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shing size of headquarters base； the very emphatic and yet somehow empty joy of being home again had cast a certain familiar pall over her。 It was strangely overwhelming； there was nothing she could do but laugh。
Lisa Hayes had realized a long time before that a life in the military didn't exactly make for happily…ever…after； particularly for a woman。 Nevertheless； there was a warmth of that moment； something between people who'd served together； something no outsider could have ever shared。
〃It's good to hear you laugh again； mander。〃 Gloval smiled slowly。 〃I think this is the first time I have heard you laugh since you escaped from the enemy； no？〃
Lisa said； 〃Ahh；〃 and 〃Umm；〃 trying not to think of a particular VT pilot； trying to keep the warmth and the laughter alive； doing her best not to be vulnerable to desires and attractions and yet be open to Gloval's confessions。 A small part of her wondered if male subordinates of female flag…rank officers went through this。
〃But I wonder if we'll feel much like laughing after this meeting with the governing council；〃 Gloval went on。 〃It's crucial that they be made to understand that the aliens are only interested in the battle fortress and its secrets； not in our world。〃
Gloval tilted his cap forward on his brow again。 〃I hope you've thoroughly prepared your arguments； mander Hayes。〃
Her chin came up； her eyes shone。 〃Ready to go； Captain；〃 Lisa said； managing a smile as she was reminded of the loneliness she felt。
All her life； it had been so difficult for her to establish a relationship with men her own age； even men in the military。 But it was not surprising； really； she had been surrounded by men like Gloval； men like her father。 How many men like that could there possibly be？ One in a hundred thousand？ In a million？
Hard to match； in any case。
Gloval was saying； 〃Mm…hmm； that's good。〃
Lisa replied； 〃I'm sure we'll be able to convince them。 After all； we're the only ones who've had close contact with the aliens！〃
Yes； Gloval reflected； it would seem so cut and dried to her； Lisa's father was one of the most powerful people on Earth； but despite that…perhaps because of that…Lisa herself was pletely naive about political machinations。
He knocked a bit of ash out of the bowl of his pipe and tamped down some new tobacco； as was his habit when he was thinking。 Just as he struck one of the old…fashioned kitchen matches he so loved； a surveillance eye in the wall lit up anti a feminine puter voice said； 〃ATTENTION！ SMOKING IN THIS CAPSULE IS FORBIDDEN！ PLEASE EXTINGUISH ALL SMOKING MATERIALS IMMEDIATELY！〃
Gloval yanked his briar from his mouth guiltily。 〃Ah？ Can't I smoke anywhere？ If it's not my bridge crew warning me； it's these machines！〃
Lisa was clearing her throat meaningfully。 〃Captain； are you worried about the SDF…1？ Sir； is something going to happen to us？〃
Gloval's aching conscience made him leap on the question； 〃Why do you ask？〃
Lisa only smiled and said； 〃When something's bothering you； I've noticed； you always pull out your pipe and make a big production about lighting it。〃
Gloval lowered the pipe slowly and； not caring who might be listening on some bugging device； said； 〃Hmmph！ I must confess I'm very worried about this meeting。 I'm not sure these…〃 he made a gesture with his head to indicate his disdain for anyone who would protect themselves underground while ordering brave men and women to die 〃…not sure these men will listen to us with open minds。 And Lisa； it's vital to our future that they do so； do you understand？〃 Gloval spread his broad； brown peasant's hands on his knees and looked down at them。
Lisa nodded slowly。 She was Admiral Hayes's daughter； used to having people view her as an access road to the highest levels of decision； that was one of the things that set Lisa Hayes so far apart from her contemporaries。
She'd seen power politics in excelsis all her life； had sickened of them and the unspeakable people drawn to them。
After Karl Riber had died she felt she would never heal from that hurt。 But surely there were others out there； people who were kind and patient and true？ The image of Rick Hunter suddenly came to her。 Though she refused to admit it to herself； Rick Hunter had e to mean very much to her。
〃What will happen if we can't convince the Council？〃 she asked Gloval。
He answered in a grim； level voice。 〃Then the Earth will go to war against the aliens。〃
Before； he had always spoken of triumph and the need to win； this time； with only Lisa to hear his confession； Gloval mentioned nothing about that。 Lisa knew him well enough to know what that meant： Captain Gloval's estimation of the human race's chances against the Zentraedi were very bleak indeed。
The tramcar came to the bottom of the Y's arm and began the vertical descent to the innermost chambers of the United Earth Defense Council。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Did You Ever See a Dream Walking？
Early twentieth…century song title
〃Minmei？ Minmei； wake up； you're almost home。〃
She stirred a little； it was a voice she liked； she knew； and it was a message that was wonderful beyond pare。 Minmei yawned charmingly against the back of one hand； trying to stretch but restrained by something。 Her head was filled with the marvelous images and memories that the word 〃home〃 conjured up。
Minmei opened her eyes； recalling that the restraint was the fanliner's seat belt。 Behind her； the steady vibration of the propfan engine drove them along。 〃Look！〃 Rick said； pointing。
〃Mount Fuji！〃 she shrilled； happy beyond words。 The mountain wore a crown of snow despite the fact that it was midsummer…something that happened very rarely。 Minmei took it as a good omen and a wele home。
Rick cruised slowly past Fuji； giving Minmei a chance to look。 Air traffic was being rerouted to give him an unobstructed course； he wondered again what secret deals had been struck just so Minmei could see her relatives and wondered too how soon the Macross City survivors would lose patience with their confinement。
He banked the little aircraft； heading for Yokohama。 Though he was happy that Minmei would soon have the joy of reunion； he was despondent that their time alone together was nearly half over。 He tried to picture her family and how they would react to their daughter's status as SDF…1 superstar。
He trimmed the ship and shook his head。 There are billions of people on this planet。 Why did I have to fall in love with public property？
He took on a bit of altitude； the island chain lay beneath them like so many gemstones。
In the deepest vaults of the Alaskan base； Lisa Hayes and Henry Gloval sat at a simple； unadorned desk in the middle of a vast hearing chamber。 The walls of the chamber were several dozen yards thick； though the pressures of the Earth itself were enormous down there； the room itself was as fortable； in terms of temperature and air pressure； as any surface garden。
There was a multimedia console； perhaps ten yards away； at the base of the wall before them； and all around were display screens as big as billboards。 Lisa and Gloval were still arranging documents and papers on the table； preparing to give their testimony。
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