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15th's manding officer。
Dana。。。
He knew what he had to do。 He crept away to one side； getting clear of the shooting。
At the same time； Musica was ing to a decision。
There isn't much time。 The ship will be destroyed soon。 I must get to the barrier control！
She raced for the stairs that wound up around the housing that protected the Protoculture。 Bowie； seeing her go； yelled her name and sprinted after。
Musica ran like a deer up the broad steps。 But she was in the open； and a Bioroid risked a shot as she neared the top。 At the same moment； a bolt from Angelo's weapon hit the red's discus gun； its discharge hit the housing near Musica； missing her； but dazing her and damaging the housing。
In a moment； Bowie was at her side。 〃Bowie； the barrier！ It must be deactivated！〃
He nodded； and sprang up the last few steps to the control panel she had been trying to reach。 The 15th was pitching at the reds with everything they had； and the damage to the housing kept the reds from attempting another shot at Musica or Bowie。
At her direction； he pushed a button； pulled down on the gleaming lever that appeared in response to that。 A worldshaking hooting rose above the first alarms and even the firefight。 〃Hurry！〃 she called to him。 〃We must go！〃
The Bioroids were at a terrible disadvantage since it was forbidden by the unseen Masters to fire any shot that might endanger the ship's systemry。 The ATACs had been quick to exploit this fact； five rifles were a lot of firepower if the users knew where to aim； and the troopers had had plenty of practice at hitting faceplates。
As Bowie helped Musica down from the steps； the last Bioroid tottered backward and came to rest leaning against the bulkhead。 The fugitives raced into the passageway； but another trio of reds dropped from nowhere； blocking their way。 The rifles were all but exhausted； and there was no hiding behind systemry now。 The leader took dead aim with its discus handgun。。。
The gun and the arm blew apart in an eruption that almost knocked them flat on their backs。 Jetting down the passageway behind them came a well…remembered red on its Hovercraft。
〃Go get 'em； Zor！〃 Dana cheered。
Zor was still the greatest battle lord in the enemy fleet。 He dodged the other reds' blasts deftly； firing with great accuracy all the while。 He leapt his mecha from the Hovercraft； and let the saucer…platform crash into them； destroying his opponents in a collision that half…deafened the fugitives。
Zor's Bioroid landed with a deck…shaking impact。 〃Dana； you and the others go ahead； the Hovertanks are that way； through there。 I'll stay here and delay any further pursuit。〃 His voice was the voice of the Zor they had served with； not the eerie； indrawn…breath voice of the Masters' slave。
〃Huh！〃 Angelo said； with something like approval。
〃We'll be waiting for you；〃 Dana said somberly。
There was no other option； the escapees dashed on。 Zor turned to wait patiently。 It didn't take long； three groups of Triumviroids raced into view on Hovercraft。 Zor took aim and began firing。
Astoundingly； the tanks were just as the 15th had left them。
〃But what good'll they do us？〃 Angelo asked； as the squad fired up their mecha。 〃There's no way we can reach Emerson on just tank thrusters！〃
〃Don't you think I know that？〃 Dana snapped。 With their mecha in tank mode； the 15th followed her as she tried to retrace the route she had taken on her first evasive dash with Bowie and Louie。
At last she found what she was searching for； a sort of cul…de…sac partment piled high with salvaged ponents and disabled equipment。 It was obvious that a lot of repair work was done there as well。
The tanks stopped； cannon trained on the only hatchway。 The troopers rose to stand in their cockpit…turrets。 Dana pointed to a rank of Hovercraft that had seen better days。
〃Louie； you've got to find us the five best out of those； and make sure they'll get us to Emerson。〃
Easy for you to say！ he thought。 Was she crazy； or just ignorant？ 〃Lieutenant； I…〃
〃I don't want to hear it！ I'm not talking about winning a Formula X race； we'll only need them for a few minutes。 If we're not back with the fleet by that time； it won't make any difference。〃
Aboard his flagship； Emerson had long since reached the conclusion his subordinates were warily expressing。 The Earth forces were going at the Masters with hammer and tongs once more； but couldn't take the beating they were getting for much longer。
There was no sign of the 15th and no radio contact。 Emerson ordered that the fleet prepare to withdraw； that the A…JACs prepare to return to their transports。 When Lieutenant Crystal objected； he dressed her down brusquely； and reiterated his orders。
But the whole time； he thought； Bowie。 Dana。 And he knew the other names as well。
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Bowie； life in danger with you is so much more than Life without you would be even if death strikes its chord。
Musica； 〃End of the Old Songs〃
While Louie did his wizard…of…Robotech number； Dana and the others； with Musica's help； discovered the controls that opened the shaft overhead。 The ATACs redonned their armor； and Bowie made sure his canopy was tight； Musica had no other protection。
In Battloid mode； the 15th boarded the Hovercraft。 Dana's Valkyrie reached out a huge finger to flick a Bioroidscale switch。 The shaft hatch opened； triggering the closing of emergency doors in the passageway leading to the cul…de…sac。 The 15th rose amid a storm of junk and debris hurled upward by the escaping atmosphere。
It was the first and last time such an unlikely bination of Robotechnology took place。 Weaving through volleys from their own forces； the ATACs started their survival run。 There was still no sign of the red Bioroid； and it was too late to turn back。
Unstoppable； unbeatable； Zor not only sent his opponents reeling back； but actually fought his way forward towards the control center。
Knowing all the Triumviroids' weaknesses； he was also their superior in experience and speed and adaptability； master of virtuoso tactics they had never even had time to learn。 He had left a trail of death and destruction through the flagship's passageways。
Now Zor stood before the Living Protoculture； which still hid within its armored cylinder。 He knew； though； that it was too weak to defend itself； depleted and wounded by the battle raging through the ship。 He felt that it sensed its impending destruction。
I betrayed my friends。 Just as it happened so long ago； with the Invid！ Am I damned； doomed to live this agony over and over？ The red Bioroid raised its discus weapon and aimed at the cylinder。 Fire and smoke rose around it。
And now my only way to redeem myself is by betraying my people。 Everything I touch turns to ashes。 So be it。
Dana； good…bye！
He triggered the weapon just as the cylinder slid open； and the Living Protoculture lashed out in a last desperate effort to save itself。
The explosion was bigger than anything ever seen from a mother ship before； an entire section of the stupendous vessel was simply vaporized； its edges pushed outward as the Main Control section detonated。
〃You stupid alien；〃 Dana said in a s