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ai relied upon heavily。
Exedore's bulging； lidless； pinpoint…pupilled eyes were fixed on the projecbeam image of the wedding； too。 〃Your Excellency； if I am not mistaken； she is getting ‘married。'〃
They were standing in Breetai's mand station； overlooking the vast bridge of his colossal flagship。 The flagship； nine solid miles of weapons； shields； and armor； was in a state of disrepair after its furious engagements with the SDF…1 and the RDF mecha。 The transparent bubble surrounding the mand station had been shattered； only jagged pieces of it remained around the frame。
Zentraedi were warriors； not slaves or drudges； they had little taste for anything that smacked of mon toil； and even less talent for it。 Those predjudices were approved of and reinforced by their Robotech Masters； without the Masters； the Zentraedi would sooner or later find themselves without functioning tools of war。
Exedore explained； 〃According to my research； it is a condition in which male and female Micronians live together。〃
Breetai was stunned。 His harsh； guttural bass voice filled the mand station。 〃Live together？ Miriya Parino and this puny Micronian male？〃
〃Correct； m'lord。〃
But for what reason？ The towering Zentraedi warlord； master of a cloned race that didn't know love； family； or sex； tried to imagine what the purpose could be； why male and female might conceivably desire such intimacy。 But when he tried； he was assailed by waves of distaste and confusion； by nameless half…seen visions that made him physically ill。 He shunted the images aside。
Breetai lowered himself into his enormous mand chair； still considering the import of the wedding。 〃It seems she's taking this spying mission of hers very seriously。 Perhaps more seriously than she should。〃
His first conclusion was that Miriya the dedicated fighter was simply undergoing the tremendous torment of such behavior to infiltrate the enemy and learn the perverse secrets of their obscene social practices。 But Breetai saw something in Miriya's face； something that made the towering mander doubt this analysis。
It was like the three spies； Konda； Rico； and Bron； all over again。 Breetai felt a certain dread。 〃Unless my senses deceive me； it would seem she's enjoying herself in some peculiar fashion。 Could it be that she too has found the Micronian way of life too enjoyable to resist？〃
Exedore answered； 〃It would appear； sir； that she cannot resist the charm of that Micronian pilot。〃
Breetai had seen kissing demonstrated when he captured Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes。 He shuddered； recalling the disgusting display； and wondered how any intelligent creature could bring itself to indulge in such baseness。
But the lure of the humans was undeniable； scores of Zentraedi soldiers had secretly conspired to undergo micronization and had gone to live among their former foes。 It was the first such mutiny ever to have taken place in the history of the warrior race。 Part of the madness had to do with the young human female Minmei and the oddly hypnotic power called 〃singing〃 that she exercised。
〃Our forces may be in more jeopardy than we believed；〃 Exedore said。 〃What if the traitors who went over to the human side were not merely mental defectives； as we thought； but rather the first wave in a sea of such deserters？〃
Breetai rubbed his huge jaw； the one giant black eyebrow lowering。 〃It appears this ‘love' business is a very powerful thing。〃
Exedore replied； 〃I'm afraid I agree with you； sir。 It's an emotional factor against which we Zentraedi have no defense。 This ‘love' could be used as a powerful weapon against us。〃
Breetai scowled at the image of laughing； joyous humans； of the radiantly happy Miriya and proud； smiling Max。 〃Weapon； eh？〃
〃Yes。 We must beware。〃
The intercepted coverage of the wedding showed them flashbulbs popping and people applauding as Max and Miriya cut their cake。 The wedding cake was a tenfoot…high model of the SDF…1 in its knightlike Attack mode。
Breetai； growling in his rumbling bass； watched the proceedings angrily。 What was there about the blissful looks of Miriya and the Micronian that exerted such a fascination； such a deep pull； on him？ He told himself that it was only a mander's need to study a dangerous enemy； refusing to believe that he could feel such a thing as envy for the puny foe。
At the reception； the master of ceremonies was calling for quiet。
〃Ladies and gentlemen； today is a very special day。 It's more than just a wedding celebration； it's the bonding of two souls dedicated to the protection of our Robotech colony。 I'd like to introduce the man who's done so much to make this a unique occasion； the mander of the SDF…1； Captain Henry Gloval！〃
There was plenty of applause even though people were still passing around cake and freshening up their champagne after the several toasts that had been drunk。
Gloval stood up； decked out in his dress uniform； laden with medals； braid； and campaign ribbons galore。 Rick； who knew the captain a little better than most people there； got the impression that they were going to find out why he had spared nothing to turn the wedding into a major occasion。
Gloval spoke。 〃Well； to begin with； I extend heartfelt congratulations to Max and Miriya。 This wedding carries with it a great historical significance。
〃As you all know； Miriya was a Zentraedi warrior who destroyed many of our ships。 She es from a culture that we have grown to fear and hate。〃
Oh； no！ Rick thought。 What could Gloval be thinking of？ Miriya sat rigid as a statue； staring down at her plate。 Max was white。 The gathered guests were listening in stunned silence。
〃It is the Zentraedi who have caused our present situation；〃 Gloval pressed on。 〃They alone prevent our return to Earth…our homes and our beloved families。〃 One hand was balled into a fist now。 〃It is they who have caused injury； destruction； and endless suffering！〃
〃Captain； please！〃 Max burst out； just at the same moment that Rick yelled； 〃Captain！〃
Gloval forged ahead。 〃Now； I know what you're thinking： ‘Why is he choosing this time to remind us of these terrible things？' I remind you of them； ladies and gentlemen； because we must learn to forgive our enemies。〃
His image and his voice went out over screens throughout the fortress…in the barracks； the lounges； the giant monitors in the public squares of Macross City。 〃Not blindly； not out of ignorance； but because we are a strong and willing nation。 We cannot blame the Zentraedi for their inexplicable lust for war。 They have never known another way of life； and it has been their only means of survival。〃
All through the battle fortress； people gazed up at the screens in amazement…some with burgeoning hope； others with growing antagonism。
〃Nor can we condemn individuals of that society for the mass insanity of their leaders。 Instead； we must look to their good nature。 As you may know； dozens of Zentraedi defectors are now aboard the SDF…1； having been reduced to human size。 They have made a request to stop the fighting； and I believe it is a genuine request。〃
He turned to indicate the newlyweds。 〃The blood of these young people was tested before the ceremony。 Zentraedi blood was found to be the same as human blood。〃
That started murmurs and whispers in the reception hall； in the ship and the city at large； it ignited a thousand arguments and marked a turning point in human thinking。
In the White Dragon； the Chinese restaurant belonging to Minmei's uncle Max and aunt Lena； Mayor Tommy Luan and some others had e over to watch the ceremonies on television。 They heard Gloval say； 〃There is no reason why we cannot coexist in peace。 Let this occasion represent a future where all people live in harmony。〃
Cheers and applause were rising； evidence of the general hunger for an end to war。 Gloval held his hands up to silence it。 〃Please； let me speak a moment longer。〃
Voices in the background were heard； saluting Gloval for his leadership； courage； and convictions。 In the restaurant； Mayor Tommy Luan nodded his head and wiped at a tear。 〃Captain Gloval is truly a man of peace。 A great man。〃
There were others in the ship who didn't feel the same way； others who smashed bottles in the street or shook a fist at Gloval's image。 There had been so many losses； so many deaths； and so much suffering since the aliens' first attack that the hunger for revenge would not die easily。
Gloval had anticipated that； of course。 〃All of us have lost loved ones； and it will be difficult not to harbor ill feelings toward the Zentraedi。 But somehow we must overe these feelings！ We must stop this senseless destruction。〃
Far beneath the surface of the bleak Alaskan tundra； in the lowest levels of the United Earth Defense Council's headquarters base； Admiral Hayes pointed a remote unit at the TV； and it went dark。
He turned to his daughter and spat； 〃He's crazy！ I don't understand Gloval talking about peace at a time like this！〃
Lisa was quick to spring to Gloval's defense； both because he was her former manding officer and because he was inarguably right。 〃Father； it's the only way to avoid our own destruction！ If we don't start talking peace； it will mean the end of this planet； and not