按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
The evolution wasn't finished。 It was just beginning。
The time had e for a form beyond that of the Enforcer。 It was time for a new category of mecha…a new evolutionary step。
In the Hive Center at Reflex Point； the Regis looked down on two Enforcers。 One was the one that had failed to eliminate the freedom fighters； the other had been quickened less than a week earlier。 These two were the most intelligent； capable and adaptable of the Regis's children。
〃You have been summoned here to assume your rightful place in the new order of our society；〃 she told them。 〃First you must undergo transformation to the life form most suitable to this planet。 Prepare for bio…reconstruction！〃
Jagged nets of energy whirled out from the huge globe。 in the center of the dome； to ensnare the two Enforcers and etch them in light。 They writhed as if in torment； then froze like statues。 In moments； the mecha had been stripped away； dissolved to particles。 In the midst of the Protoculture fires two figures； in fetal tuck； floated…the forms of two fully developed Humans…a male and a female。
〃My children； you now share a part of my own genetic code。 You are a prince and princess of our race； and shall be known hereafter as Corg and Sera。〃
The Regis appeared again in her almost…physical manifestation； the swirling barber…pole stripes of energy spiraling up and down around her。 The Regis poured forth a purity of Protoculture power on a scale that only an Invid monarch was capable of ordaining or controlling。 In moments； new mecha formed around the floating twins； Corg and Sera。
〃We must soon begin the mass transformation of our people to the Human life form；〃 the Regis went on； 〃the form in which I have conceived you。 The most advanced and flexible configuration for survival on this planet…this world to which the Flower of Life has led us。〃
Two mecha stood side by side now； bigger than Enforcers。 They were more humanlike in form than any of the other alien war machines。 They looked like the powered armor the Zentraedi had used long ago； but they were larger。 The upper torsos were heavy with weapon pods and power nacelles； so that the things gave a strange appearance of buxomness。 The head area was quite small； sunk between massively armed and powered shoulders and immensely strong arms。
The mecha of Corg； who had so recently harried the freedom fighters in their underground escape； was drab gray…green； with highlights in an orange…tan color。 Sera's mecha was purple； with trim of dark pink。 The great Robotech digits worked and tested themselves； the Prince and Princess of the Invid had risen above the claw； the pincer。
〃However；〃 the Regis told them； 〃there may be hidden dangers in this physical form。 An earlier experiment with Human reconstruction appears to be malfunctioning。 Our spy； Ariel； whom the Humans call Marlene； has failed to establish munications with me。 You must seek out Ariel and determine the cause of her dysfunction； before we mit our race to a plete metamorphosis。 You must prepare the way for the final phase of our domination of this planet！ Go now； and prove yourselves worthy of your heritage！〃
As the morning sun rose； the team stood on a cliff looking out at the Pacific。 Scott was calculating the variables and the absolutes involved in a run for Baja California； but the others were just enjoying themselves。 They were watching the crashing waves and the plaintive gulls； and enjoying the sight of the blue water and the broad beach。
From here on； according to fragmentary reports； the Invid watchposts and strongholds grew thicker and thicker。 In order to avoid them； a sea…cruise seemed the only hope。 The mecha were low on Protoculture again； and the ordnance was practically gone。 But they had made it to the sea。
From here； anything was possible。 Scott was thinking along the lines of a low； slow swing out over the ocean by night； leaving Lunk's truck and most of their other baggage behind…perhaps even abandoning one of the VTs。
That was when Annie pointed to her discovery。 The team just stood there staring； while Annie asked them what in the world it was。 Lancer answered。
〃Abandoned Southern Cross base； Annie。 bination Navy Division/Jungle Forces installation； I'd say。〃
The place was a cluster of piers； radio towers； hangars； domes and quonset huts； barracks and operations center structures。 Everything was decayed and overgrown with jungle plant life； and several of the roofs had collapsed。 It was nothing new to the team； a gleaming town in good repair would have surprised them； but this was just one more pocket of earthly decline。
They were instantly thinking about food； weapons； maps； and charts； perhaps even equipment or a boat。 in another second they were racing back to their mecha； eager to explore。
What pieces of mecha there were in the base were useless； but all other news was good。 There was a fair amount of Protoculture； ordnance that was patible with their VTs； sealed ration containers that had withstood the test of time； and a desalination plant that was still up to supplying a trickle of fresh water。 But best of all； there were three boats。
Two of the boats were missile PTs； heavily armed for their size and extremely quick and maneuverable。 The third was a cutter mounting missiles and a large pumpedlaser battery。 Finding the boats confirmed Scott's decision： The best way to make the run to Baja was by sea。 It would save Protoculture and they would be able to stay below the Invid sky sensors。 The VTs could take turns hitching a ride on the cutter； and the boats could carry a wealth of supplies and materiel。
Whatever had made the Southern Cross troops abandon their base； it had left them time to put their boats and other equipment in mothballs before they went。 In no time； the team was getting everything in working order again。 Aerosol cans' spray peeled off the sealant layers over the boats' engines and a lot of the other gear； special treatments had kept the hulls free of barnacles and such growth。 They were immune to rot； and as ready to go as when they had been laid down。
Lancer； standing his turn at watch in the tower； a binocular raised to his eyes； couldn't help but feel that chill he got whenever things were going a little too well。 It wasn't very many minutes later that he found himself staring through his binocular at a Shock Trooper whose optical sensor was looking right back at him。
〃What I figure is；〃 he was telling the others a minute later； 〃it's not sure yet that there's anything going on here。 But I'd be shocked if the Invid don't e looking around very soon。 If we want the element of surprise； we'd better get hopping。〃
Scott would have liked another two days to reconnoiter； double…check the boats from stem to stern； rest up； and perhaps even do a short sea…trial。 But he didn't even have two minutes。
Lunk had some experience with a Resistance quickboat outfit； and he was the logical one to take mand of the missile cutter。 He put out to sea with Annie and Marlene joining him on the bridge。 The two PTs were towed by hawsers。
The VTs lifted off to rendezvous with the tiny flotilla； but the minute they activated their Protoculture engines； Shock