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dge。 Indeed； this room belonged more to the misshapen Zentraedi than to any other。 And the more he delved into data pertaining to the Micronians； the more apprehensive he became。 The pursuit of Zor's ship； and this continued contact with the ship's Micronian warriors； was destined to end in unprecedented failure…an undoing of all that had been carefully laid down and preserved for millennia。 Try as he might； Exedore could not put this thought from his mind。 If the Zentraedi were defeated； what then could stand in the way of the dreaded Invid？
He had mentioned these misgivings to Breetai； careful to couch his phrases in such a way that no fear or cowardice could be inferred； he had even gone so far as to quote some of the documents to the mander； pointing out the specific warnings about contact with the Micronians。 Legends which spoke of a Micronian secret weapon that would be used against any invading race。 But his words fell on deaf ears。 Breetai was； after all； a military tactician； like most of his race he lived and breathed for battle and warfare…the Zentraedi were born to this。 Moreover there was some unspoken fascination at work here； as if in some half…understood way Breetai too was aware of Exedore's thoughts about destiny and undoing。
Just now the two Zentraedi were standing together in the observation bubble of the bridge。 The SDF…1； in high relief against a starlit crescent of this system's fourth planet； filled the forward screen。 Khyron's forces； though unsuccessful in capturing the ship when it had been lured into Breetai's trap； had nonetheless prevented the Micronians from gaining any distance to their homeworld。
〃It amazes me that they have managed to e this far；〃 said Breetai。
〃Yes； mander； and they will fight more fiercely as they near their planet。 I fear that the ship itself may be destroyed long before we can enforce a surrender。〃
Breetai became agitated。 〃That must not be allowed to happen； Exedore。 My orders have been most specific： I want the fortress captured intact and undamaged。 The ship is our primary concern； not the people in it。〃
〃Sir； I fear that Khyron understands destruction only。 ‘Capture' is too subtle a strategy for him to prehend。〃
Breetai shot his adviser a look。 〃Khyron is a Zentraedi。 He'll do as he's ordered or face the consequences。〃
Exedore bowed slightly。 〃Certainly； my lord。〃
Would that it were so； he thought。 And did the Micronian mander in charge of Zor's ship have similar issues to deal with； or were orders carried out without question at all times？ Like the Zentraedi； the Micronians were a warlike race； but had they too arrived at that evolutionary point where individual initiative was willingly relinquished for the greater glory of the whole？ The data documents were not clear on this point。
Exedore stared at the fortress； as if attempting to project himself onboard。 What were the Micronians planning？ he wondered。 What would any one member of that race be thinking at this very moment？
She loves clothes。 Her favorite colors are shades of pink and purple。 She lacquers each fingernail with a different color polish。 She likes to wear dangling； outrageous earrings； shoes that give her more height and match her mood； bright belts with large buckles。。。〃It's no use！〃 Rick said out loud。 He got up off the bed and began to pace the scant distance it took to cover his new quarters wall to wall。
The invitation to Minmei's birthday party lay unopened on his bed； the envelope sealed with a paste…on red velvet heart。 Cute。 There was no need to read it…half of his division had received invitations； and everyone was flashing them in front of his face with knowing smiles。 He wasn't sure that he was even interested in going to the party under the circumstances。 When it was just the two of them； everything was fine。 But in a large group； Minmei wanted center stage and Rick often felt like just another nobody in the audience。 Just another faceless member of Minmei's adoring public。 Neglected。 Yeah； that was how he felt。 And jealous； he had to admit it。 Angry； confused； depressed。。。the list went on and on。 It was almost as long as the list of possible gifts he'd formulated。 But none of the items seemed quite right； not one of them was perfect； and that was what he was shooting for。 Something that would say what he couldn't confess。
And just what was that？ he asked himself。 He wanted to tell her how special she was…how beautiful； and sexy； and charming。 How flirtatious and conceited and spoiled and…
All this was getting him nowhere…fast。 He collapsed onto the bed； put his hands under his head； and stared at the ceiling。 When he closed his eyes and tried to think things through once more； something unexpected happened： The face of Lisa Hayes filled his mind。 This wasn't something new； but it continued to take him by surprise。 The truth was； it had been happening a lot since Sara Base。
Was he really such an idiot that he was going to invite yet another woman to run roughshod over him？ An older woman at that； a superior officer who gave every indication of despising him in spite of his rescue efforts on her behalf？ A cold and distant plain…looking woman who seemed more a part of the SDF…1 than a part of the crew？ So why was he suddenly feeling that she too needed protection and affection？…his protection； his affection。 But Lisa occupied a different place in his heart than Minmei； someplace he couldn't reach with thoughts alone。
Rick was rescued from this by a call announced through the intrabarracks m system。
〃Attention the following personnel： report to headquarters： third lieutenants Justin Black and James Ralton； second lieutenants Xian Lu； Carroll James； and Marcus Miller； first lieutenants Thomas Lawson and Adam Olsen。。。〃
Rick listened for a moment； lost interest； and was about to rehash his dilemma； when he heard his own name called。
He made himself presentable and left the barracks； walking listlessly toward headquarters and wondering just what he might have done to get himself called on the carpet this time。 He ran through a mental list of the possibilities as he rode the elevator to the mand level of the ship。
It was a day for lists； that was for sure。
A female lieutenant led him into a briefing room where the others whose names had been called were already gathered。 Rick fell into an end position and looked down the line： Black； Ralton； Olsen。。。these guys were all square shooters。 No one needed to read them the riot act； and not one of them seemed the slightest bit concerned； just the opposite； in fact： confidence and pride radiated from each face。
When a captain called attention； Rick squared his shoulders and feigned unconcern。 Colonel Maistroff and some of the top brass entered the room。 The colonel seated himself at a long table and glanced through the files piled in front of him； then he cleared his throat and addressed the line。
〃Since the battle for Sara Base on Mars； the men assembled here have established for themselves records of bravery under fire。 Therefore； I am pleased to award them the titanium Medal of Valor for their distinguished service。 Gentlemen： We proudly acknowledge your achievements！〃
The female lie