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al were still arranging documents and papers on the table； preparing to give their testimony。
Though he said nothing about it and gave no outward sign； Lisa knew that Captain Gloval was absolutely furious。 He and his First Officer had been denied the courtesy of a face…to…face meeting with Earth's governing body and had been shown； instead； to this interrogation chamber。
Lisa knew he didn't blame her； but she couldn't meet his eye。 She knew that her own father was one of those responsible for this shameful； cowardly treatment。
Suddenly all the screens came to life。 There were a half dozen extremely magnified faces glaring down Lisa and her captain。 All the faces were male； middle…aged to elderly； and all but two were in military uniform。
It confirmed Gloval's worst misgivings。 Lisa had to remind herself to breathe。 Military running the government？ This wasn't what we were fighting for！
Before her； on the center screen； was the towering face of her father。
〃Wele home； Captain Gloval；〃 said Admiral Hayes。 〃It's been a long time since you reported in person。〃
Gloval snapped his hand to his forehead in salute； and Lisa followed suit。 Others might forget their vows； their obligations； but the one thing that sustained Gloval was the certainty that while he still lived he would never renege on his sworn word。 Even if it meant rendering military courtesies to men he no longer respected。
It was a code of conduct few outsiders could have understood； a samurai maybe。 Gloval had understood and willingly accepted his oath of allegiance to the new United Earth Government； back when the alternative was racial annihilation。 He meant to live up to that oath just as long as he was able。
So he rendered military courtesy crisply。
〃Yes； sir；〃 replied Henry Gloval。
The huge eyes of the projected image； as blue as Lisa's； turned to her。 〃You too； mander。〃
〃Yes； Admiral；〃 she said quietly。 She gave no outward sign that her heart was breaking。
After her mother's death； her father had been her only emotional mainstay； until Karl Riber and； later； Claudia； Captain Gloval； and a very few others。 And now； Admiral Hayes didn't even deign to break formality。 An embrace and a few tears weren't military； perhaps； but she'd hoped for them； and； to be sure； she'd e prepared with some of her own。
But instead； the screen face said； 〃Good。 Now； why don't you both have a seat and we'll hear your report？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃 Lisa and Gloval cut their salutes away smartly； precise and correct。 They both sat while Lisa gathered her briefing data； then she stood again。 Gloval felt a sudden burn； since she would have to bear the brunt of their inquiry。 But the structure of the meeting was traditional and dictated by custom： The First Officer made the presentation because the Captain was sacrosanct and not subject to cross…examination outside of a court…martial。
〃We must know everything from the beginning；〃 said a white…haired man with a snowy handlebar moustache。 He was a former political hack who had oiled his way into a direct mission in the Judge Advocate General's office and made his rise from there。 Lisa took one look at the ribbons on his tunic and knew he had never seen a single moment of bat。
She had two decorations for courage under fire as well as numerous other campaign ribbons and medals； but she bit her lip and said； 〃Of course； sir。〃
Lisa arranged the papers in her hands and looked straight into the image of her father's face。 He didn't look away。 All around her were august visages； it was like being in an observatory with televisor screens running from floor to ceiling apex。
Lisa gazed at her father coldly。
〃This report presumes that everyone present is familiar with the details of the situation up to the time of the Zentraedi's appearance in the solar system。 Supplementary reports will be made available to you。〃
She glared at her father for a second； then went back to her report； happy that Gloval was at her side but ashamed of her own family。 She turned instead to a missioner whose face was displayed to her right； a man who looked like Clark Kent in those ancient Superman ics。
She cleared her throat； looked at the overbearing faces around her； and suddenly felt strong； strong as only people with simple truth and dedication to duty on their side can feel。 She could stand up to any of them。
〃The following are the abbreviated details of the miscalculated spacefold jump undertaken by the Super Dimensional Fortress One while under unprecedentedly intense attack from hostile alien forces and its consequent actions in returning to Terra。〃
That was quite a mouthful； but Lisa took pride in how fascinated and intimidated those enormous； concave faces looked。
These were men who had used the emergency of the Zentraedi's appearance to take control of Earth。 Along the way they had evidently forgotten how terrible and overwhelming the enemy was that currently prowled the dark beyond their tiny planet。
Lisa let herself feel a little vindictive； she figured they had it ing。 〃At that time； the strength of the alien fleet was estimated at nearly one million ships of a size three or more times larger than our Terran Armor class；〃 she said with a certain relish。
And before anybody could say anything； Lisa Hayes added； as she stared her father in the eye； 〃That number has since increased and our best intelligence evaluations indicate the Zentraedi mittment to this war to be in excess of two and a half million ships…of…the…line。〃
Nobody said anything； but there was clearly a mental echo running round the sad little rabbit hole of the United Earth rulers： TWO AND A HALF MILLION SHIPS？？？！
Chew on that！ Lisa thought to herself as she went on to the next page； watching out of one eye as the great and the mighty of Earth squirmed in their seats。
Yokohama was picture…postcard perfect under a blue sky dotted by slender wisps of white cloud。
Minmei tugged Rick along by the hand as they headed for her parents' restaurant。 She stopped in the middle of the esplanade； looking out at the glittering ocean。
〃Just smell that beautiful sea air！〃 She drew in a great breath of it。 〃Nothing smells as good as Yokohama！〃
She took her hands from the guardrail； went on full point； pirouetted； and then did a few jets。 〃It makes me want to sing； and dance； and carry on！〃
Rick； trying not to feel like a secret agent but aware of his responsibility； caught her by the upper arm。 〃Minmei； would you please stop acting like this？ Everybody's looking at you。〃
Shaking off his grip； she spun on him； putting her face up to his furiously。 〃Listen； I'm happy to be home； and if I feel like singing and dancing； I will！ Hmmph ！〃
Rick was about to mention their obligation to the SDF…1 and the secrecy to which they'd both been sworn for this mission； when Minmei spied a tall； slender structure nearby。
〃Look！ There's the New Yokohama Marine Tower！〃 she squealed； pointing down the esplanade。 She took on the reserved voice of the tour guides she'd heard so often while she was growing up。
〃‘When it was built； the New Marine Tower； which replaced the first； was the tallest structure in the world； over twenty…eight hundre