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The victorious Battloid image's head turret swung back； and a little figure that looked suspiciously like Rick Hunter appeared； crying the word 〃STRONG！！〃 as a tiny Minmei raced up to throw her arms around his neck； kissing him and kicking her feet。 The real Rick Hunter； still standing on the staircase； edged back in order to be more inconspicuous and thought dark thoughts about the sense of humor of video game designers。
An onlooker was saying to Max； 〃I dunno how you pulled that off； buddy。〃
〃Aw； there were a couple of tight spots in the middle and near the end； but all in all； it wasn't too tough。〃
〃Oh！〃 Miriya breathed。 The insult of it。 So she'd presented him with little challenge； eh？ She rose； turning on one booted heel。
Max forgot his warm victory feelings and plunged after her。 He caught her wrist； not knowing how close he was to getting a fist in the throat。 〃Wait； I've been wanting to speak to you for a long time。 I think you're wonderful； and I want to get to know you better。 This is my only chance to get your name and phone number。〃
His grip was very strong but not painful； his palm very warm。 For a moment Miriya felt as though her wrist were burning。
〃My name is Miriya；〃 she said coldly。 〃And I don't currently have a phone number。〃 She turned to go； tugging at his grip。 The feel of his skin against hers made her feel a typical Zentraedi loathing of contact between the sexes but stirred something else； something she couldn't put a name to。
Now that she had met her archenemy； Miriya was confused。 Killing him on the spot was out of the question； she suddenly didn't know how to cope with her mission。 What he said about her brought back the strange； blurry feelings that the Micronian food gave her。
Max kept hold of her wrist。 〃Then； would you meet me in the park this evening？ By the Peace Fountain； at nine o'clock？〃
Fool！ You've sealed your fate！ she thought。 Somehow the thought of slaying him made her angry rather than exultant。 〃Oh； whatever you want！ Just let me go！〃
His fingers loosened； and she snatched her wrist away； saying an icy； 〃Thank you。〃 Then she whirled and ran； fleet as a deer； driven by a storm of conflicting emotions。
Max watched admiringly； breathing； 〃Isn't she something？ Whew！〃
Looking down from the staircase； Rick silently wished Max better luck than he was having。
CHAPTER SIX
When you're caught up in a war and thinking mostly about the enemy； it's easy to forget that there are other fronts on which you should at least attempt to strike a truce。
Lisa Hays； Recollections
In a corridor deep in UEDC Headquarters； Lisa Hayes sat fretfully； shifting and fidgeting。 She heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see her father。 〃Well； I talked to them；〃 he said。
Tension twisted her middle。 〃Did they make any decisions？〃
〃You can never be certain about these things； but I think they're ready to accept the idea of peace talks。〃
She drew an excited breath； then smiled at him fondly。 〃I'm so proud of you for having the courage to take on this fight！〃 She stood on tiptoe to kiss his cheek。
Later； as they sat on an upholstered bench in a lift car； she asked him； 〃Is anything wrong； Father？〃 He had been staring at her strangely for minutes。
〃I've been thinking of how you remind me of your mother。 And how proud she'd be。〃
Shy blushed； very pleased。 〃Thank you； Father。〃
He shocked her by saying； 〃So； tell me how your love life's going these days。 Are you going out with anyone special？ Anybody I should know about？〃
It took her so off guard that she found herself admitting； 〃Well； there is a young man。。。〃
〃He's military； of course？〃 her father said。
〃Yes； he is。 In fact； he's the one who rescued me from the alien ship。〃
Admiral Hayes nodded slowly。 〃Ah yes。 Sounds like a good man。〃
They walked and chatted as they hadn't done in more than three years。 The admiral led Lisa through the enormous base； ing at last to a vertical shaft nearly a mile across。 It was lined with operations ports； energy systems； and power routing。 High above； at ground level； a faceted dome like a cyclopean lens covered the shaft。
〃Was there something in particular you wanted to show me out here？〃 After the relative confinement of the base passageways； it did feel like being outside。
Her father led her out to the end of a gantry overlooking the cavernous shaft。 They could see down for miles； see up almost as far。
He waved a hand at it。 〃I wanted you to see the Grand Cannon； Lisa。 Before we enter into any peace negotiations with the aliens； we're going to fire it at them。〃
She couldn't believe her ears。 〃What？〃 The cry seemed lost in the abyss that was the cannon's barrel。
Admiral Hayes wore a grim look； his strong jaw set。 〃Even though the satellite reflector system isn't in place yet； we expect to wipe out a large segment of the enemy fleet by pulling off a surprise attack spearheaded by a volley from the Grand Cannon。 Once they've seen its power； we think they'll enter the negotiations in good faith。〃
The original plan had been to put huge orbiting mirrors in place to direct the cannon's bolts as needed； otherwise； its field of fire was very narrow indeed。 But with the alien warships so numerous and so close to Earth； it was really only a matter of time before part of their fleet drifted into range。
Lisa spat； 〃This Grand Cannon probably couldn't wipe out a small division of Battlepods； much less one of their nine…mile…long mother ships！ Don't you understand？ We have to approach them without trying to escalate the war！〃
〃Some of them have defected to us already！ I'm sure the Zentraedi will listen to our peace proposals without the use of weapons。〃
The admiral looked out at the barrel of the gun。 〃Lisa； how can you be so naive？〃 He turned to her。 〃The only thing a warlike power understands is a demonstration of greater power！ We can't let the Zentraedi mistake our peace overtures for a sign of weakness。 We must deal from strength！〃
He paced to the observation platform at the very end of the gantry； hands clasped behind him。 〃How can you expect peaceful intentions from a race bred and trained for nothing but war？ Even if thei