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mes Gloval himself had trouble。
He reviewed the long tape he'd piled to amplify the other materials。 Starting with the initial Zentraedi attack； when so much of Earth's military force had been obliterated and the dimensional fortress had activated itself； the log covered all the important incidents of the running battle with the aliens。
There'd been the ghastly aftermath of the spacefold jump and the almost insurmountable problems of getting tens of thousands of Macross refugees settled in the ship。 The Daedalus Maneuver； Lisa Hayes's inspiration； had allowed the humans to win their first resounding victory amid the icy rings of Saturn。
Lisa saved the day again； this time on Mars； by destroying the alien gravity mines that had been holding SDF…1 on the Red Planet's surface。 The ship's most recent crisis began when radar was disabled by enemy fire； leading to a foray by a Cat's…Eye recon ship…piloted by Lisa Hayes； of course。
Gloval didn't like to think too hard about the fate his mand would have suffered if he hadn't been lucky enough to have had Lisa with him。 Certainly there were skilled and courageous men and woman throughout the SDF…1； examples of extreme bravery and ingenuity were too many to mention。 But it seemed that Lisa's devotion； valor； and special loyalty to the SDF…1 and to Gloval made her the pivotal figure in almost every action the ship fought。 It made it that much more difficult for Gloval to see how few real friends Lisa had； how empty her life was of anything but service and duty。 Of course； he had no right to interfere with her personal life； but he couldn't help being worried about her。
The most important thing Gloval had to present to the United Earth Government was an enigma： The molecular and genetic structure of the Zentraedi was so formidable that some of them could even survive unprotected in the vacuum of space for short periods of time； their sheer physical strength was a match for that of Battloids and other human Robotech mecha…yet they had nearly collapsed at the sight of two relatively tiny humans sharing a kiss。
Moreover； the Zentraedi didn't seem to know anything about repairing their equipment。 It was as though they were a servant race using the machinery given them by some higher power； yet they boasted of being the mightiest warriors in the known universe。
Gloval shook his head； hoping the Earth authorities would have additional information or analyses that would shed some light on the mysteries surrounding the war。
He worked for hours； inserting updates and clarifying things that warranted it； condensing wherever he could。 Twice he dozed briefly； then got back to work； making an occasional status…check call to the bridge。 The relief officer on duty； Lieutenant Claudia Grant； assured him all was well。
A quarantine area had been established around the battle fortress…not surprising； Gloval supposed…and a munication blackout had been imposed for the time being。 The crewpeople took that fairly well…they were used to military discipline…and even the civilians had been too delirious with joy to be very upset by it so far。 Gloval could see why his superiors might want to maintain radio silence until he'd appeared to give his full report； but he hoped the need for it wouldn't last much longer。
The civilians were still celebrating； but they wouldn't be satisfied with that indefinitely。
He brought the tape to a close； puffing on his briar as he dictated。 〃I am convinced the Zentraedi have more firepower than we can even imagine。 The situation is extremely critical； and I believe that a central issue in this war they've forced on us is this mysterious ‘Protoculture' they keep mentioning。 I therefore suggest that…what？ e in！〃
The rapping had been gentle。 Lisa entered with a pot of fresh coffee。 〃I thought you could use some about now； sir。〃
〃Thank you； it smells wonderful。〃 She came in； and the coffee's aroma filled the cabin； cutting the aroma of the pipe tobacco。
She poured while he glanced up at an ancient brass ship's clock on his wall。 〃I did not realize what time it was。〃
He put the pipe aside。 The ashtray lay next to a detailed analysis and history of living arrangements and social organization in Macross City and the SDF…1 during the voyage。 The SDF…1 held far and away the largest human population ever to travel in space； and that on a voyage of very long duration。 The data on how people had coped with their living conditions and somehow managed to make things work would be very important； Gloval suspected。 There would have to be a lot more humans in space for long periods of time； sooner than anyone expected。
Gloval threw back the curtains； looking out the high； wide curve of viewport at a Pacific dawn。 He'd forgotten how many seemingly impossible colors there could be in such a sunrise…the purples and reds and pinks。 He'd forgotten how the water broke the light into a million pieces and the sky ignited。
〃Here you are； sir；〃 Lisa said； handing him his cup； prepared just the way he liked it。 They gazed out at the peace and powerful beauty of the dawn；
〃I never thought I'd see anything as beautiful as this ever again；〃 Lisa said。 It was a moment of such tranquillity； such oneness with the planet that had been their goal for so long； such satisfaction with a protracted； seemingly hopeless mission acplished at last； that she did her best to lock it in her heart and senses and memory…a treasure that she could relive occasionally。 Sparingly。
〃You're right；〃 Gloval said at length。 〃I feel the same way。 You know； I have a confession to make。〃
Lisa sipped her coffee； watching the sea； saying nothing。 Gloval went on。 〃I had a premonition when I took mand of this ship； the feeling that something terrible would happen。 It's difficult to explain； but it was a conviction that something would happen to us that would change us forever。〃
She studied his face。 〃And it seems that you were right。〃。
He was staring at the sea and the rising sun； though she doubted he was really seeing them。 〃This ship still has its secrets； Lisa； but what are they？ We must find out； I can't escape the feeling that everything depends on it。
It was strange to see the flight deck crews working in conventional coveralls and safety helmets again after months in vacuum suits； strange to think that most planes would need a catapult launch from the SDF…1 and the flatdecks now in order to get up airspeed。
Theoretically； the transport that was waiting for Gloval and Lisa didn't need a launch； it was a VTOL job； capable of lifting off like a helo。 Still； it had the reinforced nose and landing gear of a naval aircraft； and SOP remended that fixed…wing aircraft receive cat launch。
Gloval walked toward it with Lisa at his side； his attached case weighted with documents； tapes； photographs； reports； and evaluation reports on those reports。 His feet scuffed against areas of missing nonskid surface on the flight deck； flaps of it having been peeled loose by the violence of SDF…1's homeing。
Scores of crewmen were just pleting an FOD walkdown of the flight deck； pacing its length in a line abreast running from port to starboard。 Foreign Object Damage was a thing much to be