10_invid_invasion-第30部分

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The　plan　called　for　Scott；　Rook；　and　Rand　to　infiltrate　themselves　among　Yellow　Dancer's　retinue　of　sidemen　and　bodyguards；　all　of　whom　had　been　handpicked　by　Woods。　At　the　same　time；　Lunk's　role　was　to　see　to　it　that　the　waiting　police　van　was　rendered　safe　and　secure。

This　was　easily　acplished；　thanks　to　the　fact　that　the　guard　was　napping　when　Lunk　stole　up　to　the　driver's　side　door。　Lunk　pummeled　the　man　into　a　more　lasting　sleep。　Scott；　Rook；　and　Rand　took　to　the　canvas…backed　van；　while　Lunk　dragged　the　guard　off　to　one　side　and　began　to　change　into　the　man's　police　helmet；　shirt；　and　trousers。　Annie　appeared　a　moment　later；　followed　by　Yellow；　who　was　clutching　two　wardrobe　suitcases　under　her　arms。　The　colonel　was　inside　the　arena；　waiting　patiently　at　Yellow's　dressing…room　door　for　the　singer　to　arrive。　Woods's　team；　meanwhile；　had　spirited　her　out　a　rear　entry　and　was　now　doing　its　best　to　keep　things　backstage　suitably　chaotic。

〃So；　you're　alive　after　all；〃　Yellow　said　breathlessly；　running　to　the　truck　and　passing　her　valises　up　to　Scott。

〃Never　underestimate　the　best；〃　Rand　said；　full　of　importance。

Yellow　gave　Rand　the　once…over　and　smiled　bemusedly。　〃Why　are　you　so　wet？〃

〃e　on；　get　in；〃　Rook　broke　in。　〃It'll　be　your　bedtime　story。〃

Yellow　climbed　up　into　the　back　of　the　truck；　already　pulling　off　the　clothes　that　separated　her　from　Lancer。　Rand　threw　himself　in　and　unfurled　the　rear　canvas　drape。　Annie　ran　around　to　the　passenger　seat　and　settled　herself；　while　a　smiling　Lunk　did　the　same　behind　the　wheel。　He　knew　how；　ridiculous　he　looked　in　the　smaller　man's　uniform　and　helmet　and　couldn't　keep　from　laughing。

A　moment　later　the　truck　was　screeching　away　from　the　stage　entrance；　just　short　of　a　crowd　of　fans　who　had　found　their　way　back　there。　Woods　stood　pleased　in　the　doorway；　silently　wishing　Yellow　and　her　friends　a　smooth　getaway。


Back　outside　the　dressing…room　door；　Colonel　Briggs　was　glancing　impatiently　at　his　watch　and　plaining　under　his　breath　about　how　much　time　women　required　to　change　outfits。　He　contemplated　walking　in　on　Yellow；　wondering　if　he　would　be　able　to　catch　her　at　a　vulnerable　moment。　The　thought　was　blossoming　into　a　Technicolor　fantasy　when　one　of　his　guards　ran　up　to　him　and　saluted。

〃There's　been　a　break…in　at　the　facility；〃　the　staffer　reported　in　a　rush。　〃Thirty…eight　cases　of　Protoculture　are　missing。〃

The　colonel's　mouth　fell　open。　〃B…but。。。how？〃

〃They　used　some　kind　of　scramblers　to　disrupt　the　surveillance　cameras　and　apparently　lowered　themselves　into　the　storage　room　from　one　of　the　overhead　maintenance　corridors。〃

Briggs　grabbed　the　man　by　the　lapels　and　pulled　him　close。　〃How　could　they　get　through　the　towers？　Were　all　vehicles　searched？〃

〃Yes；　chief；　everyone　was　searched；〃　the　man　managed　to　get　out。　〃They　must　have　found　another　way　out。〃

The　colonel　shook　the　man；　took　a　few　steps；　then　whirled　on　him　again。　〃Search　the　city！　Set　up　roadblocks！　I　want　them　found…alive！〃

The　staffer　saluted。　〃We'll　do　what　we　can。　But　most　of　our　units　are　still　working　crowd　control　outside。〃

〃Forget　the　crowds！〃　Briggs　barked。　〃Get　every　man　on　it。〃


The　city's　streets　were　soon　filled　with　police　vans…sirens　hooting；　tearing　around　corners　in　search　of　a　team　of　sneak　thieves。　But　by　this　time；　Lunk　was　edging　the　van　out　of　town；　way　ahead　of　the　roadblocks　the　colonel's　currently　understaffed　security　force　were　attempting　to　set　up　at　all　possible　points　of　egress。

The　colonel's　own　van　screeched　to　a　halt　in　a　cobblestone　square；　where　it　rendezvoused　with　three　others　that　were　returning　from　various　checkpoints。　Briggs　leapt　out　and　approached　one　of　his　lieutenants；　demanding　all　pertinent　information。

〃And　don't　tell　me　they've　disappeared；〃　he　warned　the　already　shaking　staffer。

〃We　have　reason　to　believe　that　they　made　their　getaway　in　a　police　van；〃　the　lieutenant　updated。　〃So　we're　in　the　process　of　having　our　men　check　each　van　they　e　across　to　ascertain　the　identity　of　those　inside。〃

〃Good；〃　the　colonel　said　haltingly。　Then：　〃You　mean　to　tell　me　that　your　men　are　out　there　searching　each　other？！〃　He　was　about　to　say　more；　when　he　heard　a　small　crash　behind　him；　as　if　something　had　fallen　from　a　rooftop。　Turning；　Briggs　saw　a　cluster　of　red；　yellow；　and　green　balloons　weighted　down　by　something　he　couldn't　make　out　until　he　had　taken　three　steps　toward　it。

〃Protoculture　canisters！〃　he　exclaimed；　kneeling　beside　the　helium　balloons　and　their　precious　cargo。　He　looked　up　and　saw　scores　more　drifting　high　over　the　city　on　a　northeast　wind。　〃Gather　up　all　those　balloons；〃　he　ordered　the　lieutenant。　〃Shoot　them　down　if　you　have　to！。。。And　bring　me　that　singer；〃　he　hastened　to　add；　thinking　back　to　the　concert　and　its　colorful　finale。。。

Briggs　was　hurrying　back　to　his　van　when　a　vehicle　from　the　facility　pulled　alongside　him。

〃Have　you　found　them？〃　he　asked　eagerly。

〃No；〃　the　driver　answered。　〃But　the　Invid　Intercessors　have　arrived　at　the　facility。。。And　they　wanna　speak　to　you。。。〃


The　getaway　truck　and　the　rigged　balloon　clusters　arrived　at　the　transmitter　site　at　the　same　time；　a　clearing　in　the　woods　that　fringed　the　northeastern　outskirts　of　Norristown。　The　team　hopped　out　and　began　gathering　up　the　canisters。　Rook　and　Lancer　were　heading　for　the　Cyclones　when　they　heard　Annie　yell　and　saw　her　point
to　the　sky。

〃Invid。〃

There　we　a　five　Troopers；　ing　in　fast　from　the　southwest　but　still　several　miles　off。　Scott　told　everyone　to　grab　whatever　canister　packs　they　could　carry　and　run　for　the　mecha。　Lancer；　already　suited　up　in　battle　armor；　headed　directly　for　one　of　the　Cyclones　and　inserted　a　fresh　canister　into　the　cylinderlike　fuel　cell　below　the　mecha's　engine。　He　straddled　the　cycle　and　activated　the　ignition；　watching　with　delight　as　the　power　displays　came　to　life；　glowing　with　an　unprecedented　brightness。　Nearby；　Scott　was　in　the　cockpit　of　the　Veritech；　Lunk　attending　to　the　refueling。

Rook　was　preparing　to　power　up　her　red　Cyclone　when　she　saw　Lancer　lift　off　and　reconfigure　to　Battle　Armor　mode。　Beside　her；　Rand　was　strapping　on　the　last　of　his　Cyclone　armor。

〃Rand；　did　you　remember　to　put　in　a　fresh　canister？〃　she　asked　him；　certain　he　had　forgotten。

〃Oh；　right；〃　he　returned；　and　stooped　ego　insert　the　fresh　pack。

〃Dimwit；〃　Rook　scolded　him　as　she　roared　off；　going　to　Battle　Armor　mode　a　moment　later。　Rand　followed　her　up　and　through　to　reconfiguration；　and　the　two　of　them　streaked　off　to　assist　Lancer；　who　was　going　head　to　head　with　two　Invid　Troopers。

Lancer　had　coaxed　the　Troopers　to　the　ground　and　was　executing　leaps　to　avoid　pincer　swipes。　Frustrated　now；　one　of　the　creatures　was　ready　to　bring　its　shoulder　cannons　into　play。

Lancer　stepped　back　when　he　saw　the　muzzles　begin　to　glow；　Rook　and　Rand　had　set　down　behind　him；　and　the　three　of　them　felt　the　blast　of　the　first　charge。

〃Let's　not　push　our　luck　until　the　Alpha　arrives；〃　Lancer　said　over　the　Cyclone's　tactical　net。

The　two　Troopers　took　to　the　air；　then　swooped　down　for　strafing　runs。　But　Rand　had　tailed　one　of　them　and　launched　shoulder…tubed　Scorpions　before　the　Invid　could　fire。　The　Troo