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〃Lisa！ Lisa； it's me！〃
〃Rick？〃 She said it low； like a prayer。 Then； wildly； 〃Rick； is it really you？〃
〃Yes！ Are you all right？〃
She suddenly sounded downcast。 〃Yes； but I think I'm the only one。〃
〃Lisa； give me your coordinates。 Send me a homing signal。〃
She waited a beat before answering。 〃No； Rick； it's far too dangerous here。 But thanks。〃
〃Damn your eyes！ I've got a fix on your signal； and I'm ing！ Now； will you help me or not？〃 She didn't say no； but she didn't say yes。
〃Besides；〃 he said jauntily； 〃what's a little danger to us？ I'll get you out of there in no time。〃 He wished he had his long white flying scarf so he could fling it back over his shoulder rakishly。
Suddenly； there was a homing signal。 〃Rick； I'm so glad it's you；〃 she said in a voice as intimate as a quiet serenade。 〃Be careful； all right？〃
Soon after； the VT dove straight down the shaft of the onetime Grand Cannon。 It went from Fighter to Guardian mode； battered by rising heat waves and running a gauntlet of radiation that would have broiled an unprotected human being instantly。
We shall live the day we dream of winning
And beginning a new life
We will win！
We must win！
She had sung it through； taking longer because of the scene played with Lynn…Kyle； and yet it hadn't been very many minutes since Minmei had begun her song。 Nevertheless； Khyron the Backstabber knew； the universe and war in particular turned upon such minutes。
He stood in his flagship； well out of the battle but within striking distance； watching the fight。 Lack of sufficient Protoculture to make his escape from the solar system had forced him to e up with a new plan； and the plan seemed more promising every moment。
Grel； his second in mand； watched Khyron worriedly。 Khyron had shown no aversion to the singing； the kissing。 His handsome face shone； his eyes alight with the gleam Grel had seen there when Khyron used the forbidden leaves of the Flower of Life。
〃What is your plan now； my lord？〃 Grel ventured。
Khyron was still watching Minmei。 〃Mm。 Pretty little thing。〃
Grel couldn't help bursting out； 〃What？〃
Khyron looked at him coldly。 〃Get me the position of Breetai's flagship。〃 Then he was smiling up dreamily at Minmei's projecbeam image once more。
Grel didn't know what to say and； moreover； knew that saying the wrong thing to the Backstabber had cut short quite a number of otherwise promising careers。 He couldn't help blurting； though； 〃But my lord！ Breetai is one of us！ You cannot do th…〃
Khyron whirled on him in a murderous rage。 〃How dare you？ You will follow my orders or else！〃
Grel turned very pale and hurried to obey。 Khyron turned back to his enjoyment of the song。
But his enjoyment was sinister。 He felt a physical； languorous pleasure as he concluded that he was at last ing to a clear understanding of a pure true definition of conquest； something more pleasure…giving； if he was right； than all the victories； booty； and worlds the Zentraedi had ever taken。
In seconds； Khyron's flagship was underway； followed by the tiny flotilla of those still loyal to him。
People in the control booth and even members of the band had sent the inquiry up the line： Shouldn't Minmei go to another song？
In the midst of the most important battle of his career； Gloval had taken time to give the order personally： no！ This song； this song was the one！
Now； with Minmei's voice ringing through it everywhere that battle damage hadn't silenced the PA system； the SDF…1 waded deeper and deeper into the massed Grand Fleet。 Out on the decks and outerworks； enemy fire was taking a vicious toll of the exposed attack mecha； but the crews of the war machines still kept up intense fire。
Breetai's armada had suffered badly； too； but hadn't slowed。
〃Keep all power levels at maximum！〃 he bellowed as systemry and power conduits blew all about him。
His flagship and its escort； the SDF…1 side by side with them； pressed on； their volume of fire enormous； the rest of the armada striking after in a wedge； probing their way through the disorganized foe。
Many of the smaller fightercraft and mecha on both sides had been snuffed out of existence by the overwhelming volleys being traded； most of the rest had quit the battle's fairway。
〃Hell or glory！〃 cried Azonia； holding her fist aloft； ing in to shore up the alliance's badly crumpling left flank。 Her forces threw themselves into the engagement with fanatic zeal。
Dolza's faithful leapt at them with an equal thirst for death and triumph。
Inside the SDF…1； a direct hit pierced the hold in which Macross City lay。 Atmosphere roared out at once like a great river； and more missiles penetrated the hold to score direct hits on the streets of the city。 Armored curtains and sealing sections swung into place at once； but still there was grievous damage to the city。 Rebuilt a half dozen times； it was fast being rubble again。 Loss of life was relatively low because most of the inhabitants were on emergency duty elsewhere and practically all the rest were in shelters。
Just before the last curtain rolled into place to seal the partment and allow it to be repressurized； a last heavy enemy missile somehow sizzled through the gap。 By chance； it found a shelter in a direct hit； and the carnage was nothing that belonged in a sane universe。
Repair and rescue crews and medical teams wanted the ship to drop back to give them time to do their work。 Gloval bit his lower lip but refused； perhaps all that was left of humanity was aboard the SDF…1； and if Dolza wasn't smashed now； in this moment； none of them would survive。
The request was denied。 The battle raged on。 It was not the first agonizing time Gloval had felt himself something of a villain。
CHAPTER TWENTY
Aside from Gloval； very few of our senior military people seem to be able to grasp the simple truth： The Zentraedi do not truly understand Robotechnology。 They use it without prehending how it works； as many humans use television； laser devices； or aircraft without the slightest idea what makes those technologies function。 The Zentraedi were given their weapons and equipment by the enigmatic Robotech Masters。 Their contro