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s she fought her handlebars。 Marie hit the brakes and over…corrected； and her jeep went sliding toward the cliff； tailgate foremost。
But Dennis Brown was there first； with Dana betted in the rear and covering her eyes。 The VT pilot brought Marie to a stop by letting Marie's jeep slam taillights…first into his own； broadside。 The two vehicles plowed along in a spume of dust； Brown's left front wheel went over the edge； and the undercarriage grated along。
The jeep tottered there； but held。 Dana and Brown sighed simultaneously。 Marie hung against her steering wheel； crying like a lost child。
Dana； Brown； and Nova were still trying to sort things out when the distant sirens and flashing lights caught their attention。
Brown tched。 〃It'd sure be bad for morale if we let the Gimps find the hero of the TASCs in this condition。〃 He lifted Marie out of the jeep gently and set her down on the ground。
〃But…Lieutenant Brown！〃 Nova objected； as he slipped behind the wheel of Marie's jeep。
〃It's simple；〃 he said； revving the engine。 〃Frustrated pilot bumped from big mission gets hands on jeep and whiskey； understand？〃
Nova did； she owed him one。 It would be just as he said。 〃It means the brig； you know。〃
Brown shrugged at Nova。 〃A couple days。 They need me in my VT too much to do more。 Besides； I've got nothing better to do with my time。〃
He winked at her。 〃e down 'n' see me once in a while； huh？〃
Then he eased the jeep back and headed off in a spray of gravel。 Leaving a high plume of dust and grit； slewing and running flat…out； it wasn't hard for him to catch the posse's attention； the strobing lights and wailing sirens followed Dennis Brown away into the night。
Dana tried to decide what to do or say； with the perplexed Nova to one side； the curled…up； weeping Marie on the other。
In the invasion flagship； the Robotech Masters watched their new production line of Invid Fighters being put through its paces。 The mecha resembled oldtime naval mines； spined spheres that looked as much biological as technological。 They seemed to be grown of mismatched horn； chitin； and sinew。
The Invid Fighters performed their maneuvers flawlessly。 They evaded the fire of multitudes of gun turrets； and when the mand came； they turned devastating fire on the turrets with pinpoint accuracy。
〃And when they conjoin； they will be an undefeatable Triumviroid；〃 Bowkaz said。
Jeddar of the Clonemasters made his abasing bow。 〃A Triumviroid； yes； Master。 Self…contained and capable of performing the three basic functions of bat： data accumulation； analysis； and response； all within milliseconds。〃
The very essence of Robotechnology。 Logic dictates that these mecha cannot be defeated！
A weapon as perfect as we ourselves； the Robotech Masters shared the cold thought。
Dawn had brought a break in the clouds； final preparations for the launch of Emerson's strikeforce were being made； last matters on the checklists were ticked off。
Captain Komodo led his unit out at a run。 He had indulged his grief and put aside his humiliation； now it was time to discharge his duty； to live up to his oath of service。 But a voice calling his name made him stop short as the rest ran on to the personnel elevator that waited to take the battlecruisers' crewpeople to their assignments。
Dana caught up； breathless。 〃I just want to。。。say； I'm sorry； sorry about…〃
He gave her a smile。 〃Forget it； Dana。 Thanks for everything。〃
The silence that followed was awkward； as they listened to announcements and instructions for everyone who was going to hurry； and for everyone else to get clear。 Dana and Komodo groped for something to say to each other。
Then a hand reached out to touch Komodo's armored shoulder。 〃Captain。。。〃
Komodo； pivoting to see Nova Satori standing at his side； looked like a deer caught in headlights。 She took his gauntleted hand in both of hers。 〃I just wanted to say…be sure to e back safely。〃
It took him a few false starts to answer。 〃Nova； yes！ I will！〃 He turned； dashing to catch up with his mand。 〃Don't worry about that！〃
Dana figured Nova was still not in love with Komodo。 But what did that matter when a person might die…when a whole world might？
Dana was about to bury the hatchet with Nova； to tell her what a decent thing that was to do； when both were distracted by another lift…off drama。
〃Marie！ e back！〃
But Marie Crystal already had a head start； and even weighted by her bat armor she got to the elevator well ahead of Sean Phillips。 And anyway； Sean had been caught by Angelo Dante； who gathered him up practically under one arm； and dragged him back。
Angelo hollered at his onetime CO； 〃Be a man； for god's sake！ She's got more important things on her mind； idiot！〃
But Sean struggled free at the last moment； as the countdown went for zero and ground crews and PAS bellowed at the ATACs to get to shelter。 Sean dashed for the elevator； but he was too late。 The doors closed just before he got there。 Marie watched emotionlessly…or did she？ Just as the closing doors took her from him； her stone…face expression seemed to change。
Sean curled up inconsolably on the hardtop； and let Angelo； Dana and Nova lift him up and bear him away。
In the ready…room； Bowie was by himself again at the piano。 He played the songs Emerson had taught him； and the ones he himself had posed early…on。
He heard the first rumbles of prelaunch ignition reverberate across the countryside and the city； as his godfather and guardian readied for battle。
The battlecruisers； destroyer escorts； and other bat ships rumbled and flamed and rose；
shaking the ground。 The thunderclaps of their drives echoed across Monument City。 Dana； Sean； Nova； and Angelo watched the strikeforce draw lines of fire into the blue。
The tumult and the glare of it filled the ready…room windows； Bowie hit a last； hateful note； then sat staring at the keys。
CHAPTER SIX
It is； perhaps； some ultimate universal justice on the behalf of intelligence （as opposed to physical strength or predation skills） that the secrets of the Universe are open only to those who have left certain outdated belief systems behind。
Or； maybe it's one big…how do the Humans say？…one big gag。
Exedore； as quoted in Lapstein's Interviews
The Robotech Masters； in their flagship； were aware of the impending launch of Emerson's expeditionary force； this time there would be no surprises； and the Earth would be dealt a final； crushing blow。
It was imperative that Earth be destroyed not only because the constrained seeds of the Flower in the Matrix below were beginning to sprout into actual blossoms； but also a new and more dangerous element had entered their equations。
The Robotech Masters； nailless hands touching their Protoculture cap； contemplated the cloud of interstellar gas that； in astronomical terms； was so close。 To an Earthly observer it would simply be a curiosity； a spindrift that had wandered Earth's way from some impossibly distant H 11 region。 Its aberrant motion could be attributed to a close encounter with a far…off mass of dark matter or to galactic streaming dynamics。 The oddities in its internal movements and constitution would be chalked up