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fire that raked the flight deck； and caught them as they leapt or while still on their feet。 Pods went up like exploding oil…well rigs or expanding spheres of shrapnel and flame。
Khyron had instantly leapt his pod away to parative safety upon seeing the MACs appear。 He would have gone truly berserk with frustration and wrath at that point； but his own life was now at stake。
There would be no quick taking of the objective； and SDF…1's deck was being swept clear of his troops。 More； Miriya's hated Quadronos were hovering above； out of range but capable of intervening at any moment。 But on whose side？ In some ways she was as capable of duplicity as Khyron himself。
And then； of course； there was Azonia's promise to have him shot。
He gave a low； bestial growl as he landed his Battlepod on a safer area of the deck； opening his mand channel。 〃All right； men！ Cease firing！ We're returning to the fleet！〃
His mission exec； Gerao； came up over the net； sounding shocked。 〃Ex…excuse me； mighty Khyron； would you please repeat that？ We're going back now？〃
Khyron could see from his instruments that Gerao was fairly well in the clear and could reach the cruiser quickly。 The cruiser was exactly where he'd directed that it be： submerged in the ocean not far from SDF…1。
〃Yes。〃 Khyron sneered。 〃I have just received a direct order from mander Azonia。 〃But don't forget to get your souvenir； my friend。〃
〃My souvenir？〃 Gerao's tone said he'd understood Khyron's hidden meaning。 〃Why； no； sir。 I certainly won't forget that！〃
Khyron began regrouping his forces for the shameful withdrawal。 But part of him burned fusion…bright。
If Khyron couldn't have his victory； he would at least have his revenge！
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
No one； gunner or VT jock or attack…mecha crewmember； could recall a more intense fight。 Certainly they all earned their pay that day； and a lot more than money besides。 Many paid the final price of freedom。
It is interesting to note； however； that although everyone on the VT teams had seen intense bat； it was the men and woman of the air…sea rescue teams ＇whose units had also suffered heavy casualties＇ who； upon entering the various pilots' hangouts； found that they would not be allowed to pay for their own drinks； period。
Zachary Fox； Jr。； VT： the Men and the Mecha
The giant saucer shapes that were Zentraedi amphibious…assault ships dropped from Miriya's cruiser to retrieve Khyron's surviving Battlepods。
At Khyron's order； the first of his retreating units kangaroo…hopped from the SDF…1's deck into the sea to get well clear of the fortress's guns and fighters before making their rendezvous。 He'd lost enough of his vaunted strike force without having them and their pickup ships shot out of the sky。
Now it was Zentraedi mecha that fought the holding action as RDF attack machines and VTs pressed them ever harder and turned the kill ratios around。 Battlepods bobbed and churned through the waves as the great saucers descended for the rendezvous point。
Overhead； the fighters were still going at it with the Botoru tri…thruster pursuit ships while the SDF…1's gun batteries took more and more enemy ships out of the fight as the tactical and civil defense attack mecha took over mop…up operations on deck。
Elsewhere； Gerao reached Khyron's cruiser as it rose from its submerged position。 He gave quick orders as his pod was being brought aboard； preparing to take mand and wreak Khyron's vengeance on the Micronians。
Vanessa called out； 〃Captain； that first enemy cruiser has reappeared！ It's on a collision course with us！〃
Gloval thumbed the bowl of his empty pipe absentmindedly。 〃It looks like a suicide maneuver。 Lisa； Claudia！ Prepare the Daedalus for its Attack mode； immediately！'。'
Up on deck； Vermilion Team had its Veritechs in Battloid mode。
Rick concentrated on control； letting his helmet's receptors pick up his thought…mands and translate them into the Battloid's instant； fluid movements。 The Battloid traversed its autocannon from one target to the next； firing depleted transuranic slugs that had awesome； armor…piercing capabilities。 The powered gatling consumed ammunition at an amazing rate； and the Battloid had to transfer fresh boxed belts of rounds to it frequently from integral reserve modules built into various parts of its body。
The reloading took only moments； but in the middle of a firelight that could be a long time。 Rick found himself on empty as a pod dashed at him。 He hit the thrusters built into the Battloid's feet and launched himself at it； just as its cannonade blew up the deck where he'd been standing。
He had no choice but to attack it hand to hand before it could get a bead on him。 All around him； Battloids were locked in similar close…quarters fighting against the pods； up and down the SDF…1's decks。
But the alien Battlepod crewman was shrewd and quick。 The pod lashed out with one foot and sent Rick's Battloid flying backward with a tooth…rattling jolt。 The Battloid crashed to the deck； its pilot dazed。
He shook his head clear just in time to send the Battloid rolling to the side。 He avoided the pod's next fusillade； rolled again； and brought the Battloid to its feet dexterously。 And now； the chain…gun was reloaded。
Rick fired a long burst； taking the pod dead center； he watched it dissolve and fly into pieces； an expanding； blazing sphere。 But out of the ballooning explosion zoomed a new enemy； one of those strange alien mecha that had been mostly staying out of the fight up until now。
Whoever was flying it was either a masterful pilot or crazy or both。 The battle…armored figure came through the fireball in one piece； though； and nearly bowled Rick over。 Its weapons came close to downing Max on one side and Ben on the other as the two Vermilion wingmen dove for cover。
The lightning…fast attacker was gone before they could fire at it； since the SDF…1's surviving batteries were hopelessly slow in tracking it。 The three Vermilion fliers got their Battloids to their feet； shaken but unharmed。
〃Let's finish this thing！〃 Rick said in clipped tones。 At his mand； Vermilion went into Veritech mode； skimming the deck； turning pods into expanding balls of incandescent gas with intense autocannon fire。
The last few pods leapt high； thrusters cutting in； trying for a slim…chance vertical escape while the remaining Botoru pursuit ships dove to try to cover them。 The lower battle and the upper became one as the mecha swirled and fought。 Rick peeled off to go after two escaping pods。
〃So they think they have won； eh？〃 Khyron mused； his pod standing in the shelter of a superstructural feature of the dimensional fortress's flight deck； hidden and waiting。
Rick bagged the pods； and Ben and Max went back down to take care of an insistent pursuit ship that was still strafing the SDF…1。 They returned to Battloid mode； blasting it into ten thousand pieces。
Meanwhile； Rick had picked up two more tri…thrusters on his tail。 He led them down to deck level； and Max and Ben bagged them from behind with streams of high…density slugs。
〃Nice shooting！〃 Rick said； relieved。 Then he saw what was ing up fast behind him。 〃No！〃
It was the strange alien at