"Jack McKinney - Robotech 04 - Battlehymn" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

news from the bridge. He was in uniform, number-two torx driver in hand,
standing alongside Skull One-Roy Fokker's Veritech. An opened access panel in
the nacelle below the cockpit broke the unity of the circular fuselage
insignia, but Rick missed the symbolism. Nevertheless, he stared into the
exposed circuitry, even tinkered a bit, as if searching for memories of his
lost friend. The fighter had been fully repaired and serviced; there were no
signs of damage, no evidence of the fatal rounds sustained, but that didn't
mean the exorcism had been complete. Roy's presence fingered palpably.
Rick closed the panel as the two corporals approached.
"Just doing some maintenance," Rick said by way of explanation. Yeah,
self-maintenance.
"I'm not surprised," said Max. "Lisa Hayes told us you were down here."
Ben eyed the fuselage numerals. "Hey, this is Commander Fokker's Skull
One, isn't it? I didn't know you were going to be flying it."
"Uh, yeah," Rick answered distantly. "Guess I was lucky to get it as my
aircraft assignment."
He turned away from them and put his right hand against the mecha almost
reverently. "Nice touch of irony, don't you think? Commander Fokker was always
so proud of the fact that he'd never gone down. Now he's...gone, and I get his
plane. Me...the guy who's always being shot down-even by our own ordnance.
Just kind of ironic, that's all."
Rick's friends exchanged concerned looks, but Max broke out of it and
into a smile. He told Rick about the civilians, and the lieutenant said,
"Terrific." Undaunted, Max continued.
"Apparently the North American Ontario Quadrant will be accepting them,
and the official announcement will be given tomorrow by Captain Gloval."
"So how's about we get a jump on the celebration?" Ben said, full of
good humor. "We could hit Macross for some food, drink, whatever else comes
along."
"You could use the recreation, Lieutenant," Max hastened to add.
Rick's slow smile was a signal that he'd already made up his mind. He
had to get himself out of this funk some how, and he didn't see how low
spirits could stand a chance in Macross just now.
"It sounds good, guys. In fact, it'll be my treat."
Ben beamed. "Well how about that, Max?" He moved between his friends, a
head taller than both, draping his arms over their shoulders and leading them
away from the Veritech. "Doesn't that sound like something the new pilot of
the Skull One would do? C'mon, let's get going before he changes his mind."
Rick glanced over his shoulder at the silent mecha; then he turned his
back on it and followed Ben's lead.

Khyron's assault unit launched from the cruiser and plunged into Earth's
atmosphere, triple-thrusters brilliant orange against a peaceful field of
cloud-studded blue.
The dimensional fortress, still configured like an upright winged
techno-knight, was over the city of Toronto when radar alerted the bridge of
the impending attack.
Vanessa leaned over her console and tapped in a series of commands. She
leaned back in her chair as "paint" and directional symbols began to fill the
large screen.