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e table and pummel the intel officer。 〃D' you know how many times we almost got killed？ How close we came to not making it？ When was the last time you saw any action； you…〃
〃Captain！〃 the intelligence officer burst out to Gloval by way of plaint。
〃That will do！〃 Gloval thundered； and there was sudden silence as Max Sterling and Rick Hunter pulled Ben back。
Having shown his Jovian side for an instant； Gloval lapsed back into a reasonable voice。 〃Gentlemen； let's hear the entire report before discussing it。〃 It wasn't a suggestion； and everybody understood that。 The debriefing team subsided。
Lisa had thought her words out carefully。 〃In the course of our captivity； we observed that the aliens have absolutely no concept of human emotions。 They've been groomed entirely for war。 And their society is organized along purely military lines。
〃It appears that they've increased their physical size and strength artificially through genetic manipulation and that they also have the ability to reverse the process。〃
The others present were studying the few video records she'd managed to make surreptitiously during captivity； but Lisa's memory； with Rick's； Ben's； and Max's； provided vivid and chilling recollections。 They'd witnessed Zentraedi trans…vid records of the destruction of an entire planet； seen the gigantic protoculture sizing chambers the aliens used to manipulate their size and structure； felt the deathly squeeze of mander in Chief Dolza's fist around them。
And something else had happened； something Lisa could only bring herself to refer to obliquely。 The enemy leaders had been repulsed； but fascinated； by the human custom of kissing。 At their demand； and to ascertain what effect it would have on them； Lisa and Rick had kissed； long and deeply； on an enemy conference table as big as a playing field。
None of the four escapees had mentioned the kiss。 Lisa still wasn't sure exactly what it was she'd felt afterward。 She suspected that Rick was also a little confused； in spite of his love affair with the girl called Minmei。 Max and Ben had kept silent； Rick's friends as well as his wingmates。
Lisa finished； 〃And I think this last part is very important： While they examined and interrogated us； they constantly made reference to something they called …'Protoculture。'〃
The intel officer who had almost been attacked by Ben Dixon tilted his chair back arrogantly。 〃That's pure fantasy。〃
His security buddy added； 〃And were there any little green men？〃
Major Aldershot glanced around at him stiffly； the ends of his waxed mustache seeming to bristle。 〃I will point out that the mander is a much…decorated soldier。 This insulting levity is unbeing from someone who has yet to prove himself under fire。〃 It was the most he'd said all morning。
〃What is this ‘Protoculture'？〃 Gloval put things back on track。
Lisa hesitated before answering。 〃It's apparently something that relates to their use of Robotech。 I'm not sure； but they think that Protoculture is the highest science in the universe and that somehow we possess some of its deepest secrets。〃
Colonel Maistroff said with a sly grin to the other evaluation team officers； 〃Too deep for me！〃 and guffawed at his own joke。
The intel and security officers roared spitefully along with him as Lisa's cheeks colored and Rick felt himself flush in anger。
〃Silence！〃 Gloval barked。 It was instantly quiet。 〃This is a very grave moment。 This alien armada has pursued and harried us across the solar system for almost a year and yet has never made an all…out attempt to destroy us； perhaps we do possess a power in the SDF…1 that we don't fully understand。〃
That was a good bet； the way Rick saw it。 Even the brilliant Dr。 Lang understood only a fraction of the alien ship's secrets； and he was the one who had masterminded its reconstruction from a burned and battered wreck。
Maistroff fixed Lisa with a gimlet stare； red…faced at being rebuked in front of junior officers。 〃mander Hayes； is that all？〃
Lisa met his glare。 〃Yes； sir； that's all。〃
Ben whispered to Rick； 〃I don't think they believe us。〃 Ben wasn't exactly point man on the genius roster； and the idea that such a thing could happen had never occurred to him until the debriefing was well along。
〃It's probably the dishonest expression on your face；〃 Rick whispered back absently。
Maistroff placed both hands flat on the table and turned to Gloval。 〃Do you really believe this wild tale？ It's enemy trickery！ Hallucinations！〃
Gloval began stoking up his evil…smelling briar； tamping the tobacco slowly with his thumb； pondering。 〃This information must be correlated and reported to Earth immediately； whether I believe it or not…〃
Maistroff interrupted him； saying tightly and too quickly； 〃I'll send a coded message right away…〃
〃Colonel Maistroff。〃 It was Gloval's turn to interrupt。 〃No； you won't。〃 He lit his briar while they all gaped at him。
Gloval said； 〃We've got to break through the enemy elements that stand between the SDF…1 and our homeworld。〃
The evaluation team was aghast； Maistroff shouting； 〃We can't make it！〃
Rick looked around and saw that everybody on his side of the table thought it was a magnificent idea。 Gloval rose。 〃At our current speed； we are only two days from Earth； and they must have this information。〃 He started for the hatch。
Maistroff scowled at Gloval's back。 〃And then what？〃
The captain answered over his shoulder。 〃And then nothing。 We just await orders while we relax； Colonel Maistroff。〃
He cut through all their protests。 〃That will be all； gentlemen。〃
Gloval turned to the escapees。 〃And as for you four。。。〃 They all shot to their feet at rigid attention。
〃At least for the time being； you'll be relieved of duty。 You've earned a little R and R。 You're dismissed。〃
The four saluted him happily。 〃Enjoy yourselves；〃 Gloval said gruffly； puffing his pipe。 They did a precise right…face and marched out of the conference room in style。 But at the last moment； Gloval removed his pipe from his mouth and called； 〃One moment； Lisa。〃
The others continued on。 Lisa paused at the hatch and turned back to him。 〃Yes； Captain？〃
〃Personally； I am inclined to believe that your report is accurate。 However。。。〃
〃Certainly；〃 she said。 〃Thank you； Captain。 I know you believe in us； and I appreciate that。〃
〃I'm glad you understand。〃
The door slid open again； and she turned and left。 Gloval； looking back to the debriefing team； saw that the fact that he'd chosen to tell Lisa what he did； where he did； wasn't lost on them。
〃I'd rather face the aliens again than that bunch of brass；〃 Max Sterling told Rick as they walked down the passageway。 They were walking side by side； with Ben behind。 They could hear Lisa's quick footsteps as she fell in at the rear。
〃Gloval wasn't so bad； and that Major Aldershot；〃 Ben said。
〃They're only doing their job；〃 Rick maintained。 〃I'd feel the same way in their place。〃
〃Sure you would；〃 Lisa put it； a little surprised that Rick Hunter had been so transformed from a headstrong discipline problem to a trained military man who understood why and how the service functioned。 〃And they'd feel exactly the same way we do in