traedi mecha to smithereens and going on to take out another while the first two explosions were still ballooning。
Suddenly； the pods were like so many fat pigeons before the attack of a rocket…driven hawk。
Rick's initial success was so overwhelming； so pronounced and irresistible； that he got careless。
After seeing a dozen and more of the ambushers go up in flames； he began the switch to Guardian mode。 But he'd forgotten what a hot ride he had； and the ship's sudden retro thrust almost put his head through the instrument panel and split his thinking cap down the middle。
He barely recovered； shaking his head； the breath knocked from him by the strain of the safety harness across his torso。 Trembling； he got control of himself and his ship and pressed the fight again。
And once more the Zentraedi pods were fat targets at his mercy。 He went swooping in at them； the VT laying out a staggering volume of fire； skeeting pods as if they were clay targets。
Khyron had seen enough； he had no desire to go up against this bewilderingly fast； fearsomely armed intruder。 He made sure his own withdrawal was well under
way before he ordered his troops back。
It didn't mean his thirst for revenge was slaked； of course； if anything； it was worse。 It was a constant torment now； it would be until he destroyed the enemy insects once and for all。
Max's report came over the bridge speakers。 〃The enemy has broken contact and withdrawn。 The shuttle has sustained minimal damage and is continuing on。
〃With your permission； I am returning to the SDF…1 with the remaining escort ships； due to damage suffered during the attack。 Lieutenant Hunter will escort the shuttle to Earth。〃
Gloval granted permission。 To Claudia's doubtful look； he responded； 〃That armored Veritech has so much speed and firepower； it's the equal of ten regular fighters。〃
And a thousand more like it wouldn't put us on an equal footing with our foe； he thought to himself。 Still； we must have as many as we can； as fast as we can！
Sammie stretched and yawned。 〃I'm exhausted！ I wish mander Hayes was back。〃
Claudia glared at her。 〃We almost lost her permanently with that code snafu of yours！〃
Sammie looked dismayed； young and tearful； she was even more upset by the danger to Lisa than by Claudia's temper； which could lead to very serious problems for anyone who angered the bridge officer。
But Claudia softened after a moment。 After all； Sammie had pulled things out of the fire。
〃That's okay； kiddo；〃 Claudia said； turning back to her console。 〃Everybody learns from mistakes。〃
Gloval thought about that； silently gazing through the forward viewport。 Did that apply to the Zentraedi； too？ And the UEDC rulers？
Could they all be convinced the war was a catastrophic mistake？
The protective shielding swung back to show Lisa a passenger partment that seemed unaffected by the battle。 She was still a little winded and bruised from the tossing around she had taken in the padded； armored cocoon。
The shuttle pilot had kept her abreast of the battle and she felt a bit limp with relief。 It was so vital that she get to Earth； that she speak for peace…long ago she had resigned herself to the likelihood that she would die in war； but to have died at that moment was a tragedy too vast to contemplate。
〃mander Hayes；〃 the pilot's voice came over the inter。 〃We have a mo call for you from Lieutenant Hunter； who's now flying escort for us。 I've patched it through。〃
So Rick was the one who had ridden to the rescue in the armored VT； she had hoped it was and yet had feared for his life all through the fight。 She picked up the handset。
Armored panels were sliding back from all the viewports。 She was looking out at the humpbacked new…generation Veritech。 〃Lisa； are you all right？〃 she heard him say。
〃Yes。 Because you came to help。〃 She saw him through the VT's canopy； looking at her worriedly。
I was never cut out for emotional drama； she thought。 I should have known I couldn't get away with a rehearsed exit speech。
〃No problem；〃 he was saying。 〃Now； what's all this about you not ing back？〃
〃There are reasons； Rick。〃
〃Even though your father's on the UEDC？〃
〃Especially because of that。 Besides； they aren't going to like what I'm going to tell them。〃
There was a choppy sensation as the shuttle entered the Earth's atmosphere。 He fumbled for something appropriate to say； knowing he had to turn back in seconds。 〃I hope you'll be safe〃 was all he could e up with。
〃Thanks。 I'm sure I'll be fine。〃
〃Um。〃 He knew the call was patched through the shuttle's system； accessible to the pilots…presuming they weren't busy with their atmospheric entry maneuver。 There's something else…sorta private。 Here； look。〃
He had fallen back； out of the pilots' line of vision； up close to the shuttle。 She could see him clearly； watching her。 She was confused。 〃What is it？〃
〃Prosigns。〃 He began flashing his VT's running lights in prosigns…brief dot…dash binations that represented whole words； for quick manual Morse code munications。 Lisa was a little rusty but found that she could read it。
LIKE YOU MUCH。 PLAIN SOMETIMES BUT BELIEVE IN YOU。 MISS YOU MUCH IF YOU DON'T RETURN。 PLEASE RETURN SOONEST。
He could read her lips； so close were VT and shuttle。
I'll try。 So long； Rick。
He threw her a salute…a joke between them； given his lack of military discipline when they had first met and clashed。
The armored VT peeled off and vectored for the SDF…1； the blue vortices of its thrusters shrinking to match flames； then disappearing。 The shuttle jostled more as it hit the denser atmosphere。
CHAPTER FOUR
I have familiarized myself with the enemy's culture； to better carry out my espionage mission。 What a repulsive； contemptible thing it is！
All seems to revolve around their grueseome； sadistic method of reproduction； and it obsesses them constantly。 The humans…Micronians…even make up false legends about it！ They immerse themselves in stories where males and females poison one another or stab themselves or simply expire from some unexplained thing called 〃pining away。〃 Or else the imaginary couples go off together and spend all their time in revolting； pointless intimacies。
Our enemies languish in these falsehoods the way we might enjoy a hot soak at the end of a long campaign。
What perversion！ Truly； this is a species that must be exterminated！
Miriya Parino； from her interim notes for an Intel report to the Zentraedi High mand
She was striking enough to draw stares even in the crowded Macross plaza； where people were usually in a hurry and some of the more attractive women in the dimensional fortress were to be seen。
Boots clicking on the swirling mosaics of the plaza； the green…dyed hair flowing with the speed of her walk and the light air currents of the ship's circulation blowers； she looked neither right nor left。 People made way for her； she was barely aware of their existence； even that of the men who looked at her so admiringly。
Miriya； greatest bat pilot of her race； exulted a bit。 I've finally discovered one of the reasons these Micronians have developed such amazing skill in handling their mecha！ It wasn't the reason she had e to the SDF…1 as a spy； but it was a step in understanding her quarry； and that was elating。 The intelligence data would also be of interest to the Zentraedi High mand； another coup to her credit。
Not that Miriya needed one。 As a demigoddess of battle； she was without equal； her kills and victories far outnumbering her nearest rival's。 She had lost only once in her life； and had submitted to micronization and e to the SDF…1 to make amends for that。
Miriya left the street and its EVE noonday； entering the dark and blinking world she had only recently discovered。 All through the media…game arcade； people stood or sat hunched toward the glowing screens； playing against the machines。
The screen…lit faces of the players were so intent； their movements so deft and quick…what could account for it other than military indoctrination and the hunger for bat？ What other motive could there be for the Micronians' relentless practice？ They were so highly motivated that they even subsidized their own training； feeding money into the machines。
The young ones were the best and most diligent； of course。 By the time they reach maturity； they wild be superb warriors！ she thought。 This； even though the very concept of human reproduction； the parents…child…adult cycle； made her feel queasy and dizzy。 The discovery of that vileness； as she thought of it； had rendered her inert and dazed when she first stumbled on the truth of it。 But in time； bravely； she had shaken off the horror of human reproduction and resumed her search。
Miriya came to the most significant machine； though they were all cunning and instructive。 She vaulted into the little cockpit； inserting a coin in the slot。 One hand went to the stick； the other to the throttle； as she watched the screen。 Her feet settled on the foot pedals。
Her finger hovered near the weapons trigger as she waited for the game to begin。 Miriya looked around quickly to see if her nemesis was there。
She couldn't spy anyone who might be that greatest of Micronian