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ments； small for。。。〃 Lisa shrugged。
〃Yeah；〃 said Rick。 〃Small for what？ Why are they reducing some of their troops？ And how are they doing it？〃
〃Protoculture；〃 Lisa said evenly。
The word had scarcely left her lips when Rick heard the growl。 Suddenly a giant hand reached into the room and took hold of Lisa。 She screamed。 Rick yelled and gave chase； mindless of the consequences。
The giant had straightened from his crouch by the time Rick hit the corridor； he was holding Lisa near his face； growling at her。 As Rick ran into view； the Zentraedi soldier simply extended his foot…not a kick； really； but more than enough to lift Rick off the floor and send him careening into a rack of upright laser rifles。 Why every bone in his body wasn't broken； he had no idea （adrenaline； he'd tell himself later）； but at the moment all he knew was that he was buried under the weapons； stunned and crushed but alive and angrier than ever。
Rick allowed the fear and anger to get hold of him； he positioned himself on one knee and heaved one of the rifles over his shoulder like a bazooka…a five…meter…long bazooka。 Putting all his meager weight to the trigger； he managed to yank off three rapid blasts。 The Zentraedi caught all of them…one through the fish eye faceshield and two through the pectoral armor…and went down like an oak。 Rick dropped the weapon and rushed in to find Lisa still in the soldier's hand； crying。
He stopped in his tracks； then moved in slowly； afraid to touch or move her。
〃Jeez； Lisa。。。how bad are you hurt？〃
〃I dropped the camera； I…I。。。it shattered。〃
〃Forget the camera！ You mean you're not hurt？〃
〃No； I don't think so。 But the mission。。。〃
〃Unbelievable；〃 Rick muttered as he helped her from the slack hand。 〃Sometimes women just don't make any sense； even when they're officers。〃
It wasn't in any way meant to bring her around； but it surely did： She threw him off and ran a hand over her wet eyes。 〃Don't start with me； Hunter。〃
Rick felt the footsteps ing。 He grabbed her hand； and the chase was on again。 This has got to be the way mice feel； he told himself while they were running。
The Zentraedi soldiers were right on top of them； forcing them into left and right turns indiscriminately。 Ultimately they found themselves in a dark and deteriorated corridor； with stress fissures in the walls and great gaping holes in the floor。 Explosive bolts of energy threw light and short…lived shadows all around them as they ran。 And suddenly the world dropped out from under them； light and sound beginning to fade as they plunged toward emptiness together。。。
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The list of players was still inplete when Miriya took to the stage； but was there ever a harder act to follow？
The Collected Journals of Admiral Rick Hunter
The best they could do was clean up the mess。
Breetai looked on as two lower…echelon soldiers carted fragments of the broken viewscreen from the bridge。 The front shield of the observation bubble was also in ruin。 Much as Breetai's career。
Dolza； Breetai； and Exedore had been on the bridge when the Micronians' mecha had punched through the wall。 Only seconds before； they had been informed of the prisoners' escape； and Breetai was promising their speedy recapture。 Then； suddenly； the transformed Battloid had exploded into their midst and soared belligerently out across the astrogation hold。 Breetai had glimpsed the look on Dolza's face then； and now that look was being leveled against him。
〃So； Breetai； have the Micronians been recaptured？〃
〃I'm sorry to report that they haven't。 Their size presents difficulties。〃
The Zentraedi mander…in…chief cocked his head to one side。 〃Indeed。 And further difficulties are the last thing we need at the moment。 Do you understand？〃
〃M'lord。〃
〃The responsibility was yours； and this failure will have to be entered into the record。〃 Dolza turned his back to Breetai。 〃I am relieving you of active duty for the time being； mander。〃
He turned around and motioned to the shattered observation bubble。 〃You can hardly continue to operate in this。。ndition； in any case。〃
It was even worse than Breetai had expected。 But he thought there might still be a way out。 Exedore stepped forward to speak for him。
〃But sir； the infiltration…who will assume responsibility for the operation？〃
Dolza considered this。 〃Breetai's knowledge of Zor's ship has been an invaluable aid to us in this matter。 It will be duly noted。 However； Azonia will now be in charge of our three agents。〃
〃Azonia？！〃 Breetai and Exedore exclaimed。
〃But Azonia isn't briefed…〃
Dolza held up his hand to silence Exedore。 〃mander Azonia is a loyal subject who has never failed me。 Once more； I am assigning our finest pilot to her charge。〃
Just then two soldiers requested entry and conveyed the hover…table onto the bridge。 Grouped together on the tabletop and clothed in the only suitable garments available…sleeveless sackcloths cinched at the waist by rough cords…were the three now 〃micronized〃 operatives； Rico； Konda； and Bron。
Dolza looked down on them soberly。
〃You understand the gravity of your mission？〃
〃Sir！〃 three small voices shouted in unison。
〃Miriya will oversee your insertion into the dimensional fortress。〃
The agents exchanged looks and expressions of excitement。
〃Succeed and you will each have a cruiser to mand upon your return。〃
Three arms were raised in salute： 〃For the glory of the Zentraedi！〃
Dolza returned the salute and turned to Breetai as the hover…table was taken from the bridge。
〃This time we will not fail。〃
Ben remembered having hurdled the giant alien's spread fingers； but Max assured him that he'd done nothing of the sort。 They'd both taken a dive off to one side of the corridor when the Zentraedi pounced and found cover behind an open hatch just as the VT exploded。 They saw Rick and the mander make their escape； but neither Max nor Ben was able to pick up the trail。 While enemy soldiers poured into the area； the two corporals had moved swiftly through a serviceway that ran parallel to the ship's central corridor。 They had made good progress for several hours； until Max had inadvertently tripped a scanner alarm reset to detect movement along the floor of the passageway。
They had three shock troopers on their tail now and a deadly flock of projectiles overhead。 The soldiers were herding them toward a waiting elevator； hoping to corner them inside。 But perhaps the enemy hadn't identified the weapon one of the Micronians carried； or perhaps they hadn't even seen it？ In any case； no sooner did the two enter the car than Max swung himself about face； trained his laser rifle on the elevator controls； and fired。 The intense beam soldered the proper circuits； the doors slid closed； and the car began to descend。。。
In that liquid dream； Minmei was leaving him and Rick was calling out to her； over and over again。。。
Then Lisa's face floated into focus； and the dream faded。 She helped him sit up and asked if he was all right。
He began to take stock of himself and these new dark and wet surroundings。 They were in an area of huge pipes； containment chambers； baffles； valves； and regulating devices； seate