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tter。〃
〃No problem；〃 Kyle said with a charming smile。 〃It's just temporary； anyway。〃
The transport hurtled through the frigid night air； bound for the SDF…1。 A full squadron of fighters was flying escort around it。
Gloval knew now that it was no longer a matter of honor； he wouldn't be given the chance to divert or disobey orders now that the Council had made its decision。
Lisa； sitting。 in the window seat； opened an envelope that one of her father's aides had given to her。 She read：
My dearest Lisa；
I know that you're angry about my decision regarding the SDF…1； but it was unavoidable under
the circumstances。 I want you to try to understand and realize I'm concerned about your welfare。 The battle fortress is a very dangerous place； and I'm working on getting you reassigned to another ship； or possibly here to headquarters； before it's ordered to move out into space once more…
Without finishing the note； she tore it into tiny tittle pieces。
From another direction； the speedy little fanliner cut the sky； bound for the ship。 It was handling a little less nimbly than before； Lynn…Kyle was seated in the back with Minmei in his lap。
〃You mean to say you don't have any girlfriends？〃 she was asking him coquettishly； batting those big blue eyes。
He looked at her fondly； but he seemed to be one of the few people immune to her manipulation。 〃Well； I've been traveling around so much； I haven't had time。〃
〃If you did have a girlfriend； I'd probably be jealous。〃
He chuckled。 〃What d' you have in mind？ You want me to stay single forever？〃
〃Well； not exactly；〃 she said slyly。
It sounded like a game they'd played often； Rick thought。 〃Then what do you want？〃 Kyle coaxed。
She knuckled his shoulders； giggling。 〃Oh； nothing； I'm just teasing。〃
Rick lost patience with all the cuteness； he couldn't take any more of it。 〃Hey！ It's hard enough to fly this crate； overloaded like this； without all that jabbering back there！ How about buttoning up until we land？〃
He was also bothered by the idea that he might have exceeded orders。 There were no provisions for him to bring an outsider aboard the SDF…1； but； on the other hand； the briefing officers were very emphatic that Minmei was important to the war effort and must be returned； and Minmei couldn't e back without Kyle； so。。。
Minmei was giggling again。 〃That boy's always kidding；〃 she confided to Kyle。
That tears it！ 〃Guess again；〃 he told her。 〃It's no joke！〃
He banked sharply； Minmei let out a squeal and clung closer to Kyle。 Rick poured on the speed； impatient to be rid of the two of them。
Lynn…Kyle held his cousin close and smiled triumphantly。
〃That's not fair！〃 Kim Young cried； hearing Gloval's heartbreaking news。
〃It's like we're prisoners here！〃 Sammie added。
Gloval stood his ground； unmoving； betraying no emotion。 He'd thought it best to let his trusted bridge crew in on the news first； in the privacy of the bridge； they were the ones who would form the core of what he was ing to think of as his crisis…management team； helping him ensure that things didn't fall apart aboard SDF…1。 They had to be given time to get over the shock before they could help the entire ship's population cope with it。
Claudia was the first one to get things in perspective。 〃Orders are orders； even if there are a lot of idiots at central headquarters who have no idea what they're doing！〃
Lisa nodded to herself； she knew that was the kind of woman and officer Claudia was。
Still； Sammie insisted； 〃But there must be something you can do； Captain。 Please tell us you're not going to accept this quietly。 You will change their minds； won't you？〃
〃Won't you； Captain？〃 Kim added pleadingly。
Gloval cleared his throat in the way he did when he'd heard enough and expected to be obeyed。 〃Your lack of discipline is only pounding the problem； so get back to your duty stations immediately。 I appreciate your concern； but right now I have to begin deciding how to break the news to the Macross survivors and the rest of the crew。〃
He stood up from his chair； brushing past them。 〃You will excuse me。〃
Shifting her glasses nervously； Vanessa couldn't help calling a last desperate objection after him。 〃Captain； can't you…〃
Gloval cut her off stiffly。 〃That will be all； Vanessa。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 she said contritely。
〃Try to understand；〃 Gloval said softly over his shoulder to them just before the hatch closed。
Vanessa removed her glasses to wipe away a tear of anger。 〃But…it's not fair！〃
〃That's absolutely true；〃 Lisa said； speaking up for the first time。 〃But you can't blame the captain for something headquarters did。 Everybody has a right to gripe； but you should at least be mad at the right people。〃
〃Okay； okay…the captain needs our support； right？〃 Claudia said soberly。
〃Yes。 He knows he can't possibly succeed without it；〃 Lisa answered。
The bridge hatch opened； and the relief watch started filing in。 Kim let her breath go with a rasp。 〃All this talk isn't going to change anything； and I'm hungry；〃 she declared； careful to mention nothing specific in the outsiders' presence。
Sammie took the cue。 〃Let's go into town and eat lunch！〃
Vanessa nodded energetically。 〃Yeah； let's go down to the White Dragon； I'm starving。〃
At the White Dragon； the front doors slid aside。 Minmei's aunt Lena quickly went to greet the first customers of the lunch rush； bowing hospitably。 The restaurant was braced for a busy day； people were boisterous； in a mood to continue their celebrating even though a lot of them were getting restless and edgy with the delay in disembarkation。
It didn't disturb her husband Max very much； 〃People will always have to eat；〃 was his motto。 But Lena knew a certain sadness。 In spite of the dreadful things the SDF…1 and Macross had gone through； the rebuilt restaurant held a wealth of happy memories。
〃Wele；〃 she said； 〃welc…oh ！〃
A ghost had e through the door； surrounded by a cloud of brilliance from the brighter EVE 〃sunlight。〃
Her hands flew to her mouth。 〃Oh； Kyle； is it really you？〃
He took a step closer。 In the well…remembered； soft； clear voice； he said gently； 〃Yes； Mother； I'm home。 And I've missed you very much。〃
Dimly； she was aware of the traffic passing by on the street outside and of Minmei and Rick Hunter waiting a few paces back。 Minmei was barely keeping herself from weeping。 Rick was straightfaced； showing no emotion； but he envied the Lynn family their connectedness and their warmth； Minmei's tantrums notwithstanding。
When he thought about it； Rick realized that the closest thing he had to family was Roy Fokker and…to a slightly lesser extent…his wingmen； Max and Ben。 So Rick endeavored not to think of it。
Lena walked haltingly to her son。 〃Kyle； is this a dream？ I can hardly believe my eyes！ Oh； my baby！〃 She cupped his face in her hands。
〃No； it's not a dream； Mother； it's me。〃
Tears rolled down her cheeks。 〃I've missed you so。〃 Lena threw herself into his arms。
〃Gee；〃 Minmei said； wiping away moisture from her eyes。 〃I'm so happy； I'm gonna cry。〃
Lena truly noticed Rick and her niece for the first time。 〃Oh； dear！ This is no way to wele you two home！〃