ebate to a riot。
Rick had barely spoken since his first statement。 But when it seemed the Sentinels were about to lose their sense of purpose and revert to sheer quarreling； he rose again。
〃Um； I don't see where there's anything we can do but promise。 Someone has to answer Edwards's charges； and someone has to fight for Spheris and Peryton； now！〃
He dipped into his pocket and pulled out a good…luck piece； a Kennedy half…dollar his father had given him。 〃What d'you say； Breetai？ I'd trust you with either mission。 Heads； you go to Spheris and I face Edwards？〃
He showed both sides of the coin； to prove there was no fix。
Breetai had eased off his chair to kneel by the table。 His face cracked wide in the first true smile he had allowed himself in some time。 Breetai held out his palm； as big as a desktop。 〃Flip it here； Rick Hunter。〃
Rick did。 Breetai caught it； clapping his palms together； and opened his hands again to show them all。 It was tails。
There would be plenty to do tomorrow； but for the time being； everyone needed an adjournment。
When all the others were dispersed and they were strolling under strange constellations； Kazianna Hesh took Breetai's hand。 〃It's not the oute you looked for； I know； my love； but still I think it's not an unfair one。〃
〃Perhaps。 But I tell you this： Edwards will be stopped； even if I have to do it alone。〃
She kissed his cheek。 〃Breetai； you will never face any danger alone again…not while I draw breath。〃
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The military scholars missed the point entirely。 Max and Miriya； indisputably the greatest Robotech warriors of all； were serving the source of their prowess by laying down their arms for a time。 Life made them do it…the life growing within the onetime Quadrono mander； fathered by her erstwhile enemy。
Life； triumphing over death。
Theresa Duvall； Wingmates： the Story of Max and Miriya Sterling
The work to rebuild Glike and repair damage done to other parts of the planet during the terrible clash between Inorganics and antibodies had begun literally while the dust was still settling。
If Haydon IV's world…size instrumentality had been intact； it could have acplished the rebuilding at a miraculous rate。 But much of that instrumentality was either disabled or obliterated or pletely exhausted。 The Haydonites threw themselves into the job with a religious fervor； though； and they had help。
The tens of thousands of freed Praxians were among the most willing to help。 The warrior women were a homeless race now that their own planet had been destroyed in the upheavals following the Invid conquest and Genesis Pit experiments。 Many thought sparsely populated Haydon IV might offer them a fresh start。
It was plain that Arla…Non longed to lead her amazons on a holy war against the Invid； but since only a few could go along on Ark Angel； it was the queen's duty to stay with the majority of her subjects； to guide and govern them。 Arla…Non expressed every faith in Bela； though； and confirmed that in rituals that the Praxians barred all outsiders from attending。
The contingent that would return to face Edwards's charges before the council was led by Breetai； along with Vince Grant and Jonathan Wolff。 While many of the Diamondback and Joker REF fighters wanted to volunteer for service to fill the depleted ranks of the Sentinels fliers； that was voted down。 If Edwards made his power play； it might require every loyal pilot in the REF to put down a coup。
Jean Grant； like Max Sterling； refused to leave the planet as long as Miriya was still in a a and unable to be moved。 Miriya had stabilized； but the outlook was still bleak。 Nevertheless； Jean had immersed herself in learning the healing arts of the Haydonites； blending them with her own in the hope of curing Miriya。
Cabell had wavered； thinking that he could be of some help if he stayed； but the others said his insights to the functioning of Protoculture and Robotechnology might be more important than ever in the battles ahead。 He spent a night closeted alone with his thoughts； and announced in the morning that he would be remaining behind。 Rick thought that the old sage had sensed something important about Miriya's situation； but Cabell refused to talk about his motives。
As for Max； he decided that rather than simply sitting and waiting； he would devote himself to the effort to rebuild the planet。
〃I'm sure Jean and Cabell and the Haydonites can make her well again；〃 Max told Rick as the Sentinels prepared to depart for Spheris。 〃You'll see。 By the time we're set for the final assault on Optera； I'll be back in a VT and so will Miriya。〃
〃I know you will；〃 Rick said with conviction he didn't really feel。 〃We can't have you guys missing out on the grand finale。〃
The two shook hands and Lisa kissed Max's cheek。 Soon； the SDF…7 class cruiser was lifting off。 Gaps in the rank and file of their fighters had been filled by several hundred amazon volunteers； but in Rick's opinion the force was still woefully inadequate in terms of media。
Originally； production facilities on Karbarra and…it had been hoped…Haydon IV were to have kept the Sentinels' plement of war machines at full strength。 But production problems had arisen on Karbarra： a fundamental inability of the Invid…designed manufacturing equipment to turn out satisfactory Earth…style mecha； no matter what adjustments the Karbarrans tried。 As for Haydon IV； it simply wouldn't have media…production capability soon enough to be of any use。
But Sentinels' mecha had played very little part in freeing Haydon IV and； from all reports； would be even less useful on Spheris。 Time would tell： Rick and Lisa were anxious to survey the situation on Spheris； at the very least； as soon as possible。 Like many of their panions； they now grew frustrated and ill at ease in between blows against the Invid empire。
T。R。 Edwards knew a particular triumph as the special council meeting convened。 There was only one item on the agenda： Edwards's renewed request for martial law and what amounted to emergency dictatorial powers。 To the general's vast satisfaction； Lang and the other opposition had been either unable or unwilling to block the meeting。
At Edwards's urging； the entire session was being transmitted over the Base Tirol public…information channel。 He was gambling that； in addition to winning over the council； he could get the subordinate officers and nons and enlisted ratings of the REF to hail him as well； paving the way for his eventual takeover。
Now Edwards made his case again； plete with charts and display…screen aids。 The excuse this time was that Edwards promised he could squeeze more monopole ore from Fantoma if the military was given plete run of the operation； up to and including drafting Tiresian laborers。 Lang and Dr。 Penn didn't even seem to be inclined to dispute the facts and figures Edwards's people trumped up； and Exedore had not even deigned to attend。
All was going well when the wrist municator on Lang's forearm toned。 He sent an acknowledging signal through it and waited politely for Edwards to finish。 But before the vote could be called； Lang got the floor。 〃My colleague； Lord Exedore； informs me that my munications center has received a signal that is of central importance in this issue。〃
With that； Exedore's face appeared in the central screen； a billboard…size panel that dominated one end of the council chambers。 〃Here is the transmission received just a short time ago。〃
Before Edwards could object； a familiar and； to Edwards； despised face…as handsome as a media star's…appeared。 〃This is Colonel Jonathan Wolff； transmitting from the bridge of the REF vessel Valivarre。 With me are mander Vince Grant and Lord Breetai。 We have with us all the monopole ore that was mined on Fantoma。
〃Escorting us are the SDF cruisers Tokugawa and Jutland； which acpanied us on operations involved in the liberation of the planet Haydon IV from Invid domination。 It is our intention to turn over the monopole ore to Dr。 Lang's production facility and to answer the charges being made against us and other Sentinels。
〃All we ask is that the council now； by public vote； insure us the fair hearing to which we are entitled by the R