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ter。 Most of the Micronian mecha had been successfully lured far from Zor's ship； and those few remaining fighters were rapidly being eliminated。 The second assault team had taken the sting out of the main batteries of the SDF…1； and the mecha dispatched to slow their attack had been eliminated。 Now it was time for the coup de grace： Khyron's special elite assault team would storm the fortress and put an end to this game。
It was almost too easy。。。
Through his headset； Rick heard the voice of Lisa Hayes：
〃Enemy forces have broken through our defenses in the Third Quadrant。 You're our only hope； Black Leader。〃
〃We're on our way；〃 Rick told her。
Ben was out front； making up for lost time with continuous fire； little of it effective。 Rick warned him not to waste his ammo。 Max； meanwhile； took two pods off Rick's tail and asked Rick if it was all right to fire when it wasn't a waste。 Rick ignored the joke and ordered Max and Ben to split up； hoping they could drive a wedge into the attacking enemy units。
Only a few of the Phalanx and close…in guns on the SDF…1 were capable of giving them cover fire； and most of those had sustained some damage。 Destroids and Gladiators floated above the ship； pieces of debris； sparking out as they drifted toward oblivion。
Rick； already reaching out for the B mode lever； ordered his team to switch over to Battloid。 He watched as the tailerons of Max's fighter folded down and the wings swept fully back to lock into place。 Next； the entire undercarriage； including the twin aft thrusters； swung down and forward； riding on massive pins located beneath the cockpit module。 As rear thruster sheaths chevroned to bee the Battloid's feet； the ventral fuselage halves split away from each other and spread outward to form the arms。 Hands slid out from armored partments。 Inside the mecha Max's seat would now be riding upward along a shaft that would reposition the pilot inside the head…a minute ago the undercarriage laser…gun bubble。 Rick's own fighter was going through the same changes。 He could sometimes feel his own body react； as though unseen hands were at work on him。
Thus reconfigured； the three members of the Black Team touched down on the SDF…1's hull and brought their gatlings to bear on ining enemy pods。 Ben stood his ground； screaming curses at the ostriches as they made their approach。 Initially he was positioned near one of the damaged phalanx guns； his cannon at high port； but he stepped out into the open。 to trap…shoot an ining bandit just as a second flew in from behind and dropped him with a blast that caught the Battloid full in the back。 Rick winced and tried to raise him on the net。
〃Ben； are you alive in there？〃
Dixon answered weakly； he was hurt but had somehow managed to survive the hit。
Rick was moving in to lend a hand； when several pods appeared over the horizon of the ship。 High…density transuranic slugs from the gatling brought two down。 Two others loosed their rockets ineffectively and streaked overhead； but the Officer's Pod that led them seemed determined to go one on one with him。 It was the second time that day that Rick was to witness incredible maneuvering。
The Officer's Pod…not spherical like the others but somewhat elongated and fishlike above its legs； with twin 〃hand…gun〃 arms and a top…mounted long…muzzled plastron cannon…toyed with him； dodging each of his shots as though the pilot inside could read Rick's mind。 The pod leaped over a conning tower and came down behind him； Rick turned and fired； but the enemy was already spaceborne again and swooping in； clawed legs swinging back and forth； discharging rounds from its hand…guns。
Rick's mecha took several hits through the torso； then the glancing blow of a projectile sheared off the Battloid's left arm。 Rick thought the damaged vehicle down to one knee as the enemy pod came in to finish him。 When it was within reach； he brought the Battloid to its feet and used the useless cannon to bat at the thing。 He connected； driving the ostrich into a spin that brought it crashing down to the surface of the ship； minus one of its own cannon appendages。
The two mecha faced each other across a distance of about 200 meters…a showdown on a western street。 Rick worked frantically at the controls； trying to divert power from the main mechamorphosis systems into the main gun； but all his efforts proved futile。 He stared out of the cockpit faceplate of the Battloid as the enemy manning the Officer's Pod raised the muzzle of the one good arm and prepared to fire。。。
Onboard the Zentraedi flagship Breetai was informed of the battle being waged against the SDF…1； in direct violation of his orders。 He rushed from his quarters to the mand bubble； where Exedore was waiting for him； watching images play across the projecbeam field with growing disgust。
〃It is as I feared； mander。 Khyron has taken matters into his own hands once again。〃
Breetai stood； arms akimbo； regarding the action as explosive flashes of light reflected in his faceplate。
〃So this is Khyron's idea of war games？〃 Breetai snorted。 〃Again he has the temerity to disobey my orders！〃
〃I suggest that we recall him。。。before he succeeds in destroying the ship。〃
〃The fool； I warned him。〃 Breetai turned away。 〃Use the nebulizer to override the astrogational systems of his attack force。 We'll pull this offensive out from under him。〃
Exedore moved to the nebulizer controls。 〃Ready to initiate on your mand。〃
〃Mark！〃 Breetai shouted to the screen。
Warning lights were flashing on the bridge of the SDF…1。 Sensors were picking up energy readings of an extraordinary type。 Astrogational and engineering were reporting dangerous fluctuations in the drive systems； it was as if all control had been lost。
Meanwhile； on the skin of the ship； Khyron was taking aim at Rick's Battloid。
The Zentraedi mander felt the pod suddenly surrender itself to a higher power and knew at once what had happened： Breetai was recalling them。 On the very brink of victory； and the fool was recalling them！ He could do nothing； the nebulizer had even neutralized the weapon system of the pod。 This fortunate Micronian pilot would live to fight another day； Khyron said to himself as the Officer's Pod rose involuntarily from the skin of Zor's ship。 He could see the Battloid lift its head in some gesture of wonder or amazement and could only guess how the pilot inside was reacting
Rick would recall his feelings later； too stunned at the moment to analyze his reactions。
In the aftermission debriefing room they would all report the same thing： that the pods had suddenly abandoned their attack and lifted off； as though they had been given some sort of recall signal。
While Dr。 Lang tried to postulate the cause of the strange readings he had received and Gloval asked himself why the enemy had called off its attack； Lieutenant Hunter had a private session with his two new charges in the mess hall of the Prometheus。
Ben's head was bandaged。 On the positive side； it seemed that one of those blasts had finally gotten it through the corporal's thick skull that discretion was the better part of valor。 Max； on the other hand； credited with at least nine kills；