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ty of the EVA crews。
Crowded into the boarding tube lock with two other Battloids behind him； Roy watched expectantly。 The huge lock； extending from the SDF…1 at the end of nearly a mile of large…diameter tube； was a yawning dome on a heavy base； equipped with every sort of contingency gear imaginable。 The captured pod and EVA crew and Roy's security detail took up only a small part of its floor space。
〃Not beat up too bad；〃 the EVA crew chief observed over the net。 〃But I dunno how much air it lost。 What d' ya say； Fokker？ Do we open 'er up？〃 She was holding a thermotorch ready。 She'd turned to gaze up at Roy's cockpit。
As ranking officer on the scene； Lt。 dr。 Roy Fokker had the responsibility of advising Gloval。 Tampering with the pod was very risky； they could trigger some kind of booby trap humans couldn't even imagine； destroying everyone there and perhaps even damaging the SDF…1。
But we can't go on fighting war this way！ Roy thought。 Knowing next to nothing about these creatures we're up against or even why we're fighting…we can't go on like this much longer！
〃Cap'n Gloval； sir； I say we take a shot。〃
〃Very well。 Good luck to you；〃 Gloval answered。 〃Proceed。〃
Roy reached down and put a giant hand in front of the EVA crew chief； blocking her way as she approached the enemy mecha。 〃Sorry； Pietra； this is my party。〃
His Battloid stood upright again and walked to the pod； shouldering its autocannon； its footsteps shaking the deck。 〃Cover me；〃 he told his teammates； and they fanned out； muzzles leveled； for clear fields of fire。 The Battloid's forearms extruded metal tentacles； plicated waldos and manipulators； and thermotorches。
〃Just try not to break anything unnecessarily；〃 Pietra warned； and led her crew to the shelter of a blast shield。
Roy looked the pod over； trying a few external controls tentatively。 Nothing happened。 He moved closer still； examining the pressure seals that ran around the great hatch at the rear top of the pod's bulbous torso。 Being this close to a pod's guns had him sweating under his VT helmet。
〃Careful； Roy；〃 Kramer said quietly。
He didn't want to use the torch for fear of fire or explosion。 He decided to try simply pulling the pod's hatch open with the Battloid's huge； strong hands。 He ran his ship's fingers along the seams； feeling for a place to grab hold。。。
The pod shook； rattled； and began to open。
Roy's Battloid leapt back； weapon aimed； as the hatch lifted up。 Battloid forefingers tightened on triggers； but there was no occupant immediately to be seen。
However； the Battloids' external sound sensors relayed a remarkable exchange； muffled and a little resonant； ing from the pod。
〃Well； finally！ Thank goodness！ When you start bragging to your fighter pilot buddies about this mission； boys； don't forget it took you just about forever to get a simple hatch open！〃
That voice was womanly and very pleasant； if a little arch and teasing。 Another； a young male's； sounding highly insulted； answered； 〃You weren't so hot at getting in touch with your precious bridge； I noticed！〃
If this is some kind of trick； we're up against the zaniest enemies in the universe； Roy thought。
〃I thought you both did very well；〃 another male voice said calmly； humbly placatingly。
〃Ah； look out； Max；〃 the first male voice said。 〃And let's get outta here。〃
There was a certain amount of grunting and straining then； and at one point the female voice yelled； 〃Ben； if you don't get your big foot out of my face； I'm going to break it off！〃 A vociferous argument broke out。
〃Everybody shut up！〃 the first male voice screamed。 〃Ben； Max： Gimme a boost up； here。〃
Moments later； two flight…gloved； human…size hands gripped the edge of the hatch。 A dark mop of black hair rose into view。
Rick Hunter； standing on the head of the husky Ben Dixon； hauled himself up triumphantly。
〃Hold your fire！ We're back！ Roy； we escaped from the Zentraedi…um。。。〃
Three Battloids stood there looking at him； hands resting casually on the upturned muzzles of their grounded autocannon； heads cocked to one side or the other。 Their attitude seemed to be one of resigned disgust。
〃We escaped！〃 Rick repeated； thinking perhaps they hadn't heard him。 〃Man； have we got stories to tell！ We were in an enemy ship！ We met their leaders！ We shot our way out in this pod！ We。。。we。。。What's wrong？〃
Roy couldn't tell Rick how overjoyed and relieved he was； it would have spoiled their friendship。
〃We were hoping for a POW；〃 he said。 〃Boy； is Captain Gloval gonna be sore at you for not being a Zentraedi。〃
CHAPTER TWO
The Zentraedi version of psychology could only be termed primitive； of course； except as it applied to such things as maintaining military discipline and motivating warriors。 And even there； it was brutal and straightforward。
No surprise； then； that when those particular three Zentraedi were quick to accept their spying mission； Breetai scarcely thought twice about it。
But of course； he hadn't spent as much time watching transmissions of the swimsuit portion of the Miss Macross contest。
Zeitgeist； Alien Psychology
The SDF…1'S survival of the latest Zentraedi attack had buoyed morale all through the ship…at least in most cases； there were those whom the lessons of war had made too wary to quickly believe in good fortune。 Even with Earth looming large before it and the long； dark billions of miles safely crossed； the battle fortress was dogged by the enemy…now more than ever。 Continued vigilance was imperative。
One of those acutely aware of the continuing danger was Claudia Grant； who was acting as the vessel's First Officer in Lisa Hayes's absence。 Though Claudia and Lisa were friends； Claudia had always felt a little put off by Lisa's single…minded devotion to duty； her severity。 But now； elevated to the responsibilities of her new position…especially at this moment； with Gloval off the bridge…Claudia was seeing things in a different light。
The members of her usual watch； the female enlisted…rating techs； Sammie； Kim； and Vanessa； were off duty for a long…postponed pass into Macross City。 Lisa； Claudia； and the other three had formed something very much like a family； with Gloval as patriarch； they had bee a highly efficient team both under everyday stresses and demands and under fire。
The turmoil of the war had brought an assortment of other techs to the bridge on relief watches； and Claudia didn't trust any of them to really know what they were doing； just as Lisa hadn't。 So even though she was almost out on her feet with fatigue； Claudia had refused to be relieved of her duties as long as Gloval was away。
There was no telling how long that would be。 The glorious news of the rescue of Lisa and the others was tarnished by the fact that the SDF…1 was still surrounded by the enemy armada。 Debriefings and mand conferences might go on for a very long while。
Claudia looked up wearily from her instruments as she heard one of the relief…watch techs say wistfully； 〃Boy； is that beautiful！ D' you think we'll ever set foot on Earth again？〃
The tech had brought up a long…range image of their blue…white homeworld on the screen before her。
Claudia was a tall wo