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e an archaic phrase。〃
Rawlins； Zentraedi Triumvirate： Dolza； Breetai； Khyron
Rick； Ben； and Max…the newly formed Black Team…were ordered to defensive positions in the Fourth Quadrant； close to the fortress and too far from the main fighting to suit Dixon。 He was anxious to get into the thick of it。
Below them； between the SDF…1 and Mars； Skull； Red； and the other squadrons were engaging enemy pods。 From his vantage point； Rick could make out a cat's cradle of interlacing laser light punctuated by brief spherical flashes of death； but most of the battle information came to him via the air net。 It was beginning to sound like the boys had the enemy on the run； indeed； the explosive bursts seemed to indicate that the pods had fallen back to positions closer to the planetary rim。
As the exchanges continued to diminish in size and frequency； Rick began to worry that Gloval was permitting the VTs to fly right into a trap； or worse； that he had ordered offensive action against one of the mother ships。 Dixon was ready to join them nevertheless。
〃Can't we get into some of that？〃 he wanted to know。
〃We have our orders；〃 Rick told him sharply。 〃Now； stick close to me and stay alert。〃
On the bridge of the SDF…1； Gloval was studying the deployment of pods and Veritechs on the threat board。 The enemy was trying something new。 Instead of assaulting the fortress； as was their usual routine； they were keeping their distance； perhaps fearful that the main gun had been repaired。 Would that that were the case； thought Gloval。 But the more he studied the screen； the more suspicious he grew。 The enemy wasn't turning tail to avoid battle。 Gloval shook his head in amusement。 Did they really think him such a fool？ It was obvious that they were hoping to lure the VTs away from the fortress in order to open up a second front。
He was ready to issue a recall order when new data verified his hunch。
Vanessa announced； 〃We have an attack force of enemy pods at our stern。〃
Gloval ordered that the Gladiator force be called up； and Dr。 Lang was requested to shunt sufficient energy from the shields to arm the main batteries aft。 The second enemy wave was ing in from the relatively unguarded Fourth Quadrant； where Hunter's Black Team was on defensive patrol。 As this sector was put up on the screen； the bridge crew readied themselves to render assistance。
Rick received the muniqu？from the bridge and moments later had the enemy assault team on his cockpit radar display。
〃pany's ing；〃 he told Max and Ben。 〃Let's show them how we treat party crashers。〃
Locked into the bridge mand center； the three Veritech pilots swung their fighters toward the advancing pods。 They were still too distant for visuals； but Rick was soon facing those characteristic pinpoints of explosive light that signaled laser bombardment。
A nanosecond later the bolts reached them。 Rick ordered his men to begin evasive maneuvers to lessen the staying power of the charge。 Some of his own circuits were already fried； but it was nothing he needed to worry about。
And then they had a visual on the pods： There were only a dozen of them； including an Officer's Pod。 They came into the quadrant； weapons blazing； the Black Team ready for them。
〃I'm gonna fly rings around these guys； Lieutenant。 Just watch me go；〃 Rick heard Ben say。
Dixon fired off a cluster of heat…seekers and attempted to roll out。 But the enemy had outguessed him； and two of the pods were following him through； positioning themselves on either side of his mecha well inside the lethal cone。
〃Break across that seven o'clock bandit； Ben；〃 Rick shouted into the net。 〃Don't get cute； they're going to catch you in their cross fire！〃
Dixon realized he was in trouble and called for an assist。 The two pods were practically on top of him； pouring particle…beam energy at his booster pack。 A Veritech could stand only a few seconds of this； ultimately； structural molecules would be altered and the ship would e apart。 Ben would be fried alive。
Rick kicked in his aft boosters； found one of the pods in his reticle； and loosed two missiles。 They caught the pod at its weakest spot； just where the cockpit cover was hinged to the main body of the sphere。 The hatch blew open； precious atmosphere was released and the pilot inside clawed frantically at his controls。 Soon the lifeless thing was drifting aimlessly out of the arena。
The second pod was still throwing heat into Dixon's fighter； but the pilot； realizing that he was now outnumbered； began to drop away。
〃I'm going to save your skin； Ben。 Just retro when I give the word。〃 Rick haloed the ostrich and shouted； 〃Now！〃
His thumb came down hard on the Hotas trigger。 Two missiles dropped from their pylons and connected with the pod； blowing it to pieces。
While Ben was thanking him； Rick looked around for Max。 There was a lot of activity going on off to his right； as Rick was soon to realize； Max was at the center of it。
The corporal had shifted to Battloid mode and was using the gatling cannon to take out pod after pod； executing evasive maneuvers the likes of which Rick had never seen。 Max was pushing the Veritech into reverses Rick wouldn't have believed possible。 He had heard about pilots who could totally surrender themselves to the alpha state； but he had never seen anything like this with his own eyes。
〃Look at him go！〃 Dixon was yelling on the tac net。
Max had second sight； eyes behind his head； a sixth sense。。。the enemy mecha couldn't get near him。 He was polishing off the last of the assault group； and Rick was on the horn congratulating him。
〃I'm happy I was able to help out；〃 came the humble reply。 〃Now I'll show you something I learned in flight school。〃
Rick was amazed： Max was literally about to talk Ben and him through a maneuver； it was difficult enough to control the plexities of the Veritech weapons system and answer to the demands of the mecha； but to have anything left over for movement； let alone human speech！。。。But here was Max； explaining every move as he went after two new entries。 He drew the enemy in； then suddenly inverted himself； firing his thrusters so that he was ing right down their throats with his weapons blasting。 The two pods were taken out； along with a third that had appeared at Rick's port side unannounced。
Rick's jaw went slack。
〃It's called Fokker's Feint；〃 said Max。 〃You have to confuse them。 And while they're looking for you； you e up behind them and tap them on the back！〃
Lisa Hayes was suddenly on the net at the same time； berating Rick for his poor response time。 He offered as an excuse the two inexperienced pilots he had with him； listening to himself while watching Max execute a flourish of moves。
Maybe this was one of the advantages to being a superior officer； he thought。 Foul up and you could lay the blame on your men； succeed； and their victories were your own。
Khyron was observing the progress of the battle from his Officer's Pod。 The diversionary strategy wasn't working out exactly as he had hoped； but it had opened up a few holes in the fortress's defensive perimeter。 Most of the Micronian mecha had been successfully lured far from Zor's ship； and those few rema