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little intimidated before the omnipotent superwoman。 〃Nice to see you again；〃 the enlisted rating squeaked。
Lisa； nervous as a cat； managed to meet her eye for a moment。 〃Thank you very much；〃 Lisa got out； essaying a smile and then hiding behind her thick curtian of brown hair again。 〃It's nice to be back。〃
She ran her fingertips across the console's controls； lost in thought。 There had been so many times when she'd never expected to stand there again。
The women on the bridge were paying her a kind of attention that didn't really conform to any conventional military courtesy…happy for her and taking liberties with standard procedure。
〃Congratulations on your promotion！〃
〃And you're a real hero！〃
〃We're all so proud of you； Lisa！〃 The tech who'd been watching over Lisa's station had her hands clasped； smiling beatifically。
These were all women who had served their time under fire； who had e to know what it was Lisa Hayes did so well and how much of a difference her actions had made in the fate of SDF…1。 Their few words meant so much more to her than the spotlights and crowds…she felt her tension ease； she was home again。
Now that she was back in familiar surroundings； everything that had happened came back to her。 A small part of her was preoccupied； sifting through her emotions； but Lisa just savored the contentment of being back where she belonged。
The things that had brought conflict to her…the kiss in the enemy stronghold； the sight of Rick and Minmei…were； perhaps； aberrations。 Maybe it was just her destiny to be what those in her family had always been…members of a military dynasty； her destiny tied to that of the SDF…1。
Certainly； all things seemed clear there on the battle fortress's bridge。 Doubts； misgivings…they fell away like dead flower petals。
Then Claudia was leaning an elbow on the console； too good a friend not to understand exactly how Lisa felt； too good a friend not to kid her out of it。 〃Well； how does it feel to be a heroine？〃 she purred。
Lisa's pale cheeks colored。 〃Oh； you！〃
〃e on！ Tell Aunt Claudia！〃 The dark eyes narrowed mischievously。 〃Or did this promotion give you a sudden sense of modesty？〃
Lisa lowered her gaze to the deck； avoiding eye contact as she often did when she wasn't on duty。 But she grinned at Claudia's jibe； the first time she'd grinned in a while。 She gave her friend a bemused smile。
〃That's it！ My secret's promised！〃 Lisa crossed her arms on her chest and made a severe face； imitating Captain Gloval at his sternest。 She rolled her r's； so there'd be no mistake。 〃So let's have a little respect here！〃
Somebody Lisa didn't recognize returned from a coffee run； and they all had some。 〃It's good to be here；〃 Lisa said meditatively； letting the cup warm her palms。 Then she made a puckish expression。 〃And lemme tell ya； the Zentraedi make lousy coffee。〃
Claudia realized something and set her cup down。 〃Hold on！ Lisa； I thought you were supposed to be on special furlough。〃
Lisa lowered her cup； not wanting to think too hard about the ceremonies and the tangled feelings that had driven her back to the bridge。 She bit her lower lip for a moment and said； 〃I wanted to e home。〃
Claudia was about to say something to that； Lisa was both shielding something and waiting for someone to draw her out about it。 It seemed to Claudia Grant a good time to order the enlisted crew off the bridge for chow or whatever and get down to business。
But just then the hatch slid back again； and the Terrible Trio stood there。 Sammie； Kim； and Vanessa spied Lisa and charged in； the dignity of rank forgotten。 Lisa forgot it； too； swapping hugs with them and loving the calm and strength and serenity of the SDF…1's armored bridge。
Claudia filed the subject of Lisa's furlough and her strange new introspection away for discussion in the near future。 She'd been protective of Lisa ever since they'd met and tried not to let that spill over into nosiness； but。。。
This girl needs a talking to； Claudia decided。 And I'm not even sure about what！
CHAPTER SIX
As an insect seen through an enlarging imager may appear a monster； so these Micronians； magnified by a few minor successes and by an unforgivable timidity among certain Zentraedi leaders； are permitted to resist us。 This has led to a stalemate； what Zentraedi worthy of the name would permit this？
Khyron the Backstabber
The jeep roared down the empty SDF…1 passageway； rounding corners on two wheels； tires shrieking。 Ben Dixon enjoyed this kind of outing； he usually took a slightly longer route to the fighter bays than he had to because he so missed the open road。
Ben's dragster had been parked in an alley on Macross Island on the day of the fatal spacefold maneuver。 So now it was either a floating relic in space back near Pluto's orbit or had been pletely dismantled by the salvage and reclamation people。 Either way； he didn't like to think about it。
But barreling around the roomier parts of the dimensional fortress helped ease his loss。 The civilians had crowded…but…very…livable Macross City； but once in a while some people needed to hit the road； floor the accelerator； and let off a little steam。 It was an open secret that some of the less traveled regions of the SDF…1 had bee virtual racetracks。
Ben took a corner even more sharply than usual and waited for Rick； who was sitting in the seat next to him； to make a perfunctory objection。 But； lost in thought； the Vermilion Team leader didn't say anything。 Sprawled in the back； Max Sterling looked supremely unworried。 Ben was a little bit offended by that； Max was a good friend； but Ben expected passengers to be a little intimidated when he drove。 Yet nothing seemed to ruffle Max or dim the boyish cheerfulness for which he'd bee famous。
In fact； a few guys had decided that Max's goodnaturedness meant that he was a wimp despite his ferocious flying skills。 There'd been a few fights； and Max had insisted that Rick keep Ben from interfering on his friend's behalf。
Help wasn't necessary； anyway； Max's astonishing reflexes and hand…eye coordination more than sufficed。 Max always helped his opponents to their feet afterward； still with that boyish smile； he even performed first aid in one extreme case。 After a while； interest in bothering Max Sterling waned。
Max gave his blue hair a toss and resettled his glasses； turning at the sound of another jeep engine。 He leaned forward to tap Rick and point； at the wheel； Roy Fokker was catching up to them； acpanied by three of his Skull Team fliers。
〃Hey； Rick！〃
〃Hi； Roy。〃
〃Uh oh。〃 Roy came up very close alongside； and Ben had to cut the wheel to avoid an accident。
〃Where d' you three think you're going？〃 Roy demanded。
They were on one of the longest straightaways in the ship； but they were moving fast。 Ben knew he was being tested； he sweated a bit but kept on a steady course。 But they were approaching the far bulkhead at an alarmingly rapid speed； and there was room for only one jeep in its hatchway。
The Skulls in Roy's jeep didn't seemed very thrilled about the encounter either； but they knew better than to say anything to their hotheaded leader。
〃What'd you say？〃 Rick asked mil