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di hordes。
He laughed again； a bass rumble that made the bulkheads ring。 Today humanity died。 Tomorrow the war against the Robotech Masters would begin。
Rick Hunter clutched the ledge of his viewport。 As he watched； the night side of Earth； partly obscured by the enemy fleet； lit up with a myriad of red…hot specks； the work of that first terrible salvo。
〃The whole planet；〃 he said numbly。
Minmei came up behind him； walking like a robot； in deep shock。 〃Are they all。。。are they all dead； Rick？〃
He watched the night turn red。 〃Yes； Minmei。〃
She tore her eyes away from the sight。 〃Mother。 Father。〃
〃Lisa；〃 he said very softly。 His cheeks were suddenly slick with tears。
She started to sing in a lullably voice； crooning a little love song to life and to the planet that was dying。 But it didn't last long； and soon her head was buried in her hands。
〃So this is how we end；〃 she sobbed。 〃First the Earth and then the rest of us。〃
He put a hand on her shoulder。 〃No； Minmei。 This is not the end； do you hear me？〃
He wished he could sound more convincing。 But she wasn't blind； she could see the overwhelming might preparing to turn its guns on the SDF…1 and its Zentraedi allies。
〃We still have our lives；〃 he said； shaking her shoulder a bit roughly to make her listen to him。
It was all so unfair； so hopeless。 He hadn't felt so angry and powerless since that day in Dolza's base when he and Lisa and Ben were helpless prisoners…
THAT'S IT！！！
He shook her shoulder again with a sudden new conviction。 〃It's not over yet！ Listen； Minmei； I want you to go now and sing for everyone！〃
She wiped tears from her lashes。 〃Sing？〃
〃Yes。 I've got an idea。〃
The smoke clouds were already rising from the Earth； rolling to envelop it and bring on a winter that even the puters couldn't analyze reliably。
In the UEDC base's main control room； Admiral Hayes heard the report。
〃There's been no word from any other Council member； sir。 Marshal Zukav is still unconscious； and the doctors think they'll probably have to operate。 What are your orders？〃
In this election year； most of the UEDC members had been caught by surprise by the alien attack； out mending fences and fixing political support。 Of them all； only Hayes and Zukav had been present at the base when the attack came； and Zukav had suffered a coronary on the spot。
Now the reins were in Hayes's hands； but they were the reins to a planet that was more cinder than soil。
〃Damage estimate to all sectors exceeds any known scale；〃 a voice was saying quietly to one side。 〃We have indications that a few scattered groups survived the first attack。〃
The first attack； yes。 But now the enemy was no doubt preparing a second and a third…as many volleys as it took to turn Earth into a molten ball。
And so the world would end。
〃Did the Grand Cannon survive the attack？〃 he asked。
An aide was quick to answer。 〃Yes； sir。 It will still function。〃
Hayes turned to him。 〃Very good。 Then we'll begin the countdown at once； Lieutenant。〃
The aide hurried off to relay the order。 In moments； the vast base thrummed with power。
Gloval looked into the face of his onetime enemy。 Breetai stared back； and it would have been a historic moment if everyone had not been in such a hurry。
Breetai gazed down at the mustached； almost disheveled…looking little creature who had outfought and outthought the best warriors in the galaxy； Gloval looked up at a frighteningly massive fellow with a chest as thick as an ancient oak and a metal and crystal cowl covering half his skull。
They spoke with virtually no preamble； they felt they knew each other well。
〃mander Breetai； I want you to please broadcast a simultaneous transmission of Minmei's song on all of your military frequencies。〃
Breetai's single eye fixed on Gloval intently。 〃I have no objection； but what is your plan？〃
Exedore stepped into the picture to explain。 〃As yet； the soldiers in Dolza's fleet have had no contact with Micronian culture； m'lord！ When exposed to the song； they will be thrown into confusion。 And it will also boost the Micronians' morale。〃
Breetai rubbed his massive jaw。 Gloval stared in fascination at the giant mauve hand； the dense black hairs on its back thick as wires。 〃That could provide us with the chance we need to catch them off guard。〃
Gloval was a bit…breathless with this alien's audacity。 He himself had been thinking more along the lines of a selective strike。 〃But…the Grand Fleet is not a force we can attack head…on； mander！〃
Breetai gave him a surprisingly winning smile； ing as it did from a cloned XT soldier whose head was half hidden by a metal and crystal sheath。 Breetai plainly savored every word。 〃Precisely； Captain Gloval。 They would never expect us to mount a surprise attack against them。〃
The main bridge hatchway slid open； and a slender figure stepped in。 Minmei looked around nervously at the mysterious landscape of dials； lights； screens； and controls。
〃Um； you wanted to see me； Captain？〃
He went to her； Exedore trotting alongside。 〃Yes； Miss Minmei。 Lieutenant Hunter has told me his plan。 We're going to use it for our counterattack。〃
Minmei glanced nervously at the munications screen； then quickly averted her eyes from the metalskulled alien who was staring at her with frank interest。
〃You will be able to sing a song for us； won't you； Minmei？〃 Exedore said anxiously。
She forced a smile。 How could you go on with life when the world had just died？ Simple： You used your acting instincts； keeping introspection and sorrow damped well down。
〃Yes； of course。 Anything to help out。〃
Gloval nodded in approval。 She had barely exchanged two words with him at the wedding； but there was something about his old…world formality； a kind of lovable stuffiness； that put her at ease somehow。
〃I have one special request； Minmei；〃 Exedore put in。 〃Could you do that； er； that is； that thing that you do in all your movies？ I believe it is referred to as a kiss。〃
He couldn't have surprised her much more if he had done his Minmei imitation for her。 〃I…I suppose I could。 But why do you need that？〃
Exedore dropped into the pedantic； almost effete tones he used when trying to get his point across to stubborn Zentraedi。 〃I believe it would act as a kind of psychological shock to all the Grand Fleet attack forces； rendering them less able to fight。〃
She felt like laughing hysterically； there were some critics who would have agreed with Exedore's evaluation of her acting ability。
But outside the viewport； Earth smoldered。 〃Well； if it will help。〃
The clouds were already thick in the night sky over Alaska； lit from below by an infernal glow。
The base throbbed around her； preparing for the monumental cannon shot。 Lisa stared at her screens and waited to die。
At the cannon's base； a small city of Robotechnology； subatomic fires whirled； energy crackled and struggled to get free。
Admiral Hayes heard the reports in stony silence。 This would probably be the last； possibly the only human shot in the battle； on the last day of the human race； but somebody was going to be very sorry they had ever e seeking battle。 To go down fighting was much better than simply dying。
The cannon's huge lens； lit with targeting beams； made the undersides of the black clouds closing in on the world red。
Dolza looked around suddenly at an emergency munication tone。 〃Your Excellency！ We've detected a high…energy reaction ing from the third planet！〃
But before Dolza could ask for more data or give a single order； hell spewed forth。
It had been apparent from the start that an energy gun buried vertically in a planetary surface would have a very limited field of fire。 The planned system of satellite reflectors was supposed to have solved that； but interim measures had been put in place。 They showed their worth now。
A beam as hot as the heart of a star sprang up from the devastated Earth。 Widened by the lens； it lanced up into the Grand Fleet。 A hundred thousand ships disappeared in an instant； burned out of existence like insects in a flamethrower's blast。
Brute servos tilted the lens； angling the beam。 No one had been sure whether or not a shot like that would violate all the mathematics of the Grand Cannon and blow the installation to kingdom e； but it turned out that somehow everything held。
Like a flashlight of plete and all…enpassing destruction； the Grand Cannon's volley swiveled through the blockading fleet。
Ships were simply there and then not。 Left behind were only ponent particles and the furious forces of destruction。 In that single attack； the human race destroyed more warcraft than the Zentraedi had lost in any war in their entire history。
〃The enemy ships are just disappearing； sir；〃 Vanessa said。
Gloval and Exedore stared at the screen； watching the angling and swinging of the Grand Cannon。 〃Alaska Base survived！〃 Gloval exulted。 The Terrible Trio let out whoops and laughter。
〃Lisa；〃 Claudia whispered。
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Well； that was when I decided that ol' Vance needed to ease out of being Minmei's manager and into a new setup。 I mean； hey： what does twenty…five percent of Armageddon amount to in real money？