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In a Zentraedi mand center； a finger the size of a log stabbed at a tactical display screen representation of the SDF…1 and the armada around it。
Khyron could barely keep his voice from breaking in rage。 〃The Micronian ship is here； and the ships under my mand are here； behind it。 Now； at maximum speed； their vessel stands a good chance of penetrating the net around it and escaping！〃
He stared angrily at his second in mand； Grel； and his trusted subordinate； Gerao。 〃Are we to sit here with our arms folded while these creatures get away and not raise a finger to stop it？〃
〃But Azonia has forbidden us to act；〃 Grel pointed out。 〃What can we do？〃
Khyron slammed his palms down on the display console。 〃We will crush them！〃
Khyron； handsome and fiendish mander of the Zentraedi Seventh Fleet and its mecha strike arm； the Botoru Battalion； had a reputation that gave even the giant warriors pause。 He had earned the nickname 〃Backstabber〃： He had a reputation for savage ferocity； a total lack of feeling for his own men； and an unquenchable thirst for bloodshed and triumph。
Grel knew better than to contradict his superior when the killing rage was upon him。 There was a persistent rumor that Khyron's secret vice was the essence of the Flower of Life； a forbidden addiction； if that were so； he used it in some form that made it a flower of death。 In this mood； he was capable of anything。
〃Order the lead ships in the squadron to increase speed and attack！〃 he roared； holding his hand high in a salute and gesture of mand。 〃For the glory of the Zentraedi。。。and of Khyron！〃
Vanessa stared intently at her screens； calling out； 〃A squadron of enemy battle cruisers has broken away from the rest of the fleet and is moving in on us； Captain。 Approximately ten of them。〃
Gloval stared out the forward viewport morosely。 〃Scramble fighters。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 Lisa drew a deep breath； opening the PA mike。 〃Vermilion and Ghost Teams； scramble； scramble！
Down in the hangar decks of the supercarrier Daedalus； there was the controlled chaos of a 〃hot〃 scramble； one that everybody knew was no drill。 The huge elevators began raising the Veritechs to the flight deck port and starboard； two to a lift。
Roy Fokker pulled on his flight helmet and checked his controls as his ship was moved out for lift by a tow driver。 Roy was Skull Leader； but experienced pilots were in such terribly short supply and Rick and the others were on enforced R&R； so he had to help fill the ranks of the depleted Vermilions； especially at a critical time like this。
The Veritechs' stabilizers and wings began sliding into flight position。 Cat crews rushed to hook up and launch the fighters； The Veritechs went into a vigilant holding pattern； ready to fend off any attack against the VTs that were still vulnerable； awaiting launch。
The cats slung the fighters out into space； the blue Robotech drives flared； and the Vermilions and Ghosts formed up to do battle yet again。
Gloval had hoped to avoid it； but he gave the order nevertheless。 〃Engage SDF…1 transformation and activate pin…point defensive barrier。 We are breaking through the alien fleet！〃
〃Macross City evacuation is nearly plete； Captain；〃 Sammie told him。
The voices of the others kept up a constant； quiet flow of orders and report。 〃All sectors begin transformation。〃 〃All section chiefs please report to the bridge。〃 〃Damage crews stand by。〃 〃Emergency medical and rescue personnel ready； Captain。〃
Banks of screens showed interior and exterior scenes； the frantic haste to brace for attack and reconfiguration。
Once again the awesome； incredible； and perilous Robotech transformation of SDF…1 was about to take place。
It had been hard to get used to the bustle and activity of Macross City； but this sudden abandonment of it was even stranger。
The three Zentraedi spies still had no idea what was happening。 The PA announcements were bewildering； impossible to understand。 The trio was hesitant to show ignorance at first； but by the time they'd worked up the nerve to start asking questions； everybody was scurrying in a different direction and answers were impossible to get。
Now they found themselves standing at the center of a deserted intersection as traffic lights and crosswalk signals blinked through their accustomed sequences。 The EVE system was shut down； the artificial sky gone； leaving only cold； distant metal high overhead。
〃Everyone's vanished；〃 Rico said slowly； pivoting through a 360…degree turn。 It felt very spooky to be standing in the middle of an empty city。
〃What d' you think that announcement was？〃 Konda asked。 〃What could it be…this ‘transformation' they're talking about？〃
Bron was about to add something when the street began to quake beneath them； tossing them around like water droplets on a griddle。 As deep grinding noises began； they were thrown to the surface； so they tried to cling to the pavement。 They could feel the vibrations through the ground。
Then the street parted beneath them and an enormous sawtooth opening widened rapidly。 Despite his hysterical scrambling； Rico disappeared into it。
CHAPTER SEVEN
What they never asked themselves was whether Khyron would have behaved as he did if it hadn't been for the accursed Micronians！ I hated Micronians； too； we all did。 It was just that Khyron was better at it。
Grey aide to Khyron
Reacting faster than Bron； Konda just managed to grab Rico's sleeve and keep him from falling beyond reach。 Then Bron was there to help pull his panion back out of the abyss。
It was a long drop； into a type of machinery they hadn't seen in the battle fortress before。 Rico lay puffing and gasping； white…faced。 〃What kind of insane place is this？〃
Elsewhere； the titanic booms that were the battle fortress's bow were rotated to either side by monster camlike devices。 Whole sections of hull moved and slid； opening the ship's interior to the vacuum of space as precious atmosphere escaped。 Giant armor curtains slid into place to seal the gaps； but not before there was grievous loss of the very breath of life。 The SDF…1's life support systems would eventually replace it； but the inhabitants of Macross would be living under the same atmospheric conditions as Andean Indians for a while…if they survived。
Enormous pylons the dimensions of a city block rose from the floor and descended from the ceiling； crushing the buildings in their way。 The grinding of servomotors shook every bolt and rivet in the ship。
Scraps of buildings； torn loose by the outpouring of air； were whirled around like leaves in a cyclone。 Macross City was being leveled。
The three spies went dashing down the middle of a broad； empty street； dodging a falling sign here； a broken cornice there。 Utility poles toppled； whipping live power lines around like snapping； spitting snakes。 Konda puffed； 〃I think it would be advisable for us to take cover as soon as…〃
He never got to finish。 Just then； the ship's internal gravity fields shifted from the effect of the massive power drains of the transformation。
The three went floating into the air among drifting automobiles； scraps of roofing material； uprooted trees； and spinning trash barre