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med to have some barely hinted…at power to shape events； and she could only hope that the benign side of that mystical force was working now； because Fate had the bit in its teeth。
〃There's no telling what'll happen；〃 Dana was telling her men。 〃We'll have to play it by ear。 But this thing isn't about Southern Cross or the UEG anymore。 I don't think even the mound； here； is as important now。 This thing is between us and the Robotech Masters。〃
In the wake of her experiences on the flagship and her exposure to the spores； pollen； and Flowers below； and to Musica's song； something in her was ing fully to life…was flexing its powers like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon and pumping out its wings。
Dana didn't know exactly how； but she knew the words were true。 〃Maybe this was always meant to be； right from the start。〃
The contact broken； the Masters easily reached an unspoken consensus： Musica was critical to their plans； and there was no longer any need for the others…not even Zor。 Furthermore； there were disturbing things about the halfbreed lieutenant； Sterling； some genetic throw of the dice had embued her with insights and an affinity for the Protoculture that made her dangerous。 It was best that she and her unit be terminated as soon as possible； the Masters could tolerate no rival in the matter of the Protoculture。
The units encircling the mounds simply held their fire as a flotilla of a dozen assault ships came low to pick up the Hovertanks。 Hopelessly outgunned； the GMP troops breathed a universal sigh of relief when the invader craft lifted away。
In due course the 15th came forth to form a spearhead on the huge hangar deck： Dana's Valkyrie； Angelo's Trojan Horse； Bowie's replacement tank； the Re…Tread； which had taken the place of his Diddy…Wa…Diddy； abandoned on an earlier sortie aboard a mother ship。 Sean's Bad News and Louie Nichols's Livewire pleted the roster。
There were ranks of clone guards with rifles aimed at them； rabbits policing the wolves。 But the ATACs only watched and waited； the tanks' headlights and downswept hoods making them appear to be glowering。
When Dana had looked the place over； she switched her mike to an external speaker and announced； 〃First of all； we want to see Chief of Staff Emerson。〃
There was some conferring among the invaders。 Finally they opened ranks and the Hovertanks fell in to follow a guard runabout； moving into the vaulted passageways of the residential district； so much like those of the Masters' original flagship。
Guards stood on ledges all along the way。 Dana wondered if they realized they were scarcely more than so many popup targets before the armor and firepower of the Hovertanks。 They didn't seem worried； and that worried her。
But while she didn't have words to explain it； something told her that what she was doing was right； that against all logic； what she was doing was what she should be doing。 Again she felt connected to something much greater than herself； and breathed a quick prayer that it wasn't some kind of self…delusion。 It was nothing but faith； really； but if she had understood her Academy philosophy courses； what cognitive process wasn't？
The guard runabout stopped at a bulkhead hatchway as big as a hangar door； and the tanks settled in behind it； idling。
〃From this point； Musica and two others may continue； but no more。 The exchange will be made at once。〃
Dana stood in her cockpit…turret； taking up her tanker's carbine and slinging it over her armored pauldron。 Her winged helmet； with its crest of bright metal； and her flashing armor seemed to daunt the guards a little。 〃That's you and me； Bowie。〃 She couldn't figure out why the Masters weren't luring Zor in； too。
〃Right。〃 Behind Bowie； Musica rose to her feet； to show that she was ready。
Valkyrie and Re…Tread were escorted among more of those stone…faced corridors Dana remembered so well； and through more technological…looking passageways as well。 At last the runabout leading them stopped； and the tanks settled to a halt。 At Dana's signal； Bowie and Musica dismounted to join her； both ATACs carrying their carbines。 They were led to a triskelion hatch that rotated open。
Emerson looked up with a resigned smile。 〃It's you。〃 Dana knew some of it was for her； but most of the general's warmth was for Bowie。
〃Rolf；〃 Bowie said simply。
〃General Emerson！〃 Dana strode over to him； carbine still at sling…arms； as Dennis Brown and Marie Crystal helped him to his feet。 〃You're wounded。〃
She could see there wasn't much she could do with her bat med kit that Brown and Crystal hadn't already done with theirs。 〃It's nothing serious；〃 the general told her； a lie and they both knew it。 〃I'm glad you're here； Dana。〃
Then he turned to Bowie； who stood rooted。 〃Good to see you； soldier。〃
Bowie inclined his head to his guardian。 〃Pleasure to be here； General。〃 But his eyes danced behind his helmet visor； and Dana took an instant from her scheming and calculating to be glad。 Whatever had gone wrong between the two had somehow been made right again。
Dana was figuring the best order of march； meaning to use Musica as insurance…something Musica had already agreed to…when there was a muffled cry。 Dana whipped around； the carbine slung down off her shoulder butt first and the muzzle ing up； to see Musica being borne back； wrenched from Bowie's grasp； and carried through two firing ranks of clone guards。 The guards had appeared from nowhere； their backs to what she had assumed was a solid wall…she had fallen for an old trick。 The ranks closed； and the guards assumed firing stances。
〃Dana！〃
Sean had never quite heard that tone in Angelo's voice before。 but there wasn't much time to stop and reflect on it。 Sean himself had been preoccupied； worrying about Marie。
But Dana had left her mike open； and there was no mistaking the sound of a firefight or the lieutenant's yell for reinforcements。
〃I'll e with you！〃 Angelo roared； as the tanks' thrusters blared。 Nova； riding with him； was all for that； thinking of Dennis Brown。
Sean automatically reverted to a mand voice； even though the big sergeant now outranked him。
〃You know your orders！ Hold this position！ And you； too； Louie； you've got to secure the escape route！〃 Sean fired up Bad News and bashed through the hatch before him while Angelo was still making strangled objections。
It wasn't too hard to find the way； Dana and Louie each had a transponder in their armor's torso…instrumentation pack。 Then； Dana's vanished from the display screen。
But Bowie's still functioned； even though Sean couldn't raise him or the lieutenant over the radio。 Sean had clones lucking low every which way； indifferent to their puny small arms fire； laying out an occasional burst just to keep them discouraged。
The race to get there seemed to take forever。 Dana's signal was dead and she might be； too； and Marie was in there； along with the others。。。
He bashed through a final hatch like an iron fist through rice paper； holding fire because he didn't know where friend or foe might be。 Energy bolts began ing his way at once。
Still he held fire； trying to get his bearings。 It was a singular piece of discipline； as so