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The ice fields of Saturn's rings； Rick repeated to himself。
And he had thought yesterday was bad。
CHAPTER THREE
The so…called Daedalus Maneuver was the first demonstration of what I have termed 〃mecha…consciousness〃…levels beyond the somewhat primitive； almost instinctual modular transformation。 The officers of the bridge； along with the engineering section； did little more than offer a prompt to the SDF…1： The dynamics of the maneuver were carried out by the fortress herself； despite claims to the contrary。 I； alone； recognized this for what it was…an attempt on the part of the ship to interface with the living units she carried within her。。。Later I would overhear someone in the corridor say that 〃the Daedalus Maneuver （would） go down in the annals of space warfare as a lucky break for an inpetent crew。〃 In point of fact； however； the SDF…1 was able to repeat this 〃accident〃 on four separate occasions。
Dr。 Emil Lang： Technical Recordings and Notes
〃It is as you predicted； mander；〃 Exedore said as he entered the flagship's mand center。
Without a word； Breetai rose from his seat； a wave of his hand and the projecbeam field began to assemble itself。 Here was Zor's ship； still in that bizarre configuration； a speck of gleaming metals caught in starlight and silhouetted against the milky white bands and icy rings of the system's sixth planet。 Breetai called for full magnification。
〃The Micronians have activated electronic countermeasures and are about to enter the rings；〃 Exedore continued。 〃They are endangering the ship。〃
〃We cannot permit that。〃
〃I have taken the liberty of contacting mander Zeril。〃
〃Excellent。〃
A second wave brought Zeril to the screen。 He offered a salute。
〃My Lord Breetai； we await your instructions。〃
〃The Micronians are laying a trap for us； mander Zeril。 It would suit me to humor them a bit； but I'm concerned about the security of the dimensional fortress。 As your scanners will indicate； the enemy has deployed several squadrons of mecha in the hope of luring you to your doom。 Send out enough Battlepods to deal with them。
〃The Micronian mander will bring his ship from the rings when you are within range of the main gun。 I expect you to cripple the fortress before the gun is armed。〃
〃Sir！〃 said Zeril。
〃You understand that the ship is to be disabled； not destroyed。 As we speak； relevant data concerning the ship's vulnerable points is being transmitted to your inboard targeting puters。 Success； mander。〃
〃May you win all your battles； sir！〃
Zeril's face faded from the field； replaced now by a wide…angle view of the SDF…1 at the perimeter of the ring system。 Breetai and his adviser turned their attention to a second monitor where radar scanners depicted the exiting mecha as flashing color…enhanced motes。
〃Attacking with such a weak force is pletely illogical；〃 Exedore mented。 〃They seem to have little knowledge of space warfare。〃
〃They have been a planetbound race for too long； Exedore。 Caught up in their own petty squabbles with one another。〃
〃Absolutely and totally illogical。〃
Breetai moved in close to the scanner screen； as if there were some secret message that could be discerned in those flashing lights。
〃I don't believe they realize that we are holding back nearly all our forces。。。But this is an excellent opportunity for us to demonstrate just what they're up against。〃
No sooner had Rick Hunter executed a full roll to avoid colliding with a chunk of ring ice than mander Lisa Hayes opened the net； her angry face on the mo screen lighting up the Veritech cockpit。
〃Skull twenty…three！ What in blazes are you doing？ Just where were you at the briefing…asleep？ I'm getting sick and tired of repeating myself： That kind of stunt flying will give away your position to the enemy！ This isn't the time or place for aerobatics； do you copy？！〃
〃It was just a roll；〃 Rick said in defense of his actions。 〃I'm not the only one…〃
〃That'll be enough； Corporal。 Follow Skull Leader's instructions； do you copy？〃
〃All right；〃 he answered sullenly。 〃I gotcha。〃
But Hayes wasn't finished； not by a long shot。
〃Is that the way you address superiors； Hunter？ Look around you； bright boy。 Everyone else here flies by the rules。〃
〃Roger； roger； mander； I copy。〃
〃And get your RAS back where it belongs…why are you dropping behind？〃
〃Hey； you're not flying around up here…〃 He caught himself and made a new start。 〃Uh； Skull twenty…three increasing relative airspeed； mander。〃
Hayes signed off； and Rick breathed a sigh of relief。 This was going to be even more difficult than he had imagined。 His first mission； and already he was being razzed by some know…it…all bridge bunny。 Just his luck！ What did she think； it was easy out here？ Oh； to be back in the Mockingbird； Rick thought。
They were flying blind in Saturn's shadow； far from the surface of the rapidly spinning planet and deep in the ice fields of its outermost rings。 Rick's eyes were glued to the cockpit screens and displays； and yet even with all this sophisticated instrumentation he had already had several close calls with debris too insignificant to register on the short…range scanners but large enough to inflict damage。 He knew that the rest of Skull Team was out there somewhere； but visual contact would have been reassuring right about now…a glimpse of thruster fire； a glint of sunlight on a wingtip； anything at all。 Soon enough there would be an added element of danger…the arrival of the enemy Battlepods。
Just then； Roy Fokker appeared on the port mo screen。
〃Get ready； fellas； here they e。〃
There's no more flying for fun。
Claudia Grant； the black Flight Officer on the SDF…1's bridge； was monitoring Lisa Hayes's conversation with the young VT pilot when radar informed her of the enemy's counterattack。
Claudia and Lisa had adjacent stations along the curved forward hull of the bridge； beneath the main wraparound bays which now afforded views of the rocks and ice chunks that made up Saturn's rings。 Each woman had two overhead monitors and a console screen at her disposal。 Elevated behind Lisa's post was the mand chair； and behind the captain along the rear bulkheads on either side of the hatch sat Sammie and Kim； each duty station equipped with nine individual screens that formed a grand square。 Vanessa was off to starboard； positioned in front of the ten…foot…high threat board。
Claudia's station was linked to those of the three junior officers by radio； but such was her proximity to Lisa's that scarcely a word the mander uttered escaped her hearing。 Not that there would have been anything left unshared between them in any case。 They had forged a close friendship； Claudia； four years Lisa's senior； often playing the role of older sister； especially in matters of the heart。 But for of all her desirable traits； her natural attractiveness and keen intelligence； Lisa was emotionally inexperienced。 She projected an image of cool and capable efficiency； rationalizing her detached stance in the name of 〃mitment to duty。〃 But buried in her past was an emotional wound that had not yet healed。 Claudia knew this much； and she hoped to help Lisa exorcise that demon some day。 Thi