when the moment arrives。 We have not e this far to be cheated out of our victory。〃
Betrayal of a different sort had Minmei in tears in Edwards's quarters。 The general was lying on the bed； his back against the headboard； hands clasped behind his head。 Minmei was well within reach in a chair by the bed； but otherwise remote。 He had found her waiting for him upon his return from the council chambers； still ruffled from her impulsive flight to the fortress； her eyes red…rimmed and swollen。 He didn't need to ask； so instead； he had fixed himself a drink； kicked off his boots； and settled himself on the bed while she cried。
〃He's alive；〃 Edwards said now； reaching for the drink。 〃Isn't that what counts？〃
She lifted her face from her hands to stare at him。 〃That's the problem。〃
〃Oh； you wish he was dead。〃
Minmei sobbed and shook her head。 〃You bastard；〃 she told him。
Edwards laughed derisively and took a long pull from the glass； determined not to give in to her。 〃What do you want from me； Minmei？〃
She wiped her eyes and glared at him。 〃Is it too much to expect some support？〃
〃You don't need my support。 You're feeling guilty because Wolff was stupid enough to think you'd just sit around and pine for him。 And I suppose I don't count anymore…I was just a shoulder to cry on。〃
〃Stop it； T。R。…please。〃 Minmei kneeled by the bed； resting her cheek on his thigh。 〃What am I going to say to him？〃
Edwards made a harsh sound and pulled himself away from her sharply。 He got up off the opposite side of the bed and walked to the center of the room； turning on her。 〃I don't have time for this kind of nonsense。 Tell him whatever you want。 Just quit whining about it。〃
He kept his back to her while he freshened his drink； but he could hear her slipping into her shoes and moving toward the door。 〃And tell him I said 'Hi；'〃 he managed before the door closed。
His hand was shaking as he downed the second drink； he was about to head for the shower when his tone sounded。 It was Major Benson。
〃Some interesting conversation down in confinement；〃 Edwards's adjutant reported。 〃Seems there's no love lost between Tesla and the Regent。 He's pretty anxious to talk to his mander in chief； but it sounds to me like he's got murder on his mind。〃
Edwards's head went back in surprise。 〃An unexpected development。〃
〃He's got some kind of deal going with that other alien。 Can't make too much sense of it。 Some payback after Tesla sets himself up as number one。〃
While Benson continued to fill in the scant details； Edwards concluded that an assassination might prove an advantageous event。 He didn't believe the Invid fleet would go to guns over the death of an imposter…there was simply too much at stake…and by allowing the murder； Edwards would be sending a clear message to the real Regent。 More than that； Edwards could lay the blame for a plete diplomatic breakdown on Wolff； and by extension； the rest of the Sentinels。
〃Anything else from other quarters？〃 He heard Benson laugh shortly。
〃You'll love this。 I think Lang is going to offer Wolff the SDF…7。 Of course Wolff would have to make it look like he pirated the thing。。。〃
Edwards mulled it over。 A murder； the theft of a ship； an escape。。。and the council's okay to hunt the assassins down…a chance to finish the job the Invid had begun。
Edwards smiled down on the inter。 〃I'll get back to you；〃 he told Benson。
CHAPTER SIX
Somewhere along the line； everyone seemed to lose sight of the fact that love had won the First Robotech War。 Now it was down to ships and body counts； it was no longer a fight for survival but a war for supremacy； a savage game。
Selig Kahler； The Tirolian Campaign
Love is a battlefield。
Late twentieth…century song lyric
〃It's bad news； Colonel；〃 Dr。 Lang told Wolff two hours after the council had adjourned。
They were in Lang's quarters now； along with Exedore； Janice； and the XT； Sarna。 Wolff had spent the intervening time pacing the fortress's corridors like an expectant father。 He had tried to locate Minmei； but no one seemed to know where she had disappeared to after leaving the docking bay with Edwards and his staff。
〃The council is going to rule against you；〃 Lang continued； passing drinks to everyone but Sarna。 〃Huxley and Obstat are on our side； possibly Stinson； and Reinhardt's vote counts for something； but we don't have enough to sway the rest。〃
Wolff scowled and sipped from his glass。 〃You know what's funny？ In a crazy way I can see their point。 You help us； and so…long any hopes of a truce。〃
〃You're correct； Colonel；〃 Exedore affirmed。 〃The Sentinels were meant to be our ally； but instead they've bee our liability。 And as you yourself understand； Earth's safety remains the council's primary concern。 A protracted war with the Invid will only diminish our chances of intercepting the Robotech Masters。〃
Wolff exchanged looks with Sarna and Janice； both women seemed curiously detached from the scene； almost as if they served some unknown； greater cause。 〃Look；〃 he said； putting his drink down in a gesture of finality； 〃now that we all understand the diplomatic angles of this thing； how in the hell are we going to help them？〃 He shot to his feet。 〃You think I can just sit around here； knowing what they're going through？ They're stranded out there。〃
〃Perhaps there is a way；〃 Lang said after a brief silence。 He shook his head back and forth。 〃It could have disastrous consequences； Colonel； disastrous。 And you'd have to prepare yourselves for hardships of an entirely new order。。。〃
Prison； Wolff thought。 As an appeasement to the Regent after the rescue。 Would Rick accept it； he wondered； or would they choose to die on Praxis…outcasts？ 〃A ship；〃 Lang was saying when Wolff looked up…a ship！ He tried to follow the doctor's nervous movements as he went on to explain。
〃It's one of our prototypes…not large； and not especially well…armed。 But it's capable of local fold operations； Wolff； and there's a skeleton crew standing by…volunteers； each one of them loyal to the admirals。〃
Wolff's mouth dropped open； even Janice and Sarna were stunned by the doctor's revelation。 〃But when could we get it？〃 he asked。
Exedore turned to him。 〃First； Colonel； you'll be required to steal it。〃
Just then the door tone to Lang's quarters sounded。 Lang looked around anxiously； then got up to answer it。 A moment later； he was showing Lynn…Minmei into everyone's midst。
〃Janice；〃 Minmei said； approaching her former partner。
Janice evaded Minmei's embrace； and nodded coolly。
〃Lynn。〃
The singer began to look around the room。 Lang cleared his throat meaningfully。 〃I think we should give Minmei and the colonel some privacy；〃 he said； already ushering Exedore； Janice； and Sarna from the room。
When the door slid shut a moment later； it was Minmei who eased out of Jonathan's embrace。 〃Lynn； what's wrong？〃 he said； standing there with his arms open。
She fumbled with the hem of her jacket and forced a smile。 〃Colonel； I can't tell you how hap…〃
〃'Colonel'？ Lynn； tell me what's going on。 I saw you with General Edwards this morning and now you're calling me colonel after I haven't seen you in six months。。。〃 He tried to hug her once more； but she deftly took his hand between hers and motioned him to the couch。
〃Jonathan；〃 she began hesitantly； 〃I know you're expecting us to take up where we left off； but things have changed。〃
〃So I keep hearing。〃
Wolff was suddenly defensive； and she picked up on his tone。 〃You have to remember； we only had a few days together。 And until yesterday I thought。。。〃
〃You thought I was dead。〃
Minmei nodded。 〃I didn't know what to do。 I was practically crazy with grief and anger。〃 She met his gaze and held it。 〃I hated you； Jonathan…hated you for leaving me； hated you for。。。so many things。〃
Wolff considered her words； then smiled in sudden realization。 〃And you found someone to fill in all those lonely hours。〃
Minmei's eyes flashed。 〃Why didn't you tell me you were married？〃
Wolff tried to keep his face from registering surprise。 〃We're separated；〃 he said。 〃Besides； it never came up。 I was going to tell you。 It's just that everything got fouled up。〃
〃'Blame it on the Invid；'〃 Minmei said； almost cracking a smile。 The phrase had bee something of a catch…all excuse in Tiresia。 Wolff was blushing。 〃Listen；〃 she told him； 〃I'm not angry anymore。 I'm just。。。happy that all of you are alive。 How are Rick and Lisa？ And Max…〃
〃So when did you start seeing Edwards？〃
Minmei stood up and stepped away from the couch； wringing her hands。 〃I told you： you weren't there for me； Jonathan。 I needed someone to turn to。〃
〃And you picked Edwards！〃 Wolff shook his head in amazement。 〃Don't you realize he's against everything we stand for？ He's nothing but a self…serving； egotistical maniac。〃
〃I won't have you talking about him like that！〃 Minmei said angrily。 〃He treated me with kindness and respect； and what's more； he's the only one interested in making peace with the Invid and putting a stop to all this madness。 Not like you and the rest of those。。。Sentinels； tearing around space stirring things up； not giving a damn what goes on back here！〃
Wolff was too numb to respond。 Edwards；