　the　line　of　fire　began　to　strike　back。　Scott　knew　there　were　creatures　inside　each　of　those　ships…huge　bipedal　mockeries　of　the　Human　form；　with　massive　arms　and　heads　that　resembled　elongated　snouts。

Unlike　the　enemy　forces　of　the　First　and　Second　Robotech　Wars；　the　Invid　relied　on　numbers　rather　than　firepower。　True；　the　Zentraedi　had　a　seemingly　endless　supply　of　Battlepods　and　an　armada　of　ships　four　million　strong；　but　by　and　large　the　war　was　fought　in　conventional　terms。　Up　against　the　Masters　this　was　even　more　the　case；　with　the　number　of　mecha　on　both　sides　substantially　reduced。　With　the　Invid；　however；　humankind　encountered　a　horde　mentality　to　rival　any　that　nature　had　produced。　And　true　to　form；　whether　army　ants　or　swarms　of　killer　bees；　the　Invid　carried　a　sting。

As　Scott　and　the　others　knew　from　their　previous　encounters；　initial　fusillades　were　what　counted　most。　Once　separated　from　its　column；　the　individual　Invid　ship　was　blindingly　maneuverable　and　often　unstoppable。　In　close　it　favored　two　approaches：　ripping　open　mecha　with　its　alloy　pincer　claws　and　embracing　a　ship　and　literally　shocking　it　to　death　with　charges　delivered　by　the　ships'　Protoculture　systems。　Scott　saw　both　variations　of　this　occurring　while　he　did　his　best　to　keep　his　own　fighter　out　of　reach。

Veritech　and　crabship　were　going　at　it　across　the　field；　Mars　Division　troops　and　Invid　mecha　in　deadly　pursuits　and　dogfights；　crisscrossing　in　the　upper　reaches　of　the　stratosphere　amidst　tracer　rounds；　missile　tracks；　and　laser…array　fire　from　the　mand　ships。　Scott　saw　one　of　his　team　taken　out　by　a　claw　swipe　that　opened　the　Veritech　tail　to　nose；　precious　atmosphere　sucked　from　the　fractured　canopy；　the　pilot　flailing　for　life　inside。　In　another　part　of　nearby　space；　several　Veritechs　floated　derelict　after　loveless　Invid　embraces。

Scott　realized　the　hopelessness　of　their　situation　and　ordered　his　squadron　to　reconfigure　to　Battloid　mode。

Mechamorphosis；　or　mode　selection；　was　still　controlled　by　a　three…position　cockpit　lever；　along　with　the　pilot's　mecha　will；　which　interfaced　with　the　fighter's　Protoculture…governed　systems。　But　where　all　parts　of　the　first…generation　Veritechs　participated　in　reconfiguration；　the　augmentation　packs　and　energy　generators　of　the　Armored　Alphas　（essential　for　the　space　and　ground　missions　that　typified　the　Expeditionary　Force）　remained　intact　during　the　process。　The　forward　portion　of　the　craft　telescoped　to　acplish　this；　arms　unfolding　from　behind　the　canopy　while　radome　and　cockpit　rotated　up　through　a　180…degree　arc；　now　allowing　the　underbelly　laser　turret　to　bee　the　Battloid's　head；　and　the　underbelly　rifle/cannon　to　bee　the　weapon　that　was　grasped　in　the　mecha's　right　hand。

Thus　transformed；　Scott's　squadron　fell　in　to　reengage　the　Invid；　blue　thrusters　bright　in　Earth's　dark　side。

Meanwhile；　a　second　wave　of　Veritechs　was　launched　from　the　transports　to　respond　to　another　column　of　Invid　approaching　swiftly　from　Delta　sector。

Scott's　displays　flashed　coordinates　and　signatures　of　the　second　Mollusk　Carrier　even　before　he　had　visual　contact。　He　ordered　his　team　to　form　up　on　his　lead　and　throw　themselves　against　the　column。　Once　again　heatseekers　found　their　marks　and　took　out　scores　of　Invid　ships；　and　once　again　orange　hell…flowers　blossomed。　But　reinforced；　the　Invid　launched　a　frenzied　counterstrike。　Shock　vessels　broke　through　the　front　lines　and　went　for　the　transports　themselves　in　suicide　runs　and　massed　charges。　Particle　beams；　disgorged　from　bow　guns；　swept　like　insecticide　through　their　ranks；　annihilating　ship　after　ship。

Scott's　team　regrouped　and　gave　chase　to　any　that　survived；　blasts　from　the　VTs'　chain…guns　blowing　pincers　to　debris　and　holing　carapaces。　Still；　Scott　could　hear　the　death　screams　of　the　unlucky　ones　piercing　the　tac　net's　cacophony　of　mands　and　reactions。　VTs　and　Invid　ships　drifted　from　the　arena；　locked　in　bizarre　postures；　obscene　embraces。　Here；　an　Invid　pincer　was　apparently　caught　in　the　canopy　of　the　ship　it　had　ensnared；　there；　another　held　a　VT　to　itself；　exchanging　lightning　flashes　of　death。

Scott；　sweat　beading　up　across　his　forehead；　was　in　pursuit　of　two　Invid　ships　that　were　closing　in　on　mander　Gardner's　transport；　he　had　heard　Marlene's　terror…stricken　call　for　help　only　a　moment　before　and　had　one　of　the　enemy　ships　bracketed　in　the　chain…gun's　sights　now。　He　fired　once；　shooting　a　hole　through　its　groin；　and　smiled　devilishly　as　it　disintegrated　in　a　brief　burst　of　crimson　light。　The　second　Invid；　its　pincers　raised　for　action；　was　moving　toward　the　bridge　viewports。　But　fire　from　Scott's　cannon　demissioned　it　before　it　attained　striking　distance。

〃Saw　two；　swatted　same；〃　Scott　told　Marlene　over　the　　net；　a　confident　tone　returned　to　his　voice。　The　Invid　were　falling　back　on　all　sides。

〃Good　job；　mander；〃　Gardner　congratulated　him　before　Marlene　had　a　chance　to　speak。　〃Signal　your　team　to　begin　their　atmospheric　approach。　Our　thermal　energy　shields　are　already　seriously　drained。〃

〃Roger；〃　said　Scott；　at　the　same　time　waving　the　chain…gun　to　signal　his　wingmen。　〃We'll　escort　you　through。〃

Scott　saw　the　transport's　thrusters　fire　a　three…second　burst；　realigning　the　ship　for　its　slow　descent。　He　sat　back　and　punched　up　orbital　entry　calculations　inn　the　data　screen；　fed　these　over　to　the　autopilot；　and　returned　his　attention　to　wide…range　radar。　Suddenly　Marlene　was　on　the　net　again；　alerting　him　to　a　unit　of　bandits　moving　against　him　at　four　o'clock。　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder　and　glimpsed　them　even　as　their　signatures　were　registering　on　the　mecha's　radar　screen。

〃I　see　them；〃　he　answered　her　calmly。

Scott　permitted　the　half　dozen　Invid　to　close　in；　enabling　his　onboard　targeting　puter　to　get　a　fix　on　all　of　them。　It　was　a　calculated　risk　but　one　that　paid　off　a　moment　later　when　the　Battloid's　deltoid　partments　opened　and　each　launched　a　missile　that　homed　in　on　its　target。　Scott　boostered　himself　away　from　the　silent　fireworks　and　rechecked　the　screen：　There　was　no　sign　of　enemy　activity。

〃We're　all　clear；　mander；〃　he　reported；　easing　up　the　thinking　cap's　faceshield。

Gardner's　face　now　flashed　into　view　on　the　cockpit's　small　mo　screen。　〃Scott！　We　must　try　to　slip　through　and　hit　Reflex　Point　before　the　Regis's　drones　have　a　chance　to　regroup。　Understood？〃

〃Roger　mander；〃　Scott　returned。　At　a　signal　from　the　HUD；　he　dropped　the　faceshield；　the　inside　surface　of　which　was　displaying　approach　vectors　and　numerical　data。　He　opened　the　tac　net。　〃Our　entrance　azimuth　is　one…two…one…one。。。Reconfiguring　for　orbital　deviation。〃

Scott　armed　the　Veritech's　shield　after　it　had　shifted　mode　and　brought　the　fighter　alongside　Gardner's　descending　transport。　The　hull　temperature　of　his　own　ship　was　reaching　critical　levels；　and　he　reasoned　that　the　same　thing　had　to　be　occurring　on　the　larger　ship。　A　glance　told　him　he　was　correct　and　more。　The　underside　of　the　mand　vessel　was　radiating　an　intense　glow　that　suggested　an　improper　angle　of　approach。　Scott　waited　for　the　vessel　to　correct　itself；　and　when　it　didn't；　he　went　on　the　net。

〃Remend　you　recalculate　entry　horizon；　mander。　The　ship　appears　to　be　entering　too　quickly。〃

〃It　can't　be　helped；　Scott。　We've　got　to　put　down。　Our　shields　will　never　see　us　through　another　attack。〃

〃Sir；　you'll　never　live　to　see　another　attack　if　you　don't　readjust　your　course　heading；〃　Scott　said　more　firmly。　〃That　ship　wasn't　built　for　this　kind　of　gravitational　pull。　You're　going　to　tear　her　apart！〃

Scott　tried　to　suppress　a　mounting　feeling　of　panic。　He　heard　Marlene　tell　Gardner　that　the　reserve　thermal　energy　shields　were　now　pletely　exhausted。　Gardner　ordered　her　to　engage　the　retros。

Scott　craned　his　neck　to　see　if　the　retros　were　having　any　effect；　his　guts　like　a　knot　pressing　against　his　diaphragm。　He　saw　something　break　free　from　the　tail　section　of　the　transport；　glow；　and　burn　out。　He　was　trying　to　maintain　proximity　with　the　ship；　but　as　a　result　his　own　displays　were　suddenly　flashing　warnings　as　well。　I'd　better　slow　down　myself　if　I　don't　want　to　be　decorating　a　big　part　of　the　landscape。

Scott　pulled　the　mode　selector　to　G　position　and　stepped　out　of　his　fear　temporarily　to　think　the　Veritech　through　to　Guardian　mode。　As　the　legs　of　the　mecha　dropped；　reverse…articulating；　he　engaged　the　foot　thrusters；　substantially　cutting　his　speed。　At　the　same　time；　Gardner's　transport　was　roaring　past　him　in　an　uncontrolled　plunge。

〃mander；　pull　out！〃　he　cried　into　the　net。　Marlene！

Caught　between　self…sacrifice　and　desperation；　Scott　could　do　little　more　than　bear　witness　to　the　agonizingly　slow　deterioration　of　the　mand　ship…the　end　of　all　he　held　dear　in　the　world。　The　transport　was　a　glowing　ember　now；　slagging　off　fragments　of　itself　into　the　void。　The　intense　heat　would　have　already　boiled　the　blood　of　those　inside。。。

Marlene！

His　mind　tried　to　save　him　from　the　horror　by　denying　the　events；　cocooning　him　in　much　the　same　way　the　Veritech　did。　But　averting　his　gaze　only　worsened　matters。　Everywhere　he　looked　ships…of…the…