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to ensure that it couldn't happen to him again。
By now the Earthlings would be hearing the peal of Khyron's thunder。 Azonia； eyes slitted like a cat's； savored the moment； knowing she couldn't lose either way。 If the Backstabber won； the credit would go to her as armada mander； she would make sure of that； if he lost and was unfortunate or unwise enough to return to the fleet； she would have the pleasure of executing him herself。
Azonia savored the thought。 Violence and death and a certain sensual cruelty were things to mand any Zentraedi's emotions。 Khyron was being quite intriguing。
Azonia watched the displays with feline glee。 Decorate him； kill him； she was equally eager to do either one。
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
There before him were the Micronians； doing everything that was anathema to the Zentraedi。 But the lure of the forbidden was always strong in Khyron； and so there were certain things about Micronian behavior that； I think； he found tremendously seductive…not the weakling things； of course； but rather the sensual。
Is it any wonder he loathed and hated them； could not bear to have them even exist？
Grel； aide to Khyron
She'd been through this drill before； but it didn't make it any easier。 Donna Wilhelm； an enlisted…rating tech who was relief…watch fill…in for Sammie； tried not to lose her posure and let her voice quaver。
Her fingers clenched at the edges of the console； so hard that it felt like she might crease it。 〃Captain Gloval； unidentified cruiser…class spacecraft closing on our position at Mach seven。〃
She was the one Claudia had chewed out for daydreaming； Donna was exacting now； more practiced。 She'd learned the lessons anybody under Gloval learned； and as a result she was capable of manning her station through hell's own flames。 Which looked like it was about to bee a job requirement。
Donna hadn't heard footsteps； but Gloval was suddenly at her shoulder； massive and calm； whacking his briar pipe against the heel of his shoe to knock out a bit of dottle。 〃Punch it up； please。〃
〃Yes； sir。 Altitude twelve thousand。〃 Donna lit up her part of the bridge with tactical displays。 It was a given that this could be the minute in which every soul aboard died。
But that couldn't excuse sloppiness in the discharge of one's obligations。 There was a pure； white…hot kind of bushido； an ultimate calmness in matters of overwhelming importance； a very privileged eye…of…the…storm serenity； that the people on the bridge of SDF…1 were expected to have。
Once you'd been a part of it； it was just impossible to settle for anything less。 Donna had learned it in a school that permitted very few errors and no inattention； under Gloval； Lisa Hayes； Claudia Grant； and the others。
So now Donna did her duty； up to SDF…1 standards； which is to say without flaw and with the guts of a cat burglar。 〃Eleven thousand；〃 she updated。 〃If it maintains present course； it'll touch down approx ten miles from the SDF…1 magnetic bearing three…two…five。〃
It couldn't be anything but trouble； the war was on again； and if peace had seemed too good to be true； that was because it was。 But Gloval's broad hand patted Donna's shoulder for a moment； transferring what felt like an infinite calm even while he was calling orders to other bridge personnel。
〃Order up a B status encrypted line to headquarters immediately！ And one of you find mander Hayes and get her up here on the double！ Somebody else tell Ghost and Skull teams to get ready for a hot scramble！〃
People were doing all of that； and still the bridge was as quiet as a well…run switchboard。 Gloval told Donna Wilhelm； 〃Well done。 Give me updates every fifteen seconds； understood？ And if you see I'm not listening； e stand on my foot。〃
Then he was gone； and the SDF…1 bridge was quietly chaotic with a general…quarters bat alert。 Arm Hammerhead missiles and Deca missiles and Scorpion missiles； power up to main gun batteries； secondaries； to all firing positions。 Hot scrambles； ready on go； aye。
Donna looked at her screens and got ready to relay the first update to Gloval。 Over a year ago； her family had been one of those that were simply vacuumed up in the catastrophic first encounter between Zentraedi and human。 Now her father was an emergency team specialist； her mother supervised an elite EVA squad； and her younger brother was dead； one of Ghost Team's KIAs back in that big blitzkrieg in Saturn's rings。
So Donna did her duty。 The aliens had followed SDF…1 to Earth； the aliens would follow the SDF…1 everywhere； hound the ship and hound those within it until this fight was settled one way or the other。 Only； there was one thing that the aliens didn't seem to understand： The SDF…1's crew would never surrender now。
No matter； it was war again。 And the Zentraedi didn't know that they themselves were refining； like precious metals in some torturous crucible； a counterforce within the human race that was their match…in willpower if not in firepower…and more。
Much more。
In the vast mand center under the Alaskan wilderness； an operator called out over his headset； 〃Confirmed enemy craft continues descent； sir。 Will touch down at point K…32； R…56 Bravo。〃
The duty officer； Brigadier General Theroux； leaned forward； staring up at the immense display screen。 〃Are you certain？ Are you positive that that craft is confirmed as the enemy？〃
〃That's affirmative； sir。〃
Theroux got to his feet； squaring away his cap。 This was mand's worst fear made real。 The Grand Cannon wasn't yet ready to fire； and even if it had been； the approaching alien warship wasn't in its range。 Until the planned network of unique dish satellites was in place to redirect the Grand Cannon's superbolts as needed； it was virtually useless。
Theroux opened an emergency channel； sure that the ruling council would want to reconsider standing instructions under the circumstances。 But he could reach only General Herbert and Marshal Zukav。
〃And the enemy is headed straight for the SDF…1；〃 Theroux finished his brief situation report。
General Herbert's face blinked at him out of the screen。 〃And？ You mean you haven't carried out Special Order Seventy…three yet？〃
Theroux said desperately； 〃But sir； that will only…〃
〃Carry out your duty！〃 Zukav screamed； florid…faced； from another screen。 〃Do it this instant or I'll personally see you hanged for mutiny！〃 The screens blanked。
That will only goad them into attacking the SDF…1； and the SDF…1 is a sitting duck； Theroux had been about to say。 But Herbert and Zukav knew that as well as he。 It was as if they wanted the battle fortress obliterated。
Brigadier General Theroux forced his thoughts away from that line of contemplation。 He had his orders。
He addressed his launch control officer。 〃Very well； then： execute Special Order Seventy…three。 Launch missiles immediately。〃
And as techs were acknowledging and carrying out the mand； he murmured； 〃And heaven help us。〃
〃We are now monitoring all base signals and telemetry；〃 Claudia reported。
〃Very good；〃 Gloval said。 While he had no direct orders not to eavesdrop on his superiors； it went against all operating procedure。 But he had so few things working to his advantage in th