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〃e on；〃 Jack said； looking around。 〃Then how do we know they're still functioning？〃
〃Do you hunger to challenge them？〃 Sarna asked。
Jack returned a sullen stare。
Jean shook her head and snorted。 〃So to utilize the medical facilities； we have to go in with our hands raised。〃
〃Yes； straight into an Invid stronghold；〃 Bela said。
〃We are given no choice；〃 Gnea added。 〃Our rades will have to be surrendered。 But who among us will escort them down？〃 The Praxian glanced around the table。
〃I'll go；〃 Wolff volunteered。
Jean caught her husband's eye。 〃I will； too。〃
〃Wait a minute； wait a minute；〃 Jack said； standing up。 〃I'm as concerned about Karen and Rick and Lisa as any of you。 But just suppose the Invid deny the request for medical help。 Then they've not only got Karen； they've got you and you and whoever else is crazy enough to volunteer。〃 He shook his head。 〃Uh； uh。 We need to find some way around this。〃
〃The Invid cannot deny that which is promised by the planet to all；〃 Veidt said； loud enough to cut through all the separate arguments Jack's objection had raised。 Everyone heard the Haydonite's remark； but the bickering continued。
〃All right； simmer down；〃 Vince told the table。 〃Max has an idea。〃
〃Two landing parties；〃 the Skull ace began when everyone was quiet。 He was exhausted； having spent every minute by Miriya's side。 Her condition had deteriorated after the fold to Haydon IV； and it was Jean's thought to number her among the patients。 〃Some of us take the four of them down； the rest of you go in unannounced to keep an eye on us。〃
〃It will not work； mander；〃 Veidt said； but Jack； Lron； Bella； and Gnea were already enthusiastic。 Even Burak added his voice to the group as a show of support。
〃The' planet's defenses will detect you；〃 Sarna tried to warn them。 〃We'll have to risk it；〃 Vince answered her。
And the plan was put to a vote。
Jean and Wolff had already volunteered； and now Max and Vince and Cabell joined them。 Veidt and Sarna would escort them。 Jack； however； insisted that Karen's cause would be better served by his doing something more than crying by her bedside； so he opted for the second team。 Burak； Kami and Learna； Bela； Gnea； Lron； and Crysta threw in with him。 Janice was undecided until the last minute； then she allied herself with Jack's group…on one condition： that they take Tesla and the two Invid scientists along with them。
〃He did help out back on Garuda；〃 Jack was willing to concede。 〃But I still don't trust him。〃
〃I don't either；〃 Janice said。 〃I'd just like to see what would happen if Tesla and the Regent came snout…to…snout。〃
Only Wolff heard Burak's gasp； but he didn't think anything of it。
〃Breetai and his Zentraedi are traitors and criminals；〃 T。 R。 Edwards told the council； positioning himself where he was certain the cameras would close in on his polished skullplate and furious expression。 〃They've stolen the very thing we need to return to Earth； and thereby condemned our world to defeat at the hands of the Robotech Masters。〃 He swung around and walked angrily back to his seat； facing the audience now。 〃Some of you are probably thinking that this is the Zentraedi's way of avenging themselves on the RDF。 But I suspect they have an even darker purpose in mind。 It's my belief that Breetai means to band together with the Sentinels and form a cartel to take control of the spaceways。
〃And with the Invid Regent dead and our own forces stranded； there will be little to stop them from putting their plans in motion…unless we take quick and decisive action against them。 For this reason； I'm asking for the council approval of my request for the four ships that prise our new flotilla。 The Zentraedi must be hunted down and destroyed！〃
There were conflicting reactions from the crowd； all of which Senator Longchamps silenced with three determined gavel blows。 〃The council will not tolerate these continued outbursts；〃 he warned the audience。 〃If this occurs again； I'm going to order the room cleared。 Now；〃 he said； turning to Edwards； 〃the council appreciates the generals's concern； but there are a few issues that need to be addressed。〃 He consulted his notes； then said； 〃Mr。 Obstat？〃
〃Isn't it true； General； that action of the sort you propose could quite possibly jeopardize the very ore we're so desperately in need of？〃
Edwards stood up。 〃Do you propose to let them have it； then？〃 he asked evenly。
〃We don't know why they took it in the first place；〃 Justine Huxley argued。 〃I for one am not convinced that they mean to do as you suggest…band together with the Sentinels and embark on some sort of transgalactic campaign。 Can't we simply continue to mine ore until the Zentraedi make their demands known to us？〃
Dr。 Lang spoke to that。 〃I'm afraid that Fantoma has yielded up the last of its monopole ores。 Only trace quantities remain； and further mining is hardly justified at this stage。〃
〃What about our reserves； Doctor； here and on Tirol；〃 Harry Penn asked。 〃Don't we have enough to repair the fortress's fold systems？〃
〃Unfortunately not；〃 Exedore asserted。 〃The。。。stolen ore represented more than three months of mining。 It is crucial to our goals。〃
Edwards waited for the gasps and buzzing in the room to subside。 〃With the council's indulgence； I have reason to question Dr。 Lang and Ambassador Exedore's assessment of the situation。 It's no secret to the RDF that both of them have special interests in furthering the Sentinels' cause…〃
Longchamps banged his gavel。 〃General； I must caution you to refrain from using this session to cast aspersions on any members of this council。 Is that understood？〃
The cameras tracked in to catch Edwards's stiff and silent nod。
In Edwards's chambers aboard the SDF…3； where she was watching the proceedings； Minmei got up to fix herself another drink。 Lang's face was on…screen when she returned to the edge of the bed。
〃That's true； Senator；〃 the Robo…wiz was saying。 〃Exedore and I were the first to discover that the material offloaded from the Valivarre was a type of 'fool's ore；' if you will。 We immediately reported this to General Edwards…〃
〃After that ship had folded out of Tirolspace； Doctor；〃 Edwards barked。
〃General Edwards；〃 Longchamps cut in； 〃weren't some of your own Ghost Squadron aboard the Valivarre supervising the transfer？〃
Minmei saw Edwards's face drain of color； the cameras captured the fury in his single eye。 〃I'm certain that those brave men were killed； Senator。〃
The cameras cut to Lang。 〃Council members； I can personally attest to the presence of the general's men。 And Exedore and I both found them very much alive。〃
Minmei sipped her drink； anticipating Edwards's eback； he didn't surprise her。
〃Yes； and exactly what motivated you and the ambassador to shuttle up to the Valivarre； Doctor？〃
〃We were merely going over the transfer schedule with mander Breetai…〃
Minmei touched the remote and the screen went blank。 She drained her glass and thought； A few more of these and I'll be too numb to care。 And numb was just what she was after。 She had lost her friends； her faith； her voice； any sense of purpose she might have once called her own。 Rick； Lisa； Janice