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vehicles to and from the fabrication plex situated near Macross City。
〃Run； little man； run；〃 Miriya beckoned； watching him approaching in her rearview screen while simultaneously flying at hair…raising speed through the relatively tight passageway。 〃And when you catch me； you die。〃
Rick was gazing out through a permaglass window in the solarium； watching the last few civilians scuttle into shelters； when outside debris began falling from overhead。
An enormous figure dropped to the streets of Macross； making the ship tremble。 Rick found himself staring at the back of the Quadrono's head。
They're inside the ship！ We're finished！ The Quadrono's back thrusters flared； and it went racing down the street； taller than some of the buildings； its backwash nearly knocking out the solarium windows。
Rick had barely regained his balance when another cyclopean form dropped from above。 Rick recognized the Battloid's markings as Max Sterling's。
Maybe we're not finished； after all！ 〃Go get 'im Max！ Yeah！〃
Standing erect like the Quadrono； the Battloid flashed off into the streets of Macross in search of its antagonist。
Miriya wasn't used to such close quarters； though she handled her Quadrono mecha well； she bashed through walls and ripped out overhead signs and fixtures。 None of that mattered to her； and it didn't affect the mecha at all。
But Max had the advantage of knowing the streets of the city。 Miriya came around a turn to see the Battloid； feet gushing thruster fire； skid to a halt before her。
Several blocks separated them。 Max whipped up the long； cigar…shaped gray chain…gun and opened fire from the hip。 The hail of massive bullets spattered the Quadrono； holing it in places where its armor was thinnest； driving it back off balance。 Do what she might； Miriya couldn't prevent her mecha from being knocked over backward。
The Quadrono heaved itself to its feet again； Miriya caught in a red haze of rage。 〃You think to do bat with me？〃 she screamed； though he couldn't hear her。 〃You impudent fool！〃
No radio reply or translation from Max was needed。 The Battloid said it all as it stood waiting； poised； with autocannon ready； allowing her the option。 The clearest challenge imaginable。
Her words couldn't dispel the thought that assailed Miriya。 Khyron was right！ This Micronian is a demon of war！
〃Open the overhead hatch that's nearest to them！〃 Gloval snapped。 〃We have to force the alien out of the ship！〃
The Quadrono's exterior pickups caught the sound of grinding brute servomotors； and Miriya detected the opening of the hatch above her as she shouldered aside a building； crumbling it to pieces like a plaster model； to get some fighting room。
Her Quadrono fired with the energy weapons built into its giant hands…particle beams and annihilation discs。 The Battloid ducked one volley； leapt high on thrusters to elude another。
Then Max started slowly walking his Battloid toward the enemy； still holding his fire until he had a perfect shot； determined that his next burst would end the duel。 He was sure the other was enough of a warrior to know just what was happening； a test of nerve and backbone。
How close do we e before we open fire？ Who gets rattled and shoots first； afraid to go toe to toe？ Afraid to shoot it out point…blank？
It was all so bizarre； so impossibly unlikely； a unique moment in the Robotech War。 Max couldn't help feeling like one of the good guys in the Westerns he'd loved so much as a kid。 If the Duke could only see this！
The Battloid's footsteps resounded； the autocannon cradled at its side like the Ringo Kid's Winchester。 Max was a little too busy to whistle 〃Do Not Forsake Me； Oh My Darlin'；〃 but he heard it in his head。
Miriya almost fired a dozen times in those moments； but pride kept her from it。 If the Micronian had the nerve to close the distance to point…blank…to a distance where they'd almost certainly both be killed when the shooting started…then so did Miriya； leader of the Quadrono。
On this； our weddin' day…ayy； went the tune in Max's head。
The Battloid's feet measured off ten yards at a stride； the city blocks between the huge mecha disappeared quickly。
It's not good enough simply to die killing him！ Miriya's mind yammered。 He must die knowing that I live！
Before she could reconsider； the Quadrono's thrusters novaed； and the powered armor rocketed up； through the open hatch。 She loosed a flock of sizzling missiles； but the pursuing Battloid avoided them and kept ing。
Max mechamorphosed to Veritech mode； chasing her in a ballistic climb。 〃Turnip' tail； are yuh； pilgrim？〃
Then Lisa was saying in his ear； 〃Return to base； Vermilion Three。 You've beaten him。〃
Not decisively； Max told himself； turning for home。 He knew that； and the Zentraedi surely did； too。
Seething； Miriya guided her Quadrono back into the stratosphere。 〃Miriya； will not forget this day； Micronian…and you will pay for it。 So I vow！〃
Elsewhere； the rest of the VTs were chasing the last of the surviving pursuit ships and Quadronos。 Roy； fighting down the pain in his chest； managed to drawl； 〃Awright； Looks like they've had enough。〃
〃mander Fokker；〃 Lisa said； 〃you're losing attitude。 Are you all right？〃
He smiled into the visual pickup and did his best to sound amused。 〃Yeah； I'm great。 But how 'bout Max？〃
〃He's fine； mander。〃
〃And my old buddy Kramer？ Any word？〃
Lisa's face on the display screen was sphinxlike； unrevealing。 〃He's in intensive care now； Roy。 e on home。〃
〃Roger； SDF…1； we're in' in。〃
〃Godspeed。〃
The dreams had been lovely； but the waking was not。
〃Ah； so here you are！ I been lookin' all over for ya！ C'mon； Minmei！ Wake up！ Wake up！〃
She didn't want to； she'd always loved to sleep。 It was so wonderful and cozy； and her dreams were her very best friends。
Now； though； waking up was easier than being shaken so rudely…almost roughly。
She rubbed her eyes； blinking； and looked up at Vance Hasslewood。 〃What's the matter？〃
He made a big production of his exasperation。 〃Sweetie； honey； you're holding up production； that's what's the matter！ You're the star！ Without you； they can't finish the picture！〃
She yawned； looking around； then stopped suddenly。 〃Wasn't there a young man in here when you came in the room？〃
〃Hey！ Toots！ Are you nuts？〃 He was yelling now； time was money； and when it came to money； Vance Hasslewood could be very unpleasant。 His contract said that he got a percentage of every dollar saved if the picture came in under budget。
〃You got a career to think about； sweetie！ Ya don't have time for this kid stuff anymore； prende？〃 He looked at the bed。 It wasn't at all messed up； barely looked slept in。 He breathed a sigh of relief； it looked like there'd be nothing to hush up； nobody to bribe； no favors to call in or promise。
〃We have five more setups today！〃 he snapped。 〃C'mon； babe； let's go。〃 He grabbed her wrist and dragged her off the bed。
Minmei surrendered and trotted along dutifully。 She'd discovered that being a star meant that she had to put up with being herded around。 She loved the glamour； but she had never counted on having to be so passive。 Still； it was worth it； she guessed