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di hordes。
He laughed again; a bass rumble that made the bulkheads ring。 Today humanity died。 Tomorrow the war against the Robotech Masters would begin。
Rick Hunter clutched the ledge of his viewport。 As he watched; the night side of Earth; partly obscured by the enemy fleet; lit up with a myriad of red…hot specks; the work of that first terrible salvo。
〃The whole planet;〃 he said numbly。
Minmei came up behind him; walking like a robot; in deep shock。 〃Are they all。。。are they all dead; Rick?〃
He watched the night turn red。 〃Yes; Minmei。〃
She tore her eyes away from the sight。 〃Mother。 Father。〃
〃Lisa;〃 he said very softly。 His cheeks were suddenly slick with tears。
She started to sing in a lullably voice; crooning a little love song to life and to the planet that was dying。 But it didn't last long; and soon her head was buried in her hands。
〃So this is how we end;〃 she sobbed。 〃First the Earth and then the rest of us。〃
He put a hand on her shoulder。 〃No; Minmei。 This is not the end; do you hear me?〃
He wished he could sound more convincing。 But she wasn't blind; she could see the overwhelming might preparing to turn its guns on the SDF…1 and its Zentraedi allies。
〃We still have our lives;〃 he said; shaking her shoulder a bit roughly to make her listen to him。
It was all so unfair; so hopeless。 He hadn't felt so angry and powerless since that day in Dolza's base when he and Lisa and Ben were helpless prisoners…
THAT'S IT!!!
He shook her shoulder again with a sudden new conviction。 〃It's not over yet! Listen; Minmei; I want you to go now and sing for everyone!〃
She wiped tears from her lashes。 〃Sing?〃
〃Yes。 I've got an idea。〃
The smoke clouds were already rising from the Earth; rolling to envelop it and bring on a winter that even the puters couldn't analyze reliably。
In the UEDC base's main control room; Admiral Hayes heard the report。
〃There's been no word from any other Council member; sir。 Marshal Zukav is still unconscious; and the doctors think they'll probably have to operate。 What are your orders?〃
In this election year; most of the UEDC members had been caught by surprise by the alien attack; out mending fences and fixing political support。 Of them all; only Hayes and Zukav had been present at the base when the attack came; and Zukav had suffered a coronary on the spot。
Now the reins were in Hayes's hands; but they were the reins to a planet that was more cinder than soil。
〃Damage estimate to all sectors exceeds any known scale;〃 a voice was saying quietly to one side。 〃We have indications that a few scattered groups survived the first attack。〃
The first attack; yes。 But now the enemy was no doubt preparing a second and a third…as many volleys as it took to turn Earth into a molten ball。
And so the world would end。
〃Did the Grand Cannon survive the attack?〃 he asked。
An aide was quick to answer。 〃Yes; sir。 It will still function。〃
Hayes turned to him。 〃Very good。 Then we'll begin the countdown at once; Lieutenant。〃
The aide hurried off to relay the order。 In moments; the vast base thrummed with power。
Gloval looked into the face of his onetime enemy。 Breetai stared back; and it would have been a historic moment if everyone had not been in such a hurry。
Breetai gazed down at the mustached; almost disheveled…looking little creature who had outfought and outthought the best warriors in the galaxy; Gloval looked up at a frighteningly massive fellow with a chest as thick as an ancient oak and a metal and crystal cowl covering half his skull。
They spoke with virtually no preamble; they felt they knew each other well。
〃mander Breetai; I want you to please broadcast a simultaneous transmission of Minmei's song on all of your military frequencies。〃
Breetai's single eye fixed on Gloval intently。 〃I have no objection; but what is your plan?〃
Exedore stepped into the picture to explain。 〃As yet; the soldiers in Dolza's fleet have had no contact with Micronian culture; m'lord! When exposed to the song; they will be thrown into confusion。 And it will also boost the Micronians' morale。〃
Breetai rubbed his massive jaw。 Gloval stared in fascination at the giant mauve hand; the dense black hairs on its back thick as wires。 〃That could provide us with the chance we need to catch them off guard。〃
Gloval was a bit…breathless with this alien's audacity。 He himself had been thinking more along the lines of a selective strike。 〃But…the Grand Fleet is not a force we can attack head…on; mander!〃
Breetai gave him a surprisingly winning smile; ing as it did from a cloned XT soldier whose head was half hidden by a metal and crystal sheath。 Breetai plainly savored every word。 〃Precisely; Captain Gloval。 They would never expect us to mount a surprise attack against them。〃
The main bridge hatchway slid open; and a slender figure stepped in。 Minmei looked around nervously at the mysterious landscape of dials; lights; screens; and controls。
〃Um; you wanted to see me; Captain?〃
He went to her; Exedore trotting alongside。 〃Yes; Miss Minmei。 Lieutenant Hunter has told me his plan。 We're going to use it for our counterattack。〃
Minmei glanced nervously at the munications screen; then quickly averted her eyes from the metalskulled alien who was staring at her with frank interest。
〃You will be able to sing a song for us; won't you; Minmei?〃 Exedore said anxiously。
She forced a smile。 How could you go on with life when the world had just died? Simple: You used your acting instincts; keeping introspection and sorrow damped well down。
〃Yes; of course。 Anything to help out。〃
Gloval nodded in approval。 She had barely exchanged two words with him at the wedding; but there was something about his old…world formality; a kind of lovable stuffiness; that put her at ease somehow。
〃I have one special request; Minmei;〃 Exedore put in。 〃Could you do that; er; that is; that thing that you do in all your movies? I believe it is referred to as a kiss。〃
He couldn't have surprised her much more if he had done his Minmei imitation for her。 〃I…I suppose I could。 But why do you need that?〃
Exedore dropped into the pedantic; almost e