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our own destruction！ If we don't start talking peace； it will mean the end of this planet； and not even you would want that！〃
He suddenly looked pained。 〃Lisa！〃
〃I'm sorry；〃 she told him； 〃but you must stop the Grand Cannon operation immediately！〃
Admiral Hayes stubbed out a cigarette and avoided his daughter's gaze。 〃Plans for use of the Grand Cannon are already set。 There's nothing to be done about that now。〃
CHAPTER TEN
I heard someone next to me saying something about a marriage literally made in the heavens。 I held my tongue and was glad no one took the obvious bait； to mention a honeymoon in hell。 I silently said my chants for the newlyweds and for us all。
Jan Morris； Solar Seeds； Galactic Guardians
Gloval still held his audience transfixed。
〃Each and every citizen must develop a responsible attitude toward the efforts for peace。 We must learn greater tolerance and meet this challenge。 I'm not proposing we lay down our arms but rather that we extend the hand of friendship。
〃There is a chance for a peaceful solution； and we must make it e to pass。 As Max and Miriya； here； have done。〃
〃The Zentraedi are a strong and intelligent people。 Let this ceremony stand as a symbol of our desire for peace。 We must emulate Max and Miriya： They are the heroes of today and our hope for tomorrow。〃
It took a moment to realize he was finished； as Gloval turned to let the newlyweds retake the spotlight。 Then all at once the cheers and applause were deafening。 Streamers and confetti showered around the SDF…1 cake； and everybody was hailing Max and Miriya and blessing their union。
The crowd hailed Gloval as well； and friendship between human and Zentraedi。 The Terrible Trio threw themselves into the arms of the three onetime Zentraedi spies…Vanessa to the husky Bron； little Sammie with Rico； and Kim embraced by purple…haired Konda。 The joyous crowd called out toasts and salutes to peace。
Gloval hoped that it had been enough…hoped that the mitment and the determination would still be there when the cheering had stopped。
The headquarters of the Zentraedi supreme mander； Dolza； hung like some titanic hive in the blackness of space。 It was the size of a planetoid； an armored moonlet so immense that Breetai's flagship and hundreds of thousands more like it could fit within。 Around it； the Zentraedi Grand Fleet was assembling； a force so incredibly vast as to dwarf even Breetai's armada。
Dolza； the Old One； largest of his race； paced within his headquarters。 Standing at attention before him were his assembled subordinates。 Dolza stopped pacing and looked down at them。
〃We can no longer permit this condition to exist。 It's being a significant threat to Zentraedi power。 It seems that we have underestimated the powers of these Micronian vermin。〃
In the end； it seemed Breetai's trusted adviser Exedore was right： The ancient Zentraedi warnings against any contact with Micronians had been handed down for good reasons； though the reasons had been unknown until now。
A race that could subvert the Zentraedi； make them violate their warrior code…a race that could weaken them so with talk of love and peace！ Dolza had seen that it was a threat infinitely more dangerous than the ravaging Invid； that it was something that could end Zentraedi greatness forever； at a single stroke； unless something was done immediately。
〃The battle fortress has bee too dangerous to continue to exist。 Even though it means destroying so many of Zor's secrets and losing valuable knowledge； you are ordered to totally annihilate the SDF…1。 The Grand Fleet will soon be mustered and prepared to set forth。〃
The subordinates smote their chests with their right fasts； roaring in unison。 〃Ho！〃
Then； Dolza thought grimly； we shall incinerate the planet Earth and end this threat once and for all。
At the reception； there was the roll of a snare drum； and the master of ceremonies brought out Lynn…Minmei。 Rick Hunter sat with his arms folded across his chest and didn't know what to feel。
She was even more beautiful than the first time he had met her…a black…haired； blue…eyed stunner with a naturally winning stage presence。 She wore a gold lamb gown cut high on her left hip。
She took the microphone； the crowd was eating out of her hand before she even opened her mouth。 Minmei paid lavish pliments to the newlyweds； then broke into one of her biggest hits； 〃To Be in Love。〃
Rick recalled the first time he had heard it； marooned with Minmei in a deserted portion of the SDF…1； lost and seemingly doomed。 He had fallen in love with her there and had thought she felt the same。
Her wonderful voice took the notes with a sure； sheer beauty； caressing the words； taking the crowd under her spell。
Rick saw Miriya take Max's hand shyly。 The three alien ex…spies were hugging the bridge bunnies。 Konda and Bron and Rico had initially been won over to the human side by that same voice； that same face。
Claudia was trying not to cry； she had done a good job controlling it since Roy was killed； but Minmei's voice had something mystical about it。 Rick saw moisture on Claudia's cheek。
Rick looked out the viewport to the emptiness of space。 Roy； his best friend； was gone…and Ben Dixon and how many hundreds； how many thousands upon thousands of others？ The losses had been terrible。
Deep under the frozen Alaskan ground； Lisa had turned the ceremonies back on。 She watched Minmei work her magic and despaired of ever being able to pete； of ever being able to win Rick's love。 How can I？ She's so beautiful； her singing…it's like a kind of miracle。
The broadcast was also intercepted by the armada as it swam like a school of a million bloodthirsty deep…sea creatures in the depths of space。 The great warships； bristling with weapons； spiny with their detection and munication gear； prowled hungrily。
In his mand station； Breetai looked up at the image and heard the music。 〃This woman has a voice that。。。can make a man feel sorrow；〃 he said slowly； heavily。 Exedore looked at him worriedly。
Just as Minmei was about to start another song； a priority signal replaced Minmei's image。 One of Dolza's staff officers looked down at him。
〃mander Breetai； forgive this interruption； but I bring you top…secret orders from mander in Chief Dolza。〃
Breetai shot to his feet； hand outflung。 〃Hail； Dolza！〃 He shook off the effects of Minmei's siren song。
〃You are ordered to begin a full…scale assault on the SDF…1；〃 the officer informed him。 〃There are to be no survivors whatsoever； no matter what the cost。 That is all。〃
He disappeared； and Minmei was singing once more。 〃Well； Your Excellency？〃 Exedore asked softly。
Breetai stared up sadly at Minmei's image。 〃It grieves me that the time has finally e。 I do not look forward to this task at all； Exedore。 That may sound strange； but it's true。〃
And the haunting beauty of Minmei's voice put that same heavy sorrow in him once more； until he willed himself to reach out and shut it off。
Loyal； insightful Exedore looked at his lord with concern。 Half a dozen times he almost spoke of the fear and apprehension that those words； ing from Breetai； put into him。 But in the end the small； slight giant held his peace。
But Breetai did not have the only receiving equipment in the fleet。 Everywhere in the teeming warships it was the same： Clusters of huge； hulking warriors had gathered around to watch and listen to Minmei…and had heard Gloval as well。 The first sounding of the alert signals； the call to arms and to glorious Zentraedi warfare； had touched off more dissent than they had ever experienced before。
〃I don't want to fight；〃 growled a much…decorated pod mander。 He was staring at something tiny that lay in the palm of his hand as though examining his own heart line。 Another PC； standing near； tried to get a look at whatever it was； but the first closed his fist。
He did it carefully； he didn't want to damage the tiny Minmei doll that lay there。 Bron had given it to him before he and the others defected； seeking shelter and an uncertain future among the humans。 The PC had listened to the doll sing until the batteries were all but exhausted。 He couldn't explain its appeal。。。or the power of Minmei's music over him。。。or why he was unwilling to go out and destroy the SDF…1 when his former rades in arms were aboard。
The harsh Zentraedi language had few or no words for these concepts； but that didn't change the PC's feelings。
All around them； colossal warriors raced to don bat armor； seize weapons from the racks； grab gear； and get ready for the great assault。 The decks thrummed under their massive iron…shod feet。
The second PC opened his palm to the first for an instant。 They had been thinking the same thing； for he held another of the tiny souvenir Minmei dolls。 He closed his fist again。 Opposing the war felt much different； sparked a higher flame of hope； when each realized that the man facing him felt the same。
〃It's as though I'm going to be fighting against my own people；〃 the second PC said； struggling to put his thoughts into the limited Zentraedi battle tongue。
NCOs and officers were yelling at various scurrying units to move it； move it； move it。 Go！ Go！ The deckplates thunde