本文節(jié)選自《Battlefleet Gothic: Armada》，該譯文作為練習僅為個人與交流使用，不用作商業(yè)用途。

“我相信您會喜歡上我們的船的，上將?！?柯'歐張開雙手向著與他同行的鳩'拉海軍上將做了個開懷的姿勢，后者臉上的不快之情已是溢于言表，“您也許會認為它在歷史和傳承上有所欠缺，的確，貴方的制式標準給我留下了深刻的印象。我無法想象如此平凡無奇的一艘星艦會出現(xiàn)在你們皇帝那光榮的艦隊之中，但是這艘船將會為我們的信念效勞?！?/p>

"I trust you find our vessel to your tastes, Admiral." The Kor'o gestured broadly with his open hands as the visibly uncomfortable Gue'la Admiral strode alongside him. "It lacks some of the… history, heritage you might say, of our own vessels, but indeed, I am impressed by your standards here. I cannot imagine such a plain vessel finding a place in His own glorious fleet, but it will serve for our confidence."

“正如您所期翼的那樣，” 柯'歐操著毫無冒犯之意的口吻接著把話說了下去，“如果一個人選擇視若無睹的話，那么你不能總是強迫他去看些什么?！?這兩個人——確切的說是兩個種族——互相凝視了片刻，柯'歐沉著而又鎮(zhèn)定，上將焦慮而又煩躁，后者不知道該如何回答鈦星人的話語。這個氣氏令上將渾身不適、冷汗浹流，然后鈦星人轉(zhuǎn)過身去，邁著闊步沿著行廊繼續(xù)前行。

"As you wish Admiral." Continued the Kor'O without the slightest hint of offence, "if a man chooses to be blind, you cannot always force him to see." The two men, the two races indeed, stared at one another for a moment, the Kor’O cool and confident, the Admiral nervous and agitated, uncertain as to how to respond. His companion allowed him to sweat in his discomfort for a moment longer before gleefully, turning away in a swift, sweeping stride and continuing down the corridor.?

“來吧，” 柯'歐舉手示意，“您得見見我們得領袖?！?/p>

"Come," beckoned the Kor'O, "you must meet our leader."

鈦族的船長將一扇橢圓形的大門推了開來，并示意拉達上將進去。拉達走了進去，他希望柯'歐也跟著進來，但是那個鈦星人并沒有這么做，上將只聽見身后傳來了房門關閉時發(fā)出的一陣沉悶的聲響。正當拉達發(fā)現(xiàn)屋子里只剩他一個人的時候，一個瘦削的鈦星人從房間遠端的一道垂簾之后現(xiàn)身了。

The Tau captain pushed open a wide set of oval doors, and ushered Admiral Rada through. Rada stepped in, expecting the Kor'O to follow, but instead heard a dull?click as the doors were pushed shut behind him. Instead, a second, wizened Tau emerged from behind a row of curtains at the far end of the room in which Rada now?found himself.

“您好啊，” 新來者如此說道，“我是銨'歐·鈦·科利斯，我向您表示歡迎，達拉上將。相信您不會介意我的侍從在場吧，我已經(jīng)上了年紀，所以時不時需要他們幫我一把?！?只見兩名火戰(zhàn)士于從房門兩側的隱蔽處步身前出。拉達變得愈發(fā)遲疑，他那傷痕累累的面龐甚是不悅。兩名火戰(zhàn)士平靜地頜首示意，然后回身筆直地站在房門兩側。

"Greetings," said the newcomer, "I am Aun'O Tau Kelith, and I bid you welcome Admiral Rada. I trust you do not object to the presence of my companions, but I am aged and sometimes find their assistance necessary." At this, two Fire Warriors stepped forward from their unseen positions either side of the door. Rada’s increasing uncertainly and discomfort remained writ large across his scarred features. The two Fire Warriors nodded calmly at the Admiral before stepping back to stand discreetly beside the door. The Admiral remained silent.

上將一言不發(fā)。

The Admiral remained silent.

“我記得你的很多同伴如今正置于我們的照看之下，達拉上將，是這樣吧？” 鈦星人的表情從先前的平靜自若變得滿是狐疑，他的腰身也突然俯得更彎了。

"I understand that a number of your own companions are in our care, Admiral Rada, are they not?" The Tau’s previously serene expression suddenly became intensely quizzical, just as his posture suddenly became more stooped.

“沒錯，鈦星人，我的許多船員都被你們捉走了。” 拉達明顯被鈦星人的舉動惹惱了，他的話語中滿是憤懣之情。

"A number of my sailors were taken prisoner, Tau, yes." Rada was clearly annoyed at the Tau’s turn of phrase, and his tone did little to hide his anger.

“我很抱歉，他們當中有一位在戰(zhàn)斗中受了重傷，但我們無法對他進行治療。如果您能好心地向我們分享一些你們種族的生理信息的話，那么在將來我們就可以避免這種不必要的損失了，上將?！?對于鈦星人的提議，上將咕噥了一聲以示拒絕。

"I regret that one of these men was rather badly injured after our struggle and we had not the means to treat him. Perhaps if you would be so kind as to share a little medical information about your race with us, we can avoid such needless losses in future, Admiral." Rada just grunted in disapproval at the Tau’s latest suggestion.

“好吧，也許下次吧，上將，” 鈦星人一點一點地拖著腳步，向著大廳另一端的垂簾走去，“我很高興，至少您愿意來我們這里討論您戰(zhàn)友們的將來。”

"Well, perhaps another time, Admiral." The Tau shuffled away a little, towards the distant curtains at the end of the hall. "I am glad at least you have been able to visit us here to discuss the future of your comrades."

拉達信心十足地往前邁了一步，他看到了一個掌握會談控制權的機會。

Rada stepped forward confidently, seeing a chance to seize control of the conversation.

“我也很高興，鈦星人，至少你們愿意向至仁至慈的神皇陛下獻降了，而我則是陛下榮耀的代理人，” 拉達暫停了片刻，期望能從鈦星人臉上看到和他之前那樣的不安。然而鈦星人根本不為所動，于是拉達哼了一下鼻子以示嗤笑，然后繼續(xù)說了下去，“鑒于停戰(zhàn)協(xié)議業(yè)已生效，我亦被告知可以讓你和你的族群安全地離開這個世界。我只要求你們釋放那些被你們抓走的俘虜?！?/p>

"And I, Tau, am glad at least that you have finally decided to offer your surrender to His most benevolent self, and to I as His honoured representative." Rada paused for a second, hoping to see the Tau squirm as he himself had squirmed moments before. The alien seemed implacable, however, and Rada simply gave a snort of derision before returning to the matter at hand. "Since an armistice is now in force, I have also been instructed to offer you and your race safe passage away from this world. I require only the release of those prisoners you have taken."

“噢，不，上將，您誤會了。我們是代表您的船員邀請您前來此處的。您的部下對您評價甚高，達拉上將，他們要求我們對您務必禮數(shù)周全。您瞧，您的船員希望您能夠和他們一起…”

"Oh no, Admiral, you misunderstand. We have invited you here at the behest of your crew. They think very highly of you, Admiral Rada, and they have asked that we extend you that same respect. You see, your crew wish for you to join them here…"

對于這些話語，拉達幾乎充耳未聞，當那個年邁的鈦星人拉開位于房間最遠處的露臺前的垂簾時，他的臉色變得驚恐不安，疑怒交加的拉達準備擊倒銨'歐，然而當他接近那個異形時，上將的步子慢了下來，他吃驚得簡直無法相信。從他現(xiàn)在所站之處，拉達可以從露臺之上俯瞰下方的中庭。他的部下——那些曾經(jīng)是帝國海軍忠實海員的部下——正成百上千地聚集在中庭。他們和人數(shù)相仿的鈦星人打成了一片，前者脫下了他們的制服，然后從后者手中接過了長袍，雙方盡情地擁抱著，彼此之間相互交換著禮物。在中庭的外部有一扇巨大的觀星牖，從那里望出去，拉達可以看見他的戰(zhàn)艦——現(xiàn)在它已經(jīng)被密云一般的穿梭機和交通艇包圍著，鈦星人和人類一起正在在兩艘艦船之間輸送人員。在拉達上將座艦的艦橋之上，古老的天鷹徽記已經(jīng)不見蹤影，取而代之的是一排又一排的異形標記——這些標記的式樣和印在他手下那些最出色的軍官胸前的一摸一樣。

The words barely registered with Rada, though his face had begun to turn to consternation as the aged Tau drew open the curtains around the balcony at the farthest edge of the room. Rada was incredulous, fuming with rage and ready to strike down the Aun’O, but as he approached the alien his pace slowed, his face turned to utter shock and he froze in disbelief. From where he now stood, Rada could see over the balcony and into the atrium beneath. Hundreds of his own men, once loyal men of the Imperial Navy, were gathered, milling about with equal crowds of Tau, shedding their uniforms and taking up robes offered to them by the Tau, exchanging gifts and embracing heartily. Beyond this atrium, through a vast starpane, Rada could see his own vessel now surrounded by a cloud of shuttles and boats, Tau and human alike, ferrying crews between the two vessels. Atop Rada’s own bridge, the ancient Aquila’s were gone, replaced with row upon row of alien icons, the same icons he could see now pinned upon the breasts of some of his finest officers.

“…加入我們的帝國?！?銨'歐止言于此。

"…within our Empire," concluded the Aun’O.