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Roy took his time staring down his nose at Kyle。 He'd heard all the stories about the fight at the White Dragon； He wondered if Kyle had heard the adage that a good big man will beat a good little man every time。。。
But Roy knew even more about women than he knew about martial arts and； it is a verifiable fact； preferred the former。 Kyle was playing the heavy without even being coaxed； let it be so。
〃Of course。〃 He smiled blandly at Lynn…Kyle。
A little frown had crossed Minmei's face at her cousin's boorishness。 Then Vance Hasslewood was yelling for his stars…the first team； as he called them。
Minmei's mood appeared to brighten； but Roy wasn't sure； and neither was Kyle。 She went running toward the set； Kyle spared Roy a steely look and turned to follow。
Roy left the sound stage whistling happily。 He was still feeling pretty smug when the unit in his jeep toned for his attention。 〃What is it？〃
It was Lisa's voice。 〃mander Fokker； one enemy ship has broken out of the fleet and is heading this way； closing fast。 Two Vermilion Veritechs are on scramble； and Captain Gloval directs you to take mand of the flight and intercept。〃
〃Who's on？〃
〃Sterling and Dixon；〃 Lisa answered。 〃Captain Kramer will have your Skull Team standing by for backup as needed。〃
〃Good；〃 Roy told her。 〃If things begin to boil； I always like those Jolly Rogers around。〃
The EVE system was off； and the distant reaches of the stupendous hold were above him。 Roy Fokker roared his jeep down through a quiet Macross； wondering what the fight was going to be like this time。
CHAPTER TWENTY…ONE
There are few more indicative incidents in the Robotech War； from my viewpoint； than this sudden transference of impulse and disobedience from Khyron to Miriya。 The evidence of what was happening was all around them； but still the Zentraedi High mand was； in any meaningful sense； blind to it。
Zeitgeist； Alien Psychology
〃Sound general quarters；〃 Gloval said； his calm； level voice enveloping the bridge。 〃Prepare pin…point defense shields。 Tell fighter ops to scramble Vermilions。〃
The new attack had e； as Gloval had feared； right in the middle of his own political offensive…his effort to make an end run around the Council。
If anybody aboard the dimensional fortress was curious about his encrypted 〃back…channel〃 calls to unnamed addressees since his return from the Alaskan fiasco and his silence on the issue of the Council's insane mandates； they'd kept it to themselves。 Good crew！ No one could ask for better。
The single enemy ship was drawing nearer。 The exhausted and heroic logistics people； straining to do an impossible job of taking on the endless rations； ordnance； equipment； life support consumables； and the rest； had secured themselves； the ship was battening down。
The turnaround time for a supercarrier in pre…Global Civil War days； included shipyard overhaul and the rest； ran as much as six months； the United States Navy was doing well if it had half its carrier groups at sea at any one time。 The SDF…1 had had less than a week to lick its wounds； and unless Gloval's plan worked； it would get no more； but be driven out into space once again。
In the Disco Bamboo House； the three spies； sweating and exhausted from a brave effort to keep up with the torturous convolutions the Micronian females called 〃dancing；〃 were shocked and worried by the sudden alarms but also relieved。 The Terrible Trio's endurance on the dance floor was simply not to be believed。
The women dove for their things； about to head for the door。 Sammie stopped to pat Rico's cheek。 〃You have the strangest style I ever saw； but it was fun！〃
Vanessa gave Bron a quick hug。 〃Let's do it again soon； boys！〃
And Kim； blowing a kiss to Konda as she and the others hurried to go； yelled； 〃We really had a good time！〃
Standing there and watching them go； Konda said wonderingly； 〃You know…I did； too。〃
The other two looked at him for a moment but then nodded in agreement。
Khyron's words had not seared long at Miriya's pride before she'd taken action。
Now； her own attack cruiser threw off the heat of atmospheric entry unfeelingly； and she and her Quadrono stalwarts poised for the moment when they could go hunting。
Indicators signaled GO。 Encased in their top…heavy looking powered armor； the Quadronos stepped one after another into the drop bays。
They were released seemingly at random but all in a plan to assume a bat…drop formation； backpack thrusters blaring； forming up for the assault on the SDF…1。
Inside the green…tinted face bowl of her interior suit； the light gave Miriya's plexion a verdant tinge。 〃I am looking for one particular enemy fighter；〃 she told the massed assault mecha behind her。 〃He will show himself by superior performance。 When he has been identified； you will maintain distance and leave his execution to me； personally！ Am I understood？〃
That was confirmed all through her mingled force of Quadrono mecha and tri…thrusters。 Miriya monitored her powered armor and contemplated her kill。
There were so many things that made this violation of standing orders so irresistible！ There was the chance to show up that posturing fool Khyron； the opportunity to meet an enemy worthy of her mettle （for in his taunt； the Backstabber had been right on target…she'd never met an antagonist she regarded as her equal）； a way to defy Azonia； a chance to have the Robotech Masters sing the name of Miriya； a crack at ending this war once and for all； to her own personal glory； and of course that ultimate thrill； flirting with plete disaster。
Because if she failed…and Miriya never had…then all would probably be taken from her； her life included。 But what was any of it for； if not for the risking？ She lived for bat and victory。 It was as easy to keep bleeding prey from the jaws of a lioness； as it was to protect the foe from Miriya's attack。
This time； the SDF…1 was ready。
Cat crews nosed up VTs in the launch boxes； the flight decks of the dimensional fortress and Daedalus and Prometheus were cluttered with bat aircraft； looking like toys under a Christmas tree from the lofty height of the bridge。 The VTs' wings were at minimum sweep； ready for launch。
Lisa Hayes had already given Ben and Max the go。 Lt。 Moira Flynn； cat crew officer； pointed to her shooter。 A moment later； Max Sterling rode a rocket off a bow catapult at 200 knots； while Ben Dixon 〃Yahoooed〃 off a waist cat a moment later。
Lisa asked over the inter； 〃Is mander Fokker's ship ready for takeoff？〃
Claudia left her station…left it entirely！…and strode over to Lisa。 〃Is Roy leading that intercept flight？〃
Lisa bit back what she'd been about to say： You mean he didn't tell you？ 〃Yes； Claudia。〃
Roy pulled on his VT helmet…the 〃thinking cap；〃 as some liked to call it…as his own trusty Skull fighter's forward landing gear was boxed up by the cat crew。
〃Good hunting； mander；〃 Lisa said； her face on his display screen looking as worried and self…contained as ever。
〃I'm more interested in hunting for a pineapple salad；〃 he radioed back。
Lisa couldn't quite believe her ears。 She tried to get a confirmation on the pineapple salad transmission as Claudia lau