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The Invid imposter had taken it upon himself to have one more go at winning Edwards over； despite the Regent's orders to the contrary。 He had given careful thought to the Regent's harsh criticisms and was convinced that a follow…up discussion was in order。 He now thought he had a clear understanding of the concept of sublety； but like Tesla he was not big on surprises； and the sudden appearance of the Spherisian module had pletely undermined his efforts。
Edwards was waving a forefinger at him。 〃There； there； Your Highness； no call for insults； is there？ Just when we were getting along so famously。〃 Then Edwards's face grew serious； his one eye cold。 〃Besides； it's just a couple of our people and one of yours。 There were bound to be survivors。〃
〃One of mine？〃 the simulagent asked； alarmed。
〃Tesla…isn't that his name？ Or didn't you know he was aboard？〃
The Invid curled one his sensors。 〃You failed to mention that。〃
Edwards shrugged。 〃What's the difference？ He's alive。〃 And so is Wolff； Edwards thought。 He glanced across the desk at the Invid； beginning to tire of the game。 Would this Tesla be able to confirm his suspicions？ he wondered； making a note to have the returnees monitored at all times。 〃Now； what was it you were saying before？〃
The simulagent tore himself from concerns about the possible consequences of encountering Tesla。 〃I…I was about to make you an offer； I think。〃
Edwards waited for him to continue； then laughed。 〃Well； go ahead…let's lay our cards on the table。〃
The simulagent held up a hand。 〃Three planets…yours for the choosing。 Free access to all the other worlds I control…a limited partnership…and last； my help in realizing your； dreams； shall we say。〃
Edwards felt his jaw。 〃In exchange for the brain。。。〃
〃And Tesla。。。〃
〃And Tesla。〃
〃And one thing more。〃
Edwards's brow went up。
〃I want Minmei。〃
Wolff and pany stepped out of the module and onto the deck of the SDF…3 docking bay to the sound of cheers…a few； at any rate； from a section led on by Emil Lang； Lord Exedore； and several staff officers。 And it was Lang who clasped Wolff's hand and wrist； as if he had never been so happy to see someone。 Behind him； Janice was getting the same treatment； Sarna； Burak； and Tesla were all but ignored。
〃What the hell's going on？〃 Wolff asked the scientist straightaway。 〃You've got half the Invid fleet out there！〃
〃There's much to discuss；〃 Lang shouted as press and officers jostled one another to get close。 〃But tell me…the others…Rick and Lisa…〃
〃They're alive；〃 Wolff returned； buffeted about by the crowd。 〃But they won't be much longer if we don't get a rescue ship to Praxis。〃
Lang frowned。 〃Well； we have to see about that。〃
〃What do you mean； 'see about that'？〃 Wolff gestured back to the module。 〃We didn't have enough fuel to jump back； but Praxis…〃
〃Things have changed；〃 Lang told him； just loud enough to be heard。 〃We have to talk。〃
Wolff felt something acidic wash through him。 All the while he had been answering Lang's questions； his eyes had been darting around the hold； searching for some sign of Minmei。 Now； after seeing a hundred Invid ships anchored in Fantomaspace； and with Lang's portentous whisperings in his ear； he found her； and the sight only served to double his dread。 She was standing alongside Edwards； among that unresponsive group； offering him a weak and pathetic smile。
〃e； Colonel；〃 Lang was saying； one hand at Wolff's elbow； 〃we must hurry。〃
Wolff pulled away and craned his neck to catch another sight of Minmei； but Edwards's contingent was already leaving the bay； and she was lost in the crowd。
〃Listen； Lang； I need a minute；〃 Wolff said； up on his toes now。
Lang turned around to track Wolff's gaze； then he took hold of him more firmly； more urgently。 〃The council is ready to hear you。 Everything hinges on this。〃
〃Look； I just wanted to…〃
〃I know。 I understand；〃 Lang added after a moment。 〃But things have changed； man。 Aren't you listening to me？ Think about your friends。〃
Wolff started to say something rash； but checked himself； slicking back his hair in a gesture of exhaustion。 〃I'm sorry； Lang。〃 He turned and motioned Janice and Sarna forward； then pointed to Burak and Tesla。 〃I want these two placed in lockup。〃 Peripherally； Wolff caught Lang's look。 〃I'll explain；〃 he told him。
As everyone began to move off； Lang mentioned that the Regent had e to Tirol of his own volition； that he was in fact on the fortress at that very moment。
Wolff made a surprised sound…but not half the one Tesla uttered at overhearing the statement。 Wolff was too wrapped up in Lang's subsequent remarks to hear it； however； but had he turned； he would have seen the look of near rapture on the Invid's suffused face。
The Plenipotentiary Council convened in extraordinary session to listen to Colonel Wolff's report and hear out his requests。 Because both Janice and Sarna were 〃civilians〃 according to the council's guidelines； Wolff had to face the twelve alone。 The session was held in the council's private chambers aboard the fortress； with the usual secretaries and officials in attendance。 Representing the RDF were Generals Reinhardt and Edwards。 Wolff had yet to learn about Edwards's relationship with Minmei； but he loathed the man nonetheless。 Lang had instructed Wolff before the session convened to meet with him afterward in the scientist's quarters。 〃No matter what the oute；〃 Lang had said。 And those words were repeating themselves now as Wolff stood before the council recapping the events of the past four months。
〃。。。But it appears that the Praxians abandoned their world for good reason；〃 Wolff was concluding a short time later。 〃Praxis is unstable。 Admiral Hunter…〃
〃I would caution Mr。 Wolff from using any honorifics；〃 one of the council members said。 〃The council no longer recognizes you as members of the Robotech Defense Force。〃
〃Some of the council；〃 Niles Obstat objected。
〃Most of us。〃
Wolff scowled at the woman。 〃Then why aren't Janice and Sarna here； if we're all civilians？〃
〃Mr。 Wolff；〃 Senator Longchamps cut in； 〃we are just trying to set things straight for the record。 You and the Hunters； Sterlings； and Grants are understood to be a part of the Expeditionary mission。 The extraterrestrial Sentinels are another matter。 And as for Ms。 Em； she has never been affiliated with the RDF…or the mission； for that matter； if I'm not putting too fine a point on it。〃
Wolff fought down an explosive urge to tear the man's throat out。 〃I apologize to the council if I may seem impatient；〃 he continued more calmly； 〃but the fact is that our friends are out there； marooned on a planet that for all I know is just a memory by now！ All I'm asking you for is one ship with a skeleton crew。〃
〃To do what； Mr。 Wolff？〃 Thurgood Stinson asked。 〃To rescue your friends； to be sure。 But what then…continue on your campaign； or return to Tirol？〃
Wolff tightened his lips。 〃I don't think I'm qualified to answer that； Senator。〃
〃And we're not certain we can spare a ship just now； Mr。 Wolff。〃
Justine Huxley broke the unfortable silence。 〃I think we're missing the point here。〃 She motioned to Wolff。 〃Friends； is the ter