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！
〃What do we care about your General Edwards？〃 Lron shouted； looking for support from the other XTs。 〃The Invid are our enemy。 And if your forces decide to side with them against us； so be it。〃
Kami； Learna； Crysta； Bela； and Gnea voiced their support for Lron's position。 Cabell； Rem； Janice； Sarna； and Veidt were curiously quiet。
Rick silenced them and directed the question to the RDF contingent。 Lisa stood up to answer him。
〃I understand the need for countering Edwards's influence；〃 she said in a way that was aimed at Rick； 〃but we have to consider the broader picture。 Our return could place the council in an awkward position with regard to further negotiations。〃
〃We'll acplish the same thing with continued acts of aggression directed against Invid…held planets；〃 someone from the Wolff Pack pointed out。 〃What happens when Edwards es gunning for us…do we fight our own forces？〃
Vince Grant shot to his feet and turned on the pilot； even as Jean was trying to calm him down。 〃The council would never bow to the Regent's demands that we be hunted down！ They'd break the truce before they'd do that…〃
〃Not if Edwards is running the council！〃
〃Waste 'em！〃 said a Skull pilot。 〃They were ready to let us die on Praxis！ I say we're free agents！〃
XTs and Humans cheered。 Rick found himself thinking about pirates； and happened to notice Jack Baker slapping Lron on the back； while Karen raised her eyes in an imploring gesture。
〃Put it to a vote；〃 Max suggested。
Rick scanned the crowd and received nods of agreement from Lisa； Wolff； Miriya； Vince； and Cabell。 〃Will it be Garuda； then； or back to Tirol？〃 he asked loud enough to be heard above the tumult。
〃Garuda！〃 came the overwhelming response。
〃Then it's settled；〃 he said； aware once more of how he had taken charge without being asked。 And from across the room； Lisa's eyes burned into his own。
CHAPTER EIGHT
I'm looking forward to Garuda in a way that has nothing to do with what I felt toward either Karbarra or Praxis。 All things point to the possibility of our being able to regroup and restrengthen ourselves there； even if we will have to suit up for the visit。 God knows Lisa and I need some uninterrupted time together。 We spoke of dreams tonight； and made love like we haven't in far too long。 It es down to dreams in the end…holding fast to them no matter what else is thrown in your path。 I want to get back to that place in my life； and Garuda sounds like it was made to order。
From the collected journals of Admiral Rick Hunter
Once again the Expeditionary Mission's Plenipotentiary Council found itself in extraordinary session； the third time in as many days。 Ex…colonel Jonathan Wolff and his small band of rebels had stolen a prototype warship and folded from the Valivarre system； after assassinating the Invid Regent。 The ruler's body had been taken back to the fleet flagship by his retinue of scientists and soldiers； who were promising a swift and violent response to the Humans' treachery。 Ships under General Edwards's mand had chased the pirated cruiser； but stopped short of following it into hyperspace。 It was believed； although hardly certain at this point； that Wolff was returning to Praxis； but the Sentinels' next destination was anyone's guess。 And if their movements were open to question； their motives were positively baffling。 Edwards was arguing this very point in the council chambers now； moving through the room like a trial lawyer； his speech angry and impassioned； his reasoning all but unassailable。
〃Furthermore；〃 he said； a forefinger raised； 〃it's my belief that Wolff's story was a ruse。 The Sentinels sent Wolff here to kill the Regent。 All his talk about the destruction of the Farrago and the rescue mission to Praxis was engineered as a diversion。〃
〃That's arrant nonsense；〃 Lang objected； getting to his feet and turning to face the rest of his group。 〃It was the Regent who first informed us of the destruction of the ship…〃
〃They allowed his troops to destroy the ship；〃 Edwards cut in； but Thurgood Stinson quickly waved him silent。
〃What's more；〃 Lang said after settling his gaze on Edwards； 〃the Sentinels had no way of knowing the Regent's fleet was here。〃
Edwards laughed。 〃Need I point out that they could have been monitoring our transmissions； even while remaining inmunicado？〃
〃But to what end； General？〃 Lang asked。 〃Why would they knowingly sabotage the negotiations？ Really； this makes no sense whatsoever； and I would caution the council to understand that General Edwards is offering us nothing more than an interpretation of the facts。〃
〃The facts； Doctor； are that the Regent is dead and one of our ships has been stolen。 What more do you require？〃
Tight…lipped； Lang took his seat。 Senator Longchamps cleared his throat meaningfully。 〃The council appreciates Dr。 Lang's reminder； but I for one would like to hear the general's assessment of the Sentinels' motives。〃
Edwards sat in silence for a moment； then stood up and said； 〃They've bee a private army。 They've liberated Karbarra…Praxis； for all we know…and their plan is to continue in this vein until the entire local group is theirs to mand。 In the meantime； our efforts here will have been neatly undermined。 The Invid will return in force and in the end it will be the Sentinels who will rescue us。〃
〃This is too much；〃 Justine Huxley interjected。 〃Admiral Hunter would never stoop to such measures。〃
〃Then why did he resign his mand？〃 Edwards threw back at her。 〃And why is it that the whole RDF apparat decided to follow his lead。〃 Edwards enumerated on his fingers： 〃The Skull； the Wolff Pack； Vince and Jean Grant； even the Tiresian； Cabell。 Hunter didn't like the idea of answering to the council's demands； and now he's out for himself。〃
Edwards returned to his chair； leaving the council members to argue among themselves。 In the seat adjacent； General Reinhardt wore a look of plete disgust。
After a few minutes of deliberation； Longchamps announced； 〃The council is not yet fully convinced of the scenario you detail； General Edwards； nor of your interpretations of the Sentinels' 'master plan；' if you will。〃
Edwards scowled； waiting for the senat