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tic streaming dynamics。 The oddities in its internal movements and constitution would be chalked up to some natural phenomenon of density waves。
Just another collection of whorls and billows of dust and phosphorescent gas； just another emission nebula。
But the Robotech Masters knew better and had good reason to be afraid。 It was an Invid Sensor Nebula； searching for Protoculture and/or the Flower of Life。 The Invid would be ing soon； and so the Masters' time was short。
Long ago； the Invid had been a peaceful species； living out their lives on idyllic Optera； ingesting the Flower and； with the powers it gave them； rejoicing in their contemplation of the Universe。 Then Zor； the original Zor； had e to live among them； to learn。 He saw in their almost photosynthetic biological processes a by…product that； when isolated； gave him the key to ultimate power： Protoculture。
The infinitely metamorphic Invid were the Apple of Temptation to him； harboring ultimate secrets。 Zor was the same to them…especially to the Invid Queen； revealing to them the two…edged bane/blessing they had never conceived of： passion； love。
He understood that the key to the power of Protoculture was the Invid Queen。 Zor； consumed with the hunger for knowledge； used her； barely knowing what it was he was doing； and set； the course of a tragedy that would stretch across eternity。
The Invid Queen； the Regis； became infatuated with Zor。 This infatuation would bring a universe crumbling down with no promise of what would rise from the ashes。 Love and Protoculture； Protoculture and love； they were locked forever after in a pattern of exaltation and disaster。
Zor's superiors on Tirol； his homeworld； immediately understood the more obvious implications of Protoculture…its power to penetrate spacetime； to impart vast mental powers； its connection to the fundamental shaping force of the Universe。 Like all leaders； they lusted for power； naive Zor was no match for them。。。at least at that point。
Using rudimentary powers derived from the more malign aspects of Protoculture； the overlords of Tirol banded together to subdue Zor mentally； to place an irresistible pulsion on him。 At their direction； Zor stole as many of the Flower seeds as he could from his Optera hosts； and as much Protoculture。
Under his Masters' enslavement； he betrayed the Invid hivequeen； who had taken on a form like his own。 Zor left the Regis loveless and full of hate…she who had literally transfigured herself； loving Zor so。 The rest of Optera Zor laid waste； so that the Flower of Life would never grow there again。
Love and Protoculture； Protoculture and love。
Conquest and dominance were the panion cravings of the Tirolean tyrants' Protoculture addiction。 Their giant； cloned Zentraedi worker…menials were transformed into conquering legions； Zor became their savant…slave。 He shaped the Protoculture Matrices； and went forth to seed the Flower of Life on other worlds； so their seeds could be harvested for more Matrices。
The overlords of Tirol were transmogrified into the Robotech Masters。 Their own race became to them mere objects； plasm to be reshaped and put to the use they chose。
Meanwhile； the Invid； changed by their hatred and suffering； burst forth from Optera to seek the Flower of Life wherever the Masters seeded it； and to slay the Robotech Masters and their servants wherever they found them。 The Invid began reproducing with monocellular speed； being a teeming horde that daunted even the Masters。 A stupendous war roiled across galaxies； but the Masters were content that in time they would win。
The Masters； however； in their arrogance； had forgotten Zor's original exposure to the secrets of Protoculture on Optera； and the expansion of his mental gifts。 Little by little； Zor was making patient； microscopic progress against the pulsion by which the Masters held him。
His breakthrough came in the form of a Vision of what was to be； given to him by the Protoculture。 He saw a small； blue…white； unimportant world。 A world where Humanity would ultimately obliterate itself； and all life on the planet； in a Global Civil War。 There was an alternative。 It would involve great hardship and suffering for the Human race； but at least it offered a chance for racial survival。
The Vision showed Zor a possible future； wherein a great cyclone of mindforce a hundred miles wide rose from Earth and； high above the planet； transformed itself into a Phoenix of groupmind。 The Phoenix spread wings wider than Earth； and with a single cry so magnificent and sad that it wrenched Zor's mind free of the Masters' domination； the bird soared away to another plane of existence。
Zor was then free to work his act of defiance。 He dispatched the SDF…1 to Earth； hiding it from the Masters； even as he gave up his life to an Invid attack in a death he had foreseen in his Vision。 The last Matrix by which new Protoculture could be produced was gone； the others had all been used up or destroyed in the course of the war； and only Zor had the secret of their creation。
The Robotech Masters； regarding with arctic dread the roving Sensor Nebula that was one of the Invid's coursing bloodhounds； knew little about the original Zor's motives； and nothing of his Vision。 They only knew that their fanatic enemies would find them bereft of Protoculture's powers； helpless； unless the Masters triumphed soon on Earth。
And that demanded as a first step the quick and utter destruction of Emerson's expeditionary force。
Aside from some oddities noted in the peculiar nebula drifting so close to Earth； there was nothing to report； the techs said。 Emerson worried nevertheless。
The enemy fleet still hung in distant orbit； permitting the expedition room for passage。 Emerson's force had already passed the enemy's optimal point for launching assault ships to intercept and engage him。 Soon the Humans would be past their closest approach to the invaders； and would be hightailing for Luna。 He kept his escort forces deployed and ready for battle； even as his mand passed through the leading edge of the nebula。
Once out of the nebula； past the point of greatest proximity to the enemy； the crewpeople began to breathe easier。 But Emerson grew even more vigilant。
The Robotech Masters gathered vast amounts of data through their Protoculture cap。 〃The Humans must be relieved to have passed their zone of likeliest bat without a confrontation；〃 Shaizan conjectured。
〃Prepare to destroy them；〃 he sent out the mand。
〃What're you trying now； Louie？〃 Dana asked the lanky corporal as he bent over the training simulator's guts。
〃I'm gonna win back those two beers I owe you；〃 Louie said smugly； fooling with the systemry there； changing some connections； putting in a special adaptor。 〃You're in for a surprise。 〃
Dana scoffed； 〃C'mon； Louie！ You can't beat a born warrior like me； even with a lot of mechie tricks。〃
At least he never had yet； even on the Kill Those Bioroids！ program that he himself had designed for the simulator。 She was happy to let him keep trying though； hand…eye training never hurt。 She was just sorry the simulator； in the canteen at the local Southern Cross service club； wasn't set up more