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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 effete tones he used when trying to get his point across to stubborn Zentraedi。 〃I believe it would act as a kind of psychological shock to all the Grand Fleet attack forces； rendering them less able to fight。〃
She felt like laughing hysterically； there were some critics who would have agreed with Exedore's evaluation of her acting ability。
But outside the viewport； Earth smoldered。 〃Well； if it will help。〃
The clouds were already thick in the night sky over Alaska； lit from below by an infernal glow。
The base throbbed around her； preparing for the monumental cannon shot。 Lisa stared at her screens and waited to die。
At the cannon's base； a small city of Robotechnology； subatomic fires whirled； energy crackled and struggled to get free。
Admiral Hayes heard the reports in stony silence。 This would probably be the last； possibly the only human shot in the battle； on the last day of the human race； but somebody was going to be very sorry they had ever e seeking battle。 To go down fighting was much better than simply dying。
The cannon's huge lens； lit with targeting beams； made the undersides of the black clouds closing in on the world red。
Dolza looked around suddenly at an emergency munication tone。 〃Your Excellency！ We've detected a high…energy reaction ing from the third planet！〃
But before Dolza could ask for more data or give a single order； hell spewed forth。
It had been apparent from the start that an energy gun buried vertically in a planetary surface would have a very limited field of fire。 The planned system of satellite reflectors was supposed to have solved that； but interim measures had been put in place。 They showed their worth now。
A beam as hot as the heart of a star sprang up from the devastated Earth。 Widened by the lens； it lanced up into the Grand Fleet。 A hundred thousand ships disappeared in an instant； burned out of existence like insects in a flamethrower's blast。
Brute servos tilted the lens； angling the beam。 No one had been sure whether or not a shot like that would violate all the mathematics of the Grand Cannon and blow the installation to kingdom e； but it turned out that somehow everything held。
Like a flashlight of plete and all…enpassing destruction； the Grand Cannon's volley swiveled through the blockading fleet。
Ships were simply there and then not。 Left behind were only ponent particles and the furious forces of destruction。 In that single attack； the human race destroyed more warcraft than the Zentraedi had lost in any war in their entire history。
〃The enemy ships are just disappearing； sir；〃 Vanessa said。
Gloval and Exedore stared at the screen； watching the angling and swinging of the Grand Cannon。 〃Alaska Base survived！〃 Gloval exulted。 The Terrible Trio let out whoops and laughter。
〃Lisa；〃 Claudia whispered。
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Well； that was when I decided that ol' Vance needed to ease out of being Minmei's manager and into a new setup。 I mean； hey： what does twenty…five percent of Armageddon amount to in real money？
Vance Hasslewood； Those Were the Days
Minmei's backup band and roadies （if that was the proper name for them； they played only one town； but they clocked more miles than any other act in history） were used to taking their time setting up； running sound checks； getting mentally prepared for a concert or recording session。 None of that today； though。
RDF techs and other personnel threw the setup together in a few minutes flat； a briefing officer making it clear to the musicians just how important this concert would be。 The only one to object； a keyboard man who wasn't happy with the way his stacks had been arranged； was menaced into silence not by the military people but by the other band members。 Everyone knew what would happen if the Grand Fleet carried the day。
In her dressing room； Minmei tried to keep her mind off the greater issues and simply concentrate on her performance。 Humming； she leaned toward her brightly lit makeup mirror； examining one eyelash critically。 It wasn't that she was unaware of the horrifying events taking place all around the SDF…1； it was just that she could do nothing about them except clear her mind and sing her very best。
There was a timid knock at her door； and three visitors entered。 〃Hi； Minmei；〃 said a rough but friendly voice。
Minmei smiled into her mirror at the reflection of Bron and the other two Zentraedi spies。
〃We understand the pressure you're under； Minmei；〃 Rico began。
〃Going into battle can be very； um； taxing；〃 Konda added helpfully。
〃We just wanted you to know we're with you 100 percent and we know you can do it；〃 Bron told her； blushing。 The other two nodded energetically。
〃Oh！〃 She turned to them and came to her feet。 She had spoken to them only a few times； even including the official hearings and meetings。
But she felt a kinship to them； a bond of empathy。 Song had made them leave behind everything they knew； made them risk the unknown and mit themselves to a new life； even though that life held dangers and frightening enigmas。 In that； they were very much like Minmei herself。
She put her hands out to them； palm to palm。 〃Thank you； Konda…Bron； Rico。 You're very kind。〃
Konda cupped his hands around hers； and the other two stacked theirs gently on top。 〃You three are such wonderful men。〃
〃Minmei；〃 came the stage manager's voice。 〃Two minutes。〃
She kissed each of them on the cheek； then she was gone in a swirl of long； raven hair。
Instead of the seats of the Star Bowl amphitheater or a glass wall that looked on a recording studio's engineering booth； Minmei and her band gazed at a great； concave sweep of viewport。 The enemy warfleet was deployed before them。 Below were the battle fortress's upper works； and beyond the bow； the curve of the blasted Earth。
bat craft were swarming from the super dimensional fortress； the warships of Breetai's armada were forming up around and behind it； battlewagons and flagships at the lead for a do…or…di