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Robotech： The End of the Circle
Book 18 of the Robotech Series
Copyright 1989 by Jack McKinney
arranged by dayuan ＇ robotech zone ＇
FOREWORD
The publication of The End of the Circle； the eighteenth book of the series； concludes the Robotech saga。 The story now spans five decades； from 1990 to 2040 or thereabouts； save for a period of 〃lost years；〃 covering the rise of Monument City and the Army of the Southern Cross； an account of which may yet see the light of day。 Some of this material is in fact already being covered by other sources。
With nearly one million words of print in the Ballantine/Del Rey series alone； eighty…five episodes of powerful animation； an equal number of ic book adaptations； numerous art and role…playing books； and supplemental source material including several college theses it should be clear that Robotech has traveled a great distance since 〃HAL；〃 Haruhiko Mikimoto； sat down at his desk one day and inked the first sketch of raven…haired songbird； Lynn…Minmei。
As most readers of Robotech are aware； the eighty…five 〃continuous〃 animated episodes （which still show up in U。S。 television markets） were actually a plete reworking in terms of music； dialogue； and storylines if three separate anime series that appeared in Japan over the course of several years： Macross； Southern Cross； and Mospeda。 Credit for this unique acplishment goes to Carl Macek； as well as Harmony Gold U。S。A。 Inc。 Together with a talented team of writers； voice…over artists； and production personnel； Robotech Master Macek found an overall grand visual theme in the Japanese series and redefined both Robotechnology and Protoculture。
It is a source of continuing disappointment that the project； as envisioned by Mr。 Macek； was never brought to pletion。 The result would have been an additional sixty…five episodes of animation detailing the exploits of the Sentinels； and who knows how many more devoted to the material covered in this final book； presented here for the first time。
But perhaps Robotech's most important contributors have been the fans themselves； who have kept this project vital for five years running。 More than seventy thousand strong have been aided and abetted in their efforts by the following； to whom the author wishes to express his heartfelt gratitude： ico ics； especially Markalan Joplin； who died shortly before pletion of the illustrated series； Eternity…ics； which has inherited the mantle and is currently publishing twice…monthly issues of the Sentinels； Kevin Siem…bieda and the staff at Palladium Books for their role…playing games； Kay Reynolds and Ardith Carlton； creators of the Starblaze Robotech Art Books； Kevin Seymour of Books Nippan； and a special thanks to Claude Pelletier； Michel Gareau； Alain Dubreuil； and the staff at Protoculture Addicts； the official Robotech fanzine。
We should all do it again sometime。
PART I
WHEEL IN SPACE
CHAPTER ONE
〃Beware the skies； for the cerulean raiments of that sweetscented realm mask a darkness and evil that know no bounds。 And do not look to heaven for peace； for there resides hell。 And beware all who descend from those skies； for they are the harbingers of death and destruction。〃
Dogma of the Church of Recurrent Tragedy as quoted in Weverka T'su's Aftermath： Geopolitical and Religious Movements in the Southlands
The starship Ark Angel hung in geosynch； 36；000 kilometers above Brazilas in the Southlands。 Recently returned from a distant campaign； it alone had been spared the wrath of the Invid's transubstantiating departure； one ship among scores in that moment of victorious defeat。
Scott Bernard had yet to decide whether its survival constituted a curse or a blessing。
He could just make out the warship's underbelly through a small oblong viewport set high' up in the curved hull of the chemical shuttle's passenger cabin。 A soft…soled boot； freefloating； drew his attention forward； and he watched it for a moment； thinking： Weightless。 Hugged to the padded contours of an acceleration couch by web belts and Velcro straps； as if on some nostalgia…steeped theme park ride。
Although restrained might have been a better word to describe his present circumstance； as in temporarily prevented from doing harm to himself or others。 Not that he would。 But there were half a dozen G2 analysts planetside who thought differently。
Scott sniggered aloud； unperturbed by the curious glances his self…amusement had elicited。 He returned the looks with interest until one by one each of his fellow passengers in the cramped cabinspace turned away。
Oh； he had it； all right： what Rand had once called the look of the lost。
Scott inclined his head to one side to get a better angle on the ship； her dark symmetry obscuring a narrow sweep of stars。 Built and christened on the other side of the Quadrant； she was the very ship Colonel Wolff had pirated from Tirol orbit years before。 The ship that had bee the Sentinels' own。
Running lights illuminated an array of weapons and sensor ports dimpling her underside…retrofitted sometime during the three years since Scott had last seen her…along with a swath of heavily blistered alloy； where angry tendrils loosed from the Invid's mindstuff phoenix had brushed her just three months before。 She rested alone in gravity anchor； save for the countless metal fragments that drifted above and below her： the lingering debris clouds of Dolza's fleet； of Little Luna； the Zentraedi factory satellite； of the hapless； goosenecked ships of Mars； Venus； and Jupiter Divisions； of the Robotech Expeditionary Force's tri…thrusters and Karbarran manufactured boilerlike monstrosities。
Earth was in fact haloed by death and destruction。 But liberated…or so it seemed。
A Tiresian…accented voice cautiously interrupted Scott's painful reverie。
〃Colonel Bernard；〃 the woman repeated as Scott turned from the view。 She stood wavering in the narrow aisle； Velcroed in place； strands of auburn hair wafting out from under a pearl…gray shuttle bonnet。 The smile； too； seemed fastened there； detachable with the slightest tug。
〃What is it？〃 Scott asked； masking his thoughts。
〃Sir； General Grant wishes you to be informed that he'll be on hand to meet the shuttle。 Mrs。 Grant and Senators Huxley and Penn are with him； sir。〃
Scott nodded and put on a pleasant face； certain it read as a twisted malicious grin。 But the woman only broadened her smile in response and asked if there was anything he needed before docking。 He told her he was fine and leaned over to watch her space…step down the aisle； a child learning to walk。 So much to relearn； he told himself。 So much to forget。
The chemical shuttle itself was symbolic of the change。 Launched from a twenty…five…year…old reconstructed base in Venezuela Nueva； the ferry and a handful of others like it were humankind's only existing links with near space。 There was the Angel； of course； but she had remained in geosynch ever since the disastrous finale to the assault on Reflex Point； the Invid queen's hivelike stronghold on the North American continent。 Word had it that a small portion of the REF's mecha…Alphas and Shadow fighters； principally…was still functioning； but most of the olde