The Master Chief accelerated his Banshee to its top speed.
There was another explosion at the temple, and plumes2 of steam geysered into the airfrom the heat-exchange plant. The circling formations of Banshees scattered3.
John tucked as close as he could to his flier's fuselage and coaxed4 every bit of speed fromthe craft.
A pair of Banshees swooped5 in, one off his port, the other on his starboard. Their plasmaweapons heated; John rolled back and forth7 to throw their aim. He braced8 for impact... butthere was none.
The Chief craned his head back and saw the pilot of the lead Banshee slump9, slide offtheflier, and plummet10 to the ground. The trailing Banshee was riderless as well... only ablood-spattered cockpit and cowling.
Linda still had him covered—had taken out both pilots with precise fire. She had to beclose.
John scanned the area. There were spires11 and water-reclamation towers, transport tubesand catwalks that crisscrossed the center of the interior. There was a nexus12 of walkwaysnear the beam of il.lumination that ran down the center of the station, a location withenough glare that a sniper might hide in the open undetected.
He risked keying Linda's private COM channel. "Thought you might need a ride, so I—"An energy mortar13 blasted over John's shoulder, burning the air like a sun in close orbitand draining his shields to half. It322HALO: FIRST STRIKEimpacted a water tower, and the structure detonated into a cloud of blinding steam.
John punched the Banshee through the cloud, glanced down, and saw a Wraith14 tank tracking his trajectory15. He ducked and weaved but kept moving toward Linda's probablelocation.
His mission countdown timer read 7:06. There was no time for fancy evasive maneuvers17.
Did Linda even want to be found? Maybe she wanted him to get to safety and leave her behind? It's what he would have done.
"Position report, Linda," John barked over the COM. "That's a direct order."Three seconds ticked off his mission clock and then the six-tone "Oly Oly Oxen Free " song whistled through John's speak.ers and a NAV marker appeared on his heads-up display.
The triangular19 marker centered on a rope that ran between two transit20 tubes and dangledperilously close to the high-intensity light beam. It was a barely discernible thread thatran through a hard shadow cast by a nearby catwalk.
John hit his image enhancers. Through the glare of the light, and in the depths of theshadow, he caught the flicker21 of reflected optics.
Linda used both the brilliant light and the darkness to hide.
John angled the Banshee to her. He clipped the tether line from his belt to the frame of theBanshee and squeezed his thighs22 tighter onto the seat.
When he was thirty meters away, he made visual contact. Linda had the rope coiled abouta boot and wrapped about one forearm. She held her sniper rifle in one arm, and Johncould only surmise23 that she had been firing from such an impossible position.
She uncoiled the rope from her boot, swung, released at the apex24 of the arc—and felltoward him.
John forced the Banshee's cowling up against straining hy.draulics and stretched out hisarm, his fingers touched hers— and her hand slapped firmly into his gauntlet.
He swung her around and over his shoulder. Linda landed in front of him, straddling theseat.
John spun25 the Banshee about and accelerated back to the win.dows. The craft's forwardcowling remained wrenched26 up andERIC NYLUND323slowed them down—but there was no other way to fit two people on the craft.
"Coming in hot," John said over the COM to Fred and Will. "Open the door and get readyfor a quick exit, Blue Team."Fred's acknowledgment light winked27 on.
"Cortana, breach28 those air locks. Now!"A cacophony29 of voices filled John's COM. There were so many copies of Cortana speakingat the same time he couldn't make out anything coherent.
"Cortana, the air locks."There was apop of static. "Apologies, Chief," Cortana replied. "I've spun off a dedicatedcopy to... to... speak with you."John thought she had already made a copy to talk directly with him. What had happenedto it?
"Override30 the air lock safeties, Cortana. Open the external and repair bay doors.""Working, Chief. There's too much system COM traffic. So many of us. Near saturationlevel. Have to fight to get... Stand by..."An explosion appeared a kilometer away along the far wall. The Lotus antitank minebecame a blossom of flame and black smoke that drifted and diffused31 and left aspiderweb of cracks on the meter-thick translucent32 section.
But the window held.
That Lotus antitank mine could have sheared33 through that wall even if it had beenreinforced steel, but this wall had re.mained in one piece.
They were stuck inside.
Three hundred meters to the window.
"Cortana!"In John's peripheral34 vision he saw clouds of Banshees and Ghost fliers gaining on them.
"Cortana—it's now or never!
""In ..." Cortana's voice was faint. "Intersystem failure 08934-EE. Global system error 9845-W. Resetting35. Inner doors open. Override in progress. System lockdo—"The COM went dead.
A hundred meters away, beyond the cracked window, the atmosphere turned white for a split second then cleared. Spaced324HALO: FIRST STRIKEevery twenty meters along the bay walls, the air lock doors were opening. Beyond, stars shone upon velvet36 black.
Fred and Will's Banshees appeared off John's starboard ca.nard. John pointed37 and together they dived, accelerating toward a bull's-eye pattern of cracks on the translucentportion of the wall.
That web of fissures38 spread: fingers that stretched and split along the length of thewindow... slowed and stopped.
John fired the Banshee's plasma6 cannons39. Fred opened fire as well, and four blobs ofplasma splashed across the glassy surface fifty meters away.
The window flexed40, crackled, tiny flakes41 popped off... but the translucent materialremained stubbornly intact.
John was thirty meters from the surface—he'd have to veer42 off now, or impact upon it. He gritted43 his teeth and braced himself.
Ten meters.
The window's smooth surface flashed into a jigsaw44 mosaic45. The squealing46 of glass over glass filled the air. It shattered.
The entire length crumbled47 and instantly blasted into the vacuum of space—swept out bythe pressurized atmosphere fill.ing the interior of the station.
John tried to maneuver16 the Banshee. He bounced into the repair bay, rolled the craft over and upright—fell off, tumbled though the air lock . . . and drifted away into the darkness of space.
He flailed48 his limbs in the zero gravity, and the tether on his belt snapped taut49. He recoiled50 back toward the Banshee. Linda held on with one hand and held out the other tohim. He climbed back aboard and tapped the thrusters to stabilize51 their pitch and yaw.
Behind them the station vented52 gas as well as the bodies of Covenant1 Engineers, Grunts,Jackals, and Elites53. Clouds of metal junk bled from the ruptures54. Tendrils of steam flashfroze into glittering ice crystals.
The Covenant fleet moved as well—some cruisers closed with the station, others movedfarther away. There were five hun.dred alien warships55 without leadership from theircommand-and-control center, and they reminded John of motes56 of dust in a sunbeam— silently floating in every direction.
ERIC NYLUND325John spotted57 a dropship drifting a kilometer ahead, dead in space.
He clicked his COM once and dropped a NAV marker onto a Covenant craft. Fred andWill's acknowledgment lights winked on.
John pulsed the Banshee's engines once and let its inertia58 carry them to the dropship. He hoped the rest of the Covenant Fleet was trying to figure out what had just happened...and not paying any attention to one more piece of debris59 floating in space.
The Banshees gently impacted onto the tumbling dropship. John grasped the hull60, and Linda scrabbled over him, opened the port access hatch, and entered. Fred and Willdrifted closer, and John helped them aboard.
He hesitated and took another look at the Covenant fleet. Hundred of ships withoutcontrol. But how long would that last? Even if the station's reactors61 chained and blew...the Covenant still had enough force to destroy Earth's defenses and burn it to a cinder62.
All they had done was buy a little time: as long as it took for someone to take charge ofthe Covenant fleet. That wasn't enough, but John wasn't sure what else to do.
He crawled to the hatch, entered the ship, and sealed it be.hind18 him.
Linda stood at the pilot's console while Fred stood beside her manning the ops station. An engine schematic appeared in front of Linda, and power pulsed through its plasma coils.The interior lights dimly glowed.
"Where to, Chief?" Linda asked.
"Away," John said and looked at the system NAV display. He pointed to the tiny moon orbiting the nearby planet. "Get us into the moon's shadow. But slow. Try not to attract any attention."His countdown timer read 5:12. They might still have time.:12. They might still have time.
"Roger," Linda said.
The dropship spun about and gently moved away from the sta.tion, almost imperceptiblyaccelerating toward the tiny moon covered with black and silver pockmarks.
Fred hunched63 over his console. Thick spiky64 lines representing the Covenant F-through K-bands fluxed65 and flickered66 on his screen. "Covenant COM channels are jammed," hereported.
326HALO: FIRST STRIKE"Communiques and queries67 to and from every ship in the fleet wondering what the hell isgoing on. And the station's COM channels are all full of those copied Cortanas ... and she'sjust repeating different system error codes.""What's this?" John asked, leaning over Fred's shoulder. He pointed to one COM band with only a single spike68.
Fred looked at the Covenant calligraphy69 for a long moment, and then inhaled70 sharply. "Ifthe translation software is working right," he whispered, "that's the E-band... it's one ofours."Fred snapped on the external speakers. Six tones beeped, stopped, and then repeated.
"Oly Oly Oxen Free," John breathed. "Send the countersign71, Fred.""Aye, Chief. Sending now."Who could have sent that signal? There was no other living Spartan72 in this system. Unless it was Dr. Halsey and Kelly. Had they somehow tracked them?
"It's about time you showed up." The drawling voice of Admi.ral Whitcomb was loud andclear over the COM. "Switch to en.cryption scheme 'Rainbow.' "John nodded to Fred, who ran a shunt from the Covenant COM into the data port in theback of his helmet. "Decryption online," Fred reported.
"Admiral," John said. "With all due respect, sir, why are you here?""Lieutenant73 Haverson suggested we drop out of Slipspace on the edge of this system— hide in the Oort cloud and gather a lit.tle intel." The Admiral sighed. "Well, I took one look and figured that even if you took out that station... hell, son, there'd still be a coupleof hundred Covenant ships within spittin' distance of Earth. Me getting there and warning them about it wouldn't make a lick of difference. So I'm going to do something about ithere and now. You've done your part, Chief. Leave the rest to me."There was a pause, then the Admiral asked in a low, serious tone, "You did get it donee Admiral asked in a low, serious tone, "You did get it done,didn't you, son? You got that station rigged to blow?""Yes, sir." John linked his mission timer to the COM. "Four minutes thirty-two secondsand counting."ERIC NYLUND327"Perfect, Master Chief. Bring 'em on back to the barn. Stay on your heading. Your instinctsare dead on. We're on the far side of the moon and are waiting for you."John motioned to Linda to increase their velocity74. She pushed the acceleration75 stripe tothree quarters power.
"Waiting, sir?""Whitcomb over and out." The COM went dead.
John looked to Will, Fred, and Linda, and they all shrugged76.
He pushed the acceleration stripe to full velocity, and the dropship entered a high orbitaround the splotchy moon, arcing around to the far side, where the battered77 Gettysburgwaited for them.
But only the Gettysburg.
"Where's Ascendant Justice?" John whispered.
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收听单词发音
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1
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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plumes
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| 羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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swooped
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| 俯冲，猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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plasma
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| n.血浆，细胞质，乳清 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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braced
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| adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 )；撑牢；使自己站稳；振作起来 | |
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9
slump
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| n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌 | |
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plummet
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| vi.(价格、水平等)骤然下跌；n.铅坠；重压物 | |
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spires
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| n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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nexus
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| n.联系；关系 | |
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mortar
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| n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合 | |
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wraith
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| n.幽灵；骨瘦如柴的人 | |
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trajectory
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| n.弹道，轨道 | |
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maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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maneuvers
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| n.策略，谋略，花招( maneuver的名词复数 ) | |
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18
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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transit
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| n.经过，运输；vt.穿越，旋转；vi.越过 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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thighs
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| n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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apex
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| n.顶点，最高点 | |
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spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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26
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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27
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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28
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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cacophony
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| n.刺耳的声音 | |
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override
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| vt.不顾，不理睬，否决；压倒，优先于 | |
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diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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translucent
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| adj.半透明的；透明的 | |
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sheared
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| v.剪羊毛( shear的过去式和过去分词 )；切断；剪切 | |
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peripheral
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| adj.周边的，外围的 | |
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resetting
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| v.重新安放或安置( reset的现在分词 )；重拨（测量仪器指针）；为（考试、测试等）出一套新题；重新安置，将…恢复原位 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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fissures
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| n.狭长裂缝或裂隙( fissure的名词复数 )；裂伤；分歧；分裂v.裂开( fissure的第三人称单数 ) | |
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39
cannons
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| n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 ) | |
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flexed
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| adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌 | |
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41
flakes
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| 小薄片( flake的名词复数 )； （尤指）碎片； 雪花； 古怪的人 | |
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veer
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| vt.转向，顺时针转，改变；n.转向 | |
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gritted
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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44
jigsaw
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| n.缕花锯，竖锯，拼图游戏；vt.用竖锯锯，使互相交错搭接 | |
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45
mosaic
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| n./adj.镶嵌细工的，镶嵌工艺品的，嵌花式的 | |
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46
squealing
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 ) | |
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47
crumbled
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| （把…）弄碎， （使）碎成细屑( crumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 衰落； 坍塌； 损坏 | |
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48
flailed
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| v.鞭打( flail的过去式和过去分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 | |
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49
taut
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| adj.拉紧的，绷紧的，紧张的 | |
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recoiled
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| v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 )；退缩；报应；返回 | |
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51
stabilize
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| vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定 | |
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52
vented
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| 表达，发泄（感情，尤指愤怒）( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
elites
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| 精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物 | |
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54
ruptures
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| n.（体内组织等的）断裂( rupture的名词复数 )；爆裂；疝气v.（使）破裂( rupture的第三人称单数 )；（使体内组织等）断裂；使（友好关系）破裂；使绝交 | |
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warships
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| 军舰，战舰( warship的名词复数 )； 舰只 | |
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motes
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| n.尘埃( mote的名词复数 )；斑点 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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59
debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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reactors
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| 起反应的人( reactor的名词复数 )； 反应装置； 原子炉； 核反应堆 | |
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62
cinder
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| n.余烬，矿渣 | |
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63
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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spiky
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| adj.长而尖的，大钉似的 | |
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fluxed
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| 熔化（flux的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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66
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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68
spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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69
calligraphy
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| n.书法 | |
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70
inhaled
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| v.吸入( inhale的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71
countersign
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| v.副署，会签 | |
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72
spartan
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| adj.简朴的，刻苦的；n.斯巴达；斯巴达式的人 | |
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73
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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74
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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75
acceleration
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| n.加速，加速度 | |
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76
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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77
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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