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But there was something more to it than that； something that had to do with the indestructible good humor with which he faced every misfortune。 She just felt that in some ways he was a kinder； a better person…more passionate…than she could ever pretend to be。
The warning hooters were nagging。 〃Gotta go；〃 he said。
He turned to leave； but she caught his wrist。 〃Dennis； be careful。 Do that for me？〃
He nodded with a handsome grin。 〃Count on it。 See you soon。〃
She nodded； watching him as if he were some apparition。 She couldn't quite work up the nerve to tell him； e back safe to me； because I seem to have fallen in love with you。
He was trotting toward his transport； and she had to hurry to reach a bunker。 Drives boomed again； and the next phase of the Second Robotech War began in earnest。
The forces from ALUCE came on； unopposed。 The Masters refused to react to Humanity's drawing gambit； and played a waiting game。 Earth's strikeforce positioned for attack。
Dana found Bowie down in the cargo hold where the 15th's Hovertanks were secured for flight。 It took some prompting to get him to open up； but when he did the words came out in a flood
〃Since I met Musica and Zor； I don't feel the same about fighting those Bioroids！ The people in them just aren't to blame！ It's like one of those ancient armies where they drove innocent captives in first； to be slaughtered； to gain a tactical advantage！〃
〃Bowie； I understand。 There's nothing wrong with what you're feeling…〃
She had put a hand on his shoulder but he shook free； batting it aside。 〃I'm right on the edge； Dana； and I haven't got my mind right； don't you understand？ I can't handle it anymore！ I'll let you all down！〃
That was serious talk； because everyone in the 15th knew…as all soldiers know…that you don't take that hill for the UEG council； the Promise of a Brighter World； or Mom's fruitcake。 No； you do it for your buddies； and they do it for you。
〃Bowie； we've always been straight with each other； and I'm telling you： I get those same feelings； too。〃
〃But Dana； that doesn't tell me how to deal with it！ Ahhh！ So； there it is。 Nothing you can do about it； Lieutenant。 I'm gonna have to sort this one out for myself。〃
〃I'm only part Human；〃 she blurted。 〃I； I guess I'm related to Zor and the rest； in a way。 I don't like the idea of killing any of the clones； either。 But Bowie； think about the alternative。 Remember what Zor said！〃
She threw her arms around his shoulders； pressing her cheek to him。 〃We can't let that happen to Earth； Bowie；〃 she whispered； 〃and we can't let that happen to the Fifteenth。〃
A few weeks before； the Masters' fleet would have disintegrated the impudent Human attack。 Now it fought for its life； its energy reservoir failing to a point where the battle was horribly even and attrition seemed to be the not…so…secret weapon。
Terran energy volleys and alien annihilation discs crosshatched； thick as nettles； as the Human strikeforce closed in。
The 15th cranked up and sealed their armor； preparing to follow Dana's Valkyrie into the launch lock。 They got word that their tactical area of responsibility…their TAOR…had been increased by 50％； because the 12th squad had been blown to bits along with everyone else aboard the battlecruiser Sharpsburg when enemy salvoes fund it。
The earth fleet threw everything it had at the enemy； but the news that came to Emerson； watching stone…faced from his flagship； was bad。
〃Missiles； solids； energy…nothing seems to be doing them much damage； sir；〃 Green told him。
There was no sign of the hexagonal 〃snowflake〃 defensive fields the Masters had used before； but what Green said was undeniably true。 Ordnance and destructive force equivalent to a good…size World War was being tossed at the lumbering invaders； to no avail。
〃It might be some kind of shield we haven't seen before； or it might just be their hulls；〃 Emerson replied。 But their I wasn't much room for fancy changes of plan or pauses to consider now； the huge operation was； by its own size and weight； all but unstoppable。
〃Press the attack；〃 Rolf Emerson forced himself to say； trying not to think of the casualties but only of what would happen to Earth if he and his fleet failed。 He had seen excerpts from Zor's debriefing； and the monitoring of Zor's ments about life under the Robotech Masters。
〃Hit them harder；〃 Emerson said； 〃and get ready to send in the fighters； then the tanks。〃
Going in close； risking the furious…bright particle beams of the teardrop…shaped invader batteries； the Earth ships poured down torrents of fire at them。 Tube after tube of the heavier missiles； Skylords and such； gushed forth flame and death； racks of Swordfish and Jackhammers emptied； only to be reloaded for another fusilade。
Marie Crystal； ready to lead the TASCs out； sent a silent thought to Sean； to take care of himself。
A close； highly concentrated missile barrage that cost the Terran forces a destroyer escort and the crippling of a frigate somehow opened a gap in the alien flagship's hull。 It happened just as the 15th was about to leave the launch lock； and their mission changed in a moment。
There was little G3 operations could add to the standing orders。 Get inside there and disable them！ Distract； neutralize！
The Hovertanks； pact as enormous crabs or turtles with all appendages pulled close； dropped on the inverted blue candleflames of their thrusters。
The rent in the enemy's upper hull was as big around as the 15th's barracks； a gaping； irregular hole； sides fringed with twisted； blackened armor seven yards thick； streaming black smoke and atmosphere like a funnel。 It was slightly forward and portside of one of those mountainous spiraled ziggurats Louie insisted on calling 〃Robotech Teats。〃
It would still be a tight squeeze for a whole Hovertank squad； and Dana didn't like the idea of being crowded together fish…in…a…barrel style。 But there was no telling when the gap would be closed by some repair mechanism； no time to pause and reconsider。 At her order； the ATACs dropped slowly toward the hole； for a close pass before paying their housecall。
No Bioroids anywhere； Dana registered。
I don't like it； Angelo told himself。
〃A different tactic now。 How strange；〃 Shaizan said； sounding more puzzled than perturbed。
Dag turned away from the crystalline pane； where he had been observing the Hovertanks。 〃This is an unexpected opportunity；〃 Dag said； as the descending mecha swung slowly past the ruptured hull behind him。
〃Yes； I believe it is time to test the new Invid Fighter；〃 Shaizan concurred。
Dag turned and barked； 〃Scientists！ Quickly！〃
That triumvirate； having been high among the looping arteries and carryways of the ship's control systemry； descended now on their cap。 〃Yes； Masters？〃
〃Deploy our Triumviroid Invid Fighters against those Human mecha out there at once。〃
〃At once！〃 The Scientists soared off to obey。
Bowkaz； watching the 15th e around for another close pass； closed his thin； atrophied hand into a fist； the spidery fingers unaccustomed to such a strong gesture。 〃Amazing！ These missing links actually think they can triumph against us！〃
In a large partmen