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But a sudden thought stopped Vince。 〃I hope you gentlemen aren't about to ask me to volunteer。〃 Much as he ached to go home to his son and the world he loved best； to leave without Jean was unthinkable。
〃No； no〃 Exedore was saying； placing a small hand in the center of that massive； V…shaped back。 〃But we want your opinion on the person we have chosen。〃
He explained quickly the circumstances of Edwards's escape as Breetai had relayed them。 〃And the Valivarre will be making planetfall soon。 We want to put Jonathan Wolff in overall mand of the expedition back to Earth。〃
The REF was an expedition； it sounded strange to be talking about an expedition home。 But the more Vince thought about it； the more logical a choice Jonathan was； what with Rick and Lisa； Max and Miriya unavailable and Vince himself unwilling。
If reports were true； then Wolff had no motive to stay and every reason to go home again； reunite with his family； and put Minmei and the REF behind him。 More to the point； he was a brilliant and capable mander…diligent and honest。
And； with the threat of the Invid and the Robotech Masters on the loose； somebody had to carry the warning to Earth。 There had been no reply from Carpenter's expedition； it was time for a recon in force。
〃I'd say that for once； Hobson's Choice has given us a winner；〃 Vince told them。
CHAPTER TWENTY…SEVEN
The more information we accrue on the subject of the being known as Haydon； the more convinced I am that my work is only beginning。
Dr。 Emil Lang； personal notes on the SDF…3 mission
〃Listen to me； honey： I want you to push again now。 Okay？〃
Miriya caught her breath； stopped sobbing； and nodded。
〃That's my girl；〃 Jean Grant said； the encouragements automatic as she concentrated on her job。 〃Max； are you holding her hand？〃
〃Yes。〃 Max and Miriya exchanged finger squeezes； but hers was so weak。
〃Okay； Mommie and Daddy； let's do it；〃 Jean said。 〃Bear down； hon。〃
Miriya did； biting her lower lip until it bled； then groaning in pain。 No battle wound had ever given her suffering like this； no enemy torture could be more horrible。
Jean didn't have time for an indecent turn of phrase。 Medical advances had made the safe； relatively painless delivery of babies a run…of…the…mill thing； but those advances didn't apply to a Zentraedi woman impregnated by a Human male when by all rights it should have been impossible。 Or a gestation period that only lasted a few months but had； by all indications； e to full term。 Or a pregnancy that had e close to taking the mother's life several times for no discernible reason。
〃What is it？ What's wrong？〃 Max asked Jean； as there was a flurry of activity。 He couldn't see what was happening from where he sat by Miriya's end of the delivery med…table； holding her hand。
〃We're bringing a baby into the world。 Isn't that worth giving your wife a kiss？〃 Jean said distractedly through her mask。 But inside； she despaired。 Miriya was hemorrhaging badly； and nothing Jean could do seemed to help。
Miriya screamed； and Max； clasping her hands and babbling words of reassurance； saw her eyes rolling up into her head。 He ripped his own mask off。
〃Mir！ Mir！ Don't do this！ Please please； stay with me！〃
She began convulsing； and Jean； checking the vital signs； thought； We're losing her。
Max was bending against his wife； holding her head to his； weeping and begging her not to die。 〃Jean； do something！〃
〃Shhhh！ I'm trying； Max。〃 But it was hopeless。
Don't worry； Mother； I am with you。
Max wiped his eyes。 〃Wh…what'd you say； Jean？〃
〃I didn't say anything； Max。 I thought you did。〃 The nurses and techs and two other attending physicians had nothing to add。
Put your minds at rest。 All will be well； you'll see。
Jean didn't have time to wonder if she was going nuts…hearing voices directly in her mind。 Miriya's convulsions stopped and her vital signs rose and stabilized。 The hemorrhaging slowed to a trickle； then ceased。
And other developments continued。 There were a few busy seconds； but Miriya went through them with her eyes closed and a blissful smile on her face。
〃You've got yourselves a beautiful little daughter； folks；〃 Jean said。 The child was crying heartily。 Miriya's eyes opened and she and Max laughed and wept； hugging each other。
But Jean； seeing to the umbilical word； felt a cold wind blow through her。 She was no obstetrician； but she had delivered plenty of babies。
And this was the first newborn she had ever seen e into the world already breathing； with eyes open and teeth already sprouting。
The baby moved feebly； but its eyes fixed on hers。
Thank you； Jean； that same voice said。
〃We have to move with all deliberate speed； Admiral；〃 Burak told Rick in a controlled/impatient tone。 〃Tesla's efforts to liberate Peryton are wele； of course； and I'm grateful that he's led the vanguard； but I am the one who has been chosen by Destiny to free my people and bee their Lord。
〃While I sympathize with the Spherisians and the rebuilding they must do； the fact is that they have been freed； while my folk lie under a terrible curse。 You can see my point； I'm sure。〃
Burak was cleaned up and dressed in new garments； Jack Baker's blood washed from his horns。 Rick had been avoiding him for days； but at last the Perytonian had buttonholed him； on his way to another strategy meeting。
〃Um； I see what you mean； Burak。 I'll make sure everyone in the leadership understands。〃
〃Please see that you do。 I will await word in my quarters。〃
Burak turned and strode off in kingly fashion； followed by a few of his people。 Rick couldn't figure out if they were just humoring Burak out of loyalty and pity； or if they really believed all his claptrap about being the messiah of his planet。
Certainly； nobody could disabuse him of the conviction that Tesla had gone off to begin the liberation of Peryton； even when they showed Burak the tracking plots on Tesla's escaped ships headed in the direction of Optera。
Rick had been ready to chalk it all up to Tesla's hypnosis； or whatever the Invid used； but Gnea and Jack showed no signs of any residual effects while Burak was still walking around talking like a locked…ward case。 He shrugged to himself； and made a note to have security keep surveillance on the Perytonians。
Ironically； Burak's home planet was； at long last； next in line on the Sentinels' long campaign。 But before that battle could be mounted； the Sentinels had to tend to their wounded and bury their dead。 There were also repairs to make to Ark Angel； mecha； weapons； and equipment。
And； despite his increasing behavioral quirks； Burak was being more cooperative in that he and his followers showed more willingness to answer the intel officers' specific questions about their homeworld。 Though the general consensus was that they were holding back a lot； the Perytonians had given the rest of the Sentinels more to ponder with regard to that tragic； cursed planet。
There was also the plight of the Spherisians to consider： their cities in ruins； their economic and industrial infrastructure…the aboveground portion； at any rate…wrecked。 Though they could survive in the planet's interior and rebuild on thei