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ed to the techs who were operating the module cranes and servos。 They had one eye fixed on getting Rick's module into position and the other glued to monitors tuned in to the Miss Macross broadcast： No doubt Lisa Hayes and the SDF…1 bridge crew were doing the same。 Meanwhile； Rick Hunter gets to go out into space and search for some enemy ship picked up on the long…range scanners。
Alone！
But if that was the way it had to be； he was going to recon in style； and the armored Battloid was just the ticket。
Still classified as experimental； it was the latest innovation from the Robotech Weapons Division。 In addition to the standard armaments and defensive systems of the phase one design； the Battloid was equipped with new generation boosters and retros…the so…called deep…space augmentation pack…multiple…warhead 〃pectoral〃 launchers； and ejectable Bohrium…plated armor on those areas previously considered to be 〃vulnerable to penetration〃 by the boys in the RWD。
Rick spent a few moments familiarizing himself with the new controls。 Fewer foot pedals； that was a plus。 A new Hotas design…the hands on throttle and stick…improved ADF and ADI； totally useless before in deep space； a horizontal situation indicator…ha！； and a triple…screened TED； stocked with an up…to…date library of alien craft signatures。 Rick donned the 〃thinking cap〃 and thought the mecha through some simple maneuvers。 He then walked it cautiously to the Prometheus bay and launched himself from the fortress。
This was deep…space patrol once again； Mars just a memory。 But there was some security to be gained from the sight of Sol； blazing bright in the heavens。 It was almost beginning to feel like home turf out here。
Rick engaged the power pack boosters and relaxed back into the padded seat； locking onto the coordinates furnished him by the bridge。 The enemy ship was thought to be a recon ship patrolling the outer limits of the SDF…1's sensor range。
The tone sounded through his headset； and the face of Lisa Hayes appeared on the left mo screen。 By the look of her； she was disturbed about something。 In fact； she was livid。
〃Lieutenant Hunter； who issued you permission to take out the armored Battloid？ You are supposed to be flying ghost support； not confrontational。〃
Rick winced as the mander's words rushed out。 〃Excuse me； sir； but I'm out here on my lonesome； up against some…〃
〃We'll discuss this later； Lieutenant！ Prepare to receive new coordinates。〃
Rick switched the ADF from lock to standby； but the data transfer was inplete。 The displays shut down； and the monitor was suddenly nothing but static lines and snow。 Even audio was getting shaky。 Rick heard something about 〃Zenny's fast food。〃 He flipped the toggle to automatic fine…tuning。
〃Some sort。。。…ust interference；〃 Lisa was saying。 〃I'm。。。…witch。。。laser induction。 Stand by。〃
Lisa's face faded and disappeared； replaced by the curvaceous form of Sally Forester walking the Star Bowl runway in a yellow two…piece。
Well； well； thought Rick； relaxing again； the latest in diversion technique for the battle…weary fighter pilot。 Then Lisa was back on…line for an instant； instructing him to switch over to channel D…3。 He tried that； but video reception seemed to be locked on the MBS transmissions。 Tough luck； Rick said to himself； rubbing his hands together and grinning。 It was Hilary Rockwell now； looking choice in her blue suit。 Rough decision ahead； almost easier to be up here； Rick thought。
And then Minmei was on stage。
It was certainly one of the oddest feelings Rick had experienced in a while： Here he was in deep space； and there was Minmei in her teal bathing suit。 As his spirits began to improve； the mecha responded； the Battloid was practically doing pirouettes in space！ But the mood was to be short…lived： The console displays were flashing wildly； not out of contagious joy but because heat…seeking missiles had locked onto his tail！
Quickly； Rick menced evasive action and instructed the stealth systems to launch ghosts。 The rear cameras gave him a glimpse of his deadly pursuers…a flock of A/As…and sure enough； the scanners had picked up； registered； and catalogued the enemy vessel。 A schematic formed on the port mo screen； profiles； front and rear views； weapons systems； vulnerable spots； suggested response。 RECON VESSEL： CYCLOPS TYPE。
Rick fired the boosters and put the Battloid through its paces； pushing it for all it was worth while the heatseekers continued to narrow the gap。 So much for the ghosts。 Concerned about their own survival； the warning systems were shouting out instructions； breaking his concentration。 He shut down the interior audio supply and looked inside himself for the tone。 A cold sweat broke out all over him。 He thought the mecha left； right； up； down； and every which way but loose。 The missiles were still with him。
And all the while； Minmei was parading across his three screens。 They were flashing her measurements； for。 Pete's sake！
Rick was leading the missiles on a merry chase； but one that was going to have a most unfortunate ending unless he pulled something out of the hat…fast！ Fratricide was his only hope。 Desperately； he willed the Battloid to turn itself face to face with the heat…seekers and raised the gatling cannon； locking the targeting coordinator onto the leader of the pack； he fired！
Minmei stood in the wings； trembling。 But when her name and contestant number were announced； all the anxiety seemed to leave her； she threw her shoulders back； stood straight and tall； and strutted on stage。 She knew she looked good…the teal…colored stretch suit fit her perfectly…and given the audience reaction to her previous appearances； she figured she at least had a shot at one of the runner…up positions。 If she could only keep it together for the next few minutes。。。
Her legs were shaking。 She felt very unsteady on the high heels； she understood the need for them…added height and their pleasing effect on body posture…but she was unaccustomed to them。 Nevertheless； she made it down to the end of the runway without incident。 She had made her turn and was starting back； when it happened。
In thinking about it later； she would recall that the heel of her left shoe didn't so much let go as pletely disappear as if it had been blown out from under her。 But at the moment all she could think about was the embarrassment and the agony of defeat。 Two pageant officials came to her aid and helped her up。 There was some laughter from the audience； but mostly concern。 And she did her best to alleviate that by demonstrating she was a trooper： She put on her best smile and hobbled her way back to center stage。 The applause didn't end until long after she reached the wings。
Shawn Blackstone； who had bee her close friend during the pageant； was at her side in a flash。 She made light of the incident and said that it would have no effect on the judging。
〃It shows them you're human； Minmei。 Not like you…know…who。〃
You…know…who was Jan Morris； now making her walk down the runway to cheers and applause as Minmei watched from the wings。 Jan was pletely self…possessed； she'd been there a hundred times already。 She wore a bold； striped suit with a hal