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ust sorry the simulator； in the canteen at the local Southern Cross service club； wasn't set up more like a Hovertank's cockpit…turret； or that she hadn't been able to beg； borrow； or steal a simulator for the 15th's ready…room。
The thinking caps did the bulk of the controlling for Robotech mecha； but the tankers inside still had to know their instrumentation the way a tongue knew the roof of its mouth。 At the 15th； as in TASC and other units； mock…ups of the cockpit layouts of the particular mecha used by the individual outfit were pasted up in the interiors of lavatory stalls so that the soldiers sitting there could refresh their memorization of their instrumentation during what the brass euphemistically called 〃available time。〃
Now Louie； making a final adjustment said； 〃That's what you say。〃 He climbed into the simulator and shocked… her by taking off the big； square； dark tech goggles that he wore almost constantly…even in the shower and often when sleeping。 It gave his face an open； surprised look。
Dana wasn't sure what to think。 Louie was undoubtedly a maverick technical genius。 Word was that he had passed up numerous offers for advanced study or research assignments because he liked the action in Hovertanks； but also because he preferred to tinker and modify without somebody breathing down his neck。
Certainly； he had been responsible for one of the major victories of the war when his analysis of the Masters' flagship's power and drive systems permitted the 15th to disable it and bring it down。 Even though the other ships had retrieved it and guarded against any recurrence； nothing was taken away from that spectacular success。 And still； Louie had refused transfer to Research and Development or some think tank。
Now he put aside his goggles and pulled on a wraparound visor； a black and glittering V shape； like something a sidewalk cowboy might wear downtown。
Two jumpsuited technical officers in a nearby booth； discussing Emerson's mission in low tones； suddenly became aware of a furor near the simulator； with TASC pilots and ATAC tankers and others crowding around； exclaiming and cheering。 They went over and saw a tall； skinny corporal in black shades blowing away puter…modeled Bioroids with a speed and accuracy unlike anything simulators…or even real mecha…had ever approached。
As the two officers began shouldering their way through the crowd； the kid was waving an adapter cartridge around and explaining that it was puter…enhanced targeting linked into his glasses； a step up from even the thinking caps。
〃I call it my Visual Trace Firing System； or VTFS；〃 Louie was telling them all proudly。 〃Or if you prefer； my ‘pupil pistol。' 〃
〃Mind if I see it？〃 said one officer； holding out a hand for the cartridge。 Louie was instantly wary； and Dana looked the two over as well。
〃Major Cromwell； Robotech R&D；〃 the officer said。 He indicated his panion。 〃And this is Major Gervasi。 I think we can use this system of yours in our simulation training。 We'll help you upgrade it and give you advice； assistance； and technical resources。 Is this the only copy？〃
〃N…no；〃 Louie admitted； a little uncertain。
Cromwell slipped the cartridge into the shoulder pocket of his jumpsuit。 〃Fine。 If you don't mind； we'll have a look at this one； then。 Can you be in my office tomorrow at thirteen hundred hours？〃
While stuttering that he could； Louie handed over the visor as well。 Dana decided that she couldn't pull rank on two majors； especially ones who worked for the top…secret R&D division。
But more than that； she was experiencing strange sensations； something to do with the mention of research； of Robotechnology； and thus of Protoculture。 Something about Protoculture and experimentation。。。It gave her a queasy feeling； sent a jolt of fear zapping through her； brought not…quite…perceived； evil memories。。。
But she shook it off as Cromwell walked away telling Louie； 〃We're looking forward to working with you。〃
Dana smiled affectionately at the goofily grinning Louie。 〃My brainy boy！〃 she said。
Outside the service club； Gervasi said to Cromwell； 〃Good work； Joe。 Just what we need； out of nowhere！〃
Cromwell nodded。 〃Send word up the back channels to Leonard and Zand right away。 ‘Rolling Thunder' is about to get the green light。〃
Emerson's force was very close to the moon when the Masters' fleet appeared like ghosts all around them； not on the monitors one second； hemming them in the next。
It was what the general had feared。 The Masters had penetrated Earth's detection systems before； measures to counter that capability just hadn't worked； and the invaders had bided their time until they could use the tactic to best advantage。 That time was now； with the expedition out of bat formation and deployed for lunar approach； with no way back and no way forward。
Emerson was reordering the disposition of his units even as the alien mother ships disgorged scores of the whisk broom…shaped assault craft。 With his battlecruiser Tristar at the center； Emerson prepared to fight his way through to ALUCE。
Blue Bioroids came in at the Humans like maddened automaton hornets。 The call went out for the A…JACs to scramble； and the expedition's ships began throwing out a huge volume of fire to clear the way for them and hold the Bioroids off。
Once more； Marie Crystal led her Black Lions out in the A…JACs。 She was all bat leader； all Robotech warrior now； the regret and hurt from Sean's betrayal savagely thrust aside。 Leave love for fools； and let Marie Crystal do what she did best！
The Bioroids and the A…JACs swirled and struck； lighting an unnamed volume of space with thermonuclear lightning and sunfire。 The killing began at once； the casualties piled up。
Marie skeeted a Bioroid right off its Hovercraft； so that the circular platform went on； unguided； heading for infinite space。 She went to Battloid mode； ordering others to do the same； changing tactics abruptly and taking advantage of the foe's brief confusion。
Assault ships swept in； to hammer away at the larger expeditionary vessels and be volleyed at in reply。 Hulls were pierced through and through； blasts claimed Human and clone alike。 Space was a maelstrom of plasma…hot beams and blowtorching drives and the ugly flare of dying ships。
Professor Miles Cochran gathered up all of his nerve to ask； 〃Dr。 Zand； the Invid Nebula is so appallingly dangerous…it might even take hostile action against Emerson's force。 Are you certain we shouldn't give him some inkling of that？ Perhaps it's not too late。。。〃
There had been a tremor in his voice； he couldn't help it。 Cochran began to tremble as Zand turned that eerie stare upon him there in the grandiose； forbidden sanctuary of the Kommandatura in a Robotech…rococo chamber deep in the Earth。 Zand's eyes were all pupil； with no iris or white at all； his was a gaze no one could meet for long。
Even more unnerving than his eyes was the power radiating from him； which intimidated his handpicked disciples。 The power of Protoculture。 The outside world might see him as a slightly odd…looking researcher； the UEG's top scientific officer and adviser…a man of normal height and build with an unruly forelock； who dre