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e accurate。〃
〃And what about my requests？〃
〃Captain Gloval； all negotiations with the aliens for an end to hostilities are flatly rejected。〃
Gloval spat； 〃You think we can win against a force like that？〃
〃We don't know whether we can win or not。 The point is； we don't understand the invaders' thinking。 We scarcely understand their Robotechnology。 How can we begin peace talks with them？〃
Gloval was about to interrupt； but Herbert pushed on。 〃We have no way of knowing if they would participate in good faith or simply ignore any treaty mitments and attack again when it suited them。〃
〃But…you must realize…〃 Gloval began。
Then Admiral Hayes's image was front and center。 〃Captain； we think our Grand Cannon will protect us as long as we stay prepared and alert。 We will not negotiate away that advantage。〃
〃Very well；〃 Gloval snapped。 〃I understand； sir。 But what about resettling the fifty thousand or so Macross survivors？〃
Herbert fielded that one； seeming irked that he would even ask the question。 〃They've all been declared dead； so having them leave the SDF…1 is out of the question； Gloval。〃
Gloval shook his head slowly。 〃I don't understand。〃
Lisa shot to her feet。 〃Just what is it you're saying？〃
Herbert's answer was acid。 〃Do you think we made an official announcement that we're at war with aliens？ Why； there would have been worldwide panic and probable insurrection by the peace factions！〃
〃They'd have been screaming for immediate unconditional surrender；〃 another Council member； missioner Blaine of US…Western； added。
Admiral Hayes's image held the center spot again。 〃We invoked a strict media blackout from the day the SDF…1 disappeared； using the excuse that a guerrilla force of anti…unification terrorists had attacked Macross Island and destroyed it after the ship left on its maiden test flight。 Now； how could we let the tens of thousands of Macross inhabitants who know what a tremendous threat we face return to Earth？〃
〃It's impossible！〃 Zukav threw in。 〃The government would be overthrown！〃
Are they crazy or am I？ Gloval asked himself。
For ten years； throughout the rebuilding of SDF…1； the world government had used the threat of alien invasion to justify their staggering defense budgets and its own ever…expanding influence。
But when the Zentraedi finally appeared with power so far beyond anything humans had envisioned （except for a few hardheaded realists like Gloval）； the Council had； in effect； bee pletely paranoid： They lied to the populace； hid in a hole in the ground； and simply prayed the menace would go away。
All for the sake of their political power base； all so that they could rule a little longer。
Gloval's voice rose a few decibels。 〃We're going to have a riot on our hands if we don't allow those people to get off the ship！ They've been through a lot and endured it gallantly； but now they're safely back home and their patience is wearing thin！〃
Herbert answered that。 〃Keeping them under control is your responsibility。 And anyway； if； as you stated in your report； the aliens are so curious about our customs； then carrying an entire city within the SDF…1 should ensure that their attention is focused on it； don't you think？〃
〃It's crucial that you draw the enemy forces away from this planet！〃 Kinsolving； a bloodless…looking man with eyes like glass pellets； said from one side。
〃At what price？〃 Gloval roared。
He felt very close to surrendering to his rage…perhaps going back to the SDF…1 and launching a little revolution of his own。
But he knew he wouldn't； knew he couldn't fire on innocent men and women who believed the Council's lies and who would rise to oppose him…knew he couldn't break the oath of allegiance he'd sworn。
He'd seen enough civil war； he knew he couldn't start another。
Admiral Hayes was saying； 〃Captain； we're not insensitive to your situation； but we must have time to strengthen our defenses and increase our knowledge of Robotechnology。 And you're the only one who can give it to us。〃
Lisa cried； 〃Father； this is too much to ask of all those civilians！〃
Hayes's huge projected face glared down at her icily。 〃mander Hayes； we may be father and daughter； but during these proceedings I expect to be addressed by my rank； is that understood？〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 she spit out the words。
〃And what if the aliens decide not to follow the battle fortress？〃 Gloval posed the question。 〃What if they at tack the Earth instead？ You can fire your Grand Cannon until you broil away the planet's atmosphere and make the surrounding land mass run molten； but you still won't be able to destroy all those ships！〃
Hayes answered； 〃Your own analysis indicates that that's highly unlikely； the invaders are interested in your ship。 You will receive your sailing orders in the morning。 That is all。〃
Again the screens went blank。
Gloval picked up his hat tiredly。 I guess that's the end of that。
〃Captain； how are we ever going to be able to explain this to the people on the ship？ Not just the survivors； the crew…they've been in constant bat for more than a year！〃
Gloval had no answer。 In the corridor outside； he asked； 〃Lisa； wouldn't you like to spend some time with your father while you're here？ As family； I mean？ I can authorize a brief leave。。。〃
They came to an elevator to begin the long trip back to the surface。 Lisa kept her eyes lowered to the floor。 〃No； sir。 I have no particular interest in seeing him right now。〃
〃I understand； my dear；〃 said Gloval as the elevator doors closed。
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The patterns of behavior observed so far indicate that either all these humans are demented or else the three of us suffered head injuries upon first landing here。
Preliminary observation of the Zentraedi spies Rico； Bron； and Konda
〃I really don't think this is getting us anywhere；〃 Lynn…Kyle said in his soft； reasonable voice。
Hours of argument had gone by； but the five…Minmei and her parents； Rick； and Lynn…Kyle…were still gathered around the table。 〃Minmei's made her decision；〃 Kyle went on； 〃so why don't you let her go？〃
Minmei clapped her hands； eyes dancing。 〃Oh； Kyle； you're wonderful！ I knew you'd say that！〃
〃Just a minute！〃 Minmei's father said angrily。
His wife was quick to head off the brewing confrontation with Kyle and keep the debate on track。 〃You're the last one we'd expect to send Minmei away from her home； Kyle。〃
〃Especially with no one to watch over her；〃 the father added。 Rick almost said something about that： Listen； I saved her from fifty…foot…tall aliens and death by starvation and thirst！ What d' ya call that； a passing interest？
But it didn't seem like the time。
〃I thought I would go with her；〃 Kyle said casually； 〃and live with my folks。〃
Minmei was ecstatic。 〃Hurray； Lynn…Kyle！ I knew you'd find some way to e to my rescue！〃
Rick made a bored sound。
〃Well； I guess that's all right；〃 Lynn…Jan said slowly； deciding it might be for the best to let his daughter get this foolishness out of her system。 His wife； Lynn…Xian； looked relieved； saying； 〃It would make me feel a lot better。〃
〃No problem；〃 Kyle said with a charming smile。 〃It's just temporary； anyway。〃
The tra