Colonel Leonard slammed his hand on the table. "Madness!"

"Logic," Exedore countered. "The Earth cannot tolerate being a war zone again; it would mean our utter destruction. When humanity meets the Robotech Masters – which I assure you, will happen one way or the other – it must be away from the Earth."

"Admiral Gloval fell for your lies, alien, but I promise you I am not so gullible," Colonel Leonard said.

"Be careful how you speak about Admiral Gloval." Lisa's voice was cold as ice.

The other officers sitting around the table, including Major Emerson, warily eyed the adversaries. This was not the first time they had locked horns. Lisa was grateful Rick wasn't there; his reaction to Colonel Leonard would have been worse than hers.

"I will state my opinions at staff meetings," Colonel Leonard said stonily. "That's what staff meetings are for."

"Your opinion on policy is acceptable, even welcome," Lisa said. "Your insults are not. It is astonishing that I have to point out to you the difference. It is both a weakness and a sign of immaturity when someone arrogantly claims that anyone with a differing viewpoint must somehow be stupid or gullible. I assure you, Colonel, Admiral Gloval was neither, and if you wish to question the late admiral's intelligence again, I believe you know where the door is."

To his credit, Colonel Leonard took a moment to gather his thoughts. "With all due respect, Admiral, I have no reason to believe any word a Zentraedi speaks. They are the enemy, and I am utterly astounded that I am the only one among us who understands that and sees the trap they are so clearly laying for us! When I see something so obvious which the rest of you do not, what other conclusion than gullible can I possibly come to?"

"If we Zentraedi were interested in wiping out humanity and taking over the Earth, we would never have defected in the first place," Exedore said. "Since that fact is also obvious, to use your own word, then I have no choice but to conclude that you are, in fact, the one who is gullible, Colonel – again, to use your own word."

Lisa tried to conceal her smirk. In the battle of wits between Exedore and Colonel Leonard, Exedore was trying hard to be nice to an unarmed opponent.

Colonel Leonard growled, but said nothing.

That wasn't good enough for Lisa. "Colonel, I would appreciate it if you would respond to Exedore's statement. Do you acknowledge that it was both logical and accurate?"

"I acknowledge no such thing. There will come a day when we discover what they're hiding and what game they're playing!" He glared at Exedore. "When that day comes, I'll be ready."

"You're so convinced of your own conspiracy theories that you'll twist yourself into any shape necessary to continue believing them," Exedore said.

Colonel Leonard leaped to his feet. "I'll not be insulted by the likes of you!"

"Colonel Leonard, stand at attention!" Lisa barked.

Nostrils flaring, the colonel did as ordered. His shoes clicked together smartly.

"Colonel, not a single person in this room is blind, ignorant, stupid, or gullible in any way!" Lisa snapped. "We are deeply intelligent and observant people. Not only is there no credible evidence that the Zentraedi defectors – particularly Exedore – are lying to us, there is absolutely no evidence at all! Credible, incredible, circumstantial, or otherwise! And when anyone makes an accusation such as you are making without evidence, yes, conspiracy theory is the correct phrase. Check a dictionary if you don't believe me!

"Now, you will either desist from accusations of betrayal, or you will produce solid, credible evidence to back up your claims. You do not have a third option. Do I make myself clear, Colonel?"

Steam virtually poured from Colonel Leonard's ears, and his face was red. "Believe me, Admiral, you make yourself perfectly clear. Permission to search for the evidence you so greatly desire."

"Granted." Lisa's voice was now as cold as deep space. "You are dismissed."

Colonel Leonard smartly turned on his heel and marched from the room.

Everyone took a deep breath and let it out.

"Thank you, Admiral," Exedore said politely. Lisa nodded.

"If anyone has any reasonable objections to the plans to build the SDF-3, please state them," Lisa said. "Despite the unfortunate argument we just witnessed, I do value and desire differing opinions."

"For all his bluster and paranoia, Colonel Leonard does have a point," Major Emerson said. "Even if he can't state it without going off the rails. It seems humanity has a choice: offense or defense? We can pour all our resources into building the SDF-3, or we can pour all our resources into building a planetary defense system, but we cannot do both. We don't have the resources to support both projects simultaneously. If we attempted both projects simultaneously, we would spread ourselves too thin and end up with neither. Therefore, we must choose.

"The argument that we must meet the Robotech Masters away from Earth has much merit. The problem, as I see it, is the vulnerability of those of us left behind. We'll feel naked and defenseless. And when people feel naked and defenseless, they lash out in fear. And we're going to feel naked and defenseless no matter how much faith we have in the SDF-3 and her crew. It's only natural."

"I agree completely, Major," Lisa said. "But is that a good enough argument to stay home? Do you really believe we can build a defense system capable of repelling an attack by the Robotech Masters?"

"No. But that same argument applies to the SDF-3: if we lack the technology to fight them here, then we certainly lack the technology to fight them in space."

"We hope not to fight them at all," Exedore said. "We hope to talk to them and come to a peaceful understanding."

"Again, you could do that here just as easily as in space," Major Emerson countered.

"Technically, yes," Exedore said. "Politically, no. My psychological analysis of the Robotech Masters suggests they'll be far more likely to treat us as equals if they see us aboard a starship of our own making, whereas if they find a race huddled beneath a defensive barrier, they're far more likely to be contemptuous. And no one listens to people they hold in contempt."

"Then, as I see it, your psychological analysis is the only thing which tips the balance of the debate," Major Emerson said. "Because all else seems equal."

"I agree," Exedore said.

"That's a really flimsy basis for a decision on which hangs the future of humanity," Major Emerson said.

"Extraordinarily flimsy," Exedore said. "Yet, as you say, all else is equal. And logic dictates that when you cancel out everything which is equal, whatever remains should inform the final decision. As you humans say, we need every advantage we can get."

Major Emerson sighed. "It just all seems so dicey."

"None of us like the situation, or our options," Lisa said. "If you know another path we can take, then by all means, share."

Major Emerson gave a tired smile. "I'll give it my utmost consideration, Admiral."

Lisa smiled back. "I'm sure you will." She looked around the table. "Does anyone have anything to add before we move on?"

No one did.

"Very well. What's next, Exedore?"

"Just one more matter, Admiral. The Earth Reclamation Committee has delivered their final report on population, genetic diversity, manpower, and economic sustainability."

Lisa raised her eyebrows. "Wow. What an assortment of topics to put into a single report."

"It's not really an assortment of topics," Exedore said. "The report concerns the way all those topics are connected into a single, larger issue. The committee has determined that the near-extinction of the human race has produced a genetic bottleneck, similar to the one which occurred after the Toba supereruption 75,000 years ago.

"The committee strongly believes that in order for the human race to flourish, not just survive, two things need to happen: people need to make more babies as rapidly as possible, and the gene pool needs to continue mixing and diversifying as rapidly as possible. They are convinced this will stabilize both humanity's existence and its economy, as well as providing the manpower needed for global defense. They also recommend that this new generation, upon reaching adulthood, spread far and wide across the Earth to increase the likelihood that at least some of the human race will survive another widespread alien attack."

"Well, if it's one thing we're good at, it's making babies," Lisa said. "That shouldn't be a problem."

"But the committee goes further than that," Exedore said. "They make a recommendation which some people will find distasteful. Currently, human females outnumber human males almost two-to-one. Since females carry newborns and males simply plant the seed, the committee strongly recommends that men impregnate as many women as possible. This would require society to move outside the norm of monogamy, at least for one generation."

Lisa was taken aback for a moment. "I see."

Major Emerson chuckled. "Well, I guess it's a good time to be a guy."

Exedore looked at him quizzically. "I don't understand. Please explain."

Lisa smirked as Major Emerson's face turned red.