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tself。
The Zentraedi； too； launched himself with a powerful jump。 He snatched Rick from the air； crushing him in his fist； bringing on blessed relief from further fear。。。
Witnessing the giant's catch； Max； his Guardian still moving through the hold dodging laser bolts； was certain that the lieutenant had been killed。 Hunter's murderer was going to pay in kind； Max decided。 He nose…dived the VT； preparing to loose all the firepower he had left。
But all at once the remains of Rick's Battloid exploded。 The Zentraedi was thrown off his feet； a breach was blown in the hull； and Max's Veritech was sucked from the air lock。
The hull quickly sealed itself； and the Zentraedi soldiers gathered around their fallen mander。 Breetai was flat out on his back； his tunic and uniform torn and tattered。 But he was made of sterner stuff than even they realized。 He said as much as he got up。
His right hand was still clenched。 Carefully he relaxed his grip to regard the small creature held there； strapped to its ejection seat； unmoving and as quiet as death。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
As I have elsewhere stated； preliminary tests on the three Micronian subjects indicate that their anatomical makeup and physiological systems are very similar to those of the Zentraedi； I hasten to add； however； that I am here referring to 〃wet…state〃 subjects rather than mature and viable ones。 ＇Editor's note： There is as yet no adequate Panglish equivalent of the Zentraedi term。 Some linguistic camps favor 〃pretransformized；〃 while others have pushed for 〃neocast〃 or 〃neocloned。〃 See Kazinsky； Chapters Seven and Eight； for a lively overview of the continuing controversy。＇ Subsequent psychoscanning； in any case； brought to light the dissimilarities which are the focus of this report。 These include： （1） significant anomalies throughout the neocortical regions and topical convolutionary conduits； （2） structural anomalies in the vascular and neural networks of the infundibulum； the pyramidal tracts； and the hippocampus； （3） pineal insufficiency； and （4） reticular imbalance of the pons and attendant cerebellar pathways。
Exedore； from his Military Intelligence Analysis Reports to the Zentraedi High mand
Micronians think too much！
Khyron
Previous dealings with Micronians had largely been a matter of eradication。 But now Exedore actually had three live specimens to analyze and examine。 And the results of tests thus far conducted were as surprising as they were baffling and disforting。 Genetically； anatomically； and physiologically； the Micronians appeared to be almost identical to the Zentraedi。 They were of course culturally and behavioristically worlds apart； but the physical similarities suggested a point of mon origin lost to time and history。
Exedore studied the prisoners from his sealed…off operating station inside the ship's laboratory…who knew what contagious diseases these beings harbored？ The scanner umbrella which in effect kept them isolated and confined to the specimen table was probably sufficient in itself for this； but Exedore was taking no chances。
Breetai； however； wanted no part of the laboratory or the operating station。 Exedore brought him up to date on the findings in the mand center； illustrating facts and speculations with data readouts； x…rays； scans of various sorts； and relevant historical documents； all of which flowed freely across the center's many monitor screens。
Breetai took particular interest in the female of the group。 He shifted his attention from one screen's anatomical depictions and turned to the specimen table monitor。 The Micronian female appeared to be unconscious or asleep； the other two as well。
〃Is it wise to keep the female and males together？〃
Exedore had the camera close on the table。 〃It is apparently their practice； mander。 It will certainly benefit us to observe their interactions。〃
A look of surprise came over Breetai's face； and Exedore now turned his attention to the monitor。 The Micronians were beginning to stir。
The two Zentraedi watched intently。
The black…haired one was first to rise…the tough little pilot who had manned the mecha Breetai had destroyed。 The female recon pilot was next； but together they couldn't seem to rouse the third and largest member of their party。
〃This one has a very slow metabolic rate and is less intelligent than the others；〃 Exedore said by way of explanation。
Something curious began to happen just then： The female and the male were arguing。 Breetai signaled his adviser to activate the audio monitors。 The words came fast and furious and were for the most part unfamiliar to Breetai； but he understood enough to get the gist： They were blaming each other for the failure of their mission and their eventual capture。
Breetai was amused。
〃They fight with words as aggressively as they fight with mecha。〃
〃A result of the mingling of males and females； sir…an ancient practice long ago abandoned by the Zentraedi。〃
〃I see。。。anger without discipline。〃
〃Precisely that； mander。〃
As Breetai continued to observe the argument； however； he was overe by a feeling of sickness； he felt debilitated and phobic。 He ordered Exedore to deactivate the monitor and collapsed down into his chair。
〃My head is spinning。 I can no longer stand to watch them。〃
〃I feel the same；〃 said Exedore。 〃However； we must not allow any of our personal reactions to interfere with the mission at hand。〃
Breetai lifted up his head。 〃Well； suppose you tell me how I should proceed with these creatures。〃
〃The Micronians should be brought to Dolza himself。 There they should be subjected to the most rigorous interrogation possible。〃
〃That will require a fold operation and the expenditure of substantial quantities of energy。〃
〃It will be justified； mander。 The Micronians' own words will doom them to defeat。〃
Lisa couldn't believe her ears： Who in the known universe did Hunter think he was talking to？
She and Hunter and dead…to…the…world Dixon were on some sort of alien grid platform； curtained and contained by a nebulous rain of electrical energy directed from an overhead generator。 But through this translucent umbrella could be glimpsed the enormous machines； scopes； scanners； and data analyzers that constituted the laboratory beyond。 One portion of the energy canopy afforded them visual access to an exterior bay of the ship。 And somewhere out among that starfield was the SDF…1 and a world the three of them might never see again。
Hunter； nevertheless； seemed less interested in establishing where they were than in establishing who was to blame for their being there。
〃Are you telling me that you wouldn't have been captured if a man had been piloting the Cat's…Eye？ Because if you are…〃
〃I'm not saying that。 I'm just saying there are some jobs that are better left to experienced pilots。 You don't find VT pilots muscling onto the bridge； do you？〃
Lisa glared at him。 〃I'm your superior； Lieutenant Hunter！〃
〃Only in rank； mander Hayes。〃
〃In rank and military experience！〃
Rick made a dismissive gesture。 〃Don't give me that Robotech Academy superiority。 I'm talking about bat experience。〃
Lisa crossed her arms to keep him from noticing that s