"Jack McKinney - Robotech 07 - Southern Cross" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

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Robotech: Southern Cross
Book Seven of the Robotech Series
Copyright 1987 by Jack McKinney


CHAPTER ONE
Those who were surprised at Dana Sterling's choice of a career in the military displayed not only
a lack of understanding about Dana but also a failure to comprehend the nature of Protoculture,
and how it shaped destiny.
After all, as a mere babe in arms Dana had played a pivotal part in a vital battle in the First
Robotech War, the attack to take the Zentraedi's orbital mecha factory; with two of the greatest
fighters in history as parents, is it any surprise that she would follow the warrior's trade?
But more important, Dana is the only offspring of a Human/Zentraedi mating on Earth, and the
Protoculture was working strongly through her. She is to be a centerpiece of the ongoing conflict
the Protoculture has shaped, and that means being a Robotech soldier in excelsis.
Dr. Lazio Zand, notes for Event Horizon: Perspectives on Dana Sterling and the Second Robotech War

It was a date that every schoolchild knew, though for some its significance had become a bit
blurred.
But not for the people gathered in the auditorium at the Southern Cross Military Academy.
Many of the veterans on the speakers' platform and among the academy teaching staff and cadre knew
the meaning of the date because they had lived through it. Everyone in the graduating class
revered it and the tradition of self-sacrifice and courage it represented-a tradition being passed
along to them today.
"Today we celebrate not only your achievements as the first graduating class of the
Academy," Supreme Commander Leonard was saying, glowering down at the young men and women seated
in rows before him. "We also celebrate the memory of the brave people who have served in our
planet's defense before you."
Leonard continued, summarizing the last great clash of the Robotech War. If he had stopped
in mid-syllable, pointed at any one of the graduating cadets, and asked him or her to take the
story from there, the graduate would have done it with even more detail and accuracy.
They all knew it by heart: how Admiral Henry Gloval had taken the rusting, all-but-
decommissioned SDF-1 into the air for a final confrontation with the psychopathic Zentraedi
warlord Khyron, and died in the inferno of that battle.
They also knew the high honor roll of the women of the bridge watch who had died with him:
Kim Young; Sammie Porter; Vanessa Leeds-all enlisted rating techs scarcely older than any of the
cadets-and Commander Claudia Grant.
Sitting at the end of her squad's row, Cadet Major Dana Sterling looked down the line of
faces beside her. One, with skin the color of dark honey, stared up into the light from the stage.
Dana could see that Bowie Grant-nephew of that same Commander Claudia Grant and Dana's close
friend since childhood-betrayed no emotion.
Dana didn't know whether to be content or worried. Carrying the name of a certified UEG
hero could be a tough burden to bear, as Dana well knew.
Leonard went on about unselfish acts of heroism and passing the torch to a roomful of
cadets, none of whom had yet reached twenty. They had had it all drilled into them for years, and
were squirming in their seats, eager to get moving, to get to their first real assignments.
Or at any rate, most felt that way; looking down the line, Dana could see a withdrawn look
on Bowie's face.