added.

'But we're not even sure how the system works!' Lisa reminded him.

'That's why I'm bringing us as close to Macross as I dare,' Gloval said calmly. 'All Doctor Lang's calculations and preliminary findings are based on experiments conducted at that location.'

He looked around at his bridge gang. He wasn't used to explaining orders, but it was important that his reasoning go on the record so that if he didn't survive the engagement, what he'd done might be of use in later decisions.

'We can't just surrender!' he said hotly. 'We have to try everything we can first! So ready fold system for a position jump, targeting the area on the far side of the moon, within one lunar diameter of the surface. Get your radar ready for an access check, Lisa.'

The bridge gang got to work, speaking into comcircuits, operating their consoles, while Gloval gave orders in a steady voice. 'We'll make the jump from precisely two thousand feet above the island.'

'Don't we need permission from headquarters?' Claudia asked.

He shook his head. 'We don't have time for that.'

'But Captain, you know the regulations specifically-' His gaze was white-hot now, making her falter. 'Sorry, sir…'

Gloval took in a breath. 'I know what the regs say, but I appreciate your bringing it to my attention.'

'I just wanted to-'

'Claudia! You've got your orders!' He turned away, hands clasped behind his back once more.

'Yes sir, Captain,' she said through locked teeth, and turned to do as she'd been commanded. 'Attention all hands. Priority! Fold system standby! Readying energy at maximum-green at all power sources.'

The giant untried fold devices came alight like castles of energy. The crews raced to prepare and make secure for the jump, although there wasn't nearly enough time. The chaos was especially acute in the hangar bays.

Nevertheless, throughout the ship, men and women did their best.

'All hands to emergency stations. All hands, emergency stations. This is not a drill, I say again: This is not a drill! Prepare for fold operation in T minus five minutes and counting-mark!'

In the labyrinth shelter system under the smoking ruins of Macross Island, Jason shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't that he felt crowded; the shelters had been built with a far larger population and supply requirement in mind-against the day when Macross might be the last human refuge.

But Jason missed his cousin. 'I'm getting worried about Minmei, aren't you? I wonder where she went.'

'Don't worry about Minmei. She'll be fine,' his mother reassured him. 'She just went to another shelter, that's all.'

His father was quick to add, 'Sure! Nothing's going to happen to anyone as smart as Minmei! Isn't that right?'

But among the grown-ups there passed looks hidden from the boy. They'd felt the distant concussions of the terrible battle, and now, for a long time, there had been an ominous silence with no all-clear signal from the military.

'Yeah…' Jason conceded, and settled himself down to wait some more, gathering his blanket around him.

'Are you planning on going somewhere?' Minmei asked as Rick ran a final preflight check on Mockingbird and made a few last adjustments.

He closed an access panel and turned to her. 'I'm gonna take you back to the island like I promised.' He knelt to replace his tools in the box and return it to its stowage niche. 'You still wanna go back, don't you? Because I'm not gonna hang around here one way or the other.'

He couldn't bring himself to admit how important it was that she come with him; that wasn't the sort of thing one learned to do working in a flying circus.

The SDF-1 resounded with Sammie's latest announcement: 'Attention, all hands. Fold in T minus three minutes and counting.'

Minmei offered him part of a chocolate bar that had somehow stayed in her pocket against every conceivable adversity. 'Candy?'

'…Thanks,'

'Rick, what's a fold?'

'Aw, nothing to do with us.' He offered her his hand to help her into the cockpit. 'Come on; let's go.'

She looked into the tiny plane's only passenger space dubiously. 'It's so small. Will it hold two people?'

'If they're very friendly, it will.' And so, she didn't object when he put his hands on her waist and helped her up into the Mockingbird.

Rick handed her his Veritech helmet. 'Here; put this on.'

She gave the helmet that wide-eyed look he'd come to care so much about. 'Ohh!' Then she had it on.

'It's so cute on you, Minmei. You could start a whole new fad.'

She snorted in exasperation. 'Oh, you!'

He chuckled foolishly and turned to work the bay door. The indicators had already let him know that the SDF-1 was descending, quickly; it was low enough for his plane's turbofan to function.

The first thing he saw as the doors parted was Macross Island, far below. It occurred to him that that was the ship's most likely landing spot, but be that as it might, he had no intention of remaining aboard. These military types had gotten him-and Minmei-into enough trouble.

Minmei saw Macross, too. She was still staring at it longingly as Rick crowded into the single pilot's seat next to her and got her into his lap.

The propfan was turning slowly; he brought it up while he lowered the canopy and began to turn Mockingbird's nose. It would be the trickiest takeoff of his career; the slipstream caused by SDF-1's descent could break the tiny stunt plane in half if Rick didn't do things just right.

'Hang on to me, Minmei.'

'It's awful close in here.' She squirmed forward, trying to rest against the instrument panel.

'Hey! I can't see to fly if you sit there!'

She leaned back, and he decided that he had to take his shot now, before the SDF-1 got into the heavy air currents lower down. He gunned the turbofan, launched. Counterrotating blades spun.

'I'm sorry, Rick,' Minmei was apologizing, 'But it's so tiii-yiiite!' as the Mockingbird was seized and twirled.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

'Who Dares, Wins.'

This motto of the Special Air Service commandos of the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom (latter twentieth century) was known to have been quoted by Gloval, even though his behavior and accomplishments make it clear that he was far from rash.

Certainly, he proved that he knew what the saying meant that day high above Macross Island.

'Starleap,' History of the First Robotech War, Vol. VIII

Rick somehow succeeded in keeping them from being smashed into a large gun turret as the

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