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rs here。 He had said to her； We'll be together again someday； when the Earth is at peace。 Love was simply not meant to perish in angry flames； love couldn't be extinguished by war！
Gloval was shouting her name； she turned a confused face toward him； caught between past and future in a present that was of her own making。
〃Lisa； what's wrong？ Are you sure you're feeling all right？〃
She posed herself and awaited his mand。
〃Send out a Cat's…Eye recon unit。 Order them to report any anomalies in their findings…any at all。〃
Lisa turned to her task。 Let him be alive； she prayed to herself。
The Cat's…Eye recon scanned the deserted base and radioed its findings to the bridge of the SDF…1： no sign of the enemy； no sign of life of any kind。 And yet； inexplicably； data continued to pour into the onboard puters。 Somehow one of the Sara Base puters had gone online。 Captain Gloval was convinced of this much。 Still； wary of a possible enemy trap； he convened a special meeting with colonels Maistroff and Caruthers and high…ranking officials of Macross City to discuss the prospect of setting the giant space fortress down on the surface of Mars。
There were two reasons for attempting such a landing； as opposed to holding the fortress in low orbit and using cargo ships and drones to ferry up the much needed supplies。 The primary reason was that a setdown would enable ground crews to repair damage sustained during four months of space warfare。 Most of these repairs could not be effected in deep space or even in low orbit without the constant threat of enemy sneak attacks and the overwhelming logistical problems that extended extravehicular activity would entail。 The second advantage； although less clear…cut； was of greater concern to Gloval and Lang than to the Macross City leaders； for whom replenished supplies was reason enough。 The fact was that the SDF…1 had never been landed； the closest it had e was more a controlled drop than an actual landing； months ago when the antigravity devices had torn through the hull of the ship and it had fallen back to its docking bay supports on Macross Island。 The lower gravity on Mars would allow engineering to stage a dress rehearsal of the landing they would have to perform once the fortress reached Earth。
Recalling that first day of attack； Gloval resisted an urge to dwell on how defenseless he had felt with the ship grounded。 There was no assurance that this wouldn't be the case again； but he had to convince himself that the advantages outweighed the risks。
It took two days to bring the SDF…1 down。
Astrogation held her in stationary orbit for what seemed an eternity； and then the fortress was allowed to begin its slow nerve…racking descent to the surface of Mars。 Gloval sat at the helm wondering what surprise Lang's half grasp on Robotechnology might result in this time； but to his relief and to the delight of everyone onboard； the SDF…1 was set down without incident。 After months in space it was difficult to believe they were down on solid ground once again。 It made no difference that this wasn't their homeworld； after all； humankind had once occupied this planet； and that was reason enough to call it home for the moment。
Half of Macross City jammed itself onto the observation deck after the all…clear was sounded and the ship had docked。 At least half that number would have gladly disembarked then and there to begin new lives for themselves； but there would be no liberty for civilians at this port。
Gloval continued to have misgivings…he felt as if he was standing on solid ground with nothing beneath his feet。 For this reason he ordered the ship down at a point several kilometers from Sara Base。 Destroids were then deployed to secure a supply route； with squadrons of Veritech fighters launched to provide cover。 The Cat's…Eye recon plane continued its sweeps over the area； and long…range radar watched the skies。 When Gloval was convinced that there was no threat to their position or operation； he ordered that the ship be moved closer to the base； employing the auxiliary lifters and gravity control system； something they wouldn't have been able to do on Earth。
Now the base plex； what remained of it； lay spread out below the ship。 From the bridge； the crew could observe the destruction that had been visited upon it； a grim reminder of the days when humankind was at war with itself。 It was a forlorn…looking place covered with debris swept in by the continuous Martian winds。
The supply routes secure； Battloids began their patrol； gatling weapons ready。 A long line of wheeled and treaded transport vehicles now stretched from the loading bays of the Daedalus and the Prometheus to the heart of Sara。
Lisa was waiting for the right moment； if she didn't act quickly； though； there wouldn't be another chance。 Data from the base was still ing in； and Gloval had yet to organize a recon team to investigate the source of the transmissions。 Finally she gathered up enough nerve and turned to the captain。
〃Requesting your permission to leave the ship； sir； and recon the interior of the base。〃
The captain regarded her with concern。 〃But Lisa…〃
She interrupted him。 〃I'd like to check out the source of those signals； sir。 There could be survivors here！〃 Only when she caught the look of protective paternalism in his eyes did she break down。 〃Please； sir。 It's important to me。〃 She had no idea whether Gloval knew anything about her past； but he knew her as a crewmember； knew when she needed his attention。
Claudia offered an unsolicited assist。 〃I'll cover her duties here；〃 she told the captain。
Gloval thought it over。 Anyone who was within 500 kilometers of the base would have already e running。 But there was something so personal in her insistence that he decided to allow her to go。
〃But I want you to take two security personnel with you！〃 he called out as she hurried from the bridge。
Lisa ignored the captain's mand； after all； it hadn't been issued as a direct order。 She outfitted herself with helmet and environment suit； radio； and laser sidearm and took charge of a small personnel carrier from supply。
Had she been thinking about it； she might have pared her short ride across the Martian wastes to the driving training she'd undergone on the moon years ago； but her thoughts were elsewhere。 She had to find Karl and renew their life together or discover for herself that he was dead。
The base had the familiar look and feel of the countless war…torn cities she'd experienced on Earth…not voluntarily abandoned but simply cut down in its prime。 All life had been sucked from the place in an instant； and that sort of ending always left ghosts lingering about。 She could sense their presence all around her； almost as if they were still confused by what had occurred here and were now demanding an explanation from this stranger who was visiting their resting place。 Yes； it was like those ravaged cities but more so： The howling of the winds was louder and angrier； the soil appeared more blood…stained； and there was never a blue sky here。
She used the homing device to direct her to the source of the transmissions received by the SDF…1。 They emanated from a large building