"Jack McKinney - Robotech 06 - Doomsday" - читать интересную книгу автора (McKinney Jack)

Gloval was nodding his head, saying little. His white commander's cap was pulled low on
his forehead, so Exedore couldn't read his eyes.
"So, Admiral," Exedore continued, leaning into the table. "There is little doubt-our
genetic makeup points directly at a common point of origin."
"That's incredible!" Gloval now exclaimed.
"Isn't it? While examining the data, we noticed many common traits, including a penchant
on the part of both races to indulge in warfare."
This brought startled reactions around the Terran side of the table.
"Yes," Exedore said flatly, as if to forestall any arguments before they had a chance to
flare up. "Both races seem to enjoy making war."
Rick Hunter held his breath, counting to ten. How could the Zentraedi believe his own
words, he asked himself, when it was love and not war that had doomed the Zentraedi to defeat? The
Zentraedi race had started the entire conflict, and Rick nursed a suspicion that this
pronouncement of Exedore's was his way of letting himself off the hook.
Exedore seemed to be enjoying his so-called micronized state, and Rick further suspected
that this had more to do with a new sense of power the small man had gained than it did with
exploring the ship for this Protoculture factory that had yet to turn up. Exedore couldn't bear to
admit to himself that his commanders had waged a war for something that didn't even exist; they
had nearly brought destruction to both races, chasing after some goose that was supposed to lay
golden eggs. Truly, this was the saga that would go down in their history as legend: the pursuit
of a ship that supposedly held the secrets of eternal youth, the capture of one hollow to the
core.
Rick looked hard into Exedore's lidless pinpoint-pupiled eyes. He didn't like the idea of
Exedore poking into every nook and cranny in the fortress, acting as if it was more his property
than Earth's. Only a moment ago the Zentraedi had seemed to be sizing him up, well aware of the
effect of his words. Rick wasn't about to disappoint him.
"Well, with all due respect," he began acidly, "I disagree. We don't fight because we like


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to-we fight to defend ourselves from our enemies. So, under the circumstances we have no choice in
the matter. Do you understand?"
Rick's hand was balled up into a fist. Lisa and Claudia looked at him in surprise.
"That's nonsense, Commander," said Professor Zand, who had Dr. Lang's marblelike eyes. He
stood up, palms flat on the table, to press his point. "There have always been wars in progress
somewhere on Earth, even before the invasion from space. I think this clearly indicates the
warlike nature of Humans."
Another Zentraedi sympathizer, thought Rick. And talking like an alien to boot. He began
to stammer a response, always feeling outgunned when up against academics, but Zand interrupted
him.
"A perfect example: Look what happened on Earth when the peacemakers tried their best to
prevail. They formed the League of Nations and the United Nations, both of which failed!"
Rick got to his feet confrontationally. What did all this have to do with Humans enjoying
war? The best he would allow was that some humans enjoyed war but most didn't. Most
enjoyed...love.
"I can't believe you'd simplify the facts like that," Rick shouted. "You're practically
rewriting history!"
"Facts, sir, do not lie," said Zand.