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Earth, as some of you may already know, I have made numerous appeals to both
the United Earth Defense Council and the governing bodies of several
separatist states for permission to allow you to disembark and resettle
wherever you might choose. I'm certain that you are all aware by now of my
feelings regarding your continued presence aboard the fortress. Be that as it
may, time and again my appeals have been turned down, for reasons that must
remain undisclosed for the present. However, I always felt that progress was
being made on those requests, until in light of recent events I have been
forced to entertain second thoughts about the Council's position."
Gloval was silent a moment; his throat felt parched, and he began to
wonder whether the in-close cameras were picking up the slight tremor of his
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hands. But he dared not risk looking at himself in the monitors. Rather, he
cleared the quaver in his voice and continued.
"My friends and fellow shipmates, I have some very bad news to report to
you. I received word just a while ago that this ship and all its passengers
have been ordered to leave the Earth immediately."
Gloval heard the cameramen and grips gasp; he imagined a collective gasp
rising up from the entire city, strong enough to register on the air supply
systems in engineering.
Now for the most difficult stretch...
"If we do not evacuate the Earth, we've been warned that we risk attack
by elements of our own Defense Forces. I know that you must find this
unthinkable, but it is most unfortunately true. You cannot have failed to
notice that for the past few days we have been taking on a wide assortment of
supplies and provisions. I know it is of minor consolation, but I anticipate
that we have enough in stores to undertake the journey ahead. And just where
is that? You must be asking yourselves. Well, I will tell you: That journey
will be to victory!"
Without an audience, Gloval had no idea how it went over, so he risked a
quick look at Lisa, who flashed a smile and thumbs up. But were the civilians
buying it? Did they still have confidence in his ability to lead them to
victory?
Those lights seemed even hotter now; he felt dizzy from strain but
pressed on.
"I desperately need all of your cooperation in this moment of terrible
responsibility. We must all work for the day when Earth will accept us back.
Until then, we will survive as best we can...I give you my most humble
apologies..."
No, this can't be happening! he shouted to himself.
But it was: He was sobbing, still on camera and sobbing.
And suddenly Minmei was beside him, her hand on his shoulder. She picked
up the mike from the podium and began to speak, the cameras tracking
mercifully away from Gloval to close on her.
"Listen, everyone, the captain really needs our support right now. Look,
I don't understand politics-after what Captain Gloval has told us, I'm not
sure I want to-but I do know that the only way we'll survive this is to pull
together.
"We've been on this ship for a long time, and I don't know about you,
but I think of the SDF-1 as my home now. Don't forget, we have almost
everything here that we could ever have on Earth-our own city and all the
things that go along with it. We've all been through quite a bit, but look at
how strong we've become because of it. I have more friends here than I ever
did on Earth. You've been like a big family to me.
"Someday we'll return to our real home-we'll never give up hope. But for
now, I'm proud to be a citizen of Macross City and this ship!
"No matter where we go in space or how long it takes, our hearts will
always be tied to the Earth. So to help all of us express our feelings at this
moment, I'd like to perform a song for you and dedicate it to the Earth we
love so dearly..."
And Minmei actually broke into song; white dress swirling, blue eyes
flashing, she broke into song. And more than half of Macross joined her. She
had touched something. Her words had given voice to some unarticulated feeling
the residents of Macross shared. Throughout the city, people shook hands and
began to view themselves as a new nation, a new experiment in human social
evolution. It was true that many of them had family out there on Earth, but
hadn't most of them come to Macross Island in the first place to escape most
of what passed for world events? Did anyone really want to be governed by such
a heartless group of puppet masters as the United Earth Defense Council?
So they celebrated a bittersweet victory. They shelved their dreams for
the last time, and they took a long look around their city, as if for the
first time. And many of them crowded to the ports and lights in the hull as
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the fortress lifted off, Earth already a memory, the unknown ahead.
CHAPTER SIX
They [the Zentraedi troops] reacted like adolescents released from the
behavioral constraints of their guardians. Suddenly there were worlds of
pleasure and pure potential awaiting them-worlds that they'd been denied
access to but that were now theirs for the asking, if not the taking...One
doesn't have to look far into the history of our own race to find examples of
the same impulses at work. The so-called counterculture of late-1960s America
comes immediately to mind, especially with regard to the central place given
music and pleasure, and arising as it did from a decidedly antiwar movement.
Zeitgeist, Alien Psychology
"Talk about your 'charms to soothe the savage beast' [sic]...She had enough
talent-enough magic-to bowl over an entire empire! So why not call it as it
was?-a Minmei cult!"
Remarks attributed to Vance Hasslewood, Lynn-Minmei's agent
The million vessels of the Imperial Fleet formed up on Commander Breetai's
flagship, positioning themselves by rank in the staging area-a multi-rowed
column of Zentraedi firepower that stretched for thousands of miles into
Luna's dark-side space.
In what was left of the command post bowl, Breetai stood tall and proud,
his dwarfish adviser by his side, equally confident for the first time in
months. The three returned agents were being regenerated in the sizing
chamber, and here was Commander Azonia's troubled face in the projecbeam
field. Breetai had already informed her of his reinstatement. Exedore moved to
the communicator to check on regeneration status while Azonia offered her
reply.
"So I hear," she began. "You've assembled quite a fleet to deal with one
small Robotech ship."
Breetai laughed at her sarcasm, gleaming faceplate riding the wrinkles
of his grin. "You noticed...that `small Robotech ship,' as you call it, has
caused quite a bit of trouble. Even you, Commander, were beaten and
humiliated."
"My defeat was humiliating only in that Khyron was responsible for it."
"A good commander keeps his troops in line," Breetai started to say. But
Exedore interrupted him deferentially.
"Uh, sir, the sizing chamber...Our agents are ready to deliver their
report."
Breetai regarded him briefly, then turned back to Azonia's projecbeam
image. "I'll give you your assignment later," he said dismissively.
"But wait, I haven't given you my report yet! Miriya Parino has-"
"That will be all," he told her, arms folded across his chest. "More
pressing matters require my attention."
"Breetai-" she yelled as the image faded.
"Ah, well done, my lord!" Exedore congratulated him. He then motioned to
the corridor. "I believe they're waiting for us."
"This report may turn the tide in our favor," said Breetai as they left
the command post.
Breetai had no reason to doubt that this would be the case. He had no
inkling then of the bizarre reversals that were to come not only from his own
agents but from another whose micronized presence onboard the SDF-1 was to
come as a complete surprise.
Rico, Konda, and Bron, clothed once again in the red uniforms of their
rank, were brought to Breetai's personal conference chamber, a sparsely [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]