t made it unlikely that a single member of species Homo sapiens would live through the day。
〃The projections turned out to be in error；〃 an intel…analysis officer confessed； zombielike。 〃Against a force that big； we can't hope to win。 We couldn't do it even if the Grand Cannon satellites were in place。〃 He was shaking his head slowly。 〃No way； sir。〃
Hayes was used to hiding his dismay。 He called down to a munication officer； 〃Lieutenant！ Have we been able to establish contact with the aliens？〃
Hayes burned at the thought of why his superiors were suddenly so eager to talk to the Zentraedi。 He avoided any contemplation of how Earth's rulers sounded now that reality had at last been forced upon them。 The brave words and the bold posturing had been blown away like smoke in the wind； and UEDC was eager； cringingly eager； to make any deal it could； starting with an offer to make itself an overseer government under alien rule。
Except the Zentraedi weren't making deals today； and Armageddon was apparently the only item on the agenda。
〃We're trying； Admiral； but so far it's a no…go；〃 a officer called up to him。
Hayes himself felt betrayed and a fool。 His daughter and Gloval had been correct all along； right down the line。 The prestige and honor of his rank had fallen away to nothing； and he saw that he had； very simply； wound up an otherwise honorable career by being the instrument of craven and greedy men。
〃Then there's nothing left to do but fight；〃 Hayes said。
Under other circumstances it might have been one of those lines flag…rank officers could hope to have show up in history books。 The fact was that Hayes knew he been duped again and again by the politicians。 Besides； it was unlikely that there would ever be any more history books。
And the only reason to fight was that the enemy offered no alternative…it meant to wipe the human race out of existence。
The Grand Cannon prepared to fire； and the futile squadrons of Earth fighters went out to do their jobs as best they could。 Lisa Hayes stared down at her screens and instruments and fought off the urge to weep for the men and women who were doing their jobs in all good faith and were kept； by the omnipresent UEDC propaganda and disinformation； from knowing that they were doomed。
During a few moments lag time； she paused to regard a close pickup shot of the SDF…1 and to think of Claudia； of Gloval； and of Rick。 She found； as her father had told her when she was a little girl； that there were only a few really important questions in life and that bat would make anybody ask them。
Why are we here？ Where do we e from？ What happens to us when we die？ And when I do； will I be with Rick； at last； or will I be alone forever？
An update on the cannon's targeting status came in just then； and Lisa had to let those thoughts go。
Rick Hunter sealed up his flightsuit and made sure his gloves were firmly connected to his instrumented cuff rings。 They fit smoothly； allowing him maximum dexterity。
The hatch to his quarters signaled； and he thought it was just another messenger with a mission update； all channels being overloaded。 Until the hatch slid back。
〃Rick？〃
He pivoted and saw her standing in the hatch； outlined against the harsh glare of the passageway lights。 She came a step into his quarters demurely but looking him in the eye。
The hatch rolled shut behind Minmei。
They were there in every size and shape； those wargreen vessels of the Zentraedi Grand Fleet。 Never in their entire history had they been assembled for bat in such a formation。
From his mand station； Dolza； supreme mander of the Zentraedi race； considered his target； Earth。
Space was filled with his ships； there had never been a marshaling like this in the infamous annals of the Zentraedi。
And yet he felt misgivings。 Dolza knew the ancient lore of his race from Exedore's endless teachings。 Against the forces that those records mentioned； the Grand Fleet itself might not be enough。
Perhaps nothing would。
Inside the boulderlike base that was Dolza's headquarters； a thousand miles through its long axis； the supreme mander received word that the fleet was at last all present。
He was enormous； the largest and； but for Exedore； the oldest of his race。 Dolza's shaven skull and heavy brow made him look like a granite sculpture。
〃My first attack shall be the Micronians' mother planet；〃 he said。 〃Let all ships stand prepared。〃
All through the fleet； final preparations for battle were carried out。 On the colossal bombardment vessels； the bows opened like giant crocodile jaws； exposing the heavy guns。
Targeting puters accepted their assignments from Dolza's base； ranging their sights across the surface of the world； fixing their aim。 The Grand Fleet's engines howled like demons； supercharging the weapons pointed at the helpless Earth。
〃I want to apologize to you； Rick；〃 she said。 〃I mean； about Kyle。〃
〃It's not really your fault；〃 he told her。 〃I should have let you know what my feelings were。 I should have tried harder； I guess。〃
〃But； I…〃
〃Oh； Minmei； it's all right！〃 he yelled； frightening her a little。 He got control of himself and went to get his flying helmet。 How do I tell her？
He went to pick up the helmet but saw her reflection in the visor。 She was standing silently； watching him。
〃I'm a pilot； and you're a superstar now；〃 he said tiredly。 〃You know it wouldn't have worked for us； anyway。 Too much has changed； Minmei。〃
He went to the viewport； looking down at Earth。 〃It's strange to think how small our world is；〃 he said； almost distractedly。 〃It's a pity how much time we wasted； isn't it？〃
She flinched as if he had hit her。 She could see that he was being cruel on purpose； hurting himself and her； to make the love stop。 She opened her mouth to say something that would make him honest again； would clear the air between them。
But at that exact moment the universe lit up。 The Zentraedi attack had begun。
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Once I wrote here…a younger Minmei did…that I needed to be my own person； that I had my own shadows to cast。
But； oh。。。I didn't realize how terrible that darkness would be。
From the diary of Lynn…Minmei
Millions of blindingly bright beams of pure energy rained down on the blue…white world。
First to go were the orbital defenses； the surveillance satellites and the 〃armors〃…the big conventional…technology space cruisers。 They were obliterated instantly； vanishing in clouds of expanding gas。
The incredible volley pierced the atmosphere； boiling away clouds and moisture； striking through to the surface。 Buildings and trees and people were vaporized； everything flammable exploded。 The hellish rays set off tremendous detonations and superheated the air like thermonuclear weapons。
Everywhere it was the same。 Soldiers and civilians； adults and children； and the unborn as well…the Grand Fleet favored none and spared none。 In the middle of a humdrum day marked only by some sort of alert the UEDC wasn't explaining； nearly the entire population of the planet was put to the sword。
For most； there wasn't even time to scream； only a hideous moment when light and heat beyond any description engulfed them； making their bodies as transparent as x…ray images； then consuming them。
Cities toppled； and blowtorch winds scoured the world。 Seas were given no mercy； either； Dolza had decreed a carpet…volley pattern to get ships and aquafarming and aquamining installations and the like。 Untold cubic miles of water turned into steam。
The beams came like a fusion…hot monsoon all across the defenseless world。
In UEDC headquarters； the ground rumbled but miles of earth and rock saved the occupants from immediate death。
Lisa gaped at an illuminated situation map。 The strikes were so numerous that the display puters couldn't discriminate anymore。 The face of the world glowed。
〃They can't be doing this！〃 she screamed。 〃They can't！〃
But she knew she was wrong。 They were。
〃Annihilation。〃
Gloval stood helplessly； shoulders bowed； looking out the forward viewport。 Exedore stood mute at his shoulder。 The alien decided that he must； in fact； have fallen victim to the contagious human emotions； b