und him。
〃Anyplace else in the universe but here；〃 Khyron brooded； staring off angrily at nothing。 There was no response from Grel； and Khyron snarled； 〃Didn't you hear me？〃
Grel calculated his next words carefully。 〃But sir； we can't run。〃
Khyron barked a galling laugh。 〃You think not？ Watch； then！〃 He signaled； and the engines of his flagship came up to power； as did those of all the Botoru ships under his mand。
Grel licked his lips； wondering how best to tell Khyron that he hadn't been speaking figuratively。 Khyron cherished the practice of beheading the messenger who bore bad tidings。
Breetai paid little attention to the maneuvers of the Botorus。 He considered the nearby fabric of space； where the first perturbations of the Cosmic String heralded the Grand Fleet。
Once he had been Dolza's most valued subordinate…had saved Dolza's life from the very Invid attack that had killed Zor。 Now he contemplated the stirrings of the universe in advance of the attack and reflected on the incredible way things had turned out there in the Micronian star system。
Hear my thoughts； Lord Dolza！ To go down in battle is all we seek； from the highest to the lowest。 Mark me well； for this is the final battle of Breetai！
In the hearing chamber； people were exhausted； but the marathon went on。 puters and analysts were hooked in； G…staff members and evaluation teams were ready。
〃Dolza will assume you're too weak to fight；〃 Exedore was saying； still animated and prim in the midst of the most tiring activity。 〃He will divide his fleet and attack from every side； sealing off any avenue of escape。 But this maneuvering will give you your only chance。〃
〃Enough background； kindly be specific；〃 Gloval snapped。
Exedore turned to a luminous tactical projection he had constructed with the help of the SDF…1 puters。
〃Their flagships will be here； here； here； and here； and Dolza's mobile base will appear here； these are my best projections。
〃If you can destroy these vessels； it will throw the entire Grand Fleet into chaos。〃
〃Simple military strategy；〃 someone muttered。
〃No； simple military strategy…of all…out； straightforward attack and overwhelming numbers…is what has allowed our tactics to remain the same for so long；〃 Exedore countered。 〃That and the fact that the Zentraedi have never lost a war。〃
Colonel Maistroff rubbed his face with his hand； as if he were washing。 〃So； in short； we crush the head of the snake！〃
Exedore nodded。 He stepped away from the tactical display； pacing toward the place where Gloval sat。
〃With their attack forces in disarray； our only chance for survival is to utilize the bined forces of the SDF…1 and our battlefleet。 We are already aware of the crude Robotech cannon in your planet's northern hemisphere but consider it a minor element at best。〃
Gloval came to his feet。 〃I'm glad that we're now fighting on the same side。〃 He clasped hands with the gnomish little man。
〃Yes； so am I。〃 Exedore turned to Minmei； who was watching it all unbelievingly。 〃And without your singing； this alliance between our peoples would not have been possible。〃
Kyle had assumed a hard expression； eyes closed； chin sunk on chest； lip curled。 But Minmei was in a sort of dream state。 〃Who； me？ Really？〃
Exedore nodded his head slowly。 〃While I don't profess to understand Micronians； I now realize the importance of your singing。 It touches emotional resources to which we Zentraedi did not have access before…a courage that is beyond mere courage in battle。〃
He seemed to blush a little； nothing could have surprised them more。 Even Kyle was shocked。
〃Will。。。will you sing for us？〃 Exedore got out； face coloring furiously。 〃So that we may hope for victory？ Please； Miss Minmei。〃
〃Of course。〃
She stood up； in that room where the plans were ing together that would spell the death or life of worlds； the survival or slaughter of billions。 She drew a breath and sang in a voice as clear as polished diamond。
She sang 〃To Be in Love；〃 one of her first positions； still one of her favorites。 It was a simple song； and there was nothing in it of armies or battles。 It was about a closeness between two lovers。
Exedore and the three former spies were mesmerized。 Kyle； eyes closed； was cold and indifferent。 Gloval； Max and Miriya； and the rest watched and listened； immersed。 Her voice soared to rebound from the domed ceiling。
Rick was transfixed； too； at first。 The fact that he'd lost her didn't make her any less desirable； especially now。
But then a new sound came to him； a sound he recognized even through the intervening decks and bulkheads。
On the hangar decks； the elevators were at work； lifting Veritechs for cat launch。 For the final battle。
The finder beams had done their work。 Now there was a brutal application of force； and the warp and woof of the universe were ripped apart。
The Zentraedi had refined their targeting。 This time； there was no cosmic bow wave of incandescent fire。 Instead； a green cloud of some kind seemed to appear…until it became clear that every last mote in the cloud was a warship。
Another cloud appeared nearby； and another。 Then two at once； then three。 And soon the stars were blotted out。 It was as if handfuls of sand had suddenly bee ugly battlecraft。 More appeared； and more； in dense； well…ordered formations； thicker than any hive swarm。
〃There are too many for sensors to count；〃 Vanessa said； sweating； blinking behind her glasses。 〃Too many。。。〃
〃I have to go；〃 Admiral Hayes told his daughter gruffly。 〃We'll talk about this later…〃
The PA interrupted。 〃Sensors register immeasurable defold activity。 Estimated enemy strength one million； three hundred…correction； two million； one hundred thousand…stand by！ Stand by！ More enemy units arriving！〃
Some other； less hysterical voice cut in。 〃Battle stations。 Repeat； battle stations。〃 Alarms and sirens sounded； and nobody had to say that it wasn't a drill this time。
Admiral Hayes swallowed； going pale。
Earth was engulfed in a net of enemy warships。 They blotted out the sun's light； appearing in their hundreds of thousands； taking up position for the ultimate confrontation。
Claudia's face appeared in the hearing chamber on a display the size of a movie screen。 〃Captain Gloval； monitor three shows enemy positions over the western hemisphere。〃
The view came up。 Still the sinister warcraft poured into Earth orbit from nothingness。 The drifting clouds of them stretched； established intervals； deployed for total coverage。 Great blotches of green； whole clustered space navies； were painted into the picture。
〃Well； I'm afraid this is it；〃 Exedore said。 It looked； like the planet was falling； in time…lapse photography； under a leprous infection of Zentraedi bat green。
Minmei could only stare； her song forgotten。 Max and Miriya took each other's hands； and he was grateful that he had been granted the time they had had together。
Even Kyle was aghast。 If there was one there who was in the mood for the scene； it was Rick Hunter。 He watched the Grand Fleet spread and grow。 Nothing left to lose。 Okay： A fight it would be。
Breetai； staring up at the displays that were still functioning on his bridge； watched in awe。 It was。 the greatest single bat fold jump operation in history； and it came off meticulously。 Dolza was doing everything right so far。
Breetai's clifflike jaw set。 Opening moves and endgame were two different things。
The night sky over the Alaska Base was lighter； with the reflections of sunlight from the light underbellies of the warships taking up orbit。 The stars were obscured； hundreds at a time。
Watching the screens； Lisa heard her father moan。 She turned and saw by his expression that he realized； far too late； that the reports of the aliens' strength were accurate and that five million ships were so many more than he had ever envisioned。
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
And so the Great Mandala spun； Two halves had learned They both were one
Mingtao； Protoculture： Journey Beyond Mecha
Among all the announcements of the loading of Decamissiles； the manning of gun turrets； the frantic coordinating of target…acquisition and threat…priority puters； there came word that Skull Team was to report to its fighters。
〃Well。 That's us；〃 Max said； looking at the deck and then up at his wife。 He was really at a loss。 Some traditionalism said that he should shield her from harm； but Miriya was a better flier than anyone else aboard except relax； and there was no safety； anywhere。
More to the point； she would never have allowed him to leave her behind。
〃Yes； Maxmillian；〃 she said； watching him。 Rick noticed that in an amazingly short time； they had both learned to smile exactly the same slow smile at each other at exactly the same moment。 He did his best to suppress his envy。
Max put his arm around his wife's slim waist and gave Rick a wave。 〃See you out there； boss。〃
〃Count on it。〃 Rick waved at them with phony cheer； watching them go off to suit up。
Others were finding their way out of the hearing chamber； Gloval and Exedore and the other heavy…hitters were already gone。 The recording techs were wrapping things up quickly； preparing to double in brass on bat assignments。
Only Kyle and Minmei were left； uncertain； with no place to go。 Rick looked up at them and thought about what was happening out there where the void met Earth's atmosphere。 Millions of ships were forming up for a greater battle than even the Zentraedi had ever seen before。
Which meant the future looked very dim for one little VT leader who had e late into the business of war。 Rick decided in an instant and sprinted off to where Minmei stood。
She was at the top of the steps leading to the table podium； he stopped a few steps below。 〃Minmei！〃
She looked at him oddly。 〃Yes； Rick？〃 He couldn't read her； couldn't understand what was going on behind the startling blue eyes。 Kyle was at her shoulder； cold and angry； glaring down at him。
Not that Kyle mattered anymore； very little did。
Rick fumbled for words； not ing up with any that would express what he wanted to say； not even managing to get started。 At last he got out； 〃You know I'm not good at this sort of thing。〃
She did； knew it from the long days and nights they had spent stranded together； knew it from more recent times； when he had been all but inarticulate。
〃But I might not see you again；〃 he went ahead。 〃I want to say that…that I love you。〃
Her hands flew to her mouth like frightened birds。 She mouthed words that made no sound。
〃Had to tell you。〃 He smiled bitter…sweetly。 〃Take care。〃
Then he left to suit up； already late in the massive launch schedule of the apocalypse； heels clicking emptily on the deck。
She was frozen by his words； she could move again only when he was out of the hatch； out of sight。 Minmei hurried down the steps to catch up。
Kyle was next to her in an instant； catching her arm； bringing her up short。 〃Don't try to stop him！〃 The doings of the warmakers were their own concern； Kyle had loved Minmei too long to lose her to them now。
She struggled hopelessly to free her arm； the black hair whipping。 〃Let go！ I' have to tell him！ Kyle； let me go or I'll hate you forever！〃
Fingers that co