ontrol systems in his Robotech ship made decisions and blew off the armor and pods with which it had been retrofitted。 Somehow； the burning ponents were jettisoned too。
The Battloid folded； elongated here； shortened there…mechamorphosed。 And in a moment； a sleek； conventional VT rode the thickening air down toward Earth。
Seems to be handling all right； he thought。 Maybe I wasn't hit as bad as I thought。
The ship had automatically assumed a belly…flop attitude for atmospheric reentry。 The speed of its descent reddened its ablative shielding a bit； torching the air around it。
Oops！ Better activate heat shields！ In another moment a protective blister of heat…reflective armor； bearing the Skulls' Jolly Roger insignia； slid into place over the canopy。 Other vulnerable ponents were similarly protected。
The heat in the cockpit began dropping at once； and Rick tried to assess his situation。 I'm still alive。 That covered just about all the important stuff as far as most pilots were concerned。
Minmei was still singing。 He recalled those last words he had exchanged with her in his quarters as the sirens shrilled for a VT hot scramble。
You can do it； Minmei。 Just remember： Today you sing for everyone。
But …I want you to understand； Rick。 I'm really singing for you。
And then she had given him a kiss that he had felt to his toes； a kiss that made him feel he didn't need a VT in order to fly。
I love you； he told her； l love you； she said。
But it was really good…bye； and they had both known it。
He shook off the recollection； that was the sort of stroll down memory lane that got pilots killed。 He was deep in the atmosphere now； his VT trimmed； seeming to respond well。 He slowed； bringing the wings out to minimal sweep； rolling back the heat shields； for a look around。 Night lay over the wasteland； and clouds closed in above。
He tried to figure out why the VT was descending in the first place； why it seemed to be homing in on something。 Then he noticed that the mo system had picked up a signal and remembered that he had given it a certain task。
He swept in lower over the ravaged surface； trying to get a stronger signal。 The utter horror of what had been done to his planet made him lock his mind to the job at hand and that alone。 His mo equipment had picked up emanations of some kind on the designated frequency。
He turned and banked； climbed through the smoky night。 A minute of maneuvering went by； then two； and as if by magic he was rewarded with a signal that came in five by five…perfectly。
〃I say again： This is mander Hayes； Alaska Base。 Anyone receiving this transmission； please respond。〃
There was a note of fear in her voice that he had never heard before。 Something in it brought home to him forcefully how important she had bee to him。
Farewell； Minmei。
He was so eager to reply； to tell her he was there； that he fumbled in opening his transmitter and ignored all proper procedure。
〃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 control over the Zentraedi is due； in part； to the giants' own ignorance。
This means that the Zentra