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〃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 this crisis； if a man with cloven hooves； smelling of brimstone； had appeared on the bridge at that moment； it's very likely that the captain would have struck a bargain with him。
Claudia looked over to Lisa； who seemed lost in thought even though her boards appeared to be registering a lot of activity。 〃Lisa？〃 Claudia called softly。 〃Lisa！ Girl； what seems to be the problem？ You've been in some kind of daydream ever since you got back。 Tell me； is it Kyle？〃
For a moment Lisa looked like a startled deer。 Then she became very defensive； even though she should have been used to her best friend's teasing by then。 〃Claudia； you know that's just not true！〃
〃Ahem；〃 Gloval said softly； materializing behind them。 〃Ladies。。。〃
They both got back to work； but Claudia was chuckling and an angry red spot appeared on each of Lisa's cheeks。
Kim shattered the gentle； joking atmosphere for good。 〃Captain； headquarters had just launched defense missiles。 Our instruments show approximately fifteen seconds to impact。〃
Gloval settled into his chair。 〃Fifteen seconds； understood。〃 What in blazes can those fools be hoping to acplish？ Conventional weapons are totally useless against the Zentraedi。
〃Prepare to send in the Veritechs；〃 he said。
With the disappearance of Dr。 Lang and the SDF…1 and the destruction of its orbital force in the wake of the initial Zentraedi attack； Earth's defense mand had been forced to fall back on older technologies； at least until their Grand Cannon was pleted。
Even the production of VTs was impossible； since most of the necessary fabricating and power…plant replicating devices were on the battle fortress； the earthly RDF fighters who'd greeted the ship on its return were just that； ordinary fighters； even though they looked like VTs。 The only real Robotech weapons now in the Council's possession were the handful of Battloids that had； predictably； been preempted to guard the Council's own Alaskan warren。
The huge； silvery missiles that rose up from the planet's surface now； recently manufactured and bearing the kite…like delta insignia of the Robotech Defense Forces； were nevertheless primitive in parison with Robotechnology。 But the order to fire was in place； and the workings of mand structure spun and reacted automatically。
Khyron's great cruiser moved more slowly in the thick lower atmosphere。 He didn't even bother trying to evade the missiles or shoot them down； he relished the shudder and thunder of their harmless detonations against his vessel's massive armor。 He loved toying with his prey； loved to pretend that slaughter was battle。
Hellish fire washed across the ship's armor and swirled away behind it； like foam off a killer whale； having no effect。
Behind the big transparent bubble of his mand post； Khyron looked down contentedly at the activity on his warship's bridge。 Grel； his second in mand； growled in a fierce； deep Zentraedi guttural； 〃Khyron； what about a counterattack？〃
It was Khyron's pleasure to speak differently from his fellows； to be unique in all things。 His accent was overrefined； almost foppish； though the Zentraedi lacked such a concept except in his case。 But few people had ever dared call the Backstabber on it； and all of those had met with grief。
〃A brilliant idea； Grel！ But just what are we counterattacking？〃
Greys thick brows met as he pondered the question。 〃You mean；〃 he said slowly； 〃that this planet is not the actual main objective。〃
Khyron's handsome； sinister face lit with a predatory smile。 〃You're beginning to see the light。〃 Another glorious victory for Khyron！ And oblivion for the hated SDF…1； things were going perfectly。
〃Veritechs； you have permission to engage the enemy；〃 Lisa said。 〃Fire at will。〃
A swarm of angry VTs swooped in on the descending alien； lances of bright blue energy stabbing from their pulsed laser…array cannon； another of Lang's developments。
〃SDF…1 to United Earth mand；〃 Lisa transmitted。 〃Our fighter squadron has initiated contact。〃 Chew on that； you burrowing moles！
The VTs were in close； flown by veterans who knew where to aim and how to avoid the bigger ship's clumsy cannon volleys。 They did only minor damage on the first few passes； but there were dozens of them； so more serious damage would be inflicted if they were allowed to have their way。
Gloval was counting on something he'd noticed before： There were definitely differing factions among the enemy； sometimes working at cross…purposes。 One faction seemed to be manded by an injudicious hothead； and this attack smacked of him…or her。
Gloval was right。 Even as the enemy cruiser closed on the dimensional fortress； fighter bays opened and alien mecha poured forth to battle for the skies。 For this engagement； Khyron had elected to use a mix of his best fighting machines； the VTs swooped in to find themselves facing stubby triple…engine fighters with fuselages like narrow eggs： tri…thrusters…Botoru pursuit ships； agile and spoiling for a fight。
But no more so than the RDF fliers； who were now on their home planet； their backs literally to the sea。 There was nowhere to run； no thought of surrender； and no battle plan needed except to make the aliens pay very； very dearly for each moment they spent in Earth's atmosphere。
〃I'm getting heavy contact reports and increased readings of enemy activity； sir；〃 Claudia relayed。
Out where war mecha jousted with spears of pure ruin for the fate of the SDF…1 and the human race； lines of fire and counterfire crisscrossed ferociously； taking a heavy toll on both sides。
Despite a steady rain of blasts from the SDF…1's primary and secondary batteries； Khyron's cruiser swung in a low pass toward the battle fortress。 Gloval wasted no time wishing that the all…powerful main gun could be fired。 That wasn't possible； damage to the main gun mechanism suffered on reentry hadn't been repaired yet。 So the battle would have to be won another way。
More VTs were ordered to the flight decks； Rick's Vermilions among them； and every weapon on the ship concentrated fire on the invader。 Gloval spoke quickly to engineering； preparing for other； desperate measures。
The SDF…1's fire was punishing Khyron's ship as even the VTs couldn't； but that didn't matter to the Backstabber； he needed only a little longer。 His cruiser passed overhead； all batteries firing； the two heavyweight ships hammering away at each other with all they had； inflicting appalling damage。
At the same time the cruiser released more mecha； a virtual hail of Battlepods that dropped down toward the SDF…1。 The pods and the tri…thruster pursuit ships kept up a heavy fusillade。 The VTs did their best to turn back the assault drop； but they were simply outnumbered； there would be many empty bunks down in the squadron quarters that night； if indeed the SDF…1 lasted at all。
Leading his troops in his own tremendously powerful officer's Battlepod； Khyron saw the carnage and grinned like a lunatic。
〃Keep firing and don't stop until we've destroyed every