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Robotech： Battle Cry
Book Two of the Robotech series
Copyright 1987 by Jack McKinney
arranged by dayuan ＇ robotech zone ＇
CHAPTER ONE
If there was any one thing that typified the initial stages of the First Robotech War； it was the unspoken interplay that developed between Captain Henry Gloval and the Zentraedi mander； Breetai。 In effect； both men had been created for warfare…Gloval by the Soviet GRU； and Breetai； of course； by the Robotech Masters。 When one examines the early ship's log entries of the two manders； it is evident that each man spent a good deal of time trying to analyze the personality of his opponent by way of the strategies each employed。 Breetai was perhaps at an advantage here； having at his disposal volumes of Zentraedi documents devoted to legends regarding the origin of Micronian societies。 But it must be pointed out that Breetai was severely limited by his prior conditioning in his attempts to interpret these： even Exedore； who had been bred to serve as transcultural adviser； would fail him on this front。 Gloval； on the other hand； with little knowledge of his ship and even less of his opponent； had the bined strengths of a loyal and intelligent crew to draw upon and the instincts of one who had learned to function best in situations where disinformation and speculation were the norm。 One could point to many examples of this； but perhaps none is so representative of the group mind at work inboard the SDF…1 than the Battle at Saturn's Rings。
〃Genesis；〃 History of the First Robotech War； Vol。 XVIl
Zor's ship； the SDF…1； moved through deep space like some creature loosed from an ancient sea fable。 The structural transformation the fortress had undergone at the hands of its new manders had rendered it monsterlike…an appearance reinforced by those oceangoing vessels grafted on to it like arms and the main gun towers that rose now from the body like twin heads； horned and threatening。
What would the Robotech Masters make of this new design？ Breetai asked himself。 Even prior to the transformation； Zor's ship was vastly different from his own…indeed； different from any vessel of the Zentraedi fleet。 Protoculture factory that it was； it had always lacked the amorphous organic feel Breetai preferred。 But then； it had not been designed as a warship。 Until now。
The Zentraedi mander was on the bridge of his vessel； where an image of the SDF…1 played across the silent field of a projecbeam。 Breetai's massive arms were folded across the brown tunic of his uniform； and the monocular enhancer set in the plate that covered half his face was trained on the free…floating screen。
Long…range scopes had captured this image of the ship for his inspection and analysis。 But what those same scopes and scanners failed to reveal was the makeup of the creatures who possessed it。
The bridge was an observation bubble overlooking the astrogational center of the flagship； a vast gallery of screens； projecbeam fields； and holo…schematics that gave Breetai access to information gathered by any cruiser or destroyer in his mand。 He could municate with any of his many officers or any of the numerous Cyclops recon ships。 But none of these could furnish him with the data he now desired…some explanation of Micronian behavior。 For that； Breetai counted on Exedore； his dwarfish adviser； who at the moment seemed equally at a loss。
〃mander；〃 the misshapen man was saying； 〃I have analysed this most recent strategy from every possible angle； and I still cannot understand why they found it necessary to change to this format。 A structural modification of this nature will most assuredly diminish； possibly even negate； the effectiveness of the ship's gravity control centers。〃
〃And their weapons？〃
〃Fully operational。 Unless they are diverting energy to one of the shield systems。〃
Breetai wondered whether he was being overly cautious。 It was true that he had been caught off guard by the Micronians' unpredictable tactics but unlikely that he had underestimated their capabilities。 That they had chosen to execute an intraatmospheric spacefold； heedless of the effects of their island population center； was somewhat disturbing； as was their most recent use of the powerful main gun of the SDF…1。 But these were surely acts of desperation； those of an enemy running scared； not one in full possession of the situation。
In any straightforward military exercise； this unpredictability would have posed no threat。 It had been Breetai's experience that superior firepower invariably won out over desperate acts or clever tactics。 And there were few in the known universe who could rival the Zentraedi in firepower。 But this operation called for a certain finesse。 The Micronians would ultimately be defeated； of this he was certain。 Defeat； however； was of secondary importance。 His prime directive was to recapture Zor's ship undamaged； and given the Micronian penchant for self…destruction； a successful oute could not be guaranteed。
With this in mind Breetai had adopted a policy of watchful waiting。 For more than two months by Micronian reckoning； the Zentraedi fleet had followed the SDF…1 without launching an attack。 During that time； he and Exedore had monitored the ship's movements and audiovisual transmissions； they had analyzed the changes and modifications Zor's ship had undergone； they had screened trans…vids of their initial confrontations with the enemy。 And most important； they had studied the Zentraedi legends regarding Micronian societies。 There were warnings in those legends…warnings Breetai had chosen to ignore。
The SDF…1 was approaching an outer planet of this yellow…star system； a ringed world； large and gaseous； with numerous small moons。 A secondary screen on the flagship bridge showed it to be the system's sixth planet。 Exedore； who had already made great progress in deciphering the Micronian language； had its name： Saturn。
〃My lord； I suspect that the spacefold generators aboard Zor's ship may have been damaged during the hyperspace jump from Earth to the outer planets。 My belief is that the Micronians will attempt to use the gravity of this planet to sling themselves toward their homeworld。〃
〃Interesting；〃 Breetai replied。
〃Furthermore； they will probably activate ECM as they near the planetary rings。 It may bee difficult for us to lock in on their course。〃
〃It is certainly the logical choice； Exedore。 And that is precisely what concerns me。 They have yet to demonstrate any knowledge of logic。〃
〃Your decision； my lord？〃
〃They have more than an escape plan in mind。 The firepower of the main gun has given them confidence in their ability to engage us。〃 Breetai stroked his chin as he watched the screen。 〃I'll let them attempt their clever little plan； if only to gain a clearer understanding of their tactics。 I'm curious to see if they are in full possession of the power that ship holds。〃
Henry Gloval； formerly of the supercarriers Kenosha and Prometheus and now captain of the super dimensional fortress； the SDF…1； was a practical man of few words and even fewer expectations。 When it came to asking himself how he had ended up in mand of an alien spaceship； 1；500；000；000 kilometers from ho