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he cockpit went a long way toward verifying Lisa's theory about a point of mon origin； the layout and placement of the controls had the logic of human construction； albeit on a grand scale。
Lisa； her arms overhead hugging a toggle switch； glanced at her watch and dropped to the sphere's seat。 She looked hard at her panions； calculating the present level of visual distortion against the indicator's display。 Satisfied with the results of her scan； she announced：
〃We're ing out of defold right on schedule。 It's got to be Earthspace or an incredible coincidence。〃
The four regarded one another and took a collective breath； they all knew what had to be done next。
Rick readied himself at the controls。 〃Let's see if we can start this thing up。〃
He engaged the drive lever and activated the sensor and scanner systems。 The mecha began to hum and e to life； and the first thing that greeted their eyes on the forward screen was the sight of two Zentraedi soldiers just returned to the hanger。
The soldiers spun around at the sound of the activated pod。
〃They're on to us！〃 yelled Rick。
〃Blast 'em！〃
Max shouted； 〃Here goes nothing！〃 as laser bolts shot from the arm cannons and dropped the guards to the deck。
Lisa and Ben cheered。 Rick told Max to keep firing。
〃Keep it up； let's open up this can of worms and get out of here。〃 Meanwhile； he nudged the stick forward and the Battlepod lifted away from its still silent panions。
Max continued to pour particle heat into the hull； until all at once the lasers burned through； and air and mecha were being sucked in a rush toward the breach。
〃We're gonna have to be fast；〃 Max warned them。 〃These things heal themselves。〃
Ben said； 〃Not while I'm around！〃 and loosed two rockets at the hull。
Rick let out a rousing yell。 Simultaneously with the explosions； he sent the thruster stick home； the pod soared across the hangar and through the breach。
Miriya had retrieved the ejected canister which contained the micronized agents。 Battlepods were swarming around Zor's ship like angry insects and engaging enemy mecha throughout the field。 It would have been a simple matter to insert the cannister and be done with it； but she couldn't resist testing these waters。
She flew straight into their midst； executing a series of teasing maneuvers meant to draw the enemy out； but not one of them succeeded in getting a fix on her。 She made up her mind that these Micronians were nothing to worry about and grew even more daring； positioning herself in the center of an entire squadron of enemy fighters。 And again their heat…seekers could not find the mark。 She laughed aloud and stung back。
Roy Fokker； Skull Team leader； would later recall the strange sight he witnessed that day： how a Zentraedi mecha； not much larger than a giant with a jet pack； had taken out five VTs at once。
Through the breach； the mandeered Battlepod rolled into a near front gainer and was almost taken out by Zentraedi crossfire。 But the occupants of that pod were filled with such vigor and than that they scarcely took notice of their predicament。 Ahead of them； enveloped in a cloud of metal anger； was their ship。 And beyond that； their planet and its silver satellite。
〃Can you raise anything on the radio？〃
〃I'm trying；〃 said Lisa。 Ben came to her aid； together they put their strength to the knob and managed to give it a fraction of a turn。
Rick heard singing： a familiar voice； a familiar song。
〃That's Minmei！ That's her song…My Boyfriend's a Pilot'！〃
〃As long as it's not was a pilot；〃 said Ben。
Miriya easily avoided the Phalanx and Valkyrie fire from the SDF…1 and came alongside the fortress at a point where Breetai claimed the hull could be easily breached。 She summoned Protoculture strength to the outsize grappler hands of the mecha and tore away some new hatchway the Micronians had installed。 She deposited the cylinder inside an air lock in the mecha； then opened and resealed。
〃Insertion successful；〃 Miriya said aloud。 〃Returning to base。〃
Status reports； enemy trajectories； battle coordinates。。。
〃We've got the military frequency；〃 said Rick excitedly。
Lisa leaned into the mike。 〃Please respond； SDF…1； we are in your air space。 This is mander Hayes and the Vermilion Team attempting to make contact with our home base。 Do you read me？ Over。 Rick； do you think they heard us？〃
〃I hope so； Lisa。 I'd hate to be taken out by one of our own VTs。〃
Three Battloids were closing on the pod in attack formation； gatling cannons in hand。 Rick and Lisa； Ben and Max； turned to each other with undisguised looks of concern。
〃Did they hear us； Rick？ Did they hear us？！〃
Rick closed his eyes as the Battloids moved in for the kill。
With home so close you could almost touch it。。。