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Robotech：　Force　of　Arms
Book　Five　of　the　Robotech　Series
Copyright　1987　by　Jack　McKinney

arranged　by　dayuan　＇　robotech　zone　＇



PART　I：　SHOWDOWN


PROLOGUE

In　the　1990s；　a　global　civil　war　swept　across　the　planet　Earth；　few　wanted　this　war；　but　no　one　seemed　to　be　able　to　avert　it。　It　absorbed　all　the　smaller　disparate　wars；　rebellions；　and　terrorist　struggles　in　the　same　way　a　huge　storm　vacuums　up　all　the　lesser　weather　systems　around　it。

The　War　was　fought　with　conventional　weapons　for　the　most　part；　but　by　1999　it　was　clear　that　its　escalation　pointed　directly　to　an　all…out　nuclear　exchange…planetary　obliteration。　There　seemed　to　be　nothing　any　sane　person　could　do　about　it。　By　then；　the　War　had　a　life　of　its　own。

As　the　human　race　prepared　to　die…for　everyone　knew　that　the　final　phase　of　the　War　would　surely　exterminate　all　life　on　Earth；　the　fragile　lunar　and　Martian　research　colonies；　and　the　various　orbital　constructs…something　like　a　malign　miracle　happened。

A　damaged　starship…a　super　dimensional　fortress　created　by　the　dying　alien　mastermind；　Zor…appeared　in　Earth's　skies。　It　crashed　on　a　tiny　Pacific　island　called　Macross。　Its　descent　wreaked　more　havoc　than　any　war：　there　was　tremendous　damage　and　loss　of　life　and　numerous　natural　disasters。　The　human　race　was　pelled　to　pause　and　take　stock　of　itself。

Zor　had　served　the　evil　Robotech　Masters；　but　he　had　resolved　to　serve　them　no　more　and　had　hidden　his　ultimate　secrets　concerning　Protoculture…the　most　powerful　force　in　the　universe…in　the　fortress。　The　Robotech　Masters　needed　those　secrets　not　only　to　conquer　the　universe　but　to　protect　themselves　from　the　vengeful　attacks　of　the　savage　Invid；　a　race　of　creatures　sworn　to　destroy　them。

Thus；　the　focus　of　an　intergalactic　conflict　came　to　bear　on　the　formerly　insignificant　Earth。

The　super　dimensional　fortress　was　Earth's　first　inkling　of　the　greater　events　taking　place　outside　the　bounds　of　human　knowledge。　Earth's　leaders　saw　at　once　that　the　wrecked　SDF…1　could　be　rebuilt　and　bee　a　rallying　point　that　would　unite　a　divided　human　race。

A　ten…year　project　began；　incorporating　the　brains　and　energies　of　the　entire　planet。　But　on　the　day　the　SDF…1　was　to　be　relaunched　to　guard　humanity　from　alien　attack；　disaster　struck　again。　The　Zentraedi…the　Robotech　Masters'　giant　race　of　ferocious　warrior　clones…struck；　bringing　devastation　to　the　Earth　in　an　effort　to　recapture　the　SDF…1。

The　desperate　crew　of　the　SDF…1　attempted　a　spacefold　jump　to　get　clear　of　the　attack。　Yet　a　miscalculation　resulted　in　the　ship's　reappearance　far　from　its　intended　destination：　The　SDF…1　and　most　of　the　civilian　population　of　Macross　Island　were　suddenly；　transported　out　to　the　orbit　of　the　planet　Pluto。

And　so　the　long；　perilous　voyage　back　to　Earth　began。　The　SDF…1　battled　for　its　life；　hounded　by　the　Zentraedi　armada　at　every　turn。　Returning　after　more　than　a　year；　the　crew　found　that　it　was　no　longer　wele　on　the　homeworld…in　the　view　of　the　ruling　powers；　they　constituted　too　much　of　a　danger　to　Earth's　safety　as　well　as　the　rulers'　own　authority。

A　renewed　Zentraedi　offensive　resulted　in　horrendous　casualties　on　Earth　and　reinforced　the　Earth　leaders'　determination　to　refuse　haven　to　the　SDF…1…even　though　it　had　waged　the　only　meaningful　resistance　to　alien　invasion。

So　the　great　star　battleship　was　forced　to　ride　an　orbit　to　nowhere；　its　crew　and　civilian　refugees　struggling　desperately　to　stay　alive。　The　Zentraedi　continued　to　plot　new　war　plans；　determined　to　have　the　ship　and　the　secrets　of　Protoculture。

Alien　agents　were　planted　within　the　ship；　reduced　from　their　fifty　and　sixty…foot　heights　to　human　size。　These　spies　found　themselves　strangely　affected　by　the　experience　of　human　life　as　their　long…dormant　emotions　were　awakened　by　the　sight　of　humans　mingling　and　showing　affection　and　in　particular　by　the　singing　of　Minmei…the　ship's　superstar　and　media　idol　and　the　mainstay　of　its　morale。

Upon　their　return　to　the　invasion　fleet；　the　spies'　stories　and　souvenirs　of　their　experiences　among　the　humans　led　to　the　defection　of　a　dozen　and　more　of　the　Zentraedi　and　disobedience　in　the　ranks　of　those　who　remained　behind。

Aboard　the　SDF…1；　human　life　fell　into　patterns　of　conflict　and　emotion。　Lieutenant　Rick　Hunter；　fighter　pilot　in　the　Robotech　Defense　Forces；　experienced　constant　confusion　and　turmoil　over　his　love　for　Minmei　and　simultaneous　attraction　to　mander　Lisa　Hayes；　the　SDF…1's　First　Officer。

This　triangle　formed　the　core　of　a　larger　web　of　loves　and　hates；　the　sort　of　human　emotional　blaze　that　the　colossal　Zentraedi　found　so　bathing　and　debilitating。

Nevertheless；　the　Zentraedi　imperative　was　battle；　and　battle　it　would　be。　The　aliens　deployed　a　million…plus　ships　in　their　armada；　restrained　from　all…out　attack　only　by　their　need　to　capture　the　SDF1's　Protoculture　secrets　intact。

Breetai；　mander　of　the　invasion　force；　moved　in　his　own　intrigues　against　two　of　his　rebellious　subordinates：　Azonia；　the　female　warlord；　and　Khyron　the　Backstabber；　psychotic　demon　of　battle。

But　the　Robotech　War　proved　to　be　far　more　plex　than　any　of　them…Zentraedi　or　human…could。　have　ever　imagined。

Dr。　Lazlo　Zand；
On　Earth　As　It　Is　in　Hell：
Recollections　of　the　Robotech　War


CHAPTER　ONE

I　guess　Max　was　the　most　conspicuous　example　of　the　growing　war　weariness　and　hunger　for　peace。　As　the　top　VT　pilot；　he　was　revered　by　all　the　aspiring　hot…doggers　and　would…be　aces。
When　he　came　back　from　a　mission；　his　aircraft　maintenance　people　would　always　stencil　the　symbols　for　his　latest　kills　on　the　side　of　his　ship；　that　was　their　right。　But　like　a　lot　of　us　who　had　been　in　the　eye　of　the　storm　for　too　long；　he　began　avoiding　the　jokes　and　high…fives　and　swaggering　in　the　ready　rooms；　barracks；　and　officers'　club。　He　was　still　top　man　on　the　roster；　but　it　was　plain　that　his　attitude　was　changing。
The　Collected　Journals　of　Admiral　Rick　Hunter

〃Ya　ain't　so　big　now；　are　ya；　ya　freakin'　alien？〃　the　big　bruiser　said；　shaking　a　scarred　fist　the　size　of　a　roast　in　his　face。

Well；　no；　he　wasn't。　Karita　had　been　a　Zentraedi　soldier　some　forty　feet　tall。　But　now；　having　been　reduced　to　the　size　of　a　human　and　defecting　to　their　side　in　the　Robotech　War；　he　was　only　a　medium…build；　slightly　less…than…average…height　fellow　facing　three　hulking　brawlers　eager　to　split　his　head　wide　open　in　a　Macross　alley。

Even　as　a　Zentraedi；　Karita　hadn't　excelled　at　bat；　his　main　duty　had　been　tending　the　Protoculture　sizing　chambers；　the　very　same　ones　in　which　he　had　been　micronized。　The　situation　looked　hopeless；　the　three　ringed　him　in；　fists　cocked；　light　from　the　distant　streetlamps　illuminating　the　hatred　in　their　faces。

He　tried　to　dodge　past　them；　but　they　were　too　fast。　The　biggest　grabbed　him　and　hurled　him　against　the　wall。　Karita　dropped；　half…stunned；　the　back　of　his　scalp　bleeding。

He　cursed　himself　for　his　carelessness；　a　slip　of　the　tongue　in　the　restaurant　had　given　him　away。　Otherwise；　no　one　could　have　told　him　apart　from　any　other　occupant　of　the　SDF…1。

But　he　could　scarcely　be　blamed。　The　wonders　of　life　aboard　the　super　dimensional　fortress　were　enough　to　make　any　Zentraedi　careless。　The　humans　had　rebuilt　their　city；　they　mingled；　both　sexes；　all　ages。　They　lived　lives　in　which　emotions　were　given　free　expression；　and　there　was　an　astonishing　force　called　〃love。〃

It　was　enough　to　make　any　Zentraedi；　born　into　a　Spartan；　merciless　warrior　culture　with　strict　segregation　of　the　sexes；　forget　himself。　And　so　Karita　had　made　his　error；　he　had　gone　into　the　White　Dragon　in　the　hopes　of　getting　a　glimpse　of　Minmei。　He　didn't　realize　what　he　was　saying　when　he　let　slip　the　fact　that　he　had　adored　her　since　he　had　first　seen　her　image　on　a　Zentraedi　battlecruiser。　Then　he　saw　the　hard　looks　the　trio　gave　him。　He　left　quickly；　but　they　followed。

During　the　course　of　the　war；　everybody　aboard　had　lost　at　least　one　friend　or　loved　one。　The　Zentraedi；　too；　had　suffered　losses…many　more　than　the　SDF…1；　in　fact。　That　didn't　stop　Karita　and　the　other　defectors　from　hoping　for　a　new　life　among　their　former　enemies。　Most　humans　were　at　least　tolerant　of　the　Zentraedi　who'd　deserted　from　their　invading　armada。　Some　humans　even　liked　the　aliens；　three　of　them；　former　spies；　had　human　girlfriends。　But　he　should　have　known　there　would　be　humans　who　wouldn't　see　things　that　way。

The　three　closed　in　on　him。

One　of　the　men　launched　a　kick　Karita　was　too　dazed　to　avoid。　It　was　not　so　much　a　sharp　pain　he　felt　as　a　tremendous；　panic…making　numbness。　He　wondered　woozily　if　his　ribs　were　broken。　Not　that　it　mattered；　it　didn't　look　like　his　attackers　were　going　to　stop　short　of　killing　him。　They　didn't　realize　that　they　had　picked　on　one　of　the　most　unmilitary　of　Zentraedi；　given　a　different　one；　they　would　have　had　more　of　a　fight　on　their　hands。

One　of　them　drew　back　his　heavy　work　boot　to　kick　Karita　again；　Karita　closed　his　eyes；　waiting　for　the　blow。　But　the　sudden　sound　of　shoe　leather　sliding　on　pavement　and　the　thud　of　a　falling　body　made　him　reopen　them。

He　looked　up　to　see　one　of　the　assailants　down　and　the　other　two　turning　to　face　an　interloper。

Max　Sterling　didn't　look　like　the　conventional　image　of　a　Veritech　ace。　The　brilliant　Robotech　Defense　Force　flier　was　slender；　wore　blue…tinted　aviator　glasses…with　corrective　lenses…and　dyed　his　hair　blue　in　keeping　with　the　current　fad　for　wild　colors。

This　young　RDF　legend　looked　mild；　even　vulnerable。　In　a　time　of　crisis；　Max　Sterling　had　risen　from　obscurity　to　dazzle　humanity　and　the　Zentraedi　with　his　matchless　bat　flying。　But　that　hadn't　changed　his　basic　humility　and　self…effacing　good…naturedness。

〃No　more；〃　Max　told　the　assailants　quietly。　The　bully　on　the　ground　shook　his　head　angrily。　Max　stepped　between　the　other　two；　went　to　Karita's　side；　and　knelt；　offering　his　hand。

Minmei's　Aunt　Lena　had　watched　the　ominous　trio　follow　Karita　when　he　left　the　White　Dragon；　it　took　her　a　few　minutes　to　find　Sterling；　so　Max　said；　〃Sorry　I'm　a　little　late。〃

This　bookish…looking　young　man　who　held　the　highest　kill　score　of　any　bat　pilot　in　the　ship　offered　the　Zentraedi　his　hand。　〃D'　you　think　you　can　stand？〃